Nurture Your Own

November is coming to an end and so shall the Caregiver’s Month! I had compiled our own journey over the last 2 years, more from a caregiver’s view point and arranged in an Acrostic Form to end the Caregiver’s Month 2007. Many who went through the same journey may be able to identify the various emotional experiences that we share here.

A is for Appointments – the various medical check-ups, Physio and Occupational Therapy Sessions.

B is for Bills – additional Medical, Health Supplements, Special Food and some basic Equipment.

C is for Cooking and Chauffeuring – a new Job Specs added automatically in which I am least qualified especially cooking.

D is for Depression – something I have to learn to cope with, both hers and mine.

E is for Endurance – the bitterness, complaints, the low moods as well as physical exhaustion.

F is for Frustration – when progress seem painfully slow and the feeling of inadequacy to help in anyway.

G is for Grateful – that things could have been much worse if not for God’s Grace.

H is for Help – much needed and never turn down an offer.

I is for Inter-dependence – something we both learn from each other.

J is for Joy – when we see progress and an empty handicapped parking lot.

K is for Knowledge – about Stroke Recurrence, Health Food, New Treatment and Exercises.

L is for Love – lots of it since there is no remuneration, over-time or off-days.

M is for Money – need quite a bit of it to pay the bills.

N is for Nappies – plenty of them in the first two months.

O is for Oh my God! When I discover her on the floor!

P is for Prayer – need it very much to go through it all in one piece together.

Q is for Quantity – plenty of pills to take in the morning and evening.

R is for Rest – very much needed for myself for recharging.

S is for Sadness – when we see people going on holidays, jogging and the likes.

T is for Time – when can I be back to normal again?

U is for U-turn – something on the wish-list of a Stroke Survivor.

V is for Vacation – I wish this job have one.

W is for Weeping – we both do that out of sight when things look bleak and apparently impossible.

X is for Sex – what else do you think? We are not telling!

Y is for Yoke – something round my neck.

Z is for Zoo – the cage where we are locked-in since October 2005!

Read Related Posts on Stroke
What is a Stroke?
Facts of Stroke & The Warning Signs.
Stroke Risk Factors.
Understanding Spasticity
Eating & The Stroke Survivor
The Job No One Asks For
Caregivers Month
Botox & Spasticity

I am afraid but I bet, in all probability it does.

When was the last time you checked your own blood UNDER MICROSCOPE with your OWN eyes. I did sometime back & got THE BIGGEST SHOCK of my life. And I challenge you for the same. I promise, you may be in for a surprise as well – even if, like me, you are following what’s considered a healthy diet in common perception – lotsa veggies, fruits, little or no non-veg & minimum oil. So what’s amiss?

The above image depicts how blood cells react to THAT ONE THING WE ALL MISS OUT all-in-all in the foods we eat.

Oh! What a heavy price to pay. You wonder what? Here’s the laundry list :

Short term :
Bloating, acid-reflux, gas, stomach pain, heartburn, constipation, diarrhea, colitis, menstrual cramps etc.

Long Term :
High cholesterol, chronic fatigue, irritable bowel syndrome, diabetes, obesity, hypoglycemia, under-weight, high blood pressure, stroke, etc….

And by the way, this blood-condition is NOT detectable UNTIL IT’S TOO LATE. Even for short term symptoms – the causes are usually not attributed to this one aspect of our diet we all habitually neglect. So unless one directly see’s their blood they can’t be sure this isn’t the case for them. (Here’s the hint : We are all in the same boat).

If you are still wondering what’s wrong with the above shot – compare it with this image of a healthier scenario :-

Photo Courtesy : www.medicine.uiowa.edu

Can you see the difference? Would you like your blood to look like this instead?

Yes, it’s possible to restore the blood cells back to this state naturally & ensure peak performance. And that discovery altered my dietary preferences for ever.

But when I talk to people in my life, alas! I am so appalled to find how very few people have realized this. Is it because it’s a direct attack on our mundane dietary conditioning? Or is it because it can’t be exploited commercially by the big MNC’s? Maybe this isn’t a “juicy” enough scoop for the mass media to report? Perhaps a combination of all these…

And all this inpite of everybody getting so “health-concious” these days. The rising awareness is indeed inspiring, but we are still so much OFF THE MARK that I am taking it as a major initiative to propogate these doozie insights (yeah! there’s more to come). I promise you a surprise every so often.

