New Therapies

12/16/13

A couple weeks after the first appointment with my new doctor Dr. R, I saw his colleague who was a Nurse Practitioner and Certified Nurse Midwife.  Dr. R had trained her in the types of therapies he did in office, and she brought her own knowledge from her own work history.  We shall call her Nurse J.  Nurse J did a lot of muscle testing on me, and found that my body was deficient in vitamin C.  She suggested that I supplement with it regularly and to make sure also that I take vitamin C with either rose hips or bioflavonoids.   She also suggested that I consider doing vitamin C IV therapy.  (Below is a list of things Nurse J recommended I consider and look into.  Interestingly, she is the first in a long list of practitioners that will tell me laughing is good medicine, and I should do it on a regular basis.)

I had considered vitamin C IV thereapy in the past and had looked into it at one point, but I wasn't quite sure where to go for it, and I wasn't sure that it was entirely necessary.  It wouldn't hurt by any means, but I just wasn't sure I needed it to make a full recovery.  I was doing very well.  After some contemplation and consideration, I decided that it wouldn't hurt to go for a consultation.  Nurse J had recommended a place in a town just west of me, so I made an appointment.

The interesting thing about this place is that it was run by a man that is both a chiropractor and a naturopathic doctor.  His wife is a nutritionist, and his business partner is also a chiropractor.  I saw his business partner, and I feel lucky that I did.  We shall call him Dr. T.

The first thing that I did when I got to their office was do the paperwork.  I then started my whole body assessment with live and dry blood analysis.  This was done by the nutritionist.  She noted that there was a fair bit of fungus and yeast seen in the live blood analysis.  With the dry blood analysis, she was able to see quite clearly that I had vitamin C deficiency.  She showed me the vitamin C ring as they called it which was a sign of deficiency.

Next, I was to be assessed by Dr. T.  He went over my history in detail, and then he proceeded to test me for food intolerances.  He stated a big reason for yeast and fungus in the blood was eating food that caused inflammation in my body.  Below is a list of my results...

Some things on this list did not surprise me at all like the gluten/wheat and the soy as they are widely known to cause major issues especially if they have been genetically modified.  (Almost 95% of soy and soy products have been changed to a genetically modified organism or GMO product.)

The big things that surprised me were that I am intolerant to brown rice but not white rice.  I also tested to be intolerant to most coconut products, sweet bell peppers, tomato, and cabbage.  The biggest shock was the intolerance to potatoes though.  This was such a shock because it is such a big part of the Gerson therapy protocol.  I was supposed to eat it twice a day in some form.

With these assessments out of the way, we now come to the recommendations from Dr. T.  Of course he recommended the IV vitamin C therapy due to the ring seen on my dry blood analysis, but with that he also recommended that I consider a treatment called ultraviolet blood irradiation or UBI.

UBI is also called BioPhotonic or Photoluminescence therapy.  UBI is a way to clean the blood.  What they do is take about 50 mL of blood from my body, and then they run it through a machine that can kill harmful bacteria, fungus, yeast, and other inflammatory organisms that can be found in blood.  Once done, the blood is then returned back into your body via an IV.  This allows the body's own immune system to recognize the dead inflammatory products and let your body take over from there.  (This is very basic information, so for more information on UBI, Google it or here is one link I found helpful:  http://www.wycoffwellness.com/treatments/ultraviolet-blood-irradiation.)

So, I had a lot to consider.  I did my research, and I figured both therapies seemed helpful, and even if they weren't overly helpful, they would not harm me in any way.  I was also very interested in boosting my immune system any way possible.  It was recommended that I start with 5 sessions, and then sit down and reassess with the live and dry blood analysis again to see if there were any improvements.

Overall, I felt very comfortable with Dr. T.  He seemed like he genuinely cared about me as a patient.  He was very open with his opinions, but understood that I as a patient had to do what was personally right for me.  I loved his personality and his openness in general.  He was also willing to test the supplements I was using to make sure they were compatible with my body.  I was happy that he was so willing to help, but it also made me want to become a bit more comfortable with all forms of muscle testing in general. I was determined to learn and become more proficient with muscle testing or applied kinesiology rather than rely on others to do it for me.  

My New Doctor

11/15/13

By the end of October I knew that I was in need of some more support from my healthcare professionals in general.  I really was only being followed by my surgeon, and as straightforward and up front as he was (these are some things I really appreciate in a doctor), he was less than supportive of my treatment choices.  In fact, it seemed like every time I saw him I would leave feeling depressed and defeated.  He just seemed so negative even when things were pointing in a positive direction. 

