Statins

YankeeGran how sad. You have my sympathy too.

When OH took statins for a while he had a loss of strength and also his moods were awful - his brother was exactly the same - they both felt dreadful all the time so eventually both stopped taking them.
A friend in France tells me that there are a great variety of statins there which can be prescribed - here OH and his brother were both only offered two types.

My DH was prescribed statins over 10 years ago. I don't recall his cholesterol being particularly high and he doesn't have a family history of heart disease. He did however have a failing kidney transplant so we assume that it was part of the cocktail of drugs he was given to keep him as healthy as possible.

He has recently been diagnosed with myopathy (following his 2nd succesful kidney transplant) and the first drug to be withdrawn was Astorvastin as this was thought to have contributed to this condition. I have to say that so far it hasn't made a difference and he still has weakness in his upper legs and arms. In fact his legs are so weak that he can barely shuffle along and is unable to carry even lightweight items. He is currently waiting for an appointment for a muscle biopsy. His renal consultant told him that statins can cause muscle problems or depression.

While he was taking the drug his cholesterol was approx 3.5 it is now 4.3. I would be very reluctant to take statins but I do take Omega 3 oil capsules daily (along with a low fat diet) and they have increased my good cholesterol and lowered the bad.

Does anyone know if the home testing kits for cholesterol are any good? My cholesterol is very high and I'm working hard at getting it down but I'd like to know how I'm doing before my next check up.

sook
I think you will find that after many years of Statins the "damage" to the muscles may be permanent.
I hope jeni will back me up on this. Because my knowledge is only from rummaging here ,there ,and everywhere.
Good that the 2nd transplant was successful.

I take statins with no side effects as far as I can tell. My father had several heart attacks and strokes and spent the last 8 years of his life with severe dementia as a result. I don't mind dying of a heart attack but do not want to put my children through that experience again.
Surely statins for all over 50s would cost less than all the treatment for heart attacks and strokes?

When they first appeared, statins were hailed as the new aspirin - everyone should take them as the benefits far outweighed side effects, which were said to be few and mild. And as noted in the original post, the medical profession has renewed this call for the over 50s. But years after they became widely prescribed, we find out that it's not so simple - nor is aspirin without some potentially serious side effects. And while - yes - I would choose baldness over a stroke, it's never that black and white, is it?

Regarding hair loss, I've had more sensible advice from two hair dressers than I have from the NHS consultant. The only supplement I take (and have taken for years) is Omega 3 and I now (on the advice of my hair dresser) take a super strength multi-vitamin "in case". The hair dresser said to drink lots of water as it's so necessary for good health and most people do not drink enough. She also advised a tablet or two of gelatin every week. Who knows if any of this helps, but it all makes sense and doesn't cost much (unlike the widely advertised hair loss tablets, etc).

I think the bottom line (sorry - cliche) is not to take any drug as a "precaution", but obviously, if it's a genuine aid to better health, then be guided by your own instincts as well as your doctor. And don't froget that doctors are still PRACTICING medicine!

Well yes - but still. I'd rather take advice from a qualified Doctor than a hairdresser. Nothing wrong with hairdressers as such, but they don't quite have the same training, do they?

I asked my doctor for a cholesterol test and he refused saying I was healthy enough. So I live in blissful ignorance! I do take Omega 3 but that's because I've heard it may improve my lousy memory - and I think it may have. Possibly. Do I take it that Omega 3 lowers cholesterol?

That seems a bit strange, NfkDumpling - I thought doctors were supposed to check cholesterol levels as a matter of course, and to actually refuse you a test when you had requested one.....

Someone I know has controlled his cholesterol with Benecol products. Apparently they do actually work. Anyone here know better?

Yes nfk it does.
When my OH told the GP there was no way he would /could continue with the statins, the GP prescribed OMACOR. It is a 100% natural supplement, but very potent. It is manufactured in Scandinavia.
Available with or without prescription, I think.

