28 Sep 2008, Sunday - Yeah, I passed out again, today.
I had gone for a short walk around the neighbourhood with my elder daughter just after 9 am. After the walk, I was tired but still went to the market alone. Back from the market, I was completely exhausted and rested before lunch.
After lunch, I was back on the recliner resting again when I felt pain on the right side of my abdomen, just below the last rib. I was feeling uncomfortable and was bothered by the pain and my aching back, so I put the recliner in an upright position. I was contemplating making a trip to the bathroom when I passed out.
As usual, in the moments that I struggled to regain consciousness, my mind was in a state of confusion. I was breaking out in cold sweat as I struggled to open my eyes and tried to control my mind. In my confused state, I thought I was alone at home, but then realised that it was Sunday and everyone was home.
I snapped and panicked and called for my family members and everyone rushed to my side. I was whining away and still very groggy. My son had wanted to call the ambulance but I said no, and instead asked my daughter to apply some essential oil for me. After resting for some time, I felt better and could go to the bathroom where I relieved myself of flatulence.
On reflection, I couldn't.understand why I had panicked and shouted for my family members. What had I been fearful of? From recent scans, I was aware that I could not afford another blow to the head as I had a fracture line all the way to the base of my skull from a fall some years ago and the fall in May has caused bleeding in my brain. I was lucky this time that I was on the recliner and did not fall.
I had always been collected and had never reacted in that manner before where my health is concerned, so what happened this time? Did the results of the last scan caused such an effect? Was my mind so disorientated and bad memories from the recent fall frightened me into action?
I had given my family cause for concern, especially my son, who quickly cancelled his music lesson so that he could be at home in case I needed to rush to hospital. I had not been thinking of death, in fact, I was more concerned about being alone at home and unable to move around, and wondered if I would be able to reach the phone and called for help. Each time I had lost consciousness without warning which is quite worrying.
A check with the traditional medicine practitioner found that I had wind in my kidney and that I passed out from the pain. But, at a scale of 1 - 10, it was probably only at 6 or 7 and not crippling pain, so I could not understand how that could cause me to pass out.
My threshold of pain is not too bad generally except during childbirth or had my tooth filled. I remembered some years back when I was having my tooth filled. The dentist had to give me more anesthetic as I kept complaining of pain, until he said, "okay, I have given you the maximum and if you still feel pain, then the only thing left is for me to hit you on the head to knock you out." Well, I still felt pain and he was exasperated and commented that I must be one of the very few who had nerves running in some unusual position.
Monday, 29 September 2008
Saturday, 27 September 2008
Commenting on my blog
Use my blog to communicate with me if you want to, as all comments will be sent to my email address that is linked to my blog.
Click on 'comments', which can be found at the end of each article, and a small window will pop up. Type your message in the box under 'leave your comment'.
For 'choose an identity', just select whichever category you are comfortable with. It is not necessary to have a google or blogger account. You can leave your name, a pseudonym, or just be anonymous.
Hit 'preview' to check your message, or just hit 'publish your comment'. When you hit 'publish your comment', your comment will not be published immediately, but I can view your comment through my email account or when I logged into my blog. I will then publish your comment which can then be viewed by other visitors. If you do not wish to have your comment published, just mention that in your comment and I will abide by your wishes.
For me to reply to your comment by email, please include your email address in your comment, otherwise I can reply via a published comment.
Later, if for whatever reason, you wish to delete a published comment, just leave another comment for me with a request to delete that particular comment, as published comments can only be deleted by the owner of the blog.
Click on 'comments', which can be found at the end of each article, and a small window will pop up. Type your message in the box under 'leave your comment'.
For 'choose an identity', just select whichever category you are comfortable with. It is not necessary to have a google or blogger account. You can leave your name, a pseudonym, or just be anonymous.
Hit 'preview' to check your message, or just hit 'publish your comment'. When you hit 'publish your comment', your comment will not be published immediately, but I can view your comment through my email account or when I logged into my blog. I will then publish your comment which can then be viewed by other visitors. If you do not wish to have your comment published, just mention that in your comment and I will abide by your wishes.
For me to reply to your comment by email, please include your email address in your comment, otherwise I can reply via a published comment.
Later, if for whatever reason, you wish to delete a published comment, just leave another comment for me with a request to delete that particular comment, as published comments can only be deleted by the owner of the blog.
Acidity Self-Test
This is taken from one of my health newsletters and I am not very sure how accurate it is but I thought that it would be interesting to add it here since I have included articles on this subject in my previous posts.
Acidity Self-Test
Introduction
Use this checklist to get a sense of how acidic you may be. Determining your acidity levels isn't an exact science, but this Self-Test can help you get a better idea of how urgently you need to begin alkalizing your body.
Directions
|
The idea is this: the more symptoms, the more acidic you may be, and the more urgent it is for you to begin an alkalizing program.
Beginning Symptoms
- Acne
- Agitation
- Muscular pain
- Cold hands and feet
- Dizziness
- Low energy
- Joint pains that travel
- Food allergies
- Chemical sensitivities to odor, gas heat
- Hyperactivity
- Panic attacks
- Pre-menstrual and menstrual cramping
- Pre-menstrual anxiety and depression
- Lack of sex drive
- Bloating
- Heartburn
- Diarrhea
- Constipation
- Hot urine
- Strong smelling urine
- Mild headaches
- Rapid panting breath
- Rapid heartbeat
- Irregular heartbeat
- White coated tongue
- Hard to get up in morning
- Excess head mucous (stuffiness)
- Metallic taste in mouth
Intermediate Symptoms
- Cold sores (Herpes I & II)
- Depression
- Loss of memory
- Loss of concentration
- Migraine headaches
- Insomnia
- Disturbance in smell, taste, vision, hearing
- Asthma
- Bronchitis
- Hay fever
- Ear aches
- Hives
- Swelling
- Viral infections (colds, flu)
- Bacterial infections (staph, strep)
- Fungal infections (Candia albicans, athlete's foot, vaginal)
- Impotence
- Urethritis
- Cystitis
- Urinary infection
- Gastritis
- Colitis
- Excessive falling hair
- Psoriasis
- Endometriosis
- Stuttering
- Numbness and tingling
- Sinusitis
Advanced Symptoms
- Crohn's disease
- Schizophrenia
- Learning disabled
- Hodgkin's Disease
- Systemic Lupus Erythematosis
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Sarcoidosis
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Myasthenia gravis
- Scleroderma
- Leukemia
- Tuberculosis
- All other forms of cancer
Source: Alkalize or Die, Dr. Theodore A. Baroody, 2001.
Saturday, 20 September 2008
Health Article - Acidic or Alkaline?
I had mentioned before about the body being acidic or alkaline. I have just come across a website that explains more about this. The following article was taken from Chet Day's website.
Quote :
Essential Details on Acid and Alkaline-Forming Effects of Foods and How Your Body Maintains a Healthy pH
Quote :
Essential Details on Acid and Alkaline-Forming Effects of Foods and How Your Body Maintains a Healthy pH
By Dr. Ben Kim
DrBenKim.com
Is it true that each food that you eat can cause your blood to become more alkaline or acidic?
The answer is: not really. The pH of your blood is tightly regulated by a complex system of buffers that are continuously at work to maintain a range of 7.35 to 7.45, which is slightly more alkaline than pure water.
If the pH of your blood falls below 7.35, the result is a condition called acidosis, a state that leads to central nervous system depression. Severe acidosis - where blood pH falls below 7.00 - can lead to a coma and even death.