With the help of my mom, I was able to get into one of her doctors as a patient.  He was a general practice doctor, but had lots of experience with practicing in a whole mind, body, spirit mindset.  He was also willing to be a support and an advocate for me.  Still to this day I don't know whether he thinks my choices are right or wrong, but he is able to support my decisions no matter what.  We shall call him Dr. R.

I first saw and consulted with him the first part of November.  It was an amazing visit, and coming from what I was used to feeling from a doctor, his visit was so easy and a huge breath of fresh air.  He understood that I was doing a certain therapy which included diet and other treatments, and he didn't even question it.  He did ask that I look into some other supplemental treatments though.  He gave me some information and asked me to research it and get back to him.

The first thing he recommended was that I look into a Dr. Hamer originally from Germany and his German New Medicine.  Basically this man Ryke Geerd Hamer, MD a head internist in an oncology unit at the University of Muncih made a hypothesis that most cancer (and most disease for that matter) starts from some sort of unexpected shock or trauma.  This hypothesis came after Dr. Hamer's son was tragically killed, and then he soon after developed testicular cancer.

He found that most of the patients he saw also had unexpected events that led up to their diagnosis.  From his studies he was able to correlate the disease with a certain part of the brain and image them it with the help of CT.  He was able to also make a list of common relationships between conflict emotions and target emotions and almost make a map of the body.  Of course this is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to German New Medicine and Dr. Hamer.  We will keep it simple here, but there are many sites online you can look to for information if interested.

So my sweet doctor basically wanted me to see that this is most likely not something caused by just genetics or just environment or just stress but a conglomerate of many different things.  Since it most likely is caused by many things, we should treat not just physically, and possibly go deeper to an emotional and spiritual level and take care of that too.

Next Dr. R recommended that I go to a friend of his to help me work out some of my emotional issues.  I was willing to do my work to stay healthy, so I was agreeable.  I would also see Dr. R monthly for his own sessions, and I would see one of his partners at his practice in between his visits to make sure I was really being diligent on working out my issues.  

I was thrilled to have such a caring supportive team member in my corner.  I felt like I could really talk to him and I didn't have to worry about holding back at all.  I had no fear of showing my emotions in front of him or feeling weak.  I would never do that with any of my other doctors.  I felt like I always had to be strong.  Feelings really weren't allowed while at other doctor appointments only logic and reason were.  It felt like they really just didn't know what to do when someone showed they had feelings because in an way they had lost their humanness.

I felt great, and I felt like I was really moving in the right direction.  Yay!

November Labs and Phone Consult

11/23/13

I feel very fortunate that every month I have good labs.  of course they can be on the edge of high or low, but for the most part, I am very lucky.  Of course he had to ask about my weight again first thing this month, and I had to admit that I lost about 3 pounds.  Not a huge deal, but something to watch if it becomes too much.  He also asked how I was feeling, and I had little to report but general tiredness, fatigue, and occasional mood swings.

Now for my labs, so let's just jump in.  Once again my CBC and Auto Differential seem to be in pretty good shape.  

It seems like almost every month Dr. Cervantes will say the same thing.  "Your CBC and Auto Differential are showing a good immune response to your diet." I'm so grateful for that.  I do feel like I have had less colds and coughs this year than in years past.

My CMP or comprehensive metabolic panel also seemed good.

Everything seemed right on.  My kidneys and liver always doing well.  Sodium and potassium seem stable. Calcium and protein are also doing well.

My thyroid levels next...

When conferencing with Dr. Cervantes on this, he didn't seemed worried a bit.  He always says they are still in an okay range.

My UA or urinalysis is next.  This is the lab that will show my pH, so this is a big one for them as they always want me to be alkaline or well above a pH of 6.

Once again no problems in that arena.  With a diet high in plant foods mostly raw, my pH stays very alkaline.

My cholesterol is next...

The only thing that seemed to be off with this one is the HDL or good cholesterol again. Dr. Cervantes mentioned this is because I take in less fat, and I am also doing coffee enemas which will change things as well.

My vitamin D comes next.

It is up from 29 to 43 a few months back which is much better.  Dr. Cervantes wasn't too worried about it still being a bit low though.

And for my new schedule...

