The Virtual Pub
Come Inside... => Saloon Bar => Topic started by: Snoopy on May 30, 2007, 02:46:52 PM
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Variously attributed but generally believed to have been said by Disraeli this well known condemnation of statistics still holds true today.
Last week I saw my GP. I am having troubles which seem to be caused by taking Statins. Widely trumpeted last year by the Government as a "wonder drug" to the point where GPs bonus payments are inflated by the number of patients they can get onto Statins as they are supposed to lower cholesterol thus reducing the likelihood of heart attacks and strokes with the end result of making long term savings for the NHS.
Knowing I was in for a fight over this I prepared by researching via the internet some of the stats produced by various studies on which the Government base its advice. Turns out that in the biggest study 25% of those taking part in the trial were removed from the trials because of adverse side effects within the first month of commencing the drug. It appears that the final figures that the claimed success of the drug were based on were in fact the results of the remaining 75% only. So yes it is a good drug and does what it says on the tin ... BUT it suits only 75% of the population. When I pointed this out to my GP he admitted that they knew this but the Government had not thought it appropriate to broadcast that little bit of info.
I know of at least 4 people who are suffering the same side effects that I have had. We have all stopped taking the Statins within the past four weeks, after months of arguing with our doctors, and are all feeling much better.
My GP tells me that by not taking the drug and suffering the side effects I am, statistically shortening my life. He cannot say from when to when (ie by how many weeks, months, years or whatever).. He did not seem to appreciate my comment that 3100 people die in road accidents every year and that, statistically, if everyone stayed at home all road deaths would be eliminated.
Why such a long post about my health? Well if any of you are on Statins and are suffering aches in joints, chest pains, general feelings of being unwell that cannot be attributed to anything else. Stop taking the Statins for two weeks and see if you improve. If you do then that is the answer.
There are other "older" drugs that lower cholesterol but the GPs are not on a bonus for prescribing them!! B@ST@RDS cussing:
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You won?t be voting Labour next time then? noooo:
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You won?t be voting Labour next time then? noooo:
As Berek would probably put it "I wouldn't p*ss in their mouths if their teeth were on fire!"
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You won?t be voting Labour next time then? noooo:
As Berek would probably put it "I wouldn't p*ss in their mouths if their teeth were on fire!"
No sense of humour failure ? that?s a good sign! happy088
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Seriously ~ it has been a close run thing. They've even had me seeing a Psychologist for six months as they said it was "all in your mind".
I'm on half a ton of valium a week, God knows what else and all along the sods have been poisoning me. 13 weeks in hospital over the past 16 months as they have tried different medications to which I proved allergic and they wouldn't believe that either until I nearly died. 7 trips to A&E with blues and twos all because the f*cking GPs are on a bonus.
I am consulting my
(https://www.virtual-pub.com/SMF/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fpetcaretips.net%2Fattorny_snoopy.gif&hash=9f583b073054e991aa9c896661e66d62db293e2e)
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You have my heartfelt sympathy.
I am three and a half years down the line of waiting for someone to come up with a diagnosis.
Last time we 'discussed' it I got the impression that they were saying that seeing as they can't figure out what's wrong, then really I must be imagining it all. cry: I froze out a shrink...
I have insisted that my medication was cut from 24 tablets and things a day to a mere 15. and feel better for it.
I honestly have become allergic to pills. I sit and stare at them for ages now plucking up the strength to swallow them.
They must have shares in the drug companies, I reckon.
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Being a diabetic like you snoop, i at least share some of your pain. Fortunately, despite my grumpiness to the condradicctory (or somethin like thaty after far too much beer) i am not quit your vintage.
I have a cancer scan tomorrow though, my second intwo years. HNere;s hoping the life insurance is up to scratch!