@leeosteo they just gave you the "standard" first tier glossover. They didn't even send you to a cardiologist! Your doc at UCSD gave me all the tests I asked for and sent me to a cardio "consultant." I thought he was my regular cardiologist. But after questioning further I found out they did not assign me to a cardio doc because when the specialist crunched the numbers I am inline with an aging person. But I wasn't happy with that and asked for a cardiology doc. It took me a YEAR to see him! but I am so glad I did. He answered all my questions. I believe I had a CCTA: https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/treatment-tests-and-therapies/coronary-computed-tomography-angiography-ccta
Because you have a high (but not so high like 700!) you can probably ask for one - both a doc and a tomography test. Especially if you have family members who have had strokes or heart attacks.
My cholesterol was amazing until after menopause too. Other tests besides LPa and Cholesterol measure other lipids in your bloodstream. Some are protective some contribute to plaque build-up. Lowering your cholesterol isn't necessarily the answer if you have a familial CAD.
My cholesterol dropped 70 points after only 3 months of increasing the fish. (Cod, salmon, tuna, tilapia, soul, sardines). I even fried it. You should ask your doctor to put you on the fish oil pills although I don't know that they do much. Medicare pays for my Vescepa! . However, Medicare Part D plans may cover prescription-strength omega-3 fatty acids (such as Lovaza, Vascepa, or Epanova) when used to treat specific, severe conditions like very high triglycerides. If I give up simple carbs I drop my trigycerides too. But I get weak-willed and return to the carbs.
I tried for 15 years to get those carbs down. but nothing worked - just eating fish. If I stop, the cholesterol goes back up.
My doc 20 years ago put me on a statin but I got the muscle weakness side effect after 3 weeks. NO THANK YOU. It helps some people but not others.
My LPa is 66 - 88 and my cholesterol is 240 when I don't eat the fish and 173 when I do!
Crazy, huh? Keep your triglycerides in line.
It does not sound like your diet is the culprit.
but here is some advice: don't worry so much about the numbers. Only the trends. Also, get exercise. Walk everyday or stay active. My dad died with his cholesterol under 200. It didn't matter -- his arteries kept depositing plague. I also had a carotid test. that is a test for your arteries in your neck going to your brain. (where strokes happen). You have to figure out a way to get the plague to not deposit and get hard in your arteries. Learn about that. Get your other lipids tested Apoe and I forget the others. Get some books out of the library or buy them.
Yes, you need good proteins and all the rest for your bones but it doesn't work directly on them. If you have osteoperosis than go on the bone meds. There is a section here you can read all about it. I am on Tymlos and Reclast (alternatively) for 5 years and then I'm done. My bones were thought to be strong but I had cervical spine surgery and C5 fell apart in their hands! Off I went for the bone meds! (I get DEXA scans every year for 30 years!) who knew that would happen! I went back on bioidentical HRT to deal with both issues. Aging isn't for the weak of heart! LOL