Oh Laura, that's really lovely. I'm so glad he has you.

I have broken my left wrist twice, a bone at the base of my left thumb, my right pinkie finger, my left ankle (but not badly), and multiple toes. There was a while when I was low in vitamin D that I broke a toe once a week or so. I don't like the broken bones. I'm going to say they're pretty bad.

Jeez, Deena, way to go for the record!

I'm going to go out on a limb and say Broken bones are bad.

FYI, FWIW, I've recently learned that Vitamin D doesn't help your bones if you don't have enough vitamin K2 - and my multi only has vitamin K1. So, now, either I take a supplement or I eat more fermented foods and pasture-raised dairy and eggs.

He knows if I don't hear from him he will see me walk in. That he smiles and hugs me when I do keeps me positive.

Oh, I think I see why he doesn't answer the phone!

I take K2 and D. The D thing seems insane when I live in total sunshine, but dem bones seem to prefer having lots of it.

Oh, I think I see why he doesn't answer the phone!

Ha! I am totally telling him you figured out his plan.

Laura, I am hugging you so hard in solidarity. He couldn't have a better parent, or influential adult, on his side than you.

I've told y'all about calling the EMS in the wee smalls when my tongue swelled up enough I was afraid my airway might be compromised a month or two ago, right? I discovered (while image searching for Aunt Marge to show H what I'd looked like) that it's the *first* listed side effect for lisinopril, the BP med I've been on for yonks. My CP was either chagrinned or surprised or both by the news, and put me on a new BP med. Which, once burned, I checked on the side effects before filling the script. 1st on the list, edema, particularly of the ankles and feet.

Well, now, medical person I've been seeing for ten years, did you never notice the permanently swollen left, and sometimes both, ankles and feet, hmmm? When I not-so-gently reminded her, she was firm about putting me on yet another BP med. At this point I'm saying, it's not that elevated, are you *sure* I need a BP med, like, at all?

She's all, pooh-pooh, of course you need a BP med: Type II, threat of CHF, stroke, etc. And this one is mild. But the first and inevitable side effect is diahrrea, so here's a rec for magnesium supplements. Combined with the iron supplements to combat my persistent anemia, makes me feel vaguely magnetic, or atomic, or something.

Didja ever want to stop all meds and just go sit on a rock in the woods somewhere and maybe lick elm bark? Just me, then?

Didja ever want to stop all meds and just go sit on a rock in the woods somewhere and maybe lick elm bark? Just me, then?

looks at medicine cabinet

All the time, my friend. All the time.

I don't take any prescriptions, mostly because every time I have it was worse than the thing it was supposed to help.

My doctor wanted me to take BP meds because it was an issue. I just took it now because I have the cuff next to my computer. 115/62. I watch it closely, and it does vary. I Am Not A Doctor. I just have an issue with meds. So when the BP was out of control I took measures. I listen to waves crashing over binaural beats as background noise instead of the news. I swim for an hour a day. I turn off my computer and get 7-9 hours of sleep a night. I don't drive on the highway.

My sugar and cholesterol have both been borderline for decades. My doctor would like to give me medications. Nope. I don't do sugar. Really the only thing I can do at this point to reduce the cholesterol any more is lose weight. Ugh. I don't have to tell all of you that is easier said than done. But, tomorrow I see the acupuncturist and see if their eastern herbs and tiny needles help.

Maybe I am as bad as my son and 30 years working with doctors has turned me against big pharma. But as I look at 65 around the corner I have to say I am doing okay physically and have decided to pass on Medicare and supplementals because I don't spend my money on doctors and medications. I just use an HSA and see the chiropractor when things ain't lined up right, and now the needle lady to get stuff in balance.

Complete respect for other paths, but I have to do what feels right for me.

Another reason to admire the heck out of you, Laura.

I have had the 'manage by lifestyle, none to few medications' talk with her sevral times. It may be time to search for a practitioner with less devotion to conventional medicine. I'm too poor--and too stubborn--to practice "throw pills at it" management, and she just wants to keep adding more.

I think the issue is a lot of people don't want to take drugs but also don't do any change to their lifestyle either, so...

And I've never heard of vitamin K2 though I do take vitamin d? Does kombucha count as a fermented food? If not I'm SOL