Cholesterol much too low - help! - Cholesterol Support

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Cholesterol much too low - help!

Smiekie_t profile image
16 Replies

Hi there! I understand most of you have high cholesterol. I had a blood test today for my work. Everything fine except for extremely low cholesterol. Thing is, they said that low cholesterol doesn't matter, but now I've looked on Google, and there's lots of research saying low cholesterol can be a marker for cancer. Is there anyone who has experience with really low cholesterol?

These are my readings:

Total Cholesterol: 2.4 mmol/l

HDL: 1.16 mmol/l

LDL: 0.92 mmol/l

So it's all pretty low. Any advice is much appreciated.

16 Replies
sandybrown profile image
sandybrown

Hi,

I am afraid your total cholesterol is very low. Please check with your doctor.

Human body need cholesterol to function properly. In my case after taking statin medication for 4 weeks my total cholesterol came down to 2.8 mmol/L

My doctor wanted me to take medication for 6 months and go for a test but I took my test at the local chemist after 4wweks. That was a last of my statin medication. My life style change is helping me to control cholesterol and blood glucose.

How is you general health, blood pressure , blood glucose, are you on any medication and weight ?

Take care.

Smiekie_t profile image
Smiekie_t in reply to sandybrown

Thank you. Yes, I'm quite worried that I have some underlying health issue. I haven't been feeling well for over a year. Lots of heart palps, digestive issues, anxiety. My gp keeps saying to reduce stress, but I thought stress would increase cholesterol, not lower it. My glucose levels are 5.2, which I think is okay.

arty_sax profile image
arty_sax in reply to sandybrown

Mine was 0.8 for 6 months after taking statins!!

sandybrown profile image
sandybrown in reply to arty_sax

This is the first time I have read very low cholesterol of 0.8.

Could you please give more information on how your daily activities go.

What is you daily dosage of statin and any side effect.

Did the doctor say if your blood cholesterol can go to a negative number?

Thanks.

Take care.

arty_sax profile image
arty_sax in reply to sandybrown

80mg a day... Slight effects... Vit d deficient for a while... I sometimes miss it ir go half doses as 5 years now..

Smiekie_t profile image
Smiekie_t in reply to sandybrown

My doctor says there's no such thing as too low cholesterol and I shouldn't be worried. I'm not convinced

Berkoff profile image
Berkoff

Hi Had stent 18 months ago ...all good now ...cholesterol now 2,2 and doc very pleased with this and told me to try and maintain this so dont think there is any need to worry in my opinion,

arty_sax profile image
arty_sax

2.4??? Its not too low... Its perfect.

Batty1 profile image
Batty1

Do you have graves disease and you stated you suffer from palpitations? I bet you have graves disease. You need to have a complete thyroid panel done.

Low cholesterol has also been implicated in people with dementia. My father in law has always had low cholesterol and now he has dementia.

Smiekie_t profile image
Smiekie_t in reply to Batty1

Could very well be! I was thinking of hyperthyroidism, but my TSH came in at 0.95. Although I've also heard it's not always detected if you test TSH alone.

Batty1 profile image
Batty1 in reply to Smiekie_t

0.95 what is the lab range ? You should post your thyroid labs and ranges on theThyroid site here to me it appears you have hyperthyroidism.

Smiekie_t profile image
Smiekie_t in reply to Batty1

Good advice. Apparently TSH levels typically fall between 0.4 and 4.0 milliunits per liter (mU/L). So I'm low but not below range.

Batty1 profile image
Batty1 in reply to Smiekie_t

True but their is more to thyroid then the dreaded TSH test you need FT3, FT4, T3, T4 and antibodies tested.... A low TSH does not necessarily mean your hyper but a high FT3 can mean you are and rarely does any doctor test the FT3 levels. I have a TSH of .25 and I have no palpitations or excessive sweating and any other hyper symptom so don’t hang your hat on the TSH alone to see if your hyper.

Londinium profile image
Londinium in reply to Smiekie_t

As Batty suggested, you need a complete thyroid panel of tests done, which should inc. FT3 and FT4. A lot of doctors are pretty useless with regard hormone issues... and, actually, many other issues (according to my life experience).

Smiekie_t profile image
Smiekie_t in reply to Londinium

I'll have to do it privately then, because my Dr thinks she's ruled out everything. I've caught her numerous times making incorrect statements. I'm one of those know it all patients and I think she pretty much hates me 😅

Londinium profile image
Londinium in reply to Smiekie_t

They just follow a checklist. They're not trained like they were decades ago.

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