High Cholesterol Support Group

That's really scary, strugglin. When I went off I called my dr and she was very blaze' about the whole thing. She said oh, just break the pills in half for a week and then skip every other day the next week & stop. I had no idea it could be dangerous to stop taking it. This, of course was the same dr who told me to take two wks to get off effexor - I took me almost 3 months & I suffered withdrawals another 4 months after being completely off of it!!
All I can say is patients BEWARE...

I was on Lipitor for several months and had muscle pain and leg cramps. I already have fibromyalgia and neuropathy so dr. took me off and now I am just on Niaspan and eating Cheerios and Oatmeal and have changed my diet and started walking. My dr. is going to retest my cholesterol in a couple of months. I think it will be be okay because of the diet change and I have lost 47lbs.
Bee

Bee07 my doc put me on 2 dill pickles a day the small ones, 2 tbs of flax seed milled and non-flushing Niacin and it dropped my cholestrol 20% so maybe this will help you too ask your doc first however see what he/she says about it.

I used Lipitor for 4 years until my rhuemetologist told me I did not have arthritis but had nerve and muscle damage do to it. So I had a blood check down and it did show my CK level to be 235 which is way way high. I went off Lipitor for a month and the CK level dropped to 116, now normal but my choloesterol went up to 265. I am now on zetia, will have blood work next week to check everything out. I had some aches and pains in general that did disappear after I stopped Lipitor. Even Phizer admits it can cause muscle pain and damage. You need to be the monitor of your own health issues, do not rely on the doctor. By the way, my orthopedic surgeon says i do too have arthritis. Then I had one dr tell me to solve my hand pain problem, get lighter dishes so I didn't drop them when my hands acted up. I fired that inept old goat. Good luck.

I was at my doctor yesterday and found out that even taking OMACOR, my Cholesterol has RISEN from 210 to 320.
My doctor explained,since I am unable to take statins (muscle pains) and COQ10..she is going to contact cardiologist and discuss a plan of action.
My doctor also says,since I have a low motabolism, I am not able distribute the build up as well, without statins. She also stated my high levels are genetic and that also degrades my ability to lower levels.
I mentioned my diet to her, since I am on Coumadin, the diets conflict... I was thinking I would eating water for the rest of my life.
For about five years, I have been unable to do a routine exercise plan.. hip, knee, eye surgeries and dizziness.
Hope to get some of these things controlled to get on a better exercise program.
Weight is a big problem.. I need to shed about 50 pounds. Since moving last year, I have lost about 20 pounds, which is a start.
Hope this is not as confusing for you, the reader, as it is for me to live with. LOL
Thanks for any suggestions.
cjosie

I give up on statins. I take a statin and then experience severe leg cramps when I'm trying to sleep. I only have one risk factor so I don't see why I'm being treated for heart disease. You should see the hills I climb on my bike without problem. My heart functions well when I challenge it!

I am allergic to all statins and COQ10 as well. Have had good luck with OMACOR for my triglyserides, but my Choleserol as risen from 210 to 320 within the past year!!!
My doctor is working with my cardiologist to come up with some sort of med for me to take for the cholesterol.
Since joining DS, I have read many informative threads and have begun to eat more pickles.
I am also on Coumadin, so I have additional issues with foods.
Thanks for letting me vent!

I have read several different posts and from other places about pickle eating. I really don't like pickles but if they help I guess I could give them a try. I wonder though about all the salt pickles have in them...water retention and high blood pressure. I have not had my test results yet for the last 3 months I have been taking Zetia. My brother in law uses the niacin based med and it works ok for him. He has had problems with the statins too. I am glad the cool weather is coming back then I will be more apt to get back to oatmeal. The q10 may or may not do any good, all I know it is expensive and oatmeal is cheaper, so are pickles. Any brand better than others? I prefer Vlasic or Claussen when I do eat one.

I suffered leg cramps for more than a year. The doctor finally suggested stopping the lipitor. The leg cramps stopped. The other statins caused leg cramps. My cholesterol is 260 and I'm done taking statins. I'm trying to take flax.

any dill pickles will do and do help lower cholestrol.