rant on doctors & pharmaceutical industries

[happynewyear]

:hi: everyone!

I'm so angry. I couldn't think of a better place to post than here as a disabled person.

In addition to my disability, I also have extreme sensitivities to many chemicals/drugs for some reason - ??????

Now, thanks to the new "guidelines" you are considered "hypertensive" if your blood pressure is anything over 120/80.

Isn't this just so convenient and nice for the pharmaceutical industry? :grr:

Guess what? I've had BP of about 130-140/80 or 90 since age 16. Now my "doctor" is basically forcing me to take blood pressure pills even though my blood pressure has been basically the same for over 30 years.

I tried one of the new pills (luckily I only took just 1/4 of one of one of them) last night and have suffered an allergic reaction to it (throat closed up and couldn't stop coughing) and was advised to not take any more of these pills (a waste of $ big time as if I can afford to just throw money away on pills). :grr:

The thing that further angers me as the slip I was given with these pills states there are no side effects (they lied ok?). The side effect is exactly what I experienced and I was advised earlier today that I could have gone into shock and died from this crap!

Problem is this now: What should I do, find another doctor? The last time I went to this doctor I was yelled and screamed at for not adhering to every wish this doctor has for me. Can you now be forced to take pills because the pharmaceutical industry now has changed their "rules"? :wtf: ?????????? :grr:

Is anyone else out there that is fighting a severe disability in this position or am I totally alone?

How I hate this whole thing so much. It stresses me out and then my BP goes up and then ... what next? It only causes my disability to worsen because I get so upset and stressed out.

Any advice, support is sure appreciated.

Thank you to all reading this.

DTC

[Dr Ron]

1. Force Feeding You BP Pills?

It's terrible that your doctor is "forcing" you to take those BP pills. I can just imagine you being dragged from your home, and taken to your doctor's underground lab, where you are tied down and your nose held until you open your mouth and take those pills. :)

You could shop arond for a new doctor who is behind the times and unaware of the new standards of care. I'm sure you could find such doctors. While you could do so, I would not recommend this course of action. Your pressure may have been the same for thirty years, but this does not mean that this is healthy. I've also had people with BP's much higher than that refuse to take recommended medications, also saying their BP has always been high. What are you going to do if you do have a heart attack or stroke--complain that it should go away because your pressure is now higher than it has always been?

It is not the pharmaceutical industry which changed the rules. The evidence is out there that this country is having more cases of heart attacks, strokes, and kidney failure due to insufficient lowering of blood pressure, blood sugar (in diabetics) and cholesterol.

Your doctor is obligated to treat based upon current standards of care, including the newer standards for BP treatment. You are free to ignore your doctor's advice (but your doctor may continue to chastize you for doing so).

On the other hand, I'm surprised by your comment of getting a slip saying there are no side effects to the medications. Any standard information on BP medications, such as the package inserts, would list side effects.

[happynewyear]

2. yes ... the info. I got said NO side effects!

When I checked with the pharmacist they said that it was "rare" to have the side effect I have experienced which occurs in 10% of all cases. To me, 10% is significant isn't it?

*sigh*

Thanks for the input.

[happynewyear]

3. P.S.

Do you have a source for the evidence they are claiming to be true now after years of this other way?

I'd be highly curious to know exactly who sponsored the studies.

[Warpy]

4. First, a pharmy can be persuaded to fill partial prescriptions

They're used to having old folks who can't afford their pills to come in for partial refills. When you try a new medication and you're not sure how you'll react to it, especially if you have limited funds and/or a chronic illness, this is a good policy to follow. If you can tolerate the medication, you can go back for the rest of the prescription when you run out.

Second, hypertension, even mild hypertension, is nothing to play with. Not only does it increase risk for stroke and heart disease, it can also play hell with your kidneys, lead to blindness, etc.

However, I'd seriously question the need for blood pressure medication for mildly elevated blood pressure with a systolic pressure (the top number) under 140 and a diasolic pressure (the bottom number) under 90. I'd also question whether or not medication prescribed on the basis of one elevated reading is necessary, since people will often have some normal variation in pressure.

All medications have side effects, no matter what the detail man told the doc. Erring on the side of caution when introducing a new medication is generally a good idea. However, blood pressure that is consistently over 140/90 is nothing to fool around with.

[happynewyear]

5. when I am home and rested

it is "normal" or even "low" for me (i.e. 110/70).

It goes up very high when I get anywhere "them" so to speak. I believe it is called "white coat syndrome".

Doctors make me really feel about 1000 times worse when I get anywhere near them as they have many plans for people like me.

No thanks I say as they do not know if their "plans" will sicken me further.

Thanks for the input. I appreciate it.

[Dr Ron]

6. Systolic BP of 140 too high

Deleterious cardiac effects are seen with systolic BP's over 115. Starting treatment at 120 is a good compromise in terms of considering side effects of medications (although in diabetics there is increasing evidence that we should maintain the systolic BP under 110 at even the earliest sign of renal involvement such as microalbuminuria). Failing to treat until it is up to 140 is one of the reasons for the epidemic of heart disease in this country.

