Help me defend these lab results

#1

My yearly physical is next week so I went for blood work this morning. Just saw the results, and my doc is going to have a fit. This woman pushes a vegan diet and doesn’t know I’ve been eating like this, but I’m guessing she will soon.

I have NEVER had a cholesterol level even close to that, it has always been crazy low. Ugh, she’s going to let me have it.
Blood%20work%20results

Also, my fasting blood sugar was 104, and I always have LOW blood sugar issues… could the cup of coffee with Sweet 'n Low have tainted that? (after I had the blood drawn I remembered that I had a cup of coffee much earlier that day).
Sue

#2

there is no evidence that proves high ldl is linked to heart disease, and your hdl and triglyceride ratio is fantastic and this ratio being high is maybe more concern than ldl

(Empress of the Unexpected) #3

I would kill for trigs like that. I went on keto to lower mine so this is very encouraging. Do you know what your trigs and hdl were last time you had blood drawn?

(Empress of the Unexpected) #4

How long have you been on keto?

#5

check out http://cholesterolcode.com/

(Alec) #6

Sue
What is the purpose of the yearly physical? Is it just for you? If so, it is clear to me what you need to do: if they suggest that your LDL is too high, ask them to provide you with references to the relevant RCT studies that show a causal relationship between higher LDL and higher all cause mortality. They can’t do it. If they do give you some references, post them here and we can help you interpret the evidence provided. If they suggest statins I would recommend you use the phrase you are making an informed choice not to use them (my recommendation).

However, if this medical is for some other external purpose (eg insurance etc), this becomes much more difficult because you are dealing with a machine that has incorrect thinking, and challenging it doesn’t work (alas). So, if you need lower LDL for some purpose, then Dave Feldman’s protocols can come into play. He knows how to manipulate the results big time.
Cheers
A

#7

I’ll go back into the patient portal and see if it shows old results, too… stay tuned.
Sue

#8

I think I started keto last November, but then fell out for about a month (thanks to a faulty breathometer). Been back in for probably 8 weeks?
Sue

#9

The yearly physical is simply because my GP insists on it. I will absolutely not go on statins; I held my ground when she wanted me to go on something for osteporosis and I will stand my ground on this, too.

I will definitely go to the visit with printed material (thanks to all of your contributions) and try to educate her. If she doesn’t want to budge, I may have to change doctors.
Sue

#10

Wow, that’s a lot to read and digest… better start soon so I can go in next Thursday armed!
Sue

#11

Regina, this should encourage you!
Trigs

HDL

Those spikes and crashes almost exactly correlate to the way I was eating at that particular time. Guess I’ll show THAT to the doc!
Sue

(Empress of the Unexpected) #12

Yes do! Thanks so much.

(Empress of the Unexpected) #13

You mean eight months?

(Empress of the Unexpected) #14

My trigs are 209!

#15

Yes, I guess it has been about 8 months. I remember people thinking I was nuts to start this way of eating right before the holidays last year, and except for falling out of ketosis for a few weeks here and there, it’s been pretty much this WOE for about 8 months.
Sue

#16

So I think I’ve read on here that the cholesterol may go up when starting this WOE but that, over time, it will come down again. Am I remembering that accurately? If doc gives me a hard time (I really like her in so many ways except her thoughts on food choices) can I just ask her to check my levels again in 6 months? What could I do to get that cholesterol number down… less red meat?
Sue

(Alec) #17

OK, in which case, then I suggest you say to the Doc if she wants you to go on statins that you have done your own research, and you are confident you are making an informed choice not to go on statins. If you can have a sensible discussion with her about the science here, all good. If she is stuck in CW, you can either agree to disagree or change Dr.

(Empress of the Unexpected) #18

BTW your portal has cool graphs. Mine, just numbers.

#19

I agree… I’m very pleased with the portal and especially that I see the results before the doc does. I get pinged with an email when the lab posts them on the site and she probably doesn’t look at them until the end of the day or the next day. Gives me time to prepare my defense. :slight_smile:
Sue

(Empress of the Unexpected) #20

My new doc is the opposite. I have my physical, then do the blood draw, then hear nothing. I have to be pro-active. This last time I had high trigs, a weird BUN-creatinine ratio, blood in the urine, and a liver cyst (which I’ve had for 12 years). Did I get a call? NOT! I tend to do my own research unless it is life-threatening.