Re: Digest Number 524

[Guest guest]

Geoff,

What you are referring to is Photopheresis. This is highly effective with

auto-immune disease. It to knocks out some kind of infections that are

creating antibodies (like those found in Lupus, and SD and probably RA).

I have had 3 treatments recently, and my anticardiolipid antibodies

disappeared and the RNP is very low.

The bad news is that it is very expensive. My docs all had to send letters

(my lawyer had drafted the format first) to the insurance company, and I sent

them journal articles.

I would not have used it, since the antibiotics have been helping, but the

illness had started attacking my lungs again.

a message dated 11/22/1999 3:06:58 PM Eastern Standard Time,

geoff@... writes:

> Saw something a few years ago about successful Lupus treatment via UV

> light. Patient hooked to system, sterile glass plate device placed into

> circulatory stream vis a vis in/out needles, blood is exposed to UV for

> period.

>

> patient

> needle

> blood out

> plate/exposed

> blood in

> needle

> patient

>

> Success rate was exceptional (like 100%) but only for one type of Lupus.

> Don't know if it went further, if interested you'll need to check.

>

> HTH

>

> Regards,

>

> Geoff Crenshaw, ACC -----------------------

> Captain Cook's Cruise Center ** Usual Disclaimers **

> --------------------

[Guest guest]

> Message: 12

> Date: Thu, 18 Nov 1999 17:44:28 -0600

> From: SC <sasc@...>

> Subject: someone needs help and info

>

> >From the APsupport bulletin board...

>

> I am looking for any information about the use of antibiotics for the

> treatment of severe SLE lupus. If possible please respond by email to

> sacker@.... Many thanks.

Saw something a few years ago about successful Lupus treatment via UV

light. Patient hooked to system, sterile glass plate device placed into

circulatory stream vis a vis in/out needles, blood is exposed to UV for

period.

patient

needle

blood out

plate/exposed

blood in

needle

patient

Success rate was exceptional (like 100%) but only for one type of Lupus.

Don't know if it went further, if interested you'll need to check.

HTH

Regards,

Geoff Crenshaw, ACC -----------------------

Captain Cook's Cruise Center ** Usual Disclaimers **

-----------------------

Religion: Man's attempt to discover God

Christianity: God's offer to save humankind

[Guest guest]

> Message: 15

> Date: Fri, 19 Nov 1999 14:35:39 +1200

> From: Dr Graham Chiu <anon_emouse@...>

> Subject: Re: Questin for Dr Chiu :-)

>

> Calcification in arterial walls is also very commonly seen. I am not

> aware of any treatment that can reverse this, unless someone knows a

> cure for atherosclerosis.

> -------

> Regards, Dr Graham Chiu

Does multi-series EDTA chelation & vitamin therapy help with this?

Regards,

Geoff Crenshaw, ACC -----------------------

Captain Cook's Cruise Center ** Usual Disclaimers **

-----------------------

Religion: Man's attempt to discover God

Christianity: God's offer to save humankind

[Guest guest]

Hi ! Geoff Crenshaw here.

From: <RTC@...>

Sent: Fri 11/26/99 20:41

> Now why don't you have insurance? Can you get disability? Then you

would get

> medicare. And now there is a new law which will let people with

disablities

> but still work, buy into medicare.

>

Last quote (3 months ago):

$ 1,500 month (self-only)

$15,000 annual deductible

50% copay

$50,000 maximum lifetime benefit

(Bluecross - CA state mandated coverage via an insurers " pool " for

" high risk " , i.e., rheumatics, etc.)

It's cheaper - by far - to get health insurance if you have HIV/AIDS

Wife's insurance covers her & the kids - specifically excludes me.

I heard about the new law the other day. I haven't checked that and

don't know when it goes into effect.

I can get state disability as a self-employed, but it's short-term. I

pay the maximum contribution, when things get really bad they pay for

about 3 months I think - could be longer.

When I've checked into gov't health insur (Medi-care/caid/cal/whatever)

they told me:

(a) I couldn't be self-employed;

( I couldn't work;

© I couldn't own a home;

(d) I couldn't own a car; (I have 2 - a 1973 and a 1986)

(e) I couldn't hold any stocks or bonds; and

(f) I don't remember what else.

