Closest thing to the elixir of life is...WALKING?

[pmv]

I had developed a friendship with my dentist, and also with a specialist colleague of his.

In interactions I've had with MD or DDS medical pros, they exhibit a quality you might easily suspect. People treat them with undue respect, thinking that if they got through medical school, they must be total geniuses in every possible way.

But, in fact, with regard to other matters of expertise, or history, economics -- politics -- I've discovered considerable ignorance among the medical elite. they begin to believe their great intellectual prowess themselves.

True, but it's not just about other domains, it also arises with specialised areas within their own general domain of medicine. I mean the human organism and its possible dysfunctions is a vast subject.

E.g. I was browsing a reddit for qualified doctors (you have to be a working GP to post on it) and one thread was full of multiple GPs very confidently asserting things (about a medical issue I've had myself) when it seemed pretty clear to me that they hadn't read any of the literature about the topic.

They were all sneeringly disparaging a certain celebrity who had this issue (with a bit of misogyny thrown in - that seems to be absolutely par-for-the-course with most male doctors, especially GPs), yet it seemed pretty clear to me that none of them really knew what they were talking about.

I mean, I can't really know, because I'm not medically qualified at all, but I've spent years reading every peer-reviewed journal paper and case history I could find about this condition, and nothing these 'experts' were saying seemed to indicate they'd read any of the literature themselves. After all, even that specialist literature seems to frequently stress how poorly-understood the condition is, even by specialists (most of the papers on it were only published in the last decade or two).

At least one of the claims one of the, medically qualified, participants made about the topic I could demonstrate to be simply factually wrong, as I found a first-hand account from the expert he cited, that said explicitly that this doctor's interpretation of his earlier work was 'a widespread misconception'.

The whole thread was just another data-point to add to my existing distrust of doctors.

 

[igor_kavinski]

I mean, I can't really know, because I'm not medically qualified at all, but I've spent years reading every peer-reviewed journal paper and case history I could find about this condition, and nothing these 'experts' were saying seemed to indicate they'd read any of the literature themselves.

Most don't. A nice 60+ year old doctor I went to see (as in, he gave me his full attention) told me with a laugh that he didn't have time to read research papers. The senior doctors are too busy seeing patients and the junior doctors are too busy hitting on the nurses and enjoying a leisurely life. Who's gonna care about a bunch of suspected hypochondriacs waiting for hours to see them?

 

[BonzaiDuck]

Most don't. A nice 60+ year old doctor I went to see (as in, he gave me his full attention) told me with a laugh that he didn't have time to read research papers. The senior doctors are too busy seeing patients and the junior doctors are too busy hitting on the nurses and enjoying a leisurely life. Who's gonna care about a bunch of suspected hypochondriacs waiting for hours to see them?

I suppose the demand for medical advice is shifted upward by the Medicare, Medicaid and insurance subsidies. My clinic has established a portal for patients to ask questions and communicate with their doctors and specialists. They are always mindful of their time; the clinics are organized and managed this way.

I could create another thread about my recent discovery of something in my medical record notes. The record has a remark by my GP primary doctor that I have "Stage 3 CKD -- chronic kidney disease". The doctor never said this to me during our visits, other than to observe that "I had a little albumin in my urine." So I did the usual web searches. A measure named "eFGR" or estimated glomerular filtration rate primarily defines the stages of kidney disease, such the the lower the number, the greater the stage of CKD. Checking my metabolic panel from last September, I find my eFGR is 70, which is within a range including "normal, Stage 1 or Stage 2" -- very early indications of manageable CKD. While I'd like to see the urine test -- of which I have none recently -- the blood test shows normal albumin and normal creatinine.

Maybe he can clarify at my forthcoming July appointment. Otherwise, the medical note seems like it could be a minor mistake.

Professionals make mistakes all the time, because they're people.

UPDATE ADDENDUM: I found more information about CKD. The two indicators as I noted previously are eFGR -- for which a measure of 70 is just short of normal, and uACR -- the albumin/creatinine ratio in a urine test -- where 0 to 30 is a normal range, 30 -- 299 is "moderately increased" and > 300 is severely increased. My uACR is 85. This chart defines a degree of "risk" as defined by these two measures:



I suppose that I shouldn't be alarmed by this, but simply take measure that can reduce albumin in the urine. I am at "G2 -- A2" For all I know, I might have made my urine sample on a morning after having exercised.

 

[igor_kavinski]

Start mixing a tablespoon of gum arabic powder in juice or smoothies on a daily basis. Your kidney markers will improve.

