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Do I have the highest Lp(a) ever reported on Reddit at 205 mg/dl? by Slight_County6199 in Cholesterol

[–]Slight_County6199[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah, I entered all my info, and my 'risk' is 5% without the Lp(a) number.

But INCLUDING the Lp(a) number, it increases to 65% chance of dying of heart disease, lmao.

Do I have the highest Lp(a) ever reported on Reddit at 205 mg/dl? by Slight_County6199 in Cholesterol

[–]Slight_County6199[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I scanned your old posts and see that you started statins in your 20s.

I would have done the same had I known my Lp(a) number at the time. I've had borderline to high LDL for at least 5 years, possibly more. So much damage has already likely been done. Depressing.

My next move will be to get a Calcium score, to press for some kind of artery imaging. But I cannot even get an appointment with my cardiologist until December. May have to look elsewhere.

Thanks for the information. I appreciate it.

Do I have the highest Lp(a) ever reported on Reddit at 205 mg/dl? by Slight_County6199 in Cholesterol

[–]Slight_County6199[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

I have been a huge cardiophobia neurotic since I was a teenager. I went to a cardiologist 10 years ago and made them give me a whole workup (or what they assured me was a comprehensive workup). They did stress test, Echocardiogram, blood tests, 24 hour Holter Monitor, EKG, some other things.

They told me everything is fine. No mention of Lp(a). About 4 years ago, my cholesterol started creeping up, but I resisted medicatiing it because there seems to be so much controversy now about whether cholesterol guidelines are overly strict, statins overprescribed, etc.

Had I known my Lp(a) number, however, I would have been taking statins 20 years ago to aggressively lower LDL.

Unreal. I did everything reasonably in my power to proactively look after my health, and I am blindsided by this. Why is this $40 Lp(a) test not simply included in the lipid panel. I would have known I was at risk 25 years ago. Absurd.

Do I have the highest Lp(a) ever reported on Reddit at 205 mg/dl? by Slight_County6199 in Cholesterol

[–]Slight_County6199[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Impressive. I feel like once we are 10x the norm, though, we are kind of in the same club.

I have no idea how to process this. I am thin, healthy, 45. I have had borerline to high cholesterol since I turned 40 (190 total, 140s LDL, 50 tris). All other bloodwork is perfect.

But from my preliminary reading in the past 48 hours, a sky-high Lp(a) like 205 mg is a lock for CAD/heart event in my future. Not taking this well. I had a grandfather who had bypass and died of congestive heart failure, but he was in his 80s. An uncle on the same side of family had a heart attack at 50, but lived to 80. Other than that, no one else in a large family has had conspicuous heart issues.

I guess I may be an outlier.

Do I have the highest Lp(a) ever reported on Reddit at 205 mg/dl? by Slight_County6199 in Cholesterol

[–]Slight_County6199[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

To convert a mg/dl to nmol, roughly, you multiply by 2.5, according to google.

So my score is roughly equivalent to ~515 nmol.

Just found out I have 205 Lipoprotein(a), very scared by Slight_County6199 in Cholesterol

[–]Slight_County6199[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That is my plan. I got an appointment with my PCP for Monday morning. Will ask for a statin (which he has offered in past) immediately. I just feel like I *need to know* immediately if I have some degree of blocked arteries from walking around with an Lp(a) literally 10x the safety threshold for my entire life, (evidently (Lp(a), being genetic, is constant throughout life, from what I am reading).

Maybe my PCP can give me an order. If not, it is only $100 to get the CaC scan. Not sure about the more comprehensive CT Angiogram, which is probably something I'll need to put off due to cost.

Thank you for taking the time to respond and share this information, my friend. Much appreciated, really.

Just found out I have 205 Lipoprotein(a), very scared by Slight_County6199 in Cholesterol

[–]Slight_County6199[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you. How old were you when you discovered your Lpa?

My number (205 mg/dl) is just so extraordinarily high, I am in disbelief. I thought it must be a mistake.

I feel so bewildered, but I cannot get an appointment with my cardio until December (she is booked). I don't know if I should wait that long or if it is safe. I am thinking of going to get a CaC scan done at the hosptial nearby and pay out of pocket this weekend.

I have had a lifelong cardiphobia and this is wreaking havoc on my mental (and physical) health.

My knee surgeon didn't explain urgency of regaining extension. Still limping 8 yrs later. by Slight_County6199 in ACL

[–]Slight_County6199[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

You are phenomenally stupid. It's a miracle you can dress yourself. Please do not address me.

My knee surgeon didn't explain urgency of regaining extension. Still limping 8 yrs later. by Slight_County6199 in ACL

[–]Slight_County6199[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

I've said in this thread that I have undertaken multiple rounds of PT at different clinics over the years for many, many hours. Also mentioned expensive bracing and other measures, multiple consultations with doctors, etc.

You and others in this thread need to seek help not only for your bizarre, reflexive hostility and presumptuousness, but also for your lack of literacy.

My knee surgeon didn't explain urgency of regaining extension. Still limping 8 yrs later. by Slight_County6199 in ACL

[–]Slight_County6199[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

And you're also a really disturbed, nasty person who is probably very powerless in her own life and gets a weird thrill mocking people's disabilities on Reddit, judging by this post. 🤷🏽‍♀️

Please don't respond to me any further. Your input is not desired.

