alternative medicine?

[Tamik]

Has anyone been to see a naturalpath or hoeopathic doctor? I have an appointment tomorrow with a doc who ptactices functional medicine... he is going to test me for toxins, deficiencies, and who knows what else - I was just curious if anyone else has pursued anything like this and what the results were.  My goal is to get my body as balanced/healthy as possible so it can get to the point of healing.  Tami K

[Billydude]

I went to one just about a week ago.   First he'll determine what type of person you are via some simple questions.  Just search the net for Ayurvedic Medicine.   There are foods certain foods that are either cooling or warming and that will be determined.    He also asked me to get this book Ayurvedic Cooking for Westerners : Amadea Morningstar.  This can be purchased used on Amazon or half.com.    I haven't started yet to tell you the truth.  I have to sit down and figure out my meals.  Being celiac its a hair more complicated.
Steve

[Scottietottie]

Hi Tamik 

I went to a homeopath on and off for about 15 years before a noticeably visible thyroid sent me back to a conventional doctor. I think the homeopathy helped. I think it slowed progress and was good mentally. It has certainly worked sometimes when conventional medicine has failed, for example, getting rid of excruciating toothache after an extraction once. It also banished eczema for 3 of my kids, something that conventional medicine couldn't seem to do.

I think there's a definite place for it alongside the conventional. The one thing it never did was give me any kind of dx.

Take care - Scottie 

[Billydude]

I have to add that he said he would have me off all my meds in three months.  I'm a bit leary on that one.   I think it is good to add Eastern medicine to Western but I personally am not confident in giving up all my meds.
Steve

[Annj5]

Hi Tami and Steve,

I definitely think alternative medicine has it's place in treatment of autoimmune disease. At the conference in Phoenix this year, one of the presentations was made as a team - a rheumatologist AND a naturopathic physician.

The only thing that I would be concerned about is a naturopath taking you off meds without your conventional physician's knowledge or cooperation. If they are aware of each other's therapies and both agree to treatment options, then I'd say go for it!

I have not visited a naturopath, but I do visit my chiropractor fairly routinely. I think that it helps me keep my joint pain and stiffness in check.

Please keep us posted as to your visit and progress with this treatment!
Julia

[Scottietottie]

Hi again

I have a friend who believed so totally in homeopathy that she was prepared to go down that route rather than take antibiotics and was prepared to do the same with her children.

I'm more of a sceptic. I used homeopathy alongside conventional. I wouldn't dream of giving up Thyroxine or Plaquenil to 'wait and see' with whatever rememdy I was given. Mind you - that's what I'd tell the homeopath too.

I've read that acupuncture can be helpful too.

Take care - Scottie 

[Katybarstool]

I had acupuncture a couple of years ago for pain in my hip. I don't think it helped the hip very much, but it certainly increased my sense of well-being, which was wonderful.

Kathyx

[Billydude]

I totally agree with you Scottie.     

[Pooh]

This is a big step for anyone to take and it should be taken only after careful investigation.  If it were me, I would not stop my conventional medications without first discussing the whole thing with my rheumy. 

Everyone to their own choices, just be very careful.  Please let us know how you are doing and if you decide to go this route.

Pooh

[Tamik]

I am not on any meds besides B-12 shots and Vitamin D. Plaquinil did nothing for me... and I really do not want to try conventional drugs with all the side effects until I know that my body is in balance.  Since my B-12 and Vitamin D are low, I want to know what else is low too.   The guy I am going to actually is an internest who practices both conventional and naturalpathic medicine. He will work with my rheumetologist.  I will let you know what I find out.   Tami K

[faithful]

Tamik, how long were you on Plaquenil?  THree people including my ENT told me that I should probably get off Plaquenil.  I am not getting any better and have been on it for five mos. 
My sister thinks my problems are more of an estrogen dominance problem.  After reading up on it I am beginning to wonder if that is a possibility? 
Faithful

[irish]

faithful, Did you ever get put on any prednisone to halt the autoimmune stuff while waiting for the Plaquenil to kick in. It seems that some people take a long time from what I have read---like 6-8 months. If you are not on Prednisone shame on your doctor. The prednisone is nothing to be afraid of as it is to be a short series.

Also, you may well need to take some cellcept or imuran to stop your autoimmune progression. If it was me there is no way I would NOT take one of these drugs as they have a pretty good track record. Unfortuately I am unable to take them due to my low t-cells.

Also, for the others who are contemplating alternative medicine I think that using common sense and having the regular doc kept apprised of any of the homeopathic docs ideas is the only way to go. The one thing that bothers me about so many of these homeopathic people is that they always seem to have a product to sell for huge money. This just sounds suspicious to me. There are so many products out there that are so similar and made by different companies and the markup has got to be horrendous. Interestingly the Indians and other cultures grew their own and dried them--so much cheaper and I bet they worked good too. Irish

[faithful]

Irish, I was only put on Prednisone for a five day period for what the doctor thought was tonsilitus.  The day after I took it I felt great! But then coming off of it I felt worse.  None of the doctors have even considered putting me on it. I have another rhem appt next week. Hopefully he will do blood work since having been on Plaq for five mos it will be interesting to see what it is doing? I have struggled so much with taking Plaq b/c it doesnt seem to be working on what has been my main complaints. Along with the dry eyes and mouth I still have that fullness in my ears, feeling like someone is squeezing my throat and weakness.
None of my doctors know what is going on? 
Faithful

[Scottietottie]

Hi Faithful

I just hope you don't notice a difference coming off Plaquenil. I've read about someone stopping it because they didn't think it was working and they hurt all over about twice as bad when they stopped.

It sounds like an idea to tell your rheumy that Prednisone made you feel better last time you took it and see if he's give you a longer course.

Take care - Scottie 

[Annj5]

Scottie:

Your comment about stopping the plaquenil was right on the money. Last year, I stopped taking it (with my dr.s permission) but after about three weeks I was so miserable!! Then it took another two months to get things back under control. 

I think that after I have been on some of these meds for a long period of time, I forget what I felt like before I started them. That experience was uncomfortable but I learned my lesson.

Julia