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 August 19, 2011, 02:42:46 PM
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Jr. Member
Posts: 32
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Hi Joseph,
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1) Muscular disorder of the large intestine (dyskinesia). I have been aware that the muscle at times seems to contract. You said that it can be cured with minimum efforts. May I ask you to elaborate on what those efforts entail?
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I use several highly-effective acupuncture methods for treatment. This (1) case is very simple, it's not needed to involve any complicated acupuncture technique at all, it's easy to correct/fix it by simple regulation: there are some acupuncture points that allow to increase or decrease peristalsis of the bowels. If your bowels have been blocked due to the lack of activity (or due to the over-hyperactivity) of the muscles, it requires just several needles and several procedures to find out and fix this. I mentioned about it above describing my own experiments; by means of the acupuncture needles you can manage/control the activity of the bowels movements. (Actually in reality it's more complicated/ involved mechanism, but sometimes it can be considered from a simple point of view).
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2) Peripheral nervous system. If the problem lies in the nervous system, are you talking about damaged nerves and if so, how can it be treated.
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Actually it's not necessary to be the case of "damaged nerves". I would say "affected", not "damaged". It may be some kind of dystrophy/degeneration of nervous tissue. For example, the dystrophy process may be developing in controlling nerves and centers of spinal cord due to insufficient blood circulation caused by blood vessels narrowing. Usually in most cases it is so, truly damaged nerves will be only at final stages of dystrophy or due to the traumas, physical injury, bulged/herniated disc, etc.
Usually nerves dystrophy can be treated well (depends manily on current state/condition and how long this disorder lasts), but it requires much time and patience for treatment and recovery. It's possible to stop and reverse the dystrophy process in many cases.
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3) Damage to the small intestine or duodenum. This is unlikely, since tests have not revealed any abnormalities in these areas.
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Again, I'm not saying about damage, I only say about some kind of dysfunction (functional disorder). In my practice there are too many cases when MRI/CT/Xrays/Ultrasound/etc show that everything is normal, but patient is suffering. I mean, device diagnostics can reveal only noticeable structural changes but very rarely (and in very limited cases) functional changes. For example, do you know that regular/ordinary MRI (which is more helpful than CT for such kind of special diagnostics) can not display noticeable pathologic changes in 10-20% of cases (and even more) of brain ischemia during first 3 days of developing cerebral infarction? And small areas of cerebral infarction can not be diagnosed by CT without contrast even after 3 or 4 days of lesion/damage?
"since tests have not revealed any abnormalities in these areas." = I would not recommend you to rely on the results of medical tests and device examinations _always_, only partially taking into account the important rules of system analysis. As I said, in many complicated cases all these standard tests/scans can not deliver valuable and actual information about the real causes of diseases, but only about some obvious consequences.
But anyway I suppose that (3) case I mentioned has low probability personally for you.
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4) Bowel problems in relation to stomach problems. I have no doubt that there is a relation, since my stomach problems started after my bowel surgery. However, up until my barium test, I had no problem passing stools, even after 12" of my sigmoid colon was removed.
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BTW I think that probably your dr was right when mentioned about allergic reaction. This might be the cause of your bowels problem because: 1) allergy is connected with immune system operation 2) immune system is connected with stomach functional system directly (lymphoid tissue & lymphatic system controlled by stomach) 3) bowels have strong dependence on stomach operation and vise versa. For example, do you know about the fact that (quote:) "The digestive tract's immune system is often referred to as gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT). The digestive tract is an important component of the body's immune system. In fact, the intestine possesses the largest mass of lymphoid tissue in the human body. Lymphoid tissue accumulating with age in the stomach". Stomach associates and controls the functions of whole immune system, especially in the bowels by means of regulation of lymphoid tissue functions. So that is why your stomach problems is closely connected with bowels problem.
