We have the Children’s Film festival this morning. I’m supposed to be there about 8:30, but the show’s don’t start until ten. I won’t be needed until after nine, so I’ll show up about then.
This is our largest fundraiser. We make money for the foundation, which goes back to help people who need eye exam, glasses, other things.
The children see two free movies.
The theater sells lots of popcorn and other goodies at outrageous prices.
The momma’s get the kids out of the house for about four hours.
Everyone, including me, all the Lions, gets a picture made with Santa.
So. It’s a win-win-win day for everyone. I get a tax write off for the $50.00 I gave for ten tickets for some kids.
😦 no news for my disappointed daughter from her interview. It seems to me if you take the trouble to interview someone–make a personal connection– the least you could do would be to call back with a no.
🙂 but maybe they haven’t decided yet?
🙂 Christmas chaos coming: 5 adorable grandchildren for the night. Christmas tree decorating, pesto for dinner, the nativity scene from Zefferelli’s Jesus of Nazareth. And then to bed, perchance to dream.
😦 Rats in the walls. I really can’t type anymore for the horror. 😦
I’m going to describe two people in this post as “awful” without elaboration. Take my word for it that they were deceitful, manipulative, and unloving. Fourteen years ago, an awful lady and her five-year-old granddaughter showed up at our church in Baltimore. She was living with an awful woman to whom she was very remotely related and who was also a member of our church. Long story short, the child and her granddaughter ended up living with us for about six months and the child mostly for another five months. The grandmother paid almost no attention to the child, handing her off to us to handle everything, which we were happy to do. It ended ugly, with the grandmother disappearing from church, pulling the child out of our Lutheran school (because she had never paid the tuition), and cutting us off completely from the child, whom we’d grown to love very much. A few weeks ago hubby, son, DIL, and I were looking at some old photos and she was in many of them. We racked our brains trying to remember her last name (which was different from the g-mother’s) but couldn’t remember it. We reminisced about her, remembering the good times and the love.
🙂 This is the “rave” part – if it doesn’t have “God” written all over it, I don’t know what does. The next week DIL went to MOPS, as she does every other week. Members always sit at the same assigned table (to maintain relationships with one another and their mentor). However, in that meeting, they decided to scramble the tables so mothers could get to know some from the other tables. A young lady who was there for the first time ended up at DIL’s table. During the introductions, DIL thought she recognized her name but wasn’t sure and wasn’t sure from where. After the meeting, DIL stopped at Walmart for a few things and ran into her there. They chatted and agreed to become Facebook friends. When DIL looked at pictures on FB, she saw some that included the grandmother and realized who she was. At the next meeting, DIL took a couple of pictures of them together when she lived with us and revealed who we were. There’s lots more to the story about what’s transpired over the years. Amazingly, they moved to southern Pa. and so did we, so we live only minutes away. She is now understandably estranged from her grandmother. She was treated awfully growing up – she was told she was a bad child and was kicked out of our Lutheran school because she was so bad; she was put into foster care three times. Despite it all, she’s done wonderfully for herself – got an AA degree and a nursing assistant certification, works two jobs, and is very self-sufficient. We’ve quickly re-established a wonderful relationship with her and DIL are good friends already.We had her over for dinner Thursday night and had a wonderful visit. She regretted that she has no family, but we told her that she does now!
Deleted – I think it would be totally unreasonable for her to have heard something by now. Usually it takes weeks to interview all the candidates, discuss amongst themselves, and make a decision. It doesn’t have the same urgency for the employer as it does for the applicant and they take their time. Especially around the holidays when a lot of folks take off. I would bet she’ll eventually hear, one way or the other.
😦 Granddaughter scared us to death when she had a febrile seizure last Sunday. We didn’t even realize she had a fever until this happened. She had a virus. Her preschool teacher and best friend had influenza A. She had a virus, but not sure which one.
🙂 We were able to attend her pre-school Christmas program the day before this happened. My daughter was the narrator, so it was doubly fun.
🙂 We were also able to attend her older brother’s piano recital Sunday evening.
