Omg...i Might Be On To Something

[Rachel--24]

I know some of this energy field stuff is legit, like theraputic acupuncture and the bioset Rachel is doing, but when you add that "magical" stuff, it makes me uncomfortable. Maybe it works for some, but it's too over the top for me ...

I think the Bioset and acupuncture can definately help people. I know people with back or neck pain that the acupunture would work better than anything else....their pain would go away completely but not forever...theyd have to keep going back. I went to acupuncture last year but I didnt feel any different from it. I think if I were to just go to Bioset and nothing else....like if I never knew I had Lyme....I think it would be useless. Even if it made me feel better it would only be temporary because of the underlying issues still being there. No kind of voo-doo treatment is gonna "fix" that IMO.

I think these kinds of treatments would be best in conjunction with other treatments or when at least the person who's doing all the voo-doo stuff has *some* kind of clue as to whats going on with you.

Nobody can just look at you and tell you exactly what your problem is or that they know how to fix it. I just dont buy that stuff.....I'm all about *seeing* is believing.

Heck....I'm not even 100% convinced I have Lyme yet! I need more PROOF!

[CarlaB]

I think the Bioset and acupuncture can definately help people. I know people with back or neck pain that the acupunture would work better than anything else....their pain would go away completely but not forever...theyd have to keep going back. I went to acupuncture last year but I didnt feel any different from it. I think if I were to just go to Bioset and nothing else....like if I never knew I had Lyme....I think it would be useless. Even if it made me feel better it would only be temporary because of the underlying issues still being there. No kind of voo-doo treatment is gonna "fix" that IMO.

I think these kinds of treatments would be best in conjunction with other treatments or when at least the person who's doing all the voo-doo stuff has *some* kind of clue as to whats going on with you.

Nobody can just look at you and tell you exactly what your problem is or that they know how to fix it. I just dont buy that stuff.....I'm all about *seeing* is believing.

Heck....I'm not even 100% convinced I have Lyme yet! I need more PROOF!

I agree. I think they can legitimately help, but like you said, they still need to know what they're treating. It was the additional "voodoo" stuff that she was going to do in addition to the acupuncture that was over the top for me. I haven't decided whether to go back to the other acupuncture guy or not. He really knew what he was doing, but I almost feel as if he's done all he can for me. Acupucture itself is of proven value ... so I see it as a valid medical therapy, but I don't want someone waving their hands over me while it's being done .

[Rachel--24]

Acupucture itself is of proven value ... so I see it as a valid medical therapy, but I don't want someone waving their hands over me while it's being done .

Was she seriously gonna do this?? I think I missed that in your post??

I was wondering what you were meaning by the "voo-doo" stuff.

Yeah acupuncture is widely accepted now. Believe it or not they actually offer it at Kaiser (HMO) now. It was part of the chronic pain class they stuck me in......yeah....they had it for all of the people they'd diagnosed with Fibro. or CFS....all the people like me.

Kaiser....what a joke.

[CarlaB]

Was she seriously gonna do this?? I think I missed that in your post??

I was wondering what you were meaning by the "voo-doo" stuff.

Yeah acupuncture is widely accepted now. Believe it or not they actually offer it at Kaiser (HMO) now. It was part of the chronic pain class they stuck me in......yeah....they had it for all of the people they'd diagnosed with Fibro. or CFS....all the people like me.

Kaiser....what a joke.

Yeah! She was going to put the pins in herself, then have another woman do something to the energy, and she waved her hands around when she described it! I mean, maybe it works, but it's over the top for me! Plus, I've dealt with my emotional issues and have had a stable life for over 20 years, so I just don't see how it's pent up emotions making me this sick.

I wish my acupuncture was covered .... my braces were though (there is no braces emoticon).

[dlp252]

Can you do a little cardio? Cardio burns the fat, weights build the muscle (basically, though muscle also burns fat ...). Do you lift enough? Some women don't use enough weight for fear of looking like a guy. Trust me, you won't ... wrong hormones! Maybe you already know this, but lift the most weight you can and still be able to do 8-12 reps. By the time I get to the third set of an exercise, I often cannot make it to 8 reps.

I had a lower body day today. It's tough, especially when you'd rather be in bed.

