On a more non RA note we got SNOW!
I know most RA folks hate it, but I just love it!
It makes everything so beautiful and I love to play in it.
One quick photo of me from snow day
Back on track
So my last post was just a tad bit whiny/feeling sorry for myself 🙂
I am getting re-motivated and back on track now.
-Rethinking my diet (I took out red meat, most dairy, and sugars. Eating more fermented veggies)
-Moving again. I joined the gym and am doing water classes and swimming 3x a week.
I was trying yoga, and loved it, but I need to get my hands more in check. Most of my pain has been residing in my hands and wrists, so it just wasn’t working, and giving me too much recovery time needed. Water classes are perfect for me!
-Adding some supplements into my mix (higher levels of C, hemp oil, boswellia, and looking into Hyaluronic acid, Nopal Cactus, and Graviola.)
-Planning out a juicing detox
I feel better, but still haven’t nailed it yet.
Full on fasting and detox may help bunches…
But I am losing weight again which is wonderful 🙂
Whiney post- trying to find holistic help that won’t make me bankrupt
So I try to keep positive, but sometimes it gets so frustrating when things don’t work out.
I was super exited to have medical insurance again. There is a place called Northeast Internal and Integrative Medicine, a holistic medical center, that actually takes my insurance, and offers alternative treatments that I know could make me feel better without all the nasty RX drugs shutting down my body. It is also only a mere 2.5 miles from my new home in Concord NC. Perfect right?
So I call today. They aren’t taking any new patients.
Instant breakdown…
I really need an integrative MD. I saw an ND for some time, spent over a thousand dollars we didn’t have, and ended up taking very little away from the experience. The only other integrative MDs cost hundred of dollars out of pocket, just to talk to you(no tests), don’t take any insurance, and are far away to boot.
I have done everything I can do by myself…
I simply need more help….
I know I am doing better than many other RA folks by living the way I do, but it isn’t enough.
I am unable to find the solution to my disease by myself, and until I find it I will continually have pain and illness.
I called the center one last time, and asked to be added to the waiting list.
“It’s long”.
Of course it is..:(
Hypocrisy-yes a rant
My husband had listened to an NPR show on RA and antibiotics. He sent me to www.peoplespharmacy.com to look into this further.
I was excited to find another natural health community that looked very active and appeared to have lots of helpful information.
I signed up for their mailing list.
Day 1: I receive an email which included a link to an article regarding skin care.
They made reference to using “Udderly Smooth”. I commented that I had stopped using that due to the ingredients now being unhealthy and suggested instead that people should use coconut oil. My comment was never approved.
Another woman posted she was disappointed they declined to post her comment regarding the bad ingredients in Udderly Smooth as well.
They approved that comment and stated:
People’s Pharmacy response: Redex Industries is investigating a way to make their well priced, effective cream without parabens. We specifically list the ingredients in the product so that customers can make their own choices about skincare products. We also appreciate the fact that Redex Industries has been a loyal supporter of The People’s Pharmacy radio show for years.
I replied to her comment that I was also disappointed that my comment had also not been approved as well and it wasnt a very good first experience with their website.
My comment was again..declined
I came to find they are not only sponsored by Redex but also sell Udderly Smooth in their store on the website so plug it whenever possible.
Uderly Smooth ingredients used to be:Allantoin, Dimethicone, lanolin oil, and Propylene Glycol in an Emollenient base
Not so bad..and it was sooo creamy
Now they are:Deionized water, Stearic Acid, Peg 2 Stearate, propylene glycol, isopropyl myristate, dimethicone, lanolin oil, mineral oil, triathanolamine, allantoin, methylparaben, propylparaben, fragrance
It is a watery mess now…and look at all that extra bad for you crap!
(mini rant)
With so many natural solutions for skin care there is no reason to be putting this crap into your skin..your largest organ. !
Buy tons of organic coconut oil. Cook with it, use it as a moisturizer, make tooth paste, use it as a lip balm, put it on your zits, cuts, bug bites..
It really does everything and it is good for you and smells yummy. I keep one in the bathroom and one in the kitchen.
