Treating my cold or flu naturally today

Three nights ago I began to feel a bit ill. A few people that I know have been sick with cold/flu, so I've been very careful to wear face masks and wash my hands frequently. Also because it's cold/flu season, I haven't been out in public much.

 Because I have Multiple Sclerosis, my immune system is compromised. However, no matter how careful I've been, I still managed to get sick. As soon as I realized what was happening, I immediately got it in my head to flush the sickness out. Initially when I woke up this morning, I had a slight fever and a scratchy throat. Around 10am I took an ibuprofen for the fever and ate quinoa, lentils, and kale so that I'd have something on my stomach. Then I began treating my symptoms with herbal tea combinations, cranberry juice, peppermint, chocolate, and plenty of water and rest.

Teas for day one have been:
Mullein Leaf - helpful for cold, flu, cough, bronchitis, and other respiratory issues
Red Clover Flower - helpful for cough, bronchitis, respiratory issues
Hibiscus flower - helpful for the immune system, digestive system, blood pressure
Osha Root - helpful for relieving inflammation of the bronchial tubes, sore throat, sinus congestion, flu, cold, bronchitis, pneumonia, and other respiratory issues (and more)

Cranberry Juice helpful because it provides vitamin C

Peppermint- helpful for colds, flu, etc as well.  Not all medicine has to taste nasty. Also when I get sick i'm quite aware of  "sick breath", so peppermint helps with that issue. Peppermint is antibacterial and antiviral and helps fight colds. Believe it or not, it also helps with soreness and so much more (look it up).

Chocolate puts me in my happy place...During the challenge I use Raw Chocolate, of course.  Chocolate is good during respiratory issues such as cold, flu, bronchitis, etc because it contains a chemical called theobromine and helps stop the coughing reflex that we often get during colds and such. Granted, dark chocolate is better for you due to the fact that it doesn't contain as much dairy, if any.  I'm not going to eat it like cough drops but I will have a few pieces every few hours.

Water is very necessary for good hydration. Depending on if I begin to lose a lot of fluids due to vomiting fever, or diarrhea, etc, the water will help out tremendously.  Water helps loosen congestion, too.

Rest is very important when on the road to any recovery. I'm feeling quite weak from the cold and the fatigue I already feel. Resting gives your body the strength it needs to fight off cold and flu.

It's Day Two now 12/31/18, and I've added Yarrow Flower (for fever and stomach discomfort) and Tulsi (for anxiety and cold/flu/respiratory issues) to my system.  Trying to add necessary ingredients seems to be helping. My body is still sore, but I don't have as much mucus as I normally would have and I've been urinating alot, which was my goal.

If DAY THREE (1-1-19) brings chest pain or anything else that is alarming I will seek medical attention but for now I'm tired, sick, and hopeful. 

Thankful

I got my act together. I took an one hour shower, and treated myself to a shampoo and conditioner treatment for my hair. I can't believe how long my hair is. I truly love my natural hair.

I spent Thanksgiving with a new friend.  She's a nice woman and I feel comfortable with her.  She knows a lot about Colorado and I think it will be nice possibly exploring things with her. I've asked her to join me in May for the #45DayRawFoodDietChallenge , so we'll see if she does. 

For dinner, she made my mom's broccoli casserole for me. I really appreciated that, and it was delicious. I MIGHT try to cook next year if I'm able to concentrate long enough to do so. 

My knees are hurting, as are my shoulders, back, fingers, and feet. I've only had seldom headaches, and I'm thankful for that. I ran out of a few meds, so I'm wondering if that has anything to do with that. I'll see my neurologist soon and i'll discuss it with him. Other than that, I've been doing better in my opinion. Even after a recent panic attack (which I will blog about on a different post), I've been relatively good. Pain won't kill me.