 

[pmv]

Most don't. A nice 60+ year old doctor I went to see (as in, he gave me his full attention) told me with a laugh that he didn't have time to read research papers. The senior doctors are too busy seeing patients and the junior doctors are too busy hitting on the nurses and enjoying a leisurely life. Who's gonna care about a bunch of suspected hypochondriacs waiting for hours to see them?

Yeah, I find myself constantly ranting to myself about that Reddit thread. It really got me wound up. The worst part is I can't be entirely sure I'm right - they _are_ qualified doctors, after all, and I'm not. But, as I say, they were sounding off about this condition as if they knew all about it, when it was pretty clear they knew nothing about it, as it's a very specialised area.

I mean _perhaps_ I'm missing something? But they seemed entirely oblivious to what the literature says about when this condition requires treatment as opposed to 'watch and wait' monitoring, and entirely unaware of the actual danger it presents. One of them cited a famous case (that I found referred to repeatedly in the literature when I was reading about it myself) but appeared not to have ever looked at any primary source so just repeated a widespread myth about it (I eventually found that primary source and it directly and explicitly contradicted the myth)

And it disturbs me because their overconfidence manifested as relentless sneering at the particular celeb involved (i don't know the details of that particular case, but what little has been reported in the press, it wasn't how these overconfident quacks perceived it).

These are the 'real' attitudes of so many doctors, that they bring them to their interactions with patients, hence I've had so many bad experiences with medics over the decades. Too many of them have pretty much the same personality type as tech nerds. Which is probably related to the fact that the male ones seem to be the worst.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

Start mixing a tablespoon of gum arabic powder in juice or smoothies on a daily basis. Your kidney markers will improve.

After they passed the "FAIR" Act January a year ago, I have extra ducats. I'm almost eager to increase the number and expense of supplements that can improve my health.

I cross-verified what you say and it is true. Sent my Doc a new list of supplements asking him to weigh in with any concerns. But I'll start with the Acacia Extract immediately.

So the rule so far: Limit of 8oz beetroot juice daily -- mixed with V8. Occasionally, a celery stick, Worchester tbsn, slice of lemon or lime, ice -- Smirnoff.

V8 with Geet and Binger . . ah . . . Beet and Ginger V8. Drink lemonade. Reduce aspartame, and use Stevia if it has a tolerable taste to it. Someone says it tastes like metal.

Occasionally beer or dark ale! Cof-e-fe. Hey. Did I ever tell the forum about my experience a month earlier, with a full bladder exiting the grocery store to walk half a city block getting to my car? This was an all-time first! Kept the jockeys dry, not a drop on the socks and shoes -- just a wet streak down the inseam of the jeans. That's a small if lengthy discomfort to bear for the rest of the day as it dries out . . .

 

[igor_kavinski]

But I'll start with the Acacia Extract immediately.

The full name is Acacia Senegal Extract. There are others and I don't know if they are similar or meant for other uses so be careful what you get. Best if it just says gum arabic in parentheses on the label.

Since your kidneys are in the yellow zone, avoid or severely limit (reduce to half the usual amount would be good) orange juice or anything else with too much potassium (unfortunately, that includes bananas too). Potassium is really hard on weakened kidneys.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

The full name is Acacia Senegal Extract. There are others and I don't know if they are similar or meant for other uses so be careful what you get. Best if it just says gum arabic in parentheses on the label.

Since your kidneys are in the yellow zone, avoid or severely limit (reduce to half the usual amount would be good) orange juice or anything else with too much potassium (unfortunately, that includes bananas too). Potassium is really hard on weakened kidneys.

"Advanced Acacia Fiber", Acacia SEYAL. I should find the other one, but cannot see how this won't work the same way to a degree. What do you know more definite or particular than that?

 

[igor_kavinski]

"Advanced Acacia Fiber", Acacia SEYAL. I should find the other one, but cannot see how this won't work the same way to a degree. What do you know more definite or particular than that?

Acacia seyal - multipurpose tree of the Sahara desert

NFTA 94-07, September 1994 A quick guide to useful nitrogen fixing trees from around the world One of few strongly gregarious sahelian tree species, Acacia seyal combines tolerance of periodically…

winrock.org

Gum talha. Gum talha has not been toxicologically evaluated and is not listed as an approved food additive. It contrasts with gum arabic in several significant respects, being strongly dexatorotatory, of high molecular weight and low in nitrogen (0.06-0.24%) and rhamnose (<4% sugar composition). Ash contents of cobalt, copper, iron, nickel and, especially, aluminum (>6000 ppm) are high and tannin is present (2%), restricting acceptable use to such applications as a binder for foundry molding and a sizing agent in the texile industry.

