Supplements

A long time ago, before Lee’s heart attack, vitamins were interesting.  We’d read about some interesting new discovery, and run out and buy a bottle of something that was supposed to make us live longer, or think more clearly, or have more energy–it was all sort of entertaining.  An internist once commented that Lee seemed to be pissing an awful lot of money down the toilet, but other than that, no harm done, right?

Then he got a real problem.  After his bypass surgery, we sought out the best doctors we could find.  He sees both a cardiologist and an endocrinologist (a doctor who works with hormones; this particular endocrinologist specializes in lipids), and they work together to calibrate his medications very carefully.  Both of these doctors are actively involved in the development of heart disease treatment protocols; they have access to all the most up-to-date and reliable research, and they strive to keep Lee’s treatment about five years ahead of the mainstream.  Any tweak or adjustment of his medication is carefully considered by both doctors.

Here’s the thing:  the pills he takes now really matter.  We want them to work exactly like they’re meant to.  The problem with unprescribed supplements is the lack of information about safety and potential interactions (never mind the question of whether they do what they’re advertised to do–if you want to spend your money on snake oil, that’s your business–as long as it’s not actually making things worse).  No pill–and I mean none–goes in without the endocrinologist’s approval.  Lee asked, years ago, which common over-the-counter things were best for him, so when he has a sore throat, he takes aceteminophen.  When he has a cold, he takes sudafed.  When he has a cough, he takes dextromethorphan or guafanesin, or he goes to his internist for a prescription.

And when he goes to see that internist (or any other doctor*), he always has a list of everything he takes.  He keeps the list in his wallet.  Everyone in our house knows where the list is, in case there’s ever an emergency.  It only makes sense to keep a complete list with you all the time.  Every time I take a child to the pediatrician, or the dentist, or even when I go in for my annual eye exam, I have to list everything the patient takes. There’s no excuse for not having that information–you know you’re going to need it.  And if your doctor doesn’t ask?  Get a new doctor.  Immediately.

As for the interesting supplements we read about nowadays, we mostly ignore them.  Here’s why:

1–if there’s solid science behind it, and it really does look like it will help Lee, the endocrinologist will recommend it.  As a matter of fact, he’ll most likely prescribe a reputable, quality-controlled version of it, as opposed to sending us off to find whatever random version Target happens to have in stock.

2–if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.  There is no magic bullet.  Good health is a lifestyle.  Obviously, modern pharmaceuticals can work miracles in the fight against disease, but in the absence of a specific illness, general good health is more a function of how you live than of what you take.

Never, ever take a pill recommended or prescribed by anyone who doesn’t know and understand everything else you take.  Your life might depend on it.

*It goes without saying that we are very selective about our doctors.  The first and most obvious criteria is that the doctor had to go to medical school.  You’d be surprised how many people call themselves doctor in a way that is misleading.  Do you really want to take medical advice from someone who never went to medical school?