My mother had two TiA's last year and was immediately put on Lipitor and low dose aspirin. She was 59. It was determined that her arteries in her neck never grew any bigger than that of a toddler/baby and so they got clogged easy. They did a surgery to clean one side and she's been good since then. The specialists have told her to stay on the lipitor and aspirin for the rest of her life.
About 12-15 years ago she had found out that her blood clotted too easily and her cholesterol was "absolutely wild". She did DASH and followed all the directions perfectly. By her next appointment everything tested great and the doctor couldn't believe the amazing results. She even limited the bread and types of breads as per the directions. (This was a big step for her. She used to buy bread at the store to snack on while she was driving home even though she had bread at home.). Since then her bloodwork has always been good.
Before this and then up until she had the TIA's she's always been considered fairly healthy and always a decent weight. There is a big family history of heart disease, diabetes, stroke, obeisity, etc. (Yup, all sugar and insulin problems.) She's also had bad ear problems since she was a child. After the TIA's she was very unsatisfied with her family doctor and switched to mine. He normally doesn't prescribe a bunch of pills when lifestyle changes will do the trick but told her to follow what the specialists told her. He was happy with all her blood work and would not have prescribed statins if she had not had the TIA's and been put on them by the Heart Institute doctors.
She is now concerned because she is constantly wanting sweets, sweets, and more sweets. She can't get enough and can't stop at just a little. She's always enjoyed a treat from time to time but would only have a little bit and be satisfied. My kids used to think it was funny that she'd still have the same treats in her cupboard from over a year ago. Last week my 11 year old went to stay for the weekend and could no longer find her stash. My mom told her she ate it all. DD thought she was joking and threw it out because it was old until she watched her eat all kinds of junk all weekend long everywhere they went.
Since Christmas my mom looks like she's dropped at least two pants sizes. I don't think she has a scale so I doubt she'd know how many lbs she's lost. She's did this while eating all kinds of junk stuffing her face with bread coated in butter (that fully real butter not margarine) but still eating a healthy salad everyday with no dressing.
Now, here is the problem. She doesn't want to be eating sweets all the time and thinks one of her pills are causing it. I need to double check with her but I think she's only on Lipitor and low dose aspirin. She also seems to be tired every time I see her now. She's always worked hard physically in the garden and around the house but always knew her limits and would never, ever, ever turn down a good nap. She's still been doing gardening and work around the house but just looks and sounds completely exhausted all the time. She's also having difficulty concentrating. She has asked my opinion on stuff, I'll explain a bit to her and send her links to websites and articles but she tells me she just can't concentrate and understand it. To finish it all off, tonight she tells me she's been getting some horrible cramps in her feet and legs. Last night she said tha if it had lasted another 10 minutes she was going to call the neighbor or my sister have them bring her to the ER. She bought a case of Gatorade to get more electrolytes. I told her to go get some magnesium tomorrow and some broth.
I'm of the opinion that the Lipitor is really messing with her and causing all these problems. She is supposed to go into our doctor on Monday but didn't know he'd be away until Aug 5 on holidays. He works for a chain of walk-in clinics so I'm going to see who is working where and when Monday and get her to see someone else I like and know will listen and take time to properly evaluate everything. I'd like to print some stuff off for her and have her bring it with her, otherwise she'll never remember and won't get her point across. If it was our regular doctor I would just go with her (even with 7 kids in tow) or have her call me during the appointment but I don't think that will go over as smoothly with another doctor. (My kids and the daycare kids are used to our doctors office, staff, where to find the bathroom..... and the doctor and staff know the kids really well too making it easy to go in even with all the kids.)
I've also asked her to bring me any of her cholesterol tests that she has copies of, new, old and anything in between.
She doesn't like taking pills and would rather correct problems through diet but I really don't think she'd ever completely give up bread or potatoes. Everything else I'm willing to bet she would. I think she'd even go primal if it included "real" bread and white potatoes.
Tonight she was ranting about how we can now eat foods anytime we want and thinking that whatever they do to keep fruits fresh for so long wasn't natural and doesn't like the idea of all that crap getting into her body....... My smarty pants 8 year old told her if she doesn't like it just don't eat it, just like she isn't eating wheat now because we think it makes her sick.
Anyhow, this has gotten long enough. I just wanted to try and get all the info out here and get some opinions. I want to tell her to talk to the doctor about stopping the Lipitor but I want to get some "real" input from people with more experience or knowledge than me first.
Any suggestions on what I should print? Or any other opinions on her problems or what she should try?
Lipitor & Carb Cravings & More
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