Disconnected From Allostatic Load & Stress

This is the continuation in a series on allostatic load.  In part 2, we discussed if you don't deal with stress, it will deal with you.

If you haven't seen Part 2, go there first.

In Part 3, we will be discussing being disconnected from allostatic load and stress.

At first, we find some over the counter meds to take that disconnect us a little more from what is going on.  Our body is trying to get our attention with the pain or physical issue we are experiencing, but we ignore it.  We've got no time for it.  There are work deadlines to meet, travel and meetings to take place, kids to take care of, bills to pay and so on and so forth.  There are a million reasons we come up with, and we say that tomorrow we will take a few hours and stop to rest.  Tomorrow comes and goes, but we keep pushing on so that we can get caught up.  Unfortunately we never catch up.

The body tires to hang on.  It tries hard not to adjust the set point of allostatic load, but it has no choice.  We keep pushing and pushing.  The body continues to degrade and wear down.  Our mind becomes more disconnected to what reality is and our perception becomes our new reality.

We then turn to doctors and their procedures, demanding they find the label for the condition we have.  We demand that the doctor cure us and we ignore and fail to listen to what the doctor is trying to tell us.  Often, doctors and other health practitioners don't have a good handle on how to deal with allostatic load, so in frustration and despair in between seeing many patients, they give us a prescription and a diagnosis.

We get our prescription filled and we exclaim to our friends, this label is what we have.  Our friends show sympathy and gasp at the difficulty we face.  We feel supported, and we temporarily feel like we've found help and we'll get better.  The prescription, of course, reinforces that it is best to disconnect from reality, and it reinforces what our perception is, even if it is misguided.

The body however has still not won.  It has tried to get our attention and tell us that our set point is way out of the range of normal.  It begs us to take a good hard look at our life, but we're too busy for that.  We've got too much to do.  There is just no time for self evaluation and besides, doing something like that is for those new age people, not for serious people.  That's what we tell ourselves and that's what we make ourselves believe, but there is no truth to it.

Our body continues to stay on alert because we've never allowed it to come to any other conclusion.  We've revved up the motor and kept it in neutral.  Our allostatic load continues to increase into further degradation of the mind and body, taking us dangerously close to the point of no return.  We continue to ignore it, knowing that we've got the diagnosis and prescription.  What else do we need, we ask ourselves amusingly.  There is nothing.  We've got this, we exclaim.

We interject some happy memes and positive thoughts.  We say some extra prayers.  We project to the world around us that all is okay and we're managing this.  To be strong is what this life requires us to be, we are taught.  We can't show weakness.  We must show we're strong and in control.  Again, we are feeding ourselves a false perception in life, not the reality that actually exists.

At some point, our body will get our attention.  It may be pain that is so great we can not take it any longer.  It may be some physical ailment that demands emergency care.  It may be anxiety and depression that disorients our life to the point of not being sure which way is up or down.  If we continue to ignore it, our body and our mind will keep throwing up the flares in the hope that we listen.

Picture it like a spring getting wound up more and more, tighter and tighter.  At some point, there is no more winding left.  The only thing remaining is that the spring has to unwind.  It has so much kinetic energy locked in waiting to bombard its way out.

When you get to this point, the only hope is that you'll not be past the point of no return.  Unfortunately with the health issues we are facing today, it is more common for people to push allostatic load to the outer edge of possible limits.

Most doctor visits are related to stress and studies have been done to prove that.  Doctors know it, but patients demand they help feed the disconnect between reality and perception.

There is so much more that interconnects with allostatic load, and while I'm trying to simplify it into something that's easy to understand, I know that it is more complex than this.  Yet, I know it can be as simple as what I describe.  I've been there.  I've pushed my own body past its limits and you can read more about that in my book, Hope and Possibility Through Trauma.

Make sure you check out the next part in this 5 part series.  

 Part 4 is "Stress Setpoint In The Emergency Danger Zone"

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Blog Post And Images (c) 2017 by Don Shetterly

• Permission required before any part of this blog post is reprinted, reworded or used in any form. 
• You are welcomed to share the LINK to this blog post.  

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Fentanyl Deaths Soar

I was shocked to read about this new drug Beth Kassab wrote about in her column in the Orlando Sentinel.  I don't think I had heard of this new drug Fentanyl.  Of course, I'm not always up on the latest new drugs and medications.

From the article, there is a very serious problem with Fentanyl in the Orlando area.  In 2013, there were 18 deaths.  In 2014 there were 34 deaths and in 2015, there were 70 deaths.  Fentanyl is 50 times stronger than heroin.  It most likely affects other communities, but this post is specific to the Orlando area.

While this medication is prescribed for patients after surgery or for patients with terminal illness, it does not take too much of this drug to be deadly.  Fentanyl is 100 times more potent than morphine.

Of course the drug dealers sell it to the addicts as heroin.  Unbeknown to the addicts, they may think they are getting heroin when in fact they may be getting Fentanyl and it could likely kill them as they think they can take the same dosage as they do with heroin.

One would think that the drug dealers would not want to kill off their buyers, but in the drug world, it is different from what I am reading.  It is like a badge of honor if the stuff they sell is so potent it kills off the buyers.  This means other buyers want their stuff more than anyone else.

We're living in a society where we turn to drugs far too much.  I will be upfront and honest in that I'm not a big believer in drugs or most surgeries.  You can call that naive if you want, but there are other ways to heal the body.  I've seen people on pain pills get so addicted that they can no longer feel and stay connected to their body.

There is an escalation of pain killers in our country and I don't think it is a good thing.  What is next?  Surgery to remove the nerves?  I believe in 500 or a 1000 years, we're going to look back and what we do now and wonder why we were so stupid in how we treated the human body.

Yes, I understand that when you're in pain, you want it to stop.  However, taking one escalating drug to kill the pain after another, isn't really solving the issue.  There are many other things you can do which truly heal the body, not just place a band-aid over a gushing wound.

Its sad to see the problems that this permeates out into our entire society.  We cause real issues for our communities and it plays havoc with the dollars we end up spending with very little to show for it.  It really is up to each one of us to wake up and be part of the solution, not part of the problem.

