As you know my health problems are a major issue in my life. I recently found out I was Type 1 Diabetic and had a 5 day Hospital stay to stabilize my blood glucose levels. Now I must check my blood several times daily, avoid starches and sugars and eat several small meals daily to keep from going into hypoglycemia. Sometimes I do not eat properly or enough and my glucose levels become very low and I feel fatigued and need some orange juice to bring up my levels.

I suffer from constant Chronic Pain due to being hit by an automobile several years ago and destroying my spine in all three sections. C,T and L. I am also Legally Blind from a condition called keraticonus in which my Corneas are not round, but slightly cone-like. The only remedy is a double Cornea Transplant which I have been putting off and probably will never have this surgery. The odds of me seeing well are not great and complete blindness is a possibility.

Because of this I cannot get a Drivers license or drive a car ever again. This has changed my life so much because I have lost my mobility and every simple chore is a major undertaking.

I am depressed because of these disorders and I also have Grand Mal Epileptic Seizures and must take Dilantin daily to prevent a seizure from coming.

I suffer from a congenital Heart Arrhythmia named Wolf-Parkinson-White and have a leaky Mitrol Valve. I have had a Radio Frequency Ablation on the nerves causing my Arrhythmia, but it was not successful.

I have advanced Liver Disease and will wind up with either Liver Cancer or Cirrhosis. I have tried the one and only cure which is called Interferon and you can tell by the name it does interfere with one’s life. It is a form of Chemotherapy which lasted for a year and had a multitude of side affects, including Chronic Fatigue, Fever, Shivering, loss of hair and teeth and feeling awful the entire course of the treatment. I had to cut back my work hours to part-time and then stop completely. Now I am Permanently Disabled.

I have gone through so much in my short 51 years that I feel 100 years old. I do not wish to continue living this way. I have considered Suicide, but I do not believe I would be allowed to die by a certain Character you are aware of. My latest prognosis is Markers in my blood for Cancer. I had a Colonoscopy and there was no Cancer there. Now they want to check my Prostate, do Biopsies on my Pancreas and Liver to see if they can find any Cancer.

My main question to you is very simple even though I have written you a thesis of my Medical Conditions. My question is am I still invited as I believe I was in the past? I would like to know to make the proper decisions concerning my Life — whether I want to continue going on in this “Wracked” manner, or taking the easy way out.

I am not seeking attention. I really want to know if I have a reason to continue living in agony. Will things change for me concerning wearing a new Suit or am I doomed to continue this path.

I am very serious and your reply can have a strong influence on my life. Can you answer me and hopefully I will have a reason to want to go on living — something to look forward to. I would like an honest reply please Thank you,

HOWIE

It looks like the swine flu may have made it to Guam
___________________________________________________
2 People With Flu Like Symptoms Being Tested For Possible Swine Flu

Written by Kevin Kerrigan

Wednesday, 13 May 2009 19:29
Guam

Guam – Early Wednesday evening Guam Public Health officials announced that two people with flu like symptoms have voluntarily agreed to remain at their homes while they await test results to determine whether they are infected by the swine flu virus.

The cases were reported to Guam Public Health by the Department of Defense.

Public Health Incident Command Center PIO Mary Loualhati confirmed the authenticity of this report for PNC News.

The announcement was made in an email sent to the media at 6:26 pm Wednesday evening, it followed a 4 pm news conference at which the two cases were not revlealed. Loualhati said they were not prepared to discuss the cases at that time.

However at that news conference officials did warn about false text messages and phone calls alleging that there were already 2 swine flu cases on island.

According to the evening news release from Public Health:

“Currently, the Department of Public Health and Social Services (DPHSS) is working with the Department of Defense (DoD) in monitoring two (2) individuals with flu-like symptoms with recent travel history from an affected area.

These cases were reported to DPHSS officials today by DoD, as called for in protocols established in Guam’s Pandemic Influenza Plan. At this time, officials are awaiting further test results from the Navy lab in San Diego. Results are expected within 72 hours.

Of the two (2) cases, one (1) individual did receive anti-viral medication as called for by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidance. Both individuals received recommendation for voluntary at-home isolation until symptoms resolve or until test results come back negative.

DPHSS, DoD and Guam Homeland Security and the Office of Civil Defense will continue to collaborate and will closely monitor these individuals.
For further information, please call the Information Hotline at 735-H1N1 (4161).
_______________________________________________________________________
Peter

