In The Beginning

Severe chest pain, is how I remember that day in the mid 1990's. I had arrived at work, shortly after exercising at the fitness center with an intense pain in my chest. I told my boss that I didn't feel good and asked if I could go home (I know, if you are having a heart attack you should ask for help). I headed towards my doctor's office, a 25 mile drive, and glimpsed an Immediate Care facility at about the 4 mile mark. I was scared and thinking I was having a heart attack so I stopped. They hooked an EKG up to me and assured me that I was not having a heart attack or stroke. They said I was probably suffering from acid reflux (gerd) and recommended I continue on to my doctor's office.

This is where my journey began. For the next 10 years I would suffer from acid reflux. At first my doctor prescribed Prylosec, then after a few years Prevacid, then doubled my prescription for Prevacid, then a double prescription of Prevacid and Mylanta or Mallox. All the while I was on a controlled diet per doctor's recommendations. I gave up drinking alcohol because it was like drinking gasoline (at least I imagine). I gave up citrus, acidic foods like tomatoes, salsa, coffee. I gave up greasy foods, spicy foods, carbonated beverages, caffeine and CHOCOLATE! Still I suffered, until I was in constant pain and the insurance companies were balking at paying for my prescriptions. Finally, I had an endoscopy and was told I had acid reflux (really?) and a hiatal hernia. My doctor said, "It looks like you'll be on Prevacid the rest of your life." I responded, "But it's not working! Why would I take medicine that isn't working?"

I was in grief. I thought I would live in pain for the rest of my life. All my favorite foods avoided. The head of my bed raised up so that my upper body would be higher than my stomach. The threat of these severe attacks always looming.

Then one day a coworker handed me a book. "Natural Cures "They" Don't Want You To Know About". The book is one big infomercial, but it gave me just enough information to start doing my own research. Here I am some 20 years later living pain free, eating the foods I want to and sleeping on a flat bed.

"Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food" - Hippocrates 431 B.C. It's words that I live by; I'd say food and exercise. I created this blog, first as a personal web page, then on Blogger, and later on Facebook. I want to share the things I've learned to help others, perhaps you? When I first started the information was hard to find; or people wanted you to pay for it. Now the internet is filled with information and sometimes it's a challenge to filter through it all. Hopefully you find my pages informational and worthwhile.

If you are suffering from any condition I recommend you get in contact with a naturopathic doctor and let them help you find a cure for what ails you. 

The original post from my first web page Overcoming Acid Reflux 

Making Commitments Towards Success

Wow! Has is been 10 months since my last post? My how time flies.

This post is about making commitments resulting in successful outcomes.

I've been struggling with my weight for a couple years now. The last time I stepped on the scales I was at 252 lbs. which is near an all-time high for me. I've been teetering at that weight for at least a year now. What changes have I made to reduce that weight? Obviously none. I've tried a few short term approaches like increasing exercise or eating healthier, each with little or short term success.

A couple weeks ago my naturopath asked me what the driving force was that helped me to be successful when I had acid reflux (gerd)? My quick response was "pain". I was in pain, I was scared that I would be in pain for the rest of my life. Almost immediately when I became vegetarian and then vegan I noticed relief from pain. That noticeable success helped me to commit to eating better.

Back then, I was committed to eating a vegan diet to cure my acid reflux but it did nothing for weight loss.  In May of 2011 I hired a Holistic Health Counselor (http://vtpathfinder.blogspot.com/2011/05/holistic-health-counselor.html). Together we developed strategies and she held me accountable. Through her I was able to lose the desired weight.

There is no reason that any of us cannot do this on our own. The internet is filled with information from exercise routines, healthy recipes, diet plans, food journals, etc.. I myself have found success through Weight Watchers, The Atkins Diet and a Holistic Health Coach. At one time I even posted online recipes for my Weight Watchers plan adhering to vegan recipes.

What's missing? Commitment.

