MEDS! Finally, my husband read his doctor the riot act.

[HockeyMom]

He has been taking meds for high cholesterol and low thyroid for over 20 years. His blood work came back with EXTREMELY LOW for both. What did the nurse say? Oh, you will have to see the doctor about lowering the DOSAGE of your meds. Excuse me? To quote him, "Why the HELL am I taking these to begin with and WASTING MY MONEY?" "Am I suppose to scrape powder off these pills to take a low dosage?"

High cholesterol? I am a semi-vegetarian, have gotten my husband to eat this way, and do all my cooking from scratch. I made Butternut Squash Soup from scratch today. Tomorrow I am making Spiced Lentils (not canned). Horrible, terrible, food? I make meat 3 times a week and it is always stir fried or baked with a lot of veggies.

Years ago when my daughter was 16 her doctor wanted to put her on meds for a high thyroid. I refused it. She is now 30 years old and fine. If left up to them, she would STILL be taking them. Once on meds for a condition, always on them. You will NEVER be cured.

I am very, very happy that my husband has finally seen the light. The health care industry NEEDS you to be on meds constantly so they can make money from you and keep you "hooked".

BTW, I used to work for one of the largest pharmaceutical corporations in the world. I know what they do and how much profits they make from people's fears. Their advertising feeds this fear. I sat through all of this and how they could sucker people into it.

[sammytko]

1. Maybe he should do another blood test?

I m on thyroid meds. Couldn't believe what a difference it made for me. I was on the low end of normal.

But everyone is different.

[HockeyMom]

2. 20 Years????

and kept getting lower, and lower, by the years. When is enough?

[winter is coming]

6. Which test kept getting lower and lower?

If the TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone: basically your pituitary gland's opinion of what your thyroid should be doing) kept getting lower and lower, his dosage may be too high. If his T4 or T3 (actual thyroid hormones) kept getting lower and lower, his dosage is too low. And if he's not getting enough thyroid replacement, his cholesterol will go up.

[lostincalifornia]

10. That is correct. As always if someone does not have confidence in their doctor they should get a

Second opinion

[lostincalifornia]

9. He should see a good endocrinologist to determine if there is really issues with his thyroid

[Aristus]

3. High levels of blood cholesterol aren't always the result of a high-fat diet.

Some people simply synthesize more cholesterol naturally than their bodies need. And sometimes medications are required to bring those numbers down to manageable levels. I treat high cholesterol as conservatively as possible, considering the potential side effects of statin medications. But diet and exercise aren't always enough.

I'm right there with you that the pharmaceutical companies are mostly evil. And I'm not interested in making their billionaire investors richer.

But I'm grateful for medications that work the way they are supposed to, and use them as sparingly as good healthcare decision-making require.

[TreasonousBastard]

13. I imagine you're familiar with the latest study...

about statin use. I have no expertise to talk about it, but one comment I heard is that most statins are off patent and at least one costs just a couple of bucks for a three month supply. So much for making big pharma rich.

I'm on simvastatin myself, and a while ago I went off it when I heard about some disturbing side effects. My numbers went sky high and so I'm back on it. My dosage was apparently below "danger" levels and I'm back to normal now. Being 66 and diabetic, I'll take the small risk of side effects over the larger ones of stroke and heart attack. (And I might make fewer medical decisions on my own from now on)

Bad as big pharma may be, a lot of us are living longer and healthier lives because of those bastards.

[840high]

26. I went back on Lipitor

for pretty much the same reasons. I pay $9/mo.

[Gore1FL]

31. I am allergic to Simvastatin. I take Lipitor, now.

Simvastatin made me irritable and forgetful (like forgetting conversations happened). I respond much better to Lipitor.

[Aristus]

47. I am. The statin I prescribe the most is lovastatin.

When it went generic a couple of years ago, I was ecstatic. Dirt cheap ($4 for a month's supply at many of the big, national pharmacies), and my patients had fewer adverse reactions to it than to simvastatin or pravastatin. I put my patients on a recommended dosage and keep them there until their numbers clear (especially triglycerides), then either put them on a low maintenance dose, or propose a drug holiday and proceed with diet and exercise alone. It all depends on each individual patient.