😦 I am down with a virus myself. Missed a whole bunch of programs my husband was in. I will miss the one tonight, too. I feel lousy and do not want to spread the sickness.
😦 Spring on garage door broke. It has been temporarily fixed until another can be shipped. My husband was a bit panicked, since he was supposed to do a show that evening.
😦 Husband hit a deer on the way home. Fortunately, he was able to swerve and only clipped the light on the front. The light cover is broken.
🙂 SIL graduates with his Master’s in School Counseling today. He also has a temporary job for the last half of this year. That gives him benefits, so they are very grateful.
🙂 New redwood gate. It’s beautiful, sturdy and functional.
🙂 Got in for my physical, overall good results although he has me trying a low-dose statin & taking lots of fish oil to see if we can get that “bad” cholesterol down. All other blood work came back fine, as did the EKG & chest Xray.
😦 Doc says (and I agree, obviously) that I need to lose weight. But he said we can talk about starting up a personal “boot camp” for me in January when I check back in after the holidays. Ugh.
🙂 I’m off most of next week, though I will cover the local pre-release screening of Unbroken on Tuesday night. Also need to turn in one other little story, part of our 12 Days of Christmas series on nice people doing good stuff. I did one already on a guy in my church who’s developed a new mobile app for nonprofit giving.
Next one (I think) will be on some anonymous cat toy maker who keeps dropping off cute, homemade toys at the local LA animal shelter. No one knows who’s making or bringing them, so it’s something of a Christmas mystery.
Donna – I don’t remember the details, but a while back there were reports about statin drugs not being good for us, possibly dangerous.
Also, please don’t buy into the myth that you need to eat a low-fat diet to bring down your cholesterol. Here’s a link to a documentary that is informative, but also very entertaining, easy to watch…
*There’s never been a single study that proves saturated fat causes heart disease.
*As heart-disease rates were skyrocketing in the mid-1900s, consumption of animal fat was going down, not up. Consumption of vegetable oils, however, was going up dramatically.
*Half of all heart-attack victims have normal or low cholesterol. Autopsies performed on heart-attack victims routinely reveal plaque-filled arteries in people whose cholesterol was low (as low as 115 in one case).
*Asian Indians – half of whom are vegetarians – have one of the highest rates of heart disease in the entire world. Yup, that fatty meat will kill you, all right.
I know, Karen, but these are a very small dose (no side effects anticipated at these levels, my doctor said) — and, frankly, at some point you have to weigh the risks of not treating something vs. treating it. He suggested I go on statins 2 years ago and I resisted. This time, I figure I should follow directions since my levels are still considered too high.
And my doctor is familiar with the dietary issues you mentioned as well and is on board with them, although he suggested that cutting back to low-fat milk/yogurt etc. might be a good idea for me.
I realize, too, that the whole notion of cholesterol being as bad as we thought is undergoing re-examination. Sigh.
It’s simply hard to keep up — or to know what’s going to turn out to be true or not true once more and longer studies are done. So we go with the best advice we have at the time, put some trust in our doctors and let God handle the rest.
Frankly, the whole constantly-changing diet debate (and the diametrically opposed opinions about what’s good for us and what isn’t) has me completely confused at this point !
The one hit I’ve read about statins is that they’re not as effective with women. But I don’t think I’ve read anything to suggest that they’re particularly “dangerous” — unless maybe at very high levels.
Statins, fish oil and, here’s the biggie, losing weight will bring down the cholesterol levels for many. The real question I ask myself is, “do I trust my (teenage) doctor or not?”
If not, I need a new physician. If yes, then I go with his recommendations–even when we fence about them . . .
We had lots of kids at the film festival
Nice weather, but cold.
One guy tried to get in wearing a Clemson shirt.
I had to hassle him a bit, but he hassled back and I let him in anyhow. 😉
We showed “Logos” and “Cloudy with a chance of meatballs”. I watched part of Logos, but didn’t understand it. It was a kid’s movie. Apparently they understood it..
The only part I understood was when a logo lady said, “I know you don’t know me, but I’m on Television so you have to trust me.”
