I wanted to keep this somewhere...and what better place than here on the blog.
I received this note from a friend's daughter:
Hello! I am doing a project for my women's studies class. The topic is, "putting the natural back into birth". I wanted to ask you a few questions for my research, about your experience with home births and hospital births if you have had any. If there are any questions you do not feel like answering that is fine or if you have anything else to add, any feedback is great! Also if you know any mothers who would feel comfortable answering a few of these questions who have had a home birth or two that would be excellent!
What are your experiences with birth? At home or at the hospital?
What was most effective for you?
Did you have good experiences with a midwife or midwives?
Do you stay in touch with your midwife?
How did you find out about home births?
How did you find your midwife?
Did you have support during your birth/births?
Would you change anything about your birth/births?
Why did you decide to have a home birth?
Thank you!
Take Care!
Natalie Crevola-Miller
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In response, I sent this:
What are your experiences with birth? At home or at the hospital?
Our first, Kai, was born in the hospital. Mainly, it was there because we were in the Army when we got pregnant and Jeff was still in when it came time for the birth. We didn't look into options at the time because we thought it would be really expensive to homebirth and because Jeff was very much coming from the main stream thought on health care. However, we agreed on finding a OB/GYN that was a single practice guy and who would support our natural birth choices. What we learned when we had our second, Kade, is how my body carries and births. What we didn't know when we had Kai is that my water breaks and 12 hours later I start contractions. This long lapse was not welcomed in the hospital. Both of our babies stayed really high until the contractions started, even though I was dilated and effaced. In the hospital setting, this was cause for constant monitoring to make sure the baby wasn't stressed. Even when he didn't show any signs of being stressed, they still insisted on monitoring. When I asked to walk, they told me the cord would wrap around his neck and would cause a lot of complications. This effectively scared us into doing whatever they told us to do. My OB/GYN had assumed things were going well and didn't get there until 9am (8 hours after I arrived at the hospital and 9 hours or so after my water broke). He was questioning why we hadn't walked...to help with the labor. Then when I wanted to walk they decided it was too late and that it was necessary to induce. We went with Pitocin and the labor still didn't start. At the second dose, things really started happening. This is two fold. My body (and Kai) decided at that magic 12 hour mark to start working on the labor. This was also when the second dose of Pitocin kicked in. My contractions and Kai's stress started to rise. I was not able to combat the pain of the double/triple peaked contractions and asked for pain killer. After hours of labor, Kai was out in 2 contractions. A healthy beautiful boy!
Kade, our second, was born at home. It was like night and day - our experience with each. For Kai we did the whole technical pregnancy. We had several ultrasounds. We were poked and prodded. With Kade, we opted for the midwives. We had charted our cycle, so were pretty involved in the process. I had taken Jeff down so many paths to a more natural way of dealing with health. Stopping the vaccinations, cloth diapers, co-sleeping, making our own baby food are a few of the changes he adjusted to. When we finally chose the midwives, I emphasized how close the hospital was how much quicker we would be treated if we came in than if we were already in the hospital. I also made sure we talked about the experience we were getting with our midwives. I especially loved the fact that Claudia had, as part of her midwifery journey before she moved to CA, the extra experience that came with having Amish clients. I know Jeff was concerned about the whole process, and am thankful he trusted me to know what I needed. So, in contrast to Kai's many ultrasounds, Kade had none. We heard the heartbeat (Kai did, too, as he was there for all appointments) and trusted that everything was well. When the water broke, I was ok with it all. I spent the time walking and rocking in the kitchen (the only uncarpeted surface in our apartment at the time). We had the living room set up to accommidate the birthing tub. I was pretty sure I would want to have a water birth. It was totally the right decision. Contractions started in around that 12 hour magic mark. At 1pm or so, Claudia arrived to check on me. I requested the water. This led to a check and I was still only 3cm. I still wanted the tub, so the Claudia trusted it. Once in the tub, labor really began. Kade's shoulders got stuck, and that was the only painful moments I remember. He made it out, but wasn't breathing. The midwives were right there with us, prompting everything. We held Kade and talked to him while they got the oxygen. It turned out just fine. I don't remember being deeply aware of the seriousness of the situation as Jeff was. I do believe that if we had been a hospital, we would never have seen Kade...and I honestly don't know if he would have made it without the comfort of our voices, our touch and our warmth. After the birth, the midwives cleaned everything up and and made sure we were comfortable. They fixed our first meal with a candle to celebrate the birth. At that moment, I knew I could birth this way 1,000 times and be perfectly happy. The water birth was the best.
What was most effective for you?
I was far more comfortable at home than in the hospital. I think this is true for two reasons. First, it was our second birth and we had an idea of what to expect. Second, I wasn't going to let anyone else take charge of our birth. It was going to be me and the baby. I trusted that millions of women had done this before me and that my body knew exactly what to do and that it was in constant communication with our baby.