If the pH of your blood rises above 7.45, the result is alkalosis. Severe alkalosis can also lead to death, but through a different mechanism - alkalosis causes all of the nerves in your body to become hypersensitive and over-excitable, often resulting in muscle spasms, nervousness, and convulsions; it's usually the convulsions that cause death in severe cases.
The bottom line is that if you're out and about, your body is doing an adequate job of keeping your blood pH somewhere between 7.35 to 7.45, and the foods that you are eating are not causing any wild deviations of your blood pH.
So what's up with all the hype about the need to alkalize your body? And what's to be made of the claim that being too acidic can cause osteoporosis, kidney stones, and a number of other undesirable health challenges?
As usual, the answers to such questions about human health can be found by understanding basic principles of human physiology. So let's take a look at the fundamentals of pH and how your body regulates the acid-alkaline balance of its fluids on a moment-to-moment basis.
pH is a measure of how acidic or alkaline a liquid is. With respect to your health, the liquids involved are your body fluids, which can be categorized into the following two main groups:
-
Intracellular fluid, which is the fluid found in all of your cells. Intracellular fluid is often called cytosol, and makes up about two-thirds of the total amount of fluid in your body.
-
Extracellular fluid, which is the fluid found outside of your cells. Extracellular fluids are further classified as one of two types:
-
Plasma, which is fluid that makes up your blood.
-
Interstitial fluid, which occupies all of the spaces that surround your tissues. Interstitial fluid includes the fluids found in your eyes, lymphatic system, joints, nervous system, and between the protective membranes that surround your cardiovascular, respiratory, and abdominal cavities.
-
Your blood (plasma) needs to maintain a pH of 7.35 to 7.45 for your cells to function properly. Why your cells require your blood to maintain a pH in this range to stay healthy is beyond the scope of this article, but the most important reason is that all of the proteins that work in your body have to maintain a specific geometric shape to function, and the three-dimensional shapes of the proteins in your body are affected by the tiniest changes in the pH of your body fluids.
The pH scale ranges from 0 to 14. A liquid that has a pH of 7 is considered to be neutral (pure water is generally considered to have a neutral pH). Fluids that have a pH below 7 - like lemon juice and coffee - are considered to be acidic. And fluids that have a pH above 7 - like human blood and milk of magnesia - are considered to be alkaline.
It's important to note that on the pH scale, each number represents a tenfold difference from adjacent numbers; in other words, a liquid that has a pH of 6 is ten times more acidic than a liquid that has a pH of 7, and a liquid with a pH of 5 is one hundred times more acidic than pure water. Most carbonated soft drinks (pop) have a pH of about 3, making them about ten thousand times more acidic than pure water. Please remember this the next time you think about drinking a can of pop.
When you ingest foods and liquids, the end products of digestion and assimilation of nutrients often results in an acid or alkaline-forming effect - the end products are sometimes called acid ash or alkaline ash.
Also, as your cells produce energy on a continual basis, a number of different acids are formed and released into your body fluids. These acids - generated by your everyday metabolic activities - are unavoidable; as long as your body has to generate energy to survive, it will produce a continuous supply of acids.
So there are two main forces at work on a daily basis that can disrupt the pH of your body fluids - these forces are the acid or alkaline-forming effects of foods and liquids that you ingest, and the acids that you generate through regular metabolic activities. Fortunately, your body has three major mechanisms at work at all times to prevent these forces from shifting the pH of your blood outside of the 7.35 to 7.45 range.
These mechanisms are:
-
Buffer Systems
- Carbonic Acid-Bicarbonate Buffer System
- Protein Buffer System
- Phosphate Buffer System
-
Exhalation of Carbon Dioxide
-
Elimination of Hydrogen Ions via Kidneys
It's not in the scope of this article to discuss the mechanisms listed above in detail. For this article, I only want to point out that these systems are in place to prevent dietary, metabolic, and other factors from pushing the pH of your blood outside of the 7.35 to 7.45 range.
When people encourage you to "alkalize your blood," most of them mean that you should eat plenty of foods that have an alkaline-forming effect on your system. The reason for making this suggestion is that the vast majority of highly processed foods - like white flour products and white sugar - have an acid-forming effect on your system, and if you spend years eating a poor diet that is mainly acid-forming, you will overwork some of the buffering systems mentioned above to a point where you could create undesirable changes in your health.
For example, your phosphate buffer system uses different phosphate ions in your body to neutralize strong acids and bases. About 85% of the phosphate ions that are used in your phosphate buffer system comes from calcium phosphate salts, which are structural components of your bones and teeth. If your body fluids are regularly exposed to large quantities of acid-forming foods and liquids, your body will draw upon its calcium phosphate reserves to supply your phosphate buffer system to neutralize the acid-forming effects of your diet. Over time, this may lead to structural weakness in your bones and teeth.
Drawing on your calcium phosphate reserves at a high rate can also increase the amount of calcium that is eliminated via your genito-urinary system, which is why a predominantly acid-forming diet can increase your risk of developing calcium-rich kidney stones.
This is just one example of how your buffering systems can be overtaxed to a point where you experience negative health consequences. Since your buffering systems have to work all the time anyway to neutralize the acids that are formed from everyday metabolic activities, it's in your best interest to follow a diet that doesn't create unnecessary work for your buffering systems.
Acid and Alkaline-Forming Effects of Common Foods
Generally speaking, most vegetables and fruits have an alkaline-forming effect on your body fluids.
Most grains, animal foods, and highly processed foods have an acid-forming effect on your body fluids.
Please don't forget: Your health is best served by a good mix of nutrient-dense, alkaline and acid-forming foods; ideally, you want to eat more alkaline-forming foods than acid-forming foods to have the net acid and alkaline-forming effects of your diet match the slightly alkaline pH of your blood.
The following lists indicate which common foods have an alkaline-forming effect on your body fluids, and which ones result in acid ash formation when they are digested and assimilated into your system.
Foods that have a Moderate to Strong Alkaline-Forming Effect
Watermelon
Lemons
Cantaloupe
Celery
Limes
Mango
Honeydew
Papaya
Parsley
Seaweed
Sweet, seedless grapes
Watercress
Asparagus
Kiwi
Pears
Pineapple
Raisins
Vegetable juices
Apples
Apricots
Alfalfa sprouts
Avocados
Bananas
Garlic
Ginger
Peaches
Nectarines
Grapefruit
Oranges
Most herbs
Peas
Lettuce
Broccoli
Cauliflower
Foods that have a Moderate to Strong Acid-Forming Effect
Alcohol
Soft drinks (pop)
Tobacco
Coffee
White sugar
Refined Salt
Artificial sweeteners
Antibiotics (and most drugs)
White flour products (including pasta)
Seafood
White vinegar
Barley
Most boxed cereals
Cheese
Most beans
Flesh meats
Most types of bread
Please note that these lists of acid and alkaline-forming foods are not comprehensive, nor are they meant to be.
If you're eating mainly grains, flour products, animal foods, and washing these foods down with coffee, soda, and milk, you will almost certainly improve your health by replacing some of your food and beverage choices with fresh vegetables and fruits.
The primary purpose of this article is to offer information that explains why I believe that you don't need to take one or more nutritional supplements for the sole purpose of alkalizing your body. Your body is already designed to keep the pH of your body fluids in a tight, slightly alkaline range.
