My doctor prescribed LIPTOR 10mg dose about 2 years ago for my then total cholesterol of 250mg/dl. Since the last 6 months I have been in ill-health with these symptoms:
- mild fever in the evenings
- loss of appetite
- very low energy levels
- easily exhausted
- occasional gastritis
- overall not able to motivate myself to "rise and shine"
and feeling miserable.
My present cholesterol is around 160 - 180 mg/dl.
I have been tested for almost all diseases/conditions under the sun including Diabetes,AIDs,TB,Cancer,Cardiac disorders, thyroid-kidney-liver-pancreas-etc etc malfuctions, and my body and brain has been put thru several CAT and MRIs: net result =
"you are OK - nothing wrong with you".
Could it be that my statin usage is responsible? (my cardiologist says NO)
Or are my doctors missing something else?
PLEASE HELP - I NEED IT First of all, I would consider a new doctor.. your symptoms could most definitely be associated with side effects of Lipitor. Secondly, statins are known to deplete the body's production of CoQ10, an extremely important substance in the body that plays a large role in energy production and heart health (google CoQ10 for details). Anyone taking statins should highly consider taking supplemental CoQ10. Mention this to your current doc... better yet, mention it to your NEW doc. Btw.. I am a doctor myself. chaimo16, has good advise.
But.
You can check out on your own by calling the pharmacist to confirm the side effect. In USA Walgreen gives the print out and general info on the medicine, when you purchase it.
Any way do this:
You must research on your own and rule out certain other things that you have not ruled out yet.
1, - mild fever in the evenings
Take you temperature every 2 to three hour and record it on a piece of paper then show the tend to a good doctor (general practitioner). Fever chart can rule out any other minor condition such as evening fever due to over working.
2. - loss of appetite
This may be related to No.1, low fever causes the moth to go sour or bitter, and if it is fatigue related, then you are too fatigue to eat.
3.and 4. - very low energy levels, and - easily exhausted
This may be related to No.1 and 2. If you do not eat well then you get tiered easily.
5. occasional gastritis
I will not worry about it, this could be due to empty stomach. Try general cleansing diet.
6- overall not able to motivate myself to "rise and shine"
and feeling miserable.
This sounds like mild depression, due to other conditions.
I have few articles on various subject read them and see if you can use them in your case. They were written of various other persons.
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Stomach Gas Problem
By
minootoo
If you have not seen a doctor please see one.
How is the gas normally formed?
Gas is formed during all stages of digesting process, in all parts of the system.
There are enzymes, acids and bacteria....... they break down what we take in, solid or liquid or gases (if you are a smoker some smoke will end up in the system).
This process of breaking down produces gases. The gasses come out through upper or lower exists depending on where they are formed if all valves are performing.
The problem happens when;
1. There is over production.
2. Malfunction mainly of various valves in the systems.
During weekly fasting days 鈥?how to control? - The Pt is-male(38).
I am glade that you are believer in fasting.
But I do not know what kind of fast you follow.
The best thing you can do is fast, with water only, you must take in a gallon of water every day fasting or not. Water is a universal purifier. It will regulate the acids ....
Stomach Gas problem?
After a day of fasting, you should eat for whole day only yogurt and rice for all three meals. Yogurt should be non pasteurized kind (Curd or Dehi), Danon in USA is selling a bran name "Actinia" use that. Pesturiezed Yogurt does not have the enzymes that help solve the gas problem.
Now you can slowly introduce one new food item per day and see how your system reacts. But with all meals you must eat some Yogurt. If you have the problem, you will know what food to blame or avoid. Simple well cooked food causes less problem then non cooked items. You must not use spicy food in the beginning and introduce them slowly one at a time.
How to control my food?
You must eat what you need i.e. amount of total calories intake. I have two articles that I will include that should help. FYIO.
Which food is better?
Yogurt should be included in small quantity with all meals in your case till the problem is solved. Gallon of water should be taken every day even after the problem is solved.
Which food is to be avoided?
This I have answered and showed you the way to find out.
Which food is better?
Well cooked simple food is batter. You must eat so that you are going to keep some room for two helping of your favorit desert but take one helping of it only. Do not starve but you must have some room for the gasses to form during the process of digesting.
Which medicine is better?
If you follow the above you should not need medicine. Some time you like to eat certain food say at a party then there are lots of non prescription stuff that is available to you, at local pharmacy, they all work but some will work batter for you have to try and use what works best, some of this you can take before the party.