Somehow, the good guys won. I left soon after we got them settled down for the second show.
Michelle, exactly. I’ve been with my doctor for a long time, we were both young when I started seeing him. 🙂 But he does keep up with research, from what I can tell. I trust that he knows more than I do, at any rate.
He was among the first to recommend the Gary Taub books to me several years ago, saying “we’ve been wrong” about a lot of accepted thinking regarding weight, fats in food, etc.
A co-worker had a doctor who recommended niacin for reducing cholesterol — it worked for him and for his doctor — so I have been taking that for the past couple years. But, alas, my *bad* cholesterol level is still too high. (My triglyceride levels are good, though.)
My diet, I’m afraid, is hit and miss — I take salads to work quit a lot, but become sick of them after a while. And the stress over our lousy work situation in the past few years also, I think, has fueled some more recent weight issues for me.
Interesting, though: The couple next door to me — he’s thin as a rail, she’s not, they’re 70ish but very active, he still works; but he’s the one with cholesterol issues (and is on statins), not her.
And I still remember the very thin and active woman who used to work in our front office eons ago (and ate healthy) — she battled very high cholesterol which just ran in her family. You’d never guess it by looking at her, though.
😐 This is a mixed “ravant”. A few weeks ago I mentioned a new job possibilty. It wouldn’t have worked out since the pay was 30% less than I make now, more if you figure that I wouldn’t be able to work at the cave as much, or possibly have to stop teaching at the community college one class per semester. So, I will stay on as an overpaid babysitter to teens who mostly have no desire to do anything but talk to each other.
Linda, our hope in our time as foster care providers was that the children would have a positive memory in the chaos. To know that life did not have to be that way but there were other choices. For most, we will never know. It is good to hear you were able to reconnect and the girl is doing so well.
I remember receiving a card, out of the blue, from a cousin who lived with us one summer. She wanted to thank me for how welcome I made her feel at a very stressful time. She was grateful for all the time I spent with her and the special things I did. I had no idea it meant so much to her, so the letter was a very nice gift for me. Most of the time, we have no idea how the small gesture we make can mean so much to someone. It is nice to think there are others who will remember the little ways they were loved, if only for a short time.
Donna, I know you want more medical advice from one who is not a doctor and doesn’t even play one on TV, but I have read something about women taking CQ10 (?) when they take statin drugs. You are a smart woman so you can google it yourself and see what you think. I am all for medical intervention and natural remedies combined. Only YOU can make your decisions on this.
When the cholesterol numbers were up 2 years ago, I made a concerted effort (including eating more raw veggies) to see if I could make a difference without the prescription the doctor wanted me to take.
I haven’t followed the program perfectly (esp in terms of diet).
But after 2 years i seems that the numbers are just about the same.
Yes, Donna, take CoQ10 with Ubiquinol if taking statins – very important. Our docs up here are now telling their patients to take it when prescribing statins.
I choose not to get my cholesterol checked, because I don’t care what it is–I have heard nothing that proves that cholesterol level is a meaningful number. I can see modifying diet or exercise–but taking medicine for something of as questionable value as lowering cholesterol? I’d rather have high cholesterol than the risks of side effects, personally. I have no interest in being on any daily medications, and if I ever am, it will be for something unavoidable, like insulin. That’s just my personal opinion, but I’m a real skeptic when it comes to cholesterol testing.
And as for daily medication, I see that (in applicable cases) as a means of God’s grace that he’s given us in this day and age. You weigh the risks of not treating vs. treating … It’s ultimately up to the patient, but I respect my doctor’s knowledge and advice.
I have a Christian Science co-worker who was dead-set against ANY medication … Until she was diagnosed with severe diabetes about a year ago. She’s turned into the best patient ever, she’s about half the size she was a year ago — and, while she’s hoping to get off of at least some of the meds she’s on, she understands the seriousness of physical issues and (from what I can tell) has left the Christian Science philosophy far behind.
Not that we shouldn’t question and research on our own to the extent that we can — but I guess I probably don’t “research’ enough (or in depth to that extent) to know more than my doctors most likely do.
