It has come to my attention that doctors seem to take their professional responsibility less seriously than in decades past. There was a time when you went to the doctor and discussed not only the list of symptoms, but solutions to the problem. My husband has acid reflux. When he went to the doctor, the doctor said "sounds like acid reflux." Here are some sample medications and a prescription. He tries them. They help. We take the prescription to the pharmacy only to be told that insurance requires he try a less strong medication first before upgrading to the strong (more expensive medication). No problem. The doctor faxes over the new prescription. He begins taking it and it help. Not as much as the first pills, but helps.
A month or so goes past and the insurance company sends us a pamphlet about prilosec OTC. I laugh inside thinking the insurance company will do anything to cut cost, including encourage over-the-counter medication. I read the pamphlet anyways. The pamphlet not only described how the medication helps, but went on to give advice on causes and how to cut back on acid reflux before it starts. The causes including high soft drink intake, tomato sauce, overindulging, etc where all thing my husband tend to do. My husband does everything it listed except smoke. Our doctor never mention that perhaps if my husband were to not drink 6 Dr. Peppers a day or I quit cooking Italian food at night, his reflux might go away on its own. Even if it didn't go away, he could have mentioned some of the ways to reduce it.
But instead, he was content to just give him a pill. No discussion. No advice on better living. Just fix it with a pill.
Has our society become so "quick fix" orientated that we do not bother to solve problems? Is it all about treating the symptoms? There was a time when doctors where to be respected for the vast knowledge of the human body. Now it seems we only respect the fact that they have the pills and access to the same information we do. It's as if the doctors assume we wanted to treat our problem with healthier living, we would look up how to do it ourselves on the internet. They assume we come to them for pills. By operating under this assumption, they are only a licensed drug dealer. People can go to the street corner to get a fix to self-medicate, or go to the doctor for some legal drugs, but it's all the same. Our dealers are there, ready to give us what we need.
How many doctors hand out Ritalin to children? anti-depression? pain pills? are these drugs the quick fix to our problems? Or should we look at the child hard - does he have ADHD or is he bored and making adults crazy? (I'm not saying ADHD kids don't need it - they do - but it's highly over diagnosis.) Is the person on anti-depressions getting emotional help for their problems or just taking a pill and hoping it will get better. Anti-depressions where meant to be used with therapy, not in place of us.
Is America's drug addiction moving off the streets and back into our doctors' offices? At one time, we went our nation's doctors for our cocaine and heroin; will these medications be listed with them as illicit substances someday?
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Comments: 34
By the way, our insurance quit covering "all" acid reflux prescriptions. I was on Prevacid for years and it worked great for me. Now I'm back to suffering and eating jars of Tums, Zantac, and that Prilosec OTC stuff myself... not exactly cheap either. I've learned what foods to avoid etc., but I still get that reflux bad... *sigh* Any type of stress sets it off as well during the day too...
Take care.
Some probably are.
PIF
Different country but similar problem. Seem to be in and out as quick as possible with no real discussion. pif
I would say about half and half.
(PIF)
EXCELLENT! I'm going through this now with my baby's doctor. The baby has very VERY dry skin patches on his little arms, one leg and forehead. It's not appearing to be excezma, because there is no redness and doesn't seem to be itchy. The doctor looked at it, AFTER I called it to his attention, and just shrugged. No discussion on what to do, so I'm trying "hit and miss" stuff myself. You can't call a doctor anymore and speak to them on the phone. If you need them after hours, they tell you to go to the ER........we really do need health care reform in our country!
My husband is a veterinarian, and he treats HIS patients much better than human doctors treat humans! He even does housecalls and sees emergencies.
We use aloe vera for that in Jamaica. Won't hurt to tr it.
THANK YOU! Hubby is going out later to get some to try!
Every time my Hubby goes to his RA Dr. he comes out with ANOTHER scrip! That quack has him talking like 8 different meds..I cannot get him to go to another Dr and get reevaluated.
PIF
When I first saw my primary dr. I weighed about 250 lbs and had high cholesterol and high blood presssure. He gave me scripts for meds for both and not once did he mention the words, lose weight or exercise. 70 lbs later I'm still on both meds, and both are within normal levels, but so far he has me continuing on the meds, even though I'm not entirely sure I still need them.
Yep, I told me doctor I didn't want to keep taking the medication I'm on for depression. Because my body is dependant on it. I want something that works without the chemical dependence thrown in! But, her response was that now I have to bring in my pill bottles every month to make sure that I'm taking my meds! Ack!
". . . have to bring in my pill bottles every month to make sure that I'm taking my meds . . ." Unbelievable!!!! How did your doctor get away with doing that? Migrate to Jamaica, I'll set you up with my doctors (I only have 2 for obvious reasons)
Yes, I think they are doing it because I said that I didn't want to keep taking that kind of meds anymore. I don't know, but I wish they would listen to what I want and take that into consideration.
I do feel that docs tend to push pills a lot
some doctors are that way. thank goodness mine isnt
A very interesting post.....I would have to agree with you that doctor's today do seem to turn to meds as the only fix for things. We are a very over-medicated society.....PIF
i agree pif
I got to 67 without taking medications. Of course I am very lucky but I was asked by doctors, several times, to take medicataion and was able to point out to them various reasons why it was unnecessary. When I had heart trouble recently (now completely fixed) the medical staff were astonished that I take no medications, only vitamin suppliments.
Larry!!! a man after my own heart :-D) I had to toss out prescriptions to make space for my underwear, as well as from my wallet to make space for business cards and money. Took a lot of convincing to get me to take my Blood-Pressure drugs. (Determined to find a comfortable way to stop).
"When I had heart trouble recently (now completely fixed) the medical staff were astonished that I take no medications, only vitamin suppliments." I need to know more about this. Ping me please.
My doctore knows he has to be very care ful with me as I can still sure him.
I think most MD's are pill-pushers (they get $ from the drug companies).
Its too bad that there are so many like that now. But there are still a few great docs out there that care and want you med free. You can't condemn the good ones just because there are so many bad ones.
Sorry, I have been forgetting this all morning. PIF
i might be wealthy or at least very comfortable without the cost of pills........ pif
I think a lot are pill pushers,
PIF
Our prescription coverage also specifies a generic drug for acid reflux, which may not be the best for everyone, but it's the cheapest.
Our internal medicine doctor takes plenty of time with us, answers questions and makes diet and lifestyle recommendations. He prescribes medication, too, but does it doen't not end there. If you're not happy with your doctor, search for a better one. Try a referral center or ask friends.
yes some times I agree PIF
This is so true. My husband is a medical assistant. He's read articles that indicate that meds that could CURE could be made but the drug companies make so much more on treating the symptom that that's what they do. He says the other problem is insurance companies - they pay so little that docs have to get thru more patients in order to make money. I have a hard time totally believing that when all the docs have huge homes, drive brand new BMW/Lexus/Mercedes, etc and pay their staff barely enough to survive......
Helping out from another PIF group
i agree pif
I think some doctors don't take their role as advisor as seriously as others so it can be hard to find a doctor who does, but they are out there. PIF
maybe some but not all I dont think..PIF
I think most do push pills. You are lucky if you get one that listens! PIF