Are you Kidney?

Ouch.......kidney stones are not for wimps! Holy crap, this, I believe is the worst yet (except for having a baby)!!! I started getting pain two weeks ago, after 3 nights of being up bawling because aspirin doesn't do a damn thing for the pain, I decided to go to the doctor. After being poked and prodded, and peed in a cup, yes there was blood in my urine and that was a good indicator that I had kidney stones. But to be safe, (with my history) they sent me to Penticton to get a scan. So off I go to Penticton....The doctor there said yep....you have kidney stones, gave me some pain pills and that was it. Well it's been two weeks...I am pissed off, tired and at my wits end. It was scaring me...just the thought of maybe the C reoccurring....eating away at the back of my brain.
I had to go for my 3 month blood tests last week, and thought that my oncologist will take care of this and do the necessary checks. I was there yesterday, and all my tests are great. THANK THE HEAVENS!!! Now to deal with the problem...that (as I walked out of the oncology clinic) was going to be up to me. She ordered a CT, but they are backlogged.
Off I went to the health food store.... I told them what I needed, and they were all over it! The ladies at the whole foods store are AWESOME! They gave me a product called CHANCA PIEDRA, which means "break stone" it is to support the health of the kidneys, liver, and gall bladder. Last night and this morning, I can feel this rock inside actually moving....with the pain killers I have and this product, I am hoping that things " move along" just fine....so I guess we'll have to wait and see...off I go with my strainer in hand....

It's been too Long!!

It's been too long...I've been reminded a few times to get here and update. Since I've last been on I've gone and got another MRI done, and multiple blood tests. I hate going in there, that fear creeps up again and scares the daylights out of me. Sometimes I feel as though they are actually trying to find something wrong. I have been sticking to the plan, water, veggies, good food choices (although Christmas was a total disaster for me, I cheated many, many times, but still did the water, and everything else). My MRI was completely clear...WHOOOHOOO....and all my blood tests came up normal. Even my counts were down from the last time...I was soooo happy to hear that! The guilt about all the Christmas treats, was kinda scaring me. That little scary guy in my head always reminds me when I'm doing something I shouldn't be. I'm sure anyone else faced with this kind of change would have their little "guy" too!
I still read up on anything I haven't heard of...like the Chelation, and Logol's solution....just in case. I think that the plan I am on is the right one for me. Just never give up, don't freak out about every little thing and carry on with your own plan. Overall you always know what is best for you!

Have a Happy Christmas everyone

It's been a long time. My hubby has had his kidney taken out, and it was cancerous. They say that there isn't any chance that it will return. He is still healing from the accident though. His Left arm is unable to be raised vertical or above his shoulder without pain. He will need some therapy with this. I've heard that acupuncture is fantastic for this kind of problem. So I will get him going after Christmas.
I have gone for my tests and all are good. They wanted me to do an MRI and my doctor says there is a "dark spot" in my lower abdomen and wants me to do another test after Christmas. I don't think it's anything....now they are "looking" for different things, but how would they know if it's been there all my life?! I'm not to worried although it's something that is always in the back of my head, worrying....wondering if I'm doing everything I need to do. Every time I cheat...and eat something like a chocolate, or a little ice cream, the little voice in my head starts ragging on me. It's amazing! Since I started working, it's a lot easier to eat better, because what I take is what I eat. Salad.....nuts and fruit....I am having turkey dinner, no matter what...I'll just make sure I detox after....

WHAT NEXT?

I got my next set of tests back and they are good.
My thoughts are not about that now. My hubby has got into a accident and hurt himself bad. On the left 3 broken ribs ( with the middle one severly broken in a few spots) and a cracked rib on the right. He may have a punctured lung, but its hard for them to tell. He's having so much trouble breathing, its hard to see. Twice now I've been told God doesn't give you more than you can handle, but I'm starting to question that too. While doing the CT scan they found a Mass on his kidney. The doc said "he's lucky"...hmmmmm. I guess this could have gone unchecked for years, then it would have been to late. Today we find out from the specialist what it is exactly. They have already said its Cancer, and if the specialist thinks it is for sure they will take it out as soon as he is well enough. They don't want to do a biopsy because the cells could leak out of the needle hole, and that is NOT what we want!
I'm numb....what is a person suppose to think at this point? It is starting to feel more like a punishment than anything. I sit here and shake my head, and wonder what will be next? How much more can a person, people or family take. Why is this disease in control? I thought we were supposed to be the smartest animals on the planet. I'm thinkin not at this point. We are all too sick all the time. That doesn't seem to smart to me. I want to get out of this house....this community...is it the air, is it the house? What is it? Believe me, I've questioned everything, and will be for some time.

Decisions decisions.....

