Huldra Forsvant (Theodor Kittelsen)

Huldra Forsvant (Theodor Kittelsen)
Huldra Forsvant (Theodor Kittelsen)

Friday, June 19, 2009

Doctor vs. Chemist- The Smackdown

I came across an interesting dilemma yesterday. Who should you trust more, a doctor or a chemist?

I walked into the chemist with a list of a bunch of stuff the doc told me to get, and the chemist read through the list saying 'he said to get all of these?' Yeah, he did. 'do you think it sounds excessive?', I asked. 'Yes'.

In the end I said I better trust the doctor (mainly because I didn't want to get roused at next time I saw him), and got all the stuff. It's true, it was a lot. Who needs two different nasal sprays? And there goes the girls' college fund.

So did I do the right thing? Should I have ignored the doctor and let the chemist trump him?

8 comments:

Pedro said...

OOohhh....conspiracy theory.

Anti-biotics are bad things mate. The reason, I think, that you are given so much in the way of prescriptions is because, A) the doc (I assume it's just a medical centre pleb) isn't really sure what you have and is covering his arse by bombing your body with anti- whatevers. B) The pharmaceutical companies make sure the docs get kick backs from the products they push. Seriously.
Thats why the chemist asked you that question.

Chuck the pills away mate. make up a stinking honey(pure), lemon juice and vinegar broth and take a few days off work and rest. Drink lots of fluids ie: water. nothng else and fruit and veg. Sorted. let the wonderful machine that GOD GAVE US do its job and repair itself.

You will come out the other side, not only feeling better but your immune system will be stronger for it.

i know what you're thinking, chemicals ra ra ra, highhorse ra ra ra...

Just my .02

Ben McLaughlin said...

i know what you're thinking, chemicals ra ra ra, highhorse ra ra ra...

hey, wow, you DO know what I'm thinking!

beth said...

I would trust the doctor over the 'chemist'. Did your chemist give you an exam? Does he know your medical history? If you've been fighting this nasal thing for awhile, two different nasal sprays is not uncommon. One is probably to help with dryness, the other probably to help open things up. Very essential when this is an ongoing problem. Trust me, I've fought with sinus problems since I was 16....I've become an expert.

Ben McLaughlin said...

cool. yeah, he knew what he was talking about, and the two sprays were for different things. Thanks, i feel better!

Tracy said...

Hmmm... I was going to vote for the chemist. But I'm glad to hear things are improving for you. could be different here in the states, but pharmacists (chemists) are so highly trained and knowledgeable about drug categories and interactions. whereas, in my opinion, physicians get quite a bit of their info from the drug companies that come visiting them. Whichever drug company convinced him/her the most will be the one he/she prescribes though in reality, several different ones all do the same thing.

Not that the chemist would trump the Dr., but could identify some medications to inquire about.

Ben McLaughlin said...

hmm good point Tracy..

Leah said...

I love antibiotics. I recently had the flu and was given prescription medicine for the first time in over ten years. Actually, I can't remember the last time I took prescription medicine.

The antibiotics got rid of that flu in less than 2 days. It was wonderful.

Otherwise, for when I just have colds/stomach bugs etc, the most I'll take is painkillers or that nasal spray that clears your nose when you have a blocked nose.

Whether to listen to doctors or chemists... I think you have to weigh it up. Sometimes (it sounds bad I know, but it's true) doctors aren't quite sure what's wrong with you so they'll send you off for two different medications just to 'be safe'. I have a friend who's a pharmacist at our local hospital and he said he once overheard a doctor say "whoops, don't tell the pharmacist"... doctors have their screw-ups too.

Ben McLaughlin said...

yeah you're right Leah- I reckon it's partly because Doc's try and cram in so many appointments. To me it feels like, 'well, I'll diagnose you from as much knowledge as I can gain in a five minute chat/once over.' I wish the appointment went for longer, so I could really explain everything, and they'd listen and try and work it out properly.