Health
The Horrible Truth
While surfing my Dish network channels, I immediately paused on a station airing The Dr. Oz Show. He was talking about a frightening issue with some weight loss supplements. Though, I don’t personally take weight loss supplements, I suddenly thought of all the people who have, who are, and who are thinking about it. The shocking expose pushed me to write this post and spread the word about what is really found in those little diet pills. First of all, Dr. Oz did not condemn all supplements; in fact, he said that “most” weight loss aids are safe. But the problem is the masses don’t really know what they’re purchasing without any FDA regulations and solid research reports in place.
Jim Neal-Kababick, director of Oregon-based Flora Research Laboratories, which conducted the tests for the Dr. Oz show, reported that this problem is “worse than it’s ever been.” Millions of unsuspecting consumers are at risk for obtaining these “spiked” products. Among the additives found by the Flora Research Lab were antidepressants, recalled prescription drugs (Phen-Phen), and antibiotics. I know, right? How in the hell does this happen. His guest explained that some of these companies do not practice general precautions to prevent cross-contamination between the various products they produce. And, if these manufacturers are producing illegal versions of drugs, they are likely not spending a lot of time keeping there labs and production lines safe and clean.
How To Protect Yourself From Tainted Supplements
You owe it to yourself and your family to be extremely cautious about what supplements you take, especially in this category. Here are some tips for purchasing quality products in the future.
1. Don’t use them at all, instead rely on good eating habits and exercise to produce safe weight loss. There are other vitamin supplements that give energy and help you to maintain good metabolism; such as, B vitamins, Chromium, and green supplements. (Be sure to talk to your doctor about any supplements before taking them.)
2. Don’t ever purchase anything that claims it has prescription strength ingredients. Wow, that’s a HUGE red flag! If you are looking for or really need a script to help you lose weight, ask your doctor.
3. Remember, there is no super-sonic way to lose weight! Those companies that proclaim outlandish “miracle” results are simply not telling you the truth. Don’t fall for the hype…ever!
4. OK, now this is really important. If you can’t read the label, don’t buy it! Some of these manufacturers are not in America or English-speaking countries. The labels put on their products are likely in a native language. Be especially cautious of online distributors that offer translation in English.
5. Do some research about companies and products first before you buy. The FDA website is a vital source for product regulation and reports of manufacturing violations.
This article is just a surface “heads-up” of what is happening out there in the world of weight loss supplements. Please continue to find answers for your questions through reputable sources like Dr. Oz, FDA, and The Flora Research Laboratories. Also, do pass along this article to your friends and social media contacts. We need to get this message out before other people get hurt or even die from spiked supplements. Thanks for your help. Have you ever taken weight loss supplements? Please share your experience with us!
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I posted a powerful video yesterday about the drug industry’s deception concerning antidepressants and mental illness. Today I thought it fitting to piggyback that post with this compelling article by Dr. Joseph Mercola. He is one of my favorite authorities on health and wellness because he writes the facts. Dr. Mercola is not afraid to spill the beans about conspiracies or holes in our health care system. If you want the truth and some solid health advice, I recommend subscribing to his posts (see info at bottom). Indeed, The Doctor Is In!
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If You Can’t Beat Depression, This Could be Why
By Dr. Joseph Mercola
Researchers examined the performance of germ-free mice, who lack gut bacteria, on a kind of maze used to test anxiety-like behaviors. The maze is in the shape of a plus with two open and two closed arms; normally, mice will avoid open spaces to minimize the risk of being seen by predators.
Normal mice, as expected, spent far more time in the closed arms when placed in the maze. The germ-free mice, however, entered the open arms far more often, spending significantly more time there than in the closed arms.
According to the study in Neurogastroenterology & Motility, when they examined the animals’ brains, they found that:
“these differences in behavior were accompanied by alterations in the expression levels of several genes in the germ-free mice. … Bacteria colonize the gut in the days following birth, during a sensitive period of brain development, and apparently influence behavior by inducing changes in the expression of certain genes.”
Sources:
Most people fail to realize that your gut is quite literally your second brain, and actually has the ability to significantly influence your:
- Mind
- Mood
- Behavior
So while modern psychiatry still falsely claims that psychological problems such as depression are caused by a chemical imbalance in your brain, researchers keep finding that depression and a variety of behavioral problems actually appear to be linked to an imbalance of bacteria in your gut!
Germ-Free Mice Engage in High-Risk Behavior
In the featured study published last month in Neurogastroenterology & Motility, mice that lack gut bacteria were found to behave differently from normal mice, engaging in what would be referred to as “high-risk behavior.” This altered behavior was accompanied by neurochemical changes in the mouse brain.
According to the authors, microbiota (your gut flora) may play a role in the communication between your gut and your brain, and:
“Acquisition of intestinal microbiota in the immediate postnatal period has a defining impact on the development and function of the gastrointestinal, immune, neuroendocrine and metabolic systems. For example, the presence of gut microbiota regulates the set point for hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activity.”
The neurotransmitter serotonin activates your hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis by stimulating certain serotonin receptors in your brain. Additionally, neurotransmitters like serotonin can also be found in your gut. In fact, the greatest concentration of serotonin, which is involved in mood control, depression and aggression, is found in your intestines, not your brain!
So it actually makes perfect sense to nourish your gut flora for optimal serotonin function as it can have a profound impact on your mood, psychological health, and behavior.
The authors concluded that:
“[T]he presence or absence of conventional intestinal microbiota influences the development of behavior…”
This conclusion adds support to another recent animal study, which also found that gut bacteria may influence mammalian early brain development and behavior. But that’s not all. They also discovered that the absence or presence of gut microorganisms during infancy permanently alters gene expression.
Through gene profiling, they were able to discern that absence of gut bacteria altered genes and signaling pathways involved in learning, memory, and motor control. This suggests that gut bacteria is closely tied to early brain development and subsequent behavior. These behavioral changes could be reversed as long as the mice were exposed to normal microorganisms early in life. But once the germ-free mice had reached adulthood, colonizing them with bacteria did not influence their behavior.
According to Dr. Rochellys Diaz Heijtz, lead author of the study:
“The data suggests that there is a critical period early in life when gut microorganisms affect the brain and change the behavior in later life.”
In a similar way, probiotics have also been found to influence the activity of hundreds of your genes, helping them to express in a positive, disease-fighting manner.
The Gut-Brain Connection
When you consider the fact that the gut-brain connection is recognized as a basic tenet of physiology and medicine, and that there’s no shortage of evidence of gastrointestinal involvement in a variety of neurological diseases, it’s easy to see how the balance of gut bacteria can play a significant role in your psychology and behavior as well.
With this in mind, it should also be crystal clear that nourishing your gut flora is extremely important, from cradle to grave, because in a very real sense you have two brains, one inside your skull and one in your gut, and each needs its own vital nourishment.
Interestingly, these two organs are actually created out of the same type of tissue. During fetal development, one part turns into your central nervous system while the other develops into your enteric nervous system. These two systems are connected via the vagus nerve, the tenth cranial nerve that runs from your brain stem down to your abdomen. This is what connects your two brains together, and explains such phenomena as getting butterflies in your stomach when you’re nervous, for example. (For an interesting and well-written layman’s explanation of this connection, read through Sandra Blakeslee’s 1996 New York Times article Complex and Hidden Brain in Gut Makes Stomachaches and Butterflies.)
Your gut and brain work in tandem, each influencing the other. This is why your intestinal health can have such a profound influence on your mental health, and vice versa.
