Statins

[Luac]

I have a gp appoinment today to discuss starting statins as my cholesterol is high. This was at the request of a specialist, not gastro or neuro. I have requested the test results.

No connection has been made to pernicious anemia or my malabsorption/exocrine pancreatic insufficiency. I also have chronic sinisitis and tinnutis.

I have complex ptsd and my mental health is very bad at the moment. I spend days, sometimes weeks alone and find it hard to get out of the house. I am not exercising, I have no appetite and when I do eat, it is processed, convenient junk food. I stopped drinking at drs insistence in jan 2021, and have lost weight as a result. I indulge occasionally and increasingly less. I may have one or two drinks once a month, and no bingeing - it makes me sick.

I am a healthy weight at 45 years old.

I feel that my lifestyle is causing the high cholesterol, although it may be in the genes. I feel that when my mind is healthier I will get back to cycling and hill walking and get excited about cooking and eating fresh fruit and veg like I used to.

It is difficult to make any changes, but i think i would rather try to make some changes before I start statins.

Are there any concerns regarding statins in general, or in relation to PA that I should be concerned about?

I think I was low on b12 feb/march and had let dosing slip. This is when I was tested for cholesterol. I have restarted injecting and am starting to feel less tired and dumb. It really can be a fog.

Any advice on cholesterol and pa would be appreciated.

[charks]

The main misconception is that you eat cholesterol. You don't, the body produces it from carbohydrates, especially highly processed carbohydrates like those found in junk food. scientificamerican.com/arti...

If you want to avoid statins you have to change your diet. It requires a radical rethink. I know it sounds daft but butter is better for you than the toast you spread it on.

Before taking B12 I felt so tired all the time I couldn't be bothered to look after myself properly - no exercise and eating all the wrong things. I was so depressed I didn't even bother to get dressed somedays. B12 gave me my life back.

I had the energy needed to change my diet. I now only eat home cooked food and use animal fats or olive oil not vegetable oils. I eat a lot of fat and meat, It makes you feel fuller. And is easier to absorb. I have malabsorption problems as I am also a celiac and can lose weight quickly if not careful. I now have a BMI of 19 and a cholesterol level of 3.

You are like I was. You can't be bothered. You probably need more B12 than you are getting.

I think once you get that right you will have the energy to get your diet/lifestyle right as well.

[Luac in reply to charks]

Thank you, I feel I knew that and know I definitely have too many carbs. I also have a zinc deficiency and food issues related to ptsd. I certainly feel I have not been on top of that, ive started two day dosing again. Thanks for thr article. In the end, my level was 4.8 and the doctor looked at lifestyle changes with me rather than start statins.

Thanks for the encouragement.

[charks in reply to Luac]

4.8 isn't bad. Mine was 10. It only took 3 months to reduce it to 3 with my keto based diet. And my HDL increased to 2 with a serum triglycerides reading of 0.8. All very good. Eating a diet with loads of fat.

I used own a small cafe. Loads of customers used to really annoy me. Always asking me to cut the fat off bacon because they needed to cut down on cholesterol. There is no cholesterol in bacon fat. It's in the meat part. People have no idea about nutrition. It it so important I think it should be taught in school.

Anyway that's my daily rant over.

Hope you start feeling better with more B12. You know it makes sense!!!

[Rosydawn]

I have confirmed PA and had high cholesterol with high triglycerides getting worse so was put on statins.

I then took alternative advice on my PA issues and was advised to take CoQ10 to counteract the statins while bringing my levels down. It is to support the energy cycles which the statins can interfere with. It seemed to really help.

At the same time I was advised to move towards a keto based diet ....which sounds counter intuitive but I have done it sort of. I was tasked with reading a book called "A statin free life" by Dr Aseem Malhotra. It helped change my mindset.

I was also advised to be outside for 15 to 30 mins in the morning. Even if I only sat wrapped up, or drove to get a newspaper. Getting a newspaper each day became my daily task.

When the cholesterol came back within range I took myself off them and after a few months of no statins and changed diet they have stayed normal, though a little higher than perfect. Because of my risk factors my GP was happy for me to stay off statins for now.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

[Lurcher-lady in reply to Rosydawn]

That sounds really interesting. My doc has just put me on rotuvastatin as cholesterol 7.5 and triglycerides high. Since starting them 3 weeks ago I have sore legs and arms, awful constipation and high anxiety levels which is also affecting blood pressure, so seemingly a bit of a vicious cycle. Not wanting to take drugs to counteract the side effects of other drugs, I’m feeling pretty cross at the moment. Will have a look at the book you recommend, thanks.

[Hamayeshguy]

But be careful with grapefruit juice as it has synergic effect on statin and kill patient because it raise statin power 15 tines more than normal and cause heart attack because if stiffening if heart muscles due to highly lowering good cholosterol in heart muscles and death. Even orange juice have some effects.

[Debzeewestmids]

I was put on statins in March, my level was 6.9.For the last month, I've felt really poorly, worse than before I started si last year, with a few extra new symptoms thrown in.Someone asked had I been doing anything different.I thought not, but after seeing this post I obviously have!

The stations have obviously effected my B12 big style.

I am due to go on holiday next week, so on my return, I am going to do the Paleo diet, which I hope will reduce my cholesterol.

I didn't really want to take the stations, I do eat fairly healthy now, but for a spell prior to my cholesterol test, I ate loads of the worst food as I was desperate to gain back a stone as I went massively underweight after an illness and major surgery.

I also have Hypothyroidism which I understand can also contribute to cholesterol levels?

Anyway i accepted the statins because my level was so high,but now, I'm desperate to get off them.

But then I'm only assuming it's the statins causing me grief.

I've decided to try injecting every day for the time being.

I won't be drinking alcohol on holiday, and will eat as healthy as I can, and will get my ass into gear.

Does anyone think the statins could be y problem, or am I talking nonsense?

Thank you for your post.

Your thoughts will be most aporeciated.

[Luac in reply to Debzeewestmids]

Im 45 and stopped drinking alcohol, with an occasional small tipple, as i have pancreatic issues. It also really triggers my sinusitis.

My bp came down and i stopped needing to take medication for that. I was surprised about the cholesterol increasing as I stopped drinking - my weight decreased from 91k to 75k in that time, but I have been unwell with mental health and for over a year now have been very inactive and not eating much fresh food, but more sugary and fatty foods.

The gp said that the statin treatment was triggered by an overall assessment which took my lifestyle into account and he thought i did not need to start statins and encouraged me to get out if even a little.