Cholesterol Level Up

[eventhorizon]

Hi.

My cholesterol keeps increasing. In the last 6 months it has gone from 5.3 to 7.7.

I feel a little hard done by as I stopped drinking completely in January, my control has never been better currently at 48, I've lost weight I'm considerably leaner a lot fitter than 18 months ago. Diet hasn't changed much. Generally healthy avoid ultra processed foods and eat lowish carbs.

The doctor mentioned statins again but knows I won't take them.

Any ideas?

 

[Melgar]

Did your lipid test come with a break down?
Total Cholsterol
LDL
HDL
Triglycerides

 

[eventhorizon]

Yep, as follows.

Serum cholesterol:
7.7 mmol/L


Serum HDL cholesterol level:
1.5 mmol/L


Se non HDL cholesterol level:
6.2 mmol/L


Serum cholesterol/HDL ratio:
5.0


Serum triglycerides:
0.8 mmol/L


Serum LDL cholesterol level:
5.8 mmol/L

 

[KennyA]

Did you do the test fasted?

 

[lovinglife]

Are you still losing weight? Sometimes that can push your cholesterol up, it does with me it’s a temporary thing

 

[eventhorizon]

Did you do the test fasted?

I wanted to but annoyingly I treated a mild hypo just before the short walk to the surgery.

 

[eventhorizon]

Are you still losing weight? Sometimes that can push your cholesterol up, it does with me it’s a temporary thing

Not losing weight but very slowly losing fat and putting on a little more muscle.

 

[Hopeful34]

I wanted to but annoyingly I treated a mild hypo just before the short walk to the surgery.

It's so frustrating when that happens.

 

[Melgar]

Yep, as follows.

Serum cholesterol:
7.7 mmol/L


Serum HDL cholesterol level:
1.5 mmol/L


Se non HDL cholesterol level:
6.2 mmol/L


Serum cholesterol/HDL ratio:
5.0


Serum triglycerides:
0.8 mmol/L


Serum LDL cholesterol level:
5.8 mmol/L

I have a similar lipid imbalance. I had my lipids tested the other day. I fasted for 7 hours. That was my choice, I was not told to fast. My overall cholesterol is lower than yours at 6.50 mmol/ls. My HDL’s are 1.71 and non HDL’s are at 4.79.
My Triglycerides are at 0.54 mmol/l’s. My Dr doesn’t like the lipid imbalance. It was suggested by a member on here that I am a Lean Mass Hyper Responder type, and that made sense, as I had been on a very low carb diet. However, the very low carb diet did not work to bring my blood sugars down, I increased my carbs. This increase in carbs made no difference to my Cholestrol. My Trigs have fallen that’s all. So I’m not a LMHR. I have been tested twice now for hyperthyroidism, but my TSH levels are in range. My TSH levels have fallen since my last blood test, but still in range.

 

[Hopeful34]

The trouble with being in range in the uk, is that thyroxine isn't started until thyroid levels are lower than other countries. I had signs of underactive thyroid, but was still just in range, so gp wouldn't do anything. Saw my endocrinologist and without me saying anything he started me on thyroxine which has helped me. I'm trying to remember who posted about this, but the name's escaping me atm.

 

[MrsA2]

Yep, as follows.

Serum cholesterol:
7.7 mmol/L


Serum HDL cholesterol level:
1.5 mmol/L


Se non HDL cholesterol level:
6.2 mmol/L


Serum cholesterol/HDL ratio:
5.0


Serum triglycerides:
0.8 mmol/L


Serum LDL cholesterol level:
5.8 mmol/L

Look on heartuk.org.uk for their explanation of levels and more importantly the ratios between them.
All yours are good, especially triglycerides and HDL. It's only the ldl that is above where it should be.
I'm just exactly the same boat . Total has gone up including the (good) hdl , and nice low triglycerides. I'm doing lots of research to try to find what this means, old school seems to think ldl alone is enough to worry about while ignoring the good, new school saying high ldl isn't to worry about either.

