Re: Alternative Meds

[Guest guest]

,

I'll check out the page on alternative meds. Ascites is a mystery to me.

I need to spend some time trying to get a better understanding about it.

I'm wondering if I might have to totally cut salt out of my diet. Aside

from the big gut, which I detest, it can be dangerous.

Take care,

Geri

[Guest guest]

At 10:05 AM 7/9/99 EDT, you wrote:

>From: AMA3655@...

>

>A couple years ago (before I started Methotrexate and Neoral and Naprelan and

>folic acid and started buying pharmaceutical company stocks... the hard way!)

>I stepped on a bee while out on a sod farm barefoot. Poor little guy never

>knew what squished him, but he left me a little gift. The pain left within

>minutes and I felt really good for a day. I've since seen some reports of

>alternative therapies for arthritis that incorporate bee stings. My Rheumy

>says it's all an old wives tale. Any comments from the old wives - or others

I've read about using bee venom also, and saw a tv program regarding it last

year. In a natural medicine book I was looking thru yesterday it also listed

bee venom therapy as an alternative that works for some people. It's been

around a while apparently. I guess I believe in trying all options. The US

medical community doesn't know everything. And based on your experience with

it, it sounds like you're one of the ones who could benefit from it. It'd be

worth a try anyway, IMO.

, a lot of doctors disregard naturopathic, homeopathic and other

alternative methods of treatment because they say there's either not enough

scientific proof that they work, or else none at all. But many medications

the pharmaceutical companies are synthetically manufacturing and therefore

are able to patent and make money from are originally derived from herbs and

plants. Since herbs are essentially drugs, too, it would stand to reason

your doctor's right in that they could interfere with the drugs you're

already taking. Maybe, if you really want to try alternative methods of

treatment along with traditional, you could find a good Rheumy who is open

to doing both. Just a thought.

I know personally quite a few people who've found relief and help through

naturopathic and homeopathic methods of treatment for all kinds of illnesses

and conditions, so I'm looking in that direction for myself. A couple of

days ago a friend told me about her daughter's FIL who had osteoarthritis,

and an herbal infusion he used that has kept him pain free for 20 years. So

I called the daughter. It's third hand, but she's started taking it herself.

It's Chaparral, and grows wild here in Arizona. I bought it in capsules for

less than $5 yesterday. I'm not taking anything else except ibuprofin. I

took it yesterday and today, and I am feeling a little lessening of the pain

in all the joints, which I was not feeling with just the ibuprofin. Time

will tell, though. Krista, the daughter, said it can take up to 3 or 4 weeks

to get any result, and it tastes really bitter. Her FIL drinks 3 cups of it

a week, using a tblsp of dried chaparral leaves to brew one cup.

I also have a friend who works with " energy " or therapeutic touch, or

shakras or something. I don't know exactly what it is, but I know she used

it along with therapeutic massage and cleared up a problem with my sciatic

nerve a month ago. I could barely walk because of the pain after the birth

of my baby, so I had her work on the area. I haven't had any pain since with

that, so I'm going to be calling her in the next week and see what she can

do, if anything, about the PA.

I'm willing to try almost anything that seems remotely reasonable and

affordable. I guess it's people like me who fuel the quacks industry ;-).

Kathy Fowkes

fowkes@...

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 10/6/99 11:14:44 AM, bossmom57.geo@... writes:

>Has anyone else here turned to natural alternatives

>and had any success?

Yes, I have tried some alternative medicine. I am now on Sam-E, glucosamine

and am using magnetic products. I recently borrowed a magnetic mattress pad

from a distributor (they usually let you borrow one for at least a week) and

it was the 1st time in about 6 months that I was able to " walk " from the bed

to the bathroom. I usually hobble back and forth because of the stiffness

and pain. I was also using magnetic insoles. I returned all of the products

yesterday and I'm waiting to see if there is any difference. So far, I've

noticed that I'm much stiffer during my nightly bathroom trips. The mattress

pads are very expensive so I'm waiting to see if the magnetics were causing a

quasi-remission or whether the glucosamine was taking effect. I had to stop

the sulfasalasine because of some nasty reactions. I'll keep everyone posted

on my progress.

P.S. I was able to wear " real shoes " for the week instead of birkenstocks!

