My Meds

[+ FreshFluff]

In Avalon's defense: If you're dealing with a chronic health problem, you eventually come to a point where you've exhausted the good treatment options, the low hanging fruit. The only options left are risky and/or have effects you don't want. Worse, you might be dealing with providers who aren't as careful as you would like. Then, if you have problems, some future doctor will say, "Oh, it's too bad your doctor/nurse didn't take precautions."

 

At that point, it's really tempting to do nothing and hope the situation gets better. I've read a bunch of journal articles. My concerns are definitely warranted, but I've decided to take the leap and hope it works out. I will ask the doctor to work with me to prevent the recurrence of the issues that happened last time. If not, I'll find another doctor, even if that means paying out of pocket and/or traveling. (I'm in NYC, but the experts in this area are elsewhere.)

[+ Funguy]

Avalon -

 

In addition to your very real illnesses (ie diabetes) you are suffering from what we doctors call "poly-pharmacy" or many medications.

 

People who are in this position VERY often have complications brought on by the interaction of 2 or more of the many drugs they take. They are especially in danger of this if different providers, including ER's, are prescribing for you.

 

As has been noted above, for a number of reasons you have not seen a doctor in quite a long time. It is NOW time to break that cycle. Your need for each of the medications must be documented and evaluated for interactions. Do you really have the specific conditions for which each are prescribed? Are there overlaps or additive properties? Can you do away with even 1 of these medications?

 

Do you have a primary care doc or are you just going to specialist? If PMC doctor only, does that doc really know how to manage your conditions, all in the same patient. Or is he/she acting like the captain of the ship and coordinating your care given by specialists?

 

I would HIGHLY recommend you make an appointment to see your doctor ASAP and, ahead of the appointment fax the complete up to date list of meds with the question: do I really need all of these? Are there other meds which might do a better job taking into consideration the other meds?

 

Last, consider a consultation with a pharmacologist to evaluate the interactions of your prescriptions.

 

Don't ignore the need to see your doc on a regular basis!

[Moondance]

@Avalon, don't fail to notice that @Funguy gave you what you asked for: INPUT FROM A DOCTOR:

As has been noted above, for a number of reasons you have not seen a doctor in quite a long time. It is NOW time to break that cycle.

I would HIGHLY recommend you make an appointment to see your doctor ASAP...

Don't ignore the need to see your doc on a regular basis!

Edited November 12, 2018 by Moondance

[+ WilliamM]

In Avalon's defense: If you're dealing with a chronic health problem, you eventually come to a point where you've exhausted the good treatment options, the low hanging fruit. The only options left are risky and/or have effects you don't want. Worse, you might be dealing with providers who aren't as careful as you would like. Then, if you have problems, some future doctor will say, "Oh, it's too bad your doctor/nurse didn't take precautions."

 

At that point, it's really tempting to do nothing and hope the situation gets better. I've read a bunch of journal articles. My concerns are definitely warranted, but I've decided to take the leap and hope it works out. I will ask the doctor to work with me to prevent the recurrence of the issues that happened last time. If not, I'll find another doctor, even if that means paying out of pocket and/or traveling. (I'm in NYC, but the experts in this area are elsewhere.)

 

Excellent response. But, he has not been outdoors for many months, as you know.

 

Avalon could be outside by just opening the front door of his apartment and taking a few steps with his walker. It does not involve seeing a doctor. By this time I hope he is proficient enough with his walker to try at least. I don't think he is able to walk any further, but taking a few steps outside could be helpful to feel a little better about his situation.

[+ Pensant]

How does one deteriorate so much?

[Moondance]

I've been urging and probing Avalon for sometime now to get help. He refuses to do so. Others [here] seem to think that somehow he will eventually come around.

I don't know how many of us think that, but a lot of us certainly hope it. For his sake.

 

Diabetes does not go away. Arthritis does not get better. But both can be managed. With the arthritis, in particular, there are many treatment options (injectables that create a fluid buffer in the knee joint, for example) that, as far as we know, have not (yet) been explored. So far, I have heard no reason why Avalon's mobility can't be improved. In his circumstance, I'd want nothing more than to improve mine. Especially knowing the risks of remaining sedentary.

