Helen

September 11, 2006

Helen:

He thinks the cause is the ankylosing spondylitis. Rob had an echo 10

years ago that was completely normal, so this is new.

We'll follow up yearly with an echo, and he is to take antibiotics before

any dental or surgical procedures.

He can hardly walk tonight with his knee. Physical therapy starts on

Wednesday.

I hope that Nick continues to do well.

and Rob 17 Spondy

On Tue, 12 Sep 2006 02:22:06 -0000 " hburger64 " <hburger64@...>

writes:

--,

Nicks echo shows a dilation of the Aortic root, so the opposite of

Robs problem? as a subaortic stenosis is a narrowing of the left

ventricle just below the aortic value ( i just read what it meant)

We will find out if theres been any further dilation Oct/nov when I

set up his yearly follow up.

Did the doctor say anymore about it, follow up, cause etc??

hugs Helen and (9,systemic)

- In , snooksmama@... wrote:

>

> Thanks Helen! We think he's pretty special...

> Finally got the written report from the cardiologist...he didn't

tell me

> that Rob also has the beginnings of subaortic stenosis in addition

to the

> mitral regurgitation. This is commonly seen in older ankylosing

> spondylitis patients.

> Can you tell me again about what they found on Nick's echo? Was it

aortic

> stenosis??

> and Rob 17 Spondy

>

> On Tue, 12 Sep 2006 00:22:34 -0000 " hburger64 " <hburger64@...>

> writes:

> -Those are awesome pictures ....I'm sure you are very happy

with

> them.

>

> hugs Helen and (9,systemic)

>

> -- In , snooksmama@ wrote:

> >

> > There are 2 more of Rob's senior pictures now on the photo page

> (under

> > Schulz' album).

> > Thanks Georgina for approving them!

> > and Rob 17 Spondy

> >

>

September 16, 2006

Thanks, I doubt that we will be doing anything... The girls will be here as it will be a Sat. so that in itself will be happy for us... (But maybe he'll take me to Loma 's, I really like their Mexican food!) )

((( Happy Hugs )))Helen

Congratulations! that is a long time

are you doing anything special to celebrate?

melissa

We will be married 39 years the end of this month! )

((( Supporting Hugs )))Helen

"When life's problems seem overwhelming, look around and see what other people are coping with. You may consider yourself fortunate."

April 30, 2007

I think both Helen and Steph have highlighted the profound, negative

psychological aspect of treating this disease. It's not like many of us don't

know what to do, but temptation is always around the corner in the shape of a

piece of candy or (for me) a slice of bread.

Personally, I used to go out to eat quite a bit with friends and now that is

almost non-existant. It was more than just food and was also a great social

experience. However, like Steph, I'm trying to take a positive outlook on what

I will be gaining and not what I will be losing. For me it means changing

lifelong habits and not being apologetic about them. In AA one of the ideas to

help people with their sobriety is changing the people, places, and things that

are not supportive of sobriety. I know this is harder with candidiasis because

food is everywhere, but it is something to consider.

Helen, obviously I don't know that much about you or your experiences, but it

looks like you might benefit from some more support to help you cope with all of

the negativity that you are experiencing. Personally, I have been involved in

psychotherapy at times when all that I have on my plate is more than I can

handle alone and it has helped me immensely. I don't know if you have any

interest in that, but it is an option.

This is more than just a physical disease and certainly beyond a minor problem

for most people in this group. Psychological factors play such an important

role in wellness and should also be considered as a part of one's treatment

protocal.

April 30, 2007

Steph,

I like what you are saying about the sweets. Just wondering... do you mean

carbs as well? What about fruits?

I often treat myself to cakes made with almond flour and fruits. [sCD

compliant]

[i allow myself to eat according to the SCD (except honey)]

Do you think that this is bad?

I never eat any refined sugar products.

April 30, 2007

HI steph,

This is too true. Cheating on this diet is not an option, you cheat

and you can go back to square one. That is my ongoing experience and

when will I learn? perhaps when most of my life has been wasted on

cheating and trying to recover over and over again.

None of these great tasting tantalising foods that remain in the

mouth for only a few seconds is worth long term misery. once

swallowed, they're gone. Then what?

Adam.

