Saving Sara

WellWriting for Health After Trauma and Abuse

2006-01-31T01:18:00.000-08:00

By Ellen Taliaferro, MD

WellWriting is a form of expressive writing used to promote wellness and self-improvement after past stress and trauma. Writing as a health tool goes by several names:

Journaling
Expressive writing
Therapeutic writing
Emotive writing

Research by psychologist James Pennebaker from the University of Texas in Austin and others in the healthcare field has proven that such writing is a therapeutic tool. Their research reveals the positive effects of writing to discharge negative and harmful emotions associated with past trauma.

Improvement of various physical and mental conditions has been reported in several patient populations through the use of control studies. To date improvement has been shown for asthma, arthritis, chronic pain syndromes and chronic fatigue syndrome, just to name a few.

Does expressive writing work? In the summer 2004 issue of Clinical Psychology: Science & Practice, Dr. Pennebaker notes that expressive writing has in general produced good results, but the real puzzle is why does it work and how? To date, there has not been a single theory produced to explain why it works. This may be, in part, because expressive writing affects those who engage in it on many different levels: mentally, emotionally, physically and socially.

Still, we know some things about journaling or expressive writing. Such writing leads to self-disclosure that helps you identify your problems and recognize their emotional impact on you.

Experiences that cause you trauma can lead you to have intricate and distressful feelings. To complicate matters, others who underwent the same trauma at the same time may be impacted entirely differently. What a mystery that some are affected one way while others go free of lingering emotion.

Dr. Taliaferro teaches you how to use WellWriting, a form of therapeutic journaling, to improve your health and well-being. For an excerpt of her book,
WellWriting for Health After Trauma and Abuse, visit her website at http://www.healthaftertrauma.com

New Depression and Anxiety Info: Choosing Light-Heartedness

2005-11-03T02:00:00.000-08:00

By Kari Joys

Depression and anxiety are the symptoms you develop when you don't deal with your emotions in healthy, appropriate ways. When you learn simple skills for being who you really are and expressing your true emotions, you can actually choose to be authentically lighthearted. You probably didn't learn as a child how to express your natural feelings, because your parents didn't know the importance of emotions. Psychology is still a new science and it's only in the past two decades that people have begun to realize the value of expressing feelings.

It's sad that we are not taught the importance of emotional health as children. We learn calculus and ancient history in high school and college, but we're not given the proper education or role modeling to be emotionally healthy individuals. Far too often we don't learn, until it's much too late, what it takes to have healthy relationships or emotionally healthy families!

You can overcome depression and anxiety, and actually choose to be lighthearted by the way you live your life on a daily basis. Learning to express your true feelings, heal your relationships, and face your difficult issues head on helps you to transcend the effects of the way you were raised and become the person you were meant to be.

You don't have to be a rocket scientist to learn the basic skills necessary to make your life meaningful and successful. You simply need a clear understanding of the necessary skills and consistent practice of those skills over time. The truth is that with consistent practice, anyone can learn to be authentic and lighthearted. Often it is simply the lack of knowledge and practical experience that keeps a person stuck in unfulfilling, emotional ruts.

As a psychotherapist, I work with depression and anxiety daily. Much of my time is spent helping people learn to express and release their difficult emotions so that they can get in touch with their true selves and make healthy changes in their lives. Often people don't know who they are or what they need to do in their lives, because their emotions are so balled up inside that they literally can't see the forest for the trees. When they do the emotional healing that is necessary and their emotions are cleared, the changes they need to make in their lives become obvious. They don't need other people's advice, because the truth wells up from deep inside them.

Personal relationships are often people's biggest struggle, because they have an inner vision of the love and harmony that they know is possible, while their every day interactions leave much to be desired. It's such a joy to me to help people find the simple truth that makes such a dynamic difference in their lives!

To me it's very sad that with all of the advances we have made in the field of psychology in the past three decades, that most people still don't have the knowledge and information they need to lead healthy, functioning lives. We, as a culture, have far too much useless information with far too little emphasis on what really matters and what really brings about the joy and meaning and lightheartedness that we are all seeking.

The good news is that depression and anxiety don't have to be a life sentence! You can choose lightheartedness if you are willing to do what it takes to change your habits and your lifestyle. You can achieve joy, fulfillment and true lightheartedness by learning to be authentic and sharing your heart and soul with the people you love!

Copyright © 2005 Kari Joys. All rights reserved.

Author Kari Joys, MS ("Choosing Light-Heartedness, A 33-Day Journey to Overcome Anxiety, Depression and Dysfunctional Family Issues") teaches you how to get in touch with your true self and learn to live lightheartedly. More info at Kari's lovely website http://www.kari-joys.com. Get help today with your depression and anxiety symptoms!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/

Designing for People with Disabilities

2005-10-30T22:02:00.000-08:00

Kitchen Design Trends: What's Hot for Your Kitchen?
By Craig Rowe

So, you have just made the decision to remodel the kitchen! No decision about your home environment is more important because of the key activities that take place in the kitchen. Now is the time to do a little personal research and find out what your options are.

Exploring Space in Your Kitchen

The larger the space, the easier it is to outfit your kitchen for a modern multi-tasking family. But, not all kitchens are large enough to blend task areas. A qualified and experienced kitchen planning specialist may be able to help you "find" additional square footage you didn't realize you have by removing a wall, opening a closet or raising the ceiling.

Add critical space to your kitchen by carefully planning your cabinets to include features that store the kinds of items you have. Many and varied special cabinets or cabinet inserts are available for every imaginable storage need.

Universal Kitchen Design

The emphasis on ease-of-use in public buildings prompted by the Americans with Disabilities Act is prompting a growing trend in the housing market, too. Whether you have a disabled person in your family or not, everyone can benefit by keeping Universal Design principles in mind when planning a new kitchen. Innovations like those in KraftMaid's Passport Cabinetry make it simple to be sure all functions in the kitchen can be easily performed by any family member regardless of stature or physical capabilities.

Five Tips for Universal Design in Your Kitchen

Universal Design means planning the spaces that everyone finds easy to use
One of the most basic principles of kitchen design is offering a variety of work top heights
Beauty does not need to be sacrificed for functionality. Both are important and can work together to create an ambient environment
Place kitchen appliances where they can be easily reached and allow use by a seated person
Be sure kitchen cabinet doors and pull-outs increase access rather than impede it, if there is a wheelchair user in your family

SuperKitchens offers practical, time-tested kitchen remodeling ideas that guide you in kitchen design with articles and tips on planning and designing your kitchen. Visit http://www.SuperKitchens.com today.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/

One Important Thing Doctors Forget to Tell You About VNS Surgery

2005-10-29T07:45:00.000-07:00

Vagus Nerve Stimulation surgery, a last-ditch effort to control seizures, stirs up a controversy amongst those who have the device implanted. Many patients love the relief from uncontrollable seizures. However, many other patients hate the side-effects caused by the surgery and the devise.

Up to 70% of people could have their seizures controlled with prescription drugs. For the remaining 30%, surgery may be an option. Epilepsy surgery has many different variations; temporal lobe resection, extratemporal cortical resection, and corpus callosal section. Besides these radical surgeries, Vagus or Vagal Nerve Stimulation surgery (VNS) implants a VNS pulse generator under the skin of the chest in a surgically created pocket. The electrode is tunneled subcutaneously from a neck incision. The VNS uses electrical pulses delivered to the vagus nerve in the neck which travel up into the brain. The vagus nerve has very few pain receptors and therefore provides a good pathway to deliver signals to the brain.

