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2scoops
USA
386 Posts |
 Posted - 06/04/2008 : 15:36:27
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Got this email from Fred Amir, wanted to share it with you all.
If you want to save yourself from being labeled with a disease you don't have and take medications you don't need, then you must read Worried Sick: A Prescription for Health in an Overtreated America by Nortin Hadler, M.D.
Dr. Hadler is a graduate of Harvard Medical School and a professor of medicine at the University of North Carolina, and is the author of 13 books, and 200 medical papers. He is a frequent reviewer and editorial writer for the New England Journal of Medicine, the Journal of American Medical Association and other publications. He is also a regular consultant to ABC News. I will give you a link to ABC News where you can watch him and read his commentaries.
Dr. Hadler’s newest book Worried Sick. It is a follow up to Dr. Hadler's The Last Well Person: How to Stay Well Despite the Health-Care System. Worried Sick includes updated research information and is written for the public at large. In this book Dr. Hadler examines many of the common diagnoses and treatments and questions their validity and scientific basis. He shows clearly that many of them are not founded based on science, and that treatments are of questionable value, and possibly harmful.
Here’s the review of Worried Sick from May, 8, 2008 issue of The New England Journal of Medicine,
“Hadler, a rheumatologist and occupational medicine specialist, concentrates on medical decisions. He indicts doctors for peddling fake diseases and promising false cures, and he also indicts patients for refusing to accept the normal infirmities of age and the inevitability of death. Like many contrarians, he sometimes overstates his case, but the case is often a strong one.
Hadler offers a withering critique of the invasive treatment of chronic stable coronary artery disease, echoing the view that has long been advocated by noted cardiologist Bernard Lown. The single-minded focus on opening (or bypassing) narrowed arteries relies on an oversimplified model. Most acute occlusions do not occur at sites with previous high-grade stenoses; stenotic lesions often stimulate the development of collateral circulation that attenuates their danger; and modern medical management often stabilizes plaques. Moreover, randomized trials have shown that few patients with chronic stable angina benefit from mechanical intervention — apart from the 3% of patients with left main coronary artery disease.
Hadler also takes on screening for breast, colon, and prostate cancer, which has not been shown to decrease all-cause mortality but does increase radiation exposure, surgeries, and worry. He criticizes tight glucose control, prefiguring the unexpected results of a recent randomized trial.”
The following is a brief overview but you really need to read the book for the whole story.
1- Cholesterol screening: This is another test for which there is no sound scientific basis. In fact, he does not allow his blood cholesterol checked! The Statin drugs, such as Lipitor, are of no benefit to a well person. They do not reduce the risk of a heart attack and stroke nor do they prolong life. In people who have had a heart attack already, there is a 2 percent reduction in having a second heart attack compared to those who did not take it. Taking Statins have a miniscule effect in increasing survival rate after a heart attack. So why a person who has not had a heart attack take a drug that can cause liver damage, muscle waste, and reduce an essential enzyme (CoQ10) for heart function?!
2- Type 2 diabetes: He mentions that increase blood glucose level is an expected part of aging, and the effort to regulate blood sugar with medication has shown no effect in terms of preventing damage to the eyes or kidneys or preventing heart disease or stroke. In fact, ten years of intensive therapy offered no real advantage to 1000 middle aged hyperglycemic (high blood glucose level) people. So, why would anyone want to be on therapy and suffer the side effects of medications that have no real benefits? He says changes in diet, weight loss, and exercise have are a much better approach. Also what is considered a high blood glucose level? Those levels are set by committees, not necessarily based on scientific medicine, but many times based on influence by pharmaceutical companies. Dr. Hadler proposes these levels be adjusted for age. A normal blood sugar at 50 will naturally be higher than for aperson at 20. And although medications and insulin can help control symptoms, such as excessive thirst and frequent urination, which even people with normal blood sugar may experience, they have not been shown to prevent vascular damage.