Her are the changes for this month:

1. Try to get two castor oil treatments in during the week if possible.  (No promises)
2. Only four coffee enemas and 1-2 less juices a day on the days I have to work.  
3. Also, he did recommend that I take astragalus  to boost the immune system even more if wanted.  

Overall a good month.  No complaints, and always blessed.  

October 2013 Labs and Phone Consultation with Dr. Cervantes

10/19/13

One thing about my labs, they are always looking good.  It is rare that Dr. Cervantes can find anything really wrong with them.  Yay!

So, let's get down to it.  We shall start with my CBC and auto differential.  

According to Dr. Cervantes I am showing a good immune response once again.I fell like it.  The annual cold that I usually get was very short and almost non-existent.  A tickle in the throat and slight cough, and then it was gone.  Yay!

On to the CMP or comprehensive metabolic panel.

According to this, all of my organs including liver and kidneys are doing very well.  My protein level and glucose are also good.  Sodium and potassium are also at a good range for this diet and lifestyle.  

This brings us to our next test the UA or urinalysis.

Everything here looks great especially my pH which shows to be very alkaline.

Now for my lipid panel...

Once again everything here is good except for the HDL is a bit low, but once again that is due to the fact that I take very little fat in at all with this diet.

So now we move onto my thyroid with the T4 Free and the TSH.

Once again everything is range.  (My weight was holding steady here this month.)

One thing that Dr. Cervantes was worried about this month was how much rest was I getting.  I admitted not much since starting work full-time.  I am completely wiped out by the end of the day.  He kindly recommended more rest.

So, not much has changed on the recommendations.  Five coffee enemas a day if possible and 13 juices a day like before.  Two castor oil enemas recommended, but if work prevents this (and it does) it is okay to do just one.  He did mention that astragalus would be very good for my immune system, so we shall go on a run to the health food store soon!

Working Full-Time

I went back to work full-time on October 1, 2013.  not an easy decision, but one that was necessary to support the family.  It has been more than a month now, and all I can say is that I'm tired.  I thank God every day for my amazing family and their help.  Without them, this would not be possible, and I probably would be running around like a chicken with his head cut off.

Monday through Friday I get up a little before 5:30 am.  I begin with a coffee break, and then I rush to eat my food, make my juices, help the boys with breakfast while daddy takes a shower, and then get ready for work.  Every moment is filled with getting ready for the day.

Work can either be a sort of break from the rushing or it is crazy busy.  There are usually no in betweens when it comes to the busy factor.  This can make it hard to take my two scheduled breaks for my juicing (I have gotten a small juicer for the break room) and other treatment.  Often I miss my morning break, but one nice thing is I can take a longer break in the afternoon.  That is if there is time.

When I get home, I rush to get my next coffee break out of the way.  By the time I'm done, it is dinner time.  I try to hurry through this and the last green drink of the day so that I can spend some quality time with all three boys before bed time.

Once bed time comes around, we are all ready to jump in.  Unfortunately, Mom and Dad have to stay up to get ready for the next day.  We have to get drinks together, meals together for work, and boys lunches ready for school.  If it is a soup day, Nick and I (mostly Nick) make soup, and we also make coffee.  I also have to get my last coffee break in. This gives me a bed time anywhere between 10-10:30 pm.

My family including my parents, aunts, uncles, brothers, sisters, in-laws, cousins, and friends have been so great by providing dinners and food for the boys.  This is a huge help to Daddy at night when I'm taking care of myself and he needs to get something on the table quick because the boys are starving.  Not only have they been providing meals, they have also been trading off on making me easy baggies of fruits and vegetables to make juicing easier at home and especially at work.  All I have to do at work is grab the bag, throw it in the juicer, and then clean the mess up.  This streamlines everything and makes things so much easier.

We all look forward to the weekends.  They can't come fast enough, nor do they stay long enough before we have to repeat it all again.  Every moment we have together we cherish and enjoy.  We know we are so lucky to have each other and all the other amazing people in our lives.  I know that it is hard now, but this is only temporary, and things get better with practice, right?

More Than the Physical (Part 2)

So, after my last doctors appointment, I was feeling kinda down.  I know the CT results were good, but I did let my surgeon's words get to me.  Now I needed to pick myself back up and get on with my healing.  I felt that as long as I was carrying this fear with me, I was hindering the healing.  So, what to do?

