Statins and muscle pain

[cjbid]

Hi, new to the site. Thanks for all of your postings.
My history is one of various docs insisting that I take statins of one brand or another. I found out in '96 after taking Zocor for about 6 months, that it caused depression and anxiety attacks--which I had started to have. Since I had no other risk factors, my doc took me off of the Zocor (said it didn't significantly lower my #s anyway) and put me on a sleep aid.

I've moved several times since and each new doc freaks out at my numbers (total C: 238-338), tries to intimidate me into taking another statin saying "this one is different" (yeah right! ) For the first few times I didn't know better so I tried Lipitor, Pravacol, Crestor. However, after taking each one for less than a week my depression returned quickly and I would stop. I finally wised up and refused to take statins period! We all know how docs respond to that--most anyway. "You're going to just drop over dead with a heart attack or stroke then." Oh, please!

Best two moves I've made--1. went to a psycopharmacologist who took me off everything (others had tried Trazadone, Prozac, etc.) and put me on Efexor XR for awhile. She later ramped me down off of it and I've been myself (happy and energetic) ever since. 2. Found a doc who said, "As long as you understand the risks associated with high Chol. #s, I won't try to get you to take something that you can't or won't take. You know your body better than I do." I love it!

Upon finding this site I discovered that muscle pain and weakness is also related to statins. I have had pain in my lower back and hips for awhile, but didn't realize that there may be a statin connection. After Xrays, MRI's, and bone density tests the only thing that the spine specialist can come up with is that there is really nothing to fix, and that physical therapy and cordisone shots in the lower spine help for awhile to relieve the pain. (I did it. It worked for about 8 months, but is now back. I don't want to keep that up.) PT helps with flexability, but you know how muscles get sore when you first exercise? Well that never seems to go away. It's always like I just started yesterday. I hope there is another answer. But if there isn't, I'll just keep on keepin' on. Quitting isn't an option. I have too much life left to live. (I'm only a young 63. )

Crystal

[bunnylady]

My sympathies to you- I am having my worst day yet- and I actually thought I was getting better- My new doctor said its very true that Statins exacerbate conditions you have and makes them worse- I have more headaches (every day) used to have 5 a month- worse knee pain, worse acid reflux- all the medicine used to treat this makes your stomach upset and the cycle continues

I'm 58 and think of giving up but I'm optimistic I can beat this but on days like today I need a gun-

my hubbie built wooden steps for me to get to the new spa he put in and then lacquered them- I knew they were a hazard for me so I would sit on them and put my feet on the second lowest step and won't you know my feet went out from under me- the back of my legs are all bruised and scraped and I wrenched my back- so today I can't even get out of bed except to play on the computer a bit-

Hang in there Crystal!

[CatMom]

Hi cjbid, welcome to this board with the rest of us that are searching for others who have had similar experiences like ours.
[quote]As long as you understand the risks associated with high Chol. #s, [/quote]
I would love my doctor to tell me this! The problem I see is THEY don't understand the RISKS assosciated with taking the drugs! What is the point of having low cholesterol if you are dead/have lost your memory/are living in horriable pain or staggering around like a drunk all the time or having any of the many side effects of this stuff?I do give him credit for not trying to force them on you and respecting your decision.

I don't know what my numbers are now that I am off of the stuff but I would be very happy if mine are close to yours.

[shawk]

The more reading I do the more I am convinced that the medical community do not know what level of Chol is good, etc.

Chol levels seem to be more genetic than anything else(I could be wrong, I am not a Dr.)

Another thing you could also do is have your arteries checked, there is a new procedure out now where they check you arteries using ultrasound.

If you have high Chol numbers but your arteries are not clogging or plaque filled, you have no heart issuies(you have done a stress test or dual isotope test) and you do not smoke , watch what you eat and exercise on a regular basis I am convinced we are ALL alright...A Dr. on this board may say otherwise, nor am I advocating ignoring high Chol numbers....

My research seems to indicate that Chol is very genetic...I also look in my past at my Dad's side of the family....they were all farmers and worked 16 hour days...My Grandpa would have 3 or 4 fried eggs in the morning, fresh bacon/sausage, grits, hash browns and biscuits and gravy...He wasshed it down with fresh milk or coffee and he lived to be 96 and had no high Chol (around 180 to 200)....same for my grandma....

Now to be objective they worked very physically, and ate fresh veggies and fruits and nuts....neither smoked nor drank....

The hard labor probably is why the levels were OK, we live and work in a very sedintary lifestyle these days which the pharamacons thrive on...

I am not stating hihg CHol numbers are good, but I believe high Chol, Heart disease and Clogged Arteries scare tactics are used to push more pills....I also know that not getting physically fit(which BTW is much different than being physically active) smoking, drinking and not watching what you eat can have an impact on Chol readings....

I am simply not allowing them to scare me anymore and taking charge of the things that I am able to control, i.e., diet change, suppliments, getting exercise and stop my smoking....I quit drinking 10 years ago, and it really bummed me out to see my liver enzymes going bonkers...I am hopeful that it returns to normal...

