Sometimes Our Blessings Are Packaged Differently Than We Expect

Before I had my first symptoms of pain, weakness, and disabling fatigue; I was fortunate to be living in a body that I loved, a body that I was proud to have. I was five foot nine with the measurements of 36-26-38 (in my book…perfect). I didn't understand how people allowed themselves to become overweight. I thought of them as weak and not caring enough about themselves. I knew I would never allow myself to be overweight. I loved working out. If I noticed my clothes feeling a little tight then I would curb out all sweets, be cautious of fats, and mainly be on a liquid diet for a couple days. I was fortunate in that would be all it would take until my clothes were fitting properly again.

This all began to change in 1995 as I suddenly gained thirty pounds in one month. Being concerned that I was still exercising regularly and hadn't changed any of my eating habits, I made a doctor's appointment. Immediately upon looking at my charts I was scolded for gaining so much weight since my last visit. I informed my doctor that was why I was there; I too was concerned about the drastic weight gain that came about so quickly. He immediately decided I was depressed and that was why I was gaining weight.

I said, "No, I'm not gaining weight because I'm depressed. But I AM depressed because I'm gaining weight!" Unfortunately, I wasn't able to convince my doctor other wise.

From there my health began to deteriorate and I soon went from doctor to doctor trying to figure out:

• Why, as someone who worked out regurlarly and was a certified aerobics instructor, had I gained so much weight?
  
• Why had I become so weak that somedays my purse would feel too heavy to lift?
  
• Why even after sleeping well all night was I constantly feeling like I needed more sleep?
  

By early '96 I had already gained around fifty pounds and had gone up a few sizes in clothes. Something in the past that only occurred because I was growing, not because of weight gain. I was really embarrassed by it all. My students, not meaning to be mean, but knowing I was newly married would comment repeatedly that I was pregnant. Now I WAS DEPRESSED!!!

In February of 1996, I saw a specialist that diagnosed me with fibromyalgia and suggested I take medical leave for my chronic fatigue. Along with this new specialist came many prescriptions. I can't remember what all he had me taking, but I do remember having a difficult time swallowing the many pills he had me on each day, some being quite large (what I refer to as horse pills). The one medication, that I do remember being prescribed was steroids. This was my first encounter with the prescription that would have a profound effect on my life.

Through the years I have lost count of how many times I have been on steroids. Each time I have been on them, I have gained thirty to forty pounds with the inability to get them back off. The steroids would leave me in a sour mood. I couldn't even stand to be around myself. How my husband put up with me during my times of taking steroids, I don't know. I'm just thankful he did.

I would get so hot that it seemed impossible to be able to cool down. I carried instant cold packs around with me. I have them in the console of my car. I would carry one with me in my school bag. I would keep ice packs in the refrigerator of my classroom, as well as in my home, and in a cooler on long trips.

Steroids can cause someone that isn't a diabetic to have blood sugar problems similar to gestational diabetes. I started craving more and more sweets. Along with the craving for sweets became hunger that never seemed to go away.I would wake up in the middle of the night starving. The starving itslef would wake me! It wasn't like I woke up to go the bathroom and thought, "Hmm… I think I might get me a couple crackers before returning to bed". No! The hunger, hunger so extreme that I thought I would be sick if I didn't have something to eat immediately, would wake me. My body wanted more food than I was able to burn off.

Unfortunately, the side effects of steroids don't go away when a person stops taking them. I've heard others comment that the side effects they had from steroids lasted anywhere from months to years. I know for me, I haven't had any steroids in two years but only recently have I been able to tell that the ill effects of me taking them have dissipated. My blood sugar and blood pressure are no longer a problem.

How has me gaining 200 pounds (at my highest weight) been a blessing? I am sympathetic to others who are overweight. I now realize how difficult it is to lose weight. I realize that even if they aren't on medications that are making them swell to the point that they look like a blowfish (steroids), being overweight is difficult to live with. Deciding to not have something sweet and/or fatty to eat isn't as easy as saying no. It becomes an addiction that feels like it must be fulfilled. It becomes a vicious cycle.

