Cholesterol Test - Help!

[John VN]

For years our Dr. has had us fast before blood work, not the case for the last few years. Every time we go for testing they ask about fasting, we say no and point out the orders on the paperwork written in by our Dr.

DW was on meds for years for high cholesterol until Dr. took her off and had her take red yeast rice-Cholestene. Last blood work the numbers were again so good, high HD, low LDL and Triglycerides, that she has stopped the Cholestene until another blood work.

Express your concern and question your Dr. about the numbers. Also a diet change plus exercise can be the solution.

 

[sonofanarchy]

My concern isn't so much for the HDL or LDL numbers. They were only slightly high. My triglycerides were what worries me. The last thing I ate prior to the test was about 3 hours prior, I had a few Uncrustables and a glass of whole milk. A couple things I read from medical forums:

Although total cholesterol and HDL can be measured fairly accurately without fasting, to measure triglycerides and LDL, you need to fast for 12 hours (overnight).

Consume no food within eight to 12 hours of the triglyceride test time. Even a light snack may affect the test results. All types of food contribute calories and will be converted to triglycerides for storage after digestion and absorption. The American Association for Clinical Chemistry estimates the intake of food can raise triglyceride measurements five to 10 times higher than fasting levels.

Going by that, my levels could really be anywhere from 50 up to 500. I don't want to be taking statins if it's not necessary, but my doctor will not order another test for me.

 

[MnMomtoboys]

When did she want you back? If you don't want to do the statins read up what else helps reduce the numbers and try that first.

And my doc has me fasting too.

 

[sonofanarchy]

Not for another 6 months.

 

[momto3gr8boys]

I can understand why you want to avoid statins. Try a high fiber diet, exercise (at least 30 min of cardio a day) and an ultimate omega 3 (you need a high quality one - try Nordic Naturals http://www.amazon.com/Nordic-Naturals-Omega-3-Formula-180-Count/dp/B002CQU55K

I would look for a new dr. too. A doctor who won't listen to your concerns and at east work with you in managing your health isn't going to be a good healthcare partner for the long run.

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[jsmith]

How were your A1C and glucose? high triglycerides with high a1c is an indicator of the onset of type II diabetes. You definately need a diet change-the question is what type. I would either go back and ask this doc for an interperaton of those results or get a copy of the results and go to another doc-then if the answers arent what you want ask the second doc for another blood draw.

 

[tvguy]

May not matter, if it's high without fasting, it's high with fasting.

http://www.boston.com/dailydose/201...s-new-study/SiOxZjMXiAPJtEjlnBO2YN/story.html

 

[sonofanarchy]

How were your A1C and glucose? high triglycerides with high a1c is an indicator of the onset of type II diabetes. You definately need a diet change-the question is what type. I would either go back and ask this doc for an interperaton of those results or get a copy of the results and go to another doc-then if the answers arent what you want ask the second doc for another blood draw.

Both were fine. Just cholesterol was high.

 

[sonofanarchy]

May not matter, if it's high without fasting, it's high with fasting.

http://www.boston.com/dailydose/201...s-new-study/SiOxZjMXiAPJtEjlnBO2YN/story.html

That's for HDL and LDL. Triglycerides are a different story.

Consume no food within eight to 12 hours of the triglyceride test time. Even a light snack may affect the test results. All types of food contribute calories and will be converted to triglycerides for storage after digestion and absorption. The American Association for Clinical Chemistry estimates the intake of food can raise triglyceride measurements five to 10 times higher than fasting levels.

Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/38201-fast-triglycerides-blood-test/#ixzz2WExKhQx1

 

[vgrandy]

http://www.americanscreeningcorp.co...dium=organic&gclid=CJLCsoHy5bcCFdSj4Aod8VgAfg

http://www.amazon.com/CardioChek-Po...F8&qid=1371293571&sr=8-1&keywords=cardio+chek

this allows you to monitor cholesterol at home and breaks it down into ldl, hdl and trig.

 

[Christine]

I've done most of my testing without fasting. I've also done it with. The changes were neglible. While your triglycerides were high, if you had fasted the may have been a little bit lower but not in a significant amount that would have put you in a normal range. There are always exceptions, of course, but more than likely, they still would have been high.

Eating a lot of processed/refined foods contributes to this over the long term. One meal before testing isn't going to give a massively false picture.

