Monday Medical Awareness: Something is Bugging Me, and Biting Me!

How to Safely Remove Unwanted Pests From Your Environment.

With so many things in our environment that can cause us problems physically, like pesticides, pollution, growth hormones and other things added to our food that can harm  us in the long run, it is always nice to find a natural solution to a problem. Especially when the solution actually does solve the problem.

A little over 2 years ago I started to feel something crawl on me....I would look down and there was nothing there.  I decided maybe it was time to change the bed sheets...lol.
That would help for maybe one night and then again I felt crawling.  At first there was not biting....just crawling..I still could see nothing.
I tried to ignore it and slowly it was DRIVING ME CRAZY!

To make matters worse, I was the only one in the family that could feel the little critters.  I decided to search the internet.

Now, at this point I want to praise God above for his direction. There are alot of things on the market that do not work and they can run you alot of money.

But I came across 2 products that really helped and worked.

One Product Called Kleen Green Naturally  is a Chemical Free Enzyme Cleaner that is dubbed an Premium Multi-Purpose Cleaner and Insect Solution.  It comes in a concentrate that you can dilute for what every use you will need.
I used it in my bath water...I would soak in this every night with my head up under the water so I could soak my scalp and my ears....On the relief!  I put it in my shampoo!  I used it in my laundry rinse cycle, I also mixed up a spray bottle of this and sprayed my bed every morning , including the floor all around the bed, pillows...etc. Also if I was in an area where I felt activity , in the carpet on a chair etc....it got a spray!

I feel that this product gave me relief and helped me get through this horrible trial.

This next product I think was the CURE for my problem.

This product is called Best Yet from Cedarcide.

You can search the website for a vast amount of information...I talked with the owner and inventor of this wonderful product.  He listened to me cry over the phone and offered words of encouragement. 

I was using the Natural Pest Control Fogging-Fumigation Technology. I got results from the Best Yet Formula, but not quite enough so the owner suggested I get the pure cedar oil and boost the Best Yet with the pure oil....

THAT WAS IT! 

I have had to continue to fog on a regular basis...But we are almost to 0 activity. I still do feel some activity here and there...but I know that all I have to do is fog and it will take care of it.

THERE IS HOPE!

There are some strains of these mites --Some are seriously stubborn...

This is an investment....but I promise it is cheaper than the drugs the doctor is gonna try to put you own because everyone thinks you are crazy!

Don't try to figure out exactly what type of mite you have....just get the stuff and kill the little sucker....

Monday Medical Awareness: Tea Tree Oil Will Kill What Ails Ya!

 

 

I have read about Tea Tree Oil for some time now but have never really experienced its benefits until now.

First The Facts:

• natural antibacterial disinfectant
• cures all three types of infectious organisms :fungus, bacteria, and virus
• treats respiratory problems  
• strengthens the body's immune system

Tea tree oil is amazing!

It can be used to treat the following problems:

• skin infections
• Acne
• Boils and Carbuncles
• Warts
• Bad Breath, Swollen Gums, and Plaque
• Sore Throat and Congestion
• Dandruff and Lice
• Yeast Infections

Now to explain how I happened to be so excited about this wonderful , natural, God given product!

I had noticed a bump on my face...which turned out to be a wart, I know....yuck!
When I went to the doctor, I asked her about it and she said I'd need to visit an dermatologist. Yuck again.
I had heard of using tea tree oil on warts because we had actually tried it several years ago on a really BIG and NASTY wart....we, being impatient.....didn't give it much time and gave up...but this wart on my face was not very big so I decided to give this tea tree oil another chance.

First night: I applied the oil on the wart and the surrounding area, full strength with a Q-tip.  I actually reapplied every 30 minutes for about 4 hours.

Next morning the whole wart had dried up and peeled off....
WHAT? 
 Yep!
THE WHOLE THING!

Now, I do realize that the wart core is still  there and so I am still treating with tea tree oil...but I am confident that the oil will finish the task.
 
Where Can I Get This Stuff?  Just click on the link and you will find several offerings of this awesome stuff.

I am sooo glad I came across Tea Tree Oil and I am going to check into several of its many uses to help us be healthier and happier.

If you have uses for tea tree oil you'd like to share...post in the comments.

 

     Have

Monday Medical Awareness: Dealing With The Swine Flu

The swine flu has been all over the news. The authorities seem to be trying to get awareness out without causing panic.

I found an article HERE that may help bring about some awareness on the subject.

From what I can understand, hand washing is very important....
If you are sick, stay home...please

We are human and we can choose to stay home and not spread this horrible sickness.

As soon as you are aware you may have this....go to the doctor.

