Re: New at this!

[Guest guest]

In message <d9cfal+u74keGroups> you wrote:

Hi and Hubby!

Welcome to Kombucha Brewing-land :-)

>.... we were given a kombucha culture which had been refrigerated for about

> a week (with ice on the lid). We brought it up to room temperature,

> and following directions, started our tea, using green tea, which is

> now in its second day of brewing. (Is brewing the proper word?)

> I'm sure the culture was dormant, but any ideas on when we might see

> some kind of activity?

You are right, the refrigeration of your culture would have slowed

it down somewhat and therefore make the brewing process slower at least

the first time.

Don't disturb your brew for the next 7 days at least ... only looking

allowed ;-)

There should be gradual gentle brewing activity and formation of bubbles

and then a whitish/opaque skin across the surface of your liquid filling

the entire surface of your brew.

http://www.happyherbalist.com/pictures.htm Brewing Pictures

There are some good pictures on Ed's site which can help you

to know what to look for and reassure you about what's happening with

your brew.

> I guess my main question - the culture had been used in tea made

> with brown sugar and molasses - its the original - not the baby. I

> used that tea as the starter with my brew, after straining it. Will

> that have any effect on the tea?

Was the tea acidic, I should guess is was? Yes, it would be perfect

for your ferment and protection of brew and culture.

White sugar is considered a purer and therefore better food-source

for the Kombucha culture, and I should choose white sugar in preference

to brown sugar or molasses. The culture will transform/convert the

sugar into sub-sugars and then into the acids that will help your husband's

health problems.

At this point in time it's patience you need, waiting until your

brew has reached the right acidity. When it starts smelling pleasantly

acidic, carefully insert a straw and try the Kombucha tonic.

You don't want to drink it while it is still sweet, as it is far more

effective for your health if a good acidity has developed.

>

> I have about a million other questions, but I guess I'll let the

> process go on for a bit, then see what happens.

Good idea! Anyway, the journey of a thousand miles begins with one step!

Happy Kombucha journeying,

kombuchaly,

Margret:-)

--

+---------------------------------------------------------------+

<)))<>< Minstrel@... <)))<><

www.therpc.f9.co.uk

+---------------------------------------------------------------+

Invertebrates make no bones about it.

[Guest guest]

Margret,

Thanks for your words of encouragement and for the link with the

pictures. I promise - I won't disturb the brew for at least a week -

but I do look at it about 20 times a day! The culture sank the first

day, but rose again to the top yesterday, so I can't really tell if

anything else is going on except some tiny bubbles around the edge.

I'll keep you all updated. Again, thanks.

On 6/22/05, Margret Pegg <Minstrel@...> wrote:

> Don't disturb your brew for the next 7 days at least ... only looking

> allowed ;-)

>

> There should be gradual gentle brewing activity and formation of bubbles

> and then a whitish/opaque skin across the surface of your liquid filling

> the entire surface of your brew.

>

> http://www.happyherbalist.com/pictures.htm Brewing Pictures

> There are some good pictures on Ed's site which can help you

> to know what to look for and reassure you about what's happening with

> your brew.

>

> Was the tea acidic, I should guess is was? Yes, it would be perfect

> for your ferment and protection of brew and culture.

>

> White sugar is considered a purer and therefore better food-source

> for the Kombucha culture, and I should choose white sugar in preference

> to brown sugar or molasses. The culture will transform/convert the

> sugar into sub-sugars and then into the acids that will help your husband's

> health problems.

>

> At this point in time it's patience you need, waiting until your

> brew has reached the right acidity. When it starts smelling pleasantly

> acidic, carefully insert a straw and try the Kombucha tonic.

> You don't want to drink it while it is still sweet, as it is far more

> effective for your health if a good acidity has developed.

> >

>

> Good idea! Anyway, the journey of a thousand miles begins with one step!

>

> Happy Kombucha journeying,

> kombuchaly,

>

> Margret:-)

>

> --

>

> +---------------------------------------------------------------+

> <)))<>< Minstrel@... <)))<><

> www.therpc.f9.co.uk

> +---------------------------------------------------------------+

> Invertebrates make no bones about it.