Progression

  When I was 31 I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. I already had anxiety and depression prior to MS, but Within three more years I was also diagnosed with BiPolar Anxiety Disorder, then within three more years PTSD and Panic disorder. My life consists of managing all of these illnesses while remaining a part of society. All of that, parenting, marriage, and career has never been an easy feat. As I get older, I've noticed that therapy and constant medical care keep me afloat, and I'm very thankful of that. But as my illnesses progress, I'm saddened by the fact that any of this is going on in the first place. I'm 45 and I just want to be able to go back in time to 2004 and refuse the hepatitis B vaccination that my primary doctor coerced me into accepting and that I strongly believe had something to do with me getting Multiple Sclerosis and if I'm not mistaken I also had optic neuritis once, too even though the study done regarding this determined the vaccine does not cause these ( https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17597263 ).  Bipolarism can be a direct result of Multiple Sclerosis, and that's been one of my biggest symptoms lately.

  In my mind I am terrified of taking a bath or shower alone. My main fear is that I will die while I'm doing either one because something could happen and nobody would be there to save me. I had an aunt die in the bathroom. So many traumatic experiences increased the intensity of the PTSD,  Coupled with the fact that I really don't even feel like going through all the energy it takes to shower or bathe due to bipolar depression. Thankfully, I don't stink and if I were stinking I think I would do something about it. I hope I would. I feel like a child who won't bathe or groom themselves. But I'm not a child nor am I unable to physically bathe myself or even groom myself. I just can't bring myself to do it most of the time. Mental Illness is real, especially people with Multiple Sclerosis. I hope this touches someone and prompts them to do more research. Meds aren't always the answer, but if needed take them as prescribed and don't be afraid to get therapy.

  It's crazy how the time from 2004 to 2018 has gone from up to down in a span of only fourteen years. Yesterday I felt something was wrong but I didn't understand it until today. If Multiple Sclerosis causes Bipolar disorder, then maybe Bipolar episodes are MS relapses as well. Either way, I'm going to try to keep my projects going on and elevating myself. I'm also going to try to manage my symptoms better so I can break away from the phobias.  GOD is with me.

Insurance covers Big Pharma trails

Ever heard of a paper trail? Well Big Pharma trails are sort of like that. The medicine we are prescribed not only is listed at the pharmacy we go to but also leaves a trail in our bodies along with the possible side effects. I appreciate Big Pharma for how it's helped me, I just wish I could get the same results via natural herbs and holistic health care (alternative health care).

Alternative health care is not covered by my insurance as far as I know which is unfortunate because I chose that to be my primary form of treatment. A lot of my  medical health care is covered by Medicare and Medicaid and I appreciate that but the only solutions that I mostly get are pharmacudical ones which is no longer working for me since I'm really tired of the pills.

Holistic health care helps speed up the body's ability to recover quickly without the negative side effects. There us a vast difference in treatment and healing. Herbal and holistic alternatives promote a healthier lifestyle.

Some of my approaches have been to drink plenty of water, I walk more, and I get more rest/sleep. I place myself in a stress reduced environment. I eat healthier.  I take physical therapy and mental health therapy.  I take cannabis and physical therapy for pain treatment. I drink herbal tea for cold/flu. 

Beyond that there are other therapies that I'm not yet able to afford. For instance, massage therapy or Reiki would be helpful. Assistance from an herbalist and/or a naturopath would be helpful. Salt therapy is helpful. Essential oils assist greatly. I would greatly benefit from chiropractic and colon hydrotherapy as well as acupuncture and sound/vibration therapy, too.

I've come a long way from before when I was given opiates for pain treatment. My decision to refuse certain pain treatment options has greatly improved my life. However I still hurt, just not as much. Now I want to tackle the mental health pharmacudical options prescribed to me by replacing them with more natural and holistic methods. I understand that mental health is very important. I understand that the pills prescribed to me are meant to treat my ailments to the extent that I can exist in humanity as "normal" as possible. At the same time, I know that the pills are hurting me with their side effects and I'm not okay with that. I am learning tools in mental health therapy that are changing the way I approach my mental health issues and in time I hope to be off all pharmacy meds.

