Lipid results

[Maynan17]

Since my last post regarding elevated finger prick sample for cholesterol, I am now in receipt of my formal blood test results for lipid profile which are borderline and need to speak to Doctor.

I do have a GP follow up next week to discuss these but wondered if anyone on here can interpret them and any advice in advance.

I can see on my patient record online the GP has given me a QRISK2 for CVD in next 10 years as 3.67%.

I’m wondering if GP might advise statins?

My results are as follows :

Serum cholesterol level 5.3 mol/L

Serum HDL 1.19 mmol/L

Non HDL 4.1 mmol/L

Serum cholesterol /HDL ratio 4.5

Serum triglycerides 2.7 mmol/L (0.5 -2.3) Above high reference limit

Serum LDL 3.0mmol/L

TIA

[SlowDragon Administrator]

High cholesterol linked to being on too low a dose levothyroxine

How much levothyroxine are you taking

When was dose last increased

Do you always get same brand levothyroxine at each prescription

Please add most recent thyroid and vitamin results

What vitamin supplements are you taking

Is your hypothyroidism autoimmune

Recommended that all thyroid blood tests early morning, ideally just before 9am, only drink water between waking and test and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test

This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip)

[Kacey12]

Hi Maynan17

The only thing that stands out is slightly high triglycerides, but it depends on whether the test was done in the fasting state or not. If it wasn't, then they're not as high as that result would mean if you were fasting. To reduce triglycerides, cut down on sugars, starches, alcohol etc - carbs basically.

However, your QRISK 2 is the lowest I've ever heard of so you definitely don't need statins!! These days, they try to push statins on anyone with a 'risk' of over 10% (it used to be 20%). It is a very theoretical risk anyway. My husband, age 65, briefly took statins but stopped them because of side effects. His 'risk' while taking them fell from 16.1% to 13.9% so hardly worth it. He is slim and healthy, and runs a marathon per month. The doctor didn't even ask him about his general health - actually, I don't think he even saw him

If you're interested enough about the whole cholesterol and statins debate - read 'The Great Cholesterol Con@ by GP and academic, Dr Malcolm Kendrick or 'A Statin Free Life' by Cardiologist Aseem Malhotra.