Medical Marijuana: YAY or NAY?

dark green = state with both medical and decriminalization laws; light green = state with legal medical cannabis; blue = state with legalized cannabis; olive green = state with decriminalized cannabis possession

The map above shows states that have legalized medical marijuana and/or decriminalized the possession of it.  Is your state next in the fight for legalization of cannabis?

Georgia House Bill 885 goes into a hearing today at the Capitol. GA HB 885 allows the use of a non-psychoactive cannabis oil to be given to epilepsy patients in Georgia on a limited scale.

An article in the Huffington Post reports medical marijuana is gaining momentum in the Deep South. Twenty states and Washington DC have legalized medical marijuana. An excerpt from the story reads "The key to swaying the hearts of conservative lawmakers has been the stories of children suffering up to 100 seizures a day whose parents say they could benefit from access to cannabidiol, which would be administered orally in a liquid form. And proponents argue the cannabis oil is low in tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, the psychoactive compound in marijuana that makes users feel high."

If you were told cannabis oil would help your child with seizure control or avoidance, would you try it? What if there was proof that it helped, would that sway your decision? A Tennessee couple moved to Colorado to get cannabis oil to help their daughter's seizures.  My hometown of Chatsworth has a couple fighting to get their daughter cannabis for infantile spasms/seizures.

Cannabis receives mixed reviews about scientific validity; proven or unproven to help seizures. Isn't that the way every medication reacts within humans, a drug that may cure an illness for one individual will not touch the disease in another individual? Whatever the results, if my family member could potentially benefit from the use of cannabis oil, I want it legal in my home state and readily available.

There are major health benefits of medical marijuana. Do you or a family member suffer from a condition listed here?

Please google medical marijuana and get informed. Support GA HB 885 by liking the facebook page. I fully support the use of medical marijuana. I believe there are many natural leaves and herbs for the healing of the body. Finally, weigh-in on the debate with your comment. Are you a yay-sayer or a nay-sayer? What's the reason for your stand?

Awareness for Greylynn,
Tammy
The Happy Handicap

features health

5 Ways to Get Rid of a Migraine Quickly

My head hurts! While I slept last night a 14,325 pound African Elephant crawled through my ear. This morning he's being chased by a lion with his enormous feet pounding as he runs. Oh wait, Horton just stopped at a river. What's he doing? Spraying water from his trunk right behind my pupils making my eyes run like a faucet. My teeth feel like they were a stage for his Riverdance audition! Is it a migraine? If it's not, it's real close.

According to WebMD, migraine symptoms include a pounding headache, nausea, vomiting, and light sensitivity. They can also include visual disturbances referred to as auras. It is estimated some 45 million people suffer from this type of headache. I have been diagnosed with a migraine including all the symptoms and visual problems. A migraine headache is quite disturbing. How to get rid of a migraine quickly is a hot topic for good reason.

Here's 5 Ways to Get Rid of a Migraine Quickly:

1. Tap away a migraine with EFT. My daughter uses this. I've seen it work very effectively and quickly.

2. Take Feverfew at the first sign of headache. Feverfew can also be taken every day to help prevent migraine attacks. I've personally used this and it works! Please use my referral code 2926490 if you decide to purchase from Nature's Sunshine via the link. Stock up and keep them on-hand.

3. From my daughter's facebook page. She's not put this remedy to the test but I'm impressed she shared it.

4.  Do reflexology on your feet to relieve a migraine. I L.O.V.E reflexology because it works wonders for many illnesses/disorders. Easy to do on yourself and FREE!

5.  Nutritionists and doctors are taking note of our diets more these days and so should we! I get House Calls from Dr. Hyman (not real ones). I subscribe. You can too! 5 Steps to Solve Your Migraines was especially interesting. There's many more suggestions other than just diet changes in this article. However, I know diet changes reverse or stop many ill health effects.  5 Tips for Problem Eyes is my personal journey of how diet changes can improve your appearance.

I am not a health professional. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. They have been evaluated by people like me and you who have migraines and found them to be effective. No prescription required. Minimal out of pocket expense! I hope you find something in this post that works for you.

If you have a quick-fix migraine remedy that you use, please leave me a comment. Sharing your experience may help someone else.

Health to your noggin,
Tammy
The Happy Handicap

health tips

5 Tips for Problem Eyes

Yes, these are my eyes! They need help! They look like this when I over-indulge. I can help them and you can help yours too! I'm not concerned about my actual eye but those puffy inflamed areas and the dark circles under them. Do you have the same things happening under your eyes?

