I have had my cholesterol test results back and they are as follows:- HDL 4.9 (Ratio 1.1.) : LDL 3.5 (Ratio 3.2) Total cholesterol was 5.4.
I got these readings from receptionist over the phone and she has said that the GP has left a note to say that I need to come back for a further fasting test in 6 weeks time as readings (possibly the ratios) were a little high. I am thinking that the GP may want me to go on statins if no better in 6 weeks. I would rather avoid these if possible so can anyone recommend anything that will bring the cholesterol down further and also whether it is the ratio that they are concerned about - can anyone tell from these figures? Receptionist did not know enough about it to be able to help any further.
All other tests were ok - my thyroid TSH is 0.02 (0.35 - 4.5) and T4 22.9 (11 - 24). The GP is happy to leave me on this as the T4 is still within the guidelines so I am lucky there!
Any advice would be most appreciated .
Hannah
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Hannah13
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A few years ago I was given statins, family history of stroke and heart disease plus my cholesterol was well over over 6 (that was with a fasting test although someone said to me recently they don't need to do fasting tests these days - maybe they do if you are on the high side )but can't remember exactly how high. Anyway we were driving to the south of France, I started them the weekend we left and by the following weekend I had more or less stopped them, I felt really awful, my legs hurt, I could barely walk but the wrist thing was that I felt so depressed that I just wanted to curl up in a corner and not speak to anyone. My husband suggested I only take one on alternate days but that didn't help so I stooped altogether then when I got home I went in and confessed I did not want to take them ( by that time I had googled and found all sorts of people who had not done well on statins, some of them left with permanent muscle damage) I was taking Simvastatin and was told that there were other types I could try but I declined. My doctor said to try those drinks and spreads as they seemed to be quite successful in lowering cholesterol so I did that, got a lot more exercise and generally improved my diet which all helped but if I was at 5.4 I think I would be quite happy, I was lucky because my HDL and triglycerides were quite good from what I can remember.
What was interesting was how long and difficult it was to find evidence of other people feeling depressed as I had felt, it was a horrible feeling.
In the end I just said I didn't want to take the statins and that was it. It wasn't difficult to get rid if them. Hope that is some sort of help, read up about statins on the web before you go to see your doctor though - suppose it depends on your risk factors but I really wouldn't want to repeat the statins experience.
Assuming you are on thyroid meds, statins are a very bad idea and are contra indicated. More likely to get muscle and joint pains....ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...
Have you had your vitamin d levels checked? Vit d is made from cholesterol and if you are short of d3 you may have increased stores of cholesterol.
Always remember that a GP cannot actually make you take them. You are always free to refuse to take the prescription form from the GP. not to take it to a pharmacy, not to collect the medicine, and not to take it even if it is in your paws!
Of course, some GPs might make a fuss, even write you up as a non-compliant patient in your notes. But the final say is yours. And it is your GP's duty to get informed consent from you - not simply tell you to take something.
Hannah, cholesterol numbers are still controversial. If you are elderly and have some heart problems, it might be recommended but I have had very high cholesterol but because of taking fish oil or omega 3 my good cholesterol went up and LDL came down so my ratio is not that bad. My C-Reactive Protein is also ideal which can go awry for people with heart issues. Cholesterol is a very good substance in many ways and people with very low cholesterol can be subject to cancers. Hypos have the tendency to have high cholesterol so if you can straighten that out, it may help. I would not worry.
Our brains need cholesterol as do our hormones. Cholesterol is involved in the making of them. Very little comes from food - over 80% made in the body so it is there for a reason. Millions taking statins in the world - and millions with AD/Dementia - could there be a connection ? Special foods to reduce cholesterol is a nonsense - and just a money making exercise for the Food Industry who have jumped on the Big Pharma bandwagon....they are both about making money.
When cholesterol was raised in the past - people were treated for low thyroid hormones. Heloise is right - about the CRP - more important to keep an eye on that...both for heart and brain health too....
Please do not be concerned - your figures look fine to me ! Docs are probably well rewarded for prescribing statins
Doctors do indeed get a bonus for prescribing statins and the link between cholesterol and heart problems is tenuous at best!! There is no such thing as 'good' or 'bad' cholesterol you need it all!! As has been said you do not have to take anything your doctor prescribes if you do not want to. Tell your doctor that you are hypo and therefore statins are contra - indicated but only if your doctor suggests you take them, don't volunteer to try them!!
Thank you so much everyone for your kind and informative replies. I will start taking the fish oil supplements right away as I believe they are good for cholesterol. I will get my vitamin D tested again too so have taken on board all comments. I will definetly refuse to take them - I do my prescriptions on line and I see there is already a prescription for statins on there - put there in the last couple of days - so I can see where the GP wants to go with this.