The ideal scenario is to make fresh vegetables and fruits the centerpieces of your diet, and to eat small amounts of any other nutrient-dense foods that your appetite calls for and that experience shows your body can tolerate.
Unquote
Thursday, 18 September 2008
Health Article - Figs
This article is from a newsletter courtesy of Chet Day.
Quote :
Fabulous Age-Defying Figs
People have been using figs since ancient times. In the Old Testament, King Hezekiah was sick unto death and Isaiah called for a lump of figs and the king recovered.
The active agent in figs is benzaldehyde. The Japanese identified this ingredient after giving it to cancer patients and seeing dramatic results.
Fig juice has also killed bacteria in test tubes and roundworms in dogs. The enzymes in figs, called "ficins" aid digestion.
The patients that the Japanese gave the fig substance to generally lived longer. So eat your figs as they are a tasty age defying food!
Fig Exfoliators:
Fresh figs make wonderful mild exfoliators. They contain an active enzyme that helps to remove dead skin cells from the surface of the skin just the way pineapple and papaya does.
Fresh figs are always best, but dried figs will do if fresh are not available. If using dried figs, first soak them in water for 15-20 minutes to soften them.
You can use figs in the shower to scrub your body. The tiny seeds in the figs will gently polish your skin.
Fig mask: Slice the fig in half and turn inside out.
Scrape out the flesh and mash well with a fork. Apply to the skin and leave on for up to 5 minutes. Because of the figs high enzyme content, don't leave the mask on longer than 5 minutes. Rinse with tepid water.
Unquote
Quote :
Fabulous Age-Defying Figs
People have been using figs since ancient times. In the Old Testament, King Hezekiah was sick unto death and Isaiah called for a lump of figs and the king recovered.
The active agent in figs is benzaldehyde. The Japanese identified this ingredient after giving it to cancer patients and seeing dramatic results.
Fig juice has also killed bacteria in test tubes and roundworms in dogs. The enzymes in figs, called "ficins" aid digestion.
The patients that the Japanese gave the fig substance to generally lived longer. So eat your figs as they are a tasty age defying food!
Fig Exfoliators:
Fresh figs make wonderful mild exfoliators. They contain an active enzyme that helps to remove dead skin cells from the surface of the skin just the way pineapple and papaya does.
Fresh figs are always best, but dried figs will do if fresh are not available. If using dried figs, first soak them in water for 15-20 minutes to soften them.
You can use figs in the shower to scrub your body. The tiny seeds in the figs will gently polish your skin.
Fig mask: Slice the fig in half and turn inside out.
Scrape out the flesh and mash well with a fork. Apply to the skin and leave on for up to 5 minutes. Because of the figs high enzyme content, don't leave the mask on longer than 5 minutes. Rinse with tepid water.
Unquote
Health Article - Tofu
In Dr Mercola's latest newsletter, there was an article titled, "What's so bad about Tofu?", and I thought I would just reproduce it here because of the confusions and misconceptions regarding soy and soy products.
Quote :
Do you think tofu is a healthy form of protein? Kaayla T. Daniel, PhD., CCN clears up this common misconception and reveals the health consequences of eating tofu.
Dr. Daniel earned her PhD in Nutritional Sciences and Anti-Aging Therapies from the Union Institute and University in Cincinnati, was board certified as a clinical nutritionist (CCN) by the International and American Association of Clinical Nutritionists in Dallas and is a member of the Board of Directors of the Weston A. Price Foundation.
As a clinical nutritionist, she specializes in digestive disorders, women’s reproductive health issues, infertility, and recovery from vegetarian and soy-based diets.
Dr. Daniel is the author of The Whole Soy Story : The Dark Side of America's Favourite Health Food (New Trends, March 2005), which has been endorsed by leading health professionals, including Kilmer McCully, MD, Doris J. Rapp, MD, Jonathan V. Wright, MD, Russell Blaylock, MD, Larrian Gillespie, MD, Joseph Mercola, DO, Debra Lynn Dadd and others.
Unquote
Dr Mercola's comments on the subject as follows :
Quote:
Many health-conscious Americans, in an effort to improve their eating habits, have switched to eating tofu in place of meat or eggs. The soy industry would have you believe that this is a smart move for your heart health, but in reality processed soy, which includes tofu, is not a health food.
You are much better off eating organic eggs, grass-fed meat and raw dairy products than you are eating processed soy.
"Unlike in Asia where people eat small amounts of whole soybean products, western food processors separate the soybean into two golden commodities--protein and oil. There's nothing safe or natural about this,” Dr. Daniel says.
“Today's high-tech processing methods not only fail to remove the anti-nutrients and toxins that are naturally present in soybeans but leave toxic and carcinogenic residues created by the high temperatures, high pressure, alkali and acid baths and petroleum solvents," she continues.
The worst of the worst when it comes to soy products are the fractionated products like soy protein isolate and hydrolyzed plant protein, as all processed soy contains phytates that block mineral absorption and trypsin inhibitors that block proper digestion.
Tofu is one step up because it’s a whole soy product, but it still contains the anti-nutrients mentioned above.
Health Problems Linked to Soy
Among the many health problems linked to a high-soy diet are:
Meanwhile, studies reviewed by Dr. Daniel and colleagues have found that soy does not reliably lower cholesterol, and in fact raises homocysteine levels in many people, which has been found to increase your risk of heart disease, stroke, and birth defects. In fact, according to Dr. Daniel, soy can increase your risk of heart disease.
As a result, she and other experts have sent a 65-page petition to the FDA asking them to retract the “soy prevents heart disease” health claim that they approved back in 1999, and let’s hope they do the right thing and comply.
It’s very important to know also that children and babies, who are still developing, are particularly vulnerable to soy’s hormone-mimicking effects. A Lancet study showed that the daily exposure to estrogen-imitating chemicals for infants who consume soy formulas was 6-11 times higher than adults consuming soy foods.
And the blood concentration of these hormones was 13,000 to 22,000 times higher than estrogen in the blood. An infant exclusively fed soy formula receives the estrogenic equivalent (based on body weight) of up to five birth control pills per day. So please do not feed your baby soy infant formula, or your toddler soy foods (if you can’t breastfeed and are looking for a formula alternative, here’s a recipe for a healthy homemade infant formula). The effects are so potent that even pregnant women should avoid eating soy products for the safety of their unborn child.
And there’s more:
The Are Some Ways to Safely Enjoy Soy
There are a few types of soy that are healthy, and all of them are fermented. After a long fermentation process, the phytic acid and antinutrient levels of the soybeans are reduced, and their beneficial properties -- such as the creation of natural probiotics -- become available to your digestive system.
It also greatly reduces the levels of dangerous isoflavones, which are similar to estrogen in their chemical structure, and can interfere with the action of your own estrogen production.
So if you enjoy soy and want to eat it without damaging your health -- and in fact gain health benefits -- the following are all healthy options:
Remember, though, that all processed soy products -- soy milk, soy burgers, soy cheese, soy energy bars, soy ice cream, soy protein powders, etc. -- are not health foods. And to truly avoid all types of damaging soy products, you need to avoid processed foods as the vast majority of them contain soy ingredients.
“The best -- and maybe the only -- way to completely avoid soy in the food supply is to buy whole foods and prepare them ourselves,” Dr. Daniel says. “For those who prefer to buy readymade and packaged products, I offer a free Special Report, "Where the Soys Are," on my Web site. It lists the many "aliases" that soy might be hiding under in ingredient lists -- words like "bouillon," "natural flavor" and "textured plant protein."
