CR - you said in your post yesterday that you had thyroid problems. Personally I wouldn't start any prescription cholesterol med until my thyroid was treated.

From the Stop the Thyroid Madness Website:
Just wanted to share this! My endocrinologist wanted me to start Statins last year due to high cholesterol (it was 276 and the HDL was low, LDL high, triglycerides VERY high � over 400).

I took her prescription and got it filled but never took the first pill after reading the side effects, etc. Plus, I�d gotten Janie�s book and saw that hypothyroidism could cause high cholesterol�

I�ve been taking Cortef for adrenals and Armour and then Cytomel (T3) for thyroid (due to high Reverse T3) for about 10 months now. I just had my labs done last week, and had the best results!

Triglycerides: 173 H (Cholesterol, Total: 196 (125-200)
HDL: 66 (> 45)
LDL: 95 (Chol./HDLC Ratio: 3.0 (My doctor � the one who is helping me with these adrenal/thyroid issues � NOT my endocrinologist, whom I have not heard from yet(!) � was amazed! Other than the slightly high triglycerides (which is still way down from
over 400!) � she said I have a GREAT lipid profile! My HDL is higher than ever; LDL is lower than ever� And I made NO dietary changes or other meds that would�ve affected this! So it HAD to be thyroid-related�!

A google search will show more connections between high cholesterol and the thyroid.

The fish oil capsules won't hurt. Take with meals though to avoid the 'fish burps'.

JMHO.

In case that was hard to read, I've linked the page below.

Here is a link that might be useful: Jacki's story - cholesterol

I currently take a prescription form of Omega3 called Lovaza.

I'm taking Zocar for high cholesterol.

CR...I KNOW I'd ask for something other than the Crestor. DH had high cholesterol and was on medication for it. (can't remember what kind), then all at once the Dr. switched him from what he was taking to Crestor. It never occurred to DH to ask WHY he was switching him. He'd also brought home his lab results..and his cholesterol had dropped..a LOT! So what he was taking WAS working..so why change it. I told DH I bet him $100.00 it was a "new" drug..so I get online and sure enough, it had JUST been approved by the FDA 3 months before...AND, there were already lawsuits being filed because of the side-effects...and one of those side-effects was DEATH! Call me stupid..but what's the point of lowering cholesterol if you end up DEAD??

I've heard Cinnamon is being PRAISED (and proven) for lowering cholesterol and stabilizing blood sugar! I've also read something about Red Yeast Rice? tablets for cholesterol.

The only thing I "take" is a strict avoidance of saturated fat. I learned this from my dad, whose cholesterol was dangerously high in his forties (he couldn't walk up a ramp without popping nitroglycerine). He reversed this with diet, and lived to be 90. I learned this lesson through him.

I have the same tendency toward high cholesterol, and so, like him, I gave up cheese, fatty meats, and the rest. It's been years, and I'm used to it.

I've also had dangerously high (547) triglycerides, which I brought down to normal levels by giving up sugar and reducing other carbs. Yes, you could say I eat medicinally, but I'd rather do that than eat medicine, with all the risks that go with that (not to mention the expense). :-)

I tried all alternate options but could not get my cholesterol down.

At first I took lipitor.

Then my insurance was pretty insistent, to take simvastatin. I asked my Dr., and he said, to try it.

I get the simvastatin for free, my insurance picks up the WHOLE cost.

So far (3 years) so good. I eat very low fat, very little ice cream anymore, and nothing fried.

My count is good now, on the drugs.

Yes, I am getting older, but I am NOT OLD! LOL. Boniva is the "other old people drug" that I take.

Moni

Besides taking a regular statin, I also take Zetia(another statin). My family has a history of high cholesterol, and unfortunately I was blessed as well.

But I also take 4 fish oil a day, and I take a C0-Q 10 everyday. I increased these two last year just as an experiment to see what would happen. And I really did not change my diet.

My numbers(which I just had blood tests done in June)were the best they have ever been.

I agree with Lydia. I was recently diagnosed hypothyroid and my cholesterol is up. Doctor said it would probably come down on its own once my thyroid meds kicked in.

My doctor started me on Pravastatin last year. I have a feeling she will take me off it next month when I get my physical. I joined an exercise clinic and WW and have lost 10 pounds so far. I still want to lose another 10. I have followed a low-fat, low cholesterol diet for years. Unfortunately, my dad died at 60 of heart disease so I am at risk.

EXERCISE, exercise, exercise and diet. Okay, I don't know how high your levels are, but if you include these two things, it will help alot. I guess I never had really high cholesterol, I was always in the 190's but my "good cholesterol" wasn't high enough. then my number went up to 232 I joined weight watchers, and EXERCISED my butt off (literally! lol) and my number went from232 to 134 with GREAT numbers for my "good choles. (I cAN'T remember the actual # for that right now.)

USED to take Zocor.

