Digest Number 866
Thanks Ed for posting the url for the FDA petition on statin drugs. At one time I posted a note to the FDA regarding my problems with lipitor etc. and often wondered if any doctors who have been aware of the difficulties with statins were doing anything to get the word out. I for one have stopped the statins and have discovered I am a different person......much to the relief of my husband!!! I had become a cardiac invalid and had reached the point of just sitting and hardly do anything to improve my physical being.......it was just too difficult and I had become a nasty old woman who felt physcially had aged 20 years in just a short time. Thank god for the internet as I have learned so much about statins, Q-10 and just overall knowledge on health etc..........and no I don't believe everything I read.......I do plenty of research before I decide if something I read is worth following up on. Take care all........listen to your body and follow up with your doctor....go prepared with information you have gathered. My cardio doctor now asks me when he walks into the room "and what have you been reading lately"......I no longer feel like the victim of disease but a survivor who is fighting back................ Carol in Atlanta
There's a good reason for this. Each drug being sold by them has passed very stringent tests and has been shown to be both useful and safe. What kind of an idiot doctor would tell someone to instead take some snake-oil homeopathic remedy that hasn't been tested at all? Cost is another factor as these drugs are usually purchased via co-pay making them cheaper than homeopathy. I really don't want to get into some kind of a debate here. But be very careful when you tell people all doctors are stupid and don't have their best interests in mind. Statins are probably going to extend many lives quite productively. This is very tough to do from a statistical standpoint. Millions of people take statins; a thousand posts complaining about them makes overwhelming reading but means absolutely nothing. From the links you posted I don't see but a few dozen complaints at most. Hey. If you can't handle statins, stop taking them! Pursue other avenues instead such as a vegetarian diet and/or lots of daily exercise.
Hi Ed, I tried to open the FDA petition and couldn't. It is probley cause I have the web. Is there anyway you can send it too me jpg?? I really need this. Ray is on Zocor and is finally taking Coq10. This was only after several bouts and finally getting him to sit down with me and reading the sites I had researched on taking stantin meds. He also takes a med for BP. Personally I don't think he needs the bp meds. He had 4xcabg about 2 years ago. Was 275 pounds and really didn't think he was going to make it. When he got here 6 months ago he was on a lot of meds including lasix. I like you research everything that goes into the body. Finally got him into a cardiologist here and they took him off the lasix and the other meds and put him on Zorcor and lisinopril 2.5 mg and digoxin 0.25. The digoxin was added at his last appointment. Grrrrrrr. He had a reaction to the digoxin. Shortness of breath and red in the face witch was to me his bp going up. Called the Dr (at midnight) and he said to stop taking the digoxin. This was not the Dr he sees but actually the Dr that does the heart surgery (not Rays surgery that was done in AZ) that happened to be on call that night. If I remember what I read about digoxin the dose Ray was on was way low compared to what most people take. Ray is 68 years old. He has lost down to 203. Is eating very good and exercising. His last checkup was all +++++. Cholesterol both good and bad was all good, blood pressure has been always good, stress test done and he said the Dr was really impressed (this was when the Dr added the digoxin?? like why?? and if he felt Ray needed it why at such a low dose?? when most people take 30mg or more??) Ray is still in the mind frame that Dr's word are like that of the man up stairs. When we were married before he never had "high blood pressure". When I read the post a few minutes ago about how most people that have heart surgery take a Bp med for about 6 months after surgery really hit home for me. Ray keeps saying when I question him about him taking the Bp med is "maybe because I'm taking it is why my bp is ok." I need the articles so I can print them out so Ray can read them. He did say he wanted me to go with him to his next appointment so "I" can ask the Dr the questions that are bothering me about his meds. I showed him a article on the coq10 and he is now taking it. I have to tell you he also had throat cancer about 6 months after surgery and they feel they got it all since they went in early. So he has had a lot of close calls. He doesn't think he has any side affects from his meds. I have seen mood swings and muscle mass loss. He thinks the muscle loss it cause he lost so much weight. And that could be true. Sorry to have gone on and on. I just get so frustrated cause I'm reading up on these meds. I have a grandson that because of the mercury in the MMR, FDA approved of coarse had Autism. I say had because now he is almost like (4years old) main stream children. He is only having a problem with his speech now and is about a year behind. Another story about the pharmicutical companies and their FDA approved meds. Anyway can you send me the artical so I can open it up. Hugs nancy
Hi Ed, Thank you so much for taking the time and getting this to me so I can print it out and let Ray read it. We didn't know just how much COQ10 to take but after reading this report it looks like between 100 and 200 mg. Ray was only taking 75mg. My sister called me last night and her Dr just put her on a stantin drug so I will be sending this to her also. Ray had shortness of breath and was flushed the night we called the Dr at midnight. For Ray to have me call the Dr he must have really felt something was wrong. Since stopping the Digoxin he has had no more shortness of breath or looked flushed. He hasn't been back to the Dr about it yet. Hopefully this coming week I will be able to go in with him. Thank you again for all you do and information you are getting to us. nancy
Ann, I agree with what you said below. The day has not arrived yet that you can categorize all doctors as being prima donas (sp) and know it alls who don't know anything about new medicines other than what the drug reps tell them. I think the main problem is that there are a lot of people (patients) that know practically nothing about any of the medical problems they might have, and thus leave everything up to the doctor and then complain when things go wrong. People, we have to accept some of the responsibility for our medical care and if you feel there is something amiss then you ought to get another opinion or another doctor. To imply that the nurses are as qualified to treat medical problems as a doctor is , to put it bluntly, stupid! If one really believes this then they should go to the nurse when a medical problem comes along. Have a great week. Chris in Seattle << Ed, It does sadder me to see that you have lost faith in your doctors though. Although nurses make alot of decision they are not the be all and end all. I have to say that I have worked mayne different health care jobs and I have never been more impressed with the physicians. There are only a few I dont care for, and most of that is because they dont accept advice which makes me kinda mad. I dont think I have ever called a physician without already knowing what medication, treatment, order etc that I want as a result from calling. I have a great relationship with most of the doctors that I work with. And i have to say we have an exceptional group of cardiologist and cardiothoracic surgeons. We have 3 CV surgeons that I work with: two older and one younger. One doctor could not be any nicer he is a absolute joy to work with and the patinet love him, another doctor can be very difficult to work with if he doesnt respect you and is intimidating to call, but he is very good and the patients think he is great. The newest doctor is super intelligent just not the best with bedside and nurse manner. But, I would trust my life with any of them. Then again... i live in Wisconsin for god sakes... and like i said before I am lucky! hugs, annmarie