tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26604210.post7796923711663901347..comments2023-07-11T05:49:50.372-07:00Comments on Our Most Delightful Journey: What a difference a (good doctor) a day makesDalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16438706777329170449noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26604210.post-8341329208602320622009-02-11T15:30:00.000-08:002009-02-11T15:30:00.000-08:00Hi Girlfriend,Glad to read about your week and wha...Hi Girlfriend,<BR/>Glad to read about your week and what you found out which sounds extremely hopeful, all in all.<BR/>Of course you want to be in control and of course this throws that out of whack. But maybe the acceptance can come with a measure of still being in control - seems to me the diet and the alternative ways of approaching this are bound to be positive in the long run, no?<BR/><BR/>I admire your plowing on with all of this and know you've got the spunk and good-ol' guts to find the best solutions to the dilemmas you're facing.<BR/>Love to you and the family, LibbyLibbyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13659100781548641673noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26604210.post-79026614131416459572009-02-08T07:03:00.000-08:002009-02-08T07:03:00.000-08:00Oh, Dale - I can't wait to see you next weekend so...Oh, Dale - I can't wait to see you next weekend so I can give you a big hug. What a long couple of weeks you have had. I can see why you would be completely and utterly exhausted.<BR/><BR/>First, I am SO grateful that you have found a doctor that you feel comfortable with. SO grateful. And that you have Joe as your advocate and support. I'm glad that you have seen several doctors in the area so that you could choose which one would best meet your needs. <BR/><BR/>I too share you frustration with Western doctors not looking at a person or disease in a holistic way. This has been my experience too, and it is a really hard spot to be in when you firmly believe that there are other options that can help you (or at least that is how I have felt). I experienced that with my infertility/miscarriages and also with my own neuromuscular disease. Other things I was trying - like diet changes and acupuncture - were totally dismissed. I found that I just had to do my own research, rely on the expertise of the other more holistic care providers, and to try trial and error to figure out what helped me the most. The diet thing particularly frustrated me, because it is something so tangible that I could do to feel more in control with things, yet I didn't really get a lot of support for this (except from my acupuncturist). And through experimentation and observation, I *have* figured out diet changes that do help, and it makes me feel so much more empowered to be able to control things just a little bit. Anyhow, I agree with you that this is one of the biggest ways that Western medicine falls short - in all areas - is because so often, the person is not looked at as a whole person - a person who has power to influence his or her situation - and instead is just seen as the host to "the problem." <BR/><BR/>I know you may feel overwhelmed right now, but I believe that your curiosity and determination will serve you well in the long term. Give yourself time, and you will begin to understand and learn what helps *you* and you will be able to use this information to your advantage. What helps you may not be the same as what helps others. Though you may feel obsessed and overwhelmed right now, I suspect that this will lessen as time goes on and you continue to adjust to your new reality. I know you may not have another MRI for a year, but my gut tells me that you will find other ways to gauge how things are working out.<BR/><BR/>Goodness, I feel like I am rambling on.<BR/><BR/>What I really want to say is that I believe in your strength - in the power that lies within you - in the strength of your body and the strength of your mind, and in the strength of your will. You are an amazing woman. You will not let this disease beat you. You will carry on, you will live, you will be strong and healthy. <BR/><BR/>You inspire me each and every day. <BR/><BR/>Much love to you, my friend.nikole sarvayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13195769837047031343noreply@blogger.com