Yesterday I got into a conversation with a woman who does a lot of "doctoring."
She told me that her doctor had decided to take her off statins, and had prescribed Niacin to lower her cholesterol. I didn't mention that many studies show that cholesterol is not an enemy - she wouldn't have listened if I had, because she is really convinced that she needs to lower it.
She went on to say that she didn't know about her cholesterol, but in the short time she'd been taking Niacin, she'd been able to reduce her insulin intake by 52 units a day. The doctor hadn't told her that would happen, and she was happily surprised.
The one thing she didn't like was the Niacin "flush" she got after every mega-dose.
Hmmm... could it be that good old vitamins make more difference than most doctors are willing to admit? But what about those "overdoses"? Is that really good - or not?
This calls for more research - so if you've done it, let the rest of us know...
Yours for good health,
Marte
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Saturday, July 19, 2008
I don't want doctors to "practice" on me!
"That's why they call practice," my friend said, when I expressed horror over the phone message he'd found on his answering machine.
It instructed him to call his nurse first thing in the morning, because they had just realized that the new medication they'd given him could cause his kidneys to fail.
What? They prescribed medication without checking out something like that? And this is a man who has "endangered" kidneys already, as well as a problem with his heart that is sending him under the surgeon's knife in just a few days.
It goes to show that before you take any medication, you should do your own research. Begin with actually reading the package insert. The one that lists the side effects and all the possible drug interactions. After that, go on line and see what else you can learn.
Your doctor may say "Oops, sorry" if he kills you - but that apology won't do you or your loved ones a bit of good.
It instructed him to call his nurse first thing in the morning, because they had just realized that the new medication they'd given him could cause his kidneys to fail.
What? They prescribed medication without checking out something like that? And this is a man who has "endangered" kidneys already, as well as a problem with his heart that is sending him under the surgeon's knife in just a few days.
It goes to show that before you take any medication, you should do your own research. Begin with actually reading the package insert. The one that lists the side effects and all the possible drug interactions. After that, go on line and see what else you can learn.
Your doctor may say "Oops, sorry" if he kills you - but that apology won't do you or your loved ones a bit of good.
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Safe and unsafe sleep aids
Today's newspaper once again has horror stories of things people do "in their sleep" while under the influence of prescription sleeping aids. Things like demolishing the neighbor's car and smearing their faces with chocolate pudding.
And of course we've all heard about people sleeping walking and sleep driving while under the influence of those pills.
After experiencing sleepless nights myself, I can understand why someone might be desperate enough to try the pills, even knowing the risks.
But there IS something better: It's called Sweet Dreams and it's made by Feel Bach! They're the premiere Bach Flower Essences manufacturers - the ones who offer several pre-mixed formulas designed to help with common problems. (That matters, because it costs far less to buy a bottle pre-mixed than to buy several bottles and mix them yourself.)
As a rule, because Bach Flowers work by rebalancing your energies, it takes a few days for the effects to kick in, but that's not always the case. I gave a friend a bottle of Sweet Dreams yesterday - and last night he got his first good night's sleep in months. Even I couldn't believe it could work so fast.
The best part is, Bach flowers have no harmful side effects. They're safe even for babies, the elderly, and pregnant women.
So before you resort to taking some kind of poison that could cause you to take a baseball bat to your neighbor's car... try nature's way.
Yours for good health,
Marte
And of course we've all heard about people sleeping walking and sleep driving while under the influence of those pills.
After experiencing sleepless nights myself, I can understand why someone might be desperate enough to try the pills, even knowing the risks.
But there IS something better: It's called Sweet Dreams and it's made by Feel Bach! They're the premiere Bach Flower Essences manufacturers - the ones who offer several pre-mixed formulas designed to help with common problems. (That matters, because it costs far less to buy a bottle pre-mixed than to buy several bottles and mix them yourself.)
As a rule, because Bach Flowers work by rebalancing your energies, it takes a few days for the effects to kick in, but that's not always the case. I gave a friend a bottle of Sweet Dreams yesterday - and last night he got his first good night's sleep in months. Even I couldn't believe it could work so fast.
The best part is, Bach flowers have no harmful side effects. They're safe even for babies, the elderly, and pregnant women.
So before you resort to taking some kind of poison that could cause you to take a baseball bat to your neighbor's car... try nature's way.
Yours for good health,
Marte
Saturday, July 5, 2008
Another Avian Flu Scare...
Some of us suspect a rat in the woodpile - and the rat's name is "Big Pharm." New news about a new avian flu is putting some people into a panic - and of course Big Pharm has the answer in a new vaccination. Methinks that maybe Big Pharm started the scare in order to sell it's new vaccine.
The trouble with this new drug is, like so many of their wonder drugs, it is neither safe nor smart. In fact, also like so many other drugs, it's downright dangerous.
FluMist® is the much-touted miracle that will save you from the flu - that is, if it doesn't give you the flu or kill you in some other manner.
Please watch this important information before you subject yourself or your loved ones to FluMist® or any other flu vaccine.
http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=zcniJxck0gI
Just as a point of interest: Last winter one couple in our neighborhood went in for flu vaccinations. Of course they did - she's a retired pathologist and over the course of her career, has been brainwashed into believing that prescriptions and vaccinations are a good thing.
But guess what? That couple no more than got those shots when they both came down with the flu. The rest of us didn't get sick - only the ones who got the shots. Now how silly is it to drive somewhere and pay money to cause yourself to be ill? They were both miserable for weeks.
The rule of thumb I've read is to wait until a drug has been around for 10 or 15 years before using it. That allows time for those early users to report the side-effects so you can at least know the risks before you go forward. That is, if users do report ill-effects, and if the pharmaceutical company producing the drug allows you to know those results.
Be careful - you only have one body.
Yours for good health,
Marte
The trouble with this new drug is, like so many of their wonder drugs, it is neither safe nor smart. In fact, also like so many other drugs, it's downright dangerous.
FluMist® is the much-touted miracle that will save you from the flu - that is, if it doesn't give you the flu or kill you in some other manner.
Please watch this important information before you subject yourself or your loved ones to FluMist® or any other flu vaccine.
http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=zcniJxck0gI
Just as a point of interest: Last winter one couple in our neighborhood went in for flu vaccinations. Of course they did - she's a retired pathologist and over the course of her career, has been brainwashed into believing that prescriptions and vaccinations are a good thing.
But guess what? That couple no more than got those shots when they both came down with the flu. The rest of us didn't get sick - only the ones who got the shots. Now how silly is it to drive somewhere and pay money to cause yourself to be ill? They were both miserable for weeks.
The rule of thumb I've read is to wait until a drug has been around for 10 or 15 years before using it. That allows time for those early users to report the side-effects so you can at least know the risks before you go forward. That is, if users do report ill-effects, and if the pharmaceutical company producing the drug allows you to know those results.
Be careful - you only have one body.
Yours for good health,
Marte
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