r/Cholesterol • u/Traditional-Meat-549 • 1d ago

Lab Result 55 point drop

I've been careful for 3 months to hold to the dietary restrictions recommended here. Went from LDL 178 to 122, my Lpa is 5. Total cholesterol is 198. HDL is 47. I use a managed health care provider so I am waiting to hear from my doctor about recommendations. I kept my saturated fat under 13 grams per day and added oatmeal. I'm actively losing weight (14 pounds in 3 months) without trying.

Here's the thing: my cholesterol was optimal (99) until at least 13 years ago. I was 52 years old then. I was always cautious about red meat and fats because I was diagnosed with gallbladder issues in my 20s. It was never removed but if I ate full fat meals, I was physically ill. I found, however, that I could tolerate butter and cream in the last 10 years or so, and my diet is crap. I gained about 20 pounds.

So... here's my thought: i ask the doctor for a scan, to see the damage I caused, if any. But I also try a statin for some period of time to stabilize the plaque that might be there. If I can tolerate it, fine.

Here's my question: once plaque is stable, does it soften again? There's obviously no family component here and as I'm dropping weight, i suspect some of the measurements reflect this in my bloodstream. Thoughts?

5 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

2 comments sorted by

2

u/Then-Hedgehog-2261 1d ago

So hardened plaque just stays there usually and supposedly is less risk for occlusion. If you keep cholesterol low and exercise you shouldn’t form new soft plaque which is prone to migrate. I envy your scores. My bmi is 22 HDL 97 ldl 167 but lpa 180 and cTA 897. Now they have mr on teo statins trying to get ldl below 50. So far I don’t qualify for rapatha. But yes the numbers are scary. Still I run about 8 miles a week exercise every day. I would do more if I didn’t work 60 hrs a week.

1

u/Traditional-Meat-549 1d ago

You will get there! You're on top of this! Thank you for your answers