IN SUPPORT OF NATUROPATH DOCTORS & OTHER COMPLIMENTARY HEALTH CARE SPECIALTIES
I’ve had fibromyalgia (FM) for almost 20 years. It started on Valentine’s Day in 1995, after a spinal injury. I spent the first 2 years in severe pain, exhaustion, nausea, brain impaired, and mostly in bed. After being referred to many specialists, a physical medicine specialist finally recognized what I had.
My M.D. gave me pain and sleep medicines which was of great help, but that was all he could offer me. When I realized that he did not know very much about this strange illness, it really scared me, and I decided to do my own research to see if there were other things out there that might help.
I started by joining the Winnipeg FM support group and made good use of their library. I also became a frequent customer of book stores, searching out and buying any books I could find on ME/CFS and FM. I bought a scribbler and kept notes on important information I found as at that time I could not retain the information I read.
One of the most helpful books I found was by Jacob Teitelbaum, MD entitled From Fatigue To Fantastic. His third edition is still in print, and he has a new one available entitled The Fatigue and Fibromyalgia Solution. This is a comprehensive guide on treatments he has used on his hundreds of ME/CFS/FM patients. As I followed his writings, I noticed that he was becoming more of an Integrative Practitioner, adding more and more natural remedies.
As time went on and I developed more FM problems, I decided to see a Naturopathic Doctor that a friend had recommended. It was the best decision I’ve made in the last 20 years!
On my first visit with my new N.D., he did not offer me a cure for FM, but he told me he would listen to my symptoms, do some lab tests and work on correcting the underlying causes of my health issues. The first lab tests came back reporting that I was fighting an entero virus. He got rid of it by using a herb, and my nausea stopped.
N.B.. He did not use an antibiotic! So, as he treated me for each difficult issue, I started feeling better and better.
I was curious, so I asked my N.D.. one day what kind of help his patients were looking for. He said that over 95% of them come to see him because they are sick, the rest want direction on how to keep their good health, and live a longer life. During some of my treatments at his clinic, I had a chance to speak to other patients and was absolutely amazed at some of the things he was doing to help them. It takes as many years of education to become a Naturopathic Doctor as a Medical Doctor. N.D’s are fully licensed by our government to practice in our country, and I know that my N.D. continues his education, always keeping on the cutting edge of his profession.
Many health insurance companies are now offering benefits for their clients to see Naturopath Doctors. You can bet your bottom dollar that they wouldn’t be doing that if these doctors were not getting people well and back to work as fast as possible, saving them “big bucks”.
For all of you that are ill, and are not getting the help you need, do your own research, and do not let anyone discourage you from seeking the medical help you need, from whatever health practitioner you deem appropriate. You may get most of your health and life back just like I did.
I HAVE INCLUDED A RECORD OF THE HEALTH ISSUES I HAVE HAD BECAUSE OF FIBROMYALGIA AND WHERE I GOT THE HELP.
EDITH
Teulon, MB
HEALTH ISSUES Medical Doctor Naturopathic Doctor
RETRO VIRUS YES
SLEEP DISORDER YES YES
PAIN RELIEF YES YES
HYPOTHYROIDISM YES
ADRENAL SUPPORT YES
DIGESTIVE TRACK YES
VITAMIN/MINERAL DEFICIENCY YES
ARTHRITIS YES YES
ALLERGIES YES
SEVERE MUSCLE SPASMS YES
COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT YES YES
IMMUNE SYSTEM SUPPORT YES
HEAVY METAL DETOX YES
NUTRITIONAL SUPPORT YES
ESSENTIAL AMINO ACIDS REPLACEMENTS YES
[lab tested and was the most helpful
treatment I received]
NCR REALIGNMENT OF HEAD TO SPINE YES
[corrected my spine curvature.
painless (Google it]
NAET ALLERGY REMOVAL WITHIN 24 HOURS
[Done by a doctor of Chinese medicine. Some acupuncturists can also do NAET]
(google it)
CHIROPRACTIC WAS OF ENORMOUS HELP I SUFFERED SO MUCH LESS WHEN MY STRUCTURE WAS ALIGNED.
ACUPRESSURE WITH THUMB DOWN DEEP ON TRIGGER POINTS, HOLD FOR A BIT.
(great for releasing muscle knots)
PHYSIOTHERAPY FOR MORE SERIOUS MUSCLE PROBLEMS
FAR INFRARED DOME THAT FITS OVER BODY TO LOOSEN TIGHT MUSCLES WITH DEEP HEALING HEAT
[mine is from HTE CANADA]
STRETCHES EVERY MORNING RELIEVED SO MUCH PAIN AND STIFFNESS
EXERCISE- regular care of my home and walking.
[ I HAVE A CLEANING LADY COME IN EVERY 2 WEEKS TO DO THE VACUUMING AND FLOORS, AS THOSE 2 MAKE ME WORSE]
D-RIBOSE A SUPPLEMENT THAT GAVE ME MY LEGS BACK. THE STIFFNESS WENT AWAY AND I WAS ABLE TO WALK NORMALLY AGAIN. HEALTH FOOD STORE. NOW COMPANY 1 LB CONTAINER IS THE MOST ECONOMICAL
I WATCH WHAT I EAT CLOSE TO BEDTIME,AS IT WILL CUT DEEP SLEEP. ONLY AN APPLE FOR ME.
EAT LOTS OF PROTEIN AND A LOT LESS CARBOHYDRATES. HAVE MORE ENERGY.
REVITIVE FOOT MASSAGER IS EXTREMELY GOOD FOR LEG SPASMS AS WELL. HALF HOUR EVERY NIGHT BEFORE BED. LARGER DRUG STORES CARRY IT.
FLU SHOTS IN THE FORM OF BEADS, AS I CAN’T TOLERATE THE SHOTS. GET FROM MY N.D.
WILD YAM CREAM, A PRECURSOR OF PROGESTERONE CAN BE HELPFUL IF MENOPAUSAL
[HEALTH FOOD STORE. I FELT WELLBEING AND MORE ENERGETIC]
PRIMAL DEFENSE AND PROBIOTICS ARE EXCELLENT FOR THE DIGESTIVE TRACT
[HEALTH FOOD STORE]
I sincerely hope that this information will be helpful for other ME/CFS and FM sufferers. I would like to hear what has helped others in both QUEST and Lydia’s Unheard Voices: My Story.
Edith
