I have lost 40 lbs since Dec 6 at Jenny Craig. I have been on Maintenance for about 2 months and lost another 6 lbs. My goal at Jenny Craig was only 30 lb, so I am doing good on my own, now. Got my glucose down to 100 from 113, range on lab report was 64 ? 112, got my triglyeride down to 135 from 221, range on lab is 35 to 135. However my Cholestrol is still high at 231, HDL 45, AND LDL 159, so I need to cut out the fatty foods; red meat, and the egg yoke, cheese and dairy and walnuts, and what ever is fatty. Jenny Craig diet was high in Carbs on 1200 a day died, the carbs I ate were about 60 % carbs. But about 6 weeks a go I cut my carbs down and my sugar and Triglyeride went down to normal range. Problem is when I cut my carbs down, I increased my red meat and eggs with yoke and my cholestrol went up. Jenny Craig gave me a good jump start with losing the 30 lbs, but I lost another 10 lb on my own food and got the glucose/tryglycerides down by cutting down on the carbs. Even though I have lost 40 lbs, I have not lose a lot of inches around the waist, I still can't seem to lose the belly. Looks like it will be the last to go. So am thinking of trying to lose another 10 lb and see if I can lose the belly. Only lost 3 in in the waist, 6 in in the abdomen, 5 in in the hips, 5 in in the thighs, 4 in in the chest, 2 in in calves. So only 3 inches in the waist at a 40 lb weight lost, just doesn't seem right!!! However depending on Inusrance approval. On Gleevec I am at the top of CCyR. Plus have Chronic Kidney Failure according to GFR and swelling in my hands. I don't know which came first the chicken or the egg. I am suppose to be switching from Gleevec to 50 mg of Sprycel for about 3 months and if I have a low CCYR will stay there. If not then will go to 70 mg for about 3 months if have low CCyR or better will stay there, depends on side effect and other counts. My GFR on kidneys is down to Stage 3 Chronic Kidney Failure but ONC says that is BS as long as Ceatinine and Bun are OK. But I read a report where the Creatinine will show normal until you have 60 percent loss of kidneys. I don't know what to believe. I see my primary doctor June 16, that would be today at 3 pm, I am going to insist on seeing a Kidney specialist. I stayed in Florida for a week and 1 week I stay with a school chum I grown up with she has been on dialysis for a year, hopefully her donor will pass all her test for the transplant. Anyhow after staying with her for a week and seeing what she goes thru, If it comes to losing my kidney's I am throwing in the towel. Bad enough to have CML let along add kidney dialysis. I have a Bad immune system the way it is. She has that wire under her skin on the upper right arm, they stick a needle in it and the blood come out one end and goes in the other. her diet is junk food, can't have potassium, or phosprates, etc. She is tired all day and sleeps alot and when she is out shoppin or whatever, she has to take a lot of short breaks. Nope don't want to lose my kidneys. Already lost my gall bladder in 2008 two years after being on Gleevec, don't know if it had anything to do with Gleevec. Surgeon said gall bladder looked good and healthy but the test said the tube from the gall bladder didn't open up right into the digestive part. I don't know if switching drugs will be any better, but I'm sure not going on high dose, that for sure, I will throw in the towel before I do that. After all TKI'S only kill the PH+ at the bottom level, a far cry from a cure that starts at stem cell at the top and mess with the whole blood line. I Could be undedectible and still have a million leukemia cells, so why a high dose if you have to start losing organs. To me at age 65 that is such a poor quality of life and wouldn't be for me. For others they it may not mean alot but to me it means everything. Give 10 more good years in Florida (hoping to move there) and I will die happy.
Pam South
Pam South