Alternate therapies

[Butterfly]

Hi everyone,
Many thanks to all who read and post replies to my questions.
Now for the question - has anyone tried alternate therapies to alleviate or slow down the possible progression of valve stenosis? I believe I may have had some success with such therapies myself though I don't expect that all people who post here will be in favour of the use of alternate therapies but I am happy to share my experiences with anyone that is interested. Please let me know of alternate therapies that others on this forum may have tried.

God Bless All
Butterfly

 

[RandyL]

Lets hear about your alternate therapies and what the results have been.

 

[Butterfly]

alternate therapies reply

alternate therapies reply

Hi Randy and other forum members. I'm reluctant to discuss my use of alternate therapy as I don't want to be branded a quack or a religous nut however I believe that the use of these did help me in some way along with God's blessings. I seem to have had some success with abating my BAV stenosis through using Pauling Therapy (Vitamin C , Lysine and Proline) and this has been backed up by by echo reports. I know I have been Vit C deficient due to my diet and having miagraine headaches that are facilitated by citrus and Vitmin C containing foods.
I am by nature a very skeptical person so please don't think I am a quack.
I don't want to get into a debate on the success or otherwise of alternate therapies but this post might be of interest to some.

Butterfly.

 

[geebee]

Butterfly,

I think you will find most of us pretty receptive to alternative therapy ideas. There have been many times where things looked pretty hopeless and prayer got someone through. Many folks might consider that as alternative therapy. Certainly not any stranger than biofeedback, relaxation techniques, herbal remedies, etc. Keep in mind that a lot of modern medicines had their roots in plants and herbs.

I would hate to think anyone here would call you a quack. You may be able to provide help to some of us but, even if not, what works for you is important.

 

[John Turner]

Alternative therapies

Alternative therapies

I think this is very interesting. What led you to try these supplements ? Are there any web sites with more information and do you think it could be helpful in slowing down the calicification in a replacement valve.

I know that proline and lysine help keep tissues strong so I suppose it would also put one in good stead for general health and future surgeri

Thank you

Best wishes

John Turner

 

[John Turner]

Alternative therapies

Alternative therapies

Forgot to ask - what strenght of the supplement do you take and do you take it continuosly or do you have an occasional break from it ?

Thanks

John

 

[marky]

I am open to most anything..at least to investigate it further.

when my sister had AML ( a form of leukemia) her doctor worked side by side with her naturalpath to bring out the best of both worlds. They even gave me particular tonics and vitamins before I donated bone marrow to ensure my health and healing were in best form. Of course she lives in NZ and not many US docs are willing to forgo traditional medicine for alternative therapies..but if you look hard enough..you will find them.

Personally I am trying to find alternatives to osteoporosis.. I have been taking suppliments b/c I can't take the biophoshates that are prescribed.

I would like to heare more about what you do and where you find you research/support.

 

[sue943]

Prior to my stroke I used traditional Chinese medicine for various things with great success, I haven't been back since for financial reasons. I am now unsure how the various herbs would react with my warfarin.

 

[Karlynn]

My uncle, a doctor, said many years ago that he felt the Western medicine needed to be looking to combine their philosophies with Eastern medicine. He was known to send his patients to an acupuncturist from time to time.

One of my good friends was having some depression and panic attacks with the pregnancy for her second child. Since she didn't want to take any antidepressants, her OB/Gyn sent her to a Chinese herbalist and she had a lot of success with that.

I think the key is the word "combine". There are unsuccessful and successful approaches in Western medicine, Eastern medicine and any other practice. We need to be aware when things are working, and when they are not working.

 

[pipersmith]

Many so called "alternative" therapies have been around for thousands of years. Seemingly, people would be unlikely to try something with no success, over and over for thousands of years.
My uncle has some severe pain issues from cancer, a partial lung removal, and other things. He routinely has acupuncture therapy. I know it helps him a great deal.
I think some care must be taken, especially for those on a drug such as coumadin, to be aware of interactions. If any therapy offers benefit and no harm - who is anyone to say that it shouldn't be used.
Best of luck to you - thanks for sharing.

 

[Butterfly]

Alternate Therapies.

Alternate Therapies.

Hi to all,
I first became aware of the work of Linus Pauling earlier this year. There is much to read on the net about his work and theory of heart disease. It seems he was a highly intelligent American scientist and the only two time receipient of a Nobel Prize ( on in the realm of science and the other associated with his activism for peace). If anyone is interested in his theory of heart disease there is much to be found by a Google search.

God bless all
Butterfly

 

[Ross]

Hi Randy and other forum members. I'm reluctant to discuss my use of alternate therapy as I don't want to be branded a quack or a religious nut however I believe that the use of these did help me in some way along with God's blessings. I seem to have had some success with abating my BAV stenosis through using Pauling Therapy (Vitamin C , Lysine and Proline) and this has been backed up by by echo reports. I know I have been Vit C deficient due to my diet and having miagraine headaches that are facilitated by citrus and Vitmin C containing foods.
I am by nature a very skeptical person so please don't think I am a quack.
I don't want to get into a debate on the success or otherwise of alternate therapies but this post might be of interest to some.

Butterfly.

Butterfly the only time we've had problems is when we have someone showing definite life threatening symptoms in which there is absolutely no cure but surgery and someone offering them alternative therapies. We had one person in the past try that and needless to say, that person is no longer here. So long as were speaking purely preventative or as such, this should be fine as a subject.

 

[Karlynn]

If your valve is severely leaking or regurgitating, or your aorta is too large - fixing that medically/surgically is the only thing that will work.

If we are talking symptoms and such - then I think there's nothing wrong with a mixed approach.

For instance - my arrhythmia 24/7 prior to my valve replacement was extremely life-style limiting. I was becoming agoraphobic and life really stunk. Because I was under so much stress, it was a vicious circle. I'd have lots of arrhythmia - it would cause me to have stress. The stress, in turn, caused more arrhythmia. I began doing visualizations. Because I am a Christian, my visualizations were very faith-based. If anyone cares to ask what I visualized, feel free to PM me. But the visualizations did a lot of good in relieving my stress, helping to reduce (somewhat) my arrhythmia, making me feel more centered and allowing me to take things in stride more than I had been. It probably was the single most affective thing that got me through a very tough time.

I suppose it could be considered a form of meditation, but I've never been able to get good at meditation per se. But the visualization aspect worked well for me.

 

[Butterfly]

Alternate Therapies

Alternate Therapies

Hi all
I agree with Ross and others and would not consider an alternate therapy as a solution to an advanced heart condition rather I consider my use of this therapy as a preventative or slowing mechanism. I know some people believe wholly in natural soultions to medical problems and conditions however my view is that medical and natural therapies may complement each other however one needs to ensure that the alternate products they use do not interfere with prescribed medications they may take and alert their medical practitioners to their use of alternate products. In my case I am fortunate not to take any prescribed medications. I guess my next echo report in about 9 months will test whether my beliefs will be comfirmed or not however I am also a realist and will not be particularly devastated if they are not.

Regards to all

Butterfly

 

[nia]

I can?t contribute much since I don?t do any alternative therapies myself, but there is a book (I think this book has been mentioned on this site several times) Mehmet Oz?s Healing from the Heart that talks about benefits of integrating alternative medicine/treatments into the traditional Western medicine in treating patients who undergo heart-transplant/LVAD implantation surgeries. That?s different from valve surgeries, but at the end of the book there is a list of therapies (and supplements? dosages) used by his institution. The further reading list is also there, as well as resources on places all over the country that provide alternative therapies. The book itself is a fascinating read, too.