Sicker from Med or Illness

You just had that coronary heart bypass, and you have been prescribed several new medication pertaining to that and other conditions that popped up during your hospitalization for the surgery. You go to see specialists for these new diagnoses, and you get more medication. So you have over ten different medications to take now. You thought you would be getting along much better by now, but something is just not right. Are your conditions getting worse?

You may think that you are getting worse from the illness, but could it be the medicine? You decide to get out the Physician's Desk Reference (PDR) and the Internet to research the medication you are taking. Upon discharge from the hospital you received information sheets about each medicine, but the information seems so scanty. Sure enough, you are right.

The PDR and Internet gives details about side effects and drug interactions you had no idea could occur. You wonder why the doctor didn't tell you one of the drugs could cause blindness, fatal lung disease, hepatitis, hyper- and hypothyroidism, loss of appetite, anorexia, constipation, worsening of the condition for which it has been given, etc., etc. As you read further you find this drug should not be used with two other medications you have been prescribed.

You no longer have to wonder why your recovery has been slower than expected, and why you feel so bad. You have been overmedicated! Here you were thinking you were getting sicker from your diagnoses and surgery.

Take the time to read about medicines you are prescribed. You may find that you are not as sick as you thought you were. Overmedication can easily mimic as well as bring on symptoms of many disease conditions, and make you feel worse than that for which you are being treated.

by J.L. Richardson, MD, family practice doctor, patient advocate, and author of Patient Handbook to Medical Care: Your Personal Health Guide, a Writers Digest International Self- Published Book Award winner.

www.mypatienthandbook.com/
www.blogtalkradio.com/drjfpmd
www.twitter.com/MD4U

Medical Specialists & Economic Stimulus

From the email bag for today's healthy belly laugh:

Apparently the American Medical Association has weighed in on the new
economic stimulus package....

The Allergists voted to scratch it, but the Dermatologists advised not
to make any rash moves.

The Gastroenterologists had sort of a gut feeling about it, but the
Neurologists thought the Administration had a lot of nerve.

The Obstetricians felt they were all laboring under a misconception.
Ophthalmologists considered the idea shortsighted.

Pathologists yelled, "Over my dead body!" while the Pediatricians said,
'Oh, Grow up!'

The Psychiatrists thought the whole idea was madness, while the
Radiologists could see right through it.

Surgeons decided to wash their hands of the whole thing. The Internists
thought it was a bitter pill to swallow, and the Plastic Surgeons said,
"This puts a whole new face on the matter."

The Podiatrists thought it was a step forward, but the Urologists were
pissed off at the whole idea.

The Anesthesiologists thought the whole idea was a gas, and the
Cardiologists didn't have the heart to say no.

In the end, the Proctologists won out, leaving the entire decision up to
the assholes in Washington.

MEDICAL HISTORY FORM

Your medical history is the cornerstone of your medical record.

Print, fill out, and use it to keep up with your health.

Share it with your healthcare providers, and take a copy with

you when traveling.

MEDICAL HISTORY FORM

NAME__________________________________________

DATE OF BIRTH______________________

SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER_____________

INSURANCE COMPANY__________________

INSURANCE ID #_______________________

PHONE_____________ FAX___________

ADDRESS__________________________

CITY_________________STATE______

ZIP_______COUNTRY_______________

EMAIL______________________________________________

PAST MEDICAL HISTORY

ALLERGIES______________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

DRUGREACTIONS________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

DIAGNOSES & MEDICAL CONDITIONS (include year diagnosed)

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

SURGERY/ OPERATIONS (include year done)

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

MEDICATIONS (list prescription, over-the-counter, foods, herbs

also write dosage and how often taken)

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

PAST MEDICATIONS (list anything you have taken and stopped – note why it was stopped)

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

FAMILY HISTORY (list medical conditions in family members – list ages, list if deceased and reason)