[Sgent]

7. Couple of things....

Most doctors, although aware of "white coat syndrome" don't really care. If you have the increased BP when seeing the doctor, you are likely to have the same problem at other times during your normal day. I guess if you had an irrational fear of doctors this might be significant, but being stressed at the doctor is no different than being stressed at work, with the spouse, etc.

Ask your doctor (or new one) if instead of a newer BP type pill, something like HCTZ (a fluid pill) would be appropriate for you. In addition to being very widely perscribed, it is incredibly cheap (about $2-$10/month). Most of the cost is that of filling fee for the pharmacist, not for the drug.

[Banazir]

9. And then there's rational fears of doctors...

Most doctors, although aware of "white coat syndrome" don't really care. If you have the increased BP when seeing the doctor, you are likely to have the same problem at other times during your normal day. I guess if you had an irrational fear of doctors this might be significant, but being stressed at the doctor is no different than being stressed at work, with the spouse, etc.

I actually have a rationally-based but extreme fear of doctors. In my case, since what I often have is abnormally low blood pressure, this means that sometimes at the doctor's office my blood pressure goes up to the normal range.

There is very little that can stress me out more than going to the doctor, because my lack of standard body language and facial expression has made dealing with medical problems a nightmare (I get accused of having psychiatric problems instead, but whenever they do tests they find that not only is the problem there but it's extremely severe by the time I know to complain about it -- this is what happens when your response to pain does not involve much if any change in body language or facial expression). I am developmentally disabled and my unusual behavior makes a lot of doctors confused about me and likely to do highly unpleasant things to me in the meantime. After a few instances in which one is derided, ridiculed, even sent home with Thorazine, and then has to get to the point of near-death before anyone catches anything (and has this happen over and over and each time the initial complaint proves legitimate), one starts to fear going to the doctor.

[pop goes the weasel]

8. just say "no"

I quit doing whatever the doctor suggested a few years back, and my health has improved greatly. If I am prescribed a drug that causes unacceptable side effects, I don't take it. I tell the doctor why I will not take it and that's that. There are certain therapies that I won't subject myself to, either--there is simply no point to rehab therapies for my condition, because my condition degenerates under joint use faster than any muscle improvement is possible, making the therapy counterproductive at worst and useless at best. And for mildly troubling conditions (such as your slightly elevated blood pressue), I ask about dietary changes and the like. Why resort to drugs before first examining lifestyle factors?

Ever since I started trusting my own experience over the guesswork of doctors, I have had a much better relationship with doctors.

But what has you mad right now is probably that the side effect info you were given didn't bother to alert you to the side effect you experienced. As someone with food allergies and sensitivities, I gotta agree with you on this. It is hard to find out what fillers are used in medications, and that can cause all sorts of problems. I tried a urinary incontinence drug once, for instance, that caused me bowel incontinence, and that wasn't on the side effect list, and was certainly unacceptable, and is the sort of symptom that I get from eating gluten. (At least I didn't spend any money on it; my doctor always gives out samples of first-time use medication, and that is something you can ask about.) There needs to be a better labeling law on medications so that we know exactly what we are putting in our bodies.

If your doctor refuses to work with you unless you comply with his every order, get a new doctor. If your doctor screams at you, get a new doctor. You wouldn't put up with that sort of behavior from your mechanic or beautician, so why put up with it from your doctor?

[happynewyear]

10. update for those that might be interested

:hi: again.

Well, I called up that doctor and the receptionist called me back and told me to monitor my blood pressure twice a day and take in a written record for the follow-up appt. in February.

I do not look forward to this at all. I've noted that even the day before I go, the pressure starts to go up in anticipation.

Reason for my fear of doctors:

I had both legs in casts for over 1 year after birth. I've been frightened to death of doctors my entire life and do everything I can to stay away from them as I find there is little if anything they can do for me except RX pills.

I used to go to a hospital and faint/pass out once I got inside as a teenager. So, this is a psychological fear and not a good fear to have especially when one has a severe disability as I do as I have to deal with doctors no matter what. :(

Anyway, blood pressure readings for the past couple of weeks have ranged from 90/54 to a high of 155/95 (once only). The rest of the time it ranges between 105/68 - 135/85. Average reading about 124/78.

Therefore, it is still the same as it has always been and I've been taking it at different times during the day.

I watch my diet carefully already but admittedly my physical activity is very limited given all of the problems. I am looking into exercise classes at a local community center and I have some water pills which I occasionally take if I notice any swelling in my feet or ankles.

I am angry with this doctor and I feel like giving him the boot! I really hate being yelled and screamed at by others.

Maybe I should try to find someone else that might care to deal with me? This is the problem. Have other encountered this aspect as a disabled person - doctors not wanting you as a patient because you have so many things wrong for which nothing much can be done (its a no win situation and both patient and doctor know this to begin with)? I've been "dumped" by doctors more than once and fear I might not find another one. Not all doctors take Medicare but that is what I have for health insurance whether I like it or not.

I really appreciate everyone's responses. I'll keep anyone posted that cares to follow this scenario.

Thanks again everyone!

DTC