How much does health cost? rant I guess

[mmaria]

Ok so...

A bit of intro...

Ever since I was a teenager "those days" (yep women related) were extremely painful for me. I've been taking various painkillers and their combination and/or injections for the pain. The trouble is, after this many years I became intolerant, allergic, or immune on lots of them, so from time to time I had/have to change what I take and how. Nothing helps and I'm completely out of order during those days, no work, no nothing, just bed and pain. To describe the level of pain I'll mention that I've experienced kidney stone, a tooth/finger operation under inflammation, and been trough 2 childbirths without painkillers; except for the first childbirth nothing made me faint, I endured the pain, this did make me faint..

Last week was really tough for me because the pain lasted for 5 days. Usually it lasts 2 days. It's exhausting both physically and psychologically. I went to see a new doctor (30 years of experience and I heard good things about him). I immediately saw on his face that he doesn't have an explanation. To this day none of the doctors I saw couldn't figure out the reason of that excruciating pain (if you are a doctor or know some doctor, just tell me your theory, every opinion is welcomed because I'm desperate).

(Sorry for the long intro, but maybe, maybe I'll get a theory or two from someone who read this and finally get rid of this trouble) so....

During the exam I mentioned the medicine I was taking while I was pregnant and he said: " Oh, that medicine is no longer in use." "Really? Why? I know lots of women who were using that medicine." "Well, it's not that safe and Medical Association decided to get rid of it..." (I know I was against it in the first place but I was hospitalized and every dr was telling the same. I wonder what they give to pregnant ladies now for the same reason as mine was!?)

After two minutes he mentioned contraceptive pills. I tried them when I was 15 maybe and the pain was still there, I told him, he didn't really believe it and he said that the only solution he has to offer me are contraceptive pills. I asked which one would he recommend and remembered the ones that were all over flyers, posters in hospitals and every dr would recommend them... He said: "Well, those are no longer in use also" "Why?" "They're just not safe so Medical Association decided to get rid of it"... those particular pills were aimed for young girls market. How many girls were using those hormone bombs!?
I googled for the new ones he mentioned and what I got? "very dangerous" and they're out of the market in several countries.

I don't know how many drugs I've taken so far for various reasons and I always wonder what really I'm taking. Yes, I'm aware that no drug is safe and perfect and everything has some side effects but I don't feel like doctors were giving me information about what can go wrong with certain drugs. Who can tell me what I'm doing to my body after 15 years of taking that amount of strong pain killers?

When we will stop being guinea pigs? I guess never. Pharmaceutical industry is focused on making money not helping people.

I don't know how much money I've tossed on doctors or drugs so far... but this is not about the money it's about everything else.

 

[runnah]

Well its a good with the bad type situation. Some drugs are amazing examples of modern medicine while some are cash grabs. In our country there is very much a "take a pill to solve a problem" type of mentality. So some companies have scrambled to find a pill for damn near ever major and minor problem.

Drug companies are still a business and they still have to turn a profit. Doctors do get perks for prescribing a particular company's pills so take that into consideration. I do think doctors are over prescribing these days.

p.s. sorry your lady business is in disarray.

 

[Braineack]

When we will stop being guinea pigs? I guess never. Pharmaceutical industry is focused on making money not helping people..

Here's what you can do: Stop ever taking medicine--no aspirin, no anesthesia, no nothing. Put them out of business. Show them you won't take their **** anymore. In fact, also stop going to doctors; they are just part of the medical industrial complex and are just overpaid drug pushers with no real training or vested interest in actually helping your life.

 

[runnah]

When we will stop being guinea pigs? I guess never. Pharmaceutical industry is focused on making money not helping people..

Here's what you can do: Stop ever taking medicine--no aspirin, no anesthesia, no nothing. Put them out of business. Show them you won't take their **** anymore. In fact, also stop going to doctors; they are just part of the medical industrial complex and are just overpaid drug pushers with no real training or vested interest in actually helping your life.

I think it's more "stop taking pills for BS problems." There are pills for everything, from life saving blood pressure medicine to pills that make your skin smoother.

 

[Braineack]

I'm still trying to figure out how health insurance will cover the little blue pill, yet lasik corrective eye surgery is cosmetic.

 

[mmaria]

Well its a good with the bad type situation. Some drugs are amazing examples of modern medicine while some are cash grabs. In our country there is very much a "take a pill to solve a problem" type of mentality. So some companies have scrambled to find a pill for damn near ever major and minor problem.
Drug companies are still a business and they still have to turn a profit. Doctors do get perks for prescribing a particular company's pills so take that into consideration. I do think doctors are over prescribing these days.

completely agree

p.s. sorry your lady business is in disarray.

awwww thanks

When we will stop being guinea pigs? I guess never. Pharmaceutical industry is focused on making money not helping people..

Here's what you can do: Stop ever taking medicine--no aspirin, no anesthesia, no nothing. Put them out of business. Show them you won't take their **** anymore. In fact, also stop going to doctors; they are just part of the medical industrial complex and are just overpaid drug pushers with no real training or vested interest in actually helping your life.

there's no need for this kind of reply really... My intention wasn't to say that everything pharmaceutical industry does/make is wrong. My post clearly show that I depend on medicine and how things are I'll depend on them in the future...

