am i the only one too scared to use STATINS?

flatferenghi · 04-23-2012, 11:02 AM

my chol is way up owing to my last binge. I ate everything that did not eat me first on and off for 2.5 months. I believe i can rectify the situation by ATKINS alone. I am 61 as time is measured on your world. My chol has been not good for decades. It minimally improved when following ATKINS strictly. if chol were to be my undoing, it would have have undid me years ago. I will leave the STATIN meds on my shelf. (i did not have to pay for them; i have 100% pharmaceutical coverage through my union) Love & Profits: FLATFERENGHI

Mobear · 04-23-2012, 12:25 PM

I used statins for about 10 years because my cholesterol was higher than traditional medicine called for and heart disease took both my parents. I discontinued the statins in July 2011 and have seen some improvement in my cholesterol since starting LC in September 2010.

LC really improved my HDL and triglycerides. Unfortunately my LDL has soared and right now I'm trying to get to the bottom of that mystery. My thoughts right now are that in December and January I allowed my daily total carbs to go too low - maybe 15 a day. I am awaiting test results to see if I have now developed a thyroid problem.

Anyway I do think that statins increase insulin resistance and probably aren't good for many people. If my LDL continues like it is, I may have to go back on them.....but I really don't want to

Stay away from the carbs and you should see some good improvement in your cholesterol numbers.

Bobby_Boomer · 04-23-2012, 12:28 PM

Statins are not good for you. But then neither is hypertension.

Reducing carbs should help, also meditation, exercise and a number of other things (google it). I would try all of the above before resorting to Statins.

YMMV

Bobby

flatferenghi · 04-24-2012, 10:57 AM

I have no intention of taking them regardless of what the #s are or will be. Perhaps i should move to STATIN Island. FF

juliekaboolie · 04-24-2012, 05:31 PM

My physician that I saw today is a paleo physician. She said that statins are bad. Sometimes cholesterol remains high (according to her) despite low carbing because of an underlying thyroid issue. I would probably get that checked first.

Mobear · 04-25-2012, 07:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by juliekaboolie

My physician that I saw today is a paleo physician. She said that statins are bad. Sometimes cholesterol remains high (according to her) despite low carbing because of an underlying thyroid issue. I would probably get that checked first.

I'm glad you posted this! After 1 1/2 yrs of serious LC and dropping my A1c from 7.3 or so to 5.8, my LDL in January came back at 253

When I started LC 9/2010 my LDL (on a statin) was about 120. In July 2011 I stopped the statin anticipating a hugely improved lipid profile. I was totally shocked in January 2012 when I got an LDL reading of 253.

After doing some research I came to the conclusion that it could very well be a thyroid issue. It does seem that a LC diet under about 50g a day does trigger a problem of converting T4 thyroid hormone to T3 which is what the body needs to clear LDL from the blood. I am awaiting the results of my thyroid tests now.

It could also be a genetic issue. I think this is less likely because I was able to achieve an LDL of 123 with one of the older less effective statins. Other people I know with a genetic problem take huge quantities of meds and can't get their LDL nearly as low as 123.

juliekaboolie · 04-25-2012, 12:56 PM

Glad you are already on the right path to checking out your thyroid! I did not know this info until yesterday, and I have been on thryroid meds for over 10 years now. She said that a lot of people are being improperly treated with the wrong thyroid med and so they won't see that improved lipid profile from low carbing. Btw, congratulations on improving your A1c!! That's a serious improvement!! Keep me posted on what you find out with your thyroid...I'm super curious!

watcher513 · 04-26-2012, 04:14 PM

Mobear, what were All your cholesterol results (with ranges)? From what I understand many times if your trigly's are low and HDL is high, don't worry so much about the LDL (even though doctors flip out over it).

Stevie Renee · 04-27-2012, 03:13 PM

Scared? No, smart! There is way too much information and preventive measures to help us self advocate to SAY NO TO STATINS!

