I don't want to take Statins. Advice please.

Is there a history of high cholesterol in your family? There is in mine and my GP told me that with familial high cholesterol all the healthy eating in the world will not bring mine down enough. They always start with the cheapest Statin and the first two did make my joints sore and ache a lot. The third, Pravastatin, works fine, only side effect is that I have to take it in the morning as taken at night I can't sleep. So far I have come down from 12.5 to 6.3 so I am still a work in progress, but the meds do work.

I don't think there's anything to worry about with Statins, but, like you, I avoid taking drugs if at all possible. I think your recent weight gaining diet is likely the main contributor to your high cholesterol. I would suggest that your new healthy diet will help enormously in reducing your cholesterol and I think porridge has worked wonders with me in keeping my cholesterol down so perhaps you might try that too?

I read that statins can affect memory, so decided to stop taking them. One thing that I quite quickly became aware of was that my urinary continence improved greatly. I checked this online, and read that statins can indeed worsen incontinence.

Vintagegirl

Sorry I have not read thru all replies... I also have always had high level up to 7.8 But this figure needs to be broken down into the LDL and HDL amounts and then a ratio worked out between the two to get a better figure. When I queried this, it seemed I had the healthiest rate in the practice. I would refer you to a book called The Cholesterol Myth tho not sure if still in print?

I've always thought that it was the proportions of LDL ('Good') and HDL ('Bad') rather than the overall figure in a cholesterol test (which can be high without being a problem) is what's important but it sounds from many replies that these figures aren't always looked at unless you are aware of them and ask the doctor. Having said that, I can't remember what those proportions are and whether this changes with age and other factors. Can anyone shed more light on this please?

My cholesterol wasn't high but my GP told me they can cut your stroke and heart attack risk so as I have a familial history of heart problems I decided to give them a try. After 7 years I've had no problems at all and if they can cut down the risk I'll carry on with them.

My advice would be to review your diet. Please do not stop eating fruit and vegetables. There is also good fat and bad fat - nuts and olive oil are good fats so don't stop eating them. Avoid butter, and other dairy products. Perhaps reduce your beer intake? check out NHS website to learn more about lowering cholesterol through diet. If after following good NHS diet advice does not reduce your cholesterol, then statins may be the answer. As others have said, many people use them to good effect. Good luck.

I have been taking statins for years with no adverse effects! Give them a try, my cholesterol level is 3.7 .

Really feel for you.
I had a stroke in 2005 when I was only 53 , a brain bleed not a clot. I was active and not overweight then.
I was put on many drugs including statins. On statins over a period of time my chloresterol level was under 3 and as a vegetarian I suggested to the doctor I came off them . Level remained under 5 for years but recently crept up so agreed to go back on them. Unaware of side effects on me. My husband also reluctantly went on them. Side effects may be accumulative over time but we decided at our age, me 68 and him 76 , it was worth the risk. Trust me a stroke is not fun, I had to learn to walk and talk properly again and have a permanent droop over one eye. Don't want to go there again.
I do worry about your diet though and getting that sensibly sorted out would be my priority.

Since I posted yesterday thanking everyone for their help, there have been more messages. So thank you all very much.

I am going to stick to what I'm doing now, cutting out all fats etc. as I said in my first post, eating fruits, veg, fish, nuts, Benecol and see what the blood results are in December.

Oh, my husband btw IS on statins and continues to eat all the bad foods he wants. 😐

My doctor said the same to me 4 years ago. I said that if statins grew on trees I would take them. I have changed my diet and I don’t need them now. I’m so pleased I took that route as it worked out well for me.
It sounds as thought you are of the same mind so hopefully you can turn it around too.
Good luck with whatever choice you make.

I didn't want to take them but a recent, still undiagnosed, condition led to a CT Scan which found "plaque" in my blood vessels, so the doctor prescribed them and I caved. I've been on them about two weeks - just one 20 mg pill at bedtime - with no ill effects. (I am 78). Good luck!

you can easily fix your cholesterol by changing you diet; I did. Also read this book
www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1844546101/?psc=1&ref_=list_c_wl_lv_ov_lig_dp_it&coliid=I1GDT7PFPIW5CA&tag=gransnetforum-21&colid=1CPI73VJ6X8RN

Statins not only lower cholesterol but also reduce general inflammation. There is a (medical) school of thought which advocates statins for everyone over 50, regardless of cholesterol. So if I were you I'd take your doctor's advice.

BIL had a catastrophic stroke which affected his physical and intellectual abilities, he survived for over 20 years needing 24/7 care. Having seen the devastating effects on his family I'll do whatever I can to protect myself and my family from the consequences of a stroke. I'm slim and otherwise healthy but recently my cholesterol started to go up. I already follow all the advice regarding diet, exercise etc so taking a daily statin was a no brainer!

Sorry I have not read thru all replies... I also have always had high level up to 7.8 But this figure needs to be broken down into the LDL and HDL amounts and then a ratio worked out between the two to get a better figure. When I queried this, it seemed I had the healthiest rate in the practice. I would refer you to a book called The Cholesterol Myth tho not sure if still in print?

Your post has totally resonated with me Iam. I always feel you know exactly what I am talking about.

My previous biologics resulted in stomach issues including, pancreatitis and dreadful stomach issues and eventually had to be stopped last year. My RA went into overdrive.
However, I have started a new one, in the hope that this toxic medication will improve my quality of life. RA is such an agressive, systemic disease, you never know what organ it will target next. It's not just painful joints.

