patch70 said:It's an interesting question! We are learning new things about statins all the time.
One of the well known side effects of statins is muscle damage (rhabdomyolysis) but this is rare. If you had it, you'd get muscle pain and a blood test of your CK or CPK level would be elevated. Muscle weakness & easy fatiguability are also recognised. So - yes - you could be riding worse on a statin. The overall risk of these side effects (all of the mentioned ones) is less than 10%.
Statins have also been shown to reduce mortality from serious infections like septicaemia. The reason for this is unclear and it may be a bogus statistical finding.
If the muscle problem is affecting you a lot - speak to your doctor. If you are otherwise well (ie normal blood pressure, not diabetic, not obese, not a smoker, no previous angina or heart attacks) and are fit, then the risk from having isolated high cholesterol is pretty small (as long as it is not extremely high). If you have multiple risks for heart disease, then the argument for using some form of drug treatment of your cholesterol is stronger.
Here goes, long story, I'm afraid.
It's been a year and a half of puzzling symptoms and misery, beginning with both hands and arms aching constantly. Any twisting or wrenching such as wringing out a wet towel would increase the pain for days. Because of my strong family history of arthritis, my internist put me on Cliniril and shortly afterwards, put me on Protonix for reflux symptoms (I was having difficulty swallowing). The pain continued. It became almost impossible for me to bend or twist because of pain in my stomach, ribs, and sides. I had trouble putting on my shoes. I started having pain in my calves. I also began retaining fluid and was put on Lasix but, even with this, my feet and legs were huge at the end of each day and I was sleeping on two or three pillows because the fluid moved up when I lay down. An appointment was made (six months away) for a local arthritis group to see me. My doc suspected rheumatoid arthritis (like the other females in my family) but also began asking questions such as did I have family history of lupus, MS, fibromalgia, myasthenia gravis, etc.
In the meantime, the pain in my hands and arms had become seven/twenty-four and I was using both hands to pick up a cup of coffee. When I mentioned to my internist that, on top of everything else, it seemed my bladder wasn't working right either because I couldn't 'hold it' anymore, he raised one eyebrow and said, "really?" I think I've finally tapped into something...I'm taking you off your Pravachol TODAY!"
Within 60 days, the pain had subsided to something I could live with and in another thirty it was gone. The strength returned to my hands and arms and the aches and pains all over my body miraculously left. Since I wasn't hurting anymore, I discontinued the Cliniril and after another 30 days, the reflux symptoms were gone and swallowing was no longer difficult. Sooooo, since I didn't have reflux anymore, I discontinued the Protonix and the swelling left my feet and legs and is still gone. I have something new though. On a routine examination in April, they found a bundle branch block on the left. After extensive testing, a cardiolgy team has diagnosed me with an 'idiopathic, intermittent' bundle branch block, left, and have warned me if I feel faint or lightheaded (syncope) to head to the E.R.
Now, my doctor is back to square one about what to do to lower my cholesterol. The LDL is high, the HDL is low, and the triglycerides are 'just right'. But he says 'no more statins for you, ever'. The cardiologists agree. This is why I'm checking out the red rice yeast. I'm hoping to learn more about this alternative program.
I know that was a long dissertation, but that's the way it happened and that's the way it ended. Can't say all that in a few short sentences.
Thank you!