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Blog Post And Images (c) 2016 by Don Shetterly

• Permission required before any part of this blog post is reprinted, reworded or used in any form. 
• You are welcomed to share the LINK to this blog post.  

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Medicating Pets Is Not The Answer

Recently I saw an article on CNN about a person giving "happy pills" to their cat because of behavioral issues.  I'm not going to reference this article because it really added no value to life.  It was poorly written and done so from a view point that was very one sided.  Trust me - its not worth your time.

Unfortunately though the individuals in this article felt that the cat needed happy pills and were convinced the cat's behavior changed as a result.  I'm sure they could prove that it did.  However, the thing that disturbs me is how quickly we turn to medications and pills just to solve problems.  For the most part, this is not needed in animals nor in humans.  Yes, there are some exceptions, but they are few and far between.

I do not make these comments because it is my belief.  I have worked with thousands of animals over the years and dealt with all types of behavior issues.  Most of the time, the issues either boiled down to the caretakers or the animal's home.  Yes, once in awhile there was some disease or other health issue impacting things, but that was limited to a small percentage of the time.

Go To The Source

From the interview with Dr. Paul Canali on the Mind Body Interface and Healing Conversion Disorder, is a quote that says so much.

Put your attention not on another pain medication, anti-inflammatory, anti-depressant - Put your attention on the source.  Go to the source of your pain and suffering.

The entire interview can be heard by clicking on this link.

False Assumptions In Healing And Clinical Errors

Candy For Medical
Treatment

On KevinMD.com, there was an excellent article on clinical errors.  While I realize this was written more for the medical community, it applies to healing and alternative practices.  I'll let you read the full article but I'm just going to highlight a few that stuck out to me as I was reading it.  The following is my own take and perception on these items.  They are not meant to be aligned with the article on KevinMD.com that I reference. 

1)  The Placebo is just as powerful as modern medicine.  While many pharmaceutical companies do not highlight the effect of placebos, they often heal just as well as the medication or treatment.

2)  Many diseases do not all of the sudden show up.  There is a progression over time.  They are gradual.  Identifying what is going on in the person's life prior to the symptoms appearing is critical.  Learning how to help the client change their life is more likely to offer long term healing, rather than a quick fix.

Pain Hurts Because I Slept Wrong

How often do you say, “I slept wrong or moved wrong,” as a way to explain pain you wake up with or experience during your day? If you do, then you are much like me and many others who misplace the source of pain. You can go on blaming unrelated things for the pain that hurts but it won’t get you very far.

Last night, I had a dream where I was violently attacking someone that caused me great harm in my life. It is actually a person that I don’t think much about these days. In this dream, I was victorious and felt a sense that I conquered this person.

When I got ready to wake up, I noticed that my shoulders and upper back were in some intense pain. It was pain that was “fearful” and so intense that I was tempted to take a pain killing medication.

While I could make excuses for my pain and reasons I hurt, I can clearly see the connection between the dream and the painful state I woke up in. I could freak out and head for pain med city or I could allow the connection in my mind. If I stay with the thoughts, feelings or emotions, then I will move through it, much like I am doing already. If I add slight mind – body connected movement to it, the pain and hurt will dissipate much quicker.

We often fool ourselves about the source of pain in our body. We fail to stop and check what is going on at that moment or right before it started. Usually what is going on in our life shows up in our body. If we stop and notice it, we can do so much healing in our life and learn the lessons that our body is trying to teach us. If we choose to head to the medicine cabinet, for pain pills we’ll only delay the opportunity for greater awareness and learning in our life.

Further Reading:
1) The Power Of Your Mind (Blog Post 2/11/10)
2) Embrace The Pain (Blog Post 1/28/11)



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http://www.donshetterly.com

If any part of this post is used or shared, a link back to this site is required.
http://mindbodythoughts.blogspot.com/
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Medication Side Effects, Part 5

This is a continuation from part 4 of the Medication Side Effects series. It is the final part in this series. Please read part 1, part 2, part 3 and part 4 before reading this part so this particular blog entry will make sense. Again, this is for information purposes and is not meant to be considered as medical advice. Please read the disclaimer below for more details.

While I realize I am not a medical professional and that I don't know all there is to know about health and medications, the one thing I do know is that when you look at all the drug advertisements on TV, the list of side effects is frightening.

According to KaiserEDU.org, health care costs rose 2.3 trillion dollars in 2008 from 714 billion dollars in 1990. This equates to about $7,681 per resident and about 16.2% of the nations GDP. It is among the highest of all industrialized nations. Those numbers are so staggering that one can hardly put them in perspective.

Yet, as we have spent great amounts of money to heal us and make us well in this country, we are still not healthier than we were back in 1990. We have continued down the same track and I would suggest that we have done this in a blind fashion.

You see, when we fail to take care of ourselves and heal our life from the inside out (the mind body connection), we then end up running to the doctor and hospital for tests to determine which type of medication we should be taking. Yet, in our quest to be "healed" and to "get better", we fail to see just how harmful the side effects of these medications are to our bodies.

Pharmaceutical manufacturers want you to keep coming back and they want you addicted to their drugs. For if you don't, than where will their profits come from for their shareholders and where will increased earnings come from for the stocks? When over 16% of our GDP is spent on health care, something is completely wrong with the picture.

I offer that we cannot continue down this path. There is going to be a point of no return for our civilization and our bodies. When you take some medicine to alter the function of one part of your body (get rid of the symptoms you are experiencing), you impact other body systems. The impact may go unnoticed for some time but eventually it will catch up with you.

We can continue to go down the path we are on or we can begin to wake up and question what it is we are doing in our life and to our bodies. Accepting the status quo or going along with what the establishment tells you to think is no longer good enough. It does not support optimal health. Of course, I'm not telling you anything you don't already know deep down inside but of course when fear gets ahold of you, these words become nothing more than garbled noise.

My hope through this series of blog posts is that it will being to wake you up to medications and how we treat our bodies. I'm not asking you to immediately stop taking any medication you are taking. That is not my intent. My purpose is to get you to look at this and begin using your conscious brain to make the best choices possible for your life.