The basics of healthy eating -- unprocessed, fermented, and fresh foods are ideal, while processed foods should be avoided -- apply to soy as well, so stick to these tenets and you’ll be on the right track.
Unquote
Quote :
Do you think tofu is a healthy form of protein? Kaayla T. Daniel, PhD., CCN clears up this common misconception and reveals the health consequences of eating tofu.
Dr. Daniel earned her PhD in Nutritional Sciences and Anti-Aging Therapies from the Union Institute and University in Cincinnati, was board certified as a clinical nutritionist (CCN) by the International and American Association of Clinical Nutritionists in Dallas and is a member of the Board of Directors of the Weston A. Price Foundation.
As a clinical nutritionist, she specializes in digestive disorders, women’s reproductive health issues, infertility, and recovery from vegetarian and soy-based diets.
Dr. Daniel is the author of The Whole Soy Story : The Dark Side of America's Favourite Health Food (New Trends, March 2005), which has been endorsed by leading health professionals, including Kilmer McCully, MD, Doris J. Rapp, MD, Jonathan V. Wright, MD, Russell Blaylock, MD, Larrian Gillespie, MD, Joseph Mercola, DO, Debra Lynn Dadd and others.
Unquote
Dr Mercola's comments on the subject as follows :
Quote:
Many health-conscious Americans, in an effort to improve their eating habits, have switched to eating tofu in place of meat or eggs. The soy industry would have you believe that this is a smart move for your heart health, but in reality processed soy, which includes tofu, is not a health food.
You are much better off eating organic eggs, grass-fed meat and raw dairy products than you are eating processed soy.
"Unlike in Asia where people eat small amounts of whole soybean products, western food processors separate the soybean into two golden commodities--protein and oil. There's nothing safe or natural about this,” Dr. Daniel says.
“Today's high-tech processing methods not only fail to remove the anti-nutrients and toxins that are naturally present in soybeans but leave toxic and carcinogenic residues created by the high temperatures, high pressure, alkali and acid baths and petroleum solvents," she continues.
The worst of the worst when it comes to soy products are the fractionated products like soy protein isolate and hydrolyzed plant protein, as all processed soy contains phytates that block mineral absorption and trypsin inhibitors that block proper digestion.
Tofu is one step up because it’s a whole soy product, but it still contains the anti-nutrients mentioned above.
Health Problems Linked to Soy
Among the many health problems linked to a high-soy diet are:
• Thyroid problems, including weight gain, lethargy, malaise, fatigue, hair loss, and loss of libido
• Premature puberty and other developmental problems in babies, children and adolescents
• Cancer
• Brain damage
• Reproductive disorders
• Soy allergies
• Premature puberty and other developmental problems in babies, children and adolescents
• Cancer
• Brain damage
• Reproductive disorders
• Soy allergies
Meanwhile, studies reviewed by Dr. Daniel and colleagues have found that soy does not reliably lower cholesterol, and in fact raises homocysteine levels in many people, which has been found to increase your risk of heart disease, stroke, and birth defects. In fact, according to Dr. Daniel, soy can increase your risk of heart disease.
As a result, she and other experts have sent a 65-page petition to the FDA asking them to retract the “soy prevents heart disease” health claim that they approved back in 1999, and let’s hope they do the right thing and comply.
It’s very important to know also that children and babies, who are still developing, are particularly vulnerable to soy’s hormone-mimicking effects. A Lancet study showed that the daily exposure to estrogen-imitating chemicals for infants who consume soy formulas was 6-11 times higher than adults consuming soy foods.
And the blood concentration of these hormones was 13,000 to 22,000 times higher than estrogen in the blood. An infant exclusively fed soy formula receives the estrogenic equivalent (based on body weight) of up to five birth control pills per day. So please do not feed your baby soy infant formula, or your toddler soy foods (if you can’t breastfeed and are looking for a formula alternative, here’s a recipe for a healthy homemade infant formula). The effects are so potent that even pregnant women should avoid eating soy products for the safety of their unborn child.
And there’s more:
• Soybeans are high in natural toxins, also known as antinutrients. This includes a large quantity of inhibitors that deter the enzymes needed for protein digestion. Further, these enzyme inhibitors are not entirely disabled during ordinary cooking. The result is extensive gastric distress and chronic deficiencies in amino acid uptake, which can result in dangerous pancreatic impairments and cancer.
• Soybeans contain hemaglutinins, which cause red blood cells to clump together. Soybeans also have growth-depressant substances, and while these substances are reduced in processing, they are not completely eliminated.
• Soy contains goitrogens, which can frequently lead to depressed thyroid function.
• Most soybeans (over 80%) are genetically modified, and they contain one of the highest levels of pesticide contamination of all foods.
• Soybeans are very high in phytates, which prevent the absorption of minerals including calcium, magnesium, iron and zinc, all of which are co-factors for optimal biochemistry in your body.
• Soybeans contain hemaglutinins, which cause red blood cells to clump together. Soybeans also have growth-depressant substances, and while these substances are reduced in processing, they are not completely eliminated.
• Soy contains goitrogens, which can frequently lead to depressed thyroid function.
• Most soybeans (over 80%) are genetically modified, and they contain one of the highest levels of pesticide contamination of all foods.
• Soybeans are very high in phytates, which prevent the absorption of minerals including calcium, magnesium, iron and zinc, all of which are co-factors for optimal biochemistry in your body.
The Are Some Ways to Safely Enjoy Soy
There are a few types of soy that are healthy, and all of them are fermented. After a long fermentation process, the phytic acid and antinutrient levels of the soybeans are reduced, and their beneficial properties -- such as the creation of natural probiotics -- become available to your digestive system.
It also greatly reduces the levels of dangerous isoflavones, which are similar to estrogen in their chemical structure, and can interfere with the action of your own estrogen production.
So if you enjoy soy and want to eat it without damaging your health -- and in fact gain health benefits -- the following are all healthy options:
1. Natto, fermented soybeans with a sticky texture and strong, cheese-like flavor. It's loaded with nattokinase, a very powerful blood thinner. Natto is actually a food I eat regularly, as it is the highest source of vitamin K2 on the planet and has a very powerful beneficial bacteria, bacillus subtilis. It can usually be found in any Asian grocery store.
2. Tempeh, a fermented soybean cake with a firm texture and nutty, mushroom-like flavor.
3. Miso, a fermented soybean paste with a salty, buttery texture (commonly used in miso soup).
4. Soy sauce: traditionally, soy sauce is made by fermenting soybeans, salt and enzymes, however be wary because many varieties on the market are made artificially using a chemical process.
2. Tempeh, a fermented soybean cake with a firm texture and nutty, mushroom-like flavor.
3. Miso, a fermented soybean paste with a salty, buttery texture (commonly used in miso soup).
4. Soy sauce: traditionally, soy sauce is made by fermenting soybeans, salt and enzymes, however be wary because many varieties on the market are made artificially using a chemical process.
Remember, though, that all processed soy products -- soy milk, soy burgers, soy cheese, soy energy bars, soy ice cream, soy protein powders, etc. -- are not health foods. And to truly avoid all types of damaging soy products, you need to avoid processed foods as the vast majority of them contain soy ingredients.
