Love Foundation–Clinic

Sawadee Khrap

love-foundation-web

Just got back from a visit to the “Love Foundation”.  met “Ten” , sexy guy, the founder, and incidentally he is also the founder of Hornet- gay chat, and had my test for HIV, Hep B,A – clean report.   But no immunity to HEP.       They are located between Big C Extra and Index.

PREP-webBut I did learn some great stuff while there – They also have a medicine that can be taken every day to enable one to live with a infected partner – 950 Baht/Mo.  of course you  can also take it without a partner and just play around but it is not recommended.  But it will offer some protection.  And of course they also have the other HIV-AIDS drugs too.  And Hep-B shots which I will be getting later in the month.  Great service, people, friendly and not prying – if you know what I mean, everything can be anonymous if you want.

Their pricing is very reasonable – 20 min for test results and as I said before great and friendly people to deal with.  Get tested don’t take chances.pricesheet-lovefoundation-web

Ciao

Update on health–”Nightshades”

Sawadee Khrap

I mentioned when I got back from the Burma trip that I felt a lot better. Fox TV aired a clip about a lady who teaches Ayurvedic medicine and she made a statement that eating “Nightshades” can cause an allergic reaction in some people causing joint pain.    (i.e.   egg plant, bell peppers, potatoes, tomatoes) 

So for the past 2 weeks I have eliminated all of them from my diet , and gone to just rice and vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower, kale, onion, and carrots) and at every other meal a small portion of chicken.  Almost all the joint pain has gone or going away – amazing.    Knee joints, what I thought was ligament stiffing and pain, are all subsiding.  I wake up in the morning having had a better sleep and more energy.   Amazing, I would never have guessed it and I am sure “modern” medicine would never had suggested either.  When I mentioned my pain to the doctors they just shrugged it off to poor exercise and old age.  The only thing I’ve done is eliminate them from my diet – and for sure have not exercised more.

I’ll post my progress,  but I thought it best to get out there a.s.a.p. as many others may be suffering and not even have the slightest idea why –  its worth a try if you do have joint pain.

Ciao 

Benefits of the Burma Trip

Sawadee Khrap

Back almost a week from my trip to Burma and I am realizing some beneficial side effects.

  1. The extremely bumpy roads on the trip – the constant rocking back and forth, which I thought would hurt my lower back – in fact actually helped it – like getting a great massage – when I got back i had little or no lower back pain and it did not start coming back until several days later.   So I am trying to make sure I do not sit for long periods of time and always do some movement and stretching.
  2. Before I went on the trip I was experiencing constant joint pain  especially in my knees. But on the trip, because almost all the dishes served for lunch and dinner were spicy, I opted only for rice and mixed vegetables – which was mostly cauliflower.    When I got back I noticed almost all joint pain was gone.    At home I was eating a lot of potatoes, tomato, egg plant and bell peppers – NIGHTSHADES – and some researching of the Internet showed studies that indicated nightshades can product allergic reactions in many people similar to arthritis. – which is apparently my case – after the trip I had no joint pain but after coming back and going on my normal diet  – the aching joints came back.  Now I will stop eating nightshades and see if the joint pain goes away again.     I had thought it was from mostly old age.
  3. And thirdly, since I began taking a daily dose of Cialis for prostate, blood pressure and ED control, I have had relativity strong edema in my feet, very noticeable and commented on by several of my friends.   So,  since I didn’t imagine that this trip would produce any amorous situations, I stopped taking the Cialis.  Sure enough almost all the swelling in my feet subsided.  For obvious purposes I don’t want to eliminate the Cialis from my daily meds now that I’m back – unless I can find a substitute that is – a natural method if possible.  I am still working on that, but for the near future I will just put up with the slight edema so I can gain all the other benefits. LoL.  At least now I am sure what’s causing my edema.

The trip also has re-ignited my travel interest and so I am planning a future trip to Laung Prabang, Laos – hopefully next month, maybe for Songkran.   They celebrate it there and I understand it is a wonderful experience, similar but not the same as Thailand.   I am now checking Planet Romeo for possibility of contacting new friends in Luang Prabang, who could serve as my guide and companion for a visit there.  Having someone who is familiar with the area would be quite a blessing.

One can only speculate what benefits another trip might reveal.

Ciao

Ironic – Good health but alone

Sawadee Khrap

Just got back from the kidney doctor and received a good report.  BP about 124/60, kidney function levels stabilized – pain in legs almost gone – good walking now – feeling great BUT !!!.     Of all the times to be single, but thank God I did have someone with me as I went through the crap of getting this BP-Kidney problem taken care of – too bad it fucked up my temperament making it so they couldn’t have stuck around enough to enjoy the final outcome.

