Conference : Timos site conference : About various subjects site deals with http://www.timos.com/forums Use this forum to ask questions or provide comments to miscellaneous items in Timos Corner http://www.timos.com/forumsmessages.cfm?threadid=F1347EF6-9BEA-0AFB-7CD6FE5EC226723C&r=1 2010-07-20T11:58:46-07:00 About the Timos Corner Articles I know several of you are following the story of my heart bypass surgery. This story gets updated every time something significant happens or I have new tests showing the cholesterol and other numbers that may be of interest. I had a new lipid panel test performed last week, so I have posted a [url=http://www.timos.com/timos/timoCorner/timoArticle.cfm?itemID=164]new update to the story[/url]. I would appreciate comments about this, not just this last item but any part of the story. [i]* Last updated by: timo on 11/30/2009 @ 7:58 AM *[/i] http://www.timos.com/forumsmessages.cfm?threadid=45CD7FB7-C275-EFA8-1B577638F5424934&r=2 2009-11-30T07:55:13-07:00 New update to heart bypass story Maybe I'm biased because I work for "Big Pharma", not Pfizer though. At a total cholesterol of 110, my level is as low as it is going to get. As my cariologist said: "A cholesterol level of 200 is OK. However, if you have a history of CAD (coronary artery disease), the lower the better." From an article from the Mayo Clinic: Ideally, keep your total cholesterol below 200 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL), or 5.2 millimoles per liter (mmol/L), and your LDL cholesterol below 100 mg/dL (2.6 mmol/L)  or below 70 mg/dL (1.8 mmol/L) if you're at very high risk of heart disease. An adult who eats a low-fat, low-cholesterol diet may have an LDL cholesterol level between 40 and 50 mg/dL (1.0 and 1.3 mmol/L) and a total cholesterol level of 100 mg/dL (2.6 mmol/L). It's also important to remember that high-density lipoprotein (HDL), or "good," cholesterol counts, too. A low HDL level increases the risk of heart disease. For women, a low HDL level coupled with excess weight after menopause may increase the risk of breast cancer as well. To help prevent heart disease, aim for an HDL level of 60 mg/dL (1.5 mmol/L) or higher. "Disease" is such a bad word to have associated with you medical history. Once the insurance companies see this word, they immediately write you off. I tried to get some extra life insurance and as soon as I disclosed I had CAD, that was it. No one even bothered to evaluate my current condition or ask for medical records. Eat well, exercise and keep healthy http://www.timos.com/forumsmessages.cfm?threadid=AACCD9C4-915C-6F8E-9377F3E300906EAF&r=3 2009-05-07T17:18:16-07:00 RE update from Timo Hey Janssen, nice to hear from you. I am itching to visit your side of the big pond and hope I can make it to there before you come back to the USA  then maybe we can meet in France for some veal head, cassoulet, foie gras and other goodies. I am not doing a lot of smoking these days, except for the "occasional" Havana  going by my agreement of "one cigar a week", with my former cardiologist in SF, I reckon I am now on the third week of September 2021. I just returned from 7 days in SF, during which I ate at 11 restaurants, 5 of them new. The eating scene there remains amazing: except for the dinner in a new little Thai joint, all the meats I ate were grass-fed, the fish wild and almost everything organic; not only that, but well prepared. But I was good: no more than 1 bottle of wine in a meal  and lots of Italian, mostly better priced than the local wines. I feel healthy and am still staying away from the drugs, especially the FDA-approved ones. [i]* Last updated by: timo on 11/29/2009 @ 10:50 AM *[/i] http://www.timos.com/forumsmessages.cfm?threadid=AB0C9371-F5E8-DFA7-852FB7BB8B288D0B&r=4 2009-05-05T17:26:00-07:00 March email update from Timo I like your suggestions, and, in fact, I consume all the things you mention, except for the flax seed. Recently, I have cut down on the cream and butter, but I know I won't stop those completely  part of the reason is that I take CoQ10, which is fat-soluble, so it's better to eat a little fat with it, or it won't be absorbed by your body (OK, it's more because I love those two foods - and I eat them raw). I have been using the psyllium husk for years and have tried all kinds of liquids/juices to make it more palatable; in the end, I settled for just plain