bamboozled

Thanks. Google shows some clinic across the road but it didn't seem quite right.

I don't have an unhealthy lifestyle at all "except" for too much booze, generally speaking. But I didn't drink anything for 6 weeks and my LDL went UP, not down. I get a LOT of exercise and eat well, mostly cooking at home...so I know what's in it. And that's veggies, nuts, fruits, salads, fish, yogurt, eggs, olive oil, hardly any processed foods, etc.... I do eat beef and pork that has some fat and some butter, bacon but....screw it. Can't be insane with this stuff. I could be wrong but I don't think my high C is from my diet or lack of exercise. If lifestyle is the problem, Christ, I give up. Nonetheless, my LDL level is showing as high for some reason and has for almost a decade.

Mike, is the Mee Chok clinic you referenced for blood tests on the opposite corner from the main Mee Chok plaza?

I also found this last night in my sleuthing: A healthy diet We know that an unhealthy diet can cause high triglycerides, while a healthy diet generally leads to low triglycerides. One interesting note is that sometimes low triglyceride levels can occur with high LDL levels (which often indicate a higher heart disease risk). If low triglyceride levels lower heart disease risk, but high LDL levels increase it, what can cause this inconsistency? There are two types of LDL particles that should be taken into account when calculating heart disease risk: • LDL-A particles are larger, less dense, and lower your risk. • LDL-B particles are smaller, denser, and increase your risk. When you have low triglyceride levels but high LDL levels, it could indicateTrusted Source that you have a diet filled with healthy fats. Healthy fats will not only cause an increase in good cholesterol (HDL) but can also change the type of the LDL particles in the blood. Therefore, those high LDL levels may not actually be a bad thing. Instead, it is more likely that they are LDL particles that have become larger and less dense from the intake of healthy fat. Low triglycerides and high HDL levels in the blood will generally support this idea.

I'm going to look into that, thank you.

Hi Sheryl, Are those pricey tests to get, the stress test and the artery scan? Seems like it indeed would give a good indicator for taking statins or not. Do you favor one test over the other for my issue? My cholesterol for the last 7 or 8 years, on 4 different tests, has shown LDL always above 220. I don't know if it was indirect or direct. How might I know that? HDL was always higher than normal, as well. Strangely, my past thyroid tests, 3 I think, all showed my TSH over 3 and one I had in August showed 3.92, the highest ever. 2 weeks ago I got another and TSH had dropped to 1. The only life-style change I've made is I haven't been drinking any alcohol 6 weeks prior to that latest test (the one showing TSH dropping to 1). Would that account for such a huge difference? It seems like such a drastic change to me. Hypothyroidism would account for a lot of my symptoms including the high cholesterol, from what I understand. Thanks to Sheryl and to everyone for not dropping the ball on this with the site outage!

I will get some more testing done. I'm not convinced of anything yet with the info I have so far. Yes, the A1C is on the list. Did someone mention a blood testing facility here in Chiang Mai?

...Now I've found it by searching for it with Google. Thanks!

I, too, never understood why it is so hard to find just the whey protein with out the added chemical flavors and sugars. I don't want that stuff or need cookies and cream or vanilla fudge or raspberry lemon tart. What the heck? I'm also not having any luck locating such a product on Lazada. Cheers!

NoDisplay...did you experience any side-effects of note?

Hi Sheryl, Triglyceride is 66. VLDL is 13. I did the full package health checkup at Rajavej in August including an EKG. Not what you intend? The test does indicate, "borderline ECG". No idea what that is. They checked "OK" for heart. I have a BPM of 55. A bit slow. Hb1Ac...that's the type 2 diabetes, right? I asked the doc about getting that test and she said based on my August FBS test (86) there was no need for the Hb1Ac test. Thank you!

Thanks all. A lot of good stuff here and my thoughts are echoed in pretty much all the comments. I have indeed read that they now think diet is much less a cause of high cholesterol. And the negatives on carbs. To this end, I eat less carbs and more full-fat proteins. Who knows...these ideas on how to eat will prob. change yet again as the pendulum swings. So hard to know. I have looked for research debunking the high cholesterol being bad idea but did not find any. Thanks bignok for ur input on that. Still, the consensus in the med community seems to be pretty neg. on high cholesterol. Yes, one doctor a few years back did tell me not to worry about my high total C as my HDL was also high. I'm annoyed that my total C is going UP even after the exercise, no alcohol, and eating what I think is healthy. I have not read that statins lower libido but will check that out. I'd love to just take a little bit everyday, get the benefit, and go on my merry way. But as some of you have pointed out, it's usually never that simple. There are usually side-effect and indeed I do not want to become another supplicant to big Pharma. Any more input, please, bring it on. By the way, the doc did not indicate how much or what I should take. We didn't get that far into the conversation. I was actually there for a thyroid check but got the lipid test at the same time since it was convenient. Cheers!

