So I just went in for my second-ever cholesterol screen and the results were semi-positive. The total cholesterol number was just under the point where the docs get all freaked out. Trigs were around 230, however. So, they want me on a low-dose statin and we'll see where things go since there is a history of heart disease in my family.
I'm a little freaked after reading the pros and cons of this stuff, particularly the parts regarding possible effects on the liver - and that apparently you shouldn't drink much while taking it. The problem, you see, is I like beer. Sometimes, like on Friday and/or Saturday nights, for example, lots of beer. I have no intention of ridding my life of beer, since it keeps me sane to some degree. I'm having a beer as I type this. Although I'm healthy, I'm having visions of killing myself off with the combination of statins and beer, thus defeating the purpose of the meds altogether.
Should I worry about frying my liver before the year is out? Anybody got any FHE or valuable insight?
No first hand knowledge but I will watch this thread because $20 says I will have to be on some cholesterol meds soon too. Already on high blood pressure meds. Last blood test I had my numbers were elevated. But I wasn't fasting. Hope that helps next time. I already have been on meds in the past for other things that are hard on your liver and kidney. They checked those functions regularly when I was on them. I'm off them now. And I do like high end sipping tequila and margaritas a lot. My wife says too much.
Good luck with your delima. I'm sure some others on here have been in that same situation. I like my kidney and liver, I want to to be with me for a while longer. I like a good drink too. [bang]
I was given lipitor and one other one a few maybe 2 or so years back age 56
and my liver started aching like it hadn't since I was 35 years old
Rewind...I was 33 when my doctor told me to change my lifestyle or start putting my affairs in order
as my liver was getting pretty close to failure...so I thought it over for 2 more years and cleaned up my circus act
Fast forward 20 years or so and I like everyone else on earth was being toid my cholesterol was high
So I listened and thought what the hell and after a few weeks was saying what the make the beast with two backsing hell?
I think the pounding my liver took in my earlier years did not lend it well to these new meds
I just stopped using them...I don't have high blood pressure but my cholesterol readings were high
I don't trust any of this shit anymore...there are way too many incentives for Doctors these days in their relationships with Big Pharma
So maybe my heart will explode...oh gee whizz like I'll be the first make the beast with two backsing human to die outside an actuarial table spread
It is a make the beast with two backsing miracle to begin with that I am even alive now to type this
without delving in deeper about myself,, the last 24 years have been a freebie I neither earned nor deserved
so I am pretty okay about going whatever distance I am scheduled to go
Be careful mixing statins and a lot of alcohol...neither does the liver any favors....
and someday when they cut your jaundiced bright yellow carcass open they can say...
"he has the heart of a 20 year-old but his liver looks like a homeless man's shoe" :)
5 years ago, I hit the trifecta - Diabetes, high cholesterol and high blood pressure. I have dropped 63 lbs to date, quit caffine and have eliminated my high blood pressure without meds. My blood sugar is in good control mostly due to a very tightly controlled diet and a good amount of exersize. Cholesterol and triglicerides are now pretty good due to diet and statins. There are a pile of horror stories about statins, some of them probably have some truth in them depending on the individual. My doc said that if you have a compromised liver to start with, you may do yourself some damage with statins. They do tests every 6 months to make sure you are not endangering your liver function.
That being said, the Doc has obviously checked your liver function when he did your blood panel and will continue to monitor both your cholesterol level and liver function so you should be alright. Beer is probably not the ideal food for "metabolic" diseases. Beer rates in the mid 200's on the glycemic scale with white bread rated 100. It will keep pounding on your pancreas. If you have good genes and a tough pancreas, you may be able to put off diabetes until late in life especially if you don't have many of the other risk factors like being overweight and sedentary.
I didn't drink much prior to my diagnosis so quitting beer was not hard for me but french fries and home made bread, etc was tough.
I feel the best I have felt in 15 years. It was worth what I gave up to get here.
Realize though, everyone's body is different and the rules are not set in stone.
Quote from: RAT900 on July 30, 2010, 02:26:32 PM
and someday when they cut your jaundiced bright yellow carcass open they can say...
"he has the heart of a 20 year-old but his liver looks like a homeless man's shoe" :)
More or less my exact line of thinking....
My Dr. wants me on statins for high triglycerides - but I'm not playing along.
I'll lower mine with diet and exercise, or not.
There is too much reliance on prescription meds these days - IMHO
Depends on the individual. I dropped a pile of weight and do a good amount of exersize and got off statins for about a year. My triglycerides and cholesterol went right back to their previously high levels. Got back on the damn things and my numbers are back where they are supposed to be. I hate the drugs too and believe it is a scam on the American people on a colossal scale but in my case, they have helped after I have done all I can with diet and exersize.
they put me on statins also. you've got to decide which is better.