Stevie Renee · 04-27-2012, 03:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by watcher513

Mobear, what were All your cholesterol results (with ranges)? From what I understand many times if your trigly's are low and HDL is high, don't worry so much about the LDL (even though doctors flip out over it).

I would politely disagree that the LDL is the one I would consider. Not measured but direct. The only way to get direct is through and NMR or VAP or other but not your regular test.

The HDL and LDL are very important

Mobear · 04-27-2012, 06:44 PM

My lab results from just before starting LC in Sept 2010 were TC 203; HDL 44; TRIG 180; LDL 123. The labs in January 2012 were TC 331; HDL 60; TRIG 117; and LDL 252

Then I had another test which was supposed to be a VAP but wasn't and it showed slightly higher HDL and lower Trig but the LDL was 248.

Just got the results from my VAP. TC 311; HDL 60; TRIG 81; LDL 230. So, the LDL direct is 230 but the calculated in January is 252 so it is slightly lower but still very high. Pattern A is marked for particle size which makes me feel a little better; however most of the ratios such as TC/HDL, etc. are still not normal. The only one that is within the "normal for women" is TRIG/HDL.

I'm still reading and trying to figure out what to do about all of this. My thyroid tests were a little concerning. TSH, T4 weren't bad, but freeT3 was at the bottom of the range. Statins may again be in my life...I just don't know yet.

juliekaboolie · 04-29-2012, 10:18 AM

No, no, no for statins!!! I just spoke to my doctor and she explained that when lowcarbing, your LDL's may increase but as long as it's the good kind it should be ok healthwise. In addition, the thyroid can also be a part of why it's high. Oftentimes, if you fix the thyroid, the cholesterol gets fixed, too. So, hold out on statins because your HDL and Triglycerides look just fine to me and you have the right particle size. Push to get the thyroid fixed!!

(((hugs)))

Mobear · 04-29-2012, 03:09 PM

Thanks Julie, I appreciate your comments. I'm still pondering...but I think I may have to increase my carbs slightly which is very difficult since I am diabetic. I'm also researching endo's because I don't really think my primary care has the experience to deal with this.

watcher513 · 05-06-2012, 12:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mobear

Thanks Julie, I appreciate your comments. I'm still pondering...but I think I may have to increase my carbs slightly which is very difficult since I am diabetic. I'm also researching endo's because I don't really think my primary care has the experience to deal with this.

You could always try the OTC things; Cholest-Off and Red Yeast Rice for the cholesterol.

When my cholesterol was a little higher than normal a couple of times over the years (for me), being hypothyroid, when my meds were adjusted, my cholesterol numbers dropped 30 points at least.

Mobear · 05-06-2012, 03:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by watcher513

You could always try the OTC things; Cholest-Off and Red Yeast Rice for the cholesterol.

When my cholesterol was a little higher than normal a couple of times over the years (for me), being hypothyroid, when my meds were adjusted, my cholesterol numbers dropped 30 points at least.

I went thru most of those products years ago - before I started statins - and either didn't find them effective or got side effects that were unpleasant.

debkeversole · 05-06-2012, 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flatferenghi

my chol is way up owing to my last binge. I ate everything that did not eat me first on and off for 2.5 months. I believe i can rectify the situation by ATKINS alone. I am 61 as time is measured on your world. My chol has been not good for decades. It minimally improved when following ATKINS strictly. if chol were to be my undoing, it would have have undid me years ago. I will leave the STATIN meds on my shelf. (i did not have to pay for them; i have 100% pharmaceutical coverage through my union) Love & Profits: FLATFERENGHI

i ain't going on em!