No one knows why the VNS reduces seizures. Proponents believe that persistent VNS causes changes in brain chemistry that may reduce excitatory amino acids and/or increase inhibitory levels. Patients report that VNS reduces the number, length, severity of seizures, and the length of recovery time after seizures. Some report improved quality of life. "It has been almost three years since my VNS, and the only thing I would have changed is that I would have had it about ten years earlier than I did."

However, one important thing doctors forget to tell you before they implant the VNS in a $23,000 surgery: If you have a heart attack, you can not be treated with an automated external defibrillator (AED). Patients with VNS cannot receive emergency treatment with electrical charges used to restore normal heart rhythm to patients in cardiac arrest.

Copyright © 2005 Jeanette J. Fisher. All rights reserved.
http://www.savingsara.info

2005-10-13T07:19:00.000-07:00

About Cerebral Palsy
By Frank Hague

Definition of Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral palsy is a general term describing a group of chronic
non-pregressive neurological symptoms which cause impaired
control of movement and which are evident in the first few
years of life, usually before age 3. The disorders are induced
by damage or faulty development of the motor areas in the
brain, disrupting the patient's ability to control movement and
posture. Symptoms of cerebral palsy include difficulty with fine
motor tasks such as writing, poor balance and walking, and
involuntary movements. The exact combination of symptoms
differs from patient to patient and may vary over time. Some
patients also have seizures and intellectual disability,
however, this is not always the case. Babies with cerebral
palsy are frequently slower than average in achieving
developmental milestones like learning to roll over, sit,
crawl, smile, or walk. Cerebral palsy is usually thought of as
congenital or perinatal, however, it can also be acquired after
birth. Many of the causes of cerebral palsy that have been
identified through research are preventable or even treatable:
head injury, Rh incompatibility, jaundice and rubella (German
measles).

Diagnosis of Cerebral Palsy

Doctors diagnose cerebral palsy by tests of motor skills and
reflexes and by medical history.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Computerized Tomography
(CT) scans are typically ordered when the physician suspects
cerebral palsy; howerer, they are not definitive. These tests
can provide evidence of physical abnormalities such as
hydrocephalus (an accumulation of fluid in the cerebral
ventricles of the brain), and they can be utilized to exclude
other brain disorders. These scans do not prove that the
patient has cerebral palsy; nor do they predict how well a
specific patient will function in the future. Patients with
normal scans may have severe symptoms, and while others whose
scans are clearly abnormal have only modest physical signs.
However, as a group, patients with cerebral palsy are
statistically more likely to have brain scars, cysts, and other
changes visible on scans. When physical examination suggests
cerebral palsy, an abnormal scan helps confirms the clinical
diagnosis.

Even though specific symptoms can change as time passes,
cerebral palsy by definition isn't progressive, so if a patient
shows increasing impairment, the problem is usually another
neurological disorder.

Varieties of Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral palsy is classified by the type of movement problem
(such as spastic or even athetoid cerebral palsy) or by he body
parts affected (hemiplegia, diplegia, and quadriplegia).
Spasticity refers to the inability of a muscle to relax, while
athetosis refers to an inability to control its movement.
Babies who are initially hypotonic ("floppy") may later develop
spasticity. Hemiplegia is cerebral palsy that involves 1 arm and
1 leg on one side of the body, whereas diplegia is the
involvement of both legs. Quadriplegia refers to symptoms
involving all 4 extremities as well as trunk and neck muscles.
Balance and coordination problems are referred to as ataxia.

For instance, a patient with spastic diplegia has mostly
spastic muscle problems of the legs, while perhaps also
displaying a smaller component of athetosis and balance
problems. The patient with athetoid quadriplegia, on the more
hand, would have lack of control of the muscles of both arms
and legs, however such a patient will usually have smaller
problems with ataxia and spasticity as well. Normally a child
with quadriplegic cerebral palsy will be unable to walk
independently. The degree of impairment can vary from patient
to patient and range from mild to severe.

Cerebral Palsy Therapy

There is no standard therapy that benefits all patients. Drugs
are useful to control seizures and muscle cramps and braces can
compensate for muscle imbalance. Surgery, mechanical aids to
help overcome impairments, counseling for emotional and
psychological needs, and physical, occupational, speech, and
behavioral therapy are all effective.

Prognosis for Cerebral Palsy

Though cerebral palsy is incurable to date, many patients can
enjoy near-normal lives if their neurological symptoms are
properly managed.

Medical Research

There is evidence which suggests that cerebral palsy results
from incorrect cell development early in prenatal life. As an
example, a group of researchers has recently observed that
approximately one-third of cerebral palsy patients also have
missing enamel on certain teeth. Bleeding inside the brain,
breathing and circulation problems and seizures can all cause
cerebral palsy and each has separate causes and treatment.
Researchers are currently conducting trials to determine
whether certain drugs can help halt neonatal stroke, and more
investigators are examining the causes of low birth-weight.
More studies are being done to determine how brain trauma (like
brain damage from a shortage of oxygen or blood flow, bleeding
in the brain, and seizures) can cause the release of brain
chemicals which lead to premanent brain damage.

Organizations Funding Cerebral Palsy Research & Therapy

Easter Seals, Epilepsy Foundation, March of Dimes Birth Defects
Foundation, United Cerebral Palsy, National Disability Sports
Alliance, Childrens Neurobiological Solutions Foundation,
Childrens Hemiplegia and Stroke Foundation.

About the Author: Frank Hague is interested in Medical
Knowledge - http://www.cerebral-palsy-now.info

Source: http://www.isnare.com

Working With The Disabled

2005-09-21T14:17:00.000-07:00

Since Congress passed the Americans with Disabilities Act in 1990, people who previously had limited or no access to public places now move about with a degree of ease in the workplace. While these people have their challenges with sight, hearing or movement, those who work with them are often confused about how to interact them with sensitivity and understanding.

Here are some of the issues to keep in mind.

When it is necessary to mention the disability, language should emphasize the person first, the disability second. Rather than referring to someone as an epileptic, say "person with epilepsy" or "John, who has epilepsy...."

Avoid words that have a negative tone. People who use wheelchairs are not "bound" or "confined" to their chairs. A person may have spastic muscles but should not be described as spastic.

Preferred language is simple. Instead of saying that a person is "crippled with arthritis," "suffering from MS," "afflicted with ALS," say, "John has epilepsy" or "Mary has MS."

Use the following terms:

"Congenital disability" rather than "birth defect." "Non-disabled" rather than "normal," "healthy" or "able-bodied." "Condition" rather than "disease" or "defect." "Visually impaired" rather than "blind" unless a person is totally sightless. "Deaf" or "hard of hearing" rather than "hearing impaired." "Little person" or "dwarf" rather than "midget."Words or phrases like "victim," "cripple," "unfortunate," "dumb, " "deaf mute," "deformed" and "pitiful" are offensive.

Ask people with disabilities if they need or want help before trying to assist them. If they want assistance, ask for specific instructions on how you can be helpful.

Look directly at any person with a disability when talking even if the person has an interpreter or companion present.

Don't assume a speech impairment indicates that a person also has a hearing impairment or intellectual limitations.

Allow people with speech impairments to finish their own sentences. Don't talk for them or interrupt. Ask questions that permit short answers or a nod of the head. The other person always has the option of giving a longer response.

Speak calmly, slowly, and distinctly to a person who has a hearing problem or other difficulty understanding. Stand in front of the person and use gestures to aid communication.

When walking with a person who is visually impaired, allow that person to set the pace. If the person asks for or accepts your offer of help, don't grab his arm. It is easier for him to hold onto you.

Never start to push someone's wheelchair without first asking the occupant's permission.

