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Trust Me I'm a Doctor

(61 Posts)
Tegan Fri 09-Sept-16 10:24:34

Did anyone see the article about eye health and supplements? I'm very tempted to start using the eye supplement tablets that were recommended. Strangely enough, last time I had an eye test was the first time ever that I didn't need an 'upgrade' and over the past couple of years I've been drinking a green smoothie almost identical to the one used in the 'experiment'. May buy the tablets and use them on alternate days with my smoothie, especially as they said that there seemed to be a link with macular degeneration and Alzheimers.

durhamjen Sun 11-Sept-16 21:41:12

No. It's just you think it's okay to tell Tegan she's so gullible without having appeared to watch the part of the programme she was talking about.
She said that having watched the programme she had decided it was worth buying the capsules.
I think that's rather rude.

Tegan Sun 11-Sept-16 22:21:15

I have tended, of late, to not watch Michael Mosleys programmes..he did seem to be on the telly rather a lot. I don't think, however, that I've ever known him to be so emphatic about the benefits of taking a particular product so, for that reason, I'm prepared to buy it, especially as I tend not to eat a terribly well balanced diet. My health, at this moment in time could, quite frankly be a lot better than it is so, if something makes me feels better [albeit in a placebo sort of way] I'm happy to go along with it. And, if I can bring a certain amount of amusement to some peoples lives, well, even better#laughteristhebestmedicineafterall

durhamjen Sun 11-Sept-16 22:43:20

Actually, I missed the fact that it was on, and watched it on iplayer because of this thread.
The resultson that seemed quite interesting, and I would have thought that anyone who could be suffering from MD should find it quite a useful supplement to take, particularly if you do not eat many fruit and vegetables. The fact that it could also affect Alzheimers is also worth thinking about.

Interesting what you say about the placebo effect, as I thought that about the glutenfree tests. Even though they knew that it didn't have that much physiological effect, most of them said they would use more glutenfree products from now on because they said they felt better; and why not. After all, food choices are up to the individual. I eat quite a lot of glutenfree products, simply because I like them.

durhamjen Sun 11-Sept-16 22:46:01

I do prefer the original Trust me, I'm a Doctor, Phil Hammond, who takes the mick out of the medical profession, although there's a lot of serious stuff behind it. He writes the Medicine Balls column in Private Eye.

Tegan Sun 11-Sept-16 23:46:10

I wondered where he'd got to; yes, I liked him. Michael Mosley [sp] seems to have found a bit of a niche for himself on the BBC which is why I don't take him too seriously these days. I find gluten free stuff food a bit slimy so I would have thought during the experiment they would have known if they were eating gluten free [although I haven't tried the pasta, just the bread].One of my doctors was at medical school with Harry Hill; you have to have a bit of a sense of humour if you work in the NHS, albeit a somewhat black one.The girl behind the counter at Boots was quite interested in my explanation as to why their shelf of Macu Shield had been emptied.

soldiersailor Mon 12-Sept-16 07:46:44

My late father had macular degeneration, first in one eye, then a year or so later, within a matter of hours, the second was affected. He was effectively blind. There have been major advances in treatment now, but Dad was told it was almost certainly due to his having smoked for some 40 years, though not excessively.

Wobblybits Mon 12-Sept-16 08:26:14

I must watch the program, I have signs of early stage dry AMD in one eye, doesn't effect my vision atm and the optician says it is slow to develop so is unlikely to become a problem. However it can develop into wet AMD, so anything that can protect my eyes would be welcome.

Anya Mon 12-Sept-16 08:39:52

Actually the gluten experiment was quite interesting as, despite being double blind, there was a significant reported increase in stomach discomforts when gluten was being eaten. The physicilgical tests were negative but as MM said, perhaps they weren't testing for the correct chemicals and it might be a disruption in gut flora. Which requires further investigation.

shysal Mon 12-Sept-16 09:37:31

Well, I must be gullible! I have ordered a 3 month supply of Macushield on Ebay for £29.59. That is less than 33p a day.
Next week's programme includes a study on Glucosamine tablets which will interest me as I already take them.

Anya Mon 12-Sept-16 09:45:34

Interesring scientific study into macular disease and supplements

The blue link above looks at genuine scientific research into this.

annsixty Mon 12-Sept-16 10:05:52

I have had wet AMD for 15 months now and have been under the care of a lovely consultant all that time.. He has been treating me with injections and has referred me to a Professor at Manchester eye Hospital and I have also seen another consultant there as I have been found to have Polipoidal choroidal vasculopathy (polyps behind the retina). No-one has suggested supplements to me but I shall certainly ask when I go next time.

