Looking at the bigger picture.

As a strong supporter of life for the unborn humans of our world,  I also don't believe in euthanasia or assisted suicide for any human. People are supposed to die, when they die, without over-intervention that ends up prolonging life at the cost of pain. I ran across this today, though and the comments made me think.

http://globalnews.ca/news/2973423/great-granny-gets-inked-to-avoid-doctor-assisted-death/?sf37434665=1

At the risk of opening a different view for thought, I agree that life for the elderly should be made as pain-free and safe as possible, and euthanasia shouldn't even be a possibility.  However, extreme medical intervention is happening at a catastrophic level in our world today.  I feel like part of why unborn life is held in such low esteem is because our generation of humans are greedy and accept too much intervention to help us hang on and live longer.  I believe much of the medical intervention is one generation polluting the earth at the expense of another generation.   Our resources appear to be limited and it seems everyone is grabbing on for literal dear life.

I have a chronic auto-immune disease exacerbated by heavy metal and chemical pollution. When God calls me home, I want to go in peace, pain reliever might be the only thing I would accept, short term.  I know where I am going and I look forward to heaven.  I do not want to be kept hanging on with prescription or OTC meds, surgery, or other excessive medical intervention. 

For some this is an extreme position to hold, but I am not the only one who feels this way.  The Amish have historically held back from most modern medicine and technology.  The children of some Amish communities do not get vaccinated and eat very clean diets, and do not have the high rates of autism that one sees in our culture.

I drive two hours or more per week just to find water and milk that I can consume without my disease acting up.  Tap water is contaminated by prescription and OTC drugs and undrinkable for many with auto-immune diseases.  Why can't doctors and scientists properly explain where all these auto-immune, autism spectrum, and new diseases like ebola, lyme, zika are coming from?  We who are sick are the canary in the coal mine. 

The inks in a tattoo like the lady's above would make my auto-immune disease flare, but I do get where she is coming from. I wear a medical pendant that states: DNR, Religious Exemption, No Meds, No Vax.  My driver's license has listed no organ donation, and I do not give blood.  Doctors do not know what causes rheumatoid arthritis, and I would not wish this to pass on to any soul out there, ever. I draw comfort from making decisions that will, hopefully, let me live my life to its fullest without impacting others negatively.

I live daily with pain from the consequences of life choices of myself and others that potentially led to my disease.  I am not innocent of polluting, or using OTC and prescription drugs.  I am on a path to removing bad choices and habits from my life.  I have much joy in my life with my Lord, my family, friends, and my animals.  Balance and the bigger picture--what it is all about.

My spiritual journey

I don't have an exciting testimony.  Being a pastor's kid, I grew up in church.  I loved singing the old hymns and listening to my father's dynamic preaching.  I remember one day at a very young age, somewhere between four to six years old, playing alone in a sunny meadow, this feeling that God was with me, holding me, loving me, protecting me.  It was a feeling of utter trust, pure happiness, and a sure knowledge of never being alone again.   It is that simple.  That feeling has never left me, and is the bedrock of my faith.  I have read C.S. Lewis, Chesterton, Yancy, and many other great Christian writers, studied theology and apologetics, and this is what I always come back to when I think about how my faith began.  I don't choose to chalk up that feeling to childish fancies, because it goes too deep for that.  I think I would have forgotten it by now, if that were the case.  This is why I am such an advocate for belief in childhood conversion, and taking these little ones seriously.

I have found that some in the church do not share my views about young children coming to the Lord, and I think that is unfortunate for them, and for the children they discourage with exclusionist views, views that tell the child they are too young to know God.  I hope that every parent, children's teachers, and pastors would take children's feelings seriously and help them continue to grow in their faith, helping them flesh it out with every step kids take through the years.

When I hear others' amazing testimonies I don't feel left out, I just think how great our God is, and am happy to think there is someone else in my family now, someone I get to enjoy heaven with.  I know all this sounds kind of sappy and Pollyannaish, but that is my general outlook on life.  And, as God creates us all different, with different points of view and different ways of relating to Him, that's where I am at. Child like faith is not childish.

As a side effect of my thorn in my side, my rheumatoid arthritis, I have periods of depression.  I am happy to say these are short lived, usually, and God has helped me find ways of coping with them.  I call and speak with friends who listen well, I pray, I cry, I read, I watch "feel good" movies, I have times to be alone, and times with my friends and family, I play with and care for my animals, I eat well and I eat organic chocolate.  Reading my Bible daily is probably the biggest help of all.

Dear Reader, tell me your story and what helps your journey?

Links that helped me (disclosure, I did sign up as an Amazon affiliate, and you can too, if you blog and want to recommend good things to your friends and readers):

NIV Holy Bible

Zondervan

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Mere Christianity

C. S. Lewis, Kathl...

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Orthodoxy

G. K. Chesterton

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Soul Survivor

Philip Yancey

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My RA Journey

Another rheumatoid arthritis patient asked me recently to go into more detail as to what was helping me with my rheumatoid arthritis.  This post is a summary of my journey and what has helped and a bit into my research and choices.

