Cholesterol numbers not making sense
 

In early spring of this year my total cholesterol was 160. My LDL was high but not disastrous. My current test has my total cholesterol at 218 and LDL at 170! WTF?

My diet has not changed at all since the last test. I fasted about 10 hours before the test. So what the heck? Can test numbers be that erratic in the absence of other changes?

Wow, that's quite a difference. That sounds like about 6 months difference between the 2 tests.

You say your diet hasn't changed. How about activity level or weight? Eating more sweets recently?

I'd love to be able to test myself cheaply and easily. If I could do 3-4 tests per day and test several times over the course of a month, I think that would be interesting. (I did just that years ago for blood sugar, I'm not diabetic. I was just curious about how mine varied) I'd like to know how much variation from time to time is normal. I suspect that there's a range whether it's different times of the day or different times of the month or whatever. But that change seems crazy. I'd ask them to test again. I'm assuming the first test is more inline with your usual results, and this one is unusual for you.

I highly suggest you study cholesterol from a few points of view other than the pill pushers.
Your brain is supposedly mostly cholesterol!
You need it! and Cholesterol.
Some doctors say this is more of the same game as the tonsil , adenoids, and mastoid removal was.
Same with BP pills.
Lots of people are being pilled up with what they don't need.
Be objective, do research.

Yep. Years ago, a Dr said "your cholesterol is too high. I'll prescribe statins." I told him that I wasn't interested in going that route and asked about other options. I cut out most sweets and extra sugar, took niacin (the kind that makes you flush), and took curcumin supplements. I went back 6 mos (or was it 8) later, and my cholesterol was well within the normal range.

It sounds like FB is usually in the "good" range.

Tests can give false results, but not commonly. But random errors are random. This is a bigger change than one would usually expect- with no other changes.
Ask your doctor. I presume your other prior tests were in the 160 range?
I am an MD, but not involved in clinical treatment.
If it were me I would have a discussion with my doctor. Repeat the bloodwork. If it remains high I would repeat in 3 months. If it is back at 160, still repeat in 3 months.
Then make treatment decisions, if any, at that time.
Right now, we really do not know where you are.
Good luck
Gary

Haha, since my mid 20's I had high cholesterol. Very active in sports, lean muscle, minimal body fat. I was checking in in the mid 200's. In my 40's I checked in mid 300's. Went on a statin, large dose, and months later tested in the mid 200's. Tried the niacin etc and did not do anything for me. In my mid 50's I was reading online some med stuff and said "screw it" and went off my statins. A year later I went in for my annual and my cholesterol was almost 400! I am back on statins and I'm keeping it around 270 or so. I eat exactly what my wife does and she is clocking in at 120. So for me its just hereditory and not much I can do about it.

Know what changed that no one is accounting for? You're older.;)

That said, I went on a low-fat diet once. As a result my cholesterol went through the roof. I went off the diet my cholesterol plummeted. Turns out that if you don't consume fat, your body will produce it.

216 is highly unusual. I bounce between 160 and 180 historically. I haven't had any weight change and activity has actually gone up as I go to the gym for light weight training 2/3 times a week. My cycling has gone down to mostly weekends due to other commitments (school and first aid).

I will be discussing this with my PCP for sure.

So, do any of you have experience with statins? I've read both pro and con opinions but would appreciate any real experience that you'd care to share.

Decades ago I had a blood test the doc said my total cholesterol was high but my HDL was so high he said no worries. I didn't see any mention of your HDL

I suggest that you don't panic, (as a rule) don't take advise from laypeople on the internet and stay away from Doctor Google. What did your doctor say?

As said , quit sugar.
This includes all processed foods, breads, starches, sodas, etc.
Stick with meat and some vegetables.
Everything will fall in line for most people.

I currently eat only whole grain bread. I can live without it. The only sweetener I use is honey and that only in my tea. My main sources of protein are egg whites, fish and white meat chicken.

There are definitely adjustments I can make before I roll the dice with pills.

Thanks all!

Not going to be that guy, but it could be a calibration issue…. Different machine etc.

Need more data to make an informed decision

I've heard that some folks have high chol due to genetics. My mom says hers is always high. I think she's said that her mother's is also often/usually high. My great grandmother lived into her 90s. My grandmother is going to be 99 in Dec. So clearly, if they have high chol., it's not a problem for them.

I've also heard that there are other factors in cholesterol besides just LDL and HDL to consider. The Dr that I went to did some sort of test that was supposed to determine the size of your chol and that was another factor. I can't remember if smaller particles were worse or larger particles. I feel like the ones that he thought were worst were small particles because they were more likely to work into the lining of the circulation system or something.

Clearly in your case, the statins aren't lowing your chol levels until they are dangerously low, impacting your cognition or other things (which seems to happen with some folks).

Genetics is indeed a big part of it.

My FIL was fit, rode his bike 100+ miles per week, and tried to eat healthy to no avail. His doctors asked him to stop the medications for 30 days and they tested him at over 800. Back on statins.

My dad turned 80 and had his yearly physical, his cholesterol was 85. His doctor asked what he does to keep the cholesterol low and he said a bowl of Rocky Road ice cream before bed. I have never had cholesterol issues. Thanks dad for those genes.

If you tested positive for pregnancy the question of did your test results get swapped would be worth asking.

And maybe here as well...?

My cholesterol history is very close to yours. I've been on most statins, and they have worked. My current count is below 200 with HDL at 56. If you take statins, be aware you might have reactions to them. I've had reactions to every statin I've taken. They'd change the statin. It would work OK for a few years, and I'd have an adverse reaction. Now I take a statin every other day and a non statin med each day. So far it's worked out for the past few years. Good luck.

Just passing on what a friend told me.

He had very high cholesterol and his doctor put him on meds. His body noticed his cholesterol was down so started producing even more. He wished he had never touched the med's.

For many people- but NOT all- statins work great.
Most - but not all- patients have little to no side effects.
We all hear about the bad ones.
Sometimes simple things like changing the time of day you take the statin, can change the side effects.
All drugs that do something we want to achieve, also do things we do not want them to achieve.
I really can not think of a single useful medicine that does not have side effects on some patients.
Talk to your doctor. Do not be afraid of statins because of what you read on Dr. Google. You as a patient are different than everyone else.
Good luck.
gary

A short note-
Just as with blood types, (not all is known but presumed) Blood counts, and many other stats, are pulled out of thin air.
Why do they keep lowering the BP reading?
To sell pills?
What was the average Blood pressure just 70 years ago?

Or, where did they come up with the blood count or you will die? (which has proven to be wrong so many times )
I am all for being super proactive with your health.
Today's doctors have been trained to issue you a pill by the AMA and big Pharm.
For example- My doc issued me pills for 110 BP! (because once at one reading I had 149 )
Now,
I am NOT a doctor by any means.
My opinions are that , and based on my own studies.
Do as you think best for you, however as I said, be proactive and don't believe every word from trained pill pushers.

I have high cholesterol. My previous doc had me taking statins, which make me ache all over to the extent that I just stopped taking them. My current doc said not to worry about cholesterol if you have good blood pressure, and I do. It's in the 130s without the BP pills and 120s with them. I'm not going to live forever any way so why worry?