chilled water. The last year or so, I have been using a non-irradiated organic version  how's that for being good? When I have another lipid panel run, I will post an update and you will be notified, since you are on the Timos site email list. Thanks for your comment. [i]* Last updated by: timo on 5/5/2009 @ 4:58 PM *[/i] http://www.timos.com/forumsmessages.cfm?threadid=AADB08AA-E449-CDAF-FB4360774AB512F3&r=5 2009-05-05T16:56:21-07:00 Heart bypass story Since the stroke, I have improved my lipid panel numbers significantly without taking the Lipitor. As George Costanza (in Seinfeld) would say, "it's not you, it's me". I don't trust Big Pharma, especially Pfizer after they ran those phony Dr. Jarvik ads on TV for over a year. I might add that it pisses me off that Pfizer didn't get nailed for a 50-100 million dollar fine or that the executhief responsible for that ad is not behind bars. I have no idea if I will get another stroke or not, but if I do, I don't think it will be caused by my failure to take a statin drug. Most authorities consider a total cholesterol level below 200 mg/dl normal, high if over 240. Based on that, your cholesterol level is too low. Who knows, eh? I do, however, thank you for your feedback. http://www.timos.com/forumsmessages.cfm?threadid=AACCD9C4-915C-6F8E-9377F3E300906EAF&r=6 2009-05-05T16:38:42-07:00 RE update from Timo Use this forum to post comments about subjects that are not specifically addressed by other forums. All posts, except those about topics that fit the subjects of other existing forums, should go in this forum. I will be adding more forums as users bring up more subjects. For example, if many people post comments here about the site's Green Earth section, I will probably add a new forum called "Green Earth". http://www.timos.com/forumsmessages.cfm?threadid=1309F303-F4E6-635C-395CAFB4F329A2A2&r=7 2009-05-05T16:14:13-07:00 This general discussion forum It seems that opinions are all lending toward the same conclusion - the american health care system is out of control. When compared to the systems in northern european countries (like the one I live in here in Germany) or even the systems in South Korea or Italy, which I have personal experiences with, it's clearly obvious the reason for the overcosts, lack of care, or long delays at an ER is the desire of the insurance companies to generate giant profits, and the american gov't allowing that to happen at the expense of the consumer, not surprising given US history the last 400+ yrs. For good pvt ins here in Frankfurt, I pay ¬180 / month. In 2007 in Seoul when I had to visit the dentist for a basic checkup/cleaning, I paid $10. For a doc visit, $3. No gigantic copay/deductible minimums required. Incredible. It just goes to show how a few, select people wanting to get rich can drive a system into dire straits and cause some of the issues noted by the previous posts here. As we say in Italian, "il sistema e cazzato", which means "the system is f****d". http://www.timos.com/forumsmessages.cfm?threadid=51D063F6-B481-1966-80546514DE8A7356&r=8 2009-04-15T00:43:52-07:00 The American health care system sucks Ciao Carlos - Wow, what a candid and interesting series of articles. I have just read parts 1 & 2, plus the updates. Obviously at age 33 I can't compare any of my personal experiences to this, but can with confidence say that a lot of what you have mentioned I have also seen with my 2 (former) grandfathers, aging family friends, etc. Most of them had been ok going with whatever the "doc" said, and were all too happy to eat the prescription meds like candy.. To that point, I do admire you for not "prescribing" (excuse the pun) to that point. It seems there are some positive effects those drugs can and do have, but also some suspicious outside influences which I believe aren't always in the patient's best interest. And yes, the "how you are going to be a vegetarian" thing would have also caused me to feel like I was being asked to stop breathing too. My god. As I have been increasingly absorbing myself into Italian food as of the last few months, I can fully agree, also being a high volume user of hard italian cheeses and olive oil thank you. Alas, I am happy to hear you are still upright and with us. Although I am currently living in Germany with my girlfriend (yes, she is a cute one you would like.....), I still think about the times in