Generics are a Godsend when providing care to the underserved and underinsured. And I'm always on the lookout for the latest money-making scheme. When Prilosec went generic a while back (a medication called omeprazole), the manufacturer stood to lose out on a valuable brand. So they took omeprazole back into the lab with them, tweaked the molecule here and there, and came up with esomeprazole; essentially the same medication, branded it as Nexium, and went back on the brand-name gravy-train with a huge ad campaign that I still remember.

I've never prescribed Nexium. And I never will.

[Cal33]

56. I try to find the lowest dosage of medications that is fully effective. I cut my gout

medication by half some 8 years ago, and am doing fine. I also cut Lipitor
by half some 4 years ago, with the same results. It doesn't have to be
either all or nothing.

Medications are foreign bodies, and most of them have to be detoxified
in the liver. Cutting meds. down (as long as they are within the effective
range) means less work for your liver -- among other things.

[mike_c]

4. convincing someone to stop medication because you have a low opinion...

...of the medical profession is dangerous and irresponsible, I think. At the very least, he should consult with his physician about his labs. If his LDL and triglycerides are low, but he's on a statin, then it might very well be that it's working, not that he doesn't need it. If he ceases his meds, he should be monitored at fairly close, regular intervals, probably every three months or so for the first year or so, to make sure that doesn't simply return him to high heart disease risk. Likewise for thyroid meds-- if he's hypothyroid but it's controlled, simply going off his meds is just about the worst thing he could do.

[HuckleB]

12. +1

[840high]

27. +2

[rudolph the red]

54. ^This^

[Egnever]

7. I would try another doctor

Before I blamed the meds.

Theres a lot of perfectly nice doctors out there who are totally incompetent quacks. There are also some out there that are amazing at their craft.

Too many take a doctors word as gospel never questioning it. In my experience the best doctors I have had in my life have always been the ones that were completely open to discussing treatment and options, as opposed to the ones who made a prognosis and sent me on my way.

Not saying there isn't a problem with our big pharma industry , just saying if this hasn't been working for 20 years I blame the doc for continuing it...

[lostincalifornia]

8. If he is hypo or hyper thyroid and you ignore that, there are consequences. If he is taking too

Much Thyroxine, and it puts him into a hypothyroid condition the medicine needs to be adjusted

Adjustments of thyroid medicine is not unusual

I hate to tell you this but thyroid medicines are not where pharmaceutical companies make there money

As far as cholesterol meds, only Crestor is non-generic, and today that is not where they make their money either.

You can argue about the pros and cons of taking medicines, but saying the major pharma is making bit money on those two classes of drugs I don't think so

In fact, assuming your husband was taking T4 for for hypothyroidism, is he stops taking it, there are major consequences

Don't take my word for it, if he has too little or, too much thyroid hormone, there are physical consequences. Google it

[Skidmore]

11. I'm a cautious acceptor of new medicines too.

Have you seen this news re: the prescription of statins?

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/13/health/new-guidelines-redefine-use-of-statins.html

Adding: I do take thyroid medication because I have to. Dying from not taking it is not a pleasant way to go.

[HuckleB]

14. He might need a second or third opinion, but I'm not sure it should be influenced by a "lay person."

And let's cut the "Big Pharma" crap. What matters is not the cliches that become pointless.

http://proactiontranshuman.wordpress.com/2013/05/25/my-adieu-to-the-anti-big-pharma-crowd/

"“Everybody’s private motto: It’s better to be popular than right…” I’ve grown increasingly unfavorable toward the term Big Pharma. Despite our best of efforts among the progressive and revolutionary left in recognizing Big Pharma as a by-product of capital bureaucracy among the healthcare industry, the term has become completely diluted with leftist conspiracy theorism.

You cannot go into a single demonstration today, shout out against Big Pharma, without gathering a large crowd of pseudo-scientists who adhere to the “appeal to nature” logical fallacy as a result.

