Ck symptoms and conditions

4 months ago started on preastatin 20mg increased within 1 month to 40mg; could not stand up without help; stopped statins at that time. CPK done 157, this was done to show me I wasn't in danger of rhabdomylysis, I continue to suffer with swelling R leg and severe pain. Leg is still swollen 4 months later.....I am professional RN in ICU ,,can't really do my job as necessary...Should I file for disability; or does someone have an answer to provide relief for this malady???

I was a competitive runner with a number of sub 3 hour marathons under my belt before I was prescribed statins for elevated cholesterol 2 years ago. The first go round was 40mg zocor but muscle soreness and loss of strength started within 2 months. Switched to NIASPAN but couldn't tolerate it. The last 7 months have been on 10mg of Lipitor and now have intense pain in my legs, soreness in my wrist and thumb and swollen feet. I can still run but much less than before and much slower. I regularly go to the gym but have seen a steady decrease in the amount of weight I am able to lift. I have a blood test in a couple of days and will be looking for myalgia again. I have discontinued the statin and don't plan to start again. I was healthier before the DR decided to "help" me with my cholesterol problem.

I GOT MIRENA IN ABOUT 2 1/2 MONTHS AGO AND WELL I AM NOW SUFFERING FROM THE SAME SYMPTOMS THAT ALL THESE OTHER WOMEN DESCRIBED. I HAVE PAIN THAT COMES AND GOES IN MY ABDOMINAL AREA, I FEEL TIRED ALL THE TIME, IRRITABLE, DEPRESSED, HEADACHES, BAD CONSTIPATION, WEIGHT GAIN, HAIR FALLING OUT, AND BLOATED SO BAD THAT I LOOK LIKE IM 5 MONTHS PREGO. IT SUCKS I FEEL LIKE I AM GOING INSANE TO THE POINT WHERE I CANT EVEN STAND MYSELF, I DON'T KNOW HOW MY HUSBAND DOES IT. OH AND TO TOP IT OFF 1 MONTH 1/2 INTO HAVING IT I HAD TERRIBLE PELVIC PAIN I COULD NOT EVEN WALK, AND SO I WENT TO DR. AND THEY SAID THAT I MIGHT HAVE A CYST SO NOW I HAVE TO GET AN ULTRA SOUND TO C IF IT IS A CYST OR NOT. UP UNTIL TODAY I DIDN'T CONNECT MY SYMPTOMS WITH THE MIRENA EXCEPT FOR WEIGHT GAIN AND THE POSSIBILITY OF CYSTS. THEN I WAS TALKING TO A FRIEND OF MINE THAT WAS CONSIDERING THE MIRENA AS WELL AND SHE MENTIONED IT TO HER AUNT WHO HAD IT AND HER AUNT TOLD HER NOT TO GET IT AND TLD HER HOW THE MIRENA IS THE PORTAL TO HELL. SHE CALLED ME TLD ME ABOUT IT AND WELL THEN I STARTED TO LOOK FOR OTHER WOMEN'S EXPERIENCES AND THAT IS HOW I CAME ONTO THIS PAGE, AND OTHERS ALL WITH NOTHING BUT THE SAME COMPLAINS. MAYBE 1 OR 2 GOOD EXPERIENCES BUT THE REST WERE BAD. I HAVE AN APPOINTMENT ON 7-21-08 TO HAVE IT REMOVED AND GET BACK ON THE PILL THAT I WAS TAKING FOR ALMOST 9 YRS AND NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH. I CANT WAIT FOR MONDAY TO COME. I WILL LET U ALL KNOW HOW I FEEL AND HOW MY LIFE CHANGES AFTER I GET IT REMOVED. UNTIL THEN ALL I CAN SAY IS DON'T GET MIRENA ITS THE PORTAL SO HELL!!!

I was on Pravachol 40mg for 4 years. It got my cholesterol down from a bad 7.8 to 4.8 and it was great. I was even able to eat my beloved dairy products with impunity. Then, the pain started in my legs about 9 months ago. Was also experiencing calf cramps at night that were so bad I came out of bed screaming. I didn't think about that, because as an ex-athlete with 1 shoulder and 3 knee surgeries + lots of breaks and wear and tear, I just though it was from that or menopause. I also had a lot of heart palpitations and put that down to stress and menopause (I am 51). The leg pain got so severe when walking, etc., that I thought it was DVT. Constant, deep aching in my calves and cramping.. (and I still didn't think about the side effects of Pravachol)! Didn't mention this to my doctor. I lost 12kg, so my doc put me on 20mg, thinking that less weight = less cholesterol. Then I had my blood test. Always got the 6 month blood tests for elevated CK levels (indicates muscle damage) and liver functions. Got a call from Dr. next day saying to stop Pravachol immediately, as the CK levels were almost double what they should be. (Folks, I was taking CoQ10 all the time, too!) One week off the Pravachol and the pain and cramps disappeared and so did the heart palps and a lot of the other "funny" stuff happening to me. You have to consider that Pravachol can damage muscles and the heart is a muscle, so..... However, two months after going off the pills, my cholesterol was up to 6.9 (only bad one went up.) Not good. I have a genetic predisposition for this disease (mom, dad, brother) and it can't be controlled by diet. Both I, mother and brother tried...no avail. I am now on Ezetrol and will have a test in 2 weeks to see what it is doing. No pain from this, but boy am I having bad sweats! Has anyone else experienced these sweats? However, if it drops my cholesterol and doesn't damage my muscles, I'll carry around a bucket.
I do believe that you really have to think hard about taking any of the statins because of their action on the body. For Heaven's sake, if you are on statins, get those 6 monthly blood tests! It could save your life. I've heard anecdotal evidence of muscle damage without the CK being elevated on the blood tests. That is scary.

II have been on Statins for many years. Started with Zocor which caused two large muscle knots in my side. I talked to my cardiologist and was told it couldn’t be, as it would be more systemic. I asked him for a CPK check and he telephoned me and said get off of it at once. In the meantime I broke two ribs swinging a golf club. I was switched to at least three other Statins with the same results, muscle pain. I finally ended up on lipitor. My CPK was elevated, but my cardiologist said that the benefits of 10 mg. of Lipitor trumped the slight CPK elevation. All went well for a couple of years. During that time I participated in a Lipitor study and was monitored for approximately six weeks. Results were Ok until the dose was increased from 10 to 20 mg. I was immediately dropped from the study. Three weeks ago my cardiologist increased my Lipitor to 20 mg. and added co Q-10 300mg. It took four weeks until I developed severe muscle pain in my lower back and shoulders and neck. My doctor will not accept that Lipitor is the cause. I took myself off of it a week ago. I am now almost pain free. He appears to be avoiding communication with me. He also was one of the Dr. participating in the Lipitor study. I would hope that many MDs read this entire list of problems attributed to Lipitor.