Today, I made my way to AA Pharmacy for a blood test. In collaboration with Accura Healthcare, AA Pharmacy offers monthly affordable blood tests, making it an excellent alternative to clinics or hospitals. Over the years, I’ve done my annual blood tests here. I like the convenience that Accura will Whatsapp the softcopy of the blood test report to me first and I can later collect the hardcopy from the pharmacy at my neighborhood.
This visit, however, wasn’t part of my routine yearly check-up. My cardiologist had advised me to check my cholesterol levels a few months after starting on statins, and today was the day to see if the medication is working.
I have Familial hypercholesterolemia, a disorder that is passed down through families. It causes LDL (bad) cholesterol levels to be very high. Even though I eat very little meat, and am stick thin, my cholesterol levels are still very high.
As I sat down at the registration table, the man from Accura managing the blood tests surprised me. He asked if I’d come for a blood test earlier this year in February. When I confirmed, he said he remembered me! Imagine my surprise—he’d only seen me once for about 10-15 minutes, nine months ago, yet he still recalled me. I couldn’t help but wonder what made me so memorable! Perhaps my friendly chatter or just good old serendipity? Either way, it was a small but pleasant moment that added a personal touch to the experience.
Thankfully, the medical assistant did a great job drawing my blood with minimal discomfort—something I always appreciate, as needles aren’t my favorite thing. With the test done, I rewarded myself by heading next door to a coffee shop for a comforting bowl of my favorite bitter gourd soup with minced pork.
Skipping the noodles, I opted for a hearty bowl filled with thinly sliced bitter gourd, a soft egg, minced pork, and crunchy pork lard, all swimming in a hot, flavorful pork soup. It was a bowl of keto pure comfort after fasting for 16 hours. Alongside, I indulged in a cup of milk tea—a treat I’ve avoided for over a year due to its tendency to cause heart palpitations and dizziness. But today, I couldn’t resist!
Now, the waiting begins. I’m hopeful that my cholesterol levels have dropped and that the statin is doing its job. I’d rather not have my cardiologist increase the dosage or add another medication. Fingers crossed that the changes I’ve made to my lifestyle and diet, coupled with the statin, are enough to keep things under control.
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