Low hdl symptoms and conditions

I am 50 years old. Two years ago was diagnosed with very high LDL and low HDL. I told my doctor then that I did not want to go on statin drugs, but 3 months of Niaspan didn't help the cholesterol, and I hated the hot flashes and flushing that could come at any time after taking a dose. So my doc put my on Zocor.

Two years later I my bad cholesterol is within normal limits but my good cholesterol is still too low, even with fish oil and borage oil taken regularly. Almost immediately after starting the Zocor I started experiencing light-headedness and dizziness that would last for up to a minute--even lying down in bed! My doctor prescribed Meclizine for the dizzy spells--more stinking drugs! I get migraines at least twice a month. For the last six months now I have been experiencing increasing muscle pain, joint pains in the knees, elbows and fingers, and now have been having stabbing pains in lower back around the kidneys. I would wake up in the middle of the night with shooting pains and stiffness in my left knee and cramps in my calf muscles. The first joint of my middle finger had become extremely soar so that I could not make a fist or grip tightly. I have had a recurring stabbing pain in my chest under the left pectorals muscle. My feet and toes are soar--especially my left foot. When I exercise even the slightest or do some long walking or outside work, my muscles in the arms and legs get very soar and tender, then stiffen up. I had to see a massage therapist to loosen up my legs last week! Six months ago I would be up at the crack of dawn, ready to start my day, but recently I have become very lethargic and tired with little zeal for any physical activity. I have had intermittent pain in my left testicle. We recently moved and I started seeing a different doctor. After a physical exam, he brushes off these symptoms.

Well, I stopped taking the Zocor a week ago, and already my fingers are much better, although my knees and elbows are still soar. The dizziness has gotten worse but I'm hoping that after my body re-adjusts and flushes the simvistatin that that will subside, too. I have drastically changed my diet to drop 15 to 20 pounds and lower the cholesterol with better eating habits and swimming exercise; hopefully that will help alleviate the pain, too.

In the past, I had taken Zocor, Mevacor, and others which I can't even remember. They did NOT help my low HDL, and high LDL and terribly elevated Triglycerides. I have Diabetes, so this is real important. So then I was put on Lipitor...still didn't do much. Then, 2 years ago my Dr. added Niaspan ER, 1000 mgs, to the 20 Mg. Lipitor.

I followed his instructions and take an 81 mg. Aspirin 1/2 hour before taking the Niaspan. I very rarely have the bright red ears, chest and arms with all the flushing IF I don't eat something fat like Ice cream! If I am awakened with it I sometimes go get a really cold washcloth and just hold it over the worst of it and within 1/2 hour it pretty well goes away. I wouldn't be able to take it at all if I didn't take the aspirin first.

Took Zocor for 8 months, have been off 6, quit because of leg cramps and hands and arms losing feeling at night and muscle pain. Continue to have muscle pain in arms and shoulders even after being off so long...in fact, it seems to be getting worse. Could this be caused by Zocor?