Questions about Triglicerides and HDL

banded_for_life · August 28, 2005

Question for all. I have already been approved for surgery, but there seems to be an issue with my Triglicerides, which is in the 400 and my HDS are low, as well as my platelates being low. The Diagnostic facility was concerned about both issues and wanted me to go see my primary care dr asap.

Also, they said it could delay my surgery. So I go see my dr and she reruns the blood test because my initial results are almost 3 weeks old. My doctor focuses mainly on the platelets and doesn't seem terribly concerned about my lipid levels...so I think it is all fine. My platelets come back normal, but of course no lipids, because she didn't test that.

So now in the morning I have to go redo the lipid test and not sure why. Can anybody tell me why this is an issue for surgery? I tried to talk to the Dr. Benavides's nurse about this, but have been having trouble reaching here. So I am coming to the board to see if anybody else has had this type of problem.

7/27 Initial Consultation Weight 270

7/28 Blood Test

7/29 Stress Test

<O:p</O:p7/29 sleep Test

8/02 Psych evaluation

8/06 2nd sleep Test

8/10 2nd psych evaluation

8/24 Notice of Surgery approval Weight 260

9/21 Dr Benavides's Consultation

9/23 Surgery Day!!!! :-)

<O:p</O:p

divaliciousdee · August 29, 2005

A 400 triglyceride level is very high. LDL and risk ratios cannot be accurately calculated

with a triglyceride that high. I don't know if they told you to fast for this test but it would help. Risk ratios are what they use to help with distinguishing your good cholesterol from the bad. You want your HDL(high density lipids) to be in a higher range than your LDL(low density lipids). In order to get the number for your LDL it has to be calculated by using your triglyceride level. This can't be done accurately with a triglyceride of 400 or above. The calculation usually yields negative number results which are invalid. I am a medical lab tech and in our lab when we have such a high trig level we report out "LDL and risk ratios cannot be performed with triglycerides greater or equal to 400. I hope this helps. YOur platelets may have been low because if they had a hard time drawing your blood a small clot could have been in the purple top.

DEEDEE

p.s. I don't know why this would interfere with surgery I think maybe they want to see if you are trying to control the amount of fat you have in your diet. I would think that the platelet would be more of a concern, cause platelets aid in blood clotting.

banded_for_life · August 29, 2005

Thanks DeeDee for the info. I have been on a lowfat diet even before I heard the results. My results of the new platelet test were fine. So hopefully tomorrow my lipids will be in line. I too was confused as to why the lipids would cause a delay in surgery.