and Why it Became My Greatest Empowerment
DID YOU KNOW?
"More than 200,000 people a year die in American hospitals from adverse reactions to medications. Making drug reactions one of the leading causes of death in this country"
--Journal of American Medical Association study, as quoted in the New York Times
What IS Steven Johnson Syndrome Disease SJS
Stevens-Johnson Syndrome is a potentially deadly skin disease that usually results from a drug reaction. Another form of the disease is called Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis, and again this usually results from a drug-related reaction. Drugs that have been linked to Stevens-Johnson Syndrome include NSAIDS (non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs), Allopurinol, Phenytoin, Carbamazepine, barbiturates, anticonvulsants, amoxicillin, and sulfa antibiotics. In some cases, the condition is caused by a bacterial infection, and in many cases there is no known cause for the onset of Stevens-Johnson Syndrome or Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis.Stevens-Johnson Syndrome is a potentially deadly skin disease that usually results from a drug reaction. Another form of the disease is called Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis, and again this usually results from a drug-related reaction. Drugs that have been linked to Stevens-Johnson Syndrome include NSAIDS (non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs), Allopurinol, Phenytoin, Carbamazepine, barbiturates, anticonvulsants, and sulfa antibiotics. In some cases, the condition is caused by a bacterial infection.
If you or anyone you love is taking More than ONE MEDICATION
Get this book!
It Could Save A Life!
"WORST PILLS BEST PILLS" -
A Consumers Guide to Avoiding Drug-Induced Death or Illness.
This is My Story...an almost fatal drug interaction.
I hope and pray it will NEVER be your story!
Over 18 years ago I was prescribed more than 6 medications over a period of a year.
Of course it began with one medication at a time...attempting to treat one unhealthy symptom at a time by more than 3 physicians.
My primary MD prescribed the first antibiotic , amoxicillin to treat a sinus infection. Now mind you...no culture was taken...so this may indeed have been a Virus. and NO antibiotic has any benefit to a virus.
So after just 3 days of this nasty antibiotic, the side effect was causing severe digestive cramping and diarrhea and I was NOT getting any better at all. My physician then switched me over to yet another antibiotic called Ceclor. Here already is a NO NO in the world of medication prescribing. Do you see How Interactions begin? Now my body has to TRY to deal with 2 different types of a medications...both with their own separate side effects, a new combination of synthetic ingredients NEVER BEFORE tested together. So now...I am, as thousands of others out there...I am a Guinea Pig being Tested to See what happens! Because Believe me---No one Knows or has a Proven Outcome when 2 medications are combined. Now imagine 3 or 4, or 6 or 13 medications in the body at the same time. Oh my Gosh!!! There is NO testing grounds for this! NONE...NONE...NONE! It is ALL a Guessing Game!
Medication are in a tested One drug at a time!
NOT in combinations to Whatever Drug is next! This should be illegal!
Now Imagine... all the thousands of Untested, Unproven Drug Combinations being administered to Treat or Ease unhealthy symptoms. Physicians are Guessing at these combinations...Guessing with NO Proven Studies or Knowledge as to the Outcome or the many side effects which then Produce more unhealthy symptoms!
PEOPLE REMAIN UNHEALTHY AND CHRONICALLYY SICK because of their medication side effects. THIS IS INSANE...AND SHOULD BE ILLEGAL!
Are You On More than One Medication?
As stated by the Pharma Genetics Industry, document after document-
If YOU are on ONE Medication---we KNOW almost everything about it's side effect
If YOU are on TWO Medications--- we MAY know a lot
If YOU are on MORE than TWO medications--YOU ARE BEYOND MEDICAL SCIENCE!!
Now Did You Hear That? Are you getting this yet?
You Are Beyond Medical Science IF you are on More Than ONE Drug!
Doctors DO NOT Study the Interaction of Drug Combinations...Even Pharmacist ARE NOT TOTALLY SURE!
No one knows Your Drug Combination Outcome OR The Side Effects to come...Until, yes Until your unhealthy side effects present themselves. Oops...Time again to "play around at this drug combination and dosage game.
BE PROACTIVE YOURSELF...BE INFORMED ABOUT EVERY MEDICATION YOU ARE TAKING....AND GET THIS BOOK!
"WORST PILLS, BEST PILLS" a consumers guide to avoiding Drug-Induced Death or Illness.
I Believe Everyone Should Own This Book OR Give it to someone you care about! WHY? Becasue We all Know Someone on More than One Medication...right?
It could Save Your Life or Someone You Love!
NOWLEDGE IS POWER!
And Link Everyone You Know to My Blog!
NEVER...NEVER GO COLD TURKEY OFF ANY MEDICATION!
