Cholesterol Issue

If you look back it was Krissttina and I will say it again. I remember correctly I said ask your doctor if he got the notice. I did not say you had a cholesterol problem.

 

That's what I said, it was Krissttina. Later we were discussing cholesterol though. I said that yes, there is controversy on statins but it's not really my problem since I don't take them but do read about things...both sides.

My bias leans one way and yours leans another.

Maybe you're right, I don't know.

 

My new doctor aligns with my belief that the "high cholesterol" problem is over-blown. One reason is that the "magical" line of demarcation, a serum level of 200 combined, was "picked out of the air" via statistical evidence. A second reason is that, most often, "fasting" is recommended before checking the blood level. Fasting creates an artificial condition not the average norm during day to day living and eating.

As far as statins go, well, every close acquaintance I have known who took Lipitor developed serious muscle pain, one being very nearly unable to ascend our front stairs. Next visit, off the statin, he rumbled up them easily. I just don't favor trading off the relatively vague benefits of taking such medication in favor of losing normal muscular ability. Frank

 

Yes, those that happens to should definitely quit taking it. My son in law feels no side effects or believe me he wouldn't take it. He works out a few nights a week at the gym and golfs at least twice a week since I've known him now for 18 years. He wasn't on the statins then obviously but has been for quite a few years now. He's about 48.

His mom is 70 and she's been on it a long time and is a very fit woman, I wish I was as fit as she is. Her mother died young though of some heart related thing, not sure what though. My mom, couldn't take the side effects so she stopped the statin. Don't think her side effect was as bad as what your friend experienced though and she didn't give it too much of a chance...a few days.

I think now drs are more concerned with your good cholesterol numbers anyway.

 

I think those with a family history of heart disease need to be especially worried about their cholesterol levels, but other people maybe not so much. My cholesterol is high..but I am not taking anything at the moment. I think in general the fewer meds the better. I do take CoQ10 and fish oil supplements. I am going to have a doctor's appointment in the next few weeks, and will probably re visit the issue. I am not against taking a cholesterol med as long as it is a relatively low dose one...and not too expensive.

 

Some Drs, Ken. I've been lucky with my drs so far, I did have one that wanted me to take an antidepressant a few years ago but I said no and that was that. These past 2 months have been difficult for me and so my dr prescribed an antidepressant but we discussed them and what I didn't want, etc. I didn't want one that makes you gain weight
So we settled on Wellbutrin because I've taken it before when I had insurance. It's not cheap and the generic gave me nightmares once so I quit that. Anyway, now that I m on medicare I was going to give the brand name a try again but even with ins it was $88 and I didn't feel like spending that much so I didn't get it.

When I just saw the dr recently, she asked if I tried it and I said no, it was too expensive and that was that.

I keep reading these stories some of you put on here about your drs. and it seems odd to me because through all my experiences with my drs. I always made the decisions and was never forced to try anything I didn't want to.

As for meds and not wanting to take too many, I just think back to my grandmother who was on every single med you can think of and she lived to be 87 and died because of pneumonia in the hospital while waiting for an operation on something to do with her toes. While my grandfather who was healthy and took no meds died at 83 of
an embolism in his leg or something similar.

Yes, there are cases such as Vioxx that turned out to cause deaths and was taken off the market.
No med is perfect and everyone reacts differently. If you have a bad liver, obviously meds will affect you differently than someone with a healthy one.

Also, people don't pay close attention to the warnings and interactions. A lot say don't drink alcohol while taking this med, well that never stopped my ex. And then when he had shingles and was taking Lyrica he said he felt weird. I knew why...he was drinking also.

They also knew I didn't have insurance and worked with me. A few years ago, my dr wanted me to have a mammogram because I've never had one and I was 60+, I said I couldn't afford that so he did a manual Breast exam on me and found nothing and although it wasn't proof that I didn't have breast cancer. It was a small relief I had no lumps.
There's also a holistic dr in that practice but I wouldn't go to him.

Just want to add that also with side effects, drug makers have to list everything even if one person complained about it.

Last word I promise Meds are like guns, a few might kill you but the rest can save your life.

 

Yes, you're right, sorry I didn't think of that. They also know that you don't have too many choices so I guess
They can pretty much act as they please....to a certain degree.

 

If I was to choose a med that I feel doesn't work too well it would be an anti depressant. Side effects can be harsh
And trying to get off of them takes a long time. Maybe because I've never been so depressed that I can't get out of bed or function but for mild depression not worth the side effects.

Also the side effects of the drugs for psychiatric patients are pretty awful too.

 

@Ken Anderson There are now a number of non-statin cholesterol-lowering drugs, but their effects are much less pronounced. One is Zetia. These block cholesterol absorption in the intestines. It helped my wife go down from around 300 to 250, not good enough. She finally relented, and began taking Lovastatin not too long ago. Results not yet known.
Frank