Holiday Illness

Ever notice how many people on or near the Holidays become ill? Is this a coincidence? I think not!

I believe the lack of vitamin D (from less daylight) and the foods we consume in the Winter and on Holidays are the culprit. We think we can have a piece of pie knowing it's an allergen or harmful (especially to people with an illness) and yet we eat it anyway because we don't want to insult the host and/or because we think, "One piece can't hurt."

The Holidays often bring about the thoughts of yummy foods and we want to eat what every one else is enjoying.

This notion is false. When we eat foods we aren't suppose to or consume too much sugar it's toxic to our bodies. Heck any sugar is toxic and causes inflammation - even in a healthy body.

How do we remedy this?

First deal with the inflammation - drink water with lemon (simple and most affordable way to treat inflammation).

Secondly the sugar causes an overgrowth of candida in our system. To treat this consume black walnut hulls (found at a vitamin store) and take grapefruit seed extract.

To speed the process of removing the candida overgrowth and reducing inflammation hit the gym, exercise, do yoga, stretch, walk and get your heart rate up (in addition take a vitamin D supplement or get sunlight).

Your mind will become more clear after removing the candida overgrowth and pain will subside after treating inflammation.

Next Holiday season offer to bring a dessert and or dishes that are healthier for you to consume to avoid this problem. 

Rant about the world

I don't know what bothers me more - the unseen pain and torture people face with disease or watching ppl innocently eat and live in society until they are diseased. How doesn't our society know what foods are poisonous and should be avoided? Or do we know and boldly eat and welcome the circumstances (thinking this won't happen to me). As a victim of such tragedy in the US I hate it - though I question would I have stopped if I never became ill? I notify my family of such chronic conditions and possible injuries which could plague their bodies from such toxic foods but they laugh off my knowledge even when I show them logical information proving I am right.

How loud should I scream, what must I say, how do I prove the pain behind what lies behind the pharmacist counters, on our grocery shelves and in our vitamin stores? Why don't we question where things come from? Why are we becoming sick and why are there no cures, yet there's a new iPhone ready for purchase before 2 years?

Things like aloe, medical marijuana, rain water, raw milk, etc. are illegal in our country? Why? What are they trying to stop us from doing? Naturally curing ourselves with our unwanted side effects? Should we seek out a medical professional for testing, drugs and advice? What does this provide? Round about ideas to help soothe our minds including antidepressants therapists and pain relievers yet no cure. I too fell victim to this state.

BUT I AM NOW AWAKE

The more studies I read the more I become confused - I always listen to my body (my one true doctor for advice).

There are numerous atrocities in the world but why does this one bother me more than anything else? Because I suffered for years and followed Eastern medicine and was a prisoner in my own home, a prisoner to drugs the doctors and their teachings and so are numerous of others like me. Who would think that by going to a doctor would I be tortured?

Who is to blame for all of this?

Is it not I? Or we? And why do we still ignore what we know or do we not know or do we not believe? Why aren't those who know acting - or are they - but no one is listening?

Look at my body (my scars can't lie), my medical records, my documented list of 14 daily medications I use to take and the stem cell transplant I went through.

Nothing helped me more than stopping the medications, not seeing the doctors, seeking out alternative remedies, remaining positive and staying physically active.

The Iron Face

I am almost half way through this semester . . . it has gone by way too fast. I have been forced to take numerous days off and stay inside because of the polar vortex and the lack of proper snow removal in Kingston. In between the insane weather conditions and dealing with the flu I have been constructing steel boots in the sculpture department. What I thought would be an ordinary task has been anything but that . . . because the departments at SUNY New Paltz are divided and we cannot use other tools, equipment, or ask other professors opinions outside of our department. This has left me in the dark, so to say, with forging steel boots with an oxy-acetylene torch, MIG, plasma cutter, needle nose, a vise, and a tool I fabricated. The process has been long and torturous. I began with half inch thick steel plates to create the sole of the boot, cutting it with an ancient plasma cutter (designed to cut steel 1/4 inch thick) into the approximate size I would need . . . this process took an entire day. I then welded the two pieces of half inch steel together, so the base of the boot would become one inch thick. At this point I decided I should make a prototype from paper mache to see how big I would want it, as well as the shape I desired.

