hypertriglyceridemia and why my family sucks

The day has arrived.  While my family is off the charts cute, we don't handle the fat and carbs so well.  As some of you remember, it came close to being "my time" about 3.5 years ago when I was in the hospital with a severe case of pancreatitis.  Pretty scary time for everyone - well not for me because I was fully checked in to 'Morphine Hotel"  - but the word on the street was that it was not fun.   In any case, they never figured out what caused it, but they were very suspicious that it was a high triglyceride count.  It has always been high, but after my latest physical and blood work . . . wowzaa and double wowzaa. 

The Results - And don't bother asking about numbers as a small English village does not have enough fingers to count that high - Cholesterol high  . . . Triglycerides REALLY high.   

Looks like my family's food lovin' adobo eatin' ways have caught up with me.  Part genetics, part too much good SF food, part not enough exercise and a whole bunch of getting freakin' old!  Again, I love my family, but the whole passing on high blood pressure, a bad heart and a love for the yummy taste of LARD, RICE and SWEETNESS is not funny!   For this, I shake my fist at the Reyes and Chow genes!

My doc says that because of the whole genetic thing, odds are that I will eventually be on meds for a myriad of heart/blood related ailments, but I can decide if I want to start taking them now or when I am 60.   She has given me three months - and significant progress towards losing 20-30 pounds - to prove that she should hold off on making me purchase my own personal pill organizer.  So after a few more tests to make sure I won't keel over tomorrow, it is better eating and more exercising - going for the JSL look - for me. Oh joy.

In all seriousness, this is a pretty worrisome and will rely on some on my friends to rip the chicken wings out of my hands without pause.  I do not want to make another round through the pancreatitis experience - sounds like a bad doctor amusement park, right next to the "Bypass Coaster" - not just because I am particularly attached to my pancreas, but because this was quite the ordeal for the whole family.

So, while there is no immediate crisis and on the grand scale of situations in need of prayer this is pretty low, I am not above coveting any extra words you could raise up the God asking for those behalf pesky triglycerides to be zapped from the earth.

My doctor did have one bright spot, "You're not diabetic."  A doctor and a comedian ;-) 

Comments

[Trina]

If you are so inclined, and are in the neighborhood in the mornings, I'd be happy to be your walking/speed walking/jogging partner!

We'll shake our fists at our mutual Chow genes together!

[breyeschow]

Trina - Thanks I might just take you up on that.

[Lisa]

Count me in on the support bandwagon!

I have not much concrete assistance to offer except an encyclopedic knowledge of the caloric content of a variety of foods and a myriad of cooking light cheesecake and cake recipes. If you have need of either of these things, call on me, my friend!

[Tiffany Flaming]

No more pizza at SC meetings. You have to be around for a long while, not just for your precious babies, but because that takes us down to only one person who can say the magic words over communion - how would we get our Jesus on?

[breyeschow]

Lisa - Oooooo cheese cake, maybe after my 3 mos. check-up.
Tiffany - Good to know I am loved ;-)

[LadyBurg]

I'm personally looking forward to bugging you about this from afar. :) You can hit me or even make faces at me (at least that I can see) so you are IN TROUBLE! I'll race you in October!

[LadyBurg]

Make that "can't" hit me!

[breyeschow]

Ladyburg - Whew, I thought you were over-sharing a bit with the first comment ;-)