In the past I have been good about committing to certain things. Becoming vegan was a choice. It was not absolutely necessary to become a vegan to beat acid reflux, but it was a commitment I wanted to make. My naturopath had concerns at first because many vegans do not eat a healthy diet; I mean Fritos are vegan. I convinced her with my dedication to cooking healthy, nutritious meals and snacks on a weekly basis. Being vegan also made it easy for me to say "no" to foods that have little or no nutritional value; the weekly cakes, cookies or donuts at work, fast food, and pizza, just to name a few.

For several years I've had few health issues. I became sloppy with my diet. I've been eating cakes and cookies, along with cheese, crackers, chips, ice cream, pizza and whatever else people put in front of me. I started drinking beer again on a regular basis and I have let myself become lethargic, back to my "weekend warrior" routine where I exercise only one or two days a week. It's easy to fall into these traps and they are comfortable.

Two weeks ago my naturopath challenged me to make a 4 week commitment of my choosing. It was up to me to lay the groundwork for these commitments and she would touch base with me each week to see how I am doing. Well, the first week goes by and she doesn't hear from me. At the end of the second week she sends me an email, "Just a reminder that I look forward to receiving a nutritional plan of your making that you will be committing to for the four weeks of your choosing." I attempted to placate her by responding with some non-committal things I am doing. She responded, "As we include more and more with compassion and curiosity what commitments are you willing to experiment with?  Again this is an agreement to experiment for 4 weeks...not forever.   What if it didn't take a crisis or a health issue to make different choices?  Get curious about calling forth that part of you in which cutting back on sugar and eliminating processed food wasn't a problem." I am up for the challenge!

Here are my commitments going forth the next few weeks.

1. Abstain from alcohol until I lose weight and feel better.

2. Not buying chocolate until my birthday (This is something I use to do on a regular basis). This does not include homemade smoothies or treats with cacao in them.

3. Will not purchase cookies, cakes or other processed flour items until my birthday.

4. Try to eat more protein rich foods.

5. Commit to a daily food diary (I've been slacking on this).
 

I am doing this for me. It's not a short-term fix, it's a long-term solution. I get frustrated when I am unable to do the things I like to do because I am overweight or out of shape. I let this happen and only I can fix it. Small changes can make a big difference in our lives. I did not commit to exercising more though a recent article I read "Why Sitting is Bad for You " makes getting out of my chair more inviting.

What can you commit to?

Gum Recession and Acid Reflux

On a recent visit to my dentist office for a 6 month cleaning and checkup some interesting information came up. The hygienist was saying that in recent studies the dental community has been talking about how acid reflux or gerd affects the gums. It may be acid reflux and not brushing too hard that causes receding gums.

I've been going to the dentist on a regular basis since I was a child. In the beginning I was taught the proper way to brush and always used a soft bristle toothbrush. I'll admit that I haven't always flossed and sometimes do not do it on a daily basis now, though I try. For many years now I have been using an extra soft toothbrush and then a expensive electric toothbrush because I was continually accused of brushing too hard.

Now there is research linking acid reflux to receding gums. Here is a link to the publication The relationship between gastroesophageal reflux disease and chronic periodontitis. My hygienist said the dental world might owe a lot of people apologies.  

I suffered from acid reflux for 10 years or more. It took changing my diet and being more consistent with exercise to solve the problem. Although I no longer suffer from acid reflux I have damaged teeth and gums that remain. If you suffer from acid reflux I hope my blog helps you to resolve the problem sooner rather than later. You can read my first post to this blog here Overcoming Acid Reflux

Goodbye 2014! On to a Healthier 2015!

Whew! Am I glad 2014 is behind us. Back in August I added to my blog with "Healthcare - Health Scare". I thought my concerns were over, but I was mistaken. The ringing in my ears had continued  and the pain had returned. I was taking Tylenol more often and knew things were not getting better. I stopped at the local co-op one day to buy my favorite sandwich and when I went to take a bite pain shot through the left side of my head. I found myself drinking smoothies and eating soup to keep from chewing.

