Consultants - ignorant AND arrogant

Alexandra100 said:

Well, of course open-minded and humble consultants do exist ! But that fatal combination of ignorance and arrogance is still far too prevalent. Today I had an appointment with a specialist for a health problem which is, as far as I know, not diabetes related. When I handed over my list of medicines, he said, "Oh, you are taking Metformin, you are diabetic." "No", said I, "I am just going in that direction but I want to stop that before it gets any further." "If you are taking Metformin you are diabetic." "Well, my last A1c was 37." "Then you should be taken off Metformin. Metformin is a very dangerous drug with many bad side effects. It should not be used for prophylaxis." "Oh, I thought it was known as a very safe drug." "YOU ARE NOT LISTENING TO ME!!!" End of exchange.

Why why why should this man whose specialism has nothing to do with diabetes imagine he knows all about it? Next time we meet I shall give him a printout of the Nice advice that GPs prescribe Metformin to pre-diabetics in the hope of arresting their progress towards diabetes.

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Wow, he needs to improve his beside manner as well as his knowledge of medications.

It isn't very long ago that Metformin was first allowed for pre-diabetics. The licence only covered diabetics, and maybe still does. However, NICE introduced it in certain circumstances to pre-diabetics from 2017. Some doctors prescribed it "off label" mainly to obese persons.

https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ph38/chapter/Recommendations#metformin

It is possible your consultant is only just behind the times, and can be forgiven as diabetes is not his specialty .

I like the bit where he says that Metformin is a very dangerous drug with many bad side effects.

Have you ever read the Patient Information Leaflet that comes with every box of pills. Every one of them lists about 50 possible side effects. There isn't a pill without potential side effects some of which have happened to me.

Alexandra100 said:

Am I naive in believing Jenny Ruhl when she writes about the GOOD side effects of Metformin?
http://diabetesupdate.blogspot.co.uk/2010/06/yet-more-good-news-about-metformin.html

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No, I don't think so. I have read about trials of it being given to certain cancer patients apparently because high BG levels can feed cancer cells. I believe it reduces liver dumps and increases insulin sensitivity. These properties would seem to outweigh the well know disadvantages.

Alexandra100 said:

the GOOD side effects of Metformin?

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I didn't, but my aunt, who's on metformin, is very happy with it's side effects now she's on codeine again. The main side effects of both tablets rule eachother out, so no more obstipation from the codeine and no more panicky toilet trips from the metformin

Bluetit1802 said:

and can be forgiven as diabetes is not his specialty

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Nope, no forgiveness for HCP's bleating about things they don't know. Especially since Alexandra didn't visit him for something diabetes related. If the metformin bothered him, he could have saved questions about it for the end of the consult, after dealing with the consult itself.

