Readers' Comments
Sure wish we had had this information when my husband started taking the Lipitor3 years ago. It has damaged his nerves and muschle and we do not know when or if he will ever recover. I will order the book so I can read up on it.
Posted by: Bennie Watson on May 14, 2004 06:12 PM
My husband has been on 10mg Lipitor for 9mos; 40mg for 2mos;and 20mg for 1 month. Since he started the 40, then 20 mg regimen, he has had a severe muscle strain in his quads and two lower ankle muscle strains. Could Lipitor be the cause?
Posted by: Susie Morgan on July 8, 2004 04:51 PM
I started taking Lipator 10mg. about 9 mo. ago...was not convinced I needed it, but the Dr. felt I should as I had a high reading, though my good cholestrol was low and I had "Low Risk" stamped on my chart. Since then I have had a 3+ month stint with a bad stiff neck, so severe at times it made me cry, now I have sore ankles and swollen foot and a weakness in my legs. I am & have been an avid exerciser for years with little or no problems. As of today, without my Dr. knowing at this point, I am going off the Lipator to see if I improve. I also have had trouble with my eyes,blurry, etc. for the first time and wonder if that is another cause of Lipator too?
Posted by: S. Gonyon on July 14, 2004 09:20 PM
Dr. Richard,
The numbers sure are not clear to me. You certainly need to do some more research before you make such rubbish statements... I have had high cholesterol for years and the ultrasound shows no stenosis... Have you ever heard of homocysteine and have you had yours checked lately? You sound like you are from the quack fraternity
Posted by: Chris Gupta on July 19, 2004 03:08 AM
I took lipitor for three months 10mg started to have cramps behind the knees then it got worse fire, shooting though my face and neck then it kept getting worse then I had fire shooting though my arms and body left my face and neck numb and tingling, feels like a mask on my face. tested by a nueroglogist he said I had nerve damage on both sides of my body, and he said that lipitor does cause nerve damage and face parilysis ann sergent
Posted by: Ann on August 3, 2004 02:21 AM
I quite frequently get stiff neck and headaches usually originating behind the left ear with nausea. The doctors say these are "neck headaches".I also get muscle aches and achy knees. Sometimes short term memory loss also. My wife had a heart attack a few years ago along with other meds was put on lipitor.Not to long afterward her back started to go bad. They said it was "spinal stenosis".
Posted by: Carl N. Nardi Sr. on August 19, 2004 06:49 AM
Many medical people are leaving medicine and opting for integrated medicine and/or natural medicine, as so many drugs on the market have toooooo many side effects. Lipitor almost killed me and I am still suffering from the side effects.
Posted by: Gerry on August 31, 2004 03:06 AM
I was taking Lipitor for eight years. I am now a paraplegic living in a wheelchair. My doctors in the US and the UK tell me that my immune system cells destroyed my myelin sheath that protects the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. The was caused by Lipitor.
Posted by: kenneth bromby on October 12, 2004 12:32 PM
it is very important for those of us who have been so totally disabled because of these statins should get compensated for our lives being torn away from us
Posted by: lillian riley on October 12, 2004 08:34 PM
What is the alternative to statin drugs for lower cholesterol?
Posted by: Cameron on October 15, 2004 12:47 AM
There absolutely IS a safe, alternative to STATINS for lowering cholesterol. Take a look at www.bioshealth.com - the product Bios Life 2 simply WORKS & has NO side effects. Please TRY IT. Order it through our website, www.makelifebetter.com.au/hsa
Good health everyone!!!
Posted by: Kathy & Ross Hood PhD on November 14, 2004 04:44 AM
In 2002 I was taking first 10 mg Lipitor for about 3 months and was then upped to 20 mg. After a short while I started getting mild pains in my buttocks and thighs and in lower back. Got on the net and discovered statins can cause this so I stopped taking them. It affected my walking gait but after about 5 months I was right back to normal. This was in 2003. Like an idiot I let my doctor prescribe Crestor, 10 mg. It had been cleared for use in Canada in March 2003.