This shocks the body and serious symptoms can occur.
CONTACT your Pharmacist and they should be able to assist you with lowering your dosages daily or weekly.
Your Drugs Reactions Could Be the Cause for Your Chronic Illness and Unhealthy Symptoms.
OK BACK TO MY STORY...
So now, due to my nasty stomach cramping from the first antibiotic...my doctor switched me over to another antibiotic called Ceclor. Now knowing that it takes at least 2 weeks to have the first drug filtered out of the kidneys to avoid a drug interaction....I now have 2 meds beginning an interaction. Yes I am now a Guinea Pig for this New Untested Drug Combination. Let's see what happens. Because believe me--No One Knows...No One Knew the Outcome.
Now just a few days later...I developed a very small and very irritating, ever so itchy rash in the crease of my one arm. I was soon given another medication to treat the itchiness from the rash called Atarax (This itchy rash symptom should have been the first clue to the beginning of a dangerous drug interaction...but no physician knew the signs...not one)
I felt I needed a second opinion as I did not feel right with the first diagnosis and the way I was feeling about my medication protocol. Yet still...the next physician told me to continue to take the antibiotic and to increase my anti-itch drug because my rash was driving me crazy and it was NOT subsiding. He also told me to continue to take the antibiotic the prior doctor prescribed me for my sinus infection.
A week later I was feeling so much anxiety, nervousness and insomnia. My head felt so weird and dizzy. Like a nervous, throbbing tingling all across my forehead and top of my head. I also had throbbing eye pressure. Obviously I was concerned. I returned to the doctor, described how I was feeling and was once AGAIN administered an anti-anxiety drug called Ativan...which soon I was told to increase the dosage as I could NOT sleep. Soon, still with severe insomnia...I was later prescribed Ambien. (which is very addictive!)
WOW... Knowing Now what I know about Self-Care and the Dangers of Drug Interactions..this is sooooooooo scary! My body was indeed becoming a Ticking Toxic Explosive Time Bomb! It was just a matter of time, before I would be fighting for my life and for hours...No one knew what was happening to me. No one in St. Frances Hospital had EVER seen Steven Johnson Disease before...no one!
How could this Be Health Care? How Could This Even Be Legal?
Now mind you...this was over 17 years ago. A time when I thought eating a Snickers bar with protein peanuts for lunch was healthy. I mean the commercial said it was a "quick pick-me-up intake of protein for those busy days." And as a single mom...I was busy. I had a small but thriving Anti-aging business as a Medical Esthetician...while also raising my beautiful 5 year old daughter. Needless to say...like so many of us...I had no clue of what a good diet was or any concept of what good self care might be... I had no clue how vital nutrition and healthy eating was to the quality of my health. Of course my daughter too was now suffering from my poor food choices. And sad but true...IF we EVER had an uncomfortable symptom....we just headed to the doc's office for an evaluation and usually ended up on another medication to "fix it." Boy, retracing all this now...I cannot believe how ignorant and naive I was back then.
So yes...back then I never even drank water...did not like the taste. We sure drank lots of orange juice, milk and diet soda though. Yuk, Yuk, Yuk!:-(
(Which now I know, all fruit juices are no different than eating a liquid candy bar...they are just a liquid jolt of sugar- dangeroulsy raising blood sugars levles causing symptoms like headaches, fatigue, dizziness and more. And then drinking all this milk daily? Yuk!
Go Read My Posting on Why Is Dairy Making and Keeping You Sick? No wonder I always had headaches and so many digestive symptoms.... my poor daughter too. And our water was giving her a stomach ache. And I thought she just wanted juice instead fo drinking water.
Come to find out=drinking tap water was overly chlorinated and very unhealthy for the digestive and dindeed taste nasty! Unfiltered water is full of dangerous and so much toxic bacteria.
Another Post coming on "Why is Filtered Water So Vital to Good Health and Why is Dehyration Dangerous?" Note= Start drinking 4= 6 oz glasses of filtered water throughout you day... See how you feel. It may amaze you :-)
Another Blog coming on "What ARE Healthy, and Unhealthy Food Types"
Back to my Story
So yes...years ago my daughter and I also ate lots of dairy, assuming this was good protein and calcium for our bones...right? Plus I would go hours without eating anything at all. Well maybe a snickers bar or a cookie or a glass of milk. And knowing what I know now...how in hell could my brain NOT feel dizzy or fatigued with severe headaches and sinus pressure and always dealing with constipation. Milk and cheese creates mucous and congestion. My little girl was now developing the same unhealthy symptoms. Sad huh?