I chose to drop some weight and exercise (although I've backslidden somewhat). My cholesterol was just over the line and wavered under/over, so I felt I could manage it on my own terms. The medicine made me feel lousy.
I checked out the health stores, and they had 2 kinds of treatment. Their version of statins and a non-statin forluma that would moderately lower my cholesterol. Since my numbers weren't that high, the latter has been working for me.
How do statins work? Can a low dose help you? Can you take regular doses when not drinking and lower doses for the beer nights? Yeah, the doctor is going to talk about giving up all liquor. Talk reality to them.
best of luck.
From what they said, they start with a low dose to see if it has the desired effect within a couple of months. If not, they bump the dose.
I told the doc it's typical to have 2-3 beers a night after work during the week, maybe a six or so max over a weekend evening. That's about all I drink, unless it's a special occasion (and even then I'm not big on hangovers, so I rarely get carried away).
That amount of swillage didn't seem to be a huge issue, although the docs will tell you they'd prefer to see you have 1-2 and call it quits....
The horror stories about the statins are what has me freaked out. Probably not a huge thing to worry about. But if they make me feel like hell, screw it.
You may get a couple of weeks of muscle and joint aches. I did when i went on them and when i restarted taking them. In my case, it faded after about 3 weeks, but I did feel like hammered shit a few times. From what I understand, an over the counter product called CoEnzyme Q10 is supposed to help with the muscle aches and replace some of the good things that the statins remove. Some Docs prescribe them to all their statin patients. I am thinking about adding it to my daily suppliments. Do a bit of research on the net and draw your own conclusions on the stuff. Might help.
What I find annoying is "the rush to the prescription pad"
No dialogue about trying dietary modification,
lifestyle changes or
exercise regimen coupled with diet etc
and "lets give that a month or 3 and see if you can bring these numbers down"
nope....bang right to the pad.....
you get banged up??? ....well just try getting a doctor to write you a non-narcotic pain script...
nope...right to the Oxy's, Perc's, Vike's etc
Now we all know there are laws preventing Big Pharma from putting MD's on outright commission....
but believe me they have "marketing incentive" programs for MD's
to ensure that their products "remain competitive" in the marketplace
I've heard that some clinics give a bonus to doctors for every case of diabetes they diagnose. This was several years ago but at the time, the average diabetic patient was worth about 250K in billings to a clinic over their lifespan. Metabolic syndrome is a cashcow to the medical and pharma industries.
statins don't directly damage the liver. in the very rare but dangerous side effect, they will
cause rapid breakdown of muscle tissue ... which then floods the liver.
given the way we eat here in the west, any male >30 not susceptible to the muscle damage
reaction should be taking a low dose of one of the older statins (lova- or simva-).
You guys need to find new doctors. My family doctor views medication as a last resort, and we actually talk about the various options. [thumbsup]
Quote from: Triple J on August 02, 2010, 06:40:51 AM
You guys need to find new doctors. My family doctor views medication as a last resort, and we actually talk about the various options. [thumbsup]
+1
Are you guys going to General Practice doctors or Internal Medicine?
If you are having heart conditions, go find a good cardiologist, but as many have said above.....lots are quick to hit the script pad.
A good doctor will recommend a dietary and lifestyle change first. If that does not help, then medication should be applied.
I'll send you a PM Speedbag.
Post his office number!! [laugh] His practice will be full within the hour!
Quote from: WarrenJ on August 02, 2010, 04:00:47 AM
I've heard that some clinics give a bonus to doctors for every case of diabetes they diagnose. This was several years ago but at the time, the average diabetic patient was worth about 250K in billings to a clinic over their lifespan. Metabolic syndrome is a cashcow to the medical and pharma industries.
You'd actually be surprised on what is billed and what is actually paid to a medical practice. On average, for every dollar billed, the medical practice receives around $0.38.
The days of the kickbacks to physicians for prescribing certain medications are long long gone.
Quote from: Speedbag on August 01, 2010, 01:49:33 PM
The horror stories about the statins are what has me freaked out. Probably not a huge thing to worry about. But if they make me feel like hell, screw it.
The higher "strength" Statin Medications definitely react differently than the "beginner" ones.
Rat was on Lipitor which is much stronger one.
I'm on Simvastatin, only 10mg at the moment.
Quote from: cyrus buelton on August 02, 2010, 07:03:29 AMA good doctor will recommend a dietary and lifestyle change first.
