Prior to my procedure I was up to about 240#, had mild hypertension that was easily controlled with a central acting anti-hypertensive med and so-so cholesterol.
I was eating the way the dietician reccommended (low fat/cholesterol) and moderately exercising. The weight was not coming off and the trig's and cholesterol were not changing either.
In the Versed induced hours following my procedure my Cardiologist said I fit into a category (recently named) as SYNDROME X . Family History of heart disease, apple or pear shaped body, hypertension and he also told me that I was on a path to end up a diabetic. He then went on to say that besides REALLY exercising my main goal was to increase my protien ingestion and radically decrease my carbohydrate ingestion - said something about "Syndrome X'ers" not metabolizing carbs efficiently. I listened to him and recorded it into my memory.
My follow up visit with my internist a week later and the "Syndrome X" thing came up again, along with the higer lean protien and low carb eating habits. So I figured that if both were saying the same thing, maybe it was something I should look into.
So far in the last three weeks, I have dropped 26 pounds, three and a half inches off my neck, three inches off my chest and waist - I am now doing cardiovascular workouts 4 times a week for 40 minutes (OK'd by Dr.) Had cholesterol and trig's were checked last thursday trigs have been more than halved and bad cholesterol is down and good cholesterol is way up.
Restenosis is still on my mind, but they say that after the first 6 months without problems I should be in the clear.
Good luck to your friend - encourage him to have a survivor's attitude - it goes a long way.
Windknot
