The Side Effects Will Kill You!

     I've seen far too many new drugs advertised on TV, in newspapers and magazines, that will cure everything from Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) to severe incontinence. The manufacturers, such as Pfizer, make millions and even billions, without losing sleep or having to urinate three times a night.
     It seems very disingenuous for the profiteers to earn six figure salaries, say over the past two decades and climbing higher, but they still haven't cured even the common cold. What are they waiting for?  How many more patients have to die, just waiting for a doctor's appointment? Especially at VA Hospitals.
     General Trump (yes, he is our Commander-in-Chief), claims he can fix anything. He is also good at saying "you're fired" and his salute is that of a seasoned military man. Very short, sharp and snappy. Just wait until he gets five stars and then outranks the late General Eisenhower, supreme commander of all our armies in World War II. Then he'll nuke North Korea back to the stone age.
     But I'm getting off the subject. Xaralto promises to replace warfarin pills for blood thinning, to avoid blood clots. However, don't count your lucky stars yet. The ads warn customers they can't drop their pants for a shot of pills if they have an artificial heart valve. Otherwise they could suffer a heart attack, kidney stoppage, internal bleeding, shortness of breath, vomiting, headaches, dizziness and fainting. And then they would die.
     So I'll stay with my warfarin and take my chances. I have an excellent urologist who is considered one of Connecticut's best. He is also Chairman of the Norwalk Hospital Urology Department. And his office is a beehive of activity with patients coming and going, in both senses of the words. Hmmmmm. No pun intended.
     Recently I had a cystoscopy performed by the good doctor in his office. I could have selected the hospital, but there is too much paperwork, prior preparation, anesthesia and staying overnight. Although I don't like the size or look of the device he uses to examine my bladder, and then zap any growths that look malignant, the procedure was over in 20 minutes. No pain, no shame. Just a smaller instrument next time doc, please, in six months.
     This is my 143rd Blog, Questionable Commentaries, and I will have 200 by the end of this year. Are you listening advertisers? Meantime, check out my lawsuit against President Trump well defined in the April 14, 2017 issue of NEWSWEEK Magazine by reporter Zach Schonfeld.