snake oil salesmen? | Arthritis Information
I have a friend who sells a nutritional supplement. The moment I told her about my dx, she got very excited about all that her product could do for me. I believe she has the best of intentions, btw.
She had this man call me who apparently had/has ankylosing spondylitis who was using a walker full time and was on the same dose of mtx that I'm on. Well, 8 mos after starting this supplement, not only was he completely disease free, but he had run a marathon. Of course his doctor was amazed, but said he couldn't recommend this supplement to his patients as it wasn't a drug... and then went on a mini rant about the whole doctor/pharm conspiracy. He ended his inspirational story by telling me that he is now making 4k a month selling this stuff to all the people who were so amazed by his transformation.
So after all this "inspiration" I felt more depressed than ever. My friend, who totally believes this, said "Won't it be great when you are cured!" ugh. Shouldn't there be a law against getting people's hopes up?
I completely believe that good nutrition can make a tremendous difference, but will it cure RA? Really?
(btw, his wife was able to get off of her allergy and depression meds, and they haven't been sick for 5 years). Also, I think that a lot of docs would be willing to recommend non-drug treatments to their patients. Mine told me to take fish oil, even told me which brand he likes the best (costco), but I can't stand the fishy burps. Am I really to believe that this man's RD saw this transformation but kept it to himself?
Idk.. anyone found a nutritional supplement that cured them?I would start by asking him to send you his med records..... if it's true..there's documentation!!
I would lay odds that this man who was cured is actually working for himself selling the same product.. and that your friend is either under him in the pyramid or above him.. but they are involved...
Sorry your friend is duped... sorry you feel the pain of an inability to be cured... me too
*hugs*
I'd like to hang on this sliver of human hope that people.. medical people like docs who take an oath.. would not hide something like this.
babs102009-01-22 21:11:43Let's see in the last 10 years I've had a woman try to sell me a 0.00 foot bath that had cured her RA, my friend wanted me to have bee sting therapy, another friend wanted me to cure my RA with diet, an aunt suggested that I go to a medical clinic in Mexico, a friend in Mexico wanted me to treat with the local shaman who had a potent tea that he said cured sick bones, I could continue but you get the picture. All of these people claimed that their RA had been cured or that they knew someone who had been cured by one of the above methods. Usually, if it sounds to good to be true - it is. Lindy
Leila -
Yes, that was a snake oil salesman - but I wanted to comment on part of your post.
You said -
Also, I think that a lot of docs would be willing to recommend non-drug treatments to their patients. Mine told me to take fish oil, even told me which brand he likes the best (costco), but I can't stand the fishy burps. Am I really to believe that this man's RD saw this transformation but kept it to himself?
No - the problem is most MD's have a different mind set.
This was in an article about why fish oil (which your rheumy recommended) doesn't work.
Dr. Stuart Connolly, director of cardiology at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, says there's a reason why neither the FDA nor Health Canada, that country's national health system, considers fish oil to be a pharmaceutical product. By any measure, he says, fish oil isn't likely to be as helpful as prescription medications.
Isn't likely. That's the key. They don't think it could possibly be better than the meds they prescribe.
Pip
Lorster will buy some
I don't understand why you would want to deter someone from taking a supplement that may be beneficial to their good health goal? Telling her that what her RD told her is wrong?? for evidence you provide one LATIMES article....
No, fish oil is not a pharmaceutical product.... but it well may be a participant in an entire picture with your good health as a goal!!!.... and it is beneficial w/ inflammation... just google fish oil and inflammation and get TONS of articles saying it is beneficial as part of an entire diet regiment .... Here's some studies.... and articles:
and I would challenge you, Pip!, to expound on your statement of: No, Most Physicians have a different mind set..... please explain the mindset of most physicians, if you will.
best of luck to you Leila....... as with any supplement or advice.. Please take what you need and leave the rest...
babs102009-01-23 05:46:53Babs - what in the hell is wrong with you? You've jumped and then apologized on a couple of threads in the last few days.
WAKE UP and THEN RE-READ. I was agreeing with her and telling her how his doc could be saying this.
Here - I'll color code it for you.
By any measure, he says, fish oil isn't likely to be as helpful as prescription medications.