As a result, it should be obvious that your diet is closely linked to your mental health. Furthermore, it’s requires almost no stretch of the imagination to see how lack of nutrition can have an adverse effect on your mood and subsequently your behavior.
Have We Become Too Sanitized for Our Own Sanity?
Another study published last year in the Archives of General Psychiatry reviewed the evidence for signs that psychiatric problems might be caused by lack of natural microorganisms in soil, food, and the gut. And it did find such a link.
Rates of depression in younger people have steadily grown to outnumber rates of depression in the older populations, and one reason for this could be the lack of exposure to bacteria, both outside and inside your body.
Quite simply, modern society may have gotten too sanitized and pasteurized for our own good.
Fermented foods have been traditional staples in most cultures, but modern food manufacturing, with its focus on killing ALL bacteria in the name of food safety, has eliminated most of these foods. You can still find traditionally fermented foods like natto or kefir, but they’re not the dietary staples they once used to be, and many people don’t like them when trying them out for the first time in adulthood.
When you deprive your child of all this bacteria, her immune system—which is her primary defense system against inflammation—actually gets weaker, not stronger. And higher levels of inflammation are not only a hallmark of heart disease and diabetes, but also of depression.
The authors explain it as follows:
“Significant data suggest that a variety of microorganisms (frequently referred to as the “old friends”) were tasked by coevolutionary processes with training the human immune system to tolerate a wide array of non-threatening but potentially proinflammatory stimuli. Lacking such immune training, vulnerable individuals in the modern world are at significantly increased risk of mounting inappropriate inflammatory attacks on harmless environmental antigens (leading to asthma), benign food contents and commensals in the gut (leading to inflammatory bowel disease), or self-antigens (leading to any of a host of autoimmune diseases).
Loss of exposure to the old friends may promote major depression by increasing background levels of depressogenic cytokines and may predispose vulnerable individuals in industrialized societies to mount inappropriately aggressive inflammatory responses to psychosocial stressors, again leading to increased rates of depression.
… Measured exposure to the old friends or their antigens may offer promise for the prevention and treatment of major depression in modern industrialized societies.”
Researchers around the World have Linked Gut Problems to Brain Disorders
Brain disorders can take many forms, one of which is autism. In this particular area you can again find compelling evidence of the link between brain and gut health. For example, gluten intolerance is frequently a feature of autism, and many autistic children will improve when following a strict gluten-free diet. Many autistic children also tend to improve when given probiotics, either in the form of fermented foods or probiotic supplements.
Dr. Andrew Wakefield is just one of many who have investigated the connection between developmental disorders and bowel disease. He has published about 130-140 peer-reviewed papers looking at the mechanism and cause of inflammatory bowel disease, and has extensively investigated the brain-bowel connection in the context of children with developmental disorders such as autism.
A large number of replication studies have also been performed around the world, by other researchers, confirming the curious link between brain disorders such as autism and gastrointestinal dysfunction. For a list of more than 25 of those studies, please see this previous article.
Other Health Benefits of Probiotics
Your body contains about 100 trillion bacteria — more than 10 TIMES the number of cells you have in your entire body. Ideally, the ratio between the bacteria in your gut is 85 percent “good” and 15 percent “bad.”
In addition to the psychological implications discussed above, a healthy ratio of good to bad gut bacteria is essential for:
- Protection against over-growth of other microorganisms that could cause disease
- Digestion of food and absorption of nutrients
- Digesting and absorbing certain carbohydrates
- Producing vitamins, absorbing minerals and eliminating toxins
- Preventing allergies
Signs of having an excess of unhealthy bacteria in your gut include gas and bloating, fatigue, sugar cravings, nausea, headaches, constipation or diarrhea.
What Interferes With Healthy Gut Bacteria?
Your gut bacteria do not live in a bubble; rather, they are an active and integrated part of your body, and as such are vulnerable to your lifestyle. If you eat a lot of processed foods, for instance, your gut bacteria are going to be compromised because processed foods in general will destroy healthy microflora and feed bad bacteria and yeast.
Your gut bacteria are also very sensitive to:
- Antibiotics
- Chlorinated water
- Antibacterial soap
- Agricultural chemicals
- Pollution
Because of these latter items, to which virtually all of us are exposed at least occasionally, it’s generally a good idea to “reseed” the good bacteria in your gut by taking a high-quality probiotic supplement or eating fermented foods.
Tips for Optimizing Your Gut Bacteria
Getting back to the issue of inflammation for a moment, it’s important to realize that an estimated 80 percent of your immune system is actually located in your gut, which is why you need to regularly reseed your gut with good bacteria.
Additionally, when you consider that your gut is your second brain AND the seat of your immune system, it becomes easy to see how your gut health can impact your brain function, psyche, and behavior, as they are interconnected and interdependent in a number of different ways—several of which are discussed above.
In light of this, here are my recommendations for optimizing your gut bacteria.
- Fermented foods are still the best route to optimal digestive health, as long as you eat the traditionally made, unpasteurized versions. Healthy choices include lassi (an Indian yoghurt drink, traditionally enjoyed before dinner), fermented milk such as kefir, various pickled fermentations of cabbage, turnips, eggplant, cucumbers, onions, squash and carrots, and natto (fermented soy).If you regularly eat fermented foods such as these that, again, have not been pasteurized (pasteurization kills the naturally occurring probiotics), your healthy gut bacteria will thrive.
- Probiotic supplement. Although I’m not a major proponent of taking many supplements (as I believe the majority of your nutrients need to come from food), probiotics are definitely an exception. I have used many different brands over the past 15 years and there are many good ones out there. I also spent a long time researching and developing my own, called Complete Probiotics, in which I incorporated everything I have learned about this important tool over the years. If you do not eat fermented foods, taking a high quality probiotic supplement is definitely recommended.
***The content of this post is not intended to replace professional advice from your health care provider. Women’s Life Link, it’s authors, associates, commentators, or linked sites do not claim that any information will diagnose, treat, improve, or cure any disease or condition.
We have a guest post for you today by travel writer, Danielle Aldulescu. If you ever thought it impossible to lose weight while on vacation, think again. Danielle gives the 411 on some chic holidays for those who want to slim down and have a blast while doing it!
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The Benefits of a Weight Loss Holiday
By Danielle Aldulescu
A recent NHS study revealed that almost a quarter of adults in England are clinically obese, with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of at least 30kg/m2. Even more are overweight (a BMI of 25-30 kg/m2) and the problem certainly isn’t restricted to the UK. Obesity is on the rise throughout the developed world, with comparable or higher levels in most of Europe and the USA.
This rise in obesity carries with it all sorts of associated issues, from serious health concerns including increased risk of heart disease, strokes and diabetes to issues of self-esteem and appearance. It’s little wonder then that so many people are desperate to lose weight. Fad diets and miracle pills are offered up as quick-fix solutions but the truth is that the only way to lose weight and keep it off is to adapt a healthy diet and lifestyle.
This can be difficult and many people struggle with issues of motivation in the face of stressful modern lifestyles. A basic lack of knowledge of stress and health management can also hinder long-term weight loss goals, and many people are finding that weight loss holidays can help kick-start or augment their healthy lifestyle changes.
What is a weight loss holiday?
A weight loss holiday is quite simply a holiday where relaxation is combined with weight loss and fitness goals. Generally they are less structured and extreme than fitness boot camps, but with a little more guidance and assistance on tap than a traditional spa break, with all the facilities and knowledgeable, well-trained staff ready to help you achieve that first step in adopting a healthier lifestyle, or to help assess and fine-tune any regimen already in place.
