AmyBuckley.com

Welcome

Since it's been two years that I've been ill and gathering information I feel that I should populate this site a bit before sending the word out that it exists.  Therefore, if you are reading this message just know that LOTS of information will be coming - as fast as my current 24/7 job allows, that job is a stay-at-home-parent of 3 kids under the age of 7.

Liver Gallbladder Cleanse

Last night and this morning I'm doing the Liver & Gallbladder Cleanse (I was given this file w/no author but found it was almost verbatum from Hulda Clark's book, The Cure for All Diseases, Pg. 555 - 558, I have added back a couple of items from Hulda Clark's version):  Download Liver-Gallbl Cleanse. 

I'm working on 'cleaning up' from my systemic yeast infection and other issues. I expected the cleanse to be a lot worse given it's description and instructions.  But I guess after eating the Candida Diet for 2 years, killing parasites for 1.5 years, exercising 3 or more times a week the whole time, doing a 3 week Kidney Cleanse only 14 days ago, and having on average three BMs a day previous to this cleanse - I suppose I might be the 'best case' scenario.  The worst case might be a person that the cleanse absolutely didn't work and he threw-up the whole concoction in the morning.  He was admittedly NOT in the 'great' shape I was previous to his cleanse.

Basically the cleanse cleans out your intestines and opens up your bile ducts via 2 doses of Epsom Salts the night before, then stimulates the bile ducts to release via the Olive Oil right before you go to sleep.  Over night lots (hopefully 100's to 1000's) of your gallstones, liver stones, and cholesterol crystals roll out of your open bile ducts into your intestines.  In the morning you clean our your intestines again with 2 more doses of Epsom Salts.

I would say I got out 100 - 150 stones and LOTS of 'Chaff' - cholesterol crystals.  Now for some further details on my experience:  The first two Epsom Salt drinks I waited for something to happen but it did not.  At 10pm I had a normal BM.  After drinking the olive oil mixture, and laying down perfectly still, I definitely felt the 'rolling marble' effect that Hulda Clark talked about.  I took 6 L-ornithine but still woke up at 2:30am to empty my very full bladder and tried to go back to sleep, felt a little nausea.  At 3am-ish I had a BM (of course mostly liquid now) and was able to sleep after that. (Note that when I've been sick 3 am seems to be when my bowels like to empty, so not making it through the night didn't surprise me).  In the morning there was no rush to go, but I went at 6am.  I drank the Epsom salts at 6am and 9:40am and followed that with the instructions of when and how to start eating.  I had another 6 visits to the bathroom between 7am and 10am.  And then another 7 BMs, from Noon to 9pm.  The next day I didn't have a BM at all - as I'm sure everything was solidifying.  And the 2nd day after the cleanse I got a few stones and some chaff with my normal BMs.  (One other note, as you may expect I was down 3 pounds the morning of the cleanse and that's got back to normal by the 4th day after the cleanse).

Now, 6 days after the cleanse, I would say my BMs are improved but it's still too early to note any other improvements . . . as with all things with your health - you just get to wait and see. 

My Story - The Longer Version

For the shortest version of My Story (that I could write) see My Story - Just the Facts.

For this Longer Version, let me summarize by dates the last 2 years and 4 months.  I'll TRY to keep it short.....and post it as-is for now and make improvements later.  Also, later I will break up different parts of My Story to expand on my thoughts and actions, explain my symptoms, and add more information (charts, test results, etc.).

First of all I should tell you that 'I never get sick'.  Yes the occasional cold or flu but nothing serious (just some ear infections when I was a toddler).  My parents and my maternal grandparents don't really get sick either.  Also, I love sports and have played them my whole life and continue to exercise when I'm not playing on a team.  I eat healthy compared to lots of people I know; including, I started eating a big salad once a day (back in college) because I felt that would be better for me/my health.  However, until this disaster I had no real idea about any alternative medicines (since I don't get sick I didn't really know about western medicine either!).  On with the story . . .

- October 25, 2007  
    Give birth to my 3rd child.  Natural childbirth, no drugs. My recovery is the best of the 3, until . . .

- November 9, 2007    (2 weeks later)
    VERTIGO/Dizzy - the room is spinning when I wake up and try to get out of bed.  My O.B., an MD, prescribes Meclizine (found in BonineTM and other products) over the phone.  12.5mg/4hours.  Call my regular MD if it still exists in 2 weeks.  Side effect: it makes you very tired.

