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mikecat adjuster

Beach Fanatic
Oct 18, 2007
633
293
Seagrove.
www.myspaceherspace.com
I don't mean to offend anyone but I'm a bit aggravated right now. Earlier I was plain infuriated.

My 94 year old granddad is the most amazing person I have ever known. At age 94 he shoots trap on the range where he lives 3 to 4 days a week. He loads his own shells and gets at it again. He has led an amazing life. When I last visited him people seemed to regard him as a hero around the range. It was amazing to watch people interact with him on that level.

But a few weeks ago he went to visit my family as he has for years and years. My mother brought him to the doctor she has used for decades, because his neck was hurting. That was a mistake. The doctor, and I use that term loosely, prescribed him a strong narcotic for the pain.

My younger brother, who is also a doctor, went ballistic went he found out what my mother's physician had prescribed. Unfortunately, he found out after my Grandfather suffered a debilitating stroke.

What ever happened to 'Do No Harm'? Shame on that doctor. Will that doctor wipe my granddad after each bathroom visit now? Will he pay for the care he will need until he dies? Will he comfort him as he sits and rots away?

One of the most amazing men who has ever lived has to suffer the indignity he is now going through, because a legal drug pusher gave him something he had no business dolling out. My grandfather's two sons went to Louisiana for a visit and my mother said my granddad cried as they left. It was the first time she had ever seen him cry.

My younger brother said the drug prescribed is about to be changed to an even higher classification of narcotic. Maybe the other doctor doesn't keep up with current events. Shame on him. But why give a strong narcotic to a 94 year old anyway.

In case you don't know, one of the leading causes of death in our society stems from people taking legal drugs, as prescribed. Get your head around that. Not using drugs in an inappropriate or haphazard way, but the way they were prescribed.

My brother-in-law died at age 36 from what a doctor prescribed him. Shame on that doctor, too. I have little tolerance for this.

My son was prescibed an intense medication by a renowned specialst after he had a number of fainting spells. I was dead set against it because I disagreed with the doctors assessment. I did not follow her logic in her diagnosis, but everyone went on and on about the amazing qualifications of the physician. They talked about her being featured in all the latest journals etc. etc. She told us if the fainting continues after a certain amount of time then we would know it was in fact not epilepse he had. I knew he didn't have epilepse and sure enough, the fainting continued.

But do you know what? The highly paid specialist made us feel like bad parents when taking our son off of the meds. She insisted that her original diagnosis was correct. But it turned out my son has a condition where he simply needs to stay hydrated or he will pass out. Fluids. Can you believe it? He just has a lower tolerance for passing out if he is low on fluids. So at school they keep Gatorade in the office for him. But you know what, pharmaceutical companies and doctors don't get rich by selling fluids. It's not a highly profitable business model. Tom Thumb sells a bottle of Gatorade for about 2 bucks.

I have another friend who I went to school with who had a stroke a couple years ago because of medication she was taking. It all just makes me sick.

I know doctors are under an incredible amount of pressure and have to make many tough decsions. I feel for that. But I see no reason why a doctor needed to prescribe what he did to my granddad and basically cause his slow, painful death. :bang:

To all my friends here, thanks for letting me vent.
 

Bobby J

Beach Fanatic
Apr 18, 2005
4,041
601
Blue Mountain beach
www.lifeonshore.com
Mike,

So sorry to hear about your grandfather. I can not believe how some doctors will over prescribe medication. I would like to add there are many good docs out there that do not operate like this. I have lost many friends and a couple family members to prescribed narcotics. It is truly very sad and the reality of it all is a couple of Ibuprofen would have worked just fine.
 

Yzarctoo

Beach Fanatic
Mar 6, 2009
282
103
Any chance that after all the bad doctor experiences you have have heard about and shared with us.... that maybe, and this is only a maybe, that it wasn't the drug that caused the stroke but the age of your grandfather? Seems that your mother had used the very doctor that you are upset with for years and years, believe you said decades, and it doesn't seem that he has ever caused your mother any harm in all that time, or at least you didn't mention that he had. Your mother must have trusted him to take her own father to him. Sometimes a painful pain in the neck is a warning that there is a blockage, one of the beginning signs of a possible stoke. I'm really sorry about your grandfather. I really believe that doctors for the most part try to do their best ...I would like to think that they aren't out to hurt their patients. I can tell by your message that you really loved your grand dad. I'm really sorry to hear about his stroke.
 

mikecat adjuster

Beach Fanatic
Oct 18, 2007
633
293
Seagrove.
www.myspaceherspace.com
Any chance that after all the bad doctor experiences you have have heard about and shared with us.... that maybe, and this is only a maybe, that it wasn't the drug that caused the stroke but the age of your grandfather? Seems that your mother had used the very doctor that you are upset with for years and years, believe you said decades, and it doesn't seem that he has ever caused your mother any harm in all that time, or at least you didn't mention that he had. Your mother must have trusted him to take her own father to him. Sometimes a painful pain in the neck is a warning that there is a blockage, one of the beginning signs of a possible stoke. I'm really sorry about your grandfather. I really believe that doctors for the most part try to do their best ...I would like to think that they aren't out to hurt their patients. I can tell by your message that you really loved your grand dad. I'm really sorry to hear about his stroke.

