Wellness Wednesday

Wellness Wednesday is going to be an ongoing part of my blog while I work to regain my health and wellbeing after my last adventure in the hospital at the end of August.  After a few weeks of being angry with my former cardiologist for dropping the ball and angry with myself for not being more aggressive where my health was concerned and slipping into a mild depression, I made a few positive changes.  

The first thing I did was to stop taking the Statin drugs that were making me sick and causing so much leg pain there were days when I couldn't get off a chair without my legs going out from under me.  The Statin medication was to lower my cholesterol, that nasty stuff that has clogged quite a few arteries in my body. But my quality of life was disappearing rapidly and I was to the point where I just didn't care any more.  Luckily those feelings passed after about 2 weeks.

The next thing I did was begin walking, not too far but daily or nearly everyday, the surgery on the carotid artery took a toll on my energy then about 2 weeks after the surgery I felt well enough to walk.  I went from my front door to the corner and back, some days I made it up and back twice. Little by little I increased the length of my walks at the local park, a few days a week.  

I had a flu shot in September and the Pneumonia shot last week at the urging of my Primary Doctor,  I was ambivalent about the Pneumonia shot but since I get bronchitis several times and year I decided to go for it cause I'm getting older and my body seems like it just wants to fight me whenever I gain back a bit of my health.

I have a new cardiologist, that agreed stopping the Statins was smart because the side effects I was having could have long term effects.  I know I need something so we discussed a non statin medication and said he would put in a request for approval for Repatha. It's a self injectable medication I will take twice a month using a device similar to an Epipen.  

I told the doctor my former cardiologist once mentioned it then when I asked for it because the statin was making me sick and causing pain he shut me down, explaining the cost is quite high.  I told him that didn't matter when I had my heart attack in 2011 Plavix cost me $872.12 each  month and I paid it out of pocket for the year I needed to be on it.  He kind of ignored me and that is one of the reasons I found a new cardiologist, that and the fact that because his office didn't follow though on the surgeon a year ago about the carotid artery and the 3 times I questioned him what was the plan and no results until August 29th when I found my self in the ER under STROKE ALERT. 

I saw the new cardiologist on Monday, on Tuesday the pharmacy called and told me the Repatha would cost me $545.00  did I want them to fill it.  I said yes. (I was shocked at how fast the doctor worked to get the approval) today with coupon from GoodRx I came home with my first 2 doses. I was able to use the coupon so this is what $519.00 gets you:

Anyway I am really hoping there are too many side effects to deal with, I have research and some people have none, some have a few and others have some nasty side effects.  What I have learned over the years is most medications have side effects often worse then the actual ailment they treat.

The weather here has changed, today in fact it was quite cool with the lows tonight dropping to 39 possibly.  I don't mind the cooler weather it makes my walks all the more pleasant.

After my release from the hospital I did a revamp of my diet moving from low-fat to nearly no fat.  I am scrutinizing labels and putting things back on the shelf when I think do I need that much sodium, carbs, fiber etc.  I go to the grocery store 3 or 4 times a week for fruits and vegetables, I eat fresh and I don't like to buy it all at once because with the stomach issues I have I may be in the mood for the fruit or veg when I buy it but a few days later I still haven't touched it and often I wind up giving it to my daughter in law before it turns to a rotted mess.  So now I will buy 2 apples or 2 pears, some berries or grapes and once they are gone I go out and buy more. So far this is working well and once my tolerance for food improves maybe I will be able to shop weekly once again or I will stick with shopping 3-4 times a week.

When I saw the doctor on Monday I was pleased to learn I lost 12 pounds since I left the hospital on August 30th. This Friday I'm having bloodwork done for my primary doctor, this will give me the numbers I need to see how well or not so well things are going.  Plus I can set my goals to address what needs to change.  I had to reschedule my bloodwork several times because I was ill and once because hurricane Ian blew through. 

I'm monitoring my blood pressure twice a day this month since I noticed it's been spiking a few days each week.  I can feel it in my ears some days it makes me so tired and I have been getting  headaches often since my last hospital adventure which makes me worry about the piece of plaque in the M1 section of my brain and hope it won't cause a stroke or worse.  It can't be removed so I live with the knowledge that it's a real possibility it may kill me one day.   So Wednesday's will be Wellness days where I post on how I am doing in body, mind and spirit and my new adventure or journey on the road to wellness with Repatha.