Community Chat

[hckynut]

Unfortunately in this era of my life I see way too many that choose to be reactive when it comes to their own health and that of their dependents. Not too many things in life I can think of where being Proactive does not outweigh Reacting, and many view fixing as opposed to preventing, thus creating some outcomes that may have been avoided. JMO!

[Stella Dallas]

On 2/17/2015 Irshgrl31201 said:

This is why probiotics are so very important. They are essential in keep good gut flora which is killed with antibiotics. Our intestinal tract is where 70% of our immune system is and it is important to keep the good bacteria there and probiotics are great for doing just that.

A healthy gut doesn't need any help. Ask your health-care professional before you start taking probiotics. If your immune system is in good shape, it doesn't need help and unneeded "help" could actually weaken it.

[Stella Dallas]

On 2/17/2015 mominohio said:

It has been know for quite some time that the abuse of prescribing antibiotics has had effects on us, yet we continue to overuse them (as a society, not anyone here in particular).

It often takes decades or generations for effects like these to be seen or considered, yet we have those that think we shouldn't question the drugs and vaccines, that we put in our bodies, just because it is the protocol of today.

My son is currently prescribed antibiotics for severe acne, and I hate that he takes them. We have tried other things first, and nothing helps much. When he was little his pediatrician was very stingy with the drugs, and I was always glad. I hope he 'outgrows' the worst of this acne soon, as I want him off the drugs.

Why do you "hate" that your son is taking medication for a severe skin disease??? Would you prefer he endure this condition which can scar and disfigure him????

My son had medium-to-severe acne in his teens and early 20's and we were so glad when he finally found something that cleared it up.

[sfnative]

Haven't read any of the replies, but would offer the following regarding the OP's initial statement:

1. I rarely believe in all-inclusionism, meaning antibiotics are not going to be the cause, for instance, of every case of obesity of asthma.

2. A former co-worker in San Diego told me the following: whenever she became ill or had the sniffles, her mother would make the trip across the border and purchase ampicillan for her. She gave it to her kids like candy for every ill. THIS is a HUGE problem.

3. Moms or adults who insist on an rx for antibiotics for a viral infection and have whimpy pediatricians or internists are some of the biggests offenders.

4. **Not enough docs are identifying the offending microbe, so that when an antiobiotic is truly required, the best possible antibiotic is prescribed. I'm not saying this should or can be done in every case, but my one case of pneumonia is a perfect example. I begged 3 docs for my sputum to be plated so that we could identify the bacteria, if indeed it was a bacteria versus virus. Took 6 freaking weeks before I found out I was right. I knew I was right. Geesh.

Edited to add: I don't know how much this book generalizes. As readers of this thread, it's important for us to know. It's also important for us to know this doctor's area of specialization.