I took the cardboard sole from the prototype and traced it onto the steel. I then began the most labor intensive part of the process, cutting the sole with equipment that couldn't get through the one inch thick steel. After spending a grueling 12 hours on cutting out the soles I was tempted to give up. My body ached, I was filthy, it looked like shit, and I began to wonder if I could even manage to create this piece with the equipment available.

To add to this conundrum, my left leg went numb, my stomach has been bloated and tender and my digestive track wasn't working. Every night I came home from school I have been researching possible causes and solutions to my digestive issue, as well as ordering herbs looking for a natural remedy. I was frightened my multiple sclerosis was on the verge of flaring up and I was entering a relapse because of the neuropathy!

Over the course of two months, I have changed my diet multiple times, tried cleanses, tonics, herbs, liquid diets and fasting . . . everything has only provided temporary relief and has not resolved the problem. I began feeling malnourished, exhausted and realized I needed outside expertise to resolve my medical condition.

My passive aggressive default nature presented itself and I began fighting my problems from all different fronts . . .

I scheduled an appointment with doctor who I saw today.

I then decided to ask the tech (Steve who fixes the equipment in our department) if he had any ideas as to how I could cut the soles of the boots other than the methods I was using. He saw what was happening with the plasma cutter . . . it would begin cutting into the metal, turn into liquid and re-attach itself back onto the metal I was cutting causing ragged edges. He changed the blade on the band saw . . . and . . . voila . . . problem resolved! The cutting began going smoother, less labor intensive, still slow but much more smooth . . . I hugged him I was so grateful.

This week I have almost finished the toe section of the boots, which is the second hardest task in the creation of this art piece. I am finally feeling I can conquer this bitch of an art project and I am getting excited.

I am also happy to report that my leg today has become less numb (hooray) and the feeling is returning.

BUT

my digestive system is still malfunctioning. The doctor has ordered numerous tests and is conferring with the new doctor at his practice - an herbal MD. Unfortunately some of the news they broke to me today has revealed I may have yet another medical condition. Depending on the results of the tests they are performing they will let me know if they think it's necessary I receive a colonoscopy to see if I have diverticulitis or crohn's disease.

When I left the office tears were pooling into my eyes and I could barely breath . . . my hands were trembling and my feet fell numb. I wanted to scream, cry, call someone up, but instead I got into my car and drove away fighting the tears back as I drove home.

I said to myself, "Come on, your stronger than this, you can get through this, there's always alternatives, herbs and remedies . . . this is just another obstacle to overcome and grow from, just don't give up . . . don't give in."

It has been several hours since the doctor's visit and I feel unable to describe my emotions because I am so use to putting on an 'iron face' and revealing no emotion because I don't want to appear depressed or bring other people around me down . . . because I am the woman of steel who surpasses all obstacles and besides I have God and with Him all things are possible.

Below are photos of the steel boots in progress

Previous related post: Artist Statement

Previous post: How I Defeated Multiple Sclerosis

How to Help Pain and Stress Naturally

When our day begins and we wake up in pain, it is very depressing and stressful. We tend to focus on what is "hurting" rather than detach ourselves from the affliction.

The latest research has found a direct link between stress and new lesion formation (link to article).

The source of our malady doesn't matter... regardless of mental, or physical pain, there's always a way to work through it.

I've got a torn rotator cuff, two protruding discs at L4 and L5, suffered with MS for years, have had 3 knee surgeries, my gall bladder removed, and two brain surgeries due to trigeminal neuralgia (the most painful affliction in the world).

I know pain...it's hard, and worse, it is depressing.

The worst thing to do, is to sit around and do nothing, and let the pain and depression consume you.

I keep moving and working, always doing something to keep my mind away from pain.

I'm not saying to ignore a medical issue that needs treatment. Rather I'm saying, if you're like me...and suffer with pain, it's best to keep your mind off and away from it because it causes stress on your whole body.

Here's a link about how pain and stress are closely related.

I stay positive, and I am always looking for things to do. For example, I'm always listening to music, writing, spending time with loved ones, weight lifting, shopping for healthy food, reading, and creating. The Fall semester for college begins in less than a week...I can't wait to get into the studio and start sculpting. I'm also taking a 400 level English course, with a focus on writing.

