Just had a conversation with a doc I know...

[THeMaCHinE]

And was "informed" that prednisone is an anabolic, not catabolic steroid, so it would be unusual to prescribe AS in conjunction with it to halt muscle catabolism; and that test doesn't convert to estrogen, but an estrogen-like substance. And that test causes colon cancer. And that test can stop prolactin problems. And that if I didn't believe her, she could show me where it said so in her book.

*sigh*

 

[Warmachine]

she is ignorant, and her book is full of shit

 

[bigdelt69]

 

[The Terminator]

 

[THeMaCHinE]

Seriously, I was at a loss for words -- how do you argue with that?

 

[DepressiveJuice]

Seriously, I was at a loss for words -- how do you argue with that?

take your business elsewhere?

 

[THeMaCHinE]

take your business elsewhere?

lol... she's not my doc -- she's a doc I know and run into socially...

 

[Sigmund Roid]

Don't blame the docs totally, blame their university teacher and their books which seem to be written in the 19th century. Her book probably also tells that you can go blind from spanking the monkey.
But I find docs to be totally non-critical for the things they learn during their study. Docs have a very important role in the society, but it is scary to put your faith into their hands when they are actually the modern version of the medicine man living in the deep forests.
Also, if a doc doesn't know what kind of disease you have, they say "it is psychological", instead of admitting that they don't know. I am a ph.d. scientist myself, and if I don't know something in my field, I just tell.

 

[Bozzman]

Pull this leg and it plays "jingle bells"

No offense Bro, but don't believe everything you hear especially from a Doc. I've been in the medical field for 12 years. I deal with MD's every day. I eat them for breakfast. Why do you think they call it "practicing medicine" that's how they excuse all the mistakes they make.

Seriously...

Prednisone is in the class of steroids called "glucocorticoids". Also called adrenocortical steroids they are also naturally occurring in the body (called cortisol,the equivlent of 5mg of prednisone is normally produced daily by the adrenal cortex).
Cortisol regulates the metabolism of proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids. SPECIFICALLY, it increases the catabolism or breakdown of protein in bone, skin, MUSCLE, and connective tissue. Cortisol also diminishes the cellular utilization of glucose and increases the output of glucose from the liver. The presence of cortisol is essential to nor-epinephrine-induced vasoconstriction and other necessary neurological pathways for survival under stress (fight or flight). I could go on and on about chemical processes but I'll spare you the boredom.
Prednisone is mainly used to treat inflammatory disorders: autoimmune diseases (arthritis), lung disease (asthma), severe allergic reactions. If you have been on it for a while (more than a week or so), you have to taper off it because as with Test, your body decreases natural production. If you come off it to quick and your body doesn't increase it's own, you go into an adrenal crisis and you can die. Prolonged use (have you seen Jerry Lewis lately?) causes cushing syndrome (moon face, hump back, all weight (fat) on the torso, spindly arms). Diabetes, Glaucoma, fibrosis of the lungs, osteopenia (thin bones), muscle wasting, ......
Tell your friend next time she opens her trap..don't say anything. That's what happens when you get your education from Cracker Jack University.
That will be all, if you need me I'll be in my office.
Bozz

 

[THeMaCHinE]

Don't blame the docs totally, blame their university teacher and their books which seem to be written in the 19th century. Her book probably also tells that you can go blind from spanking the monkey.

Oh, I don't really. They just practice what they know. It just freaks me out that at some point in my life they will likely be in charge of my life...

And, it really reinforces the need to actively participate in your health care -- to ask questions, to do research, to get second, third or even fourth opinions; because a lot of them just plain don't know.

 

[THeMaCHinE]

Re: Pull this leg and it plays "jingle bells"

No offense Bro, but don't believe everything you hear especially from a Doc. I've been in the medical field for 12 years. I deal with MD's every day. I eat them for breakfast. Why do you think they call it "practicing medicine" that's how they excuse all the mistakes they make.

Tell your friend next time she opens her trap..don't say anything. That's what happens when you get your education from Cracker Jack University.
That will be all, if you need me I'll be in my office.
Bozz

Yeah, I know what prednisone is -- nice summary though. I don't think it's as much that she got her degree from a cracker jack university as docs don't commonly need to know answers of the nature I asked; after all, 99% of people out there don't give a shit about their body, they just want immediate relief from an immediate symptom. I'm sure that she's good at a lot of things (she was ER for 9 years, studied internal med and is now in family practice) -- just not good at hormones... lol...

As somebody said, if they don't know the answer, they'll give you one anyway (at least, a lot of them will; a few here and there are pretty upfront) -- that's what really bugs me...

 

[bebaumax]

Re: Pull this leg and it plays "jingle bells"

Bozz, can you give us a run-down of Cortizone, too, please? You seem knowledgeable, and your response was easy to understand. Thanks!
-B

 

[Bozzman]

Hydrocortisone is in the same class, the potency is just different. Used for the same reasons.

 

[THeMaCHinE]

Bozz, are you a drug rep?

 

[icelandic]

Exactly what branch of medicine does your clueless friend practice? Judging by her lack of knowledge and reliance on what is probably an outdated text, I'm guessing she is a internal/family medicine practitioner ? If so, don't be too surprised, the quality of these physicians is steadily decreasing as most med schools are forced to make admission choices on the basis of gender and race rather than scientific apptitude and plain intelligence. On the other hand, you'll find most specialists and surgeons to be very up to date in their respective fields of interest (with the possible exception of orthopaedists). I have never spoken with an endochrinologist whom I did not find to be extremely well-versed in the mechanisms and actions of androgens. Please don't base your opinion on the profession just because there is a surplus of sub-par general practitioners out there....

