Help me form an argument on why alternative medicine isn't always right.

[canary]

I'm sick of people telling me my surgery could have been avoided if i only smoked more pot/stayed with FODMAPS longer/did acupuncture more often/did any of the x alternative therapies for another month. I tried these things for as long as I could. What can I say to the people who think I am weak?

 

[Ihurt]

I totally get your frustration. I mean some alterative methods are good and they can help with some things. Unfortunately, they do not always help every single health issue. These diseases are so complex. Western medicine does not know much about chronic health issues, they only know how to write prescriptions and do surgeries. Sometimes surgery is necessary though. Naturopathic medicine does not know everything either and cannot fix everything.

I have not been diagnosed with IBD, but I have been having intestinal issues for 3 years now. I Also have other health issues as well that are debilitating( Interstitial Cystitis, CFS, possible Lyme). I also have people tell me that I just need to relax more and I would feel better, or I need to take a certain concoction or supplement and I would get better. Umm, I have spent sooo much money on different supplements that did not help me. I could open a frickin store with all the supplements and natural remedies I have bought.

My advice to you in terms of when getting confronted with people giving their suggestions would be to tell them "thank you for your concern, but do you really think I would have had surgery if any of those things really worked for me"??? Also, acupuncture treats pain ( but it does not work for everyone), it cannot heal an illness. It can be beneficial, but it does not always work. I have also done lots of acupuncture and have had minimal results. What really gets me is that the very people who are so quick to offer suggestions of what they "think" will help get us better usually have No serious chronic illnesses themselves. Try not to let people get to you. Ignore them when they start spurting off suggestions, they honestly have not a clue..

 

[D Bergy]

Ask them how they would treat the illness if they had it? They will likely give you an answer of some kind.

Then ask them if their doctor recommended x treatment, which is completely different what would you do?

If they say I would probably do what the doctor suggested, case closed, that's what you did.

If they say, I would do my treatment of choice, whatever that may be, ask them why they would not follow the doctors recommendation? They will give one reason or other, it really does not matter what it is.

Then ask, so really you think you should be able to choose your treatment,regardless of what someone else thinks.

I can't imagine them saying anything else than "yes".

Then you say, good! That's what I did.

Next.

 

[Lady Organic]

I personally would not engage in such conversations with such people and i'd just tell them to mind their own business. You dont have to provide an explanation to anyone about your surgery. these people dont know anything about crohns and they certainly dont have a degree in curing it. people who make you feel guilt or think you are weak are not good friends. dare anyone tell me I should or should nt have done this or that, oh boy... this would completely ruin a relationship for me. consider expanding your social circle to other people, people more empathetic and more sensitive :ysmile:

 

[Hope345]

Weak? No you are not weak, you took control and made a very important decision that will give you a quality of life. You have all of our support!!!!!!

People do not realize the seriousness of this disease.

I am proud of you and hope you find lots of happiness in your life.

 

[Caitlin84]

My first thought is to tell ppl to 'f*ck off'. Ask them when they got their degree in gastroenterology.

Ppl are so rude, and so unhelpful at times.

 

[teeny5]

That is rude for people to be like that towards you. Don't they think if there was a cure we would all be doing it or taking that med/supplement???? There is no cure. Bottom line is they obviously don't know what they are talking about. Is it family or friends? Family you might simply tell them that you are happy with the choices you have made and kindly ask to not discuss further. If it's friends, I would get new friends. Especially if you have already asked them to stop. You need people in your life that support you, even if they disagree.

 

[UnXmas]

I spent years trying alternative medicine and diets. I can at least speak with confidence that I gave it a thorough try, though I don't think you need to have tried it in order to logically decide you don't want to.

One argument seems to be that the reason people don't attempt diets and alternative therapies, and instead turn to conventional medicine, is because they're looking for a quick fix - a pill, or they're too lazy/greedy to give up junk food. Anyone who's dealt with the side effects of prednisone, undergone major surgery or learned to live with a stoma knows conventional medicine is not all about quick fixes.

Another argument I've seen is that you've got nothing to lose by trying alternative therapy, because it doesn't have any severe side effects. I regret the time, money and effort I spent on it though. You may give up an important part of your social life, family life or culture if you make a drastic diet change (maybe worth doing if it worked, but it's still a negative side effect you risk). And my confidence and happiness suffered hugely by repeatedly failing when various alternative practitioners told me I would get better. I also got neurotic and phobic of eating when people were (wrongly) telling me so many foods were wrong, and my physical symptoms were actually significantly worsened by my attempts to heal with diet.

Conventional medications and surgery have drastically improved my life, and they save people's lives everyday. I think that's a good argument.

 

[Bunty]

A very simplistic answer to the question is that it just isn't always right....
You really don't have to explain to anyone why it's not, it just isn't for everyone.
Just smile and say 'Ive tried it and it's not for me'
You haven't failed, and you're not weak, it just isn't for you..or me..or lots of others.
Bunty x

 

[InstantCoffee]

Everyone responds differently to different alternative medicine just the same as they respond differently to different mainstream medicines.

Could you have avoided surgery? Who knows. There's a lot more variables when taking an alternate approach, you usually need an entire system in place. Very rarely is it just "Take cat's claw extract and go back to living your life."

