I read a number of blogs and listen to NPR talk radio and do the old time thing of reading actual paper publications (Utne, Mother Earth News, Mother Jones, and Texas Observer). The ideal is to try to keep a balance in my life. To neither panic nor go blissfully thought life.
Your are probably saying as you read this that "I knew it he is a bleeding heart, Knee Jerk Liberal" and you would be right. But it is not that simple. No one tells me what to believe and just because it is written down or comes over the air waves does not make it so for me.
Only after I have set down and reviewed and confirmed by personal experience or by those I trust, and they are few and far between, do I then accept what accept a statement or event or situation as fact. This is what I suggest to your reader to do as well.
There are people and organization who want you with them to add you to their numbers whether it be the Tea Party or Green Party and they will appeal to your base instinct or survival in order to add your money or vote to their cause. Trust no one be paranoid there is someone out to get you.
Wow. Do I sound paranoid or what.
But even recognizing this as being paranoid does not keep me from sitting with my back to the wall,always carrying a pocket knife, never going into a place without acknowledging the exits, and the people who are sharing my space. To me this is just common sense.
I guess I am writing about being paranoid because of recent readings and news I have heard on the radio.
In Utne Reader the recent articles were about food and food production. When all the articles were boiled down it is essentially that we are producing enough food to feed people but it is a matter of who controls the food and the distribution of food . Second that the food we are eating are way too often genetically and chemically modified to the point of possible extinction of that particular food source with the ignoring the natural growth and production of our food.
On NPR the comments on the economy are that the middle class is shrinking and the majority of middle class income either have not gone up and most likely have decreased. in all states with the exception of one North Dakota. Starting Wednesday more broadcast on this subject is coming. About North Dakota I believe they have laws and regulations that favor banks and credit card companies.
Enough on this subject.
On personal note I was sitting at my dinning room table this morning drinking a cup of my favorite coffee looking out at our small container garden and what a shambles it has become. Between my retirement and helping family it has like my shop fallen it to a disreputable shape. But whit things starting to stabilize I hope to rectify this situation ASAP.
Beginning with the garage/shop I will clean up and straighten replace and renew tools as needed and begin again to work on delayed projects. In our small container garden I will asst my wife in reviving dying plants and beginning a vegetable section come this spring. My Dad and Mom were believers in idle hands or the devils workshop and Lord knows I get into enough trouble on my own.
Current Reads
Current recommended a magazine called Utne Reader and alternative magazine that collects articles from the world publications and publishes the articles at one location making it easier for a person to get a overall perspective and allowing you to pursue an issue by giving you obscure publications that you might not have a chance to read.
Enough for now
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Sunday, October 3, 2010
You Just Never Know.
It is easy to fall into the ideal that you are the only one who thinks or see things like you do. I know it is for me. So, it was surprising to me when in a e-newsletter from our local congregation our minister mention how he felt that the control of fiance and government rested with the elite few.
Those who GWB refereed to as "my people" (see Michael Moore "Fahrenheit 911" those who according to the republicans we need to give a tax break to so that they will be more inclined to create jobs and capital in their belief of "trickle down economy." As they get richer the money will trickle down to the less fortunate as they spend.
In 1969 one of the few times I came close to winning any kind of lottery in this case draft lottery for 1970 I found myself with a low number (70) and quickly received my induction notice in to report for induction on January 17, 1970 at 6:00 am at the induction center on Jackson St. Dallas, TX.
My Dad on New Years Day took me aside and talked to me about being inducted. What surprised me was his offer to pay for my bus ticket to Canada to avoid the draft.
I mean here was a man who was a Vet of 42 months in the Pacific Campaign from the Aleutians to the Philippines had received 3 purple hearts, a bronze star and a silver star along with a battle field commission and served until 1948 when he married my mother and he was telling me I should run to Canada to avoid the draft. I could not believe this. Then he told me why.
