Hootin’ Anni’s

This week’s prompt for Heads or Tails is – Doctor

Doctors, huh? Everyone that knows me knows I don’t like [but find them a necessity at times] the medical doctors! And I don’t expect anyone to agree…this is just for my own personal views and my experiences. I don’t like the idea that we humans are nothing but guenia pigs of their science. When drugs are issued to a patient on the basis of all the hypochondriacs who think they NEED drugs!! It’s all a matter of trial and error, and too often [even if that error is one in a thousand] it’s fatal error.

from Yah** News:
The increase in deaths was highest among baby boomers [because of prescription drug use], people in their 40s and 50s.

“We’re sort of drug happy,” said boomer Dr. J. Lyle Bootman, the University of Arizona’s pharmacy dean, who was not involved in the research. “We have this general attitude that drugs can fix everything.“

I’ve learned over the years to question their integrity and education. Seriously. I experienced one nearly fatal Rx [and THAT constituted my decision to have the ablation --FIX the problem, and in turn not depend on any prescription drugs to keep the SVT under control...] in the last year that I am now finding myself literally refusing medication where, if I know I can work on the problem myself [if possible], I work on my own time to fix what ails me. Or what the ailment is, of course, if it’s workable and doable withOUT medication, I will opt to not take them. I’ve spent too many long hours in ER and having tests run where they find the same thing over and over, and they all agree that I’m healthy for my age and my lifestyle. At one time, long ago, before I educated myself with the ‘doctor’s world’ and pharmacy – I’ve been considered high risk at times, but I think of it this way: I’m at high risk getting behind the steering wheel, driving in traffic; even chewing there is a high risk of choking -becoming fatal! So, I need to question it all for my own piece of mind. I don’t EVER want to live a life of being medicated to live a more ‘painless’ life. That, to me is NOT a life. Okay then…so, one day, I’m at high risk –then the next time I have a doctor’s visit, I’m as healthy as all get out…I don’t get it!! Then, ‘these medications will help you live longer’…then, in three months without even taking the so called ‘cure-alls’ [a choosing of my own accord with some strong words exchanged with my primary care physician] I’m now too healthy to even be seen by a doctor-’we’ll keep tabs on your blood work’ ‘other than that, you’re good to go’. And people who talk about all the medications they’re constantly on “I can’t talk right now, my meds are throwing me for a loop”…”These things [pills] are strong as all get out, my head is spinning, but they’re sure working” …hearing this talk, well, it just makes me cringe…there is MIND over matter —even psychiatrists agree that the mind makes you think too much about physical pain– Granted, there are physical things that need to be attended to by the care of these so called doctors of medicine, and I trust there are good ones out there, but learn to question their choices and advice before leaping into a cupboard full of Rx – [ask why? ask side effects, ask is this necessary, ask is there an alternative to drugs. BeFORE you end up in ER with a near-fatal allergic reaction like I did]… Oh well, it’s all personal preferences and thoughts…….

Enough of that. On with my Head or Tails. It’s a little boasting on my part. hehehe Now this doctor will be on the top of my list. He has been since 1972! Altho, right now, he’s taking a year off from his mark in life, he will be and is determined to have the title “Doctor” behind his name. This year, while he’s on ‘sabbatical’ from highering his education to that very title, he is going to be in Argentina for the month soon. This is long over-due vacation-he hasn’t been on a vacation other than a long weekend here and there since 1994. Since high school, then entering the United States Marine Corps and being discharged Corporal, he moved out to Houston Texas and has gone to college part time at night while working long hard hours during the day to pay for his education. Last year, he graduated with his masters degree in Economics, history and education. He’s now a professor of social science and English as a 2nd language and remains working as a real estate/insurance investor advisor. In the near future he will begin working on his PhD in Economics and History. Then, more than likely in 2010 I will be able to say our son…the doctor!!

Our son, receiving his Master’s Degree from University of Saint Thomas [the only Catholic, private, university in the area] in Houston.