Just a quick "stop by" to share something with ya'll but first off, congratulations to Astern! I want to stress to everyone on here, who's on pain medication or any other kind (especially that which contains Tylenol) that is particularly hard on the liver to get bloodwork regularly, particularly check the liver enzymes. While I'm not on any narcotic pain med, and my daily dosage of Zanaflex is way below what can be taken on a daily basis, I have an inherited tendency (from both sides of my family) for high cholesterol and very high triglyerides so I've been on Lipitor for several years and also another medication for the triglycerides. My PCP always had me come in every 3 mos. for bloodwork. I went in the first part of January and a couple of days later her nurse called me, flippin' out, asking what all kinds of meds I was taking because my liver enzymes were dangerously elevated. And when she told me the numbers, I was flippin' out too. She sent me to a gastroenterologist and he immediately suspected the cholesterol meds. He took me off of them and I had to redo bloodwork in a month and they were even higher. I saw my endocrinologist 3 wks. later and he repeated them and they're finally coming down but are still too high. I saw another gastro today who's a professor of medicine at UT med school in Houston. He basically agrees with the first gastro that I will probably not be able to take statin drugs again. I've been tested for every imaginable liver problem there is and they've all been normal except for the liver enzymes. So now I'll be repeating bloodwork once a month to make sure they continue to go down, otherwise I may have to have a liver biopsy to see what kind of damage there may be. I will not be going back on statins whether they say I can or not. If any of you are on them, educate yourself about them- let me say, what I've learned has been a real eye opener. So, don't neglect your bloodwork, thinking you can skip it this time. In Aug. of last year, mine was just fine. I was supposed to go back in Nov. but with the holidays, I got busy and put it off. So, in just 5 months, mine was BAD. If you take anything that might be the least little bit liver toxic- keep an eye on it.

One more thing before I go- I want to share an article that I found very interesting. Maybe some of you have already seen it. My mother sent me the clipping from her paper but it was from "USA Weekend" and I was able to find it on the internet. It's titled "Migraine sufferers have thick brain area." I don't remember what's allowed here as far as posting links so I'll let Jo or another mod change this is they want to but if you go to usaweekend.com and search for that title, you should be able to bring it up.

It is so NICE to see you Red!

Although, not good about those enzymes. Year 3 I had 'em too, but I got off all of those meds - although on some new ones for right now.

Regalen and Protonix helps with my digestion, just to add some meds that maybe would help others who see this post.

But back to you, I do hope these enzymes improve themselves with your proactive care.

God bless.

http://www.usaweekend.com/08_issues/...migraines.html

Migraine sufferers have thick brain area
By Peggy J. Noonan

People who suffer migraine headaches have differences in the part of the brain that processes pain and other sensory information, says a study that was published in the medical journal Neurology.
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I kicked Lipitor to the curb after 2 yrs, besides the cost and possible liver problems due to statin drugs, I decided it was playing a part in my RSI/TOS symptoms.
Since I quit taking it in 04 I have fewer of the achy muscle pains.
The medications forum has some threads with more info on statins and other cholesterol lowering ideas.

Jo,
I forgot to add in the above post that since I've stopped the Lipitor, I am having significantly less pain in my neck and shoulders- it's unbelievable. It didn't happen right away- in fact, I've just noticed it in the last couple of weeks, but there is a big difference. I knew that statins could cause muscle pain and damage and I'd had mild aching in my calves, particularly at night, and since it wasn't too bad I'd blamed it on being on my feet alot during the day. But what has been stunning to me is that I'm having so much less pain elsewhere. I used to take Ultracet as needed and am on Elavil and Zanaflex. I haven't had to take Ultracet in several weeks and feel like I could decrease or stop the Zanaflex- that's how much difference there's been for me. I urge anybody who's on this to search for message boards about Lipitor and you'll be surprised how many people complain about shoulder pain, neck pain, loss of memory to the point they feared they were getting Alzheimers, having to be tested because the dr.'s thought they had MS or ALS,etc.

Thanks Tamara-it's nice to see you too! I hope you've been doing better.