I stopped them cold turkey without telling my doctor (Lipitor). 5 months later I had a massive heart attack (100% block in main right coronary artery), cholesterol was 285 and triglycerides 278). Lucky to be alive. My point is, don't just quit on your own, I would check with your doctor and let him know your concerns about being on a statin.
C'mon man, I'm sure there are other factors here that have created the mess you are in. Statins are horrible and there are other ways to control inflammation which is really the culprit, not cholesterol. Cholesterol is incredibly important for the body, over 80 processes require it. Inflammation of the vessels is the problem and inflammation is easily modified with nutrition and supplements. Diet and lifestyle change are also critical.
Trigs need to be under 100. The numbers say that people with their Trigs under 100 do not statistically get heart attacks. Easiest way I know to drop the Trigs (triglycerides) is to drop your carb intake.
I think the back spasms were caused by my professional activities, but they were so bad I thought perhaps the Lipitor could be a cause or contributing factor since it is in the literature.
age 62 at the time, 6', 240. Limited cardio, Hi stress profession, constantly on my feet. Mayo clinic in scottsdale at about age 58 did full executive exam (I had not sought medical care for probably 15 years prior to that. Cholesterol at that time 210 and the internist there started me on Lipitor. I stopped it as I was having bad back spasms and thought the Lipitor may be the cause. No diabetes, HTN, or other illnesses. No prior history of cardiac disease. No angina, chest pain, palpitations. Nothing until the sudden heart attack. I was told a plaque came loose and 100% blockage right side. I was rushed to the cath lab and a stent was placed. I had 90-95 percent blockage on the left main coronary artery, and they stented it about 4 days later. I do cardiac nuclear stress testing and echocardiogram on a yearly basis since, and I actually have slowly gotten improved cardiac blood supply. I now take Repatha injected every two weeks, and my cholesterol is below 100. I know cholesterol is important in bodily functions, and brain function also. I have discussed this with my cardiologist and decided to leave as is.
Thanks for the detailed response. I have mixed feelings on statins, I was on them for a while. But, the research I am reading shows they only show a small % improvement when it comes to relative risk. I lost a good deal of weight over the past few years and have kept it off. I do cardio 4-5 times a week.
when you say your cholesterol is below 100 now, is that ldl? I have never heard of a total cholesterol that low.
My Mom died of Alzheimer's, so I am at a greater risk of dementia. One of my grandfather's had two strokes in his older years, so I have some risk there, by no other family risk.
Seems to be a catch 22 for me. I am going to get a cholesterol check today from a local lab. I want to see how much mine has increased since being off statins. I would like to find a doctor I trust, but this is a very difficult task. I don't know where to look, everyone I see, seems to follow the play book without doing much thinking.
They have been trying for over ten years to get me on these. I refuse every time. I will show this article to the doctor. However, my cardiologist, I have a slight valve lapse, so I get checked every 5 years or so, said don't worry about my cholesterol so there you go.
That's what I did. Just stopped taking them. For about 2 weeks I was afraid I'd notice something different. After that, I stopped caring.
If I die, I die. Fuck the medical establishment.
I stopped them cold turkey without telling my doctor (Lipitor). 5 months later I had a massive heart attack (100% block in main right coronary artery), cholesterol was 285 and triglycerides 278). Lucky to be alive. My point is, don't just quit on your own, I would check with your doctor and let him know your concerns about being on a statin.
C'mon man, I'm sure there are other factors here that have created the mess you are in. Statins are horrible and there are other ways to control inflammation which is really the culprit, not cholesterol. Cholesterol is incredibly important for the body, over 80 processes require it. Inflammation of the vessels is the problem and inflammation is easily modified with nutrition and supplements. Diet and lifestyle change are also critical.
true, gave you an upvote. Diet and lifestyle are most important.
Trigs need to be under 100. The numbers say that people with their Trigs under 100 do not statistically get heart attacks. Easiest way I know to drop the Trigs (triglycerides) is to drop your carb intake.
ding ding ding!
agree
Correlation is not causation.
I think the back spasms were caused by my professional activities, but they were so bad I thought perhaps the Lipitor could be a cause or contributing factor since it is in the literature.
I quit taking statins a few months ago, weaned off on my own. question for you
would like to know to compare risk factors
age 62 at the time, 6', 240. Limited cardio, Hi stress profession, constantly on my feet. Mayo clinic in scottsdale at about age 58 did full executive exam (I had not sought medical care for probably 15 years prior to that. Cholesterol at that time 210 and the internist there started me on Lipitor. I stopped it as I was having bad back spasms and thought the Lipitor may be the cause. No diabetes, HTN, or other illnesses. No prior history of cardiac disease. No angina, chest pain, palpitations. Nothing until the sudden heart attack. I was told a plaque came loose and 100% blockage right side. I was rushed to the cath lab and a stent was placed. I had 90-95 percent blockage on the left main coronary artery, and they stented it about 4 days later. I do cardiac nuclear stress testing and echocardiogram on a yearly basis since, and I actually have slowly gotten improved cardiac blood supply. I now take Repatha injected every two weeks, and my cholesterol is below 100. I know cholesterol is important in bodily functions, and brain function also. I have discussed this with my cardiologist and decided to leave as is.
Thanks for the detailed response. I have mixed feelings on statins, I was on them for a while. But, the research I am reading shows they only show a small % improvement when it comes to relative risk. I lost a good deal of weight over the past few years and have kept it off. I do cardio 4-5 times a week.
when you say your cholesterol is below 100 now, is that ldl? I have never heard of a total cholesterol that low.
My Mom died of Alzheimer's, so I am at a greater risk of dementia. One of my grandfather's had two strokes in his older years, so I have some risk there, by no other family risk.
Seems to be a catch 22 for me. I am going to get a cholesterol check today from a local lab. I want to see how much mine has increased since being off statins. I would like to find a doctor I trust, but this is a very difficult task. I don't know where to look, everyone I see, seems to follow the play book without doing much thinking.
They have been trying for over ten years to get me on these. I refuse every time. I will show this article to the doctor. However, my cardiologist, I have a slight valve lapse, so I get checked every 5 years or so, said don't worry about my cholesterol so there you go.