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statin update

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david_25160
david_25160

hello everybody, thankyou all very much for taking the time to reply to me regarding long term statin use, so here is my update on the situation..... yesterday I went to my doctor telling him of the leg muscle pains and fatigue so he took some blood samples to check liver function also an enzyme in the muscles, this morning he actually phoned me at home saying to stop the statin for two weeks then have another blood test done because both the liver function and muscle test raised concern, and apparently (unknown to me) my last blood tests showed a high level of something in my liver, forgotten what he called it!! so now I'm scared to death that my liver is damaged, also that not taking the statin will cause my cholesterol to rocket, a vicious circle or what? the next two weeks will be nail biting believe me. sad

0 likes, 6 replies

6 Replies

  • Tafia43
    Tafia43 david_25160

    Posted

    Was he referring to ferratin in your  liver. If so that means a higher than normal level of iron is stored. I have just had a blood test and my doc  asked me to have a further test in a couple of weeks from the prevous test ( which means next week)

    Seems I have a slightly raised level of ferratin. I have been taking multivitamins which adds extra iron so have now stopped them. No obvious symptoms.

    Try not to let your imagination run riot. Not easy,I know.

    • derek76
      derek76 Tafia43

      Posted

      When I was taking a statin my ferratin level was low and I had to have an infusion to bring it up prior to heart valve surgery.
  • Tafia43
    Tafia43 david_25160

    Posted

    So was the low iron level due to the statin or something else? I know that statins can damage the liver but don't know what they actually do to it.
    • david_25160
      david_25160 Tafia43

      Posted

      to be quite honest I'm not entirely sure what the score is, when he told me I went into shock almost and never heard 100% of what he was saying, typical me, now I just worry until I can see him for reassurance.
    • ann68675
      ann68675 david_25160

      Posted

      First of all your cholesterol will not rocket and in fact you can manage to keep it under control by diet and perhaps including one or two of the products which help to lower cholesterol - there are several in your supermarket.  You can also look at cholesterol-lowering diets on the web.

      Liver enzymes are very sensitive things and can get raised for almost any reason - the biggest cause of liver problems is of course alcohol so be aware of that.  The other wonderful thing about the liver is that it is the best organ in the body for regeneration: if the damage is caused by medication it usually recovers quickly once the medication is withdrawn.  That is why your consultant asked you to have the tests repeated in two weeks time as they may have returned to normal.  If they have not then it probably means that the statin you are on is not suiting you.  I know it is easy to say don't worry but really you seem to be in good hands and the lliver is amazing!!

    • david_25160
      david_25160 ann68675

      Posted

      thankyou for the reassurance Ann. alcohol plays no part in my life so no worries on that score smile yes by the sound of it the liver is an amazing organ indeed! diet alone was never able to control my cholesterol hence the statins in the first place, I got the figures wrong initially, it's more like 30 years on them not 20, oh well, just have to await the outcome of next blood tests and take it from there, thankyou for your timecheesygrin
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