A well-run weight loss holiday should certainly see you lose some weight over the time you are there, but it shouldn’t be seen as a quick-fix solution. The ultimate goal should be to help facilitate a long-term healthier lifestyle that will lead to the pounds dropping off and, more importantly, staying off.
Stress and Health Management
You may have decided that you need a healthier lifestyle, but it can be difficult to affect major lifestyle changes without help. Modern lifestyles can be extremely stressful and stress can lead to overeating cycles and unhealthy choices. It’s difficult to find those spare hours to spend in the gym if you have deadlines to meet or a family to look after, but staff on a fitness break can offer useful help and advice when it comes to stress and health management.
Stress-busting treatments and fitness courses will be available over the course of your stay, but you will also receive tips and routines that you can take back home with you and apply to your daily life.
What treatments are available?
All manner of treatments will be available and could include:
- Exercise programs
- Personal training
- Health assessments
- Tailored diets and menus
- Yoga
- Detox plans
- Spa treatments
Where to go for a weight loss break:
Weight loss breaks and holidays are becoming popular throughout the world, from purpose-built resorts in the USA to specialist hotels in Hungary, Spain and the UK.
In the United States, Vermont’s Green Mountain at Fox Run claims to be “the country’s first and only non-diet healthy weight loss retreat for women only”, but even a cursory online search will turn up many alternative locations for men and women alike.
In the UK, companies such as Slimmeria offer luxury retreats in country-house accommodation while, further afield, Danubius Hotels offers a range of well-appointed, health-orientated hotels in locations including Hungary, Romania and the Czech Republic.
As with other good weight loss holiday destinations, they will offer you the chance to rejuvenate and re-motivate, or to kick-start a healthy change that will stay with you for life.
Danielle is a travel writer who specializes in researching and recommending the best weight loss holidays offers.
One more thing…after watching it, please post it to your social media pages and/or forward this link on to those who have interest in health and the truth. Thanks.
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You may also enjoy these other articles:
Going Off Of Antidepressants Successfully
I have a treat for you today, a post from Dr. Bonnie! She outlines the significance and commonplace of how heartache can actually lead to physical pain and disease. Learn from one of the best relationship experts in the world here on Women’s Life Link!
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Heartbreak Means Physical Pain
By Dr. Bonnie Eaker Weil
Most of use “physical” language to describe our feelings when going through an emotionally tough time. And a new study shows there’s a reason for that – according to the LA Times: “In our brains, too, physical and social pain share much the same neural circuitry. In many ways, in fact, your brain may scarcely make a distinction between a verbal and physical insult.”
The research, conducted by psychologist Nathan Dewall at the University of Kentucky reveals that we feel and respond to social exclusion at least once a day on average. He says that’s actually a big deal, but one that tends to get downplayed by friends and colleagues and even ourselves. However, the human brain has only allocated one system for feeling and processing this pain – the same system our brain and body uses to process physical pain. “Instead of creating an entirely new system to respond to social hurt, evolution piggybacked the system for emotional pain onto that for physical pain,” DeWall says. The research shows that two regions of the brain which were previously only credited with processing physical pain come alive when someone looks at a picture of an ex and thinks about how they felt about the breakup.
While I typically encourage people to work through their differences and make a relationship work– especially a long-term committed relationship or marriage – it’s true that sometimes things just fall apart, for a variety of reasons. Once this happens it can be helpful to know that it’s not absurd or out of the ordinary to deal with a literal feeling of heartbrokenness. Yet often I find that people are almost too willing to throw in the towel, which can – as this study shows – actually result in more pain in the long run. Of course, the converse is that staying in a bad relationship can cause pain of its own and I’m certainly not advocating that everyone everywhere should stick out whatever relationship they’re in, no matter how miserable.
Like I talk about in my book, Make up Don’t Break up, if both parties admit there are problems before the relationship gets to a dire point, and both people are willing to put effort into putting things back together, it’s in this type of situation that I believe most relationships are salvageable.
Committing to saving a troubled relationship can produce problems of its own but one top tip I give to people both in my book and in my practice is to develop a habit of engaging in respectful but honest exchanges where both people have the opportunity to share their concerns, frustrations, fears and concerns about the relationship without fear of judgment or retribution. Making this a routine practice in a relationship can help ensure longevity – and less pain!
Dr. Bonnie Eaker Weil (Dr. Bonnie) is a relationship expert who was named by Psychology Today as one of America’s best therapists, and by New York Magazine as one of New York City’s best therapists. Her book, Make Up Don’t Break Up recently won the New York Times “Relationship Book of the Year” award. Known as “The Adultery Buster” and the “No. 1 Love Expert,” she is the best-selling author of Adultery: The Forgivable Sin (adapted into a Lifetime movie starring actress Kate Jackson), Make Up, Don’t Break Up: Finding and Keeping Love for Singles and Couples (Revised edition Feb 2010, including DVD How to Fall in Love and Stay in Love for Singles and Couples), Can We Cure and Forgive Adultery?, Staying Not Straying, How Not to (S)Mother Your Man and How to Keep a Woman Happy, and Financial Infidelity: Seven Steps to Conquering the #1 Relationship Wrecker (Making Money Sexy).
I have a guest post for you today that is a little longer than usual but worth the extra minute to read. Julie Wendell takes us on an honest journey of her diagnosis and difficulty managing a condition called Fibromyalgia. For those of you who don’t know what that is, you are about to find out…
Julie is a working mother of two sons, who enjoys writing, reading, singing, and watching movies. Ultimately, she wishes to become an advocate for those who have been diagnosed with the painful condition.
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Living With Fibromyalgia
by Julie Wendell
“Mommy, open this, please?”, my 3 year old son asked as he handed me a cereal bar early one morning. I tried to tear off the top of the wrapper, but my fingers would not move or grasp the wrapper! Terrified, I tried opening it again, but to no avail. I had lost all strength in both of my hands! As calmly as I could, I asked my 7 year old son to open the cereal bar for his brother. But inside, I was panicking because the weakness in my hands persisted for about an hour. What was happening to me??? Little did I know that the morning of February 10th, 2008 marked the beginning of a myriad of severely painful symptoms. My life was about to drastically change.
Over the course of the next few weeks, I started to experience alarming new symptoms. In addition to the weakness in my hands, I noticed that the joints in my hands were very swollen and stiff. I even took pictures of my hands from all angles to make sure that their odd shape was not just my imagination. I would often feel sharp zinging pains in my extremities, especially in my hands, wrists, knees, and ankles. My muscles and joints ached like I had the flu. There were times when I would be convinced I had a temperature of at least 101, just to find out it was completely normal every time I checked.
My level of fatigue went from “full time single working mother” to “full time single working mother who also ran 100 miles a day”. I was physically exhausted from dealing with so much pain every day. To make matters worse, I started noticing that when I woke up each morning, I would not feel refreshed, even after a full straight 6-8 hours of sleep. Instead, it felt like I only slept for one hour each night. So not only was I physically exhausted, I was emotionally drained as well. The overall level of exhaustion was indescribable, the worst I have ever experienced in my life! But I was hoping that whatever was plaguing me would just stop on its own.
