Trying Alternative Medicine

Well, I saw my GP on Monday.  You know, to follow up on all of those new diagnoses and to get my ambien dosage increased per the Rhuemy and get the water PT referral, etc.  She and I discussed my concern with not being able to take anti-inflammatory meds anymore what with the whole kidney disease thing and especially since I was still in pain with the whole fibromyalgia thing.  In particular, my left elbow, right knee and lower back have been really bothersome and are only getting worse with the packing and the move.

Well, of course she asked me if I was taking my Tylenol twice a day.  No.  Of course not.  I’m wary of taking too much Tylenol because that could lead to liver damage.  *sigh*  Well, she scolded me, of course.  She told me to get back on a regimen of  2 extra-strength Tylenol twice a day (when I get up and in the afternoon), but no more than that.  Of course, I pointed out that the Tylenol doesn’t do a whole lot because I’m not treating the inflammation too.

I mean, I’m trying all sorts of things here.  I’ve been trying cold packs and heating pads.  I’ve tried wearing a brace on my left elbow.  The pain doesn’t go away while I’m sleeping.  Neither she nor I could find a tender area where you touch around the elbow and it’s particularly more painful. It seems to be inside the joint itself and it just aches.
I said that at this point I was willing to try anything.  I even mentioned that I’d read a blurb in one of my health magazines that some journal had done a study that found that cherries were a natural anti-inflammatory.  I told my GP that my mother laughed at me when I said I was going to buy some and start eating a bunch every day.  (The study had the women eat 45 every day.)  I’d drink juice if I could find it, but I’ve not been able to find pure cherry juice, which I hear is really bitter.

So, apparently there’s an alternative medicine program I can get into, a nutritionist I can see who’ll put together an anti-inflammatory diet for me — you know, tell me what foods to avoid, which ones I should be eating to help reduce the pain.  So she put in a referral for me.  So, I’m going to try it.  My mother thinks it’s crazy.

tags: alternative medicine, anti-inflammatory diet, wellness, fibromyalgia

One comment

1. on November 15, 2006 at 3:45 pm

   Tamara said:

   Foods are a major cause of inflammation, from what I understand. I say you prove your mom wrong! Good luck!!!

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