General Cycling Discussion - Cycling with cholesterol meds

I went on lipitor and a week into the meds I felt like I'd hit the wall cycling.(Litterly as well as figuratively)
Now entering month 3 the condition hasn't lessened. Joint pain, muscle weakness,extreem fatigue.
The docs suggested CoQ10 supplement but-even with a double daily dosage- cycling with lipitor is a losing battle.
Was wondering if this is a long term (ie: does the body adjust)situation.
It's taken me years to get back to the cycling form I enjoyed in my 30s and I'm simply not willing to wind up at the back of the pack all over again.:mad:

Statins are a liver poison. By the time you find out your body does NOT adjust to the statins you will have done permanent damage. Google Dr. Mercola for a different take on cholesterol and all the hype surrounding it.

Muscle weakness is a known side effect of statins in some people, it should say so on the instructions.

Statins are a liver poison. By the time you find out your body does NOT adjust to the statins you will have done permanent damage. Google Dr. Mercola for a different take on cholesterol and all the hype surrounding it.

That's the last guy I'd take medical advice from. There is a reason he appears on the Quackwatch website.

I went on lipitor and a week into the meds I felt like I'd hit the wall cycling.(Litterly as well as figuratively)
Now entering month 3 the condition hasn't lessened. Joint pain, muscle weakness,extreem fatigue.
The docs suggested CoQ10 supplement but-even with a double daily dosage- cycling with lipitor is a losing battle.
Was wondering if this is a long term (ie: does the body adjust)situation.
It's taken me years to get back to the cycling form I enjoyed in my 30s and I'm simply not willing to wind up at the back of the pack all over again.:mad:

You might want to get a thyroid panel done. High cholesterol often goes hand in glove with hypothyroidism and diabetes. HypoT often expresses itself as flu-like symptoms along with hairloss, hair brittleness, wieght gain and all round puffyness.:(

I went on lipitor and a week into the meds I felt like I'd hit the wall cycling.(Litterly as well as figuratively)
Now entering month 3 the condition hasn't lessened. Joint pain, muscle weakness,extreem fatigue.
The docs suggested CoQ10 supplement but-even with a double daily dosage- cycling with lipitor is a losing battle.
Was wondering if this is a long term (ie: does the body adjust)situation.

I'm glad I stumbled on to this thread.

I've been taking Lipitor for just over a year, and have just recently, the last month or two, been feeling very fatigued. I'm a 52 year old construction worker, and I have been dreading work because my back, my hips, and sometimes my knees are very sore, weak and tired. It makes for a very tough day on the job, not to mention cycling has become a real chore to. Even household things have become annoyingly tough to do without being fatigued. My tinnitus (ringing of the ears) has gotten extremly bad over the past year to, which is another side effect. I thought all of this was old age catching up with me, but looking at the side effects, and how quickly it has all come on, it seems Lipitor could very well be the culprit.

I really fought my doctor on this for a long time, but finally caved in when everyone told me it was OK, but now I'm pretty upset looking sat what this stuff could be doing to me. I think I'm going to get off of this stuff. I'm going to my doctor on Monday.

The sooner you get off it the better. Cholesterol readings are somewhat an indicator of cardiovascular health, but it doesn't follow that suppressing cholesterol by taking a liver poison is good for you. Look into who funds the American
Heart Association, ask your doctor who provided his last continuing education session -- there's huge money in statins. Now they want to start giving them to children! The attempt to control obesity, diabetes and heart disease through reduction in animal fat consumption and suppressing LDL cholesterol has been an abject failure. So what's the answer from the mainstream medical profession? Make the standards re' cholesterol even stricter! Money talks.

Ironically the heavily hyped cholesterol reducing medication Zetia has a disclaimer that is has not been found to reduce heart disease! Lowers cholesterol, doesn't reduce heart disease -- look it up.

Don in Austin

a few years ago i had quadruple bypass surgery. then a small stroke. now i'm on max lipitor for cholesterol, and hydrochlorothiazide, amlopodine, lisinopril and propanolol for my hypertension. all of this makes me feel like a zombie from time to time, but i've learned to live with it... i have little trouble with people passing me on my daily 20-30 mile rides... i just mark my zombiness up to old age.

