High cholesterol Triglyceride and LDLC 7 weeks post tx???

[donnia]

I just got a copy of last weeks labs and this weeks labs.

My cholesterol, Triglycerides LDLC and LDH are all high?? I dont even know what the Triglycerides and LDH are telling me.... anyone know??

These are the results of my last 3 labs.


07-04-08
Cholesterol 304 (normal range 121-208) (High risk greater than 240)
Triglyceride 585 (normal range 42 -159) what is this telling me
LDLC 173 (normal 49-107) (Moderate risk 130-159, High risk 160)
LDH 273 (normal 100 - 190)

07-07-08
Cholesterol 298
Triglyceride 733
LDLC 146
LDH 214

07-21-08
Cholesterol 272
Triglyceride 570
LDLC 130
LDH 216

I was taking 40 mg Lipitor and my neph upped it to 80 mg Lipitor after my 07-04-08 labs. My cholesterol is coming down. These labs are pretty scary!  I am just 7 weeks post tx... can my meds already have this effect on these labs???

On a positive note, my creatinine for 7-21-08 was 1.0!!! Even after all that yucky sickness... I thought maybe my creatinine would go up because I got dehydrated, but it didnt  It was 1.2 on 07-07-08 and went down tot 1.0 YAY!

Okay, any of you smart folks got any information for me??? Also... I have been pretty tired lately... could these labs have something to do with it??? My hemoglobin is 12.0 and Hematocrit 35.3 so it isnt that.

[okarol]

I don't know if immunosuppressants can change your cholesterol that quickly. What were your numbers before the TX?

Here's some more info:

http://ihatedialysis.com/forum/index.php?topic=7252.0 Immunosuppressant drugs can contribute to high cholesterol

http://ihatedialysis.com/forum/index.php?topic=221.0 Do any of you have cholesterol problems?

[donnia]

I'm not sure what my numbers were before tx Karol... I know my choelseterol was high... but I was never really fasting to get accurate results.  Even when I did my labs I had to take my Bactrim, Valcyte, Myfortic and Protonix..... so I wonder if that had any effects on the results.  I will ask the tx team tomorrow while I am there for clinic.

Thanks for the info Karol!

[stauffenberg]

Blood lipid elevation is a standard side-effect of immunosuppressive drugs.  My cholesterol level doubled from its value three days before my transplant to two weeks after my transplant.  Usually your nephrologist will prescribe some statin class medications to try to reduce the hyperlipidemia, since dietary management is incapable of handling the size of the lipid problem generated by immunosuppressives.

[monrein]

My cholesterol went up post transplant but it took about 15 years to do it.   Mine was super good prior to trx and there's no genetic component for me.  I still take only 10 mg of prevastatin. I exercised a lot while I had the trx and because my husband does have a genetic predisposition for high cholesterol we seldom if ever eat deep-fried things or high fat stuff either.  If it's genetic, diet and even a lot of exercise won't be enough.  The only times that Lee's cholesterol was controlled by diet and exercise was when we'd be canoeing 8 hours a day for three weeks or so and eating beans and fish.  No one can keep that up as a lifestyle so of course he takes the statins.

[pelagia]

I like this site for understanding the various tests:

http://labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/ldl/test.html

[monrein]

Good site Pelagia.  So, am I correct in thinking that Donnia's HDL looks pretty high and that might help to balance out the ratio somewhat?

[pelagia]

Donnia, do you list HDL or LDH?

HDL is high density lipoproteins.  LDH is a different thing altogether (see below)

For HDL, I found this statement on the American Heart Association website:

"recommend using the absolute numbers for total blood cholesterol and HDL cholesterol levels. They're more useful to physicians than the cholesterol ratio in determining the appropriate treatment for patients.

But they also state:  "Some physicians and cholesterol technicians use the ratio of total cholesterol to HDL cholesterol in place of the total blood cholesterol. The ratio is obtained by dividing the HDL cholesterol level into the total cholesterol. For example, if a person has a total cholesterol of 200 mg/dL and an HDL cholesterol level of 50 mg/dL, the ratio would be 4:1. The goal is to keep the ratio below 5:1; the optimum ratio is 3.5:1."

LDH is lactate dehydrogenase.  Levels in the blood can be influenced by many things.  Here's the NIH's Medline link:

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003471.htm

[Chris]

Ahh, I posted on the other website board you posted this question on. Not sure what I posted was what you are looking for.

[monrein]

Hmm, of course I was thinking HDL where Donnia posted LDH. 

[donnia]

I was listing LDH.