 

[eventhorizon]

The trouble with being in range in the uk, is that thyroxine isn't started until thyroid levels are lower than other countries. I had signs of underactive thyroid, but was still just in range, so gp wouldn't do anything. Saw my endocrinologist and without me saying anything he started me on thyroxine which has helped me. I'm trying to remember who posted about this, but the name's escaping me atm.

Interesting. Do you know what the recommended levels are in other counties. My is
Serum TSH level:

1.06 miu/L

Normal range:

0.35 to 4.94

 

[Hopeful34]

Interesting. Do you know what the recommended levels are in other counties. My is
Serum TSH level:

1.06 miu/L

Normal range:

0.35 to 4.94

Sorry I don't

 

[MrsA2]

Interesting. Do you know what the recommended levels are in other counties. My is
Serum TSH level:

1.06 miu/L

Normal range:

0.35 to 4.94

Mines 0.56 and I'm worried, but because its in range (just) G P ignores it

 

[Hopeful34]

I think it may have been @AndBreathe who posted about thyroid issues. Apologies if it wasn't.

 

[eventhorizon]

I have a similar lipid imbalance. I had my lipids tested the other day. I fasted for 7 hours. That was my choice, I was not told to fast. My overall cholesterol is lower than yours at 6.50 mmol/ls. My HDL’s are 1.71 and non HDL’s are at 4.79.
My Triglycerides are at 0.54 mmol/l’s. My Dr doesn’t like the lipid imbalance. It was suggested by a member on here that I am a Lean Mass Hyper Responder type, and that made sense, as I had been on a very low carb diet. However, the very low carb diet did not work to bring my blood sugars down, I increased my carbs. This increase in carbs made no difference to my Cholestrol. My Trigs have fallen that’s all. So I’m not a LMHR. I have been tested twice now for hyperthyroidism, but my TSH levels are in range. My TSH levels have fallen since my last blood test, but still in range.

Thanks. I've never cut out carbs completely, just lower carb. Around 80 to 100 grams a day.

 

[Melgar]

Mines 0.56 and I'm worried, but because its in range (just) G P ignores it

I believe they investigate at 0.40 mmol/ls. I wonder if my TSH levels fluctuate because I get bouts of tachycardia. Not a wild heart rate but enough that I feel it. My resting heart rate goes up to. I’m loath to mention it as I feel like a hypochondriac.

 

[AndBreathe]

I have a similar lipid imbalance. I had my lipids tested the other day. I fasted for 7 hours. That was my choice, I was not told to fast. My overall cholesterol is lower than yours at 6.50 mmol/ls. My HDL’s are 1.71 and non HDL’s are at 4.79.
My Triglycerides are at 0.54 mmol/l’s. My Dr doesn’t like the lipid imbalance. It was suggested by a member on here that I am a Lean Mass Hyper Responder type, and that made sense, as I had been on a very low carb diet. However, the very low carb diet did not work to bring my blood sugars down, I increased my carbs. This increase in carbs made no difference to my Cholestrol. My Trigs have fallen that’s all. So I’m not a LMHR. I have been tested twice now for hyperthyroidism, but my TSH levels are in range. My TSH levels have fallen since my last blood test, but still in range.

If there is a consideration of hyperthyroidism, then just TSH isn't a very thorough diagnostic test. Was your T3 tested at the same time? If so, what was it?

I don't know what the general ranges for thyroid hormones are in Canada, but sometimes being in range just doesn't stack up.

 

[Melgar]

Sorry I don't

Interesting. Do you know what the recommended levels are in other counties. My is
Serum TSH level:

1.06 miu/L

Normal range:

0.35 to 4.94

In Canada :
Cholesterol lab range - 2.00-5.19 mmol/ls
LDL - 1.50 - 3.40
HDL - higher than 1.19
None HDL higher than 1.19

Cholesterol/cholesterol in HDL less than 4.4
Triglycerides - less than 2.21

 

[Melgar]

If there is a consideration of hyperthyroidism, then just TSH isn't a very thorough diagnostic test. Was your T3 tested at the same time? If so, what was it?

I don't know what the general ranges for thyroid hormones are in Canada, but sometimes being in range just doesn't stack up.

They will not do a T3 or a T4 test if your TSH levels are in range, under British Columbia guidelines.