I'd love to find a comfortable shoe. Does anyone have any ideas? My heel

hurts in just about every shoe except Birk sandals. It gets tough in the

snowdrifts....LOL

Running shoes, SAS, and most closed shoes are impossible.

Diane

[Guest guest]

hahaha, well we could all use a good laugh! I do weight

training to strengthen the supporting muscles around my

spine. I DID NOT do this on my own, but went through

Physical Therapy and had them design the program. I stick

with it. I also walk 2 miles every day with good walking

shoes and I don't sit for long periods as that makes my pain

skyrocket.

As for alternative methods, sounds like you've got a handle

on that

keep laughing!

K

> Has anyone tried alternative medications? I hate taking

> pain pills they make me so sick to my stomach and

> throwing up isn't easy on the back. I don't like the

> spacey feeling either. So, 2 weeks after surgery I threw

> them down and have never picked them up again. They

> didn't even take away the pain so why use them. What I use

> now is a heating pad and I smoke a joint before I go to

> bed. It relax my whole body and lets me sleep undisturbed

> alnight.And the best thing about it is it's not addicting

> and there is no side effects except laughter and getting

> the munchies.lol It has helped with my mental health alot.

> Patty

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Clara

I am so glad this is helping

Many doctors are getting more understanding

sherry

[Guest guest]

Does this help your joint pain

I have fibromyalgia , and, wonder if this helps with pain

I am trying to care for two people in hospital beds and can hardly walk,

and, it is getting worse

thanks so

sherry

[Guest guest]

>

> First of all, salmeterol, the long-acting beta-adrenergic medicine in

> Advair, has been linked to several deaths related to heart conditions,

> so doctors have become wary. I don't know of an alternative to

> long-acting beta adrenergics.

I think this is why they want me to change to Asmanex next week.

Suppose to be better for my heart. It's just funny that I complained

about this weeks ago and my family doc did not take my concern

seriously -- now he is pushing for all these extra heart tests and

everything.... just frustrating

>

>>So my

> doctor switched me to Xopenex.

I believe that was the second step was to switch me off albuterol to

Xopenex. I wanted to wait for my appt on Wednesday before switching

meds. I just want to make sure I have a clear understanding to why we

are doing this and what is the next step. Sometimes Dr's forget that

we not only need the medications but we need to better understand the

how's and why's

Thank you- for the wonderful explanation about this drug and your

experience with it -- it really helps us 'newbies'

>

> Be careful of the expiration dates on these inhalers because they are

> shorter than you can expect with Albuterol.

thanks for that tip....

>

> So don't be too concerned about med changes. You may find something

> much better!

I just need to be told why we are changing meds and what makes this

one better. I like to be well informed. The asthma dr understands

that -- his nurse just couldn't understand that I didn't want to

change meds without understanding why....

[Guest guest]

I asked my doc to switch me to Xopenex in my neb 2-3 years ago upon a

recommendation from Doug (group founder). Now t hat the inhaler is

available I have that as my rescue inhaler also. I have found just

as everyone says - the side effects are much milder with Xopenex.

Addy

Group co-owner

Remember to discuss any changes in your treatment plan with your

doctor.

--- In , " lurkitty117 " <scruffy@...>

wrote:

>

> This group has been really active!!!

>

> I know I read in one post that someone's doc was concerned about

their

> heart and was putting them on alternative meds. I have that problem.

>

> First of all, salmeterol, the long-acting beta-adrenergic medicine

in

> Advair, has been linked to several deaths related to heart

conditions,

> so doctors have become wary. I don't know of an alternative to

> long-acting beta adrenergics.

>

> Personally, if I take Albuterol, I get heart palpitations and it

> triggers a migraine. I was first put on Maxair (pirbuterol) which

> works very well but does not affect the heart. Then I stopped being

> able top get it when the law about CFC's went into effect. So my

> doctor switched me to Xopenex.

>

> Xopenex (levabuterol) can be considered Albuterol that has gone

> through an additional purification process. Scientists found that

> Albuterol was not one but two molecules that were mirror images of

> each other. the left mirror image caused people to shake and their

> hearts to race, and even caused the bronchi to constrict a bit!

>

> The right mirror image of the molecule causes the bronchi to relax.

It

> was very strange taking this drug for the first time. As a life-long

> asthmatic, you expect to feel wound up when taking a rescue inhaler.

