natural girls
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Hi, Patty ~ Sorry to hear about your shoulder. How long has this been going on? Did you injure it? Any chance it's LE-related? Just trying to get a better pix of the problem before weighing in.
Speaking of MRI's, I will be at UCLA tomorrow for a 2.5 yr. check up that includes an MRI. Last time (when I was dx'd) the initial IV for that procedure turned out to be a big ordeal that had me in tears. Please pray that tomorrow won't be a repeat of that experience. At this point, I'm more worried about the IV than the results!
Deanna
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Deanna I will be praying for you. All this stuff is so scary much less dealing with the iv of all things!
I did injure my shoulder. I had pt and that helped some but then start to aggravate it. It is not LE related because it is the opposite shoulder. I was babying my LE arm when I injured the shoulder. Now both arms are not working properly!
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I injured my shoulder. I have no idea how I did it. My PCP said I probably had some micro tears of the muscle. I kept gently working it and it slowly came back to almost normal. The exercise that helped the most was bending at the waist and with my arm relaxed, I slowly moved it in a small circular motion. I increased the size of the circle over time and was eventually able to do gentle windmill like motions.
It took months for it to heal so patience is a must.
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hi patty.i had a torn rotary cuff.very painful.took a shot and went to pt.it took a long time and 2 more shots and 3x a week therapy for 1yr.but im fine now..yes the shots are like a bandaid but it helps.therapy is a must.good luck
and good luck to Deanna.ill be praying for both of you..gentle hugs to everyone
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I am worried about the injections because they are steroid injections. I really don't want steroids in my body. I just have inflammation nothing torn.
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yes they are steroids...if its not torn and you can take the pain i would not take the shot.
BUT you should have some kind of pt.even if its gentle movement.i teach a class on gentle movement.the bottom line is if you dont use it you lose it...pt is wonderful if you find the right one.good luck and i wish you pain free days
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Patty, ginger has anti-inflammatory properties. Nearly two years ago I started putting a slice of ginger root in my daily juices. I was simply following a recipe I found and stuck with it because I really liked the combination. Then I realized my aching hip that had been bothering me intermittently for months was not bothering me anymore. Occasionally I would run out of ginger and I noticed that my hip would ache after just 2-3 days. I have a lot of variables at any given time, even though I try to wait at least 3 weeks before trying the next new thing, but I had several occasions when I'd run out of ginger, and my hip would tell me to get some more. I use ginger root from the produce section, and there's lots of ways to use it if you don't juice. I hope it helps if you decide to try it.
Deanna, good luck with your mri tomorrow. And that was great info on apple cider vinegar you provided a page or two ago. Hope you get a good techhie that can hit a vein on the first try with the iv and hope even more that you have great scan results.
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Patty! I don't know what is going on, but I have twice written lengthy posts re. your inflammation, and both times I've lost them. So here goes my third (more abbreviated) attempt.
Do you have David Servan-Schreiber's Anti-Cancer book? How about Keith Block's Life After Cancer? Both have excellent information on inflammation, with the latter being especially complete in terms of charts of anti-inflammatory lifestyle modifications, vegetables, fruits & supplements. Ginger (Althea's suggestion), as well as quite a few other supplements are mentioned, with advice to get a blend that has several of them -- or, even better, figure out which of your inflammation markers are high to determine the source of your inflammation and choose a supplement that specifically addresses it. It's a pretty comprehensive chapter. If you don't have the book, feel free to PM me, and I can try to share more of it with you.
I also think notself gave you excellent advice -- that it sometimes takes a very long time for an injury to heal, but that doesn't mean it won't eventually, with the right care. Have you considered seeing a different PT, maybe someone with a holistic approach who could guide you?
OT, I wanted to share an article I read this a.m. that was a link on a friend's Facebook page. I honestly thought they were kidding (wry British humor) the first time I read this, but after rereading it, I don't think that's the case.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2009/aug/16/orthorexia-mental-health-eating-disorder
I thought it was so incredulous that I actually Googled images of the writer and the experts she quotes, to see what they looked like! Deanna
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eeek! I think I am orthorexic!! I'm just not convinced it's a bad thing.....
Best wishes on your MRI Deanna. I, too, am having anxiety about my MRI next week. I had the same thing happen with my first MRI...wound up with a nasty bruise on each arm. Then again, the last time I did not know there would be an IV and I had put lotion on. This time I know better! Here's hoping we will both have an easy time of it.
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Deanna-
I will be thinking of you and your MRI. Good Luck!
