Search This Blog

Thursday, January 31, 2013

Second Week Off Atorvastatin!

This is my second week off Atorvastatin and my energy level is up & legs feel great.  As noted last week, the 40 mg of Atorvastatin I have been on for two years really changed my daily energy levels & I really thought it was me aging!!!!

During my cardio workout today my 45 minute run/walk had my heart rate up to 115 & without any PVC's.  Now the experiment is dealing with the Statin and my PVC's.  Next week I have another stress test to check out my PVC's.  And in March I will have my blood work to see how 2 months without my statin changes my cholesterol levels!

Here are thr suggestions from the Mayo Clinic!

Total cholesterol
(U.S. and some other countries)
Total cholesterol*
(Canada and most of Europe)
 
Below 200 mg/dLBelow 5.2 mmol/LDesirable
200-239 mg/dL5.2-6.2 mmol/LBorderline high
240 mg/dL and aboveAbove 6.2 mmol/LHigh

LDL cholesterol
(U.S. and some other countries)
LDL cholesterol*
(Canada and most of Europe)
 
Below 70 mg/dLBelow 1.8 mmol/LIdeal for people at very high risk of heart disease
Below 100 mg/dLBelow 2.6 mmol/LIdeal for people at risk of heart disease
100-129 mg/dL2.6-3.3 mmol/LNear ideal
130-159 mg/dL3.4-4.1 mmol/LBorderline high
160-189 mg/dL4.1-4.9 mmol/LHigh
190 mg/dL and aboveAbove 4.9 mmol/LVery high

HDL cholesterol
(U.S. and some other countries)
HDL cholesterol*
(Canada and most of Europe)
 
Below 40 mg/dL (men)
Below 50 mg/dL (women)
Below 1 mmol/L (men)
Below 1.3 mmol/L (women)
Poor
40-49 mg/dL (men)
50-59 mg/dL (women)
1-1.3 mmol/L (men)
1.3-1.5 mmol/L (women)
Better
60 mg/dL and above1.6 mmol/L and aboveBest

Triglycerides
(U.S. and some other countries)
Triglycerides*
(Canada and most of Europe)
 
Below 150 mg/dLBelow 1.7 mmol/LDesirable
150-199 mg/dL1.7-2.2 mmol/LBorderline high
200-499 mg/dL2.3-5.6 mmol/LHigh
500 mg/dL and aboveAbove 5.6 mmol/L and aboveVery high

My levels were:
Total Cholesterol - 175                This is OK
LDL Cholesteril  - 100                Ideal for people with heart disease

OK, now the bad stuff!
HDL Cholesterol  - 31                Poor - NEEDS WORK!!!!!!!!
Tryglycerides  - 221                   High - NEED TO STOP EATING COOKIES & CHOCOLATE!!!


Monday, January 28, 2013

The Experiment Continues

This is my first entire week without Atorvastatin (Lipitor generic)!  My legs feel great!  One of the issues with take this medicine is muscle issues!  This is the best my legs have felt in 2 years!  Remember, after my open heart bypass surgery my atorvastatin went from 10 mg to 40 mg.

The big question will be, what will my cholesterol be like in two months????????

Fatigue?  Yes!!  I have had less energy when I was taking Lipitor or Atorvastatin!

Check out this study at:  Study Links Statins to Excessive Fatigue

It stated:

The study found that participants on statins were significantly more likely than those on placebo to report at the study’s end that their energy levels had worsened and that they were experiencing greater fatigue after physical exertion. The effects were stronger in women and among people given simvastatin (which also was found in this study to lead to a greater decrease in cholesterol levels).

Need to keep track of this!