Honestly, if I didn't have a kid, I probably wouldn't have changed my whole diet for my prediabetes, but I figured I owed it to her to try to live longer.
Post by pegasuskat on Feb 11, 2016 13:59:45 GMT -5
I have been on them 20 plus years and just a few weeks ago started a trial of Praulent, its a shot every 2 weeks. My muscle aches haven't really changed yet but I'm hopeful. If you can avoid statins then try, but after having to have open heart surgery at 32 due to very high cholesterol I tell everybody to get further testing. I had a Dr. that wasn't really concerned because I had no other risk factors and he almost killed me!
Post by icedcoffee on Feb 11, 2016 14:01:35 GMT -5
I would consider doing something about it. That's really high. I'd probably go on statins, but if you refuse there is other stuff you can do as well. Diet and fish oil supplements are only 2 of those things...
Post by pegasuskat on Feb 11, 2016 14:04:16 GMT -5
Have you been tested for or have a family history of hypercholesterolemia? That's what I have, and 2 of my 3 kids inherited from me. If its something like that then diet isn't really going to help you, you will need the statins.
“Life is not orderly. No matter how we try to make it so, right in the middle of it lose a leg, fall in love, drop a jar of applesauce.” - Natalie Goldberg
Have you been tested for or have a family history of hypercholesterolemia? That's what I have, and 2 of my 3 kids inherited from me. If its something like that then diet isn't really going to help you, you will need the statins.
My mom died of a heart attack when I was 19, she was only 41. She had high cholesterol that she did nothing about. Don't be like her.
I'm sorry about your mom, and you are right - this could have been me, and I would have left 3 kids under 6 years old. Its nothing to play around with.
Post by shamrockshake on Feb 11, 2016 14:18:00 GMT -5
mine was over 300 as well, genetics in my case for 90% of it. I started taking a statin about 9 months ago, at my 6 month check up I was 175, first time I have EVER been under 200 the entire time I have been having blood work- so since I was like 14. I am terrified of dying young and leaving my kids
Post by AutumnRose25 on Feb 11, 2016 14:19:11 GMT -5
I don't understand choosing to not take statins because "no research" but you had no problems using diet pills with proven dangers from a "weight-loss doctor"?
I just had my bloodwork done and my total cholesterol is 354 with a LDL level of 239. Doc wanted me to go on statins but I have yet to hear of any long term studies of women who have taken them for 20-30 years. I have no other indicators for heart disease so I think I'm going to do bubkis about it.
I don't understand the point to this thread. Other than to point out that you are making a stupid decision to ignore your doctor's advice.
I didn't think many people would even bother reading let alone flaming really. I have had cholesterol around 300ish for as long as it has been checked. Diet and exercise can help me lower it and I'm making changes and good choices there. High cholesterol is only one risk factor for heart disease, I don't smoke, my blood sugars are fine, I'm active. I have looked into statins over the years and I am concerned they can cause as much harm as the help. It isn't even close to the same as anti-vaxers. Most all of the studies done on statins have been with older overweight men.
"I have done my research" said every graduate of the medical school of google.
There's a lot you can try other than taking statins. Regular exercise can make a big difference, as people have said. Experimenting with diet changes like increasing your good fats and decreasing bad ones, going vegan, eliminating dairy, grains, and sugar, etc. are well worth trying. And there are some non-medication supplements that supposedly help, like red yeast rice extract. But doing absolutely nothing about it is just foolish.
I didn't think many people would even bother reading let alone flaming really. I have had cholesterol around 300ish for as long as it has been checked. Diet and exercise can help me lower it and I'm making changes and good choices there. High cholesterol is only one risk factor for heart disease, I don't smoke, my blood sugars are fine, I'm active. I have looked into statins over the years and I am concerned they can cause as much harm as the help. It isn't even close to the same as anti-vaxers. Most all of the studies done on statins have been with older overweight men.
“Life is not orderly. No matter how we try to make it so, right in the middle of it lose a leg, fall in love, drop a jar of applesauce.” - Natalie Goldberg
There's a lot you can try other than taking statins. Regular exercise can make a big difference, as people have said. Experimenting with diet changes like increasing your good fats and decreasing bad ones, going vegan, eliminating dairy, grains, and sugar, etc. are well worth trying. And there are some non-medication supplements that supposedly help, like red yeast rice extract. But doing absolutely nothing about it is just foolish.
I shouldn't have said bubkis, I mean in terms of prescription meds.
Glad to hear it! But if the natural methods don't work, still take the statins. Sometimes it's just genetic, and it can be dangerous.
Post by redredwine on Feb 11, 2016 15:20:55 GMT -5
My dad has been on statins for like, as long as I can remember. It's actually heriditary, he's always been healthy (with the exception of alcohol) SO, 20 - 30 years on the drugs? It's kept him alive...so there's that.
Dude, take the medication. Don't worry about studies, that is the doctor's job. The risk of you not taking the medication and having long term issues is by far higher than the risk of being on a statin for that amount of time. Lifestyle modifications won't get you down to a healthy level with where you are currently at. Yes, it will help, but you need medications. Taking it is no personal failure. Sometimes the body just does stuff like this regardless of what our lifestyle is like.