After 5 weeks on Crestor I had a massive sciatica attack, huge pain, I needed 2 crutches to get around for 3 weeks then a walking stick. My balance was shot, I had a drop foot. After about 12-14 months or so my balance is back and my drop foot has cleared. I still have numbness in my left foot and my walking gait is still not normal. My Achilles reflexes are virtually still non existent. However I consider myselfvery lucky that I can move around. Good luck to you all. Make sure you have reported your instances to the appropriate authorities.
Posted by: stephen ottridge on November 28, 2004 08:06 PM
I am sitting here in awe. My husband was on Lipitor for 1-1/2 years now and then the Dr. switched him to vytorin for 3 months. He gets blinding headaches, stomache and intestine pain so bad he cannot work. I have noticed some confusion in his memory over the past year. I actually though it was early onset of alzheimer as his mother was diagnosed with it. Today we went out and bought some OTC nutrients for lowering cholesterol. I am throwing away the prescriptions.
Posted by: on January 8, 2005 05:02 AM
i have been on lipitor about 6 months. started having dizziness and palpatations about 3 months ago, neck pain and stiffness about a month ago. today i am having sever arm, neck and leg cramping and pain. cme on line to look up side effects, and ran across our testamonials. had a mri 2 days ago and scheduled for echo in 2 days. tomorrow i will call my doctor and have him take me off lipitor.
Posted by: necie on July 27, 2005 09:23 PM
I am totally shocked!
I thought I was totally alone
and here this is all so familiar.
Wish my Doctor would have listened!
Posted by: Toni T on August 8, 2005 03:58 PM
I took Lipator for 5 weeks and started having severe pain in my arms, headaches loss of memory I stopped Liparto and it has not gotten any better, this has been 9 weeks ago. My doctor says this is not long enough. Is there something else I can do?
Posted by: on August 14, 2005 08:08 PM
I am 59 years old and have been on every statin mentioned in this website over the last 25 years. I have had the leg cramps, nightmares, confusion, memory loss that I tried to pass of as a result of menopause. I was put on
anti-depressant and anti-anxiety medication at the same time I started the statins, 3 months later... I just put in a call to my
psychopharmacologist about the
relationship between these statins and depression, etc.
As for the memory and confusion problems, today is the last day for me on pravachol and zetia... Quality of life has to be an important factor for us all and these statins steal it from us. My mother died at 96 with a cholesterol reading
of over 300+
Posted by: Connie Strong on September 7, 2005 01:45 PM
Having severe problems with my throat,have taken simvastatin for some considerable time,anyone else experiencing simular problems.
Posted by: harry on September 8, 2005 03:29 PM
Thanks to everyone for their comments. Like others, I also am experiencing muscle pain and weakness after taking a statin. It has been seven weeks since I stopped taking the pills but still experience the symptoms. How long does it take to start to get better? Does everyone recover to some degree? Thanks.
Posted by: Anne on September 27, 2005 02:32 AM
TRY CRESTOR, IT IS METABOLIZED A DIFFERENT WAY SO THAT IT HAS LESS POTENITAL TO INTERACT W/OTHER DRUGS PEOPLE MAY BE TAKING AND IT LOWERS CHOLESTROL MORE THAN ANY OTHER STATIN
Posted by: Matt on October 1, 2005 10:59 PM
The memory loss may be due to the fact that lipitor crosses the blood brain barrier(ask your doctor about it)CRESTOR does not do this, so there is a less potential for this to happen. I have read many studies on CRESTOR and I tell my parents to take it.CRESTOR also helps w/ the good cholestrol HDL
Posted by: on October 1, 2005 11:04 PM
I am in so much pain. My back and sides, liver and kidneys all in extream pain making daily life at times impossible. I never had any pain at all before taking zorco and or lipator (which is worst) I can not sleep and am so tired all the time and must take asprin all the time and still no relief. I had blood test last week and my doctor said get off the lipator asap your blood test is way off. Statins i do believe have ruined my life. The constant pain is extreamly hard to deal with every moment of your life. These Statins must be made to be accountable, and brought to justice they are destroying lives. I am just off lipitor now for maybe a week and pray the pain goes away quickly but in reading above they may never go away.
Stay off of Statins.
Posted by: yolanda on October 2, 2005 02:42 PM
I took lipitor and other statin drugs complained of leg pains and cramps to dr 6 months later could hardly walk and had to have a hip replacement operation I always felt it was made worse very quickly by the statin intake and will not take it again.