Continuing to Reduce the Medications

I hadn't planned to reduce anymore of my medications until after the holiday season, it can be such a stressfull time of year to be making drastic changes, but after much encouragement from many readers and I'm sure prayers too, I have decided to continue the process of dwindling down the amount I'm taking until I'm not taking any at all.

For the past three days I have successfully taken less clonazepam and neurotnin. I am now down to taking only ½ tablet of 0.5 mg of clonazepam per day from 1 tablet of 0.5 mg three times per day that I was taking in October. I have reduced neurotnin to ½ tablet of 400 mg per day from taking 1 tablet of 400 mg three times per day. I'm glad to report that my pain, numbness, tingling, and burning aren't any more intense than they were while taking 2400 mg of neurotnin daily. I think I'm actually having improvement in all those areas. Since I have a virus that possibly could be the flu, it is hard to tell right now, since pain is synomous with the flu.

As my body has adjusted to less clonazepam I have surprisingly been able to manage my anxiety better than I thought I could, while having a husband deployed. Below are a few variations to my life that are making a powerful difference in my successful reduction of clonazepam:

• many wonderful people praying for me
  
• TCM doctor treating me for these conditions through acupuncture, reflexotherapy, cupping, moxibustion, herbal foot bath, herbs, and ear acupoints. I have tried to get off clonazepam before without any success. With my extreme fatigue, I can't afford to be on a medication that causes such drowsiness. However, in the past when I would reduce the dosage, my nystagmus (jerking of my eyes…that fortunately isn't visible to others but makes me extremely sick with motion sickness and sometimes unable to drive) would flare.
  
• being able to talk with many wonderful friends on facebook, helps to keep my spirits lifted and eases my anxiety
  

I'm looking forward to posting by the beginning of the New Year, that I'm no longer taken any clonazepam or neurotnin. 2009 is turning out to be a good year for me, a good year indeed! J

Yesterday’s Worries Can Be Today’s Blessings

Yesterday and through out the night, I had been concerned with how I was going to be able to stomach the taste of liver broth. No longer is this an issue. No longer am I fretting over swalling the soup. I am now looking forward to finding a place that sells liver. Obviously my taste buds couldn't have changed in a matter of hours. No, instead my perspective has changed.

My doctor of traditional Chinese medicine noticed yesterday that I have a loss of pigment on my neck. Also, I had recently discussed with her my concern that my hair is losing its natural color at a much faster rate. I realize that I will get more grays as time goes on, but suddenly the grays have been mulitiplying at an avalanche pace. Having what I had told her about my hair (she isn't able to see the amount of gray I have because I try to keep them covered with coloring) and her visual observation about my skin, Dr. Liang told me that I wasn't getting enough copper and as mentioned in my previous post went on to tell me that I needed to drink liver and black bean soup.

Being a home economist I realize that any nutrient can be found in more than once source. I, also, know that the amount of the nutrient will vary in each source. I was pleased to find that there are several sources of copper, the nutrient that I have a deficiency in and thus need to add to my diet. Therefore, I began to research what sources contained copper. I wanted to find a more appealing way to get my source of copper. Although, I have found supplements for copper, nutrients are best absorbed by our bodies when we consume it through our diet. The fastest way for our bodies to absorb any nutrient is in liquid form; hence, the reasoning that Dr. Liang probably suggested that I cook the liver and beans to make a soup that I could drink.

While researching sources of copper, I was amazed to read that different ways that a copper deficiency can affect my health. One of the most appealing sources of copper is chocolate. One doctor, Dr. Wilson whose link I have attached to the bottom, theorized that a copper deficiency might be a reason for chocolate cravings. It definitely makes sense in my case, because I have been craving chocolate more and more lately. Copper can cause reproductive problems. Another ah ha moment, my husband and I have been married over fourteen years and still don't have children. I have suffered with painful ovarian cysts, sometimes having multiples at one time. Once I had two rupture the same day. I remember thinking as I suffered through that pain, that I couldn't ever imagine being strong enough to endure the pain that must come with childbirth. A lack of copper can cause depression; again something that I battle. Already, I can see that needing copper is more than me just having white spots from a loss of pigment. It is obvious that I need to add this to my diet. Then I came across what is the most exciting need for copper in our bodies…at least for me this is very exciting, because this may make a monumental difference in my life.

