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Medical rant

bpostbpost Member Posts: 32,669 ✭✭✭✭
edited January 2012 in General Discussion
Why on God's green earth prescribe Lipitor for a stage 6-7 dementia patient?

Why on God's green earth prescribe Namenda when you can see the mental decline is not only progressing but is accelerating.

Why on God's green earth prescribe physical therapy for a patient that can't remember if he had BREAKFAST 90 seconds after he swallowed his last bite of egg????

Why prescribe diabetic pills to a patient on insulin?

I respect the fact lawyers make doctors play defensive medicine but it is gone to the point of being disgusting, profit not efficacy drives the meds, the sales reps drive the doctor to prescribe more crap folks don't need. They advertise pills to give you a hard on yet if you have a snotty nose you have to fill out a form filed with the state to buy Sudafed.

Our Federal Government destroys every-single thing it involves itself in except war; that's when it destroys some other slobs things.

Rant over.

Comments

  • guntech59guntech59 Member Posts: 23,188 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    When my Mother died, we found approximately 50 partially filled prescription bottles in her medicine cabinet.[:(!]
  • gesshotsgesshots Member Posts: 15,678 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Good points!
    I believe it has to do with everyone wanting get paid for as long as they can by bleeding the "patient" dry. [}:)][;)]
    It's being willing. I found out early that most men, regardless of cause or need, aren't willing. They blink an eye or draw a breath before they pull the trigger. I won't. ~ J.B. Books
  • Duce1Duce1 Member Posts: 9,329
    edited November -1
    Well if she was in a nursing home it will probable lead to Medicare or medicate fraud. It is one of the ways the nursing homes do it to make all the cash they can.
  • dav1965dav1965 Member Posts: 26,540 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I have been luck with all my doctors they are great. The only bad doc i had was my dentist. When i showed him my cancer he said dont worry about it. A month later when i showed my doctor she freaked out.[:(]
  • yoshmysteryoshmyster Member Posts: 22,042 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Got to sell the meds (at inflated price) to make ends meet. How else do these pill pushers support 5 ex-wives, a dozen baby franchise, how many other cars that cost more than my condo (each) and pay their lawyers so they can keep doing it?

    Also they may be testing the drug interaction just for kicks.
  • Marc1301Marc1301 Member Posts: 31,895 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Hope you feel better Bruce.[:)]

    I'm only 50, and will admit to forgetting about taking my BP meds on occasion. Does this mean I have dementia?

    A few times I have had to check the 7 day pill box I use to be sure, even though I felt certain I had taken them.

    Stress causes a lot of things in people, and you don't have to be diminished in mental capacity to wonder about something from time to time.
    "Beam me up Scotty, there's no intelligent life down here." - William Shatner
  • bpostbpost Member Posts: 32,669 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    If you look at the cost of medicine the last 6 months of a DYING person's life is just padded to the max to scrape the last dollar possible out of everyone that can pay.

    Don, my moms husband is DYING. He will either die from the dementia (Alzheimer) or from the PROBABLE basal cell cancer on his nose; it is from a sore he has picked at for TWO YEARS non-stop. If this situation was me I would even want the insulin withheld and let nature take its course. No man would want to live like this, crapping his pants, peeing constantly and now 80% wheel chair bound.

    We have a traveling doctor coming in now, the biopsy will be back next week on his nose and there is no way on hell I can, in clear conscience, let them operate on his nose. We would have to put him into boxing gloves to keep him from picking at it. Not even a dog type collar will stop him from picking. If they bandage his nose he WILL pick off the bandage in the night.
  • wpagewpage Member Posts: 10,201 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Welcome to the current world of US health care...

    Its a Big Pharma Co. dream come true.
  • e3mrke3mrk Member Posts: 1,851 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    It's called Profit.
    I was the executor of both My Parents Living Trust so when My Father died it all fell in My Lap to take care of everything.
    My Mother was in a Nursing Home(Hell)!and They kept after Me to sign the Trust over to Them so I would not be bothered by Them to approve Her care. I said No!
    It turns out that The State would not pay for anything as long as Mom had any Property so the Home wanted to spend it all as fast as They could so They could really stick it to the State for Her care.
    They tried to get Me to approve Ambulance transport to the Hospital just to see Her Doctor that was only across the Street and charge Me $300.00 a time. Needless to say I told Them that unless it was a emergency the House Doctor was fine as He was Her Doctor anyway.
    I made Them call Me with anything that would have had a charge to it so I could be sure They were not able to rip Her off. I caught Them trying to pull all kinds of funny stuff but I kept Records of every transaction made.
    Also My Brothers and I would show up at different times during the Week to be sure She was well cared for.
    After She passed away My Brother noticed Her wedding Ring was missing,Mom never took it off and had it on the Day before She died.
    My Brother being the kind of Person You don't want mad at You had a talk with the Nurse on Staff that Night and not only did the ring show up but the Nurse quit.( He should have been a Politician).
    Anyway,A lot of Nursing Homes just rip off the Patient and Their Families for all They can get and then Bleed the State for the rest.
    Make a Point to check out any Home before placing a loved one in it.
  • JorgeJorge Member Posts: 10,656 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Damn if we do, damn if we don't.

