Preventative and Alternative Medicine

I really believe that there is something to preventative medicine. If you will take the time to be proactive to keep from getting sick then the less you have to deal with doctors and so on. Even with Abbey, I have tried to do what I can to prevent her from getting colds, ear infections, etc. instead of just letting her catch things then going and getting medicine all the time. I do also believe that drugs can help people, so I'm not against them. The thought, though, is that if you take a preventative approach then the less chemical drugs you may require later in life. I also believe that a healthy diet and the right vitamins can improve your basic way of life when modern medicine can't prescribe anything for it. Now, this might seem like a little rant that I'm on, but hear me out and you can decide if I've lost my mind.

I suffer from severe endometriosis. My doctor, who is the head of OB/GYN at a large city hospital said it was one of the top three worst cases he had ever seen. After three surgeries and with a lot of fertility treatment, we were able to have our sweet little Abbey. During and for about two years after her birth, I didn't have any problems with the pain of the endometriosis, but the past few months and it has come back. I have found myself living in pain, carrying a bottle of ibuprophen everywhere I go. My doctor says that he will not do another surgery for it because it is just too bad. My next surgery will end my childbearing life and I'm not sure I'm ready for that. So that is what I have to suffer with.

Clark, being diabetic and mildly narcoleptic, is always looking for ways to improve his way of life. Recently, he has really been struggling with getting up on time in the morning and feeling rested. The boss man is tearing into him about being late and it really isn't his fault, but something has to be changed. With much internet research about his narcolepsy he has realized the difference between the way he sleeps and the way a normal person sleeps. The only medical remedy for this is with strong drugs that he is not willing to try, so he found a book this weekend called "Alternative Cures" that gives a lot of information about using diet, vitamins and minerals to help medical conditions. I'm not saying that it can cure them, it may not even help very much, but it is natural and worth giving it a try.

Here is where the two stories colide. The book was just laying on the couch Saturday night after the baby was in bed and while Clark was on the computer, so I thought I would pick it up and glance through it. I looked up endometriosis, not really expecting to find much, but there it was in black and white, an explanation of my symptoms and a solution to help with the symptoms. It wasn't a cure because the only cure I think there could possibly be is to physically remove the disease, but there was a plan that made sense. Eating a healthy diet that does not contain processed foods and limits your intake of sugar, caffiene, white flour, red meat, and dairy, all things that are believed to break down your natural immune system. Also it suggested taking a multi vitamin as the base and add Vitamins C,E, and B complex for immunity building and Flaxseed oil for the Omega-3 and -6 fatty acids that are a natural way to fight the pain. Endometriosis is the type of disease where basically the cells are fighting against themselves. This information was in the book and the explanation given to me by my doctor, so in building up your natural immune system you help the good healthy cells fight back harder. It made sense.

So, that is my new approach to becoming healthy. The diet is really something we should have been doing anyway (more strictly than we have been). It is very similar to the diet Clark should be on for his diabetes, but in addition, I am taking an array of vitamins and minerals to help build what is naturally in my body. Although I already suffer with this particular disease, and Clark with his, I believe that this healthy approach will help our current situation and prevent future issues from arising. Also, we hope that this lifestyle change can help with our weight problems and energy levels. I'm really looking forward to giving this a try. If you have any experience with alternative or preventative medicine, please leave me a comment. I would love to hear your stories. Also, if you have any recipes that you love that fits into my criteria for the new diet, please leave those as well. I have some low carb, diabetic and healthy eating cookbooks, but I love to hear your favorite tried-and-true recipes that are perfect for a healthy lifestyle.

I'm sorry this has been a long post, but hopefully it will be something to keep you updated on in the future.