Once my mind stops focusing, I find the pain...and feel miserable.

I feel most relaxed when I'm creating. I enter this "zone," and get so into what I'm doing that the rest of the world disappears.

It can be hard to create when my pain is awful, but all I have to do is start to create and I accidentally fall into my "zone" and the pain disappears.

You may not be creative and that's fine...find a hobby, spend time with a friend, meditate, pray, create a scrapbook, listen to/play music, play cards, board games, sing, dance, exercise, cook, read, write, stretch, etc. It doesn't matter what healthy activity you do, as long as your whole mind is immersed in it.

When your lost deep in thought, your body relaxes, stress lifts, and pain goes away.

Find your "zone," where your world, and your pain, melts away.

Related previous posts of mine, How to Fight Depression Naturally
                                                  How Exercise Fights MS
                                                 How I Defeated Multiple Sclerosis

Resolving the Battle of Exhaustion

I have been completely exhausted lately, so tired I couldn't do anything but sleep. I literally felt like a "limp noodle." However, as of this afternoon...I feel ten times better!

When I was doing a lot of research about hypothyroidism, I read about adrenal fatigue.

I've always been one of those people who is driven and full of determination when I tackle any task. Although this is a great personality trait for getting something accomplished, it has begun to harm my body.

When your body is always stressed out it can cause an adrenal insufficiency, or worse, an adrenal crisis.

The adrenal glands are bean sized glands, located at the top of your kidneys. These small glands are responsible for producing: cortisone, aldosterone, androgenous hormones, and catecholamines (adrenaline and non-adrenaline hormones).

Adrenal glands can be damaged through a poor diet, stress, medication (corticosteroids), lack of ACTH from the pituitary gland, infection, untreated hypothyroidism, toxins (soy, hormones, birth control pills), low iodine intake and excessive caffeine consumption.

I'm not sure what exactly has caused my adrenal problem...could of been a mixture of the above causes. My primary suspects are untreated hypothyroidism, years of corticosteroids and stress. I seem to do too much and need to learn how to relax more often.

How did I resolve this adrenal fatigue? My boyfriend literally dragged me off the floor and we went to Health Hut in Delmar, NY, and purchased Solaray Adrenal Caps. I can't believe this remedy was under $10 and made me feel 100% better!

I must warn you though, if you do not have adrenal fatigue or insufficiency and you take this, you may feel jittery and hyper or you may stress out your adrenal glands and cause an adrenal crisis, which can be life threatening. There is bovine in these caplets, which is freeze dried adrenals from an animal, which is to be only used in more serious cases of adrenal fatigue.

Safer remedies are ginseng, melatonin, licorice root, ginger root, yoga, healthy diet, exercise, laughing, meditation, vitamin B, vitamin C, zinc, selenium, sea salt, magnesium, 5-HTP, Valerian root, l-tyrosine, and minimizing stress.

I take most of the supplements and vitamins listed above, exercise and have a nutritious diet, but I have hypothyroidism which is being treated with bovine and according to my recent blood work this is not enough. However, I did just recently order a safe desiccated thyroid online called Thyroid-S, which is much more effective.

I also highly recommend the website and the book, Stop the Thyroid Madness. The information they provide I found to be most the helpful. The website not only discusses every type of hypothyroidism, but also discusses adrenal fatigue. There are types of self exams you can perform, as well as blood work, which can be done from your home. There is a lot of information on this website and it is time consuming, but I found the resolution to my problem.

Before I took these adrenal caps, I felt weak, was extremely tired and anxious, had cold hands and feet, my lower back ached, my legs felt heavy, I had trouble falling and staying asleep, and had low blood pressure. These are many of the symptoms associated with adrenal fatigue.

I thought it was strange to fight fatigue with supplements which relax your body...but it seems your body needs to learn how to relax in order to produce the proper hormones.

I also recently learned that low progesterone and high estrogen levels are usually caused by adrenal insufficiency. These glands are responsible for the production of androgenous hormones, such as progesterone. This means the yam cream I've been using, is useless!

Doing things healthier and natural...isn't easy but it's better for your body. I know trial and error can be aggravating when the resolution isn't so clear. It took me a bit to resolve this problem, but I have. Find what works for you! 