Posted by: beryl hobbs on November 16, 2005 06:35 AM
This is an excellent information i got about loss memory and its relation with static acid.
Because of increased cholestrol and family history, my doctor ultimately recommended me static acid 20mg per day which I took for nearly 6 months. Fine, the cholestrol was reduced and I stopped the consumption of static acid tablets. After a gap of 10-12 months, I experienced loss of memory specially regarding names, incidents etc. Although not serious, my mind started working on why etc. I happened to come across this website article to know why? Thank you so much for this information.
Posted by: srikantan hosur on December 11, 2005 10:43 AM
Any detatiled information - I know no one likes to talk aobut this
Posted by: on March 17, 2006 03:35 PM
Julie see:
Frequently Asked Questions About Statins
Posted by: Chris Gupta on April 25, 2006 09:25 PM
Juli, there is and has not beem any evidence on the benefits to women from statins what little their was for men is ofset by higher cancer risk not to mention all the side effects. In older women statins are actually damaging!
Posted by: Chris Gupta on April 26, 2006 11:42 PM
i stoped taking lipitor may 1st 2006 im starting to have less pain in neck,,, foot left leg thanks to this site,,,,,ill keep in touch,,,,,,,,,
Posted by: joe weglarz on May 11, 2006 09:52 PM
There is a group on yahoo for those who have or want to understand stopping statins
Stopped Our Statins is for those experiencing adverse reactions to statins: Advicor(Niacin Extended-Release & Lovastatin), Crestor(Rosuvastatin),Lipitor(Atorvastatin),Lescol(Fluvastatin), Mevacor(Lovastatin), Pravachol(Pravastatin), Zocor(Simvastatin),Vytorin(Ezetimibe-Simvastatin) & Baycol(Cerivastatin). Baycol, causing over 100 deaths & 11,000 cases of severe side effects, was removed from the market 8/01.
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/Stopped_Our_Statins/
if you sign up - tell them Clare in Tassie directed you there
Thanks Chris...... another of your wonderful resources!
Posted by: on May 20, 2006 12:45 AM
I stopped taking lipitor this very day. I have been taking 10mg for just under a year. I cannot get out of bed some days for ages. My hips, shoulders, & neck ache
Posted by: Jean on May 20, 2006 07:41 PM
I am a retired RN. I was put on a statin med fall of 2005 and experienced the memory problems: like trying to say something to someone , knowing in my mind what I wanted to say, and could not articulate it without a huge struggle. ( I have never had trouble articulating my thougts. It felt wierd.) I told my Dr. I was going off the statin. All memory/expression problems disappeared in about 3weeks. Then in Jan-06 he suggested Zetia. Wow.....never had I experienced leg cramps like this and tingling up the side of calf muscles and increasing numbness of legsand feet. Also noticed indigestion and intestinal cramping and slight nausea. I am unlwilling to give up on my legs, digestion, and mind so I am going off this med too. My total cholesterol is 240. I eat right and am active and not overweigt. ( have family history of cholesterol elevation and type two diabetes.) Statins should be better monitered and and wonder if they are worth giving up our functioning parts? I thought I was delveloping dementia or Alzeimers. We are all different chemically and wonder if tinkering over time with these powerful drugs is going to kick back at us more so later. June
Posted by: June Haddox on June 2, 2006 07:34 AM
Why are you all so concerned about cholesterol? See:
The Hidden Truth About Cholesterol-Lowering Drugs
Class Action - Statins Increases Heart Disease
Posted by: Chris Gupta on June 2, 2006 09:03 AM
After taking 10 mg Lipitor daily for nearly 18 months, I developed cognitive problems that left me doubting whether I could continue to work
Posted by: Maureen on June 3, 2006 12:48 AM
THE FOLLOWING IS MY OWN EXPERIENCE WITH STATINS, AND IS NOT EMBELLISHED OR EXAGGERATED IN ANY RESPECT. I am a middle-aged male 52 years old. I was on 20 mg Zocor for nearly 4 years (started at about age 48). The first 3 years seemed okay. After 3 1/2 years I developed severe insomnia, restless legs, and tremor (pulsing) sensation throughout my body when falling asleep. Tremor rate was about 4 pulses per heart beat. Insomnia was so bad no sleeping Rx could make a dent. With these episodes, I also consistently experienced tinnitus and blurred vision. Also experienced episodes of nystigmus when reading (vision jerking horizontally). All symptoms were intensified by exercise, with increased intensity lasting 48 hours from each exercise session. Also significant muscle damage in shoulders
Posted by: steve on June 22, 2006 10:49 PM
Dear Sir/ Madam.