I believe our diets have so much to do with our health, looks and well-being. I invite you to watch my eye transformation over the next month and join my challenge. Together, we'll prove once and for all how these 5 Tips for Problem Eyes can resolve unsightly puffiness and bags.. If you agree to join me in this challenge, please email me a pic of your worst eye right now (it won't be posted). In four weeks or February 3, I will ask you to email me a picture of what that same eye looks like after following the 5 Tips for Problem Eyes. I will ask your permission to post a before and after pic. If you agree the pics will be posted on this blog.
  

5 Tips for Problem Eyes

1. Drink at least 48 ounces of pure water a day. Only water counts!

2. Avoid all sodas (diet & regular) you can have tea (diet or regular) and Crystal Light. I love Coke and lovingly refer to it as "poison", because it is!

3. Avoid processed sweets. No cookies, cakes, candy bars from a bag or wrapper. You can make your 

own desserts from scratch but please limit them to 2-3 servings per week.

4. Dab a small amount of Vaseline under each eye (not too close to eyeball) before bed on clean skin. Be careful not to get the Vaseline in your eye.

5. Use only oil-based products to remove eye makeup such as Almay Moisturizing Eye Makeup Remover.

Who wants to be kind to their "under" eyes? Let me know if you'd like to join my challenge by commenting or sending me an email at tammy.stafford@hotmail.com. YOU WILL BE AMAZED AT YOUR TRANSFORMATION! The challenge starts tomorrow January 6th.

Can't wait for you to "see" the difference,

Tammy

The Happy Handicap

health tips

The Flu Shot: Cure or Controversy

Have you had your flu shot? I haven't! In fact, I've NEVER taken a flu vaccine and neither have my children. If I could go back to my children's childhood, I would take a religious exemption from all vaccines not because of my religion but because it's the only way I could legally avoid the shots and them still attend public school. The government has us right where they want us. Controlled!

I'm not a doctor or have any medical training other than self-taught through experience and reading materials. I am also self-educated on alternative treatments including herbs, acupuncture, chiropractic, massage, colonics and reflexology. I've personally tried and still use combinations of these fields. I am very thankful for the medical profession since being born with a birth defect of both feet required extensive surgeries and enabled me to walk. I've had 13 surgeries total including lithotripsy, hysterectomy, cholecystectomy, tonsillectomy, two c-sections and shew! I think that's it! I certainly believe in traditional medicine but let it be known my primary prevention and cure of choice are alternative methods.

My experience with the flu shot and my immediate family has further persuaded me it is not a good choice except in certain situations. My otherwise healthy father had never taken the flu shot. He's 76 and took the flu shot two years ago for the first time. Three days afters, he started showing signs of a stroke and suffered a brain bleed. Google it! Stroke after the flu shot happens more than you might think but no warning is posted on the Center for Disease Control's side effects page. My very healthy Mom (age 73) suffered severe shortness of breath the past two years she's taken the shot. The 2013 flu shot sent her to the doctor's office two times for antibiotics and steroid shots. Although, most doctors are convinced elderly folks should have a flu shot, no exceptions.

My husband, who has pulmonary fibrosis, gets the pneumonia and flu shot. The pneumonia shot did not produce any ill effects. The flu shot always gives him severe body aches. He continually fights an achy body most days due to Anti-synthetase syndrome, an auto-immune disorder. I reluctantly agree with the use of vaccines for individuals with impaired immune systems. We began seeing a functional medicine doctor who practices nutrition and alternative medicine. Functional medicine seeks cause and cure instead of treating symptoms with pills for a lifetime.

Ultimately, your health is your responsibility. Your health is your choice. Please chose wisely by seeking uncensored factual information and the advice of your primary physician. I read a lot of Dr. Mark Hyman's articles who started the Functional Medicine movement. I find them extremely informative and helpful. Read what he has to say about who should take the flu shot in his blog post: The Flu Shot: Helpful or Harmful. 

Leave me a comment with your experiences with the flu shot: good or bad.

Here's to our health,
Tammy
The Happy Handicap

health tips

Can Lavender Oil reduce Skin Bruising?

Tried and True Natural Health Tip #2

Nature's Sunshine Lavender Fine 

This small bottle of oil is close to a miracle worker to reduce skin bruising. I'm not a doctor and my statement has not been approved by the FDA! Please seek health advice from a medical professional. However, I have personally used Lavender oil for years to reduce the pain and tenderness of skin bruising. Can Lavender Oil reduce Skin Bruising?