I do not have high chloresterol, but a few years ago I was asked if I wanted to participate in a study on the effects of a statin on people with good chloresterol readings and a slightly higher C reactive protien level. Before I answered, I read up on statins, and decided no way. To be a guinea pig for Big Pharma was out of the question. At the time there were doctors who thought more people should be on statins; maybe there still are.

I remember that Lewis Thomas a few years ago wrote that up until about 1900, medical tratment was more likely to hurt you, or make you worse, than it was to cure you. Even nowadays Dr. Jerome Groopman estimates that there is still a 30 percent chance that medical treatment can cause more harm than good.

Even though I have low LDL and good HDL, I realize that I'm not immune since a large number of heart attacks and strokes happen to people with no obvious risk factors.

Even though I have low LDL and good HDL, I realize that I'm not immune since a large number of heart attacks and strokes happen to people with no obvious risk factors.

Thats the part I don't really understand - what do they mean by "risk factors"?

I have low blood pressure, an excellent EKG, good lung capacity and no heart disease in my family. Yes, I have high cholesterol, which Lipitor did bring down to the doctors magic numbers, but thats it. So, because of that, am I "at risk" for a heart attack?

Lipitor had so much of an impact on me that I stopped taking it and went to the doc again for the next best alternative. He gave me Chrestor (I think, it's been a few years). That was much better for side effects.

But since then have switched to a vegetarian diet, and my numbers came down enough that I was on the approved side of the borderline.

Thats the part I don't really understand - what do they mean by "risk factors"?

I have low blood pressure, an excellent EKG, good lung capacity and no heart disease in my family. Yes, I have high cholesterol, which Lipitor did bring down to the doctors magic numbers, but thats it. So, because of that, am I "at risk" for a heart attack?

My cholesterol was considered a bit high, but after the doc considered my risk factors (much like yours) and did some calculating, he said I have about a 95 percent probability of not having a heart attack in the next 10 years (I'm 52). Thus, he concluded that I did not need Lipitor.

I was glad that my doc considered all the factors before sentencing me to, I mean prescribing, Lipitor.

My cholesterol was considered a bit high, but after the doc considered my risk factors (much like yours) and did some calculating, he said I have about a 95 percent probability of not having a heart attack in the next 10 years (I'm 52). Thus, he concluded that I did not need Lipitor.

I was glad that my doc considered all the factors before sentencing me to, I mean prescribing, Lipitor.

Yeah, I wish my doctor had done that. He was to quick to presribe this stuff to me and now I'm sorry. I should have stuck to my guns and refused it, but in the end I caved because everyone said it was OK and they got me so worked-up over having a heart attack.

Live and learn....

There are a LOT of risks associated with statin drugs; if you have negative reactions to them, as described in these articles:

http://www.reducecholesteroldiet.com/statins-side-effects-risks-versus-success%E2%80%8B/ (http://www.reducecholesteroldiet.com/statins-side-effects-risks-versus-success%E2%80%8B/)

http://healthread.net/statindrugs.htm

you might want to just change your diet so your body can reduce cholesterol levels naturally. Since triglyceride levels and cholesterol levels seem to hand in hand, check this out: http://www.reducetriglycerides.com/triglycerides_lowering_diet.htm (oh, just ignore whatever supplement they're selling).

My husband has had great success reducing both cholesterol & triglyceride levels by following the guidelines in that diet.... he couldn't handle the statin side effects.

I take a different statin, generic Zocor. It has lowered my cholesterol and I've noticed no side effects. Regular blood tests have shown no liver damage. That said, my triglycerides were elevated last checkup. Dr said try fish oil, don't know yet if it works. She made it clear that levels normally go up with age (I'm 62) and aren't necessarily going to increase one's risk of heart trouble. I ride 40-60 miles several times a week, plus several centuries a year. I like to think that keeps the arteries open :)

Another statin reaction case here. In my case it was Simvastatin. Within two weeks, I was feeling a touch weaker than normal. Think the weariness one has with the flu. Having read the information sheet I was given with the prescription, and looking up on the web, I called my physician, who told me to stop taking the drug. I was then placed on Red Yeast Rice, with a follow up in six weeks. There was some improvement in the total cholesterol, so an increase in Niacin (using over the counter supplements) was recommended. A year further on, things are progressing less dramatically than with prescription medication, but in the right direction, and without all the side effects.