I was so ignorant to any substantial knowledge of good self care, supplementation or healthy foods. And I sure had no idea about "Food Sensitivities or How Sugar and a High Carbohydrate Diet causes major blood sugar highs and lows---creating major Brain Behavior Disorders and symptoms like: dizziness, headaches, mood swings, severe fatigue and depression, gas, bloating, constipation"
Another Blog Coming on "What Going Hours Without Eating Causes Severe Brain Dysfunction and Depression?"
I also had NO fears of taking medications. None. After all, my doctor, a highly trained Health Care Professional had to have all the answers to heal me and teach to live a healthier life...right? I mean he must know what and why and how to prevent me from getting sicker right? He must know have medical evidence that all the drugs I was on would make me better right? WRONG!
In the world of Alternative Medicine and Nutritional counseling...
continually being prescribed medication after medication is called The Medication Train Wreck Effect. I was already there! And thousands of you are living it now, aren't you?
Many of you could already be a walking time bomb of a toxic reaction to a drug.
BE INFORMED! There IS a Healthier Way!
OK BACK TO MY STORY...
So over a period of a year...I was living still with unhealthy symptoms, and now taking 6 medications daily! And I still felt worse than ever! What the heck was going on here?
6 medications and still no signs of good health? This was Crazy! Or was I crazy to believe THIS was my answer to Health.
Supposedly all these toxic meds I was on was now prescribed to treat developing issues like digestive colitis, depression, insomnia and headaches. Actually to find out...all the side effects from all these toxic meds I was on WERE THE UNDERLYING CAUSE of all my continual chronic health issues. I kept getting sicker. This was Madness!
Little did I know at the time, due to my poor diet and busy, busy lifestyle...
I was actually very malnourished dealing with many nutritional deficiencies...severly hypoglycemic with major blood sugar issues.
My body was trying to tell me I was So Nutritionally Out Of Balance...So Malnourished.
If only I had learned somehow, someway, from someone... HOW to decipher all these unhealthy symptoms. All my body wanted me to do was Nourish it with what it thrives on...which is healthy nutrients. Who knew back then...who knew?
Remember...The body is a machine...and Health IS the mechanical process...who knew?
I mean after all...why should I doubt my doctor's diagnosis or remedy?
Isn't it called Health Care?
So now... just 8 months later, taking this Health Care Physician prescribed medication protocol daily...side effect after side effect...still feeling sooooooooo sick, so weak and now so worried.
I ended up in the ER at St. Frances Hospital, in Federal Way. After checking my vital signs and the spreding of this itchy rash...once again I was given yet another medication for pain. I was immediately hospitalized. I had not eaten for days and was completely dehydrated and very, very ill with a rash slowly spreading all over my body. No one knew what was happening to me.
Within 2 hours, nurses and doctors coming in and out with puzzled faces... watched in amazement as my entire body, inside and out was being bombarded with burning toxic blister type sores...they were now beginining to erupt everywhere! They were spreading at a very rapid rate! They were bursting out inside my mouth, down my throat and erupting out the palms of my hands and feet. They were painful, throbbing and they itched and burned like hell! I could not stop itching them! My skin was weeping and bleeding all over from the scratching. Immediately they strapped me down to a hospital bed to prevent me from itching the blisters for fear of infection. It was like the worse case of poison ivy you could imagine. It felt like sharp, hot stabbing, itchy bugs were crawling all over me...inside out. It was terrible! I had to be heavily sedated with pain and steroids. I was so frightened and now so very medicated.
There were moments, being so sedated...twirling in and out of consciousness... I felt like I was literally dreaming...feeling like I was stuck in a terrible nightmare. But I was not..I was living it.... it was real, and it was hell!
IV's were administered everywhere. Everyone was plugging me into this machine, that machine. My internal organs were beginning to develop infections. The deadly toxins from all the medication build up was attacking every cell in my body. I was running a fever of over 104 degrees that lasted for days! I was literally burning up from the inside out!
I so remember feeling and seeing so much fear, panic and concern on the many faces of the doctors and nurses who had NEVER seen this before. This IV, that IV. No one knew what was happening to me! No one knew.
17 years ago Steven Johnson Syndrome Disease had not been validated or researched much. Now it is! Search the Internet now...attorney after attorney has a website to take legal action against this disease and the interaction of drugs due to patient drug abuse.
At one time...I heard a nurse say..."maybe this is aids, her body is shutting down" Yes...that is what I heard! Can you imagine how I felt? I had no idea what was happening to me! I was so scared! I sincerely felt like my body was shutting down and that I was dying. And now I know...my body WAS shutting down from the high level of toxicity and I could have died. No one knew how to control this avalanche. No one knew the outcome.
