OK- I made an appt. with Dr. Bradley for Tues., Aug 19. I was told to keep a diet diary for one week, bring all vitamins/supplements/Rx meds and provide any recent lab work. (I'm having my throat and stomach scoped next Friday due to on-going acid reflux and past bouts with bulimia.)
I'll keep everyone posted.
Thanks for everyone's advice and support!
Emily
Homeopathic vs. Naturopathic- Q's and Advice, Please
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Guest
OK- it's been about a week since I saw Dr. Bradley (naturopath specializing in homeopathy), and I'm a BIT frustrated. Maybe someone can help me out?
I specifically made the appointment for a naturopathy consult since I wanted to ensure that I'm taking the correct supplements, AND that's what I feel most comfortable with at this time (though I've read about homeopathy and am beginning to understand it better, I don't personally know anyone who's tried it and had success???).
I kept a diet diary as required, requested the lab results from my scope be faxed, and had all paperwork filled out upon arrival,- including my top health concerns. There was room for 10- I wrote down 5, with acid reflux being #1, then anxiety, bouts with insomnia, mid-afternoon fatigue, and ???- can't remember.
Anyway, he said that there wasn't time to discuss all and to choose one- I selected a.r. He then looked at my labwork (ambiguous at best, BIG SURPRISE!!!) and diet diary, but didn't really give any conclusive answers??? He spent a lot of time asking about FEELINGS/SENSATIONS in relation to my reflux (from what I understand this is more homeopathy than naturopathy) and wasn't really all that interested in my speculation of what may have started the a.r. (I've ALWAYS eaten what I wanted to, esp. acidic and hot foods and NEVER even experienced heartburn. Last year about a month before the reflux began I started a bowel cleanse, which I personally think wiped out all positive flora/bacteria and began the reflux...).
Instead, he focused on diet and all the empty calories I consume and then really zeroed in on my past history with bulimia. He talked a lot about shame (frankly, I don't have any, as I feel I've already addressed this with therapists in the past). This was esp. aggravating because I've only voluntarily vomited 2x since last Nov. when being formally diagonosed with a.r. Additionally, my "bulimic" (I use this term loosely, since i have never been a binger and puker... for many of you this will not make sense. I've never gone on a FEAST with the deliberate intention of vomiting. I'm tall but slight and have never been able to eat as much as most [small stomach], so on the rare occassion that I overate- holidays, for example, I felt uncomfortable and the need to vomit) episodes were at the worst in college... well over 10 years ago! Even then, when my friends would sit around and pig out after coming home from the bars, I would sometimes chew my food and spit it out instead of having to puke. And, yes, I know these days this is also an eating disorder, and, no, I haven't done this since college, either.
Although I do feel that Dr. B. is genuine, the consult ran long and he never even looked at the supplements to see if they complement one another or are even suited for my conditions. THIS was the primary reason I made the appt.!
Here are his recommendations:
~eat 3 meals a day of REAL food (heavy on the veggies)
~apply the CBT skills learned for anxiety to eating. The idea of sensations and so on...
~moniter my a.r. (the dr. who performed my scope dropped my nexium from 2x daily to 1x), and maybe try stopping it for good.
~continue seeing my acupressurist
Frankly, I kind of feel like I've been scammed. Oh, lastly, I need to make an appt. in the next 4-6 weeks to see how I'm doing. I mean, I know I need to eat healthier, so I guess this is a reminder- and a pretty $$$$ one including gas (I drove over 200 miles) and MY TIME! Plus, I was the one who brought up regular exercise (haven't been so devoted this summer) as a means to feel better about body image- HONESTLY is there a woman out there who would shriek naked from the rooftop, <span class="ev_code_RED">"I LOVE my body just the way it is and wouldn't change a SINGLE THING!!!"</span>.
I don't know, I guess I just need an honest, OBJECTIVE opinion... is this typical, and would YOU go back?
Thanks in advance,
Emily
I specifically made the appointment for a naturopathy consult since I wanted to ensure that I'm taking the correct supplements, AND that's what I feel most comfortable with at this time (though I've read about homeopathy and am beginning to understand it better, I don't personally know anyone who's tried it and had success???).