I was having issues with IV's - it took 5 tries before one of my surgeries and I was in tears and had swelling and bruises for a couple of weeks. I found out that if you drink tons of water 24 hrs beforehand(which of course I couldn't do before surgery) and if you wrap your arm in a heated blanket(or something similar like a hand dryer in the rest room)- it makes it lots easier.
Beth
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Deanna,
Do not take ginger before your MRI. All anti-inflammatories can cause an increase in bleeding.
I take Turmeric with my Onc's Ok. It is also an anti-iinflammatory so I do not take it for a couple of days prior to lab work.
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Deanna and Suzanne...I know EXACTLY what you are afraid of with the IV as I have similar experiences most of the time with IVs and Blood Draws.
Wishing you both all the best.
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Deanna-My prayers are with you on the MRI. Isn't it something how we are all now more afraid of medical procedures than the outcome? I know I will never do another mammogram, and I will have to think I am dying before I will let them inject any more of those dyes.Heck, just doing a spit test yesterday for my hormones bugged me. I know I am overreacting but nothing is logical anymore.
Seaotter-have you gone to a chiropractor? When I had condritis, which is just inflammation in the tissue between and around the ribs and sternum, my chiro had his PT do deep tissue massage. It was painful, but she broke up the inflammation and the condritis that had plagued me for years, went away in just 4 treatments and never came back. You could also try a warm compress (I put a damp washcloth in the micro for a few seconds) with castor oil on it. Sit with this for a hour a few times a day. It draws out the toxins. I am not sure how a FIR sauna would work on an injury. I know it would not be good for the first few days, but it is wonderful for rehab. I got poison ivy this week, while pulling weeds in my garden. When I came in, my arm was all swollen so I knew I was in for it. I painted my arm with iodine and sat in the portable FIR I am testing for my website. I was hoping to draw out and kill the toxins. It worked really well! My arm did itch like crazy for a couple of days, but I only got two little tiny bumps and it never spread. If anyone is interested in a FIR, this one is really great. It is like a little tent you sit in and takes only a couple of minutes to set up. It folds up to the size of a small suitcase for storage. Let me know if you want one and I can get you a discount. I know it is hard to think of a FIR now when the temperature is 90 plus, but I think it is one of the most important preventatives we could do. Cancer cells do not survive at high temperatures. And the FIR is such an amazing penetrating heat. I have not been able to sweat much after being zapped but I come out of the FIR just dripping. It is so invigorating. These portables are still expensive, under $1000,but they are worth the investment. I sit in it and read one of my health books, and feel like I am killing all those free radicals. Oh how I wish I had done this instead of that toxic radiation. I totally believe it would have killed any stray cancer cells. And with what radiation cost me, I could have bought a FIR for everyone!
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Vivre - so good to see you! Thank you so much for the advice, I will try anything at this point. The sauna you describe sounds wonderful. The only thing for me is I can't get my arm hot because I have no nodes left. Are you able to hang one arm out? Way to go curing your poison ivy that way!
Love to all, Patty
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Patty-
You and I are too similar - I hurt my rotator cuff on my MX/LE arm last week in yoga. WHile I am waiting to get into the PT who is LE certified, I am having decent relief from homeopathic ARnica. I do think that deep tissue massage and possible electrical stimulation will help.
Vivre-
Good to hear from you! I have been interested in FIR sauna, but have a similar issue as Patty, as I have mild lymphedema. Are you claustrophobic in the tent? I have actually investigated a BIOMAT that is supposed to have similar advantages to FIR sauna in terms of elevating body temperature to kill cancer cells. I just don't understand all the ramifications with lymphedema. SOmething else to research!
Beth
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Hi vivre! Good to see you again. I had a home sauna when I lived in Oregon. It wasn't a FIR, but I sure loved that sauna. Now I live in south Texas, and this time of year, just stepping outside is like a sauna. lol Especially the day after Alex landed in Mexico, boy howdy, it took my breath away just going to the mailbox. I doubt I'd ever want a FIR sauna while living here, but I can sure hope that I get some of the same benefits when I'm out there doing yardwork.
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it is High 90s here in Fla....does baking in the sun for 20 to 30 minutes have the same effect as the FIR sauna???
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What is great about this FIR is that it has armholes, so you can indeed put your arm outside the tent.
BoyHowdy Althea, I know it gets hot down there in Texas. We are sweating here too. But I have to say the sweat you get from a FIR feels so different. It is a penetrating heat that breaks up toxins deep within the cells. I have been going into it at night, when it cools. Makes you sleep well too.
