Anyone been put on Statins?

coby

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I was given the option of statins as my cholesterol reading was 5.6...Type 2 on low carb diet. After discussion about what the possible risks are (mainly muscle pain to varying extents and slight increase to BP) and what the supposed benefits are...I declined and my diabetes specialist was not concerned at all. My renal doctors (I had a kidney transplant..not due in any way at all to be diabetes as I got diabetes from steroids taken post-transplant) generally agreed with me...why take something that may or may not help certain things to varying degrees (that I may never ever need to deal with) with a small risk of certain side effects? I will take meds if I NEED them. I'm on enough meds as it is, and no-one can tell an individual that a certain statin will not mean some impact on your system due to its combined cumulative effect with certain other drugs. Also, the figure being high is far from conclusive in terms of being a negative issue. it is increasingly clearer that those of us on a low carb diet (or those who don't eat "enough" carbs) may find overall cholesterol levels rise because the good cholesterol tends to increase. Yes, there is good and bad cholesterol, and so a breakdown of the overall figure is more helpful. I did pick up the prescribed statin but didn't take any until I had discussed it and understood more about cholesterol (just basic stuff)...and I have never taken them. I suggest you check out what cholesterol is before decided whether or not to actually take any statins...but, @coby , I wouldn't get worried about it at all. Having looked into things a bit more now - I frankly do not focus on my overall cholesterol number at all!
Thank you for a very detailed reply Pleinster. My one concern ... other than already mentioned .. was the fact I have previously had Hepatitis some 22 or so years ago after a trip to a third world country, and was quite poorly. I know that certain drugs affect the liver and of course I am extremely wary about taking anything that may cause future problems. With you mentioning your kidneys
... it brings on the red light with me even more!
 
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coby

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I've been taken off three statins due to liver function issues.. and am currently not taking them. My totals are +6 and it's a work in progress...
This is another thing that worries me, hankjam ... since I had infectious hepatitis 22 years or so back. My liver was very enlarged and I was ill for 6 to 8 weeks.
I really don't want to do further damage. My new GP hadn't read my notes either because upon diagnosis last January I asked if I should have a blood test to check liver function and she admitted that she didn't know that I'd had Hepatitis!!!
 

coby

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My cholesterol level was 5.5 and after low carbing is now 6 but the actual lipid profile has improved. The total number is meaningless (I'm not convinced that all the numbers aren't meaningless but lets assume there is some good science here). So after 6 months of low carb my total had gone up by 0.5 but that was a result of an increase in the so called good HDL. Both my LDL and Triglycerides had gone way down.
Personally I would not touch statins. There is no evidence they work for women and I don't believe in the overmedicalistation they seem to be pushing on us. Given the NHS has been telling us for years to eat low fat and high carb (and we all know where that has got us) I am highly disinclined to think they've got it right on statins.
But it's your call.
Do check the breakdown first though and note that too low a cholesterol level has been shown to be dangerous and that the average increase in lifespan from taking statins is at best about 4 days! Many people suffer debilitating side effects while taking statins so the quality of life goes down, while they get to live a whole 4 days more if they are lucky!
Thanks for that input :)
 

KevinPotts

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Check out one of our own (UK) cardiologists, Aseem Malhotra.

His views on prescribing statins as a primary measure, in other words when you have NOT had a heart attack, stroke etc, is strongly against doing so as the reduction in the rate of absolute mortality is so low as to be negligible.

http://doctoraseem.com/category/videos/


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Prem51

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According to the Resources for You booklet I was given on the DESMOND course, HDL (good) should be more than 1.5, mine was 1.2. LDL (bad) should be less than 2.0, mine was 2.1. It doesn't say anything about triglycerides.
 

pleinster

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Thank you for a very detailed reply Pleinster. My one concern ... other than already mentioned .. was the fact I have previously had Hepatitis some 22 or so years ago after a trip to a third world country, and was quite poorly. I know that certain drugs affect the liver and of course I am extremely wary about taking anything that may cause future problems. With you mentioning your kidneys
... it brings on the red light with me even more!

I doubt that it would be an issue, but do discuss the possible impact of any statin on the liver in your particular circumstance. often general advice is inadequate in these areas. I would consider @KevinPotts words on Malhotra's opinion (one shared by 90% of my doctors) that the chance of statins actually making a difference to life span for someone who has not had heart issues prior to taking statins is negligible. I honestly just don't see why I should take them, so I don't. I would add just to clarify further, my kidney condition was inherited and was nothing at all to do with anything other than my genes (deterioration over decades was always going to happen and I was always going to wind up on dialysis and/or having a transplant). I accepted the risk of diabetes from some meds I was given, but then that was one worth taking; I may now be diabetic, but if it was a choice between dialysis and diabetes...I'd take diabetes easily every time. Statins? Don't see the risk/benefit thing is anywhere near the same way. So, I wouldn't get too wound up about them or your liver at all...but I would certainly discuss it with a doctor..all the input informs one way or another, and our decisions should at least be as informed as we can make them. Good luck. Keep us posted. Paul
 
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Myangelsmom

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I know ... once on Statins, they are for life and I'm concerned about taking such a drastic step ... having still not got my head around having diabetes!
I would so appreciate any feedback please.