In closing I find it pretty sad that People’s Pharmacy censors their audience to protect sponsors selling an unnatural, unhealthy product all the while attacking other products for their unhealthy ingredients. They seem to need to get their priorities in check. They have an audience that trusts them and will buy their products believing they are good for them. They won’t question the ingredients because they sadly have faith in PP.
Shame on you People’s Pharmacy.
Found on their website:
Joe and Terry are guided by these values in all their work:
- Respect for people’s ability to make informed decisions about their health
- Honesty and integrity in communication and actions
- Care, compassion and fairness as the guiding principles for all institutions serving people
What a joke!
Update-It has been awhile :)
I haven’t updated in quite some time due to crazy life stuff. We’ve been looking for a new home since I moved to North Carolina and this has taken up most of my time .
On the rheumatoid arthritis front..I got my results back from my ALCAT test and am allergic to pretty much everything 🙂
Out of all the good food I was eating for my RA I would say half of them I was allergic to which would explain why they were not helping at all.
Just to give you an idea: multiple fishes, black pepper, oregano, almonds, ginger, turmeric, celery, bay leaves, brazil nuts, broccoli, kelp, parsley, and strawberries..just to name a few.. I think you get the idea.
So I’ve been working on eating foods I’m not allergic to and keeping up with my supplements… Unfortunately I’m allergic to most of the natural anti inflammatories of course making life not so easy. Most of my supplements I was taking were causing flares due to the allergies.
Still avoiding the big, cruddy Rx medicines but I did go back on meloxicam which helped a ton.
Still waiting for North Carolina to get on board the medical marijuana train and stop being butt faces. That would be a huge help. Come on guys..!
So back to the house hunt… We have looked at so many houses to find the right one. No luck yet. During my travels I take pictures of some of the craziness I have found. Here are a few :
RA Will Not Win Blog Carnival
My blog post “Beat the Pain” was featured with some other great blogs regarding how to deal with RA pain on RA Warrior.
My First Bone Broth
So I got my first batch of Bone Broth from Wellness Meats, and loved how good it made me feel, but at $25 a pail I decided to try to make my own..
I got a few soup bones from my local farmers’ market and roasted them up in the oven and threw them in the crock pot with onion, celery, carrots, garlic,a bay leaf,and a bunch of parsley. I covered it all with water and added some apple cider vinegar to pull out the good stuff from the bones. cooked it for 20 hours and had some for breakfast. It was pretty yummy for my first batch. I am letting it cook for another 8 hours..mostly because I need my hubby’s non arthritic hands to strain it for me 🙂 I am starting to save my chicken bones in the freezer so I can make some chicken bone broth next. I have to remember to get some chicken feet next time I am at the market.
Check out the benefits of bone broth and recipes here 🙂
Dinner Last Night
Broiled Flounder and baby Spinach cooked with bacon. I am still eating Paleo Auto Immune Protocol.
I fell of the wagon a bit this weekend, had corned beef hash and eggs, (mm eggs)but just jumped right back into it..
Not a Big Fan
Sooo..tried beef liver cooked in bacon and onions..
Wasn’t a fan. I love chicken pate, but didnt quite enjoy the beef.
Bacon was tasty though 😀
Beat the Pain
RA warrior posted a blog today entitled “How Do You Keep the Disease from Taking Over?”
It does get hard when you are in constant pain to just not to give up and fall in a pit…
Some things I do to get through it:
1. When I feel up to it I love being outdoors. It is easy to get wrapped up in yourself and your pain when you are laying around indoors. Out in nature it easy to forget about it just a little
2. I hug a furry butt. My animal kids almost always can make me smile.
3. I recognize how awesome my husband is. So many RA folks have to deal with everything without a partner to help them. I just can’t imagine being without mine.
4. Artsy stuff! When my hands cooperate I do photography, sketching, make music. It is a awesome outlet. 🙂
5. Friends. A support system that kicks ass is super important. I recently moved and I miss having them there for me so much.
6. Ignore the haters. Whether it is family, internet people, “friends”…If they stress you out..just do your best to ignore their comments. I am still working on this one 🙂