I kept a diet diary as required, requested the lab results from my scope be faxed, and had all paperwork filled out upon arrival,- including my top health concerns. There was room for 10- I wrote down 5, with acid reflux being #1, then anxiety, bouts with insomnia, mid-afternoon fatigue, and ???- can't remember.
Anyway, he said that there wasn't time to discuss all and to choose one- I selected a.r. He then looked at my labwork (ambiguous at best, BIG SURPRISE!!!) and diet diary, but didn't really give any conclusive answers??? He spent a lot of time asking about FEELINGS/SENSATIONS in relation to my reflux (from what I understand this is more homeopathy than naturopathy) and wasn't really all that interested in my speculation of what may have started the a.r. (I've ALWAYS eaten what I wanted to, esp. acidic and hot foods and NEVER even experienced heartburn. Last year about a month before the reflux began I started a bowel cleanse, which I personally think wiped out all positive flora/bacteria and began the reflux...).
Instead, he focused on diet and all the empty calories I consume and then really zeroed in on my past history with bulimia. He talked a lot about shame (frankly, I don't have any, as I feel I've already addressed this with therapists in the past). This was esp. aggravating because I've only voluntarily vomited 2x since last Nov. when being formally diagonosed with a.r. Additionally, my "bulimic" (I use this term loosely, since i have never been a binger and puker... for many of you this will not make sense. I've never gone on a FEAST with the deliberate intention of vomiting. I'm tall but slight and have never been able to eat as much as most [small stomach], so on the rare occassion that I overate- holidays, for example, I felt uncomfortable and the need to vomit) episodes were at the worst in college... well over 10 years ago! Even then, when my friends would sit around and pig out after coming home from the bars, I would sometimes chew my food and spit it out instead of having to puke. And, yes, I know these days this is also an eating disorder, and, no, I haven't done this since college, either.
Although I do feel that Dr. B. is genuine, the consult ran long and he never even looked at the supplements to see if they complement one another or are even suited for my conditions. THIS was the primary reason I made the appt.!
Here are his recommendations:
~eat 3 meals a day of REAL food (heavy on the veggies)
~apply the CBT skills learned for anxiety to eating. The idea of sensations and so on...
~moniter my a.r. (the dr. who performed my scope dropped my nexium from 2x daily to 1x), and maybe try stopping it for good.
~continue seeing my acupressurist
Frankly, I kind of feel like I've been scammed. Oh, lastly, I need to make an appt. in the next 4-6 weeks to see how I'm doing. I mean, I know I need to eat healthier, so I guess this is a reminder- and a pretty $$$$ one including gas (I drove over 200 miles) and MY TIME! Plus, I was the one who brought up regular exercise (haven't been so devoted this summer) as a means to feel better about body image- HONESTLY is there a woman out there who would shriek naked from the rooftop, <span class="ev_code_RED">"I LOVE my body just the way it is and wouldn't change a SINGLE THING!!!"</span>.
I don't know, I guess I just need an honest, OBJECTIVE opinion... is this typical, and would YOU go back?
Thanks in advance,
Emily
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Guest
Wanna know something? I am usually never satisfied when i see a doctor. I wasn't completely satisfied when i saw my herbalist because he said that my anxiety/depression was a symptom not a cause . he said I had a virus in me (which is why i am always sick and get the flu/colds) and thats what is making me have anxeity/depression. I have been taking his herbal supplements and honestly dont see much a diff. . Except I have not gotten the flu or a cold yet ! I think what he gave me was prob good for my body but didnt help a bit for the problems i came in there first. I would have been upset in your case too. Its like HELLLOOO Im paying you please at least act like you care lol. What did he give you??? And he didnt check the supplements you already take to see if thats a good mix either?? Pshh! You can go to a health store and show them what youre taking and they could prob help you. BUT you'd think he would have. I think you should go back but this time be more assertive. tell him what you want. show him a list of what youre taking. Even bring it all in. Its odd that he said he didnt have time to address all your issues. . Im sorry you felt disappointed. I totally understand. Im sure he is a smart man but why didnt he check what you take?!!
