OLast August at a routine GP appointment I was told that I was heading for metabolic syndrome with a high waist measurement, overweight BMI 28, high blood pressure 160/85, high cholesterol 6.5 and higher than normal blood glucose which I found out later was not in the diabetic range (39). I was advised to go on statins and blood pressure medication and lose weight by eating low fat diet which I did being somewhat alarmed by what I'd heard.
As advised I had repeat blood tests in February this year, my blood glucose was up to 42, I had not lost any weight despite going on the low fat diet as I was told to. Overall cholesterol was down to 4.3 but shockingly my liver function tests were all mega high, over three times what they should be! I must say I was stunned as they were all within the normal range in August last year.
The only thing that had changed was that I was on statins and blood pressure medication. The GP explained that statins directly affect the liver and can rarely affect liver enzymes. He had a medical student with him and he said to him " This is why it is vital to do liver function tests for people starting on statins. We would never have know that this lady had liver problems until it was too late if we hadn't done the tests". I was so stunned! He told me to stop taking the statins.
Since then having read around this forum and other things like Dr David Unwins's work I have gone against my GP's advice and started on a low carb diet and I feel great. I'm losing weight and have lost my cravings. Having been constantly hungry I'm now satisfied with my meals and can go hours without eating - totally unheard of for me. I'm hoping that my next blood tests in 3 weeks time show better liver function tests, the GP seems to think they will but this is so worrying. I wondered if anyone else had this experience with statins?
As advised I had repeat blood tests in February this year, my blood glucose was up to 42, I had not lost any weight despite going on the low fat diet as I was told to. Overall cholesterol was down to 4.3 but shockingly my liver function tests were all mega high, over three times what they should be! I must say I was stunned as they were all within the normal range in August last year.
The only thing that had changed was that I was on statins and blood pressure medication. The GP explained that statins directly affect the liver and can rarely affect liver enzymes. He had a medical student with him and he said to him " This is why it is vital to do liver function tests for people starting on statins. We would never have know that this lady had liver problems until it was too late if we hadn't done the tests". I was so stunned! He told me to stop taking the statins.
Since then having read around this forum and other things like Dr David Unwins's work I have gone against my GP's advice and started on a low carb diet and I feel great. I'm losing weight and have lost my cravings. Having been constantly hungry I'm now satisfied with my meals and can go hours without eating - totally unheard of for me. I'm hoping that my next blood tests in 3 weeks time show better liver function tests, the GP seems to think they will but this is so worrying. I wondered if anyone else had this experience with statins?