DENMW · 05-09-2012, 04:09 PM

My own personal experience is that it is better to be on statins than the alternative of Open Heart Surgery. I, too, had a family history of heart disease (mother & father). I also abused my health by being 100 lb. overweight. My cholesterol was mildly high but my doctor never recommended statins. I WISH SHE HAD!!! I lost over 100 lb. and teach group fitness classes including spinning but that was not enough. One year ago I had open heart surgery. I had a severe left main blockage. I am grateful that I did not have a heart attack but I gladly take statins now. The blockage I had in men is called the widowmaker. They told me that if I had had a heart attack, it most likely would have been fatal. My cardiologist said that with my history I should have been on statins years ago. I also work in the cardiology field performing Echocardiograms and have heard many times cardiologists tell patients that Tylenol has more side effects than statins. Everyone has their own feelings on this but this is my own personal experience. Change in diet alone is usually not enough to significantly lower your risk factor for heart disease.

brandywine12 · 05-31-2012, 05:01 AM

well the verdict is in: my cholesterol #'s from last time where...
total 270(0-199)
trig's 50(0-149)
hdl 62 (>40)
ldl 175(0-99) these where all direct testing
ratio 4

now 5-30-2012
total 173
trigs 41
hdl 60
direct ldl 87
ratio 3 .....same ranges as the older ones above
Now , I have been low carbing for over a year, I know about the large fluffy type. But , my dr didn't see it that way , didn't want to hear it! so He put me on statins last summer.
I reluctantly didn't want to take them , and didn't for at least 3 months after the prescription was handed to me. He was upset that my LDL's went up , and put me back on a stronger one lipitor to be exact. So , I did what he wanted me to , and these where my last test results from last week. I have a family history of clogged corrated arteries.So it is a little scary for me not to take them. It is not like I wanted to do this , but , I had to comply.I was already listed as a non compliant patient.dr#9 here now.
While I was sitting there listening to him lecture me on the helpfullness of statins, he looks at my bare legs and says to me , you have moteling going on there.I said huh?
He said your legs shouldn't look like that . I had a skirt on . He had never seen them before he said because I had slacks on. Anyway , he ordered a ABI test, he said it may be some sort of blockage in my leg. he said he couldn't get a pulse very good on that foot( weak).
I didn't think much of this ,,, until my hubby says to me....you should get it done, better to be safe then sorry. My mother had two aneurisms and died from them, she had one removed along side her spine and survived , she later had got one along side her heart,she died from that one! They run in her family(aneurisms). So it is a little scary for me right now until I get the test done . Dr says it could be normal, but , he wants to make sure tho, he's an internal medicine Dr. He's always checking me out ...not for what I originally went in for . I guess maybe it can be a good thing IDK.

04-23-2012, 11:02 AM	#1
flatferenghi Way too much time on my hands! Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 13,813 Gallery: flatferenghi	am i the only one too scared to use STATINS? my chol is way up owing to my last binge. I ate everything that did not eat me first on and off for 2.5 months. I believe i can rectify the situation by ATKINS alone. I am 61 as time is measured on your world. My chol has been not good for decades. It minimally improved when following ATKINS strictly. if chol were to be my undoing, it would have have undid me years ago. I will leave the STATIN meds on my shelf. (i did not have to pay for them; i have 100% pharmaceutical coverage through my union) Love & Profits: FLATFERENGHI

04-24-2012, 10:57 AM	#4
flatferenghi Way too much time on my hands! Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 13,813 Gallery: flatferenghi	of course, i did NOT resort to STATINS, my Dr. did I have no intention of taking them regardless of what the #s are or will be. Perhaps i should move to STATIN Island. FF

04-26-2012, 04:14 PM	#8
watcher513 Major LCF Poster! Join Date: May 2007 Location: Sonoma County, CA Posts: 2,643 Gallery: watcher513	Mobear, what were All your cholesterol results (with ranges)? From what I understand many times if your trigly's are low and HDL is high, don't worry so much about the LDL (even though doctors flip out over it). Last edited by watcher513; 04-26-2012 at 04:25 PM..