Big Pharma has become a popular term among those who adhere to lifestyle politics. They adhere to pseudo-scientific ideals of remaining “pure with nature” through means of alternative “medicine”. When the term is culminated, per se, among leftist demonstrations, subsequent screams can be heard against vaccines and claims of adamancy that the cure for cancer is being withheld from the general public through some large scientist-doctor joint conspiracy – not to mention the occasional holding of hands in collective meditation to counter against bad corporate juju.

The pseudo-science of the left is increasingly becoming aware. Where many notice anti-science among the right, whether it be against evolution, climate change, the denial of one’s sexual orientation, abortions, or stem cell research, the left is equally flooded in anti-science, whether it be against vaccinations, nuclear energy,GMOs, the adherence to alternative “medicines”, the promotion of shady “science” in opposition to animal testing for medical purposes, etc. etc. Both political spheres adhere to pseudo-science, or the complete denial of science altogether.

..."

[dionysus]

20. lots of anti-medicine woo out there...

[HuckleB]

22. Indeed.

A lot of it is hurting real people, too.

[dionysus]

24. the medication i am on practically saved my life... and yet people rail against

medication. yes, things can be overprescribed but people tend to ignore that it saves people most of the time.

[HuckleB]

25. Indeed, it can be overprescribed.

Of course, it can also be underprescribed.

I'll always send people to read Ben Goldacre's "Bad Pharma," all while having them recognize the underlying basis in his previous book "Bad Science."

I talked with an MD today about a patient who had been previously doing very well on guanfacine for reactive behaviors. The family went to a Naturopath, who recommended the patient take Lithium Orotate. Umm. So Lithium, although in a form with much less regulation and standardization.

I am having a second drink this evening because I'm still dumbfounded.

Cheers!

[blue neen]

15. Pharmaceutical corporations are weasels.

Truly.

With that being said, however, it's not up to the nurse to make decisions about your husband's medications. That is up to the doctor. If he cannot have a reasonable discussion with his doctor about the possibility of adjusting medications, then perhaps it's time to find a new doctor.

High cholesterol is not always attributed to diet. There are genetic causes for it, and it also occurs because of other health problems the patient may have.

Despite the pharmacy companies greedy ways and slick maneuvers, there are good medications that exist, that do help people lead better and longer lives.

I salute your healthy cooking; that's a very good habit to have.

[HuckleB]

16. +1

[MFM008]

17. you have to be careful!!!!!!!!!

I tried qiutting my meds most were psychological . They caused a big weight gain.
After 2 weeks I was worse than I have ever been and nearly back in the hospital. ( there is such a thing as fat and happy.........) It took at least 6 weeks to build back up to good levels again.
Gotta be careful with medication advice. There are no cures for some people.
After 11 years on those meds it was only getting back on them I became myself again.
Thats messed up enough.
I wasnt suckered into taking medications, I would be dead without them....

[truedelphi]

19. Your advice is well worth the mention.

Some meds need to be gradually reduced. Or not reduced at all.

And glad to hear that you are back to being stable and happy.

[HuckleB]

23. Thanks for sharing. A brave and valuable post.

[truedelphi]

18. We have changed the way we eat in this household, and have

discovered the same results. (Although both of us refused to go on the high cholesterol, as neither of us really had tremendously high cholesterol, to begin with.)

Between our daily walk, and our eating much better, we are both fifteen pounds than previously and much healthier and a bit happier.

Thanks for sharing your tale.

[HereSince1628]

21. I make squash soup with dairy products...it raises my lipids & cholesterol

Sometimes I forget about appointments and do unusual dietary things in the week immediately before my blood tests...
like find pork shoulder on sale for $1.29/lb and eating pulled pork for four days straight.

I wish there were something like A1C for lipids and cholesterol. One or two measures a year don't seem useful to knowing what is really the pattern of a dynamic feature like LDL.

[liberal_at_heart]

28. People should definitely be more informed and aware of meds that work for them and those that

don't. People should be more of an active participant in their own health care. My husband has medicine that has changed his life for the better. Medicine that helps him not get migraines and not be so sensitive to light. He would never give up those meds. He also has meds that because of the side effects told his doctor he would not take. I have tried to take meds for my sleeping disorder and I had an allergic reaction, so I don't take that med anymore. I would like to try and get back on my anxiety meds though. I'm not good at taking meds consistently. I forget to take them or just don't feel like taking them so I don't. I really should try to get better at being consistent with meds that do work for me.

