Unusually High cholesterol

[SpaceRaiders]

Just that really, the results came back as highly abnormal LDL is 5 mmol/L, from what I understand normal range is between 1-3. No genetic factors that I’m aware of.

Anyone experienced the same? Googling isn’t doing me any good. I’ve not seen the Gp to discuss this yet as no appointments for another 10 days unless I play roulette at 8 am on Friday.

I’m otherwise relatively healthy, my exercise levels have dipped considerably over the last 18 months due to often being tired and lethargic. I just put it down to being burnt out or perhaps the start of Peri. Otherwise my diet could be a little better, I eat red meat around 4 times a week. Only eat my 3 a day at most, sometimes more sometimes less. I drink too much caffeine and quite a bit of sugar when my energy levels are I’m flagging. I easily drink 6-10 teas a day, I’m going to switch to oat milk and try reduce that by half. I rarely drink alcohol and I’ve never smoked. My BMI is on the lower side too.

Hi.

I was just wondering why you had your cholesterol levels checked? Was it a routine or have you been feeling ill lately?

I have type 1 diabetes, so I get my cholesterol levels checked regularly.

Do you know what your TOTAL cholesterol is? If it is 5 or under, you shouldn't worry too much. I think a more important factor is what your triglycerides are. A healthy triglyceride reading is about 1.7. And please bear in mind that all humans need some sort of an LDL reading, even though it's known as "bad" cholesterol.

I have managed to lower my cholesterol by doing a ketogenic diet with intermittent fasting - I'm not going to lie though, this is not an easy diet to do. It is more of a lifestyle, but if you ease yourself in to it, it gets easier.

If you'd like to know more about it, just give me a shout. But you should definitely check with your GP before changing your diet.

Hope this helps.

@Jencs1983 Thank you for responding. Funny you say diabetes because that’s one of the first things that came to mind. Then I thought thyroid? I’ve just been unusually exhausted the last 18 months or so. I can’t put my finger on why and what’s changed. I initially thought peri or perhaps down to being burnt out with a crazy work schedule. So I reduced my work load in an attempt to de-stress, I took 7 months off work in fact. No other symptoms apart from brain fog, I don’t know if that’s related. No other changes to diet or routine. I still haven’t got back to exercising 3 times due to just being tired all the time.

I’ve put it to the back of my mind mostly, it’s not getting worse but it also isn’t getting better either. I end up sometimes feeling dizzy and lightheaded a lot too from the exhaustion hence why I thought I’d just check out of curiosity.

My Gp isn’t the best so I tend to avoid going unless absolutely necessary. But I’m a little worried now, I might see if I can get an appointment sooner, privately.

Cholesterol 7 mmol/L.
Triglycerides is 1.1 mmol/L.
LDL 5 mmol/L
HDL 1.5 mmol/L
Non HDL 5.5 mmol/L
Total Cholesterol /HDL 4.7 mmol/L
Triglycerides/HDL ratio 0.74 mmol/L

You mentioned peri - that's the most likely reason. Mine was higher than yours, and came down to 5.3 purely by starting HRT.
I also drank too much and therefore liver was a bit fatty too, so that added to the issue.
Also, the NHS class up to 5 as totally normal, so honestly you have nothing to be concerned about - unless you have other issues/symptoms. But that on its own isn't high at all.

Well I'm not an expert, but your total cholesterol looks good and your triglycerides look great, so I wouldn't worry too much about that.

Regarding your thoughts on thinking you may have diabetes, do you have symptoms of it like increased thirst and blurry vision? Untreated diabetes can cause fatigue, but I wouldn't mind betting that there's a simpler explanation. Maybe Anaemia? It might be worth getting that checked out.

I also have hypothyroidism. That usually causes weight gain and thinning hair (these can also be symptoms of peri though I think).

If I were you, I'd get checked for Anaemia. It has many causes, but the most common cause is iron deficiency, which is easy to put right.

It's hard work being a woman sometimes, isn't?

Could all this exhaustion really be peri and at 37? If so I wish I’d known, I’ve wasted nearly 20 months feeling dreadful.

I’ve just looked at what else they tested for; Ferritin levels were also within normal range so i assume anaemia is unlikely. As was HBA1c diabetes, CRP, B12, Liver blood test, Thyroid profile all within the normal range.

Ferritin levels were also within normal range

’normal’ isn’t the same as optimal. Ferritin can be marked normal at 20 but nice guidelines say you should be treated if under 30. What was your figure? If it’s below 80 you would undoubtedly feel better if you could raise it.
Were B12/folate and vitamin D checked? They can also cause exhaustion if in the lower end of the normal range.

I guess peri could be the issue, but 37 seems too young for that? But not impossible.

Also there are other things that can cause anaemia. It's not just iron and ferritin related. I think this is pretty rare though.

If your Hba1c is normal, you don't have diabetes.

How's your blood pressure?

Ferritin is 51.9 ug/L.
B12 is 98.4.
Vit D is 28.1 I’ve just ordered some high strength spray.

This was my BP back in the spring. It’s not abnormal as far as I know.

BP
111 SYS
68 DIA
60 PUL.

Some people have high cholesterol in the family regardless of lifestyle/weight.