Book of Mirrors

My chance to be rich is Lost!

Tue, 01 Sep 2009 12:03:02 GMT

Kudzu - I have been in a losing battle with the stuff for the past 10 years of my life. Now that they finally find a use for the stuff, I am selling the house. I have always said that the only way to get rid of it was to have it be a cash crop or have it be a hallucinogen so the govt would get rid of it. It currently is in bloom, and I do have to admit it does smell heavenly.

Nuisance Weed Extract Might Benefit Metabolism

By Michael Smith, North American Correspondent, MedPage Today
Published: August 27, 2009
Reviewed by Robert Jasmer, MD; Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco and
Dorothy Caputo, MA, RN, BC-ADM, CDE, Nurse Planner

Kudzu is a nuisance in the garden but might be a boon to the diet.

In rats, an extract from the root of the runaway vine lowered blood pressure, cholesterol, and other markers of metabolic disorders, according to J. Michael Wyss, PhD, of the University of Alabama Birmingham, and colleagues.

The findings suggest that kudzu extracts in humans might complement other strategies to reduce metabolic disorders, the researchers concluded online in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.

Kudzu, introduced to the U.S. from Japan, was long promoted as an erosion fighter. But in the South, where the climate is ideal for it, kudzu soon grew out of control, and in 1953 the U.S. Department of Agriculture officially named it a pest weed.

Extracts of the root, a part of traditional medicine in China, have recently become available in the U.S., Wyss and colleagues said.

Among the extract's components that might affect blood pressure and other conditions are a range of isoflavone glucosides, including puerarin, daidzin, and daidzein.

For this study, the researchers tested a commercially available extract on female, stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats.

Half of the 28 animals had their ovaries removed before the experiments began, since there is some evidence that estrogen pathways play a role in the antihypertensive effects of some of the tested compounds.

The rats were divided into two groups -- one fed a control diet and the other the same diet with the addition of 0.2% kudzu root extract. Within each diet group, half of the animals had intact ovaries and half did not.

After two months, the researchers said, rats getting the supplement had significantly lower arterial blood pressure (11 to 15 millimeters of mercury), plasma cholesterol, fasting blood glucose (between 20 and 30% lower), and fasting plasma insulin.

The reductions -- all significant at P<0.05 -- were found in both the ovariectomized and intact animals, the researchers said said.

There was no effect on triglycerides.

Although the animals on the kudzu diet ate the same amount as their littermates, they gained significantly less weight during the experiments (at P<0.05), the researchers found. There was no apparent effect on their health, and no signs of toxicity or adverse events, they said.

Researchers said the exact mechanism is still unclear, but the results "suggest that incorporation of kudzu root supplements into a diet modulates glucose, lipids, and blood pressure."

St Christoper and the Catholic Church

Fri, 28 Aug 2009 11:37:21 GMT

I don't know how many of your are aware, but one of the MOST POPULAR Saints is not actually a Saint. The Catholic Church denounced him as a Saint.

I have always worn his medal since I was small. Also, I went to St Christophers church growing up, an Episcopal church, which is why it always annoyed me so that the Catholic church denounced him as a St. I was in the military and we traveled so much and my dad wasway so frequently that I spent a large portion of my childhood praying to him. I am sure the fine print in the Catholic church does not matter at all.

I am also very convinced that as more and more people pray to him over the years, it gives him more power. I also believe in the quantum manifestation. So he is growing stronger by the day. As one of the most popular Saints around, it was rather silly to denounce him.

I also find it rather ironic that the catholic supply stores all sell St Christopher medals, etc. They are willing to make money off of him, but not willing to officially recognize him. I actully have bought a St Christopher medal at the Vatican when visiting once. Tell me how that is not wrong.

