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Medical Forum / Diseases and Disorders / Breast Cancer / January 2004Another Medicine Switch
Today the doctor switched me from Femara, to something that starts with an A (not Arimidex). I surely hope, that this med doesn't have such severe side effects, as the others have had. Susan, Su_Texas my opinions > Today the doctor switched me from Femara, to something that starts with > an A (not Arimidex). > > I surely hope, that this med doesn't have such severe side effects, as > the others have had. Aromasin? > > Today the doctor switched me from Femara, to something that starts with > > an A (not Arimidex). [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > Aromasin? Adriamycin (doxorubicin) ? http://imaginis.com/breasthealth/bc_drugs.asp > > > Today the doctor switched me from Femara, to something that starts with > > > an A (not Arimidex). [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > Adriamycin (doxorubicin) ? > http://imaginis.com/breasthealth/bc_drugs.asp this website says aromasin "for palliative care".. when I look aromasin up on the 'net it says for post menopausal. No idea if Sue is post-menopausal (or not). J Hi J, The doctor says I need to take something to block estrogen. So far, we've tried Arimidex & Femara. I can't take Tamoxifen, because it can cause strokes, & I've already had two strokes from injuries. [Also, women are reporting their cancer returning while on Tamoxifen, (including a relative of mine), so I've no confidence in it.] That leaves Aromasin. Susan, Su_Texas my opinions Warning; Rant After I was badly injured in Jan 1998, my monthly period stopped. Over the next year or so, it started a few times. Then it stopped completely. So far, I don't know much about this. At that time I was devastated, because it meant I couldn't marry or have children. However, other issues have proved far more serious & proved life-threatening, such as the injuries, strokes, cancer, ... assaults, abuse/crimes/meanness, & lack of protection, ... the lack of good/logical/practical doctors & medical care in Texas & Louisiana, ... ... & the many dangers from my living in poverty & hardship in a slave-state like Texas, ... a state which seems to be so danged-awfully-full of the most corrupt/sleazy/greedy/low-life politicians & their bosses/buddies (the wealthy & powerful few, & the global corporations). Christmas is one of the worst times here, because it tends to bring things more sharply into focus. It shows so very clearly, that nothing is like we were told, taught, or shown it would be. That everything was a lie & rip-off, a betrayal. --------------- Until I can get some enforceable legal rights back & some legal help, & some good medical care (esp. for the injuries), ... then Christmas will be screaming time. A time to scream out loudly & long, about the levels of pain & suffering here in Texas, & about the govt-type crimes & corruption which have caused it. A time to scream for change & for justice. A time to just scream. ------------- In December 1998 & January 1999, I was very traumatized by the bad docs at Baylor/Methodist in Houston, ... by how badly, how cold, sadistic, & cruel they acted, & how proud they were of it, ... by the harm they did to me. Somehow the cold of the winter, & the resulting pain it causes in the injuries, can bring back that trauma so vividly, ... the horrors I went through then & the pain, ... & the fact that nothing (nothing!) is better since then, mostly because of the failed govt systems & corporate greed. I work so hard, & speak out more & more loudly, & nothing gets better. Things only get worse. ------------ At Christmas, I think the fakeness of the season & people, ... the religious tints/tones of giving, generosity, & goodness, ... just ring so untrue. Some people's (including my mom & siblings) strutting & bragging about all they've got & have, & won't ever share ... Children's screaming & crying "I want" & "gimme", & throwing tantrums in stores ... The stores here carrying less & less at Christmas time, because fewer people have money to spend ... It's tough. Susan, Su_Texas my opinions PS Another frightening thing, is that the people I meet who are down & out, aren't here for long. They get picked up under the vagrancy laws, & aren't seen here again. This can happen to anyone & is scary stuff, esp. at Christmas time. For now, this season super-s*cks. Su wrote: << I work so hard, & speak out more & more loudly, & nothing gets better. Things only get worse >> Su, I am sure you work very hard. Oftentimes, though, it is not how 'hard' one works but how 'smart' one works. I am sure you are aware of the saying that--oops mind is blanking--but a little honey goes along way and does more than a barrage of negative complaints, whether or not those negative complaints are valid. Once you attack someone and put them on the defensive, you lost alot of ground -- and the validity of your statements tend to be lost. That doesn't mean that what you are saying isn't 'right' but your effectiveness in presenting your case suffers. You have to come from a positive, albeit logical, perspective. And that can be very tough to do after dealing with all that got you here in the first place. We can't undo the past. We can only go forward from hereon in. The medical system is not perfect--far from it, but dr's are human. They do the best they can under the circumstances. Their hands are often tied. Unfortunately, the system that was designed to protect us, has come to haunt and even hurt us, if we do not fit the 'norm.' Dr's have been relegated to practice cook-book medicine, which works for the majority. If you are not amongst that majority, the success of treatment is often the luck of the draw. Medicine is not an exact science. It never was and most likely never will be. Each of us is different. I am sorry you have have been confronted with all the negativity that has crossed your path, both personally and professionally. Sometimes those who work the hardest reap the least. It doesn't seem fair. However, if the system one is using hasn't been successful, it often helps to explore new and more effective ways. That doesn't mean that they will work, but it might be worth a try. People listen more when information is given in a positive manner. They quickly shut down, and your credibility is sabotaged if you come from a negatively aggressive approach. I don't think your situation is unique to Texas. There are many options for treatment--including one of the best cancer centers in the world. That doesn't mean that they can 'cure' everyone either. Cancer sucks. Hopefully, newer and better treatments will become available soon. The holiday season is especially tough on those who don't have close family or friends to share it with. You seem to be a very giving person, and believe that you will find some relief in donating your time and services to others, which you have done in the past. Of course, one needs to receive back some, too, and sometimes that comes from what and where is the least expected. My best thoughts and prayers are with you at this very difficult time. {{{Hugs}}} Hi Kaye, Because of what I've been through, I'm extremely skilled in understanding & dealing with most people. At appts, I remain calm, logical, practical, reasonable. If they (such as a doctor) demand some fun-talk, joking, & to be entertained a bit, I can do that too. If they want to talk medical stuff, unrelated to my condition, I will do that too. The end result is supposed to be, that we talk about my medical condition, determine the best testing & diagnosis for it, the best treatments, the best referrals, ... which most doctors super-will-not do. The docs say it costs too much, for them to do a good job. So they'd prefer to push the bad treatments & pills which harm, & which I don't want or need. I go into each interview with a positive attitude & expecting a good result. But it's extremely difficult to find a decent doc. Virtually impossible. After a crime or meanness by a doctor, where I've been deliberately & sadistically harmed, ... I will scream out loud later, that is, after I've recovered somewhat, & am not so numb, shocked & traumatized. The problem is not my skills. The problem has been the determinedly-dumbed-down doctors, ... and/or those doctors with personal agendas & needs/greeds (such as the need to take, rob, harm, abuse, assault, murder). The problem has been the govt rules & regulations, & the corporate greed, ... which have basically shut down any good care in the medical system. Susan, Su_Texas my opinions Kaye wrote: I don't think your situation is unique to Texas. There are many options for treatment--including one of the best cancer centers in the world. ========= I disagree that M D Anderson is good. I've only had bad experiences when I've tried to deal with them. Their phone operators acted arrogant, ignorant, & ugly. It was very difficult to remain calm, & to repeatedly put up with that amount & level of abuse & hassle, from these "information specialists"(?) over & over, ... but I did. This never did me any good medically, & accomplished nothing. Even after many months of this BS, I was never able