HiI wonder if you can shed light on the possible causes for my fatigue and brain fog.
I had OHS on 29 January to repair mitrial and tricuspad valves with rings plus 2 small bypasses. Apparently it went well although I have pulse of 95 to 105 ( resting 87) and significant first degree heart block. I am seeing GP on Monday to get prescription of 1.25 Bisoprolol. BP varies but is OK.
My question refer to statins. I was put on them on week 2 (now 6.5 weeks) with clodrapil and lanseprazole and seemed fine till week 5. Since then 8 days ago I have been experiencing increased fatigue and brain fog. I was able to walk upright and was getting faster in week 5 but I am now shuffling I have difficulty standing upright and I just want to sit or sleep. Blood test yesterday shows borderline low results so red blood count probably low but probably now low enough to cause this level of fatigue.
So I think statins are the cause and I plan to stop them today. I have also stopped Lansoprazole. Any one else have these symptoms and did you find a cause? Would you stop statins or wait for GPs opinion on Monday?
I look for to your replies. And many thanks.
Mairead
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on this forum the rules don’t allow us to diagnose or to advise specifically on medication . But I would certainly ask you not to change blood pressure medication without talking to a medical professional.
There are many alternatives to what you have and the best person to talk this through with would be the pharmacist employed by your doctor’s group of surgeries - they have access to your medical records and can advise you doctor. Your GP is a generalist, the pharmacist is a specialist.
As you are seeing a GP anyway, my information is a bit redundant of course!
A helpful reply. I didn't think about the pharmacist. They will be top of my list in future. I wasn't expecting direct advice but comments like above are so helpful. Thank you.
6-1/2 weeks after OHS is still early days. It was more like 20 weeks before I felt fully recovered.
My arteries were clear so I didn't have any bypasses. But if they hadn't been clear, statins would not be on my list of things to stop. They help stabilise plaque and prevent strokes.
I am on warfarin because of a mechanical aortic valve. It's also to prevent strokes -- by keeping clots from forming on the valve. Again, not something I'd be looking to stop.
Statins made me feel like that so I went off them after taking to my doctor. You can talk to your doctor about taking Coq10 supplements as statins rob your body of Coq10. Also your brain needs colesterol to function.
I improved for a few weeks after i came out of hospital and then it was a case of 1 step forward 2 steps backwards. It's easy to do too much and suffer for it the next day. I'm happy to take any medication if it helps me but I deal with a fantastic nurse on the heart failure clinic rather than my GP.
I hope the link works , it’ll take you to one of my posts about having issue with a statin, post nstemi and quadruple bypass. Glad to say it’s resolved . The brain fog , zombie episodes and aches and pains were really spoiling my recovery and quality of life, it was happening so regularly.
I was put on statins and suffered the same symptoms . I persevered for months and eventually I have settled down but I wish I had spoken to my GP and tried a different one.
Yes your pharmacist is there to help and advise on a daily basis.
I hope you improve soon as it’s not a nice feeling but I would never stop any medication without contacting my GP or pharmacist. Good luck
Statins made me feel terrible. I then started to think to myself why would nature allow our body’s to make something that we need need to survive end up killing us. I have then spent the last year researching this, reading countless books and study’s. Some notes I have made are below. But at the end of the day you have to make your own mind up with discussions with a good doctor.
Many studies show that:
More than half of heart attack patients have normal or even low LDL levels.
Some people with extremely high LDL (like Lean Mass Hyper-Responders) have no signs of artery plaque or heart disease.
People with high LDL but low inflammation and insulin resistance often have very low heart disease risk.
Insulin resistance (pre-diabetes) is a major driver of heart disease.
High triglycerides, low HDL, high fasting glucose, and high fasting insulin are far more predictive of heart disease than LDL.
Diabetics and people with metabolic syndrome have higher heart attack risks—regardless of their LDL levels.
Chronically high insulin promotes inflammation, increases small, dense LDL particles, and damages arteries.
People with normal LDL but metabolic syndrome still have very high heart disease risk.
Heart attacks happen when unstable plaques rupture, not just because of high LDL.
Some people have high LDL but stable plaques that don’t rupture, meaning they never have a heart attack.
High LDL in a metabolically unhealthy person (high inflammation, high insulin resistance, high triglycerides) is likely a problem.
High LDL in a person with no inflammation, low triglycerides, and good metabolic health may not be a big deal.
LDL by itself doesn’t tell the full story—you need to look at insulin resistance, inflammation, and arterial plaque to assess actual risk.
If LDL was the sole cause, we would expect every person with high LDL to develop heart disease, and those with low LDL to be protected. But that’s not what happens in the real world.
LDL by itself is not the sole cause of heart disease—it depends on the context of inflammation, insulin resistance, and arterial health.
