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

My cholesterol is always just a little high, but that runs in my family, and nobody has ever had a stroke. I cannot tolerate statins. I think I must have been put on five different ones before I refused to take one again. They gave me pain everywhere, even into my fingers and toes, but the worst part was the effect on thinking and memory. I was a Mayo medical interpreter. I've been retired now for some time, but I was still working the last time I was persuaded to try a statin just once more,

After a week on the statin, it was increasingly difficult to find words in my second language while interpreting. One morning in the language department, I told another interpreter I was scheduled for a colonoscopy, but instead I said a colectomy! In my first appointment that morning, I searched for words embarrassingly. As the patient left the room afterward, I noticed he was forgetting his hat. In his language, I called after him, "Sir, you left your head on the chair!"

I immediately told my supervisor I was in no condition to work, and would come back when I was better. I went home and stopped taking the statin. As usual, the pain went away within two days, but it was two weeks before I trusted my memory enough to go back to interpreting. Since then I've refused to take statins. Instead, I lost a lot of weight and watch my diet carefully.

I haven't explored them but there are plant sterols that some people take instead of statins. Does anyone have info on plant sterols and any recommendations of good ones? Thanks in advance.

@sueinmn, @karen1945 I have taken Statins now for about 13 years and seemed to have similiar side affects from them which were more related to numbness in my lower leg and feet.
My cardiologist told me that was unlikely contributing to that, but I was convinced it was.
I went to Mayo Clinic down in AZ. for a 2nd opinion for Ejection Fraction issues, but also brought up the statin issue. The Mayo Cardiologist was wonderful and recommended that I try the generic form of Crestor because he has had the best results lowering LDL with it.
My LDL was 82 at that point and he wanted to get it closer to 70. He started me on the 10mg. dose a day whereas in the past I was always placed on the 20mg dose for all other statins.
I had a Lipid profile done 4 momths later and my LDL had dropped to 65. In addition my numbness was mostly all gone as well. I continue on that lower dose and have been able to stay below 70. I have not had any other side affects. Jim@faithful

It's frustrating when some doctors are so dogmatic. Yet alone also wrong. Good news that the new doctor listened and helped and solved a problem you needn't have had in the first place.

I love bergamot but hadn't yet seen it mentioned in reference to cholesterol. It sounds interesting though. If you try it, please share results.

I also love Earl Grey tea so, just thinking here, one could in theory make a green-tea-based Earl Grey tea and avoid the caffeine from the black tea. Or try lemongrass-and-bergamot tea. Though I'd try the latter with some caution in case they both axtually do lower cholesterol?

Will ask herbalist about this idea and report her comments if any.

@thankfull I am on Crestor also after years of trial @error with others having leg pain Crestor is the only one that doesn't give me muscle pain and has kept my cholesterol ct low altho my triglycerides are still high Any suggestions

Thanks for the discussion, reply’s and suggestions. I’ve had such poor care overall which is another whole story but Lipitor was prescribed to me to prevent a stroke, although my cholesterol has never been very earth shattering I subsequently had two strokes because of nurse/medical student/.’doc’’ incompetence.I took it a couple of months, had bloodwork which showed ALKP of 1036! Normal 120! I would never take a statin again! Be careful, stand up for yourselves when the medical community demonstrates its incompetence.

If you have only borderline cholesterol i dont know why you need to take anything only healthy food . Cholesterol is necessary for everything in the body and even the brain 🧠 does not work without . Are statins good ????

Everything I hear about statins makes me not want to take them. My mother had high cholesterol numbers…. total cholesterol 300+. She lived to be 94 years old with no heart problems or strokes. No statins for me.

Statins are a big money racket and very good for Pfizer and big Pharma like the covid vaccine. Are they necessary?