Hi has anyone tries provostatin if so what were your experiences- I've tried so many all with same bad side effects any news on this one ?

[Patsyblue]

I'm considering to try acupuncture to lower my cholesterol of 9.2 as statins only give me pain and make me feel awful

Any body tried acupuncture or Chinese herbs - any he

Paul suggestions welcome

[Hidden]

I have tried most statins can't take them I have terrible joint and terrible headaches like you I feel dreadful don't want to see statins again x

[Patsyblue in reply to Hidden]

Thanks Dubailand- for the reply that's just how I feel for the moment I'm not taking them I can't face the joint pain headaches and the feeling of unwell ness.

Have you thought of Any alternatives to try my chol is 9.2 it's scary but when you read the long term effects of statins they can cause heart failure liver problems ?

I wonder if all the hype is for the pharmaceutical companies to make big bucks - years ago chol was never tested - my ma in law is 82 eats every cream cake out and fries just about everything and always has done - she has normal chol and no high Bp ??? It doesn't seem fair when I watch everything I eat and careful with my weight and exercise -- not fair at all thanks for sharing your experience with me -- patsyblue

[dafydd in reply to Patsyblue]

I sent the following email to Dr James LeFanu, who is the medical correspondent of the Daily Telegraph, who invites readers to share their health problems.

Dear Dr LeFanu,

I am a 64 year old male in what I thought was good health, following a normal mixed diet with a BMI of 23. Twelve months ago I went for a routine medical examination and was told that my fasting blood glucose level was high at 6.8 mmols/l .

I had a glucose tolerance test which resulted in a two hour bg of 13, putting me firmly in the diabetic range.

My HbA1c was 40mmol/mol.

I was advised by my GP to return in 6 months for more tests and to follow the guidelines set out in a NHS pamphlet which I was given.

Concerned and intrigued by my position, although not advised to do so, I purchased a blood glucose meter and started to measure bg before and after a variety of meals.

I rapidly discovered that sugars and starches raised bg most and learnt to avoid them, contrary to the advice on the pamphlet which said that I should keep eating substantial quantities of them. The pamphlet suggested, for example, that I ate porridge for breakfast, a small helping of which raised my one hour post prandial bg by 3. I found that a low carb breakfast of 2 wheat bran crackers, stilton cheese, several slices of boiled ham and two eggcups of peanuts raised it to by only 1mmol/l.

After six months of low carbohydrate eating, and fasting bg levels varying from 5.0-5.6, I returned for further blood tests. My HbA1c was now 30. In addition, contrary to what the pamphlet said about having a higher proportion of fat in the diet raising blood cholesterol, my levels were as follows-

before diet after diet

total cholesterol 4.5 3.8

HDL 0.93 0.98

LDL 2.7 2.5

triglycerides 2.0 0.7

After a further six months on the low carb diet (I now make my own special bread free of starch), my results were-

HbA1c 29 total cholesterol 3.4 HDL 1.1

I am however still a diabetic as that porridge will still raise my bg to worrying levels. I do have a few tricks up my sleeve however, for I can eat a few chips as long as they are soused in vinegar; and a glass of wine, or a gin and tonic allows me to sample the odd roast potato without ringing alarm bells.

My question is why are diabetics being told to eat substantial amounts of carbohydrates when it is so clearly harmful, and why are people being being told to curb their intake of fats when it would appear that to increase their proportion in the diet actually reduces blood cholesterol? Is my physiology different from that of other people?

Incidentally, my GP is also a type 2 sufferer and is unable to match my results even with the use of medication, but shows no interest in my diet.

The reply was-

Dear Mr Watson,

Thanks for being in touch. Historically the standard (and sensible) advice for those with diabetes has always been to cut back on carbohydrates (sugars etc) which requires inevitably an increase in consumption of meat, milk and dairy products to ‘make up’ the calories. But the demonisation of saturated fats in the mid 1980s as the cause of everything from heart disease to cancer led to these recommendations being turned on their head with patients being advised to reduce the amount of saturated fat in their diet - with the consequences you have discovered for yourself. Your further observation that a relatively high fat diet reduces cholesterol levels is also well recognised though again contrary to current dietary recommendations. So, as you surmise, the current advice is both confusing and counter productive.