“The best -- and maybe the only -- way to completely avoid soy in the food supply is to buy whole foods and prepare them ourselves,” Dr. Daniel says. “For those who prefer to buy readymade and packaged products, I offer a free Special Report, "Where the Soys Are," on my Web site. It lists the many "aliases" that soy might be hiding under in ingredient lists -- words like "bouillon," "natural flavor" and "textured plant protein."
The basics of healthy eating -- unprocessed, fermented, and fresh foods are ideal, while processed foods should be avoided -- apply to soy as well, so stick to these tenets and you’ll be on the right track.
Unquote
Wednesday, 17 September 2008
10th(?) Dose of Herceptin & Pamidronate
15 Sep 2008, Monday, I am not very sure about the doses of herceptin I have received so far as I was confused over the number of doses I was given when I was warded in Feb this year. Also, sometimes, it was administered in smaller weekly doses and sometimes in full doses.
As the cancer had spread to my bones, I am also receiving Aredia (generic name - pamidronate) on alternate iv infusions. This is a drug that minimizes the release of calcium from the bone.
Side-effects of aredia are flu-like symptoms (fever, chills), headache, fatigue, muscle pain, nausea, vomiting, pain and redness at injection site, mild to moderate bone pain, extreme thirst, uneven heart rate.
As usual, I had my pre-med, benadryl and 2 panadols.
I had also wanted the nurses to remove the central line for me. Kim called Dr Wong for me and was told I had to leave it there until my appointment with her on Nov 3. Doc had intention of having me go through some more chemo because of the fluid in my lungs. But based on test results, my intuition and the traditional medicine that I am taking, I do not think I need more chemo. I am not ruling chemo out totally, but I would rather put it on hold for the time being. Also, I have not fully recovered from the side-effects of the last round of chemo, which I was told could take up to a year for full recovery.
I had gone to NCC by bus and mrt, but when I was through with the iv, I was so tired and it was after 5pm, so I had no choice but to go home by cab, which costs me nearly $20 inclusive of peak hour surcharge.
I had wanted to post yesterday but my brains kept wanting to go to sleep. Boy, was I tired. Even after a nap of 2 -3 hours, I would wake up still feeling as tired as ever. And, I am also feeling more breathless. It is the 17th now, and I still feel the fatigue and breathlessness, and thirsty too.
As the cancer had spread to my bones, I am also receiving Aredia (generic name - pamidronate) on alternate iv infusions. This is a drug that minimizes the release of calcium from the bone.
Side-effects of aredia are flu-like symptoms (fever, chills), headache, fatigue, muscle pain, nausea, vomiting, pain and redness at injection site, mild to moderate bone pain, extreme thirst, uneven heart rate.
As usual, I had my pre-med, benadryl and 2 panadols.
I had also wanted the nurses to remove the central line for me. Kim called Dr Wong for me and was told I had to leave it there until my appointment with her on Nov 3. Doc had intention of having me go through some more chemo because of the fluid in my lungs. But based on test results, my intuition and the traditional medicine that I am taking, I do not think I need more chemo. I am not ruling chemo out totally, but I would rather put it on hold for the time being. Also, I have not fully recovered from the side-effects of the last round of chemo, which I was told could take up to a year for full recovery.
I had gone to NCC by bus and mrt, but when I was through with the iv, I was so tired and it was after 5pm, so I had no choice but to go home by cab, which costs me nearly $20 inclusive of peak hour surcharge.
I had wanted to post yesterday but my brains kept wanting to go to sleep. Boy, was I tired. Even after a nap of 2 -3 hours, I would wake up still feeling as tired as ever. And, I am also feeling more breathless. It is the 17th now, and I still feel the fatigue and breathlessness, and thirsty too.
Patient Education Activity - Look Good Feel Better
I am some days behind in my postings as the pc is still down. Son is waiting for his friend to be available so that they can go shopping for parts and the friend can help us build a new pc. Coincidentally, son is home on medical leave after having 2 of his wisdom teeth extracted. And now, my JC1 daughter is on exam leave before the promos next week. Sometimes, my sec 1 daughter needs the laptop for her homework. So where priority is concerned, I am last in the queue. Actually, I would rather prefer a pc any time as I have the feeling that I am getting some kind of sensation on my hands when I used the laptop - not too sure if I am getting paranoid.
11 Sep 2008, Thursday, I participated in the "Look Good Feel Better" programme organised by NCCS and Tote Board (Singapore Turf Club), and supported by Singapore Cancer Society.
According to the leaflet, this programme offers :
"Free, two-hour workshops led by industry-trained beauty professionals on make-up and alternative hair fashion; and an opportunity to know other women in cancer treatment."
This programme originated in the US and "was developed specifically for women undergoing chemotherapy or radiation treatment. It is dedicated to improve self esteem through knowledge and a practical approach to appearance related side effects of cancer treatment."
Pamela, our beauty consultant for this session, showed us how to cleanse, tone and moisturize our face, and the proper way of applying makeup. We also learnt how to categorise colours into cool, warm and neutral, and how we should always have the same category of colours on our face and our clothes, like blue clothes do not go with green eye shadows.
Cool colours are blue, purple, pink(?), some shades of red.
Warm colours are green, orange, yellow, brown, some shades of red.
Neutral colours are white, black, grey.
Gosh, before this session, I wasn't even aware that the colours we put on our face could clash with the colours of our clothes, except maybe the blue and green mismatch. I practically slapped on the same colours for almost any occasion, work and play, as I don't buy a whole range of this stuff. The way we looked with mismatched colours must have been a real turn-off for people like Pamela.
For years now, I have since stuck to the minimum of powder, blusher and lipstick, fortunately, because I found out that teenage kids, especially boys, don't like their mums appearing in their school all painted up and looking like dolls. Also, when there is parent-teacher meetings, I won't want my kids' teachers to remember their mum for the wrong reasons.
Now that I have been given some pointers and brought home some samples, I would probably put them to good use on the appropriate occasions.
Siti showed us how we could 'mess' up our wigs and still look good. We also learnt about the different types of wigs and different ways of tying the scarf.
Here's Siti showing the stuff that we can do to our wigs:
As the programme is not very well-known to other cancer patients, the organisers are enlisting the help of the media to help promote the programme.
For more information and available workshops, please call 62219578 (Singapore Cancer Society).
11 Sep 2008, Thursday, I participated in the "Look Good Feel Better" programme organised by NCCS and Tote Board (Singapore Turf Club), and supported by Singapore Cancer Society.
According to the leaflet, this programme offers :
"Free, two-hour workshops led by industry-trained beauty professionals on make-up and alternative hair fashion; and an opportunity to know other women in cancer treatment."
This programme originated in the US and "was developed specifically for women undergoing chemotherapy or radiation treatment. It is dedicated to improve self esteem through knowledge and a practical approach to appearance related side effects of cancer treatment."
Pamela, our beauty consultant for this session, showed us how to cleanse, tone and moisturize our face, and the proper way of applying makeup. We also learnt how to categorise colours into cool, warm and neutral, and how we should always have the same category of colours on our face and our clothes, like blue clothes do not go with green eye shadows.
Cool colours are blue, purple, pink(?), some shades of red.
Warm colours are green, orange, yellow, brown, some shades of red.
Neutral colours are white, black, grey.
Gosh, before this session, I wasn't even aware that the colours we put on our face could clash with the colours of our clothes, except maybe the blue and green mismatch. I practically slapped on the same colours for almost any occasion, work and play, as I don't buy a whole range of this stuff. The way we looked with mismatched colours must have been a real turn-off for people like Pamela.
