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I most decidedly don't like Doctors.

I just discovered that a medicine they gave me while I was in the Hospital exactly a year ago, is what put me on crutches!

Just as I was getting stronger from having a tired heart due to 24-hrs of atrial fibrillation, they put me on a medicine for Bp that causes "extreme muscle weakness".

I've been complaining about having to use a crutch or two, to walk, to do anything!

It was when another drug was added 2 weeks ago, and I was made so weak, I was basically bedridden, that I went online, looked up these drugs, and for both, "severe muscle weakness" and "fatigue" are listed as severe side effects.

I am so mad - and disapponted in a Doctor I really, really trusted.

Unfortunately, I have to keep taking this drug, until I find a Doc where I now live, but I'm looking forward to being put on a drug that does what the original one was supposed to do - get my blood pressure under control, without putting me on crutches at the same time!

And yes, I AM guilty of not reading those inserts they give you with medicines - as I was given the original drug in the Hospital where they don't exactly give you those little sheets to read. Stupid me - trusted Doctors, especially Cardiologists who don't know anything about rheumatology, and *I* should have known better.

</rant off>

So sorry to hear that about the drugs you were given. Are you still on the original ones?

Dad had a similar experience this week when he went to his GP. You may remember when he was in hospital they took him off the tablets that lowered his cholesterol and the ones for his prostate cancer.

The reason being tests had shown liver problems. He had blood tests recently showing the liver is now OK. He has been given alternative medication for the prostate cancer but not for the cholesterol.

He went to the doctors to discuss this last week and basically the doctor said it was up to him if he went back on the cholesterol medication (Lipitor). Dad has therefore demanded a cholesterol check to ascertain what his actual cholesterol is although the doctor did not see the point and wanted him to make the decision without this information.

I like you cannot now trust any medical person and feel that before one takes anything or has any medical procedure one needs to check it out independently of the doctor suggesting it. I will say suggesting because the days of recommending seem over. It all seems to be that you have to make the choice and no doctor seems to want to take responsibility for anything.

I most decidedly don't like Doctors.I am so sorry you have had this dreadful experience. You remain in my prayers. I have printed your account and now I am going to read the fine print on the blood pressure medication my doctor has given me because some days I am so weary that I accomplish very little. I told the doctor and he just says "Well, you're getting old." But I wasn't weary before I had the stroke and started taking this medicine.