Why can't I cope with heat??

[Zerbie]

Anybody have any ideas on how to research medical issues related to heat stress?

I am baffled: have been sitting in the house all day sipping water, rubbing ice cubes on my arms, and running the air conditioner, but still can't shake signs of heat exhaustion. The symptoms came on yesterday after a 25 minute easy workout in the (very air conditioned) gym - - and the only thing I can think of, is that it's probably the walk from the car to the gym, then the gym to the car, that does it, since it's about a half a mile in the heat.

Last weekend I got a heat illness from riding in the car and crossing the parking lot to go into an Ikea store. . . .

This is driving me crazy. I have been googling like mad to find possible reasons for an inability to adapt to high heat, but nothing I find suggests any possible reasons other than that I might be younger than 4, older than 65, or obese - none of which apply, btw.

Hubby has a theory that my unusually fast metabolism might have something to do with an inability to dissipate heat. But I can't find any information about it on google, and I don't know what I should be searching for to find what I need.

I'm sick of spending so much of the summer inside, dizzy, exhausted, nauseated, and weak. I keep putting off tasks "until tomorrow," only to find that a trip to the store brings the symptoms back (parking lots are just too big in the summer, by the time I get from the car to the building, I need to lie down.) Today I felt too bad to even dust the furniture.
:(
What gives?!?!

[Pablo Rafael]

Zerbie,

My suggestion to deal with the heat is to move to a cooler area.

Here at 9000 feet elevation we have been getting into the mid 70's during the day. It has been getting into the upper 30's and lower 40's at night. I even turned on the heat this morning because it was chilly in the house.

I know I shouldn't rub it in, but I just can't resist! :D

Tu Amigo, Pablo

PS: You can get back at me next April when we are still getting below zero and are totally sick of snow.

[Zerbie]

Zerbie,

My suggestion to deal with the heat is to move to a cooler area.

Here at 9000 feet elevation we have been getting into the mid 70's during the day. It has been getting into the upper 30's and lower 40's at night. I even turned on the heat this morning because it was chilly in the house.

I know I shouldn't rub it in, but I just can't resist! :D

Tu Amigo, Pablo

PS: You can get back at me next April when we are still getting below zero and are totally sick of snow.

:inspector: We might think about moving in the next few years. Meanwhile, how do I get well enough to get off my butt? It's that time of year when going to work or school is a mistake, because walking from the car to the building depletes me enough that I have to go lie down.

I honestly don't understand how construction workers survive in this.

When I first moved here, the first week, I drank 3 gallons of water a day, and I don't think I peed at all for 3 days. :rolleyes:

[u-dog]

:inspector: We might think about moving in the next few years. Meanwhile, how do I get well enough to get off my butt? It's that time of year when going to work or school is a mistake, because walking from the car to the building depletes me enough that I have to go lie down.

I honestly don't understand how construction workers survive in this.

When I first moved here, the first week, I drank 3 gallons of water a day, and I don't think I peed at all for 3 days. :rolleyes:

Have you consulted your physician?

[Zerbie]

Have you consulted your physician?

No. Not yet - that's usually the last thing I think of, since she spends 2 minutes listening and then hands out drugs.

But I was thinking of having her check me for a serious disease - then we went to Canada and the symptoms immediately disappeared. Now we're back here, and the symptoms are back.

I'm looking to learn what could be causing the persistent difficulty in adapting. Not looking for drugs, really. I guess I'd rather live as a shut-in for a couple months a year than put drugs into my body because it's 110 outside. At least, for now. I guess. Maybe.

[u-dog]

No. Not yet - that's usually the last thing I think of, since she spends 2 minutes listening and then hands out drugs.

But I was thinking of having her check me for a serious disease - then we went to Canada and the symptoms immediately disappeared. Now we're back here, and the symptoms are back.

I'm looking to learn what could be causing the persistent difficulty in adapting. Not looking for drugs, really. I guess I'd rather live as a shut-in for a couple months a year than put drugs into my body because it's 110 outside. At least, for now. I guess. Maybe.

maybe you need a different doctor. it doesn't sound like you and she have similar objectives for your relationship or similar philosophies. We have a physician who is a wonderful listener and actually takes what you say into account. She is under the same time constraints as all physicians are but somehow she manages to pull it off.

What about homeopathic practitioners? this isn't something I have experience with but I know that some people do.