to get past their phone operators, & get to any doctors or care. I've tried to see why or how M D Anderson could get a good rating anywhere. The magazine that rates hospitals is suspect. It's owned by a man (Mort Zuckerman ?), who has many special interests, including his promoting universities & medical schools. He is also involved in the special-interest-type organizations & causes, some of which are Jewish. The best I can remember, he wouldn't give a hospital or medical center a good rating, unless they were affiliated with a medical school. It's been my experience, that a medical school (the arrogant professors & their sloppy "work", & the many mistakes made by medical students), can significantly drag down the quality of care at hospitals. It's a Catch-22, no-win-type situation. A hospital can't get a best-hospital rating with this magazine, unless they cooperate with a medical school. We need for a magazine to make a list that is more fair, & which rates hospitals based on their quality of care, ... rather than on just fulfilling Zuckerman's personal needs, greeds, & demands. I do not believe M D Anderson to be a good or quality hospital. They said that they do no more for cancer care, than the small-city cancer centers do, ... that is, the chemotherapy & radiation, then the endless CAT scans looking for fourth-inch-sized lumps, & the CBC (which is very-lacking) bloodwork. And they refuse to refer. This is illogical, impractical, wrong. So far, I'm seriously Not impressed with M D Anderson. There's also the safety question, of someone's coming to Texas for medical treatment, ... & their trying to learn to live in a slave-type state, without having legal rights or protection. IF a professor at M D Anderson is doing good work, then they are publishing it, ... then other doctors have access to this information, & can use it. There's no need to come here. M D Anderson also fired(?) the doctor who experimented with & learned about spiroplasma & mycoplasma testing, about Gulf War Syndrome & its treatment, & who tried to help the Veterans. As far as I know, M D Anderson is owned & run by the state of Texas, which makes it highly suspect anyway. > I disagree that M D Anderson is good. I've only had bad experiences > when I've tried to deal with them. [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > Even after many months of this BS, I was never able to get past their > phone operators, & get to any doctors or care. Hi Sue, I just visited M D Andersons website for you and found that you can 'self-refer' yourself online. They have a form that you can fill out and then one of their specialists will contact you. Perhaps if you simply tell them you want a 2nd opinion as to your care that would be more helpful for them to understand rather than trying to talk to their main customer service line asking for specific tests, bloodwork, etc. Good luck, Kris Kris wrote: I just visited M D Anderson website for you and found that you can 'self-refer' yourself online. They have a form that you can fill out and then one of their specialists will contact you. Perhaps if you simply tell them you want a 2nd opinion as to your care that would be more helpful for them to understand rather than trying to talk to their main customer service line asking for specific tests, bloodwork, etc. Good luck, Kris ========= Thanks Kris. I appreciate it. However, I've been to their website & read many times. I've phoned & spoken with them many times. The bottom line was, that they didn't offer me any quality care for breast cancer. Later on, when I asked them for second opinions, for better bloodwork, for information, etc, ... they said they only do the chemotherapy & radiation, & then dismiss/abandon the patients (like most other oncologists now do), ... except for doing CBCs (very lacking bloodwork) & a few other tests like CAT scans (looking for fourth-inch lumps). They also don't refer. They don't do the good stuff, like the good bloodwork which is what I super-need & want at this point. M D Anderson proved to be down-level, lacking, not caring, bad joke-type of place. I had a referral to them from an NP, but MDA offered nothing of quality, .. & their phone operators proved arrogant, ignorant jerks, who enjoyed abusing power. M D Anderson was a totally bad experience. I would Not recommend them for breast cancer. Susan, Su_Texas my opinions Su wrote: << They don't do the good stuff, like the good bloodwork which is what I super-need & want at this point.>> What type of bloodwork do you need and where is it done? << M D Anderson was a totally bad experience. I would Not recommend them for breast cancer. >> Did you see a physician or specialist from there or just talk to them over the phone? Correction: My signature line might have gotten cut off of my last post. So ... Susan, Su_Texas my opinions PS I'm fitting collars on pups today, & cleaning cages, ... or trying to. >For now, this season super-s*cks. Su-Texas Wowie! I thought this season is "my" worse until I read your post! All that cheerful holiday music doesn't help either! Seriously, Su, why don't you do some research and find which state (if there is one, left) which has the most helpful programs for the sick and needy and move there? I grant you it seems Texas and Louisiana have run out of options for you so there must be some place where you can find a compassionate social worker who will take your problems seriously and help you. BTW, 2004 is election time so why don't you send a nice Christmas letter to Bush letting him know that our country needs some of those "billions" to help people like yourself instead of wasting it all on other proposals. However, I think a good compassionate social worker who knows what and where the helpful programs are for someone like yourself is your best bet. Being homeless is horrible enough but being "sick" and homeless must be a living Hell! Best of luck to you and I hope you can find that help so next year can be a better holiday time for you. Bea Hi Bea, Since Jan 1998, I've been down all those roads, & done all those things, .. except for finding a state with better laws & services. I can't do that, because I'm so injured, etc. Also, with Bush in office, he's trying to spread the poverty, misery, & bad medical care across the US. I've written many letters & emails, & have written many posts to newsgroups. I'm hoping that with the information I provide, people will really go after their elected-politicians & keep doing so, keep demanding positive changes & justice. My meeting & speaking with politicians (such as Bush & Rick Perry) didn't help at all. They seem to know they're doing bad things, to enjoy it, & intend to keep doing it for as long as possible. All the state govt agencies so far, have proved bogus/fake & harmful. They're set up Not to work. The psychologists, social workers, crisis centers, hospital services, help lines, legal aid, advocacy inc, etc., ... say that they know of no help in Texas. None. Some also say, that this is the worst state they've ever seen, as far as help services go. I'm still trying to find a church locally, which doesn't just look down on, ridicule, & further harm the ill & injured when they ask for help, .. so that I can donate stuff to them. I no longer expect help from them, myself. Too many bad people & experiences. Susan, Su_Texas my opinions PS My aim is not to depress or sadden you. I want you to enjoy your Christmas. However, I don't get a holiday from the overwhelming physical pain, the lack of medical care, the lack of legal rights & protection, ... the abuse, hardship, crimes. I'm in horrible conditions & can't get help so far. So, I have to keep working as hard as possible year-round, trying to survive, ... trying to inform other people, trying to inspire them to help make positive changes. Each Christmas strongly reminds me, that I haven't made much progress so far, & have fallen further down & behind, esp. in living standards, ... because of the failed & corrupt govt, legal, & medical systems here, because of their crimes & meanness. The emotional pain this causes, triggers past pain & memories. This becomes overwhelming & I scream. [Also, the effects of the Femara, ain't helping this situation.] For all my life, I've worked so hard & done the right things over & over, ... for which the system & my family have repeatedly robbed & harmed me. It's sad & wrong. So, there must be justice & positive changes. There must be. I will try to get back to writing the hopeful & inspirational-type stuff, as soon as I can. Since 1998, Decembers have been the worst. ------------- So far today, one dog cage cleaned out, three to go. (sigh) Su- I fear you are not 50 years old yet but when you become that age why don't you consider joining AARP? My spouse and I are members and they have a group which is so upset by what is happening to the medical needs of seniors that they are ready to march on Washington. My concern with this is that I believe Washington needs to help ALL Americans have good medical care, young and old. This should not be just a "senior" issue. When I read your posts, I am ashamed to be an American because no one should have to be in the position you find yourself in this country. I am amazed at the perseverance and strength you seem to still have after what you say you have been through. There are other activists groups which you can probably join which may be able to help you in your plight. This is not something one can achieve without the help of others who want to make changes to this messed up medical system we have in America. I spend a great deal of my time writing to Bush and my reps but I find they pay more attention when they hear I belong to a group of 35 million others (35 million angry voters during an election year gets their ear!