Jeffrey Wallien started seeing Boulder chiropractor, Dr. Kelly Martin,  for his adrenal fatigue and his back pain just one month ago.   His back pain has decreased and he feels more alive and vibrant.  Watch this video and learn how gentle chiropractic is helping him heal.

www.ExpressionOfLife.com

Call Today For A FREE Consult (303) 909-3961

In Wednesday’s article, Staying Calm in the Midst of Chaos, point #9 was: Plan something fun. I commented, “I need help with this one. Last week my friend suggested we take a mental health break and go to Nashville. It sounded good at the time. Now that it is tomorrow, and I have this huge list of uncompleted tasks, it sounds like a dumbass attack to me. BUT, I am going, and I am sure I will be better off for it.”

And even though there couldn’t have been a worse time, I did go – and I was better off for it. Somehow it was as if the heavens opened up to provide a spectacular day, full of memories. Miraculously, even the never-ending volume of calls and email messages on my blackberry stayed at bay.

When I returned home late last night, it came as a shock to me that I was no worse off by taking the day off despite all the impending deadlines surrounding the launch of my book – and I was actually better for it. The only problem – I had to tell myself it was OK that I didn’t get my blog article written for the day.  I have to really practice the rule, “Don’t should on yourself!”

Do you, too, get caught up in the pressures, responsibilities, and spiraling vortexes that seem to be spinning out of control in your life? When was the last time you acted like a teenager again, frolicking happily through the day? Is it time for you to plan a long overdue fun day?

Your adrenals will thank you if you do. The overwhelming stress in today’s world is exhausting our adrenals. When the adrenals are exhausted, the trauma ripples over into the thyroid and into the sex hormone balance. You can’t push on one without affecting the other two. Our body will try and try to compensate to keep us in balance, but before we know it, our whole being out of balance and ill health ensues.

One additional note…point # 4 in Wednesday’s article said, “Three nutritious meals a day are a requirement. The body can’t keep up its strength and energy without the proper ingredients to provide the fuel. A car won’t run if the gas tank is empty.”

Traveling on the highway to and from Nashville, we gave thought to where we could eat. The exits were littered with all sorts of fast food restaurants. My friend suggested stopping at the Cracker Barrel. My first reaction was, “Ohh, I want healthy food – and we surely won’t get it there.”

I was pleasantly surprised to find they have a whole menu section devoted to healthy food. We liked it so much that we stopped there for breakfast as well as lunch.

I am becoming a disciple of Joel Fuhrman, MD. Listen to Joel’s work, and you will quickly see that the very best food group you can consume is deep leafy greens and vegetables. I never thought I would be so excited to put those items in my mouth on a daily basis. It is worth your while – and your life – to get his Eat to Live and Eat for Health.

As Elizabeth Somer, M.A., R.D. teaches:

“If you want to feel your best, you have to eat the best.”

Today is Friday. It is almost a weekend! Why not take a couple minutes and see if you can’t dream up something fun to do this weekend? Your adrenals will love you for it!  :  )

Today is day #3 with a sore throat/cold, the first one I’ve had in over two years and possibly a sign that my immune system is not what it used to be. That said, I am feeling much better today than I was yesterday or the day before so at least I am able to recover quickly.

I have also had really bad arthritis and bone pain lately. Partially because of the weather. The rain has been relentless this year. My cough is still hanging around. Basically my body is allergic to everything. My body is constantly inflamed. Any time I eat or drink within minutes my body responds by producing mucus and forcing me to cough. This makes it pretty hard to breathe, talk and almost impossible to exercise. If I overeat the inflammation response often leads to vomiting from all the coughing/gasping for air. My weight is very very low. My energy reserves are seriously depleted. If I have been bad about returning calls/emails/visiting this is why. I just don’t have the energy for it.

I have a new theory about what is wrong and it involves adrenal exhaustion. Tests from my natropath show that my adrenal glands are not functioning well and my thyroid stimulating hormone is double what it should be. AE-> low cortisol-> low progesterone -> high estrogen-> high histamine (hence my inflammation), and low thyroid hormone absorption. It all makes sense but I’ve made that proclamation many times before. I feel like a crazy person researching and researching and researching trying to find answers that no doctors seem to have. My body feels like a science experiment gone horribly awry. I am trying to stay optimistic but honestly it has been hard lately. On the one hand I KNOW that I’ve been worse off than this. Two years ago I was doing much worse. But I’ve been a hell of a lot better too.

Today we got a whole house water filtration system installed. I am super excited about this. Our water was so super chlorinated. Every time we used the shower (even with a showerhead filter) it smelled like a swimming pool. Chlorine acts like estrogen in the body and inhaling chlorine steam is really bad. So now our water is soft and odor free. No more VOCs, no more chlorine. I am hoping this makes a difference in how I feel. Psychologically it has already given me some peace of mind. Also, we found an awesome plumber in the process. If you live in pinellas county and need a good plumber, Sauls plumbing is where its at. they were nice, knowledgeable and reasonably priced.

The next thing I am going to do is get a wheatgrass juicer and start growing some wheatgrass. Despite the occasional pessimistic bout of mean pinks I still have hope. Please keep me on your altars. I miss all of you and have a hard time seeing you from my lonely little pink planet but I think about you all the time and hope all is well.

Love, she

I have good news to share! I am totally and completely healed from all the symptoms I was experiencing since June of ‘08 (the dizziness had been from August of ‘05). No more dizziness, no more hives, no more itching, no more dermatitis (see pictures), no more eczema, no more blues, no more exhaustion, no more headaches!  God is good!



Just looking at this photo makes me, 1)praise God for healing! and 2)cringe in memory of the pain.  This isn’t even at it’s height.  This dermatitis had spread to my ring finger knuckle and most days was cracked and bleeding.  (Sorry to gross you out.)  You have no idea how great it feels to not feel bad!

I can not give you a list or formula for your healing or success.  You must seek God’s will for your life.  It may be that you need to change your diet.  It may be that you need to cut certain things out of your life.  It may be that you need to add more physical activity.  It may be that you need to do a study of His Word and find out what it says about healing.  It may be that you need a revelation of the authority and power that has been given to us as believers (that’s what I needed).  No one will know the answer but you.  And whatever it is that you need to be doing, you will know, because it will bring you great peace.  Being in the center of God’s will always brings you peace.



There is a time for change in your diet and a time for taking supplements, but that must be by the leading of God.  Don’t seek out a formula.  Don’t be motivated out of fear of sickness and disease.  Put your trust in God and seek His will above all else.



What if you are doing everything right?  What if you are eating an impeccable diet?



You see, I was doing everything “right.”  And I only saw little results, not full healing.  It wasn’t until I recognized that the fight is not always in this physical world, it goes deeper.  I emphasize physical health a great deal on this blog, but we must not forget that we are spiritual beings, these bodies are just temporary.



II Corinthians 10:3-4
For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds.



Though we walk in the flesh–this natural, physical world, we do not war against the flesh–there is a spiritual world, that we cannot see and there is an enemy out there that wants to destroy us. He wants to keep us from our purpose. He will hit you at your weak points. My weak point was thinking that I could solve any issue with my diet and not putting full trust in God to keep me healthy. But our weapons are not carnal (not fleshly, not of this world, are not our food and vitamins), but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds! I don’t know about you, but that excites me!  It means my health is not determined wholly by my environment (much of which I can’t control).



We live in a fallen world. There are so many things wrong with our environment and our food supply that it is practically impossible to keep in perfect health (on your own). But it is not God’s will for me to be sick. He has a purpose for me and I cannot accomplish it if I am constantly tending to myself and obsessing about myself and feeling terrible.



This is one of the reasons He sent His Son.  Most importantly so that we can have salvation, but also to give us an abundant life on the earth. (John 10:10) If you are wondering what the Bible has to say on healing, I encourage you to start a study. There are many, many cases, in the gospels, where Jesus healed the sick. He says in Mark 11:23-24 that if we say to a mountain, “Be removed and be cast into the sea,” and do not doubt in our hearts, but believe that we receive those things we ask, we will have them.



Do you have a mountain weighing you down right now? A stronghold in your life? Speak to that mountain and have faith that God will remove it.  Step out of the physical realm and into the spiritual.



John 14:14
If you ask anything in My name, I will do it. God wants to heal you.






Click here for a great article on healing scriptures that will build up your faith.

This video describes how we can move from adrenal stress to adrenal gland burnout or failure. (video time is less than one minute)

Under normal conditions, the adrenals make a hormone called pregnenolone (think of it as the “mother hormone”). Pregnenolone is the basic building block of many of the hormones the adrenal glands make, including the sex hormones.  These hormones– DHEA, estrogen, testosterone and progesterone — need to be maintained in proper balance.

When chronically stressed, something has to give; the adrenal glands cannot keep up with all their duties.  In a very interesting process known as “pregnenolone steal” the adrenal glands literally “steal” pregnenolone to make the basic hormone the adrenal gland utilizes for energy production, leaving sex hormone production lacking.  This “borrowing from Peter to pay Paul” phenomenon results in a host of symptoms associated with hormonal imbalance.

PMS, peri-menopause, menopause, testopause, and ED are associated with adrenal exhaustion.  Recall the adrenal glands produce reproductive hormones and that pregnenolone serves as the building block for other hormones.  Under normal conditions, ample pregneneolone exists for conversion to those hormones; however when stressed, pregnenolone is diverted instead.

HEALTH CONSEQUENCES OF ADRENAL STRESS:

What does this all mean?  When your body has been under chronic stress, it is forced to make a decision: It can get you through the day, putting one foot in front of the other, or it can make adequate amounts of sex hormones.  It can’t do both because it’s too stressed.  When put in this situation, your body decides the most pro-survivial thing to do is to you through the day, to the detriment of making sex hormones.  The insufficient production of hormones does not occur evenly across the board, however; progesterone tends to fall more dramatically than does estrogen, resulting in a net estrogen dominance (HELLO WEIGHT GAIN!!!).

