over the past six months i have had an intense relationship with the medical community and have found them seriously ignorant in helping aging people. they're good at fixing broken arms, and giving flu shots but when it comes to old people who obviously can't live forever the medical community is sadly deficient.
in the beginning the most learned men and mankind could rely on their shaman who could work wonders with garlic cloves, incense, dancing, chanting, smoke, and mirrors. we then worked our way up to spider webs, leeches, blood letting, and darkened rooms. accoutrements include sphygmomanometers, stethoscopes, white coats, otoscopes, and small chilly, fluorescent lit rooms with examining tables. about forty years ago so called pharmacologic miracle drugs started appearing and gave impotent doctors something to work with. some of it actually works. so what do they do? they over prescribe all this crap. if it doesn't work, they increase the dosage. most the time it is a one size fits all dosage.
seven months ago, my nephrologist was ready to send me to the glue factory .... ummmm .... dialysis factory because he reached the end of his text book. there is nothing remaining in his book. the cost of this option for the taxpayer or individual is about $50000 to $100000 per year. it is probably very profitable for the so called medical community and of course wall street hucksters and lobbyists. when my doctor kills me he'll say, "i did everything possible to save him.". if i could talk i would say. " f@@@* *&^" #&^%!#".
in addition to the pecuniary costs there is a quality of life issue. basically your life is over except for pain and suffering. all your time is spent feeding the dialysis business monster. if you go off dialysis your life expectancy is two weeks - yes, two weeks. before you are introduced to dialysis it is necessary to get a surgical procedure either in your arm or your ... ummm .... belly area which is necessary to put stuff in and take stuff out of your body in order to purify your system. this invasive surgery is no fun and will be a major annoyance for every second of the rest of your life. in addition there is a high probability of infection at these points. the purification affects all your fluids. the good stuff is also removed and has to be replaced. if everything works perfectly you have 50% of a normal life expectancy.
soooo, seven months ago i left (fired) my nephrologist and although he said a change of diet wouldn't help, i changed my diet, and altered my medications with some help of my family doctor. i'm still walking around, maintaining my home, and going places.
in my attempt to get a kidney transplant (i'm not sure i want this option either but i can always delay the procedure if it is offerred.) i have met a dozen doctors of various disciplines this procedure will give me a life expectancy of 75% of my normal life expectancy. most the doctors i have met are not enthusiastic over any action. i can only put them into two groups: those that say i'm going to die of something and those that are worried that i'll die under their care. i wouldn't want to ruin anyone's reputation.
in conclusion; being dead is inevitable and i want it to be painless and not inconvenient. feeding the wall street medical community beast should not be an option.
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