New prescription

sammie1114 · Post by **sammie1114** » Sat Feb 02, 2008 4:16 am

Hello everyone, I just received news from my doctor that my cholesterol is too high. So he prescribed a statin. Of course, we all know, that persons with anxiety hate taking meds of any kind - and that includes me. Taking that first one with the fear of side effects is stopping me from starting. But, since I also worry about heart disease, I know that taking it will help that. What a vicious circle we create for ourselves. Encouragement needed!!! Thanks. Have a great weekend.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sat Feb 02, 2008 8:31 pm

I would defiantly take the pills for now, you know how we are about worring about everything. You probably won't even notice any side effects. I would keep in mind how much you can effect your cholesterol with diet and exercise. if you do things right you might not have to take the pills for long. good luck

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sun Feb 03, 2008 1:36 am

I also quit taking meds for cholesterol. I don't like pills either. I started eating healthier..no animal fat, including milk products etc. I lost 20 lbs. and 12 points off my cholesterol. My diet was a little extreme but I needed to know if it would work...and it did. You don't have to go hungry if you eat healthy. I eat whenever I have a craving but it is fresh veggies, fruit, whole grains and nuts. It's really pretty tasty.

Bees4me · Post by **Bees4me** » Sun Feb 03, 2008 4:24 am

I too have high cholesterol. My doctor put me on Vytorin, the lowest dose. It works thats for sure. I never had the side effects or anything else. But I too worry about taking them, I started at age 38 (41 now, cholesterol never lower!) and everyone says it is a lifetime maintenance thing. Great so I could potentially take these for the next 50 years, God wiiling? The truth is they don't know the long term effects of these statins. I also lost weight and got back into exercise and really watching my diet. I bet it really gets you that February is "Heart Health" month, I know watching all of the news show on Friday really focused on it...the wear red for heart disease.

Anyway take the meds, get you cholesterol down and then talk to your doctor about weaning you off them or perhaps looking into natural alternatives - Fish oil capsules, red yeast rice , etc. I have my annual check up in a few months and I am going armed with information and asking how long do I take this or can we try something natural?

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sun Feb 03, 2008 8:28 am

I have heard of some problems with statins in my health newsletters. I would strongly recommend some research on the subject. The levels today's docs are looking at are too high. Our brains are over 70% cholesterol--we need it. There are natural ways to reduce cholesterol if it's over 250, although the mainstream docs don't believe it. Perhaps Big Pharmacy has brainwashed them