Cholesterol

I’ve bumped this up because I asked for a health check at my doctors and the blood test showed that I need to start taking folic acid and that my bad cholesterol was pretty high and they recommended statins. I was told years ago that my cholesterol was high but the fact that I exercised a lot negated that…however I now no longer walk as much or go to the gym. I don’t really want to take statins…have enough pain in my joints without adding muscle pain, but don’t want to ignore it either. I’m going to improve my diet, try to exercise more and take a couple of supplements but wondered if anyone had any success with that and, failing that how they got on with statins. Bit worried that both things that showed up contributed to strokes and dementia so need to do something!

I have just reluctantly started statins, 20 mg Atorvastitin once a day. My first regular medication. About 5 weeks in with no problems but will get blood tested in a couple of months to see if there has been any change in cholesterol. Saw a nurse today who said I woukd be on statins forever….. even if numbers improve. Hope this isn’t right.

silverlining it can be familial/inherited, why don’t you want to take something that significantly improves your health?

Simvastatin here, no problems.

That’s what worries me. I think once you’re on them it’s for good. And you have to be careful what you take with them eg I take turmeric each day for my knee and I’d have to stop that. I, too, have never needed to take any prescription medication and I can’t quite get my head around having to do so. On top of that I worry that statins are over prescribed. Having said that, if I do start taking them I suppose it will just become a way of life. I’ve always been pretty healthy apart from the arthritis and IBS albeit being a terrible worrier health wise. I must admit to not eating much in the way of fruit and vegetables because of my IBS.

I have high cholesterol. The score was unchanging, always 8.0. My GP suggested this was inherited, except I enquired round my family and no one else had the problem.

I decided to stay off statins as the difference between my chances of a heart attack/stroke dependent on whether I took stains or not was so small, it even surprised my GP.

Then I was misdiagnosed with a stroke and more or less blackmailed into taking statins. I also had lots of scans and these showed that despite my consistently high cholesterol my arteries remained almost entirely clear of fatty deposits.

The advice I would give anyone being pressured to take statins is ask your doctor what the probability is of you having a heart attack/stroke is if you take statins and if you do not. I was the first person to ever ask my GP that question, and as I said above the actual difference was minimal.

Maybee70 No one has ever told me that there was any food or food item I could not eat or drink with statins. I am eating exactly the same food now as I did before I started taking them. including turmeric in ine of the supplements Itake.

I felt pressurised into taking statins. Almost forced into it. I said yes at the time as the PA was so insistant. I got the prescription and when I thought about it more, I did not take them. I rang the surgery to let them know. Honestly statins seem am obsession with some people in the medial proffesion.

I refuse to take statins. My cholesterol is 6.6. One dr said it was high the other said it was ok. So to hell with it. I exercise. Eat well and don’t drink or smoke. I’m sick of being bullied by these health care professionals!

There has been a huge push by the drug companies to lower the threshold for prescribing them, and GPs are monitored on their statin prescribing and have targets to meet. You can check out whether they would really be beneficial by taking the QRisk3 test, which is the one built into GP systems for them to use.
www.qrisk.org/

Let's be honest, if you are over 75, the chances of you having a serious cardiac event in the next 10 years are going to be high anyway, no-one lives for ever!

Statins are one of the most tested drugs in the World. Cholesterol build up is a silent killer. You can be fitting fit today, but dead tomorrow (look up left ascending anterior artery and build up of plaque: the Widowmaker).

A family member’s cardiologist who is in his early 50s with normal cholesterol levels takes a daily statin. The benefits of doing so he says are well proven. He equates taking statins to the wearing of a seatbelt. For most of us, it is an unnecessary safety precaution; however, for a person in a serious accident it could be a lifesaver. Statins are in the same category.

rafichagran

I felt pressurised into taking statins. Almost forced into it. I said yes at the time as the PA was so insistant. I got the prescription and when I thought about it more, I did not take them. I rang the surgery to let them know. Honestly statins seem am obsession with some people in the medial proffesion.

