Need The Cholesterol Gurus

My cholesterol numbers weren't good in August, at my three month check. My PCP just got the results back from my early January recheck:

Total cholesterol :  233

LDL:     162

Triglycerides: 83

HDL: 54

She started me on Lipitor, 10 mg., and scheduled a recheck in three months. I was always borderline, but my numbers have never been this bad. How can this be, when I'm eating so well ? Are genetics overriding everything else ?

do you remember what your past numbers were? I'm wondering, in particular, what kind of a bump up in LDL you have had.  

By the way, genetics matters more than food when it comes to cholesterol levels.  There are people out there who can really make their LDL swing widely with dietary changes, but they are genetic outliers.  Most people can make LDL change by about 15%, on direction or another with diet.  Some people (maybe you) can't make it change at all no matter what their diet is.   

Trig's are very much affected by diet in the American population. If trigs were very high in the past, they may have made your LDL look lower than it really was. 

Genetics plays the biggest role in cholesterol management. I know several "skinny" people who have high cholesterol despite being skinny and eating fairly healthy diets. None of them exercise, though. Not sure how much of a difference that makes for cholesterol, though. Glucose, yes, cholesterol, no clue. 

Looking at your numbers they really aren't horrible. Your total is still within the liberal normal range (though some docs want it to be

So sorry. I posted a very thorough response and damn, if OH didn't lose it. I'm getting pretty sick of the damn glitches since the update. 

...aren't horrible. Your total is still within the liberal normal range (though some docs want it to be

For almost two years after my after WLS my total cholesterol hovered at 220, higher than it had ever been when I was morbidly obese!  My doctor wasn't concerned.  My HDL, the "good" cholesterol was much higher than when I was fat and my triglycerides were super-low compared to when I was fat.  But my LDL was higher.  The higher HDL and higher LDL contributed to the overall higher total cholesterol number.  Now, my doc wasn't worried enough to put me on medication but gave me some tips for lowering the LDL number. 

I was just checked again in December and my total cholesterol was 190 - yeah! LDL still elevated at 116 (they want it below 100).  But I'm seeing progress! 

Changes I made to address high LDL: 1) Eat more good fats ie. avocados, nut. 2) Reduce consumption of dairy: cut waaaaay back on cheese and yogurt, which had been daily staples for me.  3) Upped the fish to at least once per week, twice if I can get away with it.  4) Reduce beef intake - really hard since I live in a beef-centered state! I5)  Became a daily green tea and pu-erh tea drinker.  All of these things are supposed to supposedly help lower LDL levels. 

I'll be real interested to see how the labs turn out in another 6 months.