I have high cholesterol and my primary is urging me to take a statin, pravastatin, 10 mg. Years ago. I took Lipitor and stopped it because of side effects. Now, I'm CKD 3b (gfr=32) and so fearful that my kidney function will decline if I start the statins.
My kidney doctor who was great just left area and I'll see another kidney doctor in three weeks. I definitely will discuss this with him.
In the meantime does anyone on this forum take statins? If so, what kind and what dosage and what side effects if any.
My former nephologist believed my high cholesterol was genetic as both parents passed after having cardiac events. Both were 80
Years old. We never discussed taking statins and I regret that now.
Any information would be appreciated. Thanks
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I take Zetia a non statin cholesterol drug. Statins gave me excruciating daily migraines and I refuse to to them. Mine is hereditary so only so much we can do.
Yes they aren’t perfect but very close and the Zetia hasn’t bothered me. Of course I also watch what I eat but can’t do plant based as I can’t get enough protein or calories.
I have tried to balance plant based protein and calories and cannot get enough calories. I wonder if it is even POSSIBLE to go plant based low protein , low potassium, low phosphorus and achieve 2,000 cal/day without eating candy or some other pure sugar food? I’m 3a Ckd and frantic to find even one day’s menu that I can follow.
I hear you. It is difficult because we all have different labs, different CKD stages, different medical issues, and different appetites. I went crazy for awhile trying to find the right combination. I finally decided just to do the best that I can. Some days my menus are good and other days, they could be better but it works eventually for me. I've stayed sane and my numbers have stayed stable. Good luck
what takes priority? Protein, phosphorus or potassium? Which of the 3 is most important to manage? I feel so lost. I can’t get to a nephrologist until mid June. My internist isn’t interested and just gives vague instructions as does the dietician I saw. I need an actual menu that I can follow, is it even possible to get 2,000 cal/day doing this? My hubby says it isn’t possible to keep these 3 parameters low and cal steady without eating pure sugar. All my life I have avoided sugar in all forms. I just find it hard to believe that in order to stay on this new diet I need to eat pure sugar, I’m going insane with worry and frustration.
I couldn’t do it. I needed to put on weight for the transplant list. I added back chicken and protein shakes. I still fall short of the 2000 calories some days but have added a couple of pounds at least.
Now that I’m on dialysis they want me to eat more protein and I’m finding it difficult after not eating it for so long.
I had high cholesterol and extremely high triglycerides. They wanted to put me on statins for years and I fought it. Then when I saw a cardiologist he put me on Lipitor, 40 mg. I stayed on it for about five months and hated it. I felt terrible. Without telling any doctor, I weaned myself off of it and felt sooo much better.
Here's the thing, when I started eating a renal diet and then went more plant based, my triglycerides dropped amazingly. My cholesterol went from over 300 to consistently below 200 for the last couple of years. All of this was brought on by diet and exercise. Going on and then off the statin made NO difference. I too have a family history of high lipids. I think that for some statins is an amazing product. But for me, I did not want the side effects.
Thanks, Bassetmommer: I wish I could stay on a plant base diet, but I don't feel well on it. I eat only a small amount of animal protein and feel better with more energy. I tried a few times, but it didn't work for me. I went through the very same thing with Lipitor years ago.
Several members said they use Zetia with no side effects. I understand it goes through the liver and not the kidneys. I'll check with my kidney doctor as well as my primary. Thanks for sharing. It's so good to have a place where one can get infomation on real life experiences.
Let me share with you that I agree about the plant based diet. I found that being too extreme on any diet has its drawbacks. I was religiously following PB, with exremely low protein ( 30 mg a day) and kept feeling tired and fatigue. Now of course, it could have been just about everything else going on in my life. Once I stopped the Lipitor this summer, I felt better muscle wise. But still sort of weak. So I have seen upped my protein level and now include eggs, mostly egg whites, and chicken. We have eggs once a week, and I have chicken and turkey once in a while. Not every day. It made a difference and it helped me stick with my exercise routine.
The same here. I eat lots of veggies, but include small amounts of eggs, chicken, turkey, and fish once or twice a week. I have more energy as a result. We're all different with different chemistries. We have to learn to listen to our bodies. My latest lab results from last week shows I'm holding steady with a very slight improvement in gfr and creatinine. I'll take it and know it could be clinic disparities, but it's better than seeing things go down. Have a great weekend and thanks again
Since my eGFR at 51 last October, I have made major dietary changes to reduce inflammatory and stressful compounds to my kidneys. My recent blood test shows my eGFR at74. One of the major diet changes was eliminating sugar and foods with added sugar in addition to cutting back on carbohydrates and keeping protein in check. Sugar has many health consequences and those dealing with health issues may have overlooked eliminating sugar in it's many forms as a step in restoring their health.
