Unexpected cholesterol spike post AVR--no info. Panicked!

[mrwjd]

My recovery has been fast and uneventful for three months, few sequelae including shortness of breath and cough (fairly serious), lightheadedness and visual field issue when standing (not as serious). As of yesterday, I had pretty much an "exit interview,' blood taken, no more routine check-ups this year, nothing to be done about the above sequelae. I felt so great!

Today I called the pn for blood work results, and was shocked to learn that my total cholesterol has jumped up from 171 before surgery to 237 yesterday. My cholesterol has always been around 170-175, as has EVERY member of my family, so I am exremely shaken by this.

Why would a radical change in cholesterol level follow AVR? What does it mean? Do I now also face a lifelong cholesterol struggle I never expected?

(I have found this problem in only one place on the internet, a post in which it was accompanied by the same symptoms in my first paragraph, which raises the question of relationship. The post was from 2007, submitted to a physicians' list, but there had been no answer.)

 

[Duff Man]

It seems like I read somewhere that cholesterol elevations can be a normal response to stress. Perhaps your body is responding to the trauma of surgery? I've read more than a couple times that cholesterol repairs injury to the artery walls, so that would actually make a lot of sense for your levels to spike after surgery. Also I bet there's some variability with the accuracy of the tests.

I hope it goes back down for you and everything else goes smoothly for you.

 

[mrwjd]

Thanks for getting back to me, Aaron. As you can imagine, I'm sort of in shock! I hope your suggestion is the answer, I have been so wishing for that today. But I can't be totally optimistic, as it has been three months and my other readings (glucose, bp, HR, etc.) that were elevated in response to the surgery "assault" are back almost to normal.

I've seen only one item on the 'net that describes this sudden increase together with my other lingering symptoms (particularly shortness of breath). He was writing in 2007, a year after his surgery, and there were no replies, so it's only helpful to the extent that I'm not alone with it.

Thanks for replying.

 

[tobagotwo]

I would also consider a lab error. When you have a stable reading and it suddenly shows a massive jump, you have to suspect the measuring device.

I had one like that about a decade ago. I had it done again, elsewhere, and it was just fine.

Even if you spike once, don't consider it a permanent thing unless it's a repeatable reading.

Best wishes,

 

[Duff Man]

Just a guess, but you're probably also less active than before surgery because you're recovering. We metabolize it faster when we're active and inactivity is definitely a risk for high cholesterol.

 

[mrwjd]

"I would also consider a lab error."

Yes, I have that in the category of attenuated hopes, the kind of thing that you're almost afraid to say out loud for fear of jinx. My cardiologist is out for a couple of days, and I left a message. He's not somebody who overlooks things, so I'd be interested to know what my last cholesterol reading was. I don't know when my cholesterol was last checked (I don't know where all that blood goes-- ;-) ). The last reading for which I received a record was before surgery.

If previous post-op tests showed this, and he didn't react, then I'd be more optimistic that there's an easy explanation. But if it were usual, why don't more people in the fora mention it?

In other words, I'm making myself and everyone around me nuts, probably from now until I talk to him, trying to guess what it all means. And things were so simple, just yesterday. :-(

Thanks, guys, for being there.

 

[Superbob]

I think until there is enough follow-up blood work to establish any trend, I wouldn't get too concerned about this. Some possibilities have already been mentioned: stress, temporary effects on body due to major surgery, lab error, temporary changes in exercise and eating habits due to the surgery....

Better to relax, walk, get back into regular dietary pattern....chances are, the numbers will come back down soon.

 

[aussigal]

Firstly, whenever we have Cholesterol tests in Australia they make us "fast" so that the result is more accurate...I have never looked into whether or not this is true but its what we have always done.

Secondly...my previously fabulously low Cholesterol jumped up by double after my AVR and surprised the hell outta me...I am now on a Statin and the level is back to that of a teenager (Yippee!)...I have often thought it may have something to do with the blood getting "chopped up" as it travels through my mechanical valve but havent seen any evidence to prove this theory. My other thought is that it could have something to do with Warfarin...again no evidence just a thought.

I has resigned myself to the fact that I will be on Satins forever or until an alternative is found to be better....Its heaps easier to take this little pill than have another CABG for blocked arteries.

Some have had sucess with diet and stress reduction but I didnt and didnt have the time either....my surgeon wanted an immediate decrease in my Cholesterol due to my history.

 

[Jkm7]

We also fast for cholesterol tests. I am always instructed no food after 8 P.M. for an early morning blood test.

 

[Superbob]

I always assumed that I was instructed to be "fasting" for bloodwork because of my blood sugar (type 2 diabetic). But I see the following from the American Heart Assn shows the desirability of fasting for cholesterol testing too:

http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=541

You didn't specify if they tested you fasting or not. That could make a difference.

 

[marie]

It could especially make a big difference if you were fasting on previous ones and not on the last one. My cardio always writes on my orders for blood work in bold "Must be Fasting"
Earline

 

[ctyguy]

how has your diet been since you have been in recovery ? and you never mentioned if you fasted prior to the test or what your diet was like for the few days preceding the test. I would get another test but this time I would be sure to watch my diet for the few days leading up to it and to fast prior to the test itself.

Personally my cholesterol has always been pretty low, 155 a few weeks before surgery. After surgery when I left the hospital I was down to 121 and two weeks post surgery I was 111. At 6 weeks they told me my good cholesterol was actually too low. Im now 3 1/2 months now and I was just retested and I back at 155. I also was diagnosed as hypo-thyroid at 6 weeks but that has also corrected itself.

Bottom line it could be alot of things, so I wouldn't draw a big conclusion without having multiple test results.