Introduction and plea for help

[Guest guest]

I feel a bit more than humbled after starting to read through some

of the group's archives. I also feel rather awkward immediately

making a plea for help, but I want to start the road to healing as

soon as possible.

 

I'm 41, married with 3 children: 18 yr old son, 4.5 year old son,

and 3 year old daughter. I'm American but live in Germany now with

my German husband of 5.5 years. I've suffered with scleroderma since

the age of 15 and lost my left leg below knee nearly 10 years ago,

the right leg below knee a year ago last week. Since 3 years I've

also been diagnosed with fibromyagia. All of Ayurveda is new to me,

I discovered information about it and excitedly searched through

diets and remedies that could right my obvious imbalance of dosha.

 

What is also obvious is my complete ignorance of Ayurveda, which I

do intend to remedy by more reading (I'm ordering books on Amazon

today). From what I've deducted, I am definitely Vata, my husband

Kapha/Pitta, my youngest son Kapha, and my oldest son and daughter

Pitta. All show signs of having an imbalanced dosha when looking at

the symptoms of imbalance from www.holistic-online.com . I am by far

the worst, I am in constant and overwhelming pain. Absolutely no

energy, no patience, no desire. My back aches horribly, my neck, my

entire body in general. My residual limbs remain ice cold, even

though I wear compression stockings on them all day. I had an

appointment to get fitted for two new prosthetic legs but had to

cancel because of dark red and purple bruise-like areas on the

residual ends accompanied by severe pain. My arthritis has been in

overdrive, my creativity at an all-time low. My absolute joy is my

children but I am only short with them and have to force myself to

even take the time that I usually do with them. I cannot sleep

except in short bursts throughout the night, waking exhausted

mentally and physically. At this point I'm willing to do ANYTHING. I

am losing precious days, months, YEARS of my life and I honestly

think that finding the information for Ayurveda might have saved my

life, and my family's.

 

I want to climb out of this pit of depression, anger (my husband

usually is the target of most of the anger), and self-hate. I am

normally a very enjoyable person to be around, amusing, loving, and

self assured. Please please help me.

 

Humbly,

Christi

[Guest guest]

Hi,

 

As I read your mail to ayurveda , first i think you must go

through your nervousness problem, because of your mind is unstable, u may be,

become more problematic in terms of physically as well as mentally. I think

physical as well as mental health is very important.

So I think first you need to do Meditation , Pranayam, self messaging , so

that your mind become stable ,& you can realise peace in mind. For that you can

take also help of some ayurvedic medicine like Bramhi Vati (2 tab two times, ),

Shankpushpi syrup (3 tab spoon two times ), smrutisagar ras (this drug must have

doctors advice ,consult ur doctor ) For your actual problem of Vata, I suggest

you panchkarma from specialist ayurvedic doctor. Because in your case doctor can

check your body & symptons (chikitsa) physically, and doctor can decide

treatment plan for you, this is very important. In this group there are no. of

ayurvedic specialists, they can also suggest very good thing to you.

 

hope so

bye

 

 

 

> I've suffered with scleroderma since the age of 15 and lost my left > leg

below knee nearly 10 years ago, the right leg below knee a year > ago last week.

Since 3 years I've also been diagnosed with

> fibromyagia.

[Guest guest]

Dear Christy,

The information regarding your health is not sufficient to analyse your case

in ayurveda.Of course ayurveda nothing to do with the allopathy diagnosis.You

need to provide some necessory information such as.

 

1 Describe all the health problems in chonological order one by one and their

duration in your own words(Do not use any technical terminology such as

scleroderma,fibromayalgia et.c.).

2 Menstrual history

3.Life style

4.Diet style includind perticular food you like and take more and food you

don't like.

5.How is your appetite.

6.Digestion

7 Bowl habbits.

8 Sleep

9Urination any changes in color, smell,frequency

8Changes in skin

9Changes in voice

 

Dr. Venu Gopal

 

 

 

> I've suffered with scleroderma since the age of 15 and lost my left leg below

knee nearly 10 years ago, the right leg below knee a year ago last week. Since 3

years I've also been diagnosed with fibromyagia.

[Guest guest]

Dear Christi,

 

Wow. That's a lot that you're going through. I'm excited that you've found

such hope in ayurveda. Without being able to see your case in person I can

only start you off with some general, but powerful, suggestions:

 

1) Try an exclusively blended foods diet for a week. Emphasis on blended

khichari (rice and mung dal), freshly cooked vegetables and mung beans as

soups, etc. Use plenty of turmeric. This will help to reduce ama (toxins)

and reduce pain.