Within humans, we do have the genetic code to produce healthy cells but every time we douse them in poor nutrition, habits, exercise and health care, we are altering how our cells function. We can continue to spend trillions each year on the latest health care fad or we can begin to change who we are and evolve our awareness. This is up to each one of us to discover but if we sit there on our butts, we'll be like a long lost voyager lost at sea.



Here are the links to each of the parts of the series on Medication Side Effects.
Part 1 (Posted 4/22/11)
Part 2 (Posted 4/23/11)
Part 3 (Posted 4/24/11)
Part 4 (Posted 4/25/11)
Part 5 (Posted 4/26/11)



Further Information:
1) Drugs.com
2) Forbes.com - The Most Popular Prescription Drugs
3) High Pulse Rate and Heart Disease
4) KaiserEDU.org - US Health Care Costs



Disclaimer:
This blog post series is not meant as medical advice nor is it meant for you to stop taking medications prescribed by your doctor. You should always make those decisions with a qualified medical doctor. I am merely pointing out information my own study of a different way to view the body. Remember, the more you understand about how your body works, the more impact you can have upon your life. Just to make this crystal clear, consult your medical professional before making any changes with your medications and health. This is meant for informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice.



Blog Post & Images (c) 4/7/11 Don Shetterly - use by permission only
http://www.donshetterly.com

Medication Side Effects, Part 4

This is a continuation from part 3 of the Medication Side Effects series. Please read part 1 , part 2 and part 3 before reading this part so this particular blog entry will make sense.

In the part 1, we showed what the top 15 medication prescriptions were and how they ranked. In part 2, we discussed Hydrocodone, Simvastatin, Lisinopril and Levothyroxine. Part 3, we discussed Azithromycin, Metaformin, Lipitor, Amlodipine, and Amoxicillin. In part 4, today, we will discuss Hydrochlorothiazide, Omeprazole, Alprazolam, Furosemide, Metoprolol tartrate and Atenolol. This is not a complete source of information and should not be construed to be an official source. In part 5, I will conclude this series with some of my own overall comments.


10) Hydrochlorothiazide (high blood pressure) - 47.1 million prescriptions
Commonly used as a first-choice blood pressure or edema treatment.

- - Side Effects
Please see drugs.com for the side effects of this drug.
http://www.drugs.com/sfx/hydrochlorothiazide-side-effects.html

- - Comments
Refer to #3 regarding high pressure




11) Omeprazole (heartburn) - 45.4 million prescriptions
The purple pill for heartburn, a.k.a. AstraZeneca's Prilosec, was once the bestselling drug in the world. It is still widely prescribed even though it is also now available without a prescription.

- - Side Effects
Diarrhea; gas; headache; nausea; stomach pain; vomiting. Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue; unusual hoarseness); bone pain; chest pain; dark urine; fast, slow, or irregular heartbeat; fever, chills, or sore throat; red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin; seizures; severe diarrhea; severe stomach pain or cramps; swelling of the hands, ankles, or feet; unusual bruising or bleeding; unusual or sudden weight increase; unusual tiredness; vision changes; yellowing of the eyes or skin.

- - Comments
How often have you had hearburn after something you have eaten. Yet, you continue to eat these same type of foods over and over. Or how often have you had heartburn when times have been very stressful for you and there is very little you can eat that won't give you heartburn. Of course, I'm sure you stop there and change your life habits, right? According to the number of prescriptions, we obviously aren't getting the message and listening to our bodies. If we did, much of this could change. Just think, there might be a way without all the constant medication. Of course, until a person begins to explore lifestyle changes and habits, there won't be an ounce of hope.




12) Alprazolam (anxiety) - 44.4 prescriptions
Originally manufactured by Pfizer under the name Xanax, this anxiety drug surpassed Valium in popularity in the late '80s; it has been generic for more than a decade.

- - Side Effects
Changes in appetite; changes in sexual desire; constipation; dizziness; drowsiness; dry mouth; increased saliva production; lightheadedness; tiredness; trouble concentrating; unsteadiness; weight changes. Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); confusion; decreased urination; fainting; hallucinations; loss of coordination; memory problems; menstrual changes; muscle twitching; new or worsening mental or mood problems (eg, depression, irritability, anxiety); overstimulation; red, swollen blistered, or peeling skin; seizures; severe dizziness; severe or persistent trouble sleeping; suicidal thoughts or actions; trouble speaking (eg, stammering, stuttering); yellowing of the eyes or skin.

- - Comments
I remember a time in the not so distant pass that I suffered so badly from anxiety. At that time, I thought the entire world was crashing in on me and if it wasn't for Xanax, than I don't know if I would have made it through those times. However, here's where the difference comes in. I never accepted that this was the only way I could deal with anxiety. I had doctors and psychologists tell me that this is what my life would come to expect. I never bought into that. In addition, Xanax and many of these drugs are so addictive that you often go through serious withddraw symptoms when you stop taking them. Since this time, I've found many ways to deal with the anxiety and heal from it. I no longer am bound to anxiety attacks like I once was. Meds are not the answer to all the problems of life. Yes, they can help but it should be a temporary stop gap measure, not a cure all.




13) Furosemide (high blood pressure) - 42.8 million prescriptions
The diuretic, or water pill, was sold under the name Lasix because it lasts six hours.

- - Side Effects
Please see drugs.com for the side effects of this drug.
http://www.drugs.com/sfx/furosemide-side-effects.html

- - Comments
Refer to #3 regarding high pressure




14) Metoprolol tartrate (angina, high blood pressure) - 40.5 million prescriptions
Best known as Toprol, an AstraZeneca brand, used for treating chest pain and heart failure.

- - Side Effects
Please see drugs.com for the side effects of this drug.
http://www.drugs.com/sfx/metoprolol-tartrate-side-effects.html

- - Comments
Refer to #3 regarding high pressure




15) Atenolol (angina, high blood pressure) - 38.6 million prescriptions
Used to treat high blood pressure, chest pain, and heart failure.