Yes, I do a little walking, but even when I was doing a lot more cardio (even interval training) I couldn't see muscle. Now THAT was a bit frustrating...and even when I was at my lowest weight I never saw muscle. My abs look good though. I LOVE lifting heavy because I HATE doing endless reps, lol. So even with all that, I still don't show muscle. I like doing 6-8 reps for three sets then onto the next. I also did lower body today, and yes I'd rather be in bed.

Heck our paths could have crossed just about anywhere...we live in the same area and we both love to shop!

Yep, we ended up with the same GI doctor even before we "knew" each other here.

[rinne]

A friend described some energy work that she had done which sounds similar to the waving hands about. She said she had won the hour session and otherwise would not have done it, that it seemed like it did nothing while it was being done but that she afterwards she was amazed at the change in her energy.

Recently though when I spoke with her she was exhausted and having digestion issues.

Rachel I think you summed it up well, it really does take an intensive and thorough program to regain our wellness once we have become seriously ill.

I also think you have to feel some ease and resonance with a treatment modality.

Last night I spoke with a man who had gone on Cipril, spelling anyone? for candida. He had diagnosed himself and got the doctor to prescribe it but as he talked about it I couldn't imagine why anyone would take this into their body. He said it kills the yeast because it stops every cell in your body from dividing as long as you are on it, this makes for a die off of yeast. According to him this drug was developed to deal with the possibilty of bio-warfare but that market never really took off. He says it is now being used in every feed lot in the country to stop animals once they hit the feed lot from getting sick before they are slaughtered. A very good reason to buy locally produced organic meat.

[dlp252]

Last night I spoke with a man who had gone on Cipril, spelling anyone? for candida. He had diagnosed himself and got the doctor to prescribe it but as he talked about it I couldn't imagine why anyone would take this into their body. He said it kills the yeast because it stops every cell in your body from dividing as long as you are on it, this makes for a die off of yeast. According to him this drug was developed to deal with the possibilty of bio-warfare but that market never really took off. He says it is now being used in every feed lot in the country to stop animals once they hit the feed lot from getting sick before they are slaughtered. A very good reason to buy locally produced organic meat.

[CarlaB]

Yes, I do a little walking, but even when I was doing a lot more cardio (even interval training) I couldn't see muscle. Now THAT was a bit frustrating...and even when I was at my lowest weight I never saw muscle. My abs look good though. I LOVE lifting heavy because I HATE doing endless reps, lol. So even with all that, I still don't show muscle. I like doing 6-8 reps for three sets then onto the next. I also did lower body today, and yes I'd rather be in bed.

Hmm, maybe you just need to mix it up a bit I guess I don't see muscle, but it looks firm.

Abs, I've had five kids, we won't talk abs .... they're flat and muscular, they just need new skin

[dlp252]

Hmm, maybe you just need to mix it up a bit I guess I don't see muscle, but it looks firm.

Abs, I've had five kids, we won't talk abs .... they're flat and muscular, they just need new skin

Yep, I've been trying to mix it up a bit in the last few months...kind of cycling between heavy and lighter and fewer and more reps.

[AndreaB]

He says it is now being used in every feed lot in the country to stop animals once they hit the feed lot from getting sick before they are slaughtered. A very good reason to buy locally produced organic meat.

I buy my meat online. It is recommended on Mercola's site. I don't know that it is organic but it is natural. No growth hormones, etc. Completely pasture raised and fed. Poultry is also raised the same except the do eat some grains I think. Best chicken I've ever had.

[Rachel--24]

Last night I spoke with a man who had gone on Cipril, spelling anyone? for candida. He had diagnosed himself and got the doctor to prescribe it but as he talked about it I couldn't imagine why anyone would take this into their body. He said it kills the yeast because it stops every cell in your body from dividing as long as you are on it, this makes for a die off of yeast.

I never heard of this drug and I'd thought I'd pretty much heard it all on the candida forums.....there's alot of crazy stuff people do to "kill" their candida

You cant really "kill" all the yeast cuz of the fact that we all have it....its part of our flora or "ecology" or whatever you wanna call it. I'm in the belief that the yeast only overgrows when there is something going on...a major infection or something else thats really weakening the immune system. I think you can try to kill it all you want but its just gonna keep coming back because the immune system is weakened by something else. In a healthy body yeast is controlled by the immune system and the good bacteria. I gave up the candida treatment after 4 months....thats when I decided that ther ewas just something "not right" about the whole thing. I decided to look for other causes of my symptoms at that point. Also....something that I took notice of was that all the time on the candida message boards....I didnt see a single person "cure" themselves of Candida.