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August 20, 2011, 02:45:03 PM
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Jr. Member
Posts: 13
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Hi altimatehelp,
Thank you once again for your detailed response. From your intelligent and informed statements, I figured that you were an acupuncturist and/or a practitioner of TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) and I am deeply grateful to you for spending the time to offer your expertise.
>
I use several highly-effective acupuncture methods for treatment. This (1) case is very simple, it's not needed to involve any complicated acupuncture technique at all, it's easy to correct/fix it by simple regulation: there are some acupuncture points that allow to increase or decrease peristalsis of the bowels. If your bowels have been blocked due to the lack of activity (or due to the over-hyperactivity) of the muscles, it requires just several needles and several procedures to find out and fix this. I mentioned about it above describing my own experiments; by means of the acupuncture needles you can manage/control the activity of the bowels movements. (Actually in reality it's more complicated/ involved mechanism, but sometimes it can be considered from a simple point of view).
>
Actually, I am currently receiving weekly acupuncture treatments from an acupuncturist/chiropractor in whom I have great confidence. She is very familiar with my problem and has been regularly inserting needles in those points you referred to--the areas that stimulate peristalsis of the bowels as well as other points for the stomach, spleen, lymphatic system etc. She also works on my lower back, which causes me chronic pain due to the constipation. I can say that I have received some relief from my back pain, but to date, the acupuncture has not yet improved my ability to have bowel movements.
But back to the question of peristalsis: My experience in struggling to have a bowel movement tells me that the problem is not necessarily due a lack of peristalsis and I will repeat what I have stated before: I do have frequent urges to pass stools. At times, the pressure for the stools to pass is so great that I feel enormous pain in an area somewhere between the colon and rectum--possibly at the exact location of my colon resection, which happens to be roughly where the sigmoid colon and rectum meet. So it's not that I don't have the urge to have a bowel movement, but that the stools simply cannot pass through what feels like a very narrow opening. This is why even very soft stool cannot pass through. Only pure liquid diarrhea, by means of an enema can pass through this narrow passage. I want you to imagine how narrow this passageway feels to me when I am expelling liquid stool. The diameter feels no wider than the size of the urinary tract.
Again, I did not have this problem before my barium test--large stools, either firm or soft were able to pass through my rectum without great difficulty, and before May 1, I had between 1-3 bowel movements a day.
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Actually it's not necessary to be the case of "damaged nerves". I would say "affected", not "damaged". It may be some kind of dystrophy/degeneration of nervous tissue. For example, the dystrophy process may be developing in controlling nerves and centers of spinal cord due to insufficient blood circulation caused by blood vessels narrowing. Usually in most cases it is so, truly damaged nerves will be only at final stages of dystrophy or due to the traumas, physical injury, bulged/herniated disc, etc.
Usually nerves dystrophy can be treated well (depends manily on current state/condition and how long this disorder lasts), but it requires much time and patience for treatment and recovery. It's possible to stop and reverse the dystrophy process in many cases.
>
If "affected" nerves are a possible cause of my problem, I will bring up this subject with my acupuncturist.
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Again, I'm not saying about damage, I only say about some kind of dysfunction (functional disorder). In my practice there are too many cases when MRI/CT/Xrays/Ultrasound/etc show that everything is normal, but patient is suffering. I mean, device diagnostics can reveal only noticeable structural changes but very rarely (and in very limited cases) functional changes. For example, do you know that regular/ordinary MRI (which is more helpful than CT for such kind of special diagnostics) can not display noticeable pathologic changes in 10-20% of cases (and even more) of brain ischemia during first 3 days of developing cerebral infarction? And small areas of cerebral infarction can not be diagnosed by CT without contrast even after 3 or 4 days of lesion/damage?
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I agree about the limitations of conventional diagnostic testing. I have had MRI's, CT scans, Ultrasounds and X-rays that have shown no disease of my vital organs, but a number of practitioners of TCM whom I have seen over the past couple of years have told me after feeling my pulse and examining my tongue, that I had functional problems in various organs that ranged from the liver to the spleen, kidneys and heart. And I feel that those organs have become even more dysfunctional since my bowel/constipation problems started in May. Still, I was given various Chinese herbs over a period of weeks to balance my organs in addition to strengthening my bowels, but unfortunately they didn't work.