- - Side Effects
Please see drugs.com for the side effects of this drug.
http://www.drugs.com/sfx/atenolol-side-effects.html

- - Comments
Refer to #3 regarding high pressure




Please come back tomorrow for part 5 in this series about medication side effects.
Part 1 (Posted 4/22/11)
Part 2 (Posted 4/23/11)
Part 3 (Posted 4/24/11)
Part 4 (Posted 4/25/11)
Part 5 (Posted 4/26/11)



Further Information:
1) Drugs.com
2) Forbes.com - The Most Popular Prescription Drugs
3) High Pulse Rate and Heart Disease
4) KaiserEDU.org - US Health Care Costs



Disclaimer:
This blog post series is not meant as medical advice nor is it meant for you to stop taking medications prescribed by your doctor. You should always make those decisions with a qualified medical doctor. I am merely pointing out information my own study of a different way to view the body. Remember, the more you understand about how your body works, the more impact you can have upon your life. Just to make this crystal clear, consult your medical professional before making any changes with your medications and health. This is meant for informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice.



Blog Post & Images (c) 4/7/11 Don Shetterly - use by permission only
http://www.donshetterly.com

Medication Side Effects, Part 3

This is a continuation from part 2 of the Medication Side Effects series. Please read part 1 and part 2 before reading this part so this particular blog entry will make sense.

In the part 1, we showed what the top 15 medication prescriptions were and how they ranked. Yesterday, we discussed Hydrocodone, Simvastatin, Lisinopril and Levothyroxine. Today, we will start showing each individual one with some of the side effects listed from drugs.com . The list for today includes Azithromycin, Metaformin, Lipitor, Amlodipine, and Amoxicillin. This is not a complete source of information and should not be construed to be an official source. Tomorrow, we will discuss the remaining medications from the original list.




5) Azithromycin (antibiotic) - 53.8 million prescriptions
Popular because of its convenient dosing and few side effects. Brand name Zithromax.

- - Side Effects
Diarrhea; headache; loose stools; nausea; stomach pain; upset stomach; vomiting. Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue; unusual hoarseness); bloody stools; changes in hearing or hearing loss; chest pain; eye or vision problems; irregular heartbeat; muscle weakness; pounding in the chest; red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin; ringing in the ears; seizure; severe diarrhea; stomach cramps/pain; trouble speaking or swallowing; yellowing of the skin or eyes.

- - Comments
I shudder at the thought of how we turn to antibiotics so quickly when we are feeling a little under the weather. So often they are over prescribed and with the emergence of superbugs out there, if no antibiotic works, what will we do then? If we took better care of ourselves and did not work ourselves to death, things might be different. We spend very little time relaxing and resting or eating the foods we should eat. Then, our body's immune system cannot keep up with us and on top of that we've got deadlines to get done, emails to read, soccer practice to get the kids to among many other things. So instead of taking a sick day or being allowed to take a sick day, we run to the doctor and beg for some meds to get us going again. We know that the world will not continue to function without us. Of course, we spend very little time truly taking care of ourselves through what we eat and most of the food we consume is processed, frozen, or fried giving it very little nutritional value. If we learned to take better care of ourselves and rested and relaxed as well as exercised, maybe we could cut back on the antibiotics we consume.




6) Metformin (diabetes) - 52 million prescriptions
Brand name is Glucophage. Regarded as one of the best drugs for lowering blood sugar levels.

- - Side Effects
Cold-like symptoms; diarrhea; headache; indigestion; mild weight gain; nausea; stomach upset.Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); blurred vision or other vision changes; bone pain; chest pain or discomfort; dark urine; difficult or painful urination; dizziness or lightheadedness; fainting; fast or difficult breathing; feeling of being unusually cold; general feeling of being unwell; muscle pain or weakness; pale stools; persistent loss of appetite; severe or persistent headache, nausea, or vomiting; shortness of breath; slow or irregular heartbeat; sudden unexplained weight gain; swelling of the hands, ankles, or feet; unusual stomach pain or discomfort; unusual drowsiness; unusual tiredness or weakness; yellowing of the eyes or skin.


While there are people who are born with diabetes, type II (type 2, adult onset diabetes) is rising at alarming rates. In a nutshell, this means we have overloaded our bodies with so much sugar that they no longer function in the way they are intended to function. Yes, I realize it is much more complicated than what I have stated. If you look at the amount of sugar we consume these days, it is no wonder. Between the soft drinks, flavored juices, junk food and so many products where sugar is added, we are killing ourselves through a slow death. Just look at how choclate sales have increased over the past several years and that is an indication of how much more sugar we are consuming. There are energy drinks loaded with sugar and coffee drinks now that are consumed as if there was no tomorrow. Some sugar is nice but we've gotten to a point where we are so addicted to it in our society that we are poisoning ourselves.




7) Lipitor (high cholesterol) - 51.5 million prescriptions
Pfizer’s sales of Lipitor were $11.4 billion in 2008, down from $12.7 billion in 2007.

- - Side Effects
Please see drugs.com for the side effects of this drug.
http://www.drugs.com/sfx/lipitor-side-effects.html

- - Comments
Refer to #2 regarding high cholesterol




8) Amlodipine (high blood pressure) - 50.9 million prescriptions
The calcium channel blocker to treat high blood pressure is better known as Norvasc from Pfizer.

- - Side Effects
Please see drugs.com for the side effects of this drug.
http://www.drugs.com/sfx/amlodipine-side-effects.html

- - Comments
Refer to #3 regarding high blood pressure




9) Amoxicillin (antibiotic) - 49.2 million prescriptions
Amoxicillin is a mainstay antibiotic used by pediatricians and others. Millions of kids get it for ear infections, even though most ear infections are caused by viruses, not bacteria.

- - Side Effects
Please see drugs.com for the side effects of this drug.
http://www.drugs.com/sfx/amoxicillin-side-effects.html

- - Comments
Refer to #5 regarding high cholesterol



Please come back tomorrow for part 4 in this series about medication side effects.
Part 1 (Posted 4/22/11)
Part 2 (Posted 4/23/11)
Part 3 (Posted 4/24/11)
Part 4 (Posted 4/25/11)
Part 5 (Posted 4/26/11)



Further Information:
1) Drugs.com
2) Forbes.com - The Most Popular Prescription Drugs
3) High Pulse Rate and Heart Disease
4) KaiserEDU.org - US Health Care Costs



Disclaimer:
This blog post series is not meant as medical advice nor is it meant for you to stop taking medications prescribed by your doctor. You should always make those decisions with a qualified medical doctor. I am merely pointing out information my own study of a different way to view the body. Remember, the more you understand about how your body works, the more impact you can have upon your life. Just to make this crystal clear, consult your medical professional before making any changes with your medications and health. This is meant for informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice.



