Unlike many doctors, she did not want or try to put me on meds when she saw how high my cholesterol was. She was honest and serious about the work I would have ahead.
When I returned to see her after almost 3 years she remembered me enough to mention my hair color when she first saw me, "I don't remember you being a red head." Which impressed me considering how many patients she must see daily.
She then thanked me for making her look good. Which surprised me. She said she has the conversation multiple times a week with people who are over weight and have high cholesterol, high blood pressure or on the road to diabetes and that I was statistically one of the few who has managed to make the change - with exercise and diet - to the point that I had improved my health. Then she asked if there was a trigger - I advised her that my dad dying from a heart attack last year was it.
Then, looking over my family history of cholesterol and heart disease she then went on to say that I should prepare for the chance that my cholesterol test may end up coming back high still, even will all the changes I've done, based on genetics alone. She also stated that even if it is still high that she was no longer as concerned because of my health improvement and that I've put myself to about .5% to 1% in danger of having a heart event. But, that as I move into my 50's and 60's that we might have to revisit the med's.
I heard her but - I really was sure that I wasn't that statistic and that my cholesterol definitely had to have gone down more. Especially when she advised me that I had lost 62 lb's! The weight loss information was awesome news, but had not been my goal.
Well - she was absolutely correct. My cholesterol only dropped 9 more points. Yep, that's it! I'm officially at 251. **sigh** It was a crushing moment, but, I paused to listen to my doc's voice saying that most likely I'm just genetically predisposed to this crap.
I still can improve on the foods I'm eating - which might help a little bit more.
But, my next goal is to change the stress in my life. Which means career changes. And, there are days where thinking about that alone stresses me out more than my actual job - and, other days where I daydream about the day that my work life won't be stressful (which are increasing).
Meditation and calming my mind, for just even 5 minutes, is my next goal. As I don't think I can hear my heart over my head - and I need to switch the path that I follow from my head to my heart. That I know!
I am slowly finding my path to find that calm and quiet - and, honestly - I'm looking forward to it!
The doc said, "Well, I'll see you in a couple of years." before I left that day. Hopefully, when she does and we do the test again - I'll surprise us both!
