Amy On The Radio

[Gruntled]

Yes, you and your mom get well.
However, if you feel the need to speak in an unfiltered manner you're in the right place.

[73s]

Look for you tomorrow night.

[Dr. MD MD]

More specifically, Mom fell again. She has had bad vertigo from time to time since going through chemo two years ago.
We think she's broken a finger but she came down pretty bad on a recent surgical site.
Last year she fell and broke her leg.

I'm also not feeling great. I had a regular shot today at the doctor's office, and it's caused a moderate, somewhat painful adverse reaction.
Thus I have no verbal filter right now, and could paint poetic landscapes with my salty language.

My dad had a bad fall at the start of this year. Hang in there, Amy! It ain't easy but you try to take it that way, anyway. 

[PrairieGhost]

Replay of Monday, May 17th â€" Walter Olkewicz (Twin Peaks) tonight. Enjoy if you haven't heard it!

8pm CDT - http://www.deeptalkradio.com

Show page: http://amyontheradio.com/2016/05/16/monday-may-16th-walter-olkewicz-twin-peaks/

[73s]

Aww bummer! Hope Amy's show gets on it's feet next week.  Missing it ☹️

[PrairieGhost]

Aww bummer! Hope Amy's show gets on it's feet next week.  Missing it ☹️

Things will be fine. No worries

[JesusJuice]

Is this because the poll was deleted? I didn't do it. Other polls were deleted. Pinned threads were unpinned. Other threads were merged. Other things just seem "off". I feel violated somehow.

Anyway feel better, Amy.

[Ciardelo]

Wow! I had some chicken wings at Twin Peaks just this afternoon!

[( Amy )]

Thank's again everyone for all of the well wishes and support.  Really love you guys.

Figured I would drop by and give you all an update on the happenings of these past few days.

As for family:

Mom seems to be doing better after the fall, but still having vertigo. She's stubborn as hell and there's no asking her not to be up and around.
If she's reading this--- MOM. Please. Take it easy!

I think Dad is going in next week to have his leg aneurysms evaluated. He, too, is stubborn--- so I'm sure he'll be out mowing the lawn this weekend anyway in spite of me telling him not to do so. Again, Mom if you're reading this--- give Dad the Spock brow of disapproval.

As for me:

The past 36 hours have been a bit of a nightmare. Since receiving a necessary shot yesterday to aggressively combat endometriosis, to put it bluntly, I've been in full pelvic spasm this entire time.
Imagine mutant tissue that's supposed to line one organ, growing outside of said organ in a fleshy web-like fashion, attempting to for one reason or another, fuse other organs together. It's freaky. It looks alien. Hardly ever shows up on imaging. And it feels like total hell.

The spasms are a typical side effect that last only a few days (gets worse before getting better) when either first starting treatment or if there's been an interruption in therapy. Working normally, it's supposed to eventually prevent all of this.

The problem was, my docs were about three weeks behind in giving it to me again this time around due to dropping the ball on insurance preauths. It's setup now so it shouldn't be like this the next time or any other time after that. When I started this show, I expected a smooth transition to the next round of therapy, but then this happened. It's awful and I wouldn't wish this hell on anyone.

I was prepared somewhat to deal with all of that again, until I got up this afternoon and couldn't sit in the studio office chair for more than a few minutes at a time. So bed rest and a date with a heating pad were in order. I figured I'd use this time to do some pre-production research and contact some future guests. TJ setup the replay.

Just when I thought I'd had enough--- shortly thereafter, I started experiencing dizziness, double vision, and some moderate chest & arm pain.

I was advised to go to the ED at that point. They checked me out. Chest x-ray, CT scan of my head, EKG, and all else were negative so that's a good thing.
The double-vision, though it's never happened to me quite like that before, was likely just a migraine precursor. It has since passed.

Chest pain can be a common side effect of the drug when progestins come into play, and it's something that's happened to me before with other therapies.

So there's a good explanation for pretty much everything that's going on at this moment, and there's nothing to really to be worried about. It's just frustrating as hell and rather painful. I'm still alive. Mom and Dad are okay. We all sort-of take care of each other.

