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Anyone else "mourn" their NO-MEDS SELF before a STATIN?
Hello all. I'm about to join the millions of people who are on a statin. This is something I've resisted for over a year after learning about my calcium score of 149, which put me at a "moderate" risk for an event in the next 10 years and in a high percentile. I looked into it deeply and looked at myself as a whole person, not someone who has a number and is part of a statistic. I have eaten a plant-based diet for over 30 years, but still, despite all my efforts at a healthy diet, plus losing 30 pounds and regular exercise, I cannot get my LDL lower than 108. And, a Cardiac CT Scan (with dye) in December showed I have a "moderate" plaque burden, though I had 0 "low attenuation" plaque, which is apparently, the most dangerous, ready to erupt kind. Still, I learned I had narrowing in a major artery - up to 40%, which isn't severe, but if I do nothing, it will just get worse. THAT is concerning! This finding has given me the impetus to go on the statin. It's genetics. I cannot control it. I've tried. I am throwing in the towel, so to speak, and allowing modern medicine to give me that "nudge" I need to lower the LDL. It feels too risky to go without doing so, at this point. Of course, I'll still eat healthy & exercise, as statins only lower the risk by 25%, anyhow. All my other LIPID numbers look good and my total cholesterol is at 189 or thereabouts. Still, the proof was in the images and the Cardiac CT Scan FFR readings of how much plaque is in each coronary artery. Without going into those details, I cannot fight the issue my liver is having with processing cholesterol. It isn't doing it well, despite how hard I've tried to "make things better" through weight loss, exercise & a whole-food plant-based diet. I've already gone through my "mourning" phase of the old, "natural" me who did everything she could to lower my cholesterol, from drinking chia/flax and soy milk before bed, to giving up all seed oils, you name it, I've tried it. I eat tons of vegetables (salads), fiber-filled meals (like lentils soups), oatmeal with fruit daily, etc. I just hope I will do okay without side effects on the 5 mg. of Rosuvastatin I'll be starting (either tonight or tomorrow). I've read one too many stories about muscle pains, brain fog, etc., but my cardiologist told me NOT to worry about side effects, so at this low dose, I will put that out of my mind and go for it. I want to live a long life and if this helps me do so, I will now embrace the science behind these statin medicines, which have been around for decades. I feel hopeful that without my LDL being sky high, this low dose will do the job. I need to get it to 70 or below. Is anyone else in my position? Is there anyone out there who has had to recently start a statin after trying everything they possibly could through diet & exercise to lower their LDL? Were you sad for awhile? I'm okay now, as I've had over a month to adjust to this. I started a BP medication in early January, and so far, I've adjusted well to that (Losartan, 25 mg). I didn't want to start two new medicines at once. FYI, I'm a 66 year old woman, weight about 147, and am 5'5", if that gives further perspective. Being post-menopausal is a large part of these changes, but that's for another discussion!
If you've had a bad experience while on Rosuvastatin, it would NOT be helpful to me to share that. I've already had to get over my fears about that and I have now. Rather, I need support right now. If you've had a POSITIVE EXPERIENCE, which has lowered your LDL while on Rosuvastatin, at any dose, without any side effects, I'd also love to hear your story about that!
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@seniormed Hi and thank you for your reply. I guess there does come a time when we, as humans, do all we can, then at some point, realize that there may be things we just cannot control and to allow modern medicine to help us out. I'm glad you also reached that conclusion.
I also take CoQ10, and had started that even before the statin. I recently DID get the CIMT ultrasound (Carotid Inter-Media Thickness) done and will find out what my plaque burden is in my neck. I'm a bit nervous to find out about that, but at least I am on the rosuvastatin in case it ends up matching my moderate plaque burden in my heart arteries. I do take Vitamin D, as well Vitamin K-2 M-7. I also take a Multiple Daily and Vitamin C. Thank you for your encouragement and support! Take good care! Keep up your own good work on your health!
