Cholesterol Levels?

smudgepot · 01-14-2009, 06:02 AM

Hi all,

Just got the numbers back from my Cholesterol test, and wanted to check with those of you who are knowledgeable about such things...

Total: 6.9
LDL: 4.5
HDL: 1.8

The doctor says he wants to put me on meds, but I am not sure if this is necessary? Can anyone give feedback?

Thanks!

smudgepot · 01-14-2009, 06:26 AM

Oh!

And Tri levels are 1.1 which is apparently ok?

junkfoodmonkey · 01-14-2009, 06:37 AM

Have you told your doctor about your new diet? My cholesterol came down while on Atkins, and most people will find a low carb diet will help them reduce cholesterol. Why not see if you can ask the doctor to hold off on meds for a few months to allow you to work on it with diet and exercise? That means you really have to stick to it, don't half-ass the low carb, make your plan and be committed.

For Americans by the way, here's a convertor to get the International Units reading into American.
OnlineConversion.com - Cholesterol Converter

In this case it's
Total: 267
LDL: 174
HDL: 69
Triglycerides: 97

CherryCola · 01-14-2009, 06:37 AM

I'm not familiar with those numbers, (in the US most I've seen are whole numbers), do you have any reference ranges?

shespeaks · 01-14-2009, 07:02 AM

Hm. Do you have reference numbers from before you started low-carb? It's possible these numbers are already better than what you had before!

Also, didn't Dr. A. say low-carbing could cause a temporary increase in your lipid panel before everything decreases to normal levels?

I think I would wait and be tested again in a couple of months. That should give you time to know if low-carbing is going to be enough, or if meds will be needed.

Good luck!

smudgepot · 01-14-2009, 10:56 AM

Thanks folks - been really worried about this all day. Not to mention I am getting the typical "well, it isn't suprising since you eat two eggs a day" crap from friends/family.

Any more info/help would be appreciated. Are there any supplements that you can suggest taking?

Lola Bartez · 01-14-2009, 11:07 AM

I had a check up just before Christmas - when the nurse asked me about my eating habits (I had been eating low carb for 3 or 4 months) she was horrified. Particularly about the amount of eggs and butter I consume and was adamant that this would show in my cholesterol result

Well - it did! Not the way she thought though - a year before I was at 4.74 after 3 months or so of very low fat dieting and this year I was down to 3.06

I'm delighted and it was just the kick in the butt I needed to get me back on the low carbwagon after the carb fest that was Christmas.

fawn · 01-14-2009, 03:10 PM

Your ratio still falls below guidelines at 2.52. Balancing your omega 3:6 fatty acid ratios, avoiding all vegetable oils, hydrogenated oils and anything refined (think carbquick, etc.) increasing your fish oils, walnuts, butter, etc. and keeping your triglycerides down will help prevent atherosclerosis and other heart diseases.

I would also ask your doc what your particle sizes are.....small and jagged or large and fluffy? The above factors make a difference.

TheWildHaggis · 01-14-2009, 04:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smudgepot

Total: 6.9
LDL: 4.5
HDL: 1.8

The doctor says he wants to put me on meds, but I am not sure if this is necessary? Can anyone give feedback?

Looks close to mine.

Cholesterol Fasting.....6.9.....266
Triglycerides...........0.48.....42
HDL.....................2.3......88
LDL.....................4.4.....170
Cholesterol/HDL Ratio...3.0

My doctor insisted that I go back on Zocor in part because I`m IGT, at least I was last year. I don`t like it, but finding and then changing doctors isn`t an option at this time so all I can do is pout.

smudgepot · 01-15-2009, 01:59 AM

Thanks for the feedback all!

dawnyama · 01-15-2009, 06:48 AM

My DH's cholesterol is close to yours--277. We were just checking these the other night--I have records that go back to 1999. And he doesn't eat low carb--he is Japanese, though. Every time he visits the doc they have the statins conversation. My hubby is as anti-drug as you can get and he has simply said "No, I won't be taking something like that for the rest of my life." It must be written in his chart that he refuses statins every time they meet in order to save the docs butt . He does however, take fish oil as well as other vitamins like potassium and calcium. And he is sure to get his exercise in every day. He loves to walk. Hasn't dropped dead yet!!

01-14-2009, 06:02 AM	#1
smudgepot Senior LCF Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: South Africa Posts: 337 Gallery: smudgepot Stats: 130/120/110 WOE: Low Carb/Healthy Choices Start Date: September 2008	Cholesterol Levels? Hi all, Just got the numbers back from my Cholesterol test, and wanted to check with those of you who are knowledgeable about such things... Total: 6.9 LDL: 4.5 HDL: 1.8 The doctor says he wants to put me on meds, but I am not sure if this is necessary? Can anyone give feedback? Thanks!