For years now, I have since stuck to the minimum of powder, blusher and lipstick, fortunately, because I found out that teenage kids, especially boys, don't like their mums appearing in their school all painted up and looking like dolls. Also, when there is parent-teacher meetings, I won't want my kids' teachers to remember their mum for the wrong reasons.
Now that I have been given some pointers and brought home some samples, I would probably put them to good use on the appropriate occasions.
Siti showed us how we could 'mess' up our wigs and still look good. We also learnt about the different types of wigs and different ways of tying the scarf.
Here's Siti showing the stuff that we can do to our wigs:
As the programme is not very well-known to other cancer patients, the organisers are enlisting the help of the media to help promote the programme.
For more information and available workshops, please call 62219578 (Singapore Cancer Society).
Tuesday, 9 September 2008
How am I now?
Memory is getting weak.
I am still having problems with my breathing due to the limited lung capacity caused by the pleural effusion. But it is still manageable as long as I don't rush or exert myself. Hopefully, the fluid is not coming back so quickly.
I still have lymphedema on my right arm, but there seemed to be slight improvement, unless I am out most of the day and had my arm hanging down. Probably also due to gravitational pull, I can feel the tautness in arm from just above the elbow and all the way down. So I have one arm bigger than the other, and on the other arm, I still have my battle scars from the chemo but thankfully, they are fading.
My legs are still weak and I have to exert myself when climbing steps or stairs. I would expect them to get stronger over time and if I go for more walks.
Due to the impact on my head from the fall in May, whenever I lie down I am still getting the spinning sensation that lasts for a few seconds. Didn't like the feeling but as long as I can sleep, I am fine.
Haven't got my energy level up to par yet. I would be so exhausted whenever I am back from an outing.
Otherwise from whatever is visible, I looked in the pink of health especially with my borrowed wig on.
For months, I have been ferried by relatives and friends or taken the taxi. Now I wanted to be more independent and to cut costs, so I had to consider the buses and mrt. I have to plan for more travel time as I can't rush.
After so many months, the first time I took the mrt home was after the tile making session. The last coach that I was in wasn't very crowded but I didn't manage to get a seat. Due to my limited lung capacity, I found the air quality in the coach poor and I couldn't feel the air-conditioning such that I had to breathe harder, not exactly huffing and puffing away but my chest was heaving. And since I looked so healthy, nobody gave up their seat for me.
I was prepared, that if my breathing got too difficult, to just step out at any station to stabilise it before hopping back into the next train. Luckily I was able to reach my destination without having to do that.
Wherever possible I would prefer to travel by bus and during the off-peak period so that I could get a seat and have better air quality. Longer travel time maybe, but I am more comfortable and perhaps I could read.
This illness is really forcing me to slow down.
Nurse Trudi is back and she came to see me today with Dr Tan. Good news! I have been 'promoted', meaning they don't have to check on me so often now. If my progress continues, ultimately they will discharge me from hospice care. I am going to miss them.
I am still having problems with my breathing due to the limited lung capacity caused by the pleural effusion. But it is still manageable as long as I don't rush or exert myself. Hopefully, the fluid is not coming back so quickly.
I still have lymphedema on my right arm, but there seemed to be slight improvement, unless I am out most of the day and had my arm hanging down. Probably also due to gravitational pull, I can feel the tautness in arm from just above the elbow and all the way down. So I have one arm bigger than the other, and on the other arm, I still have my battle scars from the chemo but thankfully, they are fading.
My legs are still weak and I have to exert myself when climbing steps or stairs. I would expect them to get stronger over time and if I go for more walks.
Due to the impact on my head from the fall in May, whenever I lie down I am still getting the spinning sensation that lasts for a few seconds. Didn't like the feeling but as long as I can sleep, I am fine.
Haven't got my energy level up to par yet. I would be so exhausted whenever I am back from an outing.
Otherwise from whatever is visible, I looked in the pink of health especially with my borrowed wig on.
For months, I have been ferried by relatives and friends or taken the taxi. Now I wanted to be more independent and to cut costs, so I had to consider the buses and mrt. I have to plan for more travel time as I can't rush.
After so many months, the first time I took the mrt home was after the tile making session. The last coach that I was in wasn't very crowded but I didn't manage to get a seat. Due to my limited lung capacity, I found the air quality in the coach poor and I couldn't feel the air-conditioning such that I had to breathe harder, not exactly huffing and puffing away but my chest was heaving. And since I looked so healthy, nobody gave up their seat for me.
I was prepared, that if my breathing got too difficult, to just step out at any station to stabilise it before hopping back into the next train. Luckily I was able to reach my destination without having to do that.
Wherever possible I would prefer to travel by bus and during the off-peak period so that I could get a seat and have better air quality. Longer travel time maybe, but I am more comfortable and perhaps I could read.
This illness is really forcing me to slow down.
Nurse Trudi is back and she came to see me today with Dr Tan. Good news! I have been 'promoted', meaning they don't have to check on me so often now. If my progress continues, ultimately they will discharge me from hospice care. I am going to miss them.
Monday, 8 September 2008
Support Groups Activity - Tile Making
My pc crashed. Now, we are making a beeline for my son's laptop. Lucky for me, son is only back on weekends and girls in school most of the day, but still tough-going as I am not used to the keyboard and keep hitting the wrong key.
4 Sep 2008, Thursday - I went for a tile making session at NCC.
I don't know who initiated it, but this project is a combined effort between teachers and students from Bukit Panjang Government High School and staff from NCCS, cancer patients, survivors and family members. It is called the 'Wall of Hope'. 500 pieces of tiles designed by participants will be mounted on a newly erected wall at NCCS.
This is a donation drive and there is a donation box at NCCS Clinic A, level 1. Any amount is welcome and for any donation of $500 or more, the donor's name (self or company) will be etched on the wall. Enquiries can be made at 64368283 or 64368294.
This is the first time I have ever messed with a tile and initially I dare not touch it for fear of damaging the tile. My daughter sketched the picture and the students helped me to trace in on the tile and highlight the design. Merle helped me with the 3D effect and with her encouragement, I found that it was quite fun afterall. No fear, play around with it and if there is a hole, patch it back, and if it goes out of shape, press and pat it back into shape.
Only problem I had was. because of the super sensitive skin on my hands, made worse due to chemo, my hands itched like crazy after that. Fortunately, the students and Merle did most of the work for me, otherwise it could have been worse.
Some of the completed pieces are so beautiful. Oh, I forgot to take some pictures of them as well.
The school will be firing the tiles for us. This is what my unfired tile looked like :
I chose the lotus as it symbolizes endurance and perseverance in adversity. The lotus grows through the mud and breaks the surface of the muddy water to blossom into a beautiful flower. It epitomizes hope because generally, nothing is expected to come out of the murky and muddy water, much less such a beautiful flower and so clean too.
4 Sep 2008, Thursday - I went for a tile making session at NCC.
I don't know who initiated it, but this project is a combined effort between teachers and students from Bukit Panjang Government High School and staff from NCCS, cancer patients, survivors and family members. It is called the 'Wall of Hope'. 500 pieces of tiles designed by participants will be mounted on a newly erected wall at NCCS.
This is a donation drive and there is a donation box at NCCS Clinic A, level 1. Any amount is welcome and for any donation of $500 or more, the donor's name (self or company) will be etched on the wall. Enquiries can be made at 64368283 or 64368294.
