dr wants me on statins immediately!! I’ve said no for now

[Headandneck72]

hi there, hoping for some advice, my doctor wants me on statins but I really don’t want to take them- are these results really that dangerous? I’ve been feeling very tired lately and they have reduced my thyroxine.

generally a healthy woman apart from having tonsil cancer 2018 and hypothyroidism of which I am on levothyroxine 125mmg after Hemi thyroidectomy in 2020 - currently menopausal - feel I am fairly healthy and active, eat a good non processed diet , dont drink or smoke, I’m 53 need some advice as I’m feeling worried & these results mean absolutely nothing to me - TIA

Serum cholesterol

7.4 mmol/L

Se non HDL cholesterol level

5.3 mmol/L

Serum LDL cholesterol level

5.1 mmol/L

Serum cholesterol/ HDL ratio

3.6

Serum HDL cholesterol level

2.07 mmol/L • Normal

Normal range: 1.20 - 5.00

Serum triglycerides

0.5 mmol/L • Normal

Normal range: 0 - 1.7

[mgdoble]

My wife has high total about 7.5 and high ldl, it's not good. It starts to affect the liver eventually, she had just got a very bad set of liver results back, so its an emergency. She has gone on a complete change of diet, no eggs or meat, chickpeas, beans and vegetables, pysillium husks and chia seeds, a little fish. After 3 weeks the total has dropped to 5.1. So it's possible to fix it without statins but you've got to be focussed.

[Tibblington]

The highly esteemed Harley Street Heart Specialist, Dr.Aseem Malhotra, says that Statins make money for Big Pharma but may only increase the life of the patient by 1 day.

[Teresat472]

I think the reply from mgdoble says a lot, but it's up to you whether to try that sort of diet. That diet should make a difference. I also have high cholesterol and I take plant sterol tablets from Healthspan, yet another option you could consider. Best wishes for whatever you decide.

[DicCarlson]

Better Predictor of Cardiac health...

prevmedhealth.com/more-impo...

[Marz]

As you are Hypo and taking Levo/T4 I would suggest having your thyroid tests done privately - available on-line. The NHS rarely tests the T3 and its LOW T3 that can increase cholesterol.

The NHS website also states the thyroid should be optimally treated before starting a statin.

Are you on Thyroid UK here at HealthUnlocked ? EDIT: Ah yes I see you are on TUK 🌻

[Yogapilates16]

I had similar results to you and agreed to go on 20mg Atorvstatin. This reduced my levels quite well with no side effects. A few months later I started to suffer from pulsatile tinnitus and tests finally revealed 75% stenosis in my internal carotid artery - sent to neurosurgery but at MDT decided to treat medically. From nothing 2 years ago, I am now on 6 medications (including 80mgAtorvastatin and 10mg ezetimbe) - still no side effects - and being given aggressive secondary prevention. Maybe I am unlucky, but I think I should have started taking statins a lot sooner