Cholesterol

Yes but do resist and research ways to bring it down yourself.

My bad cholesterol is supposed to be really bad but I’ve changed my diet and am using Benecol and taking plant sterols in the hope that it will bring it down. I’ll be interested to see if it has improved when I have another blood test. My B/P is ok though.

My heart consultant takes the.
He said his cholesterol isn't bad but he is more concerned about a stroke or heart attack and if that helps he will take them.

Just relaying his thoughts.

Having had a stroke - I feel very very blessed to still function.
I'm more open to them now of course!

I think if you can take statins with no bad side effects such as severe muscle pain then take them.
I can’t unfortunately and have tried many different ones.

Statins severely 'deranged' according to the doctor, my DH's liver function and he had to rapidly come off them.

To answer Riverside ,
no, I only started taking statins when my HDL and LDL were high (when tested 3 monthly over a period of 12 months).

I was put on Simvastatin with seriously high cholesterol over 30 years ago. They got my levels down from 13 to 5. Not good enough! Increased dose again and again until at 40mg and level of 4.5, because of my increased age still not good enough! On that dose my legs felt like lead weights and glued to the floor. They took me off them for a couple of months before trying different ones. While off the statins, I found I could do star jumps and felt great! They tried me on two alternatives, neither of which worked as well and returned me to a (reduced) Simvastatin dose as a compromise on my mobility issue.

A few years later they tried again, with atorvastatin I think, lowest dose. OK but not yet perfect level - so they doubled the dose. I suffered horrendous nose bleeds, a known side effect. I decided to discontinue treatment. At my age (70s), they would not start statins if not already prescribed, anyway.

I can once again do star jumps, not high or wide or for long, but I can do them! I'll take the stroke risk, thank you.

Mine was 7 some years ago. Like you Aley I was put on Atorvostatin and suffered horrendous nosebleeds. Aely you are the only other person I have heard of that suffered nosebleeds. . I stopped taking them and went down the 'natural' route. I got it down to 5.6 and was pleased with myself but it wasn't good enough for my GP and she put me on a different statin. I've been ok so far but I'm not sure it was necessary.

I do not take them. I had simvastatin some years ago they made me ache so much I stopped them.

I was advised by my GP that I take Statins. I was prescribed Atorvastatin three months ago and fortunately have no side effects.
I’ve just had a blood test and all my Cholesterol readings are below 2 which I’m really pleased about. I have a “ sensible “ diet and lots of exercise and at 79 feel quite pleased with myself.

Riversidegirl

Has anyone found that they are encouraged to take statins even when their cholesterol measurement is borderline?

No.

They did a wait and see approach with me.
On more than one occasion.
And all was fine.
Am nowhere near it nowadays.
Once turned out to be a tablet I was on.

A person I know who had high cholesterol has halved his reading by now mainly eating salads. And statins.
He has been doing it for more than 6 months.
His GP sent him a congratulatory email!

I was put on Atorvastatin after a cholesterol reading of 6.8 last year. It’s down to around 4 now but I get terribly achey upper arms and shoulders - muscles not joints. The daily dose is 20mg.

Is anyone on a 10mg dose or has tried taking the tablet on alternate days? Or did your doctor just put you on a different statin?

My H was told it doesn’t matter which one. 20mg or 10mg both do the same job! So he swapped to 10mg.
I cannot take as allergic to something in the powder they use to make up the tablet.

Mine's not even borderline but was prescribed statins after having a TIA. No problems with them and no side-effects

Before you resist, ask to see what the breakdown is between the HDL, LDL and Triglycerides. It is the last one which makes the difference. You can have a mildly raised overall cholesterol reading but if your HDL is reasonably high, your LDL not too elevated but your Triglycerides are high, then you do need to do something and that usually relies on taking statins or similar.

It is not the total figure that is important but the ratio between the HDL and LDL that matters.

When I was in my 40’s a very conscientious GP noticed that my cholesterol levels were high but my diet and exercise levels were very good! She referred me to the “lipid clinic” at the hospital. They suggested it might be “familial hypercholesterolemia”- an inherited condition causing raised cholesterol levels.
I took a genetic test which confirmed it and appropriate statins were prescribed which have kept my cholesterol levels at safe levels for the last 30 years! I am 70 now and fit and healthy.
Without the statins I would very probably be very ill by now!

I am pretty sure I inherited the condition from my dad. My children have been tested - my son has it but my daughter doesn’t. My son takes appropriate medication to keep him safe!

Yes, I m a nurse and was encouraged to take them when they were borderline without being given any option to change diet /lifestyle. I refused and asked to be given 6 months, I lost 2 stones by changing diet took Benecol drink every morning and a year later have significantly reduced my cholesterol myself

I have low cholesterol but still had a heart attack and stent fitted a couple of years ago so had statins prescribed. Think this is for heart attack prevention rather than just lowering cholesterol so I do as I am told and take them especially as they are very low dose!

Mine was borderline & offered a statin, but refused it.
Went up to 5.7, so agreed to take it if it if I was put on 10 mg. Now 3.8 last check.
Don’t seem to have any side affects.

Oh for an edit button 🤦‍♀️

Jojo1950 and MT62 - thank you both very much for confirming that 10mg exists. I intend to ask the doc to reduce the dose to that and see if it helps with the aches!

I'm being blasted with atorvaststin ezetimbe and the new 6 monthly inclisirin injections. They're also testing for familial cholesterol. They have found heart problems and still going for tests. Cholesterol LDL 2.2 but they want it below 1.5. I think we need some cholesterol in the body, don't we? Feeling they are going a bit OTT.

I hadn’t heard of the injections but have familial high Cholesterol and taking same tablets as you Plevey . We need good Cholesterol but not bad is my understanding.