Over medication!

[Cassiejo]

Excuse me I am in a very reflective mood. My father died last weekend. He was 95. I cared for him for 12 years fetching a huge bag of tablets from the doctors every month. He was on tablets for heart failure, chronic kidney disease, statins (of course) then tablets such as quinine for cramps etc etc. To dad'sgeneration doctor was god you never questioned anything. But he eventually died of liver cancer! Do you think all the drugs that was thrown at the poor liver to metabolise affected it like alcohol would? But he did live until a ripe old age!

I found the doctors zoom in on the one presenting problem (only have ten minutes) prescribe another tablet which then gets on repeat prescription.

When I studied the heart years ago I remember a lovely clause 'web of causation' . The author was stating the risk factors for heart disease. High cholesterol was only one factor. Obesity, smoking, diabetes, genetics. The more of these you have the higher the risk. As we know cholesterol is more complicated now but what I'm saying is perhaps don't fixate just on one thing. Look at the whole picture. Reflection over!

[Cassiejo]

Thank you. I don't personally blame the drug companies. Expect they need to make money in order to fund research. But think it is better that we challenge and question when we see how out of date the research is. At the end of the day we are responsible for our own health. Spring is here a bit of warmth on our bones works wonders! Perhaps one day!!! Lol

[Swatts2061]

Oh I'm so sorry for you loss😢I can only imagine how you feel. Yes your right. Both parents have hcol. Im not overweight. Do have alot of stress. Now have to get my white blood cells checked as they keep dropping😕

Thanks for your imput☺

[Swatts2061 in reply to Swatts2061]

....btw...we are getting ready for winter over here😊😊😆

[Bazza1234]

I recall a Doctor here in Australia railing against medical expenditure . I forget the exact figures - but he claimed that a HUGE % of funding like maybe 90% is spent on the last 3 months of life. I had a 90+ year old mother-in-law who was always being sent "for tests". 95 year olds don't die of disease - they die of old age!!!! I also had an 85 YO aunt in the US who died after her THIRD triple bypass!!!!!! And I have friends in their 60's/70's who are on multiple drugs . Most people are not adult enough to come to terms with their own mortality.

[ohpilip in reply to Bazza1234]

Actually quite hard to come to terms with one's own mortality.

[Bazza1234 in reply to ohpilip]

Yes - too true! So the earlier we start to think about it, consider it and come to terms with it, the better. It's like waiting for a bus - we know that it's coming but we don't know when it will arrive. We need to be ready for it when it does arrive and not be surprised by an early arrival and we can get on board!!

[Cassiejo in reply to Bazza1234]

Yeah but in England three buses come at once so I' d rather catch the last one if that alright!! Lol

[ohpilip]

I totally agree about 'web of causation' maybe including psychological ones.

Diet - Need to consider not only on what not to eat but also cholesterol reducing foods.

Exercise - doctors fail in my experience adequately to stress the importance of.

Aim - best quality of life possible. I find taking statin does not enhance my wellbeing.

Motto - take advice widely, filter same and, most importantly, see what works for you in practice.

PS We do apparently need cholesterol for neurological and other functions.

[Cassiejo]

I understand where you are coming from Bazza. Think medical profession is in a 'no win' situation though. They are accused of ageism if these tests aren't offered. My father was yes 95 but until the last six months life was very sweet still. He had his tomato seeds all ready for this years crop. We didn't have any tests performed this last six months as the writing was on the wall. But was really surprised when he became severely jaundiced without pain. Once again it wasn't investigated dad wasn't well enough. I really believe there shouldn't be an age when treatment is denied it should be judged on an individual basis. But I agree common sense should prevail. Totally agree ohpilip up to us in the end.

[angelatta]

sadly the pill makers spend millions on research and then pass the cost to the patient , when they come off licence the PCT's instantly insist on generic brands as they are pounds cheaper . Often to the detriment of the poor patient , when you cannot tolerate the cheap and nasty copies the poor Dr's insist they are exactly the same , but even when they state the same constituents they do not do the same job .... Sometimes we have to have the branded product even if it costs more ....

[Cassiejo]

I am very fortunate I don't need any Meds at the moment. i have managed to control my health problems by trying alternative methods with varying degrees of success. For instance my rheumatoid factor is always raised but I don't suffer with R.A. But conscious of the inflammatory nature of RA add Turmeric to my omelettes (favourite lunch at mo) plus have root ginger juiced up with other things a few days a week. I'm not saying it works but I'm hoping it keeps it at bay. Generic tabs do make sense logically for the money strapped NHS. We all know branded goods are so much more expensive but quality not always better. But I do know people who think the same as you so who am I to say different. Thank you for your input.