HORMONE RELATED SYMPTOMS IN MEN & WOMEN:

Symptoms in women of estrogen dominance include the following: cramping, heavy bleeding, mentrual irregularities, migraines, weight gain, fatigue, PMS, and more.  Major symptoms can include infertility, miscarriage, depression and anxiety.  Symptoms in men can include ED, depression, fatigue, weight gain, and anxiety (and yes the good old Adrenals will rob Testosterone and DHEA levels leaving you with an abnormal amount of Estrogen as well).

JOINT ACHES AND PAINS FROM THE ADRENAL GLANDS:

Joint aches and pains can also be created from adrenal exhaustion.  In a normal, healthy body, wear and tear on the joint is offset by natural cortisol ( a hormone) production from the adrenal glands as they respond to minor joint inflammation in day-to-day living.  But when the adrenals over overwhelmed, even minor inflammation persists and eventually can cause significan swelling and or pain the joint areas.  The ligaments that keep your joints in good alignment and ready to react to movement become lax.  Over time joint pains, muscle spasms and limitations of movement can occur that elude the best intentions of chiropractors, physical therapists, medical doctors, and massage therapists.

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

If you suffer from structural pain or hormonal imbalance it is important to work with a practitioner who specializes in addressing such areas of the body.  Treatment for Adrenal Stress revolves around lifestyle managment, identifying food sensitivities, as well as nutritional support and balance.

If you are experienceing symptoms related to Adrenal Fatigue contact Dr. King for a one-on-one consultation to find out how our Renewed Health Programs can help you.  Our Programs involve a comprehensive LIfestyle & Nutritional Analysis including a full Bio-Identical Hormone Analysis and Adrenal Gland Assessment and Recommendation Program.

Other services offered through our Renewed Health Programs and our Exclusive 2 weeks to a New You include Bio-Identical Hormone Assessment and Treatment, The Zerona Laser, Diet & Weight Loss Programs, Anti-Aging Programs, Blue Light Treatment for Acne & Scarring, Detoxification, Nutrition, Vitamin Programs & Homeopathy.  Dr. King works one-on-one with each of her patients and recommends the best treatment plan for you after a thorough evaluation of your overall health and medical history.

To learn more about these services and to schedule your personal consultation with Dr. King, we invite you to call us and schedule a consultation to begin your journey to a NEW YOU.  For those of you who are out of state we do offer many of our services via remote access, please contact our office for more information.  Telephone Today (626) 799-0557

Yesterday I listened to call on hayhouseradio.com given by Nurse Practitioner Marcelle Pick on hormones and weight reduction.

At one point in the call, a woman who is vegan called in complaining of weight gain. Marcelle responded that some postmenopausal women don’t do well on a vegan diet. The carbs in a vegan diet are too high and contribute to insulin resistance, a condition in which insulin no longer responds when you eat food. The point she made is that the quality of your food must work for your physiology.

How I can relate to that scenario. That is exactly what happened to me. When I finally went to see Dr. Gabhart, she basically told me the same thing. She put me on a lower carb diet and the weight amazingly started to come off, something that seemed an impossibility for me no matter what I tried for oh, so long.

One additional side benefit of reducing carbs for me was a big decrease in my cholesterol level, a reduction of 50 points over a period of 5 weeks. Imagine the thrill I experience finally, after all these years, to be able to get off the statin drugs for high cholesterol. I don’t know which I am more excited about: the weight reduction or getting off the statin drugs. I think getting off the statin drugs wins!

Dr. Gabhart explains that insulin is the fat storage hormone, and yes, one can reduce weight and cholesterol by monitoring carbohydrate intake. Pick told her audience she recommends 15 – 16 carbs per meal.

In my own case, I started examining the labels of everything I consume. Processed foods of any sort are a no-no. I now replace higher carb protein with lower carb protein. I replace higher carb fruits and vegetable with those with lower carbs.

In my search, what was most shocking was that I found carbs in places that I hadn’t paid attention to. For example, I looked at the fiber supplements that I was using – anywhere from 15 – 24 carbs per serving. Ouch! In addition, I was grinding my own flaxseeds, 12.4 carbs per ¼ cup. I was giving myself a bolus of carbs before I ever even pulled up to the table, all under the impression of giving healthy things to my body.

I switched my fiber supplement to psyllium, powder or capsules, and I went back to using my Arbonne vegan Essential Fatty Acid for my omega 3 supplement.  An important point that Pick made is to not eliminate fat from the diet. Many of our hormones are derived from cholesterol. Therefore it is important to eliminate “bad” fats from the diet, such as saturated fats or trans fats and consume good fats, such as omega 3 and olive oil.

A point Pick made that I want to research more is that she is finding that gluten in the diet seems to be contributing to weight gain. She repeatedly advised to take glutens and carbs from the diet to lose weight. It is important to not eliminate carbs, but to reduce them. The body requires a balance of carbs, proteins, and fats for healthy living.

Another important factor in having the ability to lose weight are healthy adrenals. Stress and emotions affect hormone balance. In addition, as Pick stated, you won’t lose weight if you are consuming 700 calories a day. The body recognizes this as a stressor and, consequently, goes into preservation mode.

Pick went on to say that belly fat is related to one of three reasons:

1. Hormones are out of balance
2. The adrenals are exhausted
3. Insulin Resistance

In summary, if any of you find yourself in a situation where you cannot lose weight, perhaps some of these tips will be the key to unlock the perplexing puzzle.

On Saturday I traveled to Jasper, Indiana, to attend Dr. Whitney Gabhart’s seminar, “Hormones 101: Fat, Fatigued, and Female.”  (www.whitneygabhartnd.com) Although the sex hormones and the thyroid were also discussed, much emphasis was placed on today’s overly stressed adrenals.

So important is our adrenal health that Dr. Gabhart gave each participant a copy of Adrenal Fatigue, The 21^st Century Stress Syndrome by James L. Wilson, N.D., D.C., Ph.D. Multiple times Dr. Gabhart emphacized, “I want you to go home and read this book.”

Dr. Gabhart began the seminar stating that the thyroid and the adrenals have a relationship. As a side note, thyroid is sometimes called the “master gland.” It is like the gas pedal in your car. Your car won’t run without gas. Likewise, the thyroid affects every cell in your body. The adrenal in turn impacts the thyroid.

In terms of sex hormones, when you were a baby, all your sex hormones came from your adrenal glands. At puberty you got your hormones from the adrenal and the ovary because now it was time to reproduce. Then at menopause, you go back to getting your hormones from your adrenals.

The adrenal is the preservation gland. It is what allows you to lift a burning car to save someone. It is also your stress gland. In today’s culture, stress is a serious malady.

Here is a key point to remember: stress is accumulative. What that means is, just like the sun and the skin, skin damage is accumulative. The skin can be damaged for years, and then decades later the skin cancer shows up. Likewise, stress is accumulative. The adrenals can and do eventually become fatigued and exhausted.

The interesting thing about the adrenals is that there are two pathways in the body: the stress pathway and the sex hormone pathway. Since self preservation is the priority, when faced with a choice, the body shunts to the stress pathway. If we get half our hormones from the adrenals, one can then see the impact that stress has on hormone balance.

Dr. Gabhart explained the adrenals will wake you up at night if there is not enough glucose. This is the reason you wake up between 1:00 and 3:00 am. Adrenal fatigue is the culprit when a person complains, “I diet and exercise and still can’t lose weight.” The adrenal regulates the inflammatory process. “This is why you can hurt more.” The adrenal also regulates the immune system. This is why allergies, sinus problems, and food allergies start showing up after years of stress.

The good news: there’s lots you can do to heal your adrenals. I highly recommend Wilson’s book, Adrenal Fatigue. Section Three – “Helping Yourself Back to Health” – is full of information to restore the health of your adrenals. This section includes helpful information concerning 1) Lifestyle, 2) Food, 3) Food allergies and sensitivities, and 4) Dietary supplements for adrenal fatigue.  

I went home and followed Dr. Gabhart’s direction. I pulled my copy off the shelf and reread the above section. It made me realize just how HUGE the impact of stress is in our lives.

If you care about yourself, if you want to preserve your adrenal health so that as you age your adrenals can take care of you, you’ll do what Dr. Gabhart recommends: “I want you to go home and read this book.”

Are you feeling tired, worn out, or just unable to regain your normal energy level no matter what you do?  If the answer is yes then you may be suffering from a condition called Adrenal Fatigue Syndrome.  Adrenal Fatigue Syndrome (technically called hypoadrenia) is a disorder that is affecting more and more people every day, however a majority of the sufferers are not even aware that their symptoms are even symptoms at all.  This is a very prevalent, yet rarely diagnosed condition that has been around for the past 50 years.  Because this condition has gone mostly overlook, most will be left untreated.

First, what exactly are the adrenal glands?  The purpose of your adrenal glands are to assist your body in coping with any sort of stress.  The stress can come from any possible source, from injury and disease to work and relationship problems, the adrenals handle it all.  Often referred to as “the glands of stress”, the adrenal glands are directly responsible for your resiliency, energy, and endurance.  Without any of these things we wouldn’t even be able to get out of bed in the morning, let alone deal with stress!  They also are responsible for producing hormones such as adrenaline, cortisol, estrogen, and testosterone which are a necessary part of your body’s functionality.  You have two adrenal glands, each the size of a walnut, and they sit atop each kidney.  Centrally located, these glands not only affect every tissue, organ, and gland in your body, they also greatly affect how you think and feel as well.