 

2) Use ghee (clarified butter) and EFAs as your main oils. Here's a link to

some great EFAs:

http://shop.usana.com/shop/jsp/onlineServices/shop/ProductDetail.jsp?ts=1138

216285200&sessionId=DKMFLJNGKBPO

 

2) Follow the healthy digestion guidelines:

http://www.peacefullivinghhc.com/AyurvedicReferenceForms.htm

 

3) Get to bed early.

 

Best Wishes,

 

Jacob Griscom, CAS

Teaching Faculty: California College of Ayurveda

www.peacefullivinghhc.com

 

 

 

> I've suffered with scleroderma since the age of 15 and lost my left leg below

knee nearly 10 years ago, the right leg below knee a year ago last week. Since 3

years I've also been diagnosed with fibromyagia.

[Guest guest]

Thank you all so very much for your responses, you are a very

caring, supportive group with an amazing amount of insight. I hope

that the below information can possibly give a better overview of my

health history. Please let me know if any other information is

needed or if anything is unclear.

 

Sincerely,

Christi Höhn

 

1. Chronological health history:

 

age 15 blue painful hands when cold, general joint aches, severe

fatigue. Continued til today. Weight gain (had formerly been very

thin)

 

age 18 developed severe indigestion, diarrhea after meals, weight

loss (without any diet changes or activity changes), continuation of

joint pain with increased pain in hip joints to the point where I if

I were to stand in one place for more than a minute or so, I was

unable to walk any further and must sit down for 10 to 15 minutes

before continuing. Also had terrible hip joint pain in the night. I

was at the university at this time, eventually having to leave

because of the pain.

 

age 20 developed first ulceration on the outside ankle bone on my

right foot. Was treated for a brown spider bite for one year before

other diagnosis was made. Contination of joint pain, indigestion, no

more diarrhea. Noticable hair thinning, facial changes: teeth became

much more prominate, smile changed (lip shape), developed jaw pain,

skin on hands tight and some hardened in feel. Hard, bony

protrusions on finger joints, curving of fingernails.

 

age 22 first child born. Induced vaginal delivery 3 weeks premature.

Had epideral and episiotomy. Healthy, calm baby, normal post partum

recovery. Developed hemmoroids during pregnancy and more ulcerations

on right foot and a bit on the left. Severe weight loss after birth.

Continuation of joint pain, indigestion, and fatigue.

 

age 23 first allergic reaction to topical ointments (used to soothe

ulcerations), eyes swelled shut, face severely swollen, itching

under arms, in elbow bend, behind knees. Allergy to petroleum jelly

was discovered. Continuation of other symptoms.

 

Between the ages of 21 and 28, symptoms stayed about the same.

Sleeping became more difficult. Xrays showed webbing in lungs and

thinning of bone mass. Treated with long term antibiotics and

occasional dose-packs of steroids. Heart beat irregularities.

 

age 28 first operation on ulceration (left foot). Debredement and

treated with a solution made from blood platelets. Ulceration

remained closed approximately a year but then opened even larger and

quicker.

 

age 30, first of 3 subsequent skin grafts to try to close the

ulceration. None worked and I developed allergies to more topical

creams and adhesives.

 

age 32, first amputation of left leg below knee. Developed severe

hospital-born infection and had to be operated two more times.

Received 14 weeks of intervenous antibiotics for the resistant staph

infection. After recovery used prosthesis exclusively, wearing it

every day, all day.

 

age 36 second child born, old ulcerated areas on foot opened.

Experienced worse pain in joints and overall aches in muscles.

Trouble concentrating, remembering tasks. Indigestion completely

disappeared. Induced vaginal delivery 1 week overdue. Very difficult

birth, head was too large for pelvis and a towel was wrapped around

my ribcage while two women squeezed towel and pushed down to force

baby from birth canal (baby had gone into distress). Severe vaginal

ripping, two broken ribs. Very healthy, calm baby.

 

 

 

age 37 miscarriage in first month of year, became pregnant again in

3rd month. Third child born, scheduled c-section 3 weeks early (it

was anticipated that she would also be so large as second). Epideral

didn't work so a full anesthesia was used. Very healthy, calm baby.

Difficult post partum recovery, developed slight infection in

incision and saw an increase in overall joint and muscle pain.