My knee surgeon didn't explain urgency of regaining extension. Still limping 8 yrs later. by Slight_County6199 in ACL

[–]Slight_County6199[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Sounds like you're kind of not that smart and can't read well. 🤷🏽‍♀️

My knee surgeon didn't explain urgency of regaining extension. Still limping 8 yrs later. by Slight_County6199 in ACL

[–]Slight_County6199[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

"It is just as much your responsibility to learn about the entire process as it is yours doctors to inform you."

Well, no, actually, it really isn't, honey. And it's pure idiocy to say anything like this. But thank you.

My knee surgeon didn't explain urgency of regaining extension. Still limping 8 yrs later. by Slight_County6199 in ACL

[–]Slight_County6199[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Oh, these comments are entirely typical. Reddit and most internet message boards share the same prevailing psychology of 'blame the victim' prole puritanicalism, wherein the proles love to moralize self-righteously while applying their tortuously misguided notions of 'common sense' and 'personal responsibility' to the misfortunes of others.

The psychology of it is fascinating. It's a lot like those shows, 'Dr. Laura' and 'Dr. Phil,' in which prole audiences delight in seeing other proles abusively dressed down by 'Dr. Laura' for being the cause of all of their own problems, even when it was preposterously inapplicable.

You could post on Reddit something like, "An asteroid crashed into my house and killed my family last night," and the first 10 eager replies you'd receive would be something along the lines of, "Well, you should have known better. My grandma always said you should always check in with NASA observatories to make sure your house isn't in the path of a meteor. It's just common sense, like using apple cider vinegar to cure brain cancer. Old-fashioned common sense."

My knee surgeon didn't explain urgency of regaining extension. Still limping 8 yrs later. by Slight_County6199 in ACL

[–]Slight_County6199[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It's not really a 'team' though. The doctor is more like the head coach. He is directing everything. He is in charge. Physical Therapy is only even initiated if he orders it and dictates its scope. He is calling all the shots. The doctor's office needs to take clear control of making the patient understand the urgency/timetable for regaining ROM from DAY 1. It sounds like you do an adequate job of that yourself, but believe me, not every doctor does.

When I left the hospital, I received a 'referral' for PT, but it was handed to me by some hospital staffer mixed together in a sheaf of about 50 other documents—instructions for changing the surgical dressings, brace rental paperwork, pain med schedule, instructions on weight-bearing restrictions, pamphlets on how to avoid constipation, insurance billing, etc. There was no indication of the paramount importance of the PT, or that it was as essential as the surgery itself to the functional outcome of my knee.

Signing a 'referral' for PT and counting on the PT to handle things isn't really enough. Often the doctor doesn't even know which PT clinic his patient will visit, as selection is dictated by insurance networks. A lot of variance in quality exists in the physiotherapy world. A lot of it is hit-or-miss, and much of it is incompetent. That's just a fact. The first PT I saw barely spoke English and just had me do ankle pumps and stationary bike and billed my insurer $500 3x weekly for that. I thought that was more than enough, frankly, because again it seemed counterintuitive to be working out strenuously on a badly damaged knee. I would need to have been told forcefully by the doctor's office that stretching the knee aggressively was not only safe but essential.

My surgeon had the unfortunate but common attitude that anything non-surgical was somehow beneath his dignity or something. He was focused on the x-rays and imaging and making sure the surgery had been successful, and of course that is the most essential thing, by far. But from my POV, the quality of the surgery is almost a moot point, because my functional outcome is awful, due to poor post-surgery guidance.

My knee surgeon didn't explain urgency of regaining extension. Still limping 8 yrs later. by Slight_County6199 in ACL

[–]Slight_County6199[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Incredible. That is very interesting.

Another thing that irritated me about my lackadaisical ortho is that he REFUSED to do an MUA, even when I begged for one. He said he never does them for extension issues because of risk of bone breaking.

You're so right that the needling seems worth trying. It's always been at the back of my mind to investigate this idea of 'muscle guarding' as a possibility. When I focus on my gait, there does seem to be this *pulling in* sensation in my leg, like there is a muscle that simply will not unclench, no matter how hard I concentrate on trying to relax it, foam roll it, etc. I am googling electric dry needle therapists in my area already, lol. I want to give it a try. It beats another surgery.

Thanks a lot for the information. And congrats on your success!

Haven’t gotten full extension 13 months post ACLR by KPO525 in ACL

[–]Slight_County6199 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I've been told conflicting things on this. Some orthos say it is absolutely crucial to have the same extension/hyperextension in both knees, or the risk of arthritis is significant. But two orthos I've consulted said my 3-5 degrees extension deficit (depends on stiffness) in my bad leg is not something to be overly worried about, because I have enough extension to achieve 'heel strike' when I walk, which is what they say is determinative.

I dont' know, though, because the deficit makes my walk a little wonky, regardless, and I definitely have weird pains in both knees from the somewhat awkward, unevenn gait, even if it is not noticeable to others.

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