I repsect your ideas on the subject. But the neck problem wasn't the beginning signs of a stroke. My grandfather, as you can imagine with a 94 year old, has had back and neck problems, as many of us do, but amplified by his age.

And yes, the doctor hasn't killed or given my mother a stroke to this point, but both my brother and myself stopped going to him because of, in my opinion, incompetence. But then again, I've felt that way about a lot of doctors I've gone to.

I could explain things that led me away from him and tell of my brother's experience. But the point is, people place too much trust in doctors. Be careful and use your own due diligence regarding doctors.

My younger brother told me without a single doubt that it was the drug that caused the stroke. He explained how the drug affects blood pressure and how not all strokes are caused by blockages. This stroke was cause simply by a lower supply of blood pressure and not ample blood getting to that part of the brain. My grandfather took the drug and before long my brother said his speech sounded impaired.

Later that night he had the stroke while everyone was asleep. Look, I appreicate, honestly, your courage to write to me and pose an honest question. I respect you for that. And like many things, proving it was 'the drug' is not an exact science. But seriously, prescribing a powerful narcotic to a 94 year old man with a neck that is hurting. Seriously?

Does it take a medical license to realize that may not be a good idea? My friend works with doctors fresh out of med school who walk out of the room and go on web MD to diagnose the patient. They aren't who you think they are and med school isn't what you think it is. There job is hard and I ahve empathy for them. But...

My brother is a doctor and I'll let you in on something. Doctors are responsiible for peoples deaths all the time. My brother is no exception and he has told me about 'accidents'. No one is perfect, but again, as Booby J said, some ibuprophen seem like a much better choice.

And I never said the doctor meant to do this. They just should heed the credo of 'Do No Harm' and let that be THE determining factor. But again, the pharmaceutical companies have good, strong programs and usually have very pretty drug reps. Have yo ever noticed that? And they offer great vacations, too.

Sorry for my cynicism. But some things just jump out at ya. And my granddad, a retired college professor, military man, world adventurer, marksman, author, and person who when his wife died and my mom was just a girl, raised 3 kids and never had another woman in his life. He was fully devoted to his kids. That man. That wonderful human was given a foreign substance to put his body that shouldn't have been there. :angry:
 

Yzarctoo

Beach Fanatic
Mar 6, 2009
282
103
Not meaning to be negative

I appreciate your response and wasn't trying to be negative at all in my response...I just wanted to point out that age also might need to be looked at...I am very familiar how quickly a stroke can strike, have lost several family members to strokes.
 

Gidget

Beach Fanatic
May 27, 2009
2,450
638
Blue Mtn Beach!!
Mike I totally understand your frustration and anger and I with you 100%! Just read "Selling Sickness" one of the many books on big pharma.

I often think doctors themselves do not understand the POWER of these drugs. I can tell you stories regarding my father and father in law - when they were both hospitalized and in rehab 3 miles from each other at same time. (my dad died on morning of my father in law's funeral - it was a rough summer that year) Anyway, I had to do battle daily with both teams of doctors and nurses regarding over medication. Long story but I am an advocate of treating the cause and not to treat just symptoms. Symptom management is what we have going on.

Also, check this out:

Reject drug industry perks, doctors urged - JSOnline


 

30ashopper

SoWal Insider
Apr 30, 2008
6,845
3,471
58
Right here!
The medical industry revolves around treatments rather than cures. Technology simply hasn't advanced enough so we have established, entrenched interests that revolove around treating desease. I'm hopful all the basic research going on in genetics today will result in new innovative approaches that cure rather than treat.

That said, treatments are better than nothing at all. We should be thankful for all that modern science provides today while we are busy being hopful about the future.
 

snowman

Beach Lover
Apr 1, 2008
60
1
I don't mean to offend anyone but I'm a bit aggravated right now. Earlier I was plain infuriated.

My 94 year old granddad is the most amazing person I have ever known. At age 94 he shoots trap on the range where he lives 3 to 4 days a week. He loads his own shells and gets at it again. He has led an amazing life. When I last visited him people seemed to regard him as a hero around the range. It was amazing to watch people interact with him on that level.

