Cholesterol Still High

I have a great PCP who is very diligent about my health.  After my surgery 3 months ago, he took me off the statin that treats high cholesterol.  Then, he said to come back in 3 months for some basic labs - protein, ferritin and iron, and lipid profile.  And guess what - my cholesterol is lower but still high, with a very bad HDl/LDL ratio.  My doc asked if I was exercising (yes, min 3x per week for 1.56 hours), and am I eating low fat (yes, I can hardly eat anything other than a protein shake).  Since I've also lost more than 70 lbs, this surprised both of us.  So, I'm back on cholesterol medication, and go back again in 8 weeks to titrate the dose.   
I still have two of the 4 co-morbidities that I had before surgery   (sleep apnea, and high cholesterol/high triglycerides) but I'm able to get a lot more exercise, and my blood pressure has dropped.   I was pre-diabetic, so I'll see my A1C at the next set of labs.  Surgery hasn't been a cure-all that it is for some people, but I still see it as successful.

My DH is athletic and fit.  He, his father, and both his brothers have high cholesterol.  For them it is genetic.  Don't beat yourself up about the things you can't control

Kay

I just got my 6 mo labs back and my chol is high too. Need to incr exercise and watch it! Ugh. I hope w minimal RX they can get yours down!!!

Hang in there!!!!

Meg

Sometimes it is genetic and sometimes it just takes a while.  I am finally off all my BP meds but it took all year for my PCP to slowly lower everything.  My cholesteral is still a little high, right at or slightly over 200 but my ratios are good and my triglycerides are down so she has me off meds for that.  I've been off the Cpac since surgery since my Drs didn't want it blowing air in us in the beginning and I haven't needed it since. 

You are still early out to be rid of everything.  Maybe it will still happen, did for me.

I agree with Price. You are still very early out. My cholesterol was higher at 6 months than it was at one year. It really takes time for your body to return to normal. I was free of sleep apnea at 6 months, but I was pretty close to goal. Even skinny people have sleep apnea and high cholesterol. Somethings, we just do not have control over. Your lab values may be lower at 6 months and even more at one year. The bariatric internist told me, it can take at least a year for your liver to adjust to the weight loss.


Gail

Took me a year to get my cholesterol to get back to normal. Give it a little time ok.

Good luck with your cholesterol.  I'm thinking mine is hereditary.  I'm over 2 years out and still have to take it.  I tried coming off and mine went right back up.  I am off the statins because of high liver enzymes.  I take Crestor now that is not suppose to affect the liver.

I did finally get rid of my CPAP machine, I am weird and had a hard time giving it up - I loved it.  They turned it down as low as it would go and it was still too much so I had to give it up!!  Crazy I know.

Maybe you will be able to get rid of the others later. 

Linda

Thanks to everyone for all their encouragement.  I'll keep staying the course....

Sometimes losing weight rapidly causes cholesterol to rise. If that's happening to you, you won't know what your numbers are going to be until you get to goal and stabilize for a while.

One thing I've found is that taking an Omega-3 supplement does wonders for my cholesterol numbers. It raised my good cholesterol number back into range and lowers the bad numbers significantly.

Thanks - I had slipped on my Omega-3s, so I'll be really diligent about them now.