FA: I have attached an article from a recent issue of the Journal of American Society of Nephrology by Dr. Hadler titled, “Oral Hypoglycemics and Diabetic Nephropathy,” in which he discusses the ineffectiveness of glucose lowering drugs.
3. Hypertension: Dr. Hadler also points out that high blood pressure is another area where science has not proven that by lowering the mild high blood pressure one can really make a difference in preventing heart disease or damage to organs. He recommends for people who have diabetes and hypertension and are elderly to be treated, if regular exercise, weight loss, and diet modifications do not help. But, to be focused on keeping the blood pressure at 120/80 and getting medication to those who are 140/90 and higher, and who have no symptoms and are feeling well, is not supported by research. One thing research has shown is that a cheap first generation diuretic works just as well as the latest and very expensive anti-hypertension drugs. The scientific evidence shows that elderly with type 2 diabetes and hypertension are the only group that benefit from medical intervention.
FA: It is interesting to note that the risk of heart attack for a sixty-five year old with blood pressure of 160/90, which is considered way above the ideal 120/80, who does not smoke or does not have diabetes is 5 percent until age seventy. If he takes blood pressure medications every day to lower it to 120/80, his risk of having a heart attack by the age of seventy is 4 percent. Is it worth taking drugs every day and suffer the side effects when the benefit is so small?
4. Ruptured disc: He points out that the concept of ruptured disc as cause of back and leg pain was proposed some 70 years ago and should have remained there. There is no evidence that a ruptured disc causes any harm. All the spinal changes due to age detected in an MRI or CT scan are normal. More than 300 randomized studies clearly show that all the treatments ranging from spinal manipulation, shots, and surgeries are of no benefit. All studies have shown that patients who refused treatment recovered as well or better than those who were treated. He recommends taking Tylenol for the pain and discomfort and getting back into one’s regular routine and job.
4. Knee and shoulder and hand pain: he also points out that knee pain is of the same case also. The current diagnoses, such as a torn meniscus or torn rotator cuff or carpal tunnel, and treatments are of no value, and perhaps the solution is to take some Tylenol fro the pain and keep going until the individual recovers, whether it's back or knee pain.
FA: Dr. Hadler believes that hip replacement surgery is the only surgery that is acceptable. Also hip replacement surgery could easily be replaced with pinning the hip, which is less costly with a faster recovery rate. However, as Dr. John Sarno, professor of rehabilitation medicine at New York University, points out in his books The Mindbody Prescription and The Divided Mind that hip pain, as well as back, neck, leg, arm, and hand pain, is caused by repressed anger and rage and can be resolved without surgery.
5. Hormone replacement therapy: here is another area which is touted as a way of preventing heart disease and osteoporosis in postmenopausal women. He points out that not only this has failed, but the equipment they use for testing is not accurate most of the time, and that the medications used for it don't really work. Exercise is a better alternative.
6- Cancer screening: Like Dr. Welch, author of Do I Need to Be Tested for Cancer, he too finds no scientific basis that screening well people for cancer has any benefit. He calls it, “looking for a small needle in a big hay stack.”
There is much more in the book, from fish oil to heart bypass surgery that you need to read for yourself and I highly recommend that you do. Unfortunately, we are dealing with a medical system that ignores scientific facts and is heavily influenced by pharmaceutical companies. This is where physician and health educators like Dr. Hadler provide a great service.
You can watch his commentaries and read his writing at ABC News website.
http://abcnews.go.com/search?searchtext=hadler&type=
Here’s the Amazon link for Worried Sick:
http://www.amazon.com/Worried-Sick-Prescription-Overtreated-America/dp/0807831875/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1210008522&sr=8-2
Personally I am glad to see there are still doctors out there that are willing to stand up to the establishment and put welfare of their patients first.