That is exactly what Steven Johnson Syndrome Disease is. It is an uncontrollable toxic reaction build up and outbreak of medications and it burns organs from the inside out...I survived...many did not!
Finally a new physician entered my room took a scraping culture from one of the toxic sores on my leg. Now Remember--these sores covered over 90% of my body by now. They were everywhere!
Finally, hours later, heavily sedated, strapped down, IV tubing everywhere. A female physician returned to my room and had confirmed I was having a severe drug interaction.
I was diagnosed with a life threatening drug reaction disease called Steven Johnson Syndrome (google this disease--it is shocking!)
I will never forget what this doctor said once they knew the diagnosis.
She leaned over to me...her face and tone very much displayed levels of great concern, regret even fear. She said to me "Diane, you are having a severe drug reaction called Steven Johnson Syndrome. This is very rare which is why it has taken us so long to diagnose. We CANNOT STOP this avalanche of toxic blisters from your body. However we believe we can SLOW IT DOWN and try to control it so it does not damage your internal organs. Steroids and pain medications have been placed into your IV's. Can you try to remember your past medication history? What medications have you been taking and when?" (Why the hell wasn't a physician concerned about my drug history way back when. When they were so eager to keep prescribing me more meds! This was Crazy!!! Come to find out...the continual drugs they kept prescribing me was the cause for the severity of this toxic avalanche)
So, this doctor continued to say "We are so sorry you are in this state Diane. We are trying to control this outbreak and will try to make you as comfortable as possible until this subsides. We are sorry for the arm restraints but your uncontrollable scratching could lead to infections. We need to prevent you from itching these blisters. Can we contact your family?"
That was almost word for word. I will NEVER forget it! I was so scared. My body and all the sores looked so terrible.
I was still getting sicker by the minute...and they all knew it.
Many of my internal organs were now becoming infected. I was developing kidney infections, urinary and severe bladder infections, gum and mouth infections, swelling and inflammation was in every joint. The burning inside me was unbearable. I was in so much pain!
My face swelled to where it hurt from the stretching of my skin. My eyes were burning like fire. Soon the congestion in my lungs led to pneumonia. It was obvious...no one knew how to stop this...no surgery, no drug...it was a growing and thriving, fast paced disease. I feared I was going to die!
How could this be happening at the care of physicians who took an oath "to do no harm?" I mean they prescribed these meds to bring me back to better health right?
Hospitalized now for almost 2 weeks, day after day, IV after IV, physicians struggling to get control of this toxic burning avalanche. I was in a living hell and they knew it! I'm sure they HAD good intentions...however...they Lacked Knowledge in the dangers of drug interactions and they lacked Knowledge in the Power of Nutrition...and I was now paying a very high price for their ignorance!
Self Care IS Health Care...NOT more and more toxic medications.
Finally after 11 days in the hospital, the meds beginning to be reduced, the blisters had stopped erupting and I had a sense, for the first time...that this thing...this disease was subsiding. Still not knowing what, or if any internal damage was done, I still told the doctor I was leaving the hospital the next day. Against their medical recommendation...2 days later, I willingly checked myself out of the hospital. I do not even remember how or who took me home. All I know is I knew...it was time for me to go.
I just knew, deep inside , with such a strong spiritual calling...I needed to return home to do my own research and discovery of self care. Despite the struggle with the physicians to still remain hospitalized...and still very weak and sick...I signed all the necessary paperwork for my dismissal and I left.
Without any doubt...I knew My Responsibility, somehow, someway was to figure out Why and How this happened to me and How to Prevent this from EVER happening again.
Not just for myself...but also for the safety of my young daughter who had already endured too many years of being over medicated with antibiotics and steroid sprays for chronic sinus infections. I needed to figure this out so I could slowly learn how to wean Michele off all "her drugs" and begin new ways of living and healing ourselves, without the dangers of medications again.
SOMETHING WAS WRONG HERE...AND SOMETHING HAD TO CHANGE!
Now remember...at the time this was all happening to me...I had a small 5 year old daughter to raise. I was divorced, self employed as a Medical Esthetician with an in-home studio. Her father was immediately contacted and Michele was now in his care until we could figure all this out. And I might add, and even until this day...Michele's father has always been a loving, dependable and strong support system for her and for me. Thank God he was there to take care of her then. He temporarily lived back at the house to prevent any additional worry and stress on Michele. It was worrisome enough that her mom was not at home and in the hospital. I still was more worried about Michele's health and being on all the meds "she" was on and what to do next.