SAINT CHRISTOPHER
CATHOLIC PATRON SAINT OF TRAVEL SAFETY
The one-time Catholic patron saint of travellers, Saint Christopher -- whose name means "Christ carrier" -- is not mentioned in the Bible. While there may have been a 3rd century Greek martyr named Christopher, the story told of him is now generally acknowledged to be a 12th century addendum to the Christian canon. Christopher is typically depicted as a tall, middle-aged, bearded man with a staff who wades across a river carrying the Christ child on his shoulders. As the story goes, the extremely robust Christopher devoted his life to carrying people across an otherwise unfordable stream. One day a little child appeared before him and asked to be carried across. To Christopher's surprise, as he forded the river, the child steadily increased in weight until Christopher found his tiny burden so heavy that it was amost impossible to bear. When he asked the holy babe why he weighed so much, the child replied that he carried the world's sins upon his shoulders. As a reward for his service, Christopher's staff was miraculously transformed into a living tree, and Christopher himself became the Patron Saint of travellers.
Christopher was a widely popular saint, and was especially revered by mariners, ferrymen, and travellers. HIs feast day was July 25th, except in Greece, where it was celebrated on March 9th. In modern times a major center of his cult was in Italy and among Italian-Americans, a fact that did not stop the Vatican from de-canonizing him during a late 20th century purge of the list of saints. Saint Christopher medals and holy cards are more difficult to find now that his status has been downgraded to that of a mere legend, but they are still being manufactured and many Mexican and Italian Catholics still believe that his image is the best amulet to carry in one's wallet, wear on a necklace while on a journey, or hang from the rear view mirror attachment of one's car. The enamel and silver Saint Christopher medal shown here dates from the 1930s.

Thank you St Expidite

Fri, 21 Aug 2009 11:12:02 GMT

Thank you St. Expidite. We are now the proud owner of motorhome that fit all the bill of my petition and it came within 3 weeks of my request - such fast results! We can now travek safely across country with our 4 dogs and our cat comfortably . You really came through. Thank you!

Yes we are officially RV'rs!

We are the proud owners of a Class A motorhome, Gulf stream. We will be doiong lots of wandering about. I cant wait to hit the open road.

St. Expedite

Fri, 31 Jul 2009 12:54:28 GMT

Saint Expedite is the patron of those who hope for rapid solutions to problems, who wish to avoid or put an end to delays, and who want general financial success. His aid is also sought by those who wish to overcome procrastination as a personal bad habit, as well as by shop-keepers and sailors. His feast day is April 19.

Candles burned for Saint Expedite are usually red. They may be dressed with Red Fast Luck Oil or Saint Expedite Oil. If you are working with a statue or holy card of the saint and a plain offertory candle, it is customary to place a glass of water next to the image of the saint, forming a triangle with the glass at the front left of the triangle, the candle at the middle rear, and the statue at the front right. If a glass-encased votive candle with the saint's image on it is used instead of a free-standing candle and a statue, the water glass is placed to the left of the candle and the two objects are simply side-by-side.

A good day to burn candles for Saint Expedite is Wednesday, the day of Mercury, the messenger god of the Romans. In fact, Expedite is not only syncretized with that ancient deity, he is symbolized by the metal quicksilver (liquid elemental Mercury), and is also associated with the African and Afro-Caribbean spiritual entities Elegua, Legba, Baron Samedi, Bonsu, and so forth, those being the messengers and tricksters in the Lukumi / Santeria, Voodoo / Vodoun, and Obeah pantheons.

When Saint Expedite grants your request, his statue, holy card, or empty candle-glass is given a gift of flowers or flowers and a slice of pound cake. (One man from New Orleans told me that it should be Sarah Lee brand pound cake, although i think home-made would do as well.) It is often said that you must never seek the aid of Expedite unless you are prepared to give this tribute after the work is done, or he will take back all the good he did for you, and more besides. This accords with Expedite's position as an analogue to the various African messenger-trickster spirits, and is not typical of mainstream Catholic teachings about the intercession of saints. Some people also recommend publishing his name in the paper if he comes through for you, a tradition that is more often associated with Saint Jude.

PRAYER TO SAINT EXPEDITE #1

St. Expedite

Fri, 31 Jul 2009 12:29:11 GMT

Thank you, St Expedite, for providing the money for Mister Boo's surgery and Haley's surgery. Thank you for providing part of the money for our move as well. I am very grateful to all you have done.

You are truly wonderful.

longaberger

Sat, 28 Mar 2009 19:37:34 GMT

I have decided to sell most of my Longaberger baskets. I mostly have not done so in the past because of the hassle of selling them on line. I have about 80 baskets, so it about time to clear away the clutter and we really could use the money for medical bills and to make up for the decrease in pay for Davids job.

I guess I should look at is as less to dust, too.

I used to sell them from 93-95. I have some from years before and after as well. Lots of collectible baskets. I really can't fathom the addiction now. It seems very strange to me now. Things in general are not very important to me now.

