OT: statins

I have been researching a little bit regarding statins and want your guys input on this.  I know you are all are such a knowledgeable bunch! :)

I have been on them for I dont know...several years, at least five years.  The doc said I need to be on them due to my high cholestrol.  If I remember correctly, last time I got it checked I was just a little over what it should be, and that is WITH the medication.

I take Crestor, but before that they had me on Lipitor.  I didn't last long at all before my shoulder felt like it was falling off.  I couldn't even put my purse strap over my shoulder.  Guess it's a side syptom of statins.   So the doc called it being allergic to it and swtiched me to Crestor.  I've been on it ever since.  Well...you all know i have leg pain (muscle spasms and pain) all the time off and on.  I'm really wondering if it's from the Crestor.  So many docs tell me it's different things, but I don't seem to get no where with anyi ideas they have.  I'm really wondering if the Crestor is causing my leg issues as well.  It all seems like my health has deteriorated around the time I started taking all this crap.  Maybe coincidence, I don't know.  Think that is one reason why I'm researching different ways of eating lately, because I want these drugs gone.

I'm really wondering how much of a risk I'm taking if I get off of it.  I'm a worry wart and just trying to figure if I should get off of it.  My doc is no help, because I know he will say to take it.  I swear sometimes that man wants me on everything he is on.lol  

Also...fat intake and cholesterol.  There is SO many different articles, etc., regarding this that i'm so overwhelmed.  Any input on this subject also?? 

My sister and I was talking about all of this the other day, not even realizing all my problems with breathing, leg problems, and memory loss was pretty close to about the same time.   The kids have even noticed my memory is really going.   Anyone have any comments on this????

Hello - I have often wondered about this too.  I took 80mg Lipitor for 11 years and have been on 40 mg Crestor now for about a year.  My starting total cholesterol was 480 and I had a major heart attack - hence the statins.  Anyway I also have a lot of achy pains and some forgetfulness, but I really don't know if it is due to the meds or my weight.  What I do know, for me, is that diet does not control my cholesterol problems, only medication is able to bring it down, and Crestor has brought my total down to 169 and my HDL and LDL to normal levels.  I know the statin is keeping me alive and kicking and if I have some pains, well I guess that is the tradeoff.  But if you can control your high cholesterol with diet and exercise that would be the better way to go.

Wow, glad you are okay.  You are on quite a bigger dose than I am.  I am only taking 10 mg a day of Crestor.  

Yanno..I just got done reading not long ago that it can help save your life by 30 % taking them.  But then we here so many people swear they are so bad for us.  I guess those are the people that are determined and KNOW they can solve their problems by exercise and weigh loss.  Until I see a stud loss of weight, I hate playing a game with my life.  But then on the other hand, 10 mg must mean that it's not that bad? lol  I don't know..guess I just need to do more research.  

I'm also wondering realistically what is the chance that your choleestrol levels will go down once  you put an action in place (food plan).  Some of my diet books that I read say within even two weeks you can not have to take it anymore.  I really wonder if it can be that fast??  Makes me wonder why we all just don't do it if that really is the case!  Just hard to find what is "typical" yanno?  

I also have quite a bit of pain, not just a little.  It's to the point where I don't think I can do a sit down job at certain times.  WelL I know I can't.  It would be almost impossible. 

I believe that if your cholesterol is somewhere between 200-260 or so that often diet and exercise can bring it down.  However in my case some members of my family have familial hypercholesterolemia, which is a genetic disease.  1 in every 500 people has this disease.  Basically what it comes down to is that my liver is mass producing cholesterol and pumping it into my system.  Therefore I need the medicine, would definitely die without it.  My dad had it and died at 40 years old.  My brother had his heart attack at 35 with a cholesterol count about 375, and he never smoked nor was overweight.  His daughter at 5 years old had a cholesterol count of over 600 and died of a massive heart attack - and she was a tiny little girl.  Now I also have two sisters who are normal.  I think if your cholesterol is still high with low fat eating then you need the meds. 

Do you think that your pain only started after beginning the statin?  According to my cardiologist muscle problems are a fairly uncommon side effect.  There is a bloodtest they can do to determine if the drug is causing muscle problems.  How high is your cholesterol?

I've avoided statins so far but may be looking at them soon. A year ago I started looking into WLS (that was supposed to fix everything) and was all set to go and changed my mind. I was doing the post surgery diet of low carb/high protein and lost 20 pounds! So I went back to my Family Doc and asked if this diet would be ok for a while. He was nice enough to inform me that for people who followed Atkins, in addition to losing excess pounds, many have their cholesterol numbers get much better. Atkins is not easy but I think it is better for you than the statins with all their side affects. The memory loss worries me most since that is already one of my weak points. I have not been successful in following the DANA to the T but I know my numbers were slightly better in September so I am hopeful that when I get it down everything will come into alignment and the doctor will be happy with the outcome too.

Hi Jan!

You're in Edmonds! I'm in Bothell, and we have an appliance store in Mukilteo. 

Atkins made me feel bad. I like to feel good, AND have good blood results. :-)

Ruth

It's not the fancy part of Edmonds - just half a mile west of Aurora Village, but it is still Edmonds! I bought a big yard for my dog so I would not have to pay for him to be in Day Care while I'm at work , now I have two big dogs and I'm house poor : ) 
There is always something to remodel. right now it's the kitchen. I have some hope of having it back together in the next 2 weeks - we started demo in September and I am starting to feel handicapped with my stuff not in cupboards after all these months.

I haven't actually gotten onto the Atkins program yet - still reading the book, but I know I feel better with less carbs and more protein and vegatables so I'm hoping it's a good fit.

That is interesting that your doctor recommended Atkins to you.  I asked this a while back on who's doctor either okayed it and actually wanted you to do it.  I know there has been a lot of contreversy over it.  

I have considered going lower carb before I go in for my next blood panel, which is due now.  I would LOVE to get off of it, whether its the cause of my leg pain or not.  I just keep remembering the day when I didn't have to take anything!  

 As I keep reading more and more about low carb it makes me wonder if I always did it wrong before.   Just like Mary said a while back that everyone always thinks it is a meat and cheese diet only.  I'm starting to wonder if all my attempts before were based on this, without really thinking on how many veggies, etc., I suppose to eat.  I don't thinkI'll go on Atkins, but who knows...I might change my mind.  But lower carb does seem to make me breathe easier also.  Now if I can just get past the "feeling bad" part, that Ruth speak of..then all will be good!   I've been trying to eat more vegetarian fats than animal fats at the moment...just to see how I feel.  Think it might be a learning process. 

I will have to admit though that I still can't shake it totally that it's the wrong thing to do.  Not really the low carb, but the higher fat intake.  Guess docs have drilled that into my head REAL good. :)

Where do you work?  And... are you looking for appliances? We MIGHT be able to save you some $. Send me an email and I'll give you our info. For now you could check out www.discountappliancedepot.com to see if you like anything we are able to get.

I think doing away with processed and nutritionally bankrupt carbs is a good idea.

All the best to you, neighbor!

Ruth