I figured I'd share though. If there are any ladies out there who are going through endo too, you're not alone.

[akwilly]

Jeez Amy I feel for what you are going through.

[( Amy )]

Jeez Amy I feel for what you are going through.

Thank you. I just want to be transparent about it and keep you in the loop.

While it would be nice to have taken a lovely leisurely extended Memorial Day Weekend off, I'm not lazing around. It bothers me that I'm having to take so much time even during a new show.

When I'm not on the air even on weekends, I thoroughly miss doing this.

Also, I guess it helps to talk a bit about this stuff a little with people who I've come to consider as friends now.
Not looking for sympathy, but this is a community. We all have our own stories and experiences.

Just want to let you know, I'm here for each and every one of you too.

[73s]

It's your call but given everything I wonder if you're better off just re-launching the show in a month or so and just give yourself a break? Aren't you also finishing up a doctorate?  Just seems like too much going on, IMHO.

[WOTR]

Wow... I had to look that one up (thank goodness the Mayo clinic puts info online.)

While reading the article, I remembered people offering Art free, unsolicited advice on back pain and health issues.  I had never heard of this condition- but the internet can make anybody an instant specialist on any subject... So, when I got to the part that said "Your doctor may recommend that you take an over-the-counter pain reliever, such as the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) ibuprofen", I knew I had the answer... 

I combined the thought of offering that nugget of wisdom with your warning that you are in an "unfiltered" and salty language mode.  I then imagined the response if, during the next open lines, I should call up and offer that helpful (and Mayo clinic approved) tip.

Seriously, I hope that whatever therapy your doctor has you on works wonders and is effective, and I hope your mother recovers as well.  My mother had a bout with vertigo a few years back and it absolutely knocked her on her ass for a few weeks before improvement.

*** Amy's mother... If you are reading this, I hope you feel well soon and wish you the best. 

[Gruntled]

I had benign positional vertigo a long time ago.
It was like you were totally drunk and the room was spinning around real fast.
Brought me to my knees.

Fixed at a Sports medicine facility by the "Epiley Manuver " sp ?
What happens is the fluid in your ears gets out of whack and has to be repositioned.
Not saying this is what is wrong with your Mom but if  she gets no relief might be something to check out.

[Walks_At_Night]

Get well soon Amy and Amy's parents!

[Dr. MD MD]

I think Dad is going in next week to have his leg aneurysms evaluated. He, too, is stubborn--- so I'm sure he'll be out mowing the lawn this weekend anyway in spite of me telling him not to do so. Again, Mom if you're reading this--- give Dad the Spock brow of disapproval.

Don't forget to tell her to say, "Highly illogical." When she does that. 

The past 36 hours have been a bit of a nightmare. Since receiving a necessary shot yesterday to aggressively combat endometriosis, to put it bluntly, I've been in full pelvic spasm this entire time.
Imagine mutant tissue that's supposed to line one organ, growing outside of said organ in a fleshy web-like fashion, attempting to for one reason or another, fuse other organs together. It's freaky. It looks alien. Hardly ever shows up on imaging. And it feels like total hell.

You're just too bright for this world, Amy...and the aliens know it. They want you and are attempting to make you one of them. 

Seriously though, I hope you and your parents are all feeling better soon and that your problems will at least become manageable for you. Rest up because I hope to hear another show from you soon. 

[Juan]

Get well all.
Try tooomuhrick. Maybe some baking soda.

[( Amy )]

It's your call but given everything I wonder if you're better off just re-launching the show in a month or so and just give yourself a break? Aren't you also finishing up a doctorate?  Just seems like too much going on, IMHO.

Nope not quite there just yet, but yes---it is a lot going on at once. I'm not going to let it keep me down though.

Wow... I had to look that one up (thank goodness the Mayo clinic puts info online.)

While reading the article, I remembered people offering Art free, unsolicited advice on back pain and health issues.  I had never heard of this condition- but the internet can make anybody an instant specialist on any subject... So, when I got to the part that said "Your doctor may recommend that you take an over-the-counter pain reliever, such as the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) ibuprofen", I knew I had the answer... 

