LAB WORK

 It’s certainly amazing how four little vials of blood can provide a wealth of information, especially when that information is good and positive. It’s also amazing how I’ve become more anxious about myself and my health now that I don’t have John to worry about. I’m sure some of my concerns can be attributed to the fact I’ve been unable to participate in all the activities I had on my calendar prior to the pandemic.

Friday, as I posted, my doctor had me go in to the laboratory to provide blood for some tests. Amazingly, all the tests were back by Saturday morning, plus my doctor sent me an email about those tests. It was all good news, for which I am extremely grateful. I did have a couple of questions so sent an email back and she responded again…she was in the clinic that morning. I’m so lucky to have such a great doctor.

For those of you who don’t know, I became a Type II diabetic a few years before I retired. When the nurse called to tell me, I told her she had the wrong person. How could I be diabetic? I didn’t eat a lot of junk and I went to the gym at 4:30 am five days a week. Well, she responded, it was the second time my blood test had come back indicating diabetes.

There’s no history in the family, but research is apparently finding a correlation between breast cancer chemotherapy and the development of diabetes. I know another woman who became diabetic after about the same amount of time following her chemo as me, and there’s no history there either.

For years I took Metformin which kept my glucose numbers low. I stopped taking it last fall because it could have been responsible for some intestinal issues I was having. I was happy to see that my A1C results indicated my number hadn’t changed at all. So, I won’t have to go back on the drug…yippee, yippee, yippee.

I’ve always had really high cholesterol. Having worked for a cholesterol researcher at the University of Washington, I also knew high cholesterol could be genetic. My mother’s and my Great Aunt’s were always high regardless of diet or medication. It didn’t matter how I changed my diet…no cholesterol containing food for six months…the number only dropped by 30 points. It was still 255. I did not want to take a statin drug. It was genetic.

Well, because of the pain in my calves when I walk for more than 20 minutes, and the fact it could be peripheral artery disease, I gave in and agreed to begin taking a statin about a week before I went in for these last blood tests. Last fall I added garlic and apple cider vinegar pills to my daily regimen of supplements because they were supposed to lower cholesterol naturally. I was hoping these “natural” remedies would have an effect.

Astonishingly, the blood test for cholesterol came back at 166. It has never ever been below 200, and mostly not even below 250 the entire time they’ve tested me for it. My return email asked my doctor if it could have been the garlic and vinegar and whether or not a statin could work that fast. Her response said statins work quickly and it was unlikely the “natural” supplement was responsible. She said my cholesterol readings were “beautiful.” How about that!!!!

In all, those four vials of blood resulted in seven different tests. I not only looked at the results, but I can choose to see a graph of past results including the new one. Amazingly, in almost every result, the test indicated I was the same, or close to the same. Two of the tests have to do with the liver…how wonderful to know that tot of gin once a day hasn’t done any damage to date.

As for my calf pain, for now I’ll just have to deal with it. Fortunately, my walking partner doesn’t mind my “resting” for a minute or two on an as needed basis…she stands six feet away and removes her mask so she can actually breath. Once the pandemic is over, my doctor said we could look at some other options, but if they include more medication, I’m not excited about that possibility.

So, I guess I’m good for another ten thousand miles or ten years, whichever comes first. I feel so relieved and so much happier getting the results of all those tests. And, while I would have loved to see my doctor in person, she’s busy taking care of people who are actually ill. I’m not ill; in fact, I think it’s safe to say I’m in great health. Still, it was exceedingly reassuring to have the tests and have my doctor tell me I’m doing just fine.