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woo-woo report: I went to a naturopath yesterday
I know there's been a lot of negative conversation about "alternative" medicine practices here... wanted to share my first experience with an ND.
It was a long appointment. LONG. I thought I was scheduled for an hour, turns out I was scheduled for two hours. With the doc. This wasn't a two hour appointment where you get put in an office, then 20 minutes later someone comes in and checks your BP, and leaves, and 20 minutes later someone else comes in and checks your pulse and leaves, and the doc comes in and sits with you for 5 minutes.
The ND brought me in, and we sat at a desk (her taking notes on a laptop) for the vast majority of the time. We talked about the issues that brought me there, and my general health.
One of the issues that brought me in was ongoing problems with allergies. We talked a lot about my particular allergies (I end up with sinus headaches, not runny noses) and about possible aides and treatments. She talked about scratch testing and 'desensitization'. Instead of doing allergy shots (which, she said, they were willing to do if I wanted) they do up a vial of the same stuff as is in the allergy shots, but have the patient administer it daily under the tongue. She said that studies in Germany had shown that it was as effective as allergy shots. She recommended a supplement to help thin mucus and assist in draining my sinuses, as well as a Zylitol (antimicrobial) nasal spray. She ordered a number of blood tests to search for allergies.
Another issue that brought me in was problems with insomnia, fatigue, and increasing PMS. We talked about the role of serotonin in all of that, and how serotonin is effected by allergies. She recommended another supplement at bedtime to help me get better, more restful sleep.
I showed her a little something on my skin, and she said that it looked like a (something I can't remember the name of, a form of benign tumor) and said really the only thing to do for it was to see a dermatologist and have it removed surgically.
She checked my blood pressure, looked in my ears (and knew that one of them was feeling really stuffed up), and listened to my heart and breath sounds.
She ordered a number of blood tests to determine allergies, and consider some reasons why my insomnia is rearing its ugly head (things like thyroid). She also ordered basic blood work including cholesterol levels.
I'm going back in two weeks, for another two hour appointment, where we'll go over my blood work results and do the allergy scratch testing.
I have since looked up the supplements she recommended for me, and both have clinical research supporting these uses.
All in all, it felt like a doctor's appointment with somebody who wanted to cover everything, not just the one thing that brought me in. She was great about answering questions, and explaining the science behind what was going on. She explained links between things that I thought were unrelated (like the serotonin thing being related to allergies, fatigue, and mood).
No woo-woo at all, actually.
I am the 99%.
Re: woo-woo report: I went to a naturopath yesterday
yes, but I used my FSA $
the supplements are totally oop
the lab work will be covered by insurance
I am the 99%.
I thought the charge for the office visit was super reasonable given how long I was there.
It was an "initial" so more expensive (and longer) than others will be, I'm sure.
The two supplements came to $36. She didn't have the nasal spray and told me where I could pick it up.
I am the 99%.
That's good to hear - I have spent upwards of 35K to get over lyme disease (some parts of it being regular medicine co-pays, but the other parts being dumb supplements that I told the doctor weren't doing me any good).
daria405 - ouch, re: the lyme disease. It took me about 3 years to feel back to normal after I had lyme, and I had seen a few doctors who didn't believe I was still suffering.
mominatrix - do you mind sharing the supplements for your sinuses? I have awful allergies, in the same way that you describe, and I've been doing research lately on some other ways to help the cause & the symptoms. For some reason, my Rhinocort (nasal spray), which usually rocks my world, is not quite doing it this year. I do a regular neti pot saline rinse too, and that also seems to help, but again not so much this year.
Two things-
1) I am anxious to hear how things go with the naturopath. I have wanted to go see one, but I am not sure I can justify the expense.
2) Lyme Sucks
she said I could add Xylitol (the sugar substitute) to a neti pot. She said to add quite a bit (like 2 tsp) to the water, as well as the ordinary pinch of salt. Xylitol has antibacterial properties, so it's about getting that into your sinuses.
I was telling her that the neti doesn't seem to help much when things are bad, that it all just seems to glance off. She recommended a Xylitol nasal spray when I'm like that, and using it a lot (like 10 per nostril per day)
I don't have the name of the supplement with me right now. Sorry. When I get it I'll try to post... it's explicitly for thinning mucus, to try to get stuff moving better.
I am the 99%.
thank you - I've never heard of xylitol (except to prevent tooth decay / reduce bacteria in the mouth), so that's great info. I've always just used mucinex (can't spell the actual drug name) to thin mucus ... and I tend to be leery of using a decongestent for sinus pressure, because I feel like it needs to drain, but maybe I'm thinking of that in the wrong way.
I've had this terrible pressure for the past few weeks, and I'm at the point where I'll try anything. A lot of mornings lately, I wake up with such a full stuffy head that it hurts just to move my head around too much. I can breathe fine through my nose, but it's stuffy behind the scenes. I also have that awful "on the verge of a sinus infection" taste in my mouth. Blech.
blech!
I use Sudafed when I get like that, but be sure you get the real stuff, the stuff they make meth out of that you have to ask for at the pharmacy counter. Works so much better than the regular OTC stuff. And, if you can get it with an expectorant in it as well (usually it's guaifenesin) which will thin the mucus.
The problem with sudafed is that you have to ask for it at the pharmacy, so it's a PITA to get... as well, it's an upper, so if you're having problems sleeping you need to be careful about when you take it.
GL!
I am the 99%.
Where do you buy xylitol? Just the grocery store?
I've used Xclear spray to help with my sinuses, and I really like it but it's hella expensive. If I could just be adding something cheaper to my NeilMed bottle I'd way rather do that!
I get our xylitol stuff from luckyvitamin.com. They seem to have good prices all around.
That's the stuff she recommended for me.
I got a pound at QFC, but it was ten bucks.
I'm sure they have it at PCC, too. But I'm sure it will be more there.
I am the 99%.