Did you have good experiences with a midwife or midwives?
I *love* my midwives. We had a team (Birthstream in Davis, CA) and it made us feel safe. At different times throughout the pregnancy we connected more with one of them. In the end, they were incredibly supportive and the birth of Kade was an experience that I'd repeat in a minute.
Do you stay in touch with your midwife?
I have one of them as a friend on facebook...and she is listed as part of my family. So, yes!
How did you find out about home births?
My step-daughter was home birthed. My mother and her siblings were home birthed. I don't enjoy the MD world, so have always searched for the alternatives. After Kai, I was far more motivated to find those alternatives. I found information on water birth from Waterbirth International (http://www.waterbirth.org/) and was a reader of Mothering Magazine.
How did you find your midwife?
Early on, we looked at a birthing center. We heard of Birthstream Midwifery via word of mouth. A woman from the park day I attended mentioned them. We researched a couple midwives, but in the end went with the one that was most comfortable. As a bonus, they were the closest and had great referrals.
Did you have support during your birth/births?
Jeff was with me the whole time during each birth. His support was paramount in it all. I have to admit, though, that I don't remember him really being there except for a few minutes throughout the birthing processes when we were home with Kade. I think this is partially due to me being so confident and certain my body and our baby knew exactly what we needed to do. With Kai, I remember Jeff being there the whole time. He was my focus and the one who got me through the whole ordeal. My mother was at Kai's birth, too. At the time it seemed right. Looking back, I was trying to keep up appearances (both with her and the hospital staff), which I feel helped make the hospital experience the not so perfect experience it became, even though nothing truly horrible happened. With Kade, there were four of us there : Jeff and both midwives. I felt their presence. My focus not on them, but instead was on birthing.
Would you change anything about your birth/births?
I would never go back to a hospital birth. I would have a ton of home births, though!
With Kai, I would have preferred to be more assertive in waiting for the natural process and not have given in to the hospital staff's recommendations. Things the staff mentioned and said were just not anything like I had wanted to do. One nurse was just plain rude. When my doctor did get there, he was asking why we had not done the things we had intended...and it was mostly because we were of the mindset that if the staff was despotic then we really had no choice. I would never have stayed in bed and been monitored all the time. I would never have induced labor. I would never have taken pain killers. I would have requested they let me hold him before they cut the cord and cleaned Kai. I would have asked to be nearer him when they did all the cleaning and tests. Jeff was able to be there, so that was good, but not my ideal. I would have left sooner. There are things we did right, though. I'm glad I chose to keep him with me when they wanted to take Kai away to 'let me sleep'. I'm very happy Jeff stayed in the room with me, too. I'm glad we had the doctor we did. For even though we didn't do everything we intended to do, he was still on our side for the most part. I'm glad Jeff wore the bunny ears all through the labor. I wouldn't have my mom with us...and didn't for Kade.
With Kade, I would have made more space for me to be comfortable with the fluids draining out...and that would have allowed me the space to walk more. I would have taken more pictures after the birth...I don't think we have any of us actually holding him right after he was born. I would have made a point to have Kai there and/or had him home earlier. The things we did right : had a wonderful trusted team and chose water birth.
Why did you decide to have a home birth?
I think I answered this in what I have mentioned before. I was looking for an alternative to the mechanized birthing process found in hospitals. I wanted a path that was more in tune with what I believed - that our bodies, as women, know exactly what they are doing. I didn't want 'what if's to govern my care, but instead wanted a more trust based experience. I looked for practitioners that made sense to me and with whom I felt comfortable. I found all these in the midwifery and water birth options.
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Natalie, thanks for letting me be a part of your research. If you need more from me, let me know. If there are more details you need, ask for those, too.
Hope you are well.
Showing posts with label health. Show all posts
Showing posts with label health. Show all posts
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Thursday, January 29, 2009
OK, more henna
I hate to waste it! So here are a few pictures of what I did last night. However, it is past its prime, so the stain is not too dark on the back of my hand. I wanted to do a design that supported the one I did on the palm. I also included a new picture of the palm to show how dark it turned out this time! It has reached its peak in color, I think.
I also have great life to report! I am wearing these... From dream to reality.
***As an after note: I wore these shoes for 4 hours today. Granted, most of that time was not spent on my feet. What I have noticed is our counter tops don't appear to be as tall as they do normally *and* I can reach things on the second shelf of the cabinets without getting the stool! Secondly, wearing heels is like roller skating. It's a bit of an adjustment when you first start out, but you get used to it. Once the heels come off, there is still an adjustment time. My physical aftermath is minimal and consists of the normal sensations experienced when one wears shoes that are new and have pressures in places one is not accustomed to. Structural, not electrical. I'm a smilin'!