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"since tests have not revealed any abnormalities in these areas." = I would not recommend you to rely on the results of medical tests and device examinations _always_, only partially taking into account the important rules of system analysis. As I said, in many complicated cases all these standard tests/scans can not deliver valuable and actual information about the real causes of diseases, but only about some obvious consequences.
But anyway I suppose that (3) case I mentioned has low probability personally for you.
>
Actually, on further reflection about the possibility of (3) i.e. possible damage of the small intestine or duodenum, there is one thing that still troubles me: Although the barium swallow/ upper GI test did not show any obstructions or tumors, I have been worried that the barium passing through those areas--in addition to the large intestine, caused an allergic reaction (referred to previously). It was that concern that brought me to the ER 4 times for abdominal x-rays to check for any barium that may have hardened and formed an obstruction somewhere between my small intestine and my colon. But the x-rays did not show the presence of barium, and the doctors insisted that there was no barium left in my lower digestive tract. Is it possible, do you think, for impacted barium to NOT show up on standard x-rays?
>
BTW I think that probably your dr was right when mentioned about allergic reaction. This might be the cause of your bowels problem because: 1) allergy is connected with immune system operation 2) immune system is connected with stomach functional system directly (lymphoid tissue & lymphatic system controlled by stomach) 3) bowels have strong dependence on stomach operation and vise verca. For example, do you know about the fact that (quote:) "The digestive tract's immune system is often referred to as gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT). The digestive tract is an important component of the body's immune system. In fact, the intestine possesses the largest mass of lymphoid tissue in the human body. Lymphoid tissue accumulating with age in the stomach". Stomach associates and controls the functions of whole immune system, especially in the bowels by means of regulation of lymphoid tissue functions. So that is why your stomach problems is closely connected with bowels problem.
>
I guess the above statement answered the question to my previous concern about the effects of barium poisoning.
I noticed yesterday an additional health problem that has surfaced since my bowel problems started: Yesterday, after I gave myself an enema, I noticed a lot of white specks that resembled cottage cheese floating among the diarrhea. I suspected that it was yeast, and after doing some research on the internet, discovered that it was most probably candida. No doubt that my chronic constipation has created more yeast in my intestines, which is probably contributing to my ongoing nausea, gas, bloating, weakness, fatigue and irritability. I am also aware that the unhealthy diet that I have unfortunately started since my bowel issues arrived, have added to the yeast proliferation--mainly a large ingestion of sugar and carbohydrates. Unfortunately, I am on a mainly liquid diet in order to avoid fecal impaction--and one of my main sources of nutrition is from liquid meal replacements. Those meal replacements are full of protein and vitamins, but they also have a lot of junk--especially sugar. And candida thrives on sugar, as well as carbs and dairy products. I really don't know what else to do to get a minimum number of calories in liquid form. The only steps I am taking right now to kill off the candida is by adding more garlic, coconut oil, peppermint tea and apple cider vinegar to my diet. It's all very frustrating.
Thanks again,
Joseph
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August 21, 2011, 10:31:03 PM
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Jr. Member
Posts: 32
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Hi Joseph,
- "I figured that you were an acupuncturist and/or a practitioner of TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine)" =
= Actually it's not exactly TCM that I concern with, because I practice some complicated acupuncture techniques derived from ancient Korean, Vietnamese and Chinese methods. These methods are not well-known but much more effective than ordinary TCM methods. Of course, I have background of basics of TCM, but I use only these things that are really necessary and efficient for my practical application. I treat mostly very complicated cases of serious and chronic diseases which conventional medicine defines as "incurable".
- "I am deeply grateful to you for spending the time to offer your expertise" =
= It's OK. It's my job - to help people.