- November 13, 2007  (4 days later)
    The Meclizine is not working.  My MD via her nurse on the phone prescribes Meclizine 25mg/8hours.  Even in my weak state I can point out that this is the same amount that isn't working!  Nurse is coarse with me and barks that I will have to be seen for any more than that to be 'prescribed'.  I try taking the larger dose at the broader intervals.
    My family (parents who were here to help after the birth and my husband) keeps trying to convince me that I just need to rest; that I'm still recovering from being pregnant and waking up all night long with the baby.  I spend about 18hours a day trying to rest and breastfeed the new born baby.  It's not helping.  I'm getting fed-up with resting that's not helping me feel rested!

- November 27, 2007  (2 weeks later)
    My help is gone and I now have responsibility for 3 kids under the age of 5 years - including the new born.
    Now I have cold symptoms, flu symptoms, I have a 103 degree fever, every time something moves in my intestines I get dizzy, I can't bend over without getting dizzy, my blood pressure is off when I swoop down low and then get up and lots of other crazy symptoms.  I'm in bad shape.  I take pity on myself and call the doctor's office.  I'm able to get in the same day with my MD.
She hears all the symptoms and asks to look at my breasts to see if there is any redness, heat, or lumps.  She guesses I have a bacteria infection - mastitis - and prescribes anti-biotics. It helps except I'm still having all kinds of digestive trouble (with foods I never had trouble with before).

- January 12, 2008  (10 weeks later)
    The same crazy symptoms are coming back again.  My MD calls in the anti-biotic for me (I only talk to her nurse).  The symptoms abate.

- February 6, 2008

    I talk to my MD on the phone - I tell her my theory that every time I'm fighting something off (flu, cold) my ear gets plugged up and I think it plugs up into my inner ear and I get dizzy throughout the day.  She prescribes Sudafed - 24hours a day/7 days a week.  Says it is fine to take it indefinitely (many people do for other ear problems) and it's fine for breast feeding the baby.     Side effect for me - it seriously drys you out!  Drinking massive amounts of water doesn't help and after about 6 weeks on it I start to get IBS symptoms (ie. constipation then diaherrea alternating), an anal fissure (I found out several months later this is what it was after flipping through a 1960's 'Medical Encyclopedia' of all things!), and having a BM gets quite painfull.  BUT I can't be off of it for more than 3 days without getting dizzy again.

- March 2008
    Lots of digestive problems.  Many nights of diarrhea at 3am.  Stomach often feels bad - nausea.  Still getting up with the baby to breast feed at night.  And in the morning taking care of the 3 toddlers.  But still exercising, because I always feel better afterwards.
    I start searching for what could be wrong with me.  I attend an Acupuncture talk on 'Allergies' at the YMCA where I work out.  His presentation did not help to convince me but his office is only 1 mile from my house.  I'll think about going after I figure out what's wrong with me and after the baby is done breastfeeding. . .
    From researching, it looks to me like I have either candida or gluten intolerance.  The symptoms are similar.  AND the symptoms seem all encompassing - my husband and to some degree I am very skeptical about the two problems.  They do seem like catch-all 'diagnosis'.

- April 2008     ENOUGH!
    A family of friends comes to visit from out of the country.  Of the 4 adults and 5 children I am the only one that gets massively ill - serious diaherrea starting at 3am.  No one else gets sick at all, including the two newborns.  I get no sleep.  Even after my friends arrive I'm still too 'excited' to go to sleep - as I learned later that's an adrenal problem.

    I've had enough.  SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH ME!!  I'm not listening to my husband's 'just wait, it will pass' any more!  I KNOW that going to Acupuncture is the right thing to do.  If no one is going to help me I'll do it myself!

- April 2008  First Acupuncture appointment.
    I tell my Acupuncturist that I need to grow more white blood cells to fight off germs (Acupuncture is proven to do this, I don't have the reference for it though), I have digestive problems, and I'm physically dizzy - which I think is coming from my inner ear.  He says he can help.

    Beginning this day I never have to take Sudafed or Bonine again.