Be well!

Monday Medical Awareness: Inflammatory Breast Cancer:Part 3

Finally, I had my appointment with a nurse at Planned Parenthood and guess what she said after 2 minutes in the room with me? You have mastitis and I'll get you a prescription for antibiotics. Guess what I did? I stood straight up and told her I did NOT have an infection, I had Inflammatory Breast Cancer that was spreading as we wasting time standing there and I demanded to see someone who could tell the difference between an infection and cancer. I wasn't rude or loud, but I was firm and explained the symptoms of IBC versus mastitis and the length of time I had been dealing with this. Cut to the end of the day -- I got a referral under the Susan G. Komen fund to see a breast specialist (who knew all about IBC) for a biopsy. Made an appointment - another month to wait - this is getting old!

I met with the breast surgeon in December - what an awesome woman! She had much experience with IBC and knew immediately that is what I had. She did an ultrasound and tried several needle biopsies but was not able to get the needle through the tumor. We ended up doing punch biopsies, and even then had a bit of trouble. This was one huge, tough pile of cancer!! On January 7, 2004 by results came back: Inflammatory Breast Cancer. I found a wonderful oncologist who was experiened with IBC, and know that I was very fortunate because most doctors have never heard of IBC, and a large percentage of oncologists don't know much about it. I saw my oncologist for the first time on January 12 and started a hard course of chemotherapy on January 13. I ended my initial treatments (chemo, bilateral mastectomy, 6 weeks of radiation) in July 2004, was stable for about 8 months and then the darn cancer starting spreading again. It's a game I play now, kind of like hide-and-seek. So far the doctor and I have been able to find the hiding places before it gets in too far, but you must stay aware of changes in every aspect of your life - advocate for yourself when you don't feel right!

Here it is, 6 years from my first indication and 5+ years from the start of my real battle against this disease. I have a Stage IV disease, which means it spread from the primary location to other parts of my body. As of today, it has been found in both breasts, the chest wall, the right lung pleura, and sacrum and iliac bones. Tomorrow I go for results of my recent tests and am expecting to see more spreading (we cancer folks call it "mets" short for metastisis). What I said about being an advocate, here's how it pays off big - I'm Still Here!!!!!

Had I not known what I was probably facing and demanded further clinical care, had I not found a breast specialist well-versed in IBC, had I not found a doctor keeping up with treatment for IBC and willing to treat me as a whole person and not just a diseased breast, had I not asked and questioned at every stop what my options were - I would NOT still be here!

The video here is one of the best pieces I've ever seen on explaining IBC and devoting enough time to really talk about it. The Komen Foundation has also recently posted a video specifically on IBC that is worth a watch (posted on Facebook on the Susan G. Komen For A Cure group page). The link list below are my favorite sites to send people to when they have questions about breast cancer and IBC or are seeking help, support, and/or information. Please bookmark them so you can share them, too, if the need should ever arise.

I wish you all the best of health and remember to Feel Your Boobies! And don't wait if you notice *anything* out of the ordinary. And don't think one doctor's word is the last word. No matter what you and your Ta-Tas may face, they are your girls and you have the last word. Be an advocate for your healthy life.

Inflammatory Breast Cancer Research Foundation
http://ibcresearch.org/

Imaginis Women's Health Resource
http://www.imaginis.com/breasthealth/breast_cancer.asp

Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation
http://www.dslrf.org/index.asp?

Susan G. Komen For The Cure
http://ww5.komen.org/uploadedFiles/Content_Binaries/806-03202a.pdf


Blessings,
~Sandie
http://flyingwithteens.blogspot.com/

Monday Medical Awareness: Inflammatory Breast Cancer:Part 2

My biggest piece of advice is this: Be a strong and unwavering advocate for yourself! If you can't, enlist the help of someone who can. Nothing will be more important in battling IBC than making sure you know your options. Let me give you a scenario to show you what kind of effect this can have. In May 2003, I started to feel some pain at the top of my right breast. I had some scar tissue there from the removal of a mole years earlier, so started to search the Internet for problems arising with scar tissue. Believe it or not, there are instances when scar tissue will rupture and I assumed this to be the problem. In June it was worse and swelling quite a bit. Back to the Internet I went and this time went searching for specific breast problems. Most of what I came up with indicated mastitis, a breast infection commonly seen in women while breastfeeding. LOL I was 41 and hadn't breast fed for over 6 years! I kept searching and finally landed on a site for inflammatory breast cancer. Over and over the symptoms were exactly what I had, and in fact, one site said that most doctors initially misdiagnose IBC as mastitis! Now that I knew (and I DID know, in my heart) what was wrong, I set about trying to find a doctor who would see me for a positive diagnosis. Now the real nightmare begins....I had no insurance so I was passed around from clinic to clinic and no one could really give me any information. When I told them I had IBC, they were surprisingly unreactive, which I believe is because they had no idea what I was talking about. Long story short, I found out in August that there is a program in Colorado that will cover uninsured/underinsured women for breast exam and referral, if necessary. After a few hundered more phone calls and another month, I got a list of participating clinics - far and few between outside of the immediate Denver area. At that time, Planned Parenthood participated and there is an office 10 miles away so I called them right up and made an appointment for October. When the day finally arrived, I showed up early so I could explain why I was there and guess what? They didn't have my appointment logged and no one there that could see me (read as "no educated nurse/doctor/specialst in the house"). Deep down I was terrified to have an actual diagnosis - something that would make it real - so I politely rescheduled my appointment. I had to wait another month.