This is the first time I have ever messed with a tile and initially I dare not touch it for fear of damaging the tile. My daughter sketched the picture and the students helped me to trace in on the tile and highlight the design. Merle helped me with the 3D effect and with her encouragement, I found that it was quite fun afterall. No fear, play around with it and if there is a hole, patch it back, and if it goes out of shape, press and pat it back into shape.
Only problem I had was. because of the super sensitive skin on my hands, made worse due to chemo, my hands itched like crazy after that. Fortunately, the students and Merle did most of the work for me, otherwise it could have been worse.
Some of the completed pieces are so beautiful. Oh, I forgot to take some pictures of them as well.
The school will be firing the tiles for us. This is what my unfired tile looked like :
I chose the lotus as it symbolizes endurance and perseverance in adversity. The lotus grows through the mud and breaks the surface of the muddy water to blossom into a beautiful flower. It epitomizes hope because generally, nothing is expected to come out of the murky and muddy water, much less such a beautiful flower and so clean too.
Tuesday, 2 September 2008
Warriors Against Cancer
I used to think I don't have cancer genes, so I don't have to worry. I was very wrong.
When I started visiting NCC back in 2006, there were already quite a lot of cancer patients, but now the place seemed to be even more crowded.
When I started sharing, I found that a lot of people around me know of somebody who has or had cancer, either a friend, colleague or relative.
Some patients are so young, some in their teens and some not even 10 years old. These little warriors against cancer are like losing their childhood to cancer. Occasionally, I see them at NCC, with their heads bald and following the adults around for their tests, with no trace of fear on their faces. Seeing them breaks my heart.
At least, for me, I have lived half a century on this earth, have been through good and bad times, and have completed my family. Of course, I hope that my kids will be successful in their chosen paths and will always enjoy good health.
For me, this fight is the biggest challenge of my life. I am employing whatever tools I can lay my hands on to fight this war. Some friends have expressed concern about the traditional medicine that I am taking. At this stage, as long as I can feel that the medicine is helping me and without the side-effects of chemo, I will go for it. Of course I know the risks. After all, which oncologist, or traditional medicine practitioner has not lost a patient to cancer before?
I have just learnt that one of our TRC members is fighting a relapse. Another one - the daughter of a patient I met in onco ward wanted to know if her colleague's sister could call me. Seems that the colleague's sister is 40 years old and the cancer has spread to her lungs and liver. She has already spend a lot of money on treatment and wants to give up.
It is so frustrating that the tentacles of cancer can be so stealthy and sometimes so tenacious. Imagine it like a rebellion going on inside the body, or like the saying, biting the hand that feeds you. Fighting cancer is unlike fighting diabetes, as diabetes can be controlled by diet. Fighting cancer is like playing the lottery, where sometimes if one is lucky, one gets the combination right and hits the jackpot.
We are the warriors against cancer and I hope that ultimately we will turn out to be cancer conquerors.
Of late, I have taken a liking to this song, "I Am Woman" by Helen Reddy. The whole song is so inspirational and motivating. Now, if only I can find somebody to change some of the words, then maybe this song can be dedicated to all warriors against cancer. I got the lyrics from lyricsdepot.com. Sometimes, when drowning in frustrations, listening to songs like this helps.
I Am Woman
-Artist: Helen Reddy from "Helen Reddy's Greatest Hits": EMI ST 11467
-peak Billboard position # 1 for 1 week in 1972
-Words and Music by Helen Reddy and Ray Burton
I am woman, hear me roar
In numbers too big to ignore
And I know too much to go back an' pretend
'cause I've heard it all before
And I've been down there on the floor
No one's ever gonna keep me down again
CHORUS
Oh yes I am wise
But it's wisdom born of pain
Yes, I've paid the price
But look how much I gained
If I have to, I can do anything
I am strong (strong)
I am invincible (invincible)
I am woman
You can bend but never break me
'cause it only serves to make me
More determined to achieve my final goal
And I come back even stronger
Not a novice any longer
'cause you've deepened the conviction in my soul
CHORUS
I am woman watch me grow
See me standing toe to toe
As I spread my lovin' arms across the land
But I'm still an embryo
With a long long way to go
Until I make my brother understand
Oh yes I am wise
But it's wisdom born of pain
Yes, I've paid the price
But look how much I gained
If I have to I can face anything
I am strong (strong)
I am invincible (invincible)
I am woman
Oh, I am woman
I am invincible
I am strong
FADE
I am woman
I am invincible
I am strong
I am woman
"I Am Woman" by Helen Reddy on youtube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bmExAiCcaPk
When I started visiting NCC back in 2006, there were already quite a lot of cancer patients, but now the place seemed to be even more crowded.
When I started sharing, I found that a lot of people around me know of somebody who has or had cancer, either a friend, colleague or relative.
Some patients are so young, some in their teens and some not even 10 years old. These little warriors against cancer are like losing their childhood to cancer. Occasionally, I see them at NCC, with their heads bald and following the adults around for their tests, with no trace of fear on their faces. Seeing them breaks my heart.
At least, for me, I have lived half a century on this earth, have been through good and bad times, and have completed my family. Of course, I hope that my kids will be successful in their chosen paths and will always enjoy good health.
For me, this fight is the biggest challenge of my life. I am employing whatever tools I can lay my hands on to fight this war. Some friends have expressed concern about the traditional medicine that I am taking. At this stage, as long as I can feel that the medicine is helping me and without the side-effects of chemo, I will go for it. Of course I know the risks. After all, which oncologist, or traditional medicine practitioner has not lost a patient to cancer before?
I have just learnt that one of our TRC members is fighting a relapse. Another one - the daughter of a patient I met in onco ward wanted to know if her colleague's sister could call me. Seems that the colleague's sister is 40 years old and the cancer has spread to her lungs and liver. She has already spend a lot of money on treatment and wants to give up.
It is so frustrating that the tentacles of cancer can be so stealthy and sometimes so tenacious. Imagine it like a rebellion going on inside the body, or like the saying, biting the hand that feeds you. Fighting cancer is unlike fighting diabetes, as diabetes can be controlled by diet. Fighting cancer is like playing the lottery, where sometimes if one is lucky, one gets the combination right and hits the jackpot.
We are the warriors against cancer and I hope that ultimately we will turn out to be cancer conquerors.
Of late, I have taken a liking to this song, "I Am Woman" by Helen Reddy. The whole song is so inspirational and motivating. Now, if only I can find somebody to change some of the words, then maybe this song can be dedicated to all warriors against cancer. I got the lyrics from lyricsdepot.com. Sometimes, when drowning in frustrations, listening to songs like this helps.
I Am Woman
-Artist: Helen Reddy from "Helen Reddy's Greatest Hits": EMI ST 11467
-peak Billboard position # 1 for 1 week in 1972
-Words and Music by Helen Reddy and Ray Burton
I am woman, hear me roar
In numbers too big to ignore
And I know too much to go back an' pretend
'cause I've heard it all before
And I've been down there on the floor
No one's ever gonna keep me down again
CHORUS
Oh yes I am wise
But it's wisdom born of pain
Yes, I've paid the price
But look how much I gained
If I have to, I can do anything
I am strong (strong)
I am invincible (invincible)
I am woman
You can bend but never break me
'cause it only serves to make me
More determined to achieve my final goal
And I come back even stronger
Not a novice any longer
'cause you've deepened the conviction in my soul
CHORUS
I am woman watch me grow
See me standing toe to toe
As I spread my lovin' arms across the land
But I'm still an embryo
With a long long way to go
Until I make my brother understand
Oh yes I am wise
But it's wisdom born of pain
Yes, I've paid the price
But look how much I gained
If I have to I can face anything
I am strong (strong)
I am invincible (invincible)
I am woman
Oh, I am woman
I am invincible
I am strong
FADE
I am woman
I am invincible
I am strong
I am woman
"I Am Woman" by Helen Reddy on youtube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bmExAiCcaPk
What To Eat?
