My wife, Snowflake, went to the doctor today for severe pain in her jaw. (She has TMJ, and we don't have dental insurance...yet). Anyway, she's feeling better after some muscle relaxers and toradol. She had some blood tests done earlier in the week and a mammogram on Wed. She got most of the results back today.

Mammogram was fine, fibrocysts, but she's had that since she's had breasts.

Cholestrol total was 258, good was 56, bad was 548. Why is she still walking around, isn't that bad number way too high????

Something about her thyroid too...was not right, the doctor wants to discuss this with us next week, and will probably put her on a statin drug for the Cholestrol....

I've read some things about statins here, and am a bit confused... any advise on these?

Also this question... with being diabetic, having high blood pressure (which is controlled nicely with her meds), and now high cholestrol, what can she eat??? Lettuce, cucumbers and celery won't cut it... plus with her jaw hurting, she needs soft foods for a while. The TMJ pain comes and goes, usually lasts about a week, then lets off...

We're shopping tomorrow, so any replys will be appreciated.

Sounds like your Snowflake has a lot of challenging medical conditions. Also sounds like you are a very supportive husband to come here and ask advice. I could only be so lucky!!

Anyway, my husband is on a statin (Lipitor) and also takes meds for high blood pressure. He doesn't have diabetes yet but he's well on his way. He should watch his diet but doesn't. He feels that's what the drugs are for. :rolleyes:

But what he should be eating is lean chicken, pork, even beef, fish, vegetables, fruits, wheat breads, wheat pastas, brown rice. Your Snowflake should be able to eat most of those, even with the TMJ. A nice dinner of broiled scrod, brown rice, and green beans should be easy enough for her to eat. Try to stay away from saturated fats, any fat that is solid at room temperature, processed white flours, white sugar. Switch all your cooking to olive oil, you'll be amazed at how quickly you get used to it and then even prefer it.

My daughter is a type 1 so I try to make meals that have between 75 and 100 carbs, that seems to work best for her. It's funny because I'll make chicken breast, sweet potatoes, wheat rolls and everyone will love it but my husband with the cholesterol will put cheese and butter on everything before he eats it! Oh well. What can you do?

Good luck!

P.S. Make sure they do a liver enzyme test periodically if Snowflake is to stay on the statin medication. The neglected to do that with my husband. I would think it would be standard practice but apparently, it isn't. Statin meds can affect liver function and it's important that this simple test be done.

Thanks for the quick reply....and the compliment! :)

This is not the first marriage for either of us, and we've finally found the right combination to making a relationship work. Everything about Snowflake is about me, and vice versa. If I don't watch out for her (she watches out for me), and take care of ourselves, then we won't have as much time together as we could. Time is very important, all of our time together is quality time, we're always talking, laughing, hugging....ALWAYS...makes people sick ;)

I'm going to go to the high cholestrol board as soon as we get back from shopping.

I never thought shopping might be dangerous, but it can be. Thank goodness Snowflake brought her glucose meeting the last time we went shopping. See we live in a small town, and the nearest shopping facility, center, mall, etc.. is about 30 miles away. There are tons of restaurants there, but we're never sure about the menu items... anyway... last time.. she was feeling poorly all of a sudden. It was a hectic day, we'd taken my neices and nephews to several stores, and well, they're not the BEST behaved kids in the world, WHINE WHINE WHINE, gets on the nervous you know..? She took her levels and was down to 62!!!and dropping. I hurried up the kids and we hightailed it to an eating place.

She couldn't think right, and I didn't want to wait for our favorite restaurant, since it's a sit down place, so I got her a double cheesburger without the bread, and a mixed fruit salad. She was feeling much better two hours later when her levels were up 105. Whew! that was scary for me...

Almost as scary as when her levels went up 450,,, she felt very cold, her feet were freezing, and she couldn't think straight again.... her doctors has now told us if that happens again to take her to the ER for an insulin injection.

She takes care of me too....makes sure I have plenty of my favorite pop (which she can't drink), and calling me from work everyday, just to say she loves me...always giving me what I love the most.... hugs... :)

gotta go, thanks for the advise.

Hi Smokey, i have thyroid disease (was graves disease but now hypo), high cholesterol, hbp and diabetes. I was on lipitor but had to stop due to severe side effects. You can get alot of info on the bp and cholesterol boards, there are alot of knowledgeable people there. Most people on this board are really really good at diabetes. imho at least. I cant say what is best for your wife, but only myself. I am working with a dietician and she helps me alot. I've been able to lose 65 lbs . I prefer high fiber (beans, All Bran, veggies) and low fat (olive oil, nuts, Take Control spreads).

You must know some meds (thiazides ie hctz) can increase glucose and cholestrol levels. That is what happend to me. I was never told this so i continue to take the hctz for bp control. One day i was in the dr's office and thumbed thru a mag. for diabetic and read the article. Of course, my cholesterol is now coming down and so is my glucose levels bcuz i now only take half dosage of the water pill.

That is my story and im sure you'll get other replies, but you might want to ask your gp for referral to a dietician or diabetes educator. Good luck

Hi Smokey, Yes Snowlfake's cholesterol is through the roof. Although in general I am opposed to most medications where health can be improved without them, Snowflake needs to reduce her risk of a heart attack and FAST. I would say that the risks associated with taking a statin drugs are far less than the heart attack risks she now faces.

HypoThyroid is an interesting condition - it can worsen with uncontrolled glucose levels - this happened to me. I have been hypothyroid since 1990 and taking synthroid for 14 years. But when I was dxd with diabetes my thyroid went completely out of whack. Now that my glucose is under control my thyroid levels have returned to normal (still on synthroid - always will be). Also, its very possible that an uncontrolled thyroid condition could cause her to be unableto control her glucose levels. Its VERY possible that once she starts her thyroid replacement therapy that all other ailments will start to improve dramatically.

I will also add that there are many strategies that will help Snowflake gain control of her health including her diabetes and her cholesterol. I have already shared with you some information on diet with a focus on glucose control. But much of that information will also help reduce cholesterol. Here is a summary of the things that will help cholesterol levels:

1. Eliminate toxins from the diet - chemical additives, preservatives, artificial sweeteners, margerine, alcohol, etc. Anything that burdens the liver will effect cholesterol levels. Read labels - stick to natural fresh foods with ingredients you can pronounce. Avoid ingredients you cannot pronounce.

2. Increase water consumption dramatically. Skip the iced tea - She should drink about 100 oz of pure water each day... perferably nothing else.

3. Increase excercise. I know she does curves - but also add 2-3 mile walks each day and be sure to excercise on days when she does not go to curves. They may not tell you this, but she can go every day (but Sunday). In her case, it will likely help.

4. Limit cholesterol consumption to 300mg per day. In order to track this you must be weighing and measuring portions of all foods (which she should be doing anyway). For example, she should not eat 2 eggs with breakfast because that is the limit and then she can't have meat or fish later.

5. Increase fiber to 30-35 grams per day. Whole grains, brown rice, legumes, soy, and nuts are wonderful sources of fiber. Just remember though that fiber carbs still count towards carb totals. As a diabetic, I recommend that you count ALL carbs (and ignore all the hype about net carbs). To some extent high fiber foods will have less impact on glucose levels, but I still believe these carbs should be counted towards daily and meal limits.I do think that if she applies these strategies to her diet she may be able to get off the statins after a few months. She should discuss this as an option with her doctor. All cholesterol medications do effect the liver and IMO, the long term goal should be to get off the meds and control with diet.

Hope this info helps!