Thanks for sharing your experience. Yes, sugar was a problem for me several years ago as I loved all kinds of candies and sweets which drove my triglycerides sky high. But, I have since cut down considerably but am still working on doing away with a lot of desserts that may contain too much saturated fat as well as sugar. Its a work in progress. Good luck with your issues and congratulations with doing so well.
how do you keep your calorie intake up and protein down with plant based protein and limited sugar? I am trying to go plant based but if I keep the protein down as well, then I am way short of my calorie needs- only 1,500 /day and I need 2,000/day. What did you eat to keep your calories up?
70Beach, I don't rely solely on plant based protein. For example, I start the day taking a tablespoon of polyphenol rich extra virgin olive oil and a tablespoon of MCT oil. I have installed a water filter to eliminate chlorine, fluoride and a long list of other nastys so I can drink and prepare foods my kidneys like without the chemicals they don't like. For that matter I no longer use bottled water, I take a thermos with me, to avoid issues plastic bottles have along with microplastics many contain in the water. If I'm having oatmeal for breakfast I include a teaspoon of coconut oil in it along with walnuts and blueberries. Every other day for breakfast I have two pasture raised eggs with red bell pepper and onions prepared in olive or coconut oil with one piece of uncured bacon. I include grass raised beef, wild salmon and sardines, pork and chicken in my diet in addition to plant proteins. My kitchen scale keeps me on target. So additional caloric intake from the oils I've mentioned, with 120 calories per tbsp offering additional benefits as well, may be a possible solution for your diet shortfall.
70Beach It would be better to have your doctor give you a referral for a renal dietitian. They would have access to information pertinent to you and offer you the best diet plan at this stage.
Thanks for sharing. I've heard that statins are not good for kidneys and hope others can explain. You're lucky with your experience. I wonder if its more of a problem when ones stage is gfr 3 and lower.
I have high cholesterol, over 300, but I don't and won't take a statin. I tried them a long time ago and had muscle pain. I talked with my previous neph about statins and what he said in re ckd is that the side effect of statins causing muscle pain is what is bad for the kidneys as they are muscle too. I'm 80 and living on borrowed time already but if I was younger, I might have a different viewpoint.
I'm in the same boat only my cholesterolis not as high. I'm older than you, but I feel as if I'm in my 70's. I don't know if I'm silly to feel that way, but it works for me. Still I am getting some pushback from doctors treating me as if I should just forget about these peaky medical problems. I don't. Thanks for sharing your experience. I had problems, too, with statins years ago. I may try zetia after I consult with my nephologist.
Yes VeganNan the selenium in Brazil nuts has that effect and more. In addition, our son visited us with a Boxer puppy who we kept during his long deployments. I learned many Boxers contract cancer and die by age six. I discovered, depending on her weight the frequency it would be given, a Brazil nut may prevent the cancer and would also prevent hip pysplasia. She lived 13 years, no cancer no dysplasia.
Be sure to check the potassium and phosphorus content of Brazil nuts. I'm using Atvorstatin 20mg. Been taking it for years and years. No side effects and my Neph hasn't said anything against it, though I've never actually tasked him with point blank asking him if it was bad. And since I'm on dialysis, I guess it's too late to ask now But do let us know how Zetia works for you. I might also ask about that.
Now as for plant based, yup. that was hard for the three years I was on it prior to dialysis. I've had a very tough time adding back as much protein as PD requires. I'm adding in Protein powder, I'm trying to find a way to mix Liquacel with something that's actually consumable, and will try other sources, but while doing all that research I'm having to add a lot of eggs and some meat to the equation. I don't have any choice until I find a "good" (meaning something that tastes good enough to consume) protein solution that's not high in phosphorus and potassium.
I applaud your ability to put off taking statins as long as you have. You've been doing something right over the years, but age takes it's toll on all of us at some point it seems.
According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) , a serving of three Brazil nuts contains the following nutrients
99 calories.
2.15 grams (g) of protein.
10.06 g of fat.
1.76 g of carbohydrate.
1.10 g of fiber.
109 milligrams (mg) of phosphorus.
99 mg of potassium.
56 mg of magnesium.
Are these high levels of potassium and phosphorous? I don't follow that as my levels of these are always in the normal range.
Ron, have you tried something like split pea soup with ham. Split pea is a complete protein. Most groceries sell the packages to make the soup and you can buy the ham usually chopped up in cubes also in the store. The recipe on the package calls for adding broth and when I make it, I used the no salt or low salt variety. The package makes a big bunch so I freeze large cups of it for later lunches. It usually turns out very yummy. Easy to make from the package. Ballpark Nutritional value of split pea soup:
Phosphorus was listed elsewhere as 187.22% mg or 15 %
* The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contribute to a daily diet. 2000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
Ahh, so three nuts isn't too bad, though that's still pretty high on the sodium and phosphorus levels. So would really need to limit to just the 3 nuts which could be done, begrudgingly, but it could be done Hey! I'm gonna try that split pea soup idea! Thanks!