Hello .I think your consultant could right about metformin being dangerous.In 2016 i was told by the doctor that i had type 2 diabetes.I had had it for about 6 years but despite having routine blood tests and blood pressure chccks..They never told me about it.I didn't think for a second i was diabetic..I felt fine at the time.Later on when i started with complications i put it down to old age.
Anyway after i was told i was diabetic i was given metformin .When i went to Boots the chemist in York where i live the pharmacist told me i would have a gippy stomach for 2 weeks while i got used to them.I thought i feel fine now Why should i take this stuff to make myself ill.So i never bothered taking them .I decide i would change my diet and do some excercise to try and lower my blood sugar levels.which were quite high.On the the metformin information leaflet It only mentioned about possibly getting an upset stomach and Lactic Acidosis which can be fatal.A few months later i went to the Philipinnes to stay with my girlfriend for 8 months.No chance of of having a sugar free diet there my girlfriend would not hear of it.
Due to the the extra sugar diet i started getting stabbing pains in my lower legs and arms plus burning feelings in my legs in bed at night.So i decided to try Metformin.In the Philipinnes you can buy most meds without seeing a doctor.I bought some Metformin from the local pharmacy.I read the information leaflet and there was a list of possible side effects a long as your arm,some sounded very serious indeed.At the end of the leaflet it said this medicine will not prevent diabetic complications.
I started taking the Metformin starting with 1x 500 mg tablet a day for 2 weeks then increased it fo 2 tablet .That is when my troubles started.I developed a severe pain on my right hand side like a kidney pain .i didn't link the pain with the Metformin at first.The pain got real bad i could hardly stand it and you can't get strong pain killers in the Philipinnes without joining a pain clinic.
I began to think it could be the Metformin caursing the pain .I stopped taking them,within 24 hours the pain had gone.But the problem was not over yet The right hand side of my right leg down to my foot went semi paralised my thigh muscle went flabby and swollen.the pain in my leg was terrible.The pain went after a few days >then i found i could not use my right leg to climb the slightest step>which made climbing steps on public transport impossible without help.There were some very kind and helpful people assisting me.It was a real problem having a duff right legv and severe arthritis in my left hip.Then things got worse my right leg started buckling without warning.I'd be walking along with a stick my leg would collapse and i would end up on the deck.I was in this busy shopping mall with my girlfriend waking along ,no pain my leg suddenly gave way my girlfriend tried to stop me falling but we both ended on the floor.Lots of people rushed across got us on our feet again they got me a wheelchair and we went our local bar.my leg had recovered until next time.I lost the the amount of times i fell to the ground.I came back to the UK I hired a taxi from Manchester Airport to my home in York.my legs were that weak.
I hardlly dare set foot out of the house for fear of falling.Evetually my leg recovered .slightly well at least it stopped collapsing.
When i got back to the UK i went to the doctors.I saw the nurse .She was taking my blood pressure i was telling about what happened .and why i was doddering about and thoughi it was the Metforming that caursed my weak legs .She was not the slightest bit interested she couldn't careless .If fact she told me to quiet in a stroppy manner becaurse she was taking my blood pressure..Then she said bloody hell its 200 bloody hell! My blood pressure is always high at the doctors surgery ,but normal away from medical surroundings.I left the Malpractice never to return again The treatment there or lack of it is total rubbish .But the was light at end of the tunnel as i have mentioned before .I managed to cure my diabetes with going on a 24 hour alternate fasting diet and losing over 3 st in weight plus lowering my blood sugar to normal thereby ridding myself of diabetes That was over 10 months ago.They know what they can do with Metformin as far as i am cocerned.

It is dangerous if you have contraindications such as kidney issues, which should be picked up before being prescribed.

When someone doesn't enjoy their job they behave how this Consultant did, unless he was just having a bad day.

Alexandra100 said:

Directions for getting a correct bp reading include sitting still and not talking- instructions never observed by any GP I have ever met.

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You are also not supposed to cross your legs, which I always forget every time, at least they remind me politely.

Alexandra100 said:

Yes, but what was in those tablets? I wouldn't trust a drug bought without prescription in the Philippines.

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The drugs bought without prescription come from the same places as the drugs bought with prescription, Mercury Drug Store or Watson's. The drugs are legitimate, it's just a different culture and different approach to licensing.

Alexandra100 said:

I may have got this wrong, but I think I read that there is a big problem in India with dodgy medicines. And if in India, why not in the Philippines?

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Fake medication is a problem everywhere, even in the UK.....

https://www.independent.co.uk/life-...s-trade-puts-nhs-patients-at-risk-430509.html

I'm not saying it can't happen in the Philippines, I'm just saying that the majority of med's come from licensed drug stores. I cannot comment on India, I haven't been there (yet).

urbanracer said:

Fake medication is a problem everywhere, even in the UK.....

https://www.independent.co.uk/life-...s-trade-puts-nhs-patients-at-risk-430509.html

I'm not saying it can't happen in the Philippines, I'm just saying that the majority of med's come from licensed drug stores. I cannot comment on India, I haven't been there (yet).

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Surely the UK has a governing body, such as Australia has in having the Therapeutic Goods Administration agency to safeguard against the import of fake medication.

It seems to me that the people that persist in getting their medication off of E Bay are the victims here.