Hi there,
I have very high cholesterol, 8.9 without statins. I was referred to a consultant and had genetic testing to determine whether or not I had familial hypercholesteremia, but the test was inconclusive as they couldn’t find the gene. So they decided I have a form of inherited high cholesterol, but more benign than FH. Several members of my family have it too, but the curious thing Is that they are all long lived with no early heart disease or strokes. I was put on Atorvastatin but had bad side effects, so tried Rosuvastatin and am fine with that. Rosuvastatin is expensive apparently and that is probably why cheaper drugs like Atorvastatin are used first.
I was told that anyone with cholesterol above 7.5 should be tested for FH, but I live in Wales, so things may be different in England.