When to say no to your doctor - Mens Journal - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

TwitchKitty · #1 10-12-2014, 04:23 PM

I saw this magazine the other day and thought it was a good article. Here it is online. I like the print version better and it might have more information also.

High pressure sales is part of modern medicine. You gotta know when to say no.

Most drugs are helpful to only 1 of 50 patients and are harmful to just as many. Casinos might be a better bet. Medical procedures have a lower standard for acceptance.

When to Say No to Your Doctor - MensJournal.com

"Every time you walk into a physician's office, you run the risk of overtreatment: Tests you don't need, medications that are ineffective (or dangerous), procedures that cause more problems than they solve. In many cases the best thing for your health is to do nothing."

Skippy · #2 10-12-2014, 06:57 PM

Most of the time I just don't go. I've been to the doctor eight times in this century, and two of those were completely unnecessary visits mandated by one of my employers.

According to this the average American goes four times a year:

Triage: How often do Americans see doctors?

That still doesn't explain some of the premiums I've seen for health insurance.

elchivito · #3 10-12-2014, 08:13 PM

I'm old enough to get PSAs every year. I have a close friend my age with metastatic prostate cancer. He got PSAs regularly too but kept his mouth shut about symptoms, didn't tell his doctor he tried unsuccessfully to pee about a hundred times a day. Unlike most people I know who are my age, I go to the doc twice a year. I get perfect test results back, he can't find anything wrong. Tells me to drink less and quit using chew. I say OK, see you in six months. He's a good doctor. I don't hardly take any scripts. Keep an inhaler on hand for asthma and an epi pen around for bug bites. It's my clean living.
Or something.

barry12345 · #4 10-12-2014, 11:06 PM

Our family doctor stated that over a certain age almost everyone should get some drugs. I thought about this and he may be right. They may prolong a life. Simply by making something normal for the age even better. No I am not reffering to Viagra. I am not that far gone yet.

I still have the prostate of a young man according to the doctors for what good it does me. Basically leaves me in a car with no garage syndrome. I figure I am safe from carpal tunnel syndrome as well. It would have certainly got me already if it was going to.

As for operations. The family doctor basically just breaks it to me easily .He starts the conversation with I have booked you with a surgeon for such and such an issue. I go home and read up on the issue.

There never was a choice other than dying otherwise. So the choices where somewhat limited in my mind. Usually if I have any questions I ask the surgeon.

Beyond age seventy I sensed the pre operative work up for possibly signifigant surgery gets more intense. They have a special doctor that examines all patients more in depth at the hospital I use. I guess there is no sense putting someone on the table if they are not going to survive the procedure.

The last time to wake up after the operation with am incision under my armpit about seven months ago made me wonder. I asked the surgeon when I saw him why it was there. He told me he hooked up both my kidneys from there. It is a pretty safe bet that without modern medical proccedures I probably would have been dead fifteen years ago. Unfortunatly I have to have check ups several times a year to make sure things are remaining as they should be. Still a better option than the alternative in my mind.

My type of cancer is known to commonly reoccur for example. Only one time since the original operation fifteen years ago so far. In about ten percent of the cases like mine with a lot of stainless steel plastic coated artery support major stents they can migrate. I am amazed I never felt their presence right after the operation or since. It is truly like the operation did not take place. I do go out of my way to thank the various doctors for their willingness to work on an old carcass though.

All too soon as I walk past funeral homes they will be asking me if it is worthwhile going home. At my age we are fully cognizant the sands of time are slipping away. Yet I still do things like there is a very long road ahead. I have thought about this as well and concluded it just does not matter. Overall I have been or feel quite fortunate in life. At last I feel I am getting older now. I suspected a gradual transition and it is yet still somewhat of a surprise as it occurs.

t walgamuth · #5 10-13-2014, 07:05 AM

Yet I still do things like there is a very long road ahead.

This is the only way to go. One never knows how long they will live so its a good idea to be prepared whether it is short or long.

ramonajim · #6 10-13-2014, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by t walgamuth

Yet I still do things like there is a very long road ahead.

This is the only way to go. One never knows how long they will live so its a good idea to be prepared whether it is short or long.

The fact that a doctor told my father in law that his poly-cystic kidney disease would certainly kill him within 2 years is in no small part responsible for at least some of the rotten care that said FIL has given himself..... for the 10 years that have ticked off since he was told he had 2.

cornemuse · #7 10-13-2014, 10:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by barry12345

Our family doctor stated that over a certain age almost everyone should get some drugs.

My mother passed away at age 94. She took the occaisional tylenol for the headache, was last in the hospital in the '70's after a terrible car accident. She had a collapsed lung. Was in the hosp. for 3 or 4 days only.

In her '90's, she ended up living on peanut butter & coffee.

Cause of death: One day she decided she didnt want to live any longer, and just died a week later. No medical reason.

HuskyMan · #8 10-13-2014, 11:16 AM

It takes guts and courage to get up everyday and LIVE.

Awhile back, a friend was dating a woman who had been diagnosed with cancer. She was seeing a GREAT oncologist who had the cancer in remission. After some time, she told my friend that she was tired of living. She stopped seeing the oncologist, paid one last visit to members of her family and died a few months thereafter. She was tired of fighting the cancer and tired of living.