Case #1: My husband ran into the corner of the bed frame with his shin at a high rate of speed yesterday. After he said &%^*# and almost cried, he said "Look at that knot! It'll be a big bruise tomorrow!" The word bruise sent me to the cabinet for my little bottle of Lavender. I generously applied the oil directly to the accident area. Lavender can be safely applied directly to the skin without a carrier agent or ill effects. Next morning, my husband admitted his knot was gone and he didn't even have a bruise or soreness from a bang on his leg that should have bruised and been sore for at least a week.

There are many brands of Lavender oil. I simply prefer Nature's Sunshine Lavender Fine due to purity, collection techniques and manufacturing worthiness. I maintain a relation with Nature's Sunshine for my personal ordering. If you would like to order please consider using my ID 2926490 as a sponsor. Membership is free with a $40 order and members save at least 40% off of retail price. Sweet!

I also use Lavender oil rubbed directly on my feet to soothe tired and aching tootsies. Being born with a birth defect, I have to pamper my feet quite often. If I take a trip, Lavender is a MUST to help reduce pain and swelling from a day on my feet. The oil will also help cuts and bruising on your feet. I recently went to London and Paris and was so glad to buy a bottle of lavender oil in the gift shop of Westminster Abbey! I had brought my own bottle but wanted a souvenir...ha! I also use Lavender soap to bathe with and cleanse my face from Savonsuds.com.

Do you use Lavender oil? Leave me a comment and tell me your successes with the oil. What do you love to use it for?

Slathering it on,
Tammy
The Happy Handicap

health tips

Nice Inexpensive Christmas Gifts Everyone Needs

SOAPS FROM FRANCE MAKE YOU FEEL GOOD!

Looking for a nice Christmas gift for your office, cousins or Sunday school class? You want something nice but not too expensive. Looking for something unique and fresh? After all, doesn't everyone have enough Bath & Body Works? Experience the luxuriousness of Authentic French Milled Soaps from Savon Suds.

Savon Suds offers nice inexpensive Christmas gifts everyone needs! The soaps imported from Paris makes your skin feel softer, smoother and more lavish. 12 natural soaps to choose from, NEVER any artificial color, scents or impurities. Will not clog pores. Sets available or individually packaged.

Relaxing Collection with Lavender, Honey and Sweet Almond

Each unique soap is filled with health benefits that could help eczema, acne, psoriasis and more. For more information visit Savon Suds and buy some nice inexpensive Christmas gifts everyone needs. I use these soaps personally. They are the best french milled soaps I've ever used. Their fragrance is big and bold yet soft and pleasing. Use soap to accent your decor. One soap will freshen a small bathroom area for months. You and your friends will love them too!

Au revoir,

Tammy

The Happy Handicap

health tips

Is Deodorant a Risk for Breast Cancer?

Introducing a new series of blogs on Monday that addresses health concerns and provides a first hand account of "tried and true" natural health tips. If I recommend a product, I've tried it and it works. Disclaimer: I am not a doctor and none of these tips/advice are meant to diagnosis or treat. If you have a medical condition, please seek the help of a healthcare professional.

Is Deodorant a Risk for Breast Cancer? According to WebMD you shouldn't sweat it and The National Cancer Institute says NO! The fact that they would even publish articles on the subject makes me raise my eyebrow. A fact sheet from cancer.org predicts 300,000+ new cases of breast cancer this year (2013). This figures includes 39,620 deaths. Breast cancer is a huge health concern for women.

The suspected health risk for deodorants are aluminum and parabens which have been found in both malignant and healthy breast tissue. How do we know if these are carcinogens or not? Good question. Some folks immune systems may be able to deal with these troublesome ingredients while others may not. We know this to be true since not every woman develops breast cancer. It's a personal choice to avoid these ingredients.

As a result of a healthy lifestyle and increased awareness, I choose to wear a deodorant that is aluminum-free and paraben-free. My Tried and True Natural Health Tip for Today is Arbonne Pure Mint Deodorant.

An aluminum-free, paraben-free deodorant infused with mint and extracts from white tea, ginger, lemongrass, sage and tea tree that fights bad odor and helps you feel fresh all day. Baking soda and vegetable enzymes help neutralize odor, blocking the effects of odor-causing bacteria and delivering gentle, effective protection.

I use this product personally. I love it! No more offensive smells or allergic reactions, just pure, safe and beneficial results every time. I have been using Arbonne products for over 10 years.

If you'd like to learn more about this product, click here. To save 20% , click here to buy. If you decide to take a healthy step and purchase, I appreciate you using my consultant id 15086884.