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

It doesn't matter if you've got a sinker or a floater - they both work. Keep

the baby for next time; it makes the brew go faster if you've got 5 or six

floating around in there.

Re: New at This!

> Margret,

>

> Thanks for your words of encouragement and for the link with the

> pictures. I promise - I won't disturb the brew for at least a week -

> but I do look at it about 20 times a day! The culture sank the first

> day, but rose again to the top yesterday, so I can't really tell if

> anything else is going on except some tiny bubbles around the edge.

> I'll keep you all updated. Again, thanks.

>

>

>

> On 6/22/05, Margret Pegg <Minstrel@...> wrote:

>

>> Don't disturb your brew for the next 7 days at least ... only looking

>> allowed ;-)

>>

>> There should be gradual gentle brewing activity and formation of bubbles

>> and then a whitish/opaque skin across the surface of your liquid filling

>> the entire surface of your brew.

>>

>> http://www.happyherbalist.com/pictures.htm Brewing Pictures

>> There are some good pictures on Ed's site which can help you

>> to know what to look for and reassure you about what's happening with

>> your brew.

>>

>> Was the tea acidic, I should guess is was? Yes, it would be perfect

>> for your ferment and protection of brew and culture.

>>

>> White sugar is considered a purer and therefore better food-source

>> for the Kombucha culture, and I should choose white sugar in preference

>> to brown sugar or molasses. The culture will transform/convert the

>> sugar into sub-sugars and then into the acids that will help your

>> husband's

>> health problems.

>>

>> At this point in time it's patience you need, waiting until your

>> brew has reached the right acidity. When it starts smelling pleasantly

>> acidic, carefully insert a straw and try the Kombucha tonic.

>> You don't want to drink it while it is still sweet, as it is far more

>> effective for your health if a good acidity has developed.

>> >

>

>>

>> Good idea! Anyway, the journey of a thousand miles begins with one step!

>>

>> Happy Kombucha journeying,

>> kombuchaly,

>>

>> Margret:-)

>>

>> --

>>

>> +---------------------------------------------------------------+

>> <)))<>< Minstrel@... <)))<><

>> www.therpc.f9.co.uk

>> +---------------------------------------------------------------+

>> Invertebrates make no bones about it.

>>

>>

>>

[Guest guest]

I was diagnosed with fatty liver cirrhoses ( PBC was also mentioned but I cannot pin my gastroentologist to specify what exactly I have) after I started having itchy red spots all over my body, mainly on my back and my face. I went to a dermetologist and after several biopsies she said it was "discoid lupus" ( another autoimmune disease) and gave me 3 different kind of creams. One was for the face, one for overall and one for the very itchy ones that I was supposed to use only sometimes. It helped some but did not cure me.

About 2 months later I was diagnosed with the liver disease. Started meds for that, I was given a small short dose of prednisone (1 week only,)and I changed my whole eating habits. No more coffe, no more fatty foods, lots of vegetables and lots of vitamins and stuff. Milk Thistle has been my main addition, I take 4 capsules a day with the prescribed 4 capsules of Ursodiol.

Slowly, I have been getting better and better. After 4 years, diabetes is under better control, ( my test results were almost high normal range ), I only see occasional itching arround my nose ( typical butterfly symptom of discoid lupus)Mt asthma is under control with the medication, I do not caugh any more.My annemia is under control. ( although that seemed to be because of internal bleeding due to something else?? or maybe the pressure of the blood backing up into verocies??? I was operated on for that a year ago.) And I lsot 16 pounds in the last 6 months.

Anyway my energy is back and I am hoping to continue to feel better. I am even thinking of excersizing. Althought going upstairs easily, nowdays is a definite excersize in my book.

There is lots of hope.