Our bodies need copper to repair myelin. Myelin is the fatty tissue that protects our nerve fibers. When myelin is damaged our nerves are exposed like wires that have lost their insulation from a severed cord. Once myelin is destroyed our nerves have a difficult time conducting properly…similar to a short caused by a wire being damaged. Myelin damage occurs during an MS attack. The ability for my body to repair myelin is crucial in the success of me winning the battle of multiple sclerosis. Liver is suddenly sounding delish!!!

Sources of copper (not any in certain order):

• enriched cereals such as Raisin Bran
  
• oysters
  
• clams
  
• cashews
  
• whole grain
  
• beans
  
• kidneys
  
• beef liver
  
• heart
  
• lobster
  
• scallops
  
• chocolate
  
• seeds
  
• drinking water from copper pipes (can cause a toxicity)
  
• cooking in copper cookware (also could cause a toxicity)
  

I'm attaching a link to a page that I found full of information about the importance of having the correct amount of copper in our bodies. http://www.drlwilson.com/articles/copper_toxicity_syndrome.htm

Thinking the French and I Have Acquired Different Tastes

I'm guessing that the French's taste in food and mine aren't quite the same...not the same at all! Upon pondering how I was going to make liver have a decent enough flavor so that I would be able to drink its broth; I remembered that my french cookbook, Le Creuset's French Country Kitchen, had some liver recipes in it. Note from the authors, "Calf's liver should always be cooked very simply so that its delicate flavor is not overwhelmed." Oh, I want it to be overwhelmed!!! I want its flavor to be demolished!!

I so badly want to get well and I think a lot of my doctor of traditional Chinese medicine. So when she says that the reason I'm beginning to have patches of skin that are loosing pigment is because my hormones are off balance and I need some copper in my diet, I believe she knows what she is talking about. However, the thought of eating copper itself sounds more appealing to me than her suggestion on how I should go about adding it to my diet. I'm supposed to make a broth from a calf's liver and black beans. I told her, "Dr. Liang, but I can't stand the taste of liver."

She says, "No problem! You don't have to eat the liver, just drink the soup." Yeah, like that is going to make a lot of difference. I'm thinking it is still going to be awful. The thought of having to drink something that I detest as much as liver, is nauseating.

Fortunately, the authors along with friends of mine have given me ideas on how best to disguise the liver's "delicate" taste. I'm going to add the following to my soup and pray that the pungent smell of liver and taste disappear:

• calf's liver
  
• water
  
• black beans
  
• salt and pepper to taste
  
• 2 T butter
  
• 1 T olive oil
  
• sauteed mushrooms
  
• carmelized onions
  
• 1 garlic clove crushed and sauteed
  
• 2 T. parsley
  
• 2 T. chopped fresh chives
  
• 1 to 2 T. lemon juice
  

If I get brave enough to make it and I actually drink the soup, I will add a post about my success of being able to make the soup palatable and any changes I made to the final recipe.

I would love to hear your comments on the following: Have you ever had a soup made from liver stock or that has liver in it?

Dr. Liang, My Acupuncturist and Doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine

I'm tickled that through the success I have been having with my acupuncture treatments and other forms of traditional Chinese medicine; I have had a few friends ask me about my doctor. I am so pleased with my results that I wanted to add her website to my blog so that others can find out more about her and if in the Montgomery area, maybe even have a treatment. I have had every treatment she offers and have been very pleased with my results. I don't think I would have been able to take such drastic measures in the reduction of my medications if I wasn't having these treatments.

Of course, I'm not telling anyone to get off prescribed meds. I CAN'T DO THIS!!! I wouldn't want to harm anyone in anyway. I also cannot tell how these treatments will work for someone else. I can just say how they have worked for me. I know that that the Lord sent me to Dr. Liang and I'm forever grateful for this answered prayer.

Dr. Liang's Clinic of Chinese Medicine & Acupuncture

Dr. Liang is a doctor of traditional Chinese medicine not an M.D. as we know doctors in our Western culture.

Facebook a part of the healing process

I'm so thankful that my cousin, Tonya, first asked me to join facebook. I can't imagine not having the connections that it has allowed me to rekindle after years of not seeing friends, students, and other loved ones. I love that no matter how far apart I am from my friends, facebook takes the many miles away.

