Things are looking down

Posted on September 13, 2006 by Gene

The day I had my heart attack was the first time I’d had my cholesterol checked in, oh, at least a decade. It is an understatement to say that it was high.
Of course, the events of July 11, 2006 shocked me and scared me, and I immediately changed my diet. I haven’t yet really buckled down with the exercise part (although, I did bike over to Safeway this morning for a few things, which is the farthest I’ve biked to date). Still, the diet part, which turns out to be relatively easy (except for those moments when I really want a double cheeseburger and fries), may have had a much more significant effect than I’d expected.
I’m on Lovastatin to lower my cholesterol, but I have a hard time believing that the drug alone is responsible for these amazing results from a blood test yesterday:

                              6/11/2006    9/12/2006
Cholesterol (should be <200)        251          139
Triglycerides (should be <150)      262          162
HDL (should be >45)                  32           30
LDL (should be <80)                 167           77

Trigyclerides are still a bit high, and my HDL is too low; but the incredible drop in cholesterol is very heartening — if you’ll pardon the pun.
Next test is at the beginning of November…