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View Full Version : Immunologist visit today



andrew
12-05-2009, 12:51 AM
Had my regular checkup today with the Immunologist. Nailed everything for the first time since diagnosis in 2003.

Sodium levels are low (have been worried about this one but not related to the WG)
Creatinine is normal for the second quarterly visit in a row
Cholestorol went from 8.7 (v.high) to 4.2 (normal)
FBC is fine
BP was normal, for me (first time)
ANCA hasn't come in yet. That was up last time but I'm hoping she comes way down this time! Will have the results next week.

Sangye
12-05-2009, 02:01 AM
YIPPEE!!! That's great news, Andrew. :D:D

Very glad to hear your cholesterol and bp are both normal. Now we don't have to worry about you 'splodin' everywhere and making a mess.... :p

elephant
12-05-2009, 03:21 AM
Yea! Grrrrrrreat news! How did you get your cholesterol down? Mine is very high, I refused the cholesterol med because I don't need another side effect. My HDL is 90, my LDL is :(:o.

Sangye
12-05-2009, 03:26 AM
Elephant, what are your triglycerides? Fasting glucose? That's a better predictor of heart disease trouble. You're right to refuse the cholesterol meds-- they're very tough on the liver and don't address the problem. High LDL in isolation does not correlate to heart disease. High triglycerides do.

elephant
12-05-2009, 06:16 AM
Sangye, I can't recall the triglycerides, but they were really good. My Ratio was good, just the LDL was - close to 190. Total was close to 290. I also recently had a ct of my arteries to see if there was any calcium deposit ( forgot what the test is called, insurance doesn't pay for it) and that came out good, I think it was zero. I do exercise, so I think that has to do with the high HDL. My Grandfather had four heart attacks and died of an aorta anerysum (sp). So that is the only one in the whole family who had cardiovascular disease. I'm just interested in how other people have brought down there cholesterol. Thanks Sangye for the input that makes me feel better about my decision.

andrew
12-05-2009, 08:08 AM
LOL @ Sangye. I wouldn't have 'sploded everywhere. I have a pressure release valve :rolleyes: :eek:

I've been on a cholestorol med (Lipitor) forever and it has been high every time it was checked. Since I started a more strenuous exercise regime with a trainer and fixed my die things have started to come good.

elephant
12-05-2009, 09:20 AM
Andrew, glad the lipitor works for you. You mentioned that your sodium is down, it could be from exercising (sweating alot). When I was on high doses of prednisone this summer my sodium and potassium went way down secondary from sweating alot. I guess our medicines can affect our electrolytes too. Exercising is great for the body and mind!:D

katwoman
12-05-2009, 10:16 AM
Thats awesome news Andrew, hope you keep traveling well!

onatreetop
12-06-2009, 02:19 AM
Congrads!!! Nice report card!! Good to hear things are okay and looking up. :)

coffeelover
12-06-2009, 07:42 AM
So Happy for you Andrew.

I know my rhuemy is concerned about my rising Anca scores too. What does this indicate anyway? There is concern, yet, not concern regarding this?
LIsa

Jack
12-06-2009, 07:51 AM
ANCA used to be considered as THE indicator of Wegener's activity and many doctors still live with this belief, but if you ask any Wegener's patient they will tell you that the link is a bit more tenuous. My own blood tests always show that I am ANCA +ve even though I have no symptoms (of Wegener's) and it seems from my specialists that the more research they do into the subject, the more they realise that they don't fully understand it.

Doug
12-06-2009, 07:58 AM
That's pretty much my experience, too, Jack. I think the go by how you feel method is perhaps "unscientific", but what does science know about feeling good?:)

Sangye
12-06-2009, 08:55 AM
Non-Wegs specialists still think the ANCA is accurate. The research is pretty recent, though, so unless someone is in the field they wouldn't know. The Wegs specialists basically only use the ANCA for initial diagnosis.

andrew
12-06-2009, 10:19 AM
Rising ANCA doesn't seem to be a huge concern for my Doc at this point. Last time he put it down to the fact I'd been sick just previous although it had been slowly creeping up before. If it gets much higher than last time he'll probably bump up my Immuran a smidge. I've a feeling it'll be back down again this time though. Results come through next week some time. I'm feeling fine an my symptoms are not acting up any more than usual so I'm confident of a good result.

If you're anything like me, there's a 'tolerable' range of ANCA that your doc will live with (as will you LOL) but should it break the 'ceiling', you'll get to have more yummy juicy pills. I guess it also goes on how we feel and how our other bloods are looking. A combination of factors I suppose will alert a good doc.

DISNEYLADY
12-08-2009, 11:53 AM
Great for you, andrew!!! It takes a lot of work but it pays off. I'm still trying to get charlie in to the rummy and haven't found an immul. Yet. After the first of the yeaar mayo will take our ins. As he was told our system is going back to what we had, medicare and blue cross blue shield and each will be seperate and not combined as it is now. He is doing ok. I lowered my chol. Be eating oatmeal about 4 times a week and taking centrum cardio vitamins and drinking soymilk.
Keep going andrew!!!!!!!