High cholesterol and taking statins... your experience please?

I was on Zocor (simvastatin) for about 8 years, then 2 years ago my doctor switched me to Lipitor (atorvastatin) because he said that new clinical data showed that it was superior to Zocor. No problems with either one. My total cholesterol, LDL, HDL, and triglycerides numbers are good.
But I need to add that I’ve also changed my diet, and I exercise regularly.
YMMV

I have avoided statins for years, because of my fear that I wouldn’t know easily if they were killing my kidneys and me, because I already have chronic muscle pain.

My total cholesterol number drops about 50 points if I reduce my cholesterol to les than 50mg a day. Recently, my cholesterol was higher than ever, and so I’m trying Zetia (not a statin) and trying to stick with a stricter diet, previously I would be “good” and then start eating “badly” again eventually. I put the words in quotes, because it’s good and bad for me.

The last cardiologist I saw gave me a lecture that I should try the statins, but he was more focused on my newest problem my high blood pressure.

I’m betting my high cholesterol my entire life contributed to me developing blood pressure problems. I probably have cholesterol laying around and gardening in parts of my arteries. I think it’s much more than just cholesterol though, I think have low vitamin D for years probably endangers my cardiac health, genetics, and even chronic infections I have suffered with.

Lastly, I’ll talk about my dad. He had bypass at 46. I think he would be dead now (he’s 75) if he hadn’t been on a low cholesterol diet and statins. I think the average person is very different than people like my family with lots of people dying from cardiac disease at young ages and chronic high cholesterol probably from birth. I was diagnosed at 16. Some groups of people are being studied who have incredibly high cholesterol, but no heart disease, and scientists want to know exactly why they are different.

A few years back a nurse at my local health clinic recommended that I take statins based on personal information she typed into her computer. I was a bit surprised as my cholesterol count wasn’t really very high. I didn’t want to take medication unnecessarily so I queried her advice. We looked into the factors that led to her advice and it turned out that the most crucial item was my postcode. This single piece of data was what had tipped the balance towards medication. She seemed as surprised as I was and I have never since taken statins. My cholesterol count last month was still OK.

Postcode?

I’m on Lipitor due to high cholesterol. The medicine gives me muscle cramps and I have sat up straight in bed with cramps in my calves in the middle of the night. I’ve discussed with my docs and decided on taking them every other day. That worked for a couple years but my numbers crept up again on my last visit. She recommended taking it four times a week. I just started that, so I don’t know the results yet. I tried Zetia like @jleslie is doing, but it did not change my numbers at all. I’m sure it works for others.
And as a last comment: I work with doctors and nurses. One doc and one nurse needs to be on statins and refuse to because of side affects.

I am not on statin drugs and never will be. And after watching my husband go through hell with all the garbage medication his doctors have prescribed I am doubly determined. This book is a winner. It’s very readable- even fun to read- and full of excellent information. They thoroughly discuss studies that prove their point as well. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1592335217?selectObb=new

@chyna Do they have you on the lowest dose? It seems like you would be, but I just thought I’d ask the obvious. I only ask to be helpful, not to be nosy.

I personally would be too afraid to take the drug if I was having symptoms and high blood levels. I know doctors try to keep patients on it though, the same way your doctor is, by alternating days. I have no opinion or advise about it, just making a statement about my own fears.

I don’t know if the Zetia is working well, that’s interesting that it didn’t work for you, I’m glad you mentioned that. My first blood test after just ten days my number was 30 points lower than my previous test, but I was eating less cholesterol and my number always drops when I eat well, so I don’t really know if it works for me or not.

I’ll have to look when I get home. For some reason, it’s not on my list that I carry with me.

@JLeslie It’s the UK equivalent of a postcode. It doesn’t make sense to me that I should take statins because of where I live but that is one way doctors here assess risk.

@flutherother I know a postcode is the same as a zip code, I just found it interesting that doctors maybe consider where you live as a risk factor that it would influence whether they treat your cholesterol with medication or not. It’s not surprising to me that certain postcodes have more heart disease, but that’s different than it influencing treatment.

https://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/Page/Document/RecommendationStatementFinal/statin-use-in-adults-preventive-medication

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2584057

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2584058

https://www.aafp.org/afp/2014/0815/p260.html

https://www.nih.gov/news-events/nih-research-matters/who-treat-statins

I had cholesterol numbers in the 210 – 255 range for most of the last 30 years. I was able to get it down to 190 a couple times through very strict diets, but my HDL/LDL ratio was still poor and my LDL level still too high.

A doctor had prescribed statins in the past, but I had leg pains and went off.

Last year, after two stents were inserted, I went on Lipitor, with no side effects. My numbers are vastly improved, TC is down to about 110. and LDL is below 50.

I always had low cholesterol (150’s), but I don’t process the cholesterol well, so I ended up with heart disease. I am taking statins, and the CoQ10 you need when taking statins. My blood pressure went up a bit.

@filmfann Your blood pressure went up when you started taking statins? I’m trying to figure out if the Zetia is raising my blood pressure.

I am not a MD. I have been on Statins for a few years now and my cholesterol has made a major improvement. It was explained to me that dietary cholesterol has a negligible impact on your HDL/LDL levels and that these are primarily the result of genetics. I was also diagnosed with borderline Diabetes and began taking Metformin. I’ve lost over 50 lbs since November and all of my numbers are well into the normal ranges now. No noticeable side effects.

@gorillapaws When you write HDL/LDL Do you mean the ratio? Or, did you simply mean both things?

@JLeslie I meant both numbers have improved. I have very nasty heart disease in my family on both sides; ¾ of my grandparents have died from cardiovascular disease, my father has heart disease, including a stent and a bovine valve, and my mother has pretty bad hypercholesterolemia. Additionally, I have the bad version of LDL’s (smaller particles) which further increases my risks, that’s why I’m taking this seriously.

Thanks.

Thank you all very much.

@JLeslie I just looked and my Lipitor is 10mg.

@chyna I’m pretty sure that’s the lowest dose the pill comes in.