Sudden Cholesterol Increase

[CoghanB]

As I have a terrible family history when it comes to heart disease, I have my cholesterol checked twice a year. It is always fine, fluctuating between 145-175, but over the last 3 yrs has been around 170 consistently.  I had a test yesterday and it was 250. That stunned me. Even when I was 120 lbs heavier than I am now and eating **** all the time, I never had a reading over 175.  The crazy thing is that in the last six months I have endeavored to do even more good things for my body so I was anticipating a drop in my readings.  Started eating Cheerios or oatmeal instead of bacon and eggs for breakfast.  Started taking fish oil caps and using exclusively olive oil and flax oil in place of animal fats.  I eat no pork, hardly any beef, and small amounts of poultry at one meal per day. I also saw that my triglycerides, which are normally high normal (around 150) were all the way down to 80.  Normally I would be very pleased about that, but given the other changes it makes me wonder what is up.  Also, my good cholesterol is way low, and my bad is way high out of balance.  My good cholesterol has always been in the 60 range is down to 29.  I'm trying not to freak, but dramatic changes like these can't be good.  Any thoughts on what could cause it?

[myowncrazybeat]

A very good nurse once told me:  "what you eat the night before your test can give false readings".    (not a definite, but a definite possibility)  If this is the first high in a while of norms, I would certainly get tested again and pursue treatment as indicated after the new comparitive results were in.  Prayers go with you!!

[mysterychemist54]

I think you should have have your cholesterol tested again.  If it is still high, then I would be more concern.  By the way, what did the doctor about the high results?  

[CoghanB]

I just saw a PA yesterday.  She was totally not concerned with my questions.  I said whoa what's up with that, and she said well you are overweight, etc. and so on. Well, yes, that is true, but I'm less overweight than I was on last check, and I am eating even healthier now than I have been.  She rolled her eyes at me basically.  I tried to point out the inconsistency and then she says well I must've not been watching my diet as closely as I thought.  I pointed out my triglycerides were way down and she was saying well that's good and I should keep working on it.  So in a nutshell, she said I'm overweight and have a bad diet so my cholesterol is up, but wait, I've been losing weight and watching my diet so my triglycerides are down.  Didn't seem to bother her that she directly counterdicted herself.  I am going to get a re-check as soon as I can, but they won't do it at my Dr. office because they won't accept it could be an erroneous reading.

[CoghanB]

Counterdicted?  Oh well, see it has messed with my nerves so bad now I am making up words.  

[Barbarella]

Unfortunately doctors LOVE to blame the high cholesterol only on "you must be doing something wrong, you must be eating the wrong food".  I eat very healthy because I have a tendency to gain weight real fast, I exercise every day.  My cholesterol never went over 200.  I was put on BP meds, my cholesterol shut over 300 in only two months.  NO diet changes, NO life style changes.  Of course the docs wont take your word for it.  I looked up every meds I'm taking on the Internet, and bingo the Lasix (water pill) can raise cholesterol and blood sugar in some people, I'm one of the "some" people.  My sugar never went over 90 fasting, now its between 110-115 fasting.  

Yes, wrong diet can cause cholesterol to rise, but so can stress, certain medications, and a bunch of other causes.

Unfortunately I could not get my cholesterol down, I tried for one year the natural way, and also over the counter cholesterol lowering, nothing helped.  I could not get it down past 280.  So now I am on Zocor which of course lowered it in only one month to 180.

You say your LDL (bad cholesterol) is to high/bad.  What are your numbers?  The LDL should not go over 130, if you have heart disease it should be under 100.  Mine was 231, and I was called "a walking time bomb".  Of course docs deny that the water pill caused my cholesterol to raise.  I know better.  So now I'm on Zocor to counteract the side effect of the Lasix which caused my cholesterol to shoot to dangerous levels.

[Barbarella]

Unfortunately doctors LOVE to blame the high cholesterol only on "you must be doing something wrong, you must be eating the wrong food".  I eat very healthy because I have a tendency to gain weight real fast, I exercise every day.  My cholesterol never went over 200.  I was put on BP meds, my cholesterol shut over 300 in only two months.  NO diet changes, NO life style changes.  Of course the docs wont take your word for it.  I looked up every meds I'm taking on the Internet, and bingo the Lasix (water pill) can raise cholesterol and blood sugar in some people, I'm one of the "some" people.  My sugar never went over 90 fasting, now its between 110-115 fasting.  

