Question about blood work

So, I am high protein, low carb and not really tracking my fat intake. I just got my blood work results back and it shows that my Cholesterol has gone up from 154 to 170 between August and February. I've been eating eggs every morning. I'm wondering if I should be concerned with the increase? I know it's still within normal levels, but I don't like t see that my cholesterol is on the upswing. Also my HDL is what's making it high. It went from 59 to 75 in that 6 months and my Triglycerides went from 69 to 79, which is within normal ranges, but a definite uptick.

I'm happy to say that my A1C dropped from 5.1 to 4.7. But my B12 is only 404 and my Vitamin D is only 27, which is down 5 from my last test in August. I started on a dry D3 supplement this weekend, and I'm getting more consistent with taking my B12 sublingual.

Another area that I'm concerned about is my Iron/Ferritin. My Ferritin went from 67 to 50 in the 6 months. I've just recently started using the Iron Patch, and this test will likely not reflect that since I've only been consistent with it after I had the blood draw. Do you guys think that I should use the patch and an oral for a bit to boost it, or would that be dangerous? I know I can double up on my B12 for a bit, but I know Iron can be dangerous in high doses. At least I think it can.

So, advice, etc? I have a spreadsheet at home I'm going to update with my numbers to get a bigger picture of the last 2 years of blood work.

As you know Deanna -- I am also high protein and low carb -- with very little concern about fats. Unlike you, my total cholesterol is too low -- and I actually need to add fats into my diet.

HDL is the good one -- you want that to be higher -- so the fact that it is bringing up your total cholesterol is a good thing. Really, the higher that is -- the better. I would not be concerned at all with a total cholesterol of 170 -- if my LDL was good and the cause was my HDL. Your triglycerides are good -- they are brought up by carbs and alcohol -- you have lowered both -- that will likely go down anyhow.

I would want to bring up my B12 -- that's also important for the iron/ferritin levels.

The dry D should bring up your D. We both live in the mid-west in cloud land -- I always have to raise mine in the winter here -- I stay between 80 and 90 that way.

I won't give you advice on the iron -- too much is dangerous and dropping low is bad, too. I tend to over-absorb with the patches and have to be careful if I am not already low -- they are great to bring my levels up 10 or 20 pts... but I am leery if I am maintaining.

what she said...

These are the complete results I received today:

A1C 4.7

Mean Plasma Glucose 90

Vitamin D,25 Hydroxy 27

Folic Acid 13.3

Ferritin 50

B12 404

Cholesterol 170

Triglycerides 79

HDL 75

VLDL 16

LDL 79

Chol/HDL Ratio 2.3

Non-HDL Cholesterol 95

Iron 94

Transferrin 215

Iron Binding Cap 301

% Iron Saturation 31

Sodium 141

Potassium 4.5

Chorlide 102

CO2, Total 30

Anion Gap 10

BUN 13

Creatinine .64

Calcium 9.6

Protein, Total 6.4

Albumin 4.3

Bilirubin, Total .5

AST (SGOT) 22

ALT(SGPT) 26

Phosphatase, Alk. 57

GFR, BLACK 127

GFR, Non-Black 109

Glucose (fasting) 78

Hemogram w/ Platelets

WBC 5.6

RBC 4.54

Hemoglobin 14.00

Hemacrit 41.4

MCV 91.1

MCH 30.8

MCHC 33.8

RDQ 12.5

Platelet Count 180

MPV 9.9

Whew, that's a lot.

Ooh that is a lot! Drop Grimm a pm about the iron. He had a really good post awhile back about iron. He might be able to give you a few pointers.

I wouldn't worry about your cholesterol. those are good numbers! as others have said high HDL is good. My HDL is only 35 which is high risk (but i'm told likely genetic).

I had very high risk cholesterol numbers pre-op and am now in the normal range for everything but HDL.

I work in a lab, but i need ranges with these numbers. Every lab uses different intruments. Every instrument uses different methodology.