Statins - would you push for them?

[Troubler]

I have high cholesterol. My dad has genetic high cholesterol (familial HC) and my mum had a heart attack when she was 66.

I recently had a blood test for work insurance and they cut back my life cover through work because my cholesterol was high.

but when I went to the GP, he said my Q risk score was low and therefore I didn’t need statins.

Is it worth trying to get them? My family who live abroad are quite horrified that I haven’t got them given all the heart issues in my family but the GP was adamant he wasn’t going to prescribe them unless I had other risk factors which apparently I don’t!

I’m guessing I would have to go private to get them as the NHS GP is adamant I don’t need them

I took them for five weeks and ended up in agony with terrible cramps. Have had two lots of blood test since stopping them to check for any permanent damage. I would never take them again.

Lol

Huh?! They are the single biggest success story in medicine since handwashing was introduced.

Not a success for me.

For the poster asking about alternatives... My mum uses something called plant sterols as statins seen to give all my family pains in legs and muscle weakness. Do your own research though as I am not medically or otherwise trained.

I was started on Atorvastatin and had a lot of side effects after speaking to the Pharmacologist linked to my GP surgery I was then prescribed Rosuvastatin.
I haven’t had any side effects and I’m tolerating them well.

My sister and I were diagnosed with high cholesterol at around the same time, not massively high but too many of the bad ones. Our dad died of congestive heart failure in his 60s, so my Dr put me on a low dose of statins as a precaution. My sister, who had a different doctor, decided to lower hers through diet alone. She has since had a mini strike and has lost most of the sight in one of her eyes. She is also on statins now, but her stroke was absolutely preventable. If you are a suitable candidate, they are an amazing drug.

I won't risk it, there clearly is a risk as when I contacted GP I was given an appointment for blood test within 24 hours, had to go to hospital in neighbouring town as they couldn't find an appointment fast enough at the surgery. I got calls from doctor and pharmacist. I was also in agony and don't want to risk that level of pain again.

My second blood test indicates that the damage isn't permanent but that isn't 100% yet

Lecithin or Red Yeast Rice have worked well for friends and family with high cholesterol.

I have heard this. Where can I source it?

Simvastatin. It's an old one that they don't like to use any more but I've never had any problems with it so refused to change to a newer one. The new ones apparently stay in the system longer but Simvastatin has a half life of less than 5 hours so you need to take it at night.
Until I read your post I didn't realise the arcus cornealis wasn't meant to go so looked up some research articles at work today. Apparently it very rarely regresses, so despite thinking I'm normal I appear to be something of an anomaly. 😀

Holland & Barrett or Amazon.

You need a statin. Ask them to send an advice and guidance to endocrinology. Explain about family history. Qrisk can underestimate for some people

I was on Simvastatin originally but had to stop taking it due to side effects. You have had impressive results, that's great it's working so well. I'm on Rosuvastatin and don't have side effects with it. Thanks for your info, I learn something new every day 🙂

I had a low Q risk score with rising cholesterol scores. And as an aside I had a few ecgs which were all fine. Then, owing to another problem, I happened to be given a heart scan. Turned out I did in fact have a hereditary heart disease, mum had her first heart attack as a healthy and fit 47 year old. I'm now now on statins. I didn't profile right, even with the history and some symptoms, it was pure luck that the blocked main artery got picked up. Keep pushing.

Ha! I have a very low fat diet. Hereditary diseases still occur along with healthy lifestyles.

Me too. I noticed it was fading and just assumed it was a normal occurrence. Never thought to question it until today! Glad you've found one that's working for you.

If you possibly can go and see a cardiologist.
Some people can lower their cholesterol by changing their diet. Some of us have no chance because of our genes.
My heart attack hit me like a train, completely out of the blue. I had managed to lower my cholesterol a bit by diet alone, but it isn't that simple. Family history and genetic factors are really significant.
Your gp sounds ill informed.
A cardiologist will do a much more detailed set of tests.

This article was in The Times last week which you might find helpful- (obviously this is not meant for those with genetically high cholesterol) if you run the article through a paywall remover you should be able to read it if you don’t have a times sub.

https://www.thetimes.com/life-style/health-fitness/article/how-to-get-cholesteral-down-without-statins-ssckv0rcb

I’ve lost a fair bit of weight (25kgs) in the past 18 months or so and alongside eliminating UPF’s, takeaways etc the effect it’s had on my cholesterol has been surprising - my overall levels have gone from 6.6 to 5.0. HDL is up, LDL is down. Not gonna lie, it’s been a slog but it is possible but I did take me more than 4 weeks….!

I got mine down from 6 to 5. Then had a heart attack. My mum had a heart attack at 60 and survived. She always had a low fat diet because anything fatty made her " bilious".
Her father had a heart attack at 60 and died. He too was slim, active and had a healthy diet.
None of us ever smoked.
I am grateful to have the option of statins.
I am under the care of the cholesterol clinic now.

@waitamo I have started looking into calcium CT scans, were uou able to get yours on the nhs or pay privately?

My sister is very slim and obsessive about eating healthily yet her cholesterol is by far the highest in our family, despite some of my siblings being obese with rubbish diets. Genetics play a huge part, my GP was quick to put me on statins given my family history and I am so grateful for that, especially since my sister's stroke.

I already have a GP who I can tell feels that I’m doing the ‘worried well’ thing - I had a major allergic reaction when I was travelling for work last year. The hospital that I visited recommended an allergy specialist in London and I know the waiting lists are long so I paid for it myself. When the results came through and he wrote to my GP, the GP was completely dismissive and said he wasn’t going to follow the consultant’s recommendations because he ‘didn’t have to’. Sigh.

I just don’t want a stroke or a heart attack and given the family history, it’s quite likely I’ll have one at some point!

maybe I’ll just try a private GP - I don’t know how much statins cost privately but it’s probably less than the impact on my life if I have a stroke for example.

I see red yeast rice acts as a statin but is less tested so maybe I’ll just start with that for now

thanks for all the useful advice

What's the test to check if you have a genetic disposition to heart disease or a heart attack? Annoyingly, despite trying to eat cholesterol friendly foods more over the last year, my overall cholesterol has gone up. My ratio figure is good though. I'd like to get a clearer check to make a more informed decision about whether to take statins.

listen to Dr Reece -

https://x.com/wideawake_media/status/1891068251360133385