Important information about statins that I’m going to ask my doc about

I’ve taken Pravachol for 22 years. No side effects, works well.

@merepreb- I have taking several of statins after my HA in May of 2014 and both Atorvastatin and Simvastatin I had ben taking at 40 mg and I began having some neuropathy in my feet when I walked or stood still for awhile. I complained to the doctors but they told me that was not coming from the statins. In 2018 I had a 2nd opinion down at the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, AZ. for my low EF and the cardiologist put me on Rosuvastatin 20 mg. My Colesterol #'s were very good, but my LDL was at 78 and he felt this would help that. I switched and after 4 months my LDL dropped to 60, but best of all my neuropathy was gone. I've been able to stay on that 20 mg dose and the #'s are even better now. Jim @thankful

One of the things that I've realized about heart disease is that it's important to look at the whole picture when treating it. Sometimes surgery is required. Sometimes medications. What I've done since being diagnosed with a high plaque volume (Calcium Artery CT Scan Score of 1400) is to look at lifestyle factors that contribute to heart disease. I changed my diet to follow American Heart Association guidelines. I follow standard guidelines for exercise. I've worked to lower (bad) stress and improve sleep. These changes are in my control. My cardiologist said that only a low percentage of patients follow AHA heart healthy guidelines. Mayo Cardiologist Stephen Kopecky, MD did a podcast on statins in which he stressed the importance of lifestyle in preventing and treating heart disease.

How much Creator do you take and how long did it take for your number to go down

@gator123- Hello. Are you asking @tim1028 about Crestor? Are you taking Crestor?

I take 5 mg. My LDL level was in the 90s before I started Crestor (rosuvastatin). It was lowered to 60 within a couple of months. I haven't had it checked lately,but it should be about 60, a 30% drop. The important thing for me is that I have improved ALL the lifestyle factors that contribute to heart health. Diet, exercise,stress, etc. Many people who take a statin don't follow up with changes in lifestyle, in which case, according to Mayo cardiologist Dr Stephen Kopecky, the statin isn't helping.

Hi: I have a question, my Cardiologist had me start taking a vasodilator to relax the blood vessels and allow better flow. As well as a newer Zitia which is supposed to block the absorption cholesterol by the stomach. My numbers are good 135 but he says that I have too much small particle LDL in my blood. Wondering if anyone else has used either of these med?

@grandmajan- Good morning. Yes, I have used Zita, and its done nothing for me. I hope that your situation is different and that it dows for you.

I've scheduled blood work in 2 weeks, so we'll see. My Cholesterol numbers are pretty good. Triglycerides _ 72, HDL 48, LDL 72, tot. 137. But my LDL-P is 1136. I do seem to have more energy and feel better since I started the vasodilator (Isosorbide Dinitrate. I will let you know if the blood work improves. Thanks for listening.

Follow up, I took Zita for 7 days. On Day 5 my hips and lower back began to ache. Next they got stiff and didn't want to function. I stopped it. Last Cholesterol lowering medication I'm trying. I had tried Crestor before and had the same kind of outcome but in my neck and shoulders. So it's Oatmeal and Celery for me. Had a metabolic panel done yesterday. We'll see what the numbers are later.