I am not a fan of any drugs, and as a result, I change primary care physician regularly, usually after two visits.
ON THE FIRST VISIT, I explain to the new doctor that I do not, and will not, take prescription medications. I explain that the only reason I am in their office is to get orders for lab work, so that I can review the results and make my own decisions about lifestyle changes, especially diet. The doctor then calls me" non-compliant" and prints numerous computer-generated prescriptions anyway. Obviously, it is the doctor who is non-compliant, since I have already said I do not want drugs.
ON THE SECOND VISIT, the doctor asks, "Have you been taking your medications as ordered?" When I tell the doctor again, as I did at the first visit, that I do not take medications, the doctor says, "You're crazy and suicidal." I then find the next doctor, and the cycle starts over.
As I see things, I have two choices when I feel ill:
1. I could attack my body with some bizarre BigPharma chemicals that our ancestors' bodies have never dealt with in millions of years of evolution (Oxycodone, hydrocodone? Really? Are doctors nuts?).
2. Or I could get out of the way and let my body heal itself as has been done over many millions of years of evolution. All I want to do is support that process by making sure to give my body the proper nutrition in the form of the appropriate whole foods.

Wow, Jim. Creepy.

Don't despair: I'm confident that you will eventually find a healthcare practitioner who will act as your advocate, not a provider of drugs. It may take, unfortunately, going through quite a few practitioners before you come on such a person.

Great post. I am starting to think there are two kinds of people - those who seek drugs and those who run from them. LOL.
Among other occupations, I am an OR nurse. I have been wined and dined by the best reps ever, to buy their wares for surgery. It's all about the money.The drug companies have a lot to lose if we all quit taking their meds. Which is exactly what I want to do. I do not want to be a slave to a diagnosis and accompanying pill bottle. I want to be freeeeee.
This is not to say there is a time and place for medicine. There IS. But not for every sniffle.

Boy Suze, I can relate!  I'm a nurse as well and spent lots of years in NICU, but a change to chemical dependancy/psych was eye opening and downright disgusting in the amount of meds handed out.

I used to ask patients if they were hungry when dispensing a 6oz. Cup FULL of various pills before breakfast!
Couldn't take it and quit. Couldn't be a party to pharm management over real therapy.  I also take as few pills as possible, especially antibiotics.

Hi Doc,

I just visited my parents, and my mom shared her recent blood work with me.
Her cholesterol was a mere 210, and her doc (general practitioner), put her on a statin !!!
I told her about your blog a bit and particle size, but of course she's hesitant since her doctor obviously has more credibility than me.

Outside of eating better, what next steps should I advise her to take?  She agreed to request a cholesterol particle size test (is there an official name for this?).

Yes, N: Lipoprotein testing, such as NMR Lipoprofile or Atherotech VAP.

It really shouldn't be that tough, but we are battling the incredible ignorance in the primary care community who is spread too thin to master any one area.