Stepping out of my comfort zone, Naturally - RedBalloon review

 RedBalloon review

I was stepping out of my comfort zone when I decided to choose a Scientific Naturopathic consultation for my next RedBalloon experience ...I possibly needed a detox after eating all that chocolate and fudge.

What ?

Hands up who wouldn’t want more Sleep Abundant Health, Energy and Vitality!

I‘ve always had the understanding that  Naturopathy focuses on naturally occurring substances, minimally invasive methods, and encouragement of natural healing. I wanted to know more as I travel the path to recovery .

I trusted the fact that because they were a Redballoon experience they must be reputable. In the past I may have been sceptical about some alternative medicines with my nursing background / career. I know diet and natural therapies play a big role in healing in many cultures.

I had already booked this experience when I discovered my son’s new girlfriend, was ‘training’ to be a Naturopath. [A four-year Bachelor of Health Science in Naturopathy degree. She was telling me how much she loves microbiology one day...not my favourite health subject ]

Interesting, hmmm, I hope she curbs his junk food addiction.

I arrived early and was given a lovely cup of green tea (Of course)

My consultation with the scientific naturopathic practitioner began with a detailed questionnaire, then a patient interview focusing on my diet and lifestyle, health concerns , medical history, emotional journey {right now especially with cancer } and physical features like height and weight, skin , BMI and muscle mass. All information basically to give her a full picture of how I manage my health. She put me at ease and listened...not like some Drs who care less about the whole person.

The information I gave , used in conjunction with my results from the testing, helped determine my health priorities. The testing package includes a zinc mineral test, (zinc is one of the most important minerals for long term health and longevity) and the highly regarded cellular health test.

I was deficient in zinc and I had a few areas to work on with my nutrition.

I’m still under the Oncology team and having Herceptin treatment every 3 weeks so I'm always going to be cautious. All the advice I received was sensible . She actually asked more questions about my health and diet then they ever have. A lot of the advice was similar to what a renown nutritionist recommended a few weeks ago.

I got feedback on the health and energy of my cells, my body composition and the biological age of my body (I have the body of a 42yr old – hurrah). My body weight was spot on, but I’m lacking muscle mass. I’ve lost muscle mass since my breast cancer diagnosis.

After my Naturopath practitioner collated the results, she gave me a tailor made program including a few nutritional/dietary changes and supplement recommendations to target my specific health concerns and assist my body in returning to full health and vitality.

When I told my husband I needed more sleep ...he agreed 110% !
He said "Turn off the computer. Go to bed earlier  – you are not sleeping in".

I've really been trying to give a go but being sick the last week with a respiratory infection has not been easy.

I would highly recommend this experience. I trusted my practitioner's advice and I purchased a few recommended supplements, though there was no pressure to do so.

Personally, I wouldn’t advise anyone ever to rely on this type of treatment alone for cancer. Serious consequences may result avoiding or delaying conventional medical care. Also, if you are visiting a Naturopath, be sure you know what kind of training and education the person has. 

Thanks to RedBalloon and Radiance Healthcare  It was so easy to book a suitable time. A day later, when I wanted to move my appointment from 3pm to 4pm  , it was no problem to change with Radiance.

RedBalloon have the ultimate in 2500 + different experiences across Australia. The variety of experiences that cater to all ages ,and lifestyles means there is something for everyone to choose.

If you can't decide on an experience buy a gift voucher. RedBalloon vouchers are perfect for any occasions ...I really don't need 217 reasons to take a mini break this winter ! One would suit me perfectly.

There is a special deal for My Little Drummer Boy readers!

• Offer: Spend $129 or more on any RedBalloon experience, and receive $30 off.
• To redeem:  Visit www.redballoon.com.au and enter the promotional code REDMUM12 at the checkout to receive your discount.
• Terms and Conditions: Offer valid until 31/12/13. Promotional Code can only be used once per person. All purchases are subject to Red Balloon T&Cs, for full details see www.redballoon.com.au/help/terms-conditions

Disclosure: Thanks to the team at Digital Parents Collective for inviting me to be a part of the Red Balloon Experience Program. I will be sharing more awesome experiences with you over the coming months. Stay tuned!  As always, all opinions are my own however the experiences are complimentary.
I paid for my own supplements.



Linking with Essentially Jess #IBOT


 ♥

Moving on - Good news

I am always a little hesitant announcing good news, it is just the way I am.

However I know that there are so many whose prayers and kind thoughts I have appreciated.
Small comments from a far that bring immeasurable comfort.It’s been such a mammoth 10 months.

