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Important information about statins that I’m going to ask my doc about
Aging Well | Last Active: Nov 6 8:49am | Replies (191)Comment receiving replies
I've spent the last year learning about functional medicine and food as medicine and knew I had become totally out of sync with my conventional PCP. He refused to even discuss taking me off the statin I was on, even though I attributed leg muscle pain and memory problems to it. It took a long search to find a functional medical doctor who believed food is medicine and practiced medicine that way, but I thank my lucky stars every day that I did. When I mentioned at our first videoconference that I wanted to get off my statin, she told me to stop taking it. She tested me for all sorts of vitamin and mineral deficiencies that older people are often missing, did a full thyroid panel (which my former PCP refused to do), and found that I was deficient in D-3 and was overmedicating on the thyroid medication I'd been on for 20 years. These things did not show up on the conventional blood tests my former PCP ordered. We're working to get me off my blood pressure medicine eventually too and changing my diet and sedentary ways. I wasn't willing to quit my statin without medical supervision and would not recommend that. However, if you are unhappy with your doctor, you can probably find one who will help you get off statins.
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My PCP prescribed Pioglitazone several years ago while at the same time referring me to an endocrinologist for treatment of my diabetes. At my visit in January (I go every three months for A1C, etc) the PA discontinued the Pioglitazone because it causes fluid retention & weight gain! I asked her why then had no one taken it away sooner? I've taken it for several years! Very frustrating when even with regular evaluations of medication the physician or his PA aren't sharp enough to stop a medication that wasn't doing me any good & was doing harm. I've told the PA my legs ache. The PA ordered a circulation test which showed the circulation is normal for someone my age. The PA had no solution to offer since the test was "normal." That doesn't mean my legs stop aching though so now I'll ask the PA about the statin. I take Atorvastation and Ezetimbe.
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@nla4625 That's surprising that your PCP didn't take you off of the statins when you had problems. I see an endocrinologist about my cholesterol and he first tried reducing the dosage and when I still had problems he took me off of it. I see him in December so I'm not sure what he will have me do then.
I'm glad that you are happy with your treatment now. If we find ourselves questioning a doctor, and not in agreement, I think it's time to find a different doctor.
JK