Come Back to Read Part Part 3
Tomorrow

To visit Sandies Blog-Click Here

Monday Medical Awareness: Inflammatory Breast Cancer:Guest Post

Ladies, we have all been told how to do our monthly breast checks for lumps, right? Well what if I told you that you could get a type of breast cancer that has nothing to do with a lump...If that is all you are looking for...you will miss it completely!
Well, Today I have a very special guest. She is one of those folks I spoke about last week, She became her own health advocate. She had to!

Her name is Sandie.
First, I'd like you to watch this video and then read Sandie's Story.
You need this information ladies, and
PLEASE
Send a link to this article to all the women in your life you love.
Send the link to all the men in your live that have a woman they love.



Sandie's Story Part 1

Six years ago I had never heard of Inflammatory Breast Cancer (IBC), and I'd be willing to bet that a fair majority of you reading this have never heard of it, either. Unfortunately, most of us become quick studies in this deadly breast cancer out of necessity when we or someone we love has been diagnosed. I am honored to be able to post this Guest Blog and share my journey with IBC over the past six years. The best news I can give you is I'm Still Here! If you were to type IBC or Inflammatory Breast Cancer into a Google search a few years ago, you would have been presented with a limited number of actual informational sites, and none of them had anything encouraging or hopeful to say. In fact, one of my first searches for self-diagnosis led me to the Mayo Clinic home page and a White Paper that stated, in no uncertain terms, that IBC was incurable and the survival rate was zero. Can you even imagine reading something like that?! Once I realized the paper had been published in 1994 I felt a bit better, being an fairly well-educated person I immediately understood this was sorely outdated and I needed to continue my quest for information. But we don't all do that, and I want to share what I know so if you ever have to deal with IBC, personally or someone you know, you will have not only information, but hope and encouragement. Remember, I'm Still Here!

Part 2 of Sandie's Story

Part 3 of Sandie's Story

To visit Sandie's Blog-Click Here

Monday Medical Awareness: Being Your Own Health Advocate

I am starting a new series titled,
"Monday Medical Awareness".
My purpose for this series is to educate on anything from new procedures, rare and unfamiliar illnesses, new treatments, breakthroughs in technology....etc.

I think that in this case ignorance is definitely not bliss...ignorance actually can lead to a death. Arm yourself with knowledge in this area...
"I am not sick", you say. You might not be sick, right now...but you may become ill or someone you know and love could have symptoms that you, because you have educated yourself, might recognize as a serious illness.

I hear story after story of someone with symptoms, they go to the doctor, and are given some song and dance about it being okay, take this pill. They get a second opinion and are told something else. Listen, you cannot put all your eggs in one basket.
You have to be your own advocate. You have to educate yourself.

In today age, this is much easier with the internet. There is so much information out there. So many forums and websites with oodles of information.

This can also be a negative, you have to calmly gather information. And realize that there will be alot of info you will gather that you really don't want to here.
This is where it may be a good idea to have a person who will become your health advocate and help you search for information.
Here are just a few of the sites that can help you get information.

• FamilyDoctor.org
• ecureme
• myelectronicmd

Now something that you must remember....These websites are to aid you in addition to seeking medical help from a licenced medical doctor. This should never replace seeking medical help.
But sometimes you aren't getting the answers from your doctor.
This is when research that you or your advocate can be very benificial

By being informed, you are able to ask the right questions, ask about tests, ask about seeing a specialist.

With all of this in mind...Our First Topic will be on a form of Cancer that you don't hear about. If fact you can ask the professionals and be surprised that many of them are ignorant about the symptoms and even that this form of cancer exists.

I hope you will join us next Monday for this informative post featuring a guest that has lived through it.

If you have a topic you would like to contribute about and be a guest. Let me know.