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Slippery Slope

 I experienced a sudden emotional outburst on a recent visit to the dermatologist for a skin issue that has been bothering me for a while. The physician's assistant collected the information and any background, history I wanted to share. I assumed there was interest in understanding the big picture so I spent time describing all that. Once the doctor came in, it was evident that he was going to recommend the standard regimen all typed up and ready to go for anyone like me no matter what caused us to arrive at that point. He told me with a straight face that he will need to put me on a medicine for life that even very cursory research will show has a battery of side effects. Just with this one medicine a person can go from being normal to sick needing a dozen more to manage the burgeoning side effects. 

I told him that is not the path I will go down because someone I once used to love was destroyed just this way. He went from being someone who had almost achieved full control of his condition through diet and exercise but for one straggling issue. He went from four or five different medications to the lightest dose of one. Life was turning around and it look entirely possible that he would become medication free one day soon. And then life happened, more stress than he could handle coming from different directions at the same time. It upset the balance that had taken years to create - and he slipped. First one medication then another and then the third. At the lowest point he was on about fourteen and completely unrecognizable physically and emotionally. I saw this destruction of a human being happen in under five years. I told the doctor this story and he flat out did not care, the physician's assistant was staring at me like I was an alien. I was that close to tearing up when I left. I may not have solved my problem but I am just about certain I did not make it worse and over time unsolvable. 

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