Tea/Coffee to be avoided completely or not?
By same process you can find this out, slowly introduce in small quantity and see what happens.
According to the present company provided food/accommodation, it is not possible to avoid Refrigerated and Microwave food 鈥?So what to do 鈥?or how to manage these food and when (Day time, evening, night).
How the food is cooked or kept is not important Refrigerated and Microwave food. The food is not be spoiled, watch out for dates, once the package is opened, use the same up as soon as you can. Take out the food in a plate put away the rest first in the refrigerator then warm up. Food should be kept out of refrigerator least amount of time. Smell the food, look at the food does not look right or smell right is not right.
PS
Once you start eating all the food, it may help, if you eat 6 small meals instead of 3 large meals.
References:
http://search.yahoo.com/search?ei=utf-8&...
http://www.halls.md/body-mass-index/bmi....
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Body Building
BY
minootoo
You are blessed.
How old are you?
Most people put on weight after age 40.
Any way before you try any thing, see a doctor to rule out any abnormalities (Hormone, Pituitary).
Remember it is ten times easier to put on the weight then to take it off.
Body building is opposite of weight loss. But you must understand weight loss in order to build body.
I will include my article on weight loss also.
Most people eat protein reach food and complex carbohydrates, with one thing in mind, that they have to exercise 6 days a week and they have to eat more than what they burn off each day.
If you eat about 300 to 400 more calories per day then you burn off, you have a weight gain of slightly less than one pound per week.
You need to eat about 4000 calories per day minimum.
If that does not work than slow down your exercises routine.
In extreme case you will not exercises for two weeks at all, followed by vigorous exercises routine for six weeks. Repeat this cycle again and again till you reach your goal.
References:
http://search.yahoo.com/search?ei=utf-8&...
http://www.halls.md/body-mass-index/bmi....
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Life Style Change Program for Loosing Weight
By
minootoo
Who needs to loose weight?
Answer is simply not every one, only the over weight person.
Who is over weight?
This is simple, it is easy to find out and it is available on line, it is call Body Mass Index, and calculations are simple. According to this calculation if you find your self say only 10 pounds more, you may not be over weight. Remember every one is slightly different and you can just watch it, on your own and not let it get out of hand.
What is the reason for being over weight?
This is also simple, have doctor check you out for any physical or hormonal abnormalities. The doctor should be advising you of your ideal weight even though you have already figured out the ideal weight and you are seen a doctor because your weight is not where it should be according to BMI.
Basic understanding of loosing weight.
Every one uses calories at all time. There may be some exceptions to this rule, for most of us; the rate of use, even when we are resting, we use 65 calories per hour minimum. This comes to1560 calories per day. The actual range is between 65 and 100 calories per hour. This is consistent with heart rate of 60 to 80 bits per minute.
Simply put any person eating only say 1500 calories a day will not put on any additional weight. At this level of calories consumption the person should loose some weight over long haul, depending on the individual rate of metabolism.
What is a healthy weight loss?
When one tries to loose weight, one should loose excess fat; there should be a healthy loss of weight. Loosing muscles tissue is unhealthy.
How much is one pound of body fat?
One pound of body fat weight is approximately same as one pound of butter. If you look at a one pound package of butter, you will see it contains between 3200 to 3600 calories. This means that each time a person burns 3600 more calories then what the person takes in, the person will loose one pound.
How many pounds should a person loose in a month?
Any one that is trying to trim down can figure out how long it took to put on the excess pounds. The fact is; it did not happen over night. It usually creeps up, but the person realizes one day suddenly.
This is why a person should not be in a hurry to loose weight. The person should start at once but go slowly. Do not wait for New Year.
Taking above in to consideration a person should not loose more then 2 pounds per month. If a person looses any thing more then that, chances are that the person will not be able to maintain the weight loss. It will take extra efforts to loose and it will take extra efforts to keep it off. Remember slow and steady wins the race.
When an overweight person should start loosing weight?
At once. The person should not be in a hurry to loose weight. The person should start at once but go slowly. Again do not wait for New Year.
How does body react to weight lose?
Any time there is depletion of fat beyond certain level, the body reacts by slowing down metabolism, so that it can build up fat. If the body is use to say 2000 calories per day and detects only 1500 calories per day for considerable length of time it reacts to the situation by reducing the rate of metabolism. When this happens one need to help body by increasing activity. Usually takes about four weeks for body to react.
What is the relationship between body and body fat?