And in terms of medical research, I’m grateful for how far we’ve come (including in ways to prevent disease from starting or getting worse).
🙂 Yay, I’m looking forward to getting back to church today after missing last week for my cousin’s invite to the historic house tour. And Norma makes her return to church today, I’m picking her up in about an hour. So it’ll be (finally) back to routine for the first time since her surgery in October.
What wonderful news, Mumsee! I remember the letter she wrote about God. I think, in the midst of all her pain and brokenness, she is His and He will help her through it all.
🙂 My friend Norma got back to church today, the first time since her cancer surgery exactly 2 months ago. It seems like longer, we both agreed on the drive to church this morning.
🙂 She’s tired, sat for most of the hymns, and is still too thin (her doctor told her she’s malnourished, so it’s somewhat of a serious issue). Pray that she can get something of an appetite going. Otherwise, she’s doing well, the doctors said all is good — though the surgeon has suggested that she stop driving officially (she’s 81) and she’s a bit hesitant to give that up, understandably.
🙂 Good message from Romans 9 on the Israelites and who they were/are … and how easy it is for the church today, as well, to fall into following the form and not the substance, seeing the shadows but not Christ Himself, the fulfillment of those shadows. And how many churches today are no longer really churches, either intentionally (as in the *Church* of Religious Science) or unintentionally (as in mainline denominations) jettisoning Jesus and the salvation he brings in order to worship something else, whether its good works or social justice or (fill in the blank).
2nd point should have been a mixed 🙂 😦 — so glad the surgery appears to have been successful and it’s behind her now, it was a very tough stretch that began early in the year with doctors appointments and so many tests …
Donna – When we were taking care of her, my MIL (who had Alzheimer’s) did not want to eat, & became very thin, weighing only 100 lbs. or less. We gave her an Ensure drink every morning (& maybe more often – I can’t remember) to get some calories & nutrition into her, per doctors orders. She would have wasted away without those, & was close to wasting away even with them.
Yes, the drinks have been suggested for her, I’m not sure if her doctor has actually prescribed something like that, but he is really concerned I think. She’s always been very tall and thin, it is her body type — but she’s beyond thin at this stage.
I’ve also talked to her about using smoothies — they can be used to either lose of gain weight. With some protein powder added you could throw in yogurt, frozen fruit, just about anything that would add vitamins & calories.
Donna, Ensure is apparently very good, but I would be inclined to try for “healthy calories” first, if possible, rather than the chemicals and sugar. So the smoothies might be just the trick. Also, eating a little bit multiple times a day is better than trying for just three meals, if those three meals are small ones.
Yes, she was told by her doctor to keep snacking & eating throughout the day. … And she did try one of those drink supplements a while back and said they weren’t very tasty. 😦
Wandering Views 
We have the Children’s Film festival this morning. I’m supposed to be there about 8:30, but the show’s don’t start until ten. I won’t be needed until after nine, so I’ll show up about then.
This is our largest fundraiser. We make money for the foundation, which goes back to help people who need eye exam, glasses, other things.
The children see two free movies.
The theater sells lots of popcorn and other goodies at outrageous prices.
The momma’s get the kids out of the house for about four hours.
Everyone, including me, all the Lions, gets a picture made with Santa.
So. It’s a win-win-win day for everyone. I get a tax write off for the $50.00 I gave for ten tickets for some kids.
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😦 no news for my disappointed daughter from her interview. It seems to me if you take the trouble to interview someone–make a personal connection– the least you could do would be to call back with a no.
🙂 but maybe they haven’t decided yet?
🙂 Christmas chaos coming: 5 adorable grandchildren for the night. Christmas tree decorating, pesto for dinner, the nativity scene from Zefferelli’s Jesus of Nazareth. And then to bed, perchance to dream.
😦 Rats in the walls. I really can’t type anymore for the horror. 😦
🙂 exterminator is on it!
🙂 🙂 Rain!
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🙂 Wrote the final exam for my science course.
🙂 Finished that poetry unit in English. Only one unit left to go!
