Well I never intended to revisit this thread but I have some “good health news” I’ll share solely for the purpose of encouraging others, not bc I think it’s appropos to discuss health issues on an MP board.
First a short recap and some new details. Like millions of men world-wide, I took an FDA-approved drug for 17 years daily to stop my retreating “widows-peak” baldness. It totally worked, no further hair loss at all. Seemingly a miracle drug! I religiously recommended it to others.
Bc the drug caused one problematic but not “traumatic” side-effect, I discontinued the drug in Dec. 2014. Within 10 days I suffered extensive brain damage. Consequently, I stopped sleeping at all, I was very dizzy and could barely walk, I had very severe double-vision, the area of my face near both eyes turned very black, my facial hair stopped growing entirely, and the worst three side effects I won’t discuss.
I found out a few thousand men world-wide had suffered an identical fate. I also consulted the world’s top doctor/expert on this “syndrome.” The worst effect – for which there is no effective treatment or cure and is considered permanent - was so horrific and ego-crushing that 40% of victims considered suicide and a fair number had followed through.
I was somewhat lucky that many of my maladies resolved naturally within a year. But the insomnia, walking/dizziness issues, voice impairment, and the very worst malady continued. (Totally impossible to believe, I have not slept one second in the last 10 months but I usually feel fine except for persistent dizziness.)
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So my repeated message to you is:
(1) Treasure and preserve your health bc it just might disappear suddenly,
(2) Buy disability insurance RIGHT NOW. Luckily, the fed gov (my former employer) provides this insurance for free to all its employees. If it didn’t, I would be permanently financially ruined.
(3) Carefully research of all known side-effects of every drug you take.
My new message is:
(4) Continue to hope and believe you will get better no matter how poor the prognosis.
Also impossible to believe, my very worst malady resolved recently overnight after 2.5 years of zero improvement. To the best of my knowledge, only a handful of victims – it could be fewer than 20 out of thousands – have recovered from this horrific malady.*****
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To end on a lighter note....
I was "torture-teased" by work colleagues a few years ago:
"Ask me anything ... about poodles!"