The PET scan DH had last week was all clear. We got GOOD news when we saw the Oncologist at Westmead today - except for showing he really did fracture a rib in December when he came off the motorbike at the farm when Dubbo flooded and the farm was inundated with rain and water run off.

No wonder he was so sore. We couldn't get out that night anyway and the next day he had other concerns and soldiered on.I can't believe he struggled through that pain digging and getting vehicle unbogged. 

I never want to come off as comment or attention seeking in the face of DH's cancer journey. We still have miles to go before we can feel reassured .They keep telling us what a rare cancer it is. So I feel many more emotions than I can express here.

credit

I don't portray that my life is perfect, because I promise you – it’s not. I so thankful I finally have a little good news to share…it means we can move on with plans to finalise closure of our business, sell our house, have a holiday road trip and take the long road 'home' to a shack in the country.

Ps : We'll celebrate our 21st Wedding anniversary on Thursday so what better gift.
 ♥ Never miss a post

N is for Neurofibromatosis

Another confession . I hate talking about it.

May is International Neurofibromatosis awareness month .I have rarely mentioned it on my blog that I have NF1(much less in real life). It affects about 1 in 3000. It is more common than CF but I know many would never have heard of NF1 or 2. Yes, neuro f.ckity fibromatosis it is a hard word to say and it's even harder living with it.

Twenty years ago this month I discovered it quite by accident , though the signs and features had been there since my infancy.

In May 1989, I found a newsletter from the NFAA - (Neurofibromatosis Association of Australia) on my Aunt's table .I was visiting and as she was busy with her 3 toddlers, my then small cousins, I started to read it. My toddler cousin had not long had an optic glioma removed (common NF1 type tumour on optic nerve ~ removed via brain surgery in 1988/9).

I knew straight away NF1 was what I had ...had since birth. I cried for days , alone and despairing.I was so shocked. I almost lost the plot.

Despite being a registered RN nurse I didn't know much about it. I think the medical profession was largely undereducated too or rather they never mentioned it to most of the 'family' the implications of having NF1 signs & clinical features.

No doctors had ever mentioned it ~ though I had numerous and very large cafe au lait spots (milky coffee coloured / 'dirty' marks) plus other definite signs. After, I calmed down I went to see a neurologist, a geneticist and other doctors. It was more of a case of wait and see...then manage the symptoms. I've seen a few Drs over the years.

NF is a genetic disorder, 50 % dominant inheritance which means pretty much 1 in 2 chance if you have an affected parent. It can also be a new mutation in about half the cases...not quite a freak event but you know what I mean.

The family history started to fall into place.My grandfather, mum, aunt, 2 uncles (I deceased @ 31), my sister, 2 cousins ...now one of my sons and my cousin's daughter (2). My grandfather didn't have much contact with his extended family after he got married but I suspect they carry this too from a few things that were mentioned in hindsight.

I suffered a fair amount of 'teasing' at school because of my many 'birthmarks'. Mild bullying and social 'exclusion' but it wasn't too much to deal with. Just enough to bring misery, luckily I always had a few good friends to make things okay.I am /was so thankful for them. I loved books and reading too so the library was my friend some days.

We [my affected family members] all live relatively normal lives though we have almost all had various 'surgery' for removal various tumours. Now, I have a large one in my left thigh that causes extreme pain if pressure is applied (which wriggly little boys do often climbing onto my lap) and other sensations -tingling/pulling/tightness.

When I wean my sons I'll go see a surgeon maybe ! They say they leave them alone unless they cause pressure/pain or other damage by structure /organ or nerve compression .

I have hundreds of small nodules/skin tumours/ ugly bumps & soft lumps and freckling (skin pigmentation). My body is hideous to me but clothes cover up most things , thank 'God' ! I have several small soft lumps on my face but nothing too hideous or noticeable ...yet. Click here to see a picture of elderly woman's back severe NF 'skin'.

There is a huge range of severity and manifestations even within the one family and it varies from individual to individual. (They call it variable expressivity).

I joined the NFAA years ago for a few years .One year I didn't renew my subscription .I put it off because the newsletters were too depressing and scary. I couldn't read them anymore.( I still haven't re joined.)

Still , it gives me a spirit of darkness and has been upsetting me more lately. Unsettling and freaking me out.I won't describe it as being depressed, but my mood lately has been bleaker and it scares me.
There I said it...
Neurofibromatosis awareness month is almost over but the awareness that I have to live with this sh.t is with me everyday.
That my young son has to face this life long 'demon' too gives me a lot of grief. We keep a close watch on him .He is being followed up closely by the Children's hospital clinics. There is no cure ...yet ! Management is a program of treatment by a team of specialists to manage symptoms or complications as and if they arise ... if .
My twin sons are also participating in a 7 yr study about cognitive development in NF1.