😦 They aren’t making it easy. I have to write thousands of words between the two last units of History and English.
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I’m going to describe two people in this post as “awful” without elaboration. Take my word for it that they were deceitful, manipulative, and unloving. Fourteen years ago, an awful lady and her five-year-old granddaughter showed up at our church in Baltimore. She was living with an awful woman to whom she was very remotely related and who was also a member of our church. Long story short, the child and her granddaughter ended up living with us for about six months and the child mostly for another five months. The grandmother paid almost no attention to the child, handing her off to us to handle everything, which we were happy to do. It ended ugly, with the grandmother disappearing from church, pulling the child out of our Lutheran school (because she had never paid the tuition), and cutting us off completely from the child, whom we’d grown to love very much. A few weeks ago hubby, son, DIL, and I were looking at some old photos and she was in many of them. We racked our brains trying to remember her last name (which was different from the g-mother’s) but couldn’t remember it. We reminisced about her, remembering the good times and the love.
🙂 This is the “rave” part – if it doesn’t have “God” written all over it, I don’t know what does. The next week DIL went to MOPS, as she does every other week. Members always sit at the same assigned table (to maintain relationships with one another and their mentor). However, in that meeting, they decided to scramble the tables so mothers could get to know some from the other tables. A young lady who was there for the first time ended up at DIL’s table. During the introductions, DIL thought she recognized her name but wasn’t sure and wasn’t sure from where. After the meeting, DIL stopped at Walmart for a few things and ran into her there. They chatted and agreed to become Facebook friends. When DIL looked at pictures on FB, she saw some that included the grandmother and realized who she was. At the next meeting, DIL took a couple of pictures of them together when she lived with us and revealed who we were. There’s lots more to the story about what’s transpired over the years. Amazingly, they moved to southern Pa. and so did we, so we live only minutes away. She is now understandably estranged from her grandmother. She was treated awfully growing up – she was told she was a bad child and was kicked out of our Lutheran school because she was so bad; she was put into foster care three times. Despite it all, she’s done wonderfully for herself – got an AA degree and a nursing assistant certification, works two jobs, and is very self-sufficient. We’ve quickly re-established a wonderful relationship with her and DIL are good friends already.We had her over for dinner Thursday night and had a wonderful visit. She regretted that she has no family, but we told her that she does now!
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Deleted – I think it would be totally unreasonable for her to have heard something by now. Usually it takes weeks to interview all the candidates, discuss amongst themselves, and make a decision. It doesn’t have the same urgency for the employer as it does for the applicant and they take their time. Especially around the holidays when a lot of folks take off. I would bet she’ll eventually hear, one way or the other.
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😦 Granddaughter scared us to death when she had a febrile seizure last Sunday. We didn’t even realize she had a fever until this happened. She had a virus. Her preschool teacher and best friend had influenza A. She had a virus, but not sure which one.
🙂 We were able to attend her pre-school Christmas program the day before this happened. My daughter was the narrator, so it was doubly fun.
🙂 We were also able to attend her older brother’s piano recital Sunday evening.
😦 I am down with a virus myself. Missed a whole bunch of programs my husband was in. I will miss the one tonight, too. I feel lousy and do not want to spread the sickness.
😦 Spring on garage door broke. It has been temporarily fixed until another can be shipped. My husband was a bit panicked, since he was supposed to do a show that evening.
😦 Husband hit a deer on the way home. Fortunately, he was able to swerve and only clipped the light on the front. The light cover is broken.
🙂 SIL graduates with his Master’s in School Counseling today. He also has a temporary job for the last half of this year. That gives him benefits, so they are very grateful.
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🙂 New redwood gate. It’s beautiful, sturdy and functional.
🙂 Got in for my physical, overall good results although he has me trying a low-dose statin & taking lots of fish oil to see if we can get that “bad” cholesterol down. All other blood work came back fine, as did the EKG & chest Xray.
😦 Doc says (and I agree, obviously) that I need to lose weight. But he said we can talk about starting up a personal “boot camp” for me in January when I check back in after the holidays. Ugh.