[scott snedeker]

Anybody have any ideas on how to research medical issues related to heat stress?

I am baffled: have been sitting in the house all day sipping water, rubbing ice cubes on my arms, and running the air conditioner, but still can't shake signs of heat exhaustion. The symptoms came on yesterday after a 25 minute easy workout in the (very air conditioned) gym - - and the only thing I can think of, is that it's probably the walk from the car to the gym, then the gym to the car, that does it, since it's about a half a mile in the heat.

Last weekend I got a heat illness from riding in the car and crossing the parking lot to go into an Ikea store. . . .

This is driving me crazy. I have been googling like mad to find possible reasons for an inability to adapt to high heat, but nothing I find suggests any possible reasons other than that I might be younger than 4, older than 65, or obese - none of which apply, btw.

Hubby has a theory that my unusually fast metabolism might have something to do with an inability to dissipate heat. But I can't find any information about it on google, and I don't know what I should be searching for to find what I need.

I'm sick of spending so much of the summer inside, dizzy, exhausted, nauseated, and weak. I keep putting off tasks "until tomorrow," only to find that a trip to the store brings the symptoms back (parking lots are just too big in the summer, by the time I get from the car to the building, I need to lie down.) Today I felt too bad to even dust the furniture.
:(
What gives?!?!

Ok Free medical advice from a board certified internal medcine doc:lol:


Rarely this is a medical disorder like an overactive thyroid gland or some other metabolic disorder.

More commonly it is just calorie burning in some one who is overweight. Contrary to urban legend, obese people burn hotter and more caloies than slim people. Brown fat in the body is responsible for generating heat. The more obese an individual is, the more heat generaing tissue he/she has.

But if you are no more than 10 lbs or so overweight, the most common cause of heat intolerance is salt depletion . A low salt diet is indicated only for those who can't regulate their sodium balance ie: people with weak hearts, weak kidneys,or salt sensitive hypertension.

A low salt diet is absolutely contraindicated in a hot environment with normal healthy individuals because supplemental salt intake is required to keep up with the sodium loss in sweat.

The commonly experienced symptoms of sodium depletion are fatigue, headache, dizziness, weakness, nausea, muscle cramping and dry mouth despite continuous water drinking.

What you probably need to try is salt salt salt: salty food, salt in gatorade, salt tablets.

lemme know how it goes if you try it

[wmanion]

Hi Zerbie,
Parking lot...rang a bell with me. There are those who are allergic to asphalt because of the ground tires (latex) that is mixed in. When the heat hits the asphalt it makes the odors rise into the air and this can literally make some people sick. I remember reading some articles on it on google and I am sure there are more out there.

Hugz,
Bill

[andrewlittle]

... but I play one in my mind.

I'd give serious thought to Scotty's suggestion. I grew up in the Australian outback - not unlike AZ - and people died of symptoms like those you described and that were easily alleviated with salt. We even drank fruit flavored saline drinks.

We were also warned of drinking too much water - even if it doesn't create the extreme of water intoxication, it can exacerbate the electrolyte/sodium imbalance. If you are drinking lots of water, exercise, drink more water and then go out in the extreme heat, there's not much more you could do to mess up your electrolyte balance.

[Zerbie]

Oh holy smokes!!

I posted asking for ideas and I sure got 'em!!! Those are creative suggestions, thank you everyone!

Especially interested in the asphalt allergy-odor thing, Bill; I have sensitivity to chemicals and have to strictly limit exposure to cleaning chemicals, perfumes, etc. If I HAVE TO go into that aisle of the supermarket where the cleaning chemicals are, I take a big breath and hold it while running in and grabbing what I need, then running out before breathing again. :rolleyes: That asphalt thing is FASCINATING!

Scotty - thanks for the idea on the salt issue. Could that be it? I am by no means overweight though - I was too skinny (ribs showing and couldn't gain weight) until after I got married and lived here for a while. I "gained" 8 pounds since moving here, but I think that's because I drink a gallon and a half of water every day. :lol: I eat all the time and it's almost impossible to gain weight. There was a time when I was forcing myself to eat pints of ice cream every night because I wanted my ribs to stop showing. . . and I don't like ice cream.

I will try increasing salt intake - I've been trying to lower it significantly because of terrible PMS.