Stay informed and stay well,
Fred Amir
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southpaw
Canada
29 Posts |
Posted - 06/04/2008 : 16:27:30
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Thanks for the link,
Sounds like an interesting read, nice that he quoted Sarno. I wonder how much about TMS is in the book. |
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positivevibes
204 Posts |
Posted - 06/05/2008 : 03:26:13
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I would like to add osteoporsis drugs to that list.
I have read so many negative things about those drugs in recent years, and that there is shakey proof that they actually do strengthen bones. It would be better to take Vitamin D and Calcium do regular exercise instead to keep your bones strong.
Just my opinion, based on my observations.
**********
You are not your mind; you are not your thoughts. The incessant mental noise [of your thoughts] creates a false mind-made self that causes fear and suffering and prevents you from connecting with your true self and living in the Now. - Eckhart Tolle, The Power of Now |
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hottm8oh
USA
141 Posts |
Posted - 06/05/2008 : 08:45:45
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I'm very interested in this book. I've been through years of regular doctor appointments with no diagnosis other than "there's nothing wrong with you" and no real help--first for my IBS and now for my back pain.
What I learned is that doctors don't know sh*t. |
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2scoops
USA
386 Posts |
Posted - 06/05/2008 : 08:51:24
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| Docs believe what their told, they are just as conditioned as the rest of us. It just goes to show how overmedicated we are, and how many unnecessary surgeries they perform on us. It starts as a baby too, these kids are getting many unecessary vaccines! |
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positivevibes
204 Posts |
Posted - 06/05/2008 : 11:39:28
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Another thing that bugs me about docs is that they will only admit that something is correct or valid if there is enough clinical evidence to back up the claim. Often the "clinical evidence" is presented by the drug companies themselves as a marketing tool. The doctors are programmed to push new drugs on patients. And often they're too busy and hassled by the insurance companies to do reading and research on their own.
For example several years ago my doc wanted to put me on Levoquin, a strong Quinoline antibiotic. There was no reason to put me on that particular drug, other than the fact that the drug companies were pushing it and it did target certain bacteria (but so did a lot of other older antibiotics). I began to read on the internet that it had really serious side effects. People's tendons were spontaneously rupturing after taking this drug for only a few days. Tendons rupturing from an antibiotic -- WTF?! At first I thought that these people must be crazy, but there were SO MANY OF THEM (dozens and dozens) that I realized there must be something to it.
My doctor said that this "evidence" was "anectodal" and should not be taken seriously. OK, then why are there lawsuits against the drug companies that make the Quinolone drugs? Why are there several websites warning people about the dangers of Quinolone drugs? Why have people become permanently partially disabled after taking these drugs? No doctors want to admit it. I have told all my doctors that I will not take these drugs unless my life is in danger and there are no other alernatives.
Anyway, my doc saw that I wasn't going to budge on this issue and gave me an older drug instead that had no serious side effects and guess what -- I got cured of the infection just fine.
The same with the osteoporosis drugs (bisphosphonates). Did you know that they can cause "jaw tissue death" that is irreversable. It's called Osteonecrosis of the Jaw (ONJ). This sounds weird but it is true. Look it up if you don't believe me. In fact, if you read the fine print on osteoporosis drugs, it says that this may be a side effect. (Finally a few years ago the drug companies were pressured to include this information).
I always take what doctors say with a grain of salt. I do my own research and try to weigh the facts.
**********
You are not your mind; you are not your thoughts. The incessant mental noise [of your thoughts] creates a false mind-made self that causes fear and suffering and prevents you from connecting with your true self and living in the Now. - Eckhart Tolle, The Power of Now |
Edited by - positivevibes on 06/05/2008 11:44:17 |
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mk6283
USA
272 Posts |
Posted - 06/05/2008 : 12:52:12
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Don't throw doctors under the bus just yet. While I'm sure a lot of what he says in the book is true and accurate (I have not read it), just based on what I've read above I KNOW there are plenty of terrific doctors who would disagree with some of the things he's suggesting. Also, keep in mind that most doctors really DO want to help people, but they are doing it the only way they know how. It's not their fault that they are taught that disc herniations cause pain, that's just what they are taught! I'll try and pick up a copy of the book. Thanks.