Adrenal Fatigue Syndrome is when your adrenal glands have been over stimulated and are not functioning at the optimal level.  Overstimulation of the adrenals can occur after periods of intense and lengthy physical or emotional stress.  Your glands then become exhausted, unable to keep up with your increased stress levels, therefore resulting in the adrenals not being able to supply your body with the sufficient amount of hormones that it needs to function at a normal level.  Some common symptoms of Adrenal Fatigue are:

- excessive fatigue and exhaustion

- inability to cope with stress of any kind

- feeling constantly rundown

- craving salty and sweet foods

- craving caffeine or other stimulants

- difficulty concentrating

- low stamina

- poor digestion

- low immune function

- low blood pressure

- getting non-refreshing sleep

Unfortunately, there is no test that one can take to diagnose adrenal fatigue syndrome and there is no miracle pill to cure it either.  Recovery from Adrenal Fatigue takes major lifestyle changes along with taking different supplements and vitamins that your doctor recommends.  In order for you to fully recover from this condition it will take dedication and patience.

If you believe that you indeed may be suffering from Adrenal Fatigue Syndrome here are some simple life style changes that can help improve the functionality of your adrenal glands:

- Laugh as often as possible, this increases the parasympathetic supply to the adrenal glands

- avoid stressful environments and people

- exercise 3-4 times per week (or more)

- go to bed no later than 10 pm every night

- sleep in until 9 am, if possible

- eat 6 small meals a day, rather than 3 large meals

- always eat breakfast

- avoid alcoholic beverages as they hinder the functioning of your immune system

- avoid excessive caffeine intake

- avoid excessive sweets, try to regulate your blood sugar

- take a multivitamin/ B complex

- take adrenal glandulator, this is helpful in replacing some hormones that may be missing

- take Pregnenolone, DHEA, these are good hormones that can help to resolve adrenal fatigue

You’ve spent the entire day chasing after the kids or answering to the boss at work and by the end of the day, you are exhausted.  You gladly drop into bed, hoping this time you will sleep through the night. You wake up tired and even if you’re lucky enough to have a relatively relaxing day ahead of you, you know it won’t matter, because you’ll still be tired.  In addition, you have a hard time concentrating, muscle pain, anxiety and maybe even depression.  It’s been like this for over 6 months and you’re beginning to think it’s your new state of life and a miserable one at that.  But it’s not just life or old age, chances are it’s chronic fatigue and too many of us are suffering from it without even realizing it.

In the interest of National Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Month, let’s take a look at this condition and what can be done to correct it.  To do that, we need to understand the causes.

Stress is often the main contributor – sourced from our jobs, kids, financial pressures or relationship turmoil.  Poor nutrition (too much caffeine and carbohydrates) and over-exercising also lead our bodies down this destructive path.  In this case, it is likely to be adrenal fatigue or adrenal dysfunction.  Your adrenal glands produce the hormone cortisol to manage stress, low blood sugar, excitement and exercise.  The problem is that our adrenal glands aren’t meant to work so hard, so often and eventually, they can’t keep up with the cortisol demand.

This inability to produce the cortisol our bodies need, sends a chain reaction to all our other hormones.  Progesterone (which is created from cholesterol) is used to produce cortisol and DHEA (a hormone necessary to maintain other hormonal imbalances).  In the case of adrenal fatigue, DHEA production decreases and other hormones follow suit, causing further hormonal imbalance and symptoms.

Chronic fatigue can also be caused by a hormone imbalance.  In women, low estrogen and progesterone associated with menopause leads to insomnia and other symptoms that can cause fatigue.  In men, low testosterone found in andropause reduces energy production and also frequently leads to insomnia and fatigue.

Chronic fatigue or adrenal fatigue can seem hard to avoid but there are some steps you can take to protect yourself.  Avoid hydrogenated fats (like margarine), caffeine, alcohol, sugar and refined carbohydrates (like white rice or pasta made with white flour).  Maintain healthy levels of the B vitamins which help progesterone production and hence cortisol and DHEA production.  Vitamin C and magnesium also help adrenal function.  And of course, since stress can be a main cause, take time to find ways to manage stress in your life, like reading, yoga, meditation or others to relax yourself.

If you try these suggestions and find little to no improvement, consider hormone testing with a bioidentical hormone expert physician, like those found at BodyLogicMD, to treat the problem at its core.

Make chronic fatigue a thing of the past and get your life back!

Rex Says: simple doesn’t necessarily mean easy. When we first started our lifestyle change to address my cancer naturally, it was frankly overwhelming at times. Yet, once I dealth with the mental blocks (I’d never done it before, I didn’t know how to do it), I just STARTED and little by little, it really did become a habit, and it feels GREAT! If I can do it, ANYBODY can do it.

Friday, February 27, 2009 by: Mike Donkers, citizen journalist
(NaturalNews) Changing your diet isn`t always easy. The first thing you need to realize is that when you go off the western diet you will undergo a detoxification process that will be both physically and mentally challenging. The urge to go back to toxic foods will be almost impossible to resist and it will take tremendous discipline and will power to withstand. It`s important to keep these four principles in mind: water, raw plant food, full-spectrum salt and full fats.

Water

Coffee dehydrates. All stimulants do. Caffeine is a stimulant. In the morning your adrenals produce natural levels of the stress hormones cortisol and adrenaline in order to jolt you awake and get you going for the rest of the day. This should be enough to do the trick. If you wake up not feeling refreshed and rested it means your immune system wasn`t able to finish the natural cleansing process it goes through every night and prefers to keep you asleep to finish the job. In other words, your immune system is compromised and you need more adrenalin and cortisol to kick-start your brain into action.

Coffee will do just that. So will the sugar and cream you put in it. These are all stimulants which drive up your blood sugar. The result is a response from your adrenals to produce higher levels of cortisol and adrenalin than usual because your body goes into survival mode. These are not the only two hormones which are produced in excess. Your pancreas will excrete higher levels of insulin than usual to try and bring back your blood sugar to normal levels. Do this for 20, 30, maybe 40 years and you`re setting yourself up for diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer, even neurological diseases such as MS, Parkinson`s etc.

Along with exhausted adrenals, an exhausted pancreas, and disturbed blood sugar and hormonal levels, you`re also seriously overtaxing your nerve system. This is why too much coffee causes your hands to shake. Another contributing factor is that these stimulants acidify your blood, which naturally has a pH of between 7.3 and 7.4. Not only that, water is drained from your cells which are forced to give up their fluids as well as glucose and minerals from your blood, muscles and tissue.

Do you understand now how much havoc that one cup of coffee with sugar and creamer wreaks in the morning just to get you through the day? And that`s just coffee! The typical western diet contains nothing but adrenal-depleting, blood-sugar upsetting, mineral-depriving, water-draining and alkaline-lowering stimulants: bread, pizza, cookies, soft drinks – it`s a miracle people are still alive! Most people are seriously dehydrated as a result of this. One of the first things you need to do is drink the amount of good-quality water (unfluorized, filtered water) your cells need on a daily basis. Drink 10 oz of water for every 20 lbs of body weight. Make sure you drink most of that water in the morning.

A good way to start the day is drinking lemon water (water with freshly squeezed lemon juice). This also helps detoxify the liver. Smoothies are a great way to get water in your system. Mike Adams has put together a nice little book with smoothie recipes:

http://www.truthpublishing.com/supe…

Another great way to bring more water to your cells is by eating foods that naturally contain lots of water, e.g. cucumber, water melon, green leafy vegetables. The importance of water is not to be underestimated and it`s the first step toward great health you need to take.

Raw Plant Food

Eat more salads! Organic raw plant foods are incredibly healthy, purifying and nourishing. Besides water they contain omega-3 fatty acids, chlorophyll, minerals, enzymes, proteins, and vitamins. They are nature`s complete foods and humans and animals alike thrive on them, including the meat eaters who get the plant nutrients secondhand through the meat. Make sure you eat at least one salad a day, preferably two, or even three!

Don`t worry about counting calories and don`t feel guilty about overeating because it`s almost impossible to overeat salads. That`s because they contain water and are not dense foods. They will make you lose weight but also mentally they will make you feel lighter. They are truly heart foods. Did you know that the number one heart mineral is magnesium and that chlorophyll is built around magnesium? Did you also know that chlorophyll is 98% identical to red blood cells? We are plants, and they are teachers who can elevate our consciousness.

An easy salad to make is grated carrots with green leafy vegetables, the darker green the better (try spinach!), sprouts and a dressing of olive oil with fresh lemon juice. Make sure you add some of the pulp as well. You can even eat the seeds, which are anti-candida and anti-cancer. If you want you can add a bit of paprika, cayenne pepper and oregano to your salad. Learn to appreciate the taste of bitter and sour, the two most underdeveloped tastes in your mouth, thanks to the conditioning you`ve undergone since childhood to appreciate only sweet and salt.

Full-Spectrum Salt

Just like there`s such a thing as full-spectrum light (natural sunlight which contains the full electro-magnetic spectrum) there`s also full-spectrum salt. Salt, too, is electro-magnetic energy. Your cells need these electrolytes in order to improve the electro-magnetic and even light communication between the cells. Take only these three types of salt: Celtic Sea Salt (aka sel gris, from Guerande, France), Dead Sea salt, or Himalaya salt.

The best way to consume the salt is in liquid form by making a concentrated salt solution called a Sole. This article explains how to do it:

http://www.naturalnews.com/023600.html

A safe dose is taking one or two teaspoons of Sole in a glass of water per day. You can up the dose gradually if you want, but be careful and listen to what your body is telling you. You don`t have to worry about your blood pressure or your heart as your body actually needs salt, lots of it. Your blood should naturally contain 0.9% of salt and your body needs about 7 dry oz of it. When you were in your mother`s womb you were in a salt bath which should have been very similar to diluted ocean water. Healthy human blood is 98% identical to ocean water. We are not only plants, we are also a diluted ocean. Thus it makes perfect sense to drink salt dilutions to regenerate our cells and give them back the original information and energy.

