Aibu in questioning my mum's medication?

It seems Jenthat you already know of the benefits of CoQ10 and I wish both you and LizGthe very best of luck.
Don't forget it takes about a fortnight before any benefits are noticed.

JessM, I know from both my husband's and my brushes with statins that NHS information has changed in two years, and over the time that the new contract became law.
My husband was told he ought to take it when his cholesterol was 4. I was given it when my cholesterol was 4. The difference is that I have an aortic dissection, my husband was diabetic. My husband refused to take it because he knew of the side effects from his brother taking it.
The same GP told both of us different things. I was told I didn't need to take anything if I don't want to, having been given ten extra tablets a day when I was on the HDU.
What's the difference as far as my GP is concerned?
He is on the board of the CCG.
I have actually not had any CoQ10 for a week, and I feel drained, so why is CoQ10 not an ingredient of every statins, as it was meant to be?
I will get some more CoQ10 delivered tomorrow, and will feel better in a couple of weeks. I am falling asleep all the time now, and the only difference in the last week is the CoQ10. By the way, I did it on purpose just to find out, before this thread started.
I have a copy of a letter from the hospital asking my GP to keep a close check on my blood-pressure. This letter was written on 1st July. Haven't heard from my GP. Information on blood-pressure checks has changed just recently. The NHS has changed so many goalposts recently that you do not know what to believe.

Don't worry everyone, I did do a double check but your info sent me in the right direction Poppikok. I had heard about CoQ10 before but not paid it much attention; not actually taking statins at the time. So much of what you said rang some massive great bells so I am giving it a try

Like JessM,I too was sceptical about such sites,but having read the article and being soooo tired with the aches and pains I decided to take the plunge.
My GP agreed and put me on a three month trial period with CoQ10.
It took about a fortnight for them to "kick-in"and I have done nothing but improve since.
Little tasks that used to be real chores,I now do without a second thought.I used to drag my feet literally,but no longer.
From my own experience I would advise fellow GNetters to take the plunge and at least see your GP about this supplement.
It wont do you any harm to try!
Sorry to drone on a bit.Cheers

Steady on jen just because bits of it might be hived off to private companies does not mean that we should mistrust NHS info.

Except, of course, that the NHS is being privatised. It is impossible to find out who put what information on an NHS site because of commercial confidentiality of any private health company.

NHS Choices is a much better source of info than US sites selling supplements.

If you look at NHS choices and search for statins, you will find lots of information about CoQ10. The original licence for statins was given on the assumption that CoQ10 was added, as statins were known then to affect CoQ10.
I presume NHS Choices site can be trusted.
I would not have known what my cholesterol level was, either, until I had an aortic dissection in March. Actually, that's not true. I had my cholesterol level checked when the tests first came out over 20 years ago. That was 4 as well. It was checked at an exhibition for health foods in Harrogate. All the vegetarians had low cholesterol levels.

I would proceed with caution lisG before taking seriously any information found on any internet sites that are selling supplements. I'm sure poppicock meant to be helpful but sites like this are completely unregulated and can get away with saying anything (other than directly claiming that something cures cancer, which is against the law on both sides of the Atlantic). They normally contain very poor quality information at best and downright lies at worst. On this site for instance they are pushing something herbal and untested to "regulate blood sugar".

Apologies for misspelling your name Poppikok

I wish they put a 'like' or 'thanks' button on here because I have only just spotted poppycocks link and it has proved helpful and informative. Bit delayed on my part, but many thanks.

I've been taking statins for about eight years now, with no side effects at all, but I can't see the point of prescribing them for a 93 year old with "slightly" raised cholesterol. I think anyone who's lived that long is coping with the way their body works pretty well on their own.

The GP surgery was treating the figures not the patient. It is a very bad habit they have.

Wow, thanks so much to all of you for your support. I am going to assume I am not BU and do my utmost to protect mum from what could be a really retrograde step in her health management. Bless her, she has enough to cope with, God knows I couldn't put up with what she has put up with on a daily basis. Thanks fellow Grandsnetters.

We have a friend awaiting a liver transplant, their liver problems started when they were prescribed statins and it took 5 years to discover that the medical problems they suffered after that were caused by the statins. Alcohol plays no part in their liver problems.

I totally agree with HidaW, JessM and Galen. Let her enjoy her life without adding more aches and pains which she could well do without if she goes down the statin route.
The fewer drugs she takes, the fewer side effects. I only take drugs that keep me on this planet and if I do not take them there is a high chance I may leave it soon.
I agree with Galen and statins- age has a say in the matter, none of us is 30 and I stopped working 11 years ago so the fewer aches and pains I have which are not drug related the better.

I wouldn't touch them! I have no idea what my cholesterol level is and at almost 69 couldn't care less!

Flicketyb your first paragraph is absolutely to the point. Statins are not used to treat a disease, they are so called "preventative medicine" designed to reduce statistical risk of coronary heart disease etc. I am guessing they are prescribed with extra enthusiasm to diabetics because they are at higher risk of chd. They do not, in an individual, prevent anything - they reduce the statistical risk.
It is just box ticking by someone in the surgery?
To be honest, and I don't mean to offend, but if I was in my nineties and in very poor health, a heart attack would be infinitely preferable way to go than many others i can think of. (the ones that involve a few weeks in hospital...).

She feels healthy, she is happy....at 93 I'd favour the old 'if it aint broke etc etc...'

Wondered if this might be of interest

www.ivlproducts.com/Health-Library/Health-Concerns/Heart-Health/Statins-and-CoQ10-What-you-need-to-know/

She should see her doc and have her meds reviewed - presciption by phone is not acceptable, particularly in the elderly who tend to be on a bit of a cocktail anyway.

There is no law that says you HAVE to take medicine. Ditch the statins. At age 93 as several people have said there is surely no need. I've stopped taking them and my muscles are so much better.

You are right Moomin that it is the ratio of total cholesterol/HDL that is important, rather than the total itself.
This is from WebMD:
" If you have 3.5 mg of total cholesterol, or less, for every 1 mg of HDLs, then your cholesterol ratio is ideal. According to guidelines from the National Cholesterol Education Programme in the US:

Total cholesterol should be 5.0 mmol/L or less.
LDL should be 3.0mmol/L or less after an overnight fast.
HDL should be 1.2mmol/L or more.
Total cholesterol/HDL ratio should be 4.5 or less.
However, if you have heart disease or diabetes total cholesterol and LDL target readings will be lower."

However, usually cholesterol tests are not done after fasting , and patients are only given the total reading and the advice to take statins given on this basis.
If I was told to take statins after a simple test I would insist on having the fasting reading done first.

I think (but am happy to be corrected) that prescribing statins is written in to the QOF (Quality Outcomes Framework) which in turn is part of the GMS (General Medical Services) contracts upon which GP practices are paid.

One thing is certain - statins are big business:

webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/+/www.dh.gov.uk/en/Healthcare/Longtermconditions/Vascular/Coronaryheartdisease/Statins/index.htm "each year the UK spends £730 million on statins".

I am also a statin absconder/avoider!

When my BIL was prescribed statins he became extremely bad tempered and felt generally unwell - that probably caused the ill humour. When DH was given them he lost muscle and strength and this caused him great upset that he was unable to do things he had previously found easy. He was also very irritable all the time and had pains in his limbs etc. Since stopping them he is much better.