Is there any interest in a patient's point of view? These
medications are more serious to patients than to doctors.
Ten years after single bypass surgery, working with a fourth
different doctor, and on a third different medication for high blood
pressure, my left leg was swollen and covered with a rash once again. The
Home Blood Pressure Monitor showed 90/57. I weaned myself off the calcium
channel blocker without a by-your-leave. BP elevated to 116/64 and
stayed.
A lifelong smoker, absent tests of any kind, my wheezing prompted a
diagnosis of COPD and I was prescribed Flovent, Serevent and Nasonex.
Bone density tests showed osteopoenia prompting a prescription for
Fosamax. And I remained on the daily aspirin.
I was offered Evista. Internet research showed a possible side
effect of deep-seated thrombosis. My mother died of strokes at age 52. I
refused the Evista and decided to carefully research all the
prescriptions. And I found mention of "weakened immune system".
That research led me to a variety of internet sites on nutrition most
of which seem to be based on the writings of Weston A. Price, DDS, who
advocated the Paleolithic Diet after his worldwide research. Suffice it
to say, that over the last six months I've made my own choices among the
suggestions of these doctors and nutritionists, basically giving up most
sugar and grains, eating organic whole fat dairy and eggs and grass-fed
beef. With all the fertilizers and pesticides prevalent in agri-industry
in the United States, fresh fruits and vegetables are questionable and
sparsely eaten. My theory is that frozen fruits and vegetables at least
are not sprayed to remove the enzymes that preserve their fresh look and
destroy all their value. I drink steam-distilled water and ingest
absolutely no transfatty acids.
I've added a variety of vitamins and supplements but avoid herbs
because of my own ignorance.
I have given up all my prescriptions and all the wheezing. I read
also that aspirin promotes wheezing. In fact, research showed that each
prescription I was taking prompted a condition that required a new
prescription. My blood pressure now averages 120/70. A wide variety of
scar tissue begins to fade.
What shall I say to the doctor when I see her next week? It was she
who told me: "You are responsible for your own health. I am just the
consultant."
But what of the worldwide economic uproar if the entire medical
profession relied on the intelligence and common sense of the patients?
Rapid Response:
Re: Too much medicine?
Is there any interest in a patient's point of view? These
medications are more serious to patients than to doctors.
Ten years after single bypass surgery, working with a fourth
different doctor, and on a third different medication for high blood
pressure, my left leg was swollen and covered with a rash once again. The
Home Blood Pressure Monitor showed 90/57. I weaned myself off the calcium
channel blocker without a by-your-leave. BP elevated to 116/64 and
stayed.
A lifelong smoker, absent tests of any kind, my wheezing prompted a
diagnosis of COPD and I was prescribed Flovent, Serevent and Nasonex.
Bone density tests showed osteopoenia prompting a prescription for
Fosamax. And I remained on the daily aspirin.
I was offered Evista. Internet research showed a possible side
effect of deep-seated thrombosis. My mother died of strokes at age 52. I
refused the Evista and decided to carefully research all the
prescriptions. And I found mention of "weakened immune system".
That research led me to a variety of internet sites on nutrition most
of which seem to be based on the writings of Weston A. Price, DDS, who
advocated the Paleolithic Diet after his worldwide research. Suffice it
to say, that over the last six months I've made my own choices among the
suggestions of these doctors and nutritionists, basically giving up most
sugar and grains, eating organic whole fat dairy and eggs and grass-fed
beef. With all the fertilizers and pesticides prevalent in agri-industry
in the United States, fresh fruits and vegetables are questionable and
sparsely eaten. My theory is that frozen fruits and vegetables at least
are not sprayed to remove the enzymes that preserve their fresh look and
destroy all their value. I drink steam-distilled water and ingest
absolutely no transfatty acids.
I've added a variety of vitamins and supplements but avoid herbs
because of my own ignorance.
I have given up all my prescriptions and all the wheezing. I read
also that aspirin promotes wheezing. In fact, research showed that each
prescription I was taking prompted a condition that required a new
prescription. My blood pressure now averages 120/70. A wide variety of
scar tissue begins to fade.
What shall I say to the doctor when I see her next week? It was she
who told me: "You are responsible for your own health. I am just the
consultant."
But what of the worldwide economic uproar if the entire medical
profession relied on the intelligence and common sense of the patients?
Competing interests:
None declared
Competing interests: No competing interests