Leaning on a wheelchair when talking to the person is inconsiderate.

If you will be having a long conversation with someone using a wheelchair, get a chair and sit at eye level with the person. You will both feel more comfortable.

Keep in mind that people with disabilities are just like everyone else with the exception of certain physical conditions. Treat them as the capable competent co-workers or colleagues they are.

(c)2005, Lydia Ramsey. All rights in all media reserved.

Lydia Ramsey is a business etiquette expert, professional speaker, corporate trainer and author of MANNERS THAT SELL - ADDING THE POLISH THAT BUILDS PROFITS. She has been quoted or featured in The New York Times, Investors' Business Daily,
Entrepreneur, Inc., Real Simple and Woman's Day. For more information about her programs, products and services, e-mail her or visit her web site http://www.mannersthatsell.com

Special Education & Mainstreaming

2005-09-20T00:40:00.000-07:00

By Kelly Gorski

In the district I work in, just like others across the United States, special education departments have been dismantled and special education certifications have been debunked.

Because special education certifications no longer carry the same weight as other teaching licenses, said educators no longer have the right to teach their own classes. This has lead to most special education students being taught in regular education classrooms.

This type of inclusion does not always work.

In theory, this form of mainstreaming may seem ideal for special education students, since they are now in an environment with their peers and have the support of another teacher in the room that will adhere to all IEP requirements, including test modification and extended testing time. In practice, however, this only furthers the euphemism of the dreaded No Child Left Behind Act, which seeks to dismantle the public education system through unattainable goals of proficiency for all students by 2014. This can also further isolation of the aforementioned students and distractions to regular education peers, resulting in stagnated social development and more frustration.

Money and Education

Some mainstreamed students do very well in a regular education classroom, provided they have assistance in implementing their IEPs, but not all special education students work well in this type of environment.

Most districts hope to save money by placing disabled children out of the small, specialized classes that many of them need to succeed, and instead educate them in a classroom where they will compete with non-disabled peers. About 5 1/2 million children — 11 to 12 percent of the average public school’s population — are categorized as having special needs. The U.S. Department of Education estimates the cost of educating the students is at about $30 billion annually, up from about $1 billion 20 years ago. This 22 percent of total education spending is then educating less than 13 percent of the children, with about three times as much spent on each full-time special-education student as on each regular-education child.

On the other hand, some parents and teachers see this as beneficial, because it allows the special child to interact with other “normal” children and therefore learn at the same pace; however, this mentality about special needs students implies that disabilities are due to a lack of motivation rather than caused by biological imbalances or mental disturbances.

Mainstreaming is being justified by the notion that segregation is damaging, since it promotes isolation and stereotypes, and that diversity is an undeniable social good. However, if this is the rhetoric we are forced to adhere to as teachers, we and the other special education teachers we work with can offer all the support and help we have access to, but some students who are developmentally delayed will not be proficient, no matter how much support is laid at their feet.

Why does everyone get it but me?

Mainstreaming does not always produce efficient results. Parents who have seen their special student flourish in a special environment, one that is small, equipped, and lead by a certified instructor, are now seeing their students in a classroom where they feel they are competing rather than learning. For example, some mainstreamed students will speak with me personally about how they “just aren’t getting it” but cannot ask questions during class for fear of being branded an “outcast” by peers who are moving at their normal pace. Other special needs students, especially ones with violent tendencies, also put other students as obvious risk, even with two support teachers in the classroom.

While mainstreaming may seem appropriate as per the parents, mainly because this means the state and federal governments are giving their child a free education, this act is taking away from “normal” students, even gifted ones. In my old high school, for example, we had an ADHD student in our classroom mainstreamed over from the special education department. This student exhibited all the signs of ADHD, including constant fidgeting, inability to concentrate on the main lecture of the class for too long, and made constant interruptions throughout the class, making it nearly impossible for the educator to teach other distracted regular education students. We, as teachers, cannot slow down a classroom’s pace if 89% of the students are comprehending the material while another 11% is struggling and distracting others.

Tricks of the Trade

Some students who are mainstreamed can learn in a regular education environment and then seek external assistance through learning support teachers; other students, however, with more immediate needs, cannot or will not be their own self-advocates and therefore, help will be given too little too late.

In media, the kid in the wheelchair has become a kind of mascot, beloved by all in his gang, but this is only a fragile and idealized image. In a real-life classroom where all of the children are non-disabled except the one who drools uncontrollably, who hears voices, blurts inappropriate statements out, or who can't read a simple sentence when everyone else can, further isolates himself, becomes secluded, will not ask for aid, and eventually close up to any other assistance offered since he/she is already branded “stupid.”

If these students feel the world is against them, and that if they open their mouth they will be ridiculed, it is easier for them to escape by pretending to be invisible and only look as if they understand. Regular and special education teachers can only do so much for a disabled student who will not open up, or who are smart enough to fake comprehension.

Options and Conflicts

By placing said type of student into a regular education classroom, an environment that may seem threatening at times, the student may feel the content of the class is too overwhelming. If there is no other place for the student to go except an alternate setting, which might not be the most suitable environment, but also since the education facility lacks any other transitional curriculum, which used to be the special education department, the student is faced with two less-than-perfect options: a regular education class that “goes too fast” or an alternate setting that “goes too slow.”

Another concern that was recently been brought to the attention of administrations across the States is the issue of diplomas. Is a special education student, one who receives extra testing time, testing modification, and learning support entitled to the same diploma as a student who went through the process without such aides? For example, students who needs tests read to them because they lack the reading level required for that class will graduate high school with the same honor as regular education students, only to have that support pulled from them as they lead a life post-graduation. This is an injustice to both types of learners since one is being “pushed through” while the other earns the right to proceed to the next grade or graduate.

Conclusion and Analogy

To remove the special education department from public schools does not give all students the ability to reach their potential. Placing idealized goals on teachers and students will not only hinder student development, it will also foster more frustration and anxiety for teachers. All students can learn, but every student learns differently. Placing students with a similar peer group in a classroom that fits the students’ differing learning styles will promote more comprehension and learning, which leads to a sense of accomplishment, rather than lumping all together into one big pot and hoping the teacher can handle it all.

As an analogy: no one would ever expect a dentist to cure all patients of cavities, regardless of what they ate, and yet all teachers are expected to have their students testing proficient or higher by 2014, regardless of external factors, including disabilities and parental influence. There are other factors that help or hinder a student’s education, just as there are other factors that cause cavities, and just as dentists cannot cure everything, a regular teacher cannot teach all special education students, especially since said teacher does not have control over external factors. There needs to be a learning environment for all students that will take their needs into consideration and offering the latest equipment to do so. Not all special education students will flourish in a regular education classroom, so we need to place them in environments that meet their needs just as we do with all students.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/

Accessibility Requirements for Fair Housing

2005-09-05T13:35:00.000-07:00

By Neda Dabestani-Ryba

Policy

Federal Fair Housing accessibility requirements for new multifamily buildings should be written in building code language certified as Fair Housing compliant by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). HUD should be vigilant in compliance education and assistance as is NAHB. Use of Fair Housing Initiatives Program funding for enforcement actions should be curtailed. Any enforcement actions should be reasonable and reflect the lack of clear guidance available for complying with the Act.

Background

The Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988 requires new multifamily buildings constructed for first occupancy after March 13, 1991 and consisting of four or more units to be accessible to disabled persons. HUD issued accessibility guidelines on March 6, 1991 and a supplementary design manual in August 1996 to provide guidance on complying with the law. But HUD's guidelines were poorly promulgated and not written in building code language, making it impractical for builders and local officials to define compliance, which has led to conflicting interpretations and inadvertent failures to meet certain requirements.

