Healthcare visit #63: naturopath

We had another healthcare appointment with Dr. Jenn, hubby's naturopath. Not to bore you, but it helps me to write it down, and organize it, and understand it all.

The purpose of this meeting was an update on recent tests (Bone scan, CT Scan, PSA, ultrasound), and anti-androgen intermittent therapy.

JB handed Dr. Jenn all the reports we had, a hard copy is a good thing. I heartily recommend you do this. She was impressed with his organization!

Since his surgery to remove the cancer cells (Jan., 2014), we've been watching and waiting. This included going to a naturopath, with the understanding that they didn't get all of the cells she's been giving him immunity boosters. Also, he has immunity boosters, and supplements to help his food intolerances (dairy, yeast, eggs), which is why we went to her in the first place!

Anti-hormone therapy began last Wednesday (Aug. 23), with pills. In a couple of weeks we'll go to the doctor, taking the medication we pick up at the pharmacy, and they'll do the deed, the injection. This will happen every three months.

(His treatment for mitigating cancer is based on excellent research, by Canadian researchers, who determine the course of action. It would be different if his cancer had progressed, as it often does, to bone cancer. This isn't the case. His cancer cells are limited to his lymph nodes in his groin, near the prostate site.)

Dr. Jenn

We went back to Dr. Jenn, and handed over report after report, she stapled them, taking notes on her laptop. The good news is, his cholesterol is down, he's reduced his meds for that. While the tests showed he has a small gallstone, Dr. Jenn said that probably with crappy diet he'd have pain. He doesn't!

Side effects of Treatment
Fatigue, lethargy, bone loss, calcium, anemia, weight gain less common. Hot flashes. Won't preclude activities, fully expect doing these (therapeutic riding volunteer, Meals on Wheels).

His weight is down 10 kg. through hard work and self-discipline. She asked which margarine he used. With his food intolerances, he's on a Non-dairy, vegan diet, with meat, no yeast. She suggested we keep hormone exposure minimal by eating organic meat.

The drive in was quite the thing. This trucker passing several vehicles on highway #15. I tweeted the photo to the company. This is scary.

There was a little girl with her mom in the grocery store parking lot, who looked a lot like our grandie in Vancouver! We stopped for some of hubby's favourite fake cheese in Carleton Place!

I redid his daily chart, with tweaking from Dr. Jenn's advice during this visit. "Mushrooms" are a mushroom complex, made from reishi, shiitake, maitake mushrooms, which mitigate side effects of the anti-hormone treatments. "Trident" is an Omega 3 supplement. Probiotics are ultra antioxidants. This is over and above his healthcare visits, which we get through Canadian universal healthcare. The medications we must pay for. The anti-hormone injection kits cost $1100 per dose. As a senior over age 65, he only pays $20 for this (Ontario Drug Benefit Program). There is much controversy in the US, where the government does not control drug prices. 
"In the U.S, the cost of insulin has dramatically increased. Prices for Humalog, a rapid-acting insulin, has grown 700 per cent since 1996, The Washington Post reported."

Crappy photos in the waiting room from the iPad, upon which I take notes. It's in a exercise facility! They usually have a pithy saying!

PART XXXII: Dr. Jenn naturopath (Sept. 6)

Dr. Jenn 

Hubby needed refills... He's had mouth sores, as well as other issues.

1. Protein powder smoothies, put glutamine into smoothie
 2. Continue with 1 scoop glutamine/day Bioenzymes good, keep one probiotic per day for immunity, egg cycled with herocium = anti-cancer,
3. Trident = omega 2 caps per day good
4. Eye issue: homeopathic: Eyebright pills, good for dryness, 1 per day for 10 days, right at bedtime, under tongue and it dissolves. energetic form of energy. Ingest the energy and stimulates healing on that level.
5. Canker mouth sore: Kanker didn't do him any good, it burned his mouth, as he used it too long.
The mouthwash: Colgate with peroxyl, has helped.
Thieves: comb of essential oils, clove oil, lemon oil, cinnamon and rosemary.
a) topically, several times a day,
b) swish and swirl, in some water, OK if you swallow
c) oil pulling: TBS coconut oil with a drop, swirl around mouth for up to 20 min. = detoxifying. Don't swallow. Daily at first... weekly for maintenance.



6. Urinary frequency: continue with clonazapine to calm him down.

I created him charts for his supplements. I even made one for a friend.

With all the bad news we've been getting...

I decided to post a good story.

Firstly, on a tour to Clayton, after a visit to Dr. Jenn, our Naturopath (appointment #45 for healthcare!), we spotted a snapping turtle on the highway. Hubby pulled over. With his bad back, he is unable to bend, so he stayed safely in the car!

There are good people in the world.

Snapping turtle in 2014

On Wolfe Grove Rd., I was standing on this busy road, with trucks dragging boats on trailers, 4 x 4's zipping by, and around us. I tried to move the snapper with the floor mat. He wasn't biting. Well, he was, but not hanging on! He stunk badly, with moss on his shell, and had blood dripping from his mouth. He was more concerned with me, than going on his way. I was about to give up, when a man my age stopped, popped on his work gloves, grabbed the turtle and gently laid him in the direction in which I'd seen the turtle was going on the other side of the road, and off he went. (The pick-up  truck said Cavanagh Construction.)

The silly thing was going from the lake side, to the swamp side, the property owner said. She was about to come out with a shovel for me! The gentleman got the job done, however!

She further told me that she had to change her veggie and flower beds to raised platforms, as the snappers kept getting into them and tossing the veggies around. One came up the three steps on her back deck! They are often nudging them across the road.

Back to our trip...

Dr. Jenn

Hubby had some refills from his naturopath, as well as new things for some sores. We had our first consult a year ago, and she had him tested for food intolerances. This has greatly improved his well-being. We know he cannot have eggs, yeast or dairy products. His stomach issues are so much better.

She is rotating his anti-cancer, immunity boosting meds, as well. His cancer is on hold. This is good! 

Extensive report

Remember my old photo donations?

I'd forgotten one photo, which had fallen out of the envelope. After seeing Dr. Jenn, we went to the museum. Our photos are nicely mounted and I handed over the last one! I'm so glad they have a good place. They are marvellous examples of old photos for the museum. The first, a tin type, is rare of this size.

 After we came out of the museum, a Monarch butterfly followed us along the road! I took that as a sign that my mother was pleased! She adored her sister who died when mom was a baby. I didn't get a good photo, but you can see the orange of the Monarch on the shoulder on the bottom of the photo!

Then, in Appleton, you can see two neighbours agreeing to disagree!