Blog Post & Images (c) 4/7/11 Don Shetterly - use by permission only
http://www.donshetterly.com

Medication Side Effects, Part 2

This is a continuation from part 1 of the Medication Side Effects series. Please read part 1 before reading this part so this particular blog entry will make sense.

Yesterday, we showed what the top 15 medication prescriptions were and how they ranked. Today, we will start showing each individual one with some of the side effects listed from drugs.com . This is not a complete source of information and should not be construed to be an official source. Please see disclaimer at the end of this blog post.




1) Hydrocodone/acetaminophen (painkiller) - 128 million prescriptions
A painkiller available as a generic and also sold under the brand name of Vicodin.

- - Side Effects
Light-headedness, dizziness, sedation, nausea and vomiting, drowsiness, mental clouding, lethargy, impairment of mental and physical performance, anxiety, fear, dysphoria, sychological dependence, mood changes, constipation, ureteral spasm, spasm of vesical sphincters, urinary retention, respiratory depression Hearing impairment, permanent loss, Skin rash, pruritus.

- - Comments
What I find interesting on the pain killer is that all of these things are in effect numbing the body. The body tries to get our attention and yet if we numb it long enough, we will be telling the messages where they can go. All of these side effects that may or may not show up just to numb the pain when in all reality, if you go into the pain, you can alleviate much of it on your own. We truly do have a medicinal factory inside of us that we can tap into or more importantly, we can work to go to the source of pain and not be forced to take pain killers on a regular basis.




2) Simvastatin (high cholesterol) - 83 million prescriptions
Brand name is zocor and also in generics. The most widely prescribed cholesterol drug.

- - Side Effects
Constipation, headache, mild stomach pain, nausea, severe allergic reactions, tightness in the chest, swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue; chest pain; dark urine; muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness; pale stools; red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin; severe or persistent stomach pain; yellowing of skin or eyes.

- - Comments
I still remember the one drug rep many years ago with one of the leading pharmaceutical companies telling me that cholesterol medication was more hyped than it should be. I'm sure he would have been fired for telling me that but he was being honest. From my understanding, cholesterol is one of the substances our body manufacturers when we are under stress. Stress of course can be events in our day, avoiding relaxation, dietary or other conditions. So, instead of working to help alleviate stress in our bodies, we turn towards a drug. We may or may not follow the doctor's advice on our diet because we feel the drug will do the trick. However, we usually forget that stress and unresolved trauma is often behind high cholesterol. If this is too strong of a statement, than at least acknoledge that stress plays a major role in high cholesterol. There have been many research studies to indicate the interaction.





3) Lisinopril (high blood pressure) - 81.3 million prescriptions
Sold under brand names of Prinivil, Zestril.

- - Side Effects
Cough; diarrhea; dizziness; headache; tiredness, severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the hands, eyes, mouth, face, lips, or tongue; hoarseness); chest pain; dark urine; decreased urination; difficulty swallowing; infection (eg, fever, chills, persistent sore throat); irregular or slow heartbeat; stomach pain (with or without nausea or vomiting); symptoms of low blood pressure (eg, fainting, severe dizziness, lightheadedness); yellowing of the skin or eyes.

- - Comments
As I look at the list of side effects for this high blood pressure medication, I'm horrified at what I see. Yes, I know the medical establishment can give all sorts of reasons and fabulous names for why someone has high blood pressure. However, if you think about this for a moment, you might see a different picture. If you constantly push your body and pound yourself against the wall day in and day out, or you harbor long held anger, does it not make sense that you are making your blood boil. If that doesn't make sense, how about overworking yourself on a treadmill for an hour and see what happens to your blood pressure/pulse rate. Your body is only reacting to that which you do to it, that which you have moved on from and the role you force your body to in your everyday life. If you change your life style, more often than not, your health will also change.

Link: High Pulse Rate And Heart Disease




4) Levothyroxine sodium (thyroid disorders) - 66 million prescriptions
Thyroid hormone supplements are taken when our bodies do not produce enough on their own.

- - Side Effects
Please see drugs.com for the side effects of this drug.
http://www.drugs.com/sfx/levothyroxine-side-effects.html

- - Comments
I do not feel qualified in my limited knowledge to offer comments on thyroid disorders so I'll leave that up to you to google search more information.



Please come back tomorrow for part 2 in this series about medication side effects.
Part 1 (Posted 4/22/11)
Part 2 (Posted 4/23/11)
Part 3 (Posted 4/24/11)
Part 4 (Posted 4/25/11)
Part 5 (Posted 4/26/11)



Further Information:
1) Drugs.com
2) Forbes.com - The Most Popular Prescription Drugs
3) High Pulse Rate and Heart Disease
4) KaiserEDU.org - US Health Care Costs



Disclaimer:
This blog post series is not meant as medical advice nor is it meant for you to stop taking medications prescribed by your doctor. You should always make those decisions with a qualified medical doctor. I am merely pointing out information my own study of a different way to view the body. Remember, the more you understand about how your body works, the more impact you can have upon your life. Just to make this crystal clear, consult your medical professional before making any changes with your medications and health. This is meant for informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice.



Blog Post & Images (c) 4/7/11 Don Shetterly - use by permission only
http://www.donshetterly.com

Medication Side Effects, Part 1

If you watch TV for any length of time, you will see advertisement after advertisement for medications to heal your life and make everything well. The promises and claims that these medication advertisements make on TV and the media astound me to no end.

Of course, if you really watch closely, you'll see the long list of side effects that each medication has. In fact, it seems to be a badge of honor to these pharmaceutical manufacturers to have the side effects. It is almost the more side effects you have, the better your drug. If you take it one step further, if it includes death, than it seems to be more important in their advertisement.