I sent an email to my primary care physician; I told her that I was disappointed. Of the four appointments I had been to back in June and July I had never seen her; each time it had been with a physicians assistant. I continued to explain that I rarely seek medical attention and thought that should be a signal that I needed to see a doctor on at least one of those visits. She immediately responded with, "let's get you in here so I can see you". An appointment was made and she took a look. I was still complaining of pain in my left ear and now jaw pain had been added. She told me my ear looked good and said she suspected TMJ (Temporomandibular Joint Disorders). She provided me with some literature on TMJ and sent me home.

Was it possible I had TMJ? First diagnosed with Lyme, then Tinnitus, and now TMJ? Up until June I had been living a healthy, happy life. I was suffering from a shoulder problem, but that's another story..

After researching TMJ I was not convinced that I had it. I scheduled an appointment with an Ears, Nose and Throat Specialist (Otolaryngologist). Within 30 seconds he found a cyst in my ear canal. He took a video camera and showed it to me; it was right in plain sight. Something that the physicians assistant and primary care doctor had overlooked on a half dozen visits was there in plain view. I can't really blame them though. I think when they looked in my ear they were looking right past the cyst.

The specialist tried draining it twice. It was painful, but it gave me temporary relief. I was still popping Tylenol or Advil on a daily basis; at least I knew what was causing the pain. He ordered a CT Scan on the Monday before Christmas and reviewed the results with me the next day. The cyst was putting pressure on my jawbone and causing some erosion. They scheduled a pre-op appointment with my primary care physician on Wednesday (Christmas eve day). You can imagine the pleasure I took in informing them about the cyst they had overlooked repeatedly. Surgery was scheduled for the 26th, the day after Christmas.

It wasn't the best Christmas I ever had; I missed spending time with family. The relief of having a six month earache and recent jaw pain removed was all worth it. It took several days to recover from the anesthesia and antibiotics they had me on. I jokingly asked the doctor if they dropped me on the floor while I was unconscious. He seriously said, "no". 

At this time I am drinking dandelion tea and lemon water daily as well as taking a probiotic  to get my system back into shape. I feel fine, this is more of a remedial thing.

My tests in June never revealed any health problems. All tests for tick-borne diseases came back negative. I wonder if the cyst was the cause of all my problems from the start? Did I have Lyme? I guess I will never really know for sure. 

I relived again the constant aggravation of pain and how it can so easily deplete your energy. Weight gain, restless nights, interrupted sleep and irritability; it's hard to have fun when you do not feel good. My coworkers have already noticed that I am smiling more. Great! 

Another thing, I was given Cephalexin for an antibiotic. In July, I complained of pain in my knuckles after taking it and the PA said it was a symptom of Lyme. I made the same complaint in January on my post-op appointment and the specialist said it's a symptom of the antibiotic and I should not take it anymore. For so many reasons this angers me. We do need Western Medicine for some things, but we need to ask questions, search for answers, read prescription medicine labels and search the web for information. Do not settle for one answer. I used http://www.drugs.com/ to research drug symptoms after the fact. In the future I plan to use it before taking a drug.

With Physical Therapy my shoulder recovered and with surgery my ear is better and my life is back to normal. Let's hope 2015 is better than 2014 was!
 

Healthcare - Health Scare

I've been pretty determined to avoid traditional American healthcare, prescription medicine and over-the-counter drugs for the past 8 years. The only thing I have used my doctor for is physicals, cholesterol checks and blood tests to check for vitamin deficiencies. That was until this past June.

Ten days after a camping trip on Memorial Day weekend I came down with fatigue, blurred vision, earache and fever. I went to my naturopath for a seasonal acupuncture session and told her about my symptoms. I was prescribed some natural herbs for possible Lyme infection and it was recommended that if my symptoms did not subside within a few days I should seek medical attention.