But then I decided I did not want to be taking all the pills I was taking, Zocor included.

So I changed up the diet and started exercising.

Now I am taking NO meds for HBP or cholesterol or gastric reflux or migraines... all done with those!

First I was on Lipitor, until I couldn't stand the foot cramps any longer. Doc switched to me Zetia....still had same problem. I quit taking "drugs" that have all those side effects. I am still taking fish oil,(don't take more than 4 ladies...my doc said), started on the Ceylon (must be Ceylon, not Cassia) cinnamon capsules (available in health food stores) that I open and mix with a Tablespoon of "raw" honey first thing every morning on empty stomach. I will be anxious to see if that works. That Red Yeast Rice is supposed to be good. I will be starting Monday on "CholesteRice" that contains the Red Yeast Rice and CoQ10. Got that at the health food store. If none of this works, so be it. Cholesterol may kill me eventually, but I will not let "drugs" kill me.

I couldn't take Lipitor so I take the fish oil, also niacin caps. I don't know if it has helped I think mine just went down slightly since taking.

DH has been on statins for ten years. This year he started kicking me in bed. MD said yesterday he should stop simvistatin for a month and see if that helps. I never thought DH needed pills anyway; his counts were borderline. Seems like the entire world is taking statins!

My cholesterol counts are naturally phenomenal, according to our MD. Must be the only good thing I've got going for me!

Ditto with what luann said. I took Lipitor for a couple of years...it did nothing for me.
I then stopped taking it, I started eating sensibly, lost 30 lbs, and began exercising more. Not only did my total cholesterol go down, but the hgl/ldl ratio is excellent. My cardiologist is still shaking his head...and it's been 6-7 years.

For those who are interested in red yeast rice, you might want to read this article. If you have problems with statin drugs, you will probably have the same problems with red yeast rice. It is believed that the red yeast rice that is available in the US, will probably not have any effect on your cholesterol, since the only form of it actually known to lower cholesterol, is not available legally in the US.

Here is a link that might be useful: Red Yeast Rice

Always late with my newspaper reading, I just read Dr. Peter Gott's column from July 10 about cholesterol. A reader wrote in to say that 1,500 mg. of cinnamon three times a day reduced his or her cholesterol by 200 points. Triglyceride levels also dropped to normal.

Dr. Gott told the reader to stick with it, but also said most of his readers found cinnamon didn't work. I'm thinking maybe they didn't take enough of it. I'm often not all that great about taking something three times a day, but if I needed results like that I'd give it a try.

He added, "It is also vital that people with elevated cholesterol levels limit dietary fat." I assume he means saturated fat. Good fats, like olive oil and nuts, should not raise cholesterol.

I have taken Crestor for a number years now. I don't have high cholesterol but my body makes the bad stuff (can't remember if is the LDL or the HDL) The only way it was discovered was because of an occassional cramp in my calf muscle.

Anyway ... I've been reading some stuff on it and read how statins prevent your body from making it's own supply of
Coenzyne Q10 and that can be hard on the heart.

I asked my Doctor about it and she said that it was inconclusive - however, CO Q10 is excellent for your heart and also gives you more energy and speeds up your metabolism (bonus!). I started 200 mg of CO Q10 a day about a month ago. I feel amazing! If I miss a day I sure can feel it. I take it in the morning with my multivitamin and Omega 3-6-9 and I'm good to go! I took it at night once and had a hard time falling asleep.

My DH takes CO Q10 now and notices how much more energy he has.

Where the statins actually reduce the process of CO Q10, or not, I'm kind of hooked on it as I've notice many other benefits.

I would suggest you research it thoroughly and check with your doctor before taking any kind of OTC homepathic/natural medication.

Just had to throw a disclaimer in there! :~)

BJ

Here is a link that might be useful: Co-Q10 abd Statins

I take Lipitor,fish oil caps 2xday and B complex 2x day.The chemo drugs sent my cholesterole and my BP up,so doc put me on those things and now everything is back to normal.BP remains at 120/78 the last few times and cholesterole is ok now also.
Kathi

Years ago two doctors and a nurse told me cholesterol does not help people when they get a certain age, 70's. I have had dizzy spells and a problem with balance for a couple of years now and my doctor put me on cholesterol meds along with blood pressure. She also told me the cholesterol meds will not get rid of blockage and I am to old for it to prevent more blockage, but she said it will dilate the blood vessels and may prevent a stroke. I tried both and the BP meds are doing a good job, but after 3 weeks the Cholesterol caused to much pain to tolerate. It felt like someone was stabbing me in the lower back with an ice pick, the screaming kind of pain. I stopped the cholesterol meds but the pain has not gone away completely and may end up being permanent.