Are you gals doing your rebounding? That is still the most important exercise we can do, especially if you have lymphedema. The lymph will not move on it's own. I bounce at least 20 minutes, almost every evening. I think it is so much fun. I can get you a discount on a great rebounder too if anyone wants a good quality one that is reasonably priced.
I got asked to write a blog for an online Chicago magazine. I will let you all know when I get it going.
If you have not checked out our website recently, we are starting a "Think Beyond the Pink" campaign that we hope will eventually result in walks and talks for prevention. I am working to get a couple of great foundations involved so they can get funds to promote prevention and thermography. I hope you will all join in and spread the word. Komen, look out!
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Good morning all! I had an ultra sound done my girls yesterday and it came back all clean! Geesh the grief we all go through will these tests! I kept trying to read the girls face that was doing the ultra sound to see if she had a concerned look or a surprised look - I got nothing! Then she said I will have the doctor read this right away - my thought was "ok I'm full of cancer". Thank God I was all wrong! The doc is pressing me to get a mammo because I have had mico-calcification's in both breasts and have had some removed. He said the mammo was the only way to detect those. I have sworn off mammos but now I don't know what to do. If any of you wonderful ladies have any advice for me. I would appreciate it.
Beth what is arnica? I did put castor oil on with a hot compress last night. Should I be doing deep tissue massage myself? About the saunas and LE, I do know we can't get that arm above 100 degrees. I have a sauna and I hang my arm out when I am in it (I don't think it is a fir). I don't use it very often because I worry about my arm.
Peace and Blessing to all, Patty
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Patty-
Arnica is a homeopathic remedy that is good to take before and after any surgery to reduce bruising and pain. It is also good for pain from any type of muscle trauma. You can buy it at WHole Foods or any health store. It is sold in little tubes which contain pellets that you put 3-5 pellets under your tongue to slowly dissolve several times a day. It is important not to touch the pellets, so the tube has a dispenser which you twist to get the pellets into the cap and then you can dump them into your mouth. You should take them away from food or drink - allow about 20 minutes before and after you take a dose.
There is also an arnica cream and gel which you can rub on the sore area. I have also used a cream called Traumeel - which includes arnica and several other homepathic remedies in it.
Maybe it is because I do not tolerate pain meds well, but I really believe in homeopathy. I had 5 surgeries and the only time I used pain meds was for a few days after my mastectomy - the rest of my surgeries I used only homepathic remedies.
AS far as trying to work the area - I can feel "lumps" of "scar tissue" in my arm - so I know I need to get it to break up. I have been using something called the "stick" to try and roll over the area and break it up - I also have tried just pressing on the area and then releasing and it has helped some, although it feels really "bruised" after I do it. I used to go to a chiropractor who has a special method called the "grafton procedure" where he would rub the scar tissue with small implements that look kinda like spoons and dull knives.He healed my neuromaa and a rotator cuff injury 8 years ago with that procedure. It bruised like crazy and hurt like hell, but it worked! Unfortunately, he is no longer in practice.
Vivre - Yep, I did just get back into rebounding. Funny thing is I used to do it years ago and then gave my rebounder away when we moved.
Be Well!
Beth
Beth
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Vivre, could you please send me a link to the FIR you like? I need to FIR my breast and nodes too, and also to detox. Many thanks!
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Just a quick fly by to thank you all for the prayers yesterday! The verbal results of my mammo, u/s & MRI were all clear and the dreaded IV went in without a hitch. And the way that happened really did seem like an answer to prayer -- first no visible veins... then I tell the nurse that all my friends are praying (ha! ...no pressure!)... and suddenly there's a very obvious vein that she accesses absolutely perfectly the first time! Hallalujah! And, Beth, thank you for reminding me to drink tons of water. I did, and I think that made a huge difference.
Patty ~ So glad your u/s was also clear! YaY!!!
vivre ~ So good to see your post! I really miss you here and have only procrastinated about registering for your site because I spend waaaay too much time on the computer already, and I haven't been able to tear myself away from BCO. I love the sound of "Think Beyond the Pink," and will be interested to read about what you're doing! And thanks for the reminder about rebounding. Besides helping with LE, what else does it do? Deanna
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Yeah Patty and Deanna! Love it when prayers are answered!
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Patty, I can only share with you my personal thinking re. mammograms, which is based on my dx, not anyone else's. I have been extremely interested in the discussions here about thermography. However, when I asked my BS @ UCLA about them, she was quite negative about relying on them for future detection. Perhaps if I had never been dx'd, or if my bc had not been invasive, I would be doing them as an alternative to mammos, as are some of my friends who have never had bc. But I put my life in my BS's hands when I chose her, and I continue to trust her implicitly. I don't like the idea of continuing to radiate my body one bit. I wish I could put my faith in therms. But until someone I trust as much as Dr. Prati convinces me that therms are equal in detection capabilities for what was going on in my body, I'm going to continue getting my mammograms.