<g) who have the same goals I do.... better, affordable healthcare for ALL Americans! Bea Yes allan, Aromasin. (This medicine is supposed to be about the same age as Arimidex.) At my appt yesterday, I couldn't remember they'd told me to change into a gown, until after they'd reminded me a few times. The attention-deficit thing that Femara caused, was bad & kept getting worse. Also, the pain in my wrists, hands, fingers, was getting worse & worse. The doctor said Femara can cause this too. While Femara was much better than Arimidex, it still significantly affected my life & ability to function, in such horrible & horrifying ways. And thereby, it threatened my ability to survive, & to care for the puppies. I'm hopeful that this new medicine, will have less severe, disabling, & debilitating side effects. Susan, Su_Texas my opinions > Yes allan, Aromasin. (This medicine is supposed to be about the same > age as Arimidex.) [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > ways. And thereby, it threatened my ability to survive, & to care for > the puppies. Sue, it's time for "mom" to find a home for "puppies"...they're not puppies anymore and costing you (in $$ and energy). And if you're taking bone stuff (or calcium) are you taking Vitamin D (for muscles) too ? I've had those wrist hand finger pains for the past while and I live nowhere near you (blaming weather), nor on Chemo. although I heard on another newsgroup that Texas weather has turned cooler. J >While Femara was much better than Arimidex, it still significantly >affected my life & ability to function, in such horrible & horrifying >ways. And thereby, it threatened my ability to survive, & to care for >the puppies. I'm pretty sure Aromasin is the only aromatase inhibitor left if you've passed on Arimidex and Femara. Food for thought, Susan.  Signatureallan spammers can reach me at abuse@localhost humans can reach me at wizard at pointbeing dot com The doctors here refuse to see & diagnose most medical conditions, ... so I learn things on my own, often by accident. Cancer Treatments & IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) Recently in a tabloid, I saw something about constant burping. The chemotherapy did some damage inside me, which has caused this constant (& exhausting/very-tiring) burping. The other symptoms for IBS, fit what my body went through for years, after I was severely injured in Jan 1998, ... & some of these symptoms, are still there. Thursday, when I mentioned what I'd read to the oncologist, & listed my symptoms, he nodded his head Yes. He must have already known. I eat about a cup of yogurt a day now, to try to help control the symptoms some, ... because they can quickly disable me if I don't. Nausea, cramping, constipation & diarrhea, vomiting, more violent & constant burping, etc. Now that I know what's wrong, I'll need to read about IBS, that is, when & IF I can find the time & energy. Susan, Su_Texas my opinions First off, anything you'd read in a tabloid wouldn't be very reliable information anyway. The headlines are most times obvious "red flags" regarding most of those type of publications. I've had IBS for 27+ years and it has been successfully managed {for the most part} with diet and medication. There has had to be some modifications in meds over the years...but this was when medications were being "retired" to make room for new advances in this particular area of medical conditions. Right now I'm on 2 meds for this condition. I take one of them once a day {Prevacid/30mg} and the other {Anaspaz/.125mg each} 3 times a day {can be taken four times if necessary} As far as chemo bringing this one...That one I'm not sure of. {"everybody's different"} I was leary of what this would do the first time I went through chemo treatments {99/00}. I asked my oncologist {still have the same one} about the effects of chemo on this medical condition and he told me "most likely it'll improve" and it did, and I had even less trouble with it this last time {1/10/03 to 6/6/03} and the chemo treatments were more aggressive. I hope this helps. Having to deal with this all these years, I know how truly debilitating it can be until you're on the proper meds and reorganize your dietary intake. Metamucil is a great help, it adds fiber to the diet. Take care there/God bless annie Ultimately.....we know deeply that the other side of every fear is a freedom. "Courage"...is *fear* that has said it's prayers. My oncologist said that IBS could be a lingering side effect of chemo. It may/may not go away. Did read in the People's Pharmacy column in the paper that 2 Archway Coconut Macaroon cookies can help. Apparently, there's something in coconut that can help with IBS. Sassie IBS I now realize, that one of the serious problems I had, after being injured in Jan 1998, is called IBS. What I read about & tried in 1998, which helped me some (just with the nausea & gas part of it), ... was ground ginger & ground fennel seed. Nonfat yogurt also seems to help some. At first, I had to radically change my diet, partly because I was so injured that I couldn't pick up or hold things (but still had to feed myself somehow), & secondly, because I'd get sick after eating, so I had to eat very bland stuff. I learned to buy disposable enema bottles, fill them with distilled water, & use that, ... so I could leave the bathroom, & get some chores & stuff done. Over the years, the running bowels (a very painful combination of constipation & diarrhea, & gas) & bladder problem has now healed to the point, where I don't have to do the enemas, ... unless I'm assaulted or further injured, which will re-inflame the old injuries, & start the problems again. Things like Metamusil, didn't help me. Nor did any medicine the doctors prescribed, or any medicine they suggested I buy over-the-counter. Bean-O also didn't work. During chemotherapy, the burping problem started & stayed. I've tried a lot of things, but nothing has helped with that, except for the ginger, fennel seed, & yogurt. Recently, I learned that the name of this condition is IBS. I wish the doctors had told me that, so I could have read about it, & learned to help myself better. ------------- The Need For Information In Aug 1998, I learned about the internet, but couldn't make much progress in using it (at the library), until I got WebTV in Feb. 2000, for home use. Since then, I've been able to read about diet, nutrition, etc., & to make more informed choices. The internet is a wonderful resource. Susan, Su_Texas my opinions >My oncologist said that IBS could be a lingering side effect of chemo. It >may/may not go away. [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > >Sassie Yes I read that also. It seemed that any brand macaroon would work. Maybe you could just eat a handfull of coconut. Tho maybe it is the egg binder that does it..Pat Hi Sassie, So far, I haven't tried coconut, but I'll start reading about it. Thanks. :) Susan, Su_Texas The Aromasin is taking effect, & the results are bad. I'm frightened this time, & have put in a call to the oncologist, whom I've just learned in on vacation for the week. The doc (who's filling in for him) or that doc's nurse, is supposed to call me back. In order for me to function at all (while taking this BS medicine), I'll probably have to take something like amphetamines(?), which are a kind/class of drugs I'd rather Never try. While I can survive the severe & disabling depression, which the estrogen-suppressing drugs cause, ... I do (at least!) have to be able to think, walk, & function enough to meet my basic survival needs for five years, ... Despite these horribly-awful meds & the lack of good/legitimate/quality/practical medical care. At this point, I don't think that cancer care could get much worse (more harmful, painful, disabling, or expensive & wasteful), than the PHARMA-controlled mess which it is now. Why can't anything in the medical care field (including the doctors & medicines) work like it's supposed to, like it's advertised to? Why?! Why is medical care so danged lacking & so horrifically awful? Why?! This s*cks! Susan, Su_Texas my opinions > The Aromasin is taking effect, & the results are bad. > [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > While I can survive the severe & disabling depression, which the > estrogen-suppressing drugs cause, .. Sue, there are so many anti-depressants out there, surely you haven't tried them all. If you could make up a list of side effects of the ones you used, post over on alt.med.fibromyalgia and ask them about others.. J there are so many anti-depressants out there, surely you haven't