In response, building code language was cooperatively developed by NAHB, HUD, the International Code Council, and disability advocates and completed in May 2000. HUD has certified that the building code language satisfies the accessibility requirements of the Fair Housing Act and NAHB is promoting state and local adoption of the compliant code language. Federal promulgation of the requirements must still be intensified, however, if compliance is to be improved.

Addressing noncompliance of existing covered buildings (constructed for occupancy after March 13, 1991) remains contentious. Federally funded private advocacy groups and state and local housing agencies, HUD, and the Department of Justice are all actively involved in current enforcement actions and will continue to be. These actions are often threatening, based on questionably broad interpretations of federal requirements, fail to reflect the lack of compliance assistance at the time of construction, and divert resources that could otherwise be applied to more proactive solutions.

Solutions

Urge HUD to maintain compliance education as a priority and to actively participate in the building code amendment process to help ensure building code requirements are compliant with Fair Housing accessibility requirements. Further, urge HUD’s timely review of compliant building codes and approval of them as a safe harbor for compliance with Fair Housing accessibility requirements and to develop a more reasonable approach to addressing non-compliance.

Continue to support and actively participate in ongoing education and training efforts to inform builders about accessibility requirements under the Fair Housing Act.

Maintain NAHB’s Fair Housing Accessibility Education Accord with HUD as a demonstration of NAHB’s commitment to improving compliance through education and continue participation in HUD funded compliance initiatives.
Support the nationwide adoption of model accessibility building codes endorsed by HUD as providing a safe harbor for complying with the accessibility requirements of the Fair Housing Act.

Work with other interested groups, including building product manufacturers, disability advocates, real estate, and multifamily design and construction groups to promote education, outreach, and compliance with the accessibility requirements of the Fair Housing Act.

Urge HUD to prohibit the use of Fair Housing Initiatives Program funding for litigation.

Work with the Department of Justice to develop clear criteria for enforcing the accessibility requirements of the Fair Housing Act.

Support legislative or regulatory changes that would limit liability for industry members who were involved in the design and construction of non-compliant buildings due to a lack of clear guidance, and who made a good faith effort to meet the requirements of the law.

Neda Dabestani-Ryba is a licensed Realtor in Maryland. She is a member of the President's Circle of Top Real Estate Professionals. She can be reached at (800) 536-3806 or visit her website for more information: http://neda.dabestani.pcragent.com

Prudential Carruthers REALTORS is an independently owned and operated member of Prudential Real Estate Affiliates, Inc., a Prudential Financial company. Equal Housing Opportunity.

8 Medical Lies and Why I Abandoned Medicine

2005-08-16T13:39:00.000-07:00

By Shane Ellison, M.Sc.
Early to Rise © 2005
http://www.earlytorise.com/

By education and by trade, I was a drug chemist. My passion for
science motivated a successful career in drug design and synthesis -
in both academia and industry. As a scientist, I witnessed first-
hand the priorities of international pharmaceutical companies (Big
Pharma), which ranked wealth first and health a distant second.

In the pharmaceutical industry, making money supercedes science.
Science no longer prevails in medicine. Instead, modern medicine
has been democratized. Drug approval is a simple matter of 51%
telling the other 49% that a prescription drug is safe and
necessary. The outcome: deadly drugs are approved for use among
misinformed medical doctors and patients. Herein lies a story of
deceit and a chemist's abandonment of modern medicine.

My suspicion of modern medicine began while I was employed by Eli
Lilly to design a new generation of Hormone Replacement Therapy
(HRT) drugs. Such drugs include tamoxifen and raloxifene.
Initially, these drugs were thought to block estrogen receptors
(excess estrogen can initiate cancer growth) and thereby halt
cancer. As time progressed, though, it was learned that they were
also capable of activating estrogen receptors. The end result was a
biochemical environment favorable to cancer growth among users.[1]
The Journal of the American Medical Association recognized this
trend and stated "our data add to the growing body of evidence that
recent long-term use of HRT is associated with an increased risk of
breast cancer and that such use may be related particularly to
lobular tumors."

The risk of cancer associated with HRT drugs was obscured from
doctors by drug companies. This can be seen by the fact that
tamoxifen is the gold-standard used by medical doctors to fight
cancer among their patients, particularly breast cancer. This
explains why medical doctors might not notice its ability to cause
cancer - the patient already has it.

At any rate, my task was made clear: Design HRT "knock-offs" that
are effective without causing cancer.

My attempt to design safer alternatives was unsuccessful. And after
one year, the project was ended. However, access to HRT drugs like
tamoxifen was not. They remained on the market.

The fuel driving the continued use of HRT drugs was disinformation
via Direct-To-Consumer (DTC) advertising. Since 1962, monitoring DTC
advertising has been the sole responsibility of the Food and Drug
Administration (FDA). But in a ghastly conflict of interests, the
FDA granted the duty of DTC advertising to the pharmaceutical
companies in 1997. Officially, this was done as a means
of "promoting health awareness to ensure health and safety."
Unofficially, it was done to sell more drugs. DTC advertising
dictated that all women over 50 should use HRT to remain healthy.
Women scurried to their doctors to ask if "HRT was right for them."
My suspicion grew into conflict.

The disinformation campaign behind HRT drugs was not an isolated
case. I learned that drug advertising and science are frequently in
direct opposition to each other. For example:

DTC advertising dictates that lowering cholesterol prevents heart
disease. Science proves otherwise.

DTC advertising dictates that an aspirin a day will keep heart
attack away. Science proves otherwise.

DTC advertising dictates that depression is a disease that must be
treated with prescription drugs. Science proves otherwise.

DTC advertising dictates that ADHD is a disease and that our
children must be treated with amphetamines. Science proves
otherwise.

DTC advertising dictates that infants must be vaccinated to prevent
childhood illness. Science proves otherwise.

DTC advertising dictates that blood pressure must be controlled via
a lifetime of servitude to prescription drugs. Science proves
otherwise.

DTC advertising dictates that chemotherapy is your first line of
defense against deadly cancer. Science proves otherwise.

DTC advertising dictates that Type II diabetes must be treated with
daily insulin use. Science proves otherwise.

By spreading the aforementioned health myths, DTC advertising forges
a belief among the general public which asserts that drugs - not
lifestyle habits and nutrition - confer health and longevity. And
although, in reality, medicine is only necessary for sick people in
times of emergency, DTC advertising has been wildly successful in
convincing people that being healthy requires a lifetime of
prescription drug use. While it's true that the advertising usually
mentions the potential side effects of drugs, doctors tend to
discount them. They simply regurgitate the pharmaceutical-company
line that "the benefits of a drug outweigh the risks." Don't believe
it.

Western Medicine's plague of deception is deadlier than any virus,
illicit drugs, and terrorism combined. Well-documented in scientific
journals and reported by media outlets nationwide, FDA approved
drugs are killing an estimated 106,000 people every year.[2] That
equates to one individual dying every five minutes from "approved"
drugs - 300 people dying every day. Which is twice as many deaths
in a single year from "approved drugs" as the total number of U.S.
deaths from the Vietnam War.[3] This does not count death by
hospital medical error, which adds 98,000 deaths to the atrocity.
[4] If not killed, an estimated 2 million people are victims of
drug-induced illnesses.[5] These may include drug-induced obesity,
cancer, kidney disease, autism, depression and heart failure.