Now, that said, I have never had a therm, so my evaluation is clearly and unfairly one-sided. But the invasive, 3 different types of bc, Grade 3, and in a lymph node features about my bc don't encourage me to go against my BS's advice and put my trust in a screening technique that she clearly doesn't trust -- at least not for the time being. But I will continue to read about them and maybe eventually will try one, if and when I can find a place & a therm tech I think are on a par with UCLA & Dr. Prati in truly understanding bc. JMO... Deanna
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Regarding thermography-Doctors are only saying what they have been led to believe by the whole mammography industry. Either one is only as good as the experience of the tech who is doing it. Sadly, there is are not enough trained thermographers, and that is it's only shortcoming IMO. The new thermography cameras can detect minscule tumors long before they can be seen on a mammo. Especially for young women, whose breast tissue is always changing, and for women with dense breasts, thermography has many benefits over mammos besides the obvious of no radiation exposure. I recently spoke to a doctor who is from CALIFORNIA which is the state on the cutting edge of all the best breast cancer research. Lots of folks there are willing to think outside the box. This doctor said the new cameras can detect breast cancer 90% of the time, while mammos have only a 60% detection rate. What therms see, is excessive blood flow, which tumors need to support thier lecherous little lives. Look at the info at breastthermography.org
If a doctor recommends a therm over a mammo they will lose their liscense because the mammo industry, bankrolled by Komen, has the money to stifle the facts and go after anyone who dares to question. Until we women demand it, things will not change. We need to educate our own doctors by showing them our thermographs and insist they take them seriously.
Like everything else, if one tumor is missed on a thermograph, it will be deemed a failure. If dozens of tumors are missed on mammos (as mine was), it will be touted as "Oh, well, we sometimes we miss them". It just infuriates me! Only if we DEMAND thermography will it be taken seriously and become the potent tool it can be. I will NEVER radiate and compress my breasts again. I found a great doctor who does my therms, and my ND does ultrasound for backup.
Imagine if every doctor started taking thems in their offices with young women, just as they do blood pressure. They would have a series of photos that they could keep an eye on regularly and notice any changes. If a problem seems to appear, this can compel a woman to change her eating habits and add supplements, and do another therm in a couple of months. If things get better, she has learned to take better care of herself. If things look worse, then perhaps more tests need to be run.
But alas, I am dreaming again.
But I am hellbent on getting others to "Think Beyond the Pink". We will prevail.
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Vivre - my concern now is micro-calcification's. I have had them in the past and had to have some removed. They can become cancerous. My doctor is saying only the mam can show those. Have you read anything about micro-calcification's. Always good to see you!
Peace and Blessings to all, Patty
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So happy to read your post, vivre. You are always so on top of the latest information. Is the doctor you mentioned in Southern California? If so, can you possibly post his name or PM it to me? I would like to look into him.
I can understand why conventional medicine isn't yet on board with thermography. There are very few places to get one, and how do you know if the tech is good or not? In our area, thermography is promoted by the same anti-pharmaceutical compounding pharmacist who had assured me he could cure my bc with high ph water. And while I think he's a wonderful, forward-thinking CAM provider who steers many grateful people away from harmful pharmceuticals, it's hard for me to totally separate therms in my mind from the high ph water in lieu of surgery recommendation I had from him. And his expertise in breast cancer pales by comparison to UCLA's, where they are also surprisingly open-minded and supportive of scientifically-proven CAM therapies. But I am going to remain open-minded and would love to know the name of that CA doc. Deanna
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Re: organic wheat grass or organic lemon grass?
Is one better? Both the same?
Advice on a wheat grass juicer? Do you juice lemon grass the same way?
Can you just cut the wheat grass and make tea of it or do you have to juice it?
Thank you!
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So ladies, do any of you know anything about micro-calcification's?
Peace and Blessings, Patty
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Seaotter, I only know that when I had them 10 years ago they did a biop because they were clustered. Didn't find any BC at that time.
You ladies are a wealth of info. I've been taking notes and searching the sites you've recommended.
Q - Have any of you had heartburn before being diagnosed. I never had it before but over the past 4 years it's become a real problem. Then in March I was DX with IDC - I found some of your info saying something about the pancrease/liver connection.
Thanks for all your help. This site has been a lifesaver for me, mental and otherwise!
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