@bijouxb- Good morning and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. You sound very very frustrated and angry. Taking statins are the pits. I have had terrible experiences with them. But I'm back on Crestor. My blood work shows that my muscles aren't breaking down so I'm trying to put up with the aches. Exercising helps with this. My cholesterol went from over 300 down to 215. I'll put up with this until it gets worse. I have a genetic predisposition to high cholesterol. I have had a stent put in an artery. So far I have not had any heart issues.

I wish that I had an answer for you about what to do when caught in between rocks and hard places. I do think that you might ask about blood work that shows inflammation because you might have an underlying cause other than the statin.

I think that we have to face up to not taking care of ourselves. I smoked which led to lung cancer. I also have other things niggling at me so not being able to move is a very big thing for me.

Perhaps this following page will help with some ideas? Let me know!
https://www.health.harvard.edu/newsletter_article/help-for-your-cholesterol-when-the-statins-wont-do

@bijouxb, While I am taking Atorvastatin and haven't experienced the dreadful side effects you wrote about, I do sincerely empathize with the dilemma you share about finding yourself between a rock and a hard place on which meds to take and which to stop. For those of us with multiple serious chronic health issues, it becomes confusing, frustrating and difficult to know which paths to follow for the best outcomes in treatment.

The more prescribed meds we add to our daily arsenals, the more risks we may take in experiencing side effects from one or more. It becomes more mind boggling when we see multiple specialists intent on their one condition. For many of us, there isn't the coordination among docs about an individual's health and with very little time with each doc for the patient, it becomes a challenge to get asked and answered the "top of the list of concerns" we are having.

Multiple health issues have certainly changed my daily life as well but I am grateful for the medical advances made and glad to "still be here". I can't do all that I once could do but I choose to focus on what I still can. Whether it is lungs, bones, kidney, diabetes, stroke or something out of the blue, I want to keep working to maintain the best health I can for as long as I can. Best to you and others who share this complicated journey.

Cholesterol has many parts to it.. Hdl, ldl, and triglycerides. These can be broken down as well.
Risk factors for poor outcomes, according to medical data, are coupled with high blood pressure, diabetes and other health issues. stress on arteries, as in high blood pressure, are damaged and plugged with many things, platelets, and plaque.. like mending a hose with a crack. The patch causes buildup inside of your arteries. Some can break off, causing a problem somewhere else in your body. Some can block the flow of blood.
Medications can lower your cholesterol but as well can cause side effects. Muscle pain and damage being common.
Sometimes, cholesterol can be brought to good values by changing your diet, and increasing physical activity, approved first by your physician.
Reducing triglycerides and the bad cholesterol can be done by many people by changing your diet. Hdl, the good cholesterol, is your friend.
Cholesterol in itself is not bad. It helps to make your hormones, and the membrane on the cells that make up your body. It does many other things, the list is long.
Doctors have seen patients bring down the bad cholesterol and raise the good by changing what they eat, and getting a little more physically active. I’m not saying to become a body builder. I’m saying get off the couch and move. Walk, get on an indoor or outdoor bike, clean the house.
If you read about eating a mostly plant based diet, this will bring down your numbers. It means eating fresh veggies, fruits and grains, as tolerated, and having a small amount of healthy lean protein compared to vegetables on your plate. Your plate should be 75% veggies and 25% lean protein. Just an example..Fruits have sugar but there are low glycemic ones..The results are startling to many. It takes a little time to see the results so be patient. Some choose to be vegetarian. I see you shaking your head. This includes excluding meat and poultry, but can include eggs, aged cheese and yogurt, and fish. Some decide to go full vegan which means consuming all plant based foods, but large amounts of it to get the body what it needs. Humans sometimes can’t extract all the body needs like animals do from plants, and lack essentials like vitamin b12, which must be taken. It is available in many non vegetarian items like meat and eggs, and added to processed foods. As we age, our ability to extract nutrients from foods has a decline. So following with a physician knowledgeable in this area is indeed helpful. A nutritionist as well is a great asset.
If you have high cholesterol, then it’s a good idea to discuss a plan with your doc. It can mean saying farewell to that 16oz steak at Peter Lugers. ( New Yorkers you get that!) and bye bye bacon, unhealthy processed foods full of things that aren’t really good for you. And no, eating a Big Mac with what they call cheese and bacon is not remedied by a bowl of Cheerios..But, one thing at a time. Start with a workup at your physician or cardiologist office. Talk with them. They will tell you that diet and activity is the most influential part of your health.
I’ve seen people take better care of their cars than their own body. Your body is the finest machine ever built.
Instead of a “ diet”, try to learn how to eat well forever. You will get to your bodies good weight without trying. Being at a good weight can bring about good health..Just by eating what your body needs. It can heal itself if given the right fuel. Really.
Small steps. Instead of canned fruits and veggies, go to the produce section. Buy fresh, and pesticide free if you can. Local and seasonal. Pasture raised meat, lean. No, not bacon. Fresh wild fish high in omega 3. Salmon, sardines, herring and more. Read up. Olive oil. Grass fed dairy.
You will feel better. Your future body will thank you. Please try.
Let food be thy medicine, and medicine be thy food... Hippocrates.

I couldn’t take statins at all The pain and immobility was horrendous. The doctor put me on Repatha EpiPen, and no side effects. It has brought my LDL level down to about 20 now! Amazing.

I too, could not tolerate any type of statin. Could not even lay down to go to sleep, because every bone in my body or not to mention muscle tendons even my hair! My doctor put me on Repatha It has very few side effects and no pain. Just a little fatigue and swollen sinuses at times. My number for LDL is way below normal which is fantastic. You might want to talk to your doctor about this medication EpiPen I am only paying $25 For my two doses. I inject every two weeks.