Cancel that order. It's not approved as a food additive.

 

[igor_kavinski]

https://www.amazon.com/Gum-Arabic-Acacia-Capsules-520437/dp/B078NGPN19/

The 3-pack is cheaper.

Take the capsule with a meal, especially a protein-rich meal. If you are having mostly fruits or light carbs and not much proteins in your meal, better to avoid this capsule. It will probably go wasted. Gum Arabic mainly helps to reduce the uremic toxins that intestinal bacteria produce trying to metabolize undigested proteins.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

https://www.amazon.com/Gum-Arabic-Acacia-Capsules-520437/dp/B078NGPN19/

The 3-pack is cheaper.

Take the capsule with a meal, especially a protein-rich meal. If you are having mostly fruits or light carbs and not much proteins in your meal, better to avoid this capsule. It will probably go wasted. Gum Arabic mainly helps to reduce the uremic toxins that intestinal bacteria produce trying to metabolize undigested proteins.

OK --- I heed all said so far on the unapproved variety and this link you posted.

The "Senegal" variety is a powder and arrives soon, so I'll experiment with that before ordering something more conveniently measured and packaged.

Going for my walk today before temperature rises above 70F. Lovely overcast and rainy days here have given way to the usual So-Cal sunshine -- no marine layer rolling in from the ocean to provide overcast and early morning fog. I'll need to start walking earlier in the day, now.

Meanwhile, moderate consumption of beet juice and discretionary use of V8 juice, in addition to the double Metformin prescription and cooked vegetable diet with fresh grapefruit -- it all seems to make my frequent urination experience disappear. Perhaps my kidneys have improved in function just for the beetroot and better blood-sugar control.

UPDATE -- Time for that beet-juice-V8-juice Bloody Bloody Mary. Then, my walk out and about, and after that, gonna get some a those CHEELI DAWGS, with Un-Yones. A better breakfast than leftover pizza . . .

 

[BonzaiDuck]

Between the daily beetroot juice, the doubling of my Metformin prescription and the Acacia Senegal or Gum Arabic, I've noticed improvements already.

I don't have to pee as often, or holding my bladder seems more as it did a couple decades ago.

Well, gonna walk again today. Somewhere much earlier in this thread, I mentioned that I live on a hill with a quarter-mile-long street. The hill s steep at the halfway point at my house. It's almost unpleasant to walk up the upper stretch of the road, and I must stop at least two times to sit on a brick retaining wall and catch my breath. Downhill, I can just walk the entire distance, but coming up the shallower grade to my front door, I again need to pause and catch my breath.

I'll probably drive down to the park and walk my 3 times around the park for 1 mile today.

 

[marees]

Between the daily beetroot juice, the doubling of my Metformin prescription and the Acacia Senegal or Gum Arabic, I've noticed improvements already.

I don't have to pee as often, or holding my bladder seems more as it did a couple decades ago.

Well, gonna walk again today. Somewhere much earlier in this thread, I mentioned that I live on a hill with a quarter-mile-long street. The hill s steep at the halfway point at my house. It's almost unpleasant to walk up the upper stretch of the road, and I must stop at least two times to sit on a brick retaining wall and catch my breath. Downhill, I can just walk the entire distance, but coming up the shallower grade to my front door, I again need to pause and catch my breath.

I'll probably drive down to the park and walk my 3 times around the park for 1 mile today.

Just a note:

1. Metformin can inhibit vitamin B12 absorption (Imeglymin is an alternative)
2. Statin can cause musle issues (Bempedoic acid is an alternative)
3. Coffee can cause vitamin D & iron absorption issues. (There is no alternative to coffee. Just eat more nutrient heavy foods such as fruit, cheese, & meat & get exposed more to the sun)

I myself am taking Vitamin B1 supplements right now
Planning to add CoQ10 in the near future

 

[BonzaiDuck]

Just a note:

1. Metformin can inhibit vitamin B12 absorption (Imeglymin is an alternative)
2. Statin can cause musle issues (Bempedoic acid is an alternative)
3. Coffee can cause vitamin D & iron absorption issues. (There is no alternative to coffee. Just eat more nutrient heavy foods such as fruit, cheese, & meat & get exposed more to the sun)

I myself am taking Vitamin B1 supplements right now
Planning to add CoQ10 in the near future

Your insight is noted. I was just reviewing my online test results again. In February 2024, my eGFR was 90. The September tests showed 70. I'm surprised that the marker could decline so quickly, but I'm hoping my supplements can reverse the next test result.

Well, I better pursue the morning regimen with meds, beet+V8 juice, and a shower. Gotta go . . .