CHOLESTEROL...

Lyadeia · October 2010

So I had a health screening today for work. I had to get my little finger pricked and blood checked out as part of the "wellness program" so I can get the cheaper insurance with better co-pays at work.

Before I started exercising and losing weight, when I was around 191 pounds and wearing size 20, my cholesterol was checked and it was 201. I had high LDL and low HDL. After I started losing weight, obviously those numbers changed. When I was 132 pounds, my cholesterol was 179 (still a little on the high side from where I want it, but normal level nonetheless) and my LDL was low and HDL was high. So I thought that by dieting and exercising I was in the clear.

OK...so this morning's results...are making me MAD.

I have gained some weight back...but I am nowhere near what I started out as. In fact I am hovering between 140 and 145. I still workout, even if I don't do it as much as I had before (because I now work 3rd shift and it is more difficult to squeeze a workout in when I have to sleep all day after getting off work at 7am.) But I never stopped working out. I also might not eat as strictly clean as I used to, but I am not eating like Miss Piggy as I did when I was a size 20 either. I am in the process of getting my workouts and eating back to the way they should be, even though I am still in pretty decent shape compared to where I came from.

That being said...today's results???

Total cholesterol...269!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WTF!?!?!?!?!?!?

I was also told that my HDL was well over 100. Also, because my good cholesterol rated so high, they were unable to check my LDL. Because he was "not allowed" for some weird reason to explain what all the numbers meant, I have tons of un-answered questions about this.

First, before you ask, my food diary is public and cholesterol is listed on it. As you see when you take a look, I actually stay under, waaaaay under, my cholesterol limit every single day...

If normal "good" HDL is over 40, and mine is over 100...AND taking into account that my total is up there...is it possible that even though the total is high that it is mostly the good kind and that I am not a 31 year old who needs to be put on meds???

I am hoping that by sticking with a good exercise program and eating only what I have planned on my food diary will help to get those numbers back down.

I also found today through Internet searches that these foods can help control cholesterol by aiding the liver and other bodily tissues deal with and get rid of cholesterol:

oatmeal
almonds
flax seeds
garlic
cheese
apples
beans
fiber supplements

I use these already and like them...perhaps I should have them more often? I know that foods are not cures for stuff, but they do help out.

So...what are your thoughts and suggestions??? It's like a real slap in the face to get news like this when I consider myself healthy and fit! Especially since my blood pressure, resting heart rate, triglycerides, etc. all tested normal!!!

LuckyLeprechaun · October 2010

I'd suggest a second opinion/second test. The claim that he's "not allowed" to discuss it sounds like a cop-out for "I have no idea"

Check again, with a real doctor, and see if the numbers are the same. If they are, the doc should be able to help you figure out why and what to do about it.

MsLisaB · October 2010

Definitely ask to have a second test done. Every once in a while any blood test can return a false positive. This may be the case with your result.

Mamoonie · October 2010

Hi ,

cholesterol isn't determined through food only, you can also have high cholesterol though stress. Do you have stress at the moment, do you have problems? These can have an effect on your cholesterol!

MM

Lyadeia · October 2010

I will probably be getting a second opinion sooner or later. I was even telling the guy that took the sample that I didn't believe it but he insisted that the machine was accurate. I have ALWAYS in the past had a vial of blood sent off to a lab for examination, but this time he just stuck the blood into a machine and spit out numbers and I don't really know how accurate that thing really is. To me, it sounds like the difference of measuring body fat with hydrostatic weighing at a doctor's office and using that little handheld Omron machine which is typically waaaaayyy off on measuring body fat correctly. I will believe that the number actually went up, but I have a hard time believing that it went that high without the other numbers following suit since I haven't completely fallen off the wagon!

As far as stress, I try to keep it off of me and not let things bother me. I see some crazy things at work, but I try to not bring it home. I might talk about it, but it doesn't affect me though. (I am a third shift police officer in Charlotte, NC). I don't know what else might be stressful right now.

nikhil_c8 · October 2010

look at the bright Side

Your HDL/LDL Cholestrol ratio is good (> 0.5) .The goal is to keep the ratio above 0.3, with the ideal HDL/LDL ratio being above 0.4.

An HDL of 60 mg/dL and above is considered protective against heart disease.

What Abt your Triglycerides...How much are they?

Lyadeia · October 2010

look at the bright Side

Your HDL/LDL Cholestrol ratio is good (> 0.5) .The goal is to keep the ratio above 0.3, with the ideal HDL/LDL ratio being above 0.4.

An HDL of 60 mg/dL and above is considered protective against heart disease.

What Abt your Triglycerides...How much are they?

The triglycerides are at 128, which is on the high level of normal. According to all the info that I have seen, it is bad once you hit 150 and higher. I would to have mine go down to under 100, but I think it will get there as soon as I get back on the exercise program that I want to do. Lately I haven't had time to exercise like I want...I mean, I do exercise, but I want to do P90X which I haven't had time for. Last time I did P90X, the tri's went down to under 100.

CHOLESTEROL...

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