 

Plans to Detox

I'm on prescription pills.  My husband and I counted them last night and including all dosages I take 10 pills per day.  It saddens me.  But I remember a time when I took way more, so I suppose in the world of meds for Multiple Sclerosis patients, I'm blessed.

I'm thinking of coming off of the meds again.  So far even with the dmd I take (disease modifying drug), I have had problems with MS such as the awful Trigeminal neuralgia and the Head Pains and the Tingling.  And though I haven't had any major mental issues,I'd like to see what the world feels like unmediated.  I've been given tools to use to get better, so I'd like to see just how good they are working for me.

I have a therapy appointment this week, and I'll be discussing it with them. I believe from time to time a detox is healthy if observed by doctors.  We'll see.

Tingling Tingles

I'm getting tingling. It started yesterday but went away. It's back now. I have no idea where the tingles come from but they are in my feet, my legs, my fingers and my lips. I'm glad they are not constant but I am a bit concerned.

Head Pain Gone

Maybe it wasn't Trigeminal Neuralgia (the head pain). I think it came from my pony tail being pulled too tightly. I've been letting my hair out lately and it took some time, but it's not hurting anymore. I'm so glad.

Pain is back in the interim

This head pain has come back.  Head massage helps but it comes and goes still.  I hope it's gone by March when I see my neurologist again.

A friend asked what I do to rid the pain.  Since the head massage is only temporary, I really don't know how to answer that question. I'm still trying to figure it the solution. I hope I find more permanent relief. Trigeminal Neuralgia and overall head pain is no joke.

Pain is gone after neck massage

So...Lord knows I've been suffering but low and behold the Carbamazepine and neck massage has my pain gone.

When I went to the doctor she suggested massage. I didn't think it would work but it did. She said the muscles near that nerve were very tense and massage would help. I put myself on a relaxation regime with zen music and I also tried a hot shower. Any relief of pain is welcomed by me. Yes!

Dr. Agrees its Trigeminal Neuralgia

I went to one of my doctor's today and she agreed that the stabbing pain in my head is caused by the Trigeminal Neuralgia I've been dealing with since November 10th 2017.

Trigeminal Neuralgia is really getting on my nerves... literally. Now that I know what it is definitely, I'm going to monitor if Carbamazepine is helping any. On the way home I noticed that every bump in the road gave me the stabbing pains. Doc says I need to massage the base of my head and my neck to get some of the tension out because I must have jerked my head in the wrong way to cause it to flare up again (which is true).

I have had no headaches so that's good, just the periodic stabbing/shooting pain. I'm glad that a lot of doctors know about Trigeminal Neuralgia or at least have heard of it.

UPDATE 1-30-18 It wasn't Trigeminal Neuralgia, 

https://supportmsawareness.blogspot.com/2018/01/head-pain-gone.html

Stabbing head pain

All day I have had periodical periods of time when I have this stabbing pain in my head. The pain is in the top and back of my head. It seems to hurt moreso when I'm sitting or standing up. Right now I have just taken a Carbamazepine and am laying down listening to soothing zen music.

Music is very therapeutic. Though I'd rather be watching videos (another one of my therapies), I'm glad to have a rest from pain.

Latest MRI explanation; right sided

  My latest MRI showed evidence of a prior lesion in the area of my brain that is consistent with my right hand issue I had Summer of 2017(  http://supportmsawareness.blogspot.com/2017/07/the-relapse-rrms-and-how-it-affects-me.html?m=1 ). It's amazing to me how the brain functions even with the flaws in mine as well as equipment used to scan it. I'm humbled.

The MRI scan did not see evidence of the Trigeminal Neuralgia though, so perhaps that was a one time thing. Initially I thought that condition was due to a medication but now I've been assured that it's just a part of having MS.