I let another few days go by. The fever did not break and the ear infection became intolerable. I had not taken any pain relievers in 8 years, but finally broke down and took Tylenol on a Sunday. First thing Monday morning I made an appointment at the doctor's office. They took 3 vials of blood and prescribed an antibiotic for the ear infection and possible Lyme Disease. It took a full seven days for the fever to break. I was scared! I barely had the energy to heat a pot of canned soup and still had to attend to some chores like laundry and dishes. I missed a rotation of work and a highly anticipated vacation with my daughters.

The following Monday I returned to the doctor's office. I was still weak, but the fever had broke and I was feeling on the upswing. They took more blood to check for more possible causes. All tests came back negative. My illness was a mystery. After 3 weeks I regained my strength and was able to do all the things I enjoy doing. I continue to have ringing in my ears; I have been told it is tinnitus and should eventually go away.

This was a learning experience in many ways. First, our health is so fragile. Even if we try to do everything right you can still be caught off-guard. Second, though I was disappointed a cause could not be immediately diagnosed I still put my faith in my doctors, both naturopath and general practitioner to heal me. I was relieved when the antibiotic was prescribed and thankful the Tylenol reduced my fever and eased my pain. I would have liked a set in stone diagnosis, but it didn't happen. I have to live with the thought that these symptoms might reoccur; I still have the tinnitus to contend with also.

I guess what I am trying to say is, I don't think taking a pill is the answer to everything. I believe diet and exercise are the answer to most of our health problems. But, there is a time and a place for modern medicine. I am thankful to live in a place where we can choose both (for the most part).

If you had known me 10 years ago

10 years ago you would have a hard time believing that I am the person I am today. A natural food store was where "granolas" shopped, all chiropractors were quacks, holistic medicine practitioners  were charlatans and I had no idea what a naturopath was? I would have told you that your doctor knows everything; they are the experts. How little I knew about the world and health. I'm still learning, but those days seem like a century ago.

It's amazing what relentless pain will do for you. I had turned to my doctor for his expert advice and he in turn had sent me to specialists for tests, invasive exploration and in the end recommended the same dietary advice, prescription and non-prescription medicines that had sent me back to him in the first place.

I was discouraged, without hope, thinking I was going to live with constant pain for the rest of my life. I would talk about my situation with anyone that would listen. One day a coworker loaned me a book he thought I should read "Natural Cures: They don't want you to know about." It opened my eyes to other possibilities; I could envision a pain-free life.


The Natural Food Store:
I wanted to get all the chemicals out of my food, body care products and water. My children told me to check out the natural food store near my house. Much to my surprise the people inside were welcoming, helpful and friendly. I could ask them any question and they had answers. It was easy to find organic food and read labels with ingredients I recognized. My daughters had enlightened me to the dangers of deodorants (they were still in high school and knew this stuff). It was more expensive, but I was more comfortable knowing what I was eating or putting on my body and I believed it would make a difference; still do!

Naturopath, Chiropractor, Holistic Health:
I scoured the internet for information; I bought books; the more I read the more questions I had. Suddenly, holistic and Chinese medicine were no longer foreign to me; I liked the concept of whole body preventive medicine versus treating the sick. I  made an appointment with a naturopathic physician.  She listened intently as I described my symptoms.  She described what the medicines had done to my body and what it would take to get back to normal. Together we worked out a plan to be successful. Over time I also requested seasonal acupuncture and still do that on a quarterly basis or when needed.

During this same period cycling was causing me to have lower back pain.  I decided to give a chiropractor a try. It was a bold move considering all the negative things I had heard throughout my life.  The experience was life altering! I proclaimed him a miracle worker after the first visit and returned on a regular basis for six months. He also provided me with stretch exercises that I still do today (though not as religiously as I should).

Eventually, I hired a holistic health coach to help me lose weight. There was more to the coaching than food. I learned how to relax, take care of myself, manage stress, have healthy relationships and eat foods that nourish the body.

Pain opened my eyes:
To a world I dismissed as meaningless, hokey or a scam. These people made a difference in my life and changed my future. Without them I have no doubt I would still be living in pain, on prescription medicine and have had at least one surgical operation. Instead, I live pain-free with all my original body parts. I hope this knowledge helps you to open your mind to the world.

