Like you, Bebe, I held off taking statins because of the feared side effects, electing to try diet and exercise first. There was a tremendous impact, if you consider dropping from low-300s to 292 as “tremendous” (my then doctor did not). I’ve now been on statins over 20 years, and, as my current doctor says, my body just LOVES statins. No side effects. Everything but my triglycerides have been in spec for decades, but my triglycerides bounce. My doctor says not to worry, so I don’t. 😊