So I've managed to get 12 months down the line following a minor TIA and one incident of AF (at the same time) not in any risk category other than being female and now my GP says "it slipped through the net and you should have been on statins for the past year". Anyone have any argument to this as to what is standard procedure, I know, only opinions. The GP said because I have been on Methotrexate for past 17 years for RA and now this AF/TIA, it should have been picked up earlier. I have had RA since I was 27 (now 64) and have lived on an (almost) controlled daily basis with aches, pains and the like. (take hydroxychloroquinine, methotrexate, folic acid, solphodol, rivaroxaban and bisoprolol as PIP) and I am not about to consider taking statins to decrease that quality of life even further. GP said it doesnt matter what my cholestorol blood tests show as she is putting me on statins anyway. Never heard such a thing. Any comments. I am so mad.
Want to give me statins 12 months af... - Atrial Fibrillati...
Want to give me statins 12 months after AF?
With all due respect.I am not sure what you are asking?
Sorry I was wondering if it's normal to be on statins irrespective of cholesterol testing and 12 months having had only one episode of AF with |TIA?
Lots of people seem to take statins quite happily. I know I don't want to take them and what the benefits are would have to be explained to me very thoroughly before I would consider giving them a go.
Taking medication that you sense is not in your best interest may feel like taking poison and can erode or remove one's sense of wellbeing. You need to understand why medication is suggested and what the gain would be.
I think it is quite normal to be put on statins following stroke/TIA irrespective of cholesterol readings. Of course you can only be advised by your GP.
I have been on a low dose simvastatin since my cholesterol readings became elevated at time of menopause( which is very common). I have had no side effects at all that I have been aware of.There are different types of statins to try if one does not suit.
From time to time there seems to be alot of hysteria in the media about the harmful effects of statins and then some months later we read how beneficial they are and how everyone should be taking them. All very confusing for us !
Hope you are able to come to a decision on this.
Sandra
Think you're right, there seems to be no real rule about them but the opinions coming through make me think to question do I really want to risk more side effects with more tablets.
Nobody can force you to take anything. My GP accepted my stopping statins last year due to leg pains . More important I feel would be anticoagulation since you now have a Chadsvasc score of 3 . (you score 2 for a stroke or TIA plus one for being female. )
If one statin causes you problems then you can ask to switch, until you find one that suits you. I have a vague memory of an international cardiology conference somewhere in South American several years ago at which a paper was presented which provided evidence that a far wider ange of people would benefit from stains.
You need to do some Googling. I quickly found this in some new guidelines, but there will be loads out there.
"These are the people most likely to benefit from medications or lifestyle changes.
They include:
people with existing heart disease
people with an LDL level of 190 mg/dL or higher
people between 40 and 75 years of age who have type 2 diabetes
people between 40 and 75 years of age who have a 10-year risk of heart disease that is 7.5 percent or higher"
Hi caos. I have very definite feelings about taking statins. I have always refused and had a lot of 'medical skirmishes'along the way with some docs.Since I lost weight, changed my diet, and lowered my cholesterol with food. There is a lot of info online re statins pro and con, including data on long term effects. My suggestion is do your research and ask yourself whether taking or not taking statins-or any other med will contribute to your definition of what quality of life is for YOU. Hope this helps. Take care. irina1975
Hi Irina, thank you for your strong answer, it really is personal for everyone clearly. I think I have enough aches and pains with arthritis without adding more as I get older. I will do my research and make a valued judgement and thanks for your insight.
So far as the AF is concerned, statins are anti inflammatory and there is evidence from a Harvard study some years ago that they can be beneficial in reducing AF.
Peter
I agree it's stressful enough to have the diagnosis with vital blood thinners without more worry about statins. Good to know how others deal with this and that it's ok to say no.
stroke.ahajournals.org/cont...
This abstract suggests 20% reduction in stroke taking Statin after previous TIA. Independent of cholesterol level, if I have understood correctly.
Statins don't work by lowering cholesterol. They reduce inflammation in arteries. This reduces risk of heart attack or stroke. That makes them worth taking unless you find side effects unacceptable.
I'm concerned that the bandwagon against Statins is leading to unnecessary deaths and disability. I have taken a Statin for 25 years, currently Atorvastatin 80 mgs daily, without any side effects.
Thank you for sharing your experience of statins. Each person who has replied to me has given me something extra to consider and so I am most grateful.
Really helpful. Thank you. One question. I take 20mg of simvastatin without any problems. Is this dose high enough to have an effect on stroke risk. I should add my cholesterol is 4.5 x
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