Mom is 81, only maintenance med is for inactive thyroid. Labs in August revealed chol level of 215, HDL 57, LDL 146. Prescription issued but I requested a 30 day retest. Another physician advised that no 81-yr-old should start a cholesterol medication - regardless.
Be sure and read up on the statin drugs and not just info put out by the drug companies.
My mother was advised to take them, back before we were wise enough to research side effects. She did develop some of the side effects, but we didn't realize they could be related to statins, and so, didn't make the connection.
A few of my friends have taken them and stopped b/c of the side effects.
I'm very opinionated on this issue and would prefer to use natural remedies before taking drugs with such known side effects. I also firmly believe that genetics plays a large part. My father was told by one of his PCPs that his cholesterol levels were better than the doctor's own levels and my father eats anything he wants to, including KFC if he's in the mood.
Each time there was a gathering for families (annual picnic and a few other events) they would go over the risk factors for heart attacks:
1) Bad genes. Genetic factors were the #1 cause.
2) Smoking
3) Untreated high blood pressure
I think there was something else
5) high cholesterol
Personally, I think if you smoke and/or aren't willing to treat your high blood pressure, it makes no sense to worry about your cholesterol. If you don't treat the major causes, why bother with the lesser causes?
But assuming your mother doesn't smoke and doesn't have high blood pressure, then the issue of whether she should try to treat the cholesterol problem, and how, is controversial. You have talked to two doctors who have differing opinions. You will probably see those same two opinions repeated over and over on the forum.
Wait for the 30-day re-check. Ask each doctor to explain their recommendation (if you haven't heard it already). Do a little research. But ultimately Mom has to make a choice. I don't think there is an obvious right answer here.
My mother had a total cholesterol of around 200 last year. Her doctor mentioned a statin and I said no to it. Maybe I was wrong, but my mother is 88 with some physical problems and cognitive deficits. Who knows? Maybe the extra cholesterol helped with her brain functioning. 200 did not seem high enough to me to worry about putting her on another medication. She took a statin for years. It was habitual and we decided to discontinue because her numbers looked okay. If her total went above 250 we would consider a statin, since my mother has hypertension. But 200 -- no, not high enough IMO.
One of my father's PCPs advised taking Fosomax for osteoporosis. Dad did take it until the side effects became too irritating. During the time he took it, his osteoporosis continued to develop.
Despite the alleged "positive" effect of Fosomax, Dad still fell twice and suffered femur fractures both times, after having been on Fosomax.
When we saw a different PCP, he was adamant that Dad "needed to be on something" for osteoporosis. By that time, the osteo horse was already out of the barn.
Now, if you're curious, research the side effects of Fosamax, as well as the class actions suits filed against the manufacturer. One of the side effects is osteonecrosis of the jaw.
And read the last sentence of the third paragraph in this link which states that researchers have discovered Fosmax actually can cause bones to weaken and crumble.
drugwatch.
Read the next 2 paragraphs if you're prepared to become annoyed if not angry at Merck.
2. Big pharma pushers and doctors. Some hospitals, U of M I believe, have taken positions that doctors cannot accept gratuities from pharmas. HOORAY!
I'm glad Dad decided to dump this toxic drug before he had any more fractures.
I've posted questions previously regarding my step-dad, a dementia patient residing in an alz facility. Poor Mom has been on quite an emotional roller coaster ride (with me) arranging for his care (more ER visits than I care to count). She's tougher than I realized. Thanks, again.
Hope everything is going well for all of you (and yours)!