Mu name is Ritu, I am from India, i am working on Osteoarthritis, Gout. plz send me information about above topic.
I shall be thankfull to u for this act of kind ness at me.
With Reagrds
Ritu
Posted by: Lois Rosenzweig on August 28, 2006 01:41 PM
my dr. just wrote a script for valtorin,after reading these testamonies i scared to start taking them,any advice would be wonderfull. i already have fibromyalgia so i have enouph muscle pain now.thanks hope to here from anyone with ideas to help in my desision. linda from missouri
Posted by: linda johnson on September 4, 2006 06:52 PM
Constant leg and heel pain. Pectoral pain. Left facial and neck numbness, thinking stroke. Fatigue. At times trouble articulating thoughts. Irregular heart beat leading to frightening ER experience, then stopped taking STATINS. Am getting better.
Posted by: Aka Frank Costa on October 4, 2006 03:57 AM
I hope this information may help those concerned about taking Statin type drugs. I’ve taken statins for over seventeen years. I have been prescribed most of the trade mark statins and at one time or another I have had to change medication due to muscle ache, particularly neck pain. For the last couple of years I have been on 40mg Crestor (rhovastatin) and 10mg Ezetrol (Ezetimibe). Over the years I have not experienced any memory loss, nor any other issues except muscle pain.
However, I have during the last couple of years trialed a number of new drugs for lowering cholesterol, in conjunction with my prescribed high statin drug regime. Following the latest trial, I found the drug combination totally debilitating. My legs became very heavy and I found it extremely painful to walk. I took myself off the trial and within two weeks I noted a complete transformation. No heaviness and a complete return to normal walking. All the blood tests indicated everything was normal, but my body told me there is something seriously wrong with this drug combination. I have also developed tendonitis in the elbows (not yet much improved) and I still have pain in my butt, although no neck pain!
The side effects I encountered during the trial will of course be noted, but my concern is that this drug is at stage 3 trial and almost ready to be approved. I have always thought that the side affects for someone with 470mg/dl total cholesterol were outweighed by the benefits. However, having been affected by almost total incapacity, I understand the concerns of those who have had serious side affects on drugs such as Lipitor and Zocor.
To those however who believe that high cholesterol is not a killer, then all I can say is that some seventeen years ago I would not have survived the blocked arteries of a relatively fit and healthy 37 year old heart, without pioneering by-pass surgery. I would not be here today without the statin medication, which keeps my total cholesterol at around 200mg/dl. Perhaps for those with near normal levels of cholesterol, the problems associated with muscle aches, even on small doses of these drugs, pose a serious problem and the disadvantages obviously out weight the advantages.
For those with elevated cholesterol, then the advantages of taking these drugs must out weight the risks. Like me, there are a number of different statins and it is possible to find one with minimum side effects.
Posted by: David on October 20, 2006 11:39 AM
I have been on Lipitor for 6 months. I noticed pain in the knees first then I stopped Lipator for a couple of weeks and it seemed better. Then I restarted for another couple of months and it came back! I have decided to toss it out! I will now look into the more natural way!
Posted by: andy on November 12, 2006 11:16 AM
currently diagnosed with PMR for the past 5 yrs-steroids help the muscle pain- (polymyalgia rheumatica) however have been on Lipitor or Zorcor for 8 years. My SED rates are normal and now wonder if it is a Lipitor problem and have been misdiagnosed.
Posted by: J Clouse on December 16, 2006 02:26 AM
ive taken lowering colestorol drugs for yrs. dr. kept changing them. now im on crestor,10 mil. several yrs ago i developed neuropathy. i had tons of tests done and they couldnt figure out what caused it. is it possible the staten drug caused it?
