Dr. G, a resident, tells me about his patient, a Ms. F.
Dr. G: Ms. F doesn't want to be on a statin [=cholesterol-modifying drug], since she says it is causing her muscle aches. So I'm going to order a CK [creatine kinase level, to diagnose muscle disease].
Me: But she's telling you she has muscle aches.
Dr. G: Yes, but without the CK I don't know if she has statin myopathy [muscle disease].
Me: She could have statin myalgias without statin myopathy. And CK isn't 100% sensitive for statin myopathy anyway.
Dr. G: So how do I know if she should stay on the statin or not?
Me: Ask her?
Dr. G: I think I'll order the CK, and if it's normal, talk about it with her.
Dr. G: Ms. F doesn't want to be on a statin [=cholesterol-modifying drug], since she says it is causing her muscle aches. So I'm going to order a CK [creatine kinase level, to diagnose muscle disease].
Me: But she's telling you she has muscle aches.
Dr. G: Yes, but without the CK I don't know if she has statin myopathy [muscle disease].
Me: She could have statin myalgias without statin myopathy. And CK isn't 100% sensitive for statin myopathy anyway.
Dr. G: So how do I know if she should stay on the statin or not?
Me: Ask her?
Dr. G: I think I'll order the CK, and if it's normal, talk about it with her.
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