I was diagnosed with RA 9 years ago.  I was able to cope for the first couple of years with sticking to natural foods as much as possible, but I also had to use over the counter Aleve daily to deal with the pain.  I also did ayurveda, Indian healing foods and massage.  I have been a vegetarian now for 30+ years, and made that decision because our meat supply is so tainted with antibiotics, hormones, disease, gmo feed, and bad animal husbandry, and grass fed and pastured meats were not readily available 30 years ago.  I did research into if my vegetarian diet could be helpful or make my RA worse, and almost all of the research I read was positive for vegetarian diets helping RA, so I stayed a vegetarian (ovo lacto vegetarian which means I eat eggs and milk-no meats).  I also noticed improvement when I stopped eating nightshades:  tomatoes, potatoes, peppers (not black peppercorns), eggplant, blueberries, there are more lists online as to what plants are in the nightshade family.  http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=george&dbid=62

At some point in those first three years, the over the counter Aleve stopped working, it was also tearing up my stomach, so eating anything was difficult.   My rheumatologist at Kaiser wanted me to go on methrotrexate, but when I did the research, I discovered that MTX is an abortive.  While, my husband and I are not Catholic, we do not use birth control for spiritual reasons and, as I am still getting my period at age 50, we do not feel comfortable with me going on the methrotrexate.  So as the next best solution, my rheumatologist prescribed sulfasalazine, which is a combination drug of sulfa antibiotics and aspirin.  I felt more comfortable with that option as some of my research has led me to the Road Back Foundation which supports the use of antibiotics in RA control.  http://www.roadback.org/

Again, after about 2-3 years I had to stop taking the sulfasalazine because it was becoming less and less effective and I was in pain more and more and having to take more of the sulfasalazine to have any effect.  Also, the sulfasalzine in larger doses was tearing up my stomach and intestines and making digestion difficult.  Again, my rheumy wanted me to go on methrotrexate, or one of the new biologics:  Enbrel, Humira, etc.  I opted to go without drugs as my journey has led me to see that I have had more success with natural alternatives, and I do not want the side effects of MTX, or the biologics which are made with questionable ingredients and manufacturing.

All through this period, I have been eating mostly organic, vegetarian, low sugar, high fruit, high vegetable, low grains, no nightshades diet.  I even started in with raw cow's milk and dairy which I currently get from an Amish farmer 3 hours away.  http://www.realmilk.com/  

I also began harvesting spring water from a spring in Frederick which I found via: http://www.findaspring.com/  I go up once a month and fill glass bottles, because I noticed the water tasted different when I collected it in plastic.

At various times, I have kept a food diary, and begun to note other foods that bother me, either due to my digestion or to the RA, since much of my research has pointed to digestion issues either being affected by the RA or digestion itself being the cause of RA symptoms.  I have difficulty with:  cashews, mangos, papaya, and most cruciferous veggies, green beans and soybeans (unless prepared right, eaten slowly).  

I had tried everything in terms of diet changes: vegetarian, ayurveda, vegan, raw, juicing, green smoothies, fasting, and Weston A Price and GAPS to some extent.  In my RA research, I had run across the milk diet and had discounted it in my brain as faddish and as a last resort.  Well, when I had to start using a cane due to the pain of a flare in my right foot, I decided to give it a try.  It was difficult to do, but not impossible and I did find some relief.  It was when I did the milk diet with goat's milk that I really noticed an improvement and was able to put my cane away.  http://www.milk-diet.com/

I currently am on no prescription or over the counter medication.  I eat 95% organic.  I use raw  goat's milk as a meal replacement at least two times a day, sometime's cow's milk if I am out of goat's.  A meal replacement serving for me (I am 5'2" and weigh 120 lbs) is 1-2 cups milk, followed by 1-2 cups spring water.  I eat lots of fruit, like cherries, grapes, bananas, dates.  I usually eat one meal with fruit per day, during daylight hours.  I eat salads about once a week, usually without dressing, or with a home made dressing of organic balsamic vinegar and olive oil.  I eat raw goat's cheese occasionally and eggs occasionally for extra protein if I'm feeling tired, maybe once a week.  I eat organic bread with butter or cheese occasionally, maybe twice a month.  I drink organic decaf coffee or tea maybe once a week.  I eat rice and beans or lentils about once a month.  I occasionally allow myself a treat out with my family, but I try to drink 2 cups of raw milk before we go out to eat, so I'm not as hungry and I don't order as much that way.  The only sweeteners I use are maple syrup and honey, very sparingly.  I occasionally allow myself chocolate, either something made myself with organic cocoa powder, or something I buy at MOM's Organic Market.  http://momsorganicmarket.com/common/news/store_news.asp?task=store_news&SID_store_news=113&storeID=A6B40AE98C7842A98FC8DE4784880288&RedirShopperID=A6B40AE98C7842A98FC8DE4784880288

I take Vit D supplements 5000IU, as well as B12, at least every other day.  I never do flu shots or over the counter medications.

I still have some of the side effects of RA: fever and flu like symptoms (achey all over), chronic fatigue, depression, gum infections, pain in my hands and feet and sometimes my neck, shoulders, and knees and hips.  However, I am not walking with a cane, and I am having more good days than bad right now.   Rest is important as well.

