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What would you do.

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Hepato-pancreato

Hepato-pancreato

Well-Known Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 3c
Think i’ve Raised this dilemma before. Diabetes specialist told me I need to be on statins. Sent gp a letter. Now i’ve Had letter to collect my prescription for a Avostatin 20mg. From surgery.
My cholesterol was fine according to diabetes nurse on my annual visit.
Problem is i’m Hep c negative after treatment. Had had it since 1983. So 32 years at time of treatment.
Thing is I have cirrhosis of the liver. My lfts are fine at the moment. Liver specialist informs me the bits of my liver that are ok adapt therefore ok lfts. ( only because I can’t drink i’m Sure ).
Therefore side effects of statins affect the liver which I try to look after by being teatotal since 2000.
This is what diabetologist is going off lfts results. He knows I have cirrhosis. I feel like liver specialist dosn’t give advice on diabetes that diabetologist knows little about liver disease.
Statins are for preventative purposes.
Would you refuse to take them, or discuss the issue with gp.
I don’t want to take them . I already take up to 50 tablets per day plus daily 5 injections 2 inhalers.
Stumped advice welcome. Thankyou in advance for your thoughts on the matter. Sorry for long post.
 
Hi Hepato, I am not sure what to advise in your circumstances.

Personally I would discuss it with my Diabetes consultant, but I have been seeing the same one for ten years and feel very confident that any decisions we make are joint decisions. I have also discussed statins with my GP and now take them, but hadliver checked when I started and now at regular intervals.

Not sure that that is much help.
 
I took statins along with Metformin for 5 weeks.
Some of the consequences might be the combination of the two together - but I am still finding out things I forgot about from that time - almost 2 years later.
Things such as where I had put my money, not renewing important subscriptions, and at Christmas I went out and did the main shopping twice - I opened the back of the car and there is was - we were eating sprouts until February. I have had to relearn all my songs and have not been able to play my guitar - it has been a real life changer.
I also had aches and pains in joints and muscles, dreadfully itchy skin, my sense of taste was peculiar - I still can't drink tea - I was so miserable - I had all the usual side effects of Metformin too, so I suppose getting a professional quality carpet and upholstery cleaner is the one positive thing, oh - and it frightened my husband so much he stopped taking statins too, and is a lot easier to live with now.
As it looks more and more as though the advice to reduce cholesterol is wrong, and after such a dreadful set of consequences I have told the various HCPs who have tried to get me to take them again that old nick will be skating to work before I agree to do so - and AFAIk my liver is fine.
 
Hi. Have you been given a breakdown of the various parts of cholesterol or just a single figure. Would you mind letting us cast our eyes over it.
Bear in mind I am no medic, but I don’t believe in taking such meds unless needed.
TBH I think you should talk to your liver specialist about this.
 
I wouldn't talk to anyone about them, just would not through experience take them.
 
Hi Ljc,
Not got numbers. From memory the last dozen blood tests a number I remember was 5.0 for cholesterol.
Even diabetes nurse before all this said my cholesterol was fine the other number I don’t know maybe 2.9 she did say it was good. My bad cholesterol was low. Problem with talking to liver specialist is my next appointment is in 6 months . You never see the same one. Clinic is always busy it is the north west. Highest rate of liver disease.
 
Hi Karnak,
Thought that myself. I even thought about just getting prescription and not taking them.
Conscience wouldn’t let me do that.
I’m worried about going against medical advice.
 
Have you not got access to medical records online? You should be able to see your results concerning LDL, HDL, & TRYGS, if not contact surgery and ask for a break down of levels and post on here if you feel comfortable with this. Plenty of advice available for this topical subject as we are all aware the need to keep control of.
 
No not got access to medical records online. Got a gp appointment this week will ask for my results and post them.
Thanks Karnak.
 
I'd discuss it with that GP - he is not a liver specialist so shouldn't really be prescribing something that DOES affect the liver - recommended by another Dr who is also not a Liver specialist,- without asking the liver chap if it's advisable for a patient such as YOU.

Personally I'm in total agreement with Drummer for exactly the same reason. Statins in any event are NOT preventative BUT apparently if a person has already had a CVD event, they may help.

I want to die with all my marbles thank you, and as long as I still have them they can stick their statins where the sun don't shine.
 
Thanks Trophywench, I personally do not want to take them . I have a long and serious medical history. Have always complied with every request made of me. So this is the first time I am questioning there decision.
 
I gave up taking statins, without any discussion with my GP. My cholesterol and all the ratios were normal. Total cholesterol was 3.2. No family history of heart disease or stroke, so it wasn’t exactly a suicidal rebellion.

In your position HP, and with your liver being as it is, your doubts are justified. It’s not an existential decision. There is no evidence that shows statins are of benefit unless you have a had some cardiac event, or maybe a mini stroke. Or you have familial hypercholesteroaemia. The push for everyone to take statins was nothing more than Big Pharma convincing Americans they could live forever.

If I were you I wouldn’t. That is not medical advice. It’s common sense.
 
Thanks Mikey,
I cannot trace family history as I was adopted.
Like i’ve Said never been told my cholesterol was dodgy no heart problems ( touch wood).
From reading your many posts on the forum, I respect your opinion highly. Being an ex gp. A fellow Creonista ( your creation)
Your obviously a very clever and well informed man. Made my decision NOT taking them.
 
Thankyou all for your opinions and thoughts on my little problem.
Taking the time to read my post and then reply is very much appreciated.
Drummer has slightly scared me, but as Mikey says there is no evidence that statins are of benefit.
So thanks again for aiding me in my decision.
 
Let your GP know you are not taking them.

The diabetes specialist, your GP, and your liver specialist will know you have been prescribed, and will now be assuming they can treat you accordingly.
As you say, you have a long and serious medical history and have always complied with every request so far, so they can't be doing too bad a job between them, so keep them in play.
And if you're seeing your specialist again in 6 months, that period of time with make no difference either way anyhow.

Personally, I take them, as I have no side effects, and my cholesterol is better controlled, (to my classical targets) with them.
But everyone on here has a different medical history.
 
I am sorry to alarm you, but I really was in a state I would not want anyone to get into - and it was so easy to get into too - memories just drifted away and left no sign of their ever being there.
 
B3F0102A-FE56-4884-8652-6E3362DE3555.jpeg
Seen gp this morning agreed no need for statins. He is writing to diabetologist to ask why he thought I needed statins.
My results are fine.
 
Thanks everyone if it wasn’t for you I don’t think I would’ve questioned it.
Told gp about forum and he thought it was excellent and he agreed with your decision not to take the statins. Big high 5 there then.
 
Excellent!
 
Good - be jolly enlightening (?) to see what the consultant says.

Was that blood test a 'Fasting' one? - if not the Chol results are not reliable anyway, also think you need to abstain from alcohol and a few other things I can't recall, for so long prior to the test to get the absolutely true answer.
 
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