All in the Genes

Watching my grandmothers succumb to severe strokes was surreal at a younger age.

A pledge to myself

Fast forward to being a mom having to tell my 4-year-old son that his Nana was hospitalized in the “big city” as he called it. He wanted to see her, so off to Pittsburgh we went.

He crawled up next to her and accepted everything he saw. She muttered, “My Michael” while intubated.

I pledged to myself: This won’t be me. I don’t smoke. I don’t have high cholesterol.

High cholesterol is in my genes

Well, for me, it’s in the genes. The higher the cholesterol level, the higher the atorvastatin was increased.

80mg. It took going into congestive heart failure after just turning 53 for anyone to do anything else but increase that medication.

A healthy cardiovascular future

After 3 liters were taken off and advocating to get my cholesterol levels down, I am now on fenofibrate, Jardiance, hydrochlorothiazide, aspirin, and Wegovy (weight and MASH).

That 53,000-mile checkup hopefully turns my stroke factor future into a rewarding future with my now almost 18-year-old son (future grandbabies) and a healthy cardiovascular future.

Triglycerides: 126
Cholesterol: 178
LDL: 100
HDL: 55