DANGERS OF LOW ENERGY LIGHTBULBS

Sat, 28 Mar 2009 13:38:56 GMT

it's sad to see how quickly compact fluorescent light bulbs are replacing incandescent bulbs. My concerns is not only the environmental concerns, but the health concerns. Of course, the impact of the environment impacts a much greater portion of the population, so I think I have a greater chance of focusing on these concerns. I find the health issues to be truly frightening.

Many have switched to CFLs (compact fluorescent lamps) in these challenging economic times simply to save money. However no public education at all has been given about how to safely dispose of broken bulbs to avoid mercury contamination, and it seems unavoidable that there will be seepage from garbage tips into groundwater in years to come that will affect water supplies – a disaster waiting to happen.

http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/89185/Dangers-of-low-energy-lightbulbs

A team led by Colin Humphreys at the University of Cambridge in England, funded by the UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (bless ‘em) has now developed LED lights that can be produced cheaply enough to replace incandescent and CFLs completely. Not only do they last for 100,000 hours on average, which is 10 times as long as CFLs and 130 times longer than incandescents, but they do not contain mercury, they switch on instantly (CFLs take time), and they can be engineered to give full spectrum light.

Humphreys laments the UK government’s decision to phase out incandescents so quickly. "We should have stayed with tungsten for another five years and then switched to LEDs," he says.

The UK government’s Technology Strategy Board is apparently providing funding to develop production LEDs at affordable prices, so my advice in the meantime is to stockpile incandescents, avoid CFLs like the plague, and sit it out until LEDs come of age or some even better alternative is found. I am encouraged to see that there are a lot of people working on this technology at the moment, and I’m very hopeful the CFL issue will soon be resolved.

I heard from a reliable source, by the way, that fluorescent lights were only ever invented as an emergency measure during World War II to save on energy. It was known at that time that long-term exposure to fluorescents posed health risks, and it's my guess the inventor would be turning in his grave to know that they are still in use today.

The story

DANGER: Energy-saving lightbulbs

Saturday March 14,2009
By Penny Stretton Have your say(30)

SERIOUS concerns were raised yesterday about the toxic effects of energy-saving lightbulbs.

Doctors say scores of people are coming forward with skin complaints after being exposed to the ultra-violet light emitted by the new-style bulbs. And the mercury powder inside them makes handling a broken bulb extremely dangerous.

Exposure to high levels of mercury can cause itching, burning, skin inflammation, kidney problems and insomnia.

Alarming guidelines issued by the Government warn that anyone breaking a low-energy bulb should leave the room immediately.

The guidelines, published on the Defra website, say: “Vacate the room and ventilate it for at least 15 minutes.

If thousands of CFL bulbs were sent to landfill this could pose a problem

Dr Michelle Bloor

“Do not use a vacuum cleaner but clean up using rubber gloves and aim to avoid creating and inhaling airborne dust.”

The debris must be disposed of at a secure site for contaminated material or returned to the retailer.

Last night experts claimed the Government had not done enough to make people aware of the dangers of compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs).

EU rules mean all old incandescent lightbulbs must be phased out by 2012. But the green measure could backfire and end up harming the environment.
SEARCH UK NEWS for:

Dr Michelle Bloor, of Ports mouth University, said: “If thousands of CFL bulbs were sent to landfill this could pose a problem. Mercury could leak and get into the food chain.

“Mercury cannot escape from an intact lamp. But people must try to avoid contact with it if they do break one.
“The problem is that many councils do not know the correct guidelines for disposing of the lamps. Only six out of 17 we spoke to knew the rules.”

Gerrard Fisher, of recycling group Wrap, said: “Mercury is a dangerous material. Consumers have to be careful.”

Fears that CFLs and halogen lamps can cause migraine, epilepsy and eczema have already been raised. People who suffer from Lupus, a disorder which leaves them housebound bec ause they cannot be exposed to light, are also reporting a flare-up of their condition.

Dr Robert Sarkany, consultant dermatologist at Kings College London, said: “Reactions to fluorescent lights are not well understood. But I am seeing regular handfuls of patients who are complaining of skin allergies when exposed to them, as are my colleagues.

“Common symptoms are severe stinging, burning and itching of the skin, along with red rash. We don’t understand these symptoms well yet, but they do exist. I think it would be perfectly reasonable for people who suffer these very serious problems to still have access to traditional bulbs.”

Lupus sufferer Brenda Ryder, 56, of the Isle of Wight, said: “A total ban on incandescent lighting would be terrible for me.”