And if you are wondering how I came into this revelation – here’s the antecedent incident, for your reading pleasure; enjoy.

(What? You haven’t read my earlier post?
Sprouts for body-building? )

As a gesture of support for the Caregivers Month; I will be focusing on care-giving. Because a stroke can be devastating, survivors and family caregivers have a need for someone to understand their feelings of loss. They also have a great need for someone to give them answers to practical daily living questions such as these :-

• Why am I so sad and emotional?

• When will I stop feeling like a burden to my family?

• Will I ever get over the grief and anger I feel?

• What about the emptiness? The clumsiness? The forgetfulness?

Patients say things to their buddies that they won’t say to the doctors. For example, they may tell the buddy that they wish they had not survived. Or tell buddies about bladder control.

Don’t give false hope or medical advice. Just share information Analogy of the stewardess telling passengers about the oxygen mask is good for caregivers!

Dependency is a dangerous trend. The stroke survivor does not gain anything by having things done for them that they can do themselves.

Learn ways to say things and things never to say, like you never say ‘I know you’ll get better’ because you don’t know that.

Caregivers must learn to listen.

Stroke Survivor’s Prayer

So close in thought I wish to be,

With someone who can hear.

My heart’s sad cry, its silent weep,

Caused from despair, I fear.

For life is often so hard to take,

It deals such a painful blow.

Then no one is there with whom to share,

No one who wants to know.

For everyone has their problems too,

Enough gloom and despair of their own.

They have no time for me to share,

My thoughts I so want known.

I pray the day will quickly come,

The day when I will see

The person who will always listen,

And with all their heart love me.

Read Related Posts on Stroke
What is a Stroke?
Facts of Stroke & The Warning Signs.
Stroke Risk Factors.
Understanding Spasticity
Eating & The Stroke Survivor
The Job No One Asks For
Caregivers Month

Kids think that smoking is cool because most of the macho guys in the movie, TV as well as computer games would spot a stick in their mouth. Of course, with the chic babes hanging by their sides, the world seems a lot more glamorous with cigarettes.

They probably will not believe you when you tried your best to explain to them smoking is bad.

Here is one method you can try:

1. Explain to them that when people try smoking for the first time, they will often cough a lot and feel pain or burning sensation in their throat and lungs.

2. Tell them that some folks might even feel their stomachs churning and wanted to throw up.

3. These are signs that your body is protecting you. Your body can feel that the chemicals entering the body is bad. Your body know it’s being POISONED.

4. Anyone who tried to swallow tobacco may actually get killed.

5. Show them really awful pictures of smoking-related disease – like this one here depicting oral cancer. Kids probably heard of lung cancer, asthma and respiratory diseases but seeing actual pictures might just hit it home. It is true that such images may cause them to have nightmares but it certainly beat having them starting to smoke because of curiosity or harboring the notion that it’s “cool”to smoke.

If by telling the kids cannot convince them, showing the pictures just got you a shrug of shoulder, you might want to consult the school councillor for advice and assistance. I knew some parents will get their kids to try a few puff to prove the point that it actually hurts, and the taste and smell of cigarette are not great. However, you must be extremely careful if you want to go onto that route.

I learn from my Chinese friends here that there is a Chinese saying that: “The children is the creators and masters of the future”. We have to keep our children from smoking to ensure we have a smoke-free tomorrow. It is easier not to start than to stop smoking.

(source of photo: Health Promotion Board, Singapore)

Additional Reading: Hypnosis To Change Your Life by Steve G Jones.

Additional Wisdom on Stop Smoking
What’s harmful inside a Cigarette?
Benefits of Stop Smoking
FAQ on Stop Smoking
A Painless Way to Stop Smoking

My wife Rock is now just above two years since her stroke. Although she has improved very much but her left hand shows very little progress. Lately we consulted with her physiotherapist on her situation and she recommended BOTOX Injection to help with the recovery process. I take this opportunity to share on this treatment, what is BOTOX, how it works, how it helps in the physiotherapy and the effects and consequences involved.

