topic Fluctuating Cholesterol Levels in Wellness

Fluctuating Cholesterol Levels

Runner26 — Thu, 13 Oct 2022 23:59:50 GMT

Has anyone experienced significant decrease or increase in their total cholesterol without any lifestyle changes?

In late 2019 my total cholesterol was 277.

In June 2021 my total cholesterol was 344.

In January 2022 my total cholesterol was 374.

October 2022 my total cholesterol was 264.

I'm not on any medication and do not take any vitamins/supplements.

I'm curious how my readings could fluctuate so much and my eating habits haven't changed (carbs and sugar) and haven't made any lifestyle changes.

Any thoughts?

Re: Fluctuating Cholesterol Levels

SeaMaiden — Fri, 14 Oct 2022 00:13:08 GMT

@Runner26 What is your diet like?

Re: Fluctuating Cholesterol Levels

ellaphant — Fri, 14 Oct 2022 00:15:51 GMT

Ask your doctor. No one else's opinion matters.

Re: Fluctuating Cholesterol Levels

SilleeMee — Fri, 14 Oct 2022 00:25:37 GMT

Total cholesterol numbers aren't what is important. There needs to be a breakdown of the total into LDL and HDL plus a risk factor assessment also needs to be considered most of all. Discuss your cholesterol level with your doctor and then that way you'll understand what it means.

Re: Fluctuating Cholesterol Levels

Runner26 — Fri, 14 Oct 2022 00:30:03 GMT

@ellaphant wrote:
Ask your doctor. No one else's opinion matters.

Of course other people's opnion matter in that I'm asking for thoughts.

Re: Fluctuating Cholesterol Levels

Runner26 — Fri, 14 Oct 2022 00:33:03 GMT

@SilleeMee wrote:
Total cholesterol numbers aren't what is important. There needs to be a breakdown of the total into LDL and HDL plus a risk factor assessment also needs to be considered most of all. Discuss your cholesterol level with your doctor and then that way you'll understand what it means.

I'm actually not worried about my cholesterol level; I mostly am curious if anyone else have experienced this. I know about the good cholesterol, bad cholesterol, etc. Thanks for your input.

Re: Fluctuating Cholesterol Levels

Runner26 — Fri, 14 Oct 2022 00:35:49 GMT

@SeaMaiden wrote:
@Runner26 What is your diet like?

My diet's unhealthy (sweets, carbs, more sweets, pizza, chips). I KNOW why my cholesterol is high; I have no idea though how how cholesterol went from 374 to 264 without any change on my part.

Re: Fluctuating Cholesterol Levels

ellaphant — Fri, 14 Oct 2022 00:40:59 GMT

Your numbers are that high and your doctor has never talked to you about them? If so, I see another doctor. IMO , since you're asking.

Re: Fluctuating Cholesterol Levels

SilleeMee — Fri, 14 Oct 2022 00:57:53 GMT

There are many things which can cause fluctuations in your lipid profile. Some of them include things like dehydration, exercise, diet, idiopathic seasonal fluctuations and even where you have your blood tested can vary between labs.

Re: Fluctuating Cholesterol Levels

Runner26 — Fri, 14 Oct 2022 01:02:56 GMT

@ellaphant wrote:
Your numbers are that high and your doctor has never talked to you about them? If so, I see another doctor. IMO , since you're asking.

Why do you think my doctor didn't discuss my cholesterol with me? I'm not on medication because using ASCVD risk calculator my risk is very low 1.3? Carotid ultrasound didn't show plaque.

Re: Fluctuating Cholesterol Levels

SilleeMee — Fri, 14 Oct 2022 01:09:09 GMT

@Runner26 wrote:
@SilleeMee wrote:
Total cholesterol numbers aren't what is important. There needs to be a breakdown of the total into LDL and HDL plus a risk factor assessment also needs to be considered most of all. Discuss your cholesterol level with your doctor and then that way you'll understand what it means.
I'm actually not worried about my cholesterol level; I mostly am curious if anyone else have experienced this. I know about the good cholesterol, bad cholesterol, etc. Thanks for your input.

It is important to know which lipid component is going up or down. Lipids normally go up and down throughout the year but which one is it? Good or bad cholesterol? Total cholesterol means nothing unless you know your risks.

I'm a retired med lab specialist...a chemist.

Re: Fluctuating Cholesterol Levels

Runner26 — Fri, 14 Oct 2022 01:12:38 GMT

@SilleeMee wrote:
There are many things which can cause fluctuations in your lipid profile. Some of them include things like dehydration, exercise, diet, idiopathic seasonal fluctuations and even where you have your blood tested can vary between labs.

Thanks @SilleeMee ! As always, you're very helpful. The first reading was in Illinois. The second and third were at same place in Southern California and the last one was at a different place since I recently relocated to Northern California and have a different PCP.

Re: Fluctuating Cholesterol Levels

gertrudecloset — Fri, 14 Oct 2022 02:09:22 GMT

@Runner26 wrote:
Has anyone experienced significant decrease or increase in their total cholesterol without any lifestyle changes?