- "Actually, I am currently receiving weekly acupuncture treatments from an acupuncturist/chiropractor in whom I have great confidence." =
= It's great! I hope she is good acupuncturist. Sincerely wish you good luck in the treatment!
- "She also works on my lower back, which causes me chronic pain due to the constipation" =
= Maybe constipation/bowels problem was caused by your back issue? For example, possibly spinal disc herniation (or similar disc degradation problem, stenosis, etc.) could cause compression of nerves in (para)sympathetic nervous system which controls the bowels. A herniated disc in your lower spine may put pressure on a nerve root, causing nerves signals blockage. Likewise, a pinched nerve in the wrist can lead to numbness in the fingers (so-called carpal tunnel syndrome). If I remember right, the nerves connected with intestine/bowels tract are located exactly in lumbar area of vertebral column (lower back) (look at pictures in anatomy chart or you'd better to ask your chiropractor, they should know this very well)
- "I can say that I have received some relief from my back pain" =
= Glad to hear this, but ultimate aim of any acupuncture treatment should be to get complete and full recovery from diseases rather than to get pain relief. Unfortunately, many modern "western" acupuncture schools can offer only temporary pain relief and can not cure such simple disorders like herniated disc, kidneys/bladder stones, hepatitis, etc.
- "but to date, the acupuncture has not yet improved my ability to have bowel movements" =
= The whole picture of your disease may be not so simple, the direct intestine muscles manipulation by special acupuncture points (which I have mentioned before) will not help in this case. If after several acupuncture procedures you do not feel any changes of level of the bowels activity, it means that it's time to apply complex method.
If you want, I can give you diagnostics of your current health state and point out the possible reasons of your diseases/problems. I also could give your acupuncturist advice or even acupuncture recipe (in terms of TCM) for your treatment, best suited personally for your case.
- "So it's not that I don't have the urge to have a bowel movement, but that the stools simply cannot pass through what feels like a very narrow opening. This is why even very soft stool cannot pass through" =
= May be it is connected with receptor/controlling nerves dysfunction as I said before.
Anyway, I can say more definitely after my diagnostics.
- " that I had functional problems in various organs that ranged from the liver to the spleen, kidneys and heart. And I feel that those organs have become even more dysfunctional since my bowel/constipation problems started in May" =
= Please note, that it's not necessarily "in organs", but it may be also in functional subsystems which are associated with organs. For example, meridians of stomach & spleen are associated & control immune system, lymphatic system, fat tissue, etc.; meridian of heart is associated with vascular system & blood transfer functions, and so on.
- "Still, I was given various Chinese herbs over a period of weeks to balance my organs in addition to strengthening my bowels, but unfortunately they didn't work" =
= I don't use herbs in the treatment. It requires VERY huge knowledge to make herbal mixtures properly in order to give effective and adequate treatment. Besides, it's very difficult to acquire and find the needed components/ingredients. There are too many rules of correct picking herbs in right places in right time. Usually it's enough to use only acupuncture methods. Herbal supplements should not be a central part of treatment along with acupuncture. Herbals must be auxiliary, additional and supporting therapy to needles or should not be used at all. I don't think that herbal supplement will be helpful for you significantly, unless if you find a really good expert-herbalist.
- "Is it possible, do you think, for impacted barium to NOT show up on standard x-rays?" =
= Sorry, I'm not expert in radiology. It's separated and very specific complicated medical field requiring special skills and rich experience. I prefer to rely on the opinion of good radiologist who performs analysis, decoding and interpretation of Xrays/CT/MRI scans.
But barium might be like "trigger" which has launched the allergic reaction, it's not necessary to be still presented in the body for barium in order to keep developing the disorder.
- "that it was most probably candida" =
= Yes, it may be an indicator of the fault of your immune system operation. But it is only consequence (like dysbacteriosis), not a cause. Candida albicans lives normally in gut flora of most people, but pathologic overgrowth begins only when immunity get weaked, then candidosis starts developing.
