Zocur and back pain

47 year old healthy male.  I have an annual physical every February. This year my cholesterol was 201 so doctor asked to see me six week's later for recheck.

for the most part I ate healthy with a few times I overdid it on fattening foods. Cholesterol had jumped to 256. He immediately put me on Zocur which I am now in week four. I return May 20th for recheck.

I have a couple of questions.

1. Can a fattening meal the night before blood taken for test given a false reading? I had eaten italian food with dessert the night before ( not sure what I was thinking)
2. I have had upper back pain since on Zocur. I have always had lower back pain but never upper back pain. could this be a side effect of the drug:? if so should I continue to take it or alert the doctor. It is not debilitating just annoying and I can live with it if it will help my cholesterol.

Thanks

SAF Atlanta GA