On 23/12/2019 09:20, Spike wrote:
On 22/12/2019 18:46, Jethro_uk wrote:
On Sun, 22 Dec 2019 17:53:13 +0000, Andy Burns wrote:
Jethro_uk wrote:

when SWMBO was taking weekly injections of Avonex - a beta interferon
for MS. In some people it can produce a ****ty 24-48 hours of "flu like
symptoms", and it did in SWMBO. However, buried in a magazine was a tip
that eating*fresh* pineapple before the injection would greatly reduce
this. SWMBO tried it, and it eliminated these effects.
Being of a scientific bent, she experimented and confirmed that eating
pineapple prevented side effects. Not eating it and they developed.

Does pineapple have an undesirable interaction with the drug, the same
way that grapefruit can?

Well it's not contra indicated, and SWMBO didn't seem to suffer for 10
years but that's anecdata, not research.

The more interesting thing is despite telling her consultant back in
2004, in 2014, not a single patient had been advised by the consultant -
despite at least 10 SWMBO was in regular contact with trying it and
mentioning to the same consultant how effective it seemed.

Even now, with t'internet, it seems to be a just a piece of folklore -
but SWMBO has mentioned in on MS newsgroups, and people are still finding
it effective. Except for the ones who use tinned pineapple and then say
"it doesn't work". But there really is no helping some people.

One gets the impression that the medical mind runs on rails -


If you speak to doctors- and I mean those who have been around some time
and across a range of areas- you will learn that is far from the case.

True, there are some 'standard' approaches, which experience has shown
tend to work. It makes sense, when confronted with a patient who
presents the appropriate symptoms and/or gives the right details etc
those first- and it may require a few tries, especially of drug 'mixes'.
However, if the standard approaches don't work, the medics go 'off
piste' and do try other mixes or things.

It is amazing, for example, how many drugs originally developed for one
purpose are used 'off label' for other things, in some cases even if
they are deprecated for their original use. There are some, (in) famous
examples.


probably
something to do with being sued should things go awry.


In the UK, suing of Doctors is surprising rare. I know someone who
worked (briefly) for a company dealing in malpractice insurance for
Doctors who do private work. Only those in 'cosmetic surgery' are
considered a serious risk in terms of insurance.

If it isn't part
of the official diagnosis/treatment algorithm, it won't get mentioned.
It's left to self-help groups and the like to spread the word. Arthritis
is another similar area - anecdata suggests not consuming tomatoes and
potatoes can ameliorate the discomfort, but you'll never hear that in a
doctor's surgery.

Ah yes. I remember your advice re ignoring the Government's previous
alcohol consumption limit and your advocating a not 21 units but 60+.
Oddly, since then the mention of even moderate consumption sends you
into a tirade.