My appointment with the oncologist was as screwed up as ever. I now have a new drug to take, and am contemplating whether I will or not, it's called Arimidex(anastrozole) and is suppose to stop estrogen from being produced. The side effects are high cholesterol, bone loss, and mood swings, ( they are the most common). I've had them since Monday, and haven't made up my mind. Of course I want to just chuck them in the garbage, but that small scared voice in my head says 'Ya better take them'. On the other hand, will what I am doing with the water and the diet be enough? Only time will tell.
I went and saw the Surgeon yesterday. This freaks me out, but I want to be "normal" again soooooooo bad. I will be getting the trans-flap procedure done October 7th. Hmmmm, that gives me enough time to back out. Another surgery, I'm just not one hundred percent decided on this one. Am I being silly? And can I live the rest of my life wondering if my prosthesis has shifted or is falling out? I can't just go to any store and buy a bra, or any shirt I want. Always being conscious of it is tiring. 7 days of 'down' time and 6 weeks to heal fully. It is the perfect time of year for this, and both kids are will be in school.
We will see, I am pretty sure I'll go ahead with this, but it's a pretty big decision.

Don't forget your Vidacell !!

I realized this morning that I haven't kept up on this site. As I was reading the post about the changes I've made, I realized that I have forgot one vital piece of information. Vidacell!!! This product is important for maintaining cellular function. Its a polysaccharides/polypeptide, which helps your cells function more efficiently. It comes in a box( like tea) and is in little packets.
I thought that getting better was going to be my challenge, but I am finding that it is much easier to 'stray' from the plan now more than ever. It's the change as a whole,... forever.... that is a concept that is really hard to grasp. I have found it much harder to stick to without someone else to cook for. I find myself getting lazy and just grabbing a sandwich when I'm hungry. It still is the right bread and veggies of some sort, but it's not thought out. Eating a diet with many choices is important to get all the vitamins and minerals. I haven't had any sort of pill, whether it be an aspirin or vitamin. I do still like the odd Timmy's coffee, and can't seem to resist that Lemon chicken when my daughter and I go to the mall every once and awhile. I have noticed though when I do eat it my tummy does some bizarre gurgling and doesn't like it to much. I guess all in all it's not to bad. I still haven't found a good cookie recipe that I can eat and my girls like too.
My biggest baddest habit... I am battling still, but am on it. This is day 3...again....this will be the one that sticks!
I have been harvesting from the garden. I made mulberry juice and froze it. Peas, beans, rhubarb, strawberries. Drying apples, and now I am doing dried cherries.
I figure that canning probably isn't the best way to preserve anything because of the loss of all the nutrients. I will be doing tomatoes though...they are a staple in this house, and there won't be any sugar or that preservative that they use in it( which I found out they use to deice the roads in the winter) ewwwww!
I have to go back to see my oncologist on Monday. I am not looking forward to that. I refuse to take any of those pills! She's going to be choked at me, but to bad. I don't understand why they can't work with me on this. It's all about those damn pills, and I hate the fact that I need to lie to them to stay healthy. I just don't get it. Has everyone lost their Independence? Are our choices, really not ours anymore? It makes me feel sad to think that these people who are there to help us, are there only if we do exactly as they wish. It's not right.
I got my tattoo a couple of weeks ago, and am very pleased with it. It's a side view of a butterfly landing on two pink ribbons ( which are horizontal). This represents the end of this challenge, and the start of my new healthier lifestyle. Being strong is wearing....but will be done.

Some of my recipies...

I have been asked to share some of my recipes, so here we go:

Coconut fruit bites

1cup dates, cut up
1cup dried apricots, cut up
1cup raisins chopped
1cup chopped walnuts
2cups coconut(unsweetened) Reserve 1 cup for rolling

Grind dates, apricots and raisins or use food processor

Add nuts and first amount of coconut. Shape into balls, roll in coconut. Freezes well, great for on the road snacks, or needing something naturally sweet.
Warning....may not want to go out into public after eating these, they cause flatulence!!!!!!!!!!!


Elke's Altered Haystacks

3cups quick oats
1cup shredded coconut(unsweetened)
1 box pure dark chocolate for baking...
1cup chopped nuts
1/2 cup olive oil
1/2 cup almond breeze (almond milk) unsweetened
2 tbsp. stevia powder ( depends on which you use) there is a conversion chart on the stevia website ; May need to adjust accordingly

In a large bowl, mix oats, coconut, nuts. In a saucepan combine milk, oil,chocolate and stevia and bring to a boil. Pour over dry mixture and stir until mixed well. Messy, but drop by teaspoon on waxed paper. If needed for firmness, let stand in refrigerator. Freezes well

Excellent BBQ sauce

2 tbsp olive oil
1 onion finely chopped
3 garlic cloves minced
1 1/2 cups of organic tomatoe sauce
pinch of stevia to sweeten
1/2 cup cider vinegar....try apple cider vinegar
1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce
1/3 tbsp stevia
1 tbsp. chili powder
1/2 tsp. cayenne powder

Mix all ingredients