I'M NEW HERE WORRIED ABOUT STARTING STATINS

[51-34]

Just been advised of High Cholesterol I weigh 40kg been advised to take Atoravstatin but when i read side effects I find i already suffer most of them. Also advised of under active thyroid i tick all the boxes for this condition. Now I am totally fearful and confused weather to start the Statins or not. Would be grateful for any feed back or comments

[annenic]

Hi my cholesterol was 9.3 (UK) I to was advised to go on satins but like you found the side effects scarey. I chose to change my diet no bread, biscuits,cake,sweets etc. I dropped to 8.6 after 3mths (xmas/new year period inc) . I'm still not taking them, but was told if I stuck with it (I haven't really) I didn't have to go on them. Perhaps you could beg for a trial period too. I must add I also have coeliacs disease which restricts my diet anyway. Good luck x

[Fran182716]

I'm no expert at all, only just started on the road to lowering my own cholesterol (7.6 in March this year), like you I'm trying to avoid taking statins due to the side effects (I've seen others experiencing them). From having read others posts though I've picked up that thyroid problems can cause the high cholesterol, so maybe it's worth treating your thyroid first and seeing if that makes any difference, your thyroid needs treating for many reasons not just you cholesterol. Good luck.

[Patient007]

I am on 10mg Atorvastatin because my chol levels are 5.6 and I have a heart condition. The only side effects I get, which apparently are common are bloating and wind. My stomach is like a balloon. I stopped taking them for about 10 days and my tum went down so it is obviously the tablets.

[sandybrown in reply to Patient007]

Did you read this "I get, which apparently are common are bloating and wind" in a information paper work given with medication?

Some medication and some food can interact therefore please keep a food diary to eliminate some food. What ever you do, do not go for medication for bloating and wind. Regular exercise and food and drinks intake can help you with your cholesterol.

Are you able to expand on your heart condition and also did your GP do a risk analysis from the blood test results?

You need cholesterol in your body, 5.6 is not bad but the other lipid numbers may give different answer.

You may need to ask your GP for a referral to get a better understanding of your hear condition.

[Patient007 in reply to sandybrown]

The GP did a full risk analysis and I have regular blood tets. I spoke to the GP and the Pharmacist but they insist it is not a side effect of the statin. Strange considering I never had it before I started to take them. I cannot exercise because I am disabled but I do watch my diet very carefully. There are many things I cannot eat because I suffer with reflux for which I am also taking medication .

[sandybrown in reply to Patient007]

There are a number of statin on the market, you can explain your problem to your GP and ask to try on at the time to see which one works for you.

Have a look at this site:

nhs.uk/conditions/Cholester...

Print it or write down the names and ask for prescription to try the different types. One of the statin may help. Do keep a food diary!

[4BBK]

I recently gave up the same high cholesterol med that you were put on. because the side effect was horrible for me. I am feeling much better, and taking vit B complex, vit A, C and calcium and magnesium. and will start CoQ10 shortly (slow mail). All my changes were recommended from a fellow blogger, but because I took Statins for so long my brain is still foggy and don't recall his name.

[sandybrown in reply to 4BBK]

Vitamin B complex. Would it be possible for you to let me know the product that you are using, where did you but it from and cost?

I am thinking of taking b complex after seeing a TV programme. The one in the TV programme cost £55.00.

[4BBK in reply to sandybrown]

I got my vitamin B-100 complex from the local pharmacy.

[sandybrown]

I read in the papers that the new sofa with chemical in them for fire protection is responsible for cancer!!! Any information on the cancer?

It takes five years study and two more years of practical to qualify as a doctor and we have to respect the doctors!

[Mascha1900]

40 kg?? You must be tiny! Either that, or you are seriously underweight. In your condition, I most certainly wouldn't recommend statins, since their side effects impact more drastically on people - particularly women - who are fine-boned and petite. Statins have been known to help men who have had a heart attack - for all others, their benefits are zero. And 'high cholesterol' in itself is not a medical problem. Only if your cholesterol is exceptionally high for a very long time, this may indicate some medical condition which would warrant further examination. Good luck!

[AlexandriaUK]

Hi I started simvastatin before Christmas, I had a few aches and pains and changed about six weeks ago to atorvastatin, so much better, I know that simvastatin is half the price.

Actually if you look at the overall amount of people on statins and the tiny % that go on the internet to comment about side effects its a time amount.

All meds even those that keep people alive have side effects, even OTC ones.

Its personal choice as to whether you take them or not but I tried diet for 2 years and I'm not over weight and I still could get it to stay down.

You do what's best for you, I'm on 10mg a day, taken at night with lots of water and dark chocolate

[Cats4 in reply to AlexandriaUK]

Why dark chocolate?

[sandybrown in reply to Cats4]

"Not only can delicious dark chocolate fuel weight loss thanks to its plethora of flavonoids and health-boosting nutrients, but it's also been shown to diminish the risk of heart attack and lower blood pressure and cholesterol."

The above is from Internet, the darker the chocolate is better!, have a look in super market.

[Cats4 in reply to sandybrown]

But should you take statins with dark chocolate?

[sos007 Ambassador]

Medication is always a last resort. If you are overweight and do not exercise daily, then you must make a permanent lifestyle change. This is what I did after I ended up having bypass surgery 2 years ago. I no longer take any medications of any kind.

When you ask questions on this website, you need to provide more detailed information rather than just weight. Height, age, gender, any detailed cholesterol and triglyceride results would be helpful.

You can share my journey through all of my posts:

healthunlocked.com/user/sos007

A well-balanced, nutrient-rich, primarily plant-based diet, coupled with daily exercise can potentially achieve the same results as statin drugs. However, you must be 'committed' to the new lifestyle - temporary behavioural change does not work.

In order to make it permanent, you must set up an accountability system for yourself. I personally wear a fitbit on my wrist that measures steps, heart rate, calorie expenditure, distance etc... I target 15,000 steps per day. I also get my blood work done every quarter. Knowing that I have a blood test coming up keeps me from straying from my healthy diet.

The best singular change you can make as a first step is to remove sugar and simple carbohydrates from your current diet.

Watch this video:

youtu.be/aIc6iF5k9v4(Not working as expected?)