Re: Do You Take Cholesterol Lowering Drugs?
Shirley, I also take Zocor but I did not start taking it until after I was diagnosed with BEB. I know that doesn't help you but it also does not mean that my condition did not get worse because of it. If I had any brains, I would lose some weight so I wouldn't need it. It is also very expensive....Alan who got his botox injections today and they hurt so bad I actually yelled a couple of times. Ever since the Myectomy, I find that the injections are much more painful.
Re: Do You Take Cholesterol Lowering Drugs?
Shirley, I take Zocor, but have only been on it for a little over two months. Like Alan, weight loss would make more sense. I fought adding this new medication to my umpteen others, but doctor wouldn't give in.Had ophthalmological check up today and ws told I need to have cataracts removed. Lord o' mercy, what next!!! I told him I'd think it over for a spell. Sally in North Idaho where it did not rain today.
Re: Do You Take Cholesterol Lowering Drugs?/Sally
Let us know haw that goes. Did you even know you had them?
Re: Do You Take Cholesterol Lowering Drugs?/Sally
Cataracts had been casually mentioned off and on through the past years, mostly in the context of something I had possibly been born with. Guess old age finally caught up and they are becoming a nuisance. Like Scarlett O'Hara, I'll think about that later.Sally in North Idaho
Re: Do You Take Cholesterol Lowering Drugs?/Sally
Good, we'll think with you. I know many people who have had them successfully removed.
Re: Cataracts/ Scarlett
Hey Scarlett, it is an outpatient procedure, you know and we would all come and hold your hand. They just do one at a time and think how much better you would be able to see. It is a much easier procedure than in the past. See if your granddaughter can come stay with you and help out for a few days and get it done. You won't be sorry.Shirley in Arkansas
Re: Do You Take Cholesterol Lowering Drugs?
Hi Shirley:
Haven't had a lot of time to check in very often lately, but could not resist your post. Mom's BEB started within weeks of her begining lipitor. As a matter of fact, Lipitor was our main suspect. She stopped taking it and did not see any improvement, but by then BEB was in full swing. I contacted a doctor at the Wilmer Eye Institute via email when we were trying to get a diagnosis. He was incredibly gracious to reply to my questions. He did not think the the statins were the culprit at that point. He was actually one of the first doctors to suggest checking Mom for BEB, but he felt there were far too many other possible causes for Mom's eye problems that were more obvious than the statin drugs. Once she was diagnosed a few weeks later, we got into "cure" mode and stayed off the Lipitor. So we never did get a difinitive answer. I went so far as to call Parke Davis and spoke with a couple of different people there to report Mom's symptoms and to see if anyone else had done the same. They could not answer that. Surprise? Statins are extremely potent. According to Dr. Stephen Sinatra's book, "Heart Sense for Women" he notes, "Women who take statin drugs to lower their cholestrol are dangerously depleting their CoQ10 stores and could be making themselves vulnerable to breast cancer. Low levels of CoQ10 have been found in women people with various cancers, particularly women with breast and cervical cancer....The problem with these drugs is that they interrupt approximately twenty biochemical pathways in the body. The result is that they not only lower cholestrol, but they also interrupt the synthesis of CoQ10....It is important that woman at high risk for breat cancer understand this association...and strongly consider taking CoQ10 supplements if they must be on a statin drug." page 108. Shirley, this is an excellent book and I highly recommend it. All of his findings are documented and the information is extremely empowering.
These medicines can save lives, but we owe it to ourselves to find out everything we can about their side effects and how we can mitigate them. Do statins cause BEB? My gut still tells me probably - maybe one of the 20 biochemical pathways that are effected by statins is the same that can cause BEB. I DO NOT KNOW FOR SURE!!!! I just hope this will begin a dialog between all those taking these meds and their doctors so that they can make well informed choices about their own health care. Kerry in CT
Re: Do You Take Cholesterol Lowering Drugs?
Thanks Kerry for your very informative reply. I had been taking Zocor for several months when my first symptoms began and it was also one of the first things that I suspected as it was the only "new" medication that I had been taking. I stopped it for about a month and things seemed to improve and then get worse again so I just went back on it. Things were so up and down with my symptoms in the beginning, anyway. I decided that must not be the problem and have continued to take it. It would be so nice if we could pinpoint these things.
I think that there are probably many different causes for BEB and this could be another possibility.Glad to hear that your mom is doing better. :-) Shirley in Arkansas
Re: Do You Take Cholesterol Lowering Drugs?/Kerry
I heard a radio program on Coq10 a while back. It was all very complicated to keep up with and the gist was that it was a powerful enzyme booster to the immune system. I know they sell alot of it on the health food market, but they stressed that it had to be the right kind. I also know a woman who was able to dramatically lower her cholesterol in mayme 6 months simly by the addition of oat bran daily to ther diet. Of course , it's easier and much more convenient to take a pill, and so the pharmaceutical companies win again.
--modified by Kathy in Atlanta at Mon, May 27, 2002, 05:12:29
Re: Do You Take Cholesterol Lowering Drugs?
I did take Lipitor for high cholesterol for a yr or more, but he took me off for about 6 months & then tested me. My cholesterol was still low evough so I'm not any med. for high cholesterol now. I really don't remember when I first went on the med. & I guess that's your question. I may go to my GP next week & I'll ask him when I first started on Lipitor. Interesting thought you have.
Re: Do You Take Cholesterol Lowering Drugs?
Shirley I took Zocor several years ago for a short time. I think it was after I was told I had beb. I need to see my gp, so I will ask if they have it in my records. Those side effects are a little scarey aren't they?
I haven't been able to read everyone's post lately. We are remodeling & adding on to our church, & I spend a lot of time there. It is so exciting to watch all the work, but I am getting a little impatient, hoping they will be done soon.Billie in Kansas
Re: Do You Take Cholesterol Lowering Drugs?/Billy
It's Really hard to keep up with all this stuff.
Re: Do You Take Cholesterol Lowering Drugs?
I've missed you, Billie. I was wondering where you were and how you were doing. Thanks for responding about the zocor.
Now, hurry up and get that church remodeled and get back to the bb.Shirley in Arkansas
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