Statins

[Danko]

I would appreciate any comments from you all on the pros and cons of statins. I am 5 years post op, 67 years old and have made a reasonable recovery. I recently had a blood test which showed my healthy cholesterol at 2.51 and my ‘bad’ cholesterol at 4.3. My Q risk is 13.5%. These numbers mean nothing to me! My blood pressure is normal and I am slightly underweight (I was a fairly ‘normal’ weight pre op)

The pharmacist who gave me the results has advised that I should take statins to reduce my Q risk although she said my numbers are not extreme. She said I could also cut down on cheese etc although, like most of us, I have taken some time to get used to a diet that suits my new system.

It would be interesting to hear the views of any of you who have been asked to make the same choice.

Thanks

Martin

[Hon-Moonraker]

Danko,

I am 7 months post op and will be 58 this year. Consequently my GP surgery invited me for the "MOT", my bad cholesterol was about 4.2 which is under the recommended 5.0, but my good cholesterol was only 8. something and the prefer it over 10.0. So basically it gave me a combined at risk stat of 10.5% out of 100. Which they explained that of 100 people I'm one of ten people at risk of a heart attack. The BMA suggest that anyone between 5-10% be invited to talk to their GP. Anyone between 10—20% be offered statins as a precautionary measure. Mine being 10.5 came under that category. The GP stated that taking them would reduce mine to at least 7%. I was concerned what affect it would have on travel insurance, but I suspect having had cancer that it will be blown out of all proportion anyway. So I'm on the statins.