Present meds –

  • 10mg       Madiplot
  • 20mg       Olmersartan
  • 5mg         Folic Acid
  • 81mg       Aspirin
  • 2000mg   Fish Oil – Blackmores Omega high DHA
  • 2000mg   Turmeric – with Blackpepper corns
  • 10mg        Cialis

After all the trials – this is the final formula that seems to work – everything working – I am testing taking every evening 1 TPS of Apple Cider Vinegar for stomach health and reducing acid reflex and also taking 3 squares of 99% Cocoa powder chockalott daily for additional antioxidants.

Trying to keep the Pharmaceutical meds to a minimum.

Ciao

Check up’s

Sawadee Khrap

Just back from the eye doctor – Glaucoma seems to be under control – pressure down and test show only a little damage – will test again in March to make sure.    Azopt drops are working and do not upset the BP.

By the way, BP now running about 125-130 – switched back to Olmersartan for 3 days now and the pain in the hips, knees and legs has really gone down.  Apparently it was the Valsartan that was causing it – that is what the literature says Valsartan can do but the doctor thought not, but I was sure that it was  -however,  cannot really tell in just 3 days  – it takes at least 2 weeks for the BP to stabilize with the Sartans so have to wait to really make sure it is working.   Hoping it is working as the pain I was having before changing made it so I couldn’t walk for any distance let alone exercise – so now I think I just have to build up muscles again – their sore but the pain is gone.

Everything else seems OK —  or at least stable and without the high anxiety I had before – I can drive without getting overly excited  – that’s a good indicator.  I can enjoy my trips and life again.

Ciao

Glaucoma under control ?? !

Sawadee Khrap

Well, today’s eye doctor report says that my eye pressuers have stabilized – apparently the eye drops I have been using lately have done the trick.  But next month we will do another peripheral vision test to see if there has been more damage since the last one I had done last month.   That’s a relief.    Don’t want to add blindness to my possible future problem.  I’ve only got about 12-14 years left and I would like to enjoy them in somewhat good health.

I’ve increased my weekly massages to 3 now with extra emphases on stretching.  Seems to be making my walking much easier and having the massage boy incorporate it into each massage ensures that I do it on a regular basis – I keep forgetting to stretch each morning when its left up to me, and God knows I need it.   Goes to show how badly I need someone to take care of me and the need will only increase as I get older.

Haven’t done anything else lately – just not in the mood.  I think I will return to Monk Chat, at least a couple times a week to fill in the hours – helping someone is always the best medicine for boredom and feeling lonely.   This last break-up has affected me more than I wanted to let on.  But we all have to do what we have to do – I also seriously think it will be very hard to find a young man with the same qualities.  We will see.   Not really looking forward to the hunt, so to say.   It’s  true you have to kiss a lot of frogs before you can find Prince Charming.

Ciao

Things may be looking up

Sawadee Khrap

Just got back from Sriphat Hospital visiting 3 doctors, Cardio, Kidney, and Physical Health and all gave me good grades.  BP  120/50 and appears stable so far,  kidney function stabilized, muscle spasms in lower back eliminated by stretching exercises, ED appears under control, Plavix stopped and hip pain gone, acid reflux much lower since using coconut oil for cooking. and the glaucoma problem seems to be getting better using the latest drops Azopt – side-effects almost all gone – vision becoming much clearer – next month will actually tell when I go see the ophthalmologist again. 

One problem is still there but greatly reduce and that’s the mild aching in my legs especially in the evening that can sometimes wake me up.  For that I have been told to start drinking more milk to raise the calcium levels and do more stretching exercises along with increased walking.  I am using the elliptical machine again and can do more walking since eliminating the pain in my hips from the Plavix.       Soooo   milk it is.

It was quite a trip to get here and I feel sorry for many that suffer with similar medical problems and just stick to the first or same medicine prescribed without carefully questioning everything, doing their own research (internet is excellent) and developing a mutually agreed plan with their doctors concerning their health.   I had to work with my doctors, giving them the best feedback I could about any and all side-effects and not just accept the first results to get where I am now.  And believe me we tested several combinations –  I thought the doctors were going to give up before I did, but they worked with me all along.

The doctors at Sriphat Hospital, Chiang Mai and Siriraj Hospital, Bangkok are excellent – and I don’t think you can find better hospitals anywhere – and considering the cost I am sure you can’t.  Today’s visits with all three specialists, totals 1200 Baht   $35

Ciao.