Thanks for the free medical advice Scotty. :D I'll pay you back in hugs and love and prayers. :rainbow::love::pray::love:

[Zerbie]

... but I play one in my mind.

I'd give serious thought to Scotty's suggestion. I grew up in the Australian outback - not unlike AZ - and people died of symptoms like those you described and that were easily alleviated with salt. We even drank fruit flavored saline drinks.

We were also warned of drinking too much water - even if it doesn't create the extreme of water intoxication, it can exacerbate the electrolyte/sodium imbalance. If you are drinking lots of water, exercise, drink more water and then go out in the extreme heat, there's not much more you could do to mess up your electrolyte balance.

Oh wow!! I always tell people that unless they've lived in the outback or saudi arabia, they don't know what it's like in phoenix. I'm so glad you know the kind of climate I'm talking about!!!!

Wow, holy smokes, that is EXACTLY what I do. My body tends to dehydrate easily thanks to many years of chronic dehydration as a child, so I suppose it doesn't know how to regulate fluid balance. I crave salt all the time, but as I told Scotty, I've been trying to cut salt out to alleviate PMS symptoms. Ugh, so, a gallon and a half of water every day, plus daily exercise, and 4 near-continuous months of temperatures above 105 F degrees. Maybe I've been putting myself in danger!

So, like, I can just salt my veggies and that can be enough? Is sea salt okay to do the trick?

[scott snedeker]

Sea salt is great because it contains trace elements that may be depleted also,

thanks for the prayers!

[scott snedeker]

Oh holy smokes!!
- I was too skinny (ribs showing and couldn't gain weight) until after I got married and lived here for a while. I "gained" 8 pounds since moving here, but I think that's because I drink a gallon and a half of water every day. :lol: I eat all the time and it's almost impossible to gain weight.

You may also be hypoglycemic because of you body type. It is not a disorder, just a body type that requires frequent refuelling of carbohydrate and protein. peanuts every 2 hours is a common convenient solution to a hypoglycemics metabolic needs.

[u-dog]

You may also be hypoglycemic because of you body type. It is not a disorder, just a body type that requires frequent refuelling of carbohydrate and protein. peanuts every 2 hours is a common convenient solution to a hypoglycemics metabolic needs.

and if you eat SALTED peanuts... you can kill two birds with one stone!:)

[rainbow7]

Ok Free medical advice from a board certified internal medcine doc:lol:


Rarely this is a medical disorder like an overactive thyroid gland or some other metabolic disorder.

More commonly it is just calorie burning in some one who is overweight. Contrary to urban legend, obese people burn hotter and more caloies than slim people. Brown fat in the body is responsible for generating heat. The more obese an individual is, the more heat generaing tissue he/she has.

But if you are no more than 10 lbs or so overweight, the most common cause of heat intolerance is salt depletion . A low salt diet is indicated only for those who can't regulate their sodium balance ie: people with weak hearts, weak kidneys,or salt sensitive hypertension.

A low salt diet is absolutely contraindicated in a hot environment with normal healthy individuals because supplemental salt intake is required to keep up with the sodium loss in sweat.

The commonly experienced symptoms of sodium depletion are fatigue, headache, dizziness, weakness, nausea, muscle cramping and dry mouth despite continuous water drinking.

What you probably need to try is salt salt salt: salty food, salt in gatorade, salt tablets.

lemme know how it goes if you try it

Wow,
thanks, I certainly learned something!
Polly

[paul]

Hi Zerbie,

Joining in late here, sorry.

Have you ever had your heart checked out (i.e., a stress test)? I agree with U-dog. If your doctor doesn't listen long and well and just pushes pills, it's time for another doctor. I slow way down in the summer. We're in the mid-atlantic region, hot and humid. When you are hot your heart works harder to cool you, blood goes to the surface of your skin and there's a bit less for your brain making you dizzy. Might try something like gatorade when you work out, that helps balance the electrolites quickly.

[keltic63]

Hi Zerbie,
Parking lot...rang a bell with me. There are those who are allergic to asphalt because of the ground tires (latex) that is mixed in. When the heat hits the asphalt it makes the odors rise into the air and this can literally make some people sick. I remember reading some articles on it on google and I am sure there are more out there.

Hugz,
Bill


OMG! that thought has crossed my mind as I walk across a hot parking lot on a hot day, but I never figured it out like that. I sometimes have trouble breathing when I smell that particular smell.

