Apologies for the long post.
When I started eating low carb my cholesterol levels rose to 6.7, I thought this was the result of losing weight but the next blood results showed my total cholesterol to be at 10.00. Of course everyone panicked including myself. My ratios were good though except my HCP was only interested in my LDL levels. I was referred to the lipid clinic, where they undertook more blood tests including looking at my Apob and my Lipoprotein (a). Whilst I don't like my high levels my ratios are fine and putting the info through the report tool at Cholesterolcode.com I was in the lowest risk. When I pointed out how good my ratios were I was told it didn't matter as LDL was too high. I refused the statins that were offered. Since then every time I have a blood draw people panic and so this has caused me a great deal of stress and even depression. Of course stress also puts up cholesterol. I did manage to get my levels down somewhat probably through chance and also a bit of fiddling. Eating certain foods just before a blood draw. However this last time I just couldn't be bothered to try to change things so my cholesterol had gone back to the high levels. Because the lipid clinic had referred me back to my GP with the recommendation to change my diet and introduce statins, I was called into the surgery. Having discussed things, my GP finally offered to put a note on my record to say I have not be hassled about my bloods however he does believe that having high LDL is a cardio vascular risk but said it was up to me what I did about it. It still felt quite a hollow victory though as I still have questions I have no answers for and the elevated Apob is a little disturbing. You asked about my cholesterol breakdown, I last had my lipid bloods taken in June, one set by the hospital and one set through the doctors surgery - the hospital ones were delayed so the surgery took them again I have not received the full set of blood results from the hospital, just the basic breakdown which showed 8.8 total cholesterol trigs 0.7, HDL 2.2 giving a non HDL of 6.6 and a calculated LDL of 6.3. The breakdown of the bloods taken at surgery were serum cholesterol 9.6, trigs 0.8, HDL 2.1 LDL 7.5. Non HDL Cholesterol level 7.5. Bloods were taken a couple of weeks apart I was also not very well with an ear infection when my bloods were taken at the surgery so don't know if this would have affected the result. My blood results using my own tester after the experiment I undertook showed Chol 6.01, HDL 150 TG ,76 LDL 4.17 Chol/HDL 4.0 HDL/LDL 2.8 bloods, My own cholesterol tester does measure a little lower than bloods taken venously.
You asked about family health, my father died of heart issues he was 78, two of my siblings have had heart attacks so there are risk factors there. Maybe statins might be a good idea although I know others on this forum would adamantly disagree.
whilst it’s a goal it’s not the be all and end all - I’m 13 years in started out on insulin for a short while along with Gliclizide and metformin, morbidity obese. To date dropped a LOT of weight reduced and then stopped all meds apart from metformin,
But even trying my best and being very strict with what I eat my HbA1cs are never what I would like or even what my glucose readings would estimate which is around low 30s whilst in reality they are usually around 40. I guess I must miss some peaks somewhere. You have done marvelously coming off all but metformin I would say that is definitely a success.
. I just go for a walk with the dogs now and again