Labour MP Janet Dean has raised the issue with ministers. “The Department of Health is looking into it,” she said.

Thanks to Karen Kingston and her space clearning newsletter for this information.

Dizziness Linked to Bone Health

Tue, 24 Mar 2009 11:47:39 GMT

I have had a lot of problems with very very low vitamin D and calcium. I thought this story was interesting.

Dizziness Linked to Bone Health
By Crystal Phend, Staff Writer, MedPage Today

Explain to interested patients that vertigo is an inner ear disorder that causes dizziness when loose calcium carbonate crystals move in the sensing tubes of the inner ear.

In the case-control study, osteoporosis tripled the risk of idiopathic benign positional vertigo (P=0.007).

The sensation of vertigo comes from shifting debris in the inner ear canals. These particles are composite calcite crystals that break off from calcium carbonate deposits.

Why this happens isn't clear, the researchers said, but because bone contains 99% of the calcium found in the body, a link between bone health and vertigo has been suspected.

So, the researchers looked at bone mineral density among 209 consecutive patients -- 142 women and 67 men -- diagnosed with idiopathic benign positional vertigo and seen at Dr. Kim's hospital over a one-year period.

These cases were compared with a matched group of 202 controls seen for bone mineral density measurement at the same hospital but who had no history of dizziness.

The researchers found the lowest bone mineral density T scores among cases compared with controls for both men (–1.1 versus –0.7, P=0.030) and women (–1.7 versus –1.0, P<0.001).

Likewise, both women and men with benign positional vertigo had significantly higher rates of low bone mineral density than controls (P=0.036 and P<0.001, respectively).

The findings included:

47.2% of female cases versus 33.3% of controls had a T score in the osteopenic range between –1.0 and –2.5
40.3% of men with the condition versus 27.4% of controls had osteopenia
25.3% of female cases compared with 9.4% of controls had osteoporosis with a T score of –2.5 or less
11.9% of male cases versus 5.7% of controls had osteoporosis

After adjustment for age, sex, alcohol, smoking, and high phosphate levels, low bone mineral density was the only significant risk factor for idiopathic benign positional vertigo (HR 2.0 for osteopenia, P=0.011, and HR 3.1 for osteoporosis, P=0.007).

Although bone mineral density was depressed among women with benign positional vertigo whether younger or older than 45, women with recurrent episodes of vertigo had significantly lower bone T scores than those diagnosed with their first episode (–2.1 versus –1.6, P=0.035).

The researchers noted that prior studies have shown a sharp rise in benign positional vertigo incidence among women in their 50s compared with incidence patterns in men.

"This steep increment may reflect that women experience an abrupt reduction in bone mass around menopause due to an estrogen deficiency, whereas men lose bone in a steady manner," they wrote.

Estrogen ranks high among the hormones that influence calcium and bone metabolism, the investigators said.

Estrogen deficiency may change the internal structure of calcium carbonate deposits in the inner ear and make them more likely to break off, and increased free calcium circulating in the body may make it more difficult to dissolve this debris, they said.

However, hormonal changes around the time of menopause cannot be the only cause of benign positional vertigo, because bone mineral density was also decreased in men with the condition, the researchers added.

Tucson AZ

Sun, 22 Mar 2009 09:50:50 GMT

I dreamt last night I need to investigate the environs of Tucson, AZ to look to move. Maybe not even the actual location itself, but somewhere within 60 miles or so.

My hubby works now as a conference planner as a resort manager. He used to own his own restaurant that he sold. I am sorry to say I have worked as an underwriter for 15 years for the insurance industry. I will slowly (due to my stupid internet connection, which is dial up, and is slow dial up due to the static on the line, rant later) do research on the area and see what comes up.

My folks just moved to Sierra Vista. They love the area. They are not in the house yet. They are having issues with the billions of folks trying to re-fi at the same time clogging the system. You can't get an appraiser out in the town, it seems. For now, they are renting a house in Bisbee, a little old hipee town. Actually, it is a pretty cool town. I would love it, but it does not seem to have a lot of work.

David and I did some pricing on carpet and supplies for things we need to do on the house. It probably after a year or two before we can start doing a move. We also have to find a place for my brother to move before we gut his side and put our house on the market.

