Re: holistic medicine

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

We've never met...my name is Carie and I've been absent from this

group for months I think? I wanted to respond to you post because I

am/was interested in holistic medicine. In fact I went to a

homeopathic doctor last year that has been dealing with MS patients

for 25 years.

I was enticed and overwhelmed by all the tests he ran. My heart and

mind wanted to believe everything he told me. The quick rundown was

that I was allergic to every food that I eat! Then he quickly wrote

down a gazillion vitamins and pills that I should take. I ran out

and bought almost everything that I could afford (holistic stuff

ain't cheap) and started cutting out all the foods he wrote down.

The problem was though that I did everything at once so I don't know

what worked for me and what didn't. All the pills I took at once, so

I have no clue if one was better for me or not? Then the new diet he

created basically left me eating only fish and salad's. Fortunately

I pretty slim, but I told him I like to eat and I'm not trying to

lose any weight! He claims that I'm allergic? Who knows. I do know

that when I cut out certain foods from my diet I do feel better!

I'm trying really hard not to eat wheat, refined sugar, meats

(although I love them all!)and booze. Luckily alcohol isn't an issue

for me so only having an occasional beer or glass of wine is just

fine for me. Those foods seem to be the biggest deal in a diet! But

I do feel better.

Have you been to a doctor yet? I'm curious what your thoughts are.

Best wishes for a wonderful 2004!

Carie

> I'm wondering if any of you have tried any kind of holistic

medicine approach to relieve symptoms? Has anything helped more than

the next?

>

> Lawliss

> creator of www.vitalcard.net

> Mom to 3 great boys

[Guest guest]

Welcome !

You have been very much on my mind since your first post. You have so much on your plate, it would be a miracle if you were not having some pretty serious symptoms as a result of the severe stress you have been under! You are an incredibly strong and intelligent woman! I loved your Vital card...what a great idea! You must be feeling stretched to the limit at times, with 3 young boys -2 with special needs; your work for your own business, the law firm and the volunteer work you do too. When do you find time for yourself???

I am glad that you are consulting medical practioners for your symptoms as well as doing your own research. It helps when we are able to take charge, as much as possible, of our own health care. Once you have a diagnosis and recommended course of treatment, you will be well prepared to make wise decisions.

You asked about holistic approaches for the treatment of symptoms. Three years ago, I blew my liver with pharmeceutical medications, so I can't even take aspirin now. However, I have been doing very well using the holistic approach. First I found a good chiropractor who uses the "Torque" method of adjustment, which helps keep me mobile. Next I visited a Naturopatic Physician who did the allergy tests and recommended some good dietary changes and supplements. Many people with MS symptoms prove to be sensitive to wheat, dairy, sugar, caffiene etc. So was I. At first I went overboard and cut out everything I loved, but have since learned that I can tolerate a small amount occasionally. My body tells me when I am abusing it! Tom has published (on this board) a very good list of supplements that can be very helpful...I take many of those. Drinking lots of water is essential too!

Exercise is very important too. I used to believe that I got enough exercise just doing housework and caring for my family. Now I need to do stretches to relieve the spasms and tone muscles. I must admit that I really need to do a lot better in the exercise department! (New Year's resolution!) The exercises I do are neither hard or too tiring. One set is Yoga for Wheelchair patients, which is very relaxing and relieves stress. From your introduction, I see that you spend many hours a day on the computer and probably not enough sleeping...I do the same thing! But, that is deadly for the legs and is likely the source of some of your thigh and calf symptoms. It helps to take a 10 minute break every hour and do some leg stretches. Sorry if this is too long, but I hope it helps a little. I remember when I was first diagnosed, I did not know where to start or what to do and I had so much bad advice coming at me from all directions that it took awhile to get focussed on what I needed to do for me. Each person is different...you need to find what is right for you...and you have made a good start by asking the caring, experienced people on this board for information about what helps. Any chance you could arrange for some respite care one afternoon per week just to give you a break and a chance to go for a swim, chiropractor, support group or even take a bubble bath or a nap? I used to call it my "mental health break"!!! Sending you and your 3 great boys lots of love and best wishes for a happy and healthy New Year!