An aluminum-free, paraben-free deodorant infused with mint and extracts from white tea, ginger, lemongrass, sage, and tea tree that ¬fights bad odor and helps you feel fresh all day. Baking soda and vegetable enzymes help neutralize odor, blocking the effects of odor-causing bacteria and delivering gentle, effective protection. ( 1.7 oz ) - See more at: https://www.arbonne.com/shop_online/showitem.asp?ProductId=4112&menuId=&withLinks=1#sthash.MEQAYuBv.dpuf

Happy Monday and Happy Health,

Tammy

The Happy Handicap

An aluminum-free, paraben-free deodorant infused with mint and extracts from white tea, ginger, lemongrass, sage, and tea tree that ¬fights bad odor and helps you feel fresh all day. Baking soda and vegetable enzymes help neutralize odor, blocking the effects of odor-causing bacteria and delivering gentle, effective protection. ( 1.7 oz ) - See more at: https://www.arbonne.com/shop_online/showitem.asp?ProductId=4112&menuId=&withLinks=1#sthash.MEQAYuBv.dpuf

An aluminum-free, paraben-free deodorant infused with mint and extracts from white tea, ginger, lemongrass, sage, and tea tree that ¬fights bad odor and helps you feel fresh all day. Baking soda and vegetable enzymes help neutralize odor, blocking the effects of odor-causing bacteria and delivering gentle, effective protection. ( 1.7 oz ) - See more at: https://www.arbonne.com/shop_online/showitem.asp?ProductId=4112&menuId=&withLinks=1#sthash.MEQAYuBv.dpuf

health tips

3 Surprising Things about Skin Cancer

My husband Steve visited his dermatologist today

 for a suspicious-looking spot on his head

ugly, huh?

What you can't see are the 3 "horns" he calls them

This is Steve

acting silly

waiting for the doc!

Here's the surprising stuff:

1. The large brown spot is benign. The doctor explained if it's uniform in shape, it's usually not cancer or pre-cancer.

2. The "horn's" which you can't see are pre-cancer. Pre-cancerous spots produces something that

feels similar to a briar in your skin.

3. Pre-cancerous spots are usually rough to the touch. Your skin may not appear too disturbing

but if it's unusually rough, have it checked.

Steve had one benign spot and four pre-cancerous patches

just as described above,

the ones that needed treated felt like briars or scaly skin

before treatment & after treatment  

Watching the doc spray burn his poor head was painful for me!

I can't imagine how he felt!

precious baby

Steve asked the doc "What if I start crying?"

She replied "I'll cry with you. I'm a good cry buddy!"

sweet, sweet lady

Is it just me?

or

did that suspicious spot move backwards?

Please protect your skin with sun block and clothing.

if you see a suspicious spot, prickly or scaly skin

have it checked

prevention is one of the best medicines!

looking for suspicious stuff,

Tammy

The Happy Handicap

If you have a tip about your experiences with skin cancer, please share it in a comment,

your advice may save us all!

health

Common Burn Remedies you have at Home

Remember this guy? My finger was "lit up" after I burnt it with a hot glue gun. How many of you have felt that pain? Downright awful plus it made me spit out a few little ugly words!!!

My friends on Facebook came to my rescue with tons of common burn remedies you probably have on-hand. You may find them in your cabinet, your fridge, a pot of dirt or even in your toolbox. These are too handy not to share. Some of these may be new to you, they were to me!

Disclaimer (This is not medical advice. For entertainment purposes only.)

The first 7 are mustard, ice, butter, mayonnaise, toothpaste, ice water and aloe vera plant. To use the aloe vera plant, break a stalk off the plant and soothing cooling goodness oozes out the stalk. Apply as often as you like. Be sure to put the stalk remains in an airtight plastic baggie to keep from drying out.

 My 3 personal favorites are:

1. Fire Talk. A guy told me that his dad used to "talk" the fire out of a burn and it worked every time. Well, I did a little talking but might not be the right kind. ;) 
2. Vicodin. Now I ask, "What won't Vicodin make feel better?"
3. Hatchet. I think the only way this will cure a burn is by creating worse and more distracting pain. What do you think?

Please leave me a comment with your burn remedies you know are tried and true or you've just heard about. Sometimes a bit of common knowledge solves a complicated problem.

Slathering on some kitchen liquids,
Tammy
The Happy Handicap

health

3 Proven Ways to Fall Asleep

Sleeplessness! Eek! It's a common complaint among women during their wiser years. My Mom is robbed of sleep every night. Insomnia can't be good for her body or yours or mine. I've noticed some rather desperate pleas on social networks on ways to get to sleep and understandably so! Here's my top 3 ways to fall asleep. I hope it gives some struggling snoozers some zzzzzz's!

