<p>OffTopic -LBowie, tell us more about. 23andme. Maybe start a new thread? I’m intrigued by the possible information.</p>
<p>I don’t believe there is a single study showing any improved life expectancy for female statin drug users, except women who have already had a heart attack. No demonstrable benefit whatsoever. The downsides, in addition to muscle pain that hinders exercise, is an increased risk of developing diabetes. If I were woman handed a prescription for statins, I would thank the doctor as I take the prescription and then do a LOT of homework before deciding whether to fill the prescription or not.</p>
<p>There are some rare familial genetic cholesterol conditions that result in outrageously high cholesterol readings. These need to be addressed with statins. For women with moderately high cholesterol numbers, it’s far better to address them with diet than statins. A low-ish carb, moderate protein, healthy fat diet will almost always produce dramatic results – lowering triglycerides, raising HDL, and changing the LDL profile to the more desirable large, bouyant kind. Low fat high carb diets will reduce the LDL reading, but will generally drive the HDL down into the gutter and increase triglycerides – just the opposite of what you want for lower coronary risk and a smaller number of LDL particles. Docs who aren’t looking at these ratios are way behind the times.</p>
<p>Apparently, the coronary artery risk is really correlated with a large NUMBER of LDL particles. You can have a low cholesterol number from statins (such as Tim Russert) and be at very high risk of keeling over dead from coronary disease if you have a high number of LDL particles. The thinking now is that a large number of LDL particles is probably another symptom of metabolic syndrome as the same things that improve insulin resistance also tend to lower LDL particle counts.</p>
<p>I tried a statin and after a few weeks could barely walk. My DH is an M.D. and had no idea (at that time) about the connection. Nor did my doc. I reseached it on line–went off and within a few weeks the symptoms left. I tried a different one with the same results. I now take Zetia which lowers the cholestral readings but new reseach shows does not change the heart disease situation. I am going to get blood work soon and then go off of the Zetia for 6 months and see what the numbers are.</p>
<p>My elderly father has been on lipitor for yrs with no side effects. Last fall he developed pneumonia and had some residual rib pain while standing (we thought from the coughing, could have broken a rib? had some muscle strain?) Rib pain was so bad that when it would come on, he would have to double over to ease it. Went thru xrays, cti, mri, saw his cardiologist, internist referred him to gastro, then when gastro turned up nothing - sent him to a pulmonologist…noone could find or point a finger at what was causing this sharp rib pain. Nearly one yr later, cardiologist takes him off lipitor (ended up his cholesterol was very very low at that pt), and symptoms have eased. If someone should know the tie between statins and muscle pain in his plethory of drs., they didn’t.</p>
<p>@dragonmom post #21 – I just started such a thread.</p>
<p>For those who don’t notice any side effects to statins, I’d ask “after a couple years of taking them, how would you know you don’t have them?” Small changes over time are easily written off to aging, stress at work, etc. [Full Disclosure: I’ve been on Lipitor for years and am not aware of any side effects.]</p>
<p>For those who take meds and still don’t feel well, talk to your doctor. People react differently to medicined. For a brief period I took one (commonly prescribed) med. It left me too tired to type at my computer. I got a different med and I was fine.</p>