That's because statins are probably the most researched medication on the planet and have been shown to bring cholesterol down.

Nevertheless, as B9exchange wrote, if you're over 75, the chances are high that you will die from something in the next 10 years anyway, so it wouldn't be worth suffering side effects from statins (if you happen to be one of the minority who has side effects).

Snap RinseAndRepeat.

MOnica It's well-known that people on statins shouldn't eat grapefruit.

I am 82 (sh) and when I had my cholesterol results I was told I had a 20% chance of dying in the next 10 years!

I’m completely baffled why any gransnetter ever complains about being unable to see a doctor! You’re obviously all medically qualified and fully trained cardiologists. The number ranting about being “pressured” and “bullied” into taking statins is incredible.

They’re a phenomenally successful group of drugs and successfully reduce the risk of strokes and heart attacks. What’s not to like?

There is a LOT of misplaced arrogance on display.

I've just been advised to try another statin as the last lot gave me nosebleeds so I stopped taking them. My cholesterol was 7 so I tried to get it down myself with Benecol and plant sterols. I got it down to 5.6 and was pleased with myself. The GP was unimpressed and so I went in a different statin a month ago. No side effects at the moment.

I am 68, at the time I was ask to the take them I was 66. I knew about the grapefruit. I had taken statins about 10 years before and the side effects were dreadful, although I have heard statins have improved.
I will not take them again.

"There is a LOT of misplaced arrogance on display."

What nonsense, people have to take responsibility for their own health. They know know their own bodies and if statins have a adverse reaction, you stop taking it. Everyone's body and physiology is different, what suits one person does not suit another. That's common sense, not arrogance.

Maelil, all drugs have side effects, including statins. Surely it’s reasonable to question whether you need statins, especially if you already have side effects from other medication…

I was pressured into taking Simvastatin, even though I had suffered a bleed on the brain. Told doctor the leaflet said that if you've had a bleed on the brain do not take them. Message from doctor next day saying it's OK to take them. I stupidly did as I was told. On day three of taking them my leg went painfully rigid and my foot twisted round in agony. I was in a chalet on my own on holiday at the time. The pain was intense for a few hours and i really thought my number was up.. Told doctor but received no apology. Never again will I take a statin.

Maelil

I’m completely baffled why any gransnetter ever complains about being unable to see a doctor! You’re obviously all medically qualified and fully trained cardiologists. The number ranting about being “pressured” and “bullied” into taking statins is incredible.

They’re a phenomenally successful group of drugs and successfully reduce the risk of strokes and heart attacks. What’s not to like?

There is a LOT of misplaced arrogance on display.

The fact that it's a drug?

Everyone can make a mistake, even doctors. I’ve always said to people don’t be afraid to question your doctors advice or to ask for a second opinion. When statins were first discovered I’m sure they were going to be sold over the counter.

Not all statins are the same. If you were prescribed a different statin you are unlikely to suffer the same side effect.

I have been taking statins for over a year now, Atorvastatin. Absolutely no side effects at all. My cholesterol levels have significantly lowered. I was recommended them by the doctor and decided to take them, as we have a long family history of heart disease. I simply take mine in a morning at the same time as my levothyroxine, both of which I shall be taking for the rest of my life. (Some say to take statins at night, but I’d rather just take both lots of medication at the same time to save me having to remember later on and they appear to be working fine.) I’m absolutely okay with this and just so grateful that medical advances mean there is a simple and effective preventative treatment I can take.

Dottydots

I was pressured into taking Simvastatin, even though I had suffered a bleed on the brain. Told doctor the leaflet said that if you've had a bleed on the brain do not take them. Message from doctor next day saying it's OK to take them. I stupidly did as I was told. On day three of taking them my leg went painfully rigid and my foot twisted round in agony. I was in a chalet on my own on holiday at the time. The pain was intense for a few hours and i really thought my number was up.. Told doctor but received no apology. Never again will I take a statin.

What was wrong with you? I assume you did see a doctor for a diagnosis.