    My acupuncture appointments are every other day for two weeks; then twice a day for

- May 12, 2008 
    Visit to Nutritionist.  I go to try to get a handle on what I should not be eating - having digestive issues (bloating, gas, loose stool) after everything I eat!  And I notice the good effects from Acupuncture are ruined by things I eat.  The Nutritionist uses two bio-resonance machines (ASYRA and SCIO) and muscle testing to come up with a list of foods to avoid and a list of vitamins/supplements I need.  I had never heard of either methods but co-workers of my husband had gone to him with good results for foods to avoid.
    NO foods come up as being above his 'avoid' limit!  He says I need way more protein.  And "Superfuel Plus" tests very well for me with muscle testing.  He recommends Standard Process Zymex (for digestive trouble) and Standard Process Catalyn (a multi-vitamin).  Via muscle testing he says I have too many bacteria, parasites, and fungus (ie. like yeast).   But I'm ok with viruses.  I'll scan-in the papers he gave me with the results at a later time.  I follow his recommendations.
    I go home and research the two machines - the SCIO creator is in trouble with the US Government.  But the ASYRA is an FDA Class II medical device and it blows my mind away!!  I immediately see that the Nutritionist is only using 1% of the capability of his machines!  Much more on this all over my blog . . .

- May 21, 2008  (14 weeks after the 2nd round of anti-biotics)

    Here come all the symptoms again - dizzy, nose stuffy/cold symptoms, fatigue, right side under my ribs is hurting, low blood pressure when I stand-up from squatting, etc.  The symptoms are a little better this time - due to the Acupuncture appointments.  I DO NOT want anti-biotics this time and have researched that enough to know I had killed off good bacteria too; so I find a pro-biotic to take and start replacing the good bacteria.

    I first cut out all white/refined sugar products.  I do experience some cravings and light headedness a few days after starting this.  Could be due to the yeast or could just be due to cutting out sugar.  

    Coincidentally, we installed a Reverse Osmosis 'R/O' water filtration system in April.  So I know I've minimized the amount of toxins/molds/etc. I'm drinking.  

Migraines

I've recently come across several ways to deal with Migraines and wanted to share them.  Here they are in no specific order:

1. Acupuncture - helps prevent migraines as well or better than medication (per a review of 22 studies).  Source: Prevention Magazine, Jan 2010, pg. 25.

2. Biofeedback - reduces frequency of migraines (per a review of 94 studies).  Source: Prevention Magazine, Jan 2010, pg. 25.

3. Potatoes - yes, a potato. Stops/lessens the migraine. Peel and cut one in half cover it all with water in a sealed container, let sit for 3 days in the refrigerator, remove potato and water can last up to two weeks stored in the refrigerator.  Drink the water at the earliest on-set of a migraine.    Source: A professor at my adult education class and supported by a student in the class.

4. Feverfew - friend of my Mother's was already doing acupuncture but insists after she started taking this herb daily her migraines have never come back. 

5. Butterbur - herb that can decrease the number of migraines.  Source: Prevention Magazine, Jan 2010, pg. 25.

6. Bioresonance - countless parasites, fungus, bacteria, etc. have side effects that include headaches.  Get rid of these by seeing a bioresonance practioner (improves your whole health at the same time!).  See this blog for some additional information on bioresonance.

Research these, see what might work for you, discuss with your doctor - and migraines be gone!

My Story - Just the Facts

Here is a super-quick summary of what has gone on with me the past 2.5 years.  For more details please see My Story - The Longer Version.

First of all I should tell you that I 'never get sick'.  Yes the occasional cold or flu but nothing serious (just some ear infections when I was a toddler).  My parents and my maternal grandparents don't really get sick either.  Also, I love sports and have played them my whole life and continue to exercise when I'm not playing on a team.  I eat healthy compared to lots of people I know; including I started eating a big salad once a day (back in college) because I felt that would be better for me/my health.  However, until this disaster I had no real idea about any alternative medicines (since I don't get sick I didn't really know about western medicine either!).  On with the story . . .

VERTIGO hits me two weeks after giving birth to my 3rd child; November 9, 2007.  2 different MD's have me cover it up with Meclizine (found in Bonine^TM and other products); doesn't really work and I develop lots of other symptoms so:

Round 1 of Anti-biotics works on lots of the symptoms for about 10 weeks.  Then my crazy symptoms all come back; every time something moves in my intestines I get dizzy, I can't bend over without getting dizzy, my blood pressure is off when I swoop down low and then get up and lots of other crazy symptoms (see Candida tab for more info. on that).

Round 2 of Anti-biotics works on most symptoms but the dizzy-ness keeps creeping in on me so:

I start Sudafed 24-7; stops the dizzy feeling but I start to get IBS symptoms (ie. constipation then diarrhea alternating), an anal fissure, and having a BM gets quite pain full.  BUT I can't be off the Sudafed for more than 3 days without getting dizzy again.

Round 3 of Crazy Symptoms returning but I don't want anti-biotics.  I've had it with my MD not addressing my crazy symptoms and everyone else blaming it on recovery from having a baby!  I start researching what's wrong with me; it looks to me like I have either candida or gluten intolerance.  And I know I need more blood cells to fight infections, since your count is lower after having a baby. 

April 2008 - I start Acupuncture and I am still going to this day. This is the start of getting better.

May 2008 -I visit a Nutritionist to try to get at my digestive troubles.  He has a Bio-resonance machine - I research it and am flabbergasted by what it does.  I'm 90% certain I have candida.  I start the strictest form of the Candida Diet and other diet restrictions (see Candida - What DO you eat?).  And then I try to start killing the Yeast with Grapefruit seed extract.

July 2008 - I find an NMD (Naturopathic Medical Doctor) - I have a rash on my chest and uppper back so bad it's scary (die-off effect from killing the yeast).  Especially scary while breast feeding my new born baby!  I do the Standard Process Cleanse and use Coconut Oil topically.  It works for the rash!

August 2008 - I visit 2 Chiropractors as it feels like something on the left side of my neck is blocking my Chi/blood flow at Acupuncture.  My top 2 vertebra are out of alignment.  It helps with Acupuncture.

March 2009 - I visit an Iridologist.  Worth it for the perspective it brings and the insight into my condition.

April 2009 - I find a new ND with a Bio-resonance Machine.  I start the REAL road to recovery.

January 2010 - I start this Blog.  I'm still seeing the ND with the Bio-resonance and I'm almost rid of the Candida.  You are all up to date.  Please read on in My Story for lots of important details.

Bio-resonance - History

One of the first 'Bio-resonance' machines was created in the 1950's by German Engineers who heard about what the Chinese were doing with Acupuncture points.  Acupuncture is based on stimulating or opening the body's energy points.  The smart German engineers said 'Where there is energy it can be measured'.  And they set about creating a machine to measure these supposed energy points on the body.  They were successful and found that acupuncture points have several times more electrical activity than a point on the skin only a fraction of an inch away.

Today the machines have evolved and many companies make their own versions for different purposes from stimulating the acupuncture points (electronic acupuncture) to using the device for overall health screenings (bio-resonance testing, electronic homeopathy).  It is the use of bio-resonance to improve a person's health that intrigues me.

Candida Diet

The question has come up again "What DO you eat?".  You can find lots of lists of Candida diets on the web and you will start to see repetition of the restricted food items.  One of the most comprehensive lists I found was in the book I HIGHLY recommend, Prescription for Nutritional Healing by Phyllis A. Balch.

My current diet is based on three things:

1. Candida Diet lists  

2. My Bio-resonance Nutritional Reading

3. My type from The Geno Type Diet  by Dr. Peter J. D'Adamo  

4. The tingling on the back of my neck and the twitching in my left ear when I ate certain foods.  

If I could find someone who uses the Bio-resonance machine to it's full capacity (as I intend to do in my practice) then #2, 3, & 4 would have been totally unnecessary.  As it stands, if I strictly follow these four food markers there would literally be NOTHING I could eat. While eating nothing could work for a few days I decided it wasn't a good long term plan, especially since I was breast feeding my newborn baby!

So I tried to gets lots of protein (to sustain me and the baby) while taking my carbohydrate count as low as possible, to stop the yeast. 

NMD

Naturopathic Medical Doctor - NMD - This term logically fits for US or Canadian Medical students graduating from Medical School at one of the 6 accredited Naturopathic Medical Schools in North America (1 more school is in the process of accreditation).  When students graduate from these four year schools they have the same education and training as a Family Physician (MD) with additional training/education on multiple naturopathic modalities.  The graduates can then take State Board Exams to get licenses in states that license ND's or NMD's. If a state does not license ND/NMDs then the person is limited in what they can do for patients but they can immediately go into practice.   CNME (the board that the US Dept. of Education recognizes to accredit Naturopathic Medical Schools) explains that anyone graduating with a 'Doctorate of Naturopathic Medicine' degree can call themselves an "NMD".  However, only the state of AZ currently confers a medical license termed "NMD".

WARNING:  If a state does not license ND/NMDs then any one can legally call themselves a Naturopathic Doctor (ND or NMD) no matter what training they have or lack there of!! There are lots of ND degrees for sale - patient beware! 

For more links and information on accreditation, one of the accredited schools, SCNM, has a great summary page.