tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7924439865196022375.post1389653955561895559..comments2024-03-28T03:16:58.351-04:00Comments on A Matter of Life and Breath: Alternative Medicine Blogger ChallengePiperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01992462169607238118noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7924439865196022375.post-35223080782021642302010-07-28T00:06:31.151-04:002010-07-28T00:06:31.151-04:00Interesting and informative blog you have here Pip...Interesting and informative blog you have here Piper, and I know this is an old entry, but I am interested in this topic. I definitely feel the best form of health care is staying in tune with your body; being aware of all things going into your body. But through a combination of alternative medicine and traditional medicine together, I feel that you can keep your engine running smoothly. While I do think that natural remedies can be tremendously effective if utilized smartly, but surely not one to the exclusion of the other. Meaning don’t expect the world by only using natural remedies and discounting traditional medicine, and vice versa.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7924439865196022375.post-40282908941633126672010-04-05T19:56:19.148-04:002010-04-05T19:56:19.148-04:00Disabled or very ill people appreciate the help fr...Disabled or very ill people appreciate the help friends and loved ones provide. Getting suitable equipment and medical supplies can mean the difference between life and death in some cases. Friends and relatives can assist persons with urological problems getting things like latex gloves, catheter holders, or other urology supplies. However, a Certified Nursing Assistant might be needed to deliver and set up other kinds of medical equipment and medical supplies such as an apogee catheter or <a title="SportAid.com apogee intermittent catheter" href="http://sportaid.com/_search.php?page=1&q=apogee+intermittent+catheter" rel="nofollow">apogee intermittent catheter</a>. Before the nurse leaves, find out how to help with cleaning the patient's skin and catheter to ensure that the patient receives quality care at all times.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7924439865196022375.post-84787528681353386092009-10-22T08:30:57.062-04:002009-10-22T08:30:57.062-04:00Jdemott - Just a quick answer here - you can find ...Jdemott - Just a quick answer here - you can find me at CF2Chat. Piper, please excuse me for hijacking your blog comments. I caught a nontuberculosis mycobacterial (MAC) infection in '06 which I've been battling since. My dx was via full genetic testing. My sweat tests were 'borderline' and in the early 80s the docs all said no, couldn't be CF since I didn't have the pancreatic involvement. Get yourself tested with a full genetic sequencing done by Ambry genetics. Screening panels only look for the ~100 common mutations and there are over 4000 known mutations. ~JulietJuliet Pagenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7924439865196022375.post-90510799015683286812009-10-20T18:30:01.985-04:002009-10-20T18:30:01.985-04:00Interesting discussion! I will answer the question...Interesting discussion! I will answer the questions on my blog too.Sandyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10105429028255861396noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7924439865196022375.post-8429718397368035312009-10-17T19:21:08.949-04:002009-10-17T19:21:08.949-04:00Juliet -
Diagnosed at 43. Interesting. I'm c...Juliet - <br /><br />Diagnosed at 43. Interesting. I'm curious to learn more of your story. <br /><br />I'm 41. I have a long history of allergies, sinus infections, periodic bronchitis and horrible digestion dysfunction for decades. <br /><br />When my son was diagnosed, and we learned about CF, I started to wonder if my issues could be related somehow. I wondered if I might have a mild form that was never serious enough to get diangnosed.<br /><br />More than anything, I wondered if having the CF gene as a carrier could lead to my symptoms (such as my apparent inability to process high fat foods) and whether that might suggest any direction for my own treatment. <br /><br />The folks at the CF clinic that my son goes to looked at me like I was crazy when I asked if there was a chance I could have CF-related problems going on. I think their main point was that I have four kids and males with CF are nearly 100% not able to reproduce. <br /><br />Who knows? The medical professionals (at least three MDs) I mentioned this to seemed unimpressed with my suggestion. And, I was never tested. So, I turned to alternative medicine and actually got much better.<br /><br />So, I am curious... if you were healthy enough to go undiagnosed until 43, what led to the diagnosis? And, what does it mean for your health and treatment? If you're willing to share, you can get to my email address by clicking on my name.jdemotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14916934493461002586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7924439865196022375.post-74405717058283845812009-10-17T19:19:06.605-04:002009-10-17T19:19:06.605-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.jdemotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14916934493461002586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7924439865196022375.post-30330145430213680342009-10-17T19:04:27.491-04:002009-10-17T19:04:27.491-04:00Fiend:
In my experience doctors do not have all t...Fiend:<br /><br />In my experience doctors do not have all the answers. And, in facing my own health challenges, I saw my MD a dozen times, and a couple of specialists for exams, numerous tests and so forth. I got nowhere. But, alternative medicine helped me. So, I know there is something to it, and I wonder what it could for my CF child.<br /><br />That said, I understand your points. I have already talked to the pulmonologist about what I am thinking of, and I have told her about the herbal supplements I have tried. Also, I understand the drug interaction issue. The acupuncturist that I see, who is the one I would take my child to, is also a pharmacist (her former career, and she maintains her license, as she owns a pharmacy that her dad started). <br /><br />I do not intend to go crazy and throw out the baby with the bathwater so to speak. But, I hope to find ways to give my child the best fighting chance of staying as healthy as he can as long as possible. Of course, I have no magic plan for this. Lots to think about though.jdemotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14916934493461002586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7924439865196022375.post-46648908499848341152009-10-17T13:37:30.041-04:002009-10-17T13:37:30.041-04:00Love this. I"ll post my answers over at my bl...Love this. I"ll post my answers over at my blog too.<br /><br />http://cowbella.wordpress.com/CowTownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15756130935907522719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7924439865196022375.post-74010206437660105572009-10-17T12:40:08.824-04:002009-10-17T12:40:08.824-04:00Since I don't have a blog, I'll answer her...Since I don't have a blog, I'll answer here. :)<br /><br />1) What are your thoughts on "alternative" forms of medicine?<br /><br />I think that Western Medicine can learn a lot from other forms of medicine, some of which have been around a lot longer. I'm receptive to some of these alternative approaches I just don't know where or how to begin! I think that there is a lot more to well being than just the clinical approach, which in my mind is where 'regular' docs seem to focus. The onus is on us as individuals to seek out these other forms of medicine. <br /><br /><br />2) Have you personally ever tried any of techniques to manage your CF (or your child's) other than the typically prescribed routine? If so, what did you think of them? Are you still doing them?<br /><br />Not yet, (unless you consider chiropractic care as alternative medicine) but I'm intrigued by the concept and hope to explore it some. My chiropracter (once a month) really helps with my core - the muscles and spine alignment, especially my upper back - tend to get stressed from all the coughing. I find that can really help loosen up things mechanically (flexibility etc.) and improve my musculature mobility, thereby allowing me to cough more productively and get better airway clearance. You know how sometimes you can twist or breathe differently and cough differently to get crud moving in various lobes depending on where you feel the tickle or plug? Well, when my muscles and back are all cramped up it's harder to move the crud around.<br /><br />3) What does "healing" mean to you in the context of cystic fibrosis.<br /><br />For me "healing" is a psychological issue, not a physical one. My ratty lungs aren't going to 'heal' in the sense that a paper cut heals, but I do feel that since our brains are driving the rest of the system our mental state does impact tremendously what's going on inside our bodies, physically and chemically. <br /><br />I was diagnosed with CF in early 2008 at age 43, so I'm still coming to grips with the whole CF mortality issue. I'm not at the point where I'm really accepting CF yet... Not sure anyone really ever is but I still think that not having grown up with the CF baggage, my interpretation of healing is likely rather different from someone who knew about CF from a young age. <br /><br />There's also coming to grips with the whole overachiever thing... or more accurately not being able to do it all anymore. (Which not only sucks, but is also incredibly frustrating!!) And I look at healing as finding a balance between the various aspects of my life, time with family, work, play etc... <br /><br />Let's just say that the healing path is a work in progress...<br /><br />Thanks Piper! ~JulietJuliet Pagenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7924439865196022375.post-9153936277213591792009-10-15T17:09:41.534-04:002009-10-15T17:09:41.534-04:00I do have a number of experiences with alternative...I do have a number of experiences with alternative medicine, but I'm not going to go into them right now. What I wanted to say to the original poster was this: I personally believe that the best way to explore alternative therapies is with the assistance of a CF doctor. Obviously not all CF docs are willing to do this so it may take some searching to find one willing, but I think the effort would be well worth it.<br /><br />My CF-Doc's feelings are that if you are doing everything traditional, and are not happy or are still looking for more - then seek out alternative treatments on top of this. My biggest concern with adding ANYTHING to my body (supplements, herbs, etc.) is that they would somehow interact with the other stuff I'm already on. So I run everything by my CF doctor.<br /><br />I have also been known to ask doctors to research alternative treatments for me. There is a lot available on the internet, but I like hearing what they find as well.<br /><br />Also, if I was a parent of a child with CF, I would be very careful with all of this stuff. Childrens' bodies are much different - things can effect them a lot more - so I would definitely want to have my child's CF-doctor's blessing.<br /><br />Oh, and as for your question about healing, Piper...I think you (and all cystics!) should read Sick Girl Speaks, if you haven't already. I've just finished it and it has definitely changed my life...I'm so glad that book was written.environmental fiendhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02466086553519433467noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7924439865196022375.post-2506569029996749832009-10-15T08:25:00.268-04:002009-10-15T08:25:00.268-04:00I'll post the questions/answers over at la vie...I'll post the questions/answers over at la vie cystique!!Shannonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13206878577572069862noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7924439865196022375.post-66468094154613778792009-10-14T20:37:19.313-04:002009-10-14T20:37:19.313-04:00I look forward to reading the responses from your ...I look forward to reading the responses from your other readers. Again, I'm glad I found your blog.jdemotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14916934493461002586noreply@blogger.com