Doctor visit

Made the ol' visit to the doc today. Always nice to hang out on South Anthony in Fort Wayne (uh... not really). Although I finally took a picture of the speed limit sign as you pull into their facility. I've always thought this was interesting: 10 1/3 mph. Hehe.

Anyway, it was a routine visit to see how the niacin has been affecting my cholesterol. Plus I had to tell him that my ear was still messed up. He said the leakage is just like when you get a blister or something and it oozes. I didn't need to hear that! So he said to keep using the ear drops he gave me last time - and just keep using them until it goes away for good. I don't know... we'll see.

There was a little bit of movement in my numbers. Here is the rundown today:

• Blood pressure: 128/80
• Weight: 166 (same)
  
• Total cholesterol: 221 (up from 219 - no biggie, but should be under 200)
• Bad cholesterol: 150 (up from 139 - no biggie; should be below 130)
  
• Good cholesterol: 35 (UP from 33 - should be above 40, but this is the highest it's ever been)
  
• Tryglicerides: 174 (down from 216 - great; should be below 200)

All in all I'd say it's pretty good. The niacin is supposed to mainly help the good cholesterol and tryglicerides - which were both pretty good for me. The doc didn't seem concerned about the other stuff. And my weight and blood pressure are good.

Also, he wrote me a new prescription for generic niacin, instead of niaspan, like I had been taking. The great thing about the generic is that it only costs $4 at Walmart (as does my bp medicine). That's cheaper than over-the-counter stuff. Yes! Oh, and my cholesterol numbers might have been even better, but I didn't take any niacin the 2 weeks I was on vacation.

I was so happy when I left I drove ten and ONE HALF mph out the driveway! But now I have to go back for another cholesterol check in three months to see how the generic niacin works. Does it ever end?