In the year since I had helped this person get her VA benefits and her original doctor had gotten her an
appointment with an endocrinologist, we have stayed in contact
infrequently until this month. Now she was seeking my assistance in
avoiding statins as her cholesterol levels had taken an upward trend
and her regular doctor has prescribed a statin. She knew that she
could not avoid them as the readings for her lipid panel had jumped
way over the upper limit and her triglycerides were way too high –
almost 400.
I asked her what her recent A1c's had
been and these were 5.7%, 5.5%, and 5.9%. Very good and gave no
indication on why her cholesterol could have increased so
dramatically. My next question was about changes in her food plan
and what had changed there. The next email started with an Ohh, No,
and she admitted that she had increased the number of carbs she was
eating, but had thought with the amount of fat she was consuming that
she would be okay.
I suggested that she continue with the
statin and start lowering the carbohydrates she was consuming. I
also suggested that she pay attention to the amount of protein she
might not be eating. Then I suggested that she have her doctor refer
her to a nutritionist for more balancing of her food plan. The next
day I received an email from her doctor asking if I knew of a
nutritionist as he did not and he knew I was not referring to a
dietitian.
I called my cousin and asked her if she
could do this. She said she would as another of our cousins lived in
the same town and she was overdue for a visit. I gave her the
doctor's email and phone number and she said she would call him. I
sent my friend an email saying the doctor could be calling shortly
with a referral and that it would be with a cousin of mine. Our
emails crossed and she was letting me know she had an appointment for
Saturday at her house. She was wondering why on the weekend and at
her house.
I had just about finished a response,
when I received another email. She was excited and had heard from my
cousin by phone and why she wanted it at her home. She asked why I
had not told her about a cousin (also a second cousin) that lived in
her town. She was glad I had someone to refer to her doctor and even
if it was a relative. She knew from my blogs that I had a cousin
that was a nutritionist, but had not expected her to want to travel
that far.
I completed my response and said that
she was the only one I was aware of and I was happy that she was
given the phone number to call her directly as I was going to have
her call me and give me her my phone number so that I could set up a
three way call. Now I did not need to and this was good.
I said that I was not sure where my
other cousin lived, but knew she could be in the same part of the
state. I have too many second and third cousins and am not sure
where many of them live, as we haven't kept in close contact.
She answered that she would let me know
how things went and would give my cousin permission to talk to me.
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