[kestrel91316]

29. If his cholesterol is really low, that's good, and indicates that meds and/or diet are working.

Perhaps he could be weaned off the statin and just get by with diet alone. Perhaps not.

If his low thyroid is getting even lower, that means his dose is too low and he needs more, not less meds for thyroid.

Your confusion about this tells me that perhaps he should follow his physician's advice and you should not be playing doctor.

[Deep13]

30. Wow, what a crazy, nonsensical rant. nt

[Spitfire of ATJ]

32. The myth is that you are to be medicated for LIFE or you will DIE....

I'm the only one I know who is taking NOTHING.

[HuckleB]

34. Then you don't know very many people.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

35. LOL! No. It's just everyone I know is nuts.

[HuckleB]

37. Are they going to their ND every week?

That's where I see people who are always taking something, or, well, multiple somethings, and those things are always being changed. I've never seen such a scam. Ugh. So much time spent on I don't know what?

Cheers!

[Spitfire of ATJ]

40. It's the proliferation of anti-depressants....

Stop taking them and you get electric shocks in your head.

That,...and you do dingbat things like walk out your front door in your bathrobe and keep going.

[HuckleB]

41. Paxil will do that.

The rest of them, not so much, but people seem to think they have to have the same side effects as everyone else.

The Nocebo effect is every bit as powerful as the Placebo effect.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

49. Feels like we're heading for the "Brave New World" sometimes....

Eventually we see people sleepwalking through their day and driving right through stop signs and red lights.

Those same people will be popping pills and railing against weed.

[HuckleB]

59. That's fear-based thinking.

If you knew how many people are able to be functional and live every day, you might not go with that fear.

I get to see the positive side, while always trying to find balance.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

60. There are a LOT more people on meds because there's money in it.

[HuckleB]

61. Perhaps.

There are also a lot of people on completely worthless, unregulated supplements and other "alternative" therapies (SNAKE OIL) because there's money in it.

The system isn't perfect, and it needs more regulation. However, there are parts of the system that are completely unregulated, and you're not addressing those at all. I'm confused as to why that is.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

62. "Ask your doctor if being a guinea pig for Big Pharma is right for you."

[HockeyMom]

52. I got screamed at by a PA for just that

I was at a health screening place for a work physical. Sitting next to me was a 19 year old young woman with her Mom. They gave us a SEVEN PAGE questionnaire to fill out which had a 3 page list of meds you take. She was getting very upset reading all those meds, of which she took nothing. Both her Mom and I told her to just put a line through all the pages with N/A at the top. I showed her what I had done.

A PA looked at my form first and gave me a dirty look. Then she took the girl's form, looked at those N/A's, and started screaming at both of us. "What is WRONG with you people?, she yelled at us. Ok, I was 58 years old at the time and maybe she had never seen someone my age who didn't take any meds. But a TEENAGER? A teen not being on any meds should be the NORM.

The young woman started crying. Her Mom and I both got very, very mad at this PA, and we both lashed out at her for her total stupidity and un-professionalism towards this young woman.

She walked off in a huff after this. I went up to the receptionist and said that I did not want to be examined by this woman. The teen said the same thing. We both were examined by a doctor instead who apologized to us for the PA's behavior. Good.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

58. They need to post a warning followed by a list of everything the PAs are on.

[Stellar]

33. I'm on Meds for my cholestoral

too and the doctor kept telling me I need to get it down. So, it sounds like I need to eat right (more often) and that would help me. Can I be weened off of those Meds by watching what I eat. I've been on them for almost a year.

[HuckleB]

36. You can be weened off of them.

I have friends who have been, and their attempts may have helped me stay off of them. It's not easy in this culture, of course. Cars, cars, cars. Screens, screens, screens.

Good luck!

[Stellar]

50. Point taken...

Thanks.

[shanti]

67. i was prescribed statins for high cholesterol

but was having some muscle pain issues, and wanted to get off of them. my doctor told me that it was ok if i didn't take them every day, and just maybe every other day. my cholesterol wasn't that high anyway, so i decided to just stop taking them altogether. i'll just have to wait for my annual A1C to see if it's ok (i have hypothyroid and diabetes too).

i know so many people who are on the big three meds: diabetes, thyroid, and cholesterol. thankfully, i have normal blood pressure!

