“I’m sorry, there isn’t much that can be done for you. Medicine can’t really offer you any hope of recovery although we can help you manage your symptoms.”
A statement like that from your trusted doctor is enough to make one’s heart sink. It doesn’t really matter what the diagnosis is, all a patient wants is to make the pain and disability go away and to get physically better. “Please, there must be something. Some pill, something I can do…” “I’m sorry. I’ll try to make you as comfortable as I can.”
But does the doctor have to be right in my case? Even if medicine can’t help, what about those cases that do heal without medical help? What about miracles?
And what if TSHTF in a big way and medical care isn’t available at all or if we can’t afford it? Given, the ACA, health coverage, and Obamacare tax legislature is making coverage possible for a lot of those who couldn’t afford it before.
As we get older many of us know we can’t do as much. We get tired more easily and go down with infections more easily, taking longer to recover than we used to. Many of us have chronic conditions and are on multiple medications. What if we have no access to, or cannot afford medicines, particularly prescription medications?
In some cases, we may be able to turn to alternatives (such as fish antibiotics that don’t require a prescription). But in others, we will be out of luck.
Also is it true that we can’t have our arthritis, gut problems, sleep problems improve? Does the heart disease or cancer have to be terminal or even chronic? Medicine will usually suggest that conditions like these tend to be ongoing and talk about those few cases where recovery occurs as placebo effects and spontaneous remission as if these words actually explain something. I suggest they are just words to cover up ignorance of the process of healing.
It is my suggestion that if it is possible for one person to go into remission or recover then there is a physiological pathway for that to occur. It isn’t a miracle in the sense of God changing the rules of nature. It is a miracle that says there is a natural healing pathway that it may be possible to find.
However, as we all know, miracles are few and far between and I would like to make a distinction between what is probable and what is possible. It may be possible for recovery to occur but it may not be probable given the current circumstances. Who we are, the environment we are in and our behaviors have lead to us getting the health problem in the first place and so to get a different result we are going to have to do something different.
Please don’t get me wrong. I’m not into blaming people for being ill. Personally I hate what I call the “fault, guilt, blame, shame game.” It is bad enough being ill or suffering without people wanting to make you feel bad about it or feeling bad about it yourself. But… if we make the decision to take charge of our lives as much as we are able given our condition and resources then there just might be something we can do which makes a difference.
As preppers we are big on self responsibility. We want to continue to be productive members of our family and community, not a drain on resources that has to be supported continuously during terrible times. Our task is to explore what we can do which will make a difference to our overall health.
Harriet good article and something we should as older people discuss with our families.
I do think attitude has a lot to do with how we feel. How many times have you gotten out of bed and felt really lousy? But as the day goes on you feel better. I know that sometimes that is what happens with myself, other days we get up and feel bad all day. I to have a chronic condition which the doctors manages with pain killers. I have had several surgeries with the hope that it would be better when I came out of surgery. Did it help? Well lets put it this way I still have the problem. I have learned what I can do and what I can’t. Some days I really push myself to get something done but then I pay for it for the next several days. To any and all that have chronic conditions someday it will be better at least that is my belief and that is what keeps me going.
Suni,
I have a theory that for every problem we have, whether its chronic pain or another chronic medical condition, that there is way out and that someone out there in internet land knows how. This, of course, might not actually be true, but I find it a helpful belief and I’m trying out some things to see if they can work for me.
And I really know what it is to live with the consequences of pushing myself to get something done and then paying for it!
Several years ago I started having intestinal problems and no amount of doctors visits could solve it. After about a year, it was basically “we can’t find any problems, so you must have Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)” I finally went to a Naturapathic doctor and she started me on a diet for IBS. Within a week my symptoms were gone. A healthy diet can solve a lot of issues. I now eat much better (whole grains, fresh veggies), drink apple cider vinegar and eat raw garlic every day as part of my diet. She also advised that all I do is sit behind a desk and should get up and walk. I am sixty one and take no medicines and walk 6 to 9 miles daily. I suggest even if you don’t currently have health issues to familiarize yourself with naturapathic healthcare and learn to eat healthy. It can make a world of difference.
JAS. I’m really pleased you have found a way to improve/get rid of your IBS symptoms. Amongst other diagnoses I had IBS symptoms too which are now largely non-existant now due to dietary changes. I’ve had to cut out all grains, legumes and sugars though.
So to all of you out there do consider finding a good naturopath, with the emphasis on good. Some naturopaths are as difficult and dogmatic as some of the worst doctors, so bear that in mind. However I have found that the naturopathic approach can be very helpful to many that medicine can’t help.
JAS would love to hear more about your IBS diet! I too am bothered with these symptoms! SHARE!
Bev :)
Harriet, there is truly much to be said for having a positive attitude. There have been times in my life where I have been challenged with keeping my mind in a positive state. The non positive state is a very dark hole that is real hard to climb out of. But once you are out, you must determine what it is that makes you feel positive, and nurture it! Taking walks, hobbies, spiritual things, whatever it is, it needs to be visited regularly.
Medical problems are also a big part of it. But that positive attitude helps to endure it better. Once you come to grips with it as being ‘it is what it is’, you must decide what your approach will be to dealing with it. Sometimes there are medical options, and sometimes there are not. But that’s part of what life is about, how we deal with it on a personal level is our choice alone. Having that positive attitude here is what’s important!
John, more to come on the psycho-social-spiritual components of health in coming posts. And yes, being positive, and taking steps to feel connected to what is important to you are both essential.
Harriet, one comment you made in your post- “if we make the decision to take charge of our lives as much as we are able given our condition and resources”, is the key to so many of our challenges. One of the hardest things to overcome is making that decision, because no one really likes to admit failure. Satan does not want us to make that decision, because by not making that decision, he knows that we will usually just sit back and feel sorry for ourselves,often times blameing God, and doing nothing to tell others about the “Good News”. I know this for a fact, I used to have many pitty parties, but no one would show up but me.
From your writing, I think you are way beyond that point. Thanks for your post, and I look forward to reading some more.
P.S. Jas, give us some more details on naturapathic healthcare
GREAT comments! I too know what it is like to push too hard! And perhaps in sharing, we will ALL benefit. Thanks Suni!
Bev :)