Breakfast!

NOT ALL THE ARTICLES ON MY BLOG ARE ABOUT PHOTOGRAPHS.  THIS ONE IS ABOUT THE HUGE AMOUNT OF MEDICATION THAT IS GIVEN TO PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC ILLNESSES.  IF YOU KNOW SOMEONE WHO NEVER LOOKS TOTALLY HEALTHY, WHO IS TAKING LOTS OF MEDICATION, PLEASE READ THIS, AND PLEASE SHARE, PARTICULARLY IF YOU HAVE MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS IN YOUR CIRCLE OF FRIENDS. 

PLEASE READ TO THE END AND PLEASE SHARE.


In 1950, at the age of four, I ran into the quiet road outside our house and I was knocked over by a bicycle.  From the head injury that I received I developed epilepsy for which I was prescribed phenobarbital (a barbiturate) and benzedrine (an amphetamine) . . . uppers and downers for a pre-schooler!

Later, my mother told me that I should lead a normal life, and that if anyone had a problem with that, it was their problem, not mine.  There was no reason why I could not do anything I wanted provided I was "not silly"  Wise words.

Since when I have not been wrapped in cotton wool, I am a retired Chartered Engineer and Member of what was then the Institute of Metals, I have an Honours Degree in Materials Science and Technology from Bradford University, and I hold a Fellowship in Management and Training Development from Ashridge College in the UK.  So you see, I followed my mother's advice, and I've had a fulfilling life.

However, and sadly, there is always, a however . . .

Over the years, my epilepsy has changed; new medication has been brought out, and different specialists have had different ideas concerning my problem.  Ever drug has side effects, and of course these side effects can be treated with other drugs which also have side effects . . . you get the idea, I'm sure.

I am at the moment swapping over one of my epilepsy drugs to a new one.  This cannot be done cold turkey, it has to be done gradually over about three months.  This morning I set out my medication for the next TWO days.  These are the two heaps of chemicals that will go into my stomach for the next two days and every two days until the day that I die.  I roughly estimate that in my life I have taken about 1 tonne (1000 kg) of active ingredient and as much again of fillers.



This (not terribly good) picture is my intake for just two days.  It doesn't include any antibiotics or painkillers.  Just epilepsy and side effects.  So, what I want to know is:

Are there doctors who specialise in investigating drugs and their side effects with the intent of minimising the amount of drugs that have to be ingested?  If so, why are they not being used more commonly?

As a Materials Engineer, if a weld started to fail, I would try to find out why.  I wouldn't rivet a patch on it, and when that started to fail, shout metal fatigue and weld a larger patch on it.  That's a quick way to lose customers (and lives!) An engineer goes back to the beginning to see if a totally new route might be more successful.

So I say to all Medical Professionals: "Gentlemen, I appreciate what you do for your patients, but when you prescribe one little white pill, this may be what the patient and his body has to cope with.  Please make sure that your way is the best way, and not just a bolt on solution.  Are you working by yourself or are you discussing individual cases with other specialists in different fields?"

Thank you for reading this.  Now, please, share.