Question About my Lab Report??

Hey Ya'll!!! Sorry this is long in advance...... Question, my cholesterol used to be really high back when I was obese. I had it re-tested last fall, and it was about 170, a huge drop. But, it has slowly been creeping back up, and I think due to my clogged bile duct, its causing it to go up?? I had a test about a month or so ago and it was 181, and this past week it was 209?? What the heck is going on?? I had been eating more nuts and dried fruits lately, that I make myself with raw mixed nuts, some honey roasted nuts and plain dried cranberries or raisins....and the mixed nuts I get that are raw, come from Trader Joe's which is a natural food store. I don't eat processed foods, and I don't eat fast foods. SO, I am clueless. I emailed my primary care doc, who is threatening me with statins to lower my cholesterol, but I would not take them years back when it was in the high 200's becuase of how bad it is for you, so I am not doing it now!!! I eat mainly salads, lean protein meats like steak or turkey and chicken, lots of baked or grilled chicken. I don't use fatty oils or salad dressings and I eat lots of fresh fruit with splenda or low fat whipped spray cream, which has like no sugar or calories or much of anything, but a yummy creamy flavor. I also only use skim milk or Carb Countdown milk.........so whassup??? Any ideas?? I need to start walking everyday, that will help, but I have been feeling so crappy I just don't, but I suppose I will make myself now. Every now and then I will eat like a baby piece of chocolate, but only 2-3x per week, and not every week, just for some flavor, and one piece has about 20 calories. SO, I am thinking its all the nuts in my diet?? Walnuts and Almonds are supposed to actually lower your cholesterol, so I am going to dump those now....they were my favorite snack. I suppose I am going to buy some fresh carrots and celery sticks in the grocery store and use those and some low calorie dip/salad dressing now to munch. I am just SO BUMMING about this, and it worries me. I am still maintaining between 143-146 any given day depending if I pooped , drank lots of fluids (I don't drink any alcohol or carbonated beverages....its only Propel or Crystal Lite or sometimes Iced Tea) , or if my protein is low (higher protein makes me lose faster). SO any of ya'll nurses or people in the "know" have any ideas??? I think I am going to ask my doc to send me to the nutritionist. I did get an email back from Dr Byrne about my clogged bile duct which involves putting a stent in my sphincter through the liver and through the bile duct to the sphincter and then if it relieves my pain, he said they can do a sphincterplasty like a balloon inflating to stretch it out....like in cardiac cath for arteries that are clogged. Well.....I don't know why I am still typing but I suppose that is it?? Here are my current stats........FYI 145lbs tonight Size 4/6 dress and pants depending on cut Shoe size is now 9 from 10/11 Bust size is now 34B or A really, used to be 42D!!! Oh yeah, I am starting to eat Irish Oatmeal (0 sugar grms, low carb, cinnamon flavored w/splenda that I add), and I drink fresh fruit smoothies each day made with just ice/fresh strawberries/fresh pineapple/banana/banana extract/splenda/xango juice about 1/2 cup....and blend, that is it!! Thanks you guys, I am really freaking over these stupid tests. I think I might start adding benefiber to everything and drinking lots more!! Oh, I do do Starbucks 2-3x per week, Nonfat/sugar free Vanilla Latte' that is about 50-75 calories from what I drink out of the cup. MISS YOU GUYS!!!!!! I am hoping to get home I hope, next month!!, or end of this month....depending. I want to have my breasts and some lipo done before Nursing School starts at the end of June, because no way I can do my thigh lift now prior to school.........I would not have enough time to heal Deb

Hey Deb! You know that I am not a nut or Dr but I have a theory that somehow peoples bodies just store cholesterol differently. The way i came to this is through my dad..his cholesterol was really bad and he and my mom went on a very strict diet..I mean, my mom was the food nazi for my dad for months and his numbers just did not change! My parents are one of those rare couples who do everything together and never get sick of each other so they are literally together 24-7. They work the same schedule at the same place, take all their breaks together, drive together.. you get the idea..so they eat the exact same things together good or bad. My dad just had triple bypass surgery. His arteries were 60-80% clogged...my mom is fine!! No weird numbers for her! He was even on crestor and had been for years. Nothing helped. This is how I get to the conclusion that some times peoples bodies just don't get rid of cholesterol no matter what they do or don't eat. I am interested in what you find out. Maybe it will help my dad for the future. Please keep in touch and let me know how you are doing....S

yeah, that is really true. Heredity has a lot to do with it, but diet and lack of exercise, smoking all play a bigger role. So, I really think my problem has something to do with my bile duct being clogged still, and stones, and of course I eat a lot of nuts...but I am cutting back and instead am adding on instant oatmeal now as that will help. My mom has really high cholesterol, but due to the fact she is severely obese, diabetic, smokes 2 pacs a day or more, and does no exercise, she has a left leg that is completely blocked and her right leg is partially blocked. She has 3 arteries in the heart that are 40, 60 and 70% occluded, but she had a stent put in the 70% one, as they said they don't get too excited until its around 70. So, I think, well, I know...I haven't been exercising like I should, and eating about 1 can of mixed regular nuts per week will do it. Walnuts and Almonds are really good for you, so I may just buy raw almonds from now on....you know you gotta have something you can munch!! Thanks for the info!! I also need to get my butt walking as I don't do that enough at all!! I admit it, I am LAZY!! NO Motivation to get up and move....well, much. Deb

from what was explained to me when they did my checks on high cholesterol is that if your parents and grandparents have high cholesterol then it's likely their kids will have it... diet and exercise does help but most likely you will need meds to keep it in check... high cholesterol is hereditary so that will be on thing against you even if you're in perfect health and skinny... just like my SIL she has way high cholesterol and is picture perfect health... good luck hon *hugs* Stephie

Hey Deb Having High Cholesterol can trace back to your families medical history.. or some people are just prone to have it.. I have a friend who is about 110 pounds and her"s runs in the 200"s but if she takes her meds and keeps eye on what she eats it is controlled . Tracy

Well, my mom has it, but only because she is really overweight, does no exercise (well I don't do too much either...like I should) and eats wrong. I was home last month and when she was putting country shed spread on her baked potatoe, it was, I kid you not, a huge huge spoonful, at least 1 cup of spread!! I was like, holy cow woman, that is enough for all of us 10x over!! No wonder you have blockage in your arteries. I don't think mine is hereditary, but I am cutting the nuts out and watching what I am eating, and I think it will go back down. I haven't been as active either with this whole bile duct thing, but I really really believe this is related to the liver/bile duct problems that I have, so I am going to ask the doc that question too. Thanks ya'll Deb

Dear Deb, I don't know if you have tried this yet but Coromega at the vitamin shop has really worked to lower cholesterol for alot of people that I know it is fish oil but it tastes great !!!!!!!! I learned about it in nursing school and take it daily, it may help, Gayle