When I was undergoing chemo, everybody was saying eat whatever I can as my body needed the nutrients to be able to withstand the chemo. I tried to eat as much as I could.
But when I stopped my chemo after the 5th dose, it was whoa! It was like I had to jam on the emergency brake because the strongest line of defence was gone. Now, I am quite careful with what I eat. I avoid white sugar and table salt.
I don't take chicken, unless it's kampung chicken (hopefully it's not been jabbed with hormones). I take some pork, mostly fish and eggs, beans and nuts and some fruits.
It is said that acidic foods tend to cause a lot of health problems. That it is best to balance our diet more in favour to the alkaline side.
Sometimes, certain foods that are classified as acidic on one website are classified as alkaline on another. Oh crap! This is so frustrating. How do they measure it anyway? Oh well, if I follow strictly to the charts, I am probably going to stress myself out.
Fortunately I am not such a foodie and generally, I find abstinence from certain foods manageable. But sometimes, I see delicious foods displayed before me and it takes some willpower to stop myself from giving in to temptations. Maybe, when my time comes, and I hope that I am given enough warning, I probably can go on a no-holds-barred binge.
Having such a diet restriction can be very frustrating. Sometimes, I look at the stuff around me and I don't know what to eat. How nice it will be if we can just survive on fresh air and water alone. Eating can be such a chore.
Anyway, it is not just food alone. I might have mentioned this before, that anger and stress can cause our body to be acidic.
For reference, these are the websites for alkaline and acidic food charts:
http://www.essense-of-life.com/info/foodchart.htm
http://www.ctds.info/acidic-foods.html
But when I stopped my chemo after the 5th dose, it was whoa! It was like I had to jam on the emergency brake because the strongest line of defence was gone. Now, I am quite careful with what I eat. I avoid white sugar and table salt.
I don't take chicken, unless it's kampung chicken (hopefully it's not been jabbed with hormones). I take some pork, mostly fish and eggs, beans and nuts and some fruits.
It is said that acidic foods tend to cause a lot of health problems. That it is best to balance our diet more in favour to the alkaline side.
Sometimes, certain foods that are classified as acidic on one website are classified as alkaline on another. Oh crap! This is so frustrating. How do they measure it anyway? Oh well, if I follow strictly to the charts, I am probably going to stress myself out.
Fortunately I am not such a foodie and generally, I find abstinence from certain foods manageable. But sometimes, I see delicious foods displayed before me and it takes some willpower to stop myself from giving in to temptations. Maybe, when my time comes, and I hope that I am given enough warning, I probably can go on a no-holds-barred binge.
Having such a diet restriction can be very frustrating. Sometimes, I look at the stuff around me and I don't know what to eat. How nice it will be if we can just survive on fresh air and water alone. Eating can be such a chore.
Anyway, it is not just food alone. I might have mentioned this before, that anger and stress can cause our body to be acidic.
For reference, these are the websites for alkaline and acidic food charts:
http://www.essense-of-life.com/info/foodchart.htm
http://www.ctds.info/acidic-foods.html
Monday, 1 September 2008
TRC Activity - Bead Making
The Revival Connection (TRC) whose members are mostly recurrent cases organised a lot of activities for its members. The activities are funded by Cancer Society and are free for members.
30 Sep, Saturday - TRC organised a bead making session. I don't know why it's called bead making, I found that it probably should be bead linking as we linked the beads to form necklaces, bracelets, earrings. Staff from Xue Collection showed us how to link the beads and provided us with the semi-precious stones and tools. We were allowed to bring home the finished products.
Finally learnt how to make a necklace from the precious stones. I was glad I was able to make it. Now, if only I can get my creative juices flowing.
There was even refreshments provided. So thoughtful!
Sometime ago, TRC organised an outdoor activity - climbing the treetop and boardwalk. I missed that as I was still undergoing chemo.
TRC has some other interesting activities lined up. I will be looking forward to that.
30 Sep, Saturday - TRC organised a bead making session. I don't know why it's called bead making, I found that it probably should be bead linking as we linked the beads to form necklaces, bracelets, earrings. Staff from Xue Collection showed us how to link the beads and provided us with the semi-precious stones and tools. We were allowed to bring home the finished products.
Finally learnt how to make a necklace from the precious stones. I was glad I was able to make it. Now, if only I can get my creative juices flowing.
There was even refreshments provided. So thoughtful!
Sometime ago, TRC organised an outdoor activity - climbing the treetop and boardwalk. I missed that as I was still undergoing chemo.
TRC has some other interesting activities lined up. I will be looking forward to that.
Visit by Hospice Care Staff
28 Aug, Thursday - Nurse Sellan (probably not spelt correctly) from the Hospice Care called on me today. She had come in place of my regular nurse, Nurse Trudi who was on holiday.
Ever since I was discharged from SGH in February, the staff from the Hospice Care had called on me close to 20 times.
The care and attention that I received from them were very different from the services that I received from those at NCC. Here, the doctors and nurses adopted a more holistic approach in taking care of us. They ensured that we were comfortable not only physically, but mentally as well.
Like when the nurse was here, I related to her about the exchange I had with my onco a few days ago. As with Nurse Trudi, she talked to me and that helped me sort out my thoughts.
It would not be easy for me to discuss my concerns freely with my onco, probably also because my onco has a very tight schedule.
Like on 25 Aug, she suddenly asked if I wanted to continue with herceptin - I had thought that we had agreed to continue until the Cancer Society's subsidy expired in September, so I asked,
"Is it helpful to me?"
Onco said, "if it is not, I won't ask you. But you always like to make your own decisions."
My onco also didn't like me to interrupt when she was talking, that by the time she finished, I would have forgotten or changed my mind about what I wanted to say.
In advance or terminal cases, it makes a world of difference to have received the services of the staff from Hospice Care.
Ever since I was discharged from SGH in February, the staff from the Hospice Care had called on me close to 20 times.
The care and attention that I received from them were very different from the services that I received from those at NCC. Here, the doctors and nurses adopted a more holistic approach in taking care of us. They ensured that we were comfortable not only physically, but mentally as well.
Like when the nurse was here, I related to her about the exchange I had with my onco a few days ago. As with Nurse Trudi, she talked to me and that helped me sort out my thoughts.
It would not be easy for me to discuss my concerns freely with my onco, probably also because my onco has a very tight schedule.
Like on 25 Aug, she suddenly asked if I wanted to continue with herceptin - I had thought that we had agreed to continue until the Cancer Society's subsidy expired in September, so I asked,
"Is it helpful to me?"
Onco said, "if it is not, I won't ask you. But you always like to make your own decisions."
My onco also didn't like me to interrupt when she was talking, that by the time she finished, I would have forgotten or changed my mind about what I wanted to say.
In advance or terminal cases, it makes a world of difference to have received the services of the staff from Hospice Care.
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