Full Fats

By full fats are meant full fats. Forget about calories and the fat-is-bad propaganda. Have you ever seen skimmed or low-fat milk coming out of a cow? That`s like saying nature has made a mistake and we`re correcting it by taking the fat out. Fat does not make you fat. Let`s repeat that: FAT DOES NOT MAKE YOU FAT.

Make sure you eat the right kind, though. They are easy to remember: only extra vergine organic coconut oil and olive oil, as well as real butter made from real milk. The most bioavailable forms of fat are saturated fats, as they have a short or medium chain. These are mostly animal fats, such as raw milk from organic, grass-fed cows with horns, butter and grass-fed, organic meat. Of course coconut oil is a great vegetarian saturated fat alternative. In second place are mono-unsaturated fats such as olive oil. These are more difficult to digest because of their longer chain but nevertheless really healthy.

As you may have noticed, in these four principles of healthy eating you don`t see grains anywhere. Mankind has been on this planet for some 200,000 years. We started farming only about 10,000 years ago. This means this `staple food` didn`t enter our diet until recently from an evolutionary perspective. The human digestive system was not meant to deal with grains. Ask yourself why there are so many people with gluten intolerances and allergies. Only birds are meant to eat grains. For us, it goes against, well, the grain.

The easiest way to integrate the four principles of healthy eating into your life is to live mostly on smoothies and salads. They allow you to combine the four principles. Smoothies and salads are also easy to take with you. Make sure each ingredient is organic, though. It literally pays for itself as you will feel more nourished while eating less. It`s food that feeds and not just fills.

If you stick to this food pattern you are giving your cells the energy and information they need to regenerate themselves. You will lose weight if you are overweight and gain weight if you are underweight. Your blood sugar and hormone levels will stabilize and so will your blood pressure and cholesterol. Your bowel, liver and heart function will improve and so will your immune and digestive system as a result. You will experience a noticeable increase in energy, vitality and health.

These are transformational foods which can help speed up our evolution because they are based on nature`s life-giving and life-promoting principles. All it takes is the mental strength, discipline and will power to go with your own flow rather than that of society. We are society, though. Allow these foods to open up your minds, hearts and souls and heal you at every level, and we can change society. As Ghandi said, be the change you want to see. All it takes is a few brave souls to set off this change. You could be one of them.

Sources:

Moritz, Andreas Timeless Secrets of Health and Rejuvenation, Ener-Chi Wellness Press, 2007
Wolfe, David The Sunfood Diet Success System, Maul Bros Publishing, 2006
Price, Weston A. Nutrition and Physical Degeneration, Keats Publishing, 2003

It has been a few days since I’ve written here, and it feels like worlds have passed through me. There has been an intense emotional process nearly every day of sans this one.  There have been some serious overhauls and uncoverings and reworkings internally since this process began.  But the main aspect I will touch on in this entry is the physical healing.  I will try to go in to the other aspects later, once they have coagulated a little more.

I successfully worked my way through Paul Nison’s Program for a flare up of Crohn’s Disease, albeit a little roughly.  That is to say that I over taxed myself at one point, which meant I needed more calories than I was getting, and I made some sub-optimal choices that were a bit jarring and painful for my digestive system. Paul even emphasises the importance of no stress and lots of rest numerous times in the book, but I got restless, and ended up overdoing it. Just one day was enough to send me into a spiral of a mess that took a while to balance out from. But I adjusted and eventually made my way to eating again. 

Since then, I have only been able to maintain a raw diet of about 80%, but it has been enough to shut off the inflammatory process.  Also, I got some of the ingredients for the program a little late, such as the medicinal quality enzymes and probiotics, but once I started them, almost all pain and discomfort went away.  It was rather miraculously fast. Now all I have is some distention after eating.  Fever is long gone, and everything is moving right along. The improvement literally happened overnight.

I am still very tired and don’t have a lot of energy, but I am grateful to actually be feeling the genuine energy level I have, and not be suffering from withdrawal and intense swings from stopping cortico-steroids, which definitely reeked havoc on me physiologically, and subsequently mentally and emotionally.  I think that is almost finished now, and I am recovering.  I am left with a bit of an edge from the tax on my adrenals, which I really did not need, but it is understandable. I will get through it soon enough (hopefully), and hopefully without too much damage to those closest to me from the Grump Monster! Woo!

(Thanks to a Petafoo poster for the picture!)

I received my wheat grass juicer in the mail today, and will begin using it tomorrow.  It looks so old school, it is really neat! Let me see if I can find a picture of it… Here’s one from the Sprout People:

I think it will be very healing to have my hands so intensely involved in the juicing process. It will probably make the process less abstract. We’ll see how I feel about it when the novelty wears off! *smirk*

I also got my rebounder, which I will also try to start using tomorrow as well, lightly.  I read in the pamphlet for it that it raises white blood cells to flush the lymphatic system, and I am not sure how that would interact with the autoimmuneaspect of Crohn’s, so I want to be careful and gentle with myself.  But I know that exercise is absolutely paramount to health, and I know that it’s necessary for me to feel balanced and emotionally well, so I don’t want to put it off too long, especially since I am consuming more food now.  I am really hoping to get some energy to work with soon, too.  But I need to take it slow here, because I still feel kind of fragile.

I do plan to get to a place of eating 100% raw, and using the Low-Glycemic approach as outlined by Gabriel Cousens M.D. in Rainbow Green Live Food Cuisine.  I would also like to follow the Phase 1 diet for treatment of Mycosis (as defined by Cousens), to restore biological terrain.  This is especially important because I am fairly certain that I agree with the entire informational section of the book, which outlines Pleomorphic Theoryversus Germ Theory in holistic healing. 

The basis of this theory is that the source of disease is not germs themselves, but rather the conditions which invite or host the germs, (i.e. the terrain).  When the terrain is imbalanced or disturbed, healthy organisms turn into destructive ones, which is there job.  Essentially, they begin to recycle material, leading to the composing of tissues, which is great when you’re dead.  But while living, this is not exactly ideal (to say the least).  This means the goal to restore the conditions, and thereby remove the possibility for the destructive organisms to survive, and promote the flourishing of healthy organisms.  The book goes into greater detail on this, as even further detail is available in Conscious Eating(thank you, Google, for awesome book previews!), which should arrive in the mail tomorrow.

I’ve actually been following this stuff for a while, and it resonates with me on many levels, so I figure that as long as I am getting proper nutrition, it can’t hurt to give it a shot.  But I will tell you this, it is HARD!  I tried just a couple of days of going without sweet of any kind, even from fruit, and outside of fasting on green juices, it was impossible for me.  (Also, fasting on green juices was so intense, that I will absolutely have to write about it later.  I’m making a list of things I need to write about, since I keep saying I will write about things later.) I really need to be praying for willpower right now, because I *really* want to accomplish this. I believe this could very well be key for the attainment of optimal health.

I went to an alternative medicine clinicon Monday, and I am not sure what to make of it all.  The holistic doctor there said that I appear to have a systemic Candida infection, which is causing all or most of the expressions of ill health I currently grapple with, from “Leaky Gut Syndrome” contributing to Crohn’s, to Adrenal Exhaustion, to Endocrine Imbalance regarding my reproductive system, to ADD and cognitive/emotional disturbances. 

On one hand, this makes sense, especially from a holistic point of view.  On the other hand, possibly from a competing perspective, it could be far fetched.  I don’t rightly know anymore.  I feel a little lost swimming in a plethora of information and possibility.  But, if I do have Candida, (which I have also had verified a while ago via Dark Field Microscopy, which Dr. Cousens supports, but which some medical experts invalidate), it should be addressed by the Rainbow Green Phase 1 diet.  Of course, with an infection of this apparent severity, further support may be needed, and the clinic I went to offers a comprehensive program.  I am looking into it.  I will report what I discover and decide.

Another aspect I would like to work towards is not eating at night.  The importance of eating only in the daytime is stressed in so many cultures and healing modalities that it is difficult to track.  Most recently, Paul Nison is releasing a book and program called The Daylight Diet, where he apparently gives plenty of information and sources to support the importance of this vastly overlooked aspect of health and lifestyle. I already know it though, so I don’t really need to be reminded as much as I need the discipline to implement it. 

Firstly, I need to get to sleep earlier so that I can rise earlier, and get all the nutrients I need while the sun is up.  Otherwise, I wake up in a deficit that takes me long into the evening to fulfill.  And with blood-sugar problems on top of it, it becomes a huge grappling endeavor.  So this is definitely on the list of things to address.  I’m supposed to sleep by 11 anyway to help heal my adrenals.  So timing becomes doubly important.

Essentially, I want and need to be gentle with myself.  I have already tried taking on too much too soon and failed miserably.  I’ve done this several times over the past couple of years, two steps forward and one step back, and sometimes two steps back for a while until I get it together enough to go one step forward instead.  So that’s the goal this time, one step at a time.  I think this is absolutely vital to ensure my success.  And I know I will succeed if I am paying attention.

I am paying attention.

I have been tapering off of Prednisone, which was given to me in the hospital for treatment of an acute flare-up of Crohn’s Disease. It is a corticosteroid used medically as a powerful anti-inflammatory agent and immuno-suppressant. It definitely did the job, considering my white blood cell count was 21, 000, and it knocked it down to 12,000 overnight. For perspective, the normal range of white blood cells per cubic millimeter is approximately 5000-10,000. In other words, I was hot! I mentioned in another entry that I even had a fever of 104 degrees before I finally went to the Emergency Room.

