Statins suck!

[LePaul]

Well a year ago my Doc put me on Lipitor to lower my cholesterol.  Oh it dropped alright...but the constant fatigue and achiness sucked.  The side effects were terrible.  So for the past few months, the Dr gave me the green light to try it on my own thru diet and exercise.

Well, I'm still on the high side after being a vegetarian/fiber nut/health nut.  Its just high due to my genetics.

So I agreed to try that Vytorin stuff Friday.  Woke up this morning feeling as if someone kicked me in the back.  Did a few web searches...yup, known side effect (back pain).

Decided Im not taking anymore of this stuff and calling the Dr Tuesday about trying something NON-Statin.  

Toad, wish my genetics was different, did a lot of the stuff you said, cardio tabs and all.  My liver just cranks the stuff out.

Anyone tried the resins?

[storch]

I quit using the statins four years ago for the same reasons.  my cholesterol levels are also a little high due to genetic factors as well.  try flax seed oil, omega three fatty acids, celery and grains.  my typical breakfast now is a home made smoothie with papaya, strawberries, celery, 1/2 of a tomato, banana, ice and sweetened with a little maple syrup. then a large bowl of oatmeal.  lunch is usually fish and that usually salmon.  try to work out at least 1/2 hour every day.  I'm 50 this year and I believe I am as fit as when I was 30.  It's worth the initial hassles especially when you consider the alternative

[Toad]

LP,

Have you tried the CardioTea with Policosanol and/or the the CardioSterol from the same folks that make the CardioTabs? CardioSterol has the same active ingredient as the TakeControl and Benecol margarines that lower cholesterol 7-10%. CardioTea's active ingredient is the policosanol, good for maybe another 10%.

Sounds like you're doing the psyillium fiber.

CardioTabs don't do much to lower cholesterol; they're more of a "heart healthy" vitamin, lowering homocystine and such.

Same with the Omega Fatty Acids like fish oil. They have never been shown to lower cholesterol but there are studies (Lyon) that show they dramatically lower the risk of an actual heart attack.

The last resort is to just eat no fat/no cholesterol for a while and see how your numbers react.

I mean NO fat and NO cholesterol for maybe 3 months. It can be done, ask me how I know.

[Simaril]

Had some folks get success with "chinese red rice extract" -- though it apparently works the same way as statins, and if your body's sensitive might have similar side effects.

The statin in Vytorin is Zocor...so dont let anybody get you to try that or the genereic (July) simvistatin. Other statins may not cause the same side effects in you, so you may not have to give up yet...and there's no dowbt that statins are the most effective way to drop cholesterol, and are flat out proven to save lives.

Other options...niacin (extended release, do not use immediate release...and take with a baby aspirin to cut down flushing); there is a prescription Omega 3 now, with MUCH higher effectiveness than the lower purity OTCs; newer resins like Tricor; and the other active ingredient in Vytorin, Zetia (which cuts down on absorption of chol and helps best in conjunction with another med -- but DOES NOT cause ANY achiness).

[LePaul]

Did that Toad.  Only cholesterol intake I have is the smidge from the Carnation Coffee Creamer.  I have to have SOME flavor in my java!

Doc called back, wants me to try Crestor. Apparently thats the newest one and from what Im reading on my searches, has the fewest side effects, if any.

See the diet isnt the problem.  I wrote out what Im taking in over a 5 day span and got high kudos/praise from the Dr.  Lots of Omega 3s, lots of veggies...brocoli, baby spinach, carrots, red/green peppers...eating an apple a day, a banana with breakfast (bran/oat cereal).

I honestly think Im on the right track, Ive lost weight and am aiming for 180.  The body mass index thing says for someone 5'10 I should be 173.5.  I'm 185 now.  Its within striking range.

I see the Doc Tuesday to hand in those unused Vytorin samples and chat about the Crestor.  I think with my genetics (French/Canadien), some sort of medication will be required to keep the LDL down to the better levels.  I'd also like to re-test again this week and see if my results weren't off the wall cuz i chowed on peanuts and Coors light 8 hours before the blood test     My nurse-friend told me that alcohol the night before would crank my results.

[Toad]

I thought you never gave the CardioTea or CardioSterol a good test? Am I wrong here?

There have been concerns raised about Crestor and kidney damage. You can google it up yourself. Might be nothing but.... might be something.

[LePaul]

Check my edit, I hit Submit too soon

Im using a different sterol supplement.

[Toad]

I thought you never gave the CardioTea or CardioSterol a good test? Am I wrong here?

There have been concerns raised about Crestor and kidney damage. You can google it up yourself. Might be nothing but.... might be something.

I've also had some friends try the rice extract with success. I haven't tried it yet.

As for the niacin, it is better at raising good cholesterol than lowering bad cholesterol. That's not a bad thing, as it will improve your ratio. But if you're looking for a significant drop in LDL percentagewise, it may not be the answer.

I take Slo-Niacin, a non-prescription item available at Sam's Club. I've had good results raising my HDL about 5-7 points which is very good for me.

[Toad]

What are you using for the sterol? I may want to try it!

The Policosanol is different from the sterol though. A German study just said it had no effect. The guys  in Cardiovascular Consultants, managers of the Mid America Heart Institute of Saint Luke's Hospital of Kansas City think otherwise. MAHI/St. Luke's is pretty highly regarded.

[LePaul]

This

I've also started taking a Garlique a day too.  Doctor says she has seen garlic use go both ways....to some improvement to doing nothing.  The science is both ways.  This site is a great reference

[LePaul]

Originally posted by Toad


There have been concerns raised about Crestor and kidney damage. You can google it up yourself. Might be nothing but.... might be something.

I've researched that too



Man I hate comparing cholesterol lowering sites.  I miss my 20s, when the biggest curiousity was "I wonder if her breasts are real"  lol

[lasersailor184]

You shouldn't worry about it so much.

Except for the two extremes (extreme obesity and extreme anorexia), how you eat and exercise ***WILL NOT DETERMINE HOW LONG YOU LIVE.***  


A recent study compared two groups together.  One group was a health nut group, lots of exercise, healthy eating, healthy medicines, so on and so forth...  

The other group acted normally.  Ate what they wanted, exercised occasionally.



After 10 years both groups had had the same amount of health problems, deaths due to health and other health problems.

[Toad]

Price is about the same and it does have a little bit of niacin in it. Ought to do the job.

[LePaul]

I hear ya, Laser.  I know more people who've been health freaks, avid runners and the sort.....who've just dropped dead one day from odd defects (burst aorta) or car wreck.

But, at 36, I'd rather get this under wraps early on versus sticking my head in the sand and hoping it just goes away.

[lasersailor184]

It's not that it will or won't go away.  It's that what you do really does not affect when you'll die.

For example, regardless of life styles and accidents, men in my mom's family have the bad habit of dropping dead at 81-82 years old.