    [V]
  • remingtonoaksremingtonoaks Member Posts: 26,245 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    The biggest problem is that we trust the medical industry to much any more. It is our responsibility to ask questions as to why we need these medications, what will happen if we don't take them, what alternatives if any are available, and then decide for ourselves if we want to start them..This is what I do, and if I didn't I'd be taking 100s of meds. like others do. But I don't take any because I don't take what my Dr. says as written in stone until I discuss it in detail with him. And even then I go to my alternative medicine Dr. and ask her what alternatives she might have.... Alternative medicine is a great companion to western medicine. They both have their place in every bodies life
  • SpartacusSpartacus Member Posts: 14,415
    edited November -1
    quote:Damn if we do, damn if we don't.


    exactly.
    your 86 y/o mother is still driving around town. yeah, she's got dementia, but not so bad. you bring her to me and ask for something that will slow the dementia (aricept, nameda).
    i recommend that mom should not be driving, because last sunday she ended up lost on a country road 2 miles outside of town. she took the wrong turn coming home from the market.
    but the family says, "we can't take her car, it would kill here. we want to try aricept."
    the doctor refuses the prescription.
    but, the doc down the block, who you went to for a second opinion, says "sure, here's the aricept"
    so, why are the elderly, sometimes near death patients, on so many meds? because the patient and family demand it!
    personally, i don't start cholesterol meeds on folks >75 and i believe we need to respect our elderly and make them comfortable.
    we can't cure the effects of time. and we shouldn't try to.
    jmho
    tom
  • fishmastyfishmasty Member Posts: 1,213 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by guntech59
    When my Mother died, we found approximately 50 partially filled prescription bottles in her medicine cabinet.[:(!]


    Same thing when my Mom died,..[V]
    It is a money suck
  • guntech59guntech59 Member Posts: 23,188 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I have noticed that some doctors don't like me as a patient because I try to educate myself about my health and will ask pointed questions that require a direct answer.

    That doesn't bother my current GP at all. I think I'll keep her as long as I can.[8D]
  • SpartacusSpartacus Member Posts: 14,415
    edited November -1
    quote:quote:
    Originally posted by guntech59

    When my Mother died, we found approximately 50 partially filled prescription bottles in her medicine cabinet.


    Same thing when my Mom died,..
    It is a money suck

    why didn't you know about all the meeds BEFORE she died?
    sorry folks, but the patient and family are responsible for 50% of the care.
    don't think a med is indicated? ASK the doc "why?"
    the elderly frequently end up on multiple meeds for the same diagnosis. thats because the primary and the cardiologist and the rheumatolgist and the other docs involved in their care are all trying to fix the same thing.
    so, why do you take you mom or dad to multiple docs?
    because you want the best for them, and docs have different practice styles........
    any new patient to my clinic needs to bring in EVERY medicine they have in the house, including supplements, vitamins etc.
    it's amazing how much unnecessary crap people take.
    jmho
    tom
  • guntech59guntech59 Member Posts: 23,188 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by Spartacus
    quote:quote:
    Originally posted by guntech59

    When my Mother died, we found approximately 50 partially filled prescription bottles in her medicine cabinet.


    Same thing when my Mom died,..
    It is a money suck

    why didn't you know about all the meeds BEFORE she died?
    sorry folks, but the patient and family are responsible for 50% of the care.
    don't think a med is indicated? ASK the doc "why?"
    the elderly frequently end up on multiple meeds for the same diagnosis. thats because the primary and the cardiologist and the rheumatolgist and the other docs involved in their care are all trying to fix the same thing.
    so, why do you take you mom or dad to multiple docs?
    because you want the best for them, and docs have different practice styles........
    any new patient to my clinic needs to bring in EVERY medicine they have in the house, including supplements, vitamins etc.
    it's amazing how much unnecessary crap people take.
    jmho
    tom