The thing I wonder is just how much anyone thinks about all of this. I'm sure I could answer this by seeing how many times the advertisement gets aired and the sales that are generated by these companies. We really need to step back in this country and in our world and listen to these advertisements for the medications. They are not as innocent as they appear and we all know that but we are choosing to ignore it.

This 5 part blog post series is not meant as medical advice nor is it meant for you to stop taking medications prescribed by your doctor. You should always make those decisions with a qualified medical doctor. I am merely pointing out information my own study of a different way to view the body. Remember, the more you understand about how your body works, the more impact you can have upon your life. Just to make this crystal clear, consult your medical professional before making any changes with your medications and health. This is meant for informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice.

According to Forbes.com, the following are some of the most popular prescription drugs in the US in 2009. I'm sure the list has changed by now since there is a mad dash in our country to turn out new drugs and benefit the bottom lines of the pharmaceutical companies. Of course, it doesn't matter what the name of the drug is, the list of side effects a mile long will still be there and people will still not be thinking clearly about what they put into the body.

1) Hydrocodone/acetaminophen (painkiller) - 128 million prescriptions
2) Simvastatin (high cholesterol) - 83 million prescriptions
3) Lisinopril (high blood pressure) - 81.3 million prescriptions
4) Levothyroxine sodium (thyroid disorders) - 66 million prescriptions
5) Azithromycin (antibiotic) - 53.8 million prescriptions
6) Metformin (diabetes) - 52 million prescriptions
7) Lipitor (high cholesterol) - 51.5 million prescriptions
8) Amlodipine (high blood pressure) - 50.9 million prescriptions
9) Amoxicillin (antibiotic) - 49.2 million prescriptions
10) Hydrochlorothiazide (high blood pressure) - 47.1 million prescriptions
11) Omeprazole (heartburn) - 45.4 million prescriptions
12) Alprazolam (anxiety) - 44.4 prescriptions
13) Furosemide (high blood pressure) - 42.8 million prescriptions
14) Metoprolol tartrate (angina, high blood pressure) - 40.5 million prescriptions
15) Atenolol (angina, high blood pressure) - 38.6 million prescriptions


If you look at the list above, you will notice that there out of the 15 drugs listed, 6 of them were for high blood pressure, and 2 were for high cholesterol. Pain killers were at the top of the list. Here's the breakdown of the conditions that rank in the top 15 by number of prescriptions for 2009 according to the article on Forbes.com .

1) Pain Killer
2) High Cholesterol
3) High Blood Pressure
4) Thyroid
5) Antibiotic
6) Diabetes
7) Heartburn
8) Anxiety

Please come back tomorrow for part 2 in this series about medication side effects.

Part 1
Part 2 (Posted 4/23/11)
Part 3 (Posted 4/24/11)
Part 4 (Posted 4/25/11)
Part 5 (Posted 4/26/11)



Further Information:
1) Drugs.com
2) Forbes.com - The Most Popular Prescription Drugs
3) High Pulse Rate and Heart Disease
4) KaiserEDU.org - US Health Care Costs



Disclaimer:
This blog post series is not meant as medical advice nor is it meant for you to stop taking medications prescribed by your doctor. You should always make those decisions with a qualified medical doctor. I am merely pointing out information my own study of a different way to view the body. Remember, the more you understand about how your body works, the more impact you can have upon your life. Just to make this crystal clear, consult your medical professional before making any changes with your medications and health. This is meant for informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice.



Blog Post & Images (c) 4/7/11 Don Shetterly - use by permission only
http://www.donshetterly.com

Meditation Thoughts At The Park

Stop for this moment.

Feel the gentle breeze on your face.
It is a calming breeze, full of peace

Watch the butterfly zip about from tree to tree.
Notice the serene ripples in the water.
Hear these sounds of nature rustle through the tree.

What do they say to you?
How do they make you feel?
Can you pin point the place in your body where you feel them?

What do you observe?
Just stop and feel, sense and see.
Notice all that you are part of and all that is a part of you.

Just focus on these things and let them be your thoughts.
Observe and know that you have created all that you need.




Blog Post & Images (c) 3/18/11 Don Shetterly - use by permission only
http://www.donshetterly.com

Depression Drugs Added To Water Supply

I have no way to really verify if the following story on a website (healthfreedoms.org ) is true. If it is, it frightens me that this could even happen. Again, without verification, I just don't know how real of a possibility this. I do recognize that things spread all over the internet and look real, but are not always that way.

In this article (see reference link below), there has been some suggested talk of adding depression causing drugs to our water system much like Fluoride is added. To add anything to the water is despicable and evil from my view point. Water is meant to be pure and already through our horrible environmental practices and our waste along with excessive medication usage, our water supply is being contaminated. There are numerous reports out with enough testing taking place to show alarming levels of medications, pollutants and chemicals in our water supply.

Please read the following article and decide for yourself how you will react to this. At the minimum, be aware that there may be some underhanded manipulation being done already to make this a reality. Of course, each person reading this post and the article will have to decide for themselves just how real this threat is.


(Link no longer works)



Health Authorities Want Depression-Causing Drugs Added To Water Supply



Further Reading:
1) Fluoride: Friend Or Foe?
2) Toxic Products We Consume



Blog Post & Images (c) 2/17/11 Don Shetterly - use by permission only
http://www.donshetterly.com

Overcoming Depression

Depression can be so haunting this time of year for many. There are many reasons that it shows up. Anyone who experiences depression does not need to be reminded of these reasons. They are all too familiar. Depression is real and it is not a sign of weakness or that you are doomed.

On Psychology Info.com, it states that "depression is a "whole body" illness, involving your body, mood, and thoughts. It affects the way you eat and sleep, the way you feel about yourself, and the way you think about things. A depressive disorder is not the same as a passing blue mood. It is not a sign of personal weakness or a condition that can be willed or wished away. People with depressive illness cannot merely "pull themselves together" and get better. Without treatment, symptoms can last for weeks, months, or years. Appropriate treatment, however, can help most people who suffer from depression." (See Psychologyinfo.com for more information)

At one time, the medical professionals told me that I would be on medication for most of my life. I took the medication (Zoloft) and it did help. At the time, I was very suicidal so the medication helped stabilize me. When that happened, I was able to start working on things in my life that I needed to work on. I think it is important to note that for someone to just take the medication alone is not sufficient. Anyone taking medication needs to be seeking further help through whatever means you can to help overcome the depression. At the minimum, therapy is essential treatment with depression.