Now its been a year later and those same people are still there trying to get rid of yeast. Either that or they've discovered whats really making them sick.....yeast overgrowth is just another symptom IMO...I dont see it as a *cause* of illness. Its an opportunistic fungus.....so when something else is going on the yeast will take that opportunity to overgrow.

My old Dr.'s (Donna's new Dr.'s) had told me that whenever they treated people for Candida they were able to "manage" it but without treatment it would come right back...they were not successful trying to "cure" candida. Once they started focusing on getting to the root cause of why the candida was there to begin with they found that they didnt really need to treat Candida...they only needed to treat the *root* cause and the immune system seemed to handle the yeast problem on its own. Occassionaly they might prescribe an antifungal but thats about it.

I think for alot of people.....including those with undiagnosed Celiac...the candida diet is sort of a starting point for learning things about our body and getting headed in the right direction as far as detoxing and getting rid of major food intolerances like gluten. For me it was the start of this whole journey to get better. It was the first time I noticed any improvement at all.

[rinne]

Rachel, thanks for the scientificness. I agree, I'm sure I had a stunned look on my face as he was describing this to me. I think he might have been talking about Cipro.

Open Original Shared Link

Most important fact about this drug

Cipro kills a variety of bacteria, and is frequently used to treat infections in many parts of the body. However, be sure to stop taking Cipro and notify your doctor immediately at the first sign of a skin rash or any other allergic reaction. Although quite rare, serious and occasionally fatal allergic reactions--some following the first dose--have been reported in people receiving this type of antibacterial drug. Some reactions have been accompanied by collapse of the circulatory system, loss of consciousness, swelling of the face and throat, shortness of breath, tingling, itching, and hives. Fever and jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes) are other potential symptoms that should send you to the doctor immediately.

[CarlaB]

I think for alot of people.....including those with undiagnosed Celiac...the candida diet is sort of a starting point for learning things about our body and getting headed in the right direction as far as detoxing and getting rid of major food intolerances like gluten. For me it was the start of this whole journey to get better. It was the first time I noticed any improvement at all.

Adam and I were just talking about this ... the best I ever felt was when I was eating Atkins style (with lots of veggies) for candida control. When I added back wheat, I discovered it made me sick. This led me to eventually find out about needing to eliminate all gluten. I do feel that I got the candida under control, but the overgrowth was from 21 days of antibiotics. So, there was a reason for it, I just needed to help my body a bit in getting rid of it. If people have it chronically, I believe you are right, there is a reason they don't know about for having it.

He said it kills the yeast because it stops every cell in your body from dividing as long as you are on it

[rinne]

Also, he said that it was the strangest feeling he had ever had. I'm thinking it is like being in suspended animation although you are still walking around, your cells aren't reproducing so ..... It was developed to treat anthrax.

I know I had the same reaction to the Atkin's diet, I felt great but then I reached a point where I couldn't eat meat. I became a vegetarian after that for the next 7 years. I used to be much more extreme.

[AndreaB]

I definately wouldn't feel comfortable with the medication. Seems like it would do more harm then good (if it wasn't treating anthrax).

[jerseyangel]

Cipro is horrible. I took it, along with a succession of several others when the antibiotics they prescribed me didn't cure my "sinus infections". Of course the reason why the drugs didn't work was because my sinuses were perfectly fine.

I now now that the constant nausea and anemia were the Celiac in it's earlier stages. If someone had only thought to look for it then ....

I was talking to my husband last night, and I said that now I know why the only time I felt well was when I had a steroid injection--the doctors said it was because it was taking down the inflammation in my sinuses--but all the time it was because it was helping the inflammation in my intestine.

How much of this stuff is still hanging out in my body I don't even want to think about it--no wonder I have a leaky gut

[rinne]

Patti, I hope it is all gone from your body.

