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

Posted by Barb @amberpep, Aug 10, 2020

Just a bit of information I discovered last week. One of the side effects of taking "simvistatin" is temporary memory loss. It is the only statin that has this effect. I am going to talk to my .doctor about stopping it, with his guidance of course. I have had some short lapses in memory .... forgetting part of my phone number, etc.

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Mentor
John, Volunteer Mentor | @johnbishop | Aug 6, 2022
In reply to @woondogger "Way back in 2014 when my PCP was concerned about an elevated Cholesterol he prescribed Lipitor..." + (show)
@woondogger

Way back in 2014 when my PCP was concerned about an elevated Cholesterol he prescribed Lipitor which I took for a month or two until I realized the extreme pain in my left shoulder muscles was “new” and after a bit of research decided to stop the statin. Lo and behold within a month, the pain was gone! And never returned. I later discovered the importance of calculating my ratios as cholesterol did remain over 200. Dividing total cholesterol by my HDL resulted in a ratio of 2.6 ~ excellent. I also did a calcium heart imaging test resulting in a score of 1. I was diagnosed with Type 2 in 2016, could not tolerate Metformin and decided to manage with diet and exercise. Brought A1c from 6.4 to 5.6 in six months! Still doing well with an A1c under 6.

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Welcome @woondogger, Diet along with exercise can be a game changer for a lot of folks. Thanks for sharing. It's good to hear from another person whose learned to be an advocate for their own health. Since you mentioned you were diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes in 2016 and decided to manage with diet and exercise, I thought I would share this video I found helpful as a prediabetic myself by Dr Jay Wortman Diabetes Remission is Surprisingly Simple!: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cx6xw3wOAMc.

Do you mind sharing what you were searching for when you found Connect?

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woondogger | @woondogger | Aug 6, 2022

Thanks for the reply ... My neighbors told me about Mayo Connect at a gathering last evening. I was intrigued and joined!
Cheers.

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1 reply
Mentor
John, Volunteer Mentor | @johnbishop | Aug 6, 2022
In reply to @woondogger "Thanks for the reply ... My neighbors told me about Mayo Connect at a gathering last..." + (show)
@woondogger

Thanks for the reply ... My neighbors told me about Mayo Connect at a gathering last evening. I was intrigued and joined!
Cheers.

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Sounds like some great neighbors!

REPLY
adr | @adr | Aug 7, 2022
In reply to @woondogger "Way back in 2014 when my PCP was concerned about an elevated Cholesterol he prescribed Lipitor..." + (show)
@woondogger

Way back in 2014 when my PCP was concerned about an elevated Cholesterol he prescribed Lipitor which I took for a month or two until I realized the extreme pain in my left shoulder muscles was “new” and after a bit of research decided to stop the statin. Lo and behold within a month, the pain was gone! And never returned. I later discovered the importance of calculating my ratios as cholesterol did remain over 200. Dividing total cholesterol by my HDL resulted in a ratio of 2.6 ~ excellent. I also did a calcium heart imaging test resulting in a score of 1. I was diagnosed with Type 2 in 2016, could not tolerate Metformin and decided to manage with diet and exercise. Brought A1c from 6.4 to 5.6 in six months! Still doing well with an A1c under 6.

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It is stories like these that prove to me that we know our own bodies and what works for us individually. We can make an informed choice for ourselves. Thank you for posting this. Very empowering!

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raye | @raye | Sep 5, 2022

Maybe try a different statin?
I’ve been taking Atorvastatin for twenty years, with Coq10 200mg to supposedly counter any muscle problems, which I never had, and that regimen seems to be working for this 82 year old. Wishing you well!

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1 reply
rozbee | @rozbee | Sep 6, 2022
In reply to @becky1024 "Statins caused so many serious side effects, some rare, I refused to take them. Then I..." + (show)
@becky1024

Statins caused so many serious side effects, some rare, I refused to take them. Then I wrote this short poem that is to the point.

“What is the sense in living life?” “Just so you can live it?” “I all it gives you back to live.” “Is a life of pain and sadness!”