Best,
MK
p.s. Vaccines are one of the true bright spots in the history of medicine and to disparage them for what they are not (without any scientific evidence whatsoever) is a terrible mistake. Every child should be vaccinated. |
Edited by - mk6283 on 06/05/2008 13:01:19 |
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2scoops
USA
386 Posts |
Posted - 06/05/2008 : 20:34:10
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MK6283,
Nobody said don't vaccinate, I said, their getting many unneccessary vaccines, their over vaccinated. There are toxins in the vaccines, and getting too many too soon. There is well dcoumented evidence it does children harm. Where else did childhood diabetes, autism, and many other diagnosis come from? Were over medicated, treated and vaccianted.
Ask your doctor about Gardisil today!! haha What a joke |
Edited by - 2scoops on 06/05/2008 20:36:31 |
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mk6283
USA
272 Posts |
Posted - 06/05/2008 : 20:59:01
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I am far more inclined to believe that childhood diabetes is intricately related to the growing obesity epidemic (with vast amounts of fast food and carbonated sugar sodas and decreased exercise/more video games being the major culprits) than the result of childhood vaccinations. As for autism, MANY studies have looked into the alleged vaccine-autism link, and none has ever showed one to exist. Again, I am more inclined to believe that the rise in the diagnosis of autism is a result of recent advances in child psychiatry allowing for a more accurate and available diagnostic medium.
At the end of the day, you have to take all the VALID AND WORTHWHILE scientific studies/data into consideration and weigh the pros vs. the cons. Of course there is still room for personal belief, heck this is the TMS forum! For example, going by studies alone, there does NOT appear to be a link between the rise in brain tumors and cell phone usage, but that hasn't stopped me from using a headpiece anyway because what have I got to lose, right? However, with vaccines, this is far from the case as the cons seem to heavily outweigh any conjectured advantage. I am not a father (yet), but I would/will adhere to all vaccination guidelines until a definitive study tells me that I should reassess what is going on.
Anyway, it seems like we have steered away a bit from TMS talk, but I just thought it was an important point to get across.
Best,
MK |
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Stryder
686 Posts |
Posted - 06/05/2008 : 21:50:56
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4. Ruptured disc: He points out that the concept of ruptured disc as cause of back and leg pain was proposed some 70 years ago and should have remained there. There is no evidence that a ruptured disc causes any harm. All the spinal changes due to age detected in an MRI or CT scan are normal. More than 300 randomized studies clearly show that all the treatments ranging from spinal manipulation, shots, and surgeries are of no benefit. All studies have shown that patients who refused treatment recovered as well or better than those who were treated. He recommends taking Tylenol for the pain and discomfort and getting back into one’s regular routine and job.
Sarno Wins Again! -Stryder |
Edited by - Stryder on 06/05/2008 21:53:14 |
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positivevibes
204 Posts |
Posted - 06/05/2008 : 23:39:55
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The vaccine debate is huge, espeically in regards to autism. I really hope they find the cause of that someday soon.
I gave my daughter the Guardasil shots for one big reason: it will help protect her against a cancer that is very hard to detect until it's too late. I'm well aware of all the marketing crap. I did my own research and debated it a LOT before making my decison.
But I do agree that they are giving too many shots together, and too young. Maybe they should go back to the way they were doing things 20 years ago and see if the rate of autism decreases.
I will also agree that there ARE some terrific doctors. My endocrinologist is one of them. Even so, I take her words with a grain of salt.
But there are some situations where you SHOULD listen to your doctor because he might save your life (as a very astute GP did for my husband, who might have died in his early 30s if his doc didn't realize that he had a very serious but hard-to-detect infection).
I guess you have to decide when to listen and when to call bulls*it. Find a really good doctor so that at least you feel you can trust him.
You know the old joke: "What do they call the guy who graduated at the bottom of his medical school class?" Answer: "Doctor."
