Hi Kay56, it seems that you had a real struggle but came to the root of your problem. Congrats on your support to others! I know that statins have many side effects, so a small comment on cholesterol, if that may be of any assistance.

Background: I have a rare autoimmune disease called CLIPPERS (Chronic Lymphocytic Inflammation with Pontine Perivascular Enhancement Responsive to Steroids) - less than 1000 people in US have it. I was initially diagnosed with MS (multiple sclerosis) 2.5 years ago (then aged 62) - had quite a struggle to get the right diagnosis as most neurologists do not know about the disease. I am in South Africa and my neurologist has only 3 other patients with CLIPPERS. I also have osteoarthritis with joint and muscle pain part of my life, but I stay clear from statins and anti-inflammatory meds through exercise.

I read widely about CLIPPERS and the influence of diet and high cholesterol. I came across Dr. Robert Lustig, an endocrinologist (https://robertlustig.com/) who works on metabolism and the role of sugar. His book, Metabolical, makes interesting reading on how sugar affects your liver and gut health. He has no specific diet preference, but suggests the elimination of sugar and processed foods. His message is simple: Protect your liver, feed the gut. This helps lessen inflammation, which is the basis of all autoimmune diseases.

He has a view on cholesterol measurements, i.e. HDL, LDL, triglycerides, etc. (I have high LDL, high HDL, low triglycerides.) According to dr. Lustig, the small dense LDL is the "bad" part of LDL. This can be measured, but is not part of the standard lipogram. However, it can be calculated as the ratio of triglyceride to HDL ratio. If the ratio is 1.5 or lower, you do not need to take statins (https://www.levelshealth.com/podcasts/the-ultimate-guide-to-understanding-your-cholesterol-panel-and-metabolic-blood-tests-dr-robert-lustig-dr-casey-means). There is a rare exception, please refer to the video and/or transcript and speak to your own medical professionals.

I hope your MG symptoms continue to be managed successfully. Best of luck with your awareness and education campaign!
Kind regards.
Ria