MOTHER____AGE________

LIVING: YES___NO____

FATHER____AGE_________

LIVING: YES___NO____

______________________________________________________________________________________________

SISTERS_____AGES_________

LIVING: YES___NO____
_______________________________________________________________________________________________

BROTHERS __AGES_________

LIVING: YES___NO___

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

GRANDMOTHER (Mother's mother) AGE__________LIVING: YES___NO___

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

GRANDMOTHER (Father's mother) AGE__________LIVING: YES__ NO___

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

GRANDFATHER (Mother's father) AGE__________LIVING: YES___NO___

GRANDFATHER (Father's father) AGE___________LIVING: YES___NO___
______________________________________________________________________________________________

OTHER RELATIVES (list any more sisters, brothers, great grandparents, etc. especially those with medical conditions)_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

OTHER MEDICAL TREATMENTS (list any other treatments like prayer, massage, chiropractor, exercise, physical therapy, etc.)___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

SOCIAL HISTORY

Home: lives alone___

lives with family___

lives with friend____

lives in facility_____facility name, address____________________year moved in____________

Marital: Single___Married____Divorced___Widow/Widower_____

Use of cane___ walker___ wheelchair___prosthetic_____

Other___________________________________________

Alcohol consumption:

How many times per day/week/year?________________

How much per drink?____________________________

Cigarette use: Yes___ No___

How many per day?________

At what age did you start?_______

Sexual: Are you active? Yes___No___

Drug use: Yes___ No___

OCCUPATIONS/ JOBS/SCHOOLING

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

MY MEDICAL NOTES

Use this page to list any other medical history

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Treatment - Alternative & Conventional

With all the controversy surrounding whether a child with cancer should have conventional chemotherapy or alternative treatment, it can be hard to know what to do. Prayer and meditation are tops in alternative treatments patients use. It works. So why aren't more doctors recommending it along with all the other treatments? Why does conventional treatment get first choice?

Massage, acupuncture and other alternative modalities can be just as effective with better results, less side effects. Treatments and medicines used over 2000 years ago on Eastern medicine are dismissed and discouraged as fist line treatments. Evidence based studies is the buzzword for medical treatments that works best today. Drug trials over a few months to years take precedence over tried and true alternative treatments.

One size does not fit all. Treatments must be customized to each patient. This takes careful history taking, physical exam, in conjunction with other tests - conventional and alternative. All aspects of medical treatment must be respected and offered to patients so they can make a fully informed medical decision.

Even more discouraging is that health insurance rarely covers any alternative treatments. For a person with a chronic pain conditions like fibromyalgia and arthritis, insurance will cover addictive potent pain medications when routine massages and/or acupuncture and/or routine conventional physical therapy offer better pain control, and ongoing daily function. Drug addiction is covered by insurance over non addicting complimentary treatment even knowing that rehabilitation for addiction will incur extra cost and suffering for the patient.

What do you choose? Are you willing to pay extra for treatments that your insurance does not cover?

by J.L. Richardson, MD, author of Patient Handbook to Medical Care: Your Personal Health Guide.


http://www.mypatienhandbook.com/
www.twitter.com/MD4U
www.blogtalkradio.com/drjfpmd

Medical Marijuana

Medicinal uses of marijuana prove beneficial to patients especially those with cancer, pain, AIDS, MS, glaucoma, and many more chronic non terminal illnesses. Like so many forms of alternative and complimentary medical treatments, it has been viewed with lots of controversy and skepticism because studies have also shown it to be harmful. Is this unlike any other medicine that is legal? Really, no.

As controversial as it may be, it is legal in some states for medicinal use. How can this be fair? Who gets to decide who gets a cannabis prescription to "take as directed whenever for whatever"? The state of Ohio is currently considering the Ohio Medical Compassion Act which would legalize marijuana for medicinal purposes. The title of the act itself is a testament.

Other things to consider in making marijuana legal: decrease drug related crimes; decrease money spent on drug crimes; give farmers a moneymaking crop (as pot and hemp).

If it were legal and taxed, it would be a high healing crime reduction money maker.