@approxinfinity I am sorry that you had that experience and am glad you have found a provider that treats you with the care and respect you deserve. There is a provider in the rural area I work that “fires” a patient if the patient goes to an Urgent Care or emergency room or to a specialist that he has not deemed appropriate. He not only does that, but he cuts off refills at the moment of the dismissal, which is illegal and unethical. The patients that I have inherited from him, I advise them to contact the Board of Healing Arts so that he can be corrected on the cutting off of refills. In the state I practice, we agree to provide med refills and emergent visits for 30 days after dismissal until they can find a new provider. In today’s climate, though, finding a new PCP that will see someone within the 30 day timeframe is becoming less likely.

@mayjay The healthcare system has been getting worse and worse over time in the U.S. I remember when I first started practicing that people said the reason to avoid universal healthcare is the length of time it takes to get a procedure done or to see a specialist, as evidenced by looking at Canada. We are in the same boat now, but without universal healthcare. Some specialists take at least 6 mos or longer to see. You want an autism evaluation on children? You are put on the waiting list for 1.5-2 years.

I want to take care of patients, but it seems like the healthcare industry fights me every step along the way.
I don’t live in a multimillion dollar mansion or estate and I don’t drive a BMW or Mercedes or any luxury vehicle. I live in rural America caring for the neighbors in the area that have placed their trust in me to provide the best quality of life that I can based upon their beliefs and habits.

Thanks for letting me vent.

Thank you Tr3

Tre with 15 RB’s. Nice!

Kohl should have stayed in there. He was a positive spark.

Have a holly jolly Christmas!!

@stoptheflop A great reminder. Thanks. I would like to see him succeed.

Where was the foul on the Dawson? I mean I like that Kohl came away with it and slammed it home, but come on.

I have never done it reading a book aloud, but I did fall asleep while dictating once and began describing the dream I was having.

Mel has a double double.

I am not upset with that half.

AzSt beats TxTech in Tempe.

I agree that you keep what you know (Flory and Tiller) and let the 5* #1 ranked freshman with baggage go elsewhere. I think the situation with DP should be a wake up call that the prima donnas can be a blessing and a curse. I have read where there is a unique kind of muscle cramping that can occur in athletes that overexert that is not explained by dehydration, but by the neurological system misfiring. There is a strong possibility that footwear and the playing surface are affecting the legs’ fatigue more especially with rapid intense activity. There is research into how the neuromuscular fatigue could be lessened by real time monitoring and hopefully prevent the cramping by exposing the player in practice to similar surfaces that are played on during games. With real time monitoring the muscle fatigue could be objectively seen and in knowing the threshold for cramps to occur to have a player drink more fluids and rest before they arise. I would think that Adidas would be all over this and maybe they are, but if that is true, I would expect them to be shouting from the rooftops about how they are addressing this problem.

UCF up by 24 at HT against BYU in Provo.

Where are the knobs for the Etch a Sketch court?

@mayjay I have no qualms with your comments and am glad that the discovery of the reason for your wife’s symptoms was determined. Providers typically will tell patients what the most common side effects are, but don’t have the time to tell patients every possible symptom that may occur. I always advise my patients that if they have a new symptom after starting a new medicine to let me know and if it is a weekend to stop the medicine, but call us the next day the clinic is open to discuss it. Sometimes the side effect symptoms are temporary, but if too severe, then they should stop the medicine. Also, just because a symptom is not listed does not mean that it cannot be a side effect. Other medicines that a person already takes may interact with the metabolism of the new medicine making higher concentrations stay in the bloodstream. If I know a patient is sensitive to medicines in general, I typically start out with a lower dosage if possible and gradually increase as tolerated.
Dr Google and Reddit in the right hands can properly inform and confirm about similar experiences that other people have had. It largely depends upon whether a medicine is preventing a major adverse outcome or life-threatening condition versus an annoying or quality of life symptom.

In Darren’s case, I would have told him to stop every new change that he has made to see if the culprit could be eliminated. I caution pt’s that creatine can be harmful depending upon your hydration status.

One thing I would point out that I find too commonly, is that patients don’t see vitamins or supplements as medicines. They don’t tell their provider about these things they use, which may affect the absorption or metabolism of prescribed medications. For me, a medicine is anything that is swallowed, inhaled, snorted, applied topically, injected, or inserted rectally to have an effect on the body. Yes, that includes food and liquid. Quite a few diseases could be prevented or cured if we would just stop poisoning ourselves with our dietary intake.

I agree with @kjayhawks2.0 that medicine is used too frequently because it is easier than changing your diet, exercise, or lifestyle, but changing those things and maintaining the change invariably will beat prescription medicine hands-down.

Have a great day!

I am liking Marko’s confidence!

No Fran. Early Christmas present.

KJ sighting going into the half.

Fran, shut up!

Mari clutch