Prednisone is not a fun drug for me. I remember in the past, back when I was really-super-duper sick, I was on very high doses of it. I had to take 2 different psychiatric medications to compensate for what was diagnosed as “Steroid Induced Psychosis”.  I remember that I eventually came to refer to Prednisone as “The Devil,” because of what it did to me. I remember feeling like I was losing my mind, and the aggitation I experienced has never been paralleled in my lifetime.  I felt so powerless to the mood swings and aggression that were tearing through me, but there was nothing I could do.  I was also taking opiates for pain, which have a sedating effect, in addition to the anti-anxiety medicine prescribed to compensate for the steroid psychosis.  These added a component of depression so bad that not even the prescribed anti-depressants helped, and at times, I even contemplated suicide. 

I also remember gaining approximately 20 extra pounds, growing a “moon face” with huge chimpmunk cheeks, and having Edema in my legs. I remember the absolutely insatiable appetite that no amount of food could quell. I was even diagnosed with Cushing’s Syndrom at one point, and my appearance was so drastically different that I hardly recognized myself anymore. This was also a source of depression for me, and vastly affected my self-image and esteem, but in the larger scope of the circumstances, was lower on the list of priorities, next to needing to stay alive and all.

Unfortunately, Prednisone was the only drug that worked at various times in my treatment with Western medicine, so I was pretty miserable a lot of the time. When I think about what that was like, I wonder how in the world I managed to pull myself together enough to decide to find another way.  I guess I never was crazy, in that I realized that if I wanted to get different results, I had to do something different.  And I suppose it really was so intolerable that I was driven to evolve.

I am feeling very grateful that it did not take very high doses of Prednisone to control the flare this time, though the initial doses were high enough for me to experience substancial psychological distress.  While in the hospital, I struggled with panic attacks and a constant feeling of anxiety for no reason.  I remember sitting up in the evening, in tears, randomly, with a pounding in my chest and a feeling like everything was falling apart.  My companion was there once, and understood what was happening, and just held my hand as tight as he could to help sooth me.  It actually helped, because of the proprioception, which I learned about not long ago (more on this later).  The feeling of joint constriction can be very helpful with relieving anxiety.  I am not sure my hand has ever been held so tightly. 

Though it was cookies compared to what I experienced in the past, the panic this time still eventually required the use of sedatives.  Treatment started in the hospital, and I was sent home with a prescription of Ativan along with the Prednisone, to help me through the tapering off process.  Last night was the last time I took the sedative. I think I slept for 12 hours. 

I am down to 10 mg of Prednisone now, and am not feeling the anxiety, just very, very tired.  I will take 10 mg again tomorrow, and then 5mg the next two days, and then I will be finished.  I will not be surprised to experience some level of fatigue and mood fluctuation for a few days following. It has been an intense time.

Presently, I actually work with a Naturopathic Doctor to help repair the damage done to my adrenals from so much corticosteroid use in the past.  We have successfully worked together on other things, such as effectively treating Endometriosis and ovarian cysts (more on these later), so I have a lot of faith in the relationship.  Adrenal repair is a major focus of our work now, and I have had a full panel of testing done, which concluded that my adrenals don’t work as well as they need to.  Specifically, they don’t produce enough testosterone, or dhea, and this is causing a tax on my thyroid, which subsequently does not produce enough thyroid hormone. In addition to this, my cortisol cycle is nearly reversed, and I experience Hypoglycemia related to the adrenal exhaustion. 

This all pretty much just means I am very, very tired, am unable to tolerate even a moderate level of stress, have a really hard time sleeping, experience a lowered sex drive, and have high nutritional needs due to bloodsugar disregulation.  But mostly I am tired.  Close friends have described a “deep exhaustion” about me, which I can simply say I experience as feeling old. 

The adrenal treatment has been beneficial in a few ways so far, most notably that the inclusion of Black Currant in my medicinal regime has soothed the edginess and aggression that I was experiencing before treatment began. Also, occasionally the prescribed Seriphos actually works to lower my cortisol levels at night, and permit me some sound sleep (though this is more rare than I would prefer, thus far).

I am sure this recent course of steroids, though brief, will take a little time to repair as well. As I have said before, I am really looking forward to having alternative methods to use to treat acute flare-ups in the future, should they express again. I really believe that the program I am doing will work, which I’m fairly sure is half the battle. And I am looking forward to the day that I will never have to take Prednisone again. The devil is officially going bye bye.

And after a while, my digestive system will be fully repaired, and my endocrine system will be balanced one more, and I shall experience peace, energy, vitality, and a sense of well being unlike I have in a very, very long time. 

Here’s to a new, better version of body and mind!

Lisa Says: I was exhausted ! after we changed our diet to fresh, whole foods, I started addressing my ADRENAL EXHAUSTION which had been diagnosed incorrectly as depression !  What a difference.  I prefer 2 supplements in addition to diet and life style change which are Adrenal Support http://www.mynsp.com/rex/products/guide.aspx?stockNum=1507 and NUTRI-CALM http://www.mynsp.com/rex/products/guide.aspx?stockNum=1617

ARTICLE Monday, May 26, 2008 by: Leigh Erin Connealy, M.D.

(NaturalNews) Are you one of the millions of Americans who are always tired? Do you feel that you can never catch up on your sleep or your energy reserves have been permanently depleted? Do you wonder if you will ever return to your normal self again?

If you’re like most people you probably assume that your fatigue is the result of a hectic lifestyle, but what if it isn’t? What if your fatigue is a symptom of something more serious than the every day chaos of life? And, by the same token, what if there was a way to reverse the fatigue by addressing the root cause?

Fatigue is one of the top ten complaints I hear from my patients. By definition, fatigue is more than simply feeling sleepy. Fatigue is the constant sensation of being tired or lethargic and is often accompanied by a feeling of weariness and a lack of energy. Normal fatigue happens to all of us, at times when we are sick with a cold or flu, putting long hours in at the office or after exercising hard. You may also experience normal fatigue when you fail to exercise, are bored or when you simply are not getting enough sleep. These types of fatigue can all be reversed with the proper amount of rest and generally do not last longer than a few days.

Fatigue lasting longer than 2 weeks is defined as abnormal and should be evaluated by a health care provider. Fatigue is a sign that something is not functioning properly within your body and should be addressed immediately. Since there are various causes of fatigue, your physician will ask you a panel of questions designed to determine your specific health problem or problems. Fatigue can be a complex condition and often times there is more than one issue at the root of the problem.

Some of the more common causes of abnormal fatigue range from mental health issues such as anxiety, stress, depression, respiratory or cardiovascular impairment, less thyroid, chronic infections, hormone imbalances, poor nutrition and adrenal gland depletion. Here is a brief overview of just some of the health problems that could be causing your fatigue.

Mental Health Issues

One commonality shared between anxiety, depression and stress is that they all tend to result in fatigue. With anxiety, you often are not getting the proper amount of sleep at night. Depression may cause you to have disruptive sleep or to sleep more than your body requires, both of which will cause fatigue. People with chronic stress are in a persistent state of fight or flight, overtaxing their adrenal glands which takes a dangerous toll on all of the body’s systems. As a result, the cardiovascular, digestive, adrenal glands, neurotransmitters and respiratory systems are all being affected. This can upset the body’s balance of hormones such as Cortisol and Melatonin and neurotransmitters, Serotonin, Epinephrine, glutamate, histamine, Norepinephrine, GABA and PEA levels leading to a state of constant fatigue

Respiratory & Cardiovascular Impairment

Any time your heart or lungs are failing to work properly or at their optimal performance levels you will experience a feeling of fatigue. The reason behind this is that your heart and lungs are chiefly responsible for the circulation of oxygen-rich blood to all of the organs in your body. This oxygen-rich blood is necessary to maintain healthy energy levels. While the cause of fatigue might be something serious such as Coronary Artery Disease or heart failure, it could also be something as simple as allergies, such as hay fever or asthma, which can limit the amount of air that is coming into your body.

Sleep Disorders

Sleep disorders are a common problem in today’s society with approximately 40 million Americans living with some form of sleep disturbance. If you’re suffering from insomnia (difficultly falling asleep) or hypersomnia (excessive sleeping) then you are more than aware of the problem. The same is true with Restless Leg Syndrome, a condition that causes uncomfortable sensations in the legs making it difficult to fall asleep or stay asleep. However, you could be suffering from the disorder Sleep Apnea and not even be aware of it. Sleep Apnea causes you to stop breathing for at least 10 seconds at a time while you are sleeping. This interruption in breathing usually occurs more than 20 times during each hour that you are asleep. The condition, which is associated with aging, obesity and depression, is a major risk factor for stroke and heart attack and should be taken very seriously.

Lack of Exercise

Lack of exercise leads to a health problem called “deconditioning” wherein the organs of the body begin to deteriorate resulting in fatigue. Researchers studied athletes at the top of their health and found their organs began deteriorating within 24 hours after the end of physical activity. The same research team found even mild exercise could counteract the deconditioning response. This discovery has been especially useful to patients confined to bed rest, but can also apply to those who live a sedentary lifestyle.

Pain

Pain is a complex problem that can cause fatigue in many different ways. Fatigue may be caused by sleep disruptions associated with chronic pain or the deconditioning that results from being confined to a bed. Pain can also lead to isolation which can cause depression and, thereby, fatigue.

Malnutrition

Malnutrition can take many forms, from simply not getting enough nutrients from the foods that you consume, to more serious concerns such as eating disorders or problems with your digestive system. The immune system is the first body function hit by the lack of proper nutrients, resulting in disease and fatigue, unless the problem is reversed.

Thyroid Disorder

The thyroid gland regulates the rate of your body’s metabolism and, consequently, energy levels. If your thyroid is failing to produce enough hormones your metabolism slows down, resulting in feelings of sluggishness, as well as weight gain, a condition called hypothyroidism. Hypothyroidism is a common problem in America and affects nearly 11 million Americans.