Pip
Edited to say his doc as we're talking about this doc that "hid" the cure.
Pip!2009-01-23 09:22:06read what you posted..
and there's Nothing wrong w/ me....... who do you think you are?
I'm not jumping and apologizing.. 'I"m clarifying.. which I won't do again.
[QUOTE=leila]She had this man call me who apparently had/has ankylosing spondylitis who was using a walker full time and was on the same dose of mtx that I'm on. Well, 8 mos after starting this supplement, not only was he completely disease free, but he had run a marathon. Of course his doctor was amazed, but said he couldn't recommend this supplement to his patients as it wasn't a drug... and then went on a mini rant about the whole doctor/pharm conspiracy. He ended his inspirational story by telling me that he is now making 4k a month selling this stuff to all the people who were so amazed by his transformation.
[/QUOTE]
I've always believed that when someone promotes a product by saying that there is "doctor/pharm conspiracy" that their "proof" is very suspect.........
ps...I think people are probably more amazed that he makes 4k a month than his "miraculous transformation"
You already jumped.
Listen - the fact that this 'skeptic' which you fools use all the time to discredit alternative is bashing fish oil is not the point. We know it helps.
Who do I think I am - somebody who can read.
Pip
[QUOTE=Pip!]
Who do I think I am - somebody who can read.
Pip
[/QUOTE]
obviously not.
Yuck, the fish oil I've tried from Costco is always rancid and it doesn't work. I've tried it twice and both times by the time I've reached the end of the bottle I'm all inflamed again. A few weeks on my usual brand and the inflammation goes away. I've tried Costco brand twice so I know it wasn't a coincidence.
Leila, Fish Oil won't give you fishy burps if it's not rancid. Try buying some at a really busy drug store or something.
I have had several doctors tell me to take fish oil. Most like the Carlsons Cod Liver Oil with Lemon (keep it in fridge). I was told to take this in the winter because of the added vitamin D which I dont need as much of in the summer. (Winter can be very bleek in Chicago)
I take Krill Oil in the summer and I keep that in the fridge as well.
There was a news cast about some of those magic drinks, and the average profit is a week and the maximum profit was 0 a month per sales person. That the company could not produce one person who made even a 00 a month.
If the guy with AS was cured, was he defused? Or is he fused? AS is famous for coming and going for no reason, also the TNFs are like a miracle. So I would be curious if he was on a TNF and did he stop all his meds?
I know my doctor would recommend anything if it cured a patient. She only recommends medications that she has seen the results, one of the reasons she doesn't recommend AP.
[QUOTE=Gimpy-a-gogo]He said that an MRI showed fusion in several vertebrae of his lumbar spine. After his miracle drink, a follow up MRI showed no fusion. I asked him if he was trying to tell me that this drink reversed the arthritic changes to his joints, because to my knowledge, that is impossible. He said "Well, maybe the first MRI wasn't entirely accurate. But now my joints look like the joints of someone who has never had arthritis!" If this is true, then my guess is that his joints always looked pretty good. But I know nothing about AS.
I'll tell you what, if this drink could make my joints look like they'd never had arthritis, I'd buy it. Of course my doctors would never tell anyone about my miraculous transformation because they're all in cahoots with big pharm. Greedy bastards!
oh yeah... he did say he is off all his meds. Told me that he had been "heavily medicated" before all this. He apparently was on an NSAID and mtx.
Gimp, whatever that is that you posted but didn't say...... I like it ;)
[QUOTE=leila] Of course my doctors would never tell anyone about my miraculous transformation because they're all in cahoots with big pharm. Greedy bastards!
[/QUOTE]
haha!!
Thanks for the giggles.....
What is the name of this snake oil?LinB - too funny. I was just diagnosed yesterday and have already been advised by a friend on the bee sting therapy.
I think the difference between clinical trials and testimonials are that clinical trials involve lots of people being studied under controlled conditions while virtually anything could have accounted for improvement in a single person (eg, incorrect tests or diagnosis, other drugs). I tend to be wary of testimonials unless there is some good documented evidence or you (and your doc) don't think there is any harm in giving it a try. I'm guessing it's expensive tho!
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