Have you tried Cholestyramine or welchol instead?

Cholesyramine is great because it also pulls all kinds of toxins out of your body, so its really good for some kinds of toxic situations. Its seems to help a lot of people who are getting sick from mold.

Also, you might want to try taking OQ10 with some fatty food (chicken soup is the best) it dramatically increases absorbtion.

Also a lot of polyphenols are good for the arteries.. things like resveratrol and quercetin. But you definitely should ask your doctor because statins are pretty complicated and often they might interact with other things.

Ask your doctor!



I went on lipitor and a week into the meds I felt like I'd hit the wall cycling.(Litterly as well as figuratively)
Now entering month 3 the condition hasn't lessened. Joint pain, muscle weakness,extreem fatigue.
The docs suggested CoQ10 supplement but-even with a double daily dosage- cycling with lipitor is a losing battle.
Was wondering if this is a long term (ie: does the body adjust)situation.
It's taken me years to get back to the cycling form I enjoyed in my 30s and I'm simply not willing to wind up at the back of the pack all over again.:mad:

Eight years ago, the doc told me I was going to die unless I went on something. He put me on Lipitor and it worked, with only some muscle soreness, for about 6 months. Then cycling season started up again. The side effects started with tingly fingers at night, and some more muscle soreness. Before long both arms were going 'to sleep' and I'd wake up 6-8 times per night unable to move them. I'd be so sore after even an easy ride that I could barely walk for 4 days, and as the summer wore on I kept getting weaker, not stronger, as I biked more. My skin went from normal to extremely dry, and my brain started feeling 'fuzzy.' Finally, I was complaining about all that to the doc as he was reading my results, and his first question, as if he hadn't heard a word I'd said, was "what do you think about upping your dose?" At that point I told him I'd rather die next week than continue taking it at all. I let him experiment on me a few times after that, but the best I seem to get out of any non-statin is about 10 points of reduction. Niacin: no reduction, but hot flashes from He11 that never decreased. Tricor: about 10-12 points, but muscle soreness. Cinnamon: not enough results to be sure it did anything.

More recently, I've started seeing a specialist. Crestor lasted about 4 weeks before I started getting the same old symptoms. Plus I got a huge otherwise-unexplained sore on the bottom of one foot that's still not healed a month later. Now he's trying me on Zetia. That may be his last chance. At this point they're treating my numbers; my only complaints are about what the drugs have done to me.

Blazing, I would suggest you check out the web sites I posted above - my husabnd had cholesterol levels over 475, and triglycerides off the chart - after a year on the diet, both levels are in acceptable ranges - at no risk to his liver, either!

What did the biopsy of that sore indicate?

Are he and you 100% sure you don't have cancer?



More recently, I've started seeing a specialist. Crestor lasted about 4 weeks before I started getting the same old symptoms. Plus I got a huge otherwise-unexplained sore on the bottom of one foot that's still not healed a month later.

Unsure if the last post ever will arrive but..
The cholesterol thing is heriditary. My one sister has been a vegetarian for years and still has high cholesterol.
Over the weekend(sence posting) I simply had to make some choices.
I'm going to give it a go altering my diet even further than I have already.
Going to do all I can to stay off prepared foods (with the high fat contents and salt levels)
Already on the CoQ10 (twice daily)
But...
The lipitor and statin drugs had to go.
I love to cycle
I love to snowshoe (and that encompases backcountry and ridge running)
I simply refuse to stop because of the pain and joint swelling these meds cause.
Thanks for the input gang 8>)
Rich

After watching Fat Head, I'd never take cholesterol drugs. Based on some of the research I've read, cholesterol is in indicator, and not a contributing factor. Cholesterol lowering drugs have a ton of side affects with no compelling evidence they do anything but lower cholesterol.

I've done a bit of research since watching, and I've come to believe that high carbohydrate, low fat diets are causing many of our health issues. As an anecdote, my co-worker went on a high fat, low carbohydrate diet and lowered his cholesterol levels in 6 weeks. His doctor was alarmed by his initial triglycerides (which I've found out in most tests is a calculated and not a measured value) and amazed at the change in his blood chemistry.