    I didn't know because I was 500 miles away. Please don't hand me more guilt about it. I do that enough, myself.
  • 1911a1-fan1911a1-fan Member Posts: 51,193 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    i'll tell you what

    i travel all over this not so great state i live in, i have seen a pattern of diagnoses in certain areas

    south of saint louis i have seen more folks than i ever imagined diagnosed with copd

    http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/copd/

    im no doctor, but most of the people i have met are active and very healthy, dont smoke, dont have a cough , but yet are on drugs for it, its easy to justify because the area is known for coal miners

    north of stl i see alot of people that has chf

    http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/heart-failure/DS00061

    i met a lady 70 years old diagnosed with this 40 years ago, retired from the military since then, the day i met her she was on a tread mill in her living room when i arrived

    both these diseases in addition to adding to prescription medication, put them all in a different class of insurance, whether it be life or health, i see a pattern

    edit: let me add life expectancy for chf is 5 years
  • bpostbpost Member Posts: 32,669 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by Spartacus
    quote:quote:
    Originally posted by guntech59

    When my Mother died, we found approximately 50 partially filled prescription bottles in her medicine cabinet.


    Same thing when my Mom died,..
    It is a money suck

    why didn't you know about all the meeds BEFORE she died?
    sorry folks, but the patient and family are responsible for 50% of the care.
    don't think a med is indicated? ASK the doc "why?"
    the elderly frequently end up on multiple meeds for the same diagnosis. thats because the primary and the cardiologist and the rheumatolgist and the other docs involved in their care are all trying to fix the same thing.
    so, why do you take you mom or dad to multiple docs?
    because you want the best for them, and docs have different practice styles........
    any new patient to my clinic needs to bring in EVERY medicine they have in the house, including supplements, vitamins etc.
    it's amazing how much unnecessary crap people take.
    jmho
    tom


    Amen! One fact of life we can't escape is the toll of time and eventually our own mortality. Many people are in denial about the issues that come with age. Adult children are all too often less involved in the care of their parents because of distance and modern life pressures. Folks need to TALK to their doctors, ask about meds and why they are being prescribed.

    Doctors need to do a better job explaining meds and stop using meds that do not make life better. It is hard for doctors to do this when the Federal Government has their nose up the doc's butt just waiting to pounce for missing a check mark in box 54 of section 99 page 134 for treating a hang nail.
  • guntech59guntech59 Member Posts: 23,188 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by bpost
    quote:Originally posted by Spartacus
    quote:quote:
    Originally posted by guntech59

    When my Mother died, we found approximately 50 partially filled prescription bottles in her medicine cabinet.


    Same thing when my Mom died,..
    It is a money suck

    why didn't you know about all the meeds BEFORE she died?
    sorry folks, but the patient and family are responsible for 50% of the care.
    don't think a med is indicated? ASK the doc "why?"
    the elderly frequently end up on multiple meeds for the same diagnosis. thats because the primary and the cardiologist and the rheumatolgist and the other docs involved in their care are all trying to fix the same thing.
    so, why do you take you mom or dad to multiple docs?
    because you want the best for them, and docs have different practice styles........
    any new patient to my clinic needs to bring in EVERY medicine they have in the house, including supplements, vitamins etc.
    it's amazing how much unnecessary crap people take.
    jmho
    tom


    Amen! One fact of life we can't escape is the toll of time and eventually our own mortality. Many people are in denial about the issues that come with age. Adult children are all too often less involved in the care of their parents because of distance and modern life pressures. Folks need to TALK to their doctors, ask about meds and why they are being prescribed.

    Doctors need to do a better job explaining meds and stop using meds that do not make life better. It is hard for doctors to do this when the Federal Government has their nose up the doc's butt just waiting to pounce for missing a check mark in box 54 of section 99 page 134 for treating a hang nail.


    This is exactly why I like my current Doc.
  • bartman45bartman45 Member Posts: 3,008 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    I sure there are those docs who do not like to have their knowledge base challenged in any way. After all, they went to scool for a long time..........
  • 11b6r11b6r Member Posts: 16,584 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    My lady is in the middle stages of Huntington's Disease- there is no cure, damned little treatment- absent a miracle, we know how things will go. She is already 5 yrs beyond the life expectancy of an HD patient. My lady is a smoker. One of her health care workers advised our doc that she needed to quit smoking. He looked at her, and asked her "What the hell FOR?"

    I rather like the gentleman.

    Spartacus, Jorge- I know this is a frustrating situation for the docs. And if I needed a doc, pretty sure I would have confidence in either of you. But while you have been thru this a LOT, please remember how confusing and frustrating it is for those of us trying to walk this path for the first time.
  • TexasVetTexasVet Member Posts: 2,847 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Spartacus, Jorge- I know this is a frustrating situation for the docs. And if I needed a doc, pretty sure I would have confidence in either of you. But while you have been thru this a LOT, please remember how confusing and frustrating it is for those of us trying to walk this path for the first time.