In late 2019 my total cholesterol was 277.
In June 2021 my total cholesterol was 344.
In January 2022 my total cholesterol was 374.
October 2022 my total cholesterol was 264.

I'm not on any medication and do not take any vitamins/supplements.

I'm curious how my readings could fluctuate so much and my eating habits haven't changed (carbs and sugar) and haven't made any lifestyle changes.

Any thoughts?

@Runner26 you really should discuss this with a physician. The poster who told you that you should speak with your doctor, because you SHOULD, not because they don't think opinions matter. None of this conversation can be had based on "opinion." It seems like you have high cholesterol and it's in your best interest to speak with your doc like others have stated. Other people's experiences with cholesterol won't matter when it comes to YOUR numbers.

Hope you decide to talk to your physician. Let us know how it's going because if the numbers you've provided above are accurate you need to bring these numbers down.

Re: Fluctuating Cholesterol Levels

gertrudecloset — Fri, 14 Oct 2022 02:09:41 GMT

@ellaphant wrote:
Ask your doctor. No one else's opinion matters.

I agree.

Re: Fluctuating Cholesterol Levels

gertrudecloset — Fri, 14 Oct 2022 02:10:56 GMT

@Runner26 wrote:
@SilleeMee wrote:
Total cholesterol numbers aren't what is important. There needs to be a breakdown of the total into LDL and HDL plus a risk factor assessment also needs to be considered most of all. Discuss your cholesterol level with your doctor and then that way you'll understand what it means.
I'm actually not worried about my cholesterol level; I mostly am curious if anyone else have experienced this. I know about the good cholesterol, bad cholesterol, etc. Thanks for your input.

You should be worried about your levels if they are as high as you have posted @Runner26 . That's what going to doctors are for. You can't get individual outcomes from others based on what's needed for YOU.

Re: Fluctuating Cholesterol Levels

hckynutjohn — Fri, 14 Oct 2022 02:40:13 GMT

@Runner26

Thoughts on the fluctuations? I go along with @SilleeMee comments. Could be several factors. Different labs do produce different readings.

Were all your lipid tests done on the fasting protocol? You mentioned you haven't made any eating or lifestyle changes. Maybe shaking something up a bit and seeing what happens might be something to think about.

Like others have said, and your are familiar with. I myself pay little attention to my Total Readings because I see the other parts as being much more important in my overall lipid status.

hckynut 🇺🇸

Re: Fluctuating Cholesterol Levels

gertrudecloset — Fri, 14 Oct 2022 03:07:12 GMT

@hckynutjohn wrote:
@Runner26

Thoughts on the fluctuations? I go along with @SilleeMee comments. Could be several factors. Different labs do produce different readings.

Were all your lipid tests done on the fasting protocol? You mentioned you haven't made any eating or lifestyle changes. Maybe shaking something up a bit and seeing what happens might be something to think about.

Like others have said, and your are familiar with. I myself pay little attention to my Total Readings because I see the other parts as being much more important in my overall lipid status.

hckynut 🇺🇸

@Runner26 it is imperative to get information for your specific readings because we don't know your medical history. Furthermore, we don't know your age. Cholesterol rises as we age, this is particularly true for women who are post menopausal. This is all unique to you based on many factors. See a doctor! No guessing then, you'll just have the "facts."

Re: Fluctuating Cholesterol Levels

rockygems123 — Fri, 14 Oct 2022 06:24:16 GMT

@Runner26 wrote:
Has anyone experienced significant decrease or increase in their total cholesterol without any lifestyle changes?

In late 2019 my total cholesterol was 277.
In June 2021 my total cholesterol was 344.
In January 2022 my total cholesterol was 374.
October 2022 my total cholesterol was 264.

I'm not on any medication and do not take any vitamins/supplements.

I'm curious how my readings could fluctuate so much and my eating habits haven't changed (carbs and sugar) and haven't made any lifestyle changes.

Any thoughts?

@Runner26

This is a serious question and I understand you are seeking answers, you clearly are concerned about your cholesterol readings fluctuations.

Your numbers are very high, not clear as to whether you've decided not to take meds and / or change your diet to healthier eating? Those high lab numbers alone would put me in a panic regardless of fluctuations.

Re: Fluctuating Cholesterol Levels

phoenixbrd — Fri, 14 Oct 2022 08:26:21 GMT

HDL and LDL are stellar and have been for decades due to lifestyle and mainly diet...plant based.

Re: Fluctuating Cholesterol Levels

gardenman — Fri, 14 Oct 2022 12:20:06 GMT

Many things in the human body are cyclical going from peaks to valleys. If you had your blood tested at a peak and then again at a valley you'd get different numbers. You want to go by the overall, long-term numbers and see how they're trending over the long term. How big a swing there is between peaks and valleys varies from individual to individual. We're all unique. And different labs testing the same blood sample will give you different results much of the time.

I've known a few people who adjust their diet a few days before a scheduled blood test to try and get a lower number, then go back to eating normally afterward. They get happy when they get a lower number, but they created an artificial valley. Their real-world cholesterol number might still be too high.

Numbers are just that, numbers. They're just one part of the overall health equation.