I do think prescriptions are thrown at us right and left and there are significant side effects to meds they use for CFS/FMS symptom control. I say symptom control because these meds do not address the cause. I have read different stories about some of the meds causing weight gain up to 40 pounds or more. This might defeat the purpose as the increased weight would cause more joint pain and discomfort.
Diseases like high blood pressure have serious consequences if not treated and controlled. Many people cannot control with diet alone. So in this case a medication could save a life.
your are correct in saying doctors do not tell you all the bad stuff in our food we are eating. I wish it were that easy. I have to read everything now so I do not contribute to making my fibro worse. I also understand why people take all the prescription med they just want to feel good again and if it helps that they will just deal with any side effects if there are any. Trust me I understand I have a mental challenged daughter who is 27 and a 8 year old son that I want to do the things I used to be able to do with them. I want to get up in the morning and feel good again. I want to ride a bike with nicolas and not have to worry about hurting for weeks after. I just wish we could make our bodies heel it self like it is supposed to. Maybe one day there will be a cure prescription drug or not I will be taking right along with everyone else.
thanks for responding, but have you ever the doctor told you ohh your blood pressure its because all the food that is in cans or frozen dinners has like 2000 to 3000 mg and if you eat that 2 to 3 times a day and we suppose to eat only about 1200 mg a day you blood pressure will be that high.they never give a specific answer or they dont tell you what fruits and veggies will be better for you, because some veggies already they high in sodium...
I don't feel that most would believe everything they hear on TV or otherwise. Everyone knows about the risks involved with medications...while it may help with one thing it could create another. That is the way medicine works. What we are dealing with are illnesses that most physicians do not acknowledge exist, nor do they know how to properly treat them. We are like the 'problem child' because there are so many symptoms. Until more research reveals what is behind these illnesses (which they are getting there) and how to treat them effectively, all we have are natural remedies or medications. I have heard others claim that Lyric gave them back their lives...it worked that well for them. Then there are some who choose not to take it because the side-effects are not worth it.
Many here are desperate for relief. We must weigh the risks of medicine and alternative treatments against the quality of our lives without it. I know that the qualify of my life, physically, is poor. So yes, I have tried a variety of drugs in an attempt to get relief and gain some degree of normalcy. The pharmacies are out to make a profit, as well as kickbacks being given to others, but until they find something that will actually treat the disease we have to do what works for us personally.
If one had cancer or other chronic pain, would it really make a difference if they took oxycodone or morphine for relief? If it gave them one more day that they could take a walk with their children, stand up to hug a loved one or make themselves a sandwich...maybe the side-effects are worth it to them.
I should have been more specific I mostly meant prescribition drugs for fibor. I have read and read these fourms and the people taking them seem to have more problems with side effects from these drugs such as pain meds or muscle relaxants and they don't really feel any better because of them. I kown there are also side affect for some of the natural med. but they are not as bad. I also know some of us could not move if it were not for the prescription drugs. I just think we should try things that our body used to produce to heal us but have stop for some reason. It just seem more natural. I hope all of you guys find a cure and me wouldn't that be nice?
Good morning;
This is what is so wonderful about this website and forum. We can all have our personal opinion and everyone is ok with that. My cousin is a healing woman in the Cherokee nation, she doesn't understand why I refuse to let her heal me. For one, I would have to slowly get of of all of my western meds including my pain meds, and that is something that I refuse to take a chance in doing. I hurt so badly even with my pain meds, no way in hell am I going to not take them at all.
I have two doctors my internist and my Rheumy. They work closely together and each knows about my medications. I use one pharmacy as does my hubby, that way we have no problems with our meds. I told my Rheumy and my internist that I was 54 years old, and becoming addicted to any medication was the least of my problems. My pain meds help me to function and to be able to take care of my family. I take the pain meds out of necessity not because I want to. If or when the time comes that I might feel that my meds are a problem, we'll face that if or when it might happen.
