Blood work question - High Cholesterol Message Board

Cat6 · 02-10-2007, 09:07 PM

Hello, i'm new here....

i'm reading people's reports on the breakdown of their blood test results - how does one get this info? My doc only gives me the total cholesterol number, which is still too high even after 8-9 months on 20 mg simvastatin. Although, I did forget, and ate some 'bad' stuff the night before my last test so that may have sent it higher, but still - i gotta get it down.

but i digress -

Are all the specifics automatically tested for, so it would just be a matter of going back and asking the doc for the breakdown of HDL, LDL, and tryglycerides and he'd have that info handy?

Or is there a specific type of test I should request, other than the general one, to get all those separate numbers?

thanks!

JJ · 02-10-2007, 09:20 PM

I think you should call your dr. to get the other numbers. When they do a lipid panel, it consists of your TC, LDL, HDL and Trigs. When you know your going for the test, make sure you fast at least 8-10 hrs., and also try and eat a lite meal the night before, and eat early. Drink nothing but water during your fasting time.

Good luck.....

Cat6 · 02-10-2007, 09:35 PM

thanks JJ, I will call and ask him.

and yeh I did fast from the evening before the test, but before that, i forgot and ate some high-fat bad snacks..... bad girl, hehe.

But - am having another test in a month after completion of an herbal program to see if it does any good, so will make sure to pay attention next time. A friend of mine did this program and it cut his TC in half - so that will be the real info I want, cause the 20 mg statin didn't work, and possibly exacerbated inflammation and muscle pain i already have (from other sources), so would like to avoid it if possible.

am reading all the supplement threads, it's so dang confusing and so much stuff to take, and so many different brands. How can you know which are good? I loathe being encumbered by taking pills, but would rather it be herbs and fish oil than chemicals.

JJ · 02-10-2007, 09:56 PM

I don't blame you for wanting to go the natural route if possible. Statins and I don't get along, so I have been working my way thru it with different foods and suppliments as well, welcome to the crowd.....

Read some of the posts here, many folks have come up with alot of god things that worked for them, of course it may not work for everyone, but worth a shot. No more being a bad girl with bad foods, that is a no-no!!! Only teasing you, we all fall off the wagon, we have to be good to ourselves every so often, but definitely NOT before a test.

Try eating oatmeal in the mornings, not the quicky kind either, the good ole fashion oats. Taking a 1/2 tsp. of cinnamon is good, and of course stay away from anything with Trans. fats, processed foods, and junk. It take a lil getting use to, but you will get the hang of it, and folks here are more then helpful, so they will give you whatever suggestions they can.

Best of luck, and hope to chat again soon.....

Cat6 · 02-10-2007, 10:57 PM

thanks again, i'll keep reading all the info.... i used to have Cheerios every morning but got lazy, cause i don't usually eat breakfast and i hate carryin stuff to work, it eventually gets annoying....but i will start back to that!

i eat a relatively decent diet, not squeaky clean - but I do use olive oil or Smart Balance canola... (add just a teeny little real butter for flavor), brown rice, veggies, stay away from red meat, only occasional junk food. my downfall is white-sugar baked goods, but i don't do that too often. And everything else is good - BP, liver enzymes, weight etc. (although very high stress, grief, and and upset lately, i'm sure that doens't help)

But even so, i was so shocked that even with my diet, and the statins, that my TC did not budge -- discouraging to say the least. AND my sweetheart recently had a mild heart attack supposedly due to high cholesterol and a blocked artery. I was told several years ago that my TG's were way too high as well, (dang white sugar cravings) so now i'm scared & feel like i will have to be uber vigilant and not enjoy even my occasional treats, which is just an annoying way to have to live. *sigh*