My problem with "no you cain't..." is...

question can I do without is asked mostly by folks for whom meds don't do it. Or make it worse. Or make them unacceptably blah. I guess financial issues are issue too... working hard to have your medical bill swallow half of the pay check and taking medicine so you can work hard so you can pay for your meds... not ideal situation...

If you can take meds, it's acceptable for you and works for you... great. There's nothing to talk about really. But if it simply doesn't work... there should be space for discussion of "what now". Telling "no you can't" to person in such despair... you can imagine what it can do. Yes, maybe "yes, you can" is irresponsible too... (I have been told time and time again I may be preventing folks from getting treatment "they need" (do they? If I have no right to determine over internet that it's possible to do without meds... what right does the other side have to determine what the person "needs"?). But yes, you can always comes with "lifestyle, support system, yadda yadda".

Hamster once quoted some article that 10% of people with BP don't get better with meds. Some other may get "better" but side effects or overall effect is not that acceptable to them... and it's not death sentense and I find it horrible to be presented as such. ANd I don't care doctors do it. I met plenty of ****** doctors in my life.