Developed much more mood swings, weight gain, change in menstrual

patterns (see below).

 

age 40 second leg amputated below knee. Experienced more mood

swings, depression, joint aches, overall pain. Recovery from the

amputation itself was quick. Despite the care that the doctor took

to make sure all the nerves were treated, I developed areas on my

residual limb that are painful.

 

today (age 41) same symptoms as before, depression hasn't lessened,

pain hasn't lessened, sleep isn't better. Weight gain (had lost

weight in rehab with swimming 3 x a week, weight training, and daily

physical therapy). Both residual limbs have discoloration on the

ends and thickened skin. Painful to the touch and always COLD. Tests

show there is more than adequate arterial blood flow. I've been

tested repeatedly for any thyroid problems but nothing shows in

blood tests. Neck looks swollen and I show all the symptoms of

decreased thyroid function. Extremely dry eyes, to the point of

being painful at times. Extremely dry skin, dry mouth, lips. I've

had "floaters" in my eyes since probably around the age of 25 or so

(I see shadow-like threads in my field of vision), they've worsened

over the past 2 years dramatically. Feeling of being angry most of

the time. Easily explode, even at little things. No energy.

Impatient. Exhausted but mind constantly goes. I wake multiple times

during the night, turning painfully from one side to the other

(because of back pain I cannot lie on my back and because of neck

pain it isn't possible to lie on my stomach), constipation, gas. I

cannot be in the cold but also any extreme warm temperatures are

uncomfortable. Hot water from a bath cannot be too warm and I cannot

stay in long or I feel faint and nausiated. Develop easily lung

infections. I procrastinate everything, find it hard to sleep at

night so even more difficult to get up in the mornings. I don't

accept invitations for outings like I used to (I used to always be

the one in our circle of friends who would suggest outings, dinners,

and threw big parties). I rarely laugh anymore. I force myself to

smile. Things that used to make me high with joy barely make me

smile. No sexual drive.

 

2. Menstrual cycle: always have been regular, like clockwork.

Changes occurred after birth of 3rd child, cycles regular but

irregular in their pattern. Barely any bleeding first day,

second/third day bleed very very heavily, 3rd nothing at all,

sometimes 4th also, 5th or so start dark "spotting" that lasts

sometimes up to 10 days or so.

 

3. Lifestyle: 3 children!! I spend too much time at the computer

lately. Not enough exercise. I love to cook and experiment with new

recipes. Listen mostly to classical and jazz music, enjoy reading,

usually very artistic (I used to do freelance design work in the

states), spend most of my time with the kids.

 

4. Diet style: I like a large variety of foods. I especially love

Indian, Thai, Mexican foods. I love vegetables and salads, good

breads, cheeses, fish and any seafood (including a passion for

sushi) and red wines. I don't care for eggs at all (only use them in

cooking when I don't have to taste them), lima beans, eggplant (only

a bit), sausages and processed meats, and processed foods (except I

die for frozen jalepeno poppers).

 

5. Appetite: I always have a good appetite if the food is good. I

can't force myself to eat bad food, no matter how hungry I am. I

drink mostly water (sparkling - still water gives me indigestion),

coffee in the morning only, some fruit juice, and black or red bush

tea (occasional herb tea). Mornings I usually have a whole grain

bread with butter and maybe a piece of fruit along with my coffee.

We eat the occasional fast food (ugh, I know) and on rare occasions

I drink a cola. Since moving to Germany I don't drink iced drinks,

although usually juice is refrigerated.

 

6. Digestion: usually slow. Normally I do ok if I can eat a

leisurely breakfast and then will have a bowel movement. But lately

that's been sporratic as well. Missing several days a week.

Indigestion has nearly completely disappeared unless I make the

mistake of eating yogurt or drinking still water.

 

7. Bowel Habits: see above.

 

8. Sleep is horrible. I don't take naps during the day because I

want to sleep as deep as I'm able to at night. I wake an average of

4 times a night, sometimes much more. It's painful to turn from one

side to the other, often I wake and take some ibuprofen if I haven't

before going to bed. I usually go to bed late (I know, bad for vata)

and have a hard time waking in morning. I have tried going to bed

early (ie 10 pm) but end up tossing and turning until midnight

anyway. We wake usually around 7 am.

 

9. Urination: no changes

 

10. Changes in skin: rough, scaly, hands look aged in the past few

years.

 

11. Changes in voice: none.