Random Thoughts Thread

[o.pwuaioc]

My brother is deathly allergic to peanuts. He was just in the hospital again because of it two weeks ago. He pisses me off because he won't carry an epi-pen with him. I don't know how to get him to believe that he needs to care for his own life and it's frustrating. He's so damn cavalier about it. He's been in denial forever. He also continues to smoke even after having a stroke in his 20s that led to doctors telling him couldn't take risks like smoking anymore. I love my brother and he is usually very intelligent, but he just won't listen to reason when it comes to his health. He gives into convenience and impulse and dismisses everyone who tells him to act differently.

I don't mean to dismiss how grievous this must be for you, but I too know some people who are rather cavalier about their own health, and to that I can only say that death isn't an issue for everyone, that they'd rather live well and short than constrained and long. To some degree, I feel the same way, given that I would opt for euthanasia if I were suffering and terminal. It's not the same, but it's not substantially different, differing only by degree.

[prfsnl_gmr]

I, on the other hand, will choose to live forever regardless of the human cost!!!

MWA HA HA HA HA HA HA!!!

[J T]

My brother is deathly allergic to peanuts. He was just in the hospital again because of it two weeks ago. .

Is there an epi-pen you can carry on your person? Mine says to keep it refrigerated until use.

I feel your frustration buddy. The "You need to cool it" talks have never worked in my favor.

It's not even a matter of carrying one on his person, he just won't buy them. After this hospital visit, my parents bought him one and made him take it.

Actually, a bit of a side rant, you used to be able to buy epi-pens individually for about $30. Now you have to buy them in packs of two for $70, which sucks because you generally don't need two since they expire in a year and (hopefully) don't get used that frequently.

[J T]

I don't mean to dismiss how grievous this must be for you, but I too know some people who are rather cavalier about their own health, and to that I can only say that death isn't an issue for everyone, that they'd rather live well and short than constrained and long. To some degree, I feel the same way, given that I would opt for euthanasia if I were suffering and terminal. It's not the same, but it's not substantially different, differing only by degree.

I get what you are saying, but not wanting to live with a painful terminal illness and not wanting to keep an epi-pen are miles apart in terms of the degree of inconvenience a person is willing to tolerate in their life in order to stay alive.

[Luke]

It's not even a matter of carrying one on his person, he just won't buy them.

Ugh. That sucks pal.

Mine are about $20 after insurance and such and have a little Bumble Bee on the syringe. Not sure if the market has been monopolized, but I know to most the pens are not cheap. But $70 or my life? I'd pay the $70.

[J T]

But $70 or my life? I'd pay the $70.

Same here. It just bothers me that the drug companies know that we think that way, and up the price.

[Luke]

Same here. It just bothers me that the drug companies know that we think that way, and up the price.

It's business, and business doesn't give a fuck about anyone.

If you could get an X-Ray at Walgreens, a ton of rich folk would go broke. Medicine will always be a fear mongering tyrant that says "I can save your life...for a price".

And I'm going out on a limb here, but I've had SUPER asthma and allergies since birth. I'm still allergic to cats, but 99% of my allergies and all of my asthma issues mysteriously healed when I stopped taking my asthma and allergy medications.

Not saying you can't "grow out of illness (the bad kind)" but I staunchly believe I was on unnecessary medication until I was eighteen years of age.

[prfsnl_gmr]

That's not surprising. It is at least marginally profitable to diagnose a chronic condition, and - perhaps more importantly - the failure to diagnose a serious condition can have dire consequences for both the doctor and patient.

[Luke]

To clarify, I support most health care providers.

Most of my friends...not so much. My Mother has survived both cancer and a heart attack. Not too shabby. That said I have almost a handful of friends that have had family members die due to the negligence of doctors and surgeons (who of course still practice).

Fear will always be the best marketing tool, and hope will always make the most profit. Put a dash and my name next to that.

Part of this is how gullible we are. What Mother isn't going to keep seeing a pediatrician who says "Your baby is incredibly exceptional"?

[o.pwuaioc]

It's business, and business doesn't give a fuck about anyone.

Just read this, and it's relevant.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/won ... in-france/