Statins

2 years ago I had a optic nerve stroke and whilst in hospital I had 6 TIAs and during those TIAs I had the face drop to boot.. All my head scans showed no brain bleed at all according to the nuro specialist I saw..I was given glasses with prism lenses After 6 months my eyes returned to normal It did however leave me with double vision in the corner of my eyes when looking left or right. I saw no less than 23 different doctors. 22 from Barnsley general medicine department the neurological specialist coming from Sheffield.
The Barnsley registrar told me he was putting me on statins, when I asked why he replied all stroke victims are put on statins.. I proceed to ask why that was.. He then replied its down to cholesterol... Now knowing that a good cholesterol level is 5 I asked him so what's my cholesterol level because when I came in it was 4.5.
and that's below the national average I've also been living off sandwiches crisp and biscuits due to no one offering me the vegan option menu for the first 7 days of my stay in the hospital so now my cholesterol levels will be higher..
He then proceeded to tell me that my cholesterol levels had risen by 0.5
To which I laughed and said... And because of that you want me on statins... 3 days previously I had to tell the same registrar what a protocol scan was after the nuro surgeon had stated that was the next course of action, before leaving me to attend to his clinic.
I was in the process of reading about it on my phone when along came the registrar who on being told what the NS had said claimed there was no such scan and the nuro surgeon was lying to pacify me... I told him I'd read on Google what it was (basically it's a check list of symptoms)
The registrars said I shouldn't believe all I read on the Internet.... I said well I suppose you believe everything you read in medical books and by the way what I'm showing you, if you will scroll down you will see that this is on the official NHS website so he was lying to pacify me... Its you who doesn't know what you are doing.. Fast forward 3 days back to his statins comment... He got the shock of his life when I didn't mix words by telling him to Fc uk off through the door a long with his statins before I put him through it as I had no faith in him as a doctor...
I got around of applause from the other guys in the ward plus one chap ex merchant navy like myself propped himself up in bed and added you heard what he said do it because if he can't I will...
The registrars boss came to see me whilst he didn't like the threat he totally agreed there was no need to be on statins.... Ive seen other specialist all who have said I did right refusing them... The last one being as early as last week.... Who told me both her parents had never been the same since their Gp had talked them into taking them... Adding because heart problems run in our family I had my levels checked which were higher that normal.. So I started going to the gym and became vegetarian... Levels of cholesterol have now dropped and I'm managing it... Statins cause more trouble than what they are worth.

 

I've been on them years but it's taken quite a few adjustments in doses and different types to find one that seems to have no side effects

 

I’m 70 in November and 12mth ago my docs put me on statins as my cholesterol was a bit high.Cant remember which ones he put me on but they knocked the **** out of me,bad stomach pains,sore throat,headache so I went back to the docs and he changed them to Simvastatin 20mg ones.My cholesterol has gone down and they don’t bother me.I am usually tired by about 10 but I put that down to being an old git.

 

I had pretty bad stroke 3 years ago age 59 put me atorvastatin,amlodipine,clopidopril and perindopril must have got my dosage correct feel fine and I’ve been back at work full time for 2 years must depend on dosage for me

 

i had same trouble with liptor, get the doc to give you 40mg simvastatin i think you will see a difference

 

Due to family history and high HLD I was put on statins but after several weeks found I was having severe pain in the kidney region very shortly after eating or drinking. I was then put on Bezafibrate as an alternative which , although slightly less effective than statins, nevertheless reduces cholesterol levels. Touch wood, I have not had any side effects after years of taking them. (along with Omeprazole (PPI) for acid reflux.)

Diet change obviously helps but , after much reading it is not a total panacea that some claim it to be. Many people, myself included, with high cholesterol have livers that produce excess cholesterol.

Oh! and by the way, don't try what I did and binge on cholesterol lowering foods - mainly oily fish i.e. sardines, anchovies, mackerel kippers etc for a short period it turned out they are full of purines which raised my uric acid levels to such a point I had my one and only attack of gout in my right big toe (also caused in part to it being hot weeather and I dehydrated & then drunk too much beer (brewers yeast is high purines) creating 'the perfect storm'

I can only agree with those who call gout 'male childbirth' as it was agony for two or three days.