The salt thing: Yes! Yes! Yes! It's been really warm here, except for the past few days, and I find myself craving salt! I think the body lets us know what we need through those kinds of cravings.

Zerbie, let us know how things go.

[andrewlittle]

Gatorade is the closest thing to the old Aussie saline drink - except its better for you. The peanuts idea is interesting - I have done that for years just because I crave them - but don't eat peanuts as your first "meal" of the day. Later in the morning is the best time to start.

Replace a couple of pints of your fluid intake with Gatorade - especially after exercising - and see how you do. Don't go from one extreme to another, though. Start with just a couple of Gatorade drinks a day - then see if you feel somewhat better, then add to it as you feel the need.

Scotty is going to be the expert - my advice is just from surviving similar conditions for years. I sweat like a pig, so I have run up against what you are experiencing. That being said, however, it may be very prudent to also schedule a physical.

[Progo35]

Hey, zerbie,
this is kind of lame in relation to the other suggestions posted here, but have you thought about going to Target or somewhere and getting one of those little kiddy pools? Than you could fill it with icy cold water and sit in it. Also, if you live near lake, stream, or another water source, those are usually great places to cool off-the water is usually too connected to ice melting in the winter to get that warm, even in the summer.

To me, it sounds like your symptoms may indicate dehydration, which, while it is probably related to the medical conditions mentioned by Scott and other members, can be helped by carrying a fanny pack with a Nalgene bottle of water in it. Also, I heard once of a marathon runner who collapsed and died because she never ate salt-so, while I'm not saying this is going to happen to you, it's probably a good idea to chow down on a salty pretzel every now and then.

[Zerbie]

Hey, zerbie,
this is kind of lame in relation to the other suggestions posted here, but have you thought about going to Target or somewhere and getting one of those little kiddy pools?

:lol::lol: No, that's one I hadn't thought of! :lol:
Where would I put it? It would soak the living room. But I do soak towels in cold water and ice and lie around with them on my skin, and have gotten quite close to taking icy baths a couple of times.


Than you could fill it with icy cold water and sit in it. Also, if you live near lake, stream, or another water source, those are usually great places to cool off-the water is usually too connected to ice melting in the winter to get that warm, even in the summer.

A lake?! Here?:lol: Well, actually, I DO live only a few miles from a river - the Rio Salado - which never has any water in it. Kid you not. Well okay, in January sometimes, after it rains. :rolleyes: There's actually an old legend about prisoners who thought they could escape the area, so they built a raft to float down the Rio Salado, but when they got there. . . no water of course, and after a while they were so thirsty they walked back to prison.

To me, it sounds like your symptoms may indicate dehydration, which, while it is probably related to the medical conditions mentioned by Scott and other members, can be helped by carrying a fanny pack with a Nalgene bottle of water in it.

I'm sorry - what's a Nalgene??? Is it something special? Just to be clear, I'm never without water here, I carry a gallon jug every day which is gone by dinner time, so I usually buy another bottle in the afternoon or evening.

Also, I heard once of a marathon runner who collapsed and died because she never ate salt-so, while I'm not saying this is going to happen to you, it's probably a good idea to chow down on a salty pretzel every now and then.

Yeah, will definitely follow the salt thing. Salted my brekkie this morning. It tasted good. :p

[Zerbie]

You may also be hypoglycemic because of you body type. It is not a disorder, just a body type that requires frequent refuelling of carbohydrate and protein. peanuts every 2 hours is a common convenient solution to a hypoglycemics metabolic needs.

Gatorade is the closest thing to the old Aussie saline drink - except its better for you. The peanuts idea is interesting - I have done that for years just because I crave them - but don't eat peanuts as your first "meal" of the day. Later in the morning is the best time to start.

Replace a couple of pints of your fluid intake with Gatorade - especially after exercising - and see how you do. Don't go from one extreme to another, though. Start with just a couple of Gatorade drinks a day - then see if you feel somewhat better, then add to it as you feel the need.

Scotty is going to be the expert - my advice is just from surviving similar conditions for years. I sweat like a pig, so I have run up against what you are experiencing. That being said, however, it may be very prudent to also schedule a physical.

I can't handle the sugar in Gatorade. Does anyone know of a sugar-free (or at least low sugar) version? Does Pedialyte replace the same electrolytes? I think it may, and has little sugar.

