Topic : 04/05 “What’s Up, Doc?”

The doctor isn't going to give you something that's going to harm you.  They do their research too.  Whenever the drug companies come to "seduce" the office with their clickie pens, notepads, and free lunches (which are a drop in the bucket to what they spend in product development), the doctor will usually ask the rep about what they' ve heard about the product and gather as much info from journals and books about it.

The doctor I used to work for would take the risk/benefit ratio into consideration before prescribing meds that may have serious consequences for the user.  Doctors have their licenses on the line, they're not going to recommend something to a patient without weighing the serious ramifications.  Of course, the patient can get second or third opinions if they think the doctor isn't looking out for their best interests.

That's what I know to be true.

OMG!!  I would love someone to pay for my own tummy tuck...  I have been trying for 3 years now to save up for one...  I am a stay at home mother of 2...  I have been hand quilting quilts and watching a friend's daughter just to make some $$...  I would love to put that back into myself, but that is impossible when you make so little...  I do not want to go to work, not because I'm lazy, but because my children deserve to be home with me...  I have had them in daycare before, and was appalled at how they were treated...  Since then, I have been home with them...  My husband and I jsut purchased a new house, so any small amout of $$ I make goes to milk money, as always...  This lady was just given a $6000 - $10000 proceedure, just to get rid of some fat around her middle...  I was a size 2 when I got pregnant with my first child...  Unfortunately, I ended up with very high blood pressure, and preeclampsia...  Within my last 2 months of pregnancy, I gained roughtly 40 pounds of water weight...  The  stretch marks are unbelievable...  They go from my arms to my ankles...I had gained about 70+ plounds with my first pregnancy, then 2 years later, I was pregnanct again and gained an additional 50 pounds... 

It is now almost 5 years later, and the stretch marks are still there...  They still go from my arms to my ankles...  Even though I have lost all the weight and am able to wear size 6 pants again, it does nothing for the "saddle bags" that hang down where I really should have a flat stomach for being in shape and not over-weight...  Let me say I have experienced the worst self-esteem ever...  I don't even like getting undressed or dressed infront of my hubby because my stomach and thighs are so "gross"...

I just can't believe that that beautiful woman was concerned with her stomach...  Honestly it did not look that bad...  Mine's 10 times worse than that...  I would give anything for someone to just give me the $$ for that kind of operation...  I've been trying to train for a marathon, but am disgusted with myself because my stomach skin just flops around...  Don't think I'll be able to do the marathon beacuse of my own self esteem problems...  Oh, well...  I just hope this woman appreciates what has been given to her....  As for me, I will continue hand quilting, and hopefully, one year I'll have enough to pay for my own tummy tuck...

As I watched the segment about Osteoporosis, I tried to talk to you through the television, but it didn't work, ha.

I was diagnosed with severe Osteo at age 38.  It took 2 more years to find an answer. I was fortunate to be seeing a physician at Wash U in St. Louis at the start of a Celiac/Osteo study.  After losing nearly 50% of my bone density at only 40 years of age, I was VERY excited to have an answer.  I wasn't absorbing properly due to an auto immune disease - Celiac Disease. 

What does someone with Celiac do?.... the only answer is to eat 100% gluten free; meaning, no wheat, barley or rye.  Within 6 months, I regained 11% of my bone density.    Not only that, but SO MANY other health issues were resolved; some issues that I thought were just about age! 

I could go on and on. 

PLEASE! do a search for Celiac Disease and consider being tested.  It affects 1 in every 133 people, yet nearly 97% of those in our country who have it remain undiagnosed.  Awareness is increasing, which is surely seen in food availability.  The growth in our local support group is evidence to the increase in testing and diagnosis of Celiac Disease.  It's HUGE!

Since doctors don't have much time anymore to visit with sales reps, have you noticed on the national evening news (as well as other times of day) the drug company commercials have inserted a line of dialogue: "Ask your doctor if (insert drug's name) is right for you."  Next time, count how many drug commercials are aired during the 30 minute national news on ABC, CBS or NBC.  Also, note the lack of exposure by the national networks of drug company problems (i.e. baycor, celebrex, vioxx, et. al.).  But, should an herb have one or two incidents, how quick the news is to report it and the FDA (supported by the drug companies) is to pull it.