They actually gave me several numbers....LDLC was 126. LDL was 1853. HDLC was 44. HDL was 233. Not sure what the "C" means and the nurse who read them to me didn't know, either. Total cholesterol was 217 and she said that ideally I should shoot for under 200.

My Dad had high cholesterol and heart problems. Plus I could lose 20 or so pounds.....so not sure if it's a genetic thing I've inherited or if losing weight would help.

I'm currently eating low fat/low sugar so perhaps next time I go in for a blood test it will show better results.

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504763_1...among-doctors/

Here's an article on the new blood test I had done. I guess the "C" on the HDL and LDL numbers is from this new test.

Apparently my HDL is good at 44. My LDL is 126 and should be below 130 so I'm assuming that it's okay, too.

Not sure now why my doctor was concerned.

People with low thyroid may have slightly higher cholesterol results...it is often connected to low thyroid functions.

Triglycerides are usually reported separately from cholesterol.

I think often it is a case of MDs not keeping up with newest info...

some books on Amazon about "The cholesterol Myth "
you can click to read parts on some of them, the surprise me click will bring up even more pages.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1608449629/...der_1608449629
aka drug companies creating a spin /scare tactic to sell more of their product...

true or not I don't know-
but my chol has been 300+ since 2003 and I took Lipitor for about 1 yr ,that was when I also was having major repetitive strain issues and symptoms as well as total brain fog.

did some online researching - the usual medical sites as well as the more alternative/natural sites, and decided to stop the lipitor and I began to feel better, but I also found a very good chiropractor at the same time frame.
I can't say for sure which was the major player or if it was a combo of both.

In the end each of us will make our own choices about what we take or not...

The use of statins is very complex. One poster at Parkinson's here follows the genetic studies that reveal why some people get terrible side effects and others less so.

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/post584630-4.html

There is no simple answer. However, one does need to determine if they really need the statins at all. After that, a genetic test, which is much more available now than before, would be prudent if you decide to do it. Of course, it won't predict other side effects, yet, I don't think.

I take two cholesterol lowering agents-one works in the intestine. I tried those statins and they bothered my muscles big time, so I have stuck with the two that bring my numbers close to the 200 range. I also take COQ10 daily as a preventative against muscle damage.
My triglycerides were a bit elevated this test cycle, which concerns me, as I am trying to watch what I put in my mouth.
My thyroid TSH is elevated (still) and I am waiting for the specialist's next test to see what we will decide on med levels for that. Hope that isn't what's causing my skewed numbers...

Today I went to my doctor's colleague for a blood pressure check up. He said that he thinks statins might be taken from the market by the FDA within a year's time. He said that now they can only prescribe 20mg because of the problems they've seen. He didn't have time to elaborate a lot though. DH was doing a web search after I told him and he couldn't find any info on it though.

That is interesting! I'll look around, see what I can find.

edit~~
Maybe this?
http://articles.latimes.com/2011/jun...tatin-20110609

The FDA in US has consistently refused to allow OTC statins.

While I see a slow inexorable tendency of the FDA to acknowledge
the toxicity of statins I don't see them removing them from the market within a year. That may be doctor gossip or some such.
http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/Cons.../ucm293330.htm

There was just a government study published acknowledging the neuropathy risk of statins:
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread179295.html