@carlnh Hi Carl. Thank you so much for sharing your story, and I apologize for the delay in responding. Maybe we'll sit next to each other on the "statin" train (I loved that colorful language!) and have a lively discussion! Perhaps the ride will be smooth and pleasant. 🙂 I totally sympathize with your shock with your Calcium score, as that was the same with me in November 2024, when I learned mine was 149. I resisted until the Cardiac CT Scan, as my story describes. The images really don't lie. I hope you don't have any blockages. I didn't, but I did have "narrowing", as you know, so that's what led me to try to slow down the progression of any further narrowing, if possible. I want to reassure you that at least for me, so far, on DAY 7 of the rosuvastatin, 5 mg. I have no side effects. I've also heard that people, like you, who exercise regularly and are active, create collatoral arteries that make up for others. I don't have all the scientific/medical information at my fingertips, but I thought it was very interesting how the heart manages to adapt. Thank you for the well wishes and I also wish all the best to you, as well! Please let me know how you're doing.
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1 Reaction@lilac2025, it sounds like you are working with a good care team to make sure you live your best life. Kudos! I am glad to hear you are tolerating your medications at this point.
I am interested to follow how you are doing with your testing, cholesterol treatment and general health. Will you come back and comment when you have updates? When will you test your LDL now that you are taking rosuvastatin?
I would start either Praluent or Repatha both being PSK9 inhibitors. My LDL has been as low as 7, Tchol 83, HDL 80 as I am attempting to lower my Arterial Calcification.
I also take Ezetimibe 10 mg, ,Rosvastatin 10 mg, Repatha 140mg per ml, amlodipine beslate 5 mg, spiroactalone 100 mg,81mg enteric aspirin bid
I am an 81 years old man. I have been eating a vegetarian diet and running for for many years. I have high cholesterol. The doctors wanted me to take statins but I refused. My mother was put on statins and had severe muscle pain. About a month ago I went to bed with zero problem. However, I woke up, about 8 AM, with a very severe back ache. I began to take Tylenol for the pain. The pain continued and I continued to take the Tylenol. Then after about 3 weeks, I went to the doctor for a checkup, and tests. He could not find any issue. He was a new doctor and recommended statins. We had a good discussion. He said his dad takes statins and with my high cholesterol he strongly recommended I take them. I agreed and asked him to write me a prescription. Here is the reason I am writing this comment. I got his prescription of Atorvastatin, 80 mg pills. I took one pill that night, then the next night I took another pill. When I woke up the following morning the back pain was gone! I stopped taking the Tylenol. I continue to take the Atorvastatin pill at night and the pain remains gone. I have discussed this with two doctors, neither has ever heard of this happening before. Let me be very clear. There is no doubt in my mind that the Atorvastatin cured the back pain. Experimental evidence.
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1 ReactionWow, @poppy0344! Your experience with statins helping you is straightforward and so, so helpful. It sounds like much more may be learned about statins.
My first cardiologist told me in addition to lowering cholesterol statins also reduce inflammation. This seems in line with what you are experiencing, reduced back pain after starting atorvastatin. I have had experiences similar to yours with medications including cholesterol drugs. Most recently, I had my 5th or 6th injection of Inclisiran (every 6-month schedule). I went through a couple nights of pain with the first, then a little lessened with the 2nd. Following my most recent injection I experienced noticeably 2 days of pure comfort.
I am also taking a statin I had quit 20 years ago, I thought because of pain. One thing different with me now is an improved lifestyle, activity and diet. You mention a lifetime of healthy lifestyle. I would think the healthier our bodies are the better any drug would work in our bodies. I am not a trained medical professional so I don’t know. It just seems realistic this would be one factor, and my experience would seem to support it. It sounds like yours, too.
Statins work through the liver so there may be something there as well. It will be interesting to see how you continue to feel. I hope you come back and provide updates.
When do you get your lipid numbers checked to know how well the Atorvastatin helps manage cholesterol?