Ads for antidepressants make it seem as though the most logical solution for a case of the blues is to seek a prescription. Pharmaceutical drugs may be helpful — even necessary — for people with severe depression, but for others, there are natural solutions that may work even better, with less risk of adverse side effects. Dietary supplements and lifestyle changes can be used to naturally lift your spirits.
NATURE CAN HEAL
“I think that a lot of our modern-day fatigue and depression has to do with the fact that we’re totally separated from nature,” said Eric Yarnell, ND, assistant professor of botanical medicine at Bastyr University and author of Clinical Botanical Medicine. “People don’t eat well, they watch huge amounts of television and don’t spend much time relating to people or the outdoors.” He believes that eating plenty of whole, unprocessed foods and getting regular exercise are the first steps to take in attempting to boost your mood and energy level. “Also, I tell people to turn off their televisions,” he said, noting that replacing TV with even 15 minutes of daily outdoor activity and sunlight will help, as will getting enough sleep.
According to Jonny Bowden, CNS, author of The Most Effective Natural Cures on Earth, many foods that are commonly thought to give us energy actually don’t. “Foods that are processed and contain lots of sugar or white flour raise blood sugar temporarily, which feels good, but then set us up for a crash of energy and mood,” he said. “Foods higher in protein (like grass-fed beef, chicken or fish) and higher in healthy fats (like nuts) will raise and sustain energy better.”
But it is, as always, a matter of balance. Daily Health News contributing medical editor Andrew L. Rubman, ND, points out that an extreme low-carb diet can actually kick off fatigue: “Often, if people go overboard on an Atkins-esque high-protein regimen, they end up feeling lethargic, which in turn affects mood.”
SUPPLEMENTS THAT HELP
Eating whole foods with little or no added sugar, exercising (even a bit) and getting some moderate sun exposure are all highly effective ways to beat the blues and lift the spirits. Some people, however, still feel like there are times when they need a more controllable lift — and for them, Dr. Yarnell says there are natural supplements that really do help. Research supports three, in particular — St. John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum), goldenroot (Rhodiola rosea) and eleuthero (Eleutherococcus senticosus).
St. John’s wort
A meta-analysis published in the British Medical Journal in 1996 reviewed 23 trials on St. John’s wort involving more than 1,700 patients, with researchers reporting it was more effective than a placebo at treating mild to moderately severe cases of depression. “The evidence is very strong that St. John’s wort is an effective natural antidepressant for people whose depression is mild,” said Mark Blumenthal, founder and executive director of the nonprofit American Botanical Council. This distinction is an important one, he notes — you might recall that the reputation of St. John’s wort was sullied by a 2001 study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, calling it ineffective. Blumenthal explained that this particular study had examined a group of patients that included those who’d already been unresponsive to treatment with a conventional antidepressant drug, so their depression was quite severe.
The two caveats for people interested in using St. John’s wort to elevate their mood are as follows: Those with severe depression should seek medical advice to ensure proper treatment and monitoring. Also, cautions Blumenthal, “St. John’s wort interacts with a whole suite of conventional pharmaceutical drugs so you must check with your health care provider about any possible interactions before taking it.” Your prescriber will quite likely recommend preparations standardized to contain 0.3% hypericin, a naturally occurring compound in St. John’s wort to which manufacturers standardize their extracts for quality control purposes. And, if you are scheduled to have elective surgery, make sure you discontinue this supplement ahead of time.
Rhodiola rosea/Goldenroot
In Europe, Rhodiola rosea or R. rosea, the best known and most studied of different species of Rhodiola (also called goldenroot), has a long history of being used to treat chronic fatigue, especially in Sweden and Russia. One interesting study tested the effect of 170 mg of R. rosea root extract on 56 physicians who were on stressful night-call duty. R. rosea brought about a statistically significant reduction in general fatigue for the first two weeks — but the positive effect seemed to fade by six weeks, suggesting it might be a good short-term solution that is helpful for acute stressful conditions but not for chronic stress. An experienced naturopath can provide advice on what’s the best dosage in your case.
As for depression, last year a clinical trial found that R. rosea can also work as an antidepressant and mood elevator. In this Swedish study, R. rosea extract was found to not only help reduce symptoms of depression in patients with mild to moderate depression, but also to enhance their cognitive and sexual function, as well as mental and physical performance under stress.
Eleuthero
There is some debate about eleuthero, also known as Siberian ginseng (although it is no longer marketed under that name in the US). Blumenthal is not enthusiastic about eleuthero, calling it “not great” for fatigue, but Dr. Yarnell believes it’s effective, doesn’t have significant adverse effects and works “to balance people’s systems.” One clinical study evaluated 96 adults who had complained of fatigue for at least six months. They were given four capsules per day of eleuthero. While some reported their fatigue lessened considerably, the results were not statistically significant… though two sub-groups in the population — those with longstanding fatigue and those with less severe fatigue — experienced some effect from the treatment after two months.
ASK YOUR DOCTOR…
It probably goes without saying, but I’ll say it anyway. Natural supplements aren’t necessarily risk-free and so it is vitally important to seek supervision by a physician experienced in their use, advice that rings as true when we’re talking about moods as with physical ailments. You may find these products can be very beneficial and produce less adverse effects than pharmaceutical products… but use them responsibly.

Source(s): ?
Mark Blumenthal is the founder and executive director of the American Botanical Council and editor of the publication HerbalGram.
Eric Yarnell, ND, is assistant professor of botanical medicine at Bastyr University and is in private practice. He is author of Clinical Botanical Medicine (Mary Ann Liebert).

Crazy I know. But no one on this blog has ever threaten anyone for any opinion they may have expressed. That is why I love the blog. It is heated but civil.

Michelle runs a very civil blog that offers all equal opportunity to as Adam said Vent.

So vent Al. I for one am very entertained by your expressions. You are someone I would love to have lunch with. If only I lived in Florida.

Helena

Al