1. Calcium Citrate. I only take Twinlab brand. I believe it is the magnesium in this product that does the trick. I can go to dreamland taking one pill before bedtime. If I really want to go bye-bye, I take two (the recommended dosage). There's also a couple of added benefits with this supplement: regular BM's and it inhibits the formation of calcium kidney stones. BIG SCORE!  It's a WIN-WIN-WIN situation!!! I buy them here.
2. Valerian Root. I prefer Nature's Sunshine brand. I believe they sell the purest product giving the best results in the herb industry. I can take one pill before bedtime and it relaxes me right off to sleep. I take two if I'm really keyed up and feel like I can't possibly sleep. This supplement also has various benefits: decreases constipation and decreases anxiety/nervousness. 

3.  Watching TV. My husband says I have a switch in my behind. Every time I sit down to watch TV, the couch flips that switch and I'm off like a light. That's what he says! It doesn't work like that every time. But I do love a noise to put me to sleep. I like the TV at a low rumble, or a fan or a dehumidifier. Anything that gives a low pitched constant noise should lull you to sleep unless you suffer from misophonia. It also helps to turn the TV off once you're just about to go to sleepy town because darkness increases melatonin production which in turn enhances sleep. Bananas increase melatonin too.

So... the next time I can't sleep I'm going to act more like a monkey. Eat a banana and pick fleas off my family members. I've heard protein promotes sleep too! I'll let you know how it goes! These tips are not "For Women Only". They work on both human species.

Taking a nap,
Tammy
The Happy Handicap

Leave me a comment and let me know which one of these works for you!

health

The 36 Year Journey

Overwhelmed! The feeling I got when my precious prosthetics got a hole. They tore the same spot every time. Sometimes they tore quickly and sometimes they tore well into the "every two years" cycle of getting new ones. I was overwhelmed because I couldn't wear shoes or walk without them. I was overwhelmed fighting insurance to justify another pair for $22K, beg my prosthetic man to repair the old ones and endure even more pain than usual. Psalm 61:2 says "From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I." I cried to God many times when my heart was overwhelmed and he knew if I didn't have the prosthetics it'd be impossible for me to stand on a rock. That's kind of a joke and kinda not. God knows your needs and your situation!

So many times our hearts become overwhelmed and we cry to God. We want rescued but maybe not led. We want helped but maybe not guided. We forget God is higher than us. We may consider him a peer, a "bounce it off of" guy or a "fairy god father". Psalm 25:5 says "Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day." It's not easy to wait on God and sometimes the day is extremely long.

It was my pleasure to speak with a Scottish Rite Mason this week. I shared how God led me to various entities starting with Scottish Rite Hospital in Atlanta. They suggested McMahan Shoes. McMahan Shoes suggested Lifelike Laboratories in Dallas, TX and I don't even remember how God led me to Young Prosthetics in Memphis, TN. The moral of the story is; today, after a 36-year journey, Steve and I made the set of prots in the pic! Praise Jesus! They are the most comfortable set of feet I've ever had and they cost about $300 a pair!

What if I had given up or turned around on the journey? It wasn't month-after-month of smooth sailing either. I've encountered storms, obstacles and nightmares enough to scare the bravest souls. You just gotta keep being led by the God of your salvation. Are you overwhelmed? Cry to Jesus, follow his lead and wait!

Overwhelmed in a good way,

Tammy

The Happy Handicap

encouragement health

Why Road Trips are Better with your Husband

Steve and I braved the long and winding road to Duke University Medical Center last Thursday. We were excited to see his pulmonary specialist for a follow-up visit. Our trips are fun especially this one and here's how our comic journey turned out...

I ALWAYS drive! Steve got behind the wheel leaving our home. I was surprised and honestly relieved since I was battling a 5 mm kidney stone. He was so proud of himself for giving me a break
mentioning it every chance he got waiting for my praise and approval. Comfortably settling in about two hours up the road, Steve stopped at a rest area in Andrews, NC where he discovered he had forgotten his billfold .... AT HOME! Really? I couldn't believe Steve, the OCD, "I-know-where-everything-I-own-is" forgot his billfold. Guess who drove the rest of the way up and back? He'll do anything to get me to drive. I figured out why he wanted to drive so badly though, not for my comfort but for his. He made me stop at every rest area going and coming. I think he's gone through the change and his man bladder is getting old and shrinking.