While this list is far from comprehensive, it is a good example of how complex the problem of fatigue can be. Discovering the underlying cause of your fatigue will not only put you back on the path to your old, energetic self again but it could also be the beginning to restoring your health!

A current article at MSNBC asks: “What does middle age mean these days?” and answers that question with a rosy review of a new book called: Redesigning 50 by Oz Garcia.

There’s a lot of truth here, in my opinion. The part I relate to the most is about how we deal mentally with the aging process:

“Do we even know what middle age means anymore? If you’re anywhere near the age of fifty, you probably remember that the mantra of the 1960s was “Don’t trust anyone over the age of thirty.” When we were teenagers, we thought that thirty marked the beginning of middle age. I know I did. But now, having passed the thirty-year marker many years ago, I’m no longer sure how to define middle age. Old definitions no longer apply. Middle-aged women are now having babies. Men and women in their sixties and seventies are climbing mountains, traveling into outer space, and making greater achievements than are many of their more youthful counterparts. In today’s world, middle age is no longer a stage of life to be dreaded or feared, but one that we can fully enjoy and embrace.

Aging takes most of us by surprise. We look in the mirror one day, or get up out of a chair, or try to do something we used to do effortlessly — and suddenly we realize that we’ve actually gotten older. That’s what happened to me. Even though I don’t always want to admit it, I have started to experience the universal signs of reaching a certain … maturity. I need reading glasses. I can’t run at the same pace or with the same stamina I used to. It’s become a little more difficult to regulate my weight.

I’ve started to ask myself questions. What can I do now and for the rest of my life to make the coming years as good as those that have passed? Do I need to worry about health concerns that some have called the diseases of aging? And how do I not only remain healthy but feel good — and look good, too?”

I find most of what is said in this article to be true. For example, many midlifers do suffer from adrenal exhaustion and the detriments of too much caffeine and alcohol. etc., especially if you are dealing with a chronic illness like CFS. I can also highly recommend the Life Extension Foundation and their magazine (www.lef.org) for useful, cutting edge research on ways to enjoy the second half of life more. I wrote an extensive research report for them on CFS (which they never published!)

The only problem I see with this kind of information, is the tone of it, which can suggest to those of us who struggle with chronic pain or illness, that we are just a bunch of stupid slobs who haven’t seen the light yet, and “fixed” ourselves.

I salute people like Mike Wallace from “60 Minutes” who will turn 90 this week, and is still working hard. My own father is going to be 80 next year, and still shows great dedication to researching and writing books on botany. (Trees and Shrubs of Colorado)

Aging is obviously a very individual experience. The challenge is continuing to believe that you have excellent and exciting reasons to get up every day, and do what makes you happy, at any age.

]]> http://2dadsntwins.wordpress.com/2008/03/03/modern-western-medicine-%e2%80%93-some-jokes-have-no-punchlines/ Mon, 03 Mar 2008 15:19:35 +0000 2dadsntwins http://2dadsntwins.wordpress.com/2008/03/03/modern-western-medicine-%e2%80%93-some-jokes-have-no-punchlines/

I feel a rant coming on.  A good venting.  I’m fairly certain it’s going to be a bona fide diatribe.  Oh yeah.  You bet your ass!  And here it comes.

This one’s been years in the making, and it’s a big one in my books.  This turned into a bit more novella and less blog post.

Do not mistake one word of this for whining, a victim story, or a ‘why me?’ saga.  However, this is an unedited, uncensored, open and honest reflection of my experience as a relatively well-educated, aware, assertive human being, and my years-long struggle as a proactive participant in my own health care, and, after years of unresolved malaise, my struggle out of the maelstrom we call traditional modern medicine in America.

It’s also a lot of personal information I wouldn’t generally share with people I don’t know intimately.  But I’ve really needed to get this off my chest for a long, long, long time. 

If however, someone does read this, and by chance, my experience helps someone who has found themselves in a similar situation to take matters into their own hands, and make better decisions with their health than the decisions made for them by someone else who should know better, it’s all been worth it.

Welcome back, old friend…Gesundheit!

About 7 years ago, my childhood allergies reared their ugly head.  For a while,  I fought the good fight (unsuccessfully) with a variety of over-the-counter meds until I finally waved the white flag and headed to see the allergist.

Diagnosis:  Seasonal Allergies

Treatment:  Allergy Injections and Prescription Allergy Medication

Outcome:  The shots helped, but I still needed the pills.  And the Kleenex.  And the Visine.  But it was an improvement.  This went on for 6 years before my allergist decided the shots were no longer beneficial, and we called it a day.  Or the better half of a decade.

Why can’t we do better than this?  Achoo!

Jumpin’ Eyeballs, Batman!

Meanwhile, back at the office, I was working happily away (Okay, I wasn’t skipping through the halls or anything, but everything was status quo) when my lower, left eyelid started doing a little rhythmic dance.  Plink.  Plink. *How peculiar!*  I rubbed my eye and it stopped.  *Hmm*  So I started working again, and a few seconds later, it started again.  Plink.  Plink.  Plink.  *What the…*  More rubbing and away it went.  I start working again.  Plink.  Plink.  The damned thing was just toying with me now.  Not only was I losing my focus, but it was making me self-conscious. 

So I called a friend.  “Hi!  Janice?  Come over and take a look at my eye.  Yes, my eye.  Just come over here.”  After staring into my eyes for an awkward period of time at an uncomfortable range (as in “I never noticed that one large pore on the side of your nose before”), she assured me that no one but me could tell there was anything awry.  So I ran off to my next meeting.  Meanwhile…Plink.  Plink. Plink.  And the first words from the guy sitting next to me in conference room?  “Hey!  What’s up with your eye?”  As for Janice?  I spent the rest of the meeting writing her ulogy.

This continued on and off for days, and was maddening.  My helpful doctor said,  ”Welcome to your 30’s!  This happens to a lot of people.  It’s just stress.  Are you stressed?”  What kind of question is that?  Seriously.  Who isn’t stressed?  I mean, I don’t feel stressed, but let’s face it.  In today’s world, stress is the norm.  And right now, I’m more stressed than usual because my left eyelid is trying to coax the rest of my facial features into a conga line around my head!  Am I stressed?  Oy! 

Diagnosis:  Low-level anxiety. 

Treatment:  Apply ice to affected eye as needed to relax nerve.  Take time to do more relaxing things.

Outcome:  I have one copay less money in my bank account, less ice in my freezer, and occasionally I throttle the volume on my iPhone and shake my head to the beat of my throbbing eye.  I suppose the exercise is good for me, too.

Do You Scratch an Itch or Itch a Scratch?

Like many people, I get dry skin in the winter.  No big deal.  But sometimes I get really, really dry skin patches on my arms.  So I mentioned it as a side conversation once when I was at the doctor just to make sure it wasn’t anything.  Well, I find myself in the dermatologists office.

Did you also know you have vitilago?  Vita-what?  Vitalago.  No.  What the hell is that?  See these couple spots with no pigment?  It’s called vitilago.  Some people have it all over.  Then there are people like you with a couple inconspicuous spots.  It may progress, or this may be all you ever get.  It won’t hurt you.  It’s just kind of ‘there’.  Just be aware of it.  I’ll send your doctor a letter.

Diagnosis:  Psoriasis, Vitilago

Treatment:  Prescription Ointment as needed to affected area

Migraines…Who smelled that coming?

I squint my eyes and turn around slowly, looking for whoever hit me in the head with an ax just over my eye, but I can’t find the perpetrator.  To call these ‘headaches’ is akin to filling a swimming pool with ice cream and hot fudge and calling it a sundae.  These are the headaches that knock you flat on your ass.  And that’s just great, because now my ass hurts, too!  It didn’t take me long to call my reliable doc for this one.  Absolutely nothing touched the headaches.  After an exam and a series of questions, he determines I have atypical migraines.

Atypical, you say?  Cool!  I’ve always flown in the face of social norms and I wouldn’t have it any other way.  So my migraines are atypical because I have every symptom of a migraine imaginable except for a visible aura.  These symptoms include a precursor. 

Mine is fun.  It’s the unmistakable smell of a dirty, wet dog along with the simultaneous sensation that every sinus in my head has just expanded to 200% it’s normal size.  Could it be the smell of lilies, or the aroma of fresh baked bread?  No.  I get the wet dog.  Lovely.  Well, at least it’s something I can identify.  And it’s my cue I have between 8 and 12 hours to get my affairs in order before I’ll be lying in a heap praying for death. 

I go home with some pills.  Got a headache?  Pop a couple of these beauties and your headache will disappear.  Thank you!  Thank you!  Thank you! *pop pop gulp* OK.  It was absolutely true.  They worked like a charm.  They got rid of the headaches.  They also, for all intents and purposes, took the world and put it under a slow spinning disco ball with fake fog and reaaally sloooow taaaalllkinnnng and moooovvvviiiinnnnggg peeeople.  Funky ass trip!  Problem is I sort of have this thing called a day job.

The migraines got so bad, the only way I could stay upright, function a little and remain part of the world everyone else is a part of, was to take a cocktail of narcotics to numb the pain and try to break the cycle of headaches.  Fantastic!  So was I a junkie now?  This was sooo not a solution.

The frequency and intensity of my headaches became so severe, a CT scan was ordered.  “I wouldn’t worry about it”, says my comforting medical expert.  Why, oh why, oh why do people say these things?  And yes, the immediate response is, “Thanks!  I wouldn’t worry about it if it were your CT scan, either.”  It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out what they’re looking for on a CT scan of your head that might cause massive headaches.  It does, however, take a radiologist, who was happy to inform me my scan was textbook normal.  But he wasn’t as happy as I was.  So, it’s not a tumah.  That’s good news, but it didn’t resolve the issue.

