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Not-so-great moments in communication
Feb. 1st, 2016 07:42 pmLast week I forwarded my doctor a link to a JAMA editorial about one of the medications I was taking, a proton-pump inhibitor; JAMA recommended not taking it for the long term. I was careful to phrase it as "What does the doctor think about this study".
Here's what I got back.
Things the doctor has never told me before:
1. Long-term indomethacin use is risky.
2. Alcohol increases my risk of ulceration and GI bleeding.
Aside from that, if I could exercise every day, I wouldn't have fucking migraines, now would I? I am doing my best to exercise on days when I'm not sick. I eat meals cooked from scratch (I'm assuming bread and cheese don't count as "processed foods", but who knows). And saying that eliminating alcohol "has only positive benefits" is bullshit.
This doctor also told me on my last visit, "We don't like to see you taking pain-relief medications more than 15 days a month." I pointed out that I had migraines more than that, and had had since I started seeing this practice 5 years ago. She suggested that I should consider not taking pain relief until the pain reaches at least a 4 out of 10, and I'm trying that now.
This really smells to me like a practice getting tired of a non-responsive patient. Sigh.
Here's what I got back.
Thank you for sharing your concerns. Often information like this may catch someone's attention. All medications have side effects and risks as you know. The indomethacin carries significant risk of GI bleeding and death. Long term indomethacin is rarely recommended. In some cases we have migraine patients on indomethacin but with caution. I also have concerns you consume alcohol every day which increases your risk of ulceration and GI bleeding. I do not recommend you coming off PPI. I do however always recommend change in lifestyle: Limit alcohol use, or better avoid it. Exercise every day, Work on weight loss, hydrate and stay away from processed foods. These recommendation have only positive benefits and could lead to medication reduction which would help you in the long run.
Things the doctor has never told me before:
1. Long-term indomethacin use is risky.
2. Alcohol increases my risk of ulceration and GI bleeding.
Aside from that, if I could exercise every day, I wouldn't have fucking migraines, now would I? I am doing my best to exercise on days when I'm not sick. I eat meals cooked from scratch (I'm assuming bread and cheese don't count as "processed foods", but who knows). And saying that eliminating alcohol "has only positive benefits" is bullshit.
This doctor also told me on my last visit, "We don't like to see you taking pain-relief medications more than 15 days a month." I pointed out that I had migraines more than that, and had had since I started seeing this practice 5 years ago. She suggested that I should consider not taking pain relief until the pain reaches at least a 4 out of 10, and I'm trying that now.
This really smells to me like a practice getting tired of a non-responsive patient. Sigh.