How does one deteriorate so much?

Injury. Disease. Older age.

 

Lack of proper healthcare.

 

Not having family or friends on hand to help.

[marylander1940]

This thread is one more about:

 

[+ WilliamM]

This thread is one more about:

 

 

 

If he would post more thoughtfully and a bit less, it would not be an issue. But, Avalon is stubborn.

[+ FreshFluff]

I don't know how many of us think that, but a lot of us certainly hope it. For his sake.

 

Diabetes does not go away. Arthritis does not get better. But both can be managed. With the arthritis, in particular, there are many treatment options (injectables that create a fluid buffer in the knee joint, for example) that, as far as we know, have not (yet) been explored. So far, I have heard no reason why Avalon's mobility can't be improved. In his circumstance, I'd want nothing more than to improve mine. Especially knowing the risks of remaining sedentary.

 

I hadn’t known about that. HA injections sound like a good option for Avalon if he doesn’t have an inflammatory issues. Corticosteroids are another option. You need a really good specialist who’ll do a good job in the injection. But there should be some that take Medicare.

[marylander1940]

If he would post more thoughtfully and a bit less, it would not be an issue. But, Avalon is stubborn.

 

I've been telling @Avalon to MAGA taking a walk, just a few more steps every day, getting over his dependency from his Godlike landlord. So far no threads about his actions yet plenty of them about what he just saw on TV.

 

If you want to keep on posting here fight for your legs first of you'll be fighting to be able to type later. It's progressive, I've seen it in actions in folk younger than you.

[Moondance]

If you want to keep on posting here fight for your legs first of you'll be fighting to be able to type later.

Amen to that!

[+ HornyRetiree]

At 70 w/ glucose that needs managing and RA, Hospital personnel are amazed that I take 4 meds (now 3) - they say that most my age take 24-30! I believe it as I have friends w/ this many.

 

I hate drugs and only take when it would be foolish not to.

 

Recently started using Cannibis (first time in my life) AND WOW! Pain is gone! One RA med gone and the other reduced 25%.

 

Talk about a natural miracle plant! I use a vaporizer 2x a day. It has given me my life back! I can stack firewood again! My hands work and I am no longer in so much pain I don’t want to move.

 

Thankful for THC.

Edited November 12, 2018 by HornyRetiree

[+ Pensant]

Yes, cannabis is a miracle drug. Pain relief, conviviality, deep sleep and enhanced sexual pleasure. In moderation, of course. I think Avalon would benefit.

[+ FreshFluff]

Interesting study about fiber and knee arthritis. It's an observation study but still pretty convincing.

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/24/well/eat/high-fiber-diet-tied-to-less-knee-arthritis.html?referer=https://t.co/Hb99JTy8P3

[+ Avalon]

Interesting study about fiber and knee arthritis. It's an observation study but still pretty convincing.

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/24/well/eat/high-fiber-diet-tied-to-less-knee-arthritis.html?referer=https://t.co/Hb99JTy8P3

 

What fibers do you recommend for a diabetic?

[+ HornyRetiree]

What fibers do you recommend for a diabetic?

 

ALL THE HEALTHY DARK GREEN VEGETABLES - brocolli, kale, spinach, Brusells Sprouts along with sweet potatoes — google “whole30 rules”

[Moondance]

But, @Avalon, it should not need to be said that healthy green vegetables are neither a cure for your arthritis, nor the only way you should be addressing it. While you may or may not be over-prescribed, it seems all but certain you are being under-treated. I may not have all the details, but you have posted a lot about your health challenges, and I am close to certain that your mobility (and quality of life) could be significantly improved.

 

The fact that you choose to respond today to the fiber/green vegetables reference in this tread and say nothing about DOING ALL YOU CAN TO GET TO A DOCTOR is very disappointing.

[+ Avalon]

ALL THE HEALTHY DARK GREEN VEGETABLES - brocolli, kale, spinach, Brusells Sprouts along with sweet potatoes — google “whole30 rules”

 

Thank-you! I had not heard of it before.