I can't wait until I get Thyroid-S...I can't imagine how great I'm going to feel!

I've had an awesome day! I'm feeling better, writing on my blog and attending college in another week.

Yay!

Life is good...thank you God.

Read a previous post titled, Hypothyroidism and Battling Your Weight

How I Defeated Multiple Sclerosis

How to Defeat Multiple Sclerosis Without Disease Modifying Drugs

Disease modifying therapies, which contain interferon, have been widely used to treat multiple sclerosis. However, recent studies have scientifically proven that they do not lessen disability. So what does that mean about the other treatments that are available? Are they safe and effective? What are they doing to your body when you take them?

I am disappointed with the scientific field, for producing false hope in individuals with MS. The disease modifying drugs which contain Betaseron have been used since 1993 and are now known to not prevent disability. So people have been using these drugs for about 20 years and are only now becoming aware of the fact they may not work? That just pisses me off.

Here's a link about interferon based drugs being ineffective against disability.

I remember trying Avonex and the flu like symptoms that came with it were unbelievable. My body obviously knew to reject it. I only took it for a few weeks because I had 2 relapses while I was on it.

Shortly thereafter, I tried Rebif...I was told the side effects were more tolerable, and they were...I used it for almost 7 weeks. During that time I had 3 relapses. I turned to my neurologist Dr. Lava while I was in the hospital and said, "The Rebif is making me sicker isn't it?"

"It appears it is making you worse," he replied.

I never tried Tysarbi because the rebound effect frightened me. I was relapsing often, and I was scared that if I went on Tysarbi and then had to stop taking it, I could get sicker. The thought of developing more lesions when I already had about 30, scared the shit out of me. What could those lesions do to me? To be honest I wasn't scared of the PML. I wanted the MS symptoms to stop and when this drug first came out there was no information about the JC virus. I figured if I died from PML I wouldn't suffer anymore. However the fear of suffering the rebound effect was enough to make me never try it.

I had used Copaxone for years and I must admit...I felt as though it did help. After years of taking it, I couldn't handle the side effects any longer. I got sick of injecting myself, the welts were horrible, the cost of the drug is astronomical, the side effects felt terrible and I was still getting relapses.

Medical research has shown Copaxone has medical benefits in slowing down the number of relapses for MS, but they don't understand why.

Did you know the main ingredients in Copaxone are 4 amino acids? They are: glutamic acid, lysine, alanine and tyrosine.

Why inject yourself with an over priced drug with severe side effects, when you can buy these amino acids at most vitamin stores or online, take them orally, save money, and most importantly be safe and feel good? This is why I advocate protein in forms of chicken and whey, and have suggested taking amino acids in previous post titled, A Secret to Defeating MS.

You must be thinking why didn't my doctor, who I trust, tell me this?

He didn't tell you this because he went to medical college for Western medicine. He is not an Eastern medicine doctor which studied homoeopathic remedies in college. In fact, he can't tell you this without risking a lawsuit because his insurance only protects him from the school of thought he got a degree in.

I recently saw my gynecologist because my periods have been irregular and I wanted to make sure everything was okay with my lady parts. He tried to prescribe my progesterone. I said, "I told you doctor I will only use natural remedies. I will start eating yams and use a natural cream made from yams, but I will not take your prescription."

He replied, "I am not licensed to prescribe a natural remedy, my insurance won't protect me."

I thanked him for his honesty and realized that the next time I need a doctor I will seek out a homeopathic one.

In my post yesterday (Latest Research has "Cured" Mice from MS) I discussed the newest scientific research which indicates that beta-amyloid cells are responsible for "curing" mice with MS. There is a connection between glutamine (glutamic acid) and beta amyloid cells. Here's a link which discusses this connection.

So your probably wondering why Copaxone has such severe side effects?

Most side effects are caused by a glutamine overdose or an allergy to glutamine. It depends on the side effect you are experiencing...you could even be having an allergic reaction to the inactive ingredient Mannitol.

How can you avoid these painful injections and unwanted side effects?

Take glutamine, which is the what glutamaic acid is derived from. If you take the glutamine in the form of a vitamin, you will have the flexibility of ingesting the amino acid orally, and taking the amount your body can tolerate without side effects.