[DeSwiss]

38. Good for you.

I stopped taking BP pills (along with most of the other crap as well) in 2010 and began a veggie lifestyle along with it. I've never felt better and my blood pressure is just fine. Now I take no pharmaceuticals. NONE.

Many doctors today are little more than drug dealers for Big Pharma. They, and their damned medicines will kill you if you don't look out for yourself. Just read the warning labels. Telling you up front that they might end up killing you, is about the best that can be said about them.

- Chris Rock wasn't lying.......

K&R

[Heather MC]

45. Ha ha my AIDS just pop up ha ha

[johnlucas]

64. Chris Rock is Pure Truth

Love this brother!
He's reached the pinnacle of being a "comedian".
Telling the truth & doing it in a humorous way.
Bill Cosby, George Carlin, Richard Pryor, Bill Hicks, Eddie Murphy, Dave Chappelle, & so many others.

I put "comedian" in quotes because in truth these guys are social commentators.
They're the gauge measuring the foibles of a given society.
Their job is VERY important & I am glad these "comedians" gain such a high profile for speaking such truth.
John Lucas

[wildbilln864]

39. k&r! also...

I think that's also why the big drug companieswant to keep cannabis illegal.

[HuckleB]

42. It's also why big caffeine fights against the use of stimulants!

Er, wait...

[Heather MC]

43. Well Somebody has to pay for Switzerland's awesome free healthcare

I never go the pill route. I always seek out a natural non corporate solution. Good for you

[uppityperson]

44. 3 points. Thyroid medication is very very inexpensive. Secondly, some health conditions you do need

to take medicine to stay healthy. For example, my thyroid is dead and if I didn't take thyroid medicine I would also be dead in less than a month. I've been told to take "thyroid support supplements that will help your thyroid work better" which to me was a waste as my thyroid was dead and will never work. Big supplements trying to make money off me?

Thirdly, people do get off meds for some conditions. Have you ever taken antibiotics for an infection? Were you able to stop?

However, I do agree that there is way too much advertising of medications. "Ask your doctor if it is right for you!" bullshit. Couple that with so many providers being pushed to go faster and faster and not be able to take the necessary time to do good health care and we've a real problem.

[SheilaT]

46. I see more than one issue at play here.

First is that much that used to be considered absolutely normal has been medicalized. Hence the recent suggestion that a whole lot more people be put on statins.

Another is that some conditions absolutely need medication.

Another is the issue of specific meds, or generics versus name brands.

Personally, I fall on the side of seeing doctors as little as possible. I'm 65 years old and the healthiest person I know at this age. It's frightening how many former classmates have already died, how many more of some sort of chronic illness, or are disabled, or need surgery for something.

[johnlucas]

48. When the Field of Medicine became purely Business, this was the result

The medical field is not about healing people.
It's about selling drugs & treatments to them.

There are some things we need medicine for but in truth the body mostly heals itself.
Every now & then it may need a little assistance from outside.
That's what medicines & doctors are for. That extra help from the outside so that the body can get back into regulating itself properly.

Many people don't link the ongoing environmental damage with their personal health.
The poisons in our air, water, & food.
Those poisons end up being too strong for the body to fight decently & you HAVE to depend on the medical field to live.
You HAVE to get caught up with all those drugs because without them you'll probably die.

All medicines are supposed to be temporary. You're not supposed to be on them for the rest of your life.

I ain't no overzealous count-the-calories health maven but I do my best to stay away from medicines if all possible.
I don't take sleeping pills or waking pills. I even hold off on aspirin & ibuprofen (luckily I don't get many headaches anyway).
I even cut the caffeine out of my life. I don't like the taste of coffee anyway. Always look on the label to see if it's caffeine free.
I used to drink drinks with caffeine in them but I stopped because I don't like the addictive behavior that goes along with it.
Where people get so dependent on having that caffeinated drink or they can't function.