My brother is disabled and he lives on the other side of my house. We converted my 4 bedroom house into a duplex but no cooking, etc. Really, it is just a seperate entrance and a barrier between the sides. We have to combine them back and then repair the damage. Frankly, his side looks worse than some crack dens.

His cat was sick with diabetes and had been peeing all over the place. He had failed to mention this and has pretty much destroyed it. Not only do we have to replace all the carpeting, but the subfloor as well. We have black mold as well.

On our side we have already pulled up the carpeting and painted the sub floor. We had water damage from the furnace when the drain was blocked from a wasp nest was built over the drain when I went out of town and flooded the house.

We have 1800 square feet of carpet to be replaced.

Hubby Layoffs

Fri, 20 Mar 2009 19:29:57 GMT

I am sorry to say they have had a lot of lay off where my hubby works - including his position. This is such a bad week of endings and deaths.

It is scary because we have so much work to do on our house to make it sellable. My brother destroyed his half of the house it has to be gutted. Now I am at a loss as to how it will be accomplished without his income.

I am also worried about my own job. I have been struggling due to my diminished capacity from the encephalitis. Things are scary right now.

Common Spirits

Fri, 20 Mar 2009 13:20:24 GMT

I also only have dial up because I live in the middle of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia currently and that connection is slow and painful. It took me three times to get a connection this morning just to check my email this morning. We don't even have cable TV as an option where I live. We are very remote. It is interesting to live in the middle of the bible belt of America. We have a lot of Mennonites. I actually choose to buy a lot of my plants and food products from them because I have great respect for their way of life and partnership with the land. Their herb selection is amazing and they can get amazing Rue plants for me every spring. People have a lot of misconceptions about how closed minded they are. They are truly good people. Just as we are. It is really a matter of common spirit and soul.

Another Pet Passed

Thu, 19 Mar 2009 20:32:46 GMT

My brothers Cat Sandy has also passed this week. Sandy was 18 or so years old and had diabetes. I was watching her while my brother was helping my parents were driving across country to AZ. Poor Sandry had a stroke Wednesday and could not hould her head up. I took her straight to the vet, but she was just too old and she could not even stand.

I have to say I am pretty much heart broken this week. My mom has moved away and we have lost two family pets.

Sandy has moved on into the light though. I was with her when she passed, of course. The vet gave her kitty valium to relax her, and she started purring as soon as the pain went away. She was one of the sweetest cats I have ever had the pleasure to know. I am glad she was able to move on to the light.

How to call A lost Spirit Kitty

Thu, 19 Mar 2009 20:26:56 GMT

My moms cat has shown up at the empty house. We went to clean up the empty house for her that is for sale and saw the cat that had passed on the trip to AZ.

I have been trying to get the Kitty to pass on into the light or to move on to my house to join my cats. My mom has not yet settled into her home - she is in temporary quarters so I cant move her into mom moms new home yet.

I find the situation very sad. I am having no luck getting her spirit to move from the empty house. I am going to try again this weekend once to invite her to my house or to move into the light. My hope is to get her spirit to attach to the cat tree she loved so much and move it to my house this weekend.

I really don't like her being all alone in the house. No ghost should be alone in a house. spirits need family.

Medical Update

Mon, 16 Mar 2009 17:15:11 GMT

I am increasing my topamax to try to stop the migraine I have had since the lumbar puncture test I had the begining of the month. Full blown migraine all this time since the test. It has been a living hell. I have had several treatments at the hospital - different injections that have had some limited effect.

The cause is from encephalitis - chronic now- so it has been going on for so long that even if we do finally get it to go away completly the effects of the continual swelling for the past year may be permenant.

The doctor wants me to stay home from all triggers until at least June to heal the swellling and not have any exposure to migraine triggers. He says it is really my only chance of healing completly with no side effects. It is the best chance of healing with the least amount of side effects. It may take longer - it is a take it as we go proposition.

My next appointment is April 13th. I have to take my hubby - first, because right now I cant drive - and also because he is going to teach us both how to do home injections of DHEA for my migraines for when they get really bad.

Sun, 15 Mar 2009 21:29:26 GMT

I just had a major revelation today.

I have been studying with witch school for several years. I picked the school because it was the only school that was well structured with mentors and let you actually get your clergy status if you wanted. http://www.correllian.com/index.htm

I have to admit I have been doing it at such a slow pace because much of my free time has been taken up with paranormal studies. Also, I have been doing a lot of personal journaling and shamanic dream work. I have beendoing a lot of great growth on a spiritual level for the past several years.