I really fought my doctor on this for a long time, but finally caved in when everyone told me it was OK, but now I'm pretty upset looking sat what this stuff could be doing to me. I think I'm going to get off of this stuff. I'm going to my doctor on Monday.

Just remember, your doctor is your medical adviser. You don't have to do everything he/she tells you. You can fire your doctor and get a new one.

Just remember, your doctor is your medical adviser. You don't have to do everything he/she tells you. You can fire your doctor and get a new one.

Exactly what my wife told me!

I just got back from the doctors. I told him I went off the Lipitor for 5 days because of the pain I was feeling and that I feel great now, almost 100%. Well, he sounded totally unconvinced that my pain was being caused by Lipitor. He said he has only taken 2 patients off Lipitor in the last year, and he said there symptons were mild. He believes in statins, there is no doubt about it when you hear him talk. We went over the risk factors, and to me, I seem to be a low risk. - non-smoker, great BP, great EKG, great stress test, arteries clean, no heart disease in family, yada, yada, yet he still thinks because I am male with high cholesteral, I'm at risk. Well, yeah, but how high a risk is my question! No definitive answer.

So he wants me to stay off of any statin for 3-4 weeks, then he presribed Zocor in the lowest dose. I knew he would prescribe something, so I am going to weigh all the factors and see. It could be time for another doctor...

Ask your doctor what his continuing education for the last five years has consisted of. Chance are excellent it was 3 day vacations hosted by pharma companies pushing drugs.

Don in Austin

After watching Fat Head, I'd never take cholesterol drugs. Based on some of the research I've read, cholesterol is in indicator, and not a contributing factor. Cholesterol lowering drugs have a ton of side affects with no compelling evidence they do anything but lower cholesterol.

I've done a bit of research since watching, and I've come to believe that high carbohydrate, low fat diets are causing many of our health issues. As an anecdote, my co-worker went on a high fat, low carbohydrate diet and lowered his cholesterol levels in 6 weeks. His doctor was alarmed by his initial triglycerides (which I've found out in most tests is a calculated and not a measured value) and amazed at the change in his blood chemistry.

Exactly. Stricter and stricter standards for cholesterol levels have NOT reduced heart disease. Lowered consumption of animal fats has not, either. HFCS in everything, the 72 oz. "Big Gulp" are real villains.

Zetia reduces cholesterol numbers, yet the ads are forced to disclose it has NOT been found to reduce heart disease.

Anyone who believes the propaganda from the American Heart Association should look into its funding. Its a lobbyist group for pharmaceutical companies.

Don in Austin

So he wants me to stay off of any statin for 3-4 weeks, then he presribed Zocor in the lowest dose. I knew he would prescribe something, so I am going to weigh all the factors and see. It could be time for another doctor...

I would have told him in no uncertain terms that I'm not putting any statins in my body. If he didn't want to continue to be my doctor, I'd find someone that agrees with me.

My mother was on Lipitor for years until last year it started giving her the same fatigue and muscle weakness side effects that everyone here has described. Her doctor then cycled her through a few different meds and they settled on Crestor. For my mother she has had no side effects and her cholesterol has been lower then it has ever been before.

Just food for thought.

Zetia reduces cholesterol numbers, yet the ads are forced to disclose it has NOT been found to reduce heart disease.

Don't they all disclose that? The study I saw (IIRC) went from 3 in 1000 developing heart disease to 2 in 1000 developing heart disease. Not exactly statistically significant, IMO. Better yet, it seems to me that high cholesterol is not a good indicator of developing heart disease. I have high cholestorol and a .3% chance of developing heart disease?


Anyone who believes the propaganda from the American Heart Association should look into its funding. Its a lobbyist group for pharmaceutical companies.

I lost all faith in the AHA when they said that Fruit Loops and Cocoa Puffs were healthy.

This isn't a great reference about the LDL types (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Low-density_lipoprotein), but it's a good read. There's another article on MedicineNet (http://www.medicinenet.com/your_cholesterol_profile_-_in_depth/page12.htm) about the cholesterol types. It has the same low fat approach to lowering cholesterol.

The problem I've seen with these studies, is that most people on a low fat diet are also restricting sugar and calories. This lowers the amount of sugar available to create the small dense LDL. To me it seems that the the same mechanism is in place as a low carbohydrate diet. The "high fat" diet in these studies also consists of people that are eating a lot of refined carbohydrates and simple sugars. This is why the "high fat" gets the blame, when really there's a stronger correlation to refined carbohydrates and simple sugars.