- "I really don't know what else to do to get a minimum number of calories in liquid form" =
= I would recommend you to use as food for dietary support/management purposes some kind of liquid nutrition for oncology patients (sorry), for example, special drinks which are high in protein and energy, enriched with antioxidands/vitamins/fibre/etc., gluten-free, lactose-free, etc. Such drinks are suitable for use as a _sole_ source of nutrition.
Hope this help to keep your lifeforce with minimum efforts until you'll fix your bowels problem.
- "It's all very frustrating" =
= Don't give up! Don't be desperate! Do all your best!
Wish you good health & good luck!
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August 22, 2011, 08:39:29 PM
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Jr. Member
Posts: 13
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Hi altimatehelp,
>
Maybe constipation/bowels problem was caused by your back issue? For example, possibly spinal disc herniation (or similar disc degradation problem, stenosis, etc.) could cause compression of nerves in (para)sympathetic nervous system which controls the bowels. A herniated disc in your lower spine may put pressure on a nerve root, causing nerves signals blockage. Likewise, a pinched nerve in the wrist can lead to numbness in the fingers (so-called carpal tunnel syndrome). If I remember right, the nerves connected with intestine/bowels tract are located exactly in lumbar area of vertebral column (lower back) (look at pictures in anatomy chart or you'd better to ask your chiropractor, they should know this very well)
>
Actually, I noticed that the back pain began shortly after I became severely constipated over three months ago. I could be wrong, but I believe that it's the constipation that caused the back pain, not the other way around. Of course I also recognize that my current back problems are now probably contributing to the constipation problems.
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If you want, I can give you diagnostics of your current health state and point out the possible reasons of your diseases/problems. I also could give your acupuncturist advice or even acupuncture recipe (in terms of TCM) for your treatment, best suited personally for your case.
>
I would really welcome that, since you seem to know what you're talking about. But how do you propose to do that? If you're talking about meeting in person--and I assume that we are not in the same city or country, I probably need to know how you would plan logistically to offer me a diagnosis.
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= I would recommend you to use as food for dietary support/management purposes some kind of liquid nutrition for oncology patients (sorry), for example, special drinks which are high in protein and energy, enriched with antioxidands/vitamins/fibre/etc., gluten-free, lactose-free, etc. Such drinks are suitable for use as a _sole_ source of nutrition
>
Since our last communication, I purchased a high-quality protein powder from a health food store. It contains all the required vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients etc. but without all the sugar, sodium, artificial flavours and other junk in the commercial meal supplement I was taking. I mix it with almond milk and to add extra nutrition and calories, I add coconut oil and almond butter. It's actually quite tasty and doesn't upset my stomach.
Thanks again,
Joseph
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August 23, 2011, 02:19:26 PM
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Jr. Member
Posts: 32
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Hi Joseph,
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I would really welcome that, since you seem to know what you're talking about. But how do you propose to do that? If you're talking about meeting in person--and I assume that we are not in the same city or country, I probably need to know how you would plan logistically to offer me a diagnosis.
>
All I need is your date of birth (day-month-year). I use special calculation & analysis technique for overall estimation. I can provide detailed description of your current "energy" state/status in terms of TCM and I can try to translate it into western "conventional" diagnosis (when it is possible). The results of my diagnostics also can be used (with some additions) as acupuncture recipe for the treatment.
I think it's not reasonable to post your full birth date on the forum, so you could send it by email (you can find my email address at my "User profile" page)
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Since our last communication, I purchased a high-quality protein powder from a health food store. It contains all the required vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients etc. but without all the sugar, sodium, artificial flavours and other junk in the commercial meal supplement I was taking. I mix it with almond milk and to add extra nutrition and calories, I add coconut oil and almond butter. It's actually quite tasty and doesn't upset my stomach.
>
Very good solution! Hope this will be good substitution for a normal food.
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