This came to a halt last year when I got the flu. I also got encephalitis and since then I have had severe neuroglial effects and migraines to the point of not being able to drive, shop and barely to keep my job. It has made life a challenge because it has created interesting aura effects of light that make my physical observations of paranormal activity not usable - I can only use what I physically record. It has, however, seemed to make me a lot more sensitive and more of a conduit, though, so I can really pick up thoughts, so it is a mixed blessing. I can always go to the where the action is going to happen, which can be useful.

I came to the realization that I need to get my clergy status so I can do full blown clearings and blessings. I have reached the spiritual point in my life where the I need to merge them into a full time path. I need to help other people. Life is making it impossible for me to do the other things in life for a reason - it is a path that is wrong for me to be on. If I am to be healthy, I need to be on the other path.

MY guides frequently tell me that when I am stronger physically and I am farther along on my path with a clergy status along with legal liability protections afforded with the type of thing you can do with that I will be able to set up a practice that will allow me to do exorcisms.

Death on way to AZ

Sat, 14 Mar 2009 18:36:46 GMT

My parents are driving on the way to AZ with their two dogs and their three cats. One of the cats is 15 or so years old and passed away in the first 4 hours of the car trip. We think it was a heart attack, she was crying a little in the carrier. They had given kittie valium under vets orders, but the stress still was too much for her, I guess.

My poor mother is devestated and guilt wracked.

I am the same, but here in VA where I can only try to console her on the phone and cant even give her a hug anymore.

Thoughts On moving

Mon, 23 Feb 2009 21:37:56 GMT

My parents are moving to Arizona and I am a bit torn, now. I have to figure out how to move my spirit pets as well as my four live dogs and live cat. We will have a very full car.

Also, Arizona is the land of the sun. What does that mean to my migraines. But, it also means no allergies. Is that better? I have trouble with mirgraines with allergies. Maybe it is better to to move and have no allergy medication.

Of course the housing market means we cant do anything for a couple of years. Also I cant transfer jobs for a couple of years until my health improve enough for my job to be willing to transfer me, too.

Then again, maybe I need a fresh start.

So many paths.

Frustration over Medication

Mon, 23 Feb 2009 01:19:33 GMT

I had to take two maxalt - two migraine pills because the spinning and and throwing up and confusion and ringing. I cant drive or read right now. I am frustrated because I feel like I am moving backwards. I will call my doctor in the morning and see if an adjustment will make things better.

I had hoped a diagnosis would have cured me. At least have made things better.

I have to be patient. Positive. It is hard to be light hearted when the light hurts. I spend most of my time with my four dogs. They love me and are always happy. They are light hearted and full of love.

My parents are moving to AZ

Sun, 22 Feb 2009 18:51:04 GMT

I have to say I am quite depressed about the thought of my mom moving across country.

I know I am big girl.

But doesnt every girl need her mom sometimes? And right now, with everything going on with my headaches and what not, the thought of mom being down the road is very important to me. I cant drive right now. She is retired.

I did not realize how much of a crutch emotionally she has become.

Maybe it is a good thing. Long term. She moves in only three weeks, though. Dad is in the army.

I am not ready for this. Yet.

Funny thing is I am always the strong one emotionally in the relationship. She is the one crying about moving. When we are together. This is so hard.

acai yum

Sun, 22 Feb 2009 14:51:07 GMT

My husband has been drinking this for a week now and he has been insanely energetic. He really feels a lot better. He is using the frozen unsweetened acai smoothie packs and and adding other fresh berries. We are on a raw foods diet for my migraines to see if that helps. It is helping him feel very good.

It is great for him, but I am still so dizzy. They changed my meds again. I call my doctor tomorow morning to see when I can go back to work. Soon, I really hope.

Seasonal Affective Disorder

Thu, 12 Feb 2009 12:06:34 GMT

The doctor recomends a full spectrum light for my husband as he really suffers from SAD in the winter time.

I am sure the darkness of the house for my migraines makes it worse for him.

I hope it will help. I have to find one for him to get, but it take a while to do research. My connection is still dial up and is the only option still as we live in such a rural area. Plus, I still have to limit my computer time as the monitor bothers me still.

They are still changing the meds and I am having a lot of side effects from the changes. This is a slow process. Sometimes I wonder how much I will get back, if any, or if I am going to have the vertigo and neurological changes forever.