In essence, if:

(a) My wife and I divorced; and

( We put everything into her name; and

© I quit working; and

(d) We lived separately for 90 days; THEN I could get insurance.

(Providing I wasn't in jail for failure to pay support and

providing they didn't tag " her " with support - including

medical!)

At that point, of course, I also give up most of my right to chose the

type of care and provider I prefer, entering the " system " sitting all

day at " county " for a 5-minute visit, etc.

It finally got to a point where I looked at what they wanted and what I

had and it came out like this:

CHOICE A: They want everything I have and after that's

all gone they will walk away not only leaving me high

and dry, but my wife and children destitute and dependent

on everybody else instead of helping others

CHOICE B: I become, in essence, a ward of the State

CHOICE C: Find another way

I chose " C " . I looked at these insurance companies and the fact is, no

matter how expensive health care gets, they continue to make a profit.

Why? Because they bring in more premium (overall) than they pay out in

benefits. And they ensure that continued success by cutting the

high-risk people out. So then I ran the numbers...

$ 1,500 x 12 = $18,000 Premium

+ $15,000 Deductible = $33,000/year BEFORE they pay one penny, and

then it's one for them, one for me.

At that point an interesting thought occurred to me: Big companies go

self-insured, why not little-ole me? At this rate I could fund $330,000

of health care in 10 years! With our " non-inflation " that'll be almost

enough to get a tooth pulled.

Of course, the reality isn't like that. I don't have an extra $33K

sitting around annually to pigeon hole for health care; And I have 3

kids to put through school; And I'm not getting any younger despite my

determinedly youthful exuberance. But the fact is even at its worse, my

RA doesn't cost anywhere near $33,000 a year either and I would never

see a penny of benefit.

So I made my choice. I choose to dance around trying to make a buck as

best I can, even paying other people here and there and manage my own

health care. I am now looking for " catastrophic " coverage. You know, the

$10,000 deductible stuff. But the bad news on that front came the other

day - same story... $1,500/mo. The copay and benefits are much better,

comparatively speaking. But still! That was a bit of a shock, although

it certainly should NOT have been. Not after seeing what they want for

routine health care.

I guess they call it a " crack " . Seems more like a crevasse to me. By

whatever name it's called, I fall right through it and I have a

suspicion I'm not the only one.

As a believer that Jesus is the Christ, though, I have alternatives

others may not:

First and foremost;

My faith in the living God and His plan for the lives of all

people, even me.

Second;

There are three operational Christian share-the-burden systems

out there. In one they give you the name(s) of somebody to send your

monthly check to, or Jane or ; And when your need comes up,

somebody gets your name and they send a check to you. In another it's

more like an insurer - everyone sends to one place both money and needs,

and they send money out from there. The third is sort of a hybrid of the

other two. None of them have ever missed a need or had one go unpaid nor

under-paid.

Third;

I have my community of believers, called a church, to which I

and a whole bunch of other imperfect, rotten, sinning people belong.

What a lot of people, including " churchy " people don't seem to

understand is that a church is a sort of a hospital. It's a hospital for

sick souls, as opposed to one for sick bodies. And in it you find

care-givers, and consumers of soul-health care. And usually, just like

in a " regular " hospital all people are on both sides at one time or

another and with divergent degrees of regularity. It's amazing how often

a sick patient gives life to a nurse or doctor in a regular hospital,

and the other way 'round. Churches too, unless they're broken - just

like broken hospitals with bad care. But too, in churches as in

hospitals, sometimes the doctor or nurse does more harm than good. I'm

blessed to be in a " healthy " church with mostly competent doctors and

nurses most of the time.