I eat junk food. Oh yeah. Candy, chips, & all that. Big sweet tooth! And I'm aware that there's stuff in junk foods that are not the best for your body.
But I'm not dependent on them. That's the difference.

Medicines can addict you & give you so many side effects from their usage.
So I limit medicine intake as much as possible.

I'm currently getting over a mild cold & the most I do when I get a cold is drink citrus juices, eat lots of chicken noodle soup, & get plenty of bedrest.
I take NyQuil just to calm the symptoms to allow me that rest.
When I pile on that cold like that, it's usually gone in a few days.
Most of the work is done by my body & the help it gets from the nutritious fluids (soups, juices) while I sleep.
I don't mess around with all those over-the-counter cold medicines anymore.
They're just symptom fighters & often prolong the cold.
I picked NyQuil because of its strength & how it aids my ability to rest without coughing & blowing my nose over & over.
I usually don't have to take NyQuil more than once or twice.
Limited medicine intake once again.

Good for your husband that he rejected this sick pharmaceutical racket.
You have to watch out for yourself because you can't count on the doctor to do what's right.
Too much money to be made & it corrupts people.
Maybe we should blame the high costs of going to medical school for all of this.
All that heavy student loan debt seems to lead doctors into maximizing how much money they can get out of people instead of healing them.
John Lucas

[HockeyMom]

53. Nature healing can be very amazing

When I was 10 years old, I slipped on a diving board and landed on the base of my spine. I could not move for days. The doctors said that I was going to need surgery eventually and could possibly not be able to walk when I got old. It bothered me on and off for years when I sat on hard chairs for long periods, or when it was damp or rainy. I just lived with it.

In my early 20s I worked part time as a professional dancer (lot of exercise). Doing this lessened the pain quite a bit, but I would still feel it once in a while related to the weather. Then I got pregnant and carried a baby for 9 months. It went away COMPLETELY after having children. I never again experienced any pain in my back after. That was 34 years ago.

In hindsight, I am very glad my parents did not listen to that doctor when I was kid. They decided to leave that up to me when I was an adult. I know I made the right decision and that nature (pregnancy) cured me. Odds are that if I had that surgery, I would never have been able to work at what I really enjoyed doing; taking care of special needs kids and disabled adults which involved a lot of lifting.

I totally agree with your post. Your own body can heal itself most of the time. People today just don't want to give it the chance to. The same goes for tolerating pain and not running for the Tylenol or scrips. Your body will work that one out too. Been there, done that.

[johnlucas]

63. Cool! Ironic how a pregnancy actually ELIMINATED pain. Hahaha!

Appeal to Authority is how doctors get this reputation.
Most people by default are NOT In The Know rather than In The Know.
So they give their trust over to those who they feel are In The Know over their own judgment since they just don't know.
There's a reason why they call it Practicing Medicine. We're basically just guinea pigs being experimented on with a fragile framework of accumulate knowledge.

Anything involving cutting me open will make me think ten times over much less twice.
Surgery ain't nothing but refined butchery.
Many times there's a better answer that having to cut you open.

This is the first time I ever heard of pregnancy ELIMINATING pain! Hahahahaha!
I have heard of orgasmic births before which do away with that brutal Caesarian deal but first time I heard of pregnancy fixing a bruised spine! WOW!!
But I know everything you just said is true & MAYBE just MAYBE they need to study pregnancies to see just how it eliminates pain instead of passing all these drugs onto you.

It's probably a similar effect to getting a crick out of your neck or arm or such.
Usually when I have a good sleep that crick is totally gone when I wake up.
Medicine is always the nuclear option for me. Worst case scenario, break glass in case of fire kind of deal.
John Lucas

[intaglio]

51. OK so I'm over in the UK

for problems with cholesterol and thyroid we are given (at least) yearly tests.

My Sigoth has thyroid problems, diabetes and has had issues with her cholesterol and she gets a blood work up requested for her regularly; additionally she has the glaucoma tests yearly. Personally I have had blood pressure problems and so get that regularly checked and have my cholesterol done about once every 2 years.

Any practitioner is supposed to monitor the effects of long term medication but I would guess that as the insurance companies are loath to insist.