I long ago diagnosed myself as hypoglycemic or borderline. I need to eat every 3 hours. I can only handle sugar if I've had a heavy meal with protein and vegetables beforehand. Can't take sugar on an empty stomach.

As for health, I was born fragile, with a life-threatening heart condition, and doctors made my parents send me to Florida for the winters because I couldn't handle the extreme cold of New Jersey. I'm guessing this is some aspect of the same thing, that despite surgery, perhaps some systems of the body never adapted.

Plus, having spent all of yesterday on the internet, I got some research done via google. I have a (different) longstanding health condition of many years which manages to affect most every system of the body - - I tend to forget about the condition these days because I've figured out a lifestyle that prevents symptoms (eating an extremely clean diet, sleeping a lot, etc), but it had not occured to me until after I posted yesterday that it might have something to do with the inability to acclimatize to heat. Took some poking around to find reference to it, but it does screw up with the body's ability to regulate homeostasis and adapt to either heat or cold. Now that I know that, I am going to do what I would do if I had a noticeable flare-up of *that* condition, in addition to the salt thingy.

I'll also be checking out Pedialyte, because I think the electrolyte balance may be key here as well. Otherwise, maybe seriously dilute some Gatorade. :p

[Zerbie]

Pilgrimage to the store around the corner - survived 111 degrees, but was breathing rapidly by the time I got back. My clothes burned to the touch. :rolleyes:

Bought some Pedialyte. Reading the ingredients drove me crazy because it actually did not list the amount of sugar, but fructose was mentioned in the ingredients list. I decided to bargain on it being less sugary than gatorade, yet still effective. We'll see. It's chilling in the fridge right now.

:)

[BrentRichards]

The medical advice you've been getting here is way more important than what I have to say, but ...

I am a tremendous fan of essential oils ... and I use peppermint oil like it's going out of style. It is tremendously cooling ... two or three drops spread across the forehead and temples is like wearing an ice pack! (I use it like that for headaches as well)

Similarly, spearmint or wintergreen oil is very cooling (do NOT use wintergreen undiluted, yikes!) ... I put a few drops of wintergreen oil in a spray bottle of water ... shake and spray anywhere on your body ... it's remarkably cooling. Don't get it in your eyes.

Invest in REAL essential oil ... the best (and I don't get a kickback for this, alas) is Young Living oil ... there might be a dealer near you, or check eBay.

[Progo35]

Hey, Zerbie,

Nalgene is just a certain brand of water bottle that hooks unto a fanny pack or other carrying item easily, but everyone at Gordon seems to carry one.

One question I'd have about the kiddie pool thing is: do you have a backyard or a communal backyard if you live in an apartment? Because that's where I was thinking you could put it. Or, you could fill the bathtub with cold water, which would be the same thing, if you have a bathtub. OR, you could get a nozzle for your hose, if you have a garden hose, and spray it on yourself outside, OR run through a sprinkler...

Also, from reading your profile, it sounds like you're a vegetarian. I know that's a healthy lifestyle, but have you considered adding some meat to your diet? I know that there are other protien sources, but there are some elements that are available in much higher concentrations in meat, and since you need extra protien, you might want to look into adding that once or twice a week.

Good luck, keep us posted!
-Meghan

[Zerbie]

Hey, Zerbie,

Nalgene is just a certain brand of water bottle that hooks unto a fanny pack or other carrying item easily, but everyone at Gordon seems to carry one.

One question I'd have about the kiddie pool thing is: do you have a backyard or a communal backyard if you live in an apartment? Because that's where I was thinking you could put it. Or, you could fill the bathtub with cold water, which would be the same thing, if you have a bathtub. OR, you could get a nozzle for your hose, if you have a garden hose, and spray it on yourself outside, OR run through a sprinkler...

Also, from reading your profile, it sounds like you're a vegetarian. I know that's a healthy lifestyle, but have you considered adding some meat to your diet? I know that there are other protien sources, but there are some elements that are available in much higher concentrations in meat, and since you need extra protien, you might want to look into adding that once or twice a week.

Good luck, keep us posted!
-Meghan

Well the thing is, with the heat distress, there is NO WAY I'd spend the time outside to use the pool suggestion. It's going outside that creates the problem.

I don't need any more protein. I eat quite a lot of it.

Thanks anyway.

