[Magdalen] Today, PCP appt.

[Grace Cangialosi]

Yes, I have a new PCP because my old one left, and when we were going over my record and came to the cholesterol piece, I told her flat out I wasn't taking any medication for that. Tried statins once as part of a study--that was it. Fortunately, mine isn't too bad, and my HDL levels are over the moon.

> On Jul 14, 2016, at 9:44 AM, Jay Weigel <jay.weigel at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> Don't even get me started on what I think about statins.
> 
> On Thu, Jul 14, 2016 at 8:40 AM, P. Dan Brittain <pdan.brittain at gmail.com>
> wrote:
> 
>> On Thu, Jul 14, 2016 at 6:43 AM, James Oppenheimer-Crawford <
>> oppenheimerjw at gmail.com> wrote:
>> 
>>> Hmm. Maybe get a second opinion.  I was told similar by one physician
>>> neurologist and then was starting with a new MD because my GP retired. We
>>> discussed this and he said he had no problem with my continuing to take
>> the
>>> other medication. I don't take it very often, but when I do it's a
>>> lifesaver. Glad I didn't just accept the first opinion without a quibble.
>> 
>> Am a little reluctant to do this for a couple of reasons. He only took me
>> off the Imitrex after I spent a week in hospital with internal bleeding (am
>> also a warfarin user). Main concern is a clot forming above the greenfield
>> filter I have. The preventive he has me taking works for the most part.
>> Only 1 bad episode in the last 6 years.
>> 
>> As background, the VA started me on statins in the early 2000's. Within a
>> couple on months is when my trouble with neuropathy began. I raised the
>> issue with my doctor who told me there was no connection. He referred me to
>> a neurologist at the Little Rock VA who concurred. I was still an actice
>> teacher at the time; the drive to Little Rock meant taking a day of sick
>> leave each time so I had my local dr find me a neurologist closer where I
>> could get by with 1/2 day off. The first one he found was good but he moved
>> in 6 months and his replacement was a joke. I asked each successive
>> neurologist this same question about side effects and always got the same
>> answer. When I again asked for another neurologist, I ended up with my
>> present one. My first visit, he looked at my med list and asked me "if you
>> have neuropathy, why are you taking statins? He had my local dr find me an
>> alternative (ended up using fish oil and niacin).
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> --
>> P. Dan Brittain
>> Harrison, Arkansas
>> 
>> http//:pdanbrittain.com
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