If LDL is high but all other risk factors are low, the danger may be minimal (this explains why some people with high LDL never get heart disease).
Over half of heart attack victims have normal or low LDL—suggesting that inflammation, insulin resistance, and arterial damage are the real culprits.
Instead of just focusing on LDL, a more complete assessment includes:
hs-CRP (C-reactive protein) → Measures inflammation (more predictive of heart attacks than LDL).
Triglyceride-to-HDL Ratio → A strong indicator of metabolic health.
ApoB (Apolipoprotein B) → Measures all potentially harmful lipoproteins, not just LDL.
This is why some cutting-edge cardiologists now focus more on metabolic health (insulin, inflammation, plaque burden) rather than blindly chasing low LDL numbers.
This is truly amazing. What good research and very good of you to type it all up. I am better informed now for my GP visit tomorrow. I will give your findings above a lot of thought. Thank you very much.
You’re welcome but I didn’t type it up, just cut and paste from my notes that I have made over the last year! 😃 I would be surprised if you doctors would know about this research as they are ether to busy or not interested in learning new things as they just follow NICE guidelines. Good luck though.
That comment about being surprised if doctors know about latest research is really harsh. You may have had problems but my GP is very well clued up on latest developments. I'm sure your experience is not common. My personal opinion is that you should be very aware of your own situation but don't obsess about everything - because that causes anxiety and is definitely not good for one's health under any circumstances.
Remember I’m not a doctor but an engineer that has always interpreted data and research. The the triglyceride (TG) to HDL ratio is a useful marker for cardiovascular risk and metabolic health. It can provide insights into insulin resistance, heart disease risk, and overall lipid health.
triglyceride divided by HDL gives the ratio. This has to be done using mg/dl, the UK uses mmol/L so to convert this to mg/dl you need to multiply the ratio by 2.3.
< 2.0 → Ideal (low cardiovascular risk, good insulin sensitivity)
2.0 - 4.0 → Moderate risk
> 4.0 → High risk (often associated with insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, and increased heart disease risk)
Why This Ratio Matters:
Predicts Insulin Resistance
A high TG/HDL ratio is a strong indicator of insulin resistance, which is a key driver of metabolic syndrome and Type 2 diabetes.
A high ratio is often associated with small, dense LDL particles, which are more atherogenic (more likely to contribute to plaque formation).
A low ratio suggests larger, fluffier LDL particles, which are less harmful.
How to Improve Your TG/HDL Ratio:
Lower Triglycerides by!
Reduce refined carbs and sugar
Eat more omega-3 fatty acids (fatty fish, flaxseeds)
Increase exercise
Consider intermittent fasting
Increase HDL by
Eating healthy fats (olive oil, avocados, nuts)
Stay active (especially resistance training)
Moderate alcohol (I prefer none nowadays)
Yes, statins help stabilize arterial plaque, which seems to be the most important benefits beyond just lowering cholesterol. This stabilization reduces the risk of plaque rupture.
They seem to work by reducing Inflammation
Statins lower C-reactive protein (CRP) and other inflammatory markers, making plaques less inflamed and less prone to rupture.
Promote Plaque Healing
They encourage the formation of a thicker fibrous cap over the plaque, making it more stable and less likely to break open.
However, research suggests taking a low dose statin such as 5mg rosuvastatin every other day can reduce inflammation as the half life of rosuvastatin is 19 hours making this approach better if you are intolerant to statins.
'why would nature allow our body’s to make something that we need need to survive end up killing us' - I suffer from familial hypercholesteremia, a condition in which too much cholesterol is stored up inside our bodies, causing fatal heart attacks in my father and grandmother and blocking my own arteries, so there's one example. As you say yourself, insulin can damage arteries, yet it is another natural substance produced by the body which we need to survive, but can kill us in excess.
I would be more impressed by your research if you referred to your sources. As an engineer you should know that scientific statements are meaningless - and potentially harmful in health forums such as these - unless backed by references to the empirical studies which support these findings.
Hi Mairead.Sorry to hear you are struggling. I cannot take statins. I get tired and cannot concentrate. I also do not like how they work. Better to try to control diet in my opinion. Choices are always difficult so do what you think is best.
Thank you. I have a pretty good diet but there is always room for improvement!! Cholesterol and glucose levels are within range. It's going to be uphill battle to get surgeon to agree to stop them. Already had one skirmish and lost. Thanks for your reply.
I think the "brain fog" you report experiencing is far more likely to be a result of the cardio pulmonary bypass (micro-emboli ? ) which was required to facilitate the surgery - rather than any drug....
Lansoprazole is there to protect the stomach from excessive acid, it has nothing to do with statins or bp.
I had bad side effects on Atorvastatin, now on Rosuvastatin with no issues. I also had to change my beta blocker due to a rare side effect causing problems with my eyes.