🙂 I’m off most of next week, though I will cover the local pre-release screening of Unbroken on Tuesday night. Also need to turn in one other little story, part of our 12 Days of Christmas series on nice people doing good stuff. I did one already on a guy in my church who’s developed a new mobile app for nonprofit giving.
Next one (I think) will be on some anonymous cat toy maker who keeps dropping off cute, homemade toys at the local LA animal shelter. No one knows who’s making or bringing them, so it’s something of a Christmas mystery.
🙂 Rain.
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Donna – I don’t remember the details, but a while back there were reports about statin drugs not being good for us, possibly dangerous.
Also, please don’t buy into the myth that you need to eat a low-fat diet to bring down your cholesterol. Here’s a link to a documentary that is informative, but also very entertaining, easy to watch…
http://www.fathead-movie.com/index.php/about/
Here are a few facts from the website…
*There’s never been a single study that proves saturated fat causes heart disease.
*As heart-disease rates were skyrocketing in the mid-1900s, consumption of animal fat was going down, not up. Consumption of vegetable oils, however, was going up dramatically.
*Half of all heart-attack victims have normal or low cholesterol. Autopsies performed on heart-attack victims routinely reveal plaque-filled arteries in people whose cholesterol was low (as low as 115 in one case).
*Asian Indians – half of whom are vegetarians – have one of the highest rates of heart disease in the entire world. Yup, that fatty meat will kill you, all right.
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Linda – Beautiful story! Had me crying & praising God.
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I know, Karen, but these are a very small dose (no side effects anticipated at these levels, my doctor said) — and, frankly, at some point you have to weigh the risks of not treating something vs. treating it. He suggested I go on statins 2 years ago and I resisted. This time, I figure I should follow directions since my levels are still considered too high.
And my doctor is familiar with the dietary issues you mentioned as well and is on board with them, although he suggested that cutting back to low-fat milk/yogurt etc. might be a good idea for me.
I realize, too, that the whole notion of cholesterol being as bad as we thought is undergoing re-examination. Sigh.
It’s simply hard to keep up — or to know what’s going to turn out to be true or not true once more and longer studies are done. So we go with the best advice we have at the time, put some trust in our doctors and let God handle the rest.
Frankly, the whole constantly-changing diet debate (and the diametrically opposed opinions about what’s good for us and what isn’t) has me completely confused at this point !
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Thanks, Linda, and I loved, loved your story. God is so good!
(Interviewers told her she’d hear back within 24 hours . . . ).
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The one hit I’ve read about statins is that they’re not as effective with women. But I don’t think I’ve read anything to suggest that they’re particularly “dangerous” — unless maybe at very high levels.
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Statins, fish oil and, here’s the biggie, losing weight will bring down the cholesterol levels for many. The real question I ask myself is, “do I trust my (teenage) doctor or not?”
If not, I need a new physician. If yes, then I go with his recommendations–even when we fence about them . . .
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We had lots of kids at the film festival
Nice weather, but cold.
One guy tried to get in wearing a Clemson shirt.
I had to hassle him a bit, but he hassled back and I let him in anyhow. 😉
We showed “Logos” and “Cloudy with a chance of meatballs”. I watched part of Logos, but didn’t understand it. It was a kid’s movie. Apparently they understood it..
The only part I understood was when a logo lady said, “I know you don’t know me, but I’m on Television so you have to trust me.”
Somehow, the good guys won. I left soon after we got them settled down for the second show.
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Michelle, exactly. I’ve been with my doctor for a long time, we were both young when I started seeing him. 🙂 But he does keep up with research, from what I can tell. I trust that he knows more than I do, at any rate.
He was among the first to recommend the Gary Taub books to me several years ago, saying “we’ve been wrong” about a lot of accepted thinking regarding weight, fats in food, etc.
A co-worker had a doctor who recommended niacin for reducing cholesterol — it worked for him and for his doctor — so I have been taking that for the past couple years. But, alas, my *bad* cholesterol level is still too high. (My triglyceride levels are good, though.)