I also want to point out this link from The New York Times which states, "At the same time, they acknowledge certain weaknesses of their own study, in particular the problem that people who take no medicine are also likely to be among those who are the least ill and therefore least likely to become disabled in any case."

I find the above paragraph very amusing...because I haven't taken an MS therapy drug in years! I had an EDSS score of 5.5 while I was using drug modifying therapies and over 40 lesions. Now I take NOTHING and I am free of MS symptoms. I do believe people like myself would benefit from not taking the medicine because they are not putting toxic, foreign substances into their body.
I know the vitamins I have suggested cost money and you may be receiving disability and have trouble affording them...but you really need to, in order to make a full recovery. Here's a link to my previous post, Vitamins that Fight Disease.

Vitamins are not magic pills! You must adopt a healthy life style as I have mentioned in my previous posts in order to repair the damage from multiple sclerosis. This will not happen overnight because it takes time to remove the impurities, toxins and free radicals in your body.

Do I think you should stop taking your disease modifying drug....

I cannot answer that for you.

However, I have informed you of how I approach this disease, what I do, and shown you the medical research so you can make the best decision for you.

If you feel what you are taking is not working for you, then why continue?

A previous post titled, How I Defeated Multiple Sclerosis.

Latest Scientific Research has "Cured" Mice from Multiple Sclerosis

I became diagnosed with multiple sclerosis when I went temporarily blind in my left eye and was prescribed IV solu-medrol to stop it. According to the newest research this is NOT beneficial. In fact, we should be trying to strengthen the immune system!

They are "Curing" mice from multiple sclerosis.

This is the latest research, released this week!

See the article about this here.

What does this information mean? How can we implement what they have just learned into our lives?

To begin, this information points to free radicals as the culprits to this wretched disease. Free radicals are pollution, radiation, cigarette smoke and herbicides. These things are found in MRI's, x-rays, our homes, our water, and our food!

To expel free radicals from the body we must eat a diet rich in anti-oxidants, such as: colorful fruits and vegetables, vitamin A, C and E, zinc and selenium.

Another way to rid the body of free radicals is through exercise because it purifies our lymph nodes. Here's a previous post of mine titled, How Exercise Fights Multiple Sclerosis.

Strengthen your immune system against free radicals and anymore damage...see this previous post of mine titled, Strengthening the Immune System.

Another way to help your immune system is to lower your stress level. Exercise does this, as well as hobbies and things you enjoy. This may also mean you have to change your career path if you are finding it too stressful because stress weakens the immune system. Change anything and everything in your life...if you need to, to combat stress and feel great.

Depression is another culprit for stress. Here's a previous post of mine titled, How to Fight Depression Naturally.

Then the next big question, what about steroids? Should I take them?

I've heard that question so many times...

According to the latest research, you definitely should not take them because they weaken your immune system!

I have been living MS free (no symptoms) for almost 2 years now, relapse free for four years. Don't wait for the latest research to become a medicine...the drug hasn't been formulated, and it hasn't been in any clinical trials. In other words, this drug will not be available for years!

Are you going to wait years?

Why not incorporate this research into your daily life, make healthy food choices, take vitamins, exercise and combat stress and depression naturally.

It is very difficult to live a healthy life, especially in this fast paced world, but it's not impossible.

Future posts about health and nutrition will be posted to my blog on almost a daily basis so you can live happy, healthy lives and defeat this wretched disease as I have.

This post of mine titled, How I Defeated Multiple Sclerosis, describes more on how to do this.

Here's another previous post of mine titled, The Hidden Dangers of Household Chemicals.

How I Defeated Multiple Sclerosis

I have been told numerous occasions I need to tell my story because people need to know the truth about how to this fight and defeat disease. I am living proof that a cure does exist! I once believed, that at my current age of 33, I'd be in a wheelchair, a nursing home, respite care or dead because the multiple sclerosis was crippling and destroying my mind and body. Instead, I'm thriving, full of life, attending college, making art and attending the gym almost daily.

I'm sure you must be wondering how this is possible? When considering that multiple sclerosis is a debilitating neurological disease which becomes progressive over time. Multiple sclerosis is a terminal illness, with a prognosis of pain, paralysis and eventually death.