[Dash]

Not at all related to heat exhaustion, but I remember a long period of months when my brother experienced chronic exhaustion. He went to the doctor again and again. He ended up quitting his job and moving back to the farm for awhile. He couldn't do anything...even going for a walk put him on the couch.

Finally, when he was starting to lose vision, he went to an eye doctor. They decided it was viral...Epstein Barr or something. I dunno... It was a very difficult period for him. Once they figured it out, the were able to treat it and he began to get better.:pray:

Take care of yourself, dear Zerbie.:love::love::love:

[Zerbie]

Not at all related to heat exhaustion, but I remember a long period of months when my brother experienced chronic exhaustion. He went to the doctor again and again. He ended up quitting his job and moving back to the farm for awhile. He couldn't do anything...even going for a walk put him on the couch.

Finally, when he was starting to lose vision, he went to an eye doctor. They decided it was viral...Epstein Barr or something. I dunno... It was a very difficult period for him. Once they figured it out, the were able to treat it and he began to get better.:pray:

Take care of yourself, dear Zerbie.:love::love::love:

Thank you sweetie. :love::love:

Ah yes, mystery conditions are no fun. I went through things like that in my late teens/early 20s. We finally figured out what was going on physiologically, and only a few years later did I piece together WHY most every organ system had been haywire.

For 2 days I've been doing what I would do for a flare-up of my old condition, and that has chipped away at most of the heat symptoms, at least, in combination with pedialyte and more salt, it has.

[tdogg]

After reading all the posts, I would venture to guess your health condition is the main culprit here, especially since you are starting to get a little better Z. Pedialyte is a good substitute for gatorade - I had a dog once who got a viral infection and was severely dehydrated. The vet put him on pedialyte because while more expensive than gatorade it didn't have nearly the sugar content.

I was in Reno 7/6 - 7/15 for a horse show. Normally I handle the heat quite well. But by the 2nd day I was really sick, severe stomach cramping, exhaustian, general crankiness, muscle and brain fatigue. I was working the show for my trainer (as well as trying to show my horse each day), and very nearly decided to screw it, come home and see my MD. I was drinking water like crazy and couldn't figure out why all the symptoms. Talking to others, I figured out I was drinking way too much water, not eating enough (try eating on a cramping nauseated stomach) and my sodium and potassium levels were probably very low.

I drank more gatorade and ate some salty snacks here and there and by the 4th day feeling much better. The whole 10 days kicked by butt royally tho, I'm still trying to recover. Likely way more fatigued than normal because of the first few days. It was SO hot.

Hey Z, do you have Kaiser??? Sounds like it, make an appointment, see the MD for 2 minutes, get a variety of prescriptions. Works well for those proactive in their own health care. I HATE taking meds, have to take thyroid meds and occasionally my motrin, otherwise, unless I'm really in need of antibiotics, try to avoid the MD. Last sinus infection I got, kicked it myself.

[Zerbie]

After reading all the posts, I would venture to guess your health condition is the main culprit here, especially since you are starting to get a little better Z. Pedialyte is a good substitute for gatorade - I had a dog once who got a viral infection and was severely dehydrated. The vet put him on pedialyte because while more expensive than gatorade it didn't have nearly the sugar content.

I was in Reno 7/6 - 7/15 for a horse show. Normally I handle the heat quite well. But by the 2nd day I was really sick, severe stomach cramping, exhaustian, general crankiness, muscle and brain fatigue. I was working the show for my trainer (as well as trying to show my horse each day), and very nearly decided to screw it, come home and see my MD. I was drinking water like crazy and couldn't figure out why all the symptoms. Talking to others, I figured out I was drinking way too much water, not eating enough (try eating on a cramping nauseated stomach) and my sodium and potassium levels were probably very low.

I drank more gatorade and ate some salty snacks here and there and by the 4th day feeling much better. The whole 10 days kicked by butt royally tho, I'm still trying to recover. Likely way more fatigued than normal because of the first few days. It was SO hot.

Hey Z, do you have Kaiser??? Sounds like it, make an appointment, see the MD for 2 minutes, get a variety of prescriptions. Works well for those proactive in their own health care. I HATE taking meds, have to take thyroid meds and occasionally my motrin, otherwise, unless I'm really in need of antibiotics, try to avoid the MD. Last sinus infection I got, kicked it myself.