He said wars or not fought over ideology or freedom but over money and property. That the ideal we were defending people's freedom or rights was just the excuse given the truth was there was something of value that the powers to be decided we needed to protect
My response to him at the time was I had rather take my chance in two years in hell then never being able to come home again. I worked out ok for me though as I went in for induction was told right off with 6 other inductees we would be leaving by MAC flight from love field at 6 pm for Fort Lewis Washington. But what the Sergeant had not counted on was the large number of other draftees who had volunteered so they could choose the service and duty they wanted. The 6 draftees and I were given after processing us through a six month deferment as they had their quoted for the day and were told we would be called back when they needed us and to stay in touch. But right after that the military began emphasising the volunteer and de-emphasing drafting to fill their ranks. It was a political thing.
Anyway I digress. Years later about the time that military recruiters were harassing my kids to join the Military the movie "The Thin Red Line" came out and the opening scene aboard a troop ship on it's way to relieve the Marines on Guadalcanal and finish the cleanup had Sean Penn character a 1st Sergeant telling a recruit to take the colonel's offer of a discharge from service.
This speech was almost verbatim the one my Dad had given me back on January 1st 1970. This scene was so intense and so right on as to why countries fight that I made my children sit down and listen to his speech and tell them the story. It truly is the reason I believe we go to war has to be about the economy.
Look who has benefited the most from our war in Iraq and Afghanistan. Black water, Halliburton, Bethel, and Kellogg Brown and Root our a few of the companies who literally had containers full of money provided by the US Government for use in looking after the welfare of our troops. Yet our troops were often neglected provided unfit quarters and not to mention water and food. Then they come home bloodied and beaten by a war in Iraq that never was and has yet to be proven needed. What do we do we ignore them for there is no money for their care or needs.
This past week 4 Iraq War Veterans committed suicide on separate occasions at Fort Hood.in Texas. Their reasons I must admit I am not aware of individually but just a sign of the overall failure of our leadership and government to provide for our troops after they did their duty.
Don't mistake me for a flag burner. I am not in fact I think it is disgusting when we use the flag of The USA for anything but what it was meant to be for to be honored and respected for what it represents and the men and women who died for what it represented. This respect for the flag was taught to me by the same man who offered me a bus ticket to Canada in 1970. I have nothing but the highest respect for our Military people. But, let us remember that the ultimate organization they belong ot is the Defense dept and not the Offense dept. Let us make sure that we do not waste the dedication and esprit de corp of these men and women for the bottom line of our corporations.
So What am I ranting about. Take nothing at face value our government or leadership has to say. Trust them no further than you can throw them and believe that their basic motivation is what or how can they profit from it.
Call me my sour puss and I very well might be but it is still they way it is.
After I had posted the above I decided to post some of my favoirte quotes here they are for your pursual
Those who GWB refereed to as "my people" (see Michael Moore "Fahrenheit 911" those who according to the republicans we need to give a tax break to so that they will be more inclined to create jobs and capital in their belief of "trickle down economy." As they get richer the money will trickle down to the less fortunate as they spend.
In 1969 one of the few times I came close to winning any kind of lottery in this case draft lottery for 1970 I found myself with a low number (70) and quickly received my induction notice in to report for induction on January 17, 1970 at 6:00 am at the induction center on Jackson St. Dallas, TX.
My Dad on New Years Day took me aside and talked to me about being inducted. What surprised me was his offer to pay for my bus ticket to Canada to avoid the draft.
I mean here was a man who was a Vet of 42 months in the Pacific Campaign from the Aleutians to the Philippines had received 3 purple hearts, a bronze star and a silver star along with a battle field commission and served until 1948 when he married my mother and he was telling me I should run to Canada to avoid the draft. I could not believe this. Then he told me why.
