Saturday, March 10, 2012

Cool Chef Hats!


Do you know anyone going to culinary school? Is Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives one of your favorite television shows? Do you love to cook or bake? Well, if you do, then you should invest in a chef hat or two. Chef hats are designed and worn to keep hair and sweat from falling into the food that you are preparing. No one knows this better than me! Since I had the chemo for my leukemia last year, my hair is constantly falling out. Fortunately my family loves me and just kind of picks it out of their food and shrugs; true love! As for me, I think that it is disgusting!!

So, a search on the internet led me to the coolest website with all kinds of different chef hats. I particularly like the black and white chef hat. I think that I will get it and cover it in Swarovski crystals….hmmmm, that might be a really great idea!

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Cipro Encouraged Me to Have a Garden!


Two years ago I was poisoned by an antibiotic called Cipro. I took the antibiotic for a bladder infection, and with two days of taking Cipro, I was nearly crippled. The pain in the balls of my feet was excruciating and my hips, knees and ankles felt as though they would explode if I bent them. MY skin felt as if it was on fire, and my brain was so fogged that I could not even think.

I immediately sought medical advice, only to be told over and over again, that there was nothing that they could do for me, and they had no idea how long these “side effects” would last’ possibly forever. Two years ago dancing was my profession and my passion. After being poisoned by Cipro, walking was so painful that dancing was out of the question.

A dancing friend of mine, also a chiropractor and kinesiologist, offered me some advice in trying to rid my body of the dangerous floroquinolone, as well as advice on what to take and eat to help my body to repair the damage done by the antibiotic. After several months, I was able to get around better, and learn to dance on my heels. The hardest hit area for me was the balls of my feet. For eighteen months, I wore braces on my ankles and knees and walked and dance very carefully.

Since that time, I have been very mindful of what I eat and have even taken to growing, canning and freezing my own fruits and vegetables. Gusseted poly bags have been a great addition to my freezing practices because they are able to stand up, and stay open all on their own. I also like the Ball canning jars. Having home grown vegetable and fruit all year long is not only a treat, but a very healthy alternative to eating over processed food that is full of pesticides and synthetic fertilizers.

I also am eating eggs from chickens that belong to a friend; I can hardly believe how yellow the yolks are. Now, if I can only bring myself to raising my own poultry, meat and fish, you could call me a “real” farm girl!

Eating Healthy Helped Me Heal!


Re post by request

Yesterday I saw Dr Leland Carrol, he is a chiropractic Kinesiologist He has studied extensively to learn alternative healing techniques to help patients with their individual needs. My only and I say that in jest, problems are muscle, joint and tendon pain in my legs.

I will share the regimen that he has suggested to me. I am NOT a doctor, these are just what I am trying. A lot of what I will be eating and taking are to remove as much as the toxin as I can. He suggested that I eat 1 cup of mixed brussel sprouts and broccoli and 1 whole red beet everyday. These should be steamed and the red beet should be steamed whole. It is the "red" in the beet that is supposed to thin the bile from the liver that can become thicker after Cipro poisoning.

In addition to those veggies I am "drinking" Green Vibrance. It has 25 billion probiotics per dose. It is also used for detoxification.

I am taking 3-4 Magnesium Malate (1250mg) per day, 2000mg of Vitamin C per day, 1 tablet 4 times a day on an empty stomach (be sure to eventually wean yourself down to a normal dose if you take this much Vitamin C). Bromelain, 2 capsules, 4 times a day between meals. Fibrozym, 3 tablets in the morning. Vitamin D and Calcium. These are all in addition to my "regular" everyday vitamins!

By the time I am through sucking down all of these pills and eating those veggies, I think I might just explode!

He also suggested epsom salt baths and light massage. Movement , especially in a pool, and to not push to the point of damage. He also pressed on tendon connections and did something like spreading the muscle tissue. None of this was painful.

Today is day 12, since the side effects began. Last night was the first night that I did not wake up in the middle of the night an hour or two BEFORE I could take Ibuprofen. I actually woke up one hour AFTER I was supposed to take it. I am taking 600mg every 6 hours. My "other" Dr. recommended that as it IS an anti-inflammatory. It helps me tremendously. I seem to be moving a bit faster, at the moment! Hoping for a good day.

Monday, March 5, 2012

Bedroom Vanity Sets


Moving into a new home or remodeling your bedroom? Looking for a great place to store your jewelry and put on your make-up? An old fashioned bedroom vanity set, like your mom used to have, might just be the answer for you.

