General Medical issues thread

[JohnM]

The problem with my friends is they don't tell me when I am acting strangely ( other than Mrscove). Muscle strength reduction seems to happen to a small percentage of statin users.

How's your bench-pressing going, then?

 

[beefarmer]

why not......
bench press, have a heart attack then don't bench press.
eat some peanuts.
they seem to help.

 

[marki]

So an update on my crazy blood pressure (which reached 199/135 at one point). All tests have come back totally normal which is great. Doesn't seem to be any underlying problems, such as heart damage or valves, which is even better. So it's just genetic or a medical mystery or something. I am now on a low dose blood pressure pill, which seems to be controlling it really well and I feel great. Mr FM is making nasty comments about buying me one of those pill boxes to control my medication, but if one pill a day is necessary to make me feel like I do at the moment, I am happy with it .

They call it essential hypertension ......

 

[Pushka]

Pushka I have been on a high dose statin for 22 years. When I tried to lower my readings with a strict diet regime it did not work. If there are side effects of statins I haven't noticed anything.

Yes - I tried the diet regime with little success also. But didn't try the cholesterol reduction spread. I have a window of experimentation available before the next specialist visit.

 

[TheRealTMA]

Yes - I tried the diet regime with little success also. But didn't try the cholesterol reduction spread. I have a window of experimentation available before the next specialist visit.

Your cholesterol levels are genetic, nothing to do with your diet. Statins are good for you, and for more than simple cholesterol control. Notwithstanding the appalling unscientific scaldalous report on the so called ABC science program, Catalyst..

 

[rogerkambah]

Best wishes rogerkambah,

Several of us here have had significant cancer issues and have left them far behind. Become part of the survivors group.

I'm certainly aiming for that, just I think the journey won't be smooth.

 

[Flying mermaid]

I am resisting going on statins. Trying the spread to see what happens.

me too! I have done everything though and nothing happens. Used the spread, almost no fats in my diet, make all my own food, high fibre, organic. Even use expensive organic macadamia or almond oils for the tiny bit of fats I include in my cooking!

However the the ratio of good to bad is less than 3 so I am not going on statins. Dr FM made me read the Cochrane report which was quite conclusive about no side effects, but I remain unconvinced. I am particular concerned with cognitive problems in older women - basically would prefer to die early than lose my mind.....

 

[TheRealTMA]

me too! I have done everything though and nothing happens. Used the spread, almost no fats in my diet, make all my own food, high fibre, organic. Even use expensive organic macadamia or almond oils for the tiny bit of fats I include in my cooking!

However the the ratio of good to bad is less than 3 so I am not going on statins. Dr FM made me read the Cochrane report which was quite conclusive about no side effects, but I remain unconvinced. I am particular concerned with cognitive problems in older women - basically would prefer to die early than lose my mind.....

FM, you are not following the science behind cholesterol levels in humans, nor evidence based medicine guidelines. Why?

 

[pootle]

So an update on my crazy blood pressure (which reached 199/135 at one point). All tests have come back totally normal which is great. Doesn't seem to be any underlying problems, such as heart damage or valves, which is even better. So it's just genetic or a medical mystery or something. I am now on a low dose blood pressure pill, which seems to be controlling it really well and I feel great. Mr FM is making nasty comments about buying me one of those pill boxes to control my medication, but if one pill a day is necessary to make me feel like I do at the moment, I am happy with it .

Good of to hear, I had issues after my open heart surgery, so went on low dose meds, then my BP righted itself and went down way too low to the point of passing out just keep n eye on it

 

[Flying mermaid]

FM, you are not following the science behind cholesterol levels in humans, nor evidence based medicine guidelines. Why?

1.)i assume you regard Mayo clinic as reasonably reputable? They have as a risk factor for side effects for statins as simply being Female. I am a female.

2. Almost no independent research has been done on statins - mainly done by pharmaceutical companies.

3. Trials have mainly centred on males - very little on older women.

4. I am making a judgement call together with my GP on how necessary statins are for me. Given my ratio of good to bad is well under the recommended ratio, I am electing not to use statins. My ratio is 2.9 with the recommended ratio < 4.5.

5. My GP has had at least one case of statins causing congnitive confusion in a female patient which vanished after she was taken off statins. While I agree that doesn't mean every female is going to, I don't choose to take that risk.

