14 replies to this topic

[PorkLoin]

Maineman, you're dead on re gout, and I have the textbook "late-onset" (non-genetic) type, due to, I am sure, a couple decades of heavy alcohol intake combined with eating lots of purines (proteins) in foods. My right big toe is the one. Let me also say that your sure and easy knowledge of medical matters and your facile writing makes your posts a pleasure to read. I do know of two guys who did develop gout, one in a knee, and one in an ankle, without getting it in a big toe first, but I certainly agree that Bearish does not likely have gout. I wish I'd known what I know now, when I was in my 20s. The human organism is a tough thing, but there are limits. I used to do some serious eating on occasion, like a 6 lb. steak in 19 minutes, in 1984. The deal was if you ate it in 90 minutes, plus a salad and a baked potato, you got it for free. Well, heck, I knew I could do it - I had trained, after all, expanding my stomach. The record was 21 minutes, so I decided to go for it. Afterward, I found out that there was a sister restaurant, where the record was 10.5 minutes, set in 1973. Well, that must have been a grizzly bear. Excess is easy for many of us in our culture, but it does have its price. Best, Doug

[maineman]

"Tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all" Any really good people had "too much" fun when they were young. Most of us growing up in the sixties know that... I agree with Edith Piaf.... I regret nothing... At some point, hopefully before its too late, though, we learn and move on. As Kilgore Trout says to Kurt Vonnegut when Vonegut reveals that Trout is just a character he made up in books, Trout yells, "Well then make me young!".... mm

[bearish04]

Hi- The thread is still alive so i thought i would give a brief update here.

The Dr said i am suffering from spondyloarthritis ( he gave a medical name to it but i dint note it). According to him its a fairly common arthritis and mine is relatively 'mild' as it has not yet affected my bones. He wanted to give me a steroid injection considering that my pains and aches are pretty bad and I have to have a Brufen allmost every other day. He had earlier given me a Brufen retard to have everyday for 3 weeks- but i did not accept it. I agreed to have medication on 'as need' basis than do a 3 week brufen course. So, I am taking a chance that the changes i am making will help & I will be able to avoid the drugs.

Of course the reason is I am a believer of naturopathy at heart (sorry MM) and of the thought that - you are what you eat. So of course lots of dietary changes- to ensure that the food which is corroding my bones should not continue to do so. I started accupuncture treatment today as well - today was my first session and I have a good feeling about it. Dr. Chen is wonderful and is sure he can cure me soon- he just came back from the Mt Everest base camp in China and said I am suffering similar to the guys out there- my bodies got a cold inside - which is causing inflammation. For more details - http://www.chenqiang...energy book.htm. the next thing is homeopathy, i will be starting on that soon- I am going to the homeopath next.

Sorrry gotta run. But I will keep in touch. Till then-live well, be healthy and of course trade well.

Cheers
B04

[maineman]

No need to apologize to me for telling the truth. It is your body, after all, and you are free to do with it what you want. Try not to get too suckered in, though. It will be a a disappointing moment of awareness when you realize that all the mumbo-jumbo naturopathy, zen psychobabble, "ancient chinese secrets" etc. did nothing for your symptoms, that life goes on, and that the best one can hope for is true balance with sane, logical simple healthy eating, prudent life habits (e.g. sleep at night, be happy and productive during the day, etc) and rational appropriate medical care (vaccines, check ups, cancer, blood pressure, diabetes, etc. screening and maintenance). As I said before - there is no rational or sane reason for modern educated, caring medical doctors and scientists to "hide" critical care for our patients/friends/family. If it has been shown to work, we help people with it. If it has not been shown to work, we discard it. No one keeps a more open mind than one who is willing to accept the truth as it is presented. The whole idea of "intuition" as a guide to good health is a dangerous construct. The idea that "you are what you eat" - one of the more cozy slogans of the so-called "alternative" world is a disingeneous slogan. You are who you are, food is simply a fuel. It is our/your ego bluffing when it tries to convince you that somehow you can make a leap of "logic" and assume a connection between certain foods and certain health conditions. As I tell all my skeptical patients, at least don't hurt yourself and please don't waste too much money on the snake oil salesmen. And, I'll still be here when you are ready to get proper care. hope you feel better every day of your life. mm

[maineman]

Had an interesting conversation with a patient today - very educated, college professor. We were talking about the fascination with "ancient chinese medicine" and old "cures". What draws people to these old ideas? Especially when there is such potent new data? Not long ago I saw the Wright brother's exhibit at the Smithsonian in DC. Great ideas, incredible foresight, tremendous courage. In its day. But I'm glad I get to fly on a cozy SST or 747 when I take a trip and not on an open wing biplane.... Likewise a Model T Ford is very cool. There are several trotted out each year for our local Memorial Day Parade. The kids love em, but I'm glad I get to ride to work in my hybrid Toyota Prius at 60 mph and get 50 miles per gallon, crank up a Dolbyt Stereo and not pollute the planet. My son is classics major and fluent in Greek. At college he helped translate ancient Greek Medical texts at the Smithsonian.... amazing stuff. These old guys really were observant, and had tremendous insight into the visible human body, the taste and smell of urine, the descriptions of disease and decay, they effect of local herbs, etc. Really smart - for their time. But they were mostly wrong, had no idea of molecular biology, genes, microbes, etc. etc. I guarantee you a million bucks if Aristotle came back today he'd be thrilled to get a shot of penicillin for an infection. Likewise the "ancient chinese" who were also observant, wise about local herbs, and diligent in describing the visible body. For those things they could not see, they ascribed mystical "unseen" properties, like "chi" energy, used in Accupressure and accupuncture. Fascinating and truly masterful thinking. Unfortunately they did not have access to molecular biology, genetics, microscopes, cell analyszers, MRIs, etc. and most of what they thought was wrong. I guarantee you if the Yellow Emperor himself (of the wonderful 5000 year old Textbook of Medicine by the Yellow Emperor) came back today he'd check in for a colonooscopy, a stress test and he'd be delighted to take an aspirin for his headaches. He was no fool. Anyway, just always amazed and in awe of intelligent people who have no problem with electricity, radio waves, internet, high speed trains, TV, toaster ovens, running water, wire transfers, NASA space shuttles, Hubble Telescopes, etc. etc. who at the same time believe that "ancient chinese medicine" is BETTER? Its a wonderful world.... mm