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High cholesterol and simvastatin

Posted , 9 users are following.

Nutbox
Nutbox

Hi there,

A few years ago I had a blood test for high cholesterol and it came back very high at 11 and the doctor put me on atorvastatin and I found these to mess with my head and didn't feel to good on them,so I stopped them after a week but continued to improve my diet and signed up to a gym and got it down to 6 at the next blood test and the doctor was surprised and let me carry on as I was.

Anyway fast forward to now and I got invited to a well man clinic because I am over 40 and my cholesterol has gone up to 7.5 overall and the doctor wants to put me on simvastatin even though I said I don't want stations.

Anyway my question is what would you people do ,would you take the statins and see how things goes or would you find a different alternative.

Cheers

0 likes, 14 replies

14 Replies

  • mark76132
    mark76132 Nutbox

    Posted

    I would say manage your cholesterol through diet. Six months after suffering from side effects of taking Atorvastatin, I am still not right. My main problem has been fatigue and exertion fatigue and although I have improved slightly, I feel it’s going to be a long road until I reach my former levels of activity without feeling tired. Having said all this, side effects affect only 12% of those taking statins, so you have to weigh up the pros and cons. You may well be one of the 88% who experience no problems but if you are one of the unlucky ones, you will wish you had refused.
  • Nutbox
    Nutbox

    Posted

    As I said I took atorvastatin for a week and it didn't agree with me and the doctor I saw was pretty useless and was asking me what I wanted to do and it just felt she didn't care and was handing them out like smarties.

    Anyway I have slept on it and because I am starting a new job in a week's time I can't be dealing with side effects lol,I am going to improve my diet even more and start taking plant sterols and see what happens next year.

    Cheers

    • ranjitp
      ranjitp Nutbox

      Posted

      I am one who has tried several alternatives over the years as I am statin intolerant. My observations are:

      People who are statin intolerant do suffer debilitating fatigue and other issues with optimum mental functioning. 

      I tried several change of salts. They did not work for me.Try that first.

      The side effects outweighed the possibility of a longer life and I finally decided to lead a healthier life NOW and live with the risks. I gave up statins and have a much better quality of life. Must share that it took me a long time to come back to normal.

      Physical activity and diet control, along with inclusion of health foods like flaxseed helps.

       

  • TrishaT
    TrishaT Nutbox

    Posted

    The doctor can only advise and can't force you to take them. As you had problems with them previously then I have grave doubts that you should take them again, I was on Atoravastatin for two weeks and in that time they turned me into one of the living dead, two years on and I still haven't recovered from their effects. I've tried to manage my cholesterol by diet and exercise but it seems that the more I improve my diet the more my cholesterol goes up so no idea what the answer is. Just think carefully before you agree to take them again.

  • rory43301
    rory43301 Nutbox

    Posted

    If your high cholesterol isn't an hereditary problem and you can reduce your levels with diet and not medication then i suppose that's great. It's whats happening inside your arteries that is the problem. My doctor warned me my cholesterol was high at 6.5 and i tried reducing it with a vegan diet but the levels kept rising. I developed angina and the inevitable happened (stent) and statins. I find CQ10 a great help with side affects of atorvastatins. Good luck my friend just keep having regular blood tests for cholesterol levels and watch out for the tell-tale chest pains of angina. If you want to go the whole hog then ask for an appointment to see a cardiologist, these guys know their onions and he might suggest a angiogram, not pleasant but at least you'll know once and for all about whats happening in your heart. 

    • Nutbox
      Nutbox rory43301

      Posted

      Well that's the thing I should of mentioned that my mum and dad did have high cholesterol I think my dad's was bad in the end .

      So that what's make me think about it but as I said I managed to get my down from 11 to 6 the last time I had the test without statins.

  • rory43301
    rory43301 Nutbox

    Posted

    I feel for you Nutbox - i'm a runner of 40 years and thought i was fit but the cholesterol just kept creeping up. I refused statins and was in denial i had a problem until the Angina started three years ago. Why don't you ask to see a cardiologist and get it sorted. The general consensus on many forums is that statins are evil and i agree they make you feel crap sometimes. For me because it was hereditary i had no choice lets hope for you its not and you can bring your cholesterol down with diet. It was a long lonely road waiting for the ambulance and journey to the hospital for stent procedure. I wish you well.   

  • paul33163
    paul33163 Nutbox

    Posted

    Hi

    I was put on Amlodipine and Astorvastatin in 2013, My ankles swelled up to the same size as the top of my legs and them a very nasty skin rash appeared. To cut a long story short, I am on 50mg of Losartan for blood pressure, but Amlodipine and Astorvastatin  combination has left me with calf mussel damage. I have been offered 3 or 4 different statins, but when I take them they they make my  calf mussels even weaker.

    My Cholesterol is now within limits through diet and excise, but my GP keeps wanting me to take them, but I am refusing at the moment.   

  • Nutbox
    Nutbox

    Posted

    Does anybody have experience with simvastatin at all
    • IanStirling
      IanStirling Nutbox

      Posted

      Yes I have. Blooming awful stuff, caused me severe problems with my knees. My medical record now shows I am allergic to it as I discovered when I was in hospital a couple of years ago and asked what the red wristband was that I had to wear at all times.

      GP changed me to atorvastatin and to be honest have had no problems at all with that.

      I may be wrong but certainly in the UK I think it is related to cost, simvastatin is cheap, atorvastatin is not

  • paul33163
    paul33163 Nutbox

    Posted

    Yes bad cramps in my legs,. I have just been offered Rosuvastatin, 5 mg so far haven't taken it

    • rory43301
      rory43301 paul33163

      Posted

      I was on Atorvastatin and the cardiologist put me on Rosuvastatin, 5 mg because i complained of pains in my muscles. So far so good but i still take CQ10. Good luck if you do take the plunge. 
  • Nutbox
    Nutbox

    Posted

    Ok cool ,they want to put me on 20mg simvastatin straight away .

    There seems to be no positive to taking any statins everything I have read has been bad experiences and makes me wonder what is the point.

  • boofa
    boofa Nutbox

    Posted

    Hi, I've noticed I've been feeling low, for a long time, now I've got depression and anxiety, I've forgotten to take my statins for two nights now and I've began to feel better? Anyone else experience this?

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