Living with multiple sclerosis, sleep apnea, and fibromyalgia I suffer from severe fatigue...fatigue that cannot be imagined. Only those that suffer from MS, do I think really comprehend the fatigue and maybe some very intuned care givers like my husband. He seems to totally get just how difficult it is on me…not just physically and mentally, but emotionally as well. It embarasses me not to be able to plan because I don't know if I'm going to have the energy to do something next week or even later today. Sometimes, I just push myself on through because I hate disappointing others and I love spending time with people. But I end up paying for it afterwards with severe pain, fatigue that keeps me knocked out for days, and other heightened symptoms like double and blurry vision.

That's where facebook comes in…with my laptop, wireless internet, and facebook; I can communicate with my friends when I feel up to it. And communicating with them lifts my spirits. I don't think a day has gone by in the past few months that I haven't been able to enjoy a great laugh because of something that one of my friends has said. If you are like me and may go a week or more before you step out of your house because you just don't have the strength to get dressed and leave; I encourage you to try facebook or some other networking website to reconnect with people that mean a lot to you but you may not feel like seeing in person.

Saving My Life and Tax Dollars Too

It's hard to believe that I'm still using as much medication as I am each day…not that I'm not succeeding with my plan to get off all the medication as possible. No, I'm very pleased with my success. Like the saying goes…it's all a matter of perspective. To me it seems like I'm taking nothing, but then when I think about my husband who really isn't on any prescription medication at all…I know I'm still taking a lot. Even so, he too realizes that I've come a long way and he is very proud of the little that I'm still on.

 How am I doing exactly? I have gone from needing thirty plus pills per day plus a weekly shot of interferon to taking three and half pills per night. The last few pills I feel confident that I can definitely relinquish once my husband is back from his current deployment. I'm hoping that I can stop taking them even before then, but since I take two pills of Cymbalta for depression and pain related to depression and one clonazepam pill nightly for anxiety; I'm not sure during a deployment is the best time for me to get off all medications of this type. I am proud that I have already cut the clonazepam from three pills daily to the one nightly. Already, I am making an improvement in my emotional well being or even this would seem impossible. For different reasons the holiday season, that should be a time of celebration, tends to be one that is stressful and depressing for many. With that thought, I will probably stay at the level of medication I'm currently on until after the New Year's.

 If I can maintain my health (although I'm hoping for improvement) without the medications that I have already taken myself off of, I will be making a huge difference in the overall effect of my life in the long term. A few of the medications have been known to cause problems with the heart, liver, and kidneys. It is required for me to have blood test semi-annually to monitor my liver due to these medications. My interferon (that until recently I had been taking for five years) among other warnings has the risk of hepatitis because the serem is made from donated blood. It appears that, although they try, it is impossible to be 100% certain that there isn't any hepatitis in the blood being used. This never really sat right with me. There was always that looming concern of…what if? What if the blood made to make this shot that I'm injecting into myself today is tainted? By no longer taking the interferon, I am saving tax dollars of over $900.00 per month. I am extremely fortunate that as a military spouse, my medical needs are met. However, I feel pride in knowing that not only am I saving my life by getting off of so many medications but I'm also making a small dent in tax money that is being spent.

Two of the bags that I have referred to as my personal pharmacy…glad to say these days are behind me.

You Drive Doctor Crazy

During one of my appointments with my doctor of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), Dr. L said, "You have soooo MANY problems! YOU drive doctor crazy!" We both had a good laugh.

 I said, "Yes, I'm a challenge for a doctor!"

 "Yes! Yes! Ooooh, goodness!"

 How could I laugh when someone, especially a doctor, was telling me that I had so many problems that I was driving them crazy? With Dr. L. it is so wonderful that she knows. She knows I have these problems not because I'm telling her that I have anxiety attacks, bladder issues, tight chest from asthma, spasicity so tight that my muscles feel like a rubber band that is about to snap along with other health issues. With Dr. L. she can tell my current status of health from using her senses during each visit to exam me.