To each his/her own. My doctors know how I feel and they both aree with me. Take care and have a hopefully pain free day.
gentle hugs
Angel
Too many doctors are specialists today, and that's where people are running into problems with their medication. They go to one doctor for this, who prescribes two or three different meds, and then they go to another doctor for that, and that doctor prescribes two or three different things for the other thing. Unless the people tell the doctors that they are going to another doctor for X illness, those doctors don't know that the people are taking other medications for other problems, the medications end up clashing, and the people run into problems. Even if people would stick with one pharmacy there would be fewer problems, since even if the doctors don't know that person is seeing another doctor, the pharmacist would see if there were any medications that are going to clash with each other. But people will take coupons for $30 and $40 off new prescriptions if they take them to such and such a pharmacy, and unless that pharmacist knows what all the person is taking, he or she cannot protect them from drug interactions either.
Natural remedies are not all safe and benign to take. Some of the deadliest substances known to man fall under the heading of "natural", so just because something isn't regulated by the FDA doesn't mean that it's safe. Think about belladonna. It's a natural medication for heart problems, but even the tiniest little bit of an overdose can kill you. No, natural definitely does NOT equal safe.
Ghilly
I partly agree with your post. I find that doctors will prescribe medications without even mentioning side effects, or checking what you're already taking. I always look at the side effects before I take anything, so I'm not surprised or panicked if something happens. There are many, many drugs I simple cannot take--i.e., most pain medications, because they bother my stomach.
On the other hand, drugs for high blood pressure are definitely saving my life. My BP was off the charts (genetic) and without these drugs, I would probably have had a heart attack or stroke. I also have high cholesterol. Those drugs are hard to take, esp. for people with fibro, because of the muscle pain side effect. I have been on and off them for years, but now my cholesterol is so high I have to take them. I take the one that has the least side effects for me.
I agree about the anti-depressants. I think sometimes they cause more problems instead of helping, but there are people who really need them.
The other thing is that many of the drugs are addictive. I was addicted to sleeping medicines for a while. Many people get addicted to pain medicine or anxiety type meds like Xanax or Valium.
The problem is that when you are suffering and in pain and your life has deteriorated, you have to do something and oftentimes, that means trying drugs for relief, or to keep from getting worse. Everyone is different, but sometimes just taking vitamins and exercise and yoga and even counseling is just not enough.
There are some good natural remedies and I have used some too. However, when you say you don't believe medicine is the solution for any disease, that doesn't make sense to me. Natural remedies are medicine, they just aren't regulated. You still need to be cautious and seek information at a reputable health foods store or your doctor.
I have had side effects from many drugs that have been prescribed for me, but I will still continue to try something if the benefit outweighs the risk. I currently take several meds and I think I would be very foolish to stop taking something for bp/heart and try a natural remedy. We all have our comfort levels and I think medicine has progressed in a very positive way, extending and improving lives of many people. It has been beneficial also in the prevention of disease as in the distribution of many vaccines that have been introduced in the past fifty years! How about the life saving medicines called antibiotics? Don't you realize how many people used to die from infections? There are drugs to help with Parkisons, Alzheimer's, epilepsy and diabetes (II) The first for Parkisons was developed in the 70's but there are many new generations available now. Insulin is now a synthetic of our own body's natural insulin, being genetically engineered. Once, pork and beef was what was available and not that very long ago!
I'm wondering if you would be willing to share some of your sources referring to the pharmaceutical companies and the FDA? These types of claims are really nothing new. I find them ridiculous. Back in the 70's, there was a big hoax about a cancer cure found in I believe, peach pits. I'm not sure how these things get started.
I totally agree with you I have posted a question before asking if anyone was trying natural medicine but did not get to much of a respones. I take vitiamins,digestive supplements and other natural medicine because I know from experecince how medicine can mask the systoms and even make things worse with all the side affects, As I read the forum I realize how so many of the people are taking prescribtion medicine and they are way worse off now not better. I am not perfect and have bad days but I still work full time and lead a productive life. I wish I knew why somedays are worse or what it is my body lacks so I could find a cure so none of us would ever have to feel bad again. But for know I will continue to do what I do.