I combined the thought of offering that nugget of wisdom with your warning that you are in an "unfiltered" and salty language mode.  I then imagined the response if, during the next open lines, I should call up and offer that helpful (and Mayo clinic approved) tip.

I could do a whole episode on this. I certainly don't mind unsolicited advise from friends, but it's bad when it's coming from a professional who should know better.

I had benign positional vertigo a long time ago.
It was like you were totally drunk and the room was spinning around real fast.
Brought me to my knees.

Fixed at a Sports medicine facility by the "Epiley Manuver " sp ?
What happens is the fluid in your ears gets out of whack and has to be repositioned.
Not saying this is what is wrong with your Mom but if  she gets no relief might be something to check out.

That seems to be a good method, if that's the case with her.
http://thesgem.com/2015/02/sgem108-you-spin-me-right-round-baby-like-benign-paroxysmal-positional-vertigo/
Thanks a bunch. I'll let my Mom know.

Don't forget to tell her to say, "Highly illogical." When she does that. 


You're just too bright for this world, Amy...and the aliens know it. They want you and are attempting to make you one of them. 

Seriously though, I hope you and your parents are all feeling better soon and that your problems will at least become manageable for you. Rest up because I hope to hear another show from you soon. 

I'd hope that a race far more technologically advanced than ours would indeed have already mapped the endo growth gene and repurposed endo for something useful like an ex-vivo substrate for biomedical applications (i.e. - protecting organs grown in a lab from pluripotent stem cells). Don't think for a second I haven't thought of that, myself. If nothing else, that would make for a good horror film.

I'm trying to rest up. Again, it's frustrating.

[Dr. MD MD]

I'd hope that a race far more technologically advanced than ours would indeed have already mapped the endo growth gene and repurposed endo for something useful like an ex-vivo substrate for biomedical applications (i.e. - protecting organs grown in a lab from pluripotent stem cells). Don't think for a second I haven't thought of that, myself. If nothing else, that would make for a good horror film.

It's exactly that kind of thinking where the breakthroughs come. The CRISPR technique that's now revolutionizing the world of genetics was discovered when someone got curious about what the junk was in what was considered junk DNA. Smart cookies keep digging. 

Feel better soon! 

[CornyCrow]

Amy,

Food sensitivities have been know to do strange things.  Many people have milk sensitivities and soy products have been seen to have caused growths. 

If you have an Md. in your health plan who is also an alternative health practitioner(complimentary doctor) you might consider paying him/her a visit.  Often it's the foods we like and have the most often that cause problems.

I suggest this because I've had problems with both dairy and soy that caused odd symptoms of which 'regular' doctors did not seem to know the origin and when I stopped both of these all the symptoms just vanished. 

Good luck to you and I hope you and your parents feel better soon. 

[( Amy )]

Amy,

Food sensitivities have been know to do strange things.  Many people have milk sensitivities and soy products have been seen to have caused growths. 

If you have an Md. in your health plan who is also an alternative health practitioner(complimentary doctor) you might consider paying him/her a visit.  Often it's the foods we like and have the most often that cause problems.

I suggest this because I've had problems with both dairy and soy that caused odd symptoms of which 'regular' doctors did not seem to know the origin and when I stopped both of these all the symptoms just vanished. 

Good luck to you and I hope you and your parents feel better soon.

While I appreciate the advice, there are no testable and repeatable dietary precursors known to treat, prevent, or cure, endometriosis.
Also, endometriosis is not a growth or tumor. It's a type of tissue normally found on the inside of the uterus (the endometrium) but for one reason or another, genetics sometimes dictate that it can grow outside of this organ and wind up most anywhere in the body in women.

I will try to say this as gently as I can.
I take a very dim view to CAM as I see a lot of people get the wool pulled over their eyes by so-called professionals and "experts" making bold and oft blanket health claims. This is a topic of public health which I feel VERY passionate about because I've seen terrible things happen to friends who rely on CAM in substitute for evidence-based medicine. Some of them have nearly lost their lives thinking an oil or wonderful cure-all supplement or dietary claim would heal their incurable disease. I want to emphasize--- they. nearly. lost. their. lives.

