A "Sort of" Book Club

Donna and I have been reading books and then watching the movie version of it. This week we read Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte. We were able to find five different movie versions from the 1940's to 2003. We watched three of them in one day and two another day. It was funny watching one version because of the horrible script. We were constantly making fun of it and commenting on the important plot sections that were rewritten or removed under the guise of "creative license." Granted it can't be easy putting a 500+ page classic into a 2 - 3.5 hour movie, but at least staying to the plot should be a screenwriter's priority. It is sad in one way because the worst of the bunch was the hollywood version starring William Hurt. I don't think I can watch another movie starring him without remembering how absolutely horrible his version of Jane Eyre is.

We are open to book suggestions!

Sprained Wrist

Okay, how does one sprain their wrist picking garden produce? I'm not quite sure myself, but I am the talented one who did it.

I think it happened when I twisted a zuchini from its stem and ended up twisting my wrist instead.

Processed food for 10 hours today. I'm tired and well stocked!

Pharmaceutical Company Pawns versus Health

For the last few years I have been living with a messed up thyroid, so 4 years ago I finally decided to get it tested. The normal range for the thyroid test is between 0.45 - 4.67.

Four years ago my result was 19. The doctor, without even consulting me, scheduled me for surgery. I found out about it when the hospital called the "day before the surgery" to tell me what to do to prep for it. I told them a mistake was made and I wasn't having any surgery. Needlesstosay I never went back to that doctor.

The next doctor I went to told me I needed to go on thyroid medication for the rest of my life. I told him I wouldn't do that and that I was going to try natural ways of correcting my thyroid. He told me I was an idiot. Needlesstosay...

I started researching and testing alternatives on my own.

Eighteen months later I decide to have another thyroid test to see how my alternative therapy was doing, so I had to choose another doctor. The doctor I choose was a new doctor with a brand new practice - a young women who I hoped would have some respect for women. Well, she ended up being a worse misogynist than most male doctors in town. When I discussed with her any other possible options for my condition, she would only discuss the various pharmaceuticals on the market. When I asked if there were any food studies relative to my condition, she actually yelled at me and said, "If you don't want to take a medication for your thyroid, why are you coming to see me?" Good Point! Needlesstosay...
Good news though - my thyroid test result was down to 9 - a drop of 10 points.

Obviously my alternative therapy was working. I stopped doing it about 8 months ago when I "felt" better. I wanted (no, I needed) proof for myself that my thyroid was in fact okay, so last week I had another thyroid test and the result was 4.59--in NORMAL range. The doctor I have now is respectful of my thoughts, concerns, and wishes, and is willing to work with me. So far he's been good.

So for all you doctors out there who have no respect for the healing properties of the human body, who have no respect for alternative therapies, who are only glorified pill pushers, and who won't work with their patients' specific needs I say it's no wonder why people are quickly losing respect for the medical profession!

Can't Judge A Book...

Many of you may remember three years ago when Jeff was rushed to the hospital with a suspected heart attack, and it wasn't a heart attack at all but a severe side effect of a medication he was taking. The doctors at the time gave him a clean bill of health (and believe me the bill was costly!). Well, Jeff just had blood work done--all the typical tests--hdl, ldl, triglycerides, thyroid, etc... and everything was in "normal" range. Let's be honest Jeff is a big boy and most people think that he would have some medical problem.

Let me turn the table... we have a good friend who is a competition bicyclist, a skiier, jogger, and avid swimmer and scuba diver. He is the most active person we know. He is trim and thin and most people would think he was very healthy. However... he has high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and has already had two heart attacks.

Jeff and our friend work in related fields (except Jeff's is much more stressful) and Jeff gets continual cardio exercise throughout the day while our friend sits at a desk.

Moral of the story: Being Large Does Not Automatically Mean Unhealthy!