Finally, I went off the narcotics and started a daily maintenance medication to control the migraines.  Fortunately, I didn’t have to go to rehab to handle the withdrawal.  The new med wasn’t a narcotic and I can function normally with it.  And it works.  I only get a migraine two or three times a year now. 

However, the problem isn’t gone.  I’ve tried numerous times (under doctor supervision) over the past several years to back off the medication, and the migraines are right there waiting for me with signs, banners and a ticker-tape parade through my skull.

In a Panic

So a bit after the migraines began, I start noticing that I was periodically getting antsy.  Now, this wasn’t your average, everyday dear-god-will-this-meeting-never-end kind of antsy.  Well, maybe at first.  And I really noticed it a lot at work.  I was getting really uncomfortable sitting in meetings and would move my legs around a lot, and started playing with things on tables, and tapping my pen on my notebook until I got Stop-It stares from people around me, that kind of thing. 

It progressed into strong urges to get up and leave places at inappropriate times.  I just felt like I couldn’t be there anymore, and it took all my willpower to stay in a meeting until it was over, completely losing any focus on whatever the meeting was about. 

Then it got worse.  It turned into more of the If-I-Don’t-Get-Out-Of-Here-Right-Now-I’m-Going-To-Fucking-Scream-Or-Run-Or-Cry-Or-My-Heart-Is-Going-To-Explode kind of thing.  I started declining more and more meetings, or opting to teleconference into meetings so I could disappear if I needed to without causing a disturbance. 

It didn’t happen all the time, which kind of made it worse, because I couldn’t anticipate it.  And let me tell you, when that hits you in the grocery store, and you leave your full cart in the middle of aisle 9B and dart for the exit like you just got toned out for a 3 alarm fire, you know something is amiss.  So, back to the examination table I go.

Diagnosis:  Generalized Anxiety

Treatment:  Anti-anxiety medication

Is the air thick in here, or is it just me?

Being in active treatment for my allergies, I was surprised when I started having regular problems with asthma, which I hadn’t experienced since I was 11?  12?  It was long enough ago that I can’t remember.

Off to the allergist again.  More medication.  Yay!  Inhaled corticosteroids and a rescue inhaler.  Boy!  All these medications sure are fun!  And cheap!

Bringin’ Da Pain…Clinically Speaking

I’m putting all of these things in one blurb, although they actually happened over throughout a period of several years, indicating an historical pattern.

Open Floor, Insert Foot:  (Circa 2003) I stepped down hard on my left foot and hurt my heel.  Actually, I stomped.  It’s a stupid story and well, it’s kind of funny.  But I do enough embarrassing things, so I’m going to skip it for now.  Not a big deal really, except that a month later, I still couldn’t step down on my heel and was walking like I had some physical deformity that I do not, in fact, possess.  I decided I’d better see if I’d done something significant to it.  I ended up seeing a podiatrist, getting an X-Ray and determining there was nothing wrong with my foot.

Diagnosis:  Soft-tissue damage.

Treatment:  Alternating heat/ice.  Keep elevated when possible.  Rest whenever possible.

Outcome:  It took over a year before I could put my full weight on my foot and walk normally.

Nurse, Scalpel:  (2005) I was experiencing pain in a rather delicate area of my anatomy.  After numerous exams, an MRI and a surgical consult, I was on my way to the operating room to have a bundle of ‘offending nerves’ removed from my body.  It was a very minor, simple procedure.  I may experience some minor discomfort for a day or two, and could plan to go back to work in a week.  No problemo.  Cut away!

Following the surgery, I was in so much pain I almost went back to the hospital.  I contacted the surgeon who essentially told me to butch up, take my lumps and my pain pills and I would be fine.  At my follow-up a week later the pain hadn’t improved.  The surgeon changed my pain medication and told me to stay out of work until he cleared me to go back.

I contacted regular doctor, who referred me to another surgeon of that specialty to get a second opinion.  After telling me pretty much the same thing, he sent me for a follow-up MRI.  The MRI came back normal, and he unsympathetically told me there was no pathology.  He offered to refer me to the pain clinic to be evaluated to receive maintenance pain injections or medication.

I never went back.  I talked to my regular doc about this, and he only said possibly I have a low pain threshold, and maybe I should give the pain clinic some thought.  More medication?  I don’t think so.

I was out of work for six weeks, and in worse pain than before the surgery that should have relieved the initial pain.  It took over a year and a half before I felt a tangible improvement in my condition.

Limp Wristed?  (2006) Out of nowhere, I began having this excruciating pain in my wrist whenever I moved it back and forth.  Not like a sprain.  This pain was so sharp I couldn’t write with it more than to sign my name.  I hadn’t lost strength in my hand, but I could only lift things if I pulled them straight up and set them straight down.

I ended up seeing a plastic surgeon who sent me for an MRI.  He found several things wrong, including a tear in my short tendon and a bunch of ganglion cysts.  However, he didn’t believe any of these were my problem.

First course of action.  Several weeks with a wrist brace to support my wrist and immobilize it.  Result?  Three weeks of agony, and a brace I’ll probably never need for anything else.  Second course of action:  Cortisone shot to area to help with pain and inflammation.  Result?  Cortisone shots aren’t as bad as I’ve heard people say they are.  But it didn’t do a damned thing for me.  Third menu item:  Exploratory surgery.

On the day of my surgery, 30 minutes before we have to leave the house for the hospital, my 4 month old son springs a strangulated hernia and we rush him out for emergency surgery.

I deal with my wrist the best I can and will reschedule my surgery for a later date.  It’s been over a year since this ordeal started with my wrist.  My wrist is starting to feel better.  I can use it now, but I have to be careful.  And when I’m on the floor with the kids, I can’t crawl around putting my weight that hand, but it’s getting better.

Vampires

Over these years, I’ve also had a series of labs done to see if my blood might reveal any of the secrets of all my ailments.

Survey says?  No.  Everything comes back normal.  Doc made note of a couple things that appeared a “bit off” and this or that level was a “bit peculiar”, but he told me none of it added up to any diagnosis and nothing indicated any major problem.   Congratulations!  You’re healthy.

Let’s not be rash…

It was Spring a couple years ago, and I was getting the yard cleaned up from winter.  I started feeling itchy.  I mostly ignored it, thinking it was just a combination of sweat, dust, maybe seasonal allergies, etc.  Then I looked down and saw a red patch on my arm near my elbow.  I still ignored it, but started feeling more and more uncomfortable.  Finally I had to stop and go inside and clean up.  I went to get in the shower and discovered my body was completely covered from my neck to my knees in raised pink bumps that looked like a cross between some horrible attack of sudden cellulite and pink cottage cheese.  I’d never seen anything like this.

The shower only made it worse, and I ended up lying in bed with a fan on me, slathered in calamine lotion.  Sexy, huh?

From then on, every time I got more than slightly warm, I broke out in a similar rash in varying degrees of severity.  I researched rashes, and finally figured I’d managed to give myself a good case of heat rash, which didn’t need medical intervention, but could take 6 to 8 weeks to go away.

So I waited out the majority of the summer before I sought the help of The Doc.  Doc sent me to my allergist, who said I should see my dermatologist instead.  Dermie told me the root cause of these things are very difficult to determine.  But…you got it…he could give me medicine to suppress the hives.  And not just one medicine, but he put me on a combination of three very strong antihistimines to keep those little monsters at bay.

The good news?  It worked, for the most part.  I was able to resume most activities without breaking out, although I still had occasional problems.  This was to continue for three months, then we would back off the antihistamines to see if my body had calmed itself down enough to stop being so hypersensitive to whatever was making it freak out.

This never happened.  Every time we tried to stop the antihistamines, my skin broke out like felons through an open gate.  With a professional shrug of the shoulders, I was advised to stay on the antihistamines and follow-up in three months.  And again in another six months.  And so on.

I’d had enough and went back to my allergist.  I explained to him what was going on and told him this was not an acceptable long term solution and I wanted a second opinion.  He absolutely agreed, listened to what I had to say, adjusted my medication so I was on stronger, but less medication and sent me on my way.  This is not really what I had in mind by a different solution.

Whatcha gonna do with all that junk in your trunk?

Meanwhile, over the past couple of years, I’ve gained over 40 pounds.  My diet hasn’t been a nutritionist’s wet dream, but I’ve observed worse, and it hasn’t changed that drastically, either. 

With one notable exception.  I have an insatiable sweet tooth that only gets worse as time goes on.  Candy of all varieties; chocolate, sugared gum, you name it.  And see, when I say sweet tooth, I make it sound like a craving.  This is more of a primal, physical need.  And if I can’t get to sugar when I need it, get out of my way.  If I can’t find candy to eat, I’ve been known to raid the baking cupboard for chocolate chips, and on occasion, granulated sugar from the bowl.  Think I brought this up to my doctor in conversation?  You betcha!

My waist size has gone up 6 inches and 3 pant sizes.  I’ve gone through two absolutely necessary wardrobe changes.  My newest fat jeans have become my skinny jeans and I’m on the verge of needing to go shopping again.

I used to think I was thin.  My friends thought I was anorexic.  ( I wasn’t).  My friends now think I look good.  It’s because they’re apparently not really good friends who would tell me the truth.  (I should give them some credit, though.  A mu’umu’u covers a multitude of sins.  And since it’s the only thing I can fit into anymore, everyone just thinks I’m eccentric.)

Vanity and clothing expenses aside, does anyone other than me see a problem with this?  Apparently not anyone in the medical community.  Apparently, though I’ve gained some weight, I’m still within normal range.  However, Doc did mention I might not want to put on too much more weight, and should limit my sweets, and focus on eating a well balanced diet.

Thanks!  I’ll work on that.  You’re a real pal.

Who’s Daddy’s little hypochondriac?