Good luck, Clara

-------------- Original message -------------- I was diagnosed yesterday with PBC. I already have an autoimmune disease called polymyositis which affects all the muscles in the body, in addition to other chronic illness'. I am in my late 30's and have two small children at home. I am feeling rather bogged down with this new diag. and would like to hear from anyone else who has primary biliary cirrhosis or other chirrhosis. I am so tired all the time. My right side is sore, I itch all the time, sometimes so hard, I rip the skin off my body. I have scabs and scars as reminders! I have always been upbeat and positive but this new diagnosis really threw me for a loop.Thank you!ZannaCorona, CA

[Guest guest]

Hi Zanna,

Sorry to hear about your pbc dx. I too have pbc and was only recently dx. Have you been to the pbcers.org site. It is a wonderful site with a lot of factual and sensible information. When I was first dx I thought my life was over, now I have a lot of hope for a long and healthy future. Have you had a biopsy and are you on URSO? Please feel free to email me personally and I will be glad to help direct you to some informative people. I have been on URSO for about 6 weeks and my LFTs have already come down to near normal and the itching has really diminished. Everyone has different responses, but URSO is a life saver for those of us with PBC. I was blown away with my diagnosis and spent the entire summer wondering and worrying. I've just turned 40 and have a 15 yr old son. I do understand the emotional turmoil that a diagnosis like this presents. There is a chat on Sunday and Thursday nights that you can access through pbcers.org. People of all stages chat about living with pbc and some have had this for 20+ years so they are a wealth of information. You are not alone and you will begin to get control over your life again. You are in my thoughts and don't hesitate to email me- luzdianne@.... Wishing you peace and good health-Dianne

[Guest guest]

Thank you to everyone for the warm welcome.

I was wondering, I sweat all the time, is this a side effect of PBC? It is

really annoying...... : )

I will try to respond to each email seperately later. I am soooo tired. I

could sleep all day.

Zanna

[Guest guest]

Hi Jana,

Welcome to the group. I am sorry you are going through this...but hopefully you

will find a new direction in the coming days and you will get some good help.

I assume since I am having trouble finding your earlier post others are too. Can

you tell us where you live....or direct me to the post you were replying to

from? It helps me keep " whos who " together in my mind. Thanks!

Take Care, Cam

[Guest guest]

Hi Jana...

There appear to be a fair number of scoliosis specialists who don't know how to

DX flatback, so I would never assume that a primary care physician could

accurately do so.

--

>

> Thanks for the info . Floyd is the Dr. in this area...I hear he is really

good, but I'm a long way from getting anything done.

>

> They have not confirmed me as having Flatback but I'm sure they will, right

now I'm having to jump the hoops of Medicaid and getting that official

determination will take a bit longer.

>

> I had my surgery in 1980 and have a herington rod. This was done at the

Shriner's in Portland Oregon. The pain in my lower back has been there for over

20 yrs and I just found out about flatback last night. EVERY piece of the puzzle

fits. I'm glad to know that I'm not crazy and I'm not being a whinny baby.

>

> My primary Dr. is starting at square one. I learned of flatback after my visit

to him on the pain. He wants me to do PT and then see a DO if the PT doesn't

work. I saw him today and told him of my findings and asked if my issues could

be from flatback and he said could be, but didn't make an effort to diagnois me.

He said the specialist would be the one to order x-rays and scans. (I think he

thought I was questioning his knowledge and recommendations from our visit 4

days prior.)I'm not! I just wanted confirmation that Flatback is what has caused

my pain all these years.

>

> I feel so dumb after reading threads, I have no clue what was done to me when

I was 16, all I know is that I had scoliosis and they corrected the curve with

the rod; that I still have in place. I know nothing about pins, screws, hardware

or if I have S, T, or L areas done. I believe my curve was in the middle

back,(my mom says that my curve was a 55 degrees and corrected to 5 degrees or

lower) my lowest 6 vertibra are fused. I can not get a spinal block (in 1999 my

last child was delivered via C-sec; all my kids were C-sec; we tried to do the

block to no avail).

>

> I was glad to see the posting on the bed and bed topper, we have been planning

to get a new bed this next year. Maybe our bed isn't the main reason for my

pain.

