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In reply to the discussion: Big Pharma Sells Risky Meds We Don’t Need for Disorders It Made Up That We Don’t Have [View all]Marthe48
(16,903 posts)with esophageal cancer in March. The doctors say the cancer has spread to his stomach, lymph nodes and liver. He took proton-pump inhibitors for over 20 years. The ads say take their medicine, no heartburn. The ads, nor my husband's dr. say nothing about life-style changes, dietary habits, nothing. Yeah, we were stupid not to explore this medicine ourselves. I just saw a JAMA report that stomach acid probably doesn't even cause the irritation in the esophagus that can lead to cancer. That report won't change how GERD is treated any time soon.
As for diabetes and high blood pressure. I had fasting blood sugar of 114, when 115 was the acceptable fasting number, so my (ex) doctor told me I had diabetes. I stopped eating junk for dinner (I worked from home on afternoon shift), tested my blood every day for over 2 years, and got A1C's every 6 months. After I stopped eating candy bars for dinner, my A1C went down a full point, from the acceptable level if had been at to start with. My (ex) dr. prescribed a pill to take before meals to lower my blood sugar, and I almost passed out after 3 doses. Then, ADA lowered acceptable FBS to 100. I challenged my dr. to tell me why he diagnosed me on 1 FBS reading, and didn't do a glucose tolerance test to be sure. He had no answer for me. I don't even want to talk about statins. But I have a story about them, too.
I have taken medicine for high blood pressure since the mid-80's. My blood pressure is stable at the level it was over 30 years ago. At the time, considered high normal n/90. Well, whoever determines the BP numbers lowered the acceptable threshold to n/80, and suddenly, I have high blood pressure. Nothing changed except somebody changed a number.
Instead of fooling around with numbers, and pushing pills, I wish the medical community would actually examine patients and check for symptoms that indicate a problem. My poor husband saw drs. 3 times from Nov. to Jan. and there was no urgency that he had this deadly cancer. By the time somebody checked, it is too late. Please check the 7 signs of cancer. My husband had a frequent dry cough, and his voice was getting hoarse. If you have any of the symptoms, make your doctor examine you.