 

https://whole30.com/whole30-program-rules/

[marylander1940]

But, @Avalon, it should not need to be said that healthy green vegetables are neither a cure for your arthritis, nor the only way you should be addressing it. While you may or may not be over-prescribed, it seems all but certain you are being under-treated. I may not have all the details, but you have posted a lot about your health challenges, and I am close to certain that your mobility (and quality of life) could be significantly improved.

 

The fact that you choose to respond today to the fiber/green vegetables reference in this tread and say nothing about DOING ALL YOU CAN TO GET TO A DOCTOR is very disappointing.

 

and walking... don't you forget about walking on the street use your walker @Avalon

 

What if something happens to your landlord, for example he gets mugged by members of the caravan, black teenagers or he's kidnapped by Antifa thugs?

[+ Funguy]

I forgot to mention the cannabis issue.

High CBD, low THC varieties in edible form are amazing. CBD is a pain reliever while THC is the hallucinogen.

 

I am still on chemo (for the rest of my life) and the cannabis has been amazing on cutting down side effects, stimulating appetite, allowing for restful sleep, and reducing my chronic back pain by 75%.

 

I get it in gummy form - cookies, brownies and the like get stale too quickly.

[Moondance]

Ah, @marylander1940, okay … that was funny. The folks who never go to the Politics forum won't understand, but I laughed.

 

And I'll take it as an opportunity to say this to @Avalon:

 

You may not get this, so here's a heads-up:

 

Plenty of us who hate your politics, or have expressed other issues with your posts, would still drive over, load you into the car if we had to carry you, and get you to a (good) doctor if we knew you were anywhere near us. I understand your preference to protect your privacy (even though, in this situation, it is unhelpful to you), but, please, don't abuse the concern of a community you have asked for attention, and implicitly asked to care about you, by ignoring advice you must know is offered in your best interest.

[+ FreshFluff]

Avalon, I'm not sure I understand your doctor situation. Are you seeing only a GP or specialist(s)? How did you find your GP? Have you found him/her to be bored and unhelpful? If so, you need a new one. A good GP will typically refer to good specialists. Check online reviews; you need to be wary of fake reviews, positive and negative, but the general gist is usually right. For specialists, remember that you can find them yourself and ask for a referral. The Castle Connolly list is a good place to start,

[+ Avalon]

Avalon, I'm not sure I understand your doctor situation. Are you seeing only a GP or specialist(s)? How did you find your GP? Have you found him/her to be bored and unhelpful? If so, you need a new one. A good GP will typically refer to good specialists. Check online reviews; you need to be wary of fake reviews, positive and negative, but the general gist is usually right. For specialists, remember that you can find them yourself and ask for a referral. The Castle Connolly list is a good place to start,

 

I've had this doctor for maybe 30 years. He bought the practice from my previous doctor who was retiring.

 

He is a GREAT doctor!!!

[+ Avalon]

Ah, @marylander1940, okay … that was funny. The folks who never go to the Politics forum won't understand, but I laughed.

 

And I'll take it as an opportunity to say this to @Avalon:

 

You may not get this, so here's a heads-up:

 

Plenty of us who hate your politics, or have expressed other issues with your posts, would still drive over, load you into the car if we had to carry you, and get you to a (good) doctor if we knew you were anywhere near us. I understand your preference to protect your privacy (even though, in this situation, it is unhelpful to you), but, please, don't abuse the concern of a community you have asked for attention, and implicitly asked to care about you, by ignoring advice you must know is offered in your best interest.

 

I appreciate everyone's concern. These forums are about my only contact with the outside world.

[+ FreshFluff]

I've had this doctor for maybe 30 years. He bought the practice from my previous doctor who was retiring.

 

He is a GREAT doctor!!!

 

That's good. But it sounds like you're hesitant to go see him. Is that just because of transportation? Can your landlord take you?

 

If nothing else, one trip to your GP every 6 months will save you a lot of time and hassle in getting prescriptions from the ER.