Under ideal condition fat act as a reserved energy source for our body. Certain level of fat is good for healthy living and even may save our life in certain life threatening situations. Every one should have minimum required level of fat on their body.
What if there is no weight loss at 1500 calories in take level?
This is a rear occurrence. Do not panic. The body has slowed down the metabolism to such a great extent that you must help it. The only way to help is to increase activities, this means you have to exercise. You do not need to join Gym but you can go on an an half an hour walk every day or batter still engage in a power walk for same duration. Power walk burns 250 calories per hour and walk burns 100 calories per hour approximately.
What is the importance of body fat for a female?
Females require little more body fat then men. In the absence of certain required level of body fat, females are not able to function properly; in particular they may not be able to conceive. You can find lot more about this on internet.
At 1500 calories intake per day what one must drink and eat?
Drink
One gallon of liquids most of witch should be in the form of water (zero calories).
Calories should be accounted for all other liquids.
Why water?
Water is a universal solvent, means it dissolves almost every thing at least in very minute quantities. This helps purification of body.
Eat
What should be your proportionate in take of fat, Proteins and Complex Carbohydrates?
This depends on what your need are.
1. Need to reduce fat.
Fat: 10 percent of 1500 calorie per day = 150 calories.
Complex Carbohydrates: 30 percent of 1500 calories per day = 450 calories.
Proteins: 60 percent of 1500 calories per day = 900 calories.
2. Need more energy.
Fat: 10 percent of 1500 calorie per day = 150 calories.
Complex Carbohydrates: 40 percent of 1500 calories per day = 450 calories.
Proteins: 50 percent of 1500 calories per day = 750 calories.
3. Need to reduce weight only.
Fat: 25 percent of 1500 calorie per day = 375 calories.
Complex Carbohydrates: 25 percent of 1500 calories per day = 375 calories.
Proteins: 50 percent of 1500 calories per day = 750 calories.
4. Need to increase muscles bulk, but still reduce weight.
Fat: 10 percent of 1500 calorie per day = 150 calories.
Complex Carbohydrates: 15 percent of 1500 calories per day = 225 calories.
Proteins: 75 percent of 1500 calories per day = 1125 calories.
Exercise the muscles you want to develop, you can find right exercise on line, recommend use of light weights.
Foot note: To take fat is so important, while reducing even fat, that it is included in all cases. If the fat is completely cut out, body will think of producing the fat, and will produce the fat by reducing metabolism, without fat in take, you may actually again weight even at lower than 1500 calorie level. You will feel run down and lethargic.
How one must, drink and eat?
Drink
Every one may not be able to follow this regime.
A 16 oz glass of water fist thing in the morning will be very healthy start.
If you need to stabilize your stomach before eating, you can have a glass of water just before each and every meal. This is the easiest way to meet your quota of gallon of liquids.
Eat
To day almost half the world is starving.
In western culture. Standard healthy practice for long time was three warm square meals per day. No eating in between, but children were allowed night cap.
All that has changed, present thinking is 5 to 6 times per day. Any way what practice one follows is up to them; to each his own.
Another best practice will be a glass of water before bed time, nothing to eat for two hours before bed time.
How do I know the calorie count for various drinks and food?
If you are buying packaged items it is on the package.
Go on the internet and find the calorie information.
Lots of cook book now a days list calorie per serving.
Use your best guess, in this method use higher figure then you have guessed.
References:
http://search.yahoo.com/search?ei=utf-8&...
http://www.halls.md/body-mass-index/bmi....
**************************************... Your fears about the side effects of Lipitor in regular usage long term are factual.
I do not intend to frighten you but over the years there have been reports from users about the side effects of Lipitor . One such report is attached.
However these should not be taken as 鈥減ut to trial and found guilty鈥?judgements on this miracle drug. Its good work almost certainly outweighs the bad.
It is more a case of 鈥渂e aware 鈥?beware 鈥? That is something all experienced doctors must know.
I have also attached some focused advice on statins usage most of which I have gleaned from Information bulletins issued by 鈥?believe it or not 鈥?by pharma companies themselves !
This is an email I received recently from a friend:
My mother, age 84, lives with me, and has been taking Lipitor for 3 1/2 years, up until very recently.
She's experienced a lot of muscle pain, inflamation, and symptoms similar to muscular dystrophy -- difficulty walking, rising from a seated position, coordination, droopy eyelid on one eye, tremor in her right hand, difficulty initiating walking, very dry eyes, and more.
