Simvastatin and family history

I went on Simvastatin 40mgs last Christmas 2007 because of the family history of strokes, I was generally feeling very well .
Since being on statins I have felt awful , with lots of side effects " muscle cramps, upset stomach, really really tired, strange feelings in my chest and bad palpations "... I thought I was really ill.which made me very depressed.and even had test's done at the hospital to try and find what is wrong with me thankfully nothing appears to be seriously wrong" so why feel so dreadful i thought it had to be the statins!!"
I came off them my self four weeks ago ,since then I have been to see my doctor who has agreed for the time being I should be off simvastatin but consider taking a milder statin.
I do feel slightly better after four weeks ,but still get some of the side effects can any one suggest roughly how long it takes to feel like one's old self again.....Please!!!

I am a hill walker. My name is Steve and I am 58 years old. I have been recently diagnosed as having type 2 diabetes. Fair enough. I have been given dispersible aspirin, metformin to lower blood sugars, ramipril to reduce blood pressure and SIMVASTATIN to reduce cholesterol. This drug (Simvastatin) made me so Ill that I couldn't walk up my drive without feeling as if I was going to pass out. I also suffered tummy pains, felt very sick and my heart was thumping and banging like a base drum. Every joint in my body ached so badly that I thought my walking days were over for good. I stopped taking it four days ago and already feel better. My doctor has given me a replacement medicine called PRAVASTATIN but I am frightened to take it, fearing that it may create the same or similar problems. Has anyone got any comments or experienced problems with Pravastatin? I would appreciate any feedback that you might be able to give, positive or negative.
Regards,
Steve.