01-14-2009, 11:07 AM	#7
Lola Bartez Senior LCF Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Carcassonne, South West France Posts: 162 Gallery: Lola Bartez WOE: EFGT - Barry Groves	I had a check up just before Christmas - when the nurse asked me about my eating habits (I had been eating low carb for 3 or 4 months) she was horrified. Particularly about the amount of eggs and butter I consume and was adamant that this would show in my cholesterol result Well - it did! Not the way she thought though - a year before I was at 4.74 after 3 months or so of very low fat dieting and this year I was down to 3.06 I'm delighted and it was just the kick in the butt I needed to get me back on the low carbwagon after the carb fest that was Christmas. __________________ If there were in the world today any large number of people who desired their own happiness more than they desired the unhappiness of others, we could have paradise in a few years. Bertrand Russell

01-15-2009, 06:48 AM	#11
dawnyama Very Gabby LCF Member!!! Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Irmo, SC Posts: 4,423 Gallery: dawnyama Stats: 154/123(LDW)/125 5'4" WOE: H hcg/R2 P4 Start Date: 6/1/09	My DH's cholesterol is close to yours--277. We were just checking these the other night--I have records that go back to 1999. And he doesn't eat low carb--he is Japanese, though. Every time he visits the doc they have the statins conversation. My hubby is as anti-drug as you can get and he has simply said "No, I won't be taking something like that for the rest of my life." It must be written in his chart that he refuses statins every time they meet in order to save the docs butt . He does however, take fish oil as well as other vitamins like potassium and calcium. And he is sure to get his exercise in every day. He loves to walk. Hasn't dropped dead yet!! __________________ Dawn in SC

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01-14-2009, 06:26 AM	#2
smudgepot Senior LCF Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: South Africa Posts: 337 Gallery: smudgepot Stats: 130/120/110 WOE: Low Carb/Healthy Choices Start Date: September 2008	Oh! And Tri levels are 1.1 which is apparently ok?

01-14-2009, 06:37 AM	#3
junkfoodmonkey Very Gabby LCF Member!!! Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 4,019 Blog Entries: 51 Gallery: junkfoodmonkey Stats: Start: 242 Now:150 WOE: Atkins Maintenance Start Date: Nov 2003	Have you told your doctor about your new diet? My cholesterol came down while on Atkins, and most people will find a low carb diet will help them reduce cholesterol. Why not see if you can ask the doctor to hold off on meds for a few months to allow you to work on it with diet and exercise? That means you really have to stick to it, don't half-ass the low carb, make your plan and be committed. For Americans by the way, here's a convertor to get the International Units reading into American. OnlineConversion.com - Cholesterol Converter In this case it's Total: 267 LDL: 174 HDL: 69 Triglycerides: 97

01-14-2009, 06:37 AM	#4
CherryCola Very Gabby LCF Member!!! Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 3,039 Gallery: CherryCola Stats: Sz 10/6/4	I'm not familiar with those numbers, (in the US most I've seen are whole numbers), do you have any reference ranges?

01-14-2009, 07:02 AM	#5
shespeaks MAJOR LCF POSTER! Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Maryland Posts: 1,296 Gallery: shespeaks Stats: 189/139.5/125 5'2" & 36 WOE: Atkins-based LC, "eating to my meter" for Diabetes Start Date: June 2008	Hm. Do you have reference numbers from before you started low-carb? It's possible these numbers are already better than what you had before! Also, didn't Dr. A. say low-carbing could cause a temporary increase in your lipid panel before everything decreases to normal levels? I think I would wait and be tested again in a couple of months. That should give you time to know if low-carbing is going to be enough, or if meds will be needed. Good luck!

01-14-2009, 10:56 AM	#6
smudgepot Senior LCF Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: South Africa Posts: 337 Gallery: smudgepot Stats: 130/120/110 WOE: Low Carb/Healthy Choices Start Date: September 2008	Thanks folks - been really worried about this all day. Not to mention I am getting the typical "well, it isn't suprising since you eat two eggs a day" crap from friends/family. Any more info/help would be appreciated. Are there any supplements that you can suggest taking?

01-14-2009, 03:10 PM	#8
fawn Way too much time on my hands! Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 12,204 Gallery: fawn Stats: sz 18/4 WOE: Whole organic, free range, wild caught, pastured Start Date: February 7, 2000	Your ratio still falls below guidelines at 2.52. Balancing your omega 3:6 fatty acid ratios, avoiding all vegetable oils, hydrogenated oils and anything refined (think carbquick, etc.) increasing your fish oils, walnuts, butter, etc. and keeping your triglycerides down will help prevent atherosclerosis and other heart diseases. I would also ask your doc what your particle sizes are.....small and jagged or large and fluffy? The above factors make a difference.

01-15-2009, 01:59 AM	#10
smudgepot Senior LCF Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: South Africa Posts: 337 Gallery: smudgepot Stats: 130/120/110 WOE: Low Carb/Healthy Choices Start Date: September 2008	Thanks for the feedback all!