For those of you around the world, who may not be familiar with Albuquerque, New Mexico, I will describe it for you.  Albuquerque is a city located in the southwestern United States (between Texas and Arizona) and the population is roughly 500,000 residents. 

I'll bet you, there isn't a resident in Albuquerque, that has visited a chiropractor more than I have.  I'll bet you!  In the past 40 years, I have visited a chiropractor over 125 visits and in 2013, I continue to visit on my Wellness Plan. 

Because of an accident to the upper spine and neck area when I was eleven years old, that was never fixed, I was suffering from migraine headaches, and I was a basket-case in my mid-and late 20's and nearing homeless several times.  Suffering from high blood pressure and nose-bleeds has been a way of life with me. 

At that time, I was given drugs by the Air Force doctors and my family doctor to no avail.  At that time, I had hit rock bottom, and I weighed only 118 pounds and had that yellow look and blood-shot eyes all the time.  I was in bad shape!  To get well took a long time for me, but what happened over the next decade, was just short of a miracle.  During that time, I weighed myself everyday, as I now weighed 185 pounds; and I had color back in my sking.  My family and friends and people around me (at work) couldn't believe how I had changed. 

Chiropractors don't and can't prescribe drugs, and the body heals through natural healing.  And, that's how I got off of prescription drugs, and over the years, I've stayed off of prescription drugs for the most part. 

Back then, I was in such bad shape, that I thought I would never live to the age of 55; and 55 came and went; I thought I would never live to the age of 60 and 60 came and went; and to the age of 65 and the age of 65 came and went.  And, now in 2013, I have reached the ripe old age of 68 and I'm still 'shaking my booty' on the dance floor. 

The United States is made up of over 200 million people, or should I say zombies, running around popping pills to try to stay on their feet.  I'm reminded of the old 1970's commercial, where the mechanic looks straight into the camera and says, "You can pay me now...OR you can pay me later."  And, I think that's what is happening with prescription drugs...a short-term fix...just another band-aid.  The mechanic is right...'you can pay me later,' and that later for many, will be kidney failure; liver failure; colon failure, and you name it...FAILURE IS FAILURE.

Every year, hundreds of thousands of people throughout America die from prescription drugs, and when I wrote and did research for the article, I was astonished about just how many people die from proscription drugs. 

Prescription Drugs; the #4 Killer in the US  

And, for some people it's too late.  They've been taking this poison for over 30 and 40 years, and when they suffer kidney failure; liver failure and/or color failure, the doctor tells the patient, that there is nothing more medicine can do for you, and you can go home and die! 

Metformin (medication); I was disgnosed with diabetes in 2008, and Dr. Reyes, perscribed 1,000 mg. of the drug metformin.  I told her I would not take 1,000 mg. of anything, so she told me to cut it in half.  I still found myself upsidedown and doubled over with severe constipation.  I called 911, and I told the ambulance people, that if the apartment building were on fire, I wouldn't be able to get out. 

I spent about 10 hours in the emergency room, but, little did I know that things would get worse later in the year.

For lunch that day, I had a bowl of soup and some French bread, and I thought is was logical to think, that the French bread caused the constipation...having turned into a ball of dough, and acting like a stopper.  So, at the time, I never gave the Metformin a second thought.  During this time, I didn't have any more French bread, as I didn't want the same thing to happen to me again. 

As the months went by, I noticed cramping in the arch of my right foot, and the cramps wouldn't last long.  This constipation occured in May, 2009, and druing the next 6 months, I had several incidents of the cramping and lightning streaks up and down the right side of my body.  Finally, in October of 2009, I experienced permanent cramping in the right foot, and I began to limp everywhere I went.  This went on for about a week, and now I was experiencing cramping in the right hand as well...so much so, that my right hand cramped up like I was holding a grapefruit. 

By this time, I was concerned, that I was suffering from the beginnings of a stroke, so I called 911.  The ambulance people asked me if I could open my hand or close it, and I couldn't do either.  I was taken to the ER and I was admitted right away! 

The reader will remember, that I didn't have any French bread during the past 6 months, so I pointed the finger at the metformin.  When I was discharged from the ER, I fired Dr. Reyes, and quick taking the Metformin.  My new diabetes, Dr. Seibel, perscribed the medication Glimepriride, 4mg. and things were back to normal. 

I spent two days in the hospital, and after I was discharged, there was never any talk among doctors, as the culprit being the metformin.  Two visits to the nueologist, showed me to be in great shape.  Not a whisper about the metformin. 

Ambien; (zolpidem); This would be my third hospitalization in three years.  I am a veteran, and when I left the VA Medical Center, I was taking trazedone for sleep problems, but the HMO didn't have the medication on their list, so I had to switch to something else.  The medication was Ambien, and during this time, I suffered from digestive problems; bloating, etc. 

One day, I got some pain in the stomach right around the belly-button area.  This went on for about ten hours, and I had now idea where the pain came from.  About nine that evening, a newsletter came over the computer, and a fellow wrote in, saying that he had had problems with Ambien for years, and evern hospitalized.  "That's It," I thought to myself.  I had noticed some black stools recently, which could indicate internal bleeding, so as not to take a chance, I called 911 that evening, and I was taken to the ER, where I spent the night. 

An x-ray was taken, and the ER doctor told me that I was passing a kiding stone.  I didn't believe her.  After I was discharged, I met with a urologist several days later, and he told me the same thing...I didn't believe him, either.  When I was hospitalized, I stopped taking the Ambien, and I have never suffered the pain again.  As for the doctors, nothing was ever talked about, as the Ambien being the cuprit.  Many months have gone by, and still no discomfort or pain, and NOTHING was ever said about the Ambien. 

*                      *                 *

I'm not anti-pharmacy...I'm just pro-common sense about prescription drugs.  It would be naive, for me to think that I would never take prescription drugs again.  I'm just saying that, over the 40 years in visiting a chiropractor, I have tried to limit my taking of prescription drugs, etc. 

After the first ER visit, I was taking about six pills, and I made a promise to myself, that I would cut that intake.  By, June of 2013, I have cut that amount to one pill a day, and I can eliminate that pill by the end of June, 2013.  Chiroopractors don't prescribe drugs, so this is probable one of the best things I've done for myself over the 40 years. 

Additionally, I will make my first visit to an accupuncturist on June 19, 2013.  I am excited for the visit, because between chiropractic and accupuncture, I can, hopfully keep the amount of prescription to a minimum.  

And, for some people it's too late.  They've been taking this poison (prescription drugs) for over 30 and 40 years, and when the doctor they have experienced liver, kidney, or color failure, all the doctor can do is to tell them to go home and die.  There is nothing more medicine can do for these people. 

That's what happened to Jackie Kennedy; Walt Disney; Roger Miller and Steve Jobs...they just went home and died. Now, these people may not have been suffering from prescription drugs, but, from some other illness, but, the principle is the same.  Medicine could do nothing for them...and the mechanic is right...you can pay later! 

The Benefits of Chiropractic (coming soon)
The Benefits of Accupuncture (coming soon)

MAIN MENU; (20 Short-Cut Links) For Your Convenience;
Copyright; 2013; Jerry Aragon; The Humor Doctor;