He's 83 yrs and in quite reasonable health but with the usual aches and pains of old age. He takes a cocktail of tablets each day for Myasthenia gravis [had this about 10 yrs ago] and for some digestive problems which do keep him well on the whole and one or 2 smaller ailments.
Recently he had been waking up with a heavy feeling in his chest, 'like a plank of wood' he said; this disappeared after breakfast and I don't think is a problem at the moment. Saying nothing to me he made an appointment with the nurse for an ECG. She was dismissive and said it was for the dr to decide on that procedure, however she did it and said all was fine. She also did a blood test [non fasting] and took his blood pressure. A short while later he was summoned for another blood test and after that yet another ECG. This ECG was also fine but he didn't think to ask for the blood test results. The nurse went off to see the dr with the results and then told him that the dr wants to see him to discuss statins. As he never had a fasting blood test I wonder whether his cholesterol was ever checked and even if it was how relevant is it.
With all the fuss about statins in the media he is rather anti the idea but has the appointment for next week and has asked me to go along too. My own feeling is that it's the recent NICE rules about having a Qrisk of 10%> that is guiding this. Of course anyone of 83 is going to have a sky high 'risk'. [My own risk is shortly to be 14% - up from 13% and my dr said she had to offer them to me but I declined them - how ridiculous is this ruling!]
He has never had high blood pressure, diabetes or any heart related problems, they don't run in his family. I feel any advantage of taking statins will be outweighed by potential side effects, so why go down that track.
He,
Please ask your Nurse / GP for full blood test results to be printed out for you. They have the facility to do this. you need to fully understand the blood test results. Once you have the numbers you can post it here and ask for help. Statin as primary medication is some thing to think about but after a heart problem, as a secondary medication it is a must to help with blood flow.
Qrisk calculation? NICE rules?
Please ask for NHS health check if you have not had one before. The electro cardiogram the GP practice machine do is very simple. you can ask for a electro cardiogram for a cardiologist, you may have to wait for it. There is echo cardiogram as well the cardiologist can do for heart problems.
The best you can do is go for walks to keep active and hale a look at your food intake, at the age of 83, I am not sure what you can change in your food intake. If the cholesterol is high please try and control it without statin.
It is possible the problem he had may have been due the food intake, make a not of food intake if there is any change.
Good luck.
Thanks Bala, will have to wait until next week to ask about the blood tests though. As for the Qrisk calculation without a cholesterol number it's impossible to do. Age alone sends the 'risk' into the 30's !!! He's done pretty well up to now and eats well enough. Nothing perfect of course but then which of us is? And he smokes too, just one small cigar each evening but he's not going to stop that I don't think! They say these risk things give you a figure for ten years hence. He'll be 93 then and probably rather not be on this earth!!
Hello,
Please let your husband enjoy whatever he wants to drink, eat and smoke!
Forget about medication and calculators continue with your healthy living, have a chat with your GP to get a better understanding on cholesterol and heart problems.
Having supper earlier than normal time may help with some body pain!
I am 67 towards the end of the year I will be 68. I am enjoying my food and drinks.
Life style change has helped me to see things better. I try and go to the gym at least four days a week. A fitter person now days. Only time will tell