I've been considering the share-the-burden route. But as with all things

of man, none are perfect (for me, wink). For instance, one of them

refuses chiropractic and homeopathic care. I'm not sure about the

others, I have to contact them again. My Osteopath/Homeopath has given

me my only reliable relief to date so I'm not likely to give that up,

although the last time he really helped me was with an herbal of all

things (that was the RA Spes), but they don't cover herbalism either -

strictly Allopathy. Chiropractic is a necessary element for my " tweaked "

C-1 and occasional spinal " tune-ups " , so that stays too. Another (or

all, don't remember for sure) require you to be a tee-totaller. That

sort of legalism doesn't fit me too well either and I certainly have

never seen any Biblical basis for it, excess yes - but not abstinence

for all people. I don't drink much, maybe a bottle of wine every 3-4

months, but that means I'm not a tee-totaller. So those are sort of

in-the-hopper at this point. Not on-deck, but not off the ship either.

It's kind of funny, , but what I found was that once I was

(forcefully and unwillingly) separated from the " classic " insured system

of health care there was, and is, a freedom to be healthy, choose

health, be involved in personal health management and less, FAR LESS,

problems in getting the care I feel is truly necessary as I fight no one

for it. My concern, and it's not minor by any means, is that of a

single, or worse multiple, catastrophic problem, a major injury, cancer

or some other situation like that.

Oh but I do sometimes wish I could point my finger and say, " YOU " must

pay. Alas, (sigh) not today. Today I can't sit around and whine about

how I'm all hurt because " they " won't pay. If I want it, I have to

figure out a way to pay for it myself. And then the choices of balance

and prudence are mine - not someone else's. I am responsible for me and

I can't blame someone else for my choices.

I've always found " responsibility " to be a " mixed " blessing.

It's not without its dangers to be sure, the insurance that is; But

where I am is not necessarily a bad place to be. Just a bit scary now

and then, an emotion which helps exercise my faith if not my limbs.

Regards,

Geoff Crenshaw, ACC -----------------------

Captain Cook's Cruise Center ** Usual Disclaimers **

-----------------------

Religion: Man's attempt to discover God

Christianity: God's offer to save mankind

[Guest guest]

Geoff,

Is this a health insurance quote? If so, man, they're robbing you in

California. And I thought they were robbing me in Virginia! I pay

$323/month for my wife and I with a $300 deductible/year for each of us in a

Blue Cross HMO. 40% prescription coverage with $2,000/yr max (lousy plan).

20% copay with a 1,000,000 maximum lifetime benefit (I believe - would have

to check that). And my insurance company knows I have RA and that my wife

had a mother who died of cancer in her early 40's.

If the charges below are what you have to pay, you won't have to worry

about me moving in as a neighbor anytime soon!

Mark

>

> Last quote (3 months ago):

>

> $ 1,500 month (self-only)

> $15,000 annual deductible

> 50% copay

> $50,000 maximum lifetime benefit

> (Bluecross - CA state mandated coverage via an insurers " pool " for

> " high risk " , i.e., rheumatics, etc.)

>

> It's cheaper - by far - to get health insurance if you have HIV/AIDS

[Guest guest]

> From: " HOLMES, MARK T. " <MHOLMES@...>

> Sent: Sat 11/27/99 08:08

>

> Geoff,

> Is this a health insurance quote? If so, man, they're robbing you in

> California. And I thought they were robbing me in Virginia! I pay

> $323/month for my wife and I with a $300 deductible/year for each of

> us in a Blue Cross HMO. 40% prescription coverage with $2,000/yr max

> (lousy plan). 20% copay with a 1,000,000 maximum lifetime benefit

> (I believe - would have to check that). And my insurance company

knows

> I have RA and that my wife had a mother who died of cancer in her

> early 40's.

Yes, this is the LOWEST health insurance quote. It's Blue Cross, BTW,

and due 100% to the RA. To top it off, if it weren't mandated by the

State that the insurers had to create a " high-risk pool " , they wouldn't

write it at all (not that I think they write much now.) Last time I

checked on this was several months ago after I'd heard they couldn't

refuse to write due to preexisting conditions. Who needs to refuse to

write with premiums like that?!

My wife has BC at work which includes the kids but it specifically

EXcludes me. Otherwise, BC wouldn't write her in the group policy.