Timos, be it getting sloshed on sangria, smoking with you and David, or just doing my favorite activity of eating. Here in Europe I have discovered one truth in my life - that the reason (I believe) americans seem to have health issues more than anyone and die of more heart attacks, etc., is not so much the "diet" issue, but the stress level. It's amazing how much I have discovered the fast paced lifestyle, this material desire to have "more", the "biggest", and the "best" of everything is just absurd. I am completely content to have the best in terms of food, wine (which doesn't need to be expensive to be great, just like my favorite Barolo or Primitivo), and loving memories with my family/friends. I think that is more than most people have, and I am grateful for that. Good to hear from you. Be well, remember to drink more Italian wine (I am biased, I know), and be happy. Janssen [i]* Last updated by: timo on 4/15/2009 @ 11:45 AM *[/i] http://www.timos.com/forumsmessages.cfm?threadid=AB0C9371-F5E8-DFA7-852FB7BB8B288D0B&r=9 2009-04-01T01:51:00-07:00 March email update from Timo Carlos, I enjoyed reading your story and I am even more interested in seeing what you can do with diet to further change your blood panel. Adding oats to your diet (without cream and butter) can bring your cholesterol, particularly the LDLs, down even further. Other sources of soluble fiber are psyllium husk (if you can get used to swallowing it), apples (or other source of pectin), oranges (especially if you eat some of the white pith surrounding the fruit), flax seed (better if you grind it), vegetables like carrots, and nuts. Good luck. [i]* Last updated by: timo on 4/15/2009 @ 10:54 AM *[/i] http://www.timos.com/forumsmessages.cfm?threadid=AADB08AA-E449-CDAF-FB4360774AB512F3&r=10 2009-03-31T11:21:00-07:00 Heart bypass story Hey Carlos, Thanks for the update on your health. While I applaude your conviction about not wanting to take Lipitor, I have no such conviction. I had an angionplasty at the age of 37! I am not overweight, had borderline high cholesterol. For me, my problem was genetic. Honestly I was not as active as I could have been, but how many of us are. Long story short, I increased my exercise, watched the red meat and take Lipitor. I take the minium dose of 10mg daily along with fish oil, flax seed oil, folic acid, B+ vitamin along with the baby aspirin and hit the gym anywhere from 3 to 5 times a week. Cholesterol as last visit was 110! While I would like not to take all these pills, I have experiencd no harm and nothing but benefits. I have two young kids and owe it to them to be around. For me, the pills are a very very small price to pay. I wish you the best. I personally think you should take the Lipitor, fish oil (whether in pill for or lots of fresh fish) and aspirin. I think the risk of another stroke, perhaps more serious, far outweight your adversions to these meds. Best Regards [i]* Last updated by: timo on 4/15/2009 @ 10:55 AM *[/i] http://www.timos.com/forumsmessages.cfm?threadid=AACCD9C4-915C-6F8E-9377F3E300906EAF&r=11 2009-03-31T10:37:00-07:00 RE update from Timo What is America? A collection of citizens? An elected seat of representatives? Corporate boards? We may complain about America's health system, but people are still leaving their country to come here for procedures. It is more expensive because we have the best technology, the latest research, and the greatest chance for success in surgery. How many doctors are being forced to shut down their office's because malpractice insurance premiums cost more then all other bills combined? We are losing good doctors because we live in a litigious society. Why are hospital bills out of control? Because one mistake from a 3rd year resident on his 37th straight hour in the ER costs about $10 million in court and settlement costs. Who do you think pays that, the hospital CEO? As with anything else, the cost is passed down the chain onto the end user, us. Can a patient sue the hospital in France? In Canada, many patients drive south for medical care. Socialized medicine has created the same backlog in that country as it does for any industry. Waiting lists for routine procedures, and low confidence with staff. If you want to help correct the system, keep the lawyers out. http://www.timos.com/forumsmessages.cfm?threadid=51D063F6-B481-1966-80546514DE8A7356&r=12 2009-01-21T01:00:25-07:00 