Hypnotized by DTC advertising, people are oblivious to the ill
effects of prescription drug use. This is evidenced by their
willingness to swallow whatever "the doctor ordered." They drug
their children, hop the borders to smuggle inexpensive prescription
drugs back into the U.S., beg their congressman for discounts and
pay a lifetime of insurance fees in order to snatch up these silent
killers. The avalanche of DTC advertising has smothered common
sense.

For the general public and medical doctors to fully grasp the effect
of Modern Medicine's Deceit, they have to judge the situation by
what a drug is actually accomplishing, rather than what the drug
company ads and pharmaceutically-compliant politicians insist. The
health benefits of prescription drugs are illusory. Step away from
the hypnotic drug ads, close the ghost-written medical journals,
discard research studies dominated by statistical contortionists and
give yourself a prescription-drug reality check: Very few
prescription drugs have any value outside of emergency medicine and
those that do can usually be replaced with safer and less expensive
natural medicine. This was a troublesome lesson for me, as an
aspiring drug chemist, to learn. Unfortunately, it was not the only
one.

Humanitarianism among Big Pharma has been abandoned. The technical
skills of chemists are not being used for humanitarian purposes.
They are being used in a deadly game of profiteering. Those at risk
are not the misinformed, high-paid medical doctors but rather their
patients. Becoming aware of this ripple effect of DTC advertising
led to my abandonment of modern medicine.

I had to face the cold, hard facts: Western Medicine has become a
billion dollar empire not out of keen science, but rather deceit.
The end result has been one nation under drugs. This subjugation
has set a standard of health in America that, by definition, is sick
care disguised as health care.

Forward thinking chemists recognize the deadly trend. But few have
the luxury of speaking out or resigning. The majority of chemists in
the U.S. are foreigners. Their career secures them the right to live
and work in the U.S. This demands allegiance to their employer,
regardless of the end result of their labors. Admittedly, that this
is an intentional act of Big Pharma is speculative.

Individuals outside of the drug industry often question my conflict
with Big Pharma. How can a single person denounce a philosophy
adhered to by millions of medical doctors? That is simple: I ignore
the majority thinking that is steeped in disinformation. I stand
firm in science. Truth in science requires only one scientist to
verify reproducible results in the face of pharmaceutical tyranny.

Science proves that habits, not drugs, create and eradicate disease.
The current devastation of prescription drugs is a warning that
healthy lifestyle and nutrition habits must replace blind worship of
prescription drugs in the pursuit of life-extension. As people
obtain better health intelligence and heed this warning, drug use
will recede. A new model of health care based on common sense, not
profiteering, will emerge.

About the Author

Shane Ellison is dedicated to stopping prescription drug hype in its
tracks. To this end, he has made it his mission to introduce
healthy lifestyle habits as well as safe and effective nutritional
supplements to the public. With his keen ability to sift through
scientific literature and weed out fact from fiction, Shane has
empowered thousands to assert their health freedom by saying "no" to
prescription drugs. http://www.healthmyths.net/

References:

[1] Sally, A. et al. Estrogen Plus Progestin and the Incidence of
Dementia and Mild Cognitive Impairment in Postmenopausal Women.
Journal of the American Medical Association. 2003;289:2651-2662.
Chen CL, Weiss NS, Newcomb P, Barlow W, White E. Hormone replacement
therapy in relation to breast cancer. Journal of the American
Medical Association. 2002 Feb 13;287(6):734-41.
Spurgeon, D. Long Term use of HRT Doubles Cancer Risk. British
Medical Journal. 2003 Jul 5;327(7405):9

Yoneva T. Taniguchi K. Tsunenari T. Saito H. Kanbe Y, Morikaw K,
Yamada-Okabe H. Identification of a novel, orally bioavailable
estrogen receptor downregulator. Anticancer Drugs. 2005 Aug;16
(7):751-6.

Labrie, F. et al. EM-652 (SCH 57068), a third generation SERM acting
as pure antiestrogen in the mammary gland and endometrium. The
Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. 1999 Apr-
Jun;69(1-6):51-84.

[2] Starfield, Barbara. Is US Health Really the Best in the World?
Journal of the American Chemical Society, July 26, 2000-Vol 284,
No.4.

http://msnbc.msn.com/id/7503122/

[3] There were an estimated 58,000 U.S casualties in the Vietnam War

[4] Moride Y, Haramburu F, Requejo AA, Begaud B. Under-reporting of
adverse drug reactions in general practice. British Journal of
Clinical Pharmacology, 1997 43: 177-181.

[5] Tejal K. Gandhi. et al. Adverse Drug Events in Ambulatory Care.
The New England Journal of Medicine. Volume 348:1556-1564. April 17,
2003. Number 16.

Article on EzineArticles

2005-06-22T02:42:00.000-07:00

My article "Partnering for Health: A Parent's Perspective" is on the most emailed list. http://ezinearticles.com/?type=me
EzineArticles Most Emailed Articles (Forwarded To A Friend)

A Cure for Seizures?

2005-06-10T11:01:00.000-07:00

By Jeanette Joy Fisher

Perhaps you or a loved one suffers with a seizure disorder and you’re looking for the magic pill. Some seizure drugs work well for many patients. However, other patients in desperate situations have gone through major brain surgery, which sometimes proves ineffective. When our daughter’s prescribed seizure drugs caused her life-threatening side effects, we looked for other new alternatives besides brain surgery.

Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS), a new FDA-approved procedure for the treatment of epilepsy, does not involve brain surgery. Doctors implant a devise similar to a pacemaker in the patient’s chest. My husband and I opted for our daughter Sara to have this seizure control therapy.

According to our doctors, the few side effects of the VNS treatment usually decrease over time. These include hoarseness and minor discomfort in the throat, ears and teeth.

A week after putting our daughter Sara through this painful medical procedure, I found a website forum slamming the radical VNS implant.

Oh no! The angry forum writers advise not to use the VNS device on patients who don’t talk! Some seizure sufferers report MORE seizures. Others report intolerable tingling in necks, infections, and paralyzed vocal cords. The forum lists problems like broken leads with no hope of repair, and a defective unit. Posts about turning the devise off; getting it removed (but, the wires can’t be taken off the nerve once wound in)! On and on the ranting goes. Did we make the biggest mistake ever about Sara’s medical care?

What have I done to my precious daughter?

The surgery, currently approved for use in adults and children over the age of 12 who have partial seizures that resist control by other methods, involves implanting a devise approximately the size of a silver dollar under the skin in the left chest area. The surgery lasts between one and two hours and requires general anesthesia. The device, a pulse generator, functions like a pacemaker. Thin wires (electrodes) extending from the generator are threaded under the skin and wound around the vagus nerve. Doctors program the generator to send a few seconds of painless electrical impulses to the vagus nerve every few minutes. Patients who feel or parents who see the onset of a seizure can manually trigger the device by the use of a special magnet to temporarily increase the electrical impulses.

The vagus nerve, located in the neck, sends messages to and from the brain. This nerve carries messages to the heart, lung, stomach and voice box. The vagus nerve also communicates with a part of the brain stem linked with seizures. VNS therapy prevents seizures by sending regular small pulses of electrical energy to the patient’s brain. These electrical pulses interrupt the abnormal brain activity that leads to seizures.

Why would a parent or patient make this surgery choice? In our case, Sara suffered quit-breathing, turn-blue, aspirating seizures.

Who qualifies for VNS treatment, which costs around $20,000?
The test to see if a patient qualifies for this devise is if two treatment drugs have failed. Only two? How about Dilantin, Phenobarbital, Tegretol, Lamictal, Depakene (valproic acid), Mysoline (Primidone), Phenobarbital (again), and Keppra? And the Ketogenic Diet.