Regards,

Geoff Crenshaw, ACC -----------------------

Captain Cook's Cruise Center ** Usual Disclaimers **

-----------------------

Religion: Man's attempt to discover God

Christianity: God's offer to save mankind

[Guest guest]

Dan's spreadsheets are wonderful. They are very easy to use. the cost/sale

and the converter. I haven't started selling yet, but I feel these will be

invaluable when I do. No relation to Dan, just love the spreadsheets. Jacque

>

> Special announcement for NON-EXCEL owners, from Studios.

> Both of my soaper's spreadsheet programs now come in EXCEL and a new

> format. After extensive searching on the Internet I found a great

> spreadsheet program called 602TAB. It also comes with a word processor and

> a photo editor. The best thing about this suite of programs is the price,

> it's FREE! Visit my web site for a more detailed description.

>

>

[Guest guest]

this has a virus; don't open it.

----Original Message Follows----

From: " Looker " <llooker@...>

Reply-hypothyroidism

hypothyroidism

Subject: Re: Digest Number 524

Date: Thu, 29 Nov 2001 23:40:16 +0000

<< multipart1 >>

_________________________________________________________________

Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp

[Guest guest]

Dear Deb, Zena, Malcolm,

Hi I'm Gill a new member. My background is HVing in London and 6years as a Public Health Nurse in Seattle. Now I'm back in South Wales with a new MPH trying to figure out where I fit into the scheme of things!

In our public health role, tackling health inequalities amongst the most needy people and communities I think nursing fails. It fails because often health is the least priority over safety, hunger and housing. We are like square pegs in round holes. My role with the neediest families often became one of reaction to the enormity of deprivation (pain and suffering). And I'm no wilting flower having worked in India and Uganda) We RN's are programmed by our training and yes Zena some personality stuff thrown in there too! to be forever fixing and protecting. Even worse, in families where I found the greatest social distress (substance abusing, abuse etc) I have found I was at risk of becoming unhealthily involved. I was a quick study, after all my clients were experts at it, condoning, colluding, co-dependency like situations; all in the name of protecting children.

That is not an arena where I am comfortable any more. I read in the journal of many initiatives beacon projects involving community regeneration. Starting with what people know, building on what they want, is the only hope healthy change will be sustainable and why not some fun too?

I am now interested in being part of a proactive, yes , a multiagency service that promotes health. Building on peoples strengths instead of endlessly assessing and monitoring peoples weaknesses.(The tools are available NCAST etc why reinvent the wheel?) Malcolm has found Alzheimer sufferers have strengths and so do substance abusers. That's where the risk taking and trust comes in.

What men, women and young people are desperate for (I discovered in my last PHN project a Family Planning information service in DSHS office, and in my MPH dissertation) is accessable, accurate and timely health information and support through education and skill development.

I am passionate about public health too and valued my health visiting routes before it got harnessed to the sickness service.

What to do? Once sleepless in Seattle and now restless in Wales!

Gill

'

[Guest guest]

Dear gill in South Wales

Pleased to read your message and would like a conversation with you. We

recently put in a proposal for Consultant Nurse Public Health. If we are

successful and even if we are not it would be good to share some views with

you.

Ruth Marks, Swansae Tel. 01792 465997 (w)

>From: gillbranch@...

>Reply-

>

>Subject: Re: Digest Number 524

>Date: Thu, 31 Jan 2002 11:12:54 EST

>

>Dear Deb, Zena, Malcolm,

>Hi I'm Gill a new member. My background is HVing in London and 6years as a

>Public Health Nurse in Seattle. Now I'm back in South Wales with a new MPH

>trying to figure out where I fit into the scheme of things!

>

>In our public health role, tackling health inequalities amongst the most

>needy people and communities I think nursing fails. It fails because often

>health is the least priority over safety, hunger and housing. We are like

>square pegs in round holes. My role with the neediest families often became

>one of reaction to the enormity of deprivation (pain and suffering). And

>I'm

>no wilting flower having worked in India and Uganda) We RN's are

>programmed

>by our training and yes Zena some personality stuff thrown in there too! to

>be forever fixing and protecting. Even worse, in families where I found the

>greatest social distress (substance abusing, abuse etc) I have found I was

>at

>risk of becoming unhealthily involved. I was a quick study, after all my

>clients were experts at it, condoning, colluding, co-dependency like

>situations; all in the name of protecting children.