tried them all. If you could make up a list of side effects of the ones you used, post over on alt.med.fibromyalgia and ask them about others.. ========== Antidepressants = Murder We should have some good/legitimate medical care somewhere, ... & not have to repeatedly deal with (& try to survive) these determinedly-dumbed-down & snickering/grinning bozo/clown-type-docs, ... who only push bad drugs like antidepressants. It's important for doctors to do good testing & diagnosis, & to see exactly what the health problems are, ... then to order the best treatments, ... rather than just treat symptoms. Just treating symptoms, does put big bucks in the docs' & PHARMA's pockets, ... while the patients are being conned, robbed & harmed, & are suffering to death horribly. This is the current cr*p-care system (aka premeditated, cold-blooded murder). It's a crazed cook-book-type approach to medicine, which is almost guaranteed Never to work or work well. --------------- I have NO confidence in antidepressants, & never will. I've always had severe adverse reactions to them. [I never wanted to try them in the first place, & was seeking abuse counselling only.] I realize now that bad doctors will do anything & everything possible (as will TV commercials, & the govt), ... to push the bad/harmful-type drugs like antidepressants. [I've also read that antidepressants are carcinogenic. They are suspected of causing cancer. They also cause facial & body jerking & ticks, & loss of bodily control, when taken over time.] I advise people to avoid these bad drugs & docs, ... because trying to live life while drugged, sickened, & groggy, ain't a bit of fun. Plus, these drugs cost a lot of money, & this will keep you broke & unable to buy necessities, ... much less be able to purchase or do anything, for pleasure. [I see no way that (the very misnamed) antidepressants could work, unless you enjoy giving up, vegging-out & suffering, & destroying whatever's left of your health & life. ???] ------------- The psychiatrist (Wm. S.) who lied to, conned, & harmed me as much as he possibly could for years (when I was still naive, trusting, & foolish enough, to go to the Sabine Valley MHMR begging for abuse counselling), .. ... finally told me never, ever to try another antidepressant (or any drug similar to them), ... because I had such severe reactions. He said he'd never seen anyone, have such bad reactions to these drugs. I now consider the doctors who lie to & con patients, & who insist on pushing these bad drugs, ... to be cold-blooded & sadistic, predators & murderers, who should be sent to prison. [I also pray many times daily (& strongly believe) that they'll face only justice without mercy, in the next life.] My being lied to & conned, & being so sick on antidepressants, ... robbed me of many years of my life, which I can never get back. This was & is a major betrayal of trust! What I can do, is to warn other people about the dangers of these drugs & of bad doctors, ... ... & I can also work for as hard & long as possible, to financially-gut these bad doctors in court, to hold them accountable for their wrong-doing, & to help send them to prison. Until the prison doors close, I don't think these docs can understand the levels & degrees of harm, they've chosen to do. Justice is very important, esp. to those people like myself, who've now been harmed almost to death. It's important to stand & fight. Susan, Su_Texas my opinions PS The bad docs also laugh & joke about antidepressants, & about the patients who take them. These docs call antidepressants, "chemical lobotomies". >At this point, I don't think that cancer care could get much worse (more >harmful, painful, disabling, or expensive & wasteful), than the [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] >medicines) work like it's supposed to, like it's advertised to? Why?! >Why is medical care so danged lacking & so horrifically awful? Why?! For the majority (including myself & everyone I know personally), medical care & cancer care has been just fine. Perhaps it's time you thought about moving to another area, since you've exhausted the medical care available in your community? If the problem is with the providers you're having to deal with, moving to a different town/state should solve that. I realize it's a HUGE step, and not easy, but if your health/life is truly so miserable, it's probably worth it. Sue - DivaofDVC aka WDW1972 DVC '97 OKW, Beach Club, Vero Beach, & Hilton Head For the majority (including myself & everyone I know personally), medical care & cancer care has been just fine. Perhaps it's time you thought about moving to another area, since you've exhausted the medical care available in your community? If the problem is with the providers you're having to deal with, moving to a different town/state should solve that. I realize it's a HUGE step, and not easy, but if your health/life is truly so miserable, it's probably worth it. Sue - DivaofDVC aka WDW1972 DVC '97 OKW, Beach Club, Vero Beach, & Hilton Head ========== For the majority (including myself & most people I know personally), medical care & cancer care have Not been good, whether they went to Dallas, Houston, Shreveport, wherever. If I could find a doctor here, ... who would take my 100% paid insurance (GEHA & Medicare), & who would order good bloodwork, testing & diagnosis, ... then it would make a huge & positive difference. It would give me a fighting chance. But none will. None! It's very difficult to deal with such a failed medical system, such a brick-wall type of thing, ... such determined ignorance, arrogance, & meanness/cruelty, ... such a determined effort by bad docs, to stick together & to do the same harm. Due to this extremely bad medical "care", which has dragged down my health further & further for years, ... I'm collapsed, down & out for now. Susan, Su_Texas my opinions Su wrote << The Aromasin is taking effect, & the results are bad. I'm frightened this time, >> Sorry to hear that you are having difficulty with this. << Why can't anything in the medical care field (including the doctors & medicines) work like it's supposed to, like it's advertised to? >> Maybe it is? The side effects you are experiencing may be related to the reduction of estrogen which I believe Aromasin does as does the Arimidex and the Femara. Perhaps your levels of estrogen were so great that you notice it so much more and/or you are hypersensitive and thus, feel it so much more. We all have different levels of sensitivity. One of our three girls was always hypersensitive. When she was younger she had tantrums over the seems in her socks. She refused to wear elastic. She was a very picky eater. I once told her pediatrician that I thought she had a 'touch' of autism but was in no way autistic. More recently a label has been ascribed to the above--"sensory integration" disorder. It is a real disorder and may be due to nerve endings not having enough insulation. Some people are hypersensitive to sensory stimuli and feel things so much more intensely than the average person. As a parent, we needed to 'walk on eggshells' around her and/or handle her with 'kid gloves.' She reacted to pain much more intensely than most. When she was in kindergarten (at a private school) we received a call that she had fallen and they were taking her to the emergency room. They though she had broken something. She was petite and weighed less than 40 lbs at the time. It required 3 adults to go with her. They had never had a child react that intensely. They were amazed--they'd never seen her like that, and much to their surprise, all she had was scraped knees. Two years later she frightened her then, relatively new pediatrician. This is a dr. who had written a book on attention related difficulties. I had my younger two there together for an appt. While the dr. was examining one, she was playing on his circular stool, slipped, and bit her tongue. She didn't just start crying--she started screaming at the top of her lungs with a wild look in her eye. It was as if she were in a 'different' world. I told her dr. that this would take about 20 minutes. I had never seen a dr. 