Gary's Story

In early 2004 my blood pressure was increasing.  Then, on April 16, 2004 I collapsed in my shop. My left arm had gone numb moments earlier. I was aware that someone was calling 911. Then, nothing until I woke on April 30th in a hospital. I had an aneurism, stroke, and had been in coma for two weeks. On May 10^th, I was transferred to a nursing/rehab in Arlington, Texas, remaining there until I transferred to the transitional care unit in the VA hospital in Dallas.  In both places I was given dozens of pills every day.  I left only to later return with a broken hip, which was surgically repaired at the County Hospital in Fort Worth. The doctor there found an over production of aldosterone hormone excreted by adrenals will raise blood pressure causing my problem and I was put on medications. The doctor put me on Spironolactone, 100 mg daily, plus 4 calcium/vitamin D tabs, blood pressure pills and many other pills to take home.

In 2010 I bought Eat To Live and began changing my diet and health.  I began diminishing my daily two bowls of pills.  I got a recumbent tricycle riding almost daily for 45 to 60 minutes.  When I had my stroke I was about 230 pounds and now am 180 pounds and dropping.

I now take 12.5 mg of spironolactone, Vitamin D in the winter if I don' get sun, and a Dr. Fuhrman supplement plus a B-12 sublingual. By April 2013 my blood pressure was usually normal or slightly elevated. My cholesterol was 148; LDL 62. In November 2013 the doctor didn't even order cholesterol in my lab work!  Plus, she said she watched Forks Over Knives, and other documentaries, and her family is now primarily plant based. I want her to be educated, not to tell me what to eat, but so she will not tell me to eat things that would harm me. Educate your doctor.  I also hope she can help other veterans to be healthier, regardless of the treatments they get at a VA hospital or otherwise.