Cholesterol

My cholesterol has recently risen, almost certainly as a result of having been on Letrozole (to obliterate remaining oestrogen after breast cancer) for the past couple of years. One of the side effects of Letrozole is aching joints and muscles so I'm keen to avoid statins as I think its side effects would add to the pain. Having read the comments on here I'm off to buy a load of Benecol, so thank you!

Paperbackwriter

My cholesterol has recently risen, almost certainly as a result of having been on Letrozole (to obliterate remaining oestrogen after breast cancer) for the past couple of years. One of the side effects of Letrozole is aching joints and muscles so I'm keen to avoid statins as I think its side effects would add to the pain. Having read the comments on here I'm off to buy a load of Benecol, so thank you!

I had to laugh at that Paperbackwriter.
That's what I've been doing, buying Benecol these last couple of weeks. I'll keep on with it I've got to have another blood test in May so I hope it does the trick lol

Yes Tilly the LDL (bad cholesterol) is the one that they want to get down to 1.5 much lower than what we've all thought. If you have familial high cholesterol it is important to get it as low as possible. I was contacted by the new innovation team from my local hospital, which are around the country, and I decided to take them up on the offer (as did my sister) the familial but...we both have it. As we age and with increased inflammation in our bodies and other conditions they are much more aware that the LDL cholesterol should be much lower. You can ask your GP if you are interested.

I was advised to take statins by a pharmacist.

When I checked with my GP I hadn't had my cholestorol checked for more than a year- when the test I requested came back borderline I refused the statins and haven't had my cholesterol checked since!
That must be a year ago now...

I often seem to be advocating this book and others like it.
Please read 'The Great Cholesterol Myth'.

It will be an eye opener

What happens if we are offered a statin, refuse it, & anything happens on holiday- stroke, heart attack! Are we covered with our insurance.
Just a thought 🤔

fancyflowers

I often seem to be advocating this book and others like it.
Please read 'The Great Cholesterol Myth'.

It will be an eye opener

Oh will have a look online for that. Just on with my ‘liver rescue’ by Anthony william. I haven’t got to the cholesterol bit yet

MT62

What happens if we are offered a statin, refuse it, & anything happens on holiday- stroke, heart attack! Are we covered with our insurance.
Just a thought 🤔

I was wondering about that, too. I remember when years ago they started selling statins in chemists. There was an advertising campaign for them and I couldn’t understand why people would buy them over the counter without consulting their doctor especially as they’d get them free if they were over sixty. I’ve just been taking lots of cough medicine and it says in the instructions to consult your doctor if you’re on statins. Taking over the counter medication is a minefield once you’re on blood thinners or statins. My partner had backache recently and I realised that he couldn’t take the pain relief I’d suggested he took because he’s on an anti clotting drug.

No statins for me.

My doctor let me start time restricted eating, that is I breakfast at 11am and finish dinner by 7pm so that is a 16 hour rest from eating.
I also eat oats every morning and do a daily power walk for 40 minutes and I do a work out class once a week.

Cholesterol is now lower, doctor said just keep on doing what you're doing because its working so very happy about that.

I used to have Blood Test test every year but not had one for what ever reason for over 2 n half yrs. I am due annual meds review on Thursday (phone call) I am ready with my reply as to, how on earth do I know my meds are doing me ok as in ,Atorvastatin if I haven't had a b test for so long, I think I will be having words on Thursday.

MT62

What happens if we are offered a statin, refuse it, & anything happens on holiday- stroke, heart attack! Are we covered with our insurance.
Just a thought 🤔

I had a Well Woman health check a year or so ago. (Early 70’s).

I did ok on everything, BP, weight, cholesterol etc.

But at the end, when she did a sort of resume of everything, she said I should start taking statins. This was because of my age and family history. (Dad died of a heart attack, but 50 years ago, before we knew much about them. Nowadays I think he would have survived).

I refused the statins.

Seeing as most over 50’s will be told they should be taking statins, for whatever reason, are we all at risk of invalidating our travel insurance if we declare we have refused them?

Plus, we could be prescribed them, doesn’t actually mean people are taking them, does it?