'flustered' before, and he was a fabulous pediatrician. He let us have the room alone for as long as we needed it. As I had predicted it took about 20 min for her to calm down. She was like a battery operated 'toy' or device that someone turned on to the highest position and it got stuck and remained in that position to the batteries wore down. We believe that she also experienced temporal lobe seizures and this may have been a mild one (as it lasted only 20 minutes) compared to the tantrums that lasted 2 hours--which she also had. These tantrums or I should say screaming incidents were NEVER over behavior issues--but were related either to fear or pain or something very unusual. This was the best behaved child--both at school and home. If asked to do anything, it was done 'yesterday.' She always had alot of friends, although they didn't quite understand her moods at times. What she had may be along the bipolar or even now what includes the 'autism' spectrum. Sorry to go into that long explanation--but she has been one that is hypersensitive to so many things. I have a close relative was also that way as a child. She continues to experience hypersensitive reactions--including such to many medications. Things in the environment that she is also hypersensitive to include flourescent lights. She is bothered by them both visually and auditorially--she can't stand the sound they make. Most do not respond this way and generally those who don't have this difficulty don't have much understanding or tolerance for those who have this difficulty. It is a very real difficulty. Growing up, I recall not having much patience with this relative whom others also thought was reacting that way because she wanted the attention or was her way of wanting to be 'babied.' That was not the case as we have now come to understand. I, myself, have developed one particular hypersensitivity after a bad M.S. attack 15 years ago which has never gone away. I have numbness in the palms of my hands and palm-sides of my fingers. If I touch something 'hot' such as a car handle or pick up a hot beverage, initially I don't even feel it. The reaction is delayed and then so much more intense than others feel. The cup becomes too hot for me to hold very quickly. Others don't have that same difficulty and can hold the cup without feeling like they are burning their hands. In my case there is permanent damage there. It is like the insulation (myelin sheath) has been worn out and is greatly weakened or no longer there. The intensity of pain that I am experiencing is very real. I thought that may have contributed to the extremely painful experience I had with Taxol. My oncologist thought that was a possibility but said he didn't have enough expertise in that area to know. My neurologist also thought that could have been what happened but he also didn't have enough experience with that medication to know what symptoms it could cause. So, I know this is another long monologue (please excuse if you were bored--and am assuming those who were wouldn't bother reading), but hope that this offered some insight to explain why some might have more difficult reactions to some stimuli and medications than others. Su, perhaps the strokes you had resulted in creating some difficulty to the sensory areas in your brain which might result in this type of hypersensitive reaction. I don't know if that is the case but just had the thought. Take care and hope you can tolerate one of the medications. Another thought--you might want to explore ways of dealing with hypersensitivity issues. There are occupational therapists who work with children on this. I don't think that all OT's are knowledgable in this area, though. It does involve specialized training--at least with children. This difficulty was not recognized for the longest time. It is a very real problem that can interfere with one's daily functioning, and it is treatable through both accommodations and specialized training. Hi Kaye, I've always had severely bad reactions to antidepressants & other such drugs. This was before I was badly injured & had strokes, & before I had cancer. I can tolerate extreme levels of physical pain. I was abused & tortured from birth. My father's favorite thing was hitting me with his belt, the buckle end, while he shouted at me, or whistled & laughed, ... that is, until he'd get tired or bored, & wander off. My job was to stand there, & to not react. I learned to send my mind elsewhere, & to not feel the pain. However, Dad never hit, pulled, shoved, or jerked on me in such a way, to do serious bodily damage. His intent was to do maximum emotional & mental damage, & to leave bruises & blood (scabs) on my legs. -------------- After I was severely & deliberately injured in Jan 1998 (at a shopping mall), I had to get used to multiple spinal & body injuries, facial & head injuries, broken arm, dislocated hip, etc., ... & to my having no medical care for them. I did. What I do have difficulty with, are needle sticks. For whatever reason, the physical pain from that, is overwhelming for me. -------------- This last estrogen-blocker drug (Aromasin), has terrible side-effects, some of which are different from the previous two drugs. It feels like Aromasin attacked my nervous system & irritated it, which is bad. [Some antidepressants did this also.] I believe this type of reaction can be deadly, & it's one of the more serious ones. My body feels like I've been knocked to the floor, & repeatedly slugged & kicked for days. It painful & awful. Aromasin also caused a form of attention deficit disorder, where I can't follow conversations, where I can't think or function good, & where my short-term memory is affected. I can't do projects or chores. I just sit & stare, feel ill & groggy, & lose time. It's also caused me to feel frightened, & be very short-tempered. I feel angry. I also feel hurt & betrayed, that the cancer care is so bad, illogical & harm-filled. [And I don't want to be robbed & murdered this way, by these dumbed-down bad docs & their cr*p-care.] I've felt so sick/ill for so long, that I'd super-like to actually reach some good medical care, some that I can believe in, ... get some legitimate help, get to relax & feel better. I really, really would like that. This cancer care is definitely Not what I was promised. It's been an awful & painful, down-hill ride. So far, my trusting doctors is just getting me repeatedly scr*wed & further harmed. It's bad! Susan, Su_Texas my opinions PS Yesterday, the nurse told me to stop taking the medicine, until the doctor returns next week. I'm in such bad shape, I didn't remember I had any options, such as stopping the medicine. I'm grateful she reminded me. Aromasin was a very bad experience for me. I won't take it again. Scared I'm very weak & groggy, & scared. Many years ago, when I was forced to buy & try antidepressants (as a pre-requisite for my getting to abuse counselling, some day), ... it could take me about two months or so, to even begin to semi-recover from a bad/adverse reaction to antidepressants, even if I'd only taken one pill. The recovery process was very slow & scary. I'd have to fight hard & long, ... to hold on, to survive, & keep trying to make it back to good health. [These drugs attacked my brain, nervous system, & body in such ways, that it would take a long time to heal, to get better.] This last estrogen-blocker (Aromasin), caused a very bad adverse reaction, similar to the antidepressants. At least, that's what I hope this is. --------------- If the doctors have successfully conned me, fed me mostly cr*p-care, & delayed me from the good cancer care for long enough, ... and if the cancer has managed to ravage my body during this time, ... then I'll never forgive those doctors, nor forget. [If I do die, then a part of me will always be near each one of them, ... wishing, wanting, & praying for justice, for the maximum harm, pain & suffering. They'll never be alone again, or know a moment's peace.] This cancer cr*p-care has been absolute hell, ... so full of pain, suffering, & loss, ... of major expenses & wasted time, of betrayals of trust. I'm frightened that I won't be able, to blast through this brick-wall of bad docs & cr*p-care, & to reach the good bloodwork & treatments, ... in time to do any good. I'm afraid of being murdered by these bad docs, of suffering to death horribly, ... of being powerless to do anything, to change anything. This is a nightmare. Susan, Su_Texas my opinions PS I will hang on, work very hard, ... & will recover from this, if it's at all possible. For all my life, I've worked very hard to survive the birth-family abuse & to reach abuse counselling (which I finally found in late 1997), ... only to be deliberately & severely injured at a shopping mall (Jan 1998), ... have strokes from the injuries & the ongoing lack of medical care (March, Oct 2000), ... & to develop cancer in the injured left breast (March 2000), for which I couldn't find medical care until Oct 2001. After working for this hard & long, I've no intention of being robbed of my life, before I've had a chance to begin living it. And I've no intention of allowing the bad docs to harm me to death, by their continuing to withhold good medical care for cancer & injuries. I refuse to let these sleazy, low-life, harm-filled bast*rds (bad docs), cold-bloodedly murder me like this. ------------ I'm hoping that other people are as fed-up with the medical cr*p-care system as I am, & that they'll contact their "elected"-politicians & keep doing so, demanding positive changes. > Scared > [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > reaction, similar to the antidepressants. At least, that's what I hope > this is. Sue, Unfortunately your rants (without enough details) do you no good. I'm a pretty good trouble-shooter, if enough details are given. For instance, are you perhaps dehydrated? Has your heart been checked recently? Are you still sleeping in the truck and getting "fumed" by gas? (other environmental factors??) What else are you taking ? alternative medications... For such a short time on aromasin, it seems unlikely that it would cause you to be weak and groggy, especially since it's been a few days since you've stopped