I didn't know this... Why would they be for life? Glad I'm not on them!!




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coby

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I doubt that it would be an issue, but do discuss the possible impact of any statin on the liver in your particular circumstance. often general advice is inadequate in these areas. I would consider @KevinPotts words on Malhotra's opinion (one shared by 90% of my doctors) that the chance of statins actually making a difference to life span for someone who has not had heart issues prior to taking statins is negligible. I honestly just don't see why I should take them, so I don't. I would add just to clarify further, my kidney condition was inherited and was nothing at all to do with anything other than my genes (deterioration over decades was always going to happen and I was always going to wind up on dialysis and/or having a transplant). I accepted the risk of diabetes from some meds I was given, but then that was one worth taking; I may now be diabetic, but if it was a choice between dialysis and diabetes...I'd take diabetes easily every time. Statins? Don't see the risk/benefit thing is anywhere near the same way. So, I wouldn't get too wound up about them or your liver at all...but I would certainly discuss it with a doctor..all the input informs one way or another, and our decisions should at least be as informed as we can make them. Good luck. Keep us posted. Paul
Thank you for your response. I will put this to the docter before considering having statins. I am like you, in that I really don't want to have them unless I absolutely have to.
 
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coby

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I didn't know this... Why would they be for life? Glad I'm not on them!!




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Can you give me an idea of what type of meals you eat please to have those results as I haven't a clue how to do it. I started at 11st and in two months went down to 9st 6lbs ... but I didn't change much in my diet ... just walked a lot. My cholesterol is still raised but I expected it to be low so I'm disappoited. I must be doing it all wrong :(
 
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JohnEGreen

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I have been taking them for several years nothing much to report. Still don't like them though and would prefer not to be taking them.
 
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kentish maid

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I was put on statins I had a reaction to one but I am taking atervastatin with no reaction with them

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jaybay

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I was put on statins and having done a bit of research and felt I understood enough about the different lipids and what numbers are important I challenged my doctor as to why I was on them when I was not at risk of heart problems or stroke and his response was that NHS guidelines say diabetics with total cholesterol over 4 should be on them. He agreed, after looking at the breakdown and other lifestyle factors that I had no need for them. I don't take statins any longer. Would suggest ask your doctor for the breakdown and to work out your risk level.
 
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coby

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I was put on statins and having done a bit of research and felt I understood enough about the different lipids and what numbers are important I challenged my doctor as to why I was on them when I was not at risk of heart problems or stroke and his response was that NHS guidelines say diabetics with total cholesterol over 4 should be on them. He agreed, after looking at the breakdown and other lifestyle factors that I had no need for them. I don't take statins any longer. Would suggest ask your doctor for the breakdown and to work out your risk level.
Yes thank you for that information. I will certainly ask my doctor for a breakdown of levels to see what it says.
 
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Pinkorchid

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I was put on statins and having done a bit of research and felt I understood enough about the different lipids and what numbers are important I challenged my doctor as to why I was on them when I was not at risk of heart problems or stroke and his response was that NHS guidelines say diabetics with total cholesterol over 4 should be on them. He agreed, after looking at the breakdown and other lifestyle factors that I had no need for them. I don't take statins any longer. Would suggest ask your doctor for the breakdown and to work out your risk level.
I understood that having diabetes put us at a higher risk for stroke and heart problems
 

JohnEGreen

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I understood that having diabetes put us at a higher risk for stroke and heart problems

Have read that this is so and would not dismiss it out of hand. Also as I have Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm with stents implanted the stents can raise risk of stroke or heart attack them selves and as they are a fix not a cure the aneurysm is still there stents can eventually leak. statins have been shown to increase the survival rate from ruptured aneurysms slightly I shall probably continue to take them even though I do have reservations about them. By the way Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms are usually completely asymptomatic till they rupture there is no way of knowing if you have one unless you have a scan and they like many other things tend to run in families.
 

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One has to weigh the various medications in the balance and take those that do not ruin our present and future quality of life. It may be in certain circumstances an operation can help us with the health problem but we possibly may not survive the surgery. I have been on statins for years and now stopped. I have also been on warfarin and have a pacemaker. Warfarin and statins are vit k antagonists that cause arterial calcification. The novel anticoagulants do not do this. It is never black and white, we have to chose for ourselves in the end. We can always change if we feel we made a bad choice of medication. I have to decide to have or not, a large tumour removed that is not cancer that produces 20x the normal aldosterone. The meds are horrid but I may not survive the op! :) At the end of the day of decision it is nice to be able to put it in God's hands and hope for an improved future. regards Derek
 
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JohnEGreen

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I will pray for you then that you make the right decision for you and that the outcome is beneficial.

John
 
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KevinPotts

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I will pray for you then that you make the right decision for you and that the outcome is beneficial.

John

Spot on John...I'm another one who likes prayer:)


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Pinkorchid

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I have been taking them for several years nothing much to report. Still don't like them though and would prefer not to be taking them.
Me to rather not take them or any medication but we have to do what we think is right for us
 

lindisfel

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Many thanks John, you have my prayers too. It is a difficult health problem you have and I hope a way can be found to get a safe surgical procedure carried out. Best wishes and peace of mind to you. Derek

I will pray for you then that you make the right decision for you and that the outcome is beneficial.

John
 
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