Well, it's back to the cardiologist

[propita]

So my doctor ordered a bunch of blood tests and sent me to a cardiologist, whom I see for the 2d time this coming Monday (Sep 14).

Almost every test result was fine, except one: Glucose 81--good. Total LDL 101--good. Total HDL 60--good. Sum Total Cholesterol 184--not bad. Triglycerides 120--good.

But with all this, there could be a problem. Dad had a total cholesterol around 150 and had blockage.

The "not-fine" test result? Cardio CRP. According to the blurb on the report, readings <1.0 are great; 1.0-3.0 are average cardiovascular risk; >3.0-10.0 are higher risk; and >10.0 is "associated with infection and inflammation."

My reading was 22.50.

There are caveats. A single reading is insufficient. Birth control pills can raise the reading (I've been on those 23yrs). Acute pancretitis can raise the reading (had that 35yrs ago from trauma--hit by a soccer ball in gym class).

But with the chest pain that comes and goes and the fact that I did NO exercise while studying for the Bar--well...I'm waiting for Hubby and the doctors. But I'm a bit scared.

I figure it would be my luck to work my ass off for 4yrs in law school, take the Bar, pass the Bar, finally start retaining some self-confidence, and then up and die of a heart attack. I told Hubby to make sure life insurance is paid on me.

 

[The Boy Who Cried Worf]

You're not allowed to die. We have made a new rule here. No one is allowed to die without T'Bonz permission. So you'll have to stay here and post. I wanna see you make Admiral by years end.

 

[Kestra]

Numbers aren't everything. I had a lab test come back last week with off the chart numbers and they repeated it three different days. They don't know how to make sense of it. As one doctor put it, "It's like someone walking around with a temperature of 106 F."

Listen to your doctors, work on controlling the risk factors you can manage, and remember that includes stress. Stress is not your friend. Take care of yourself. Hope things go better at your next appointment!

 

[RJDiogenes]

Given that you have two alternate reasons for the high reading-- the OCP and the pancreatitis-- and all the other values are normal, I wouldn't worry too much. Just relax and go to the doctor and see what happens. Even if you do have some health issue that just means you have to get treatment. You're not going to die.