Yes, wrong diet can cause cholesterol to rise, but so can stress, certain medications, and a bunch of other causes.

Unfortunately I could not get my cholesterol down, I tried for one year the natural way, and also over the counter cholesterol lowering, nothing helped.  I could not get it down past 280.  So now I am on Zocor which of course lowered it in only one month to 180.

You say your LDL (bad cholesterol) is to high/bad.  What are your numbers?  The LDL should not go over 130, if you have heart disease it should be under 100.  Mine was 231, and I was called "a walking time bomb".  Of course docs deny that the water pill caused my cholesterol to raise.  I know better.  So now I'm on Zocor to counteract the side effect of the Lasix which caused my cholesterol to shoot to dangerous levels.

[kitcurious]

I thought there were some people who had a genetic propensity to high cholesterol and not only have to watch their diet, but also, additionally, really do need meds to keep it down.

[Barbarella]

You are right, I forgot to mention some people have inherited "hypercholesterolemia" high cholesterol running in the family, in their genes and need meds.  No matter how much they diet and eat all the right foods, and do all the right stuff they cholesterol is still sky high.  A friend of mine had a TC of 450 when they found out, and also needs to be on statins.

[CoghanB]

LDL I think was 189.  It was ridiculously high.  At lunchtime today, I dropped by the drug store and got one of those check yourself kits and did it.  I know a test yourself kit is probably not as accurate as the Dr. office, however, the kit returned a total cholesterol of 165.  Since my average has been about 170... now I am really beginning to question it. I've had bad luck finding a good Dr. To me, a good Dr. should at least question a finding that is so far out of line with years of established history. I went to a big clinic because they have a good rep, but I'm thinking maybe I should go see a small town Dr. who doesn't have so many patients.  Anyhow, I think it is in my best interest to find a place to give me a whole repeat test.  

[Barbarella]

You need a lipid profile.  Yes, your LDL was high, but mine was 231, and even on Zocor it wont go below 140, sometimes its around 130, but not always.

The home testing kits were inaccurate for me, maybe you have better luck.

[Pepperliveson]

I have familial hypercholesterolemia - born w/ a total cholesterol of 399, LDL of 330.  Always ate a healthy diet and exercised but my cholesterol didn't budge.  Started taking Lipitor and Zetia about 4 yrs ago - previously doctors were not comfortable giving Lipitor to me because I am of childbearing age (41 now).  I wouldn't be afraid to try a statin - it has worked wonders for me.  My total cholesterol is under 200 and my last LDL was 133 which is amazing for me.  Wish doctors would have prescribed it earlier.  So far, no side effects to complain about and I'm on 40 mg of Lipitor.
Good luck!

[anacyde]

Here's my two cents.  Triglycerides are usually the number one indicator of what YOU are doing, how you are eating.  Clearly you're doing good things to see such a dramatic drop in these numbers.

I would be concerned with the LDL rising and the HDL falling.  I'd want a re-test.  Labs to make errors, I'll be the first to tell you.  I would ask for a new draw.  If this remains the case, it's definitely important to raise the HDL, probably with Niacin.  My husband's HDL dropped from 40 to 29 recently.  He went on Niacin and within weeks he was up to 34 on just the 500 dosage.  The stuff works, though the flushing sucks.  If they recommend it, definitely do it.

In the mean time, continue eating right and doing the positive things you're doing.  Sometimes cholesterol is a family thing that creeps up as you go through adulthood.  Fortunately, there's a lot they can do now for it.

[wylie2]

My cholesterol levels started jumping when I went on Fluoxetine. Is there a connection? My weight is 110 lbs and my diet is excellent. I do yoga and pilates but not enough aerobics. My stress level has been through the roof. Which of these factors could be the contributor? My cholesterol is 250

[remar]

fluoxetine? is that effexor? when i was on that my cholesterol levels went through the roof. and my good cholesterol went down. my dr. wanted to put my on a statin but i refused. i quit taking effexor and my levels went back to normal. my total hangs around 200 so i'm trying to get that down, but my triclycerides are normal and my hdl is good. you may want to think about getting off this med. remar