Not to mention my disease was on a rapidly progressive course which was beginning to cripple me and the preventative treatments and medications showed no effect. I was on 14 different daily medications to help treat my different symptoms and manage the pain. I felt lost, hopeless and was considering placing my children in foster care because I was hospitalized every 2-6 weeks for an exacerbation.

I felt lost, scared and alone...

I was getting worse and the prescriptions I was taking was numbing my mind and not helping.

Yet I still continued to go to the doctors and complain about my symptoms and the pain. The only thing they would do was offer more drugs and the side effects had left me incapacitated.

I was scared of not taking the prescriptions I was on because I couldn't imagine what my pain would be like if I was off of them.

I finally found the courage to stop every prescription I was taking, including the multiple sclerosis drug modifying therapy, which is suppose to be the only option to help stop this horrifying disease from progressing. Here's a link as to why the MS drugs don't slow disability.

I felt as though nothing was working and I had to change what I was doing.

Stopping the morphine was frightening and painful....but I thought if I could stop taking an addictive narcotic, I could stop taking everything else.

It wasn't easy dealing with, the withdrawal....and all of the pain....

But I did.

After that, I began to stop the medications...one by one...weaning off of them....

It was strange....after I stopped the taking tegretol (which is an anti-seizure drug used to treat pain)....

I woke up!!!

It was like I had been sleeping for many years. I could think more clearly, my thoughts sped up and I began to regain my energy and range of emotions.

I then began to take short brisk walks around my neighborhood everyday.

Then I joined my local YMCA and started doing cardio five days a week. Two weeks later I added strength training.

I could literally feel the neuropathy leave my body and my brain fog disappeared!

The numbness which was once in my legs, went to feet, then to my toes...until I felt completely normal.

My incontinence went away!

My limp was gone!

I started to get my life back!

I could go grocery shopping and carry the bags, do my laundry, cook dinner, play ball with my son, go visit friends and family....and RUN! The sun never felt so warm on face, the air never tasted so crisp, my heart never beat so hard, I could jump, and skip and live life everyday.

I don't fear tomorrow as I once did...I used to be scared of going to sleep and waking to temporary paralysis, blindness or pain.

I am not claiming there are magic pills you can take to feel better. I work on being healthy daily through diet and exercise...and its not easy to maintain...but its possible. Here's another link to someone else who was cured through diet and exercise.

Today, I can't wait for tomorrow....and I will begin at the gym...running and weight lifting....using the legs I once thought I would lose.

A must read post of mine titled, Latest Scientific Reasearch Has "Cured" Mice from Multiple Sclerosis.

Here's a link to a previous post of mine, How Exercise Fights Multiple Sclerosis

Another link of mine, A Secret to Defeating Multiple Sclerosis

A post of mine titled, How to Defeat Multiple Sclerosis Without Disease Modifying Drugs

There are numerous of other posts in my blog which describes which vitamins to take, how to cook quick healthy meals and foods to avoid.


.

Vitamins That Fight Disease

I take numerous vitamins, oils, supplements and amino acids everyday to ensure good health. I think back to when I used to take 14 prescriptions daily, which never helped my MS and I'm happy I made a healthy lifestyle change.

I take very specific vitamins and supplements daily. This is exactly what I take, I've included links when you click on the image to for where to purchase them. However, you can google what I've suggested and buy them where ever you choose.

            An excellent multi vitamin, check out the nutritional information:         

           

Universal Nutrition

Animal Pak

                                 My secret weapon, I consider essential:

Liquid L-Carnitine

                                        A second essential secret weapon:

L-Lysine 1000mg

                                                         B vitamin:

B - 100 Complex

                                                     
                                                Amino Acid complex:

Dymatize Super Amino

                                             
                                                Whey protein shake:

4 Ever Fit Whey

                                                   
                                                      Flax seed oil:

Natrol Flax Seed Oil

                                                      
                                                  To help fight depression:

   Now Foods L-Tyrosine 

                                               A great secret weapon:

Glutamine

These are the vitamins that work for me. However....you must eat healthy and exercise to defeat MS. Taking these supplements alone will not work!

A link to my post titled How Exercise Fights Multiple Sclerosis
A link to another post, A Secret to Defeating MS