My Thoughts on Statins: A Personal Journey
by Rosemary Chng
26 April 2025
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What Are Statins?
Statins are a class of drugs designed to lower cholesterol levels in the blood.
They work by blocking an enzyme in the liver called HMG-CoA reductase, which the body uses to produce cholesterol.
By lowering LDL (“bad” cholesterol), statins are meant to reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes.
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A Brief History
Statins were first discovered in the 1970s, derived from natural fungi.
The first statin, lovastatin, was approved in the late 1980s.
Since then, statins like simvastatin, atorvastatin, and rosuvastatin have become some of the most prescribed drugs worldwide for cardiovascular disease prevention.
They were originally reserved for patients with severe cholesterol problems.
Today, their use has expanded widely — sometimes prescribed even before trying natural or lifestyle interventions.
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The Benefits of Statins
• Lower LDL cholesterol
• Reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke
• Stabilize plaques in arteries
• Reduce inflammation in blood vessels
For many people, statins have been life-saving.
They have prevented countless heart attacks, strokes, and deaths, especially in very high-risk patients.
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The Possible Side Effects
However, statins are not without their risks:
• Muscle weakness and pain (myopathy)
• Liver enzyme changes
• Mood changes and depression
• Fatigue
• Increased risk of diabetes
• Joint pains
• Rare cases of severe muscle breakdown (rhabdomyolysis)
One important but often overlooked fact:
Statins not only block cholesterol production — they also block the body’s natural production of Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10).
CoQ10 is a vital nutrient that powers the mitochondria, the “energy factories” inside every cell.
Without CoQ10:
• Mitochondria cannot efficiently produce ATP (cellular energy)
• Muscles, the heart, and the brain — all highly energy-dependent tissues — can suffer
• Energy production drops
• Weakness, muscle pain, heart strain, and even metabolic dysfunction can arise
Mitochondria are the engines of life.
When mitochondrial function suffers, life energy suffers.
Fatigue, weakness, brain fog, and worsened blood sugar control can all result.
This explains why some people experience muscle problems, weakness, emotional shifts, and worsening diabetes after starting statins.
Side effects can vary widely among individuals — for some, statins are tolerated well; for others, they cause serious challenges that impact quality of life.
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Supporting the Body When Taking Statins
While statins can sometimes be necessary, it is important to support the body properly to minimize side effects if one chooses or needs to take them.
One critical step is to replenish Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), because statins block the body’s natural production of this vital nutrient.
CoQ10 powers the mitochondria — and without enough CoQ10, cells struggle to produce energy, leading to fatigue, muscle pain, and heart strain.
To reduce potential side effects from statins, supportive steps include:
• Taking VigourCells — a complete blend of network antioxidants, including CoQ10, alpha-lipoic acid, vitamins C and E, selenium, magnesium, and methylated B vitamins.
• Adding an extra Ubiquinol capsule (100mg daily) if desired, to further strengthen mitochondrial energy and support muscle and heart health.
• Ensuring adequate intake of omega-3 fatty acids to reduce inflammation and protect blood vessels.
• Maintaining good hydration and gentle regular movement to support circulation and prevent muscle stiffness.
• Monitoring liver and kidney functions regularly to ensure the body is processing everything safely.
By nourishing the body alongside medical treatment, the risk of serious side effects may be significantly lowered — allowing healing to continue more safely and comfortably.
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My Personal Experience with Statins
When I was in my 40s, I was prescribed statins because of elevated cholesterol.
However, very soon after starting, I experienced severe mood swings and depression.
It was frightening, confusing, and destabilizing.
Not knowing then what I know now about statins and their effects on neurotransmitters and mitochondria, I simply knew I could not stay on them.
I made the decision to stop taking statins — and I stayed off them for the next 20 years.
Fast forward to June 2024:
I was hospitalized after suffering a stroke.
It was discovered that I had very high cholesterol.
Following standard medical protocol, I was prescribed 40mg of statins daily, along with 20 units of insulin, multiple types of diabetic medications, omeprazole, and aspirin.
While hospitalized, I became extremely weak.
• I lost 7kg of weight — not from fat, but mostly from muscle wasting.
• I struggled even to stand, let alone walk.
• My once-strong legs became thin and frail.
Looking back, I now realize that the combination of being bedridden, severely stressed, heavily medicated, and statin-impaired likely accelerated my muscle breakdown.
After discharge, I continued close follow-up with my endocrinologist.
I have had three medical appointments since then:
• September 2024
• December 2024
• April 2025
Here’s how my statin journey unfolded during these appointments:
• September 2024: Prescribed 40mg statin.
Within a few days, I developed pain in my right leg and noticed brown-colored urine — a worrying sign suggesting muscle breakdown.
Alarmed, I stopped the medication.
• December 2024: Prescribed 20mg statin.
Again, the same pain in my right leg returned.
To make matters worse, my overnight fasting blood sugar shot up despite being on diabetic medications.
I stopped the statin again.
• April 2025: Prescribed 5mg statin.
I tried to comply once more.
Yet within a few days, I began to suffer sharp right knee pain, always at the same spot.
It hampered my ability to walk and brought back painful memories of my earlier struggles.
Each time, the pattern was consistent.
Each time, my body clearly and unmistakably told me:
Maybe this medication is not for you.