 

[Flying mermaid]

Good of to hear, I had issues after my open heart surgery, so went on low dose meds, then my BP righted itself and went down way too low to the point of passing out just keep n eye on it

That's interesting . Yes my GP said to keep an eye on it without being obsessive.

Hope all, is well with you now.

 

[suze2000]

As a small data point, my mother complained of cognitive impairment on Lipitor, but was switched to something else and is now fine. However, she had also just had a major heart attack (ten minute arrest) and that in itself can cause some brain damage and cognitive impairment. So, I'm not sure how relevant that data point is. But if my GP suggests statins I will say "sure, what are my options that aren't Lipitor?"

 

[TheRealTMA]

1.)i assume you regard Mayo clinic as reasonably reputable? They have as a risk factor for side effects for statins as simply being Female. I am a female.

2. Almost no independent research has been done on statins - mainly done by pharmaceutical companies.

3. Trials have mainly centred on males - very little on older women.

4. I am making a judgement call together with my GP on how necessary statins are for me. Given my ratio of good to bad is well under the recommended ratio, I am electing not to use statins. My ratio is 2.9 with the recommended ratio < 4.5.

5. My GP has had at least one case of statins causing congnitive confusion in a female patient which vanished after she was taken off statins. While I agree that doesn't mean every female is going to, I don't choose to take that risk.

Apart from point 2, a good reasoned response, PF. One does what works for one's health, providing it's rational.

 

[pootle]

That's interesting . Yes my GP said to keep an eye on it without being obsessive.

Hope all, is well with you now.

Yes much better now, had been sick for 2years that they couldn't pinpoint, once I had gone into heart failure they found the top 2 chambers completely blown open, usually they do through the groin but I only had 3mm of heart left around the hole, so had no choice but OHS' - all fixed now though

 

[Flying mermaid]

Apart from point 2, a good reasoned response, PF. One does what works for one's health, providing it's rational.

Interestingly I just went and used a risk assessment tool jointly developed by the American College of cardiology and the American Heart Association and plugged in my data. Had to use another online tool to convert mmol/l to mg/dl - got to love the Internet! Even with being treated for hypertension, I still came out with a risk factor of < 5%.

 

[Flying mermaid]

Yes much better now, had been sick for 2years that they couldn't pinpoint, once I had gone into heart failure they found the top 2 chambers completely blown open, usually they do through the groin but I only had 3mm of heart left around the hole, so had no choice but OHS' - all fixed now though

Glad to hear that - always frustrating when they can't find something, but terrific it was found.

 

[Pushka]

Interestingly I just went and used a risk assessment tool jointly developed by the American College of cardiology and the American Heart Association and plugged in my data. Had to use another online tool to convert mmol/l to mg/dl - got to love the Internet! Even with being treated for hypertension, I still came out with a risk factor of < 5%.

The risk factors are really important and not just the cholesterol level on its own. Unfortunately I think I crossed over to 'the dark side'.

 

[pootle]

Glad to hear that - always frustrating when they can't find something, but terrific it was found.

Absolutely,just annoying I had to go into heart failure for them to actually find it, thankfully I travelled overseas and ended up coming home with pleurisy. Antibiotics didn't work, so a quick trip for a chest X-ray to shut me up resulted in them funding an enlarged heart, still took 2 months for them to find something, my surgeon said I had approx 6 months left to live if he didn't operate ASAP Not what a 38 year old wants to hear!

 

[beefarmer]

Your cholesterol levels are genetic, nothing to do with your diet. Statins are good for you, and for more than simple cholesterol control. Notwithstanding the appalling unscientific scaldalous report on the so called ABC science program, Catalyst..

So if punters snack on hamburgers and chips all week they will be fine? Throw in a sedentary lifestyle and the a and e departments of local hospitals will be as clogged as their aortas.

 

[Cynicor]

Interestingly I just went and used a risk assessment tool jointly developed by the American College of cardiology and the American Heart Association and plugged in my data. Had to use another online tool to convert mmol/l to mg/dl - got to love the Internet! Even with being treated for hypertension, I still came out with a risk factor of < 5%.

If your GP is suggesting a statin and hasn't done the risk calc themselves in front of you, and is just treating a cholesterol number, then you need a new GP...

Also, I don't think anyone who graduated in the last 30 years treats to ratios anymore...