Cane Free

The summer before last, my mother called to tell me that she read about these new flip flops that actors and actresses were wearing. They were being worn by Hollywood because they added a benefit to everyday walking...they provided a workout by replicating the effects of using a wobble board. The shoes my mother wanted me to give a try? FitFlops

She was especially interested in telling me about them because one of the other advantages of wearing them is reduced pain while walking. By the time she had called to tell me this, I needed my cane continously. At first the cane, not only helped me to keep my balance while walking, it also helped me not to be in as much pain. This was no longer the case. The pain had become so intense, that I would be sweating and red in the face after walking or standing within five minutes. On field trips with students, I began using a wheel chair. My trips out to purchase anything had been halted to non-existent. I was depending on my husband more and more, something I didn't want to have to do. He was already doing so much for me.

The year before, I had gone to a podiatrist after a rheumatologist noticed during an exam that I had extremely high arches. I began getting my hopes up when my new specialist went over my test results. I had periphal neuropathy in both feet. He thought a pair of orthotics might make a difference in the pain that radiated from my back down to my feet. He was also hopeful that wearing the prescribed orthotics would bring me relief in my lower body numbness and tingling sensations. Then I asked how much.. $400…four hundred dollars that my insurance would not cover. I hated to see us put so much money to insoles that I wasn't even sure would work for me. Yet, I hated to ignore what a specialist was telling me that I needed. What if the orthotics could relieve some of the pain? Could I afford not to wear them???


My husband, who is always extremely determined when it comes to my health or getting me something, began to investigate. He found a website that carried custom ordered orthotics for $99. Immediately, he ordered the orthotic kit. When the kit arrived, I carefully placed each foot into the molding and returned the moldings in the prepaid box. The moldings were used to make orthotics custom fit to my arches. Once the orthotics were in, I was anxious to put them in my shoes and give them a try. For the past decade I had already tried gel, padded, and magnetic inserts. All gave some relief, but none of them were enough to help the pain that I would now endure while on my feet.


The orthotics brought needed relief. I WAS more comfotable. I was elated...I could buy groceries again, enjoy shopping, walk the streets of Colonial Williamsburg (a favorite that I loved doing at the time, but couldn't). Maybe, I could begin hiking again? Something we hadn't done in over a year. I was still using my cane but walking with less pain. After a few minutes (longer than five minutes or less before), I was having intense pain again. The pain in my back was excruciating.


I continued wearing my orthotics, not wanting to cause anymore damage to the nerves in my feet. I would sleep with high quality magnetic shoe inserts inside my socks at night (still do) to help relieve restless leg (more like restless body) syndrome and pain. I hadn't been able to stop using the cane. I continued to need a wheelchair if I needed to walk much distance.


I had also worked with three different physical therapists by the time I got my mother's call. I usually found myself in more pain from the sessions due to their lack of knowledge about spasicity. A pair of flip flops to relieve back pain after all I had already tried???


I am so thankful that my mother told me about something that sounded too good to be true. A year after purchasing my first pair of FitFlops, I am still cane free and have lost sixty-five pounds and four clothing sizes. Being able to get around more freely has definitely helped with the weight loss but so has the wobble board effect that the FitFlops have engineered in them. Look for an upcoming post discussing more about the benefits I have seen from wearing FitFlops.

I would love to hear your comments on the following: What have you or a loved one found to help ease back and/or leg pain? 

Removing Toxins

At my second visit (which has been a few weeks ago now) to see my doctor of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), Dr. L. and I began to see more clearly just how sick I am.

Traditional Chinese doctors can tell the status of your health in ways that fascinate me; by reading radial pulse, looking at the tongue, the eyes, the color and feel of the skin, sensing the way the body reacts to different puncture areas, and feeling changes of temperature across the body. I had learned a little about reading of the tongue, from my previous acupuncturist. A tongue with a thick coating and odd color is a sign of problems in the body. How the tongue looks, its size, and its shape are all important to a TCM doctor. They are also trained to know to look at specific areas of the tongue to know more about where the problem is occuring.


Of recent, my tongue, regardless of how well or how often I brush/gargle has had a thick bright yellowish orangey color. Fortunately, this isn't something noticed unless I decide to do a Jena Bush and stick out my tongue. The bright yellowish orangey color is due to my body trying to detox from being on so many prescription medications as well as having toxins in my body from a diet that was lacking in being healthy. Along with the oddity of the color of my tongue, have been other changes that are a quite odd and somewhat embarrassing. But hoping that others may benefit from reading my blog, I feel that I need to be somewhat open. However, being reared by a very modest mother, I have been taught there are certain things a lady doesn't discuss...forgive me, Mama.


