Ok, gotta ask. Have any of you heard of a treatment where you go (and pay) to get stung by bees? My mother-in-law (aka - the witched witch of the east coast) told me awhile back she read somewhere about bee stings being a cure for RA. Well, now that I'm not working she wants to know why I didn't try the bees before quitting my job (my Dr. put me off on disability-thank you) and I must not want to get better since I didn't try it. Then she added if she was in as much pain as I say I am she'd try everything until something worked. Oh if only a house would fall on her too! (like in the wizard of oz).Other than the infomercials, & fish oil I really don't know much about any alternative treatments. I guess if any of those things worked we'd none be were we are now.
P.S. Hubby says I don't have to be nice to her anymore. In July I'll have met the 25 year niceness limit. LOL
P.S. Hubby says I don't have to be nice to her anymore. In July I'll have met the 25 year niceness limit. LOL
Your P.S. just cracked me up! Thanks so much-I haven't laughed that hard in a long time!I've never heard of bee stings for RA. I know they were using it as an alternative treatment for MS a decade ago, but it didn't work, and I don't think it would work for RA - although being allergic, it would work permanently for me.
Hey !!! I never thought of it until Fiona's post. Maybe my mother in-law is counting on me being allergic too! Hummm
Your mother in law read and related to you about bees could treat arthritis. In my opinion she had good intention but the suggestion might not be appropriate as she did not know specific type of bee. These have invited so many postings throwing muds at your MIL. There is probably specific type of bee that may be useful for arthritis treatment. Similiarly, leeches are used in British hospitals, and specific ants in Africa known for treatment of illnesses. As there are many types of bee, it is dangerous to indulge. If it is a killer bee, the stings may take away a life within hours without treatment. I treat my arthritis with herbs for over 15 years and never use a single drug for the same period of time! Linda, I have to agree with you on this. I used to work for a couple of vitamin/natural remedy companies and there was a lot of fake stuff out there. That's why I got out of the business. Sure there are plenty of natural remedies that do help. We know that Calcium is vital. Flax seed helps. Folic Acid is essential. Healthy diets are essential. But if these natural remedies are so helpful, then why would someone be visiting this forum if they really feel like their arthritis is under control. Even if you arthritis is under control, you cannot judge other people's welfare by your own response. It is very obvious that we all react differently to different treatments. It is also a fact that some people have only one incident of RA in their life. That's it. The severity of the illness varies a great deal. It hurts us who are trying everything to make ourselves well to have someone wave the magic wand of natural remedies. Further, to be told by family members that we have not tried everything first, is a slap in the face. I would love to be able to take some natural remedy with confidence that it works. Why would I want to take prednisone which is destroying my bones? I don't. But unfortunately, there is no scientific proof to back up these claims. Show me the proof in a real medical study and then I will listen. Until then, I am going to work with my doctor who is highly educated and a compassionate man to stay alive the best way I can. I honestly feel that if he hadn't been introduced to me, I wouldn't be alive now. The man saved my life with his traditional medicine. He has kept me from losing my ability to walk. Surely we can mix natural remedies with traditional. But this has to be done with care. Some of these remedies can interact with medications. People don't think of vitamins and other "naturals" as chemicals but they are. Consequently, you must know what their effects are before participating in their use. Always consult your doctor first. As for stinging bees for arthritis, I have had seen a TV documentary about diverting the pain of arthritis some years back, so as the leeches used to suck toxic blood of infections and swells in hospitals. What's so alarming! Perhaps to those have no knowledge
One wants to jump on to bangwagon and the other out of the business of natural remendies. The bangwagon carries those that have right attitude, belief, discipline to learn and eat healthily thru' stages and processes of metabolic adjustments for better health. Without these qualities one can not even swell the smoke of the bangwagon yet thinking of jumping onto it!! The other stressed about vitamins and processed "health pills" or fake pills no wonder out of business !! Healthy foods are correct, fresh natural vege and fruits, and herbs where one find in the farms and forests. All these are natural not synthetic! I don't care how old or where in the family chain a person is, they will not get my respect if they insinuate that I must not be in as much pain as I say I am in if I don't try the bee sting "cure" Even if the bee sting thing works, it's NO ONES business what I choose to do with MY body. They can suggest all they want, in the end it'll be MY decision. I will go a step further and say that I feel this way about anything my doctor says I should try. She will suggest the things we need to try, but I will be the one who decides what we do. It has nothing to do with respect for the elderly. The elderly have the same responsibility to be respectful as the young. This was an unkind remark and the only reason you are defending it is because of your position on natural remedies. I do not promote disharmony of families. The disharmony already existed and she was being harmed by it. And, I didn't go out of business. I left a business that I felt was flawed with fake claims as to its health benefits. I