He said wars or not fought over ideology or freedom but over money and property. That the ideal we were defending people's freedom or rights was just the excuse given the truth was there was something of value that the powers to be decided we needed to protect
My response to him at the time was I had rather take my chance in two years in hell then never being able to come home again. I worked out ok for me though as I went in for induction was told right off with 6 other inductees we would be leaving by MAC flight from love field at 6 pm for Fort Lewis Washington. But what the Sergeant had not counted on was the large number of other draftees who had volunteered so they could choose the service and duty they wanted. The 6 draftees and I were given after processing us through a six month deferment as they had their quoted for the day and were told we would be called back when they needed us and to stay in touch. But right after that the military began emphasising the volunteer and de-emphasing drafting to fill their ranks. It was a political thing.
Anyway I digress. Years later about the time that military recruiters were harassing my kids to join the Military the movie "The Thin Red Line" came out and the opening scene aboard a troop ship on it's way to relieve the Marines on Guadalcanal and finish the cleanup had Sean Penn character a 1st Sergeant telling a recruit to take the colonel's offer of a discharge from service.
This speech was almost verbatim the one my Dad had given me back on January 1st 1970. This scene was so intense and so right on as to why countries fight that I made my children sit down and listen to his speech and tell them the story. It truly is the reason I believe we go to war has to be about the economy.
Look who has benefited the most from our war in Iraq and Afghanistan. Black water, Halliburton, Bethel, and Kellogg Brown and Root our a few of the companies who literally had containers full of money provided by the US Government for use in looking after the welfare of our troops. Yet our troops were often neglected provided unfit quarters and not to mention water and food. Then they come home bloodied and beaten by a war in Iraq that never was and has yet to be proven needed. What do we do we ignore them for there is no money for their care or needs.
This past week 4 Iraq War Veterans committed suicide on separate occasions at Fort Hood.in Texas. Their reasons I must admit I am not aware of individually but just a sign of the overall failure of our leadership and government to provide for our troops after they did their duty.
Don't mistake me for a flag burner. I am not in fact I think it is disgusting when we use the flag of The USA for anything but what it was meant to be for to be honored and respected for what it represents and the men and women who died for what it represented. This respect for the flag was taught to me by the same man who offered me a bus ticket to Canada in 1970. I have nothing but the highest respect for our Military people. But, let us remember that the ultimate organization they belong ot is the Defense dept and not the Offense dept. Let us make sure that we do not waste the dedication and esprit de corp of these men and women for the bottom line of our corporations.
So What am I ranting about. Take nothing at face value our government or leadership has to say. Trust them no further than you can throw them and believe that their basic motivation is what or how can they profit from it.
Call me my sour puss and I very well might be but it is still they way it is.
After I had posted the above I decided to post some of my favoirte quotes here they are for your pursual
Quotes
"The individual is handicapped by coming face-to-face with a conspiracy so monstrous he cannot believe it exists." J. Edgar Hoover
We have restricted credit, we have restricted opportunity, we have controlled development, and we have come to be one of the worst ruled, one of the most completely controlled and dominated, governments in the civilized world--no longer a government by free opinion, no longer a government by conviction and the vote of the majority, but a government by the opinion and the duress of small groups of dominant men. Woodrow Wilson
The ruling class has the schools and press under its thumb. This enables it to sway the emotions of the masses. Albert Einstein
It was not accidental [the 1929 stock-market “crash”]. It was a carefully contrived occurrence. ... The international bankers sought to bring about a condition of despair here so that they might emerge as rulers of us all. Louis McFadden
The task is to covertly lower the standard of living, the whole social structure, of America so that we can be merged with all other nations. Rowan Gaither
“Whoever controls the volume of money in our country is absolute master of all industry and commerce…& when you realise that the entire system is very easily controlled…by a few powerful men at the top, you will not have to be told how periods of inflation and depression originate.” 2 weeks after making that statement, President James A. Garfield was killed
The conscious and intelligent manipulation of the organized habits and opinions of the [public] is an important element in democratic society. Those who manipulate this unseen mechanism of society constitute an invisible government which is the true ruling power of our country.' Edward Bernays (Father of modern media and nephew of Sigmund Freud).
