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Jul / 10

Neighborhood Pusher

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Today’s medical establishment is in a sad state of affairs. As Ruth posted about previously, it’s hard to find a good doctor who isn’t in bed with big pharma. Allow me to relate my recent trip to the doctor and how it could have gone much worse.

I went in for a regular annual checkup and once the nurse took my weight, temperature, pulse and blood pressure, I was shown to a room to see my doctor. After the normal exchange of pleasantries, my doctor opened with a borderline insulting speech:

“You know, you’re now closer to 40 than you are to 30. It might be time to put you on a cholesterol medication. Some guys want to try to control things with a change in diet, but really it’s easier with the help of statins. Hey, even I’m on statins.”

What was especially shocking is that at this point, we had had zero discussion about my diet, my exercise and he hadn’t even seen my blood work yet! Now if you haven’t heard, statins aren’t exactly a good thing. They come with the “minor” side effects of muscle and joint pain, erectile dysfunction, lowered testosterone, nausea, diarrhea and/or constipation! If those weren’t enough, the “serious” side effects are potential liver damage and muscle pain — up to and including rhabdomyolysis — among many other less than desirable effects. Sadly, many doctors are either in denial about the side effects or some even speculate they may be financially encouraged to look the other way. Even worse, statins are a lifetime prescription — once you start, you’re supposed to stay on for the rest of your life.

Needless to say, that was the last time I will visit that doctor and have changed physicians. I shudder to think how many patients he has already rubber stamped with a statin prescription. Undoubtedly if they come in with some of those side effects, he’ll be likely to just add another prescription — erectile dysfunction and he’ll write viagra, joint pain and he’ll write a muscle relaxer, etc. Let my own poor experience be a lesson for you to never take your doctor’s word as gospel. We need to consider our doctor as a consultant where we may accept or reject their advice because ultimately we are responsible for our own bodies and health.

WOD 07.01.10

Overhead Squats 3×3

Then, AMRAP 12:

  • 100m dash
  • 5 Hang Power Cleans
  • 7 Wallball Shots

13 Responses to “Neighborhood Pusher”

Anna
July 1, 2010 at 7:17 AM

Amen Marcus. My surgeon is such a creepo!

If only Dr. Silva were an MD, we would have all of our medical problems solved.

Michael H
July 1, 2010 at 7:57 AM

True to dat! Considering how f’d up the pharma industry is with their supply chain, I try to stay away as much of that as possible.

If you ever get a chance watch “Illicit”

http://www.nationalgeographic.com/illicittrade/

On a happier note, final sleep log of the month: 01:30 – 06:30 – 5hrs

Pooja
July 1, 2010 at 8:32 AM

oh man marcus, this is so true! well hopefully the doc is a lot better.

sleep: midnight-8am. i wanna come back to the gym, i feel flabby =(

ruth
July 1, 2010 at 8:59 AM

How can anyone feel flabby after 50 deadlifts???

Soooo impressed with everyone’s numbers yesterday!!!!

Drew
July 1, 2010 at 9:08 AM

Great job to all on the June challenge. I am a little sore!!

Good post Marcus. Sadly, i think some of it is complacency. I don’t think every doctor starts their career saying, “I am just going to prescribe a bunch of meds to anyone that comes in”. I have a feeling years of trying to get people to take better care of themselves with only 1 out of 100 actually listening takes a serious toll on one’s career choice. I think they then throw up their hands and say- “oh, anxiety- here’s some xanax, depressed- here’s Welbutrin, can’t sleep- have some Ambien” with the assumption the patient has no desire to get to the root of their respective issues.

219 hours of sleep in the month of June which, speaking of, was done vicodin free (cough- Anna)

ruth
July 1, 2010 at 9:26 AM

Good point, Drew. I also think that they’ve invested more than a decade in pursuit of their M.D’s and that decade was steeped in Conventional Wisdom medicine that involves over-medicating, nutrition based on the old food pyramid, and an incestuous relationship with Big Pharma. While my doc is not flying the Paleo flag, I must say that he is much more educated in modern studies and approached my annual physical with a much more open mind. He even tested for Vitamin D deficiency without me requesting it.

There’s hope yet!

I’m not even going to bother adding up the sleep hours. I think Anna had this one hands down, vicodin or no vicodin!!!

Anna
July 1, 2010 at 10:17 AM

3 vicodin pills to get me through having that screw extracted from deep in my bone!

Drew, I’ll take you double or nothing in July, drug free

Drew
July 1, 2010 at 10:24 AM

We’re just giving it to Anna, she doesn’t even have to add the hours up? Pretty sure she already has a t-shirt too? I’m just kidding, congrats drugee.

I am waving a preemptive white flag for July. I just can’t sleep over 7.5 hours a night, even that is a stretch sometimes especially with ol’ ‘sheet karate’ sleeping next to me…

Brian
July 1, 2010 at 10:29 AM

hahahahah… Sheet Karate!! thats hilarious!

Yeah sorry Drew, despite my numerous attempts to sabotage, the lil koala bear can sleep.

Jenna
July 1, 2010 at 10:54 AM

All a part of my plan. (You’re welcome, Anna)

;)

ruth
July 1, 2010 at 11:04 AM

LOL, Jenna! I have a black belt in sheet karate!! Yay Team Anna! I think you two can rematch it with July’s challenge!!! Tune in tomorrow for info!!

Marcus
July 1, 2010 at 11:27 AM

@Mike – great documentary, we were shown some of it at work due to the impact counterfeit parts in the aerospace world.

@Drew – complacency for sure, not to mention there’s been a trend for a while now in drug companies hiring ex-cheerleaders as sales reps. It’s easier to sway a doctor’s opinion when he has a good-looking huckster. I remember reading about this as the whole trend was in full swing 5 years ago: NY Times article

Then earlier this year, an NPR station out of Boston featured an article on how there is a group trying to counter the efforts by providing doctor’s unbiased information. (They were also on a Daily Show segment)

becky
July 1, 2010 at 2:06 PM

great post marcus, NPR has been talking about similar things, having to do w/ cancer and how they need cancer patients to sustain the $50-some billion industry. chemo, meds, etc. it’s awful
it also talked about how some jewish doctor who was curing people w/ natural remedies was getting arrested for using non-FDA approved medications.
western medicine is scery.
thanks for sharing your wealth of knowlede here everyone, esp ruth, marcus and sean!
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