>

>That is not an arena where I am comfortable any more. I read in the journal

>of many initiatives beacon projects involving community regeneration.

>Starting with what people know, building on what they want, is the only

>hope

>healthy change will be sustainable and why not some fun too?

>I am now interested in being part of a proactive, yes , a multiagency

>service that promotes health. Building on peoples strengths instead of

>endlessly assessing and monitoring peoples weaknesses.(The tools are

>available NCAST etc why reinvent the wheel?)

>Malcolm has found Alzheimer sufferers have strengths and so do substance

>abusers. That's where the risk taking and trust comes in.

>

>What men, women and young people are desperate for (I discovered in my last

>PHN project a Family Planning information service in DSHS office, and in

>my

>MPH dissertation) is accessable, accurate and timely health information and

>support through education and skill development.

>I am passionate about public health too and valued my health visiting

>routes

>before it got harnessed to the sickness service.

>What to do? Once sleepless in Seattle and now restless in Wales!

>Gill

>

>

>'

_________________________________________________________________

Chat with friends online, try MSN Messenger: http://messenger.msn.com

[Guest guest]

Hi Ruth

Hope you are well - pleased to see you are amember of sennate.

cheers

Margaret

Re: Digest Number 524

> >Date: Thu, 31 Jan 2002 11:12:54 EST

> >

> >Dear Deb, Zena, Malcolm,

> >Hi I'm Gill a new member. My background is HVing in London and 6years as

a

> >Public Health Nurse in Seattle. Now I'm back in South Wales with a new

MPH

> >trying to figure out where I fit into the scheme of things!

> >

> >In our public health role, tackling health inequalities amongst the most

> >needy people and communities I think nursing fails. It fails because

often

> >health is the least priority over safety, hunger and housing. We are like

> >square pegs in round holes. My role with the neediest families often

became

> >one of reaction to the enormity of deprivation (pain and suffering). And

> >I'm

> >no wilting flower having worked in India and Uganda) We RN's are

> >programmed

> >by our training and yes Zena some personality stuff thrown in there too!

to

> >be forever fixing and protecting. Even worse, in families where I found

the

> >greatest social distress (substance abusing, abuse etc) I have found I

was

> >at

> >risk of becoming unhealthily involved. I was a quick study, after all my

> >clients were experts at it, condoning, colluding, co-dependency like

> >situations; all in the name of protecting children.

> >

> >That is not an arena where I am comfortable any more. I read in the

journal

> >of many initiatives beacon projects involving community regeneration.

> >Starting with what people know, building on what they want, is the only

> >hope

> >healthy change will be sustainable and why not some fun too?

> >I am now interested in being part of a proactive, yes , a

multiagency

> >service that promotes health. Building on peoples strengths instead of

> >endlessly assessing and monitoring peoples weaknesses.(The tools are

> >available NCAST etc why reinvent the wheel?)

> >Malcolm has found Alzheimer sufferers have strengths and so do substance

> >abusers. That's where the risk taking and trust comes in.

> >

> >What men, women and young people are desperate for (I discovered in my

last

> >PHN project a Family Planning information service in DSHS office, and in

> >my

> >MPH dissertation) is accessable, accurate and timely health information

and

> >support through education and skill development.

> >I am passionate about public health too and valued my health visiting

> >routes

> >before it got harnessed to the sickness service.

> >What to do? Once sleepless in Seattle and now restless in Wales!

> >Gill

> >

> >

> >'

>

>

> _________________________________________________________________

> Chat with friends online, try MSN Messenger: http://messenger.msn.com

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 12/13/2002 8:04:28 AM Central Standard Time,

dvaughnprice@... writes:

> I can tell

> I am really losing weight because my dress pants won't

> stay up. Thanks for all your support everyone! Dodie

Dodie - sounds as if your plan is working! At least you are not " hung up on

the numbers " and letting them determine if you are successful or not! Good

for you!!

[Guest guest]

It sounds like you are doing well! Keep it up.

