Some interesting highlights from todays GP visit.

Before you read, don't let this thread become fodder for some new war of words.  Not my intention, though I will be mentioning a couple of touchy subjects.  I like it when its peaceful and helpful here best.

Today I had my long over due visit with my GP, he's been seeing me for over 15 years, has been through all my cancer episodes and everything else with me.  We spent at least a half hour together, perhaps more.

First, I was wrong, and some of you were right.  No problems with me on that.  My Vitamin D is in terrible shape.  It was the first time I have ever been tested.  It was 18.9  out of a normal range of 32-100.  So much for my theory on that, I expected to be in the bottom of the normal range.  This doctor is very anti-supplement and vitamins, with the exception of Vit D.  He went to lengths to explain why it is important, especially to someone in my condition.  He wants me on Oral Vit D, 50,000 units twice a week, on Monday and Thursday, for 12 weeks, then reduce to 2,000 units daily until the number is decent.  He doesnt want it checked again for 6 months.  Be interested in some constructive remarks on this plan.  I will do it, as this is one doctor that is very conservative and I have a high level of trust in.

Second,  got my first ever baseline testosterone level, it came in at 502 out of a normal range of 193-740.  On the good side, he said that even some 40 year old guys don't have a level that high, but on the bad side, its keeping the cancer cells very happy.  Purpose of test - to establish a baseline in case I ever went to HT.

The rest of the stuff was mundane, won't waste anyone's time on it, the other blood work numbers are all good in all areas.  No changes in any of the  few meds I take.

If the bone scan doesn't show any spread of cancer, and its not expected to, then he wants me to see this good orotpedic surgeon for an opinion of the bone scan, to see why that hip is in such pain.

Now this last paragraph, again, not intended to be a shot at anyone's thinking.  As part of our experiences, I believe in sharing what doctors tell me, like most of you do, so don't shoot the messenger.

I asked him point blank (without telling him any opinion on my mind) is Pomegrante juice medical useful, or just a current health food fad.  He said as a doctor, he has read every possible study on the subject, and he found absolutely no medical benefit for drinking it.  He said, if you like it, drink it, but its not going to cure, change ,or improve anything in particular.

As far as multi-vitamins or other vitamin supplements, he still feels that if you eat 3 decent meals a day, even if its not always what we would call healthy, then there is no one in this country that is going to be vitamin deficient, and that the supplements just make expensive urine.

He promotes a heart healthy diet to all of his patients, and gets frustrated with patients obsessed with extreme dietary changes and heavy supplement uses that continue to smoke.  He said the smoking part completely negates the rest of the effort.  His words - not mine, and of course, one doctor's opinion.

So now, its getting ready to prep for tommorow kidney scan.

David in SC

 

Post Edited (Purgatory) : 3/2/2011 5:24:44 PM (GMT-7)

David -
- I was pleased to see there was a little more zest in your tone in your text ...
- you seem to be taking everything in its stride ...
-and when all the picture puzzle pieces fall in place, hopefully, you will be able to see the story and the right path for you to choose (which includes not choosing)

hugs,
BRONSON

David.....I think you'll recall I'm one of those guys on heavy Vit. D supplementation. Briefly, my number was 25 in 12/09. 6 months of 1000 IU brought it all the way up to 30. My GP then sanctioned 50,000 IU once per week for 3 months, which brought it up to 56. Another 3 months of same brought it to 65. I'm doing another 3 months, and then expect to level off on maintenance dose. I feel better because of it, and the benefits, which are many, are documented. Glad your MD sees it that way, and that you're willing to supplement.......as for the T, my last level was at 357, but the important number is the free testosterone. It's a very good idea to establish the baseline. There are many studies out that fly in the face of (up to now) conventional thinking of testosterone being gas on the fire of PCa. You might find these two books interesting; "Testosterone for Life" by Morgentaler, and "The Testosterone Syndrome" by Eugene Shippen. Morgentaler is a Urologist, Shippen an Endocrinologist. I won't try to summarize either; just some inexpensive reading suggestions for you........Amazon has them online for @$10.00 a piece. I'll just add this, and it's not for argument at all-----sometimes eating well still isn't enough. I, for instance eat very well, but was not absorbing quite a few nutrients, including iron, zinc, B, etc.-----found out that the Prilosec (acid reflux) I was on was slowly blocking absorption. So meds can blunt the effect of an otherwise good diet, as do other disruptors. Good luck with the regimen; I know you'll keep us posted.