Oh do chemists sell them, I didn’t realise that Maybee70.
I don’t think I would buy them from a chemist, like you say, consulting the Gp

I think in the end that’s the reason I thought I should take a low dose.
The holiday insurance asked if I had ever been offered, or taking a statin.
All good & no side affects off the 10 mg dose.

fancyflowers

I often seem to be advocating this book and others like it.
Please read 'The Great Cholesterol Myth'.

It will be an eye opener

I endorse that book too! I have a very well thumbed copy which I bought many years ago. Dr Malcolm Kendrick.

I was told 21 years ago that I should go on statins as my cholesterol was far too high. The Dr told me I was “very silly” not to heed her advice about taking statins.

I read all I could, particularly this book and have had no problems whatsoever in all those years and never took a single statin.

Statins are an awful drug. Look into plant sterols. I buy mine off British Supplements after reading the reviews. Don’t forget they keep changing the levels to suit their narrative.

MT62 , if you have higher cholesterol and you are advised to take Statins, you should be talking about this to your insurer. I take a Statin like drug because of high cholesterol, it doesn't affect my insurance but my husband who doesn't have high cholesterol but was advised to take them because of his arteries was refused insurance with the same company. Personally, I would always err on the side of caution with insurance declarations; it could be a costly mistake not to.

Same here GP wanted to add Statins, my Cholesterol total is 3.3. As I had AF (had Ablation Dec 24) I have advise them I will discuss with my Cardiologist, next time I see them. However, I know GP 's are given a Government additional payment the more people they put on Statins.

MT62

I think in the end that’s the reason I thought I should take a low dose.
The holiday insurance asked if I had ever been offered, or taking a statin.
All good & no side affects off the 10 mg dose.

It was over 2o years ago that my reading was 9.6. My lovely Dr recommended that I take statins. I told him I’m not going to but what I will do is go on a strict food regime to help it come down. That was for 3 months.
It came down 2 points to 9.4. He never questioned it again.
Something I’ve pondered on is: when I was on that diet Avocados were a complete no no. Now they are considered a good heathy food, how does that work.🤷‍♀️
80 years old and my blood pressure never moves from 120/60.

I am requesting a cholesterol test as the last one was November 2023. I have regular blood test for cancer check ups but they are requested by the hospital and don't include cholesterol.
Looking at my last GP test the total cholesterol is a bit high but the ratio is better.
Family history of strokes and heart attacks so I am prepared to take a statin if offered.

The PPs who say they are on a low dose with no side effects which statin are you on?
DH has bad side effects on Atorvastatin and Simvastatin, but is fine on. Rosuvastatin.

Thank you.

petra

MT62

I think in the end that’s the reason I thought I should take a low dose.
The holiday insurance asked if I had ever been offered, or taking a statin.
All good & no side affects off the 10 mg dose.

It was over 2o years ago that my reading was 9.6. My lovely Dr recommended that I take statins. I told him I’m not going to but what I will do is go on a strict food regime to help it come down. That was for 3 months.
It came down 2 points to 9.4. He never questioned it again.
Something I’ve pondered on is: when I was on that diet Avocados were a complete no no. Now they are considered a good heathy food, how does that work.🤷‍♀️
80 years old and my blood pressure never moves from 120/60.

They told me that about avocados too petra. The nurse (who was the Drs wife) told me to avoid them plus prawns and eggs! Love prawns and eggs so ignored her advice. Avocados I can take or leave so had them just very rarely.

I am fortunate to have some very good female friends, some of whom I have known since grammar school and a couple from primary school and I am probably one of the healthiest. Many have had new knees, hips, heart problems, cancers etc so I do consider myself very lucky to have had none of these.

I try to eat a healthy, balanced diet and I don’t smoke and rarely drink alcohol. I used to walk and cycle a lot but since my husband had a major stroke I cannot fit much time in for myself but I make time to do my exercises every morning which only take about 15 minutes. I am hoping to get back to aqua aerobics fairly soon.

So no statins for me and I am doing OK.

I couldn’t tolerate statins so am now on Ezetimibe which has brought mine down.

The Benecol branded stuff is very expensive. Supermarkets own brands like Tesco, Lidl etc are just as good and much cheaper.