One afternoon in April 2008, after I got off work and picked up my kids, I couldn’t get home fast enough. My body was overwhelmed with pain like I never felt before. As soon as we walked through the door, I immediately headed for the couch, where I spent the next four days. I had to call my mom to help me take care of the kids. In addition to my existing symptoms, I also suffered from oppressive chest pain, muscles/joints that felt bruised, extreme coldness in my arms and face, and TMJ-like jaw pain. I also had the sensation that my aching spine and pelvis were going to slide out of my body. I cried often, because I had no idea how to cope with these bizarre symptoms. I tried heating packs, ice packs, Tylenol/Advil, but nothing even remotely helped me. My temperature was still normal at 98.6. My mom, who is a nurse, thought maybe I had a virus, but most of the symptoms did not even resemble any virus I had ever had in the past, plus I was not running a fever. Even after the four worst days of feeling severely “sick”, most of my symptoms never fully disappeared.
At this point, I was at my wits’ end, so I finally decided to get some help. So even though I was terrified of the possible outcomes, I made an appointment to see my primary care physician. After reviewing my list of symptoms and seeing the pictures of my hands, he thought it was very likely that I had rheumatoid arthritis. He immediately referred me to a rheumatologist, who wanted to test me for not only rheumatoid arthritis, but also lupus, mononucleosis, and multiple sclerosis. He ordered some x-rays of my hands and a lot of blood work. He also prescribed a week’s worth of steroids to see if that would help.
My daily life started becoming a real chore for me. Everything and anything I usually did without a problem was now unbearable or overwhelming. The mornings and evenings were the worst times of day for my pain, fatigue, and weakness. I tried to stay strong, especially for my children, but there were days where I felt like giving up on everything. I tried talking to a few friends and family members about how I was feeling, but they would just say that I was complaining too much and/or accuse me of being a hypochondriac. I had never felt so alone in my life.
The results of the blood tests and x-rays came back the following week and were completely normal. Also, the steroids ended up not helping me at all. Based on these findings, the rheumotologist suggested that I may have fibromyalgia. He prescribed an NSAID called Mobic to help with my muscle/joint pain and an anti-convulsive/anti-neuropathy medication called Gabapentin to help with my nerve pain. The doctor said that diagnosing fibromyalgia was very tricky because there are no actual diagnostic tools. Instead, the diagnosis is made after everything else has been ruled out. He also wanted to wait and see how the next few months went with the new medications before confirming the suspected diagnosis.
During the following months, both of the medications had made a difference to where my daily activities became more tolerable. I still felt very fatigued, but my quality of sleep seemed to be more restorative (due to the Gabapentin). My muscle and joint pain were definitely persistent but they were on more manageable levels (due to the mobic).
When I went back to the doctor in August 2008, he reviewed all of my test results and evaluated me again, then officially diagnosed me with fibromyalgia, a syndrome characterized by chronic pain, stiffness, and tenderness of muscles, tendons, and joints (definition by MedicineNet.com). The treatment for fibromyalgia includes pain medication and exercise. The doctor advised me to continue with the medications I was currently taking and to try doing light exercise when possible. He also warned me that my medication combination was not always going to be perfect. He said it may take a few tries with various medications before reaching optimal pain management, and what works for me now may not work for me in a few years. I was completely devastated, knowing that I was going to live with unrelenting complicated pain and severe fatigue for the rest of my life.
Sometimes, in addition to medication and exercise, doctors recommend a gluten free diet to help alleviate fibromyalgia symptoms. Coincidentally, I had already been on a gluten free diet for 4 years already, due to having an auto-immune digestive disorder called Celiac Disease. Unfortunately, being on this diet did not stop me from having fibromyalgia nor had it eased its symptoms. My doctor said that I’m one of the unlucky fibromyalgia patients who was not positively affected by a gluten free diet. Sometimes I like to think that being gluten free has stopped my fibromyalgia symptoms from becoming uncontrollable.
A diagnosis of fibromyalgia carries a negative stigma in society because the symptoms are very vague and are not so clear-cut as other diseases/conditions. I have actually heard people say that there is no such thing as fibromyalgia, or that the symptoms are fake and they are all in the person’s head. It is also widely believed that people who have fibromyalgia just want attention and/or medication. There are many doctors who do not recognize fibromyalgia as an actual medical condition. Therefore, people who do have fibromyalgia usually have to see numerous doctors before receiving a diagnosis. Luckily for me, reaching a diagnosis for my symptoms only took 6 months and involved seeing only 2 doctors. Some people suffer for years before finding an answer.
Since my diagnosis, additional symptoms have added themselves onto the original list, such as hypersensitivity to stimuli. For example, if there is too much light or sound, I start feeling very overwhelmed and need to remove myself from the situation. There are times where I cannot be touched, when even my clothes feel like too much overload on my skin and receiving a hug actually HURTS. I also started becoming sensitive to the weather patterns, especially low pressure systems. I jokingly call myself the “human barometer” because I seem to predict rain better than the weatherman! During periods of damp or cold weather, my muscles and joints heavily protest, and in turn, the pain increases substantially. I found that I have a low tolerance for any kind of exercise, it makes me feel worse rather than making me feel energetic and refreshed. I have also developed difficulty with my short term memory and concentration (ie-”fibro-fog”), which has affected all aspects of my life, especially work.
Today, it remains difficult for me to deal with the pain and fatigue that I experience every day with fibromyalgia. My doctor has changed my pain reliever from Mobic to Tramadol, which is a bit stronger, so my pain is at a tolerable level most of the time. But I definitely have my share of bad days. On a positive note, I have learned a few things from my experience with fibromyalgia. I’ve learned not push myself to do more than I can handle, but I’m still learning that it’s okay to ask for help. I have also learned to prioritize what is actually important and to just take things one day at a time. Having fibromyalgia has made me realize it is so important not to take anything for granted. After my diagnosis, my rheumatologist had pointed out to me that fibromyalgia is not a deadly or destructive disease, which is fortunate. However, living with chronic pain and fatigue is still a difficult challenge, no matter what the cause or prognosis. Yes, fibromyalgia is REAL.
***For more information about Fibromyalgia, visit FMaware.org
Hi Everyone. I don’t often do this, but here’s an article republished in whole from leading health expert Dr. Mercola. I found it extremely troubling, as I take my share of NSAIDS for migraine pain. Please post it on your social media pages or forward it to friends and family who take common pain relievers for chronic pain.
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Taking These Common Pills? You’re Playing “Russian Roulette” With Your Heart
By Dr. Joseph Mercola
Drugs that include traditional non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) as well as new generation anti-inflammatory drugs (COX-2 inhibitors) have been linked to cardiovascular risks. Researchers performed a comprehensive analysis of all randomized controlled trials that compared any NSAID with other NSAIDs or placebo. The analysis included more than 30 trials that examined in total more than 116,000 patients. Drugs such as rofecoxib (Vioxx) and lumiracoxib were associated with twice the risk of heart attack, while ibuprofen was associated with more than three times the risk of stroke. Etoricoxib (Arcoxia) and diclofenac were associated with the highest risk of cardiovascular death.
Eurekalert reports:
“… [T]hese cardiovascular risks are worrying because many patients have both cardiovascular disease and musculoskeletal disease, and suggests that it is time for an evaluation of a broader range of alternatives.”
In other drug news, the U.S. FDA has asked manufacturers of prescription drugs containing acetaminophen to limit the dosage of the drug and add a liver toxicity warning to labels. The warning will be a “boxed warning” — the strongest warning for a prescription drug. Prescription acetaminophen (a pain and fever reducer better known as Tylenol) must limit the drugs to no more than 325 milligrams per tablet or capsule. Currently, some products contain more than twice that amount.