True.
However, as many posts in this thread make abundantly clear, many people don't want to be told to make diet or lifestyle changes. Some are deeply offended when doctors dare to do so.
If they don't want medication or surgery either, then what they're actually hoping for is magic.
Quote from: mstevens on August 03, 2010, 04:42:20 AM
True.
However, as many posts in this thread make abundantly clear, many people don't want to be told to make diet or lifestyle changes. Some are deeply offended when doctors dare to do so.
If they don't want medication or surgery either, then what they're actually hoping for is magic.
Exactly.
It is with anything...........YOU have to make the decision to change.
There is only one person that can make that decision.
It appears there is a lot of doctor hating on this board to begin with as everyone thinks they are out to write scripts that will kill you. It actually can be construed as offensive to some if their family members are involved in being a doctor, but I just chalk it up as ignorance.
Doctors fall somewhere between Auto/Mcycle Mechanics and LEOs
There are good ones and there are hacks who are an insult to their professions
as in the case of Auto/Mcycle Mechanics and LEOs...... the quality of an MD's work also can have lifesaving or devastating consequences
I do not genuflect at the mere sight of anyone's white lab jacket/scrubs, overalls or badge. I tend to assess people as humans and individuals first... in the context of where they land on the "universal asshole barometer" not in the context of their attire
There is nothing wrong with maintaining a healthy/cautious skepticism regarding anyone whose direct actions can potentially shorten or lengthen your existence
Quote from: RAT900 on August 04, 2010, 12:14:17 AM
There is nothing wrong with maintaining a healthy/cautious skepticism regarding anyone whose direct actions can potentially shorten or lengthen your existence
[laugh]
so lemme get this straight
your own direct action have turned your liver into wet cardboard with a function similar to that of a typewriter in the computer age
you voluntarily go to a doctor who confirms this
gives you a magic bean to fix it
and
you want to vilify the guy as being a bribe taker cuz he says you need to stop the action that has make the beast with two backsed you up
[bang]
Quote from: RAT900 on August 04, 2010, 12:14:17 AM
There are good ones and there are hacks who are an insult to their professions
You are so right on this one.
It's pretty strange if you run across the board of what specialty the doctor practices and the outcome of treatment, examine room manners, etc etc.
It's hard to find a good, responsible doctor.
I typically choose older physicians as they are "old school" and aren't as quick to grab the script pad.
Quote from: Mother on August 04, 2010, 03:41:54 AM
[laugh]
so lemme get this straight
your own direct action have turned your liver into wet cardboard with a function similar to that of a typewriter in the computer age
you voluntarily go to a doctor who confirms this
gives you a magic bean to fix it
and
you want to vilify the guy as being a bribe taker cuz he says you need to stop the action that has make the beast with two backsed you up
[bang]
No
my liver stopped being wet cardboard
24 years ago and has repaired/regen'd over those past 24 years
3 years ago I was given lipitor as a consequence of cholesterol numbers...which may or may not have had any relationship to what condition my liver was in 24 years ago...people who have lived far cleaner lives than mine have worse cholesterol
my contention is that I reacted poorly to it, there was a unilateral decision to put me on it with no discussion of diet or possible alternatives....
I watch with great amusement the endless stream of targeted market TV ads for prescription meds for Depression...
always run most in the winter months when people are more susceptable to depression due to reduced activity and less outdoor time in the sunlight...
who do the cabin fever cases have to go to to get themselves a scrip for what could easily be merely a seasonal condition?
the mass-consumer commercialization of medicine and the pharmaceutical business into industries that need to sustain growth to maintain or increase share-value create motives that fall short of Healing as an Art
^^^
Don't forget to throw in the ADD medication for every kid that is a little hyper.
Not quite sure why a pedatrician or a GP doctor can prescribe and diagnosis such "disorders"
I realize they have all had a rotation in psychiatry, but I think before throwing a kid on an amphetamine (or the few other ones that are not amphetamines), someone licensed in diagnosing should be used.
Quote from: cyrus buelton on August 04, 2010, 10:39:27 AM
^^^
Don't forget to throw in the ADD medication for every kid that is a little hyper.
Not quite sure why a pedatrician or a GP doctor can prescribe and diagnosis such "disorders"
I realize they have all had a rotation in psychiatry, but I think before throwing a kid on an amphetamine (or the few other ones that are not amphetamines), someone licensed in diagnosing should be used.
my brain just imploded
Quote from: Mother on August 04, 2010, 11:50:56 AM
my brain just imploded
Not uncommon from my ramblings