The plant stenols in Benecol products are supposed to coat the 'bad' cholesterol in the gut and prevent it being absorbed into the blood stream. I think that's the easy peasy explanation so I'll go with that. I use Benecol Light spread and have one of the yoghurts at lunchtime. Very tasty. I have to watch the calories though

Thanks Jo.

merlot
It is your liver that produces the cholesterol. But , if you like the taste of Benecol, why not?
In your previous post you state that you would like to know your level before you go for your next check up.
Is that because the medics tell you off? They should not, you know.

johanna I hope not. After 18 months of indecision from orthopaedic surgeons (none were willing to operate because he was a high risk) my husband had a bilateral hip replacement in March 2011. Finally free from excrutiating pain he was able to walk almost normally and continued to improve up until and shortly after his transplant. I really fear for his sanity if his mobility deteriorates any further.

One thing that bothers me about statins being available over the counter is that I have an annual liver function test. What about those people who simply go to the chemist and buy it?

johanna, my GP won't tell me off but I'd just like to know how I'm doing.

NfkI take Omega 3 fish oil capsules with my GPs approval. They are said to maintain normal cardiac and brain function and vision. My cholesterol count hasn't dropped but the ratio between good and bad has much improved since I started taking them and my triglyceride count was normal.

Sorry about that sook, your husbands mobility I mean.
I know where you are coming from. Since my OH's cancer operation, and subsequent treatment, what ever medication is prescribed seems to have many many side effects. And , although he is now a picture of health again, there are days when he simply cannot move. It is either a swollen ankle, a swollen knee, etc. etc. Oh, well the price we pay for modern medecine.....
Good thing that you mentioned triglycerides!!!!!!

I don't mind my GP 'telling me off'. She is very straightforward, open and never patronises. For example some GPs say 'your blood pressure is fine' she will say 'your blood pressure is 119 over 75' instead. When my cholesterol shot up during my annual test she wanted to know what was causing it and did not just reach fir the prescription pad. I told her what I wanted - 12 weeks to bring it down though life-style change and another test at the end of the 12 weeks. She agreed.

nkf I would not tolerate a doctor like yours. He is obliged to offer you this test and is failing in his duty of care by refusing. I would also question his competency; you cannot tell just by looking at someone whether or not they are healthy on the inside.

Re Benecol etc. yes it's better than nothing and in tests it did lower cholesterol, but you have to take it in large amounts to show any benefit. Having said that it is one of the changes I am making, along with cutting down on all saturated and trans-fats, especially chocolate. Chocolate and some crisps contain more saturated fat per 100g than pork pies. I will alo increase my consumption of foods like porridge and oily fish.

I need to lose about 10lbs anyway so this is the kick up the backside I needed.

Nanadogs My GP said he trusted me to make the necessary lifestyle changes to lower my cholesterol. I don't have a sweet tooth so hardly ever eat chocolate, biscuits or cake. We eat loads of fruit and veg as we mostly grow our own, have at least two non meat days per week and eat plenty of oily fish. We don't smoke and drink in moderation. There is also no family history of high cholesterol and although I am overweight I am definitely not obese. Cutting down on carbs, which were my downfall during the cold winter months is just about the only lifestyle change I can make. I don't really fancy eating huge amounts of Benecol because of the calories.
The dogs are having an extra half an hour walkies everyday so at least they're happy

That doctor who refused the cholesterol test should be struck off! Tell him it is you who pays his massive salary and it is his duty to keep you as healthy as possible [regardless of age] none of that 'well what do you expect at your age' stuff. My husband [87] got that and tore him off a strip - doc is much more pliable now!! Good luck, and stick to your human rights.

Blow it....just written a long post to you merlot and it's vanished! Totally wiped out tonight so will try again tomorrow.

Thank you for taking the time and trouble Nanadogs even if it did disappear. It's happened to me as well.