Speaking of salty language, never turn on "The Doctors," "Oz," or "Dr. Phil" with me in the room unless you want to set me off. It would make for good entertainment but I find it absolutely appalling what some of these people get away with saying and still manage to keep their licenses and places on respected boards.

This is me being blunt. CAM is only recognized by insurers for the psychological benefits of placebos. I very nearly started a wikipedia-like thing for pseudomedicine but those roles have been filled by other providers that seem to care about things like bold health claims which can indeed do harm to people. If you ever want some great opinions on these topics, head over to https://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/ for opinions from people like Dr. Steven Novella (clinical neurologist from Yale) and Dr. David Gorski (clinical oncologist, researcher, and skeptical champion of bold health claims).
Dr. Amy Tuteur (SkepticalOB.com) is another favorite of mine. She's contributed to some of my articles in the past.

For many years I would take a very militant approach to family members offering up the latest advice from television, magazines, blogs, and social media. It took me awhile to figure out that it's better to explain the aspects of why I get so upset through providing them with better resources for evidence-based medicine--- explaining what we know, what we don't know, and when it's reasonably appropriate to find a new provider.

When my Mom was first diagnosed with cancer, I was very blunt with her about the fact that complimentary alternative and faith-based medicine benefits are extremely marginal. I explained to her the notion of placebos, how they can sometimes help, but how they aren't a reliable source of treatment. When we didn't like one answer about waiting several months to see a doctor, I sent her to another one and she had her surgery the next day. She's been two years cancer free.

Evidence-based medicine isn't perfect, but I often find that more people run into problems when they encounter a provider who DOESN'T stay up to date with the latest in evidence-based medicine. While we joke about turmeric (toooomeric) no joke--- I had an obgyn suggest it to me one time along with his special product line of "homeopathic solutions". When I asked him how he managed to keep a practice treating women with endometriosis, I learned that --- and this is a direct quote, he says to me, "Well, I just usually only deliver babies. I really don't know how to treat endometriosis or where to begin."

Where there is a definitive lack of knowledge surrounding something "incurable", people who have no idea what they're selling see this as an open opportunity to try to sell the world some new diet, some new supplement, some new oil to rub on your forehead, and some new bottle of magic water.
So this is why I question all claims and anyone who defines themselves an authority of health, no matter what school they attended, or what anecdotal evidence they have to provide "in practice".

If a new drug or therapy comes out to market, I read the trials for efficacy. I read the peer-reviews. If it seems a little off, I refer back to numerous friends who are physicians and actively participate in reviewing/bringing non-efficacious claims to the attention of the medical community at-large.
We will be having several of them on the show in the coming months.

Now specifically, let's discuss lactose intolerance and soy allergies.

These two things exist. The less lactose you intake, the less your body is able to handle lactose. This is a fact based on evidence.
People can develop outright allergies to nearly anything too(i.e. - swell up, hives, anaphylaxis). Now I want to note--- there is a distinct difference between a food allergy and a dietary intolerance. Despite what you might read on Mercola (gives me the heebie-geebies just mentioning it) or from Food Babe (she's a proven source of terrible data and uneducated fear-mongering advice) or even what you might see or hear on TV, there is no evidence to show that X food was a causal precursor to the growth of a tumor. Now. If you eat a lot of fast food, processed crap, and have a poor diet overall, these things can impact your health. I'm not saying it's impossible to have an intolerance to soy. However, soy, just like gluten and other things have gone under the gun by pop health claimants without a great deal of evidence or ways to test these things.