>

> I have been able to manage the pain all these years, but it is getting harder

to do much of anything without frequent breaks. My husband and kids help out so

much I'm greatful for that. Sometimes, I cannot get up because it feels like I

have been stabbed in the lower back. I lean on the counters while doing dishes,

I will lean on the shopping cart. Pain medicine is a joke, I've tried everything

out there and my primary Dr. only ordered Naproxin 500's~yeah right.

>

> I've been lucky enough that I have been a stay home mom most my life. I

applied for disabilty and they denied, not unexpected. I have never worked long

in any job, my longest was a bit over a year. I guess that is neither here nor

there. I guess my point is that if I had to be working there is no way I could

work a regular job.

>

> So, can anyone tell me the steps involved in getting flatback corrected? What

experience does anyone have with greater complications from getting it

corrected? How do you get control over the pain? Oh yeah, I'm diabetic and so I

hear that healing from surgery can take longer and I'm not getting any younger,

but I'm afraid of doing more damage than good in attempting to correct this.

>

> Thanks for listening to me.

>

> Jana

>

[Guest guest]

I will agree with that. I have seen 4 different doctors about this pain in the

last 10 years and I'm the one that found flatback. It just makes so much sense.

I just need to get past the primary and get into a specialist.

> >

> > Thanks for the info . Floyd is the Dr. in this area...I hear he is

really good, but I'm a long way from getting anything done.

> >

> > They have not confirmed me as having Flatback but I'm sure they will, right

now I'm having to jump the hoops of Medicaid and getting that official

determination will take a bit longer.

> >

> > I had my surgery in 1980 and have a herington rod. This was done at the

Shriner's in Portland Oregon. The pain in my lower back has been there for over

20 yrs and I just found out about flatback last night. EVERY piece of the puzzle

fits. I'm glad to know that I'm not crazy and I'm not being a whinny baby.

> >

> > My primary Dr. is starting at square one. I learned of flatback after my

visit to him on the pain. He wants me to do PT and then see a DO if the PT

doesn't work. I saw him today and told him of my findings and asked if my issues

could be from flatback and he said could be, but didn't make an effort to

diagnois me. He said the specialist would be the one to order x-rays and scans.

(I think he thought I was questioning his knowledge and recommendations from our

visit 4 days prior.)I'm not! I just wanted confirmation that Flatback is what

has caused my pain all these years.

> >

> > I feel so dumb after reading threads, I have no clue what was done to me

when I was 16, all I know is that I had scoliosis and they corrected the curve

with the rod; that I still have in place. I know nothing about pins, screws,

hardware or if I have S, T, or L areas done. I believe my curve was in the

middle back,(my mom says that my curve was a 55 degrees and corrected to 5

degrees or lower) my lowest 6 vertibra are fused. I can not get a spinal block

(in 1999 my last child was delivered via C-sec; all my kids were C-sec; we tried

to do the block to no avail).

> >

> > I was glad to see the posting on the bed and bed topper, we have been

planning to get a new bed this next year. Maybe our bed isn't the main reason

for my pain.

> >

> > I have been able to manage the pain all these years, but it is getting

harder to do much of anything without frequent breaks. My husband and kids help

out so much I'm greatful for that. Sometimes, I cannot get up because it feels

like I have been stabbed in the lower back. I lean on the counters while doing

dishes, I will lean on the shopping cart. Pain medicine is a joke, I've tried

everything out there and my primary Dr. only ordered Naproxin 500's~yeah right.

> >

> > I've been lucky enough that I have been a stay home mom most my life. I

applied for disabilty and they denied, not unexpected. I have never worked long

in any job, my longest was a bit over a year. I guess that is neither here nor

there. I guess my point is that if I had to be working there is no way I could

work a regular job.

> >

> > So, can anyone tell me the steps involved in getting flatback corrected?

What experience does anyone have with greater complications from getting it

corrected? How do you get control over the pain? Oh yeah, I'm diabetic and so I

hear that healing from surgery can take longer and I'm not getting any younger,

but I'm afraid of doing more damage than good in attempting to correct this.

> >

> > Thanks for listening to me.

> >

> > Jana

> >

>