So what do you think?  Am I a hypochondriac?  I certainly felt like one.  I had all these mystery symptoms, an impressive team of doctors and a medicine cabinet that could rival a pharmacy. I’m not open 24 hours a day, but I have considered installing a drive-thru at the back of the house.

I came out and told my doctor this.  He assured me I’m not a hypochondriac, but did tell me he thought I still suffered from generalized anxiety and a lower threshold to deal with common problems than some people which made me hypersensitive.

Well, that pretty much sealed the deal for me.  I was finished going to the doctor unless I was experiencing acute arterial bleeding from my neck. 

It didn’t matter anyway.  No one ever found anything wrong, and therefore couldn’t fix it, so it was all just a waste of my time and money.  Just as well.

The Devout Parishioner of Saint Mattress

Sweet Mother of God!  Is it morning already?  Why am I so tired all the time?  I’ve tried getting more sleep, less sleep, sleeping at different times, taking a power nap, sleeping pills.  This is making me insane.

Like a lot of these things, it started out mild.  I had just a generalized lethargic feeling, and never felt I was operating on all cylinders.  And periodically I would suddenly have the need to sleep RIGHT NOW, and crash at 6 PM and not wake up mid-morning the next day.  For some reason, this seemed to happen on the weekend and we jokingly referred to it as my Saturday Night Coma.

But then my partner and I adopted infant twins.  The day our children came home was amazing.  I can’t express how much I love my children.  But that was pretty much the last straw.  Caring for them literally sucked the life out of me.  I had all I could do just to get myself pried away from the mattress to take care of them.

This was fair to absolutely no one.  It certainly didn’t seem fair to me.  But most of all, it wasn’t fair to my kids, who I felt I was cheating out of a father.  That said, they were fine.  But I was giving them all I had and leaving nothing for myself, which was getting ready to decline into a lose-lose situation.

After an inane speech from the Doc with the offer for pills and a “make time for yourself” speech, I started asking my friends for references to a new doctor.

With glowing references, I set up an extended appointment with my new doctor to go over my entire history and see what her thoughts were, and how we could proceed differently.  NewDoc was very nice.  She reviewed my chart.  She listened to my story.  She asked some pertinent-sounding questions.  At the end of the appointment, she told me it was difficult being a new parent and very exhausting.  She said that I shouldn’t be too hard on myself, and should be sure to take time to relax and enjoy my children.  Oh, and to be sure and let her know if I needed any prescriptions refilled.  I was stunned.

Dr. Google

One day I was getting down on myself for feeling as bad as I feel and not being able to “snap myself out of it”.  I was further frustrated that no one seemed to understand what I was going through.  I couldn’t be the only person on the planet experiencing this.  No single issue I’m experiencing on its own is a huge problem.  However, add them up, and it’s debilitating.  However, on paper, I’m straight out of the textbooks nearly a model of perfect health.

My myriad of issues wasn’t getting any better.  I was on the verge of collapsing from exhaustion and had to figure out something.  My doctors weren’t doing it for me.  I’ve always been a Google researcher, but I’d had no luck finding much in the way of anything concrete on what ails me.  All of my symptoms seemed so vague.

I’d looked for information on fatigue, etc. but never come across anything that really fit me.  It was ‘exhaustion’ that opened a world of information I’d never seen before, and I started reading an article on adrenal exhaustion.

I’m not a doctor.  And I’d only ever heard vague references to adrenal glands.  But I could have written that article, and given seminars to med students about it.  The sick thing about it?  I was thrilled!  Maybe I’m not really crazy after all.  And I started doing more research.  The more I read, the more I was convinced I’d found the holy grail of Bryanitis.

I looked in many places, but I found some good, basic information at http://thyroid.about.com/cs/endocrinology/a/adrenalfatigue.htm and http://www.drrind.com/scorecardmatrix.asp

What I also found out is that many conventional doctors either dismiss the importance of adrenal function and it’s impact on the body or simply don’t have the education and resources to even diagnose such an issue.

Now, what to do?  My partner mentioned to me that we live in a virtual hotbed of alternative medical practitioners.  If good doctors are hard to find, how the hell am I supposed to find a reputable holistic practitioner?

Who’da thunk it?

As I conducted further research, I found a large number of business that fall into the realm of holistic medicine.  Then I happened on a physician who is board certified in family medicine, holistic medicine, nutrition, homeopathy, and an ongoing list of credentials and experience that could make your head spin.  This was where I was making an appointment.

I scheduled the longest available appointment, and I went armed with everything I could find to bring to my appointment.  I had my complete medical history, all my old lab reports and all my current complaints.

The doctor told me exactly what I expected to hear.  That my adrenal glands were likely failing, and that some other things should be checked out as well.

If I thought I’d had blood drawn in the past, I was mistaken.  I had tests done for things I’d never even heard of, and some that had to be sent away to labs half way across the country to be analyzed.  I asked the phlebotomist to be kind enough to leave me some blood when she was through.

The doctor started me out on some supplements based on the initial appointment and my old blood labs, and scheduled a follow-up appointment when my blood work came back.

This is what I found out.  Adrenal Exhaustion?  Let’s describe it as failure.  In addition, I have hypothyroid, and a severe Vitamin D deficiency (about 25% of the minimum normal levels).  I do actually have enough Vitamin B in my body, but it’s not getting to where it needs to be because of something (My eyes started glazing over at some point in this conversation). Any of these things on their own will cause exhaustion, and a number of the other symptoms I’ve been experiencing.

Oh, and by the way, in addition, I have a never-previously-diagnosed SEVERE allergy to milk, casein (milk protein), and both egg whites and yolks.

With time, and getting my body the things it needs, I should be able to get off from most, if not all the medication I’m taking.

Balancing Act

So now I have a diagnosis, a lot of information, a B12 shot, a bag full of dietary supplements, a new diet to follow (no dairy and no eggs) and I head home with mixed emotions of relief and feeling just a bit overwhelmed.

Skeptical, but determined that I’m going to follow this through to see if it works, I go through the house and make an inventory of what we have that I can and can’t eat.  It can’t hurt to give this a try.  After all, nothing else has worked.

The list of what I can eat is much, much shorter, and I suddenly realize that unless my supplements have enough calories to sustain life, I’m going to starve to death after my body eats through its stores of fat from all the extra weight I’ve put on.

Getting back on track

The grocery store is my new Barnes & Noble, and I peruse labels like it’s the latest bestseller list.  I’ve started eating a lot more whole foods, shopping organic and I’ve found substitutions for some of my favorite dairy and egg containing foods.

It’s not been easy.  But I also have to admit that it hasn’t been as difficult as I’d imagined it would be.  There are some things you simply can’t replace, like Haagen-Dazs.  But I’ve found some things I really enjoy.  And organic food DOES actually taste so much better than regular food.  Especially produce.  And chocolate.  I’ve discovered nothing in the world compares to dark, organic chocolate.

For the first time in years, I can recognize that I’m slowly gaining more energy.  It’s not 100% yet, but I’m gaining all the time.  And since I changed what I’m eating, I’ve lost 14 pounds.  And I’m not dieting, either.  But cutting all milk and egg products out of my diet has made a huge difference in the types of things I’m eating.  It just kind of happened.

Who’s your DOCTOR, baby?

We’ve all heard it.  What do you call the person who graduated bottom of their class in med school?  Doctor.  Bah-dum-dum.

For the record, I live in an area that is well-known for its hospitals, doctors and medical care.  I have selected my physicians carefully based on their education, experience and references.

So, I began to question my situation.  Now that my body is getting back in balance I’m starting to feel that I’ve been cheated by the mainstream medical community.  I can’t believe what’s happened to me is an isolated case.   

How is it that all of this could have gone undiagnosed for so long?

How is it that I was made to feel like I was a hypochondriac?

How is it that I couldn’t get anyone to give me any answers for years on end?

How is it that I, as a layman, untrained in medicine, ended up finding the answers to my problems that stumped many a doctor and specialist on an internet search engine, armed only with my keyboard and a broadband connection?

How many other people are out there suffering from undiagnosed or misdiagnosed problems and not getting any better because they are simply accepting what their primary care physician is telling them at face value?

How many people don’t feel they have any other options available to them because of limited knowledge, insurance coverage, cost or other factors? 

The decision I made to get help outside traditional means has cost a small fortune in out of pocket expenses because only a limited amount of it is covered by my insurance company.  However, the money I’ve spent out of pocket in copays, prescriptions, potentially unnecessary surgery and the personal cost in terms of my health and quality of life over the better part of the last decade is far greater than any amount of money I am now investing in doing something sensible, doing something that actually works.

I know there is a place for modern western medicine.  I’m not disputing that.  However, my issue is that this is the only type of medicine that the vast majority of our country is ever aware of, and if you are lucky enough to have insurance coverage, it is likely all it will cover.

I’ve always believed I was an active participant in my own health care.  It appears now that I was active only in that I jumped up and down inside a failing system, flailing my arms and stomping my feet, which got me absolutely nowhere.  What I needed to know, and need to continue to learn are that there are many forms of medicine, health and wellness care available, and I need to research all of them on a regular basis to determine my best course of action for my current needs.  And that’s a daunting prospect.  Even for me.

With my current doctor, who is certified in all of the areas I would generally need a doctor, and works a fluid balance between them, I now feel comfortable that I will be able to work in concert with that practice to get what I need.

But that doesn’t solve the issue.  It only makes things better for me.  For now. And it makes me angry.  Is expressing it going to change anything?  No.  But I can at least throw my words to the wind.  And maybe, just maybe, someone, somewhere is feeling the same way, and won’t feel like they’re the only one sitting around going, “What the fuck?”.

And that’s my rant on modern medicine.  This felt good.  I think I’m going to go make a milk shake  martini and relax.