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Guest
Thanks Holly,
I really need some advice and personal affirmation that I'm not expecting too much. It's good to hear that you haven't been ill- maybe this is just the <span class="ev_code_RED">start</span> to healing your body? If anything, it is certainly a def. step toward being healthy again.
Emily
I really need some advice and personal affirmation that I'm not expecting too much. It's good to hear that you haven't been ill- maybe this is just the <span class="ev_code_RED">start</span> to healing your body? If anything, it is certainly a def. step toward being healthy again.
Emily
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Guest
Emily,
If I had that experience, I would not go back. There are good ones out there, as Michigan Mom stated. I put this on another post at one point, but will repost.
My friend had ulcerative colitis. (This is something western medicine says is not curable, but treatable.) He was on the strongest daily meds, did cycles of steroids and had interveneous (spelling?) treatments every 3-4 months. This did help his symptoms, but even on all of this, he was not symptom free and could not function normally. He was this way for about 5 or 6 years. He even went to the Mayo Clinic and the drs said there really wasn't anything else they could do for him aside from surgery...which there was no gaurantee it would not come back.
He went to see a naturepath (who I also later went to see) and she put him on A LOT of things (of course his body had some serious healing to do). He was symptom free within a few months. Slowly weened off ALL meds and when he went for a colonoscopy 9 months later, there wasn't even any EVIDENCE at all that he had even suffered from the disease.
Since then, another family member of his who has MS and was in extreme stages contacted her and did consults over the phone/took stuff she shipped him and started seeing a great deal of improvement in a couple months.
I also went to see her due to thyroid issues. Was told I had an incurable autoimmune disease and would eventually be on thyroid meds the rest of my life. I took the stuff she told me to and in a couple months tested my thyroid. My levels were all normal and this time I tested NEGATIVE for the antibodies that show up with the autoimmune disease.
Don't give up, maybe try Michigan Mom's place. Mine charges 45 to 60 for the visit. The first one I think is a little more because they spend more time...but not a few hundred!
BTW...I dealt with extreme acid reflux. Went to the emergency room a few times because the pain was so bad and none of the meds helped it! Oddly, I only got it the first few days of my period. I went to specialists, they couldn't figure it out. I went to see another naturepath and she put me on natural progesterone for a short period of time. I didn't have any more problems after that.
Anyway...good luck, and go somewhere where they actually LISTEN to you!
If I had that experience, I would not go back. There are good ones out there, as Michigan Mom stated. I put this on another post at one point, but will repost.
My friend had ulcerative colitis. (This is something western medicine says is not curable, but treatable.) He was on the strongest daily meds, did cycles of steroids and had interveneous (spelling?) treatments every 3-4 months. This did help his symptoms, but even on all of this, he was not symptom free and could not function normally. He was this way for about 5 or 6 years. He even went to the Mayo Clinic and the drs said there really wasn't anything else they could do for him aside from surgery...which there was no gaurantee it would not come back.
He went to see a naturepath (who I also later went to see) and she put him on A LOT of things (of course his body had some serious healing to do). He was symptom free within a few months. Slowly weened off ALL meds and when he went for a colonoscopy 9 months later, there wasn't even any EVIDENCE at all that he had even suffered from the disease.
Since then, another family member of his who has MS and was in extreme stages contacted her and did consults over the phone/took stuff she shipped him and started seeing a great deal of improvement in a couple months.
I also went to see her due to thyroid issues. Was told I had an incurable autoimmune disease and would eventually be on thyroid meds the rest of my life. I took the stuff she told me to and in a couple months tested my thyroid. My levels were all normal and this time I tested NEGATIVE for the antibodies that show up with the autoimmune disease.
Don't give up, maybe try Michigan Mom's place. Mine charges 45 to 60 for the visit. The first one I think is a little more because they spend more time...but not a few hundred!
BTW...I dealt with extreme acid reflux. Went to the emergency room a few times because the pain was so bad and none of the meds helped it! Oddly, I only got it the first few days of my period. I went to specialists, they couldn't figure it out. I went to see another naturepath and she put me on natural progesterone for a short period of time. I didn't have any more problems after that.
Anyway...good luck, and go somewhere where they actually LISTEN to you!