Need to recalibrate your bull sh*t meter?

[MBAnderson]

Yesterday, someone asked if anyone on HU was familiar with the “Parkinson’s Solution,” which for $3,000 and via email & phone can “transform lives” by a chiropractor, passing himself off as a medical doctor.

The day before someone joined HU selling an essential oil for $40 per with equally wild claims. The day before that someone expressed their concern that their doctor hadn’t heard of Buntanetap.

In my humble opinion, there is nothing anyone knows, including neurologists, MDs, and MDSs that isn’t presented somewhere on this website - linking to studies/evidence.

To be clear, I am not saying you should not be in close communication with your doctor, you should, but what I am saying is that there are more, current research available on this website than is known by precious few.

For example, I know with certainty I have read more studies relating exercise or microbiota or the status of FUS or stem cell to PD than my neurologist. My neurologist, who I think is pretty good, has never even heard of Simon Stout (The Science of Parkinson’s) or Laurie Mischley, perhaps two of the better sources of contemporary PD knowledge.

Any knowledge this chiropractor or anyone else is selling is available for free right here. Anyone selling the stuff they promote has a financial self-interest that often exceed the integrity of their claims. Any person who claims they have a secret formula or that only they know the truth or has a cure is not to be trusted.

[Rebtar]

Precise and true. I checked out this guy's website and it's hype hype hype. I happen to have a kindle unlimited subscription, so I took a look at his book -- and just from the tone I gathered this was NOT a person I would trust. He's put together a bunch of information much of which is true and useful, but no need to pay that amount for it. He's out to make a buck.

[LindaP50]

Terrific post.

Buyer beware.

[Bolt_Upright]

Very well written Marc!

[Buckholt]

As far as neurologists go, I suppose we have to accept that they are generalists even in their narrow practicing range. I think my neurologist is excellent, but his particular areas of interest are epilepsy and peripheral neuropathy. HU has been fantastic for me at expanding my own knowledge, learning about the condition from others and offering ideas, some of which I’ve tried, some of which I haven’t. We’re lucky to have it!

[CuriousMe12 in reply to Buckholt]

Yes. I suspect that the price doctorates pay for spending more and more time investigating down specialist dark holes is that they often lose sight of wider holistic events.

[jeeves19]

Well said Marc

[Eryl]

It's not just these delibeate scammers you need to worry about, but there are some doctors on our side. youtu.be/ljQx2Zh4bkk?si=MhD...(Not working as expected?)

[Farooqji]

No one can disagree you on this topic

[eschneid]

Thanks Marc............. I find myself on this great site much less these days as my "windows" between doses are narrowing, giving me less time to get daily things done. I will eventually binge and catch up, but in the meantime I know who's opinions to trust about scammers and new things to possibly try.

Marc, when it comes to imposters/crooks/evil geniuses/rip-off artists, you don't hold back, thanks!

But outside of my small implicitly trusted people here, there are so many others on HU Cure Parkinsons that I know, reading their posts or responses will be beneficial.

Just wanted to thank all those PD-related peeps that make this site so incredible and so helpful in our daily lives.......If your balance isn’t terrible, take a bow........

[JayPwP]

Excellent post Marc 👍

[gomelgo]

It's important to remember how capitalism works. It is a funnel that forces everyone to strive to earn more. It's that simple actually. And knowing that should make everyone question anyone who is charging for their services. Sadly, this makes those of us who are desperately looking for some kind of lifeline after such a devastating diagnosis, prone to being taken for some very expensive rides. These are the lessons of life sadly. And sure, some are knowingly ripping us off or trying to, and some are just trying to eek out a way to survive in a world where prices are constantly exploding.

[Nitro53]

I believe that I was the first to reply to that post as scam. Great follow up

[MBAnderson in reply to Nitro53]

Indeed, you were.

[amykp]

Yeah, I keep saying, I'd love to find a neurologist who knows more than I do. And I suppose my tongue is in my cheek, but only partly.

My last neurologist had never heard of taking low-dose lithium, or ambroxol. My sister's did not know what a ketogenic diet was. And these guys were MDS's in big urban centers.

Sigh.

[MBAnderson in reply to amykp]

Too many doctors believe they were taught everything they need to know in med school, but as the body of (medical) knowledge doubles every few years, if your doctor is in her/his 40s or 50s and isn't keeping up, they are practicing in the dark ages.

[kaypeeoh]

So I guess that doctors are people. And people are greedy and weak and self-involved. I was diagnosed with 100% obstruction of the LAD: lateral anterior descending coronary artery. Essentially the main supply of oxygen to the heart muscle. The doctor put on a show of telling me this is a crisis and must be dealt with immediately. He went so far as cancelling his appointments for the morning to be able to sneak me into surgery. And he did and he roto-rooted the artery then placed a stent. So he cured me. And I was happy until I saw that nobody had checked with my insurance first. Without insurance the bill was $55,000. Cash. Never mind I had excellent insurance that would have covered the procedure. Because nobody contacted them first, the bill was $55,000. CASH! So how do I be angry with the doctor who saved my life? That it cost me $55,00 CASH! seems trivial.

I'm a retired veterinarian. I practiced mixed animal medicine for 40 years. In my final years of practice pet insurance had become common. And insurance decides the price for every part of an illness. Insurance demands that puppies get 3-5 doses of parvo vaccine by 12 weeks of age. If they don't and come down with parvo virus, treatment is possible but it's horribly expensive. Insurance tells me the amount to be paid for IV catheters, and IV fluids and everything else. I was content because the payment was less than I charged for IV catheters and IV fluids.

The bottom line is insurance rules. Insurance is slow to adapt to new modalities. I treated parvo with IV fluids and antibiotics and anti-vomiting medicine. But new modalities includes ozone. Ozone can break the capsule surrounding parvo or any bacterium. And quickly cures the patient. Another new modality is manufactured antibodies.

[amykp in reply to kaypeeoh]

That is a terrible story, and I hope you eventually got a good resolution. For pity's sake, isn't insurance supposed to take care of emergencies too?

[kaypeeoh]

Thing is, it wasn't truly an emergency. I would go jogging during lunch hour. My wife saw me stop to vomit then continue the run. She panicked and I ended up in the emergency ward. The day after the procedure I was back to running. There are different ways to treat arterial blood clots. That particular doctor's approach was endoscopically. But I had other clots that were treated medically. Ultimately I learned about AHT, an old remedy that is still used in parts of South America.