Paging Dr. Gupta reports:
“Overdose from prescription combination products containing acetaminophen account for nearly half of all cases of acetaminophen related liver failure in the United States, many of which result in liver transplant or death.”
Sources:
Eurekalert January 18, 2011
BMJ January 11, 2011; 342:c7086
Paging Dr. Gupta January 13, 2011
So, yeah, my migraine recovery is going fairly well, in the sense that I’ve hardly had any headaches. However, since I’ve been out of the hospital, I have acquired a bad chest cold. I chalk that one up to the havoc wreaked on my immune system by five days of IV steroids, the medical equivalent of robbing Peter to pay Paul. No, it hasn’t been a great week, but, nonetheless, I’ve managed to get some work done and catch up one some reading.
I’ve been happy to spend a few hours with Jennette Fulda and her quirky account of a quest to find relief from a never ending headache. In her latest book, Chocolate & Vicodin, Jennette dots Is and crosses Ts with unparalleled humor that made my own “headache” situation easier to deal with. Having a chronic illness truly sucks, but when you find the balance between acceptance and searching for answers, you have a much better chance of not murdering random healthcare professionals or ending your own life, as Fulda explains so well in the laugh-out-loud page turner.
One of the things I found so life-changing about this memoir is its brutal honesty and revelation of a side of illness that most don’t ever see, even those of us who are in the “chronic” club. I believe that Jennette is extremely gifted as a writer and could likely do stand up comedy, as long as there were no bright lights, smoke, and loud fans to exacerbate her one headache that has now lasted for over three years. With a story like that, you’d think a compassionate person (which I am) would feel sorry for her. Well, I don’t. I admire her. I relate 
to her. I hope she keeps writing great books.
The other thing so intriguing was that she lived in my hometown of Indianapolis (specifically, Broad Ripple) while going through the events depicted in the book. I knew exactly where she was when she described a medical facility or landmark; it made me feel like I was really with her and not just reading about her. It also made me wish that somehow we’d crossed paths at a doctor’s appointment back a couple of years ago. I could have used a kindred spirit around when I realized I probably wasn’t going to find the cure to migraine disease…in this lifetime, anyway.
At the beginning of each chapter she reveals actual comments from fans of her popular blog, Pastaqueen.com, the one that originated during her journey to lose over two hundred pounds. The poignant site has collected not only faithful followers but some really strange opinions about her headache and how to end it. She encountered well-meaning fans telling her everything from she needed to drink more water to she had a saint possessing her. I can completely understand how interesting blogging can be, as well as how disturbing when the comments start coming in. And, strangely, I could easily be one of those overzealous commentators, as I’ve tried some “out there” therapies, including quantum jumping, colon hydrotherapy, and a magnetic mattress, in hopes of winning my own battle with the “tiara of nails,” as Jennette calls it.
Chocolate & Vicodin is a enthusiastic thumbs up for anyone who deals with pain, knows someone who deals with pain, or simple wants to read a memoir that tickles your funny bone. A word of caution to those of you who are more laid back: It’s a fast ride and once you start it, you won’t want to put it down. One other thing…make sure to have some chocolate on hand before you curl up in your favorite reading chair with this one. The power of suggestion works. No, really…you find yourself wishing you had your own private chocolate factory, Oompa-Loompas and all.
Chocolate & Vicodin: My Quest for Relief from the Headache that Wouldn’t Go Away
Be Beautiful-Be Creative-Be Happy!
Jennette Fulda is a freelance web designer, blogger, and the acclaimed author of Half-Assed. Her inspirational weight-loss story has been featured by NBC’s Today, CBS’s The Early Show, The Washington Post, Women’s Health, Shape, Runner’s World, The Globe and Mail, Glamour, Health, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, and the Associated Press. Visit her at JennetteFulda.com.
Strengthening Your Immune System
As with other viruses, it is important to sustain your immune system. You can do it by consuming foods high in vitamin C and antioxidants, such as citrus fruits (orange, lemon, and the like), broccoli, garlic, onion, ginger, and turmeric. You can also eat medicinal mushrooms (maitake, reishi) or take supplements thereof. Elderberry extracts have also been shown to enhance the immune system. However, overdoing the supplements may lead to autoimmune conditions, where the body starts fighting against its own tissues.
Keeping Clean Inside and Out
To decrease changes of getting sick, wash your hands with soap and water; don’t touch your face; stay away from sick people (if possible); get plenty of sleep and take in enough fluids to help the body stay strong. Don’t forget that toxic emotions (including unresolved anger) can predispose to illness, so keep your conscience clean.
What if I Get Sick?
If you feel sick, please stay home if possible and call your doctor if you have severe symptoms, such as high fever, muscle pains, and weakness. You can also do breathing exercises and visualization (imagining your immune cells are fighting the viral invaders and winning the war); these have been shown to increase immunity. Also, see the related article, Vitamin D: A Missing Link in our Health. http://www.womenslifelink.com/vitamin-d-a-missing-link-in-our-health/
Be well.
Dr. Ance Lamse, MD
I recently posted an article on skin cancer awareness and embracing pale skin. Well, today a friend on face book posted a link to information on vitamin D. Because many are shunning the sun, they are unfortunately suffering from a vitamin D deficiency. I, myself, find it difficult to stay in the sun for any length of time without showing signs of burning. This leaves me with the challenge of finding another way to get my share of the important vitamin. For those of you, who do not know what Vitamin D is for, understand that it is both a vitamin and a hormone. It’s a vitamin because your body cannot absorb calcium without it; it’s a hormone because your body manufactures it in response to your skin’s exposure to sunlight.
An Interesting Discovery
I also found the article on Mercola.com interesting because of the claims that vitamin D acts as an antibiotic in the body to fight the flu and colds that almost everyone gets. The article stated that in April 2005, an influenza epidemic swept through the maximum-security hospital for the criminally insane where Dr. John Cannell worked. Despite the intermingling of all the patients, those on his ward that had been taking 2000IU of vitamin D daily did not get sick. He went on to suggest that that is the reason why colds and flu pop up in the winter months when sunlight exposure is limited.
The Possibilities
Epidemic influenza kills roughly a million people every year worldwide, usually by causing pneumonia. And with the recent outbreak of the Swine Flu, this information could be highly useful for everyone. Because the flu vaccine is not 100% effective and does not protect against colds and the respiratory infections that can develop, many are still looking for other ways to guard against the sometimes-serious illnesses.
A Weight Loss Aid?
In addition to the antibiotic properties, I have noticed some correlation between vitamin D and weight loss. After the birth of my daughter last year, I had some baby weight to lose but was having trouble with the last 10 pounds. I figured it was my age and the fact that I wasn’t getting enough exercise. A supplement company I purchased from sent me some information about vitamin D. They insisted that we should be getting much more than the daily 400IU that the FDA had approved. I was interested in doing a little experiment, so I rushed out and purchased a bottle of 1000IU tabs. Along with the 400IU in my prenatal vitamins, I took two of the 1000IU tablets daily for a month, bringing the total to 2400.
It Worked for Me
Because I had also been tired and lacked the energy I needed to exercise, I was hoping that the change in my supplements would help in that area, as well. Almost immediately, I noticed that indeed my energy had perked up. Not only that, after the four weeks, I had lost around ten pounds without changing anything but the vitamin D. I’m not claiming it’s a miracle weight-loss supplement, but I am saying that it helped me recover from childbirth and all of the unpleasant things, like extra weight, that go with it. I’m not sure how this common vitamin helps with fat loss, but I would like to find out. If anyone has info on this, please let me know.
