Healthy Me

I wanted to make a few notes from the article for those interested:

• The International Agency for Research on Cancer has reclassified tanning devices as a definite carcinogen.  (The definition of carcinogen is "agent directly involved in the exacerbation of cancer or in the increase of its propagation.")  This isn't new news to me.  I think it is pretty common knowledge.  Knowing that, I don't understand why people would use them (and use them often in a lot of cases).  Are there health benefits to using a tanning bed?  Not for me personally.
• According to this article..."exposure to UV light can lead to melanoma, especially if you're exposed to it in your teens and/or 20s."
• Melanoma cases are even showing up in the genital area of women.  I doubt women are standing on their heads outdoors and getting sunburned there.  This is from the tanning bed.
• Is your excuse for using the tanning bed that you get Vitamin D from it?  Go stand outside a few times a week and you'll get the same benefit.  Find another source for Vitamin D.
• Do you think the tanning bed is safer than the sun? According to this article, the bulbs in the tanning beds are several times stronger than sunlight. 

I've lost 17 pounds so far since changing my thyroid medication all up.  I'm thrilled and can't wait for the rest of the 15 pounds to come off too!

I have added a weight loss ticker to my blog to keep track of my progress.  It is in the left margin.  I used to have one on here but I became frustrated when it never went anywhere so I took it off.  Now that I am finally making progress, I won't mind looking at it. 

I was just thinking last week that we were lucky this year.  We didn't have any major illnesses in the family.  We got through flu season pretty well.  We didn't have any H1N1 swine flu scares.  I spoke too soon.  I should learn to keep my mouth shut.

A stomach bug has hit our house this week.  Two of my kids are down and out with it right now.  I hope it doesn't spread to the rest of the kids.  How do you force liquid into a kid who doesn't want anything at all in their stomach?  If it was just a day or so, I wouldn't worry but we are on day four right now.  She has today left and if she's not holding anything down by this evening, she goes to see her pediatrician tomorrow.  I don't think it is a flu.  I think it is a gastroenteritis bug but if she's not better, we will find out for sure tomorrow.

I have had the headache from you know where for several days now. It must be the changes in the seasons coming up (soon I hope). I hope I don't have to put up with headaches for the next month.

Before using Advair, I had no control over my asthma attacks.  I had them frequently and used my rescue inhaler all day long.  After almost dying from an asthma attack and spending some time in a hospital, my doctor prescribed Advair.  I have not had one major asthma attack since.  In fact, I only use my rescue inhaler once every couple months on average.

Now the FDA is issuing a warning about Advair (and other long-acting beta antagonists such as Symbicort).  The main warning:

"...the agency cited studies that found that using the drugs alone can actually increase the severity of asthma, leading to hospitalizations and even death."

They go on to say:

"...The drugs should only be used for the shortest time possible, until asthma symptoms are under control, and be "discontinued, if possible, once asthma control is achieved," the agency said in a statement. People should then switch to another medication to maintain symptom control, the FDA said."

...and this:

"...most people should only require an inhaled corticosteroid to control their symptoms."

Since I have little faith in the FDA, it makes me wonder...

Is there really a problem with this medication which I know has saved my life?  Is somebody lining someone's pockets to get the FDA's warning to reduce the sale of this drug to the public (and is there another drug on the marketplace that will make the drug companies more money that they want pushed)?

I believe I'd be dead right now if not for having Advair.  My asthma was getting bad.  I came close once already to dying and don't want to get back to that point to where I'm gasping for every little bit of oxygen my siezed up airways would allow in.

Just like the FDA has messed up the distribution of natural desiccated thyroid medication that has helped thousands of people because pharmaceutical companies make more money off the synthetic crap that most doctors push, who are now left struggling and feeling bad because their thyroid disease isn't being managed properly, are there deeper motives behind the Advair warning or is it true?  I've never personally had any problem with Advair.  I can breathe again!  I don't know about the FDA, but breathing is really important to me!!!

I've been updating my thyroid changes at my blog, Thyroid Hell.  I've found a new doctor who manages my thyroid disease the way I want him to and I've also lost some weight (still have more to go but it's a good start). 

I've lost 13 pounds so far.  With the increase in my compounded armour, I am hoping the next 20 will drop off as well. I have my fingers crossed that I'm going to feel like myself again soon after more than eight years of feeling bad.