My urine and bowel movements are GREEN! Yes, green! Freaked me out at first, actually a couple weeks later it still does! I make sure to tell my doctor. She says, "No problem! One lady I treated, she pooped white." White??? Did she say white??? How does that happen? As one friend told me when I told her about the color of things coming out of me, she said, "It's pretty scary isn't? To think that we are trying to do what is best for us (referring to me taking the medications I need for MS and other health issues) and then to see something like that coming out!"

My body has also been itching a lot. Unfortunately, I can't take Benedryl to help with the itching...I would be defeating the purpose of trying to eliminate the toxins. It is something I must try to deal with if at all possible. I have found that by taking as hot of a bath or shower that can be tolerated (or not cause pseudo symptoms if you have heat sensitive MS) and scrubbing with as much pressure as you can without tearing the skin helps. I also use an exfoliator to help release the toxins that might be trapped by dead skin cells. During a detox, our bodies will try to release the toxins through different methods including our skin and scalp. Along with my skin itching, my eyes have itched a lot during this process. Flushing my eyes out often with saline solution for contacts (although I'm not wearing my contacts right now...wouldn't be able to stand it during this detox phase) brings relief.

I go back and forth between being hot and cold. I guess the best way to describe this and probably the same principle is involved...it is like being sick and what occurs as our body defends the foreigner. I will break out with a clammy sweat and then, soon I will be freezing from being wet all over (from the sweat). I shower and start the process all over again. Fortunately, these cycles from sweating and freezing are beginning to slow down as I have continued to remove more toxins.

To speed up the release of toxins, I drink lots of warm to hot teas (not all of them being what we think of as traditional tea). One of my favorites my TCM provider told me about...tea made from corn silk (or as she said corn hair).

1. Purchase corn that hasn't been shucked yet.
   
2. Tear off the corn silk (looks like hair).
   
3. Rinse off the corn silk with vinegar (the vinegar will help cleanse the silk without destroying the nutrients).
   
4. Boil two cups of water with desired amount of honey.
   
5. Once water comes to a boil, add corn silk and steep for 10 to 15 minutes.
   
6. Allow to cool to comfortable sipping temperature.
   

For best results, with the tea assisting in toxin removal, try to drink two to six cups of tea per day.


If you realize you have toxins that need to be released, make sure that you are under a doctor's care. If you too feel like you are on too many medications be sure to discuss with your doctor your concerns and outline together a safe tapering off level. Even under a doctor's guidance you are likely to experience unwanted side effects. For me, I keep reminding myself that it will be worth it in the end...when I'm no longer damaging my body by so many medications and can hopefully live a more productive life verses being tired all the time because of being so medicated.

With all the symptoms the one that is hardest for me is that of feeling so panicked. My body is going through so much turmoil trying to heal that my anxiety levels are through the roof. I have gained even a stronger sense of admiration for anyone who has ever recovered from being a drug addict or alcholic. I can see why it would be so easy to say, "Forget this!" and turn back to what their body has grown accustomed to and feel that it needs.

So, why exactly am I putting myself through this torture? Because on my second visit, when I discussed with Dr. L what had been occurring in the couple days since I had seen her and she read my body as described above, she said I'm the sickest patient she has ever seen and I was close to dying! Tears came to my eyes when she told me this, for I could tell she was sincere and wasn't saying this to get me to come see her more often. I immediately thanked the Lord for helping me choose Dr. L out of the yellow pages and for her strong knowledge of TCM.

Bottom of Form

Cleaning House, Making Room For Babies

The short conversation below, is a snippet of my first consulation with my new doctor of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM).


Dr.  No babies?
Me: No, never been able to... after all these years of marriage (14 years).
Dr: No wonder! All these medications you on. All your germs. Your house is dirty! Must clean house first! Can't make baby!