 

[John VN]

I've done most of my testing without fasting. I've also done it with. The changes were neglible. While your triglycerides were high, if you had fasted the may have been a little bit lower but not in a significant amount that would have put you in a normal range. There are always exceptions, of course, but more than likely, they still would have been high.

Eating a lot of processed/refined foods contributes to this over the long term. One meal before testing isn't going to give a massively false picture.

Our Dr. agrees with above. As mentioned, she changed us to the non-fasting to show results with everyday eating habits. If you eat properly, you will test at realistic numbers.

 

[Poohforyou]

My concern isn't so much for the HDL or LDL numbers. They were only slightly high. My triglycerides were what worries me. The last thing I ate prior to the test was about 3 hours prior, I had a few Uncrustables and a glass of whole milk. A couple things I read from medical forums:

Although total cholesterol and HDL can be measured fairly accurately without fasting, to measure triglycerides and LDL, you need to fast for 12 hours (overnight).

Consume no food within eight to 12 hours of the triglyceride test time. Even a light snack may affect the test results. All types of food contribute calories and will be converted to triglycerides for storage after digestion and absorption. The American Association for Clinical Chemistry estimates the intake of food can raise triglyceride measurements five to 10 times higher than fasting levels.

Going by that, my levels could really be anywhere from 50 up to 500. I don't want to be taking statins if it's not necessary, but my doctor will not order another test for me.

I think you might want to consider changing your diet. A few uncrustables and whole milk . I don't mean to pick on you but, what grownup eats/drinks stuff like that?

The best thing you can do for your triglycerides and cholesterol is cut back on the empty carbs and saturated fat (i.e. uncrustables and whole milk).

Before running off to another doctor for a physical and blood work you might want to check what your insurance will cover.

 

[denisenh]

eek! what is "a few"? 3?.....4?..... you may have consumed 1000 calories of little nutritional value.
http://www.smuckers.com/products/ProductDetail.aspx?groupId=3&categoryId=46&flavorId=25


reality check. no matter if you get a second blood test or not you can always improve your diet which is the real bottom line. you are worth it!!

 

[DebbieB]

Did the doctor give you a prescription for a statin? Most doctors are going to want you to change your diet and check the results before putting you on statins unless you have other risk factors. So watch your diet for the next 6 months and get retested. Cut the whole milk down to 1% or skim.

 

[sonofanarchy]

Did the doctor give you a prescription for a statin? Most doctors are going to want you to change your diet and check the results before putting you on statins unless you have other risk factors. So watch your diet for the next 6 months and get retested. Cut the whole milk down to 1% or skim.

Gave me prescription for statin.

No other risk factors. I don't drink or smoke, have diabetes.

 

[sonofanarchy]

I think you might want to consider changing your diet. A few uncrustables and whole milk . I don't mean to pick on you but, what grownup eats/drinks stuff like that?

The best thing you can do for your triglycerides and cholesterol is cut back on the empty carbs and saturated fat (i.e. uncrustables and whole milk).

Before running off to another doctor for a physical and blood work you might want to check what your insurance will cover.

What's so unusual about Uncrustables? PBJ sandwiches. Obviously, they're not very healthy, but neither is half the crap you'd get eating out for lunch.

 

[Poohforyou]

What's so unusual about Uncrustables? PBJ sandwiches. Obviously, they're not very healthy, but neither is half the crap you'd get eating out for lunch.

Besides being full of sugar and white flour I guess not much. You're right that about 1/2 the stuff you'd get eating out is cheap but that means there's still another 1/2 that's pretty good. I try not to eat out much and know what he healthiest choices are when I do.

You seem surprised to have health issues. My point in addressing what you ate is that it would be a contributing factor to your issues.

Pb&j isn't a horrible choice if you use natural pb, all fruit jam and whole grain bread. The smuckers version is about as bad as you can get.

 

[LSmith]

Most people have no idea what having high cholesterol means. It's heart disease, which can be prevented or reversed. Sadly, most cardiologists are trained to put in stents and give you drugs. They are not trained to give nutritional advice. It would put most of them out of a job.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/joel-fuhrman-md/heart-health-prevent-and-reverse_b_783565.html

 

[sonofanarchy]

On day 5 of my diet. Here's what today consisted of:

Breakfast - Fresh Fruit
Lunch - Salad/Salmon/Water/Small cup of Frozen Yogurt
Jogged 2.25 miles
Dinner - Cheerios with 1% milk
Dessert - Fresh Fruit

Does that sound like I'm on the right track?