Facts & Stats about NF1.NF is not a rare disorder, it is the most common neurological disorder caused by a single gene. Find out about the facts and stats for NF here.

It is (was) Ehlers Danlos awareness month too Veronica knows all about this.

Like Veronica ...the main reason I wrote this post was not to 'whinge' but that if I could bring awareness to one person /family and help them in some way then it was worth baring all.
I rarely talk about NF, even within my extended family, so believe me when I say how hard this was to do.

♥

Never miss a post

Good news ...Blessed relief

As I mentioned a few months ago both S and J have a few medical problems. Sam has been definitely diagnosed with an inherited genetic disorder. (4th generation we know of - but it is also a mutation in half of other people affected ).I have it too. J they are unsure.

S & J have regular checkups at the Children's hospital for their eyes and with a Paediatric Neurologist.

J has only a few Café-au-lait spots ( birthmarks) but he was also being followed up too.Watched.

I noticed by attending the Early childhood clinic (along with the Nurse) that J's head circumference had crossed percentiles from 50% - almost 100% over a period of six months. He had a large head but not off the charts - but his weight and height were in about 50%. His fontanel was still quite large too. It was odd .Previously both S & J head circumference was exactly the same for first 6 months almost.

At the time the Clinic nurse rang our Paediatrician and made sure she knew. Then J was sent for a head ultrasound. It was all okay but due to his age and even though his fontanel was large - they said the findings were limited. Though I was relieved I still worried. It was 4-5 months ago.

Four weeks ago we had an appointment with Paediatric Neurologist. He checked them both but had a concern about J's head size - it was slightly off the growth chart. Since tumours are a complication of the genetic disorder (as well as large head being a sign too) he told me he would like J to have a MRI of his head/brain.

The Paed Neurologist repeated he wasn't particularly worried as J had no other signs but "just to be sure"...

Then he said it might take 6 months to be done because it had to be done under a general anaesthetic -requiring hospital admission for the day [GA - only so child stays still and it is less distressing for them]. He said it wasn't urgent - basically it was a wait your turn at our very busy, specialised , Children's hospital.

He booked it all into the computer. They were to ring me.So I was a little worried about the waiting...

A few days later the hospital rang and said J was booked in next week -Thursday 20th March (day before Good Friday).

I was suddenly very worried because it was less than 2 weeks not 6 months - I wondered if Paed Neurologist had changed his mind and made the booking urgent.

I was very distressed. I couldn't talk about it or blog about it. I had to keep busy. I was also concerned about the anaesthetic.

We went and J had the MRI. The staff were lovely.The Anaesthetist explained it thoroughly before hand - the general anaesthetic.

I went in with J - cuddled him in my arms as they put the mask & gas near , then over his face, his got a little upset then suddenly was unconscious. I then placed him on the gurney and had to leave.

Despite being a paediatric nurse I had never seen a child go under - though I had experienced it myself. I was a little teary but couldn't cry. I was so worried. I was praying for him to be kept safe.

It seemed like ages before they came to get me after it was completed. My mother was there too and was looking after S. J was very drowsy at first and finally woke up after much prodding and feet tickling. He cried, sat up and reached for me. I cuddled him so tightly.So thankful. Then I was able to breastfeed him and he was happy.They can't tell you any results though.

(Dr Colourfool - who visits children to cheer them and blow bubbles)

I took J & S to Children's play area afterwards - because they love it and it is very calming.


The Paed Neurologist said before to call him in week and remind him to check the computer.It was the hardest week - I spent so much time looking at J and praying.

At night I cuddled him next to me, kissed his head, stroked his soft hair and breathed him in. The thoughts in my head were pounding and ugly. Then he was sick with high temperatures and I was more worried. The results of something on his blood test - stuff I shouldn't Google.

Friday I called - only to have to leave messages on voice mail - I left two. I had psyched myself up to call ... and it was a huge thing.

Monday - all day I waited ... every time the phone rang I jumped.My heart grabbed in my chest, beating wildly till I knew it was or wasn't the Dr. I can't describe how I was feeling ...the thoughts in my head.

Tuesday - same thing but I went to Early Childhood Nurse , unfortunately our regular nurse wasn't there, for something to do. I took the Brothers to playgroup ... but there was no message when I got home.

About 4pm I was due to go out - my husband was home to look after the Brothers. He took the call ... at first he thought it was telemarkers and said I wasn't there ... I was hanging on.

Then he got off the phone and told me - smiling it was all clear. I couldn't even really tell him how worried I had been.

I am just so relieved my baby is okay.
♥