Nearly 6 years on pred, at 3.5mg now and using DSNS to finally get off it having got down to 2mg 4x. Replacement hip July 19, recovering well. Diagnosed with osteopenia after surgeon said bones soft. Famial hyercholestetolaemia diagnosed in family while I was having surgery so had cholesterol tested. Its 8, I'm 5'2" 10st 10lb with an excellent diet apart from wine. Exercising well, did 2x 3mile walks at weekend. So I feel nowhere really to go on lifestyle. Question is do I take statins to reduce cholesterol? Another bone thinning drug. My BP is fine. My thoughts are hardly surprising my cholesterol high as a response to PMR and surgery, but is this too simplistic? The evidence and counter evidence for statins seems to be confusing. Can you come on and off them?
I've looked through the threads on statins and still not sure there is a consensus on here.
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Daisy-daisy
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Osteopenia is NOT an indication for bisphosphonates and I wouldn't even consider accepting them until the t-score was approaching the osteoporosis range.
In familial hypercholesterolaemia the statin story IS a bit different from normal - I won't take statins because they make me ill but I also don't have a history of cardiovascular events. What is your LDL level - that is what they work on. You can't just take statins now and again - it is a longer term effect that is important,
I have no history of cardio vascular issues so am reluctant to take statins unless I have to. I have taken biphosphonates for about 4 years with a recent break of about 3 months when I read on here not a great idea. Just started back on them when diagnosed with osteopenia. Am taking vit d/ca plus K2.
I was told my cholesterol level 8, not sure if yhat is the LDL level...
It was 6.3 last Jume and 7.2 March 19, not that I had any idea they had taken it and they never contacted me to say an issue. It was only when my sister was diagnosed with hypercholesterolaemia that asked for it to be checked. Thanks for your prompt reply.
That sounds as if your raised cholesterol is due to pred rather than familial hypercholesterolaemia - it can take total cholesterol levels into double figures.
Hmmm. I think I'd rather not add another bone thinning inflammation supressing drug into this mix... unless I know I'm high risk cardio risk. Having just walked another brisk 3 miles I'm not sure I am. Although we all know what goes on in our bodies is a mystery .
I have osteoporosis and also a high cholesterol and I do take statins. I haven’t had any side effects from them so I am lucky. I am on 3mg prednisone right now, and trying to decrease that. I am afraid I can’t answer your questions, but I do think that you might need to lose a bit more weight, which would be good for your joints.
As Snazzy D said, you need a breakdown of your cholesterol. My combined is high, but when broken down the HDL (good stuff) is extremely high and the LDL (bad stuff) is low, which really puts me at about 3, very low. I Cannot take statins as my body seems to have a bad reaction to them. Of course this is just my experience, which may not apply to you.
It’s not easy to understand. Cholesterol is cholesterol, the good and bad is an idea that’s developed ( big pharma influence to help market statins?).
Recent studies of Japanese people have found that those who live longest have, by far, much higher levels of LDL. That flies in the face of what we’re told here. The other issue is the unknown effect of statins on muscle function and how well they work for women as a preventative measure.
Further to my post re whether to take statins. I've done some reading up now so getting my head round this better. Total cholesterol is 8. Non HDL is 5.6. HDL 2.5 Ratio 3:3.
Ratio has been 3-4 over last 6 years. The medical profession seems to be in complete array over this. I'm healthy at the min, walking 2-3 miles a day and up to 12000 steps 3 months after a hip op. My diet is excellent. Weight 10st 7 and reducing, put on some due to inactivity over op. I'm reluctant to take another bone thinning drug when I don't have disease. BP good.
Further to my post re whether to take statins. I've done some reading up now so getting my head round this better. Total cholesterol is 8. Non HDL is 5.6. HDL 2.5 Ratio 3:3.
Ratio has been 3-4 over last 6 years. The medical profession seems to be in complete array over this. I'm healthy at the min, walking 2-3 miles a day and up to 12000 steps 3 months after a hip op. My diet is excellent. Weight 10st 7 and reducing, put on some due to inactivity over op. I'm reluctant to take another bone thinning drug when I don't have disease. BP good.
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