Just now posting!

[flyingpositive]

Hello to everyone from Fla.!
I have been a member since June, but just now posting! I was 100% raw for 4 months then my RSD flared up in my rt. hand & I couldn't do a lot of chopping etc.. I started eating some cooked again. I have learned SO much just by reading everyone's posts! I have done a lot of lurking on other boards and this is by far the best!! Kudos to all of the great moderators as well!! I don't post much, but I read the posts almost every day (it's addicting!).

Hope everyone has a Blessed weekend!,
Angel

[spicyfull]

Hope your hand is doing better now. You can just start now, get back into eating RAW. Have you thought about investing in a Food Proccesor. It can sure make WORK, play. You can purchase one for under $50-and lower. I think it is worth the investment.

Do keep reading, READING can bring a World to your door. Have you ordered Alissa's Book? That is some more informative reading.

I wish you everything you need to Stay RAW.......Welcome to MY World......

[luckitri]

Welcome! I don't know what RSD is so maybe it flaring up is a way of detoxing it? Hope so!

[rawpriestess]

WELCOME TO THE BOARDSand good to have you posting

[Doe]

Angel, thank you for posting and letting us know you are here in the background. Flyingpositive sounds encouraging. Sorry to hear about your health problems. Many come to raw for that reason. However, it can present an obstacle at times. The thing is not to let it stop you, just keep trying to find some way around it.


For example, at one time years ago I ate a large package of cherry tomatoes and a small package of sliced mushrooms everyday. It was just what I wanted, handy, no prep, grabbed it in the morning and took it with me into my volunteer work, ate right out of the packages, did the same thing the next day. This lasted a long time maybe a year or longer and was the beginning of my raw journey.


Some people like bananas and eat a lot of them. Just peel and eat. Some here get ready made salads. Not trying to say do this or that, just trying to maybe jog your mind to think of what you like that may be easier to deal with.


Please give us a basic explanation of RSD. I have MCS (Multiple Chemical Sensitivity) and Dyslexia – neither really affects my ability to eat raw. Really most of us do have obstacles though, for some it’s location, or limited income, for others it may be opposition in the family.


Have you seen the FL thread? There is a lot of interest here. Some in the list are not regular posters either. That is fine; it's nice to know we are all here and on the journey. This link (http://www.rawfoodtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?p=208521#post208521) is to the latest list and map. There are several pages of posts though. Maybe you’ve already read them. If you let me know which section of the map you are in I would love to add you to the list.

Please let us know how we might be able to help you,
Teri S

[flyingpositive]

Hi spicyful,
Thank you for your warm welcome. I do indeed have a great food processor. When I first went raw I bought a 14Cup cuisinart & a 9 tray Excalibur dehydrator. They are both invaluable! I eat a lot of salad & the processor doesn't do to well for me on that. I also purchased Alissa's book & DVD-- Awsome! I since have purchased 5 or 6 addtl. books. We have a good group of raw foodists (that is really growing!) here in Orlando that always share a lot of good info.. You are so right there is always so much to constantly read & learn about the raw world!

[flyingpositive]

Doe,
Thank you for your welcome, everyone's posts are so kind & thoughtful! I was diag w/ RSD (reflex sympathetic dystrophy) in Sept. It is a very painful nerve condition which is caused by trauma to an area. The crazy part is normally the original trauma is not usually very bad. RSD comes after. In my case It was an auto accident. This website explains this horrible condition ( I hate to call it a disease) www.rsdrx.com.There is no cure for it, but it can be put into remission. I went to 3 different Dr.'s for opinions & they all agreed. The thermography test proved it to me. Anyway, the area affected by RSD usually swells and there is a burning sensation that feels like you drained all the blood out & replaced it w/ lighter fluid & lit it! Also the area is very very sensative to the touch. I mean sometimes the air blowing directly on it is too much to bear. The bedsheets are too much sometimes... you get the picture. If ice is used on the area it causes lesions & will make it spread. Also if any surgery is done in the area it makes it much much worse & will also make it spread. Needles also are a no-no. If I get blood drawn or have acupuncture, it has to be on the other side of my body. The normal course of treatment is a bunch of sterroids, nerve blocks, and then pain pump. If it is diagnosed correctly w/in the first 6 months it is crucial.. I am fortunate, mine was. I am one of the lucky ones.. I am "Ms natural" & when the neuro. wanted me to take the steroids & do the nerve block I told him I wanted to try all natural approaches 1st. Believe it or not he actually "listened".I went back to my D.O. (she's so wonderful!) she put me on 7 different homeopathics (stronger than normal dosage) 2 times a day. I no longer have the awful burning, stinging sensation & the sensetivity is greatly improving. If I miss a day, the symptoms start to slowly return. I go back to the neuro. on the 29th. He is going to be so surprised.. he told me he has never had a patient that was able to manage the pain naturally before... now he has! This condition also goes by Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) & is often misdiagnosed as something else such as in the hand/wrist area it is often misdiag. as carpel Tunnel syndrome then surgery is done which only makes it much much worse & then it spreads... The website listed above is incredible.. the Dr. that posted this info. had done over 30 yrs. of research & treating patients w/ this. He is one of a very few in the country. He is here in Fla. but retired last yr. The Dr. that worked w/him for 7 yrs. is still in practice in Palm Bay & sees patients that come from other countries often. Sorry this got a bit wordy.. Teri, I have read some of your old posts about your husband's horible pain & this came to my mind. I know he has suffered so terribly & you as well. I hope he is getting some relief & God bless you both for being so strong through such a time. Thank you for all your suggestions. When I feel really good, I try to make things & freeze them which helps too.
Have an uplifting & incredible day!
Angel