What my doctor was telling me about my house (body) I knew had to be true. I have been a guinea pig to science for fifteen years. I'm on so many medications and taking the maximum dosage on most. Several of them carry high risks. Something that concerns my doctors and me. She wasn't just telling me that the medications could be harmful for the baby. She was saying that a baby couldn't develop in such a harsh atmosphere. Hearing her say this, gave me such hope. Hope that we (my Chinese doctor, my primary care physician, neurologist, asthma and allergy specialist, and me) can get my house clean by ridding my body of toxins, healing it through acupuncture, and slowly be able to reduce the medications.


As, I layed there having my acupuncture treatment, I was elated about the idea of being able to get my house clean. Anxious to prepare it for a baby. Lying there I remembered about articles I had read about a fertility specialist and accupunturist that worked as a team in VA. They were helping women who had never had children before become pregnant and carry their babies full term.


Today, my body began sweating spontaneously. The kind of clammy sweat one has when breaking a fever. I checked my temperature...normal. Then it occurred to me that my house was being cleaned. My body was continuing to expel toxins and germs. Is my body pure now? Not after one treatment. Someone, like myself, that has mulitple health issues and years of medication without end will need several more treatments. For now, I'm just happy knowing that some of the toxins and germs have been released.

Better Tomorrows? Become a Pin Cushion

Due to a recent move, I was in need of finding a new acupuncturist. I hadn't had a treatment in eight months and was very anxious to begin treatment but concerned about not knowing which acupuncturist to choose. After all, I was basing my selection on ads in the yellow pages. I finally decided to go with one who is considered a Chinese doctor (specializing in different aspects of Chinese medicine). I was concerned when I couldn't understand her on the phone. My worries soon escaped me once I went back for my initial consult/visit. I could sense she was very knowledgeable in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). I was determined that the language barrier wasn't going to keep me from obtaining better health.


Although having acupuncture treatments can end up being quite expensive due to needing to have several treatments in succession in the beginning, I have found that nothing compares with the way the acupuncture helps me. I will be adding more articles on my experiences of acupuncture. I'm keeping this one short because I'm in pain...my body is working on releasing toxins. Going to relax and drink lots of water to help the process.

The Importance of Correct Footwear

Early on, even before I knew something was wrong...before the profound weight gain...my feet would often ache at night; a side effect of teaching all day on linoleum floors. But now, I had to plan my shoes for work. No longer was the pain limited to my feet at night. I was beginning to feel pain radiate from my heels all the way up to my hips. I began carefully selecting shoes that would help absorb the shock of each step.

During one of my professional development days for a new school system, I hadn't walked far when my legs and feet began to ache. I made a mental note to myself...definitely need to buy some more shoes before school begins. These shoes had obviously had their day, losing all comfort and support. Through out the professional development meeting, I couldn't stop thinking about how badly I needed to buy some more shoes. After all, my feet were in pain. My new shoes would need provide comfort while walking around the classroom and standing on the hard floors. Multiple sclerosis has made shoes, the most imporant part of my career wardrobe.

Three hours after walking into the doors of the school where the professional development was occurring, I looked down at my feet while we were breaking between workshops. My shoes were on the wrong feet! They had been that way all morning! Before going to my next workshop, I swapped my shoes around. Walking to the next room, I felt like I was wearing new shoes. Funny how your stride is so much more pleasant when your shoes are on the correct feet!

Planning the Escape

This blog will hopefully be an inspiration to others to escape a prison that they may feel they too are in due to their health; whether it be physical, emotional, or mental. Writing has always helped me to learn more about myself...allowing me to take a step back to really analyze what is going on in my life. I no longer want to feel as though my only option in life is to take medicine for my symptoms of multiple sclerosis and other afflictions. There has to be more that I can do to help me. Not being a health professional or scientist, these posts are meant for encouragement not medical advice. However, as you follow me through my journey to freedom, I hope you are encouraged to live your life free from health restraints. I no longer want my fatigue, pain, or being ill to dictate my schedule.


When I first heard about MS, I didn't know anything about the disease. I devoured books, internet sites, and journals trying to find out as much as I could. I wanted to know more about the symptoms...know what to expect. Therefore, I will write about symptoms...not sure how often or how much I will say about them at this time. Don't want the symptoms to take over the excitement of the escape. Yet, I want to be realistic for others who are like me...who are looking for a true source that lets them honestly know what to expect. Finding the right balance will occur as my blog develops.