I took antibiotics over and over again in my early twenties for acne which I now realize was related to chronic C which was caused by gluten intolerance.

[jerseyangel]

Patti, I hope it is all gone from your body.

I took antibiotics over and over again in my early twenties for acne which I now realize was related to chronic C which was caused by gluten intolerance.

I know--if only we had known then.

I mostly worry about the steroids--I took a lot of those. It was the only thing that made me able to function.

I think those can stay in tissue.

[Rachel--24]

Rachel, thanks for the scientificness. I agree, I'm sure I had a stunned look on my face as he was describing this to me. I think he might have been talking about Cipro.

Open Original Shared Link

Well.....all I can say is that if he was taking Cipro for Candida....well ummm.....he ain't too bright.

Cipro is an antibiotic which is the very thing that can make candida even worse!

Dunno what this guy's reasoning was but I'm guessing the treatment did not help his Candida.

Also I believe Cipro is one of the worst antibiotics for killing off the "good" guys because Cipro is responsible for C-Diff infections more than any other antibiotic. Soooo...this leads me to believe Cipro kills off alot of beneficial bacteria and gives C. Difficile and other oportunistic pathogens the chance to thrive!! This would include candida...so again....dunno what this guy was thinking???

Maybe it wasnt Cipro he was taking??

[DingoGirl]

I became a vegetarian after that for the next 7 years. I used to be much more extreme.

...and being "extreme" is really exhausting now, isn't it?

Cipro is evil. I was on that for the crazy poison oak debacle of '03. Or was it '02. Anywho, got C. Diff after that.

[warning - graphic post to follow, not for the faint of heart)

oh, adn you know that deadly rash you can get from certain antibiotics? My friend's daughter had it....six weeks in intensive care, 106 fever and her body and organs literally cooked from the inside out, her entire skin was a blistered burn, her lips black with blood and 3 or 4 times their normal size....they had to sedate her and carve the skin and blisters off her entire body every day.....most people die from it, she was very near death and lived. (I sent people from my church and they prayed in the hallway outside of ICU - I also went and prayed myself). She will never be the same....it's called STevens-Johnson and the MINUTE you see a swelling or rash from taking an antibiotic, stop it immediately and seek medical care.....oh, hopefully your doctor will KNOW what it is ....she went to Valley Children's Hosp. and they SENT HER AWAY, not knowing what it was........a couple of days later went to the regular hospital, and an old friend of the family's was an ER doctor there, and knew immediately what it was. She was airlifted to Valley Children's that time. Sheesh, she has no tear ducts but didn't go blind, as most survivors do. She had porcelaine skin...and not it is mottled and purplish.....it is beyond comprehension.

[Rachel--24]

They have lots of stuff to read in the waiting room at my BioSet appt's.....They have this newspaper that comes out called Public Health Alert....Investigating Lyme Disease and chronic illnesses in the USA.

I found this tonight....check it out. This is for all the Rachelvillians........

But You Don't LOOK sick....

10 commandments for interacting with the chronically ill

1. Thou shalt not imply that we are not truelly ill.

You will not convince us otherwise with remarks such as, "You LOOK good," or "But you don't LOOK sick". Even if you mean them as compliments, we perceive those kind of statements as insults because they imply that you do not believe us.

2. Thou shalt not imply that the illness can be easily fixed.

People with chronic illness are persistent, if nothing else. We hang on, day after day.We see countless doctors, take numerous medications (not the R-villians though), do endless research, and continue hoping that the answer is just around the next corner. So please do not insult us by delivering diagnoses, remedies, or comments such as, "Why dont you just...." or "Have you tried..." or "You should..." If it truelly were that simple, I assure you that we would have done it already. We are sick, not stupid.

3. Thou shalt not imply that we brought this on ourselves.

We did not choose to become ill, just as we do not choose to stay ill. Simply having a positive attitude is not going to solve our problem. One would never imply that a quadriplegic chose such a trial for themselves, or could get better "if they really want to". Please afford us the same respect.