I just read the same article myself regarding the Red Yeast Rice. The FDA wanted it banned because they couldn't regulate it. I used to take it and it worked. Then all of a sudden it stopped working. The FDA ruined the formula.
Here are some other choices.
Aged garlic extract, Plant sterols, CoQ10, fish oils, and Sytrinol. Do a google search for the Sytrinol. I'm on a Statin but I'm going to tell the doctor to take me off it. Also look on iherb.com under Cholesterol and they have some additional suppliments. If you want a $5.00 discount on your first order put in the code DON889.
Donna

I take a small dose of Crestor..I read up on it and felt it was the lessor of all the cholesterol medication evils....it dropped my cholesterol numbers like a rock...no side affects that I know of.

Just an fyi: you may not notice any side effects at first. But don't discount the fact that they can occur later. And that "connection" isn't always made!

I took Crestor for a little over a year. Then I began to notice how stiff & achy I was. When it got to the point that I couldn't turn over in bed, it finally dawned on me...... maybe it's the Crestor? I stopped taking it & in 3 weeks I was back to my agile self & no aches.

I personally believe there are a number of people who have "aches/pain/arthritis" that they attribute to "old age", when in fact it is statins (one of the most Rx'd drugs in the USA).

I also believe that "cholesterol levels" are way over hyped, a byproduct of the gazillion $$'s that the drug companies make off these drugs.

I have very low risk factors for heart attack/stroke. Taking a cholesterol lowering drug would reduce that low risk by an additional ~3%. Given that statins affect my quality of life, I think the payoff is far from worth it

None of my friend's doctors acknowledged it could be the meds. When I mentioned it my nurse she said that is where your osteoporosis is. Also I found out that osteoporosis causes no pain unless you break a bone. Osteo arthritis does cause pain.

Below is a very good article about statins. Please do some reasearch before starting on any cholesterol-lowering drug.

Here is a link that might be useful: Cholesterol Conspriracy

Simvastatin - high risk for coronary artery disease due to family history - father first heart attack in his late 40's - dead at age 62. I was doing rigorous cardio 4-5x a week - weight is good - diet decent - my cholesterol still went out of whack after menopause. Since I've already been "saved" by highly toxic pharmaceuticals twice in my life (12 mos of chemo at age 15 and two years at age 25) I'll take my chances with a little simvastatin. No side noticeable side effects.

There is also a link between high cholesterol and Alzheimers. My mother died of Alzheimers and my father died from a heart attack at age 50. My cholesterol was 330. I have to be careful.
Donna

This is a good forum on cholesterol.

Here is a link that might be useful: locarbfriends forum

I started reading through OrganicDonna's link and remembered that I also eat 1/4-cup of oat bran every day. I did this even when I was on a strict low-carb diet to lose weight. My DD's cholesterol was high, and she lowered it by eating oatmeal every morning. But it's the bran part that does the job.

When I was going to Dr. Atkins in NYC, he had me eating bacon and cheese. I was young (22).....I guess this explains why I survived.

Alisande: You say you eat a 1/4 cup of oat bran every day. How do you fix it? Do you cook it? Alone or with oatmeal? Don't cook and add it to other dry cereal?

Thanks

Shirley

Anyone ever think that because so many people are on statins, and, like my DH, are 'kicking' in bed...that's why we suddenly need those 'Restless Legs' meds?

I'm going to be curious to see if DH's legs stop this involuntary flexing and what his cholesterol counts will be at the end of a month.

We all have a natural 'set point' cholesterol. Some people are naturally high, or like me, low on the 'bad' part. I don't think statins can lower bad cholesterol beyond your own 'set point'. Anyone know?

i also take simvastation... the drug my kidney dr gave me...i also take a bp no one ever knows, cause it's mostly used by pg women or prescribed buy obgyns, methldopa...everyone tells me it's old fashion...i don't care.. it's taken 3 years to get good kidney tests!

what dh does is very careful to take his thryoid meds at one time of the day, and other drugs at night..less conflict..or side effects...

you know what i miss the most? grapefruit! and we never buy anything without reading a lable...

Shirley, I read your post just now while eating oat bran. LOL

Usually I cook it in a bowl in the microwave, sometimes adding raisins before cooking. Sometimes I add a sprinkle of cinnamon. Occasionally I stir in some applesauce after cooking.

Tonight I was eating it uncooked, mixed with wheat germ and some raisins and walnuts, and sweetened slightly with one drop of stevia. Cooked or uncooked, I eat it with soymilk.

Actually, oat bran is very much on my mind right now because I have to launder a shirt and shorts that are covered with it. I fell down my porch steps this evening while holding a bowl of cooked oat bran and soymilk, and it got all over me--hair, arms, clothes. What a mess. I don't know how it happened. My DS was right there, and he doesn't know how it happened either. I'm just glad I didn't reinjure my bad knee. Anyway, I didn't get to eat any of it, so that's why I was eating it uncooked a little later.

Thanks everyone! I got some Fish Oil capsules too...

Thanks for the info, Alisande. I winced when I read about your fall. Glad you're okay.

Shirley