The first thing I did was set up some time to get some more RET (Rapid Eye Technology) done.  I was lucky that I knew a practitioner, and she could see me rather quickly.  We worked on healing and fear in this session together.  It was almost an instantaneous transformation afterwards with me.  I felt confident and powerful once more, but also tired and ready to take a nap.  (For those that don't remember, here is a link for more information:  http://rapideyetechnology.com.)

The next thing I did was call my Osteopathic physician and set up an appointment with her.  She has this wonderful therapeutic way about her.  It is so nice to just sit down and talk with her and run ideas past her. She truly is gifted energetically as well.  You always walk out of her office with a great sense of well being, and she does give the best advice.

She advised me to really think about who I see as doctors and how often I see them.  She advised me to look within myself and see what I really needed.  One wonderful thing about her, she never tells me what to do. She always encourages me to find my own way.  Everyone is different, and we all require different things. We all have to find our own way.  I have also noticed that once I have made decisions, she will support me even if she doesn't understand them herself.

Once I left her office, I asked myself, "Do I need to see a radiation oncologist?".  My first thought was of course not.  I have no intention of ever having any radiation treatments done.  I would be wasting both my time and the doctor's and staff's time.  I asked the same thing about this new oncologist.  My Osteopathic physician had told me she had heard good things about this oncologist and he was open to alternative treatments, so I decided I would at least consults with him and see how I felt with him.

So, what else have I done to help with controlling the fear?  I listen to good dancing music and I keep moving.  When you dance, it's hard to be depressed or scared or in that place of fear.  It must release a happy endorphin, because it's really hard to not be happy when you dance and wave your arms around a bit.

I have also researched more in the spiritual realm of healing with help from God, Heavenly Father, and our Creator.  It seems there are so many ways to do this.  Meditation is something that I am really working on. There are so many ways and different techniques.  Daily affirmations and visualizations are super important to me as well.  I also try to always pray and give gratitude for all the many blessings in my life, for I know that my life is full of them.  Learning to see this diagnosis as a blessing has really opened up doors for me too. You just know you've got to be healing when you can give thanks for all things.

I have also started reading about other people in my situation that have healed themselves in similar ways. It's good to see that this can be done with the right attitude and physical environment.  There are so many people out there and each used his or her own method to bring themselves back to health.

I would be very lost without all of my Gerson buddies that I met at the clinic in Mexico.  What an amazing support system I have found there.  It's nice to know they understand me and where I'm coming from in most cases.  Even though they all live very far away, I know they are all just an email away.  I love modern technology!

My family and friends (it's sometimes hard to differentiate the two as they are all both  family and friends to me) have been an amazing help.  A simple text or message from a friend makes the day that much better. Some friends give me resources and books to read or send me links for different meditation and spiritual healing techniques. Others take me away for the weekend.  The support and the love is always coming, and I always appreciate it.  I truly feel like the luckiest girl around.  I am blessed beyond measure.  How can you be down when you are surrounded by love?

So what's next?  I believe I will try me some Theta Healing.  The class starts the beginning of November.  It sounds very interesting to say the lest.  It has helped a close family member recover from debilitating back pain. What is Theta Healing?  Good question.  Here is the answer that I found from their website:

"ThetaHealing® is a technique that focuses on thought and prayer. ThetaHealing® teaches how to put to use our natural intuition, relying upon unconditional love of Creator Of All That Is to do the actual “work”. We believe by changing your brain wave cycle to include the “Theta” state, you can actually watch the Creator Of All That Is create instantaneous physical and emotional healing." 

(http://www.thetahealing.com/about-thetahealing.html)

I can't wait to learn more about it to help with my healing journey.  I'm always willing to learn and ask questions about new things.  You never know if they are the right for you until you do the research.

So, let me know what works for all of you.  Feel free to leave a comment about what you do to center yourself and find that inner peace.

Mesothelioma Awareness Day ( September 26)

This post is in honor of my dear friends Terry and Donna.  I met Terry at Clinica Nutricion y Vida (the Gerson Clinic in Tijauna, Mexico).  Terry is a United States Navy veteran, and was diagnosed with mesothelioma just a couple of years ago.  He has an angel of a wife, and together with a great faith in God, they show the world how to be beautiful, giving human beings no matter your lot in life.  They are truly amazing and an example to us all.

So, on Thursday, (Mesothelioma Awareness Day), check out the link below to see some common facts and information on Mesothelioma.

http://www.mesothelioma.com/blog/authors/emily/8-things-you-should-know-about-mesothelioma.htm

The website is full of great resources and information for anyone seeking it.  Thank you to Emily for making me more aware.