My diet, I’m afraid, is hit and miss — I take salads to work quit a lot, but become sick of them after a while. And the stress over our lousy work situation in the past few years also, I think, has fueled some more recent weight issues for me.
Onward. …
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Interesting, though: The couple next door to me — he’s thin as a rail, she’s not, they’re 70ish but very active, he still works; but he’s the one with cholesterol issues (and is on statins), not her.
And I still remember the very thin and active woman who used to work in our front office eons ago (and ate healthy) — she battled very high cholesterol which just ran in her family. You’d never guess it by looking at her, though.
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😐 This is a mixed “ravant”. A few weeks ago I mentioned a new job possibilty. It wouldn’t have worked out since the pay was 30% less than I make now, more if you figure that I wouldn’t be able to work at the cave as much, or possibly have to stop teaching at the community college one class per semester. So, I will stay on as an overpaid babysitter to teens who mostly have no desire to do anything but talk to each other.
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Linda, our hope in our time as foster care providers was that the children would have a positive memory in the chaos. To know that life did not have to be that way but there were other choices. For most, we will never know. It is good to hear you were able to reconnect and the girl is doing so well.
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I remember receiving a card, out of the blue, from a cousin who lived with us one summer. She wanted to thank me for how welcome I made her feel at a very stressful time. She was grateful for all the time I spent with her and the special things I did. I had no idea it meant so much to her, so the letter was a very nice gift for me. Most of the time, we have no idea how the small gesture we make can mean so much to someone. It is nice to think there are others who will remember the little ways they were loved, if only for a short time.
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Linda, I absolutely LOVED your story.
Donna, I know you want more medical advice from one who is not a doctor and doesn’t even play one on TV, but I have read something about women taking CQ10 (?) when they take statin drugs. You are a smart woman so you can google it yourself and see what you think. I am all for medical intervention and natural remedies combined. Only YOU can make your decisions on this.
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Kim, thanks — been taking it for a couple years. Sigh. Along with something called Cholesteroff.
I feel like I have tried all the “natural” remedies out there that come with recommendations, but bad cholesterol is still high.
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But I intend to continue those over-the-counter supplements.
He did say my Vitamin D levels were very good and asked if I took that, Yep, I said, D3, every day. He said “good.”
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When the cholesterol numbers were up 2 years ago, I made a concerted effort (including eating more raw veggies) to see if I could make a difference without the prescription the doctor wanted me to take.
I haven’t followed the program perfectly (esp in terms of diet).
But after 2 years i seems that the numbers are just about the same.
So ….
Here we are.
😦
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Yes, Donna, take CoQ10 with Ubiquinol if taking statins – very important. Our docs up here are now telling their patients to take it when prescribing statins.
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Thanks Kare. I’ll ask my doctor about that when I go back next month.
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I choose not to get my cholesterol checked, because I don’t care what it is–I have heard nothing that proves that cholesterol level is a meaningful number. I can see modifying diet or exercise–but taking medicine for something of as questionable value as lowering cholesterol? I’d rather have high cholesterol than the risks of side effects, personally. I have no interest in being on any daily medications, and if I ever am, it will be for something unavoidable, like insulin. That’s just my personal opinion, but I’m a real skeptic when it comes to cholesterol testing.
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I’m admittedly conflicted about the affects of cholesterol. I suspect the jury is still out but don’t think high *bad* cholesterol is a “good” thing.
Someday, we’ll know more … but for now …
(And heart disease runs in my family, so perhaps I’m more attuned to the potential dangers.)
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And as for daily medication, I see that (in applicable cases) as a means of God’s grace that he’s given us in this day and age. You weigh the risks of not treating vs. treating … It’s ultimately up to the patient, but I respect my doctor’s knowledge and advice.
I have a Christian Science co-worker who was dead-set against ANY medication … Until she was diagnosed with severe diabetes about a year ago. She’s turned into the best patient ever, she’s about half the size she was a year ago — and, while she’s hoping to get off of at least some of the meds she’s on, she understands the seriousness of physical issues and (from what I can tell) has left the Christian Science philosophy far behind.
