Friday 30 November 2018

The New Doc'.



My old doctor retired about two months ago, so when I recently visited the surgery, in mid-november, I was confronted by a new man.

I'm always a bit wary of change, especially when it comes to doctors, bank managers, or bakers.

Of course all doctors are instructed to tell their patients exactly the same things; lose weight, stop smoking, don't enjoy yourself, etc. It's written into the hippocratic oath.

Once he'd done all the usual stuff, like taking blood pressure, weighing me, and stethoscoping; whilst printing off my prescription (which is all I'd gone for) he gave me the now tedious advice.

Don't eat too much charcuterie, drink only one glass of wine per day (with one day, just water), and don't eat too much salt. He didn't bother with either the slimming or smoking because neither are applicable.

I told him that if he'd suggested I eat less sugar, I'd have been OK, because I hardly ever touch the stuff, but cutting down on salt is another matter altogether.

He told me not to add salt when cooking, but to add a tiny bit afterwards if needed.

This was a bit like telling a cow not to eat grass; I almost live on things that contain, or require, salt.

So, this morning whilst breakfasting on toast and very salty anchovies, I thought about my new doc's advice, and decided for one day at least to ignore it. 

Anyway, what self-respecting doctor would have the cheek to ask a chap to forego a pukka breakfast!



37 comments:

  1. I always add salt when cooking - I think when adding it after cooking one needs more in the long run.

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    1. It sounded the wrong way round to me too. See how it tastes, then add salt if you think it needs it. Logic.

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  2. I once visited the Dr's with a perforated eardrum. I recognised the symptoms and explained the problem. I immediately received a lecture on not rushing to the surgery every five minutes for antibiotics. When she eventually paused for breath I suggested she checked when I'd last had antibiotics, it had been 19 years!!

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    1. My main experience with doctors is them asking me what's wrong, then asking what I should be given for it; almost as if I was the doc' and they were there just to fill in forms. Doctors are not Gods.

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    2. Doctors in France are treated no differently than greengrocers. In the UK they they are looked up to as the higher echelons of society. I wonder how that gulf began.

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  3. The medical world has got it wrong on just about every front and I've read a lot recently that the latest thing they got wrong is our salt intake. You'll see, in a few years they'll be telling you to add it to your coffee.

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    1. Eggs was another one. One minute it was no more than one a month; now they suggest two a day (maybe it's changed since).

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  4. I don't know where to begin, so I'll leave it just that I agree with you. I have had some dreadful experiences. At one of my classes I sit with a retired GP, younger than me, and on hearing my view of them he nodded in agreement with me and said "that's why GPs never go near a GP".

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    1. That doesn't surprise me. My late cousin who was a doc' in Canada, had the reputation of being one of the very best diagnosticians for 'Internal Medicine'. It seems that his standard of knowledge was extremely rare.

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  5. What's the point of living a long life if you're denying yourself the good things to do it? In the words of Marie Lloyd, 'A little of what you fancy does you good'.

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    1. It does seem that they always want you give-up what you enjoy the most. Killjoys, the lot of them.

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  6. Sounds par for course, although my doctor (a young chap) recommended 2 glasses of red wine per day.

    As well as the usual lecture on smoking cessation and weight loss.

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  7. I'm 70 so if I go to a doctor I want to see one who is at least 80 or preferably 90 and in good health. The last time I saw a doctor was over 10 or 12 years ago and he said I'd need an operation on my stiff and painful shoulder because I'd left it too long (9 months) and it would never heal again without surgery. I declined and went to a physiotherapist and after 10 sessions with mud pack and massage I was cured. In summer have more salt. In winter I have more whisky, a tot at bedtime to kill the cold and flu germs. My brother has flu vaccinations and is always 1 or 2 weeks flat out in bed shortly afterwards. But he persists. He's a determined character and I'm the opposite - more laissez-faire you can say.

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    1. When I left school my headmaster gave us the benefit of his wisdom. Amongst other things, he advised not to drink Whisky until one was older. He said, when your old you'll need it as medicine, but if you drink it now, it won't work later.

      I followed that one bit of advice, and have my annual winter bottle of good single malt waiting to be opened. Like you, just a small sip at night,

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    2. A wise man. He educated you well.

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    3. I agree about the age thing Gwil mentions. The best doctors are the old school who treat you for your ailment and nothing else and ask no questions.

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    4. I think most GP's I've had have been 28-35 ish. My doc' who's just retired was nearly 70, and was very good.

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  8. I always cook with salt .... it gets diluted in the water and you can't be getting a lot of it AND things wouldnt have any taste if you didn't cook with salt !!! My mantra is everything in moderation ..... they change their minds daily on what we are or aren't allowed to eat. XXXX

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    1. I am always aware when I eat unwisely, and try to make amends the following day. I do my best.

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  9. I owe my life to the medical profession and from a partial lung removal in 1960 (a big operation then) and a cancer op and treatment for the last 20 years to name but two things I would have been dead long ago. I'm not and I'm very grateful to the medical profession.

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    1. Having major surgery is an altogether different matter to consulting a GP. I've known good and bad. My present one isn't 'bad', just a tad predictable with his advice.

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  10. I am a pipe smoker and when my doctor did her calculations, the detrimental effect on my one and only bad habit it was valued at 1%. I stopped using salt & sugar many years ago and I do not miss it.
    All about horses for courses.

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    1. I stopped eating sugar when I was married; Lady M wouldn't allow it. As for salt, I can't really imagine life without it, although I do try not to over-do it. I haven't smoked for about 20 years.

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  11. Existing to 100 is not my goal, I’d rather live my life with some joy.

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    1. Eat, drink, and be merry; but everything in some moderation.

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  12. Did you tell him about all those Fray Bentos pies you're going to eat?

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  13. January I hit my sixth month being cancer free. I told myself I will follow orders until I hit the one year mark, at that point the bad boy returns.

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    1. Good for you Doc. Someone once told me it took seven years for your body to completely rid itself of the effects of smoking. I did consider taking up the pleasure after seven years of having quit; but it seemed a bit silly.

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  14. I stopped smoking 11 years ago...have 1 sugar in my tea...when I drink tea.. but salt... I am with you Cro... everything is better with salt!

    Jo in Auckland

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    1. Personally I find salt more addictive than either tobacco or alcohol. Life would be dreadful without it.

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  15. I manage happily without sugar Cro but salt - that's a different matter.

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    1. I agree. But have no fear, one day soon they'll be saying that it's good for us!

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  16. Salt being bad for you is a myth, look at the Japanese. The research to prove salt gives you high blood pressure was conducted on mice which had been specially bread to develop high blood pressure when fed with salt. I am not joking.

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