"The real truth of the matter is, as you and I know, that a financial element in the larger centers has owned the government since the days of Andrew Jackson." FDR
Sunday, September 26, 2010
My Dream Reteriment
When I decided the doctors were right and I needed to retire and began working toward that eventual day ten months ago. I had definitive ideals as to what my retirement would be like. Somewhere along the way while ass deep in alligators I forgot the original goal was to drain the swamp.
It wold be easy to blame the government, big business, the medical industry and even you dear reader for my retirement not being what I intended. But the truth is it is my own damn fault.
The government did their part without hesitation and agreed that I was no longer fit to work and granted me disability on the first attempt. They could of strung me along for years as they did to my daughter in law. But I had paid in to the system for 45 years and therefore had earned the right to my Social Security. My only wish is that I did not have to wait until June 2012 to be eligible for Medicare.
As to the medical industry well what can I say I always knew we didn't live in Canada or a modern European country so I should of not expected anymore than I received which in truth I am better off than a lot of folks forced to retire. I have a doctor who charges me minimal amount for a office visit and put any test he needs on a corporate account with a medical test firm. By the way surprisingly cheap makes me wonder about medical charges in general.
Ah but I am straying from what I expected of my retirement days.
When I was prepping for retirement I thought I would find myself living a full life. Days filled with a few productive hours in the shop making beautiful furniture reflecting dedication to craftsmanship. I would then do my three times a week at rehab in the pool. maintain what flexibility and muscular strength I have. I would meet with my wife a couple times a week for lunch. I would be Grandpa's to the rescue from day care on occasionally
I would spend a few hours a day reading, writing , working on my photograph, or simply spending time mediating on life in general while taking my coffee on the patio. But"life happens as you make your plans."
I could blame my family, I could blame the economic bust cycle we are in, I could blame the government for not passing a health care program that will work, in the end though I must blame only myself for becoming at times morose over what my retirement has turned out to be.
I knew a guy who was a list keeper. He would keep a list of things he needed to do that day, that week, that month, that year, and to before he died and would check it off as he completed a task or item he wanted to do. At the time I thought what a waste of time. That it didn't allow for flexibility and I eventual asked hm about it.
I remember his response he said my list is written on paper in pencil not chisel in stone. It is constantly changing as my priorities change. The list he said keeps him focused and on task.
When I was working as a inspector I kept a short list of things I needed to do that day and would check them off as I completed the task. By doing so I stayed focused and completed my work assignments I think it is time to start doing this again. To keep a list of things I need to do that day.
To get back on target as to what I expect from my retirement and quite whining about it. To make my to do list but remember it is not chisel in stone but written on paper in pencil.
It is what I would suggest to anyone thinking about retirement. To think on what you expect. Plan out your days. Make you list of things to do. But stay flexible because life will be what happens to you as you make your plans.
Oh and don't forget to laugh occasionally at your sense of importance.
It wold be easy to blame the government, big business, the medical industry and even you dear reader for my retirement not being what I intended. But the truth is it is my own damn fault.
The government did their part without hesitation and agreed that I was no longer fit to work and granted me disability on the first attempt. They could of strung me along for years as they did to my daughter in law. But I had paid in to the system for 45 years and therefore had earned the right to my Social Security. My only wish is that I did not have to wait until June 2012 to be eligible for Medicare.
As to the medical industry well what can I say I always knew we didn't live in Canada or a modern European country so I should of not expected anymore than I received which in truth I am better off than a lot of folks forced to retire. I have a doctor who charges me minimal amount for a office visit and put any test he needs on a corporate account with a medical test firm. By the way surprisingly cheap makes me wonder about medical charges in general.
Ah but I am straying from what I expected of my retirement days.
When I was prepping for retirement I thought I would find myself living a full life. Days filled with a few productive hours in the shop making beautiful furniture reflecting dedication to craftsmanship. I would then do my three times a week at rehab in the pool. maintain what flexibility and muscular strength I have. I would meet with my wife a couple times a week for lunch. I would be Grandpa's to the rescue from day care on occasionally
I would spend a few hours a day reading, writing , working on my photograph, or simply spending time mediating on life in general while taking my coffee on the patio. But"life happens as you make your plans."