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Today and more...
OK, so I can't say enough for our Dentist. Dr. Baha is the best. We all had our teeth polished last week. Well, the digital xrays they took of the boys showed Kade had 2 cavities in between 2 sets of teeth - making 4 teeth total involved. Before we left, Dr. Baha pulls out these cool race cars and lets Kade know he'll put his name on them (big gifts go for the big jobs, and stickers for the polishings). Anyway, Kade was really excited about getting the race cars, but not too keen on the 'spicy' gel they used last time. So, Dr. Baha said he'd try it without the gel and they'd take it step by step. Before he did anything today, Dr. Baha talked about how if Kade was nervous and tense that he would feel a lot more pain. If he was relaxed, then he probably wouldn't feel any pain. He explained that if Kade raised his hand, Dr. Baha would know he was feeling something more than the vibrating the drill would do. He also made sure Kade was cool and comfy watching Sponge Bob (get this - *with* headphones on!) before he started. Kade lifted his hand 3 times. When he raised his hand, Dr. Baha just switched to another tooth. When we checked with Kade, he said he wanted to continue. Dr. Baha checked to make sure after each set, and let Kade know when he was done with the drilling and was then just sealing and adding the composite. When the tooth is hot, it may hurt, so that is why he moved to another tooth to work on. Tooth cools, no pain! Anyway, Kade made it through the entire drilling/filling without any numbing stuff! Wow, I say. We have played with the race cars (it was a package of 2)...
When we got back, I wanted to put some henna on my hand. So, here is what I did. I like the modern/traditional combination of this design. I found this one online. However, I had to skip some 'rings' simply because either my hand is smaller or their lines are smaller than what I can do with the tip I have. I like how it turned out. The paste was only on for about an hour and a half before life called me back to play. Still, it is darker now than it was when I took the paste off. Crazy.
Annie came home earlier than we expected today and I was able to do this on her back. She wanted the center design (made by a stencil that came with the last bag of henna powder) in the center of her back. I asked if I could do some more and she was nice enough to let me. She was laying down for this, which is easiest for me. Next time I know to lean over her back to do the center so it's straight!
Last week I snagged these from Annie's facebook page so as to have a log here of what she is practicing. The mannequin heads are a bit creepy for me, but I will just have to hang. She will finish 'core' mid February. Right now they are touching on all the things they will need to know and they will go over them in more depth later.
Annie, Hannah and Merissa working on their mannequins.
Annie's french twist.
Annie's, Hannah's, and Merissa's handiwork.
Annie and Hannah
When we got back, I wanted to put some henna on my hand. So, here is what I did. I like the modern/traditional combination of this design. I found this one online. However, I had to skip some 'rings' simply because either my hand is smaller or their lines are smaller than what I can do with the tip I have. I like how it turned out. The paste was only on for about an hour and a half before life called me back to play. Still, it is darker now than it was when I took the paste off. Crazy.
Annie came home earlier than we expected today and I was able to do this on her back. She wanted the center design (made by a stencil that came with the last bag of henna powder) in the center of her back. I asked if I could do some more and she was nice enough to let me. She was laying down for this, which is easiest for me. Next time I know to lean over her back to do the center so it's straight!
Last week I snagged these from Annie's facebook page so as to have a log here of what she is practicing. The mannequin heads are a bit creepy for me, but I will just have to hang. She will finish 'core' mid February. Right now they are touching on all the things they will need to know and they will go over them in more depth later.
Annie, Hannah and Merissa working on their mannequins.
Annie's french twist.
Annie's, Hannah's, and Merissa's handiwork.
Annie and Hannah
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Gifts
Now that Baba has received her birthday gifts, I can post the picture of them in the process of being done. I love the rice socks, and Kade and I (sometimes Kai) enjoy the warmth they provide us nightly. I also like them when I can't seem to get my foot warm - these work almost as well as hot water, but without the pressure of the water on the foot or the after shock of the cool air. Anyhoo, they are easy, easy to make. Take a clean men's crew sock. Fill the foot half full of rice and knot the top. Decorate with markers. For added interest, you can add an essential oil of your choice or dried herbs inside the sock itself before you knot it. These are great for a kid project as it takes so little time and they can put as much effort into it as they feel like (even decorate it in shifts) and still get something they want. When new, one of these will be warm enough in about 30 seconds in the microwave! Can't beat the speed. It's pretty much the only thing we use the microwave for. Hope you try it out, those of you who crawl into a cold bed at night might like this ever so much!
The blank sock ended up having a few flowers and a few thin petals on it. A great henna design gone wild on a sock!
It's fun to see the pictures that are arriving on our computer. Now that she has her own computer up and running, I'm sure I will find less and less of these on here. Too bad for me and you.