I just got back to the hotel from my doctors appointments. My nephrologist said that the meds of course do cause all the problems I am having. He suggested that I talk to my nephrologist at home about taking me OFF the Lipitor because my SGOT and SGPT (liver levels)levels are high. He suggested 1G fish oil 3 times daily  instead of the Lipitor. He said it should bring my cholesterol down AND he said it does wonders for the Triglycerides. I will be talking to my doctor about that when I get home. He also suggested I talk to my doctor about taking me off Diovan (BP). He said Beta blockers are better for the kidney, so I will look into that further.

Had my stent taken out. Humm... it was a little (well, more than a little) worse than a cath., but it was over before I knew it.

Are any of yall taking Lasix? I am still retaining a little fluids and my BP is high (even with meds)... 170/100!!!!! He thinks that with the Lipitor and my fluid retention, my BP is being affected. He wants me to take 20 mg Lasix as needed when I am retaining fluids. My transplant coordinator has been very weary of telling me to take Lasix.... he said it tends to make your kidney become 'lazy'. Anyone heard of this?

[kellyt]

I don't have an answer for you Donnia, but has it been 7 weeks since you transplanted?  OMG!  Time flys!!! 


Doctor recommended in-center hemo.  I may be starting the end of next week or the beginning of the following week.  I"m nervous.  Any thoughts?

[donnia]

Hey Kelly.  Yes, 7 weeks!!! You are correct, time does fly!!!!

As for in center hemo Kelly, I highly recommend you go to the dialysis center and meet the nurses and techs.  It will really help put your mind at ease.  It helped me alot.  Do you already have a fistula or are you going to have to use a permcath?

[monrein]

Hey Donnia,  I also take fish oil and have for about ten years.  It was prescribed by my naturopath but then approved by my neph.  I take Ascenta, Nutra Sea hp.  The hp means high powered I think and also on the bottle it says 3:1 EPA.  This is apparently a very good brand and I was told to be a bit careful because they aren't all created equal.  Some contain pollutants l guess but I take this one because it was recommended specifically although I'm sure there are other excellent brands out there.
                       DHA

[donnia]

Is that over the counter fish oil tablets?

[monrein]

Yes they are but not everywhere here carries that brand.  I get them from a pharmacy that carries many good quality naturopathic preparations as well as pharmaceuticals.  You can look it up on line too but remember that there's a difference between the regular and the hp capsules.  I take two in the morning and two at night.

[pelagia]

The quality matters in fish oil because fish oil can concentrate oil-soluble pollutants.

Do you like fish? Really fishy, fish?  I try to eat kipper snacks, sardines or canned salmon at least once a week because they are loaded with fish oils, calcium and other minerals.  This isn't a good idea for someone on dialysis, but post-transplant is okay.  I learned this from some "old salts" I used to spend time with at sea a long time ago.

[okarol]

We just saw Jenna's transplant team. Her cholesterol was 230 6 months ago, a little high.
They are checking it again. The doc said he thinks the omega 3 oils, like flax seed oil or fish oil, are a much better way to start treating it, and they don't interfere with the immunosuppressants.

[donnia]

Thanks Karol.  I am very excited about this avenue of treating this.  Seems like Lipitor is not such a great drug for us to take anyway.

Thanks for all the help.... give me a few years and I just might become a nurse with all the knowledge we gain!!!

[kellyt]

Thanks Donnia.  I'll do that!

I buy my fish oil capsules at Costco.  They are MUCHO cheaper than a vitamin store like GNC.  The first time I bought some it was at a GNC type stire and they were $25+ for 250.  I was taking 9, yes 9, capsules a day at that time.  I found the at Costco and they are like $12 for 250.  Now I only take 1 b.i.d.  whew!

[monrein]

I love canned salmon, sardines all those things but of course they're "renally impossible".   In Jamaica we used to eat all kinds of dried, salted fish.  Everything from herring to cod, makerel to chinese dried shrimp.  Saltfish and ackee iis the national dish of Jamaica. Those salt cured fish are delicious to me for cooking purposes but there's enough salt for a couple of lifetimes so I banned them.  One of my favorites was salted herring diced up finely, marinated in vinegar with finely chopped onion.  Let sit in the fridge and eat on crackers.   OOps, no wonder my kidneys wore out.

[Romona]

My cholesterol is fine, my good cholestrol is low though. My triglycerides are 233. That is the highest yet.

[donnia]

I am not much of a fish person.  I do like tuna and I like salmon patties.... but to just eat fish.... nope!  My husband does make a good talapia.   I don't like fishy fishy fish. 

[del]

I love most types of fish!!!  I called the pharmacist this morning and asked about fish oil pills for hubby because his triglyerides are really high.  She said the Omega 3 capsules would really help. She looked it up and told me it was ok for renal patients. I called our dialysis nurse then and she got the ok from the neph for him to take them.  Have to buy some this weekend.

[donnia]

I didn't get back in town early enough to call my nephrologist so I have to wait until Monday to call and get the okay from him.