Not that we shouldn’t question and research on our own to the extent that we can — but I guess I probably don’t “research’ enough (or in depth to that extent) to know more than my doctors most likely do.
And in terms of medical research, I’m grateful for how far we’ve come (including in ways to prevent disease from starting or getting worse).
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And the thin, “I-walk-everywhere” woman I knew at work who had high cholesterol/? Long gone, sadly.
Was cholesterol the culprit? I don’t know.
But I do trust — to a good extent — the best scientific testing and knowledge we have to this point.
Sure, that may change.
But until it does, I guess I’d trust my doctor’s advice over my own ideas about medical expertise.
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I would still like to get off the blood pressure meds. I have lost about twenty five and he said I needed to lose twelve so maybe this year.
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Sometimes there’s a direct correlation between weight and these conditions, but not always.
They also can be age- and genetic-related.
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🙂 Yay, I’m looking forward to getting back to church today after missing last week for my cousin’s invite to the historic house tour. And Norma makes her return to church today, I’m picking her up in about an hour. So it’ll be (finally) back to routine for the first time since her surgery in October.
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🙂 Have had a very nice, & much needed, four days off from babysitting. Some time today I may write more about the circumstances on the daily thread.
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Thirteen year old daughter asked the pastor if she could get baptized so that is on for next Sunday.
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What wonderful news, Mumsee! I remember the letter she wrote about God. I think, in the midst of all her pain and brokenness, she is His and He will help her through it all.
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😦 touch of the stomach flu yesterday
🙂 Lovely husband who took on all the shopping today after church
😦 missed church
:)Son and girlfriend can stay an extra day for Christmas
🙂 Christmas shopping done
🙂 Mumsee’s 13 year old!
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🙂 My friend Norma got back to church today, the first time since her cancer surgery exactly 2 months ago. It seems like longer, we both agreed on the drive to church this morning.
🙂 She’s tired, sat for most of the hymns, and is still too thin (her doctor told her she’s malnourished, so it’s somewhat of a serious issue). Pray that she can get something of an appetite going. Otherwise, she’s doing well, the doctors said all is good — though the surgeon has suggested that she stop driving officially (she’s 81) and she’s a bit hesitant to give that up, understandably.
🙂 Good message from Romans 9 on the Israelites and who they were/are … and how easy it is for the church today, as well, to fall into following the form and not the substance, seeing the shadows but not Christ Himself, the fulfillment of those shadows. And how many churches today are no longer really churches, either intentionally (as in the *Church* of Religious Science) or unintentionally (as in mainline denominations) jettisoning Jesus and the salvation he brings in order to worship something else, whether its good works or social justice or (fill in the blank).
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2nd point should have been a mixed 🙂 😦 — so glad the surgery appears to have been successful and it’s behind her now, it was a very tough stretch that began early in the year with doctors appointments and so many tests …
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Donna – When we were taking care of her, my MIL (who had Alzheimer’s) did not want to eat, & became very thin, weighing only 100 lbs. or less. We gave her an Ensure drink every morning (& maybe more often – I can’t remember) to get some calories & nutrition into her, per doctors orders. She would have wasted away without those, & was close to wasting away even with them.
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Yes, the drinks have been suggested for her, I’m not sure if her doctor has actually prescribed something like that, but he is really concerned I think. She’s always been very tall and thin, it is her body type — but she’s beyond thin at this stage.
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I’ve also talked to her about using smoothies — they can be used to either lose of gain weight. With some protein powder added you could throw in yogurt, frozen fruit, just about anything that would add vitamins & calories.
I may get her a blender and a recipe book …
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Donna, Ensure is apparently very good, but I would be inclined to try for “healthy calories” first, if possible, rather than the chemicals and sugar. So the smoothies might be just the trick. Also, eating a little bit multiple times a day is better than trying for just three meals, if those three meals are small ones.
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Yes, she was told by her doctor to keep snacking & eating throughout the day. … And she did try one of those drink supplements a while back and said they weren’t very tasty. 😦
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