It's been repeatedly stated here that reducing cholesterol levels does not reduce the risk of heart disease. Can somebody post some links to studies supporting this statement?

If your doctor has recommended you lose weight, stop smoking, take more exercise, change your diet and you haven't done any of these things then taking statins is unlikely to have any effect on your chances of suffering a heart attack.

No studies, just common sense.

It's been repeatedly stated here that reducing cholesterol levels does not reduce the risk of heart disease. Can somebody post some links to studies supporting this statement?

Studies are a pain to sift through. I did find this following articles:

http://www.gaia-health.com/articles251/000264-major-jama-study-shows-statins-do-not-prevent-heart-disease.shtml

Here's one about the lack of heart attack and cholesterol correlation:

http://newsroom.ucla.edu/portal/ucla/majority-of-hospitalized-heart-75668.aspx

The story is a bit different if you already have heart disease:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scandinavian_Simvastatin_Survival_Study

Beyond that, Google is your friend. Don't take my word for it.. I can find a study to support my opinion no matter what it is.

The Fat Head Blog just happened to discuss statins today. He's admittedly biased, but it's a good read.

http://www.fathead-movie.com/index.php/2011/12/01/more-cholesterol-follies/

I had the same problem with Simvastatin, I could barely walk down the stairs the morning after a hard ride.
I'm taking Niaspan now and with the exception of an occasional flushing, have no side effects.

Quote Originally Posted by camelopardalis

It's been repeatedly stated here that reducing cholesterol levels does not reduce the risk of heart disease. Can somebody post some links to studies supporting this statement?


Studies are a pain to sift through. I did find this following articles:

http://www.gaia-health.com/articles251/000264-major-jama-study-shows-statins-do-not-prevent-heart-disease.shtml

Here's one about the lack of heart attack and cholesterol correlation:

http://newsroom.ucla.edu/portal/ucla/majority-of-hospitalized-heart-75668.aspx

The story is a bit different if you already have heart disease:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scandinavian_Simvastatin_Survival_Study

Beyond that, Google is your friend. Don't take my word for it.. I can find a study to support my opinion no matter what it is.

These articles do not support the statements that reducing cholesterol levels does not reduce the risk of heart disease.

Gaia's scientific bent is questionable. The UCLA article is just asking for even lower cholesterol standards. The Wikipedia article is as you stated, that Simvastatin saves lives among people who already have coronary heart disease.

I am not trying to start an argument here. I firmly believe that any drugs you ingest is a form of poison. But a statement that counters established knowledge should be based on scientific studies, not on conjecture.

On thing I'm not understanding is why anyone would stay on Lipitor with bad side effects when there are many other statin drugs available that will probably do the same job at lower cost, and perhaps without the side effects. While those with diagnosed heart disease or who have had heart attacks might get some benefit from Lipitor over the others, if you're just trying to get your cholesterol down, then why get hung up on Lipitor?

I've gone on/off Lovastatin over the years with no side effects I can tell. And I can take Lovastatin for about $0.15/day vs. $2/day for Lipitor.

- Mark

Gaia's scientific bent is questionable. The UCLA article is just asking for even lower cholesterol standards. The Wikipedia article is as you stated, that Simvastatin saves lives among people who already have coronary heart disease.

Yes, the Gaia's article is just the first one I found and it supported my statement. The UCLA article is asking for lower cholesterol standards, because "75 percent of patients hospitalized for a heart attack had cholesterol levels that would indicate they were not at high risk for a cardiovascular event", which indicates to me that cholesterol levels are not an accurate predictor of heart attacks. The only reason they're asking for lower cholesterol standards is that they're convinced that cholesterol is a contributing factor to heart disease, and not an indicator.

Take a look at the Fat Head blog I linked up above, he does a much better job discussing this than I can, since I rarely have the patience to sift through studies. However, discussions from him as well as other's he's linked to (in my link and historically in his blog) provide in depth discussions of cholesterol, statins, and the mechanisms at work with cholesterol in the body.

These articles do not support the statements that reducing cholesterol levels does not reduce the risk of heart disease.