Jelayne

Re: Digest Number 524

(snipped to save space for those on digest)

I guess I'm doing this a little different from

everyone else and I hope that is OK. I am only

weighing in once a month with my doctor. Before, each

time I diet the scale said if I was successful. This

time I have some key questions I ask myself. 1) Did I

stick 100% to the food mover plan this week? This

week - 6 days out of seven. 2) Did I eat only when

hungry? Missed one time this week. The rest I ate

only when physically hungry. 3)Did I measure every

morsel that went into my mouth? Yes except for one

time. I am adding a new question this week: Did I

drink all of my water on my food mover? I hope that

this does not break any rules, but I am trying to add

one new habit at 100% (my goal) per week. I can tell

I am really losing weight because my dress pants won't

stay up. Thanks for all your support everyone! Dodie

[Guest guest]

----- Original Message -----

From: " Dodie Price " <dvaughnprice@...>

> If I have to buy one a day and duct tape one to my

> desk, one to the kitchen counter, and one to my purse

> I will.

I can picture a food mover duct taped to your wrist. hee hee.

>

> I guess I'm doing this a little different from

> everyone else and I hope that is OK.

Of course it's ok. We're all doing things a little differently here. I've

never even seen a food mover and they let me stick around.

> I'm only

> weighing in once a month with my doctor. Before, each

> time I diet the scale said if I was successful.

> time I have some key questions I ask myself.

I think your question plan is just great. It sounds like you're doing

wonderfully well if you used the food mover 6 days, only ate when not hungry

once and measured all but one time. That's awesome woman!

> I hope that

> this does not break any rules, but I am trying to add

> one new habit at 100% (my goal) per week. I can tell

> I am really losing weight because my dress pants won't

> stay up. Thanks for all your support everyone! Dodie

Rules? We don't need no stinkin rules! It's working and that's what

matters. Pretty cool when you can't keep your pants up.

Ann

[Guest guest]

> CONGRATS, Dan - you're doing great!

Yeah, you have really done great, and in such a short time, too! Will you be

coming to the Splash again next time? It would be great to see how you've

changed!

I really liked the before pictures being posted at Elma's - I think we

should do an ID contest at the next Splash. But as one of the few men, you'd

be too easy. :-)

Keep up the good work,

Sarina Mc

Midband, Dr. Frering (Lyon, France) - 11/09/02

Fills of:

2.5 mls in January (Frering)

3.5 cc in March (TRA)

215 / 152 / 115 (4'10 " )

[Guest guest]

>

>

> I really hope to come to the next Splash n Bash. Of course I don't

> know yet when it will be, but guess no one does. Remember a poll on

> it, as to location at least. I'm one who voted for Seatac area to

> make it easy for those of us who might fly in.

>

> SM> I really liked the before pictures being posted at Elma's - I

think we

> SM> should do an ID contest at the next Splash. But as one of the

few men, you'd

> SM> be too easy. :-)

>

> And also the only guy with a beard, I think. Or my memory may be

> going.

>

> Anyway, I really wnnted to go to the TJ bash, but just can't do

> everything.

>

> dan

>

>

Well Dan, I'm working on getting the Seattle Bash and Splash date

together. I have appointment's to visit several hotels in the next

couple of weeks. Right now were looking to have the Bash in late Feb.

or early March. As far as the beard comment. There was a guy at the

Tijuana Bash who works as Santa who was just banded. Big, Big bushy

white beard. If anybaody wants to see some drop dead pics of PNW

members at the Tijuana Bash inc. , Esther, and others

are shown on the photo link to the Tijuana Bash site. joanne in

seattle.

[Guest guest]

Stacey,

This sounds very interesting - I would be interested in seeing what you put together for your surgeon - will you post this? Currently, in our hospital the pharmacy does not order any omega 3 supplement/fatty acids because it is not regulated like an oral supplement or rx. I would imagine the only way around this will be using supplements that have the omega 3s added. In addition, remember that most surgeons will put patients on a blood thinner (coumadin, etc) prior to & post surgery - these omega 3 oils will have an additive effect. I would love to attend Monikas sessions - can we post the schedule?

Parrott, MS, RD, LD/N

julie.parrott@...