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My Personal Reflection on Cholesterol and Healing
Despite stopping statins, through natural healing strategies — careful nutrition, high-quality supplements, walking slowly and steadily, and strengthening my spirit — I have successfully lowered my cholesterol readings.
I believe that cholesterol played a critical role in my recovery.
Cholesterol is not the enemy.
It is a building block of life — essential for:
• Healing damaged tissues
• Forming flexible cell membranes
• Producing steroid hormones for healing, metabolism, and vitality
• Supporting brain repair and nerve regeneration
Without cholesterol, the body cannot heal, regenerate, or sustain itself.
I truly believe that during my stroke, my body intentionally raised cholesterol to repair and regenerate my injured brain.
As the brain heals, and once the urgent repair work is done, cholesterol will naturally regulate itself downward without the need for extreme medical suppression.
Rather than fighting my body, I have chosen to work with it — to nourish it, respect it, and give it time and space to complete the healing work it was created to do.
Meanwhile, I am encouraged that my liver and kidney functions have remained good and in optimal range, showing that my body is coping and healing wisely.
Healing takes time.
And I am willing to give my body the time it needs — lovingly, patiently, faithfully.
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My Focus on Triglycerides: Healing from Within
As I continued my recovery, I realized something important:
My bigger concern is not just cholesterol — it is triglycerides.
While LDL cholesterol has been heavily emphasized in traditional medical care,
I believe high triglycerides are a more dangerous hidden threat, especially for someone like me recovering from a stroke and blood sugar issues.
High triglycerides are linked to:
• Insulin resistance
• Metabolic dysfunction
• Hidden inflammation in blood vessels
• Plaque instability and higher cardiovascular risks
Managing triglycerides is critical to protect my heart, brain, and future well-being.
I am thankful to say that:
• Although my triglycerides were high in my September 2024 blood test,
• Through natural healing, lifestyle changes, and proper supplementation,
• My triglyceride levels returned to healthy ranges by December 2024 and April 2025.
This was achieved without high-dose statins, but by supporting my body gently, respecting its healing pace, and giving it the nutrients it needed.
Today, I continue to prioritize:
• Keeping triglycerides low
• Protecting my vessel walls from inflammation
• Supporting my mitochondria for strong energy and regeneration
I trust that as my body continues its natural healing, both my cholesterol and triglycerides will stabilize where they are meant to be —
without unnecessary force, but with wisdom, patience, and trust.
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Final Thoughts
I am doing everything I can — and using all the knowledge I have gathered over a lifetime of research, learning, and living — to be healthy, strong, and to live well.
I don’t know why I suffered a stroke — and a bilateral cerebellar stroke at that — the type that usually kills or leaves survivors permanently incapacitated.
But against all odds, I survived. By the grace of God, I lived.
It has always been my deepest personal mission to save myself, heal myself, and live as well and as long as I possibly can.
Not just to survive, but to thrive.
That is why I am not about to play Russian roulette with my life.
I respect my doctors deeply.
I do not ignore medical advice lightly.
But I also know that blind compliance without listening to my own body is dangerous too.
No blood test, no prescription, no protocol can replace the messages my body sends me.
Pain, weakness, dysfunction — these are not random. They are warnings.
And I must listen.
Rather than fighting my body with aggressive medications, I chose to support it gently.
I took natural steps to help my blood vessels heal and my blood flow smoothly — including nattokinase to gently dissolve clots, vitamin D3 and K2 to protect my arteries, and pine bark extract to strengthen and regenerate my vessel walls.
I believed that by nourishing and respecting my body’s own design, true healing could happen in the way it was meant to.
I deeply respect modern medicine and am grateful for the emergency care that saved my life.
But healing is personal.
Each body has its own wisdom.
Each healing journey is unique.
I have chosen a path that honors my body’s natural resilience — focusing on supporting my heart, my blood vessels, my mitochondria, and my whole being — naturally, lovingly, patiently.
It is not about rejecting medicine.
It is about combining the best of medical knowledge, personal wisdom, and faith — and trusting that the Creator has designed the body to heal — with the right support, right care, and right heart.
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A Personal Note
These thoughts are strictly personal.
They are a reflection of my own experiences, my journey, and my choices.
They are not intended as medical advice, nor are they a recommendation for anyone else to follow exactly what I am doing.
Some people have told me that I can do this because I am knowledgeable.
But the truth is:
We can all gain the same knowledge for ourselves, if we wish to.
We all have the ability — and the responsibility — to learn about our own bodies, to ask questions, to seek understanding, and to be active participants in our own healing and care.
In the end, each of us must take ownership of our health and our life.
No one can walk our journey for us.
No one else lives inside our bodies.
And so it is up to us to steward this precious gift of life with wisdom, courage, and faith.
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Closing Reflection
I realize now how far I have come in my statin journey.
It has been a long road of learning, listening, healing, and trusting.
Perhaps it is time to simply honor the path my body has taken and not return to even the small 5mg statin.
Since last August, when I chose to stop aspirin, statins, and omeprazole, I have been relying fully on natural protocols — nurturing my vessels, my heart, and my healing through faith, good stewardship, and careful considerations.
I trust that what I have been doing, under God’s guidance and wisdom, is enough for my body to continue to heal, strengthen, and thrive.
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End of Article
Rosemary Chng
26 April 2025