05-09-2012, 04:09 PM	#17
DENMW Very Gabby LCF Member!!! Join Date: May 2005 Location: Florida Posts: 3,384 Gallery: DENMW Stats: 243/155/139 5'4", Age 62 WOE: Vegan	My own personal experience is that it is better to be on statins than the alternative of Open Heart Surgery. I, too, had a family history of heart disease (mother & father). I also abused my health by being 100 lb. overweight. My cholesterol was mildly high but my doctor never recommended statins. I WISH SHE HAD!!! I lost over 100 lb. and teach group fitness classes including spinning but that was not enough. One year ago I had open heart surgery. I had a severe left main blockage. I am grateful that I did not have a heart attack but I gladly take statins now. The blockage I had in men is called the widowmaker. They told me that if I had had a heart attack, it most likely would have been fatal. My cardiologist said that with my history I should have been on statins years ago. I also work in the cardiology field performing Echocardiograms and have heard many times cardiologists tell patients that Tylenol has more side effects than statins. Everyone has their own feelings on this but this is my own personal experience. Change in diet alone is usually not enough to significantly lower your risk factor for heart disease. __________________ *Live joyfully,* Linda *Prayer is a golden key which when kept bright by constant use will unlock the treasures of heaven and earth.* Lost 100 pounds, my story http://www.***********.com/mypage.asp?id=MAZZALIN

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04-23-2012, 12:25 PM	#2
Mobear Major LCF Poster! Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: OH Posts: 1,073 Gallery: Mobear Stats: 235/192/LESS WOE: Bernstein Start Date: 9/2010	I used statins for about 10 years because my cholesterol was higher than traditional medicine called for and heart disease took both my parents. I discontinued the statins in July 2011 and have seen some improvement in my cholesterol since starting LC in September 2010. LC really improved my HDL and triglycerides. Unfortunately my LDL has soared and right now I'm trying to get to the bottom of that mystery. My thoughts right now are that in December and January I allowed my daily total carbs to go too low - maybe 15 a day. I am awaiting test results to see if I have now developed a thyroid problem. Anyway I do think that statins increase insulin resistance and probably aren't good for many people. If my LDL continues like it is, I may have to go back on them.....but I really don't want to Stay away from the carbs and you should see some good improvement in your cholesterol numbers.

04-23-2012, 12:28 PM	#3
Bobby_Boomer Senior LCF Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 602 Gallery: Bobby_Boomer	Statins are not good for you. But then neither is hypertension. Reducing carbs should help, also meditation, exercise and a number of other things (google it). I would try all of the above before resorting to Statins. YMMV Bobby

04-24-2012, 05:31 PM	#5
juliekaboolie Major LCF Poster! Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Bellingham, WA Posts: 1,382 Gallery: juliekaboolie WOE: Whole30 Start Date: 1/7/11	My physician that I saw today is a paleo physician. She said that statins are bad. Sometimes cholesterol remains high (according to her) despite low carbing because of an underlying thyroid issue. I would probably get that checked first.

04-25-2012, 12:56 PM	#7
juliekaboolie Major LCF Poster! Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Bellingham, WA Posts: 1,382 Gallery: juliekaboolie WOE: Whole30 Start Date: 1/7/11	Glad you are already on the right path to checking out your thyroid! I did not know this info until yesterday, and I have been on thryroid meds for over 10 years now. She said that a lot of people are being improperly treated with the wrong thyroid med and so they won't see that improved lipid profile from low carbing. Btw, congratulations on improving your A1c!! That's a serious improvement!! Keep me posted on what you find out with your thyroid...I'm super curious!

04-27-2012, 03:13 PM	#9
Stevie Renee Way too much time on my hands! Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 13,582 Gallery: Stevie Renee Start Date: July 2000	Scared? No, smart! There is way too much information and preventive measures to help us self advocate to SAY NO TO STATINS!