These specific seizure drugs caused Sara the following complications:

1. Dilantin (A trademark used for the drug phenytoin.): irritability, caused by headaches, dizziness, or? Sara can’t speak verbally. We never knew what bothered her, only that she hated something about this medicine.

2. Phenobarbital (A crystalline barbiturate, used medicinally as a sedative, a hypnotic, and an anticonvulsant.): sleeping all the time; zero seizures, zombie life.

3. Tegretol (trademark for carbamazepine): red, roving, bumpy rash.

4. Lamictal (trademark for lamotrigine): gripping all the time—who knows why?

5. Depakene (trademark for valproic acid): Sara became extremely ill and was hospitalized with this diagnosis: thrombocytopenia (an abnormal decrease in the number of platelets in circulatory blood.) and erythroid hypoplasia (red blood cell development stopped). Name of condition? Doctors thought Sara had Leukemia. A specialist was called in to give her a bone marrow test. After more tests, this dedicated doctor determined that a little-known side effect of her commonly used valproic acid was eating up her red blood cells, causing her to bleed out. Within hours of taking her off valproic acid, Sara’s platelet count soared. She woke up and smiled, the first time in days. Depakene controlled seizures for years, but when had the damaging side effects started?

6. Mysoline (Primidone): cardiomyopathy or erratic heart beat.

7. Phenobarbital (again): low heart rate; drowsiness; many seizures with blood levels in therapeutic range.

8. Keppra (trademark for levetiracetam): no side effects noticed; however, no seizure control, either.

9. Ketogenic Diet (A high-fat, low-carbohydrate diet that includes normal amounts of protein): Doctors weaned Sara off her seizure drugs to put her on this diet. Then, they decided that she was too skinny for the special diet.

At the time we chose to have VNS surgery for Sara, no other seizure drug therapy seemed practical. Although she did have a significant decrease in seizures, I can’t say the devise lives up to all the doctor’s promises.

If you or a loved one suffers with a seizure disorder, make an informed decision about therapy. Maybe someday soon a cure for seizures will heal the underlying causes and not just try to “control” seizures.

Copyright © 2005 Jeanette J. Fisher All Rights Reserved.

Jeanette Fisher, author of interior design, real estate investing, and credit books, teaches Design Psychology college courses and real estate seminars. For more information about the Fisher family, see http://www.savingsara.info/ . For more about Jeanette, see http://www.jeanettefisher.com
Design Psychology? http://www.designpsych.com/

Maybe Terri Too?

2005-04-04T00:38:00.000-07:00

by Jan A. Larson

The death of Terri Schiavo was a tragedy in many ways. One of
the most tragic aspects of the case was that even though Terri
was allowed to lie in a disabled state for 15 years while litigation
and allegations swirled, she did not receive a thorough diagnosis
of her condition (no MRI or PET scan was ever performed) or
the therapy that might have provided her with some opportunity
for a more meaningful and productive life.

It is possible that the autopsy of Terri's body will reveal the
extent of the damage to her brain and will provide some idea of
what her true condition was. Of course, knowing what her
capabilities were after her death is meaningless. It is too late to
help her now.

Some readers may have experience with friends or relatives that
have suffered brain injury and others may be familiar with
amazing cases of people that were written off by the "experts"
only to experience miraculously recovery, at least to some
extent.

Last week I received an email from a lady in the U.K. that had
read my recent column entitled, "The Bigger Picture" [1]. She
told the tale of her son -- also written off by the "experts" but
who, through the persistence of both of them and the care of
some dedicated medical professionals, "came back" from severe
brain injury. Her email is reprinted below with permission.

--
Terri Schiavo's parents are not being selfish, delusional or
misguided. My son was also a "Terri". I am an American who
lives outside London and my 23-year-old son received a
traumatic brain injury due to a hit & run accident 3 years ago.
We were fortunate that we lived a short distance from one of the
few specialist neuro critical care units in the U.K. Against all
odds and due to the brilliant work of the neurosurgeons my son
survived. He was however diagnosed as PVS.

If I had been living in the U.S. and he had been married, I too
could have found myself in the position that the Schindlers are
facing. Luckily for both of us we were living in a country where
there is a different outlook on what constitutes "quality of life".

I have seen the video clips on the Schindler's website and I
believe with all my heart that Terri is not PVS but minimally
responsive. I was fortunate to be able to have Adam treated at
the Royal Hospital for Neurodisability (RHN) [2] in London.
This is one of the few hospitals in the world that specializes in
treating people who are PVS, minimally responsive and people
suffering from locked-in syndrome. In addition to his brain
injury my son had sustained severe bodily injuries, was
paralysed done his left side, was deaf, mute, epileptic and
blinded in one eye. He was tetraplegic. I spent 15 hours a day for
8 months in this 300+ bed unit. So I lived day in and day out
with some of the "Terries" of this world. My son was one of
them.

At RHN they have developed a world-renowned therapy
(SMART) which was used every day to test each of my son's
senses for even the most minute reaction. These reactions were
closely monitored and recorded every day for consistency. It
took almost 5 months before there were any consistent reactions
from my son. Once there was an indication that Adam was "in
there" the therapy teams then worked on bringing Adam out. The
Adam referred to in this link [3] is my son. RHN has two
sections, the rehab/hospital section and the residential
accommodation. Many of the residents have been successfully
drawn out of PVS and MR states. To see the lives that many of
them lead today, participating in social activities, using
computers and advanced technology to communicate is amazing.

My son came out of his minimally responsive state thanks to the
efforts of the team at RHN and was eventually moved to a
mainstream brain injury unit for another 8 months. Adam is
currently in a residential neuro rehab home and has been coming
home every weekends and holiday for almost 2 years. We expect
to have him home again full time by the end of this year. His
rehab will continue at home with the support of a full therapy
time and round the clock careers.

I had been told by the neurosurgeons that most of what we
would get back with my son would come back within the first 6
months and after that we would get very little back. Wrong! He
has been assessed by many neurologists over the last 3 years and
most of them have given us very bleak predictions of the future.
WRONG!

Today my son has been assessed as having the university-level
intelligence he had prior to the accident. He is no longer deaf or
mute. He is able to speak so that most of what he says can be
understood. He spells out what we cannot understand. He no
longer takes medication for his epilepsy. He is able to walk
across the hydrotherapy pool with help to stabilize himself and
can do 5 lengths of the parallel bars. He has regained most of his
long-term memory and his short-term memory started to come
back 4 months ago. He is able to use the computer to play games
and send e-mails to his friends. He has retained most of his
original personality and sense of humour, is regaining
continence and has now had his stomach tube taken out so that
he is able to eat a full diet again and feed himself. He has been
weaned off his epilepsy medication completely and remains
seizure free. He also brushes his teeth and is able to wash
everything but his back, bum and feet while sitting in a special
shower. He has had the sight in his blinded eye return. He
remembers the words to almost every song he has ever heard and
sings along with them--although I do think he could benefit from
singing lessons! When not doing therapy he spends his time
socializing, listening to music, watching TV, shopping, going to
rock concerts and having meals out in restaurants.We have just
been given the OK to transport him in a conventional car seat
rather than his wheelchair and we are taking him on vacation to
the Canary Islands in April.

The "experts" have given up trying to predict how far my son
will progress. They are just watching in amazement. Of course
his recovery is due to the loving and continued interaction and
stimulation of his family and friends, occupational therapists,
physiotherapists, speech & language therapists, hydrotherapists,
neuropsychologists, music therapists, computer therapists,
acupuncturist, cranial chiropractor, Chinese medicine specialist,
specialised dental services, technology specialists, bio-medical
engineers, case managers, neuro optical rehabilitation,
wheelchair specialists and a legal team second to none.