it. http://www.rxlist.com/cgi/generic3/exemest_ad.htm http://www.drugs.com/xq/cfm/pageID_0/htm_500082/type_cons/bn_Aromasin/micr_medex /qx/index.htm from http://www.drugs.com/index.cfm?pageID=0&brand=Aromasin (Advanced Cosumer Information). So whatever was happening before, in my opinion, is just getting worse. I urge you to see a general practitioner, take all your vitamins and anything else you're taking with you, have some standard bloodwork and a physical done and see if someone can help you figure it out, before you do die. J snipped... J <RationAle@example.net> wrote in message > Sue, > > Are you still sleeping in the truck and getting "fumed" by gas? > (other environmental factors??) Good question J and something Sue should definately look in to. Some of the symptoms she describes that have been ongoing (dizziness, faintness, fatigue, forgetfullness, etc.) are most certainly signs of carbon monoxide poisoning. Since Sue has stated that she often sleeps in her truck and has no heat in her home (space heaters?) she should definately look into this. A simple blood test that ALL doctors would order and insurance will pay for would confirm this poisoning. > snipped... > [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > definately look into this. A simple blood test that ALL doctors would > order and insurance will pay for would confirm this poisoning. Yes, definitely a worry because I searched Google and she was groggy back when she was on Femara (late October), so she started taking it at night so she'd be groggy during sleep (instead of during the day) ..and I can't remember when "cold" hit Texas, but I know it hit at some point. But don't know if she's still heating or not, but carbon monoxide is a worry. (OR something in her environment wherever she sleeps). From personal experience, the problem with bloodwork is getting there. Once a person is out in the air breathing clean air, the bloodwork resets itself and voila...the doctor's say "there's no problem", until the person goes back to the place where they're being poisoned by carbon monoxide. So a detector might be more helpful. But then if she only has the truck or the house and some type of heater causing this, I sure don't know the solution, but hope she's okay. Thanks for your reply and Season's Greetings :-) J Hi J, I haven't been sleeping in the truck for some time now, that is, since I got the air-mattress set up inside the house. And there's no carbon monoxide inside the house. So that can't be it. I can't get good basic medical care or bloodwork, because the doctors keep refusing to do it. [Medical abandonment, malpractice, & malice are extremely common here in Texas & Louisiana, ... as are the doctors banding together strongly, to overly-protect each other in crimes, meanness, & murder.] --------------- Botched Surgery In early 2002, the botched port-a-cath surgery was very bad. It damaged my right shoulder, chest, neck area, ... as well as its delaying my chemotherapy for about two months. I still have problems (pain & loss of function) with this. ------------- Bad Meds In 2002, the chemotherapy & radiation made me sick & weak. In late 2002, I started taking Arimidex, at about the start of radiation I believe. It took a while for me to realize, that my bad (& ever-worsening) health was probably due to Arimidex. The docs kept ignoring me when I said this, & when I asked for better testing & care. They kept assuring me it wasn't the Arimidex, & that I'd get better, but I didn't. They lied. Finally, after about a year, & as my health has kept going down, the doctor listened & switched me to Femara. I had a bad reaction to it, & was switched to Aromasin. I've had an extremely bad reaction to Aromasin. I've not been allowed (or been able to even begin!) to start recovering from the cancer treatments, at all yet. -------------- Broken Promises, Doctors Who Lie In late 2002, after the chemotherapy & radiation treatments were over, it was quite a horrible shock & very stressful for me, ... to be labelled as being "cured of cancer" & then medically abandoned, ... when I was so sick & weak, & had no medical care. In early 2002, the oncologist had promised me up-front, that we'd do things my way later on ... (such as the good blood tests, exercise for mastectomy side, nutrition counselling, try other cancer treatments, alternative treatments, etc.), ... IF I'd forget all about them, trust him to know what's best, & just do the chemo & rads first, ... which I did. Yet after chemo & rads, he dismissed me. He betrayed me. He'd lied. Since then, I've learned that there's a standard govt-approved treatment for cancer, & that the docs will do nothing else. Absolutely nothing! What the docs are doing, is called racketeering. It's also called premeditated, cold-blooded murder. --------------- Cancer Cr*p-Care, Then No-Care In late 2002, no oncologist (not in Shreveport, Longview, Tyler, Houston, Dallas) would help or refer me for medical care, after I was abandoned by the oncologist. The regular docs refused to treat me, because I had cancer. M D Anderson refused me an appt, & all info, help, & referral again too. There was nothing. Nothing! In December 2002/January 2003, I paid a doctor (PhD, MD) about $200, to give me a list of the good bloodwork that needed to be done, ... then presented it to many doctors, including my oncologist. None would order any of it. -------------- Botched Mastectomy In late 2002 (December?), there was a new lumps & lots of new calcifications in the right breast, so the cancer doc had to help me again. Since the mammographies in East Texas have proved a bad/sick joke, I had to go to LSU in Shreveport for one, which took months to set up. Then in April 2003, I went to Baylor/Methodist in Houston, where the professor chose to butcher my right breast, instead of removing it. This caused me more health problems & expenses. I was very sick & weak before the surgery, & also financially broke, ... so my being butchered & treated badly by this surgeon, was extremely bad. ------------ Bad Docs + Cr*p-Care = Stress + Exhaustion I'm still sick & weak because of the bad meds (Arimidex, Femara, Aromasin), & because of the ongoing lack of good medical care. The stress of all this alone, is horrible. The stress of my having to meet & deal with such bad doctors/people, & face one brick-wall-type dead-end after another, is terrible. The gasoline & other expenses for trips, also keeps me very short of money, ... which does threaten my & the dogs' survival. If the doctors would do what they're paid to do, instead of playing every bad, sick, & ugly game they can dredge up, ... then it would cut out so much pain, suffering, & misery, so much wasted time & money! Due to my injuries, cancer, lack of medical care, lack of funds, ... I'm also having to survive the many crimes & meanness which constantly happen here in East Texas (due to the failed govt & legal systems), ... & the ongoing birth-family abuse & meanness, ... which is exhausting. -------------- Many Injuries, No Care I'm also extremely injured from Jan 1998, & still have no medical care for these injuries, which are very serious & which did cause two strokes in 2000. I still have no care for the strokes either. I have many injuries from Jan 1998, including spine injuries all up & down. Hip injuries, ... knee, leg, ankle injuries, ... shoulder, arm, elbow, wrist injuries. From otology testing, I learned I have brainstem injuries, & hearing & balance loss. I have jaw, tooth, & facial injuries, & head injuries, which keep reinflaming & causing inner-ear-type problems: nausea, headaches, eye pain, etc. I have IBS from the injuries & chemotherapy. Etc. I've also been assaulted three times, twice by doctors (once at an ER in Oct 2000, & once at the Medical School in Shreveport, Neurology Dept in March 2001). Once at the Sabine Valley MHMR in Marshall, June 2002, where I was attending a talk group for abuse victims. The ER doctor's assault was an attempted murder, which dislocated the C1 disc. And the brain is now collapsing on it, according to the motion x-ray test. The docs said that the injuries in Jan 1998, should have killed me. These are some of the reasons, why I'm so tired & weak, ... not to mention living in primitive conditions, toting water, surviving the cold, ... seeking medical care in the failed systems here in TX & LA, ... trying to warn/inform people, of how things really are in Texas now, etc. ------------- High Copper = Mets What I've been asking the doctors for, for a long time now, is to test my copper/zinc levels. The docs keep refusing to do that, as well as refusing to do anything else. ?! I've read that if your copper levels are high, then there's a higher risk of mets, of cancer spread, ... & that molybdenum can bring the copper levels down. The docs say that they refuse to do anything but the standard stuff (chemo, rads, CBC, CAT scans), ... because that's what the govt & insurance companies have approved for them to do. The docs refuse to do even one extra thing, like test for copper/zinc levels. Just one thing! The docs said that the standard cancer care, probably would NOT work in my case, ... but they insisted I try it, before they'd agree to try anything else. So, I