I saw my friend the other day, he had just come from the medical centre and was clutching a bag of meds. He was a tad disgruntled because he had asked for four months supply and they said they could only give him enough for three months. He is about to go off on a trip up north in his new campervan, and wanted to be sure that he had enough to cover the time he was going to be away.
I thought he might be on some kind of medication because he had an operation about a year ago. I asked if he needed the tablets for that. He said no, they are statins for blood thinning, they are dishing them out all the time. I was surprised because despite his operation he has a fairly healthy lifestyle. He cooks for himself and walks every day, recording his miles like I do.
I see a lot of people toddling off to the medical centre, and walking back with their bag of goodies. Some of them pass my house because it's at the end of my road. I see cars pulling up there, elderly people going in and coming out with a bag in their hands. A van comes every day with a delivery, he unloads plastic crates full of packages.
Given the fact that it is very difficult to see a doctor these days, I wonder if it is an easy option to just hand out repeat prescriptions. I am sure that some people do need regular medication for certain long term conditions, but it seems a bit crazy to me to dish out pills like they are Smarties. Are we becoming a nation of drug addicts?
That is my thought for this morning. I might put some photo's on later, that's if I have sorted them out. If it turns into a fine day I might go out. Whatever. I am now going to make mushrooms and egg on toast for breakfast.
Enjoy your weekend. Check in day tomorrow for the International Walking Group. Catch ya sooner or later.
Toodle pip. ilona
It does seem to be the norm to have loads of pills dished out seemingly on demand. I refused statins when they were offered to me because they can cause other problems and I'm happy to try to control my cholesterol by adjusting my diet. It must cost the NHS a fortune.
ReplyDeleteI despair Ilona. The brain runs on cholesterol- a necessary fatty acid. So why would anyone take pills to 'reduce' cholesterol? I questioned this 30 years ago at the start of my nursing degree. Here's a thought - could this nonsense be the cause of the unprecedented dementia rates? Shock horror! !!
ReplyDeletePlease wake up people.I was told that I should peddle this nonsense to my patients. Why dont people research for them selves? Your doctor does not know better- he's just going along with the current mandate rather than risk a lucrative career and gold plated pension. My own GP told me this. It's criminal.
1.Cook/prepare your own food.
2. Lower your carbohydrate intake
3. Walk as much as you can
You are SO correct, Sally. I listed an article below that may interest you.
DeleteVery well said Sally. When I worked in a GP practice many moons ago, the drug company reps were lining up to make appointments to see the doctors. Mind you we didn't mind because they usually brought sweets and biccies for the staff! Lord knows what they were giving the doctors????
DeleteMy mother-in-law had a repeat prescription. It was never amended or reviewed.
ReplyDeleteWhen we were clearing the house after she died we found 26 packets of paracetamol.
I've never understood people getting prescription paracetamol/acetaminophen. it's one of the cheapest drugs to buy.
DeleteWe couldn't believe how cheap it was when we needed to buy a pack in the UK. Less than $1.50 or a box.
Article in the Daily Mail today 'DR MICHAEL MOSLEY: Could statins help beat long-Covid? It's just one of the new treatments, along with a very low-calorie diet, being tested for a condition that affects 2million Britons'. Got to keep big pharma happy!
ReplyDeleteI haven't seen that report. It's about time that they started trials with other well known medications to treat covid. They should have done this from the start.
DeleteI think the theory is that covid attaches to cholesterol some how......that is why so many over weight people are getting so sick.
DeleteI agree that some cases of raised cholesterol can be helped by diet and exercise - but mine cannot - it is genetic, inherited from my father. Neither of us are overweight, we take plenty of exercise and I eat a healthy diet cooking from scratch. I tried reducing my statins and my cholesterol levels rose alarmingly. So they have their uses and I shall continue to take them. So Sally, (I am a retired nurse) please don't scoff at those who are being helped by this wonderdrug.
ReplyDeleteTrue ilona. Some Medss folk need BUT many do not .. I'm with you meanqueen it's diet AND exercise , even light exercises like holing two beans💪 cans while watching the television📺.. if the person is elderly or mobility issues.. whatever suits the person needs
ReplyDeleteI see many in mobility scooters AND THE problem is THERE too fat..
I enjoyed your walk AND talk in the 💧☔🌂rain ilona.. that's part of the fun isn't it ..👍
Happy days Levi xxx
Ilona - I was in the medical profession for 31 years. It has been proven that statins are directly linked to Alzheimer's. Your brain needs so much cholesterol to function normally. When statins are given, they eat away the cholesterol in your brain and this leads to Alzheimer's. Also, in the past few years, they have proven that high numbers in cholesterol are not as dangerous as once thought. I deemed this knowledge years ago and since then have been following Dr. Mercola (who is an MD who became a naturopath after discovering doctors are not helping people, just medicating them). He just did an article on statins and Alzheimer's. He has quite a few articles of interest on his website. Here is the link on statins: https://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2021/07/28/statins-double-risk-of-dementia.aspxui=e072f11f1b7befbbdd7cecb899977ac09b0f0af2ad22ff3b3f7e8143b00089d2&sd=20160930&cid_source=dnl&cid_medium=email&cid_content=art1HL&cid=20210728&mid=DM948274&rid=1220118324
ReplyDeleteThanks. It's telling me that the page cannot be found.