The American health care system sucks Heart Smart? The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) tracks US mortality rates. The National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) posts these online at www.cdc.gov/nchs. The most recent year for which data is wholly available is 2005. The top 5 leading causes of death, in order, are Heart Disease, Cancer, Stroke, Chronic lower respiratory diseases, and accidents. Diabetes is 6th. Did you know that what we choose to put into our bodies, directly affects all of those except accidents? Many Americans have sung poor me after being diagnosed with a condition that is partially controllable, and then do nothing about their part in correcting the issues. I just cant help it or heredity are often blamed for us not wanting to take responsibility for our actions and for our lives. We live in a fast-paced society. Everybody is rushing. Nobody has enough time. We need fast food. How can they still call it food? Have you looked at the nutritional content of a typical burger, chicken sandwich, or salad? I would say there is very little nutrition there, and a lot of what you shouldnt be putting into your bodies. A quarter pound hamburger with cheese can deliver over 61% of your daily allowance of saturated fat intake (in grams.) http://nutrition.mcdonalds.com/nutritionexchange. This is not the meal, just the burger. Even the salads can look healthy, until we dress them with so much goop. I encourage you to take a look at what you are eating, whether you are actively taking steps to correct any poor habits, and if you are creating health in your life. Take care of yourself, nobody will do it for you (unless you are already in a coma.) Start with heart education, it's the biggest killer there is. Salud! http://www.timos.com/forumsmessages.cfm?threadid=F85FD636-B7BA-6BD6-00A3D0F13EEC548B&r=13 2009-01-21T00:47:56-07:00 Heart Smart? It's a terrible physical ordeal that you have gone through and its ramifications that you are still suffering from. But gracias a dios that you have been in a position to have health insurance. I don't know what your hospital stay cost during your heart surgery, but my mother recently had a heart attack and had two stents installed in the emergency room and the bill was close to $100,000!! Again, a dreadful experience for everyone who has suffered from heart problems. What about all of the people without health insurance? How many people could afford $100,000 - $200,000 cash out of pocket to save their lives? It is incredible how our health system has been allowed to become so expensive. My sister pays $700 a month for her health insurance! People that don't have a company health plan, which are becoming more and more rare, are under enormous financial pressure by the gouging by the health and medical industries. It is no wonder that 47 million Americans were without health insurance in the US in 2007. Here in France, the system is socialized and so not comparable as far as how much I pay as a business owner for insurance or for an average salaried French person who pays under $100 a month for insurance. The example that I want to make is when my Cuban wife who at the time had not yet had insurance in place and had to visit the emergency room where she was attended by two doctors, one nurse, had blood tests and an ultrasound. Being an American and knowing what emergency care costs in the US I was bracing myself for very hefty bill. What a nice shock when the visit cost 70 euros... Greed and corruption brought down Wall Street, the Mortgage Industry, etc. At 47 million uninsured, a revolution must be brewing somewhere. America needs to get back in control of itself and return to being ethical, moral and compassionate. http://www.timos.com/forumsmessages.cfm?threadid=51D063F6-B481-1966-80546514DE8A7356&r=14 2008-12-19T16:34:18-07:00 The American health care system sucks Use this forum to ask questions or provide comments to the Timo's heart stories and updates. If you have not seen these items, go here: [url=http://www.timos.com/timos/timoCorner/timoArticle.cfm?itemID=94]http://www.timos.com/timos/timoCorner/timoArticle.cfm?itemID=94[/url] [i]* Last updated by: timo on 12/13/2008 @ 1:27 PM *[/i] http://www.timos.com/forumsmessages.cfm?threadid=3220F02D-A6DF-91AB-59BA8AC77E50EFE7&r=15 2008-12-13T12:55:00-07:00 About the heart stories forum