If there is one lesson that I try to impart upon all my readers it is to take control of your own health care. A doctor can give you information during a consultation. A nurse can treat you while you are in hospital. But there is only one person who is with you all day everyday. There is only one person who knows how you feel all the time. There is only one person who knows exactly where you have been and what you have done. That's you.
Doctors are a great source of information, but every piece of advice, or instruction they give you, you should query and research. 98% of the time you will probably agree with your doctor, but there is the two percent of the time that you may not agree with him (or her). This does not mean your doctor is wrong, it may just mean they have chosen the wrong option for you.
Even if you do take the doctors advice, you should still know what you are trying to achieve from the treatment, mechanism of action, side effects, restrictions etc... After all, if you have a reaction to a treatment, your doctor is not going to be there to monitor you. It will be up to you, so you should know what is going on.
And this advice is not just for people with a chronic illness. This is for everyone. Did you know what the number one cause of liver failure is? You probably think it's alcohol. You would be wrong. It is paracetamol, aka acetaminophen most commonly known as their brand names Panadol and Tylenol. Check out the following link about OTC medications.
Pain Killers More Dangerous than you Think
Please don't get me wrong, I think paracetamol is a fantastic drug, but shouldn't you know exactly what you are taking and what the side effects are so you can keep an eye out for them. The same goes for any drug. Until next time, stay well:)
one of the most common causes of acetaminophen overdose is the use of combination medications to treat colds and flu. Many preparations contain acetaminophen- taking additional doses (unknowingly or not) may be sufficient to cause liver failure. If the liver is damaged too badly even from multiple small accidental overdoses, a liver transplant may be needed or death can result.
ReplyDeleteVery true Sally, it is also part of the cocktail they put in many oral prescription pain relief like vicodin or panadine. It's not a problem provided you are aware of what you are taking and don't over do it. Thanks for the comment:)
ReplyDeleteMy husband's boss's daughter died from this! Overdosed on Tylenol. only in her 20's with little kids. :(
ReplyDeleteWendy