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[ellie]

I have been advised by my doctor, that I should think about taking a statin.  I did try them many years ago, and stopped because of the side affects. ( I had muscle pain in my calfs) .  Just wondered if anyone else on MM takes them, and what if any side affects do they have. I think the one I tried was called Sinvastatin . 

[babyjane]

morning ellie, did your doctor say why he advised you to take this?  Is your cholesterol level cause for concern or do you have a family history of heart disease due to cholesterol?

[Jenna]

Hi ellie - a friend's mother took them, but she also had to stop them because of muscle pain.

[ellie]

Family history, plus my chosterol was 6     . I take a lot of other tablets including blood pressure tablets, and I suffer from chronic back and knee problems......hence the reason I am reluctant to add more tablets......

[cubagirl]

Friend was telling me she's stopped hers as she was in agony with shoulder pain. Her GP has given her 3 months to lower cholesterol naturally. She said the difference off them is amazing. No more pain, better sleep etc.

On the other hand my GP says that although my cholesterol is higher than it should be, he's not in a hurry to prescribe statins & appreciates my feelings on their benefits. Being on them might extend my life by couple of years, or I could get knocked down by a bus tomorrow.

[Cassie]

They are dreadful, I am sure they do more harm than good. My OH was also advised to go onto them, he made lifestyle changes by cutting out carbs, sugar and eating more healthy fats, full cream milk, butter, nuts, veggies etc and of course started walking a lot, his last blood test showed hugely decreased levels and no need for medication, the Dr did not quite know what to say so merely advised for him to keep doing what he has been.  And as an aside, he could ditch his BP tablets that he had been on as his levels normalised.

[babyjane]

do you have the option of trying lifestyle changes first ellie, despite your back problems?

[ellie]

Yes babyjane , I will have to cut out the obvious naughty things. In fact last year I went on a low carb diet because I was pre diabetic, and lost over a stone. My suger level is now normal.... 
I had my cholesterol checked  last week at my request , but admit my diet has slipped a bit lately.
      Excersise is the one thing I cannot do. 

[breeze]

Please, please check out this website especial the section on 'the great cholesterol con'

https://drmalcolmkendrick.org/

[Hurdity]

Ellie my cholesterol was 7.5 or something but my doc ran the Q test ( or whatever it was) to look at my risk factor for stroke and said I had nothing to worry about - no need to change my diet or anything. She just said that some people process cholesterol differently in the liver and carry higher blood levels.

I will have a look at that link when I'm less tired breeze - thanks for posting it!

Hurdity x

[Ju Ju]

My DH has higher BP, than what is supposed to be healthy. His GP said that no one really knows whether that is ok or not, as he is slim, eats healthily and is active. There were no lifestyle changes to follow in his case. He managed to keep his BP lower through exercise, but as he gets older, it is impossible to keep up the level of activity necessary. His BP started rising and he has resorted to statins. But as with all medications, there are side affects. In his case, the cheaper ones gave him a persistent cough, which is less pronounced with a more expensive brand. In his case, his higher BP maybe genetic, but difficult to research as he has hardly any family.

[Hurdity]

My BP is very low so maybe that's why doc said no action needed in my case?

Ellie - did your doc do the Q test thing?

Hurdity x

[ellie]

Not sure what the Q test is? But she worked out something about me having a 19 percent risk.
    I also have strange red blood cells, they are ' fat'  and have been like that for many years. I don't drink , but if I did that would explain the blood cells.  I have been tested for everything and nothing explains it.......But it has nothing to do with chosterol.

[nearly50]

It is this ellie https://qrisk.org/2016/

So much they don't understand about how our bodies work, isnt' there?

[ellie]

She didn't ask me ALL of those questions , but maybe it would be on there records.....she did tell me my risk rate was 19 percent....I get very fed up of being asked how much I drink,especially when seeing a new doctor or when I am in hospital........maybe a TATTOO on my forehead would shut them up