The difference between "sumdin" and "nuffin"

I want to talk a bit about these two classic southern words today that make all the difference in a lot of medical plans of care. For example if you can just get a patient to take "sumdin" for their cholesterol, you will often make nearly has much of an impact than if they take "bunches" for their cholesterol. Why? It is the magical difference between something and nothing. I use this principle every day when providing care to folks - it is amazing the benefit of just a little something when trying to come up with a plan for long term illness or pain. If you are opioid naive, you would be surprised just how far 50mg of Tramadol will take you. If you are a newly diagnosed with diabetes, again, just adding a little metformin or Farxiga can go a super-duper long way.

Going back to the cholesterol story, you get the biggest drop in bad cholesterol with the LOWEST dose of a medication like Lipitor or Crestor, and you get a much smaller incremental drop with each higher dose. Why, because any country bumpkin like me can tell you, "sumthin" is way more than "nuffin".

You can use this point to negotiate with your provider over something you are not necessarily excited about doing, but seems pretty important to them by saying "I will take the lowest dose available" to prove to both of you it is something you can tolerate.

And if you are worried about going into withdrawal because of a sudden stopping of your prescription, you will be surprised how little it takes to keep you out of overt withdrawal.

So when you and your provider are standing at the OK Corral over a disagreement about the plan of care, the answer, rather than yes or no, might just be a "smidge".