**********
You are not your mind; you are not your thoughts. The incessant mental noise [of your thoughts] creates a false mind-made self that causes fear and suffering and prevents you from connecting with your true self and living in the Now. - Eckhart Tolle, The Power of Now |
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2scoops
USA
386 Posts |
Posted - 06/06/2008 : 07:19:00
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Yep, the ruptured disc, doesn't matter how much evidence you have, they seem keep the traditional treatments going. you can produce patient records from Sarno, all the people "healed" and it doesn't matter. You could say the same for autism and vaccines, no matter how many parents come forward and say their kid was vaccinated and then afterwards went into autism. Actually, there was a study done about a man who went to the Amish population, because they do not vaccinate near as much as we do, some do not vaccinate at all, and in certain areas, 1 in 15,000 was autistic, whereas the rest of the US, 1 in 150. Also, the kids that were found autistic, some of them were adopted.
The CDC's response, they were made genetically different. haha
Do not put your faith and trust into man. |
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kenny V
USA
268 Posts |
Posted - 06/06/2008 : 08:24:48
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Think about it what is so different to why we are all here. Brain washed and programmed by the medical community Btw … which is HIGHTY effected/ funded only to be backed by their own research.
By who ?….yes BIG PHARMA and they say you have a sickness that mostly only drugs can cure/ heal/ TREAT .
We have all learned that’s not true
Note:
The first rule to medicine is “FIRT DO NO HARM” A doctor signs an oath when he goes into practice…. The problem is money dictates what he practices after he graduates from med school
quote:
p.s. Vaccines are one of the true bright spots in the history of medicine and to disparage them for what they are not (without any scientific evidence whatsoever) is a terrible mistake. Every child should be vaccinated.
Problem is one size does not fit all
When your kid can count 1,2,3, say his A, B, C’s, recite “twinkle twinkle little star”… hop on one foot and skipidy do da with a joy on his face. And one day with an innocent little jab it’s taken all away ,you may think different about it.
When someone handed me a book five years ago and said my back pain that I had for well over 22 years was caused from repressed emotions. He said, “The pain was in my head”. You know what I wanted to do him hit him in the head with a hammer and tell him yea your pain is all in your head too
Ya know.. I didn’t believe that either. However was open to Sarno’s teaching an applied it to my condition and was cured of TMS.
Sometimes you just may need to discover what the Truth is and apply it to your life for it to become reality.
As always my best
Kenny v
Always Hope For Recovery
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hottm8oh
USA
141 Posts |
Posted - 06/06/2008 : 09:58:58
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quote:
When someone handed me a book five years ago and said my back pain that I had for well over 22 years was caused from repressed emotions. He said, “The pain was in my head”. You know what I wanted to do him hit him in the head with a hammer and tell him yea your pain is all in your head too
Ya know.. I didn’t believe that either. However was open to Sarno’s teaching an applied it to my condition and was cured of TMS.
Sometimes you just may need to discover what the Truth is and apply it to your life for it to become reality.
I appreciate your story. I've been in chronic pain for 7 years. This year I've experienced the worst physical pain I've ever been in and I almost applied for disability. I just bought "Divided Mind" and I will start reading it today, but there's this part of my brain that thinks, "How can reading a book cure 7 years of chronic back pain? Pain that pain killers, physical therapy, exercise, and chiropractic couldn't cure?" I'm in a big tug of war with my mind over whether or not this is physical or psychological. Both scenarios are valid to me, and I have some pretty good evidence that there is nothing wrong with me physically, but I still have doubts. I'm still working on getting my mindset in the right direction.
I have hope that if you can be cured after 22 years of pain, then I can be cured after 7 years of pain. |
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ralphyde
USA
307 Posts |
Posted - 06/06/2008 : 12:43:20
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Here's a direct link to Dr. Hadler speaking on surgery for lower back pain. Conclusion: No benefits, and possible side effects.
http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=3300351
broadband connection probably needed.