What is Healthy?

We all have our own idea of what healthy is.

Our ideas are based on things we have learned over time, either through the media, magazines, friends, family, school or experience. How do we know what healthy is? When did it all become so complicated?

Let's start with FOOD:

According to Michael Pollan's book "In Defense of Food" it all became complicated back in the 1970's when the government tasked a Senate Select Committee led by George McGovern to find out what was making American's fat. The committee responded that Americans need to eat less red meat and dairy. Interested groups lobbied and things were changed; specific foods are no longer called out. Of course there is much more to this than just meat and dairy. Another of Michael's books "The Omnivore's Dilemma" tries to follow the food from the field to the plate. He does this in 3 different settings and it is a very interesting story to follow. Most of us have no idea where our food is coming from or what is in it.

Our food also changed in the 1940's when Fritz Haber invented chemical fertilizers which has led us to the world we live in today. Chemicals used to make bombs are the fertilizers of today's world.

My interest in becoming healthier started when I began my search to  resolve my acid reflux and stomach pains. An experiment to give up meat and dairy turned into a quest for better health. I found a new type of doctor called a "Naturopath", a doctor who practices natural medicine. The book "Natural Cures They Don't Want You to Know About" brought awareness of all the chemicals in our food, water and body care products from pesticides, fertilizers, antibiotics and prescription drugs. I became aware of GMO's (genetically modified organisms) that are added to our food without our consent or knowledge.

I began reading about food and our food system; watching movies (Supersize Me, Food Inc, Food Matters, King Corn) on the same subject matter. I learned things I didn't really want to know about large-scale farming, factory farming, animal abuse on a large scale, and how these so called farms produce our food.

How about EXERCISE?

I'm a work in progress. We've all heard it "Get regular exercise". For the most part, I have always been semi-active. My hobbies include cycling, hiking, snowshoeing and kayaking; however, I am mostly a weekend warrior. I have a sit down job and  getting my heart rate up once or twice a week just isn't enough. I set a goal to ride 100 miles on my bicycle a few years ago. At first it seemed impossible, the best I could do at the time was 30 miles. When I began reading about long distance cycling I learned the importance of keeping my heart rate in check and my pedaling at a consistent rate or rpm. I had been pushing my heart way out of it's threshold whenever I exercised. I started wearing a heart monitor and found if I was consistent and kept my heart rate within the parameters for my age I felt better longer. I also switched from water to an electrolyte drink. In the beginning I bought one from Clif; then, I started making my own with a recipe from "Thrive: The Vegan Nutrition Guide to Optimal Performance in Sports and Life ". Eating a little protein or energy bars every hour or so while exercising provides important energy too. Not only did my bicycle riding get better, but so did my hiking,  snowshoeing and energy levels in every day life. In 2010 I accomplished my first 100 mile bicycle ride at 52 years old and have done several since. I feel better when I exercise and it doesn't have to be much. A 30 minute walk or bicycle ride makes me feel great! Several hours, bonus!

Think much about STRESS? Both mental and physical 

Stress affects our health every day. This is an area I struggle with. Both my naturopath and holistic health coach taught me ways to de-stress or unwind. An unhealthy diet can also stress our body. Proper nutrition, exercise and some type of meditation are all beneficial to our lives. It does not have to been practiced meditation. Since I was a young boy I have always found comfort in walking in the woods alone. For some, it's listening to classical music. Others find painting or sewing relaxing. I have a favorite place I like to go and sit. What ever it is, it is important to find the time to relax your mind and body.

Am I healthy? What is Healthy?

I guess we all need to find our own answer to that. For me, it was reducing the amount of chemicals I put in and on my body. Preparing my own meals from scratch using organic, non-gmo ingredients. Attempting to get consistent and regular exercise. Enjoying my hobbies more often. Practicing some kind of stress relief methods and remembering to laugh. I think we all need to remember to live in the moment and enjoy life.

Hopefully you find this interesting and helpful.