Posted by: carol sowers on December 22, 2006 03:26 PM
I had a heart attack in June 2006 aged 49. It was caused by myocarditis and i was prescribed Simvastatin which i have been taking every since. I developed muscle pain and stiffness in the back of my knees after sitting for a while .This has progressed to excrutiating pain eerytime i get up from a chair and when i walk. I cannot walk far and feel really unwell with this. Could it be the simvastatin?? My husband was listening to a programme on the radio yesterday and told me of the possibiblty of Statins causing knee pain . I am going to miss taking them for a few days to see if there is any improvement
Response:
see:
Management Of Statin Damage
Class Action - Statins Increases Heart Disease By 10% In Women
Posted by: Lisa on November 18, 2007 11:54 PM
I was put on Lipitor (2007) to reduce my "bad" cholesterol. I ended up not being able to sleep and some hallucinations (because of no sleep). I have stopped taking Lipitor but am now stuck with sleeping pills. I had "triple by-pass" surgery 16 years ago and have felt good ever since. (one stent 3 years ago). I am on another cholesterol called Lipex. If these drugs reduce cholesterol to a reasonable level why is it necessary to keep taking the drug? Blood tests will show if the "bad" cholesterol is increasing again. I have read that once reduced, cholesterol levels should stay low for at least 10 years.
Posted by: Brian T. Phipps on January 17, 2008 07:42 PM
I was on lipitor about 2 years ago. i got to where i could not walk. i was in pain all the time. i stopped taking them , i can walk and i dont have the pain in my legs or back. but i do have tremors in my right hand and my head.
Posted by: michael martin on February 4, 2008 05:44 PM
I threw my statins in the bin before trying them after reading about the side effects.
After being diagnosed with angina and having several mild heart attacks I read up about water only fasting.
I no longer have angina - I water fasted for 2 weeks. I was scared because of all the crap doctors tell us re: fasting but there is nothing more natural.
Research it first - there are a lot of people out there who do it - Hippocrates underwent water only fasts as did all of his students - I am now fit and healthy and have modified my diet as preventative . Doctors are all about money not health and peddle poisons like the fluoride based statins.
Borax is also helpful to remove fluoride accumulation in the bodies tissues
http://www.earthclinic.com/Remedies/borax.html
may be of help
Posted by: Peter Stanton on February 8, 2008 09:01 PM
I had been taking Lipitor for alittle over 2 years, and decided to look up side effects of taking statin drugs. I had started having numbness and burning in my legs and feet, and it has gone up to my hands as well. My hands hurt so much. I decided to stop taking drugs with statins in it. My neaurologist, hand specialist both felt this was because of statins. I soon found out my brother had higher levels in his liver as was I, and his doctor {liver specialist} told him he had a fatty liver and it does not like cholestrol medicine with statins. He said more than likely its genetic. That mad up my mind for me to stop taking it and now I pray I get my feeling back in my feet and hands.
Posted by: sandyn on April 1, 2008 10:08 AM
My brother who has severe learning difficulties has been a controlled epileptic for the last 15-20 years.
After having recent blood tests done his cholestrol levels returned at 11.3.
He was precribed Simvastatin 40mg.After taking the medication for 5 nights he went and had 2 seizures within half an hour.
I took him back to the doctor and said that he would not be taking them again.
All medical researh shows these meds to be epileptic friendly.
I beg to differ.Since stopping meds,no more seizures.H
Posted by: KAREN GRIFFITHS on May 14, 2008 04:24 PM
i have been on simvastatin 10mcg for three months for the last three weeks i have been dragging my body around i ache so much i feel so old , to walk up steps is a major chore when i sit down i size up , i wake up every morning with neeck pain & a sore throat.i have been to my gp who has done some blood tests & told me to stop taking the tablets . so i hope i can now start to feel a bit better off the drugs.
Posted by: Mrs Patricia Elliot on May 28, 2008 05:17 PM
I have been on statins for several years. Five months ago I started to have pain in my low back muscles which extended down both legs. My doctor prescribed x-ray and pain killer with a diagnosis of arthritis. Pain got so bad I could not walk or climb stairs. Pain has spread to shoulders and neck. Through internet research, I decided that my problem was Lipitor. I stopped taking this prescription drug and switched to a natural cholesterol inhibitor made from plants. Sorry to say, the pain decreased, but did not go away. My life is not the same. I no longer go anywhere alone because of bouts of not being able to walk. Does anyone know if the muscle damage is reversible? I've asked several doctors this question, but they don't even want to acknowledge that statins have caused my problem. Please help if you can.