If I had an unlimited account for spending on my health here is my wish list:  

Regular massages by a therapist who understands RA

Regular physical therapy work with a good PT

Have my amalgums removed, and my wisdom teeth (I do oil pulling to help with gum issues:  http://makeuphairlashes.wordpress.com/2011/10/26/natures-best-kept-secret-oil-pulling/ )

Explore acupuncture

Explore antibiotic therapy with a physician who is familiar with the Road Back protocol and the Cowden protocol  http://www.nutramedix.ec/ns/lyme-protocol

Build my own house on my own property with a spring, with all natural building materials, a greenhouse, garden, barn and pastures with my sweet goats and hens :-)

My animals keep me active, there is something about an animal depending on me to really motivate me to move.  I'm not such a great wife to my husband, or mom to my teen sons some days, but my animals always get me up and moving.  My husband and sons can take care of themselves and they've been very understanding and supportive, but they still like it when I cook something for them, so I try to do that at least once a day, too.  I also groom dogs part time (been a groomer for over 30 years, too).

I pray, read, try to stay physically active, go barefoot, and be with my family in happy ways as much as possible.  I believe God is healing me through his created foods, so I stay away from foods that man has meddled with as much as possible.  

I hope some of this is helpful to you if you are on a similar health journey, and I don't come off as a certified kook :-)

Kathe

One thing I forgot to mention, mostly because it is not the first thing I think of when I think of expressing who I am or where my life's journey is taking me.  I don't want to be defined by my chronic autoimmune disease, so I don't usually like to bring it up.  However, it does have a daily effect in my life, and it is better to put it out there and let my readers know about it, so they can understand some of my frame of reference.

I have rheumatoid arthritis.  I have had it for going on 9 years now, and it most likely will not be going away.  Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is not like Osteoarthritis (OA).  While there is some similarity, in that both forms of arthritis affect the joints, that is about where the similarity ends.  OA is usually age or joint wear and tear related, RA can start at any age, even in children as Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis (JRA) but most often hits women in their 40s.  OA causes pain and swelling in joints only, usually.  RA causes pain, swelling, inflammation and systemic flu like symptoms (aches, fever, fatigue) in joints and all areas of the body, it can even affect the heart, eyes, digestive system, and much more.  OA is localized to affected joints, RA is an autoimmune disorder in which one's autoimmune system (white blood cells) attack normal tissues in joints and other areas of the body in an effort to eradicate mycoplasmic bacteria.  RA does not go away, depending on who you read or talk to, RA is generally considered incurable, and progressive, although it can sometimes go into remission.  OA can sometimes be repaired by surgery, or rest and good self care, these things are important for RA patients as well.  For me, nutrition is paramount, and rest.

Currently, I have about 4 to 8 productive hours a day, the other hours of the day I must rest.  Normal for me was about 12-16 productive hours a day before RA.   I was type A, with a capital "A!"  I am, and have always been, a "get it done" person, so my natural way of being is to be active and get things done.  Learning that my body needs way more rest than that of a person without RA, has been a difficult, though needed, lesson to absorb and I'm still working on it.  I like activities where my body is moving, not sitting for the most part, so learning to sit has been one thing I have struggled with.  Learning to sit productively is part of why I started this blog.

RA has been both a thorn in my side and a blessing for which I am grateful.  It has driven me crazy and into depression (a side effect of RA).   RA has also blessed me with lessons in patience, caring, and being more able to walk in other people's shoes, i.e. learning more compassion, both for myself and others.  RA has also taught me lessons in nutrition, which I will probably get into in another post.  Trying to keep things short and sweet at this point.

Everyone, I have learned, has a struggle, has pain.  It is how we grow.  I like to be real about what is going on with me, however, I would rather stay on the positive side of looking at life and my pain, rather than live in the painful part of my life.  Yes, pain is a daily part of my life, but it is not who I am.

Thanks for taking the time to read and share the journey!

Kathe

Once upon a time, or several times, people I respected have told me I could write.  I seriously doubt that ability, since it does not come naturally to me to sit down and chatter away at the computer or page.  Rather, I have to kind of force myself to get in the mood to do it.  I always thought if you are good at writing and love to do it, it should be something you gravitate to and something that flows from you like a river that can't be stopped.  But I think I have come to accept that any good work, creative endeavor, or art does and will require work on the part of the creator.   And that is not necessarily a bad thing.  

So here, you will find my attempts to chronicle my thoughts, ideas, and aspirations.  What I'm being taught and things I like to teach.  I am a neophyte at this blog thing, but I would love to hear from you, comments, ideas, suggestions.  I am a wisdom seeker, as we all are.  I am a Christian, wife, mother of boys, friend, home educator, autodidact, pet groomer/trainer/massage therapist/nutritionist, farmer, gardener, home decorator, antique appreciater, into fiber, fabric and paint arts, reader, music listener, sun and beach, mountains and forest lover, and much more waiting to be discovered.  I am looking forward to sharing the journey with you!

James 3:17 NIV

But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.