I'm 55 and my latest total cholesterol is 248. It's been over 220 (at least) for about 7 years (I know from looking at some older test result). LDL is 174 and HDL 78. So they're ALL high: the good, the bad, and the ugly. The Dr., when I asked about statins, said she would recommend it. I'm not super keen on taking a drug every day. Then again, I'm not keen on having a heart attack, either. I'm quite fit and exercise frequently. My blood pressure is fine. I don't smoke. I eat healthy food, very little fried, lots of fruits and veggies. I do eat full fat yogurt and eggs, all sorts of meats (not processed), some cheese, olive oil, etc... Sure, some sweets and baked goods but not regularly. I do drink a fair bit of alcohol but my latest test was after 6 weeks of abstaining and it has gone up since my last test, not down, thus I don't feel that was a big contributing factor. I am feeling a lot of stress and generally that is my personality type. Stress is supposed to increase your cholesterol levels so perhaps that is the root cause. Yes, I'm working on lowering stress. So far, to little avail. Lastly, it could just be my fate/genetics. Other doctors that viewed my test results did not push me to take statins and ultimately it is a personal decision I must make. Any people here have any anecdotes to add based on the above info? My sister who is on them complained of initial achy muscles but that cleared up. Thank you!

Well, TSH was way DOWN from what it had been on my last three tests...down from almost 4 to 1.5 or something. Wacky. And she said no way Type 2 diabetes based on my FBS test. So....fit as a fiddle. I feel...disappointed. Maybe my sensations are all from my stress, ultimately. She did not suggest any other avenues to pursue. Oh well.

Ha! Your story makes me smile. I, too, play internet doctor yet try to be mindful and respectful when putting forth my ideas. I ran through them a bit yesterday and then put myself in her hands. In fact, going off on my thyroid tangent caused me to forget to ask about the diabetes. I would have added that test at the same time. Oh well... I was worried a bit that with the hospital being so crowded she would be rushed. She didn't seem to be, though, thankfully. B12 shots....I give them to myself as I'm deficient (not just mentally). It's simple and cheap. Haven't died or had a limb rot and fall off yet.

Saw Dr. Ampica and gave a blood sample for a new thyroid test. I have had 3 in the past 3 years and noticed my TSH level has been going up, even though not officially over the limit, but perhaps we're onto something. I go back tomorrow for the results. I forgot to mention the diabetes idea to her but will bring it up tomorrow. The hospital was pretty crowded but certainly much better organized than my previous experiences in the building on Suthep Rd. Dr. Ampica has a calming presence.

They ended up giving me an appointment with Dr. Ampica this coming Sunday!

I'm told Dr. Ampica's schedule is full. I'm waiting to hear back from them about who can see me in her place.

Much gratitude, Mike. I've noted that building in passing and happy to read your post about the much easier usage. I'll be there on Sunday or Tuesday, for sure. Thank you!

This is gold, Mike, thanks. Chatting with my sis last night, she pushed me toward finding an endocrinologist as well but I didn't know where to start and honestly I was getting bogged down mentally with all the things that might or might not be "wrong" with me. If she's only there on Tues. and Sun. she must have a clinic somewhere? I've always shied away from Sriphat because of the massive crowds. Plus it's a confusing space. I will search her out. Can one make an appointment, do you know?

I wish you well on the surgery...unpleasant to say the least. My TSH is 3.924. which is almost the top of the accepted level. It's up a little bit from 3 years ago when it was 3.49. Certainly, I'm no doctor but I will bring it up with one. ...Hard to get any personalized care/discerning care especially with nebulous ailments like, "Oh, I'm tired/oh, I'm achy", etc... Or test results that fall within the accepted range but nonetheless might be out of whack for me or you. My FBS was 86 which seems fine but...

It did include white blood cell and hemoglobin and some others, too. Just counting: 15 different tests. Hmm, my WBC was just over the minimum level. I've been confused about that one a bit. If you have high WBC, it shows you might have an infection. But low and you might GET an infection. And fatigue I'm reading. I'll have to check it again. Thanks for the input.

Googling it again, it's a bit confusing, true. I'll do some more reading and get the test along with some others. I wonder why they do the FBS test and not the A1C? Probably cheaper. My sister, who has Hashimoto's disease, had me looking at the thyroid tests I've had over the past 3 years. One of the levels is close to the upper register and has been. No doctor flagged it but I'm going to point that out and get another test. Maybe I have hypothyroidism which would account for some of my symptoms.

Hey Mike, I'm reading that the FBS test I had (fasting blood sugar) is now the go-to for diabetes testing and is more accurate than the A1C. WEll, that's what the internet told me. So, I guess I WAS tested for diabetes and it was negative. Darn, thought we were on to something! Thanks for your help!

Well heck, I don't know. I guess I didn't get that test. Hmm, I will be getting some tests I think about the end of the month, if not before, and will be sure to ask about that one. Thanks so much! I just looked up the symptoms and I could have many of them but it's too subjective to make any conclusions. Who doesn't have itchy skin, gets up to pee, is tired, etc....?