4. Thou shalt not insult or argue with our limitations or behaviors.

If we push ourselves too hard, we can suffer serious consequences. Most of us have developed coping mechanisms to help us survive, and it is cruel to expect us to do more than we are able. "Sleeping all day" is not a luxury for us -it is a critical necessity, one that we must take in order to protect whatever remaining health we have. We would much rather be out working, playing, spending time with loved ones....participating in normal activities. Perhaps it may help to think of it in terms of being one of the medications we need to take. If you wouldnt think of denying a diabetic their insulin, then dont think of denying the sufferer of a chronic illness their critical need, whether it is a mid-day nap, avoidance of certain foods or environmental factors or something else. HARUMPH!

5. Thou shall not imply that you can relate to what we are going through.

Unless you have a chronic illness of your own, you cannot possibly understand just how much suffering is happening. Of course you want to be compassionate and want to relate to people. But when you try to do this by telling a chronically-ill person that you are always tired too, it tends to make the person feel that you are minimizing their suffering. (Yeah.....not nice! )

Try saying something more along the lines of, "This must be so hard for you," or "I cant imagine what you're going through." It really does make a difference to us.

6. Thou shalt be mindful of other family members.

Chronic illness doesnt just affect the person who has it, but the whole family as well. The trauma of the illness can evoke feelings of fear, depression, anger and helplessness in all family members. The balance of family dynamics will most likely change, especially if it is a parent who is ill. The healthy spouse may end up taking on an overwhelming amount of responsibility, and even children will likely be involved in helping care for the ailing family member. Please keep these others in your thoughts as well, and make an effort to direct some special attention to them, without any mention of illness or disability. Individual family members adjust in different ways and at different paces. All members might benefit from counseling to help handle the stress involved, and each family member also needs to have time to pursue their own individual interests.

7. Thou shalt acknowledge our efforts and celebrate even our small successes with us.

For us, any day that we can accomplish a task, no matter how small, is a "good" day! Our lives are often measured in terms of doctor's visits and lab work, and our "success" measured on actually completing an entire load of laundry in just one day. Please do not look at us as if we are joking when we share these celebratory moments with you. Celebrate with us, be happy with us, and do not kill the moment by announcing that you have just completed the Ironman Triathalon in record time.

8. Thou shalt offer thy specific help.

There are so many ways to help---the most difficult part is usually getting the chronically-ill person to accept that help. We do not want to feel like a "burden". If you ofer a vague, "Call me if I can help," the call will probably never come. But if you are sincere, consider offers of specific help, such as a ride to a Dr.'s appointment, or picking up a few groceries or the dry cleaning (dry cleaning?? )These activities can be done in a way that does not add an extra burden to your own schedule.

9. Thou shalt remember important events.

I'm not just talking about birthdays and Christmas. A major Dr.'s appointment, lab test or new medication are all important events to us. Try to sincerely ask "How was your appointment? How did the lab test go? How's your new medication?" We will appreciate that you remembered, and that you cared enough to ask about it.

10. Thou shalt get to know the person behind the illness.

The illness may be a part of us, but its not a part of who we ARE. We want to be known as more than "that sick person (who cant eat anything)". You may discover that we have a wickedly funny sense of humor (Miss DingoGirl), a creative imagination (Rinne our Laughing Lyme Lady) , musical talents (Donna ), a green thumb (Judy), an over-abundant knowledge of football (Julie) or any number of things that better describe who we are, and what we would rather be remembered for.

Most of all, please remember that we are more than worthy of love, friendship and support. We are the toughest nuts you will ever meet. A chronic illness is not for whimps - rather, only the toughest of the tough can continually face the struggles of life while battling a debilitating illness. That kind of grit deserves nothing less than the pure respect and admiration, even from our toughest critic -- ourselves.

These should be the 10 commandments of Rachelville!! All in favor???

My personal favorites....#1...2...3....5 and 9.....these apply most in my life since I got sick.

#1 2 and 5 make me want to get violent.

Julie...this is when I would need my punching bag!

[Guest melannen]

Yes Yes Yes!!! Love it Rachel

I'm gonna post this in my LiveJournal if you don't mind

[Rachel--24]

I'm gonna post this in my LiveJournal if you don't mind

Nope....dont mind at all.

[Guest melannen]

Nope....dont mind at all.

Yay!! Reformatting it for my LJ right now

[AndreaB]

Rachel, those are fantastic!!!!!

I hope I haven't trangressed any of those. I'm learning, if I have.

Hi Judy.....I see you.