It was only recently when I ran across the article, "My Life After Lipitor", that I suspected Lipitor could be causing these symptoms and contributed to my mom's deteriorating health. Having called her primary physician immediately after suspecting this, they scheduled her for a CPK test. It was her first time. Her reading was 174, on a scale from 30 to 135. So, they've told her to stop Lipitor, and she should be fine in 2 weeks.
Meanwhile, I have contacted a health consultant and have begun to give my mom some of the recommended supplements as he advised. Almost immediately, the tremor in her right hand was greatly reduced, and is almost gone entirely. But it's a long road ahead.
She is so frustrated with her mobility issues, which makes her frightened to be in the house alone. She depends on us for assistance to dress, undress, toileting, showering and more. Mostly, she's afraid that she'll fall. She's lost all her confidence to be independent. She's frequently asked me, "did I have a stroke?" She has not. Yet, she's felt so debilitated, that she's concluded she must have.
I'm so frustrated her primary physician called her CPK results (174) only "mildly elevated" and of no concern. When I asked her physician if she recommended replacing Co-Q10 which her Lipitor had depleted, she said she wasn't familiar with this, but added, "it couldn't hurt.
The most important information you should know about atorvastatin
In rare cases, atorvastatin can cause a condition that results in the breakdown of skeletal muscle tissue. This condition can lead to kidney failure. Call your doctor at once if you have unexplained muscle pain or tenderness, muscle weakness, fever or flu symptoms, and dark colored urine.
This medication can cause birth defects in an unborn baby. Do not use if you are pregnant. Use an effective form of birth control, and tell your doctor if you become pregnant during treatment. Do not take atorvastatin if you are pregnant or breast-feeding, or if you have liver disease.
Before taking atorvastatin, tell your doctor if you have diabetes, underactive thyroid, kidney disease, a muscle disorder, or a blood disorder:
Avoid eating foods that are high in fat or cholesterol. Atorvastatin will not be as effective in lowering your cholesterol if you do not follow a cholesterol-lowering diet plan.
Avoid drinking alcohol while taking atorvastatin. Alcohol can raise triglyceride levels, and may also damage your liver while you are taking atorvastatin.
There may be other drugs that can affect atorvastatin. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.
Taking atorvastatin
Take this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take the medication in larger amounts, or take it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label.
Take atorvastatin with a full glass of water.
Atorvastatin can be taken with or without food.
Atorvastatin is usually taken once a day. Try to take your dose at the same time each day. Follow your doctor's instructions.
To be sure this medication is helping your condition, your blood will need to be tested on a regular basis. Your liver function may also need to be tested. Do not miss any scheduled visits to your doctor.
Atorvastatin is only part of a complete program of treatment that also includes diet, exercise, and weight control. Follow your diet, medication, and exercise routines very closely.
You may need to take atorvastatin on a long-term basis for the treatment of high cholesterol.
Store atorvastatin at room temperature, protected from moisture, heat, and light.
Atorvastatin side effects
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Stop using atorvastatin and call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:
路 muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness with fever or flu symptoms and dark colored urine.
Keep taking atorvastatin and talk to your doctor if you have any of these less serious side effects:
路 mild stomach pain, gas, bloating, stomach upset, heartburn;
路 nausea, stomach pain or upset;
路 constipation, bloating, gas;
路 stuffy nose;
路 itching, skin rash; or
路 muscle pain.
Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.
Other drugs will affect atorvastatin
Before taking atorvastatin, talk to your doctor if you are using any of the following drugs:
路 cyclosporine (Sandimmune, Neoral);
路 digoxin (digitalis, Lanoxin, Lanoxicaps);
路 erythromycin (E-Mycin, E.E.S., Ery-Tab, others) or clarithromycin (Biaxin);
路 gemfibrozil (Lopid), clofibrate (Atromid-S), or fenofibrate (Tricor);
路 niacin (Nicolar, Nicobid, Slo-Niacin, others);
路 an antifungal medication such as itraconazole (Sporanox), fluconazole (Diflucan), or ketoconazole (Nizoral); or
路 HIV or AIDS medication such as indinavir (Crixivan), nelfinavir (Viracept), ritonavir (Norvir), lopinavir-ritonavir (Kaletra), or saquinavir (Invirase, Fortovase).
If you are using any of these drugs, you may not be able to use atorvastatin, or you may need dosage adjustments or special tests during treatment.
There may be other drugs not listed that can affect atorvastatin. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor. |