Ralph |
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miehnesor
USA
430 Posts |
Posted - 06/06/2008 : 12:52:09
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quote:
Originally posted by kenny V
Problem is one size does not fit all
Amen to that. As someone who's TMS was to a great extent set up by the pertusis vaccine and the trouble it has caused me my whole life I can attest to the danger of at least this vaccine. |
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southpaw
Canada
29 Posts |
Posted - 06/06/2008 : 19:50:38
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MK6383 Wrote:
"I am far more inclined to believe that childhood diabetes is intricately related to the growing obesity epidemic (with vast amounts of fast food and carbonated sugar sodas and decreased exercise/more video games being the major culprits) than the result of childhood vaccinations."
Sorry this just hit a nerve with me and I had to reply. Juvenile Diabetes(Type 1, Child) is not caused by poor eating or laziness. It is an Auto Immune disorder in which the islet cells in the pancreas are attacked and the child must inject insulin for life. Recent research is relating lack of vitamin D could be a cause.
My daughter is 13 and has had Type 1 for 6 years and it really bothers us when people might think that she got it by poor eating habits or lack of exercise. She is very athletic and not overweight.
It is Adult or Type 2 that is caused by poor eating and lack of exercise. |
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Stryder
686 Posts |
Posted - 06/06/2008 : 21:07:05
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quote:
Originally posted by ralphyde
Here's a direct link to Dr. Hadler speaking on surgery for lower back pain. Conclusion: No benefits, and possible side effects.
http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=3300351
broadband connection probably needed.
Ralph
Awesome! I'd like Dr. Hadler to do more in depth segment like the 20/20 Stossell episode with Dr. Sarno. Just more awesome news that the truth will set you free.
Thanks for posting the video link Ralph.
Take care, -Stryder |
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mk6283
USA
272 Posts |
Posted - 06/06/2008 : 21:43:44
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Southpaw, my apologies. I was referring to the rising epidemic of type 2 DM in children. Clearly I would not speculate that obesity was the cause for juvenile type 1 DM, as most of these kids are actually quite THIN! Sorry for the confusion.
I also just wanted to remind everyone of one other important point to keep in mind: people around the world are living longer and more healthier lives than ever before. Mortality ages are at all time highs and the world's population has never been greater. These FACTS are clearly attributable to the many wonderful advances in medicine over the last 100 years (vaccines being a major one). Sure we can be critics, sure we can think outside the box, but let's stay grounded and honest at the same time.
Have a great weekend everyone!
Best,
MK
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Edited by - mk6283 on 06/06/2008 22:00:20 |
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mk6283
USA
272 Posts |
Posted - 06/06/2008 : 21:55:20
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quote:
Originally posted by miehnesor
Amen to that. As someone who's TMS was to a great extent set up by the pertusis vaccine and the trouble it has caused me my whole life I can attest to the danger of at least this vaccine.
If you think the pertussis vaccine caused your TMS, then you have no idea what TMS is.
Best,
MK |
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southpaw
Canada
29 Posts |
Posted - 06/07/2008 : 08:25:18
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No problem MK6283,
I guess I'm a little sensitive on this subject. I wish the 2 types had completely different names as they are very different diseases.
I see my daughter having to poke her finger and inject insulin and count everything she eats and worry about going low and passing out or worse. It is a life threatening condition that I don't feel people take that seriously because the kids look normal. Very stressful thing for a kid!(and a mom)
I don't claim to know what it's like to live with type 2 but it is for the most part preventable and controllable through better eating habits and exercise. If it gets really out of control then insulin has to be used.
And Alexis we don't feel special or greater then though at all. I don't know why you make that assumption. I just feel the need to clear up the confusion on the 2 types because the media doesn't do a good job.
Anyways enough said as we're getting off topic, but it is probably one of my TMS stressors!(I mean the constant worrying and taking care of her) |
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Worried Sick