> Helen, I understand how you feel about the dieting. But I MUST

TELL

> YOU, that if you do not obtain the mind set that you can no longer

have

> chocolate and all of these sugar and starch type foods for the REST

OF

> YOUR LIFE, then you are now defeated. You MUST make a descision

in

> your heart and know that sugar is POISON for you and everyone

else. It

> is NOT something that we are supposed to be eating even if we are

> healthy and for you it is a much faster poison because of your

> condition.

> Steph

>

May 1, 2007

You know Adam, there should be a special group for people who cannot

make the diet. Actually, it would not hurt to address the subject a

bit more on this group as most of us don't have a lot of time to spare.

A support group addressing the psychological issues might save a lot of

people. Had I had that kind of help from the start, instead of some

dummy health care worker that encouraged me to " expand " my diet right

away (which I was anxious to do), I would not probably be in the

situation I am in now with totally resistant candida. There is more

to resisting the foods we should not have, than just trying desperately

to stay away from them. One must consider it a fight for life or a life

and death situation if you have a bad case of this stuff. Sometimes it

is easier to keep the diet if you fix other emotional issues in your

life first, and we all have them. Maybe it is a bad marriage,

loneliness, unhappiness, dire poverty, abusive relationships, or some

bondage we are in to drugs, addiction to pain meds., cigarettes,

alchohol or what ever. All of these things make it more difficult to

beat candida and some of them make it much harder to keep the diet,

especially if your life is such that food is one of your main comforts.

I had thought of starting a telephone support group, but since I don't

have any time from 6 AM until bed except the weekend and sometimes not

that, maybe someone else might want to consider it. I am convinced

people get yeast in the first place, mostly from emotional and spiritual

issues that are not resolved, and then poor diet and stress pulls the

trigger.

Steph

May 2, 2007

I must disagree with you. It is true that sugar is very bad for you.

However, if you are healthy, the occasional sweet treat (better if

organic) is not that bad for you. Especially if you buy things that

have been sweetened with raw honey instead of sugar.

Eating fruit (when you are able to) also helps to get rid of the sugar

craving as your body is most likely wanting fruit and not cake and

sweets when it craves something sweet.

All things in moderation, including moderation.

And Helen - you should try not to cheat for your first 6 months.

Thereafter, the occasional cheat will not kill you, although it makes

your disease last longer, of course. But you are only human and beating

yourself up over cheating will only depress you and lead to more

cheating. You are not a sugarholic, just that your taste buds have been

programmed to eat very sweet things for a long time, probably most of

your life. You will relearn tastes that do not include sugar, but if

you have a little bit of chocolate, you will not die.

Keen

HELEN

Helen, I understand how you feel about the dieting. But I MUST TELL

YOU, that if you do not obtain the mind set that you can no longer have

chocolate and all of these sugar and starch type foods for the REST OF

YOUR LIFE, then you are now defeated. You MUST make a descision in

your heart and know that sugar is POISON for you and everyone else. It

is NOT something that we are supposed to be eating even if we are

healthy and for you it is a much faster poison because of your

condition. We taught and trained up that all of the cakes and pies and

pasteries we see when we first walk in the door of a Walmart is OK. IT

IS NOT. There ARE OTHER THINGS in life that we can enjoy other than

sweet foods and not feel sorry for ourselves because we cannot have it.

The easist way out for you is to STOP completely all sugars and starchy

foods that are empty calories and NEVER touch them again. Like myself,

if you have a taste for it, it is like being an alchoholic. You take

that first bite and you are GONE. I don't ever ever touch that stuff

as of three years ago and I am still having a battle with my health, but

I would be DEAD if I had not stopped and changed my diet. Also you will

not crave that stuff anymore after you have been off of it for six

months and longer. You have to break the addiction once and for all and

don't think of it as so bad because once you have done that, you won't

even want it anymore. E-mail me privately and I can tell you where to

go to get more help. Just click onto ectopistes@... I am

going to be gone most of today but will get back to you soon as I can.

I can see you are not going to make it on your own. I have been there.

Steph

May 2, 2007

I'm finding that if I take the attitude of cutting down significantly, and then

try to gradually improve on that, then I do a lot better than if think I musnt

have all the things Ive been used to - ever. Becasue I just collapse that way

and binge (a bit like a starvation diet I guess). But as my dentist said to me -

" you've forgotten how bad you were " . She wanted me to write down everything I

had done, and she saw a huge imporvement orally when I last visited her.

Keen Venables <kvenables@...> wrote: I must disagree with

you. It is true that sugar is very bad for you.