How could people get my son's prognosis so wrong? I have
learned first-hand that there is a big difference between
neurologists, neurosurgeons and rehabilitation specialists. The
rehabilitation specialists had a much more "let's wait and see"
attitude because they see the progress that people like my son
make everyday and the neurologists and neurosurgeons were on
the whole very pessimistic.

So, that brings us to the question of could Terri Schiavo have
been misdiagnosed. Very definitely, particularly if her
assessments have been done by neurologists or neurosurgeons
rather than rehab specialists. We will never know if Terri could
have benefited from the same type of intervention that my son
has had. She will unfortunately never be given that opportunity.
She will be dead.

If you look at any of the work of Dr. Keith Andrews from RHN
who is one of the world's leading authorities on PVS you will
see that his work has shown that over 40% of those thought to be
PVS may have been misdiagnosed.

http://www.donoharm.org.uk/doctorsfed/spring2004/5.htm

http://www.comarecovery.org/artman/publish/ReportOnTheVegetativeState.shtml

What a shame that people have not erred on the side of caution
and have condemned Terri to such a horrible death. It terrifies
and sickens me that I, too, could have had to fight to keep my
son alive. Funnily enough, at the time I was fighting to get the
funding for my son's treatment I said to Dr. Andrews that I wish
I was back at home (meaning in the good old U.S.A.) where I
wouldn't have to fight for the funds for his rehabilitation. Dr.
Andrews chuckled and replied, " no you wouldn't have to fight
for funding, they would have just switched off his machines." I
found this hard to believe at the time but I am now shocked at
how right he was.

Lois J. Harden
lois_hardenathotmail.co.uk

--
[1] http://www.pieofknowledge.com/archive/032705_Bigger_Picture.html[2] http://www.rhn.org.uk
[3] http://www.rhn.org.uk/doc.asp?catid=209&docid=183

-----
Jan A. Larson publishes a weekly commentary, "What is the Deal?" at the Pie of Knowledge http://www.pieofknowledge.com
His work also appears on NewsBull http://www.newsbull.com,
OpinionEditorials http://www.opinioneditorials.com,
American Daily http://www.americandaily.com
and The Conservative Voice (http://www.theconservativevoice.com).

Custom Car Colors

2005-04-03T09:33:00.000-07:00

We took Sara to the Good Guys Rod and Custom Car Show in Del Mar April 2, 2005. She smiled all day.

Before the show, I had made a woorkbook for her 1940 Studebaker with a photo of her purple flames painted Studie and the car pictured above as an example of the way we could transform the exterior.

We saw this car at the show!

You can't see the inlaid pearl in the picture. I took photos and will post them as soon as I figure out my new camera downloads.

I asked someone who painted this creamy yellow and plum dream car. "That guy in Lake Elsinore." Our home town.

Don't count on 911

2005-03-27T11:58:00.000-08:00

We waited for over twenty minutes for 911 to answer. During this time, we used another cell phone to call the operator. This operator called the fire department. Help arrived before 911 answered.

Thank you SPC operator in Anaheim for helping save Sara.

2005-03-27T11:46:00.000-08:00

Sara's View

Sara's New Ride--Before

2005-03-16T11:43:00.000-08:00

Sara loves the purple flames, but I feel too weird driving it. I think I'll have it painted my favorite color--pearl sage green with shades from dark to light. And, to Alden's dismay--no flames. What's so surprising is how smooth the car drives. So much easier than a van!

carnitine?

2005-03-08T10:49:00.000-08:00

Sara has been taking Caritine for years. One doctor told me it's why she has such beautiful hair. I thought you might want to know more...

What You Should Know About L-Carnitine
By Ian Mason

L-carnitine is a nutritional supplement that has been touted by body builders and other athletes as a safe and helpful way to create bigger and more efficient muscles. Some physicians and researchers have looked at L-carnitine to prevent muscle wasting in people who need kidney dialysis; alternative medicine purveyors suggest that L-carnitine may stop cellular aging. In order for you to make a healthy decision about using L-carnitine, we’ve put together some information any potential buyer should have.

What is L-carnitine, anyways?

L-carnitine is a modified amino acid, produced in the liver. Most amino acids form the building blocks of proteins, which in turn provide much of the structure and function of the body. L-carnitine is different than amino acids in that it doesn’t form a part of a protein; instead it serves as a delivery van, moving fats into specialized parts of our cells, where they can be used for energy.

Several conditions can result in lowered L-carnitine levels, including
-rare genetic (hereditary) conditions
-loss of L-carnitine during dialysis (the mechanical process used to clean the blood in patients whose kidneys can’t manage it)
-certain persons (for example, premature babies) who may not get enough L-carnitine in their diets and cannot make adequate amounts in their livers

Where can I get some?

Most people synthesize (make) enough L-carnitine for their needs in the liver. You can also get significant amounts in your diet from
-ground beef
-pork
-milk
-fish

Even strict vegetarians generally make enough that they don’t need to eat meat to have the needed L-carnitine ; they can also get small amounts from sources like avocado, whole wheat bread and asparagus.

Should I be taking L-carnitine supplements?

People who have a liver condition that doesn’t allow L-carnitine to be synthesized need to take L-carnitine supplements in order to survive; this is also the case for people who are born with kidneys that excrete L-carnitine in large amounts.

Because L-carnitine is so important in creating energy, many people swear by it to enhance their athletic activity. They feel that this is particularly important in their muscles, which often need lots of energy in order to increase in size (as in body building) and to function over long periods of time (in marathon runners).

Unfortunately, studies to date have not shown conclusively that supplementation improves athletic performance or muscle bulk. Some research suggests though that larger studies need to be done to see if there is an effect on certain types of exercise or certain sub-groups of athletes.

There is a little more evidence that L-carnitine may be useful for people with conditions that lead to loss of L-carnitine, for example:

*Aging. Some studies suggest that energy and memory losses may in part be due to decreased levels of L-carnitine in older rats and mice; L-carnitine has been shown to partially reverse these changes. Large studies are planned to see if L-carnitine has this effect on aging humans
*Heart damage. Several studies in humans suggest that L-carnitine supplementation after myocardial infarction (heart attack) may help the heart repair damaged cells and help it function better. L-carnitine even seems to help people who are having angina - the pain that sometimes precedes heart attack.
*Muscle loss from kidney disease. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the use of L-carnitine in dialysis patients to prevent and treat carnitine deficiency that is caused by kidney disease and dialysis. While it does not work for all patients who experience muscle weakness and loss, it is available as an alternative if standard treatments aren’t working.

The short answer? Unless you have one of a few specific conditions, it’s not yet clear whether L-carnitine will help you with your goals. Since for some people (including those with seizure disorders, who have Alzheimer’s disease, or who are pregnant and nursing) L-carnitine supplements may be dangerous, your best bet might be to wait until more information is available.
Brass E., “Supplemental carnitine and exercise,” American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Volume 72, issue supplement 2, p 618S-623S, 2002
Davini P, et al “Controlled study on L-carnitine therapeutic efficacy in post-infarction,” Drugs Under Experimental and Clinical Research, Volume 18, issue 8, p 355-365, 1992
Hagen T., et al. “Feeding acetyl-L-carnitine and lipoic acid to old rats significantly improves metabolic function while decreasing oxidative stress,” Proceeds of the National Academy of Science, Volume 99, issue 4, p1870-1875, 2002
National Kidney Foundation, “Adult Guidelines for Maintenance Dialysis: L-carnitine,” update 2000

Sakurauchi Y, et al., “Effects of L-carnitine supplementation on muscular symptoms in hemodialyzed patients,” American Journal of Kidney Disease, Volume 32, p258-264, 1998.