I could blame my family, I could blame the economic bust cycle we are in, I could blame the government for not passing a health care program that will work, in the end though I must blame only myself for becoming at times morose over what my retirement has turned out to be.
I knew a guy who was a list keeper. He would keep a list of things he needed to do that day, that week, that month, that year, and to before he died and would check it off as he completed a task or item he wanted to do. At the time I thought what a waste of time. That it didn't allow for flexibility and I eventual asked hm about it.
I remember his response he said my list is written on paper in pencil not chisel in stone. It is constantly changing as my priorities change. The list he said keeps him focused and on task.
When I was working as a inspector I kept a short list of things I needed to do that day and would check them off as I completed the task. By doing so I stayed focused and completed my work assignments I think it is time to start doing this again. To keep a list of things I need to do that day.
To get back on target as to what I expect from my retirement and quite whining about it. To make my to do list but remember it is not chisel in stone but written on paper in pencil.
It is what I would suggest to anyone thinking about retirement. To think on what you expect. Plan out your days. Make you list of things to do. But stay flexible because life will be what happens to you as you make your plans.
Oh and don't forget to laugh occasionally at your sense of importance.
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Like the Back of My Hand
The other day in church during a lull in the service I started staring at the back of my hand that rested on the top of my cane. I realized as I stared at the back of my hand that I didn't recognize it. That kind of threw me. After all aren't we supposed to know the back of our hand?
As often the case with me it led me to start thinking if I didn't recognize the back of my hand what else didn't I recognize.
Without question I recognize my wife, children, grandchildren but as I began expanding my circle of recognition that was when it began to get hazy as to what I recognized and understood.
The way things were when I was in my twenties are not the same way today. The times and what we value have changed and I don't think necessarily for the best.
When I began as a inspector in training, age and the knowledge it represented was valued. Not so today as evident by such articles from a recent article from the New Your Times that if you are over 50 you are most likely the first to be laid off and in today's economy the last to be put back to work.
http://finance.yahoo.com/focus-retirement/article/110742/for-the-unemployed-over-50-fears-of-never-working-again?mod=fidelity-changingjobs&cat=fidelity_2010_changing_jobs
I remember when I was in my late 40's and had applied for work with a private company the VP interviewing me commented outload that he really didn't like to hire us older guys because we expected more pay and were more difficult to maniuplate into doing things that were questionable. The biggest issue of course is the pay for if we have invested a significant portion of our life into a company we tend to expect more compensation for our loyalty. Again something that is no longer recognized our valued.
A lot of things have changed and I believe not necessarily for the best. As the old folk song goes "These times are a changing" and so they may but I haven't.
The world and the lay of the land I find myself I may not recognize but I will continue to try to understand it but without giving up the values I have always held to be true. Faith in my God, belief in the faithfulness of my wife, the value of a shared connection of family, loyalty of friends.
In the end I am still "just thinking it out."
Current Reading Material
A Fire In The Sun by George Alec Effinger,
As often the case with me it led me to start thinking if I didn't recognize the back of my hand what else didn't I recognize.
Without question I recognize my wife, children, grandchildren but as I began expanding my circle of recognition that was when it began to get hazy as to what I recognized and understood.
The way things were when I was in my twenties are not the same way today. The times and what we value have changed and I don't think necessarily for the best.
When I began as a inspector in training, age and the knowledge it represented was valued. Not so today as evident by such articles from a recent article from the New Your Times that if you are over 50 you are most likely the first to be laid off and in today's economy the last to be put back to work.
http://finance.yahoo.com/focus-retirement/article/110742/for-the-unemployed-over-50-fears-of-never-working-again?mod=fidelity-changingjobs&cat=fidelity_2010_changing_jobs
I remember when I was in my late 40's and had applied for work with a private company the VP interviewing me commented outload that he really didn't like to hire us older guys because we expected more pay and were more difficult to maniuplate into doing things that were questionable. The biggest issue of course is the pay for if we have invested a significant portion of our life into a company we tend to expect more compensation for our loyalty. Again something that is no longer recognized our valued.
