Cholesterol test is confusing me

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HelterSkelter

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So I tested my cholesterol at Dischem. The above results are what I got. The woman at the clinic was very unhelpful. She used a calculator for one or more of the values, I don't really know for which one(s). I phoned Dischem but got no help.

The value Cholesterol, is that the total cholesterol? It does not make sense, because if I use this calculator:

http://www.hughcalc.org/chol-si.php

The total cholesterol should be 3.2

She irritatingly mumbled something about calculating the LDL, but then the LDL should be 1.01 if the total is 2.59 and then she said my total cholesterol is 1.62. She could not give me the printout from the machine, because the paper was empty.

Anybody having a clue what those results mean, or what numbers the machine thing gave and what numbers she calculated?

Could have had a nice steak for the R178 I paid.

I am on Aspavor and she told me to stop taking it, but I am not so sure with those confusing numbers.
 
"It's borderline but still normal" from a doctor. She's too lazy to type on Whatsapp what the details are. Don't push it, essentially.
 
Messugga said:
Low isn't really the right word. You're still normal. If it increases slightly, it'll push you into "high".
Click to expand...

OK, so I should stay on the aspavor. I am on cordarone also for atrial fibrillation. Will probably anyway kick the bucket soon due to liver failure with these medicines.
 
Also the cardiologist did not test my cholesterol, just asked:"Are you on aspavor?" Me:"No." and then he included 40mg aspavor per day in the script.
 
Don't stop your medication for whatever reason, stopping puts you at risk for developing clots which could lead to a heart attack or stroke.
 
lol.

I have genretic cholesterol problems.
my uncle is a pharmasist, and both his daughters are doctors.
whenever a new product comes onto the market, my dad's 5 brothers get the name, and all of them and all of their children (me included) go have a test done, and then take the new product for 3 months.

in the 20 odd years that this has been happening, there has been one product that worked for my dad's youngest brother. his cholesterol has been under control since 2002 at a managable 4.3

the rest of us fluctuate between a 5ish on good days and 11 on bad days.
I have never had the test thow an error on me, but I have seen it happen with my father on more than one occasion (it stops reading at 14 in case you were curious)

bating diets push all of us to dangerously high levels, no matter how long we try it.
avoiding all fatty foods, eating more eggs, less eggs more avo, less avo, no avo, red wine, sardines.
diet plans, herbal remedies.
nothing has worked for any of the 10 remaining of us (5 brothers and the 6 male kids )

all of us have a trigger food we have found. for me it is eggs. if I have egg, my cholesterol tests at 11 a few hours later.

so OP, chill, you will be fine.
 
But I paid R178 and those numbers seem to have something wrong with them.


LDL cholesterol = Total cholesterol – HDL cholesterol – Total
triglyceride ÷ 2.19

LDL = 2.59 - 1.08 - (1.09 ÷ 2.19)
LDL = 1.012

But the paper says LDL = 1.62

Or if you use the others to calculate the total cholesterol, it is 3.2, not 2.59.

Neither the woman at Dischem nor someone else at Dischem can tell me where the 2.59 comes from, or the 1.62.

Even when using 5 instead of 2.19, still not working out.
 
Last edited:
HelterSkelter said:
But I paid R178 and those numbers seem to have something wrong with them.


LDL cholesterol = Total cholesterol – HDL cholesterol – Total
triglyceride ÷ 2.19

LDL = 2.59 - 1.08 - (1.09 ÷ 2.19)
LDL = 1.012

But the paper says LDL = 1.62

Or if you use the others to calculate the total cholesterol, it is 3.2, not 2.59.

Neither the woman at Dischem nor someone else at Dischem can tell me where the 2.59 comes from, or the 1.62.
Click to expand...

I don't believe those numbers are supposed to add up to the biggest number. Just different measurements.
 
Ho3n3r said:
I don't believe those numbers are supposed to add up to the biggest number. Just different measurements.
Click to expand...

The woman calculated one of them, and for some sour reason, does not want to tell me which one and how. All she repeated was "There are your numbers, all of them." in an increasing louder voice tone.
 
HelterSkelter said:
But I paid R178 and those numbers seem to have something wrong with them.


LDL cholesterol = Total cholesterol – HDL cholesterol – Total
triglyceride ÷ 2.19

LDL = 2.59 - 1.08 - (1.09 ÷ 2.19)
LDL = 1.012

But the paper says LDL = 1.62

Or if you use the others to calculate the total cholesterol, it is 3.2, not 2.59.

Neither the woman at Dischem nor someone else at Dischem can tell me where the 2.59 comes from, or the 1.62.
Click to expand...

Did you have a fasting lipogram done or some in house test. ?


Edit , based on the amount you paid I'm assuming it's in house , have a fasting lipogram done at the pathologists.
 
Last edited:
3Gee said:
Did you have a fasting lipogram done or some in house test. ?


Edit , based on the amount you paid I'm assuming it's in house , have a fasting lipogram done at the pathologists.
Click to expand...

She told me the previous day to come back the next day, fasted. Pricked my finger.

So it is a sucking test. Thanks I will go Saturday to the GP and ask him to do that fasting lipogram. Estimated cost? The medical aid won't pay for it, at least they pay for the GP.
 
HelterSkelter said:
She told me the previous day to come back the next day, fasted. Pricked my finger.

So it is a sucking test. Thanks I will go Saturday to the GP and ask him to do that fasting lipogram. Estimated cost? The medical aid won't pay for it, at least they pay for the GP.
Click to expand...

Call any pathologists , ask them to quote you medical aid and cash price. They normally offer medical aids a better rate.


Skin prick tests are not very accurate.
 
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