Marilyn

holistic medicine

I'm wondering if any of you have tried any kind of holistic medicine approach to relieve symptoms? Has anything helped more than the next?

Lawlisscreator of www.vitalcard.net Mom to 3 great boys

[Guest guest]

Thanks Carie -

I actually am seeing the doctor today. We spoke on Friday about my new symptoms and he wanted me in ASAP. At our initial visit we talked about MS, but dismissed it when the MRI I had done showed no lesions. I'm guardedly convinced, if that makes sense, that I have MS but I'm not jumping the gun any.

I have to write down my symptoms so I don't forget any. But the numbness, tingling and burning in my feet and hands, vision problems - a while back it was those blinding spells, now it's a constant blurring problem, weakness in my forearms, loss of sexual drive, wetting my pants on occasion and now the topper for me last night - I was laying in bed watching TV while I was unwinding from my day and plop! I pooped my pants, just like that!

I'm so disgusted! And nervous. I don't want to sound like a neurotic patient that's pushing myself into this diagnosis but I also don't want it overlooked.

As far as holistic goes, I've already had to cut out wheat products because my rheumy and I figured out I have a type of celiac spru, I'm lactose intolerant so that limits me there too. I'm on a low fat diet, but I eat a lot of meat, much more so lately in the last 8 months than normal since I've been doing the Atkins diet - it seemed to fit in with my needs, although I limit the fat content.

Oh speaking of fat - does anyone know the significance of poop floating? Mine did that the other day and I read something about it but can't remember.

Do you think this could have any connection, me having MS and my boys have Spina Bifida? Neurologic diseases? I read Montel's story about him and his daughter have CP was it? and how MS is so underdiagnosed.

Anyway, I was thinking about acupuncture too. My husband's uncle has MS pretty badly and I know it's expensive, but I also know it works to cut down on meds and some of the pain. I'm doing some work for www.asap.org and one of the presenters from their last conference spoke on it - syringomyelia pain and ms pain are very similar, they have a lot of the same types of symptoms and treatments and one of them was acupuncture.

Wondering if anyone has tried that.

Thanks so much for your ears (eyes)

Lawlisscreator of www.vitalcard.net Mom to 3 great boys

Re: holistic medicine

Hi ,We've never met...my name is Carie and I've been absent from this group for months I think? I wanted to respond to you post because I am/was interested in holistic medicine. In fact I went to a homeopathic doctor last year that has been dealing with MS patients for 25 years.I was enticed and overwhelmed by all the tests he ran. My heart and mind wanted to believe everything he told me. The quick rundown was that I was allergic to every food that I eat! Then he quickly wrote down a gazillion vitamins and pills that I should take. I ran out and bought almost everything that I could afford (holistic stuff ain't cheap) and started cutting out all the foods he wrote down. The problem was though that I did everything at once so I don't know what worked for me and what didn't. All the pills I took at once, so I have no clue if one was better for me or not? Then the new diet he created basically left me eating only fish and salad's. Fortunately I pretty slim, but I told him I like to eat and I'm not trying to lose any weight! He claims that I'm allergic? Who knows. I do know that when I cut out certain foods from my diet I do feel better!I'm trying really hard not to eat wheat, refined sugar, meats (although I love them all!)and booze. Luckily alcohol isn't an issue for me so only having an occasional beer or glass of wine is just fine for me. Those foods seem to be the biggest deal in a diet! But I do feel better.Have you been to a doctor yet? I'm curious what your thoughts are.Best wishes for a wonderful 2004!Carie> I'm wondering if any of you have tried any kind of holistic medicine approach to relieve symptoms? Has anything helped more than the next?> > Lawliss> creator of www.vitalcard.net > Mom to 3 great boys

[Guest guest]

Hi Marilyn-

You know it's funny you mentioned a good chiropractor....I was thinking about one the other day. When I was researching alternative therapies for my oldest, chiropractic care seemed only natural, being that his spine wasn't aligned correctly due to the fact that the bottom part of it wasn't close, etc. So I started asking around town, leaving messages, sending letters etc. with my story and seeing if they'd take a look at Brenden to see if they could help.