did try the standard cr*p-care, & these docs have put me through hell for years now. However, they've lied to & betrayed me, because they're now refusing to do or try anything else. At this point, I feel extremely angry & hurt. ---------------- The Ongoing Search For One Good Doc Right now, I want some good bloodwork. At the very least, I want the copper/zinc levels checked. So far, no doctor will order it. The docs won't order anything, except for the standard cr*p-care, ... which they say (in my case) they have no confidence in & which is sure to fail. ?! [It's difficult to try to deal, with such friggingly-awful idiots, as the docs here!] The doctors are always overly-eager, to push the cr*p-drugs like antidepressants & such, ... even though they know for sure, how severely allergic I am to them, & that these drugs can easily kill me. ?! I'm sick to death, of these determinedly-dumb & dastardly docs, ... of being nice to them over & over, of begging for tests & care, & of being refused, ... of watching them snicker, grin, & get-off, on their abuse of power, on their ability to do so much harm, to destroy lives & life. Somehow, I have to find a way to blast through this wall of bad/evil docs, & find some legitimate medical care. -------------- Recently, when I spoke to Cancer Treatment Centers of America (in Oklahoma), they said they can't offer the good bloodwork, tests, or cancer care either, unless you pay cash up-front for it, ... because the govt & insurance companies are blocking them too, from giving us good medical care for cancer. This is so danged frustrating! Without good bloodwork & tests, I can't determine exactly what's wrong, or try to fix it. --------------- I refuse to give up hope or to stop trying. What I have to do, is find a doctor who will work, & who will order the good bloodwork. So far, I can't. However, no one will work harder, more determinedly, or longer than I will. If there is a will-work doctor in Texas or Louisiana, then I will find them. [If someone could help me find one, then I'd really appreciate it! Longview, Tyler, Marshall, Shreveport, Houston, or Dallas] I can't pay cash up-front. My insurance is GEHA, & Medicare (which I got early, after being assaulted at the Post Office in June 1995). The insurance will pay 100% of what the doctor orders, & it's good anywhere, with any doctor (MD or DO). Susan, Su_Texas my opinions > [If someone could help me find one, then I'd really > appreciate it! Longview, Tyler, Marshall, Shreveport, Houston, or > Dallas] Sue, I know of a place (and it's been posted on misc.health.alternative before) but: 1) I don't think they will be able to help you, but they would take your money and do tests. and 2) I don't think they'd want you anyway because you have unreasonable expectations and are difficult to treat, and difficult to satisfy, and too complicated and badmouth (almost) everyone "medical" you come in touch with. So Try http://www.drphil.com, maybe he and his staff would take you on as a long-term project. There's a "write a letter" option there. J Sue, I know of a place (and it's been posted on misc.health.alternative before) but: 1) I don't think they will be able to help you, but they would take your money and do tests. and 2) I don't think they'd want you anyway because you have unreasonable expectations and are difficult to treat, and difficult to satisfy, and too complicated and badmouth (almost) everyone "medical" you come in touch with. So Try http://www.drphil.com, maybe he and his staff would take you on as a long-term project. There's a "write a letter" option there. J ============ ROFL Susan, Su_Texas > ROFL Gee, I think that's the shortest reply I've ever seen from you in, well, May02 was approximately when you started posting here. Anyway, I checked http://labtestsonline.org/ for Zinc and Copper Copper: These are clickable for more information on the "clicks" Protein Groups ...Copper binding protein, involved in normal iron metabolism Beta?globulin Transferrin Iron transport and delivery to cells...http://labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/... Liver Disease ...which leads to milk sugar accumulation; and Wilsons disease, where copper builds up in the liver). << Prev | Next >> Related Pages On... Looks to me like you've reading too many "doe" posts (based on the above), but Wilson's Disease is real for some. Now, Zinc is interesting...... Zinc: Lead Test Also known as: Blood lead test, blood lead level, BLL Related tests: Zinc protoporphyrin, lead mobilization Zinc is involved in testing for lead poisoning I guess. Lead poisoning is in the differentials for porphyria which involves porphyrins. and (sometimes) the liver... I think I mentioned to you a year or so ago, that people with porphyria have a terrible time with (some) medications. where's this leading? a change of heart... check out http://www.ehcd.com/ http://www.ehcd.com/center/referral.html somewhere in Dallas http://www.ehcd.com/question.html http://www.ehcd.com/services/patientservices.html They have MD's there and more They test for metals, which I think zinc and copper are. Will those tests tell you if you have any cancer cells floating around? I doubt it. Will some of the tests they do there help you find out (some of) what is wrong with you? Maybe. What form of payment do they take? I don't know. You'd have to check with them about your insurance and other details as to whether it's a day test, or more. My friend went there, oh, 25 years ago. She worked as a hair dresser so was exposed to stuff that had an adverse effect on her, and also was exposed to illegal pesticides at her work place. So they tested her and validated that she had been exposed to various chemicals in her work environment and pesticides. They also discovered that she has a severe allergy to rubber. (new info for her). She refused the challenge tests for fear of making her sicker. She refused the treatments for fear of making her sicker. So where is she now? She's since been diagnosed with Lupus, Fibromyalgia, Thyroid, Arthritis, IBS, Sjogren's, depression and anxiety, asthma etc etc. She takes meds for depression and anxiety, for pain, for asthma, and thyroid, but refuses meds for Lupus and arthritis. She sees a general practitioner (who listens to her various ailments and thoughts), same for a psychiatrist and a rheumatologist who checks her bloodwork for Lupus. So is she further ahead from having gone to www.ehcd.com ?? Well, she knows she has a rubber allergy. And she became the first in her state to be recognized by government to have been poisoned by an illegal pesticide and is on some form of disability as a result of all that. Is she better? No, but she's aged and acquired other illnesses. I have no connection to the above, I have no personal experience with them. If you check them out and aren't happy, don't blame me, okay? <g> J Hi J, I've thought about the Dr. Phil thing, & I doubt we could connect. He has an ego, which would get in the way of our communicating. He seems ambitious, & impatient, sorta hurried. And he's cash-driven, while I'd rather help people for free. I already know a great deal about psych-type stuff (from practical experience), & have already developed a wide variety/range of life-skills for dealing with bad people & situations, ... so he'd probably be of no help there. What he could do to help people, is to know which medical doctors in Texas will work (such as when there's an emergency, like a broken arm). It's virtually impossible to find a doctor here, who'll do any work. Susan, Su_Texas my opinions Su wrote: << It's virtually impossible to find a doctor here, who'll do any work.>> What kind of work are you talking about? Are you talking about treatment? Follow-up? or ??? I have a good friend from Galveston. Her mom still lives there and receives more than adequate, if not excellent, medical care. Unfortunately, physicians are not able to go above and beyond the basics expected because if they do and what they've done hasn't worked, they are then subject to litigation. Many physicians hands have been tied because of the minority of patients who decided they wanted to get rich off the system. It's harder and harder for dr's to go into practice. An ob-gyn has to pay $100,000.00 for malpractice insurance per year. Other specialties--like surgery--the premium is about $300,000.00 per year for malpractice insurance. Then there are salaries. I learned yesterday (from our daughter in med. school) that the average yearly salary for a pediatrician is $80,000.00. That does sound like a decent income--but in order to become a pediatrician it requires 7 years of training after college. I am sure my hairdresser makes more than that. And I am quite sure the head Avon rep in our area makes at least that if not more...And gost, everyone feels that healthcare is an automatic right...and so dr's must serve all, oftentimes without compensation. Gosh, if health care is a 'right' perhaps hair care should be, too? If one doesn't look good it can also interfere with their ability to effectively come across to others. Then, I also suppose that make-up should be an automatic 'right.' Why should some have that added advantage over