Meds or diet

[Sunnysummerdays]

4 years ago at age 59 I had a heart attack out of the blue,got a stent and the usual cocktail of meds which I have taken religiously for 4 years. I have a healthy diet, don't smoke social drinker and walk every day, totally changed my lifestyle since heart attack and felt fit and well...I went for my anual blood tests last week and for the first time doctor wants to repeat blood sugar levels up and levels of sodium in kidneys up.. feeling disappointed is an understatement, given the fact that I've worked so hard to maintain a healthy lifestyle.I realize it could be worse but I'm abit concerned about taking the 80 mgs of atorvastatin which I've been taking daily for the past 4 years ..I'm aware that for certain people that these a can be results of side effects from stations..any ideas appreciated, while I wait for more blood tests to be done

[Lowerfield_no_more]

It is also my understanding that long term use of statins might, for some people, slowly increase the tendency towards type 2 diabetes and that also applies the older you become. So the first approach is to take on well publicised life style measures to lower the diabetes risk. But there are several statins to try and they might halt the decline and if that doesn't work other forms of medication for lipid management. However if the medication changes don't halt the decline it may then be a discussion between you and your GP about which constitutes the greater risk to your well being, either the increased heart risk by not controlling lipids should you drop statins or like medication, or that of diabetes should you continue, given that there is also medication available to control diabetes.

[Sunnysummerdays in reply to Lowerfield_no_more]

Thank you lowerfield.

[DWizza]

Hi, that is a downer , I’d also be peeved . I’ve made a couple of tweaks to what I thought was an already decent diet , my numbers are great with all the secondary help with meds. I have been on 80mg of arvovastatin and for the last couple of months have felt really awful , aches & pains in muscles and joints tinnitus, fatigued , just generally rubbish .. trialling a 4 week stoppage under GP instructions. Two weeks in and I had a really bad day yesterday, fatigue incredible. Not sure I can blame the Artovastatin.

I’m also on 1.25mg bisoprolol, half 1.25mg Rampiril, clopidogrel, pantaprazole and aspirin. 6 months post Nstemi 4xCABG. I’m doing well physically, park run 5ks and yoga along with physical work round my farm. Trying to get to the bottom of the niggles , thought I’d be feeling a lot better , might just need more time to adjust …

[Sunnysummerdays]

Hi, yea meds can be tricky to get right, I was taking bisopoprol 1.25 mgs aswell and felt very fatigued,so doctor stopped them and I feel much better, good luck and take care 👍

[Jedx]

hi sunny summer days,

Yes the statins are a right royal conundrum aren’t they. My parents both had triple heart bypasses and after 20 years of statins my dad was type Two diabetic and died of kidney failure. Five months later my mum had heart attacks x3 and died. On her death certificate it said she had acute kidney injury. They were both in their mid eighties.

I had a heart bypass 17 months ago lm 67 and like everyone else here they gave me a cart load of drugs to take. Last April l started reducing my statins but my cardiologist knew. He wanted me to have the repatha injection but l declined. From April to December l ate very healthily and got my total cholesterol down to 5and ldl to 3 the cardiologist said well done bu not enough. So to appease him lm on statin 5mg and will see him again maybe. I’m kind of done with doctors for now and if my time is up then so be it cuz lm done

[Sunnysummerdays]

Thank you Jedx, I'm going to see my G.P to discuss going off or lowering the dose of statins.

[Buckntilly]

hi Sunnysummerdays, I haven’t had a heart attack, but have several problems with my heart that could not be operated on because the veins and arteries were too narrow. Am also on many pills including 80mg of atorvastatin. It worried me about side effects so I managed to talk to my Dr; her explanation was that the amount of statin I take is removing the fat from my blood therefore easing the clogging in my heart( taking the pressure off) I have definitely improved in health and swim 3 times a week now!! I can’t walk up slopes or hills , but can walk normally on the level, so I’m very thankful to be as normal as possible at age 77. All the very best to you

[Sunnysummerdays]

Thank you Buckntilly, to be honest I have felt very grateful for the meds and surviving the heart attack,and didn't have any side effects until the recent annual blood tests...it just feels abit scary as I've never had any issues with my kidneys or blood sugars before,but then again, considering I'm getting older and must be grateful... could be much worse. I'm going to wait for the repeat blood tests next week and take it from there..and all the best to you!!