Statins: any experience of them?

[Parafox]

6 minutes ago, Duquesne Whistle said:

Piss off mate. Where in my post did I say I was qualified, or that I had made that choice? I said well informed people were entitled to make their own choice.

Now, go pick the right person to preach to, as I don't give a toss what you think if you can't be bothered to read my post correctly.

TwAT

[Duquesne Whistle]

2 minutes ago, Parafox said:

TwAT

Very mature. You're covering yourself in glory here. Knee jerk reaction without reading my initial post correctly (or interpreting it to fit your narrative), followed by a personal insult when I tell you I don't care what you think. Well done 

[Parafox]

5 hours ago, Duquesne Whistle said:

Utter bollocks.

A general practitioner is just that, general. They are usually not experts in high cholesterol, they work off charts, which don't work for everyone. If charts, statistics and 'general' rules worked 100% for every human being, there'd never have been any deaths from taking ecstasy, or from the AZ vaccine either.

There's always exceptions to any rule, does that make the exception a moron if he's well informed and makes his own decision? I don't think so.

There you go. Disrespectful. OK make your choice

 

18 minutes ago, Duquesne Whistle said:

Piss off mate. Where in my post did I say I was qualified, or that I had made that choice? I said well informed people were entitled to make their own choice.

Now, go pick the right person to preach to, as I don't give a toss what you think if you can't be bothered to read my post correctly.

I read your post a few times before I responded. Clearly your not qualified, you just made an uninformed post. I'm not preaching to anyone, least of all the ignorant and the uninformed.

[Duquesne Whistle]

Just now, Parafox said:

 

 

Clearly your not qualified, you just made an uninformed post. I'm not preaching to anyone, least of all the ignorant and the uninformed.

Before you go throwing accusations of ignorance around, it's 'you're', not 'your'.

If you're going to preach, at least do it with decent diction.

[Parafox]

1 minute ago, Duquesne Whistle said:

Before you go throwing accusations of ignorance around, it's 'you're', not 'your'.

If you're going to preach, at least do it with decent diction.

And that's your best response. 

 

Just goes to show... 

 

 

[Duquesne Whistle]

Just now, Parafox said:

And that's your best response. 

 

Just goes to show... 

 

 

Your best response was apparently 'TwAT'.

 

Just goes to show...

[Duquesne Whistle]

Not quick enough, bright enough or funny enough. Keep it up though.

[Smudge]

@Alf Bentley I  have been on statins for years. I can't remember when I started them maybe 1992. My cholesterol levels have been within norms ever since.

The drug I take each night is Atorvarstatin

Good health mate

 

Edited 23 May 2021 by Smudge

[Crinklyfox]

16 hours ago, Alf Bentley said:

This is definitely a niche topic for oldies and medics. 

 

Is anyone on statins or taken them in the past and have any opinion on them?

Or anyone have experience of them through health work?

 

I ask as I'm likely to be recommended them again in a few days - and am 50-50 whether to agree this time, so second opinions would be appreciated.

 

For some years, blood tests have shown my "bad cholesterol" to be a bit high - not massively high, but a bit above normal. I don't lead a very unhealthy life, so little scope for natural improvement.

I've not yet had any angina/circulatory issues, though I do have unrelated heart issues (cardiomyopathy - thickening heart muscles, causing abnormal rhythms).

 

I'm not keen on over-medicating, but am not anti-medication. But I am put off by some reportedly quite common side-effects of statins, notably muscle pain.

Also, as a contrary bloke, I'm put off by the fact that statins are pushed so hard by the medical profession. There was even some senior doctor who called for everyone over 50 to be put on them!

 

Ironically, being under regular monitoring for unconnected heart issues also puts me off accepting statins.....such monitoring has always shown my circulation to be good & I assume echocardiograms could pick circulatory issues up early?

Morning Alf.

 

I've been off statins, then on, then off again.  My blood was tested regularly and there was a target for 'bad cholesterol' above which statins were likely to be prescribed.  I was below the limit so wasn't prescribed them.  Then the limit was changed, reduced to a level where my unchanged cholesterol level now put me in the bracket where statins were routinely prescribed, and sure enough my GP prescribed them for me.  The main side effect was aching limbs, which whilst not debilitating was annoying, but I persisted with the statins, mindful that my family has a history of heart problems (my father had three heart attacks plus arrhythmia).  After a few years of statins I was in hospital having tests associated with a potential mini-stroke (which it turns out I hadn't suffered).  One of the tests measured blood flow around the heart.  My cardiologist reported to me that my arteries were as clear as any she'd seen and she didn't see the need for me to be on statins, wrote to my GP and I stopped taking them.

 

My wife was also prescribed statins but had some very painful side effects including joint pain and after trying different statins stopped taking them against medical advice because she didn't want to live the rest of her life in pain.  Neither of us have been on statins now for around ten years.  Neither of us have suffered additional circulatory problems).

 

My view on statins is that they don't appear to have been the magic bullet that many thought they would be when they were first widely prescribed, however for some they appear very beneficial.  Only a medical professional and you can really make a value judgement for your particular circumstances.

[jgtuk]

Just my two pence worth - I had a problem about 6 years ago, high enough readings to be told by my GP that I was at substansial risk so wanted me to try statins. I resisted and for two years tried to bring down my own levels using lifestyle change with some (albeit small) success. 4 years ago, my GP was still insistent that I needed Statins so I decided to have one last try at reducing them on my own and turned to a plant based diet - no dairy or fish or meat. Within 6 weeks I had lost a stone in weight, felt better in general and my levels started to come down. My levels are still above average but are now considered safe (but higher than normal). I maintained the weight loss without really trying and feel better now than 10 years ago and love my food. I was never really overweight in the frist place and hated vegetables, loved meat, cheese, eggs and particularly fish but can really say that I have grown into meat free and dairy free foods so much that I don't miss them at all.

I realise that it seems a bit extreme but it has worked for me and I'm lucky that Vegan food is much more freely available than ever before (and my wife, a meat and dairy eater,is very accomodating and a brilliant cook!).

I'm not anti Statins at all but I have other health conditions that require meds so for me it was a case of not wanting any more meds/side effects to deal with.

Good luck.