The side effects of this medication were real and horrible to deal with. Because of how difficult they were, I was determined to not stay on the medications for the rest of my life. It was a struggle at times to deal with the depression without medication. However, as time passed and as I became stronger, I was able to live without them. In addition to the medication, I was in weekly therapy to work on the issues in my life that were ripping me to shreds in my body and my mind. Without that therapy, the medication would have been my only saving grace at the time.

Later in my life, I met Dr. Paul Canali, and began going through a new, ground-breaking treatment where I was healing the source of my pain, depression and anxiety. At the time, I did not realize that this was even a possibility. Now, I have learned that I have so much power within myself to heal the depression and anxiety. No longer am I taking medications for this and it has been many years since I stopped taking them. I am not masking or wishing away the depression as I have learned to deal with the sources of it, in my life.

Depression is a serious matter that needs to be addressed. No matter what, it is not a life sentence. You can heal from it if you want to. All of us have so much power within ourselves to heal our body and our mind. If we take our courage and go deep within, we will find freedom and healing. It is up to each one of us to find treatment that helps us heal and becomes more human.


(c) 12/01/10 by Don Shetterly - Use by permission only.

US Health Care Costs Skyrocket

According to HealthReform.gov, the United States (US) spent approximate $2.2 Trillion on health care in 2007 or $7421 per person. This comes to 16% of the GDP. Furthermore, health care costs doubled between 1996 and 2006. I could continue to state additional facts of how expensive health care is getting to be but we all know this. If this source for information like this does not interest you, than just do a google search on skyrocketing health care costs and you will find a great deal of information out there. Most of the statistics and information show the dramatic increase in health care costs and the projections indicate the costs are only going to rise.

The problem comes in, not in anything political or any of the other stuff that is reported and blogged about, but in how we actually view the paradigm of health care that we live in. Most of us, go through life thinking that a pill advertised on TV, or a medical procedure that is supposed to cure everything within us or the label that is placed on our condition gives us definitive proof that what we suffer from is real. This is where many of us stop in our quest for relief from health conditions affecting our lives.

The only thing that we are missing is why with all the money we are spending, are we not curing people? Why are we continuing to spend record amounts of money on all these things and yet not come away being healed from these things? Yes, you can suppress and manage symptoms but in most cases, you are not truly healing your body.

Yet, we as a nation have embraced these ideals as the answers to our health problems. Of course, I'm not discounting the medical advances we have made and the significant scientific understandings through research that we have discovered but at some point we all as a society and as individuals need to start asking some very difficult questions. We need to question why we continue to do the same things in health care and get the same results while costs skyrocket.

Often we fail to embrace all parts of the healing systems that we can. We segment everything into what a professional tells us is the answer when instead we need to stop, listen and feel to what is within us. We push ourselves constantly and ignore the messages the body tries to get us to listen to. We think that we have to make ourselves busier and push ourselves because that somehow makes us a more successful human. Many humans today do not even stop for a moment to take care of themselves and then they expect their bodies to perform and not get sick.

In many ways, we have not discovered the truth of healing health care. We have failed to see that answers we need come from within us and not necessarily from a pill, procedure, philosophy or person. We as a society and as individuals need to wake up and we need to wake up quickly.

I've been through some serious health challenges in my life including paralysis, depression, migraines, ulcers, anxiety attacks, severe rashes and itching. Many of these things I believed were life sentences and I felt for a long time that I would be on medication for the rest of my life. It never occurred to me at the time that there was a possibility I would find something that allowed me to move past these things and find a way to heal my own body.

Today, I am no longer on any medications. After a recent dental procedure, I took some antibiotics for a few days but outside of that, I had not been to a pharmacy in years. I no longer stock Tylenol or other over the counter products in the house because I do not need them.

In fact, a year ago my pulse was clocking in at a constant 99 beats per minute or higher but now my pulse rate is around the 70's. I didn't use drugs, procedures or new age concepts to change it. I used my inner awareness and inner healing to create lasting change within myself. I resolved the issues that needed to be resolved instead of hiding my head in the sand. It did help having a pulse meter that gave me inside information as to what was happening with my pulse.

Each person can choose to believe what they want to believe but please know that this is your belief system. It is your paradigm, not actually what is true and scientific proven fact. This is not about taking away pain but going into the pain and reclaiming the power, the energy and hearing the message of the pain to heal one's self in a very deep way. Many new age concepts think that "pain management" or "pain relief" is healing when in reality, you're just turning off the information flow from the body.

This is not about going to some individual and having them "heal you" but that you find the true healer within your own body and that you become more aware of who you are. It is about evolving as humans and becoming all that we are and all that we are meant to be. The answers to what we need do in fact lie within ourselves. It may be frightening to find them but if we ask, search and listen, we will find them.

Pain, It Does A Body Good

Pain scares me as it does most humans. it often leads us to think that there is something wrong or abnormal about ourselves. In conjunction with fear, it can create doomsday scenarios in our mind. It can alter reality to the point that we barely recognize life in the way that it actually appears.

Yet, pain is a messenger. It is something that lets us know there is a situation that needs our attention. Just like there are warning flags at the beach, so is pain a warning flag to our lives. It is something to get our attention and get us to acknowledge our bodies, instead of ignoring them.

All too often, we want to avoid the pain. This is so understandable because it sometimes becomes very hard to live with. Pain affects our day, our mood and our quality of life. We usually strive to flee from it through medication, surgeries and procedures. We even use alternative health procedures to stimulate, treat or wish it away. Yet, in the end, have we really gotten rid of the pain or have we just masked it so much that we don't recognize it? Does it just return a few days or weeks or years later? Does it morph into something else that becomes the new face of our pain?