A lot of things have changed and I believe not necessarily for the best. As the old folk song goes "These times are a changing" and so they may but I haven't.
The world and the lay of the land I find myself I may not recognize but I will continue to try to understand it but without giving up the values I have always held to be true. Faith in my God, belief in the faithfulness of my wife, the value of a shared connection of family, loyalty of friends.
In the end I am still "just thinking it out."
Current Reading Material
A Fire In The Sun by George Alec Effinger,
Sunday, September 12, 2010
The Futre of American Health Care
Recently I watched a sci-fi movie called Repo Men. The premise of this movie was we were still in a for profit health care system and bio-medical had made significant advances as to allow heart, lung, limb just about anything you could imagine if it failed it could be replaced.
But there was a catch the product belong to the bio-medical firm until paid for and if you failed to pay for it then they would come and repo it. Laws had been passed to allow them to remove the item from your person without regard to your survivability. The laws also restricted your movements or travel so as to prevent you from leaving for a country that they could not repo their product from your person.
I highly recommend this movie made from the book "The Repossession Mambo" By Eric Garcia. Watch it for it's entertainment value then reflect on what the message was. It might get you to thinking.
A added thought the blog Smart Money recently reported that health insurance companies are reporting significant rises in the premiums. Funny I thought that was not supposed to happen.
When asked about it their response was when we are forced to add coverage that did not previously existed then our premiums have to go up. When the White House was asked about this their response was that regulation of premiums etc were the responsibility of state's insurance regulators and that they even gave money over the next 10 years (approximately $250 million) to aid them in doing this.
When the a poll of state regulatory agencies were made the general response was if the request is genuine then they can't see how they can deny it. Tell me you did not see that coming.
Anyway if you watch the Repo Men see if you don't catch the reference to a major pharmaceutical firm.
Currently Reading
I have started reading Annie Proulx "That Old Ace In the Hole". Not bad but reminds me of her book "Shipping News"
Monday, September 6, 2010
Still trying to figure it out?
I was thinking on what to write about and I realize that in some ways I have been in information overload. With all of the broadcast, radio and TV, combined with the blogs and written word you become addicted and fearful
.
Fearful you might miss some vital bit of news that will keep you from falling in the dark morass that we seem to be determine to enter. The best as I can remember that is called fear mongering. It becomes a case of stirring up the masses to make profit in the confusion.
I think it is time to remind myself of what I always knew but occasionally forget.
.
Fearful you might miss some vital bit of news that will keep you from falling in the dark morass that we seem to be determine to enter. The best as I can remember that is called fear mongering. It becomes a case of stirring up the masses to make profit in the confusion.
I think it is time to remind myself of what I always knew but occasionally forget.
KISS Principle
When I was a youngster my Dad taught this simple principle to me everything I started getting a project complicated it was that to Keep It Simple Stupid.
His belief was that everyone tends to have a natural inclination to complicate things beyond what seems possible. From that we end up with something we totally don't recognize. See the recent health reform if you doubt what I am saying.
In the case of information overload it boils down to one, questions everything. Just because a person of power and prestige says it is so doesn't mean it is. If it really bothers you then research it and see what the truth really is.
Second, use common sense and realize it is to there advantage to keep us in a uproar. When you are hysterical you are not thinking you will do something in haste that you will regret at leisure.
There is a old engineering saying that applies to this and well just to about anything when you thing about it.
It is "When you are ass deep in alligators it is hard to remember the original goal was to drain the swamp."
Don't let the information overload push upon us by the media and power brokers put you "ass deep in alligators."
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Careful or they might just poison you.
Doctors are taught that they are "first do no harm" but sometime they get so caught up in prescribing they create a unbelievable nightmare. My Wife just went through this and the chemical hell it put her through as a result of adding meds on top of meds without thinking of the consequence.