I used to take Pravastatin (10mg) a few years ago but it wasn't helping much with my cholesterol, so my doctor switched it to Rosuvastatin (10mg) and my cholesterol has been under control since then. Neither one of them gave me any side effects.
I have eGFR 29 and have been in that range for about 7 years now. High cholesterol and atherosclerosis and cardiac disease runs in my family too. I took Lipitor 10 mg daily years ago. It drastically reduced my cholesterol, but like you I stoped taking it due to the side effects. For the past several years I have been taking rosuvastatin (Crestor) instead. 5 mg daily. It has done a decent job of reducing my cholesterol. Not as much as Lipitor did, but still does a pretty good job. An no side effects! I have not seen any reduction in my GFR since taking it. It is in a different class of statin drugs than Lipitor. Added bonus is that you can eat grapefruit and grapefruit juice with it, unlike a lot of other statins.
Thanks for sharing. I'll keep Crestor in mind when I talk to the doctors. I'm feeling a lot better after reading all the posts from this community. Glad you had such a good response to keeping your cholesterol in check.
For anyone on statins, they should be taking CoQ10 too. I highly recommend the books
"Stopping Kidney Disease" and Stopping "Kidney Disease" by Lee Hull. Lee Hull has lived with kidney disease for 20 years and his book is so helpful. The books are inexpensive on Amazon. I also see a naturopath besides my kidney surgeon and family doctor.
I would recommend everyone talking to your doctor(s) before taking anything that you are not familiar with. It might have interference with your medications or treatments.
Thank you Silkdog. I forgot to add that. Most doctors should know or probably know by now to recommend the C0Q10 with statins. Just wanted to mention that.
I just got my labs back and my cholesterol is 225 - tryglicerides normal. I’m stage 3B CKD with a GFR of 36. I eat a healthy Mediterranean diet, my cholesterol is genetic. Has anyone tried natural supplements like niacin or bergamot oil ? Btw my kidney disease is a rare genetic condition called MUC 1 and progresses no matter what I eat. 🤨
Thanks for sharing. I'm always amazed at how different our medical histories are while at the same have have lots of similarities. Good luck with your issues and its great that you do the Mediterranean diet. It sounds as if I could easily handle it.
On the advice of my PCP, I take Red Rice Yeast. I take half the recommended dosage, and have had phenomenal results with my cholesterol and triglycerides. *Disclaimer* Be sure to run any new supplements by your doctor! 😊
I take pravistatin 10 mg no side effects or change to egfr(22) I also had side effects from lipitor,muscle aches so bad I couldn't sleep.Hope you do well,but definitely talk to your doctor
Its so good to have people share their real experiences. It really gives something seeking information a very varied and good view of whats being used and what has been effective.
* The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contribute to a daily diet. 2000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
I’m 76, my CKD, stage 3A, has been stable for at least 7 years, I’ve been taking rosuvastatin (Crestor) for about 2 years. The only side effect is my already dry eyes, are drier. I follow the Mediterranean diet with very minimal intake of dairy and animal protein. All my labs remain stable.
Darn neph wants me to take the pravastatin 20 mg in addition to the Zetia. It’s like seeing him at the dialysis clinic he for how much I despise statins and what crestor did to me.
Oh, no. Why? Is the Zetia not working? Ive decided to try the Pravastatin 10 mg and we'll see what happens. I guess at my age it's a joke to think I can bring down my cholesterol in a short period of time. But, I'm trying it. Hope it doesn't bring down my gfr. Keep us posted on your situation.
BTW I'm trying very hard to give up desserts and I'm half way successful.
I think it’s different when on dialysis. I used to get labs done at the PCP lab and posted to MyChart that evening. Now they hoard that information. I’m supposed to get monthly lad on mar 6 and they had better give me a copy.
no joke since I have to eat all the protein. You spend months and years trying to slow progression by low protein potassium phosphorus and sodium and now it’s eat more protein and right now its eat potassium . So frustrating.
Thanks for sharing your experience. Both my parents probably had high cholesterol as they both passed away from cardiac events. They were both in their early 80's. I do believe that in some families, it is genetic. Best to you and it's wonderful that you had success with the fish oil.
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But do let us know how Zetia works for you. I might also ask about that. 
Hey! I'm gonna try that split pea soup idea! Thanks!
High creatine w/ low GFR
High Protein Level in Urine 
GFR drop-potassium high