In order to know what therapy is right you need to know what's wrong. Is it inflammation? Is it overgrowth of bad bacteria? Is it low populations of good bacteria?

We really just aren't at a point (yet) in Crohn's treatment to where this kind of stuff is readily accessible. You can find out the answer to most of it, but it costs time and money we don't all have just to get tested. Therapies then cost more on top of that.

I'm tired of people telling me that I should try quitting coffee every time I mention any problems and that I drink coffee. I've done that, been off it for 1-2 months at a time, and saw no benefits.

Everyone thinks they have THE answer because of what worked for them, but each case needs a tailored solution.

 

[2thFairy]

No one method will fix everyone. Sometimes conventional works best, sometimes alternative works best. Taking care of any illness is so very personalized. I can only offer someone my personal experience, but I always add that it might not be the best for them.

Just like no one religion is best for everyone.

But the reality is that it is nobody's business but your own. I've had people try to tell me I should have waited and tried a few other things before having my colectomy. My doctor's felt it was time and then I felt it was time, and it has been the best thing for me. Those other people aren't living my life. Screw them!!!

 

[wellen1981]

I'm sick of people telling me my surgery could have been avoided if i only smoked more pot/stayed with FODMAPS longer/did acupuncture more often/did any of the x alternative therapies for another month. I tried these things for as long as I could. What can I say to the people who think I am weak?

I am actually on the camp of alternate options but I'm not completely anti meds - im just anti- wrong meds!

I can only say smoking pot to me is just masking pain and adding other unwanted things into the mix so for me that doesnt seem like a good judgement call personally - plus its not even legal in most places.

As for diets etc some people can handle them some people cant - i have a very restricted diet (self imposed through being well read on the condition) however it is easier for me to follow this as i saw instant improvements in my well being and the crippling pain went away after only 1 week of the different diet. Few months later i got scoped again and had no visual inflammation anymore as well - this was just through diet changes alone, no meds.

Thing is i dont get hunger pangs since 10+years ago and i dont get appetite nor do i ever feel full after eating so this helps a lot with the self control needed for these certain diets.

Dont get me wrong i still would love to binge eat all the yummy food that would make me suffer horrifically but i just think about the pain i would be inflicting on myself and that is incentive enough for me to maintain that selfcontrol when it comes to restricted diet.

To anyone that thinks you are weak you can only say one thing to them...
Walk a mile in my shoes then come back and we'll talk!

Diet alone cannot resolve these conditions, that much is proven.

I just find the more you know/learn, the stronger position you are in to manage your well being with these conditions.

You cant be weak as well as this condition makes a fighter of all of us.

 

[DustyKat]

Hmmm, after the initial thought that would pop into head…the same one as Caitlin84 had, I would then move onto something like this…

"Whilst I appreciate you telling me your opinion it is just that, your opinion. Now the thing is, being that it is your opinion and not based on any sound facts as they relate to my case then all I can say is you are wrong. Thank you and good day. Oh and by the way, when you have the opportunity have a read of the spoon theory (http://www.butyoudontlooksick.com/articles/written-by-christine/the-spoon-theory/). Hopefully it will give you a greater understanding of the struggles those with chronic illness face on a daily basis and as a result how any decision we come to about our health is never done flippantly nor without long and considered thought.” (Insert a big smile here as you wave them goodbye).

Dusty. :ybiggrin:

 

[wild_one353]

oh this disease is a monster, sometimes nothing can stop it.

 

[Caitlin84]

DustyKat--I had not seen the spoon theory before and I love it!! That entire website is amazing, thank you so much for sharing!

 

[LodgeLady]

Hmmm, after the initial thought that would pop into head…the same one as Caitlin84 had, I would then move onto something like this…

"Whilst I appreciate you telling me your opinion it is just that, your opinion. Now the thing is, being that it is your opinion and not based on any sound facts as they relate to my case then all I can say is you are wrong. Thank you and good day. Oh and by the way, when you have the opportunity have a read of the spoon theory (http://www.butyoudontlooksick.com/articles/written-by-christine/the-spoon-theory/). Hopefully it will give you a greater understanding of the struggles those with chronic illness face on a daily basis and as a result how any decision we come to about our health is never done flippantly nor without long and considered thought.” (Insert a big smile here as you wave them goodbye).

Dusty. :ybiggrin:

The spoon theory is just such an eye opening read. I cried when I read it and showed my husband it. After reading it he says to me " now I understand what your going through".

 

[SmellyMelly]

I'm sick of people telling me my surgery could have been avoided if i only smoked more pot/stayed with FODMAPS longer/did acupuncture more often/did any of the x alternative therapies for another month. I tried these things for as long as I could. What can I say to the people who think I am weak?

Why do you need to argue about it anyway?

Just say: "Mind your own business - I did what was right for me".

And do people think you are weak? Has anyone actually said that to you? Or are you just thinking that is what they are thinking?

I would never say that to anyone, as it is the height of rudeness - surely people have not actually said it to you?

For me personally, alternative medicine IS always right. But that is my own business and none of yours. Just as your health decisions are none of mine.

Not sure why you need to "form an argument" anyway. Just walk away from such discussions, and then there is no need to explain yourself to anyone.

I would never form an argument on why pharmaceutical medicine isn't always right. Just seems a waste of time to argue about stuff like this.

You did what was right for you. End of story. No discussion needed.