A Guardian in So Many Ways
Not considering that it may have immune system boosting power and a kick-start for your weight loss program, you need it to ensure bone health. Also, some evidence suggests vitamin D may be a defense against an array of more serious illnesses, including many forms of cancer, high blood pressure, depression, and immune-system disorders such as multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and diabetes.
Foods Are Not Enough
You can get vitamin D from milk, fatty fish, and some veggies, but most people get very little through their diets. “It’s a major health problem,” said Michael F. Holick, a Boston University scientist who is the most prominent proponent of the role of vitamin D in health. “Everybody has always associated vitamin D deficiency with rickets in children, and after childhood you don’t have to worry. There’s nothing further from the truth.” In addition to suggesting dietary changes and sun exposure, he is one of many trying to get the daily-recommended amount increased to at least 1000 international units a day. And we all know what debate that is stirring up.
The Controversy
Skin cancer experts are reeling at the notion that people should purposely expose themselves to the sun without protection making them vulnerable to the most common malignancy. In his controversial new book, The UV Advantage, Holick recommends exposing the hands, face, arms, and legs to the sun for five to 15 minutes a day a few days a week. He claims the small amount of exposure will not increase the risk for skin cancer. For most, this is probably fine, but there are the “pasty” few who should be cautious. Just use the common sense approach for this. You know your body’s limitations. Be careful and try to get your vitamin D from other sources. Moms, don’t forget about your children; they are vulnerable to Vitamin deficiencies, as well.
Sources: naturalnews.com, lifescript.com, Health Day News, and Mercola.com; Photo, Everlasting Apple, by Absolutehostility.
Personal Experience
When I was in my early twenties, I had an eating disorder. For the sake of being thin and fitting into a size 4, I would purge after at least two meals a day. Fortunately, I recognized the error in my thinking and confided in my mother what had been going on. She listened and offered to help me in any way. With her support and an abrupt realization of how I was hurting myself, I determined to stop the unhealthy obsession. I was one of the lucky ones who found my way out before it was too late.
The consequences didn’t pass me up altogether, though. It was no coincidence that I suffered from a temporary thyroid imbalance mere weeks after my last purging session. I shared that piece of my history to ensure you that I do have perspective and empathy for those who suffer from poor body image, addictions, and all types of eating disorders.
It Takes a Village
Because image is so prevalent in our society, many women feel the need to have the perfect body, which is defined by the media and Hollywood as a size 6. The funny thing is that most women are above a size 8. This trend can start at a young age; children as young as 5 years old are expressing concern about their appearance, while children as young as 7 have been formally diagnosed with eating disorders. You can easily see the problem.
Inadequacy: A Smoke Screen
When women feel their bodies are inadequate, they tend to want to change things for the better but often lack the proper resources to do so. It could be money, time, health problems, or even fear that keep them from doing the right thing. Instead of turning to a professional or even a family member for help, they take things into their own hands thus causing, in many cases, eating disorders, and addictions. According to the APA Work Group on Eating Disorders, between 0.5% and 3.7% of women suffer from anorexia, and between 1.1% and 4.2% of women suffer from bulimia. That’s too many women out there destroying their lives with something that is supposed to sustain it.
The Reality
Research conducted by the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry suggested that eating disorders are becoming even more of a problem in our modern society. Statistics show that cases of anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating have doubled since the 1960s. While eating disorders were once most common among middle-class, Caucasian women, the condition now affects people in all ethnic and social economic groups. According to statistics from foodaddictionsummit.org, over the last 20 years, obesity rates have dramatically increased in the United States. Of the approximately two thirds of adults in the United States who are overweight; more than half of them-more than 72 million-are considered obese.
The Core of Addiction
An addiction is defined as being abnormally dependent on something that is psychologically or physically habit forming and has an abnormally strong craving (Dictionary.com, 2004). As with any addiction, the problem lies in the root causes that often bury themselves deep within the individual’s emotional make up. It takes more than just wishful thinking to stop the madness that consumes the addict. It is a lifestyle change that requires consistent discipline and courage from the sufferer. Often, professional help may be needed to diagnose underlying conditions, such as, depression, anxiety, and other mental disorders.
The best doctors in the world can’t help any of these problems, however, unless the person is willing to dig deep within themselves for the answers. We can’t definitively say why anyone has food, drug, alcohol, sex or any other addiction; only that humans do things because they get something out of it-the pay off. Whatever the circumstances are behind a person’s addiction, they believe that the result or pay off is worth suffering the consequences for; otherwise, they wouldn’t do what they do.
The Killers
An individual with a food addiction is completely consumed with thoughts of food and is lacking the general concern for their well-being. Life threatening ailments like heart disease, cancer, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, liver damage, and many others are taking more and more lives every day because of this epidemic. Even with the threat to life, these individuals may not have the ability to stop without the proper care and information.
We Must Change
The World Health Organization projects that, by 2015, approximately 2.3 billion adults will be overweight and more than 700 million will be obese. These alarming numbers if not taken seriously will doom an entire generation to poor health and premature death. Thankfully, we are seeing some changes in our society concerning the problem. Schools, businesses, and families are beginning to recognize that we are only going to abort the trend with education and action.
Try the following tips to strengthen the cause against eating disorders and obesity:
- Keep informed about your current state of health; regular doctor visits will keep you in check.
- Do not assume foods are healthy because they say “low fat or no added sugar” on the package.
- Educate your children about food portions and balancing the food groups. If you don’t know what that means, then educate yourself.
- Encourage young girls to focus on things other than their appearance.
- If you notice that you have gained weight, figure out why before it gets out of control.
- Give yourself a maximum weight limit and try to stay under it.
- Pack lunches for the whole family instead of relying on schools and restaurants to supply healthy meals.
- Get more active.
- Get kids involved in sports and outdoor activities.
- Don’t buy it and you won’t eat it.
- Talk openly to a doctor, friend, or family member about your fears and challenges with food.
- To help determine if you have a food addiction, consider the following questions:
1. Do you eat comfort foods to help deal with an emotional issues?
2. Do you fixate on certain foods throughout the day?
3. Do you binge on food either in secret or when alone?
4. Do you clean your plate regardless of how much food there is on it, even when full?
5. Do you eat until you get sick?
6. Do you find yourself eating very quickly so you can eat more?
7. Do you feel guilty after eating too much of the wrong types of food?
8. Do you hide food in the house or car?
9. Do you think about food even when you’re not hungry?
If you suspect that you have a food addiction or are overweight/obese, please seek help from someone you trust.
Statistics taken from the following sources: http://www.foodaddictionsummit.org/epidemic.htm
American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
APA Work Group on Eating Disorders
The World Health Organization
Hamburger photo by, David Franzen. Woman on scale photo by, Genie4today.
Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT)
Not long ago I had an epiphany. I noticed how hormone creams can affect the human body. Let’s go through the definitions first. You may have watched Oprah’s show on bioidentical hormones not too long ago. If you still wonder what the difference is between BHRT (bioidentical hormone replacement therapy) and conventional HRT, bioidenticals are created in the lab to look IDENTICAL to the natural female hormones. Think about a man-made diamond: created in the lab, but the chemical structure is the same. Many hormones resemble in part the female hormones, so they can produce some of the hormonal effects. Some people, however, do not tolerate these well and do better on BHRT.