For those of you who have now seen the big pictures of the dream shoes...well I have been trying to think of ways to see this foot thing in a positive way. I think I have been thinking too much about healing and not enough about living. All my focus has been on what I need to do to get back to health and not how I'm spending my time. I had a major energy shift on the 7th, of which I have only lapsed back into a funk once since then, and the 7th is the day I decided I would just start living my life and putting my focus there.
While at dinner with Jeff the other weekend, I noticed one of the employees had on a gorgeous pair of heels. OK, so if you know me, and have known me for the last 12 years or so you may find it funny that I want to wear heels at all! Truth is, I hated them when I was required to wear them every day. However, now that I have stopped resenting that time (heehee), I find I would truly enjoy dressing up and wearing heels again. So, to honor that thought, I have posted the pictures of my favorites here so I am reminded of how cool they are! And of how I will put a pair of heels on every day I am pain free...and take advantage of the time I can wear them when I get it again. I think I told Jeff I'd wear them every day, but that may be just a tad of an exaggeration...
Mainly, though, I am giving thanks for the new shoes I have made for myself and the fact that I am living this fabulous life I have with my now family of 5. I thank this universe whole heartedly.
It is also wonderful that I was able to see a movie with the man today!!! A date, you say? Well in the 10 years we have been together we have now seen a total of 8 movies in the theater without our young ones there. Most of those eight times were before Kai was born! Maybe we can rectify the lapses of time between since we both truly enjoy that time seeing the shows. At least I hope to go often enough to remember to bring a tissue with me - since it seems I will always cry during every movie I see! Wet hanky gal that I am.
I am also grateful to the friends who entertained our boys while Jeff and I got a whoppin' 5 hours of today to spend together...THANKS!
The blank sock ended up having a few flowers and a few thin petals on it. A great henna design gone wild on a sock!
It's fun to see the pictures that are arriving on our computer. Now that she has her own computer up and running, I'm sure I will find less and less of these on here. Too bad for me and you.
For those of you who have now seen the big pictures of the dream shoes...well I have been trying to think of ways to see this foot thing in a positive way. I think I have been thinking too much about healing and not enough about living. All my focus has been on what I need to do to get back to health and not how I'm spending my time. I had a major energy shift on the 7th, of which I have only lapsed back into a funk once since then, and the 7th is the day I decided I would just start living my life and putting my focus there.
While at dinner with Jeff the other weekend, I noticed one of the employees had on a gorgeous pair of heels. OK, so if you know me, and have known me for the last 12 years or so you may find it funny that I want to wear heels at all! Truth is, I hated them when I was required to wear them every day. However, now that I have stopped resenting that time (heehee), I find I would truly enjoy dressing up and wearing heels again. So, to honor that thought, I have posted the pictures of my favorites here so I am reminded of how cool they are! And of how I will put a pair of heels on every day I am pain free...and take advantage of the time I can wear them when I get it again. I think I told Jeff I'd wear them every day, but that may be just a tad of an exaggeration...
Mainly, though, I am giving thanks for the new shoes I have made for myself and the fact that I am living this fabulous life I have with my now family of 5. I thank this universe whole heartedly.
It is also wonderful that I was able to see a movie with the man today!!! A date, you say? Well in the 10 years we have been together we have now seen a total of 8 movies in the theater without our young ones there. Most of those eight times were before Kai was born! Maybe we can rectify the lapses of time between since we both truly enjoy that time seeing the shows. At least I hope to go often enough to remember to bring a tissue with me - since it seems I will always cry during every movie I see! Wet hanky gal that I am.
I am also grateful to the friends who entertained our boys while Jeff and I got a whoppin' 5 hours of today to spend together...THANKS!
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Obstacles along this journey.
This post is about me. So, if you are looking for news on the boys, or some light-hearted conversation, this post is one you should skip.
I am going to write my thoughts down in hopes that I can then let go and allow positive change to happen.
I have been pain free since January 18, 2008. Until this past month. It started gradually. I did a lot of sand running (pushing Kade 'underdog' on the swing) and my foot started to complain that evening. I thought it was just because I haven't done that type of physical activity in years. But, alas, no. The week that followed was on and off discomfort. This past week, my foot has been "vibrating" or buzzing continuously to varying degrees. I have noticed the cold much faster. When I do get chilly feet, it takes longer for my left foot to warm up. Now, I'm not in constant pain so far - which is good. But what I do feel has set my emotions going.
At first, it was just shock. Shock that after all this time, I am starting to go backwards. Shock that even though I put the foot in the cold stream this spring, in the ocean itself, in the pool water all summer long...shock that my brain is still going haywire.
After shock comes anger and depression. Anger that my body is rejecting normalcy. Anger that it affects my mood. Anger that it affects what I can do. Anger that it affects how I interact with my family. Depression tries to make itself at home...and it's a battle to see the world with fresh eyes. Eyes of love and trust in the universe.
