MRSD
You have always been so helpful to me on this forum. I do wish all the best for you. So many people have offered such good medical ideas thus far I really have nothing to add - except to say good health to you and my wishes that all goes well for you.
Re; statins - I too have had high cholesterol. It runs in the hight 200's (now is 277) but has been in the 400's. I refuse the statins also. Take cod liver oil, niacin, etc. My mother is a very healthy 87 and has the same cholesterol levels (very high) all her life. (no meds for it)
Enjoy your summer. Hope you can continue to keep us updated.
Sydney

I knew about the perks that docs get for prescribing stuff. I once saw a special on a 20/20 kind of show that someone went into a meeting of pharmacy reps and doctors and some guy wore an undercover camera and recording device.

During this meeting, there were trips raffled off and "incentives" to prescribe this and there was also "incentives" for the doctors not to send patients to specialists so it was cost effective (or something to that effect) it was about 10 years ago. But I never forgot that some doctors were paid NOT TO do stuff. That much I remember.

And I have a question about the tobacco companie. If everyone knows and admits that Lung Cancer is attributable to cigarette smoking (I"m not talking about the smokers, they have an addiction), my question relates to the continued existence of the tobacco companies.

If the government knows that cigarettes kill people, and warnings are even on the packs of cigs themselves, would someone please explain WHY these tobacco companies are allowed to keep making the tobacco.

I went on a tobacco website once and it offered "ways to quit smoking". It actually offered tips. I even saw a commercial once on tv that was from a Tobacco Company.

I mean, isn't this an oxy-moron. The tobacco company giving advice on quitting, but they are still allowed to manufacture the product.

I watched the 60 minutes segment a long long time ago when the whistle was blown on the fact that tobacco companies knew how bad nicotine was.

But cigarettes are still made. And sold. And I still don't get it. I know it's all about money, but jeez. It's killing people. And no one puts these tobacco guys out of business????

Melody