others? Then there's the gal who cleans houses--at $20.00/hour...why should some have assistance over others, particularly if they are ill or tired..... Oh, and then there are the medical school loans--my daughter figures hers will total over $250,00.00...Her life would have been much easier if she had continued to sell Cutco (quality cutlery) and not gone on to college... Kaye wrote: Unfortunately, physicians are not able to go above and beyond the basics expected because if they do and what they've done hasn't worked, they are then subject to litigation. Many physicians hands have been tied because of the minority of patients who decided they wanted to get rich off the system. It's harder and harder for dr's to go into practice. An ob-gyn has to pay $100,000.00 for malpractice insurance per year. Other specialties--like surgery--the premium is about $300,000.00 per year for malpractice insurance. Then there are salaries. ========== Govt Rules & Regulations, Govt Force The first thing the doctors mention, is that the govt & insurance companies will put them out of business, if they do their job, if they offer us any good medical care. So the doctors are basically pushing only those few cr*p-type things, which they're being ordered & allowed to, ... usually only PHARMA drugs (the most harmful & expensive, won't-work-kinds of meds) for treating symptoms only, NOT causes. All good testing & diagnosis are strongly discouraged. [Hospitals are being encouraged to put all their funds into fancy buildings, to emphasize appearance only, ... & to offer nothing of value inside.] When you treat symptoms only, esp. with bad drugs, ... then the patient will only get worse & will keep desperately seeking good medical care, .. because that's what the media tells us to do. The media tells & shows us there's help somewhere, if we keep looking, can just find it. ??? -------------- Anything For Greed? Monopolies: The way to maximize profits, is to gain control of an industry, to shut down all competition, & to sell only bad & expensive products, ... which is what the govt & global corporations have managed to do, with the medical industry. Information: The way to control people, & what they think & buy, ... is to control the media, & to only feed people bad & wrong information. We've been lied to & betrayed, esp. in the govt schools & from the media. --------------- Removing Our Rights The govt has now ruled & regulated the medical industry, until it's like every other govt agency. It doesn't work! It can't. If the docs offered good care, then they'd be quickly put out of business by the govt & insurance companies. This is called racketeering. Medical monopoly, fraud, malpractice, abandonment, etc., & it does cause a lot of harm: pain & suffering, poverty & hardship, deaths. We pay huge insurance premiums, in order to be able to get medical care when we need it, ... but the corporations control both the insurance & medical industries, so that we can't get good care or any care. It's called maximizing profits. They're taking in our money, keeping it, ... & then conning & harming us to the max, when we need medical care. In order to do this, the corporations needed to shut down the legal system, so that people couldn't sue after their being denied good medical care, & being harmed by the cr*p-care. That's what the damage limit caps & the tort reforms were for. These made it unprofitable for lawyers to help us. We've been "screwed"! It's a Catch-22, No-Win situation. --------------- Corporate Control & Rule, Insurance Companies The malpractice insurance rates are ridiculous, & seem to have NOTHING to do with lawsuits, ... but they have a lot to do with maximizing corporate profits. One way that global corporations can take over & run an industry, like the medical industry, hospitals, nursing homes, doctors, etc., ... is to raise insurance rates so that communities & individuals can't afford to stay in business or compete. [And so that people can't keep their health insurance, or get any medical care.] Then, the global corporations will take over control, management, and/or ownership, & set their own rules, their own standards for medical treatment & care. The corporations also seem to own & control the US govt & politicians, & the intelligence agencies. Somehow, they can strongly influence elections, ... probably through voting fraud, & media BS/spins/propaganda. Almost all laws seem now written for corporate benefit only. ---------------- Propaganda Mills The propaganda mills (media monopoly) say that we're to blame for all this ... (for the failure of the medical industry, for doctors' refusing to do good work, refusing to help us), ... that we sue too much & win huge amounts. I know of no one who's won any amount of money from lawsuits, much less huge amounts. Most people get ripped off by lawyers, when they try to sue. The lawyers say that malpractice cases are too expensive & complicated to try, so they avoid them. However, attorneys will promise to pursue a malpractice case (or any other kind), ONLY in order to better con a client, to take all their money & assets up-front. And sometimes to get media coverage or notoriety, to get better name recognition & attract more clients/suckers. ------------ We are NOT responsible for the failed medical care system. We have NOT bankrupted it with lawsuits. This is the govt's myth & excuse, for removing our rights. And it's their way of turning us against each other. The govt & corporations, & their ever-increasing greeds are responsible .. for the p*ss-poor-pitiful medical care which we're being subjected to, & which we're being forced to accept. We've been lied to & robbed. Susan, Su_Texas my opinions Su, I am not disagreeing with everything you suggest. There is at least some truth in what you suggest. However, the reasons most dr's go into medicine is NOT out of greed. There are alot of professions that one can go into which are a lot easier and more profitable. Most go into medicine for the 'right' reasons. The system does not always allow the optimal practice of medicine. You are right--it is a 'catch-22' situatiion. However, the problem is so multi-faceted that there is no quick or easy solution. The best way one can get what they need is to either be their own advocate or associate themselves with someone who is wants to assume that role. And despite all the problems that our medical system is faced with, its goal is to insure that consumers are helped in the best, albeit often most cost-effective, way possible. >2) I don't think they'd want you anyway > because you have unreasonable expectations > and are difficult to treat, and difficult to satisfy, > and too complicated and badmouth (almost) > everyone "medical" you come in touch with. Is there a doctor in the house?? It's so good to know there ARE people who find doctors they have good relationships with. So far I, like Su, am batting mostly zero! I also don't think her expectations are unreasonable unless quality healthcare and medications which don't destroy your quality of life are unreasonable expectations! Bea > >2) I don't think they'd want you anyway > > because you have unreasonable expectations [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > unreasonable unless quality healthcare and medications which don't > destroy your quality of life are unreasonable expectations! Well Sue had complications..delay in diagnosing, an assault, no home while in treatments, a vehicle accident, problems with her port, problems with her surgery. Hopefully you didn't have the same problems. I wonder why we don't hear about problems (similar to your complaints) from others here?.... J >I wonder why we don't hear about problems > (similar to your complaints) from others > here?.... >J I wonder why too. Could it be that they don't want to be classified as "kooks" who just have nothing better to do than make up stories to entertain electronic posters? Frankly, I am delighted to know some of you are pleased with your doctors and do get good medical care. It gives me the will to keep searching for my own. I once asked a doctor how a patient could know if a doctor is good or bad. He said doctors monitor their own by "not recommending" them so they get fewer patients. Well what is so funny about this is that every doctor I have ever gone to was recommended by other doctors as being a good doctor. I guess they have had to lower their standards of what "good" means in this day and age. Oh well.....there is always hope...... Bea Who has experience with Navelbine Just started this medicine > Today the doctor switched me from Femara, to something that starts with > an A (not Arimidex). [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > Susan, Su_Texas my opinions From: goergen@citilink.com (Goergen's) Who has experience with Navelbine Just started this medicine ========= Not me. Sorry. Susan, Su_Texas >From: goergen@citilink.com (Goergen's) > >Who has experience with Navelbine >Just started this medicine My wife took it for a few months. What are your questions? - Tony SignatureTony Lima /"\ ASCII ribbon campaign \ / against HTML mail X and postings / \ |
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