I know that bodies change as they get older. I know that just as I can not expect to have the body I had before children, I can not expect to have the body I had before RSD. I can see my children and be perfectly happy with my postpartum body. I can see the graffiti they have decorated me with...their personal tattoos they have left me. I can see that and celebrate it. I am a mother of two beautiful children. How, now, can I see my post RSD body as beautiful and the way it's supposed to be? I must find the way to make that happen. I will find peace here in me...in this body I have been given.
My anger is also fed by the thought that I had been eating so well, taking good care of my body. So, as my sick logic goes, why work so hard at eating well and taking good care of my body if it doesn't make any difference. Now I know in my head that this reasoning is flawed. I know that eating well does make a difference. I know that taking care of my body makes a difference, too. However, emotions are not known to be logical.
I am also angry to have to admit that I am not all the way healed. This is tough for me. I have spent so many hours in these last few years seeing myself as whole and healed. So much time spent. So many dreams visualized. I had so much time living that reality - 10 long months. 10. That's 3 times as long as the last time I was pain and sensation free. 3 times. I should be happy that it is getting longer in between. I should see this cup as half full, not half empty.
Coming down from a high is never easy.
I need to feel these emotions and let them go.
Now I'm just trying to manage a fall that is not too severe. I want my smile to be immediate and without hesitation. I want to celebrate what I wear - whether or not my feet are free and naked. I want to laugh and play with my children. I want to bask in the warmth that comes from the love Jeff and I share.
I shall revisit the wisdom of Byron Katie.
I will start giving myself a break from all this worry and emotional turmoil.
I will start treating my body better.
I will start eating things that I know are healing.
I will see myself whole...and exactly where I need to be.
I am going to write my thoughts down in hopes that I can then let go and allow positive change to happen.
I have been pain free since January 18, 2008. Until this past month. It started gradually. I did a lot of sand running (pushing Kade 'underdog' on the swing) and my foot started to complain that evening. I thought it was just because I haven't done that type of physical activity in years. But, alas, no. The week that followed was on and off discomfort. This past week, my foot has been "vibrating" or buzzing continuously to varying degrees. I have noticed the cold much faster. When I do get chilly feet, it takes longer for my left foot to warm up. Now, I'm not in constant pain so far - which is good. But what I do feel has set my emotions going.
At first, it was just shock. Shock that after all this time, I am starting to go backwards. Shock that even though I put the foot in the cold stream this spring, in the ocean itself, in the pool water all summer long...shock that my brain is still going haywire.
After shock comes anger and depression. Anger that my body is rejecting normalcy. Anger that it affects my mood. Anger that it affects what I can do. Anger that it affects how I interact with my family. Depression tries to make itself at home...and it's a battle to see the world with fresh eyes. Eyes of love and trust in the universe.
I know that bodies change as they get older. I know that just as I can not expect to have the body I had before children, I can not expect to have the body I had before RSD. I can see my children and be perfectly happy with my postpartum body. I can see the graffiti they have decorated me with...their personal tattoos they have left me. I can see that and celebrate it. I am a mother of two beautiful children. How, now, can I see my post RSD body as beautiful and the way it's supposed to be? I must find the way to make that happen. I will find peace here in me...in this body I have been given.
My anger is also fed by the thought that I had been eating so well, taking good care of my body. So, as my sick logic goes, why work so hard at eating well and taking good care of my body if it doesn't make any difference. Now I know in my head that this reasoning is flawed. I know that eating well does make a difference. I know that taking care of my body makes a difference, too. However, emotions are not known to be logical.
I am also angry to have to admit that I am not all the way healed. This is tough for me. I have spent so many hours in these last few years seeing myself as whole and healed. So much time spent. So many dreams visualized. I had so much time living that reality - 10 long months. 10. That's 3 times as long as the last time I was pain and sensation free. 3 times. I should be happy that it is getting longer in between. I should see this cup as half full, not half empty.
Coming down from a high is never easy.
I need to feel these emotions and let them go.
Now I'm just trying to manage a fall that is not too severe. I want my smile to be immediate and without hesitation. I want to celebrate what I wear - whether or not my feet are free and naked. I want to laugh and play with my children. I want to bask in the warmth that comes from the love Jeff and I share.
I shall revisit the wisdom of Byron Katie.
I will start giving myself a break from all this worry and emotional turmoil.
I will start treating my body better.
I will start eating things that I know are healing.
I will see myself whole...and exactly where I need to be.
Saturday, May 31, 2008
My healing journey
I am only posting this because I was asked at the conference what I went through. For those who already know, just skip it! I have been pain free since 1/16/08, so feel like I'm on top of the world! I still have some sensations, but it is few and far between. I wish I knew how to link to a document, but don't so here it is...