It started with a elevation of blood pressure which she has to watch so she spoke to our family physician and they prescribed a med that led to headaches. But, it didn't address totally the blood pressure so an additional med was added this increase the intensity of the headaches.
Since they acted like migraines a typical migraine headache med was added to her meds but were not working so they added a second med that had been recently approved by the FDA for migraine treatment and it was here that things got out of control.
It was this second med that originally prescribed for bi-polar and for seizures that created the even more of a problem, by the way drug was Tropimate. Somehow the marketing department had managed to get the med approved for treatment of migraines by the FDA.
If used for the original purpose or with people who were bi-polar the drug is fine but if not then the side-effects or another affair altogether. Beside destroying your taste buds it also creates problems in urination, energy levels, constant sleepiness, ability to concentrate but fortunately it makes you dumber than a box of bricks. All of these were side-effects that my wife was suffering through. By the way did I mention that the med was addictive.
The trouble is you expect your Doctors to have your best interest and when the system fails you it is a lesson you need to take to heart. So what are you to do?
First don't hesitate to ask your Doctor about the meds you are taking it's possible side-effect and if not satified don't hesitate to look up the side-effects on the internet then challenge the Doctor.
Remeber I said that the orgianl problem was elevated blood pressure. What I finally did in behalf of my wife who was becoming emotional and extrtemely distress at her state of mind was to do exactlly that. Reminding him what we orgially were trying to do and that the headaches were brought on by the blood pressure meds. Reluctanly he took off everything and said once the meds we should go to her cardiogist and if headaches reaccured to go the neurogist he had us going to. Which, by the way the neuroglis was not needed if the meds had not caused her headaches.
You have to have faith in you doctors but not blind faith. Challenge question and if they are offended then go find another.
In defense of doctors though I have to blame both the drug companies and FDA. The drug companies for markenting their products for things they were not intdeded for and the FDA for approving it without the apprioate studies.
Let's face it our medical system is totally screwed. basic medical for profit does not work.
It started with a elevation of blood pressure which she has to watch so she spoke to our family physician and they prescribed a med that led to headaches. But, it didn't address totally the blood pressure so an additional med was added this increase the intensity of the headaches.
Since they acted like migraines a typical migraine headache med was added to her meds but were not working so they added a second med that had been recently approved by the FDA for migraine treatment and it was here that things got out of control.
It was this second med that originally prescribed for bi-polar and for seizures that created the even more of a problem, by the way drug was Tropimate. Somehow the marketing department had managed to get the med approved for treatment of migraines by the FDA.
If used for the original purpose or with people who were bi-polar the drug is fine but if not then the side-effects or another affair altogether. Beside destroying your taste buds it also creates problems in urination, energy levels, constant sleepiness, ability to concentrate but fortunately it makes you dumber than a box of bricks. All of these were side-effects that my wife was suffering through. By the way did I mention that the med was addictive.
The trouble is you expect your Doctors to have your best interest and when the system fails you it is a lesson you need to take to heart. So what are you to do?
First don't hesitate to ask your Doctor about the meds you are taking it's possible side-effect and if not satified don't hesitate to look up the side-effects on the internet then challenge the Doctor.
Remeber I said that the orgianl problem was elevated blood pressure. What I finally did in behalf of my wife who was becoming emotional and extrtemely distress at her state of mind was to do exactlly that. Reminding him what we orgially were trying to do and that the headaches were brought on by the blood pressure meds. Reluctanly he took off everything and said once the meds we should go to her cardiogist and if headaches reaccured to go the neurogist he had us going to. Which, by the way the neuroglis was not needed if the meds had not caused her headaches.
You have to have faith in you doctors but not blind faith. Challenge question and if they are offended then go find another.
In defense of doctors though I have to blame both the drug companies and FDA. The drug companies for markenting their products for things they were not intdeded for and the FDA for approving it without the apprioate studies.
Let's face it our medical system is totally screwed. basic medical for profit does not work.
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