> All that happened was that my lungs relaxed!!!!!

>

> Be careful of the expiration dates on these inhalers because they

are

> shorter than you can expect with Albuterol. I noticed that one

clogged

> more easily, but that might have been an individual inhaler. The

other

> downside is that many insurance companies don't include it on their

> formularies. I have to pay full price for it. Fortunately, on

Xolair,

> I don't have to use it very often.

>

> So don't be too concerned about med changes. You may find something

> much better!

>

> BTW, I was really angry when I was forced to use an Albuterol

inhaler

> during a lung function test. I nearly walked out. I had a terrible

> migraine and an awful time driving home. I had my own inhaler but

they

> won't let you use it because they don't know if its fully charged.

>

>

> (BTW, I am a chemist in real life, but not a pharmacist or a

doctor.)

>

[Guest guest]

Why We Make It ?L-Lysine is an essential amino acid needed for growth and to help maintain nitrogen balance in the body. Essential amino acids like L-Lysine can not be made in the body and must be supplied by the diet or supplements. L-Lysine supplementation increases the absorption of calcium and may reduce its excretion. As a result some researchers believe that l-lysine may eventually be shown to have a role in the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis. L-Lysine has many functions in the body because it is incorporated into many proteins, each of which is used by the body for a variety of purposes. L-Lysine interferes with replication of herpes viruses and is therefore often prescribed by nutritionally oriented doctors to people with cold sores or genital herpes. Rick Kipp <rickkipp@...> wrote: I went to an alternative medicine guy yesterday. He has treated HCV, HIV and cancer patients. At any rate he put me on these:Bio Active Homeopathic Hepataplex. Liquid dropper under tongue 1/3 dropper

3/day before mealsWild Herbs Hepo-Protect 2 caps, 3/dayL-Lysine Caspsules, 3 capsules,3/dayMaxogenal chewable antioxidant tablet, 2 tablets 3/day100% Organic Coconut Oil. No more butter/margerine. 1 tsp, 3/dayI'm also taking sodium tablets on my own. He said my diuretic was to prevent any more ascites, which I had terribly 4 to 8 months ago. My regular GI Doctor said to drink only 1 quart liquid per day. B.S. Drinking 3-4 qts/day. Problem is my sodium level at 122, and been getting lower month by month. I'll reverse that with sodium tablets and diet, hopefully. The crappy bouillon soups are good for this, also. Had one serving yesterday that had 900mg in it!!Haven't had time to research these yet, but thought it might be of interest. The Doc swears by it, claims that he has saved many patients who were otherwise done with AMA Doctors and are dying. Oh, I see my regular GI Doc

this p.m., but he isn't going to here any of this. It's up to the patient to make these decisions, damn it!!Tim Parsons knoxville,tn 37931 865-588-2465 x107 work

www.knoxville1.com

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[Guest guest]

i have the coconut oil, not bad, eggs taste a lot ifferent cooked in it. That is really the only thing I ever fry. But it is not badand is easy to cook with melRick Kipp <rickkipp@...> wrote: I went to an alternative medicine guy yesterday. He has treated HCV, HIV and cancer patients. At any rate he put me on these:Bio Active Homeopathic Hepataplex. Liquid dropper under tongue 1/3 dropper 3/day before mealsWild Herbs Hepo-Protect 2 caps, 3/dayL-Lysine Caspsules, 3

capsules,3/dayMaxogenal chewable antioxidant tablet, 2 tablets 3/day100% Organic Coconut Oil. No more butter/margerine. 1 tsp, 3/dayI'm also taking sodium tablets on my own. He said my diuretic was to prevent any more ascites, which I had terribly 4 to 8 months ago. My regular GI Doctor said to drink only 1 quart liquid per day. B.S. Drinking 3-4 qts/day. Problem is my sodium level at 122, and been getting lower month by month. I'll reverse that with sodium tablets and diet, hopefully. The crappy bouillon soups are good for this, also. Had one serving yesterday that had 900mg in it!!Haven't had time to research these yet, but thought it might be of interest. The Doc swears by it, claims that he has saved many patients who were otherwise done with AMA Doctors and are dying. Oh, I see my regular GI Doc this p.m., but he isn't going to here any of this. It's up to the patient to make these

decisions, damn it!!

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