March 22, 2007
I’m hoping to get this all together. Not just for you, but for others out there who are suffering from this disease and can’t find any information on alternative treatments.
I was diagnosed with RSD/CRPS about 3 months after an injury to my foot. That was in October of 2004. By the time of the diagnosis I was unable to walk for any period of time. I could not wear shoes and had to make socks that would not fit snuggly and were extra warm. I was in searing pain 24/7. I was not able to have anything on the foot that had weight (such as a blanket while sleeping). I was having intense flare-ups after each shower I took due to the difference in temperature of the water and the air hitting my foot. I was feeling heightened pain sensations when I was near any electronics (so much so that we had to take everything out of the bedroom – including the clock) and I could feel when the refrigerator began running even when sitting in a different room.
In a nutshell, I believe RSD afflicts us because our bodies and minds have been overtaxed and our bodies can’t handle any more traumas. One has to stop exposing the body to toxins as well as stop putting things into the body that are hard for the body to process and eliminate. If more good things go into the body and less bad, the body will be able to cleanse and heal. With this in mind, I have done things to cleanse both my body and spirit – to visualize and see myself as whole and able to maintain balance within. I constantly visualize myself doing everything I wish – pain free and without repercussions of those actions. One of the biggest right now is being able to ride bikes with the kids. I see myself able to run around with them at the park without any hesitation. I have certain shoes I feel on my feet in comfort. Sand in between my toes feels soft!
I have tried many things that have failed. Pain killers only helped for a very limited time and did nothing but take the edge off of the pain. They also made it easier for me to do more than I could reasonably expect and I often paid dearly for it. Pain killers did nothing for the swelling and ultra-sensitivity to touch my foot seemed to have. The warm/cold water baths the physical therapist suggested were absolute torture. It took me at least 2 weeks to come down from those flare-ups (I only did it twice). Most of what the physical therapy did was not effective for the disease, but may have helped keep the muscles from total atrophy. I stopped all formal and/or conventional therapies within the first 4 months. I used a special herb blend to take down the swelling called Bio-Inflammatory Plus by Biogenesis. I was able to get these through a nutritionist in the area.
In my meditations (5 minutes before bed is all I have carved out for myself so far) I confirm that I am whole and complete and healing. I am finding the positive mental healing is there if we dwell in it.
There are things I have physically tried that have helped. These are lymphatic drainage, detox-ing via juicing, quantum touch energy healing, craniosacral work and raw foods.
LYMPHATIC DRAINAGE:
Most massage places will have someone that does lymphatic drainage. It’s the only system in our body that doesn’t have its own pump. When I first went in to get the lymphatic drainage massage, the practitioner said my lymph system had a light pulse at the groin, had no pulse at the knee and was trying to go backwards at the foot/ankle. I went to several sessions until the system was going in the right direction. I have since found those mini trampolines. Bouncing (just an inch up and down) create the ‘pump’ for the lymphatic system. I started with 50 bounces every time I went to the restroom. This meant that I was ‘pumping’ my system many times a day. It’s an amazing feeling and you can tell immediately that it is working because your whole body tingles. You don’t need the trampoline, either; it just makes the bouncing easier when you have RSD in your lower extremities.
DETOX-ING VIA JUICING:
The next step I took toward healing is a whole body detox. I first tried the Master Cleanse by Peter Glickman. I recommend you buy the booklet before trying this one. It’s worth the money to have it on hand. I started the Master Cleanse and within 2 hours was vomiting. My body was so overwhelmed with toxic stuff that it couldn’t handle the onslaught of junk in my system. I stopped immediately and looked for a more gentle start to cleansing. I then found a good juicer and started juicing vegetables 2 times a day and eating a vegetarian dinner. I stayed away from sweets and from anything white (flour, pasta, rice and potatoes). The juicer I started with was the Champion, but I have since been using the Green Star Juicer. I highly recommend the Green Star since it does everything you can ask a juicer to do and does it really well. It will also help you if you decide to eat more of a raw diet. The Green Star will also juice leafy greens and wheat grass. I highly recommend the wheat grass juice for its healing qualities. When I began the juice detox, I started with carrot adding in one of the following: fresh ginger, beet, kale, cucumber or celery. I used the carrot as a base for the others, but you may find in your research that you prefer another juicing method. I was on this juice fast for 21 days. Thereafter, I juiced once a day for about a year. I still try and juice at least 3 times a week.