[FarCenter]

55. Statins may work by reducing inflammation, rather than by reducing cholesterol

It is not clear whether a reduction in cholesterol is the only or most important effect of taking statins.

A low maintenance dose of statins may be beneficial by reducing inflammation, which reduces the growth of plaques and reduces the probability that a plaque will rupture and cause a clot/heart attack.

Bear in mind that the biochemistry of drugs is not always clear. Aspirin was used to relieve pain, reduce fever, and reduce inflammation for several decades before it was understood how it worked.

[greatlaurel]

57. A low or non functioning thyroid gland cannot generally be fixed by diet.

Cholesterol levels can be impacted by diet somewhat, but if you are one of those unlucky persons whose body makes way too much cholesterol then medication may be needed. My spouse has elevated cholesterol, but cannot take any of the statins. He develops muscle and tendon pain within two weeks of starting them. We are trying supplements, diet and exercise, but it is not working. We won the bad gene lottery.

Your husband really needs to see his doctor to get his thyroid levels corrected. Thyroid conditions are very serious and poorly understood. If he is taking synthroid or the generic equivalent and his TSH levels are low, make sure they test the T3 levels as well. Some people cannot process the T4 into T3 at the cellular level and need T3 supplements, as well. This is not well understood in the medical community and even some endocrinologists are not on board with that treatment. Anyway, make sure they test his T3 as well as T4 levels. The usual screening for thyroid function is to test for TSH or thyroid stimulating hormone. TSH is produced in the pituitary gland in reaction to the blood levels of T4. If you have really high TSH you are not getting enough T4 and low levels of TSH means too much T4. The comparison of these two hormone levels in the blood are how doctors monitor to make sure the person is getting the correct amounts of T4 naturally or from medication. If you are one of the people who does not properly process T4, then your TSH numbers may be out of wack and you still may not be getting enough T4 and may feel bad while seeming to be taking enough T4. My new doctor checked this out after I had complained of symptoms for years. It made a huge difference once I started taking the small T3 supplement.

Diet does play a role in thyroid function. Do you get enough iodine in your diet? Also bromine in foods can impact endocrine function. A common source of bromine in our diet are brominated wheat flours.

The doctors are trying their best. The deregulation of the pharmaceutical and medical insurance industries and moving so much drug production overseas has not helped increase our quality of care in the US. But medicine is based on scientific facts about how our bodies function. You need to educate yourself on real human physiology to understand what the doctors are doing and then you can recognize when you are not getting proper treatments or the treatments are not working to your benefit.

Good luck.

[JustMyOpinonO.K.]

65. Statins

I recently cold turkey quit Lovastatin without tell my doctor. I was put on it three years ago. Approximately 2.5 years ago I started having problems with muscle and nerve pain. After 5 Mris, numerous xrays and tests I have been told tumors in spine nerve endings but that should cause the pain. Have a pill. Wait try this Kenalog shot in your spine. Horrible side effects. Research 2012 Kenalog should not be used in shot to spine by FDA and drug manufacturer. Horrible side effects.
I got p.o. Started thinking what changed about 2.5 years ago? Statins. Yes they cause muscle pain, nerve pain and muscle breakdown. Also q-10 depletion. Also don't take antibiotics with Stations. What? What? Hello Doctors?
It has been over three weeks. I take Q-10 and no statins. Guess what? My energy level, mental alertness is getting nice. Muscle and nerve pain has greatly improved.
So that is my story. I believe Statins will be the biggest hoax ever produced they the pharmaceutical companies. I even received a letter from my insurance company concerned I had not filled my Lovastatin and my health was at risk. Oh no. The big drug company losing a customer.
Anyone who wants to tan my hide for this go ahead.
I was told in 1998 I was dying. Hospice. Colostomy. Chemo 24 hours for six months. Radiation.
Guess what. I am still alive. Overweight.

[gopiscrap]

66. welcome to DU

[In_The_Wind]

69. Hello ~ JustMyOpinonO.K.

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I'm glad you're still above ground.

[cbdo2007]

68. Simple solution - if you know more than your doctor....

just do whatever you want and ignore the doc. I'm sure everything will turn out fine *sarcasm*