Gaia's scientific bent is questionable. The UCLA article is just asking for even lower cholesterol standards. The Wikipedia article is as you stated, that Simvastatin saves lives among people who already have coronary heart disease.





Yes, the Gaia's article is just the first one I found and it supported my statement. The UCLA article is asking for lower cholesterol standards, because "75 percent of patients hospitalized for a heart attack had cholesterol levels that would indicate they were not at high risk for a cardiovascular event", which indicates to me that cholesterol levels are not an accurate predictor of heart attacks. The only reason they're asking for lower cholesterol standards is that they're convinced that cholesterol is a contributing factor to heart disease, and not an indicator.

Take a look at the Fat Head blog I linked up above, he does a much better job discussing this than I can, since I rarely have the patience to sift through studies. However, discussions from him as well as other's he's linked to (in my link and historically in his blog) provide in depth discussions of cholesterol, statins, and the mechanisms at work with cholesterol in the body.

Fathead's blog as you said is quite biased and seems to be of the same persuasion as Gaia. I am noticing the pattern that people presenting this argument are the same people who believe in the low carb diet. A low carb high protein (fat?) diet will naturally result in higher levels of cholesterol.

Encouraging a lifestyle that raises one's cholesterol levels could be very dangerous.

I've been taking Simvistatin for years and never noticed any side effects at all. Went off it once for several months and my numbers started to climb again so went back on it and still never noticed anything. Maybe I'm just lucky.

On thing I'm not understanding is why anyone would stay on Lipitor with bad side effects when there are many other statin drugs available that will probably do the same job at lower cost, and perhaps without the side effects. While those with diagnosed heart disease or who have had heart attacks might get some benefit from Lipitor over the others, if you're just trying to get your cholesterol down, then why get hung up on Lipitor?

I've gone on/off Lovastatin over the years with no side effects I can tell. And I can take Lovastatin for about $0.15/day vs. $2/day for Lipitor.

- Mark

The Lipitor patent just expired on Nov 30. The price will be plunging over the next few months as the generics hit the market.

+1 on Dr. Mercola. He and his site are a keeper.

Look, this is just a hunch, and from my reading some stuff on PubMed that I found when I plugged in statin and carnitine..
but why don't you try supplementing with l-carnitine or acetyl-l-carnitine. (you'd need more with ALC)

Carnitine is heavily involved in energy balance and lipid metabolism. Sometimes people have a genetic defect in carnitine metabolism that causes exercise intolerance when they go on some statins. Is rare so thats probably not your issue, but it is possible, Your doctor needs to know any and all side effects.

It might be possible that some effect of the statin upsets your carnitine balance.
My hunch was that that might cause fatigue first. Looking at PubMed, it looks like the science backs that up.

Acetyl-l-Carnitine or L-Carnitine are a concentrated energy food, (an amino acid) and are cheap and very good for you and your cardiovascular system anyway. They might help.

A positive response to me wouldn't mean anything good or bad about taking the statin drug, its just another data point for your doctor and you. Ask them to look at PubMed.

I would take acetyl-l-carnitine, and Id try to take at least 5 or 6 grams a day at the beginning. A heaping teaspoon in juice.

It may improve your lipid profile as well. It can do that.

Make sure you tell your doctor all of these things.. that you have been having this exercise intolerance effect, are taking Carnitine and especially IF IT CHANGES ANYTHING.



Statins are a liver poison. By the time you find out your body does NOT adjust to the statins you will have done permanent damage. Google Dr. Mercola for a different take on cholesterol and all the hype surrounding it.

The Lipitor patent just expired on Nov 30. The price will be plunging over the next few months as the generics hit the market.

Hence the new push to put kids on statins starting as young as 8 years old. Criminal!

Don in Austin

A low carb high protein (fat?) diet will naturally result in higher levels of cholesterol.

In general, people on low carbohydrate (generally high fat, medium protein) have experienced the exact opposite. They've experienced an improvement in their lipid panels. Personally, I had a co-worker whose doctor was amazed in the change to his blood-work after 6 weeks on a low carb diet. She didn't think it was possible to change his triglyceride levels that fast, and was equally amazed at the type of diet he used to do it.

I've read time and time again about people with similar experiences.