But a few weeks ago he went to visit my family as he has for years and years. My mother brought him to the doctor she has used for decades, because his neck was hurting. That was a mistake. The doctor, and I use that term loosely, prescribed him a strong narcotic for the pain.

My younger brother, who is also a doctor, went ballistic went he found out what my mother's physician had prescribed. Unfortunately, he found out after my Grandfather suffered a debilitating stroke.

What ever happened to 'Do No Harm'? Shame on that doctor. Will that doctor wipe my granddad after each bathroom visit now? Will he pay for the care he will need until he dies? Will he comfort him as he sits and rots away?

One of the most amazing men who has ever lived has to suffer the indignity he is now going through, because a legal drug pusher gave him something he had no business dolling out. My grandfather's two sons went to Louisiana for a visit and my mother said my granddad cried as they left. It was the first time she had ever seen him cry.

My younger brother said the drug prescribed is about to be changed to an even higher classification of narcotic. Maybe the other doctor doesn't keep up with current events. Shame on him. But why give a strong narcotic to a 94 year old anyway.

In case you don't know, one of the leading causes of death in our society stems from people taking legal drugs, as prescribed. Get your head around that. Not using drugs in an inappropriate or haphazard way, but the way they were prescribed.

My brother-in-law died at age 36 from what a doctor prescribed him. Shame on that doctor, too. I have little tolerance for this.

My son was prescibed an intense medication by a renowned specialst after he had a number of fainting spells. I was dead set against it because I disagreed with the doctors assessment. I did not follow her logic in her diagnosis, but everyone went on and on about the amazing qualifications of the physician. They talked about her being featured in all the latest journals etc. etc. She told us if the fainting continues after a certain amount of time then we would know it was in fact not epilepse he had. I knew he didn't have epilepse and sure enough, the fainting continued.

But do you know what? The highly paid specialist made us feel like bad parents when taking our son off of the meds. She insisted that her original diagnosis was correct. But it turned out my son has a condition where he simply needs to stay hydrated or he will pass out. Fluids. Can you believe it? He just has a lower tolerance for passing out if he is low on fluids. So at school they keep Gatorade in the office for him. But you know what, pharmaceutical companies and doctors don't get rich by selling fluids. It's not a highly profitable business model. Tom Thumb sells a bottle of Gatorade for about 2 bucks.

I have another friend who I went to school with who had a stroke a couple years ago because of medication she was taking. It all just makes me sick.

I know doctors are under an incredible amount of pressure and have to make many tough decsions. I feel for that. But I see no reason why a doctor needed to prescribe what he did to my granddad and basically cause his slow, painful death. :bang:

To all my friends here, thanks for letting me vent.


You're right on. I had a similar experience with my dad's stroke and some stupid doctors (I was actually amazed at how incompetent they were). After that, plus what we went through having each of our kids with the gyno.o.b. I don't listen to much of anything they say.

Also, one thing I noticed was that the nurses seem to be much more knowledgeable than the doctors. I'll pay attention to what they say from now on over what the docs say. A nurse friend got the diagnosis right on the money just by describing what was going on over the phone, which 3 doctors couldn't figure out after examining him in person. I've got a lot more respect for nurses now after going through all that and the birth of our kids, and not much left for doctors.

I disagree with the one comment someone made about "a lot" of good doctors out there. From what I've seen, they're mostly crappy. We went through quite a few before we found a really good neurosurgeon who saved my dad's life just in the nick of time.
 

scooterbug44

SoWal Expert
May 8, 2007
16,706
3,339
Sowal
I do think that because of liability concerns and patient demands doctors end up prescribing more or stronger medicines than may be necessary, but I don't think you can just dismiss all doctors as heartless quacks because of it.

For every person who thinks doctors overprescribe, there are 3 who want more medicines and a miracle pill for everything (including the sniffles).

From your description, it sounds like your grandad is a tough old bird so I would assume that a pain strong enough to make him go to a doctor and take prescription meds couldn't be cured w/ ibuprofen.
 

GoodWitch58

Beach Fanatic
Oct 10, 2005
4,810
1,923
Mike, sorry for your grandfather and your family, this has to be difficult.
I firmly believe that if drug companies were not allowed to advertise drugs on television and in magazines, then both doctors and patients would be less inclined to prescribe/take so much.

I find it horrifying that we spend billions of dollars on a "so called war on drugs" to keep drugs out of this country at the same time that big pharma spends billions of dollars advertising for people to take drugs...

and doctors should not be allowed to take perks from the drug companies IMO.

I hope that you have requested the local medical board take a look at your grandfather's case. If there truly was incompetence or negligence, then the doc needs to be held accountable; not only for your grandfather's justice, but for the other patients who might suffer as well, and for other doctors who are doing the right thing.
 
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