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.

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.

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.