Sein, H., “Carnitine and its precursor, gamma-butyrobetaine,” In: Kramer K, et al, eds. Nutraceuticals in Health and Disease Prevention, New York: Marcel Dekker, Inc, p 217-256, 2001
Wachter, S. et al, “Long-term administration of L-carnitine to humans: effect on skeletal muscle carnitine content and physical performance,” Clinica Chimica Acta, Volume 318, issues 1-2, p. 51-61, 2002

Ian Mason, owner of Shoppe.MD Online Pharmacy

Ian studies health, weight loss, exercise, and several martial arts; maintaining several websites in an effort to help provide up-to-date and helpful information for other who share his interests in health of body and mind.

Contact Ian Mason by e-mail at ian@shoppe.md.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/

Sara's New Ride

2005-03-04T21:25:00.000-08:00

Sara's dad Brian bought her a new car. It is a 1940 Studebaker station wagon. Check back to see the before pictures.

Brian is going to redo Sara's Studie, much like he remodels a house. He plans to put a wheelchair lift in the back with a moving floor that will move Sara in her chair forward.

On Raising a Child with Disabilities: Sara & the Nail Salon

2005-03-02T12:05:00.000-08:00

Sara loves pampering. Haircuts, facials, manicures, and makeup bring smiles, giggles, raised eyebrows and kisses. Sara communicates "yes" by raising her eyebrows; blowing kisses signifies a very excited yes, please, and thank you very much.

My oldest daughter Enicia arranged for the three of us to get manicures and spa pedicures Saturday afternoon before Mother's Day. While making the appointments, she questioned the receptionist to make sure they would give Sara the full treatment (Sara's been turned away from a nail salon before because she can't move her arms and legs freely). After receiving assurance that this nail salon would pamper Sara, we set out with a laughing Sara for a fun afternoon.

When we arrived, the salon told us they would do Sara's fingernails, but not her toenails. Disappointed, Enicia and I sat in the special massage chairs with Sara, seated in her wheelchair, next to us. The manicurists started to work on our nails. Sara picked a pretty, happy pink nail polish by raising her eyebrows and blowing a kiss.

After the manicurist cut and buffed Sara's fingernails, she refused to paint them because Sara bends her fingers. I showed the woman how to place a plastic water bottle under Sara's hands to position her fingertips for easy access. The woman still refused. Enicia said she would hold Sara's hands, yet the woman would not reconsider.

Enicia and I received the full treatment. I did not make a scene and tried to enjoy Enicia's gift to me. We exchanged upset glances and apologized to Sara. She hung her head.

Enicia paid the bill and asked why they refused treatment even after she had confirmed on the phone that they would serve someone who uses a wheelchair. They gave no answer.

As we walked out, I tried to peel the wheelchair decal off the front door, but it held tight. I turned back into the salon and told them that they should take the decal off the door.

Enicia pulled me out. I broke down in tears.

Looking at Sara's hands, I discovered that the manicurist had chopped off all of Sara's long fingernails rather than shaping them. Most other women get long, painted extensions. Sara, who has long nails naturally, got her nails cut short.

(c) Copyright 2005 Jeanette J. Fisher. All rights reserved.

For more information, go to Saving Sara.

Partnering for Health: A Parent's Perspective

2005-02-28T18:32:00.000-08:00

by Jeanette Joy Fisher

Sara's one-hour surgery took three and a half hours. The doctor’s promise of "no pain" was a lie. The promise of "only one incision" was, too. The "four-hour easy recovery" actually involved 24 hours in ICU. We are only home now because we have life support equipment.

Sara’s mad at us, but she'll get over it. I even expect her to smile again soon. But for now, every time a family member comes to visit her, Sara simply must tell them all about her hospital visit, making full use of her hoarse voice and her cutest pout.

As for the family, we're hoping that the vagus nerve stimulator (VNS) surgery proves to be the promised cure for seizures. The VNS is like a pacemaker, stimulating a nerve in the neck, and we've heard that many patients with intractable seizures have benefited from this device.

The previous week. . .

Like many parents waiting for a doctor to come out after surgery, my husband and I became agitated when the doctor didn't appear until hours after the estimated time. When he finally came out, he told us that everything was all right, but that nothing had gone the way it had been planned, which didn't put us in high spirits.

The doctor promised that we could go back and see our daughter in an hour, but after two hours had passed, my fear level had increased, and I grew more hostile. I pestered the young man at the information desk until I finally got to speak to Sara’s nurse on the phone. By the time they let me into the recovery room, I was an emotional tornado, spinning black clouds around everyone who came near me.

Sara was more than mad; she was scared and in extreme pain. The doctors couldn't remove the intubation tube because Sara wasn't able to breathe on her own, and she couldn't have pain medication because her blood pressure wasn't stable. She was on the verge of hypothermia with a temperature of 88.

"I don't think she’s getting the best care," I said to the nurse. That was a mistake. As soon as I blurted this out, I thought: "Careful, they can kick me out of here anytime they want to."

I guess I should have been a nurse instead of an interior designer.

In Surviving Healthcare: How to Take Charge and Get the Best from Your Doctor, Your Hospital, and Your Health Insurance, Pam Armstrong says, "Remember, you should know about and have a say in everything that happens to your body while you are in a hospital. Your health should always be the focus of your care. Hospital routines should serve your needs, not the staff's or hospital's needs. Don't let yourself be intimidated by hospital staff who seem to feel otherwise. To get the best care, combine assertiveness with a partnering and empathetic approach toward staff, who may have overfull workloads."

When the patient is a child or is otherwise unable to speak for themselves, a family member must work in partnership with the hospital staff to make sure the patient gets the best care. I learned years ago that hysterical outbursts at nurses and other hospital staff do little for my daughter. I've learned to keep my mouth shut, to think first, and then to speak gently. That doesn't mean that what I say doesn't count--I've just learned a few key phrases that will show the hospital staff that I know what type of care my daughter needs.

After mothering Sara (requesting heated blankets, wiping tears, and straightening her legs), I explained my fears to the nurse. Apologizing for my outburst, I told the nurse how scared we were because the surgery had taken longer and had been more involved than had been planned, and because Sara was in pain. Instead of telling me to leave the recovery room, the nurse agreed to let my husband come in, too.

Acknowledging my fears and keeping my mouth closed helped our daughter receive the best care during her hospital stay. Sara, at twenty-five, still needs total care because of disabilities. Instead of placing Sara in an adult intensive care unit with many patients and limited visiting hours, Sara was moved to Pediatric ICU, where the ratio of patients to nurses is only two to one. There was also newer equipment, but best of all, they allowed me to sleep in her private room.

You too can learn to help care for a loved one when they're faced with hospitalization. Just remember to partner with the physicians and hospital staff to ensure that your loved one will get the best care.

(c) Copyright 2005 Jeanette J. Fisher

For more information about Surviving Healthcare: How to Take Charge and Get the Best from Your Doctor, Your Hospital, and Your Health Insurance (Chestnut Ridge Books, 2004, ISBN 0-9754560-59, $19.95), see http://www.SurvivingHealthCare.com . After nearly 25 years in health care administration, Pamela Armstrong, MPH, MBA, is on a one-woman mission to ensure consumers that they get the quality care they're entitled to.

Jeanette Fisher is the author of Design Psychology and real estate books. For more information about VNS surgery for seizure control and "Saving Sara: Love Heals," visit http://www.savingsara.info .

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