[sandybrown in reply to dafydd]

Hello,

Thank you for this. You own research, very good value.

I am an Asian male 67 years old. Two years ago I was informed I am diabetic and have high cholesterol. Life style change, different food and going to gym reduced the Hba1C test result from 73 to 53. Cholesterol still high and am on statin (20mg) for 7 weeks. Waiting for my next blood test which is in end of June. Would it be possible for you to list few breakfast items you take, lunch and dinner, this may help me?.

I eat porridge every day, green salad, beetroot and onions for lunch, dinner curry and rice.

[MikePollard]

Try these links for a little research on the cholesterol question:

annikadahlqvistblogenglish....

dietdoctor.com/lchf

My mother is 91 and has a heart like a triphammer, she's also never paid any attention to the low fat nonsense.

[Patsyblue]

Thanks mike the sites look really interesting definitely worth a try - cheers for that

[2squirrels]

This is the statin I am on now and I think it is the best I have had. As I have arthritis it is difficuly to tell which is giving me the pain but at least it is only my joints which are painful anyway. I found simvastatin the worst yet it is the best for my husband everybody is different. My Cholestrol is only 3.5 now so when I come back from holiday I am hoping to have a trial off them as my diet is low everything!

[sandybrown]

Hello,

Have tried acupuncture for hay fever, three years running. It helps with hay fever but did not help with other problems mainly cholesterol and diabetes. It is worth going for a Chinese check-up and find out how acupuncture can help you. The first consultation is a real eye opener!

My cholesterol is high, I started statin (20mg) 7 weeks ago and will be on it till my next blood test to see if it is helping me, after the blood test, that is it no more statin because of side effect (pain). I just want to live a normal life.

[Patsyblue in reply to sandybrown]

Thanks for that Bala - that's all I want to live a normal life as comfortably health wise as possible- I have asthma and multiskelatal oestoarthrytis and rhave had blood clots recently after a bacteral lung infection which is what has left me with adult asthma the clots which have been resolved and I am now off the anticoagulant

But boy o boy after trying ten different statins over the years, the joint pain and hair shredding is just too much to take - my new pills Re still in the cupboard as I'm scared to take them as all the others have deliberated so much

my father wenton Crestor at the age of 70 and was always a fit man except for blood pressure, he became in well with prostrate cancer whilst in hospital they checked his cholesterol it was then he was put on statins -- he died at aged 85 with heart failure which he always put down to the statin

I should say my father had some medical knowledge as. Medical student in his youth at guys hospital London -he always had an enquiring mind to the end and he was certain the statin caused his heart problem - but hey who knows really ??

I'm so up tight and stressed about it but thanks for your reply I'm really grateful you have taken the time

[sandybrown in reply to Patsyblue]

Hello,

Thank you. May be you should write a book on your findings

. NHS food plate!

If and when you have time may be could you please give a smal list of food you take. Thanks to your own reasearch now i am going to live as normal as i used to lvie two years ago, eat and drink what I want and live a full life.

Thanks again.

[mo31 in reply to Patsyblue]

I take it you are on PRAVASTATIN. What other medicine do you take? I am on Pravastatin and do not have significant side effects but I had similar reactions to you when I was on other drugs for a kidney condition. could it be that you are reacting to other medication?

[sandybrown]

Hello,

I read a printed copy of your test results, have questions.

What type of prick test device do you use to test both Bg and Cholesterol?

As per yuor results, why the cholesrerol and BG results are lower before and after diet?

What are the difference in the diet?

with the new set of results do you have any difficulty in walking long distance or going up two floors or any chest pain?

I want to follow your diet plan to lower both BG and cholesterol, it may or may not work for me, but would like to try.

Thanks.

[dafydd]

I am not taking any medication-simply following a very low carbohydrate diet. Incidentally I have not eaten fruit for over twelve months and still show no signs of scurvy.