Yes, T, those are very much the kind of symptoms I was having. Only, you were outdoors being active, which exposed you to heat longterm. I'm guessing Reno is pretty ridiculous right now, weather-wise? Are temps similar to Phoenix? Anyway, except for muscle cramps, those are the symptoms I had.

Glad to know I guessed well with the Pedialyte. Part of how I knew it was a good choice was, when I would sip it, it tasted SOooooo delicious - it felt like my cells were reaching for the silly Pedialyte when I held it up to my lips! :lol:

My frustration with the doc probably has more to do with the medical system than the doctor. She's chatty and bubbly, and I guess I exaggerated, she spends more like 5-10 minutes talking. But I do find her quick to jump to a diagnosis, and of course, she always gives drugs. What is UP with that? Apparently, medicine is purely a drug industry. I prefer being involved in something that will maintain wellness until I need a last resort. Anyway this doc is one of the top ones in the area, most highly recommended by peers and patients alike, in large part because she's got a better than average bedside manner. I think I just rebel at the drug solution, especially since my system is sensitive. I'd rather she tell me to, I dunno, eat brussels sprouts, :p or something than hand me pills.

Oh - nice thousandth post, btw.

[tdogg]

Medicine today is about treating the symptoms not curing the cause. It's a money deal actually. Drugs are HUGE $$ to all involved (except the patient who pays for them, often not needing the drugs prescribed).

One must really be proactive to survive today's health care regime.

I heard of a doctor that quite Kaiser locally - a popular one - he was tired of the '8 minute limit' on seeing patients so opened his own practice. I'm pretty proactive with my own health care so the system normally works fine for me. It's the others, who don't have a clue, that get the rip. Guess it's about self-education and preservation.

Anyway, glad you are feeling better. I was chuggin down the gatorade in Reno, and while I normally don't care for it (I use a different product usually), it tasted very good which meant I was dehydrated. Reno is a lot like Phoenix. Dry heat, very hot. Only, it's surrounded by mountains so thunderstorms and high winds are common. It's kind of a pain during the shows, but any rain is welcome. Not much rain this year, but we did get some high wind gusts off and on. It tears everything down and we have to 'rebuild".

[scott snedeker]

Medicine today is about treating the symptoms not curing the cause. It's a money deal actually. Drugs are HUGE $$ to all involved (except the patient who pays for them, often not needing the drugs prescribed).

One must really be proactive to survive today's health care regime.



Apparently, medicine is purely a drug industry. I prefer being involved in something that will maintain wellness until I need a last resort.

Expectation and commercialism are what drives a lot of medicine. One of the things I don't miss is the expectation that for each medical condition there is a diagnostic test and a pill--not true by any stretch!

I still get looks of incredulity when I tell a patient that there is no treatment for the common cold. I sometimes would ask: "Did you read the headline in this morning's paper that medical science has cured the common cold?.....No? Well it's probably because it has not been printed yet.":lol:

I agree because 60% of my office practice was a pathetic attempt at pharmacalogic compensation for morbid obesity and deconditioning.

Lunesta really pisses me off. If every drug that uses the same pharmacologic mechanism developed over the last 40 years is highly addictive, why would anyone expect lunesta to be different. "Ask a doctor if a sedative is the solution to your insomnia due to your emotional problems.":sick:

[Zerbie]

Expectation and commercialism are what drives a lot of medicine. One of the things I don't miss is the expectation that for each medical condition there is a diagnostic test and a pill--not true by any stretch!

I still get looks of incredulity when I tell a patient that there is no treatment for the common cold. I sometimes would ask: "Did you read the headline in this morning's paper that medical science has cured the common cold?.....No? Well it's probably because it has not been printed yet.":lol:

I agree because 60% of my office practice was a pathetic attempt at pharmacalogic compensation for morbid obesity and deconditioning.

Lunesta really pisses me off. If every drug that uses the same pharmacologic mechanism developed over the last 40 years is highly addictive, why would anyone expect lunesta to be different. "Ask a doctor if a sedative is the solution to your insomnia due to your emotional problems.":sick:

Ayi!

Yuck. No wonder I never like my doctors. I don't like anyone who hands me a pill without spending, oh I dunno, hours - sleuthing through every other option first.

It's not a health-maintenance thing at all. Medical doctors, in my view, are for when you've done everything for your condition already and nothing worked so you've researched some drug options and are ready to suffer the pharmacological route.