 

[Bozzman]

Nope

 

[THeMaCHinE]

Oh, trust me, I have nothing but respect for the medical profession. Just about everybody will need to rely on them at one point or another in their lives.

You bring up some good points. Like anything else, there's professionals that know and others that don't. It just amazes me how careful you really have to be with doctors -- you can't just assume that because the have D.O or M.D. on their nameplate that they have the best advice for your individual situation. Most people take their word as gospel without even bothering to ask questions... that's what's disturbing...

Exactly what branch of medicine does your clueless friend practice? Judging by her lack of knowledge and reliance on what is probably an outdated text, I'm guessing she is a internal/family medicine practitioner ? If so, don't be too surprised, the quality of these physicians is steadily decreasing as most med schools are forced to make admission choices on the basis of gender and race rather than scientific apptitude and plain intelligence. On the other hand, you'll find most specialists and surgeons to be very up to date in their respective fields of interest (with the possible exception of orthopaedists). I have never spoken with an endochrinologist whom I did not find to be extremely well-versed in the mechanisms and actions of androgens. Please don't base your opinion on the profession just because there is a surplus of sub-par general practitioners out there....

 

[THeMaCHinE]

Nope

lol... a man of few words -- karma

P.S. That was a good summary of prednisone -- very easy to follow, I may foward that on to the doc...

 

[Bozzman]

No I'm not a drug rep. The above comments are true. General pratitioners do fall by the wayside when it comes to advanced knowledge or therapeutics of specific illnesses. Specialists in any specific area are required to stay current with new "research" and "studies" in their area. That is why you don't go to a pulmonologist when you have a heart attack.
Maybe my statement were a little harsh earlier, but I deal with physicians who have no idea what the hell they are talking about on a daily basis. My job is to educate them in MY specialty area. I routinely see mistakes made by Interns, Residents, Fellows, and Attending physicians. Every level!!!! The reason they call it "practicing medicine" is because that is what they are doing. Medicine is an ever changing science. What drug you use to treat an illness today may be contraindicated for that illness tomorrow. My colleagues and I joke that the reason the education level of MD's have gone down is because medical schools have lowered the bar to allow more enrollment. $$$$$money talks

 

[gsxr1000]

Well, having working in a diagnostic medical laboratory in past, I've said it before and I'll say it again.............doctors aren't exactly the smartest people around.

 

[Japanese machine]

take that book and shove it up her............

 

[THeMaCHinE]

No I'm not a drug rep. The above comments are true. General pratitioners do fall by the wayside when it comes to advanced knowledge or therapeutics of specific illnesses. Specialists in any specific area are required to stay current with new "research" and "studies" in their area. That is why you don't go to a pulmonologist when you have a heart attack.

The reason they call it "practicing medicine" is because that is what they are doing. Medicine is an ever changing science. What drug you use to treat an illness today may be contraindicated for that illness tomorrow.

My colleagues and I joke that the reason the education level of MD's have gone down is because medical schools have lowered the bar to allow more enrollment. $$$$$money talks

Yeah, she is a GP (family practice); I guess it's just shocking to me because the decisions they make effect people; as a bodybuilder, I have a keen interest in what goes on in my body, good and bad. I mean hell, I have a journalism and writing background -- how the hell am I supposed to know what to trust? Sure, like anbody else I research and ask the questions that I know to ask, but at some point, you go with the doc's advice... it's just shitty to think you might have a bad one and not even know it... Also, here I am researching medical issues and finding out more information than this specific doctor... what does that say?

This person would have been in med school 25 or more years ago, do you think the enrollment money was an issue back then?

And I really don't think she's a shitty doctor -- I just think that this area wasn't something she should be talking about. (although she should have known about prednisone)

 

[gsxr1000]

Yeah, I always hated how they associated those two words medical and practice.

Doesn't leave you with much of a sense of hope.

 

[Bozzman]

25 years ago Doc's used to push prednisone for every ailment. It was a benefit risk thing. Take asthma for example 20 years ago they didn't have albuterol, clenbuterol none of those metered dose inhalers. Patients used a compressor with medicine in a cup that would mist (people still use them at home today but not as much) the inhaled drugs they used were similar to albuterol but they stimulated just as many receptors on the heart as in the lungs patients would complain of muscle tremors and they would feel their heart pounding in their chest. (Like when you get the shit scared out of you.) When those medicines didn't help they would put the patient on a week of prednisone 60mg/50mg/40mg/30mg/..and taper it. It was a wonder drug, patients would feel better because prednisone treats the inflammation in the lung where as the inhaled meds back then only treated the symptom. Often patients would find themselves on prednisone indefinitely because the asthma may have been severe all the time. Along come the negative effects I listed earlier. As I stated has anyone seen Jerry Lewis from the telethon he has been on high dose prednisone for pulmonary fibrosis. He looks like the Pilsbury doughboy.

Move ahead 12 years drug company's start doing research on inhaled steroids and find it is an safer way to get drugs where they are needed without going through the system and having all of the negative side effects. Studies show marked improvement in asthma. There are still some physicians who won't put their patients on inhaled steroids because they are uneducated dinosaurs. They won't stay up to date with current research. I would recommend to everyone to always research illnesses and medications themmselves(you have the perfect tool right at your fingertips) and always get a second opinion.

 

[THeMaCHinE]

I would recommend to everyone to always research illnesses and medications themmselves(you have the perfect tool right at your fingertips) and always get a second opinion.

Quote of the day. By far.

 

[bbkingpin]

Sounds about right :smile: