What pills have you quit taking, looking for alternatives?

[hqueen13]

hqueen, that is just amazing! I finally found out that the el cheapo, 12 hour allergy pill from the Dollar Store worked better than all the high dollar crap we took before. My breathing is better when I take it. But it is allergy season around here.

Do you like oatmeal? I posted a recipe for soaked, flour free oatmeal pancakes. Sounds terrible, I know. But now I keep some in the frig most of the time. I can pop one into the toaster, then treat it like toast. Smear some butter on it, walk around the house, etc. Egads, I think about all the good stuff I didn't try for a long time because it sounded weird, like kefir.

I'm also trying to work on cleaning up the way we eat around here. Has to be a gradual thing as DH raises an eyebrow anytime there's something 'foreign' in the kitchen.

Yeah, sometimes the el cheapo stuff works the best!!

I like oatmeal, but I also know that it is handled in the body the same way most other grains are, so while the gluten content isn't there, it still spikes your blood sugar, and I'm working towards avoiding that kind of thing. I do miss pancakes though... I was considering trying to find a spelt flour recipe for pancakes instead, because I really like the spelt flour and I can get it from a source that I know will be good and won't have gluten in it.

It has really amazed me as I've started sorting all of this out how many things I thought I knew that I was wrong about - like the fact that pasteurized dairy is one of the culprits, but that raw dairy doesn't bother me.

And yes... I know about avoiding so many good things because they sound weird! I just tried kale chips today and I love them... now I just have to find the time to get to dehydrating and making my own!

I totally get it about the DH..... the other half does the same thing, and our roommate, E, is even worse! Still working on trying to get him to let go of sugar. Being able to show him the correlation between weight gain/loss and how he feels in proportion to the volume of sugar he eats has been helpful, though it hasn't changed the habit completely. I'll get there someday

Even my mother, when I was talking to her once about how we've changed our style of eating commented that she felt better when she spent a couple weeks with us and was eating our food. I shook my head in wonder that she, knowing that fact, doesn't make more effort to change the way they eat at home. It doesn't cost a whole lot more to not buy the junk and to buy the nutrient dense foods instead. And you sure do feel a whole lot better for it!

 

[moolie]

Actually, spelt is not gluten-free. It's recommended for people who have wheat intolerance issues because it is an older type of wheat, but it's definitely not gluten-free. Oats are generally considered "gluten free" and are very healthy--especially when soaked or cooked, however they do contain one of the proteins that are in the gluten family so are not recommended for people with celiac disease and in many cases they are milled or processed in the same mills that handle other grains containing gluten so may be contaminated.

I've done a ton of reading on the wheat/gluten issue over the years because a friend of mine has a son who has celiac disease and another friend has a son who had severe wheat intolerance when he was younger, but is fine now that he's an older teen. All of that has made me truly curious about the subject, especially in more recent years as going "wheat free" or "gluten free" has become such a dietary fad.

The reasons most people choose to avoid grain in their diets are either related to:
- avoiding gluten (a type of protein that can cause an allergic type reaction in some people)
- avoiding phytic acid (which is present in the hulls and bran of seeds and nuts, and which can block dietary absorption of several minerals if these foods are not prepared properly)
- avoidance of "inflammatory" simple carbohydrates (sugars, grains contain complex carbohydrates or starches but the body ultimately breaks these down into simpler sugars for energy)
- avoiding modern hybridized wheat or modern gmo wheat (to which the human body is not as accustomed as to older grain varieties)

 

[so lucky]

hqueen13, please tell us what kind of eye drops you use? I don't like to use the OTC ones that have all the chemicals.

And, I just wanted to mention, to you who have carpal tunnel issues, you might want to try turmeric, for the inflammation. I use it for various inflamed arthritis joints. It lessens hair fall out, too, for those of you (me) who have thinning hair. By something like 30%.

 

[ORChick]

We put saturated fats back in our diet. My cholesterol dropped 50 points.
DH quit taking statin drugs (he had big time trouble w/them). His dropped 50 points after adding saturated fats, a year later, it's dropped another 25 points.

I did this also - went completely off the cholesterol diet, then off the statin. Happily went back to real butter, real cream, real sugar, and BACON ... and my t-chol went down with HDL being "absolutely stellar". Fasting glucose went from just "normal" to "textbook perfect." My doc said she could not explain it but she certainly could not argue with the results. I have also lost weight instead of gaining, and gone down two jeans sizes.

I just finished reading "Why We Get Fat" by Gary Taubes. He addresses this question. It was an interesting read.

ETA: He has a website as well, if you don't want to go looking for the book.

 

[heatherlynnky]

I have really undocumented Asthma. My doctor wanted me to see a specialist even though she was positive. She tried to put me on an inhaler and some steroid pills and wanted me to consider more than just allergy pills. Its been over a year since I have had to use any steroids. I keep the emergency puffer just in case and its watched BUT I use a homeopathic blend specifically for asthma. I also have been taking astralgus to increase immune system and lung function.

I am also premenopausal. Lots of fun. I use all natural for everything. I also have endometriosis and have been coping with that naturally. Many of my supplements not only help with the perimenopause but also with my breathing and the mild arthritis I have. Evening primrose, flax seed oil, Oat grass tea( massive amounts of vitamines especially magnesium, potassium, and b vitamines). Tons of vitamine C.

We also use natural meds for colds and flu. This is the first time I had the flu and it was horrid but short lived thanks to some very good homeopathics meds fro Boiron. We do lots of aromatherapy, homepathic, lots of teas and even accupressure. I do not like pharma at all.

Ooo almost forgot Raw Apple cider vinegar with the mother. Man that stuff if effective. Athletes foot for the oldest boy, no problem. Yeast infections, exzema, and even indigestion. Stuff is awesome.

 

[txcanoegirl]

For those of you with severe carpal tunnel syndrome...don't discount surgery.

I had it so severe in both hands, that for every two hours of sleep, I'd have an hour or two sleepless, pacing the house until the pain subsided. Daytime symptoms were bad, too. It affected my work, sleep, everyday activities, and play. I had the surgery on one hand, then the other 6 weeks later. I have now been pain-free, symptom-free for 7 years.

It's definitely possible that some of you may still be at a stage where you can manage the symptoms, such as using braces at night, strategic placement of pillows, extra B-complex vitamins, healthy diet, exercise, pain meds, limiting the things that make it worse, etc., but if it is changing the quality of your life, it may be time for more drastic measures. I'm certainly glad I did.

Jill

 

[hqueen13]

hqueen13, please tell us what kind of eye drops you use? I don't like to use the OTC ones that have all the chemicals.

And, I just wanted to mention, to you who have carpal tunnel issues, you might want to try turmeric, for the inflammation. I use it for various inflamed arthritis joints. It lessens hair fall out, too, for those of you (me) who have thinning hair. By something like 30%.

http://www.vitacost.com/similasan-allergy-eye-relief-0-33-fl-oz That's the direct link to the eye drops. They have a couple other varities, but that of course is the one I use. That website is also the one I use, it has great prices. If anyone is interested in ordering from it, please do let me know as I can provide you with a referral link that will give you and I a discount

Txcanoegirl - I'm glad you had results with the surgery. It is an inflammatory response in the body, so focused diet work as well as body work and supplementation usually goes a long way to avoid being under the knife

 

[so lucky]

Oh! The Similasan is what I am using now! It helps a little, but not when I get a really itchy fit going on. I have to take diphenhydramine for that (benedryl) (the cheap allergy pills from Dollar Store) (also the active ingredient in most OTC sleep aids)
I also found a natural eyedrop for dry eyes, specifically for women. It is distributed by Baer Company. It is supposed to counteract the dryness in eyes that is caused by women's hormones. Or lack therof.

Edited on 4/11/13 to say that the company I bought the eye drops from is spelled Baar. They have a nice catalog. They sell some Edgar Cayce remedies, as well.

 

[heatherlynnky]

For those of you with severe carpal tunnel syndrome...don't discount surgery.

I had it so severe in both hands, that for every two hours of sleep, I'd have an hour or two sleepless, pacing the house until the pain subsided. Daytime symptoms were bad, too. It affected my work, sleep, everyday activities, and play. I had the surgery on one hand, then the other 6 weeks later. I have now been pain-free, symptom-free for 7 years.

It's definitely possible that some of you may still be at a stage where you can manage the symptoms, such as using braces at night, strategic placement of pillows, extra B-complex vitamins, healthy diet, exercise, pain meds, limiting the things that make it worse, etc., but if it is changing the quality of your life, it may be time for more drastic measures. I'm certainly glad I did.

Jill

You can also try a DO Doctor of osteopathy. I went to one and have no issues anymore. It took about 6 visits and I was good to go. Mine was so bad I could not write anymore.

 

[Marianne]

For those of you with severe carpal tunnel syndrome...don't discount surgery.

I had it so severe in both hands, that for every two hours of sleep, I'd have an hour or two sleepless, pacing the house until the pain subsided. Daytime symptoms were bad, too. It affected my work, sleep, everyday activities, and play. I had the surgery on one hand, then the other 6 weeks later. I have now been pain-free, symptom-free for 7 years.

It's definitely possible that some of you may still be at a stage where you can manage the symptoms, such as using braces at night, strategic placement of pillows, extra B-complex vitamins, healthy diet, exercise, pain meds, limiting the things that make it worse, etc., but if it is changing the quality of your life, it may be time for more drastic measures. I'm certainly glad I did.

Jill

You can also try a DO Doctor of osteopathy. I went to one and have no issues anymore. It took about 6 visits and I was good to go. Mine was so bad I could not write anymore.

I don't know if I'd be a good candidate for surgery anymore. I have had this for at least 10 years. Also don't have any health insurance :/ .
Jill, what was the treatment from the DO?

I went off Premarin probably 8 years ago or so. Dr wouldn't prescribe it unless I had a pap EVERY year (I had a hysterecomy 20 years before that) AND a mammogram EVERY year (no breast cancer history in family). I have an issue w/ radiation in my boobies. If there was any history of breast cancer, it'd be a different deal, ya know? And his exam? He was in the room with me for less than 2 minutes.
Sorry, I digress. Massive hot flashes, agh. What helped me the most was really cutting back on coffee or anything with caffeine, and a little fan on my night stand.

I had good luck with premarin. But I had a close friend that died from cancer, she begged me to get off of it. Her sis was a pharmacist and she wouldn't take it. I asked two other pharmacists, one said that's some nasty stuff. My doc said that the benefits outweighed the risks. Maybe so, but I'd rather try some more natural stuff.