Consider this for a moment. For many years before I knew I had endometriosis, I would on occasion retain several pounds of fluid in my abdomen. My grandmother told me she had an intolerance to night-shade plants which would cause her to "retain water". I cut potatoes and tomato products out of my diet for several years. I felt better for a little while, because I wasn't eating a ton of complex carbohydrates in place of proteins and better food choices (since carbs are broken down into sugar over a longer period of time, potatoes can be kinda crappy for your blood sugar). I didn't know this at the time because I had not yet taken Basic Nutrition in college from a Registered Dietician. This worked for several months until I learned what I had, and it didn't derive from a potato. I'd later learn that cutting tomatoes out were pointless, and potatoes are okay to consume in moderation depending upon both diet and lifestyle (exercise).

In spite of how passionate I feel about evidence-based health, believe me when I say I've cut every major food group out of my diet at some point to see if it has had any effect on this disease. I've tried every vitamin before I learned that most vitamins are comprised of sawdust and fillers. I've even tried homeopathy---knowing it's all based on dilutions and magical thinking. If I offend anyone with this post, I hope I offend them enough to want to research and find better sources of health information. There is no harm in asking these questions, and I'm absolutely not at all offended by your compassion in wanting to help me out.

If you have a suggestion, I'll research it. It's what I do.

EDIT:

I hope my post reply didn't come across as chewing you ear off.

Thank you for your concerns for me and my family. I want to re-emphasize, that means a great deal to me.

I feel passionate about my positions because I care about people. I care about you, and I care about the rest of anybody who may seek advice from a trusted source. I'm just careful and skeptical because I only want the best for people. I'll take the time to research anything.

More On Soy:
Soy has been known to cause some incidence of gastric symptoms, but most research into its benefits have been done in eastern countries where generations have consumed certain types of soy for thousands of years. I'm not sure what sort of intolerance you've experienced and won't ask you for your health history as its none of my business.

I would imagine true soy intolerance though to be almost like the introduction of refined sugars and alcohol to Native American populations, who suffer from an epidemic of diabetes and alcoholism. When I worked briefly with public health authorities around Cherokee Nation, and these were the two big concerns up there. Point being, if it hasn't been a part of our regional diets for very long, we should probably look into the possibilities that certain intolerances could occur.

Corn is another one. While corn wasn't a large part of European diets, it became a staple in the Southeastern US---so much to the point that diets overly rich in corn decades ago would cause a disease called Pellagra. But it wasn't corn's fault, necessarily. It happened because of a dietary niacin deficiency and was characterized by the three D's - Dermatitis, diarrhea, and dementia.

Some studies I've been long interested in on Pellagra happened around the 1960's. In one representative sample, several thousand people who were diagnosed schizophrenic were tested and found that their bodies lacked the capability of processing niacin-rich diets into NADH+. When NAD+ was biosynthesized in a lab and given in an injectable form to another large sample, symptoms of schizophrenia disappeared. The ones who took an oral supplement showed no benefit outside of placebo.

Interesting though to note, when we think about diets and deficiencies. It's not always the food's fault.

/end superlong Bellgab post

[A Whole Skeptic]

Wow. How you have the energy to do the research, deal with illness and family and everything else at the same time, boggles my mind.

Hang in there.

[Richard Groyper]

Wow. How you have the energy to do the research, deal with illness and family and everything else at the same time, boggles my mind.

Hang in there.

My mind is boggled by you posting here. First time?

[( Amy )]

Wow. How you have the energy to do the research, deal with illness and family and everything else at the same time, boggles my mind.

Hang in there.

It's A Whole!!!

Wow. Great to see my other favorite skeptic around.

Everyone welcome A Whole from #DMTalk

[CornyCrow]

If I offend anyone with this post, I hope I offend them enough to want to research and find better sources of health information. There is no harm in asking these questions, and I'm absolutely not at all offended by your compassion in wanting to help me out.

If you have a suggestion, I'll research it. It's what I do.

I'm sorry that I may have impressed you as an air-head.  I have rarely read Mercola and don't watch those tv programs that you've mentioned.

I have had serious problems that specialists were perplexed about and thought it would hurt little if I tried other approaches, so long as they were not invasive ones.  I guess I got lucky.  I certainly do not think that our current knowledge of the world is complete.  There are things that may happen for which we have no explanation.  Of course there will be those who take advantage of such situations. 