didn't want to be part of something that even the other people working there considered to be a sham in some cases. Of course, eating healthy and taking the best care of our bodies is essential. But that is not what you are pushing. I have met many people who want to push their remedies down my throat. They are so convinced that they are right that they just run over my own right to make a choice. This is very irritating and in the end, it is cruel. On the other hand, other cultures have a long history of medicine that does not track with our "modern" methods. It would be ideal if doctors worked with nutritionists and alternative practioners like they are doing with some cancer research centers to provide a more encompassing care. But to just go off and try "bee stings" because your mother-in-law heard about it is ridiculous. To say that she should have done that before going on disability is mean. Going on disability is a long, ardous process and I don't hear any one here really wanting to take that route. When one goes that way, it is a last chance at surviving. Many people have a misconception about disability. They think it will provide a good living for the person. Most of the time, unless they have outside support or substantial savings, it reduces them to a poverty level of living. And, that is for the rest of their lives. But most people don't realize that. That's why they make cruel remarks. Or, the other side is that people suddenly devalue you because they consider you no longer to be contributing to society, especially as a tax payer. A lot of people made me feel that way when I first got so sick. Suddenly, I had no value. Well, that simply was not true. A person's value is not in the income they make. It comes in how they are with other people, what they can give from their heart. That is something this illness cannot take away. I think you should tell her that it is a fact that stress aggravates RA and part of your "treatment" is to stay away from bitchy, know it all MILs with no compassion or good intentions.
PS I love your references to the Wicked Witch of the West.
ps Kelstev when did you get Toonts the cat to be your chauffer???
That's it then! Ivory soap is the cure for all of us. We've been putting it on our faces instead of our linens. Duh! I just didn't know. Could our doctors be so cruel as to keep this simple, low cost solution from us? At least it doesn't sound painful. LOL! I am having fun reading these funny remedies. I can't believe anyone in their right mind would allow themselves to recieve bee stings in the hopes of curing this! I laughed when I read the posts of sure it could cure you, if you find out you are alergic and you died.
If they knew it was true, that it would help, they would have made a fortune replicating what the bee sting would have that helps cure arthritis. If the mother-n-law loves money so much, maybe you should tell her to bottle what ever the bee stings have and make more money! Arthritis affects so many... she would make so much more than she already has! The ivory soap is also funny. I guess people will try everything and like someone said before, mind over matter can be really powerful stuff. It is true that people just want to help at times though. Deanna made me laugh with her post! You are too funny. Soap on our sheets... well, who knows. Maybe a cure is around the corner and it will be a simple thing... it is true that sometimes people just want to help though. The main problem I found is that pain is not something people can see, so they don't really understand what happens when you are having a bad day. I know my family doesn't. My aunt told me yesterday (when my father told her I was just diagnosed with RA) that I was just using that as an excuse to not go to the gym and get in shape. It is hard. Sometimes people, even family memebers, can be insensitive... and total morons. Loved your comments dar77333.
I have heard about the soap thing curing cramps at night, and eating Vidallia onions curing migraines. Did any of you have moms that fed you a glob of vicks mentholatum when you were sick? That was an old school method of trying to cure kids with a cold...scarey! Your mother in law read and related to you about bees could treat arthritis. In my opinion she had good intention but the suggestion might not be appropriate as she did not know specific type of bee. These have invited so many postings throwing muds at your MIL. There is probably specific type of bee that may be useful for arthritis treatment. Similiarly, leeches are used in British hospitals, and specific ants in Africa known for treatment of illnesses. As there are many types of bee, it is dangerous to indulge. If it is a killer bee, the stings may take away a life within hours without treatment. I treat my arthritis with herbs for over 15 years and never use a single drug for the same period of time! LOL...geesh I grew up in the vicks vapo rub, it tasted awful and then after trying to swallow te junk I had to rub it all over my joints........it is sooooo lame! I cannot believe my mom did that, she is an educated woman. I guess I count my lucky stars I was not poisoned! I have gotten stung 2 times this year by bees, didn't know they cured me, I thought it was the Enbrel......I do realize that many people that have been stung several times do have les symptoms, but I still think it is a long shot. The soap at the end of a bed is new for me, interesting that a bar of soap has so much power..........I guess people are just trying to help, although many times it is not always a good thing to listen to them that is for sure. I can remember when I was fist diagnosed, I was given about 5 copper bracelets from friends, thoughtful individuals that they are. I never wore them. Maybe that was a bad idea! lol. I think it is worthy to mention though, when my fillings fell out I did feel better...maybe the Mercury in them? dunno
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