BOTOX or Botulinum Toxin Type A is a natural purified protein extracted from bacteria in molds. Normally the brain sends electrochemical messages to the muscles via nerves to make them contract and move. These messages are transmitted from a nerve to the muscle by a substance called Acetycholine. In the case of spasticity in stroke survivors, where too much Acetylcholine is released, the muscles become overly active and spasms or tightening up occurs. Botox temporarily blocks the nerve’s ability to release acetylcholine and hence muscles are released from tightness or spasms.

After injection, it takes a few days for the Botox to take effect and usually lasts about 3 to 4 months. The amount and the exact location for these injections are determined by a medical practitioner. When the muscles are relaxed, the stroke survivor have to do appropriate, vigorous and intensive exercises or physiotherapy for the muscles to gain strength and hence mobility. Sometimes a few cycles of Botox Injections are necessary to achieve such goals.

As with all injections, the patient may experience pain, tenderness or bruising. Other side effects such as flu like symptoms, joint pain, headaches, skin rash, itchiness, nausea and even dizziness. However these are only temporary and should clear-up very fast.

Botox Injections are not only for stroke survivors but also for other causes of spasticity such as injury to the central nervous system due to accidents, falls etc. Cerebral Palsy, Multiple Sclerosis and Spinal Cord Injury patients can use Botox Treatment to help in their recovery processes.

Read Related Posts on Stroke
What is a Stroke?
Facts of Stroke & The Warning Signs.
Stroke Risk Factors.
Understanding Spasticity
Eating & The Stroke Survivor
The Job No One Asks For
Caregivers Month

Our team of contributors have expanded yet again!

Diane is a practitioner of various forms of energy psychology, and has her own web site at eftdiane.com that talks about Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT). She has an interest in all aspects of health and healing, whether physical, mental, emotional or spiritual.

In today’s high stress world, we are sure that Diane’s contributions will help us all to enjoy a stress free and healthy lifestyle!

Once you got eczema, it’s unlikely to be ever completely cured. From time to time, the red, angry and weepy rashes will flare up again. However, you can make the intervals longer – like a year or even more – if you take some additional precautions on top of watching out for your diet and hygiene care. The severity and duration of the rashes will be significantly reduced too. Otherwise, I would be bald by now since I grip my hairs each time I get an eczema recurrence, and so tightly too, during the first unbearable 2 -3 years. I’m glad to say my condition has significantly improved since late 2003.

Eczema outbreaks can usually be avoided with some simple precautions. The following suggestions may help to reduce the severity and frequency of flare-ups:

1. Moisturize frequently
2. Avoid sudden changes in temperature or humidity
3. Avoid excessive perspiration or overheating
4. Reduce stress
5. Avoid scratchy materials (e.g., wool or other irritants)
6. Avoid soaps with alcohol and fragrance
7. Avoid harsh detergents, and solvents
8. Avoid environmental factors that trigger allergies (e.g., pollens, molds, mites, and animal dander)
9. Be aware of any foods that may cause an outbreak and avoid those foods

Very importantly, take note when you notice your condition worsen, when you come into contact with something or consumed something. Avoid those stuff and see if your skin condition improves over time. If it does, well, you now know you should stay clear of those specific irritants.

Recommended Reading:

• Eczema Free Forever by Rachel Anderson
• Cure Your Eczema in 14 Days” by Janet Simpson
• Eczema Diet Secrets by Evelyn Lim

Read Vivienne’s earlier posts on Eczema:
How Can Eczema be Treated?
What’s so Depressing about having Eczema?

Technorati Tags: eczema, eczema prevention

I was hesitating whether to feature this anti-smoking commercial from Britain that Anthony Hicks filmed before he died. It can be disturbing to some readers. However, as it put out a very strong message of the social consequent of smoking, I thought it can lead you to think deeper – especially if you are a smoker or have a loved one who is smoking like a chimney. It’s my quest to encourage people to stop smoking for better health and greater wealth, so here it is …