Tegan Mon 12-Sept-16 10:07:03

The glucosamine one will interest me. I took it for many years because of arthritis but have now learned that it can bring on conditions such as Dupuytrens and Ledderhose, both of which I suffer from. I wonder if that will be mentioned during the programme. I did see the Macu Shield on ebay but am still wary of buying things off the internet. shysal, can you tell me the ingredients when yours arrive? The ones I have contain lutein 10mg, Zeoxanthin [sp] 2mg but not the other Zeoxanthin that was mentioned.

Tegan Mon 12-Sept-16 10:16:55

Interesting link Anya; thanks for that. I used to work for a doctor who had sadly lost his wife to cancer, and the whole family made a point of eating broccoli every day. He was quite sceptical of many things but adamant that the broccoli safeguarded them. With regards to cataracts, I think I heard once that wearing sunglasses can protect against them but the body needed a certain amount of sunlight to work with certain vitamins. So difficult to get the balance right. If only we could all move to a Mediterranean island and eat lots of fresh produce and olive oil every day. Maybe the NHS could ship us all over to one; it could be cost effective in the long term!

Charleygirl Mon 12-Sept-16 11:57:55

I was prescribed Vit Eyes by my ophthalmology consultant. There is only an 18%-20% chance that MD will not deteriorate to blindness but I am willing to try anything.
Vit Eyes consists of:
Vit C 500mg
vit E 400 mg
Zinc 25mg
Copper 2 mg
Lutein(from marigold flower) 10mg
Zeaxanthin 2mg

ann please do ask the next time you are seen at the clinic. A friend of mine has wet MD which is being treated as you are. She was also prescribed Vit Eyes when her MD was dry but now that it is wet she has been told that they will be of no use.

Tegan Wed 14-Sept-16 12:04:57

Macu Shield is back on the shelves at Boots; it seems to be the only one that has the extra Zeathanthin in it, although the all singing all dancing very expensive Macu Shield Gold has ingredients that aren't necessary.

Wobblybits Wed 14-Sept-16 13:20:31

Just ordered some online from Boots to be sent to our local litttle boots store. Online they had a 3 for 2 offer.

shysal Wed 14-Sept-16 14:05:03

Tegan, the MacuShield I purchased on Ebay contains meso-zeaxanthin 10mg, zeaxanthin 2mg and Lutein 10mg. They are sold by an optician who invites direct purchase if you wish.
www.intereyecareopticians.co.uk
Below is the Ebay ad, I see the price has gone up already!
www.ebay.co.uk/itm/282139607870?_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
The capsules look the same as those taken by M Mosely. I have started them, but of course will have no way of knowing if they are working! There is a 'Gold' version available which has other content like zinc, but I decided against.

Anya Wed 14-Sept-16 14:18:19

Thank you Tegan

Wobblybits Wed 14-Sept-16 15:07:28

I would be very cautios baout buying any drugs/medicne from eBay, you really don't know who the seller is and if the product is genuine. I would only buy online from a known seller like Boots etc.

Wobblybits Wed 14-Sept-16 15:11:19

90 days supply cost me £36 at Boots.

MargaretX Wed 14-Sept-16 15:30:03

My what a lot of gullible people there are around. If there were substances that could cure Macular Gegeneration it would have already made millions for the pharmacutical industry.

My friend in the states said that if discovered very early there are injections, but as far as I know dark fruit and veg won't help.

Kale is well known in North Germany for improving men's performance in bed.

MargaretX Wed 14-Sept-16 15:31:07

Sorry Degeneration

Wobblybits Wed 14-Sept-16 15:33:40

It doesn't claim to cure it, just slow down the development. My optician recommended me to take it last time I saw her, perhaps, she too is gullible.

Wobblybits Wed 14-Sept-16 15:36:53

It's interesting that kale could improve my performance in bed, but why only in North Germany ?.

janeainsworth Wed 14-Sept-16 15:38:54

I've just come back from my eye check and asked the optician if it was worth taking supplements.

He said not unless you had very early signs of MD, in which case the evidence suggested that taking supplements would reduce the chance of it getting worse by 25%.

In other words, taking supplements won't prevent MD starting, and if you do have early-stage MD, it won't guarantee to arrest it.

I think the answer is to always go for checks regularly so that anything that's wrong can be picked up and hopefully treated at an early stage.