Eventually Michele came to the hospital to see me. I vaguely remember...however I do remember trying to hide all the open blister sores still all over my body, trying to cover them with those dang scratchy bed sheets. Even the sheets touching the sores was painful...however I did not want Michele to see them. They were disgusting to see. Being so medicated...I barely remember her visit. I do remember her father holding her in his arms and the disturbing look on her face. She was so young, so not sure of what was happening to me. I could not hold her...as the sores were all over my arms. I cried when she left, as even now as I write this...my eyes are tearing up. How sad for both of us. But what a Gift all this suffering ended up to be in our lives.
Also, the ONLY place these toxic blisters did not spread or break out was on my face. Yes...my face was spared. Swollen, infected and puffy eyes...but no facial scarring or blisters. Thank God!
Most cases of Steven Johnson Syndrome blisters Do spread to the eyes and face. Causing internal scarring and even blindness. Now I know I was the lucky one in so many ways...so many ways. . Google this disease--It may save your life or someone you love.
So now back at home...still so weak and with so many unanswered questions and concerns. My daughter spending most of her days after school with her father until I could regain my strength...
Here is where I would begin to enter a world of diligent research about the Dangers of Medications verses the Life changing benefits of Nutritional Awareness, Healthy Diets and Alternative Medicine. WHAT A DIFFERENCE!! What a life-saver!
This world of knowledge would soon Change my life and redirect my career in guiding others with Hope and a safer and healthier way to live.
My Greatest Gift, not just to myself...but as a mother...for the first time I had such a sense of ease, a sense of relief, a sense of empowerment. I KNEW without a doubt HOW to develop better health for my young daughter. A child who'd already experienced too many years of chronic infections and overuse of antibiotics and toxic meds at the hands of Western Medicine. No More! I would NEVER place her at risk with dangerous medication intake again.
Within 3 months, Michele and I both began to experience first hand, the amazing benefits of using diet and nutritional supplementation as remedies for treating sickness, unhealthy symptoms and strengthening our weakened immune systems.
Day after day, week after week I was amazed at the incredible healthy changes that were occurring within our body's. My entire life and Michele's up until then had suffered with so many chronic health issues and drug side effects. Now we were both becoming symptom free, medication free and on our way to better health.
I was astonished, after so many years of suffering...and all those trips to the doctors... Years with Not One Doctor EVER speaking to us about Nutrition, Diet or anything other than medications. They had no idea How to Help Us Develop Better Health.
I mean isn't it called Health Care?
What is Health Care anyway?
Seems it should be called Medication Care...Not Health Care.
Taking several Medications with dangerous side effects is Poor Health....Not Health Care.
One drug generally ALWAYS leads to another....agree? Been there?
Something is Wrong here? Don't You Agree?
I wish Physicians were better informed as to Keeping us Healthy, or teaching us better self care...than just treating our symptoms with toxic and dangerous medications.
Who'd of thought...My deepest fears and painful Suffering would indeed become my Greatest Gift to myself, my daughter, my friends and to the many clients and people who pass my way and suffering and Open to The Power of Alternative Medicine and Supplementation?
Now 15 years later, in my late 50's...and my daughter at 25...
We both continue daily to live a medication free, very healthy lifestyle. Daily...and I do mean daily (which is the key).... we continue to practice firsthand the amazing benefits of diet and nutrition in maintaining our health and away from the need of ANY harmful medications.
Yes...we are both healthy, happy, slim and symptom free.
However, life may still throw our way at times a bit of flu bug, a cold virus...but very rarely.
When this does occur...WE DO NOT resort to ANY antibiotics or medications. Instead we double up on our OPC-3 antioxidant supplement, we increase our Probiotic intake, increase our Omega III's...drink more water and hot tea to quickly rid this toxic bacteria from within the body and soon we are back up and feeling great!
Did you know?
Give The Power to Your Body...Naturally...and it Will Heal You.
Toxins and bacteria will undoubtedly enter the body...Our job with these toxins is to rid them out of the body as quickly as possible in order to prevent secondary infections. The quicker these toxins are eliminated from our cells...the quicker our unhealthy symptoms disappear.
Stay Tuned so YOU too can Learn and Practice Better Self Care---
Be Patient...with yourself.
NUTRITION HEALS...Let food be your medicine.
ARE YOU READY FOR CHANGE...READY TO FEEL BETTER?
WELCOME TO NUTRITIONAL KNOWLEDGE...It is Life-Changing!
One Step at a time...with willingness to make diet changes and a few supplementations...
You Can Learn to Live and Feel Healthier.
Without Change...There IS No Change. :-)
So Stay tuned and keep checking in and out of My Healthy Blog.
Til when,
Many warm and healthy blessings come your way....
Because I have been there...I care.
Diane Frances CNC
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