After his appointment on Friday, I wanted to peek inside the Duke Chapel. When we walked inside the doors there was no one inside. We marveled at the magnificence until those two people walked up the aisle and ruined my picture! lol Anyway, the funny part was getting there. The clinic nurse suggested we visit the Sarah P. Duke gardens and the Chapel. "It's so easy to get there" she said. "Take the red elevator to the basement, go all the way to the back and you should exit into the gardens. No problem, I eat lunch there all the time!" she said. After taking the red elevators to the basement and grabbing some lunch we started on our 2-mile hike to reach the chapel. Remember now, we are here because Steve has breathing problems and I'm the Happy Handicap with very limited walking abilities. At one point, I looked down at my black tennis shoes and said "Believe it or not, these are my "looking good" shoes. I wish I had my comfortable tennis shoes in the trunk!" Between Steve panting and huffing to say "If you take another incline or one more step I'm gonna need oxygen" and me stopping at every bench I saw to rest while doing the strangest "I'm-handicapped-but-I- don't-want-to-appear-that-way" limp...it was hilarious! Steve finally decided it was in our best interests for him to go get the car and pick me up. I was so glad I remembered to throw him the car keys when he was halfway up the next incline. We've had so much fun imitating each other for our kids! I kept reminding Steve we couldn't be in a better place to need oxygen or a wheelchair. The best part -- we did behold a beautiful chapel and picked up everyone a $6 Duke t-shirt!!!

Ladies, do you know how to "flow"? You might think this is a dance move or an elegant way to walk but no, it's Steve's masterful way of weaving in and out of traffic. I'm no good at it and admittedly so! He says "Tammy, you have no timing. Can you not see where you need to be and when?" Well I say "Steve, yes I can but not the way you do! If you're so smart, where's your billfold?"

Loving road trips with the hubby,

Tammy

The Happy Handicap

health humor travel

How God Used Facebook to Save my Husband's Life

Steve at Duke University Medical Clinic

Steve loathed Facebook since the day I created my account. He says "Facebook isn't good for anything but gossip and confusion!"

March 2012, Steve had a lung biopsy diagnosing IPF (idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis). We were basically told it was terminal with no treatment available. The news left a lump in my throat that I couldn't swallow. I felt
like I was branded with a searing hot iron. My pain burned deep and Steve felt worse than me. I prayed to God for help and answers. I joined a Facebook group called Pulmonary Fibrosis Awareness. I didn't visit it or read too often, it was just too depressing.  A lady posted in January praising Duke University for their knowledge and treatment of IPF. Immediately, I called for Steve an appointment. Surprisingly, I got one for March 1st just five short weeks from the day I called. I marveled how I got the appointment without a referral and so quickly.

I read a touching book by Rose W. Long this week Waiting for a Miracle. You should get one. She quotes Romans 8:28 many times "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." God amazed me once again. If He doesn't amaze you, you should let him! All things do work together for good to them that love God. Nearing the appointment date, Duke called wanting several pieces of information stat or the doctor was canceling Steve's appointment. They needed...

• the referring doctor
• cd of his last ct scan
• pulmonary records including biopsy

Steve conference me on the phone with them. Action is one of my best qualities although I innocently answered "No one referred us I just called". The voice on the other end said "I'm going to pretend I didn't hear that and ask again." I said "Our family doctor." The voice said "I need a pulmonary referral but I'm going to make an exception this time." Shew! We jumped the first hurdle. I picked up a CD of his CT scan from Murray Medical over-nighting it to Duke. We failed at getting the records from Redmond where his biopsy was done. Nevertheless, Duke called us after they received the CT scan to confirm his appointment, one day before we needed to leave. I forgot to mention several times during the five weeks, Steve asked me to cancel the appointment. I could not bring myself to cancel it and on the Monday before the appointment, Steve decided to go. It was a long 7-hour trip one way but praise Jesus was it worth it!

Almost three weeks after the appointment we finally got the news Steve has a rare autoimmune disease called Antisynthetase Syndrome. He starts treatment with two drugs this week. The best news we've heard in a year concerning his illness. The Duke doctor is optimistic the drugs will slow or even stop the disease. In some cases, lung damage has been reversed. He should see results from the drugs as quickly as two weeks. My words cannot convey the overwhelming joy in my heart nor the thankfulness I have for each of you that prayed for him. If you took just a moment from your day to whisper his name to God or send positive thoughts his way...THANK YOU SO MUCH!!! We are eternally grateful.

If you read my newsletter last week, I hope you felt the intensity with which it was written. Steve's tests are posted online. Google is my friend and I figured he had this syndrome which was prematurely diagnosed pending test results. God confirmed it for me as I was writing with tears of gladness streaming down my face for he ran my cup over. Please continue to pray for Steve as he starts treatment. Drugs are unknown but God always knows! I doubt Steve will open a Facebook account but I'm sure his opinion of it has changed. God used Facebook to lead us to hope. Steve's new motto "Hope is a wonderful thing!" Truly, all things work together for good to them that love God.

