Really Upset

[TOWIE]

I've just come back from seeing the practice nurse - she has said that because of my 7.9 cholesterol reading it would be advisable to start taking the statins. She has prescribed 40mg of Simivastin and said I am in danger of a heart attack if I do not take them. As my diet is quite healthy she said it must be down to genes that I have inherited My late Mum also took Simivastin, which I always blamed for her dementia and she was only on 20mg.

I have always been against taking statins for this reason.

[bednobs]

what made you think the statin and your mum's dementia were linked?

[tonyav]

Very sorry to hear this Den, Is there any proof that statins as any link to dementia though ?.

[grasscarp]

I had 9.9 reading and did not have to take statins. I started having a bowl of porridge for breakfast and got it down myself to 7.5. Just changing your diet can do this. I didnt want to take statins as they caused my husband to have really bad muscle pain.

[DTCwordfan]

There is an indirect linkage Den - in the sense with high cholestrol (and what is your blood pressure, for if that is high, there is a risk of strokes and there is a strong correlation between strokes and vascular dementia (There are over eight different types of dementia). However, if it is genetic, I would take second opinion as my ex MIL had very high cholestrol (over 9) and is still going at 85 coming up 86. Sqad will no doubt comment......

[Sqad]

A sensible move TOWIE although i would have started you with 20mgms but that is a matter of opinion.

There is NO evidence that statins accelerate the onset of dementia.......quite the opposite, there is evidence that statins impair the onset of dementia.

Take your medicine and be a good girl.

[TOWIE]

Sqad - I did question the 40mg and the nurse said, with such a high reading taking 20mg would not have no affect.

[grasscarp]

Quite a lot of information here
http://www.health.com...y/0,,20552165,00.html

[Sqad]

DT...we have just cross posted.

I do not know the family history of TOWIE, but if she had no family history of heart disease and no underlying medical condition, then results show that statins would have no preventive properties.

TOWIE has hypothyroidism which is under control and on balance, i would suggest that she took statins.

[Ann]

Could you not ask for Atorvastatin, my friend took Simvastatin and it caused aching joints so has changed - no problem now.

[TOWIE]

Family History: My Dad is 83 - low cholesterol - no heart disease, but takes blood pressure tablets and has always been under control on a low dose.
Mum: started taking statins in her 50's and blood pressure tablets and asprin and water tablets. No heart disease. Died of heart failure aged 82 last year.
Nan: Died of heart failure aged 86. Grandad: Liver Cancer aged 65.

[Sqad]

TOWIE....do as you are told.....I think that you should take statins.

I would be p1ssed off that a nurse made the decision on drug and dosage............

[TOWIE]

Ann - Mr. Towie takes astorvastin 20mg - he received a letter once from NHS asking him to change to Simivastin because they were cheaper - he refused.

[Ann]

Mr Ann was given Simvastatin from the hospital after his heart attack 7 years ago, his GP said No, you must take Atorvastatin after a heart attack, they are a far superior drug, they've only given you Simvastatin as they are the cheaper option - and he promptly changed the prescription. OH has had no problems on them at all.

[TOWIE]

Made decision - I will not take these drugs and will take my chances - if I have a heart attack and die, then so be it, there will be a few people who will be pleased.

Thank you all for your input. {:o xx

[grasscarp]

My daughter got me a book called The Great Cholesterol Con.

[tonyav]

I won't, Den please take sqads advice.

[Ann]

I totally agree with grasscarp re: porridge for breakfast. I'm not on Statins, I swear porridge sweetened with raisins and cranberries keeps mine down around 4.0 at every check. In all the health articles it recommends porridge oats (would that include natural unsweetened muesli?) to lower cholesterol. Try it Towie.......

[DTCwordfan]

I believe that we are violently agreeing, Sqad....my point, if not clear, being it's not the drugs but the consequences of not taking them that can lead to (vascular) dementia.

[DTCwordfan]

And, Den, we want you around here a little longer, being the selfish buggers that we are.

[TOWIE]

Thank you Tony and DT. xx

Ann - I have been eating porridge for breakfast for years - I have it with Soya Milk and a little honey. I don't eat red meat only Chicken and Turkey - I have put on half a stone in weight over the last year due to depression and inactivity and am convinced that if I lose weight my cholesteral will come down, but the nurse didn't agree and said it was almost hereditary.