Hi it is generally recognised that oats and an apple daily, actually improve the cholesterol reading, also to avoid , all cheese and much cream.If you go on Statins, Avorostatin is best, especially if heart problems., then it certainly needs to be lower.If you go on them , start on 1 tablet every other day for the first 2 weeks ,then go up to prescribed amount. This usually stops all side effects. If heart problems cholesterol needs to be much lower.Re Test after 6 weeks on the full dose.
I think with an HDL that high and the nearly normal LDL you should be laughing! Great levels. Don't go near a statin...just read read read. Start here:
Looks like we are in the same boat! I have just found out this week I have high cholesterol. everyone is shocked as I have a very healthy diet. My results are nearly the same as yours. I have not phoned the dr as I assume they will want to put me on statins. I am going to try and lower it naturally as poss.
I have been and stocked up this am with porridge(instead of bran flakes),milled linseed to sprinkle on breakfast and to add to other food too. and cholesterol lowering yogurt drinks. Thank goodness we have just had an aldi open here.
Hopefully some tweeking to diet and try to up my exercise which had been on a back burner due to Chronic fatigue. Our levels are not that bad. Good Luck in reducing it. x
Thanks Jackie and Ellarose and Ellarose you have made me feel so much better with saying that they are not horrendous results as I did not understand the results properly - not the ratio bits anyway. Thaks also for the link - I will have a good read of that too,
Apologies for my ignorance (I'm not very well read on the subject), but what can you do if your cholesterol is high despite an excellent natural/fresh food diet and well-medicated hypothyroidism? I understand that inflammation is said to be an important factor, but how can you minimise the risk of stroke with this in mind?
My maternal gran had ministrokes and was demented for many years before she died in a nursing home at the age of 94. My mother's diet is excellent, she gets great thyroid care (she's on Armour) and she exercises three times a week, is very fit, etc, but her cholesterol is very high and she's worried. I have stroke deaths on both sides of my family and my gp isn't interested in keeping an eye on my cholesterol (maybe I'm not old enough in my 40s?). I'm a little concerned about both my mum and myself. After resisting for years (and losing a lot of weight, which helped a little), she is now on statins.
Both my mum and I take omegas (evening primrose for me since I'm allergic to crustacea and was told fish oil is risky) and vitamin d as well as a load of other supplements but I don't know how much this is protecting us. It's obviously an inherited risk and my goodness what wouldn't I do to avoid my gran's fate.
Thanks in advance for any guidance. This forum is very handy for learning about this kind of thing.
I couldn't say - I don't have her test results - but I remember that her good cholesterol was always high so it seemed fine. I believe she had a jump in the bad cholesterol which is when the doctor suggested she go on statins. She suggested she lose some weight first, which helped, but not enough. My mum is pretty well informed on health matters, committed to healthful living and hates taking medication so she would not have decided to take statins lightly.
Your GP should be keeping his/her eye on your cholesterol with it being in your genes and age should not come into that. Having high cholesterol is only one of the 'supposedly' high risk factors though so I guess if you have no other risk factors such as high blood pressure, Diabetes, being overweight etc then maybe that is why they are not so concerned. In our surgery they tend to only give people who are on BP medication or who are diabetic an annual check for chol and all the other blood tests.
You seem to be doing all you can to protect yourself - I don't know an awful lot about these things either and appreciate the knowledgeable people on here who do. Maybe going back to your GP and letting him/her know how worried you are and that you would like your mind put at rest with an annual test may be an option.
Best of luck - I am sure someone else will come along and help further.
Thanks Hannah13. Yes, my bp is fine, sometimes a little low in fact and although I'm a sturdy build I guess I'm not heavy enough for them to be worried about it, so maybe there aren't enough risk factors. I've been told by a private doctor that I should be tested for that sticky blood thing (can't remember the name, I think it's a genetic thing) which can contribute to stroke. As far as I can remember, all my gran's siblings died of stroke, so there's some reason to think there is a genetic risk. But there is also breast cancer in the family (my father's side) and I will need to talk to them about that too to see where they stand on mammograms. My gp won't know what hit him. x
My recent blood tests showed a total cholesterol of 5.6(2.80-5.00mmol/L),LDL 2.8mmol.which did worry and suprise me a bit as i have a v healthy diet(no junk at all);but then again i know that hypothyroid causes it.but doc didnt call me in(?)The printed results say;"risks increase with cholesterol over 4mmol/L and/or LDL above2mmol.I def wouldnt take statins;but if u do i have read that u should also take co-enzyme q10 ,as statins lower this important energy producing substance in ur body.I have looked into alternatives;Artichoke(capsules),garlic tablets,vit E(250mg x 2 day),chromium 200mcg,vit C 500mg x 2day.Exercise raises good HDL.It is a g point to remember that ur body does need cholesterol to make hormones..and,like others said,i wouldnt worry too much unless it was extemely high..i think.
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Can anyone help with these test results please
Hypothyroidism Confusing test results. Can anyone help please. Are they connected. 
My test results surprised me, any thoughts please !