In general, people on low carbohydrate (generally high fat, medium protein) have experienced the exact opposite. They've experienced an improvement in their lipid panels. Personally, I had a co-worker whose doctor was amazed in the change to his blood-work after 6 weeks on a low carb diet. She didn't think it was possible to change his triglyceride levels that fast, and was equally amazed at the type of diet he used to do it.

I've read time and time again about people with similar experiences.

The objections to low carb, high fat diets are based more on what is mistakenly expected to happen as opposed to what actually happens.

Don in Austin

Fathead's blog as you said is quite biased and seems to be of the same persuasion as Gaia. I am noticing the pattern that people presenting this argument are the same people who believe in the low carb diet.

In Tom Naughton's case, he believes in the low carb diet because of the reading and research he has done regarding the subject. It was his movie that prompted me to do similar research.

One of his main reasons he eats a low carb diet is to control his blood sugar. I have found a low carbohydrate lifestyle to be beneficial in this area as well.

I've been on a low fat, high carbohydrate diet for years. In order to avoid gaining weight, I had to be miserably hungry. Even when I avoided processed foods entirely, I never felt full. I suffered from blood sugar and mental issues. I've moved away from low fat, high carbohydrate foods and I've noticed an almost immediate improvement in my well being.

I don't think this is necessary for everyone, and there are likely segments of the population that do very well on a high carbohydrate diet. I am not one of them.

The objections to low carb, high fat diets are based more on what is mistakenly expected to happen as opposed to what actually happens.

Agreed. Just because something is solid at room temperature doesn't mean it enters your blood in that same form. If that were true, imagine what happens when we eat apples.

Another statin reaction case here. In my case it was Simvastatin. Within two weeks, I was feeling a touch weaker than normal. Think the weariness one has with the flu. Having read the information sheet I was given with the prescription, and looking up on the web, I called my physician, who told me to stop taking the drug. I was then placed on Red Yeast Rice, with a follow up in six weeks. There was some improvement in the total cholesterol, so an increase in Niacin (using over the counter supplements) was recommended. A year further on, things are progressing less dramatically than with prescription medication, but in the right direction, and without all the side effects.

Trouble is that once the pharm companies got into the statin business they pushed Washington to make it illegal to sell Red Yeast Rice in the U.S. containing the natural statin it produces. So if you purchase Red Yeast Rice in the U.S. the natural statin has been removed from it.

Update on me:
The spot on the bottom of my foot was a rash, and the Zetia being the only thing different in my life, I stopped it. It has been slowly healing since then (following the standard progression of bumps, breaking open to oozing mess, then scabbing over and healing.) Not fun to walk on! It's almost gone now. I saw the doc today. He didn't think the rash was due to a drug allergy but had no other suggestions. The plan is to try it again once the spots are fully healed. If the rash comes back, then we know for sure!

In the meantime, I'm down 4 pounds and my BP was good. Another 20 would sure help my hill climbing, but I'll be happy with another 5! :) I think the BP was up last time because I'd just OD-ed on caffeine at lunch.

I went on lipitor and a week into the meds I felt like I'd hit the wall cycling.(Litterly as well as figuratively)
Now entering month 3 the condition hasn't lessened. Joint pain, muscle weakness,extreem fatigue.
The docs suggested CoQ10 supplement but-even with a double daily dosage- cycling with lipitor is a losing battle.
Was wondering if this is a long term (ie: does the body adjust)situation.
It's taken me years to get back to the cycling form I enjoyed in my 30s and I'm simply not willing to wind up at the back of the pack all over again.:mad:

Instead of going to an Internet Web Site asking for medical advice have you consulted with your doctor?

Just remember, your doctor is your medical adviser. You don't have to do everything he/she tells you. You can fire your doctor and get a new one.

If one is a Veteran and get's their healthcare at a VA facility it isn't always that easy. Depending on the facility it can be as easy as asking to have a new doctor or it can be as complicated as having to fill out pages of paperwork explaining why you want to change doctors. Such as down here at Bay Pines it is as relatively easy as asking for a particular doctor. But when I was being seen at Castle Point in NY, I would have had to fill out all kinds of paperwork in order to change doctors.

Then again if a person is a member of an HMO they may or may not have a list of "approved" doctors to choose from. And if the doctor that you want to see isn't on that "approved" list then you're S.O.L. :(