Quitters give up and ultimately die. Winners keep up the good fight.

aklim · #9 10-13-2014, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TwitchKitty

Most drugs are helpful to only 1 of 50 patients and are harmful to just as many. Casinos might be a better bet. Medical procedures have a lower standard for acceptance.

"Every time you walk into a physician's office, you run the risk of overtreatment: Tests you don't need, medications that are ineffective (or dangerous), procedures that cause more problems than they solve. In many cases the best thing for your health is to do nothing."

How true. Documentation of the 1 in 50 from a credible source?

Every time you walk into a physician's office, he runs the risk of you suing him for malpractice when he doesn't cover all bases. So if you feel the best thing is to do nothing, everyone's happy.

aklim · #10 10-13-2014, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HuskyMan

It takes guts and courage to get up everyday and LIVE.

Awhile back, a friend was dating a woman who had been diagnosed with cancer. She was seeing a GREAT oncologist who had the cancer in remission. After some time, she told my friend that she was tired of living. She stopped seeing the oncologist, paid one last visit to members of her family and died a few months thereafter. She was tired of fighting the cancer and tired of living.

Quitters give up and ultimately die. Winners keep up the good fight.

News flash. Everyone ultimately dies whether you want to fight or not. Fighting "the good fight" is meaningless if the cost exceeds the benefit.

HuskyMan · #11 10-13-2014, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aklim

News flash. Everyone ultimately dies whether you want to fight or not. Fighting "the good fight" is meaningless if the cost exceeds the benefit.

Yes and no. Attitude is at least 90% of maintaining good or great health.

Negative, agnostic, aetheistic, sociopathic, narcissistic people live shorter life spans than positive, faith-based (they believe in a higher power; i.e. they have some measure of spirituality in their lives), giving, caring people. Last time I checked the stats, the negs experience a ten year shorter life span.

You ARE what you think.....

aklim · #12 10-13-2014, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HuskyMan

Yes and no. Attitude is at least 90% of maintaining good or great health.

Negative, agnostic, aetheistic, sociopathic, narcissistic people live shorter life spans than positive, faith-based (they believe in a higher power; i.e. they have some measure of spirituality in their lives), giving, caring people. Last time I checked the stats, the negs experience a ten year shorter life span.

You ARE what you think.....

How did you get 90%?

Which 10 years would I lose? The ones in my 20s or the ones in the nursing home? From what I see, it is about the attitudes of aging that MAY give 7 years or so of longer life.

Only if the 90% number isn't made up and is backed up by some credible science.

barry12345 · #13 10-13-2014, 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HuskyMan

Yes and no. Attitude is at least 90% of maintaining good or great health.

Negative, agnostic, aetheistic, sociopathic, narcissistic people live shorter life spans than positive, faith-based (they believe in a higher power; i.e. they have some measure of spirituality in their lives), giving, caring people. Last time I checked the stats, the negs experience a ten year shorter life span.

You ARE what you think.....

Well I am starting to think the wife is the closest higher power in my existence these days.

I touched a perhaps common thread with my post it seems. Not a bad thing either. Some aspects of life are common to all. Years lived are of little consequence if the latter ones leave you in a nursing home situation in poor condition and health.. Those years in my mind are those of just existing rather than living. Living is the activities plus situations and people we engage.

HuskyMan · #14 10-13-2014, 03:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by barry12345

Well I am starting to think the wife is the closest higher power in my existence these days.

I touched a perhaps common thread with my post it seems. Not a bad thing either. Some aspects of life are common to all. Years lived are of little consequence if the latter ones leave you in a nursing home situation in poor condition and health.. Those years in my mind are those of just existing rather than living. Living is the activities plus situations and people we engage.

I've now directly personally experienced watching how some men react when their wife predeceases them. In three instances I am aware of, instead of allowing themselves a period of time to grieve and process their wife's life, they immediately go out on eharmony.com, match.com, etc and pick up the first available female. One man said he had to find a woman QUICKLY because "since my wife died, I'm lonely".

In the three instances I'm aware of, the first available female was and is a royal grade A LOSER. In one case, the moment hubby can't take care of himself (he's in his 80s she's in her 50s), she will put him in the cheapest, nastiest, run down nursing home she can find and then proceed to spend all of his $$$$$$$$ with a younger man. The only thing she cares about is his money and as long as the money is flowing, she'll stick around.

barry12345 · #15 10-13-2014, 07:13 PM

Well one has to or should be realistic. If my wife where to pre decease me there would be no replacement sought. I just do not think of that as a realistic or practical option. I am 72 though remember.

I also think that at a point like that. Ones family kicks in if you have been a good father and good to their mother. I do not mean moving in with them but perhaps increasing contact even a little more.

All I am sure of it would be a really sad day when and if I experienced that. As I get older I seem to bond even tighter with the wife as well. This would make it even worse.

I got a taste of it when I thought I had lost her after she had a heart attack about ten years ago. It was a really close thing but she fully recovered fortunately.

I also believe women are more fatalistic than us guys on average. I have no control over my own departure date and never dwell or speculate on it anyways. There would be no sense doing it as it is unchangeable. .