    That's absolutely correct.

    There are more good Doctors than there are bad ones.
  • reloader44magreloader44mag Member Posts: 18,783 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by 11b6r
    My lady is in the middle stages of Huntington's Disease- there is no cure, damned little treatment- absent a miracle, we know how things will go. She is already 5 yrs beyond the life expectancy of an HD patient. My lady is a smoker. One of her health care workers advised our doc that she needed to quit smoking. He looked at her, and asked her "What the hell FOR?"

    I rather like the gentleman.

    Spartacus, Jorge- I know this is a frustrating situation for the docs. And if I needed a doc, pretty sure I would have confidence in either of you. But while you have been thru this a LOT, please remember how confusing and frustrating it is for those of us trying to walk this path for the first time.
    +1 to the entire post
  • JnRockwallJnRockwall Member Posts: 16,350 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    drug makers have done everything in their power since the 8's to get every single person in this country on at least 1 prescription. And they are making headway.

    damn shame.

    we are the nation on medication.
  • Locust ForkLocust Fork Member Posts: 32,072 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I am so sorry you are having to deal with all of this bpost.....you are an angel.
    LOCUST FORK CURRENT AUCTIONS: https://www.gunbroker.com/All/search?Sort=13&IncludeSellers=618902&PageSize=48 Listings added every Thursday! We do consignments, contact us at mckaygunsales@gmail.com
  • 11BravoCrunchie11BravoCrunchie Member Posts: 33,423 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by bpost
    Why on God's green earth prescribe Lipitor for a stage 6-7 dementia patient?

    Why on God's green earth prescribe Namenda when you can see the mental decline is not only progressing but is accelerating.

    Why on God's green earth prescribe physical therapy for a patient that can't remember if he had BREAKFAST 90 seconds after he swallowed his last bite of egg????

    Why prescribe diabetic pills to a patient on insulin?

    I respect the fact lawyers make doctors play defensive medicine but it is gone to the point of being disgusting, profit not efficacy drives the meds, the sales reps drive the doctor to prescribe more crap folks don't need. They advertise pills to give you a hard on yet if you have a snotty nose you have to fill out a form filed with the state to buy Sudafed.

    Our Federal Government destroys every-single thing it involves itself in except war; that's when it destroys some other slobs things.

    Rant over.



    I agree with all, except for the government destroying war. It has succeeded multiple times in destroying war in the last 60 or so years. Wars that could have been won if the politicians had kept their noses out of places that they shouldn't have been, wars that would have been more successful if the politicians hadn't decided that it was a good idea to tie the hands of the troops with excessively stupid rules of engagement, etc.
  • dongilldongill Member Posts: 2,640
    edited November -1
    bpost, [:D]YOU ARE NOT GOD![:D]
  • slingerslinger Member Posts: 1,459 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:

    Spartacus, Jorge- I know this is a frustrating situation for the docs. And if I needed a doc, pretty sure I would have confidence in either of you. But while you have been thru this a LOT, please remember how confusing and frustrating it is for those of us trying to walk this path for the first time.

    And while there are medical schools for doctors, don't forget there are no schools for the patients or their families.
  • CSI21CSI21 Member Posts: 1,206 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Its hard on family, its hard on the good providers. I worked out a deal with my GP, tell me up front what you think is going on, no ifs ands or buts, and we go from there. I know he is trying to do the best he can, and I would never sue him, but lots of folks are money grubbers. My brother in law during his first year of practice had to pay $70000 in malpractice insurance. How can that be right. When my Mother was dying, in order to stay in the hospital and not be kicked to hospice, they had to provide some type of treatment, so even tho we knew she would never leave, she was getting antibiotics and had a NG tube in, I had an NG tube before and know thats a horrible thing, but we had to keep her under a hospitalier(probably misspelled that) so we didnt have to move her.
    It sucked but it was better for Mom, and thats what mattered to us was how she felt and what she wanted.
  • bigoutsidebigoutside Member Posts: 19,443
    edited November -1
    bpost,
    you need to look into respite care.
    if you haven't already, it is care for the caregiver.

    if you don't, soon; you won't be helpful.

    promise. take care of yourself so you can support your mom and take care of him.

    the physical therapy is for you, not him. when he goes from 80% wheel chair to 100% wheel chair, you'll understand what I'm talking about. the longer you can delay that, the better chance you have of getting through this in one piece.
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