Ironically dairy products and many food associated with high choletsrol LOWER Uric acid levels so it is becomes a balancing act between lowering HLD through diet and avoiding gout!!

HTH.

 

Like yourself I was diagnosed with high cholesterol in March & I’ve been back to doctors 3 times to finally get prescribed statins that works for me. I take Bezafibrate 400mg which is a slow release statin which enables me to do my job which is a very physical job. Hope this helps

 

Crikey there’s some reight old gimmers on here

 

Get back to docs TN and ask for an alternative.
They obviously don't suit you.
If no joy I would get a second opinion.
Sounds like this is a precaution rather than necessity so don't be bullied onto medication.

Wife takes them for a side effect to a tumor in spinal cord.
For her, It's meant to be a relaxant, she takes before bed to help with sleep.

 

Mine was slightly high and they put me on them - I felt lousy as well and have stopped taking them.

 

I had an Aorta aneurism then a triple heart by pass. Was put on simvastin..
A after a couple of months I had terrific pain in rib cage
I said it was the statins
The doc took me off them and the pain went
Went back on them and within couple of weeks pain returned
I said I was not taking them anymore
Since then the doctors keep saying I should take statins
I cannot see the point of taking any chemical that affects your body in a bad way
What I do see is that some statins agree with people's immune system , but do not agree with others.
The latter should avoid them

 

I was so ill taking Statins. I tried three different types before deciding I'd take my chances
Never felt so bad in my life until I went on these
X

 

When you say your blood test showed your cholesterol as high, this would be your non-HDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol) you also have good cholesterol HDL (High Density Lipoproteins). There are different types of statins also. In light of your symptoms you should go back to your doctor and explain how you are and ask if a different statin would suit you better. I'm not a doctor but I got this advice from a cousin who is a retired hematologist.

 

It was the bad cholesterol

 

I had my bloods checked a couple of years ago and my cholesterol was 4.25 which I thought was pretty good.The nurse said the NHS had moved the goalposts and put me on Atorvastatin to lower it further.I'm now 3.something and never had any side effects taking the medication.

 

Hi

As someone who has a history of health, particularly heart problems allow me (as a fellow socialist) to share my issues:

I'm 59 years of age, but despite me thinking I was healthy (no obvious issues) there were underlying issues.

I've been diagnosed with

High Cholesterol - statin (simvastatin) prescribed when I was being investigated for blackouts 10+ years ago
Irregular heartbeat - pacemaker inserted at Northern General 9 years ago - main issue with blackouts (no blackouts since)
Aortic regurgitation (leaking heart valve) found when investigating for above issue (valve replaced 5 weeks ago)
High blood pressure - taking candesartan to reduce it
Other issues Arthritis (sulfasalazine prescribed) & Chronic lower back pain (Butec patch)

Things I would consider if I were you:

Read the paper detailing possible side affects re your statin,
Go and see your doctor and ask why that particular statin (he/she's not on the payroll of that particular company that makes it - this may seem unlikely but it has been known)
Be careful as to what other medication (prescribed/non-prescribed legal/illegal) you may take (include alcohol and tobacco)
There may well be a 'time-lag' for the benefit of the statin to kick in (I'm talking weeks)
Has there been any other issue with your medication (I had sickness as well as tiredness with mine - but it did go away after a while)
Be aware that you aren't getting any younger (none of us are) even if you may still be a whipper-snapper to some!
Other issues might creep on you - stuff like forgetfulness, loss of (or increased) libido

On the bright side you'll always have a ready made excuse for things....

In all seriousness statins do work - and remember mind as you go, wish you well.

 

That there Ramapril is bad news. I was on that a few years ago for a short spell until it caused my mouth to swell and droop a bit. Thing was, that was not all that drooped. Rammerkill, the missus called it! Thank God I got on to a different BP drug!

Back on point Terry, I've been on the Atorvastatin for a month with no side effects. I wonder if yours will wear off?

 

What time of day do you take then? I have them last thing at night before I sleep. By the time I wake up theyre already in my system.

 

I was exactly the same and I know of quite a few others who had very similar side effects. I came off them ( it's a long time ago) and I went back to being ok.