Patient Comments: Rhabdomyolysis - Symptoms
Question:What were the symptoms of your rhabdomyolysis?
Published: March 21
I am a 59 year old male. I have been on Lipitor for the last 5 years. 10 to 20 milligrams per day. For the past two years I have been feeling my age, so I thought, with aches and pains in my knees, shoulders and hip. A month ago, the pain and swelling would not stop in my knees. I could hardly walk or sleep. I stopped taking Lipitor for two weeks. The pain slowly but surely diminished. I went to my doctor and told him this story. I suggested trying the generic form of Lipitor to him. He agreed and back came the pain. I have stopped taking it for the past week and all that remains is inflammation in one of my knees. The pain in my shoulders and hip are gone! I need to see my doctor soon and tell him that I have stopped taking this drug. Now I feel like a forty year old! Hope this helps you.
Comment from: pcdgirl16, 13-18 Female (Patient)
Published: March 07
I am a 16 year old girl and last summer I was at a boot camp for drill team working out in 105 degree weather from 7 in the morning to after 11 at night with minimal water. I passed out and was rushed to the hospital. I was on the renal failure floor with kidney damage, muscle damage, anemia, and low potassium. I had a catheter for 4 days and was in the hospital for 5. I am no longer able to dance, which is one of my passions, and I now battle with depression and anxiety because of it. The thing that scared me the most was the doctors telling me if I had stayed at the boot camp, I wouldn't have made it through the night.
Comment from: 25-34 Female (Patient)
Published: December 07
I am a 29 year old female with no large Intestine. I ran a half marathon and it was very cold and began to rain the last 3 miles. I finished strong but was having trouble maintaining my body's temperature. Once home I showered and went to bed. I woke up with terrible cramping in my neck, jaw and hands along with heart palpitations. I drove myself to the ER and was immediately admitted. Rhabdo was found when the Dr ran blood tests to check my electrolytes and creatinine. Lucky for me my Dr was an athlete and suspected it immediately. He wouldn't give me any Toradol for pain until he could clear my blood due to how hard that is on your Kidneys. I'm grateful for a Dr who was on top of things.
Comment from: BCOEMT, 35-44 Male (Patient)
Published: March 01
Started having right-sided chest pain a few days ago that gradually intensified and caused shortness of breath. Everyone seemed to think that I had bronchitis, but after going to the ER and having blood work done, it showed that my CPK was over 1500. I was admitted to the hospital and given continuous IV fluids. I have been discharged, but I still feel like crap. The ER doctor seems to think that Lipitor was causing the problems. I do not remember injuring myself, so this seems to be the most obvious reason. Patient CommentsViewers share their comments
Rhabdomyolysis - Describe Your Experience
Question: Please describe your experience with Rhabdomyolysis.
Rhabdomyolysis - Diagnosis
Question: What tests and exams did you have that led to a diagnosis of rhabdomyolysis?
Rhabdomyolysis - Treatment
Question: What kinds of treatment did you receive for rhabdomyolysis?
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My doctor increased my dosage of Crestor to 40 mg, and 11 months later, my GFR fell to 47. I was tired, but the doctor didn't mention the GFR fall. Over the next 10 months I continued taking Crestor. I had four falls and told the doctor, but he still couldn't find anything wrong. By this time I was very weak for another 10 months. I finally collapsed, and after being helped to my feet I returned to the doctor with the help of a walker and another person. The doctor did blood tests and my GFR was 24. She still didn't think anything was medically wrong and said I should go to rehab to improve my core strength. Two days later, I collapsed again and went to the ER. I was admitted with what they thought was alcoholic myopathy. Despite disagreeing with this diagnosis (I don't drink enough alcohol for this to be the cause), they insisted they were right. After three days in the hospital, my liver and kidneys began to fail. This confirmed (in her mind) to the doctor in the hospital that the cause must be alcohol. By that time I was too sick to protest further. On the third day, at my request, I was visited by a doctor from the rehabilitation hospital to have my suitability for rehab tested. He took one look at the medications I was taking (they still had me on Crestor 40 mg), and I heard him tell his assistant that they should cease giving it. Three days later they removed all fluids to let me die. The night of the day the fluids were removed the doctor appeared at my bed, looking flustered, and told me they had "done another test and it was the highest reading they had ever seen." I later found out it was a creatine kinase (CK) test of 100,000 –plus; also advised by the rehab doctor. I was immediately put back on fluids and rushed to intensive care. They inserted a central venous catheter into my jugular and filled my blood up with about 20 bottles of bicarbonate fluid to flush my blood of the byproducts of muscle breakdown. I avoided dialysis and my GFR improved to 35 after I got out of intensive care. Later, the specialist apologized to me for not doing a CK test and not realizing that my rhabdomyolysis was misdiagnosed. I went to rehabilitation for two weeks and my muscles are OK, but my kidneys have been seriously damaged. However, considering I almost died and was only saved by a doctor outside the hospital system, I believe I was the subject of a miracle.