 

[runnah]

I'm still trying to figure out how health insurance will cover the little blue pill, yet lasik corrective eye surgery is cosmetic.

Yeah that is a weird one. Or how powerful painkillers are prescribed for things like sprained ankles.

 

[Braineack]

Here's what you can do: Stop ever taking medicine--no aspirin, no anesthesia, no nothing. Put them out of business. Show them you won't take their **** anymore. In fact, also stop going to doctors; they are just part of the medical industrial complex and are just overpaid drug pushers with no real training or vested interest in actually helping your life.

there's no need for this kind of reply really... My intention wasn't to say that everything pharmaceutical industry does/make is wrong. My post clearly show that I depend on medicine and how things are I'll depend on them in the future...

My hyperbole yields for no one!

 

[Designer]

This is odd; only men have responded so far.

Anyway, I wish I knew some specifics, but perhaps you should start looking at alternative approaches, such as Naturopathy, etc.

AANP - American Association of Naturopathic Physicians: Natural Medicine. Real Solutions.

Homeopathy,

List of homeopathic preparations - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Or simply detoxification:

10 Ways to Detoxify Your Body | Detox | Cleanse | Gaiam Life

Note: this short list is not exhaustive by any means.

 

[Wizard1500]

I retired as an IT manager at a hospital.....I worked at that hospital for 31 years - never in direct pt. care, but you still see what goes on.....
I also suffer from daily pain and breathing difficulties.....I have less than 35% lung capacity....I have had pneumonia 9 times, and have had 3 plueral effusions. I come down with bronchitis at least twice per year...... During that past 50 years, I have been on no less than 10 different anti-biotics.....they work for a few years, and I become immune to them......I have also been on morphine at least 4 times....in 2009, I was receiving morphone injected via IV every 2 hrs for 3 solid months......I understand pain.....

You CANNOT give up on medicine, because the alternative can have a very short end......Having said that, I have no love for big pharm., but I do understand that without profits, they are unable to research new cures.......are doctors some sort of devine beings?....NO.....but, at least in this country, they study for a very long time to be able to practice their trade....the reason for that is money, but, without Dr's, big pharm, and the entire industry around modern medice, there is only one alternative.....death......I know, I've faced it my entire life.......I am not afraid to die, but there is absolutely no reason to hurry it along.....

I do hope you can receive the healing you need.....my advice is to find a specialist that helps you.....here, I believe the best medical care is received at teaching hospitals.....

 

[limr]

Oh, let's go ahead and say the really ludicrous part out loud - insurance companies cover Viagra, yes, but fight tooth and nail to not have to cover birth control. I say what's needed is not a pill strike but a sex strike.

I agree with runnah - it's more about not taking pills when we don't need them. But sometimes people DO need them and there's not much of a choice. My "woman problems" weren't as severe as yours, maria, but they were still really bad, and sorry, brainy, but if you told me to just stop taking pills when I was in the middle of that pain, I would have aimed my foot right at your gentlemen's sausage

Maria, what I can say is that maybe you should do some research on the kinds of birth control that are available to you and consider trying this route again. Formulations have changed a lot and they've learned better how to balance the hormones in each pill. I'm not necessarily pushing this solution, but just saying that things have obviously changed since your were 15 and it might be worth investigating.

And keep getting second opinions.

Has any doctor ever recommended a surgical treatment?

 

[mmaria]

Designer, thank you... I've tried many many things but nothing nothing helped

 

[mishele]

I'm sorry to hear you go through this, sweets. This is probably a silly question but have you searched the net for other women that are having the same issue as you? I'm sure there is something out there to help you, it's just finding it.

As far as drugs go, I agree with runnah. Most people are looking for the easy way out of everything. The magic pill to solve all the problems we have in life. In away, we are still living in the old days when some guy stood on a soap box with a cure all syrup. hehe Now we just have fancier ways to advertise it.

 

[sscarmack]

I have nothing to offer you, but I will offer you a virtual hug and hope you the best.

 

[Stacy Morin]

I know I am new here but I am a very "open book" kind of gal! (you will see after this post) Don't get me going on drug companies or Insurances! Our family recently just switched to a different insurance company through the "Marketplace" because Anthem was going to go up by 24%! This new insurance has overall better pricing and coverage, HOWEVER put a particular drug that my son takes in a Tier 3, which means they don't cover it until the deductible is met-then they cover at 80% for a 1200.00 maximum. Which actually isn't too bad right? But paying $425.00 for a one month supply was a really tough PILL to swallow!

Now onto "lady part" issues: Mmaria, I assume you are taking about heavy, horrible painful menstrual cycles? Please feel free to Private Message Me (is there away to do that on here?) Or ask away on here, I'm not shy! I had a hysterectomy 2 years ago and it was the BEST thing I ever did because I had similar issues! (I have had my children and kept my ovaries Just my two cents into this conversation!