DeleteI did a search within the Mercola site and found it - https://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2021/07/28/statins-double-risk-of-dementia.aspx
DeleteThank you Crystal for that link. It works for me. An enlightening article.
DeleteOpening sentence.
Statins do not protect against cardiovascular disease and more than double the risk of dementia in some cases
I'm sure that the drugs that Tom took for years for his heart are the cause of his lung problems now. I have researched this and but of course the medical profession will not accept my theory. He has never smoked or worked in conditions likely to cause lung problems, I'm angry with the medical profession for this. I myself had high cholesterol years ago but chose not to do anything about it, I have so far made it to 75. Again Tom took them for his heart and in the end came off of them as he was getting forgetful, the consultant said in his report that he was wise to come off of them.
ReplyDeleteI wish people would do more research on things and not just take the Doctor's word for things. Once I respected Doctors but no longer.
Briony
x
I seem to remember years ago that we could go to the doctor about anything that was troubling us, and we could chat about the best options. That doesn't happen now. For years our family doctor was Doctor Alebone, he used to come to the house when mum was ill. Then he retired and we were allocated Doctor Miller. He was lovely, I could talk to him about anything.
DeleteMy friend was borderline diabetic, she chose not to take the tablets but to alter her diet. it worked.
A bit off thread,but years ago our doctor was called Doctor Boddy.My Daughter who was 5 at the time,said as we waited outside his room...Has he not got no clothes on?...I started laughing and struggled to tell him what we were there for.Its one of those times that will stick in your mind forever,lol.xx
DeleteNot just a nation of drug addicts - many nations of drug addicts.
ReplyDeleteSo sad.
Not many want to take responsibility for themselves anymore. They want a quick "fix".
God help us all.
I am 69 years old and when I had to visit a new dentist (my regular one was on holiday) the didn´t believe me when I said I don´t take any pills regularly. It was the same when I had to go to the hospital 15 years ago for minor surgery. It seems to be normal nowadays to take at least one kind of pills every day when you are over 50.
ReplyDeleteYes, it is quite shocking. Just about everybody I know takes a tablet daily. Some of them take several, they have a plastic box with the days of the week on the compartments. They fill it up from the various packets so they don't forget and miss a day.
DeleteDie to a strong family history of heart attacks and strokes I take stations and blood pressure medication. It is preventative and combined with exercise and a healthy diet means I have the best chance of a long life. Just like the Covid jab, medications are a matter of personal and informed choice.
ReplyDeleteLinda, like yourself, my family has a history of heart disease. My father and 5 siblings all died between the ages of 43 and 55. My mother died at 60. I take satins because my liver creates too much cholesterol even though I have a very sensible diet. I take blood pressure medication to avoid stroke. Each individual is different because of genetics - no diet or exercise can change that. I'm 69 and my older brother is 72 - we are living proof that sometimes medication can save your life! Do what works for you.
DeleteLinda, I agree that everybody should make an informed choice about what is best for them. The problem with the jab is that there isn't enough information about it, that won't come until the experiment is over.
DeleteThank you Ilona for hosting a space whereby we can discuss alternative views. You are a brave and courageous lady.
ReplyDeleteThank you Sally. I will not moan at you if you don't wear a mask, neither will I moan at someone who does wear one. I won't moan at you if you don't get jabbed, neither will I moan at those who do choose to take it.
DeleteI won't call you a covidiot or an antivaxxer, I won't tell you that you are selfish. There are plenty of other places where people can get nasty with each other. Everyone should do as they think best for themselves.
Well, I was put on Letrazole for 5 years after breast cancer treatment. When they did the 5 year review they wanted me to continue with it for another 5 years! I had my suspicions about the drug and made several connections between it and pain I was starting to suffer. So I said to the doctors stuff it, no more meds for me. I'm completely pill free at the moment and guess what the pains are gradually subsiding. I think you do have to question meds at some point particularly if they are long term.
ReplyDeleteI have no experience of long term meds. It makes sense to me to have a review every few months to check whether a patient is on the right dosage, and whether the combination of pills they are taking are not harming them.
DeleteThere is a medication that I take every day that I get in 3 month lots. Sometimes I go off on long 2 month trips or more and so I like to keep ahead of medication so that I have enough to take on trips. Over the years I have got the new prescription a little earlier each time so that now I always have an extra 3 month worth of pills on hand. I like the security of it....for sudden trips.....but also if there is some sort of natural disaster like a hurricane etc. that could cause a delay in getting medications.
ReplyDeleteThank you. That's a good tip.
Delete