Fear is a big motivator in the desire to not feel pain whether we consciously connect to it or not. Fear is a strong force that can alter the view of how we see pain, how we feel it and how it shows up. Fear can make pain appear as being much harder to give up and let go than it really is. I'm not talking about theory either. I have faced some horrible pains and fears in my own life. I've been there, done that and got way too many t-shirts as souvenirs.

To try to avoid or ignore the pain is the same as letting fear talk you into ignoring the messages coming from the body. Yes, it would seem to be that relief from pain is the right thing to do. However, you're hiding valuable messages the body and mind are sending you.

There are times when some pain relief is needed to help us hear the messages more clearly and take care of ourselves. If we however, look to medications, surgeries, and alternative health treatments to give us our reasons for the pain, we are only letting fear fool us. There is a time and a place for different treatment methods but only if we do these in a consciously connected way with our mind, body and soul.

If you really want to get at the source of your pain, you need to feel it more - not less. Yes, it may hurt and it may be difficult to do that, but by doing this, you are able to travel deep to the source of the pain. Remember, fear is very deceptive and it alters how we feel, view, sense and understand pain.

By going into the pain through the fear, we get the opportunity to take back our power and heal parts of our life that were untouchable before. We give ourselves the moment to grow and evolve in consciousness, so we can make different choices for our life. It gives us the ability to heal our body in ways we can barely imagine. It makes us more human. It helps us discover and reclaim more of who we are.

I'm not going to state that it is easy to do this. However with courage, we all have the ability to stand up to our fears, take on our pain and discover the wisdom waiting for our life. No person, treatment or thought can do that for us. This must come from within. After all, this ability is in all of us and it has always been there. May we search our lives and find it.


*For more articles, check out the Mind Body Thoughts Blog

Itching - Symptoms Of Stress, Part 5

This is Part 5 of 9 Part Series - Itching & Rashes

For a long time in my life, I never fully realized how much stress, emotions and trauma played into rashes and itching. I have known others who have gone through these things but never fully understood them until I experienced them first hand. According to this health.yahoo.com article, the adverse effects of stress are thought to cause the immune system to release histamine which causes the itchy bumps. In the article, it suggests that deep breathing will help but for those who suffer through severe itching and rashes, there is much more to alleviating this than deep breathing.

If you want to read more about what I went through on itching, please read my blog entry on Sleeping With Night Sweats And Fears or Itchy Skin And Oatmeal Baths .

The one thing I did learn was that taking medications/ointments and putting cream on the itches may have had a slight effect of helping but my body soon became accustomed to these things and then they stopped working. I tried many things and little would work. For me, the oatmeal baths were about the only thing that brought some relief but outside of that, it was a struggle until I did some serious trauma release with Dr. Paul Canali of Evolutionary Healing Institute.



Symptoms Of Stress: (9 Part Series)
Part 1. Tweaked and Tense Muscles
Part 2. Eye Twitching
Part 3. Ragged Cuticles
Part 4. Cavities
Part 5. Rashes & Itching
Part 6. Nausea
Part 7. Sleep
Part 8. Forgetfulness
Part 9. Confusion



*For more articles, check out the Mind Body Thoughts Blog

Pain, It Does A Body Good

Pain.. ahh yes, you might be saying. I've got pains here and there and in places I didn't even know could hurt. Then you might go on to tell me that you've been to the doctor and the doctor has all kinds of fancy names for your pain as well as medications to take to "rid" your body of the pain (also known as numbing the body from the pain).

But.. that's a loaded word and I would agree. Have you ever stopped to consider what's behind the pain? I mean, it is usually there for a reason. Sure we tend to know that but do we really know that that means. Come on be honest. Be totally 100% honest now.

You see, our bodies are made up of a lot of sensory nerves and tissue that brings information back to the brain. For the sake of an example, let's say you smash your thumb with a hammer. Now most of us realize that this hurts like everything and most of us would know that the pain information gets sent back to the brain and then the mouth usually goes "OUCH THAT HURT". In a simplistic way, that's how our body works. The pain is there to tell us something is wrong and it needs attention or correction pretty darn quickly.

Of course though, in our modern times, we're too busy or too preoccupied or have a zillion and one other reasons why we just want this pain to go away that invades our body. Some of it may be conscious and most likely a fair share of it is unconscious. That is, we really don't know why we have the pains we do. And while people may want to attach all kinds of reasons for what this pain or that pain means, it is much more deep than that.

So let's get back to the pain we feel and what's the first reaction we have: how do I make this pain go away. You reach for the meds or the aspirin and hope that it will make the pain disappear. If that doesn't work, you try and live with it hoping it will go away. And if all else fails, you make an appointment with a doctor to get some more meds and find a way to attach a cutesy little label to your condition. So now you've got it all taken care of right? Well as long as you take your meds and remember to tell everyone what cutesy name is attached to your condition.

What if there would be another way to deal with the pain. One that you might not have thought about before. And yet, it is one that is built in to our biological systems we call our body. What is this other way, you ask? It's all about going into the pain and letting your body feel it. But not just feeling the pain and stopping there. Letting it go all the way through until you've reached the dark side so to speak. When you can allow yourself to push through any fears that may arise and go into the pain, you will have much greater awareness of yourself and your body, thereby giving you the opportunity of making new choices to free yourself from the pain. I'm not saying this is easy for most people to do but with a little training and support, this is not some pie in the sky concept. It is a very viable way to give freedom to yourself.

You know, there are times when medications and doctors and surgeries are necessary. I'm not saying that it is all one way or the other. What I am trying to say is that all too often, we as a society tend to focus on masking the pain instead of truly going in and freeing ourselves from the pain. It is a choice that we make every day we are alive. While we may not fully understand how this process can unfold, we do make a conscious choice of what information we allow into our lives and what we allow ourselves to experience.

So the next time you have pains or you feel sick or whatever is going on, try to take a moment and see what's behind the pain. Maybe it is something in your current situation that if you made a change, the pain would go away. Sometimes just stopping and listening to our bodies can be one of the best gifts that we could ever give ourselves. It is in that moment, that we allow ourselves to become so much more unified and have greater awareness. The more awareness we have, the more information we can access to make much more informed decisions about our lives.

What are the possibilities?