Grateful for His Hope,
Tammy
The Happy Handicap

health

4 Quick Stress Checks and 1 Relaxation Technique

Did you know there is good stress? Eustress is pleasant or curative stress. The irony to me is the
pronunciation "you-stress". I seriously doubt I've ever produced good stress for myself, have you? Distress or unpleasant, bad stress is my constant companion. I work on stress management but never seem to counteract "life" with simple management techniques. Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 12:10 "Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong." Do you take pleasure in these things? I'm not so sure I'm there yet some days. There's plenty of distress in the Bible, the word appears 52 times. I didn't find the word eustress once. But, I believe God describes it in the verse as "taking pleasure in distress" for his sake. We do this more than we think. We joy in the cross of our Savior. We take pleasure in his distress for his sake and "our" sake. If not for his distress, we would never experience a cure for sin. Seems I can't create my own eustress, Jesus did it for me! Read Psalm 107. Cry out and God will deliver you, save you and bring you out of distress. JESUS = Best Stress Management Technique Ever!

	Check muscle tension by scanning. Check different muscles in your body as if mentally X-raying each part and look for tension. Start at the top of your head and work down. Check your forehead, eyes, jaws (are you clenching your teeth?). Move to your neck and shoulders and check for tension or pain. Next your arms, chest, stomach, upper legs, calves, feet and toes.
	Check hand temperature. Place your hand on the side of your neck just above your collar. If your hand is noticeably cooler than your neck, your hand temperature indicates that your body is probably stressed.
	Check for nervous sweating. Many people perspire when they are tense. This is an involuntary stress response caused by the secretion of certain stress hormones. This is yet another simple indicator that your body is responding to some stressor.
	Check for rapid, shallow breathing. Relaxed individuals breath slowly and deeply with their stomach muscles. Tense people often tighten their stomach muscles and breathe through their chests. The chest doesn't expand as much as the stomach resulting in rapid, shallow, chest breathing. A relaxation technique for stress management is to learn to breathe in a relaxed manner. Relax the stomach and breathe in slowly, filling the stomach first and then the chest. Relax again while you exhale and repeat.

 

Breathing deeply and slowly,

Tammy

The Happy Handicap

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devotional health

5 Health Mistakes I Made with my Kids

When it comes to your kid's health, do you ever find yourself thinking I wish I hadn't done that? You may be a disciplined person but I am not! I've learned
quite a bit over the years as my children are grown. I'm hoping I can use these practices with my grands, when and if I have any, I'm ready!

Overuse of Antibiotics. Yes, I was one of those moms that wouldn't wait for my daughter's immune system to work. I always helped it out or did I? The CDC agrees antibiotics aren't always the answer , my mantra.  Before taking antibiotics, ask your doctor to do a blood test on your little one to see if their illness is viral or bacteria. Antibiotics are ineffective for viral infections. This is one way to avoid the overuse of antibiotics.

Eating Sugar in any Form. Dr. William R. Kellas calls sugar a "negative nutrient" or toxin. We are what we eat. My kids suffer from allergies, swollen glands, headaches and over-sized tonsils. I believe these symptoms resulted from a weakened immune system allowing disease to thrive, especially autoimmune diseases. My husband battles several autoimmune diseases; eczema, IPF and arthritis. Maintaining a healthy immune system by excluding bad foods and eating good food can never be emphasized enough.

Emphasis on Exercise. The American Heart Association recommends that children and adolescents participate in at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity every day. I'm using the excuse of my own physical challenges to alleviate some guilt (wink wink).

Relaxation Techniques. Ineffective stress management leads to adrenal failure. Children experience stress as well as adults. School stress is one of the biggest for children. Teaching your child effective relaxation techniques and making it part of their everyday life gives them an advantage dealing with stress as an adult. Teach them "me time" in a considerate way.


Work-Life Balance. My husband and I pride ourselves in good work ethic. We also pride ourselves in good life ethic. Our high standards are overkill meaning we kill ourselves trying to keep up our own high standards. I wish we had practiced moderation. God rested on the 7th day, so should we!

 

This list has been approved by daughter's, Sydnee and Sloane! It's never too late to live healthily-ever-after! 

Rethinking Rearing,

Tammy

The Happy Handicap

health

Fast and Easy Ways to Annoy People with Misophonia

Do you live with someone who has misophonia? Better yet, what is misophonia? Misophonia is a very complicated and little understood disorder that affects a person's sensitivity to noise. You may have noticed your son getting upset over the slightest sounds or your husband telling you "Stop raking your fork on your teeth!"  Individuals with misophonia get emotionally upset over sounds and ticks other people rarely hear.