Arnie in DE

Your Vit. D was higher than mine, even though I was already taking one 1,000 per day - doc bumped me to two, will be getting the next blood work later this month.

i just reviewed my paperwork and my vitamin D level is 31.1.   hmmm.  maybe i better do something about that even tho my doctor thinks it is "okay".

ed

 

When it was discovered that a deficiency of vitamin C caused scurvy a whole industry was born. I loved the book, "Nuts Among The Berries" --- goes back to 1977 and it's still an interesting read today.

David, I loved the line, "expensive urine," --- that's what I tell my wife every morning when I choke down the multi-vitamin that's just a little smaller than a freight car.

As for vitamin D, I'm all in favor of it, especially if it's accumulated on the freedom beach at Club Med.

Sheldon AKA Sleepless

my wife keeps buying pomengrante juice for me but I find the stuff vile and won't drink it. Glad you posted what you did so I can show her and move back to pear juice.

Glad you're starting the vit' D, I'm convinced that my wife getting me into a tanning salon in the winter of '08 (which I continue to this day) slowed the velocity of my cancer. That was the only change in lifestyle and the only reason I can think of for the one point rise during the next 20 months after more than doubling from 2.5 to 5.5 in the prior 18 months.

Best of luck on the upcoming scans.

Dave in Durango CO.

"David:

Sounds like a profitable visit to your Dr."

For whom?  I wonder if he could take Vit-D-3 supplements recommended by a PC specialist like Stephen Strum?

Post Edited (Trepidation) : 3/2/2011 4:30:54 PM (GMT-7)

Motion on the floor made by Zen9.

Seconded by Sonny.

One of my few rare posts lately, but one that comes from the heart.

First thanks guys: 142,sheldon, dave in co, alf, bronson, and arnie - all good advice

billy - i would be afraid to see me naked in the back yard, i wont even wear shorts outside the house, lol. tennacious - my daughter called me this week after the bad psa reading - didnt know what it meant and had to look it up. have always been super sun sensitive since a youth, in the old days, they called it sun sickness (no such disease of course), so i have always bundled up and avoid sun exposure, plus, i burn super easy.

f8 - i didnt find it odd with my GP being only an advocate of vit 5 as a supplement, as my doctor, he explained its use and purpose in the human body, with my immune system - in a way that made sense to me. he said it was the only supplement that he uses as while. you said it didnt make the doctor's right, but i say it doesnt make them wrong either, right?

mag - i can't hardly read the prescription paper, but i believe he put me on just vit d, not d3, and we didnt discuss vit d3, i wouldnt have thought of that on my own, as i had a long list of other questions to knock off

zen and sonny - a special thanks, would do the same for either of you guys too

Casey, Casey

I was anticipating your repsonse on the Pom subject, look whaty wrote:

"Based on what you wrote here, however, the B.S. flag should have gone up in your mind when your current doctor (a General Practitioner, not a even urologist) said that he’s read every medical study published on one narrow niche (pomegranate) in one specialty field out of hundreds (prostate cancer). This appears highly implausible…and that’s a generous statement."

Always condenscending - about my GP "not even a urologist". What is that suppose to mean? Another assumption on your part. You don't know what interests my GP or doesn't in his ongoing education and interests in the medical field. For a GP, he knows a lot about radiation and urological surgeries. He's been a big help to me over the years. "This appears highly implausible"? Perhaps to you, but wasn't to me, and I am his long term patient, not you.

He has been a straight shooter with me all these many years. Probably knows more about all my medical conditions and situations/history than any other doctor. Over the years, he has referred me to some pretty unique specialists, he never pretends to know what he doesnt know and I respect that. He knows his limits as a GP.

I admit you know a lot, or at least research about a lot of things, but you got to learn to approach people in a way that doesn't seem demeaning or insulting to them. That's my perception of you, but don't take it as a flame. Just responding to what you wrote.

On the Pom subject, which I honestly feel is a silly thing to argue about anyway, I have now talked face to face with 3 radiation oncologists, a medical oncologist, my uro, my GP, and even the oncology dietician at my hospital, and not one of them will vouch for any serious reason or benefit of drinking POM juice. You expect me to believe that all 7 of these doctors are wrong and you are right?

David in SC

David.........I'm sure that the Vitamin D that your MD is prescribing is Vitamin D-3, even if he didn't write it down that way. My 50K IU is just that. And anybody here who's taking the 1000/2000 IU per day is taking D-3...........but call back and check with him just for sure. One nice surprise is that you really don't need a prescription for D-3, but you might have to go to a compounding pharmacy to get the 50K strength. 12 pills at that strength cost me $10.00--------for once, cheap health!

Arnie in DE