[flyingpositive]

Raw Priestess,
Thank you for your welcome! I have tried many of your recipes & they are all wonderful! I can't wait until your book comes out! It will go right beside Alissa's on my bookshelf! I've read many of your posts-- you are one busy lady!!!
Have a great day!
Angel

[Doe]

flyingpositive,

Thank you for the info. Yes, hubby has the burning pain in his right side from the small of his back down the back of the leg to his heel. Your description was very accurate. His entire right side from the waist down was black on the thermogram. Of course that was decades ago.

Sorry to hear you have this problem. Did you read about Sweetgoddess? Her nerves were severed during surgery. She had no feeling at all in that area for years. Yet, after being raw for some time the feeling returned and it feels normal. That is such good news for those whose nerve damage leaves them in constant pain.

RP does have some wonderful recipes.

Teri S

[flyingpositive]

Teri,
Are you under any treatment for your MCS? or is there a treatment for it? Your husband's thermography showed black, did they say what the temp. difference was from that side compared to the other? My hand was black on my thermography also & there was a 5 degree temp. difference from my lt. hand. The Doc said even one degree was significant clinically. Is he able to do any walking or any thing to get blood flow back to the area? I did not read about Sweetgodess. I'll have to do a search for her post. So many people have been through so much on this board. It really makes you find the positive learning experience from your own doesn't it? Are you still in the Ocala area?

Angel

[Doe]

Angel, here is the post made by sweetgoddess: http://www.rawfoodtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?p=18276&highlight=nerves#post18276

I e-mailed her some time later and asked how much recovery she had and she wrote back that it was total recovery. She is still one of our moderators, though she doesn't post often. She works for Alissa now and is likely very busy most of the time. She is a very sweet person.

It was explained that the thermogram measured temp differences as various colors. I don't remember any specific number of degrees. The Dr having the test done was trying to prove there was nothing wrong with hubby. He got a shock!

He does walk. After several years of desperately trying to get relief from the pain he just learned to live with it. He has not had a minute of relief in 26 years. Sometimes he can ignore it better than others, however, it is always there.

We are still in north central florida area. At the moment above SR-40.

Teri S

[Doe]

Angel,

For the MCS I avoid chemicals to the best of my ability. I use no household products, instead I use baking soda. I use no personal care products, only water and maybe baking soda. At times I have to wear a carbon filter mask to avoid inhailing other people's perfumes, hair spray, makeup, shampoo, laundry detergent, freshly dry cleaned clothing, and such.

We have several large air polluters north of us. Sometimes hubby and I wake up in the middle of the night and our eyes and sinuses burn, then we know someone has illegally blown their stacks. Once I had to keep my eyes closed the whole day, it burned to bad to open them. So I stayed in bed and felt my way to the bathroom.

Teri S

[flyingpositive]

Teri,
Thank you for your thread info re sweetgodess. It seems that she has really come a long way. Your MCS must be very challenging. I know I avoid going down the chemical isle in the stores. I live in an area of Orlando that is just begining to be developed so there's not much industry in this area- thankfully. It's great that your husband can walk some. I try to walk 5 miles 4-5 times a week & that really helps to force the bloodflow to my hand. They are saying it is going to get down in the 30's in the next few nights, are you still indoors in the evenings?

[Doe]

Well, he can walk as in getting from here to there. He isn't supposed to stand or sit for more than 15 min at the time (24 year old instructions) and as long as he keeps to that pretty well he's better off. He is constantly up and down, moving and changing his position. We used to love taking hikes and they did him good mentally and emotionally. He really can't take long walks now. Yes we are inside. Thanks for asking.

Teri S