QUANTUM TOUCH:
Quantum touch has changed how I see healing. When I first heard of the workshops, I told Jeff that it was either the biggest and saddest scam ever or it would be exactly what I needed. Quantum touch funnels life force energy (which is all around us) through one person into another in order to heighten the vibration of the one being ‘worked on’. This heightened vibration amps up the healing ability of the receiver’s body. I took the class the weekend before Halloween 2005 and by the end of the workshop I was able to walk and wear my tights and go trick or treating with the boys. I was totally pain free for almost 2 full months. It did come back, but it has never been as intense as it was. I am not able to run energy on myself effectively, but know that I get some healing as I work on others. I choose one person to work on every day (distance healing) and I have a friend I work on every week in person. I do not put limitations on this type of healing. For some, it heals quickly and they have immediate tangible results. For others, it may take more time for the body to heal. This modality can never hurt you and at a minimum will relax you more so you can deal with the pain. Yet it has the potential to completely heal you.
CRANIOSACRAL THERAPY:
This modality has done tremendous things for my body. I can say it has literally changed my body for the better. I have been able to let go of so much emotional baggage through this and feel as if my soul has been lightened of its load. I believe our body holds onto emotions we haven’t dealt with as well as physical things. Our body has cell memory. We have the ability to let our body go back and heal itself until it has returned to its true state. Craniosacral therapy has healed me both emotionally and physically.
RAW FOODS:
I have come a long way from where I started. Most days I am pain free. I get flare-ups when I do too much, do something new that I am not used to, or when my foot gets chilled/cold. I would say I am 85% pain free at this point. Besides the almost 2 months of pain free time mentioned above, I have only been totally pain free while on a 100% raw foods diet. When I came off the raw foods, I could tell immediately that I was no longer on them. The area on my foot that has RSD was sensitive to the touch again and I began to have flare-ups again. I can’t say enough for the raw foods, as I know my health is and has improved. It is a challenge to maintain a 100% raw diet. I have been raw for 2 months solid and am currently trying to get back on it 100%. It takes great dedication, but must be a bit more doable without having to serve others who are not 100% raw! Most people, from what I gather, fall out of the raw habit about 4 times before they are able to stay 100% raw. There is more out there than just salads and the like. Many recipes are available for free and there are some fabulous raw recipe books. It is so worth the time it takes to change. The recipes are often no more work than a regular cooked meal would be, and there are no pots or pans to clean. For equipment, I recommend getting a really good blender (like KTec), a food processor, and a food dehydrator (9 tray if you can find one). All items can be frozen after prep and then eaten throughout the week. I have to stress this – it’s the only time I have been completely pain and sensation free!
I hope this helps those who are looking for something other than the conventional treatment of RSD. I know our bodies can heal themselves and with help we can cure ourselves of horrendous disease. Believe and live in that reality.
In peace.
March 22, 2007
I’m hoping to get this all together. Not just for you, but for others out there who are suffering from this disease and can’t find any information on alternative treatments.
I was diagnosed with RSD/CRPS about 3 months after an injury to my foot. That was in October of 2004. By the time of the diagnosis I was unable to walk for any period of time. I could not wear shoes and had to make socks that would not fit snuggly and were extra warm. I was in searing pain 24/7. I was not able to have anything on the foot that had weight (such as a blanket while sleeping). I was having intense flare-ups after each shower I took due to the difference in temperature of the water and the air hitting my foot. I was feeling heightened pain sensations when I was near any electronics (so much so that we had to take everything out of the bedroom – including the clock) and I could feel when the refrigerator began running even when sitting in a different room.
In a nutshell, I believe RSD afflicts us because our bodies and minds have been overtaxed and our bodies can’t handle any more traumas. One has to stop exposing the body to toxins as well as stop putting things into the body that are hard for the body to process and eliminate. If more good things go into the body and less bad, the body will be able to cleanse and heal. With this in mind, I have done things to cleanse both my body and spirit – to visualize and see myself as whole and able to maintain balance within. I constantly visualize myself doing everything I wish – pain free and without repercussions of those actions. One of the biggest right now is being able to ride bikes with the kids. I see myself able to run around with them at the park without any hesitation. I have certain shoes I feel on my feet in comfort. Sand in between my toes feels soft!
I have tried many things that have failed. Pain killers only helped for a very limited time and did nothing but take the edge off of the pain. They also made it easier for me to do more than I could reasonably expect and I often paid dearly for it. Pain killers did nothing for the swelling and ultra-sensitivity to touch my foot seemed to have. The warm/cold water baths the physical therapist suggested were absolute torture. It took me at least 2 weeks to come down from those flare-ups (I only did it twice). Most of what the physical therapy did was not effective for the disease, but may have helped keep the muscles from total atrophy. I stopped all formal and/or conventional therapies within the first 4 months. I used a special herb blend to take down the swelling called Bio-Inflammatory Plus by Biogenesis. I was able to get these through a nutritionist in the area.
In my meditations (5 minutes before bed is all I have carved out for myself so far) I confirm that I am whole and complete and healing. I am finding the positive mental healing is there if we dwell in it.
There are things I have physically tried that have helped. These are lymphatic drainage, detox-ing via juicing, quantum touch energy healing, craniosacral work and raw foods.