Alleviating Symptoms
As I was saying, it is amazing how hormonal creams can restore mental clarity; skin moisture, and energy levels to people who suffer of estrogen deficiency; or how progesterone cream can often decrease water retention, irritability, and painful, swollen breasts in people who are deficient. Please note that having any of these symptoms does not automatically mean that you are deficient in hormones; talk to your doctor about it. Many health insurance companies can also offer medical advice in various fields through their websites.
Keeping Everything Balanced
At any rate, hormone creams, when appropriately prescribed, can transform someone’s life. The skin absorbs what you put on it (good or bad). Unfortunately, it is now appearing that more women are “estrogen dominant.” That means that they have too much estrogen, and/or not enough progesterone in which to balance it. Too much estrogen puts one at higher risk for female cancers (breast, uterine); endometriosis; ovarian cysts, and fibroids.
Xenohormones
The problem may not be in the body; it may be outside the body. Have you heard the word “xenoestrogens,” or “xenohormones?” The word “xenos” in Greek means “foreigner.” Foreign hormones; foreign, that is, but in part recognizable by the body as hormones, and they can bind to the hormone receptors in the body and exert UNDESIRABLE hormone effects. Some of the xenohormones are found in plastics, pesticides, industrial waste products, carpeting, furniture, etc. Red meat and dairy with added hormones may cause problems in people who are susceptible to excess estrogens.
The Liver and Hormones
Okay, so we cannot live in a bubble; therefore, choosing “green” cleaning products; avoiding microwaving food in plastics; buying cosmetics without parabens will be helpful (www.cosmeticsdatabase.com). Liver detoxification can be very helpful, in that it helps the liver process the excess hormones and prepares them for elimination. It is therefore important to have at least daily bowel movements, so that the byproducts ready for elimination don’t get reabsorbed. Be careful, though, with liver detox, if you are on any medications, as it may increase or decrease the concentration of medication in your body and put your health at risk. People on birth control pills should also be careful with liver detox, as it can process the hormones more quickly and decrease efficacy of the pill, leading to pregnancy.
One of the wellness books that I strongly recommend is Dr. Woodson Merrell’s The Source: Unleash Your Natural Energy, Power Up Your Health, and Feel 10 Years Younger Be well.
***The content of this post is not intended to replace professional advice from your health care provider. Women’s Life Link, it’s authors, associates, commentators, or linked sites do not claim that any information will diagnose, treat, improve, or cure any disease or condition.
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Photo by Michael Angelo Photography
According to Wikipedia, Fibromyalgia is a condition that primarily causes muscle and connective tissue pain. It goes on to say that sufferers report having widespread symptoms like fatigue, sleep disturbance, joint stiffness, memory problems, bowel and bladder abnormalities, and even difficulty breathing. The “syndrome” as they have come to call it is obviously an extremely complex condition that I have experienced first hand.
The American College of Rheumatology reported in 2004 the following statistics.
• Fibromyalgia affects three to six million – or as many as one-in-fifty Americans.
• It occurs seven times more frequently in women than in men.
• Between 80 and 90 percent of those diagnosed with fibromyalgia are women.
• Women who have a family member with fibromyalgia are more likely to have fibromyalgia themselves.
• Fibromyalgia is the second most common rheumatic ailment after osteoarthritis.
My Story
At age 21, I experienced some bizarre symptoms that had me and several doctors puzzled. In 1988, they had not coined the medical catch phrase of “Fibromyalgia”. They were starting to diagnose Chronic Fatigue Syndrome but seemed to be lost when droves of patients were coming forward with new, debilitating symptoms. My problems were mostly related to joint pain, swelling, and extreme fatigue. The doctor tested me for every known disease and condition that could possibly cause those symptoms in a young woman. I remember even getting a CAT scan, “just in case it’s a brain tumor,” they said. I was left extremely angry when after months and a whole lot of money I still had no diagnosis.
Much later, I discovered that I was not the only one who had been pushed aside with strange symptoms. I began to do research at the library and on the internet and found many articles that surprisingly stated reports of the same type of undiagnosed problems I was having. Fortunately, I did not give up on finding out what was wreaking havoc on my system. I knew there was an answer. The symptoms became more defined and much more frequent after the birth of my fifth child in 1997. It was then that I finally got a diagnosis from my Primary Care Physician.
The Diagnosis
She did a series of pressure point tests on my body and listened as I spilled the litany of symptoms one more time. The conclusion was obvious to her, “You have Fibromyalgia,” she said. I had heard the word before but didn’t know anything specific about it. My doctor prescribed an anti-depressant and a muscle relaxer; the typical protocol in 1997 for the newly named disease. The drugs only made me too loopy to drive, exercise, or do half of my daily activities. Back to the drawing board.
Real Help
It wasn’t until a friend, who just so happened to be fluent in alternative medicine, gave me a lecture on the body’s need for good nutrition, water, and cleansing that I started to realize that maybe I could overcome the horrible condition that had me feeling like a ninety-year-old woman. I can still remember waking up and limping to the bathroom with curled, stiff fingers and aching joints. First, I started on some whole food vitamins and enzymes, the beginning of my recovery. He also referred me to a Chiropractor who did a complete exam of my spine and body systems. The discovery of a twisted atlas (the first cervical bone closest to the base of the skull) revealed one reason that my body could not heal a lot of what was going on. The bone had been putting pressure on my brain stem and caused at least a dozen unwanted symptoms; including, headaches, fatigue, nausea, brain fog, all of which can be experienced with Fibromyalgia. Interesting, huh?
The Culprits
After the adjustment of my neck, I felt like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders, literally. My friend continued to counsel me through my recovery, health coaching before it was popular. I needed to understand how the body worked. He explained the importance of lymphatic health. That was the first I’d heard of that. I knew I had something called lymph glands that hurt when I had mono years before, but I didn’t really understand the incredible responsibility that they carried. Fortunately, today, it’s not hard to find information on the ignored body system.
Professional Opinions
John Ossipinsky, author of An Undetected Acid-Alkaline Imbalance states, “You see, the lymphatic system is responsible for maintaining the health of your cells that make up everything in your skin, muscles, bones, organs, spinal cord, nerves, and brain. When your body becomes out of balance and acidic, the lymphatic system, a sewage treatment plant for your body can’t function to clean your body and it fills with acid waste, proteins, toxins and other waste.” If the lymph system is hindered in any way, the body becomes a breeding ground for disease.
Dr. Paul Yanick says, “The lymphatic system is the most forgotten and neglected system of the entire body. It is composed of a network of thin tubes that branch, like blood vessels. These lymphatic capillaries carry lymph fluid into tissues throughout the body. Lymph fluid is loaded with infection-fighting cells called lymphocytes that originate from clusters of bean-shaped organs called lymph nodes, which are found under the arms and in the groin, neck, chest, and abdomen. Lymphatic organs include the spleen, thymus, tonsils, and bone marrow.
The neglect of our lymphatic system isn’t just causing autoimmune disorders like Fibro and CFS but holds the key to other more life-threatening diseases as stated in an article entitled “Unlocking the Drains” in a 2005 issue of Nature (436:28). “After centuries of playing second fiddle to the blood system, our lymphatic circulation is coming into its own as a key player in diseases ranging from cancer to asthma. Once dismissed as a mere drainage network, the body’s ‘second circulation’ [lymphatic system] is emerging as a crucial player in numerous diseases….and as a vital part of the normal immune system.”