Coconut Oil

Sawadee Khrap

My latest discovery – cooking with coconut oil – 2 weeks ago I started cooking everything , eggs, stir-fried dishes, black bean with pork, pork chops, etc. using coconut oil instead of my normal olive oil.   What a difference so far, my acid-reflux problem that has plagued me for several years has all but disappeared.  The food tastes great, so even if this is just a passing fad there is no reason to change back.  I never liked palm or corn oils, which is so commonly used here, and I have read many articles that olive oil should not be heated but only used on things like salads – cold.

I’m never the first one to try anything, I’d rather wait and see if good results from others are there before I venture in.  And although for years I have been using only coconut oil for my massages, cooking with it was not considered – I really thought the taste would be too much.  It’s not  – the food is delicious.   I had switched to olive from the normal corn or palm cooking oils when I started having my BP problems – blocked arteries.

I have read several articles that in the past coconut oil was the preferred oil for cooking – but in the wisdom of the food industry they shot it down for polyunsaturated vegetable oils claiming they were better for the fight against heart disease.  Coconut was way too expensive to compete against these cheap oils and lost out.  Actually the populous lost out – coconut, with its anti-inflammatory properties and healthy saturated fats is far better – heart disease from sugars and polyunsaturated oils is far more common. .  Butter is better than margarine.

So there, if your not using coconut oil and still using the common artery-choking cooking oils – stop and try coconut.

Ciao

Keep your BP under control

Sawadee Khrap

Amazing, about Sept 7th I was told about having glaucoma and was prescribed eye drops to reduce the pressure in my eyes.  Did that ever start a chain of events that a month would finally lead me to being single again.  Prior to that my BP was stable about 110-122 and I felt very calm and happy – I think our relationship was too, I did have some apprehension about how close we were but I think that we were getting closer – I have to admit that I did rush into the affair, which I shouldn’t have have done and really taken it slower with him.  But that being said, as I look back now I think we were on a path to possibly making it work. Then came the eye drops!!

The first drops, when sleeping,  caused terrible pain in my legs and knees and real vivid bad paranoiac dreams. So we went to the next trial, the dreams became less but the pain continued and my BP started to climb. By the time we got to the third medicine, my BP was back to pre-stent time 160-200 and my composure and temperament had started to go through the roof.   I could notice it in my driving but didn’t think I was also projection it toward my relationship.  I had also started to develop paranoia about our relationship being true.  Little things would really had become large problems.  It’s always a task to make a multi-culture relationship work but with this added influence it would become impossible.

I had started lashing about about little things that I saw that I thought were undermining our relations, especially at night, trying to get to sleep,  I would see all the possible infractions that was leading to the conclusion that he didn’t love me.  Well the rest is history, we broke up after a big fight.   Can’t use hind sight here.

For the past several days I have stopped all eye drops and my BP is slowly dropping with my mood and temperament becoming more calm.  It’s really a remarkable change that I can feel, I don’t know what the glaucoma status is – too late for the relationship but possibly some help to others that are fighting high BP and glaucoma.

All I can say is be careful of what drugs you take – I am going back first to the Cardiologist tomorrow and go over the whole series of events and the BP drug interactions with the glaucoma medicine.  And then get the two doctors in concert before trying any new drugs again.  Hopefully there is a better way to control the eye pressure, short of Laser Surgery, that doesn’t effect my BP or personality.   As for the relationship, I really hope he finds the Bear he was always looking for.

Ciao

Drug Interactions !!!

Sawadee Khrap

My God, do you have to watch out for drug interactions.  I have been fairly stable on my regime of drugs so far  – valsartan, Madiplot, aspirin, folic acid, Fish Oil, turmeric, black pepper, and Cialis.

Getting off the Plavix took most of the pain from my hips and I can finally walk again – but weak from no exercise  – I did increase the Turmeric to 1000mg daily to fight any inflammation – seems to be working.

but when I was told about having mild Glaucoma – they first prescribed some drops called Taflotan – a prostaglandin analog – one drop each eye in the evening.  I could put up with all the sided effects except the pain in my knees – yes, eye drops causing pain in my knees. amazing.  So now they switched to Alphagan – a Adrenergic agonists – knee pain gone and my vision seems clearer – but probably just from the drops moisture  – not the medicine itself..  This stuff supposedly can cause higher blood pressure so I just have to wait and see if it makes mine climb too high.   Both  lower the fluid in the eye reducing pressure but also can react with or against BP medicines – I.e. Valsartan – and one of the side effects (which I haven’t had before ) is pain in knees and joints.

I think that there was a reaction with the valsartan to cause the knee pain – anyway seems to be getting better so far on the new stuff – but I will be monitoring the BP more closely.  My home situation doesn’t help – stress is not a good thing to constantly have – need to clear this up fast and get back to a stress-free life or at lest the best I can do.

Ciao