I do know the pharamacons are only interested in the bottom line ($$$$). Statins are w/o a doubt the largest money maker for them.

So it is very hard to know what the real story on chol is and who you trust to give you the right answers....

beware of everyone or anyone who has a motive my friends!

[Darrell]

"You're going to just drop over dead with a heart attack or stroke then."

Two years ago I would have yielded to that. Now I know that my risk of heart attack in the next year is only something like 3% even without treatment and 2% with treatment. Unfortunately, the treatment has cost me 20 months of leg muscle problems so far, so I wish I had never started it.

[stina]

cjbid Hello, I had similar experience with my doctor. My choletsterol was a bit over 300 and he told me that it was just a matter of time before I had a heart attack if I didn´t take statins .I was put on Zocor 20mg. Like you, I then started to have panic attacks and felt really rotten and scared, waiting for the heart attack to come. I suppose the panic attacks was a result of the doctors scare tacticts and not the blame of Zocor, but I just don´t know. Now after three years I have decided to stop taking them. I must say I feel like a new person. I don´t feel any stiffness anymore and can move about much better. Had a basic cholesterol test a few days ago ( a prick in the finger ) which showed it is on the up again 260. Should I worry? Who knows what the real answer is. We have been bombarded with these scare tactics for many years now, so of course your head starts to spin. Who is right? Is it dangerous to have cholesterol over 300 or is it what some says a protection and that people with high cholesterol lives longer. :roll: All I can say, as far as I am concerned, I don´t want to take statins and feel like a prisoner ever again. I think what we should do, which I am sure most of you do already, is to eat fresh meat, fish and vegetables and stay away from all processed food and eat like our forfathers did, forget about all propaganda and scare tacticts and be positive.We are not going to let "them" make us into sick patients just to fill their pockets! At the end of the day there is probably nothing wrong with any of us. :)

[shawk]

Stina,

You should research your family history of Chol counts. Much is based on genetics.

My new GP is simply awesome, she stated that some folks do have naturally high Chol counts and it is based on genetic/heredity...

I know some people with high Chol that appear overwiegth, but maintain a good diet, low in sat, unsat and NO trans fats, exercise, do not smoke and are fine with high chol levels.

It is a fact that smoking and drinking large amounts of caffiene and alcohol are by far greater risks than high Chol for a heart attack or stroke. If you do any of those 3 things you are at greater risk for heart attack of stroke, but those 3 things hamper HDL production in your body and make your triglycerides and LDL levels soar.

I am not saying high Chol numbers should not be ignored but it seems to me genetics plays a very large role in Chol levels...and Dr.s cannot tell you really what is good from person to person....

My metabolism allows me to eat large amounts of sat fats..do I though?...no I have reduced my intake of sat fats....My TC level is 141, which is lower than my wifes LDL, however my wife exercises regualarly eats very well and has no heart issues or clogged arteries....yet the Dr screamed at her to get on Vytorin...SCREW HIM SHE SAID!
When his screaming did not worked he tried to convince me I would be a single father in a year....

I get so angry at these Dr's today...Hey Doc try actually to be interested in public health and not the personal wealth of the pharamacons!!!!!

[stina]

Hi shawk- Thanks. You are so lucky to have found a doctor that seems to have a lot of good sense and who understands that everybody is not the same. How locigal is it that everybody should have a cholesterol count of 200 :roll: Bizarre really, but the propaganda is so intense and so cleverly distributed so many people, including myself, panic. Then if your doctor, who should know, tells you that you are at deaths door... My triglycerides for instance have never been over 80. Yes, I get very angry too when these drugs are given out willy nilly and reading some peoples posts on this forum makes me even more so. We only have one life as far as I know and nobody should be allowed to distroy it either through ignorance or sheer profit making. Thank goodness for this forum and for everybody on it for sharing their experiences.

[bunnylady]

Amen! Hey today is the first day I've been out and about (in the public arena) and people stopped me in the parking lot of the mall to ask what in the world was wrong with me- I have big bruises and scrapes on my legs from falling- my feet have not swelled in 3 months and today they look like balloons- couldn't get any shoes on- had to buy flip flops- and my knees feel like crumbling clay- I had to buy a cane but I got out anyways- probably will pay for it tomorrow- people told me God Bless and all that- I must look really bad!

does the reswelling of the feet mean I could have that rhabdamyolisis?

[Ray Holder]

Hi Bunnylady,
No!! swollen feet are not a sign of Rhabdomylosis. first sign is brown urine, and the carnitine should be keeping the muscle wastage which causes it at bay if you are taking enough, your CPK test will give the answer to that.

Swollen feet are probably a sign that you have a little heart muscle weakness, NOT heart attack, due to lack of Q10 caused by the statin, are you taking Q10, or are you the lady who had trouble with the antacid tablet interactoin? I think it is more important to keep your Q10 level up and only use stomach tablets when you really have no alternative, but not all the time. I find I need 600mg Q10 daily or my heart objects strongly, but I am 85.

Ray

[bunnylady]

hi ray- no I don't have problems with antacid interaction-

my feet are puffy today too- I'll try more CoQ10

patty