Kate, Princess of Wales, reveals she is having treatment for cancer

Like you, I have some cholesterol problems, but have kept my numbers within the normal range with Pravastatin. Back in the summer of 2022, my then family doctor/endocrinologist changed me from Pravastatin to Atorvastatin. He also put me on Fosamax as I have osteoporosis in my right hip. I told him then that I was concerned because many years ago, when I was going through my change, my then gynecologist put me on Actonel. I took it for a while, but from a copy of my blood work my Gastroenterologist had received, they discovered that my liver enzymes were sky high. They thought I had liver cancer and did an ultrasound on me, and found no issues. They figured it was the Actonel, and told me to go off of it. Liver enzymes went back to normal.

Actonel and Fosamax are in the same drug class. I started taking the Fosamax first, and then a couple of weeks later, I began taking Atorvastatin. Within a week my urine had turned orange, and I began feeling very shaky and weak, I had heart palpitations, lost my appetite, and my glucose levels were either too high or too low. I called the doctor and he had me come in to see him, and sent me downstairs to have some bloodwork done. When I got the results that night, there were red exclamation points on every result on everything they had tested me for. They were either too high, or too low. So, right there I stopped taking the Atorvastatin and the Fosamax. He put me back on the Pravastatin after taking new bloodwork to make sure my levels were all back to normal, and I told him I was not going to take Fosamax or any other med for osteoporosis. It took me at least 8 weeks to start feeling normal again, and get my appetite and glucose levels back in line.

Fortunately that doctor retired that December, so it saved me from having to dump him after more than 20 years. I managed to find a new doctor in the same system, and I like her. She's young, very personable, and spends time with you. First female doctor I've had since my gynecologist all those years ago.

My oldest son was diagnosed with Rheumatoid arthritis many years ago, and he's been on Plaquenil twice a day, and an anti-inflammatory med for several years. Plus he has to give himself an injection once a week. About three years ago they did a bone density test on him and found osteoporosis, so he goes for a shot for that every six months. So far he hasn't had an adverse reactions to those, and he's been very fortunate that his arthritis has been kept at bay, so he can do his job. He'll be 58 this year.

When I had to go off the Actonel all those years ago, my gynecologist prescribed a nasal spray called Miacalcin. She also wanted me to take calcium tablets each day, which I did. Things went well until a blood test showed my calcium levels were very high. They discovered that I have a hyper-parathyroid, that overproduces calcium, so my levels are always abnormal on every test. I see a Cardiologist once a year, and I have ultrasounds on my heart and carotid arteries. My carotid tests have been consistently "mild plaquing" since they first started doing them 10 years ago. They didn't do a heart ultrasound last year, because they couldn't find any evidence of the heart murmur I've had for years. He has scheduled me this year for one, and another carotid ultrasound in May.

I hope you find yourself a new doctor that you like, who will spend time with you, and listen to you.

LOL, your experience with doctors is so much like mine. She wanted to try me on those osteo drugs and I always refused. I’m not taking dangerous meds with side effects like stroke, heart attack, AFIB, liver failure, etc. I have asthma and took steroids for a long time in my 30’s. The pulmonary specialist told me then that it would mess with my bones. I refuse to take calcium since Mom took it and it built up in her heart. She ended up with a stent because of the high amounts of calcium. I do take vitamin D and Magnesium and I eat good.

I’ll take meds that make my life better but I’m not taking dangerous meds that lower my quality of life or endanger my life more than whatever they treat does.

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