Ratios are up on PP? Now what?

[zippitydodah]

Hi,

I had my cholesterol tested over the weekend and got the results back this morning. The bad numbers have gone up and the good numbers have gone down. I just don't know where to start in an effort to resolve this myself. I'd rather find a PP knowledgeable doc but that could take a long time and many interviews that I'm not sure I want to do. I don't want to go on statins either that's for sure. I'd -almost- fly to see Dr. Eades I'm so desparate at this point. From what I've read I really think that PP is the way to go but these numbers have kind of freaked me out.


April 2008
Total Cholesterol 224
Triglycerides 65
HDL 69
LDL 142
TTL Chol/HDL (< 4) 3.24
LDL/HDL ( < 3) 2.05
Trig/HDL ( < 1.8) .94


November 2008
Total Cholesterol 389
Triglycerides 98
HDL 62
LDL 307
TTL Chol/HDL (< 4) 6.27
LDL/HDL ( < 3) 4.95
Trig/HDL ( < 1.8) 1.58

I went on PP to lose some additional fat and to keep my cholesterol levels in check.

You might ask what changed since April?
I am exercising with less intensity and with less frequency due to an issue with my heart.
In the past couple of months I've been eating fewer calories because I'm exercising less and it seems to be the only way I can get the fat off.

The April tests were done at the Mayo clinic when I was having other things done. The November tests were done at a quick lab type of facility. Could it make that much difference?

I'm eating less than 30 total carbs/day.
Eating about 100 g protein.
Varying amounts of EVOO
.5 TBL of Carlsons cod liver oil twice per day.
1 multi-vitamin per day
Vitamin C, D, sometimes vitamin E.
Male 188 pounds, 68 inches tall.
I don't know what other information to provide that may be useful. Any advice?

[maxlharris]

Hi,

I had my cholesterol tested over the weekend and got the results back this morning. The bad numbers have gone up and the good numbers have gone down. I just don't know where to start in an effort to resolve this myself. I'd rather find a PP knowledgeable doc but that could take a long time and many interviews that I'm not sure I want to do. I don't want to go on statins either that's for sure. I'd -almost- fly to see Dr. Eades I'm so desparate at this point. From what I've read I really think that PP is the way to go but these numbers have kind of freaked me out.


April 2008
Total Cholesterol 224
Triglycerides 65
HDL 69
LDL 142
TTL Chol/HDL (< 4) 3.24
LDL/HDL ( < 3) 2.05
Trig/HDL ( < 1.8) .94


November 2008
Total Cholesterol 389
Triglycerides 98
HDL 62
LDL 307
TTL Chol/HDL (< 4) 6.27
LDL/HDL ( < 3) 4.95
Trig/HDL ( < 1.8) 1.58

I went on PP to lose some additional fat and to keep my cholesterol levels in check.

You might ask what changed since April?
I am exercising with less intensity and with less frequency due to an issue with my heart.
In the past couple of months I've been eating fewer calories because I'm exercising less and it seems to be the only way I can get the fat off.

The April tests were done at the Mayo clinic when I was having other things done. The November tests were done at a quick lab type of facility. Could it make that much difference?

I'm eating less than 30 total carbs/day.
Eating about 100 g protein.
Varying amounts of EVOO
.5 TBL of Carlsons cod liver oil twice per day.
1 multi-vitamin per day
Vitamin C, D, sometimes vitamin E.
Male 188 pounds, 68 inches tall.
I don't know what other information to provide that may be useful. Any advice?
I'm not a doc and I don't play one on the Internet, but I will suggest that you might be a bit short on the information.

1- How long have you been doing PP? Frequently, your total chol will jump in the short term while your triG drop fast. But your TriG are up from April, so that's curious.

2- Was the second test done fasting? Big impact on numbers without a proper fast. Generally big swing up.

3- Generally, these tests can be fairly inaccurate anyway.

I'd talk to my doc. I'd take eight weeks to be good with the protocol, and get another test done, giving a good 12 hour fast before the next test.

I'm sure there is other stuff I'm missing, but again, I'm not a doc and I refuse to play one on the Interwebs.

[dvdmon]

I'm not a doctor and am not claiming to give you medical advice, just personal information based on what I've learned in my reading.

First of all, let's break these things down. Triglicerides and HDL didn't change much, it was mainly the LDL and total. These numbers have been known to go up before they go down on PP. Secondly, based on the information in the books and in many other sources, we know that total cholesterol is a pretty bad marker for anythign and even LDL itself is not very good. If you want to take action now to get further info, I would suggest finding a lab that can do a VAP test to get a much better picture of the other variable involved (homcystein, c-reative protein, LP-a, and LDL and HDL subtype patterns). Finally, labs have been known to screw up, even reputable ones on occasion. I don't know what this "quick lab" is you mention, but that name doesn't exactly instil confidence in me! If you are really concerned, I would do another test with a different lab. BUT, you may indeed get the same result. Just know that numbers can sometimes be stubborn. My Total and LDL went up and it basically took about 18 months before they came back down and actually went under the initial measurement. I would re-read PP/PPLP, as well as Good Calories Bad Calories and Dr. Eades blog to refresh yourself on how little cholesterol in and of itself has to do with heart disease and why total and total LDL are really not very useful despite the common use of these as scare factors to put people on drugs...

[zippitydodah]

Max-
Thanks for your response. I always look forward to seeing what you have to say and value your judgment. Yes I know you're not a doctor. If I don't like any of your advice I'll reimburse myself what I paid for it. :)

dvdmon-
Thanks for your advice as well. I looked at your numbers via your www site and see we have very similar numbers after being on PP for a similar amount of time. Gives credence to your suggestion and hope for me to stick it out instead of trying something else before PP has a chance to work.