Doctors tell you that you need this pill, then that pill, then others to help you live longer, why? Back when I did everything my doctors told me to do or take these pills, guess what. By the time 13 different doctors prescribed 13 different types of pill, I was taking 42 pills a day, every day. They literally turned me into a prescription addict. Take a pill for this pain or that pain, a pill to go to sleep, a pill to wake me up, you name it and they told me to take a pill. Finally, I said enough is enough and got off everything. That was over 40 years ago and I refuse to take any medication yet unless I know exactly what it’s going to do to me and why. I don’t take any pain medications, none, pain tells your body somethings wrong with it. You deaden the pain with pills, how will you know how bad the damage is getting? I have a very bad heart birth defect, I’m 78, with my bp less than 140/80, recommended by 3 different cardiologist taking care of me. Then the AHA says, I must have a bp of 120/70, why? Because most people can’t get that low without, you guessed it, a pill. Gee, I wonder who came up with that recommendation? Remember my poem, I’m a freak of nature living in a hellish nightmare I cannot wake up from. Guess what, no medications, no pills and watch what I eat. My vitals this morning, 116/68 heart rate 67. Yesterday 111/64 heart rate, 65. Gee, think I’ll take a pill, a happy pill that is. Just become your own health activist and decide if you need the pill or is it a doctor saying you need to take it. Judge for yourself if your body actually needs it or will a life style change work instead, I did!!!

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Right ON! to you; I agree with you. We are generally overmedicated, over doctored, over informed about everything from athletes foot to brain fog. and there is a pill for everything, in fact limitless pills for everything. If the pills don't work and causes more problems, well, there is a lawsuit for that.
Of the friends that I have left, one my age, looking at 83, and the other 86. Those two are the ones that stayed away from doctors and pills. The lady at 86 won't even go in for cataract surgery, which is the one procedure I recommend. She takes no medication, never has and is doing fine. In fact, both are.
Yes, I have several different maladies, but they are manageable even though very serious, but I figure I will go when I go and worrying about it and popping pills for every little thing is not in my agenda.
Good luck and good health to you all no matter which path you choose.

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frenchie333 | @frenchie333 | Sep 6, 2022

A reply to all of you. Yes, if you can, avoid pill pushers! I have a motto: God's Pharmacy First. If you're an atheist, feel free to use the corollary: Mother Nature Provides.

Re: Statins

My husband has been on Atorvastatin for years and years! He does suffer aching muscles. He starts every day in pain. Would love to wean him off that Rx. I've cut one of his other meds by 33% and another by 75% with his doctor's knowledge. But that statin... I cook low cholesterol meals. Plenty of fiber, clean water, omega 3s, salmon twice a week. We take many supplements, some of which purportedly help with cholesterol. Planet Fitness three times a week without fail. Despite our efforts, he had a heart attack on November 8, 2019. Went Code Blue seven times that night. What I didn't know about was his pack-a-day habit, which he hid from me for years.

We continue to do everything right; but, it looks like he's facing another cardio procedure in a month or two. Ready to tear my hair out!

I apologize. I just needed to unburden myself, I guess.

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frenchie333 | @frenchie333 | Sep 6, 2022
In reply to @tcokeefe "My cholesterol has been off the charts since my 30s. Over the years I tried several..." + (show)
@tcokeefe

My cholesterol has been off the charts since my 30s. Over the years I tried several different statins, and every single time had horrendous side effects, very weak muscles and pains and aches in my legs and would refuse to take them. Now, at age 70, the Cardiologist convinced me to try Pravachol. I have absolutely no side effects whatsoever from it and my numbers are dropping.

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God bless you, tcokeefe! I'm going to copy and paste your info above and have my husband share with his PCP/MD, his cardiologist and his neurosurgeon!

My husband's been on Atorvastatin for years and years and starts each day in pain!

Thank you for offering hope!

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frenchie333 | @frenchie333 | Sep 6, 2022
In reply to @lioness "@bijouxb My cholesterol was around 300 then finally Dr found a statin that has brought my..." + (show)
@lioness

@bijouxb My cholesterol was around 300 then finally Dr found a statin that has brought my numbers way down without any side effect it is rovustatin or Crestor this is the only one that will work for me and no side effects have you tried others?

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Hey, lioness! I'm married to a lion! He's been suffering from Atorvastatin for years and years. Yes, we see the Crestor commercials on TV all the time but you great results with zero side effects impresses me more.

Thank you for sharing!

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1 reply
txbunny67 | @txbunny67 | Sep 7, 2022
In reply to @raye "Maybe try a different statin? I’ve been taking Atorvastatin for twenty years, with Coq10 200mg to..." + (show)
@raye

Maybe try a different statin?
I’ve been taking Atorvastatin for twenty years, with Coq10 200mg to supposedly counter any muscle problems, which I never had, and that regimen seems to be working for this 82 year old. Wishing you well!

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I'm glad Lipitor works for you, but I've been on all the statins and have a reaction to every one of them. My cardiologist put me on Rapatha, an injection I take every 2 weeks to help lower my "bad" cholesterol.

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