LYMPHATIC DRAINAGE:
Most massage places will have someone that does lymphatic drainage. It’s the only system in our body that doesn’t have its own pump. When I first went in to get the lymphatic drainage massage, the practitioner said my lymph system had a light pulse at the groin, had no pulse at the knee and was trying to go backwards at the foot/ankle. I went to several sessions until the system was going in the right direction. I have since found those mini trampolines. Bouncing (just an inch up and down) create the ‘pump’ for the lymphatic system. I started with 50 bounces every time I went to the restroom. This meant that I was ‘pumping’ my system many times a day. It’s an amazing feeling and you can tell immediately that it is working because your whole body tingles. You don’t need the trampoline, either; it just makes the bouncing easier when you have RSD in your lower extremities.
DETOX-ING VIA JUICING:
The next step I took toward healing is a whole body detox. I first tried the Master Cleanse by Peter Glickman. I recommend you buy the booklet before trying this one. It’s worth the money to have it on hand. I started the Master Cleanse and within 2 hours was vomiting. My body was so overwhelmed with toxic stuff that it couldn’t handle the onslaught of junk in my system. I stopped immediately and looked for a more gentle start to cleansing. I then found a good juicer and started juicing vegetables 2 times a day and eating a vegetarian dinner. I stayed away from sweets and from anything white (flour, pasta, rice and potatoes). The juicer I started with was the Champion, but I have since been using the Green Star Juicer. I highly recommend the Green Star since it does everything you can ask a juicer to do and does it really well. It will also help you if you decide to eat more of a raw diet. The Green Star will also juice leafy greens and wheat grass. I highly recommend the wheat grass juice for its healing qualities. When I began the juice detox, I started with carrot adding in one of the following: fresh ginger, beet, kale, cucumber or celery. I used the carrot as a base for the others, but you may find in your research that you prefer another juicing method. I was on this juice fast for 21 days. Thereafter, I juiced once a day for about a year. I still try and juice at least 3 times a week.
QUANTUM TOUCH:
Quantum touch has changed how I see healing. When I first heard of the workshops, I told Jeff that it was either the biggest and saddest scam ever or it would be exactly what I needed. Quantum touch funnels life force energy (which is all around us) through one person into another in order to heighten the vibration of the one being ‘worked on’. This heightened vibration amps up the healing ability of the receiver’s body. I took the class the weekend before Halloween 2005 and by the end of the workshop I was able to walk and wear my tights and go trick or treating with the boys. I was totally pain free for almost 2 full months. It did come back, but it has never been as intense as it was. I am not able to run energy on myself effectively, but know that I get some healing as I work on others. I choose one person to work on every day (distance healing) and I have a friend I work on every week in person. I do not put limitations on this type of healing. For some, it heals quickly and they have immediate tangible results. For others, it may take more time for the body to heal. This modality can never hurt you and at a minimum will relax you more so you can deal with the pain. Yet it has the potential to completely heal you.
CRANIOSACRAL THERAPY:
This modality has done tremendous things for my body. I can say it has literally changed my body for the better. I have been able to let go of so much emotional baggage through this and feel as if my soul has been lightened of its load. I believe our body holds onto emotions we haven’t dealt with as well as physical things. Our body has cell memory. We have the ability to let our body go back and heal itself until it has returned to its true state. Craniosacral therapy has healed me both emotionally and physically.
RAW FOODS:
I have come a long way from where I started. Most days I am pain free. I get flare-ups when I do too much, do something new that I am not used to, or when my foot gets chilled/cold. I would say I am 85% pain free at this point. Besides the almost 2 months of pain free time mentioned above, I have only been totally pain free while on a 100% raw foods diet. When I came off the raw foods, I could tell immediately that I was no longer on them. The area on my foot that has RSD was sensitive to the touch again and I began to have flare-ups again. I can’t say enough for the raw foods, as I know my health is and has improved. It is a challenge to maintain a 100% raw diet. I have been raw for 2 months solid and am currently trying to get back on it 100%. It takes great dedication, but must be a bit more doable without having to serve others who are not 100% raw! Most people, from what I gather, fall out of the raw habit about 4 times before they are able to stay 100% raw. There is more out there than just salads and the like. Many recipes are available for free and there are some fabulous raw recipe books. It is so worth the time it takes to change. The recipes are often no more work than a regular cooked meal would be, and there are no pots or pans to clean. For equipment, I recommend getting a really good blender (like KTec), a food processor, and a food dehydrator (9 tray if you can find one). All items can be frozen after prep and then eaten throughout the week. I have to stress this – it’s the only time I have been completely pain and sensation free!
I hope this helps those who are looking for something other than the conventional treatment of RSD. I know our bodies can heal themselves and with help we can cure ourselves of horrendous disease. Believe and live in that reality.
In peace.
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