I hope you are well. x

Hello Marydoll, I always feel kinship with your posts. Biological treatments do carry risks. I had 12 fantastic months on the first one 12 years ago. Felt better in my 60’s than I had in my 30’s pre-treatment. All RA drugs carry serious possible side effects. My consultant describes it as an aggressive disease that needs aggressive treatments.
I gave RA(linked to early death from heart problems). Atrial fib, mild copd and of course osteo arthritis.
My cholesterol hit 5.7, the advice was ok for ‘ordinary’ people, not me. I’ve taken statins 3 years. Cholesterol ok now.

We make decisions based on sound medical advice - well I do.

Just because someone experiences deterioration after starting statins does not mean there is a causal relationship. Correlation is not causality. It's true that a few people experience large muscle pain but millions don't and I shall certainly continue to take them.

The moral of my story is do not be too self congratulatory. Once you reach your late 70s-80s, no matter how well you have looked after yourself, no matter how healthy you are, things can and do go wrong..
I agree wholeheartedly, Monica.

A healthy diet and lifestyle, low chlorestoral, clear arteries and no leaky valves, did not prevent my two heart attacks.
I was admitted to hospital with an allergic reaction to an RA drug.
I got such a shock, when I was told I had had a heart attack and previous silent ones.
I had no idea that I had cardiac problems and because I was in my early sixties, having a heart attack had never crossed my mind.

Quite smug, that I took care of my health, the diagnosis shocked me to the core. Never say, never!

*buffyfly& I have always eaten well and sensibly, the result of a bowel problem as a child. I have always been active, within all the accepted weight limits and generally very healthy. My consumption of UPFs has always been low because I have been suspiccious of them for decades. My blood pressure was low. The only thing I have is high cholesterol.

I am 80 and until a few months ago was medication free and rarely saw a doctor. Then at the beginning of this year I had a small stroke, a TIA. I was scanned and checked and none of the scans really explained my stroke as my arteries were generally very clear for someone of my age and everything was working
very well.

The moral of my story is do not be too self congratulatory. Once you reach your late 70s-80s, no matter how well you have looked after yourself, no matter how healthy you are, things can and do go wrong.

I do not regret not taking statins when first offered them, there were no indicastions they would do me much good, and the scans I had after my TIA showed that high cholestrol for some years had not done me any obvious harm. But now I have had a TIA, I am taking them. It is clearly proven that for people in my new health situation have fewer further strokes and they are less severe and thir lifespan and life quality is enhanced.

Never paint yourself into a corner and let your health hubris be the death of you.

I'm with you Primrose!! I am overweight (love my food) but I consider we eat healthily. We have lots of fruit and veg, we grow our own in the summer, I make yoghurt and wholemeal bread. I grow microherbs on my windowsill and add them to sandwiches and salads. I have a G&T every night and a packet of crisps. I am 78, my cholesterol is 6 although I'm told my "good" cholesterol is fine. I don't take statins, BP medication, have never had HRT and I have to be really bad to take one Paracetamol. I went to A&E recently (hernia) and was asked numerous times by numerous medics what medication I was on. I have taken Thyroxine every day for underactive thyroid for the past 39 years and that is it. Every doctor I saw looked totally perplexed that I was not taking a variety of drugs. I speak as an ex surgery practice manager and I can tell you that it is a lot easier to stick patients on drugs than spend quality time discussing diet, stress etc, GP's just don't have the time. I consider myself healthy and very lucky indeed to not have conditions that require a lot of medication. Our bodies make cholesterol naturally and we need a certain level of it. There is a pressure to medicate the "worried well" but I don't intend to be one of them unless it is imperative.

Sky17 That is just one doctor's view - there are others.

However, I do agree with him that fat isn't the bad guy it's traditionally seen to be and there needs to be much more research on the effects of carbohydrates.

Every patient is free to decline any medication or treatment. All I've done is give my own experience, which is that I'm happy to take statins, after reading loads of peer-reviewed articles about them.

Primrose53 You have a free choice not to take statins - that's entirely up to you. The OP asked for other people's experience, so other people and I have given ours. The internet is full of loony scare stories about statins and I don't think anybody is denying that they can cause serious problems for some people, but there thousands of research articles about the benefits of statins (and the side effects). Nearly all of them have concluded that the benefits outweigh the side effects for most people. No drug is a magic panacea and all will cause problems for some people. Statins are so widely prescribed that it's no wonder that they've generated so many scare stories.

Primrose53

growstuff

PS. I know how QOF points work. GPs don't get paid for prescribing statins.

growstuff I wasn’t going to mention GPs increasing their income but you raised it so I am responding.

managementinpractice.com/practice-intelligence/qof-2023-24-what-practices-need-to-consider-to-gain-maximum-income/

This is actually telling practices all they need to know to maximise their income.

I hope this explains what I mean and what has been going on for years but not everybody knows about it. QOF points are awarded for various treatments and treating high cholesterol is one of them. The points are awarded to the Practice and this is then converted into income which can be considerable so is it any wonder that more and more people are being put on statins?

I don’t have a crystal ball either but having spent 20 years not taking statins as advised, I plan to carry on as I am.

I know about that, but GPs don't get paid for prescribing statins. They get paid for reducing cholesterol levels. There's a difference! If a patient can reduce cholesterol levels without taking statins, the record will still be included in the GP's records and he/she will be paid if the targets have been reached.

Most GPs think that prescribing statins is the best way to reduce cholesterol, which is why they do it. They would be failing as GPs if they ignored high readings and didn't advise patients how it can be done. Patients don't have to follow the advice and that will be recorded too. If you have access to your Patient Summary, have a look. Before my heart attack, it's been recorded that I was advised to take statins, but refused and it's been recorded. As a result, the GP is allowed to exclude me from the records submitted for QOF targets.