With all of the shopping opportunities now available to us on the internet, looking for bedroom vanity sets is easier than ever. Whether you are looking for a traditional or contemporary vanity, you should be certain to make sure that you vanity is built with love and pride, so that it will last for many years to come. A bedroom vanity is the style of furniture that can be passed down from generation to generation.

Sunday, March 4, 2012

Hospital Tips!


If you or anyone you know and love should end up in a hospital bed; here are a few tips to help make your stay more comfortable.

First and foremost is when you are in your room, close your door! There are many reasons to keep your door closed both night and day. The most important one is that it is so much quieter; you and your visitors are allowed peace and privacy. You can escape from the hustle and bustle that is going on around you; and at night you can actually get some sleep. The other critical reason for keeping your door closed is that unless you WANT to be a fish in a fish bowl, you will protect yourself, not only from the other patients’ stares as they are doing their laps, but from all of the other patients’ visitors as well, not to mention the plethora of  hospital employees that continually roam the halls.




Let me just tell you what I saw on my daily jaunts around the nurses’ station; there were several very elderly people, some falling out of chairs, others’ lying in their beds with their heads dangling and their moths’ open; almost always alone. It was very depressing and sad. Then there were the screamers, which every time you walked by they would scream out in pain. Yes, I know I screamed when I had my bone marrow biopsy, but my door WAS closed! One of my favorites was the guy that had his bed sitting straight up; he had his shirt off, his covers down and he thought that he was “all that, and then some”, it was hysterical, he would look you straight in the eye and grin when you walked by. Rather, creepy! Sometimes you would witness a patient with a full room of visitors and often you witnessed patients hobbling to the bathroom with their rear ends sticking out of there hospital gowns. So unless you want to become part of the entertainment; I would suggest closing your door. And yes, you can train the hospital staff to close it behind them when they leave; it just takes a few reminders per shift.

Second important tip is to be really nice to the hospital staff. You are at their mercy! This trickles right down the chain of command and gets you two egg croissants when you ask for them. If you are nice to them, they answer your call button on the first buzz.

Third tip would be items of comfort; have someone bring you your own pillow, slippers, socks,  robe and jammies. You will be much more comfortable in your own clothing and resting your head on your own pillow. Ear plugs and an eye mask are essential; Desert Regional Hospital actually gives them to their patients.


Other items of comfort might include Charmin toilet paper, soft Kleenex, Chap Stick and lotion, a hairbrush or comb,  snacks that are available when you are hungry and an electric hot pot that you can either make tea or coffee, or heat up that cold soup from lunch when you are ready to eat it. A notebook and pen are also nice to have so that you can jot down questions when you think of them. A large folder or envelope is helpful in keeping all of the papers that you will be receiving organized.  A bag that holds all of these things and hangs on the side of your bed is great, too.


Saturday, March 3, 2012

HiFu for Prostate Cancer


Prostate cancer is something that most likely we have all heard of. But do we really know what prostate cancer really is? The prostate is a gland that is only found in men. It is walnut shaped and its’ “job” is to produce seminal fluid that transports and nourishes sperm.

Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers found in men. Men with family members that have had prostate cancer are at greater risk. The incidence of prostate cancer also increases with age. Most prostate cancer grows slowly and is confined to the prostate. Since there are typically no, or very minor symptoms, men need to be examined for the presence of prostate cancer regularly, as early detection is the key to survival.  
The treatment that you will be given, if you have prostate cancer will be determined by the stage of the cancer, as well as your life expectancy, since this type of cancer can be very slow growing, and is usually contained within the prostate. High Intensity Focused Ultrasound, also known as HiFU, is often a treatment option. HiFU is an ultrasound treatment that is performed by placing a transrectal probe near the prostate, and then using ultrasound wave energy to destroy the cancerous tissue in the prostate.

This procedure is typically done either under anesthesia, or with a spinal tap, and may last anywhere from one to four hours. A catheter will need to be placed into the bladder for one to two weeks, due to the swelling that may occur; you may notice temporary burning and difficulty in urination, once the catheter is removed. These issues should resolve themselves quickly, leaving no further complications.

The use of HiFu is not the only option when treating prostate cancer, and not every patient will be a candidate for HiFU, but if it is an option for you, you will be pleased to know that the risks of incontinence, impotence, urethral stricture and rectal fistula are relatively uncommon, making this a welcome choice for prostate cancer victims.

HIFU Animation from Keith Schilling on Vimeo.