Posted by: Carol Garman on August 3, 2008 09:00 PM
My father was diagnosed 7 years ago with Alzheimer's. He lived with me and had balance problems/leg weakness last winter.
After winding up in the hospital for a few days, he went to a Rehab for what was supposed to be 30 days of physical therapy.
The doctor assigned to him at the hospital also treated him in the Rehab, as we were new in the area and did not have a doctor yet.
Unbeknownst to me (I had Medical POA) this doctor treated my father for problems he had never been diagnosed for previously. (My father had always been healthy, previous to his diagnosis of Alzheimer's.)
One of these problems was high cholesterol, and her treatment was Lipitor. (I only found this out after accessing his Rehab medical notes.)
She apparently started treatment shortly before or upon his entering the Rehab.
My father was constantly sick during his stay in the Rehab, which hindered his rehabilitation. I was told it was respiratory infections, bladder infections, dehydration, etc.
His original prognosis for rehab was excellent. However, he went downhill during his time there (33 days total, not including 5 trips to the hospital for these sicknesses).
Eventually, he pulled his legs up under him, complaining of severe pain. He would scream in pain if I touched his legs. Another trip to the hospital, where I was told they didn't know what was wrong with his legs.
They gave him pain killers and dragged his legs out from under him to put them in braces.
One week later, I was told my father was dying of kidney failure. It took another week for him to die. We had a morphine drip installed to relieve his suffering. I was told they didn't know what happened to his kidneys.
Many weeks later I found out, through accessing his Rehab medical notes, that my father acquired a conditon called Rhabdomyolysis while in the Rehab. No one ever told me.
I've since been searching the internet, trying to figure out what happened.
Posted by: Debbie W. on August 7, 2008 02:03 AM
I was put on lipitor first (10mg), within months I developed twitching in legs saw a neurologist , as they thought it was ALS / 3 yrs later still have twitching / diagnosed as BFS / beningn fasciculation syndrome / Dr. put me on 10mg of Crestor for 2 mos /now have developed left arm bicep pain which 'comes and goes' every day / even after throwing the rest of the Crestor in the garbage / after reading all the other complainants on statin drugs / perhaps there should be a gigantic 'class action suit'/ I told my Dr. strangely he thinks , I should still take the Crestor / are the pharmaceutical salesman "in bed with the doctors"!!!??? A NOTE TO ALL STOP TAKING STATINS / I have no idea how long my twitches and muscle pain will continue / it has been over 3 years now and they are still there / stress seems to acentuate all these symptoms /
george in Kamloops BC / Canada
Posted by: gbuttuls on August 13, 2008 10:34 AM
My Story,
For many years I have been dealing with medium to high cholesterol levels. High cholesterol is only one part to the danger of plaque buildup in the arteries and an eventual possible heart attack. Other risk factors such as, Smoking, Hypertension, Diabetes, Obesity, Inactivity, Stress and Family history all play a role in High Cholesterol.
It was approximately 10-15 years ago that my Doctor suggested that I go on medication with one of the Statin drugs and Lipitor is what he suggested for me. With a great amount of reluctance I finally agreed, but I certainly was not happy with the potential side effects, as there are many. The worst side effect that could happen was a muscle tissue breakdown with severe muscle pain. Well low and behold within 10 days I have severe muscle tissue pain and took my Lipitor pills and dumped them down the toilet. When I told my Doctor what I had done he was not too happy but he could identify with what was happening.
It was at that point that I started to ask that although my blood test showed that I had high cholesterol, did that necessarily indicate that I had clogged arteries. I continued to ask the same question over many years. My family Doctor continued to advise me that he would like to try another statin med called Zocor. Again I reluctantly agreed and started to research how others did with Zocor on the Internet. Again many reported of similar side effects as I experienced with Lipitor.
That year during vacation time I picked up a newspaper……..I am a news junky……. and there was an article that hit me like a ton of bricks; Bacol by Bayer was being recalled due to a number of reported deaths and other severe side effects. At that point I took my Zocor meds and dumped them down the toilet also………….oops I probably polluted the drainage water………. determined never to do a Statin drug again.