Let me know if you have any experience with light boxes or brands of lights?

Transition Meds Is Hell, but should end in a few days to a week

Wed, 04 Feb 2009 13:00:21 GMT

I have been trying to focus on being grateful for having a diagnosis and not being angry it took 10 months to figure this out. I am trying to focus on the healing process and not the chances of the continual swelling caused permenant damage.

I am truly grateful for an answer, though. Truth does give you something to hold onto, a foundation to move forward from.

Switching Meds

Tue, 03 Feb 2009 11:28:45 GMT

Last night I got NO sleep

I have extreme vertigo, nausea and generally feel like hell... physically.

But I have hope.

So all is good. Great. Wonderful. The best it has been for almost a yeat.

Severe Encephalitis and Intracranial Pressure - Great News!!!!

Mon, 02 Feb 2009 23:50:05 GMT

This is the official cause of my miseery and pain lately. Not a stroke, epilepsy, bi-polar, anxiiety or any other crap. Ok, I was anxous about all the crap.

I have scarring from the inflammation but it should hopefully improve over time.

I can cut out 4 neds and replace it with one. The doc says it should not be too bad but it may take a week to adjust off the old meds. I was on some heavy meds. I hope it does not knock me out too much. I know it will will improve things in a coule of weeks when I am off the meds. I cant help but think the meds help numb me down through the past 10 months.

For the next couple of weeks I on a steroid to try to reduce the swelling in my brain, too. Plus anti-viral meds. The doctor was shocked I managed to to make it in to work with the pain from it all. The doctor was great. He wanted to put me in the hospital. I convinced him not to. I have been home/working for 10 month - so my husband is home with me today and mom is tomorrow and Wednesday. I hope I can go back to work Thusday or Friday if the steroids and anti virals and antibiotics have helped enough. Positive thinking!!!!

I kept thinking of Joe vs the Volcano when the Dr told Joe that he had a brain cloud when the doctor was telling me about the swelling in my brain.

My neck hurts from the lumbar puntcure still. They doped me up and did a cisternal something in the base of my skull to check the CSF pressure and for infections, etc. I did not get home last night until around 6. Did I say the doctor was really good?

The pressure was increased, and other stuff were off too.

Lets hope that the damage from the 10 months of swelling can be reversed.

http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/encephalitis_meningitis/detail_encephalitis_meningitis.htm

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003428.htm

Fri, 30 Jan 2009 22:10:30 GMT

DREAMING AND SOUL RECOVERY

From the shaman’s perspective, soul loss is the root cause of much illness and affliction in our lives. We suffer deep grief, abuse or trauma – or succumb to negative habits and addictions – and a part of our vital soul energy goes away. Chronic depression, lethargy, memory gaps, low resistance to illness and emotional numbness are among the most frequent symptoms of soul loss.

Soul retrieval is central to shamanic practice. It involves four vital processes. (1) The shamanic practitioner makes a conscious dream journey to locate aspects vital soul energy that may have gone missing. These are often perceived as younger versions of the self, stuck in a scene from the earlier life or in other locations in nonordinary reality, even the Land of the Dead. (2) The practitioner consults with spiritual guides –on what is appropriate bring back. (3) The practitioner effects an energy transfer to bring the recovered soul-parts back, blowing the energy into the heart, the head, the solar plexus or other centers of the body. (4) The client receives guidance on integration; living with that boisterous three-year-old you left behind all those years back may require some practice!

Our dreams can tell us which parts of ourselves may be missing, and when it is timely to bring them home. Recurring dreams in which we go back to a scene from our earlier lives may indicate that a part of us has remained there. Dreams in which we perceive a younger self as a separate individual may be nudging us to recognize and recover a part of ourselves we lost at that age. Sometimes we do not know who that beautiful child is – until we take a closer look.

Unfortunately, a common effect of soul loss is dream loss. Indeed the absence of dream recall is often a primary symptom of soul loss – as if the part of the sufferer that knows how to dream and travel in deeper reality has gone away, out of pain or disgust. It is fascinating and deeply rewarding to observe what can happen when people who have forgotten how to dream start dreaming again. This can amount to spontaneous soul recovery.

Soul recovery can be a gentle and spontaneous process, midwifed by dreams. In the most literal sense, dreaming can make us whole. It not only connects us with lost or buried aspects of ourselves. It connects us with our larger identity – our Higher Self – and our larger purpose.