Statins or not... advice requested.

[KARNAK]

All you can do is try them @Sharron1 but be careful, any side affects stop them
immediately. I`ve tried three different types and was very I'll with all of them that is
on my records, Statins not to be giving to this patient. Its just pot luck most can take
them and I`m not putting you off because many people benefit from them, I can`t.

 

[Drummer]

You do know that if you are older now, your age at death is likely to be higher if you don't lower your LDL levels?
Someone checked - there was an article about it on BMJ Open - but it was contested and removed - but it was copied by various interested parties and passed around.
I am so glad that I stopped taking the statin, as I reacted so badly and it would have been for no benefit. Apart from my mother who died from a brain tumour, my relatives have all lived into long and healthy old age and there have been no more untimely deaths. All my cousins and their offspring have survived and so far are thriving.

 

[Sharron1]

All you can do is try them @Sharron1 but be careful, any side affects stop them
immediately. I`ve tried three different types and was very I'll with all of them that is
on my records, Statins not to be giving to this patient. Its just pot luck most can take
them and I`m not putting you off because many people benefit from them, I can`t.

Those were the sort of questions i wanted to ask ie if you can stop them etc ,but she simply wasn't interested. But will have another try when i get results of next blood test done. Perhaps she will be in a better mood. Ahhh. Supposing she isn't

 

[Eddy Edson]

Those were the sort of questions i wanted to ask ie if you can stop them etc ,but she simply wasn't interested. But will have another try when i get results of next blood test done. Perhaps she will be in a better mood. Ahhh. Supposing she isn't

Can you get another one? She doesn't sound very good.

 

[trophywench]

Is it still our right within the NHS to request a second opinion?

 

[silentsquirrel]

Those were the sort of questions i wanted to ask ie if you can stop them etc ,but she simply wasn't interested. But will have another try when i get results of next blood test done. Perhaps she will be in a better mood. Ahhh. Supposing she isn't

If you ask her if you can stop them, she may well say you must take them for life, but not true! Doctors can advise you to take a medication, they can strongly advise or threaten with dire consequences of not taking them, but it is always your choice (unless sectioned) whether you take them or not.

At least you will be alert to the possibility of side effects if you decide to give them a go. I took them for at least 10 years, was not aware of any link with muscle/joint pains, so put increasing pain in my upper arms and shoulders down to arthritis. Much better since I stopped them.

My total cholesterol remains 6 - 7, but putting the figures into a statin calculator gives quite good results for the ratios.
Thankfully I am now marked as statin intolerant in my notes, so avoid the statin conversation!

 

[Sharron1]

Can you get another one? She doesn't sound very good.

Tried that. She see's all the diabetic patients in the practice. I thought I was being clever and made a routine appointment with one of the other GPs and when they heard diabetes they directed me back to her. Moving practice isn't that easy no spaces in other surgery's too few GPs. Thus GP is excellent at perscrbing and giving you exactly your 10 minutes. Doesn't like any questions. For my carpel tunnel I went privately. I turned up with a long list of questions, which were answered . But we simply don't have the money for private. Anyway i don't think she should avoid questions. Patients need to feel confident in their GPs Rant (almost) over.

 

[SB2015]

Hi Sharron

Although when you phone you get passed back to her, that may be becaiuse she is you assigned GP. If you are unhappy with her, which I think I would be, I would write to the Practice Managaer and ask for a change of GP within the practice.

In many Practices your diabetes care is mainly dealt with by the Practice nurse rather than you GP. It certainly is for us. I don’t discuss anything to do with Diabetes with my GP. He is not particularly knowledgeable, so I rely on the Practice nurse and my consultant. I realise that it is different in every practice, but certainly if she is still not open to any discussion next time I would ask to change. But it is often a case of balancing the support that they offer over a variety of things.

 

[KARNAK]

Those were the sort of questions i wanted to ask ie if you can stop them etc ,but she simply wasn't interested. But will have another try when i get results of next blood test done. Perhaps she will be in a better mood. Ahhh. Supposing she isn't

If she wants you to take them and your ill on them, don`t take them. The first time I took them
I was in the back of an ambulance within two hours, but as I said before they may not affect you.

 

[Sharron1]

If she wants you to take them and your ill on them, don`t take them. The first time I took them
I was in the back of an ambulance within two hours, but as I said before they may not affect you.

Oh god!

 

[Sharron1]

Hi Sharron

Although when you phone you get passed back to her, that may be becaiuse she is you assigned GP. If you are unhappy with her, which I think I would be, I would write to the Practice Managaer and ask for a change of GP within the practice.

In many Practices your diabetes care is mainly dealt with by the Practice nurse rather than you GP. It certainly is for us. I don’t discuss anything to do with Diabetes with my GP. He is not particularly knowledgeable, so I rely on the Practice nurse and my consultant. I realise that it is different in every practice, but certainly if she is still not open to any discussion next time I would ask to change. But it is often a case of balancing the support that they offer over a variety of things.

Thanks and you are correct the DN is really helpful. Old school is how best to describe her.

 

[Maz2]

I think you would need to try them and see how you get on. An ex work colleague of mine had to try more than one before she found one to suit her. My Dad in Law had no trouble with them. My friends who take them have no trouble with them (4 of them) and my cousin has no trouble with them either. It all seems to depend on the person I think.

 

[Maz2]

I am beginning to realise it is horses for courses. But everyone has been so helpful. I have my blood test in the Autumn and see what my cholesteol is like then. I will.also make sure I can have a sensible chat with the GP rather than her not really wanting to bother with the nuisance patient who has questions ie me.

Thanks again

I know how you feel Sharron. I am sure she does not think you are a nuisance. I was chatting to my GP today about results and I always feel a nuisance. She wasn't making me feel like that it is just me. They are there to help you and you are not a nuisance.

 

[ajax]

I was put on Atorvastatin after a vasovagal attack, and a subsequent ECG ..my practice nurse is happy with my ✻numbers✻ ..so I keep taking the medicine.

 

[Ivostas66]

When diagnosed with Type 1 a couple of years ago they said my cholesterol was high for a diabetic (around 5). Put on Atorvastatins (dose of 40) and came down to a 3 in 6 months and mid 2s ever since. Now on a dose of 20 and still in the 2s. My Nan was found to have sky high cholesterol back in the early 1990s - she was fit and active and ate no dairy, which at the time was seen as the main contributor and she was put on statins. Cholesterol levels reduced quite quickly, she had a mild heart attack in her early 80s and then a stroke shortly afterwards. Remained fit and active into her 90s. My Mum was found to have high cholesterol about 15 years ago and when she was put on statins they reduced quickly. She asked if it was worth coming off the statins and her GP said "you could and I will leave the decision to you, but you would be putting yourself at risk of a stroke just like your Mum". None of us have ever had any side effects or issues with Statins.