Tuesday

ei34 · June 30

How’s everyone today?

ei34 · June 30

Each kid has an appt today, two down and one more to go. Making dinner now before it gets too hot - planning on being at the pool straight after the third appointment until dinner time so I’m trying to set my future self up for a seamless evening lol

levioosa · June 30

I am good. I had such weird dreams last night. Kitten is so cute in the morning. She comes up and chirps at the kennel door and when we open it open she runs right over to our legs and looks up at us.

I did my labs over the weekend and I had a test result come back that is not good news. It's called Lipoprotein(a) and it's a type of cholesterol particle which is genetic and increases your risk of heart disease, heart attack and stroke. There's no medication to lower it, so you have to be extra aggressive with your LDL and other inflammatory cholesterol particles. Because it's genetic I have to let my mom and dad know to go get tested too. The AHA recommends everyone receive once in a lifetime screening and if elevated let first degree family members know. My LDL is always a little high even with healthy diet and exercise, so I had a feeling it would be elevated, but I was hoping for a borderline result, not a super high result. So boo.

Otherwise, SSDD. The mosquitos are so bad right now because we have a neighbor who just leaves a tarp on their lawn and it becomes a mosquito nursery. We've asked multiple times if they could rinse it off at least a few times a week or wrap it up so the mosquitoes don't have time to breed, but they just leave it out and it collects still water. The issue is getting so severe it's actually a code enforcement issue so we'll be contacting the city. There's a city nearby that just had it's first case of West Nile for the season so it's not just annoying, it's an actual health hazard.

CharmedPam · June 30

Pool day it up @ei34!

Oh wow @levioosa. Never heard of that condition before and never heard of that test! Do they give you a recommended diet? Also, do your neighbors own a pool or do they just have a tarp laying out there? Trying to envision that. But how annoying because the regular amount of mosquitos are enough, let’s not add in a block party.

I got screwed over by my lawn guy. I was using him since April through the app Lawnstarter. Certain contractors just accept jobs. He was supposed to come out on Friday but dropped me completely saying he can no longer do my lawn. Lawnstarter immediately replaced him and dude was supposed to come out Saturday. Then he pushed me out to Sunday. Then it was Monday. He didn't come Monday and left a message that said because of inclement weather he couodn’t get out and would make it out today. I don’t trust him now and it NEEDS to get done. I said “the weather was fine (if anything it’ll be hotter today through Thursday). Forget about it. I’ll do it myself. So I cancelled my service lawnstarter and did the back last night and front this morning before it got too hot. If you want something done, guess you gotta do it yourself?

levioosa · June 30

@charmedpam The American Heart Association just released new guidelines about screening for Lipoprotein(a) levels. You can have an LDL between 70-100 (traditionally a "good" LDL level) but if you have elevated Lipoprotein(a) you are still at increased risk of developing heart disease and should aim for a level <70. I'm salty that I might be starting a statin if I can't lower it to 70 with lifestyle changes (and I probably won't be able to change it with lifestyle. Last time I even got it to 94 I was hiking 12 miles a day for like a year straight). Dad has had a heart attack and a stroke at younger ages but I do attribute that more to his uncontrolled diabetes and hypertension over just a genetic risk. I told my parents they need to get tested since one of them did this to me, lol. And the neighbors have the tarp out to put kids' toys on top of. Why can't kids just play on the grass? I have no idea. And ugh to your lawn guys. I also feel like they wouldn't do that to another man hiring their service.

Casadena · June 30

boo to the lawn guy and high test results.

Kids camp/daycare is closed all week so they are spending the week with my parents. They're having so much fun with treats and farm life and unlimited tv time. Very weird to be alone with H for like 4 days straight, yesterday started rough as usual but was really nice after we actually had time to be together and talk and enjoy time all evening. Hoping that continues! And I slept all night and until 7:30 this morning and was still earlier than usual for work. Wild.

ei34 · July 1

Thumbs down on the lawn guy @CharmedPam
Oof that's a lot @levioosa, the result and the ridiculous tarp on top of it all
@Casadena enjoy the quiet time, I'm sure the boys are living their best lives

short+sassy · July 22

@levioosa, I know you posted this awhile ago, but I have the same condition. My Lpa was in the 200s, which looked crazy high, according to their charts. They were actually having an event in town where you could have this lab run for free as part of their study. They also gave you a $25 Amazon gift certificate.

I've been taking a statin for years anyway; My cholesterol numbers had already been improving with my weight loss and my LDL was 101. My endocrinologist said they used to recommend 100, but it changed to 70. I then took the opportunity to tell him about my Lpa test. He said, "Theennnn let's shoot for under 60." Ugh. He also changed and upped my statin script.

It worked! That was a couple years ago and my LDL has been running consistently in the 57-61 range.

My father and his father both had fatal heart attacks at 50. His grandfather had one at 52. I can't help but think these major cholesterol problems run in my family.

My dad's cholesterol started running in the 400s when he hit his 30s. He exercised, he ate right, he was religious about taking his medication and seeing his doctor. It didn't matter. Of all the things that finally helped, it was when he started taking psyllium husk. That brought him down to the 200s, but he'd only been taking that for a few months when he passed. I started that supplement about a year ago.

I'm 52 and my heart health is still in good condition. I already won! Haha (morbid humor).

There are five Lpa medications currently in clinical trials. One of them (Olpasirin), with good results so far, is scheduled to be done early next year. Crossing fingers!

levioosa · July 23

@short+sassy glad to hear your cholesterol is in better range! Fiber is one of the best non-med ways to lower cholesterol. And most Americans only get 10-13 gm a day (goal is at least 25). You would not believe the fights I have with people about their fiber intake. lol.

I have no idea what to think of my family history. My dad had a heart attack at 55, stroke at 60, and his brother had sudden cardiac death at 50. However, they were both extremely unhealthy. Dad had wildly uncontrolled diabetes, cholesterol and high blood pressure for years and he ate like shit. Uncle refused to eat anything besides pasta, chicken tenders, and fries, and didn't exercise. So who knows how much is genetic vs lifestyle. I want my parents to get their testing done because I would feel much better if the Lp(a) came from Mom's side (no heart attacks/strokes on that side besides the one my Grandpa had when he was catastrophically anemic which is unrelated to normal heart disease risks). Grandma and Grandpa were so active and healthy up until their very late 80s/early 90s.

banana468 · July 23

I'm watching myself too. Dad was diagnosed w/ Type II diabetes in his 40s and had a stroke plus TIAs 6 years ago (at 72). My cholesterol is creeping up but I'm trying to avoid a statin but my latest total cholesterol is 210. I'm trying to increase fiber with both diet and psyllium husk, eat more fish, exercise, etc. But I also think I have genetics against me. My dad's father died of a widow maker heart attack at 62. He was a lifelong smoker and drinker but the coronary artery disease was a rough one. Paternal grandmother had strokes and congestive heart failure, my mom's mother also had congestive heart failure and a heart attack (but lived) and my grandfather had Type II diabetes.

Mom right now is doing OK taking a baby aspirin a day and I am more active than she was at my age (just cardio -wise. The woman taught elem kids so she was on her feet all the time). Next month I go for an echo cardiogram to see if I have a hole in my heart.

levioosa · July 23

Good vibes for the echo @banana468

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