However I have had a hard time controlling my LDL level. I reacted to Lipitor and have had some luck with zetia but now I am using red yeast rice which had kept my levels around 100 when I was clean in my diet, which is hard to do in Mx. I am 56 and in very good shape with a body fat of about 17%. I just had a lipid panel done and here are my numbers: HDL 113, LDL 131, Trg 36. My HDLs have always been very high, but never this high. I don't smoke, my BP runs 115/70 on average.
Dear Professionals:
I am faint and dizzy on a "daily" basis. I've been to the ER twice and the doctor's office five times. I'm on Meclizine daily (I can take up to 150 mg daily, but I only take 25 to 50 mg daily) and 81 mg aspirin. I've had two EKG's, one Echo test, my MRI is on Monday, Jan 9th and a Bilateral Carotid Ultrasound, Jan 26th.
I am suppose to start Lipitor.
P.S.
I have been on statins for quite a few years, with problems. First was Lipitor, it did great for my cholesterol, but I started getting skin whelps on my arms. I quit taking it, and within 2 weeks they were gone, despite an allergist not finding it. I tried Vytorin, had muscle and joint pain. But in the past few years, taking simvistatin and a few others, it has been a mood/anger issue. My wife complains, telling me I'm pain to live with, I argue all the time, go off at the slightest thing.
One way to lower your cholesterol, an raise the good cholesterol is to take Red Yeast Rice, and Slo- Niacin. I had stopped taking the Lipitor, 80mg a day, and did not tell my doctor. My lab results came back better than ever, my HDL had never been above 40 and it was 46. I had tried everything prior to this and this is what works for me, so if you are interested, I get them both at Walgreens and Usually you can find the Red Yeast Rice on sale.
We both - husband and wife, have been experiencing these symptoms. We have been on simvastatin for (wife for 1+ years, me for 2+ years) and stopped about 5-6 months ago - wife still having pains in the butt some dizziness and leg pain, but getting better - I am having butt pain and leg pains, swollen left knee, (but joint pain seems OK on stairs), recovery seems slower than my wife's.
Lori, all the cholesterol meds work in slightly different fashions, so you may want to consider talking to your doc about trying a different brand like Crestor, or? You could also discuss the use of red yeast rice, if your doc is a functional medicine doc, or perhaps think about trying the niacin-based meds.
Cholesterol meds can cause muscle weakness and pain. No matter what you're on in the future, make sure the doc checks your enzyme levels regularly.
Thank you so much for your advice and suggestions. I will try the Red Yeast Rice and hope it will work for me too. I still eat red meat but not too often but I guess I must completely eliminate it from my diet. I will definitely ask my doctor if he could put me on a low dose of Statin for starters. Thanks again, you guys are great. Take care!
5 mg @ hs PRN and oxycodone 5 mg 2 tabs bid for chronic pain. The red yeast rice will be for reducing my elevated Cholesterol as noted: (VLDL=18; TRIGLYCERIDES=92; LDL=155; HDL=59; TOTAL CHOLESTEROL=232). I was initially prescribed Crestor 5 mg by my PCP but due to some severe side affects I stopped taking it.
Clinicians should review supplement contents for the presence of red yeast rice, and patients taking red yeast rice should be monitored for changes in liver function and counseled about the possibility of myalgias and drug interactions. Finally, patients taking red yeast rice should be warned about potential risks and precautions pertaining to all nonregulated supplements.
I eat avocados to lower mine. Mine was so high a few years back that the doctor had prescribed pills...which he said may or may not work as mine is inherited ( and yes, there is such a thing ). I ended up getting pregnant ( so refused the pills just in case ) and started craving avocados. Went back a few times for blood tests ( as is typical when prego ) and my LDL had dropped...by a lot!
The doctor asked me how I did it...asked what had changed.
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