If I had a cancer diagnosis I would go to Anderson or Sloane.  This is nothing to fool around with.  I would also look into the treatment of certain cancers with certain viruses.  I think there is a lot of experimentation going on in the Mayo Clinic with viruses.  VICE (tv) had a segment on this. 

[( Amy )]

I'm sorry that I may have impressed you as an air-head.  I have rarely read Mercola and don't watch those tv programs that you've mentioned.

I have had serious problems that specialists were perplexed about and thought it would hurt little if I tried other approaches, so long as they were not invasive ones.  I guess I got lucky.  I certainly do not think that our current knowledge of the world is complete.  There are things that may happen for which we have no explanation.  Of course there will be those who take advantage of such situations. 

If I had a cancer diagnosis I would go to Anderson or Sloane.  This is nothing to fool around with.  I would also look into the treatment of certain cancers with certain viruses.  I think there is a lot of experimentation going on in the Mayo Clinic with viruses.  VICE (tv) had a segment on this.

No doubt. Looking to diet is an easy thing, depending on the nature of what's happening. I just wanted to note that I developed a belief about something that wasn't actually the underlying precursor to my own issue. If you're having luck with cutting soy and lactose, that's great. I'd suggest maybe consulting with an RD though who may be able to help provide better answers. I'm not licensed to give that kind of advice. RD's tend to be up on the latest research into the "why" aspect of certain food intolerances. Also, I'd hate to think that if there were some other underlying issue they might spot as a health professional, that it would be totally ignored.

As for cancer and viruses, I've seen some of that recently. There was also this article I covered in the news last week.
We now know how breast cancer gets into bone marrow, and perhaps how we might stop it in the future.
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/05/160525161344.htm

[A Whole Skeptic]

My mind is boggled by you posting here. First time?

No, I've posted on the internets before.

[Richard Groyper]

No, I've posted on the internets before.

[chefist]

I would recommend at least 20 oz of fresh vegetable n fruit juice daily. Heavy on beet, beet greens, collard greens, ginger, cilantro, bok Choi, cucumbers,lightly sweetened with whatever fruits you like...

I had an auto immune skin rash for two years...once I started juicing that all went away.

Couldn't hurt to try.

[73s]

For anyone interested, for evidence-based information concerning food and health, I'd recommend checking out the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics ("AND"), the association for registered dietitians in the US.  There is also the NIH which has a wealth of online information. Mayo Clinic is another trusted resource and WebMD isn't bad (but never my top choice).

I'm a dietetics student myself. Not an RD yet but close (have to complete a year long internship of practical training). 

As for soy, there is reasearch looking into the beneficial effects of its phytoestrogens on cancer, but nothing is definitive. Many nutrition studies rely on associations. Causation is almost impossible to prove due to ethical constraints with human test subjects. Animals can be studied but the effects on them are not always transferrable to humans.

I have not yet heard of ill effects of soy, in general, but intolerances and allergies can happen to many people with many foods.

An intolerance is usually a case of lacking a needed enzyme to properly digest a food. An allergy is another beast altogether and triggers an immune response which can be dangerous (the whole anaphylactic shock situation with a windpipe shutting off, etc). Many people toss the two terms around interchangibly but they are different. People around the world are usually born with the lactase enzyme to digest milk but some (a majority, actually) stop producing this enzyme at some point in their childhood and become "lactose intolerant". This can cause gas and bloating, which itself is actually caused by your gut bacteria working to digest that lactose for you and giving off gas as a byproduct.

Also, unfortunately supplements are not regulated by the FDA. So you can't be sure what's really in them or in what amounts. Prescription drugs are regulated but you can't normally get multivitamins and other supplements via prescription. For more details on this you can actually just go to the FDAs webpage and read about it, they give warnings to consumers about supplements.

I also hate Dr. Oz and I do not like the half baked studies that are poorly described in the news media. They confuse people, and then we have to explain what was not said or was reported incorrectly.

Just thought I'd add to the health-geek talk 🙂. (at the risk of being seen as my Avatar again)