Primal, Cholesterol and Insurance in Illinois page

[ChicagoPaleo]

A little background. I want to see a doctor last year, not too long after starting primal. I'd lost around 10 lbs already and was a couple of months in. While I am in good shape overall 5-11, 185 now, My wife wanted to see a doctor, etc., so she set up the appointment. I went and despite having an anniversary dinner the night before (big dinner with more sugar than I'd had in the previous month probably), I had a cholesterol test.

It came back very high and with high Triglycerides as well; about 325 TC/48 HDL/150 Triglycerides; Also Vit D was lower than I expected at 25 (disturbing to me because it was the end of summer so I should have been topped up).

Anyway, so I wasn't too worried, I figured some of it was the adjustment period, some of the triglycerides were likely due to the big dinner with sugars/high fructose CS and alcohol the night before. But, I made some changes:

- dialed up my vitamin D intake (5K - 10K a day)
- dialed up my fish oil intake (2-3 g of omega 3 a day)
- tried to exercise more (wanted to add some sprints, etc.), but was only moderately successful here as I've been traveling a lot for work.
- added a bit to my niacin intake (2 MG a day on most days)
- CoQ10 every day
- Vitamin K every day

So in the context of all of that, I'd started my own consulting company and was incorporated this year. My previous insurance was running out and I've found that my previous number makes me virtually uninsurable (one agent said that they would not issue private insurance if your Total Chol. is over 220). I took another cholesterol test on Friday, but I very much doubt that I'll be below 220 even if I make a huge improvement. So even if I double my HDL, lower my trigs by half, I'm still screwed. I find out on Monday or Tuesday what the results are, but need to plan ahead a bit.

- One option is to use the Illinois health pool (HIPAA version of iCHIP), but that could cost me around a 1000 or so more than the private option.

- If it is below 220 then I shouldn't have a problem. I think this is unlikely, but stranger things have happened.

- Possibly I could set up a group health package for my company (i.e., my wife and I ), but that might screw up her current insurance (she had to be covered by the HIPAA version of iCHIP as she has serious pre-existing conditions - juvenile diabetes among other things.)

- Could also do some CW intervention, stake statins, go on a low fat diet, get retested and then try to reapply (not preferable at all, and not something I could do in time to avoid losing my HIPAA status)

I'll wait for the test, but most likely, I am probably looking at using the Illinois CHIP program to be covered and then maybe later figuring things out. At least with that I protect my continuous coverage status and have a comprehensive plan.

Anyway, so I know this is long winded and I should have realized that a high cholesterol test would screw my ability to get insurance, but has anyone been in this situation? Anyone have any advice on what to do?

thanks in advance.

[bryanccfshr]

Get another test. These things tend to swing wildly based on the dietary excursion you had the night before. Pluse you are in a weight loss mode during the test. That will skew the numbers as well. I never had an insurance company even ask about my cholesterol.

[amdws1234]

I was just listening to Jimmy Moore Ask the Low Carb expert podcast from 4/27. It wasabout "exploding the low carb myth" - about 2/3 through it, Jimmy was talking about getting health insurance and his LDL was totally high but tri's were fantastic and HDL was pretty good. He was talking about a calcium test you could get for your heart and the Dr on there was talking about how you could get an ultrasound of your major arterial pathways (cost a few hundred $) that could SHOW the amount of build-up you have.

If your numbers are still kooky, you might want to consider one/other of those options as additional material to submit with a stupid cholesterol test. If you come armed with information, you might actually get someone to look at more than just a test.

[ChicagoPaleo]

thanks everyone. I'm waiting for the results before I decide for sure. I guess if it is low enough I will try to get coverage. I'm hoping to be in the 220 range (would love to see 220TC/80HDL/75Triglycerides, but we will see)

If not, in the short term, it looks like I am likely to enroll in the HIPAA coverage offered by the state. it may be more expensive, but it gives me time to figure things out.

[ChicagoPaleo]

Wow, I don't know where to start. Things have gotten even worse. The numbers are up from last time and after a year on the diet (relatively compliant, carbs usually between 50-100), exercise not great but decent. Taking Niacin, fish oil, and still not getting anywhere with my cholesterol numbers:

Last test:
TC: 363
LDL: 281
HDL: 45
Triglycerides: 186

I need to start a separate thread. something is seriously wrong, I think...

[teach2183]

Can you go to the Wheat Belly facebook page and ask Dr William Davis about his rec on raising HDL and lowering triglycerides? I think there are certain foods you can eat/avoid to help these numbers. Are you currently losing weight? Are you actually in Chicago, or the suburbs? I can suggest a doctor that's on board with low carb that might be able to get your body back in line.

[ChicagoPaleo]

Can you go to the Wheat Belly facebook page and ask Dr William Davis about his rec on raising HDL and lowering triglycerides? I think there are certain foods you can eat/avoid to help these numbers. Are you currently losing weight? Are you actually in Chicago, or the suburbs? I can suggest a doctor that's on board with low carb that might be able to get your body back in line.

Teach, thanks so much for your help.

- I am in the city, but would happily go to the suburbs if it meant finding the right doctor!
- I'm not currently losing weight, but would like to drop another 5 lbs of fat or so
- thanks for the reminder about Dr. Davis - I may join his program just to try to see what is happening.