Does everyone else think doctors have nothing to do with health? Or am I unusual in that regard?

Scotty - didn't you say you left your practice and were arranging your life to something else more fulfilling?

[keltic63]

Does everyone else think doctors have nothing to do with health? Or am I unusual in that regard?


My doctor was pretty run of the mill when I was overweight, sedentary, and on the fasttrack to high blood pressure. When I lost weight, got active, and actually beat him at a 5k, the relationship, and his focus, at least for me, changed. My visits to his office now focus on maintaining my health, and not dispensing pills. There are no more trite recitations of lose a few pounds, take this pill, etc. It's almost like visiting a friend who has the same interests, and he seems to respect me because I don't come in looking for the fast fix from the pharmacy.

[wmanion]

Zerbie,
I love my doctor because he listens to me. He has accepted the fact that I know my body and I pay attention to what it is telling me. I was diagnosed 7 years ago as being a diabetic. At the time my blood sugar was over 300 and that was with fasting for 24 hours. After two years, I was able to quit the medication and now run a consistent blood sugar between 80-120. I see my doc every six months to make sure my diabeties is under control and he works with me, not against me. He was unsure about taking me off the meds but when I insisted he agreed to let me try it and he has been very happy with my success. He asks me what I think is the best route for my own medical treatment, and then he suggests what I should do. Of course, if I have any kind of infection he is insistant that I take an antibiotic but at that point I know I need it and do as the doc recommends.

Bill

[scott snedeker]

Ayi!

Yuck. No wonder I never like my doctors. I don't like anyone who hands me a pill without spending, oh I dunno, hours - sleuthing through every other option first.

It's not a health-maintenance thing at all. Medical doctors, in my view, are for when you've done everything for your condition already and nothing worked so you've researched some drug options and are ready to suffer the pharmacological route.

Does everyone else think doctors have nothing to do with health? Or am I unusual in that regard?

Scotty - didn't you say you left your practice and were arranging your life to something else more fulfilling?


oh yeah! I'm a hospitalist, prefer "house doctor" I render acute inpatient hospital care. I closed my office practice may 1, 2007

The story I told in feb on one of my threads. Now I work evey other week...sweet!

I often feel a sense of betrayal in people toward physicians. This I believe comes from docs who by their attitude cause folks to feel disempowered and unimportant.

I can usually explain in clear common language any circumstance or condition. Then present options for treatment and allow the patient to choose.

Sometimes a patient will think of something that I had not. The temptation many physicians give in to is to be embarassed and cover their "inadequacy" with posturing or rebuttal.

I find that if I compliment the patient on his/her intelligent suggestion that not only does he//she feel validated but also empowered.

I used to keep a backpack containing 20 lbs of sand hidden in the cabinet of my exam room. When an obese patient compained that I had not thoroughly worked up his/her fatigue, low back pain and perscibed all those damn diabetes and blood pressure pills, I would ask him/her If I could place the back pack on them for the period of the office visit. By the end of 15 minutes he/she woul but uncomfortable and fatiguing.

Then I would remove the back pack and allow the patient to feel the relief. I would explain the the reason he/she felt fatigued and uncomfortable was that he/she was 40 lbs overweight. I took off my 20 lbs, now he/she had to take off the rest.

This demonstration was sometimes the best motivator:D

[andrewlittle]

In the past I have tended to keep the same doctors for years - but I invested a lot in finding them. Moving around lately has made that difficult, but I've been able to deal with it.

When I finally land again, I will make appointments with several doctors, telling the receptionist that I will be interviewing the doctor. On occasion, a receptionist will say that the doctor is too busy "taking care of real patients" to be interviewed and I ask them to check with the doctor before making that decision for them. I have even sent letters, addressed to the doctors directly, and I have had few that are not receptive.

I have a very complicated medical history and, in the interview, I tell the doctor I have not lived this long by abdicating my treatment decisions. I ask them if they are into negotiating health care options, discussing options fully, and willing to consider alternatives. I let them know that I understand my conditions - I'm no expert, but I am an educated patient - and that I participate in my medical treatment.

I have found that some, not all, doctors will spend fifteen to thirty minutes being interviewed, and they come out of that interview knowing something more about me than just what my chart says. We enter into relationship on a fairly level playing field. And, I have to say, I have had doctors who I respect immensely. It is possible, but I have to be willing do the work of educating myself and being a participant.