Years went by and tests were done from time to time, sometime showing medium to higher levels.
Then came late February of this year 2008. Within three days of having a few dizzy spells I collapsed and had emergency surgery due to an ulcer which had perforated an artery. That is a whole story in itself, but just one note if you are taking a good number of Aspirin and Ibuprofen, you may, no you must check with your Doctor to see what is happening with your stomach.
In that short period of time just before my surgery I had lost about 6 units of blood. During my healing process I was told I was lucky to be alive. A few weeks into the recuperation time I can to reflect on the fact that my heart must have to have been awfully strong to have dealt with significant blood loss. Then I began to re ask the same question, hey my arteries could not be blocked, otherwise my heart would never have kept up. I posed this question to my surgeon, and he confirmed that that is not necessarily true.
Now we come to the time of a recent cholesterol test which showed numbers higher than ever before. The same answer you need to go on Cholesterol lowering drugs. I came to the point and said to my Doctor I want to get a test to see if my arteries have buildup and how do we do this. Without significant physical symptoms our medial system does not allow for such a test, which is either an Angiogram or a CT Scan.
In recent years a new 64-Slice CT scanner became available, a non-invasive evaluation of arteries. But our medical system still does not allow a scan to be done without significant physical symptoms.
Now here comes into play the private diagnostic clinics. In consultation with my Doctor I looked into and booked to get a Heart Scan (Coronary Artery Calcium Scoring) done at the Canada Diagnostic Clinic in Vancouver. An appointment was available almost immediately and of course I would have to pay for this myself at a cost of $690.00, plus travel to Vancouver and an overnight stay. Quite costly and not affordable to everyone. (Please scroll down for details of the scan)
NOW THE GOOD NEWS! My heart arteries only showed a very minor calcium build up at two points. My Calcium score was 19.
NO NEED TO GO ON RISKY STATIN DRUGS, SUCH AS Lipitor, Zocor, Baycol or a more recent addition Crestor (here is what is mentioned on the Johns Hopkins Hospital website - "although the potency of Crestor appears to be fully established, its safety is not. Unless there is an overwhelming reason to take a very new drug, the best approach is to wait for some time to pass to allow unforeseen problems, if any, to be detected." WITH POSSIBILTY OF SIGNIFICANT SIDE EFFECTS
Posted by: Tony Romeyn on December 1, 2008 11:53 PM
pravastatin afected a 40+ year old injury by swelling up my eye, creating a sore that won't heal and 50% blindness in that eye.
Posted by: tom wil on December 25, 2010 09:45 PM
I have tried exercise, chiropractors, acupuncture, a million NSAIDs, and muscle relaxants. Nothing helps except for massage and very hot baths, sometimes with Tiger Balm (tigerbalm.50webs.com/English/index.htm) applied to the lumbar region and afterwards bed rest. It helps to ease up my muscles and for getting through the pain/minor injuries that sometimes happen.
Posted by: Rachel on March 8, 2011 09:20 PM
I feel like I have the flu, day in and day out. Was put on pravastatin prior to this flu stuff......every muscle hurts and all I want to do is rest and sleep!
Posted by: MJ on July 5, 2011 11:14 AM
I have been on statins for years and every one of them have made me hurt. My last statin was pravastatin. It has hurt me so bad. My muscles in my upper arms, my upper thighs, and my buttocks are in constant pain. My Dr. took me off my statin. It has been three weeks and I am still in much agony with pain. I am nauseous at times. I can't hardly raise my arms up because of pain. I can't sit hardly for pain. Getting up and down hurts me. I feel like I have the flu all the time. Statins are bad for some people. I don't know if I will ever feel good again without pain...
Posted by: Joyce on March 25, 2013 10:32 AM
I have been taking Lovastatin(40 mg.) having bad muscle and joint pain to point cant walk at times,my hands and wrist hurt so bad, have a hard time picking up things.can go into more details later so is there any lawsuits that will accept my case
Response:
See: Lawsuits Filed Over Lipitor Side Effects
Posted by: Gerald Stringer on October 20, 2014 07:27 PM
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License.
These articles are brought to you strictly for educational and informational purposes.
Be sure to consult your health practitioner of choice prior to any specific use of any of the non drug device or food based medicinal products referenced herein.