As already said none of us should stop medication without taking qualified medical advice.
Agree. But the comments here offer greater understanding or raise new areas of possibile interest - to ask Doc about. Thanks for sharing about your situation. Much appreciated.
I’ve always had the same problem with statins go told me stop taking them for three weeks and I felt really good go put me 5mg of rosuvastain but started having problems again gp told me take them every other day and lot better now
I stopped statins because my cholesterol was not high. They made me feel horrible and are generally not good for you. But Clopidogrel (Plavix) made me feel extreme fatigue, brain fog and nose bleeds like crazy. I stayed on it because I had a stent put in. But only for 9 months. I am off everything now except low dose aspirin and feel so much better. Eating a healthy diet and exercising is very important. These doctors just give statins and Plavix out like candy now. That is the standard protocol. Statins, blood thinners, and Proton pump inhibitors. Even if you don’t need them. I would look into more of a naturopathic alternative if you want to feel better.
We seem to be on same wavelength. It is helpful to read supporting views. I am going to start getting doc to agree to stopping statin and clodidrogrel and I started naturopathic help before op. Will resume now. Thank you so much for your reply.
"triglyceride divided by HDL gives the ratio. This has to be done using mg/dl, the UK uses mmol/L so to convert this to mg/dl you need to multiply the ratio by 2.3."
but this seems wrong?
If it's a RATIO then it doesn't matter what the units are, so long as the same unit is used for each. So suggesting that the result should be multiplied by 2.3 is mystifying me.
I am taking Lansoprazole but I thought it was to protect my stomach because I have to take aspirin. I also take bisoprol but a higher dose 3.75 mg.Before my procedure for a valve replacement and a triple by-pass I took Perindopril and Atorvastatin.I have experienced hair loss so the pharmacist has changed the higher dose of Atorvastatin with a drug called Nustendi to see if there is any improvement. Bisoprolol also can be a cause of hair loss so it is trial and error. Please contact your GP and explain your problems. We have to be proactive when we have concerns Good luck.
I was experiencing the same symptoms and as the day went on I began to stoop and couldn't hold my head up. My speech was like I had a stroke. After a lot of investigations I was given an infusion of B12. This stopped the symptoms in three days. Keep asking your GP and heart team.
I am shocked to read that B12 deficiency caused your symptoms. I will ask about this tomorrow. My sister 10 years ago was found unconscious and in French A and E she was found to have V low B12. They injected her with B12 immediately. She never regained full functioning and her speech and walking is depleted. I might ask for her care home to have the proper blood test done for her. I read in another post on this site that the usual B12 test is worthless but another is available. Do you know anything about this? Thank you so much for posting.
There are many studies about the bad effects of statins,mainly muscle loss and bone pain among others.the pharmaceutical industry keeps lowering down the accepted rate for cholesterol so that they have more patients We need cholesterol for our brain.We can lower it with natural medecine
It is difficult to establish the causal relationship between statins and side effects, unless you are doing a controlled study or experiment. However, from personal experience - I started statins in Oct-23, I still vividly recall being very tired and having difficulty concentrating during first 6m. I also noticed my complexion was pale too. I was pretty sure that this was caused by my recent dose of statins ( Lipitor 40mg). My theory is that my LDL dropped very low <0.9 and this was causing an issue for me personally. I have normalised my diet simce then and am feeling much better as a result.
Still not 100% certain whether the statins caused this, but it is a possibility.
I join others in strongly advising you not to stop taking any medication without consulting your doctor first. Lansoprazole was prescribed to you to counter any harmful side-effects from taking Clopidogrel, so by dropping that, you're actually increasing the risk of an adverse reaction.
My own surgeon told me that it is estimated that it takes a good 3 months to recover from major surgery, so you are still in the middle of your recovery period.
You mention your red blood cell count is probably low. During a routine blood test, after having had 2 bouts of surgery within 11 months, it was discovered my ferritin levels were extremely low, probably because, as a vegetarian, my body had been unable to replace the iron it had lost during the operations. The acceptable range is between 20 and 300; mine was 9. My GP joked that she didn't know how I was managing to keep walking around! Like you, I couldn't stand for long or walk far and tired very easily; I also got out of breath if I tried to rush anywhere. A course of high dosage iron tablets very quickly put me right and made me feel much brighter all round, so I think it would be worth testing for anaemia.
Hi kind people who gave me info on statins. I saw the GP with specialist cardiology and she agreed to stop stating for 5 days then restart and see how fatigue and muscle aches had changed. She also prescribed Bisoprolol 1.25 to take after 5 days. I have B12 and full blood count tests requested. I am so grateful you shared your experience and advice. And I plan to see pharmacist in next few days to check any conflicts between pharma medication and supplements I take. Many thanks one and all. Mairead
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