Told to take Statins without being tested

Status
Not open for further replies.
C

chruss

Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 2
Hi,
I was recently (3 days ago) diagnosed with type 2 and my initial meeting with my GP was terrifying. Even though my cholesterol has not even been measured i have been told to take Atorvastatin 20mg.
I have heard lots of scare stories about this and am reluctant to take them. I have just started with Metformin but really not sure about the best way to proceed.
Has anyone else been in this situation?
Thanks
 
chruss said:
Hi,
I was recently (3 days ago) diagnosed with type 2 and my initial meeting with my GP was terrifying. Even though my cholesterol has not even been measured i have been told to take Atorvastatin 20mg.
I have heard lots of scare stories about this and am reluctant to take them. I have just started with Metformin but really not sure about the best way to proceed.
Has anyone else been in this situation?
Thanks
Click to expand...
Short answer: There’s no reason to be scared of statins but on the other hand yr doc should absolutely have gone thru a risk assessment with you & worked with you on a plan.
 
Don't be railroaded into taking any medicine. Ask for a cholesterol test to be done and then decide. It is always your choice and you should have the information to make an informed choice.
 
I did ask her about my cholesterol levels but i was basically told if i didn't take them and i had any heart issues they would not be able to repair my heart due to plaque build up. I have asked to have a test done but do feel as if they are really being pushed on me. She even told me a story of another patient only a few years older than me ( i am 48 ) who didn't take them and when she calculated his heart age it was over 80 years old. I am sure her intentions were good but i left the room feeling vulnerable, scared and totally confused
 
To make an informed decision, you really do need to know your cholesterol levels. There are medical procedures like placing stents and by-pass surgery for blocked arteries, which diabetics are at greater risk of developing. Scare and bullying tactics are really not acceptable though. I was told that a diabetic should have a total cholesterol less than 4 (the norm is less than 5 for a non diabetic). I was also told the HDL level should be 1.5 or above.
Some people can take statins without problems, but a lot cannot. I tried statins for 18 months, 10 years ago and had a very severe reaction. As a result I was taken off them, and now, even though I don't meet the criteria for Type 2, my GP will not prescribe alternative medication (yes - there are alternatives to statins). There are lots of claims about cholesterol reducing products, and so-called "proof". I took them with a pinch of salt, but by having one mini drink a day, (instructed by a former GP), my total cholesterol has come down over time from 7.8 and is currently 5.4. I also take 1 tsp Inulin (chicory root) in water each morning. These may not be right for you - it's just what I do.
 
Hi Felinia,
Thank you for that, i am waiting for my diabetic nurse appointment and will discuss further then. I am aware the GP surgeries can generate revenue by prescribing certain medications and felt that the pressure to take the statins even without testing was harsh, especially at the same time as the bomb being dropped about type 2 diagnosis.
 
Sounds like 'Project fear' to me and a poor GP. I would insist on a full lipids profile at you next blood test and look at the various ratios. Only then can you decide whether to take statins. I think the NHS risk profile thing is also relative nonsense so use actual measures and take it from there.
 
Thanks DaveB, when i eventually get to see the nurse i will make sure i check
 
I'd book in with a different GP and try and get a feel for which ones you get along with. I kind of like straight talking GP's who give me the shock I need, but I'm sure others would prefer not to have them be so blunt. Sounds like you need a different manner in your GP, so try and find one that suits you (most practices have their own grumps).
 
In my non medical personal opinion these are powerful drugs and they should not be doled out like sweeties. if you need them and or are at risk then fine but just to prescribe them without even testing your cholesterol is not on .

My advise is to get a proper breakdown of the various cholesterols then do your research , some of which can be done on here as we have some very knowledgeable people in the forum
I take 20 mg of Atorvastatin as I had high cholesterol and have risk factors.
 
chruss said:
Hi,
I was recently (3 days ago) diagnosed with type 2 and my initial meeting with my GP was terrifying. Even though my cholesterol has not even been measured i have been told to take Atorvastatin 20mg.
I have heard lots of scare stories about this and am reluctant to take them. I have just started with Metformin but really not sure about the best way to proceed.
Has anyone else been in this situation?
Thanks
Click to expand...

Hi chruss
My doctor wanted me to take them too. even though my cholesterol levels ok, although bad cholesterol was a little higher than the good cholesterol. The doctor explained to me the reason is because of other health issues and diabetes patients are at an increased risk of heart failure, its what's written in their guide book, to take action to protect against such a possibility is the understanding I came too.

Knowing that information and my cholesterol levels (I always keep records for comparison) which are monitored each time with HbA1c test or 6 monthly;* for myself I decided not to do the statins but still I am keeping an eye on things myself. You can apply to your surgery to have access to your test results on-line, that is the way I do it now.

*I think once stable the surgery may only carry out these tests annually.

Personally I would ask the doctor to have your cholesterol checked (just say you want to know this before taking the statin) from that result you can appreciate better what the situation is, the risk for and against. With some people statin can prevent a life threatening situation but each patient has to be assessed individually, for some statin may not be necessary, but when its down to our own individual choice we do need to understand the risk is ours if we go against the advice of a medical professional. The medical professional is only doing their job by advising you of the risk and the reasons.

There is a list of test that should be carried out annually (at the very least) for diabetes, I can't lay my hands on it at the moment, but the helpline will know and also if you attend either the Desmond course (referral by nurse or GP) or the Xpert course (self referral) you will be more fully aware of these things.

When I have time later I will look up the complete list although you may be able to find that in the mean time. (off the top of my head, for me its full blood count, liver, kidneys, cholesterol, HbA1c, blood pressure, waist, height weight, foot examination, eye screening. some only annually) The frequency of tests are more dependent on how high the Blood glucose levels are, medications etc. (this just my own observations and from the educational and management courses I've attended regarding diabetes type 2.

The courses are helpful, they put you fully in the picture and in that way we can to a degree take control of things ourself, but we do need to have the routine blood tests done.

Best wishes
 
Last edited:
All,
Thank you all for your replies, had my eye test done today and no sign of issues. I am waiting for my Diabetes Nurse appointment (likely to be January now i suppose) and will hopefully start to get better informed. I know i am not unique in feeling the whole thing a bit over-whelming. I have some research to do and as they say knowledge is power.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Ljc
When I was diagnosed type 2 a few years ago, the diabetic nurse said that my cholesterol was ‘highish’ and that the doctor was recommending statins, which he would have done anyway with the diabetes diagnosis. I initially refused as I had heard conflicting reviews about them. We agreed that if I could get my HbA1c and cholesterol down by my next check up they would reconsider. I managed to do this and now they’re never mentioned when I have my checkups.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top