04-27-2012, 06:44 PM	#11
Mobear Major LCF Poster! Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: OH Posts: 1,073 Gallery: Mobear Stats: 235/192/LESS WOE: Bernstein Start Date: 9/2010	My lab results from just before starting LC in Sept 2010 were TC 203; HDL 44; TRIG 180; LDL 123. The labs in January 2012 were TC 331; HDL 60; TRIG 117; and LDL 252 Then I had another test which was supposed to be a VAP but wasn't and it showed slightly higher HDL and lower Trig but the LDL was 248. Just got the results from my VAP. TC 311; HDL 60; TRIG 81; LDL 230. So, the LDL direct is 230 but the calculated in January is 252 so it is slightly lower but still very high. Pattern A is marked for particle size which makes me feel a little better; however most of the ratios such as TC/HDL, etc. are still not normal. The only one that is within the "normal for women" is TRIG/HDL. I'm still reading and trying to figure out what to do about all of this. My thyroid tests were a little concerning. TSH, T4 weren't bad, but freeT3 was at the bottom of the range. Statins may again be in my life...I just don't know yet.

04-29-2012, 10:18 AM	#12
juliekaboolie Major LCF Poster! Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Bellingham, WA Posts: 1,382 Gallery: juliekaboolie WOE: Whole30 Start Date: 1/7/11	No, no, no for statins!!! I just spoke to my doctor and she explained that when lowcarbing, your LDL's may increase but as long as it's the good kind it should be ok healthwise. In addition, the thyroid can also be a part of why it's high. Oftentimes, if you fix the thyroid, the cholesterol gets fixed, too. So, hold out on statins because your HDL and Triglycerides look just fine to me and you have the right particle size. Push to get the thyroid fixed!! (((hugs)))

04-29-2012, 03:09 PM	#13
Mobear Major LCF Poster! Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: OH Posts: 1,073 Gallery: Mobear Stats: 235/192/LESS WOE: Bernstein Start Date: 9/2010	Thanks Julie, I appreciate your comments. I'm still pondering...but I think I may have to increase my carbs slightly which is very difficult since I am diabetic. I'm also researching endo's because I don't really think my primary care has the experience to deal with this.

05-31-2012, 05:01 AM	#18
brandywine12 Senior LCF Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Pa. Posts: 313 Gallery: brandywine12 Stats: 195/160-155 WOE: Atkins 100% Start Date: 1-4-11	well the verdict is in: my cholesterol #'s from last time where... total 270(0-199) trig's 50(0-149) hdl 62 (>40) ldl 175(0-99) these where all direct testing ratio 4 now 5-30-2012 total 173 trigs 41 hdl 60 direct ldl 87 ratio 3 .....same ranges as the older ones above Now , I have been low carbing for over a year, I know about the large fluffy type. But , my dr didn't see it that way , didn't want to hear it! so He put me on statins last summer. I reluctantly didn't want to take them , and didn't for at least 3 months after the prescription was handed to me. He was upset that my LDL's went up , and put me back on a stronger one lipitor to be exact. So , I did what he wanted me to , and these where my last test results from last week. I have a family history of clogged corrated arteries.So it is a little scary for me not to take them. It is not like I wanted to do this , but , I had to comply.I was already listed as a non compliant patient.dr#9 here now. While I was sitting there listening to him lecture me on the helpfullness of statins, he looks at my bare legs and says to me , you have moteling going on there.I said huh? He said your legs shouldn't look like that . I had a skirt on . He had never seen them before he said because I had slacks on. Anyway , he ordered a ABI test, he said it may be some sort of blockage in my leg. he said he couldn't get a pulse very good on that foot( weak). I didn't think much of this ,,, until my hubby says to me....you should get it done, better to be safe then sorry. My mother had two aneurisms and died from them, she had one removed along side her spine and survived , she later had got one along side her heart,she died from that one! They run in her family(aneurisms). So it is a little scary for me right now until I get the test done . Dr says it could be normal, but , he wants to make sure tho, he's an internal medicine Dr. He's always checking me out ...not for what I originally went in for . I guess maybe it can be a good thing IDK.