Exactly my thoughts.

[TonyB1972]

I have discovered that Afib can be tackled in all sorts of ways but it's always easier to just send you off with prescribed medication.

[sassy59]

Very true, unfortunately.

[jeanjeannie50]

Yep, agree with that.

Fortunately at my GP's surgery we have a doctor who's totally into healthy eating. Before I had my gallbladder removed earlier this year I was totally amazed when she told me all about dry frying and reeled off some recipes. Mind you I need a refresher on them now. Must look at her page online.

I hate taking any pills, but unfortunately sometimes we just have to.

Jean

[CDreamer]

So true!

[secondtry]

A 'drug dealer' or 'drug salesman/woman' whichever you prefer. There are of course a few exceptions and they deserve huge admiration given the pressure they must be under to fit in with the majority.

The mist is clearing and I now see I will need to find reliable experienced Alternative Practitioners for all but the most common ailments . The good news is when you do find them a visit is an uplifting experience.

[CDreamer in reply to secondtry]

Second that.

[Threecats]

That’s been my experience, unfortunately. My surgery has introduced annual ‘reviews’ with their pharmacist for whatever conditions one may have. Initially I thought they may be a good idea, as I know of several neighbours who are on a cocktail of drugs prescribed for ailments long since passed but for which they still collect regular repeat prescriptions. Unfortunately, though, these reviews seem to be an excuse to try and push more medications!

Last year, I was invited to have one for my rheumatoid arthritis, the first review in over 20 years! I successfully manage the RA with diet, supplements and exercise and haven’t taken medication for years but, regardless, I was told I should not have stopped the medications and it would definitely get worse if I didn’t go back on them. Needless to say i haven’t taken that advice!

The same pharmacist recently reviewed my mothers heart failure meds that have kept her ticking along quite happily this past 10 years since diagnosis. Pharmacist was insistent that mum should be taking Lisinopril as well, “as everyone with heart failure should be on it”although mum’s blood pressure has always been low. Fortunately, mum is quite a feisty animal and not given to going along with things, so she asked the pharmacist what qualified her to say that, to which the reply was that she has an interest in cardiology and has read a lot about it! Needless to say mum politely declined and said she’d stay with the drugs prescribed by the lead cardiologist when she was initially hospitalised!

Sorry, you’ve got me started now😄

[jeanjeannie50 in reply to Threecats]

I'm afraid I could see right through the request sent to me for a drug review and just ignored it!

I have elderly friends who take lots of pills and they have no idea what some are for. Recently they were going for a diabetes check (both take pills as diabetic). I was at their house and said to them no eating sweet stuff today if your test is tomorrow. He replied, "Oh we take no notice and still eat what we want, the pills keep our levels down". I was floored by that reply, but he's 85 she's 83 and the most active elderly couple I've ever met. Last year they had a new shed delivered which they put up together, her mixing the concrete for him to lay as the base. Honestly, you would not see a more perfect shed, it even has lino on the floor, he made the windows look latticed, added carved shutters and all their gardening tools are hung at the sides. They are amazing and I'm beginning to review my lifestyle. I think (know actually) that I've developed lazyitis after the lock down and hot summer. Need to buck my ideas up!

Jean

[belindalore in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Wow . What an amazing couple! Should we all be so fortunate.

[Ppiman]

I have much greater faith in my doctor than the rather cynically minded (or commercially minded...) person who produced that. I would also say that it's not the immediate AF alone for which they give the pills but for the longer term health of the heart muscle and its valves, most especially to protect the ventricular function.

Steve

[ObiDyer in reply to Ppiman]

Agreed.. it's very easy to knock from the sidelines.

There is a responsibility on us to get properly informed so we can challenge the healthcare professionals in a constructive way, and not rely on Fakebook or spam posts to mess with us..

It's our health and body, take responsibility and ask them to explain, ask about alternatives and help them do their job we pay them for. In my experience the more interest you show, the more engaged they get..

[Ppiman in reply to ObiDyer]

That's well said. The key question is "What will my heart be like in a decade?" and "What can I take to keep it working well enough"!

Steve

[Desanthony]

We have always had annual reviews with our GP or in the last 10 years with practice pharmacist. It has been brilliant as so much better to talk with the pharmacist as they know more about drugs, dosage and side effects. I now take far fewer tablets. Obviously this also means the NHS is spending less on me too! We also found that some of my medication would react with others I was taking for glaucoma - something the Doctor totally missed - thankfully I had only been on them for a couple of months and they had done no damage.

[belindalore]

So true.