Not one even called me back to say no.

Then I found this guy across the lake in VT (I live in upstate NY) who has treated another child with SB. So we went for the initial checkup, then proceeded to go twice a week for 8 weeks, then once a week for 4 weeks, now we go once a month to maintain and I've got to tell you - the change in Brenden is amazing. He walks so much straighter now and it allows his lesion to remain detached as much as is possible (on the inside) from his spinal cord so his damage from his cord tethering when he really starts to grow can possibly be minimal. Because when the doctors correct the initial defect, they take the spinal cord that's sticking out of the body and close it up, but that tethers it to scar tissue; so when the child has their first real growth spurt it can pull on the cord and cause major damage to the cord and brain since the brain is attached to the cord.

So all he has gained to that point, walking independently, eating and swallowing on his own, now learning to push out his poop (with some success), could all be wiped away with a growth spurt and he could be wheelchair bound. Not that that is the end all horrible thing, but when you've overcome so much - it's hard to accept that fate again.

Anyway, I digress.

So, this chiropractor is just wonderful and I was thinking that when and if things get bad for me, I'd start seeing him for myself too.

But I do try and take breaks. I have a friend that I switch days with, we haven't done it in a while, but we'll start it up again soon. We take each other's kids once a week for a few hours so the other can do stuff. It works out nice! It's just hard for me because mine are so little, and she's only got one now that I take because the other one is in school.

anyway, I do try and fit in that me time once in a while.

Thanks so much for your support! Healthy new year to you!!

Lawlisscreator of www.vitalcard.net Mom to 3 great boys

holistic medicine

I'm wondering if any of you have tried any kind of holistic medicine approach to relieve symptoms? Has anything helped more than the next?

Lawlisscreator of www.vitalcard.net Mom to 3 great boys

[Guest guest]

,

Took me a few minutes, and some interesting reading here and there.. LOL.. but floating feces is a good thing... it indicates an ample amount of bulk.

Check here: http://www.marysherbs.com/anatomy/anat-lar.htm

This was interesting reading.. and I especially like her comments about doctors not having 3 BM's a day... LOL

|)onna

Re: Re: holistic medicine

Thanks Carie -

I actually am seeing the doctor today. We spoke on Friday about my new symptoms and he wanted me in ASAP. At our initial visit we talked about MS, but dismissed it when the MRI I had done showed no lesions. I'm guardedly convinced, if that makes sense, that I have MS but I'm not jumping the gun any.

I have to write down my symptoms so I don't forget any. But the numbness, tingling and burning in my feet and hands, vision problems - a while back it was those blinding spells, now it's a constant blurring problem, weakness in my forearms, loss of sexual drive, wetting my pants on occasion and now the topper for me last night - I was laying in bed watching TV while I was unwinding from my day and plop! I pooped my pants, just like that!

I'm so disgusted! And nervous. I don't want to sound like a neurotic patient that's pushing myself into this diagnosis but I also don't want it overlooked.

As far as holistic goes, I've already had to cut out wheat products because my rheumy and I figured out I have a type of celiac spru, I'm lactose intolerant so that limits me there too. I'm on a low fat diet, but I eat a lot of meat, much more so lately in the last 8 months than normal since I've been doing the Atkins diet - it seemed to fit in with my needs, although I limit the fat content.

Oh speaking of fat - does anyone know the significance of poop floating? Mine did that the other day and I read something about it but can't remember.

Do you think this could have any connection, me having MS and my boys have Spina Bifida? Neurologic diseases? I read Montel's story about him and his daughter have CP was it? and how MS is so underdiagnosed.

Anyway, I was thinking about acupuncture too. My husband's uncle has MS pretty badly and I know it's expensive, but I also know it works to cut down on meds and some of the pain. I'm doing some work for www.asap.org and one of the presenters from their last conference spoke on it - syringomyelia pain and ms pain are very similar, they have a lot of the same types of symptoms and treatments and one of them was acupuncture.

Wondering if anyone has tried that.

Thanks so much for your ears (eyes)

Lawlisscreator of www.vitalcard.net Mom to 3 great boys