Some peace while putting the pieces together

I am creating this at the new coffee shop in town. The owner and I just talked about a concept we're calling a "bright ripple". The bright ripple starts with one, builds to two, and keeps growing. It's positive action growing exponentially until it creates a tsunami of bright beauty and chases off the dark. Everyone get your boards and surf the ripple!

Saturday, May 28, 2011

Morgellons's Break

Since documenting my recovery and having it published 3 1/2 years ago, I have researched, written, shared, and spoke about Morgellons almost nonstop. I've decided it is a good time for a break. For how long, I'm not certain. I've blogged on plenty and invite you to look through the many entries. I also know there is plenty on other blogs worth a look.

My best recommendation to those of you still suffering is to keep positive, know what you believe, document all you are going through, find a best approach to clean out your internal environment, and keep your eyes to the horizon. Answers are coming!

Take care, Joe

Saturday, May 14, 2011

Communication

Sometimes I feel like I've waken up in a science fiction novel, sometimes a comedy and other times a tragedy. The situation with Morgellons Disease is hard enough to face, but the communication and mis-communication makes it doubly so.

While I consider myself long beyond the somewhat accepted Morgellons's symptoms set, I still have health issues. I blogged on my recent adrenal gland concerns. My system is still out of whack and I am hoping for answers, but them seems to come so very slowly.

Communication in relation to Morgellons is incredibly difficult. Who can you talk to? 85% of the medical world is still willing to call the condition delusional. Those researching the condition cannot openly discuss related matters (I've been told there are legal matters to consider). There are snake oil sales people claiming cures all over the internet. Still, there are many reason to see the glass as half full.

There are a number of excellent blogs and websites dedicated to discussing and better understanding Morgellons. I'll list a few I've found worthwhile:
http://hypertoxicworld.com/ - Pam Crane offers a wealth of information and is excited to be part of the growing communication network among Morgellons sufferers and researchers.
http://morgellonspgpr.wordpress.com/ - Mr. Commonsense has been a key player in open sensible communication within the Morgellons community. He has a seemingly unending amount of information related to the many angles of Morgellons research.
http://morgellonsaid.wordpress.com/ - Morgellons aid has a great deal of information related to cleaning out your body and reclaiming your internal terrain. Its is an excellent source of information.

There are some exceptional medical professionals working on the Morgellons problem. Without giving names, I would suggest listening to those who appear to understand the many facets of Morgellons.

The more we talk and think and listen to each other, the better we will tame this condition.

Saturday, May 7, 2011

Exercise Shift

My recent concerns of adrenal exhaustion are causing me to shift my exercise focus. I had plans to continue jogging and even motivate myself towards running some 5ks or such. I tend to overdo and push myself even when I feel beat. I need to change my thinking towards physical activity.

My understanding of the adrenal glands is they kick in as you kick in. Dr. Larry Wilson on educate-yourself.org cautions on the role of exercise in those suffering from burnout, "Vigorous exercise can be attractive to those in burnout. Exercise temporarily makes them feel better. While it may provide a boost, in the long run vigorous exercise further exhausts their bodies. People in burnout need to reduce exercise, often to a minimum in order to conserve their energy and allow the adrenals to rebuild. Exercise requires energy and adrenal reserves that people in burnout do not have".

Wilson's explanation of appropriate exercise is brief, "Gentle walking is beneficial. Vigorous exercise depletes the adrenals. Deep breathing and stretching, yoga or Tai chi do not deplete the body. Exercise to relax rather than build muscle".

I plan to expand on and rebuild my yoga routine. The importance of rebuilding the adrenals and opening to detox make it especially appropriate. As with so many pieces of the Morgellons puzzle, patience and routine have their rewards.

Sunday, May 1, 2011

Nurses, Teachers and Adrenal Exhaustion

It has been an interesting week (not always a good thing). I had some health issues midweek which prompted me to getting a medical check up and having blood testing done to check on kidneys and liver. I'll have the test results this week and hope to hear all is well.

My health issues made me think of a recent conversation with Pamela Crane from Hypertoxicworld. I mentioned my chelation work and she said something along the lines of, "I'm sure you have all of the support you need for your kidneys and liver". I don't remember my response, but, honestly, I haven't focused much on some of the main exits for toxins. So, now I am wondering if I stressed out these organs. I need to work on strengthening them.

Typical of the way things work for me, I headed to the local health food store to get some cilantro tea (helps memory and pulls mercury from system)and cold pressed sunflower seed oil (google- oil pulling) as recommended by a friend in the health profession. I thought these would be a good start at simple ways to detox further. As I was leaving, the cashier threw in a copy of Better Nutrition Magazine.

B.N. (May 2011) has an excellent article on adrenal exhaustion and wondered about the possible connection to Morgellons and my present kidney/liver concerns. The article mentions the adrenal glands are located on top of your kidneys. So, if your body is working at eliminating mercury, it seems logical the adrenals might be effected.

Stress is key to activating your adrenal glands. I feel my Morgellons symptoms first started after extensive and intensive stress. Your body produces cortisol to help soften the effects of stress. If the adrenals are pumping nonstop for extensive time, eventually you body cannot produce cortisol.

So, I am now wondering about and thinking if professionals known to have extreme and prolonged stress, such as teaching and nursing, are developing symptoms initially in part from adrenal exhaustion. I am picturing a cycle of mercury to kidneys, adrenal pumping, cortisol exhaustion and Morgellons symptoms. Make sense?

I've had five emergency room visits where my heart was racing (four before Morgellons symptoms developed). I was told after the first visit (where I was absolutely certain I was about to die) I needed to eat more bananas and green vegetable (I was low in potassium). This cycle could account for my unexplained hospital visits...and it also may account for so many nurses and teachers having Morgellons. Again I ask, make sense? I hope so.

I recommend reading the article in Better Nutrition. I'll list the vitamins and herbal remedies recommended (please check with your medical professional before implementing). Vitamins include: B-complex, pantothenic acid, and vitamin C. Herbal supplements listed include: licorice root, ashwagandha, rhodiola rosea, and eleutherococcus senticosus (please keep in mind B.N. is meant to promote herbal sales).

Remember to talk with your primary health care professional. Peace, Joe