Lifestyle Changes
When I discovered the “Fibromyalgia” card I had been handed was 
a result of something that I’d been doing wrong, I was elated. It meant that it wasn’t an untreatable condition, a sentence of chronic pain, or even a long-term deal if I was willing to do the work to reverse my mistakes. It took me a good part of a year to overcome most of my symptoms. Honestly, it was worth every minute and every dollar to rid my body of the invasive toxins that hindered me.
Today, eleven years later, I am still free of the debilitating symptoms. My discovery of alternative medicine and therapies changed my life forever. I do have to be careful, though; my body does remain sensitive to some degree. It wouldn’t take much to push me back into the pattern of ill health. I’m not perfect in my diet, exercise, or stress reduction, but I do pay attention to what my body is saying now. I still suffer from migraine headaches though. (See the article in this section Why Are So Many Women Getting Migraines?). That is my current health concern and one that I am willing to go to the ends of the earth to overcome.
How I Did It
Below, I have put together a synopsis of the treatment, therapy, and supplement protocol I did to conquer the Fibromyalgia. Keep in mind, my health protocol took place over a one year period and some of the therapies are still a part of my daily health practices. This article should not be a replacement for professional advice from your health care provider. I make no claims that any information in this article will cure you of any condition or disease. I offer my personal account as a Fibromyalgia sufferer as encouragement only and should be taken as such. Please contact me if you need additional information about my experience.
A Health Protocol
- A proper balance of whole grains, proteins, carbs, and fats. (Lots of raw veggies and juicing).
- Quality whole food vitamin supplements like Standard Process or Metagenics. (Ask a naturopathic physician for advice on which ones would suit your specific needs).
- Digestive enzymes to aid in breaking down foods that are not raw. (Again, ask a professional for recommendations).
- A urinalysis to determine the body’s levels of vitamins and minerals. (See the Links section for a contact).
- Supplementation with quality products as needed.
- Colon Hydrotherapy (I initially did 10 sessions and then maintenance after that).
- Magnetic mattress
- Chiropractic care (This needs to be an ongoing therapy).
- Cranial Sacral work
- Massage Therapy
- Body Reflexology
- Pure, spring water (Reverse Osmosis is the best).
- Skin brushing (Aids in lymphatic drainage).
- Jumping on a rebounder (Aids in lymphatic drainage).
- Regular exercise (I did whatever I could do).
- Stress reduction (Meditation, prayer, yoga, whatever works).
- Super food (These are available in most health food stores).
- Health diary (Keeping track of pain and symptoms helps determine what is working and what is not).
As a Migraine sufferer, I’ve been asking this question for years. After experiencing countless medications, therapies, tests, hospitalizations, and supplements, I still don’t claim to have the complete answer; I do have some interesting ideas to share with you though. First, anything I say here is strictly suggestive information and is not to replace the professional advice of your health care provider. Be responsible and do the research for yourself.
Migraine statistics: How many?
According to the WebMD site, “Over a lifetime, only 1% of us escape headaches altogether. Over a year, it is estimated that 90% of the population get at least one headache. About 16-17% of the population get a migraine headache sometime in their life – that means over a billion people worldwide at some point get migraine. The World Health Organization estimated in 2003 that 303 million people worldwide were migraine sufferers. A 2004 article suggested that there are almost 20 million migraine attacks happening every day.”
Another recent study showed that migraine attacks have increased by 60% since the 80′s. This is an astounding number that definitely suggests that it might be something that we are doing or are exposed to that we weren’t in the past. This statistic is most likely inaccurate because migraine diagnoses is much lower than the number of people who suffer. Many never seek medical help or simply write off the attacks as sinus headaches.
Migraine statistics: Who?
Factually, 25% of women suffer from migraine, a large difference from the 8% of men who get migraine headaches sometime in their lifetime. Though most suffer migraine between the ages of 25 and 50, some get their first headache before the age of 15. Interestingly, my entire family has experienced some form of migraine before the age of 10. This isn’t a surprise; according to the KidsHealth.org, “up to 10% of children between 5 and 15 may experience migraine. Before puberty, girls and boys are almost equal in the migraines they suffer, possibly due to the estrogen changes that women go through at various stages in life. About 70% have some other close (first degree) relative with migraine.”
Women and Stress
Obviously, we are made differently than our testosterone-filled counterparts. Naturally more sensitive, we feel everything. We have a tendency to internalize problems and conflicts, forgetting to nurture ourselves as we do our families. In addition, many women deal with far more stress than men do. With children, careers, elderly parents, and households to run, life has filled our days with mind-blowing responsibility. Even young girls can carry more concern for their grades, popularity, and appearance than boys of their same age do.
Women and Societal Changes
I have also often wondered if our sensitivities and hormonal differences are causing us to respond to societal changes, technology, and food additives differently than men do. Think about all the new things that have bombarded our air, food, and water. Take cellular phones for instance, how many people do you know that don’t own one? I know, when I am on the phone for an extended period, I get a headache. There are products out there that are supposed to combat the EMF (Electro-magnetic Fields) that these devices omit. Are we hurting ourselves when we gab? Are women simply talking on the phone more than men are? Likely.
Women and Weight
Another culprit could possibly be our obsession with weight. Inappropriate diets, pills, energy drinks, caffeine, skipping meals, and overzealous workouts are becoming the norm for millions of women worldwide. Instead of learning how to eat naturally healthy foods in the right portions, we are seeking out these damaging alternatives. Any one of those things could cause ongoing migraine problems. We must find a way to balance this important area of our lives in order to obtain true health and lesson the likelihood of getting migraine.
Migraine and Hormones
About 50% of women report that their periods trigger migraine episodes. If hormonal changes during our monthly cycles truly cause headaches than that alone could be the main reason that more women get migraine. However, I don’t believe that we have to have such drastic fluctuations. Products like progesterone creams, wild yam supplements, and estrogen balancing formulas are all natural remedies that can help you stay hormonally healthy. If you have been diagnosed with PMDD, you may also have more severe symptoms during your menses. Talk to your doctor about treatment options.
Migraine and Personal Products
Think about all the products that women use on a daily basis. You’ve got face creams, deodorant, hair spray, make-up, shampoo, conditioner, nail polish, etc., most of which are toxic to us on a biological level. We use these “necessary” items without thought to the possible threat they pose to our health. We can be proactive in changing this problem for good.
Seek out organic cosmetics and hair products as alternatives to your current lines. Try Aveda, Origins, Burt’s Bees, Grass Roots, Purology, Jason; all of these are affordable and available at either salons, health food stores, or your local department store. Next time you visit your hair salon, ask you stylist to recommend organic hair-care products. It may not solve the migraine problem completely, but it can’t hurt.
Migraine Dos and Don’ts
- Don’t wait too long to treat a headache. Migraine can actually cause an increase of neurological pain pathways when left untreated.
- Don’t start or stop any migraine treatment protocols without discussing it with your doctor first.
- Do learn about alternatives to mainstream medications; such as, Biofeedback, Magnetic Therapy, Chiropractic, Cranial Sacral work, Massage Therapy, Colon Hydrotherapy, organ detoxifying, EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique), and Brain Entrainment.
- Don’t be afraid to try new medications. Even if you have had no success with past meds, keep an open mind about new treatments.
- Do stick with what works for you. It takes some years to figure out what meds, combination of meds, natural therapies, and other remedies nix their pain and migraine symptoms.
- Don’t assume that those around you understand what you are going through. Take the time to educate them about migraine.
- Don’t give up on finding a cure for your migraine. It could be as simple as an allergy.
- Do seek out others who suffer from migraine. The support and understanding is invaluable.
- Do keep a diary to learn which foods and activities cause your headaches.