My husband and daughter have misophonia. It wasn't until my Mom watched...
20/20 about a teen suffering with the disease that we realized both Steve and Sloane have the disorder.  I  learned to deal with what I thought to be short tempers from both of them. I feared Sloane had inherited a poor character trait from her Dad. She inherited a real disorder.

The word misophonia literally translates to "hatred of sound". Hatred of sound is in fact an understatement for those who suffer from this disorder. Misophonia sufferers are extremely sensitive to sound, so much so that they have sometimes violent reactions to a certain set of sounds called "triggers".

Here are the top 10 triggers at our house:

1. Crunch ice (My son-in-law loves to crunch ice, uh-oh)
2. Eat potato chips (I'm a closet potato chip eater!)
3. Rake your fork on your teeth (I can't seem to eat without raking my fork on my teeth)
4. Any kind of continuous tapping (I can't seem to cook without banging a spoon on a pot)
5. Gum chewing and popping (If I get to chew gum, I can't blow a bubble or pop)
6. Nose Whistling (my husband says my nose plays a different tune every day)
7. Humming a tune (with your mouth and not your nose)
8. Heavy footsteps (my husband has always told our oldest daughter she walks like an elephant)
9. Typing on a keyboard or texts with sound (silence is golden at our home)
10. Water bottle squeezing (I can't seem to drink out of a water bottle without it making a loud noise)

My family found some sympathy for Steve and Sloane after the 20/20 episode. We thought they were just being awfully dang picky! The household experienced turmoil when they stomped from a room when crunching became too loud or they called us out on every little noise we made. Steve manages his better since he's older and we feel Sloane may mature into the management of her disorder too. Now, we are cognizant of their disorder and at least try not to purposefully annoy them. Ah! Sweet harmony! My nose has even quit singing! There's interesting misophonia information on Google if you want to learn more about the disorder.

Misophonia makes these two Dr. Jekyll and Miss Hyde!

Being very, very quiet,
Tammy
The Happy Handicap

health

Self-Heal with your own Hands

Today was not a normal Monday! I invited Amber Suter, LMT to my home. Amber and I met a couple of years ago at the Yin Yang House Acupuncture and Wellness Center in Chattanooga, TN. She specializes in Integrative Body and Energy Work. My body craves her reflexology and massage. Withdrawals are

ugly! My skin turns pale, sweats starts popping up like goosebumps and my circulation almost slows to a stop begging for more. Pets beg for treatments too (at least mine does)!

Most days we rush to work and back home just in time for bed. Tending to everyday life takes all our time and most of our money. Our bodies needs relaxation!

Reflexology is a luxury our own hands can give us. What is reflexology?  Reflexology or Zone therapy is an alternative medicine involving the physical act of applying pressure to the feet, hands, or ears with specific hand techniques with the use of oil.  There is no consensus among reflexologists on how reflexology is supposed to work; a unifying theme is the idea that areas on the foot correspond to areas of the body, and that by manipulating these one can improve health through one's qi.

I don't know how it works either but it does! Our bodies relieve pain and stress naturally if we "use what we got".  I've gotten relief from chronic pain, sciatica, digestive issues, migraine, sinus congestion and much more. My previous reflexologist lived in Cleveland, GA. I drove four hours per visit. Obviously, I think reflexology is WELL WORTH THE EFFORT!

You can do your own treatment! Try your hand at this easy relexology even while at work. Practice it at home and then use it to relieve some stress at your desk. Let me know how it works for you. If you are interested in Amber's services, she will be back at my home February 18th.

Chilled without pills,

Tammy

The Happy Handicap

health

Do you use fabric softener for the freshness or the softness? I sometimes pull my clothes from the dryer and say "Wow! Feel how feathery soft." I always pull my clothes from the dryer with both nostrils anticipating the wafting of the glorious scent of Gain! I love to pull my clothes from my closet or a drawer with the freshness still lingering days after washing. Do you? I happened upon, by accident, a way to "lock in" the luxury of a lavish smell weeks after laundry day.  Introduce an inexpensive staple needed in every laundry room
...Tea Tree Oil.

I use Nature's Sunshine Tea Tree Oil. I mix one-half bottle of Tea Tree Oil with 32 ounces of water to use as a laundry additive. The mixture removes mold left behind by regular laundry detergents. I add one ounce of the mixture in my bleach dispenser for colors or add it directly behind my bleach in the dispenser for whites. I started using a similar laundry additive when I learned my husband has a mold allergy.  Common laundry detergents do not kill or clean mold spores on fabric. Mold is everywhere and can't be avoided! Tea Tree Oil has many healing and antiseptic benefits. Bodyecology.com reports "Tea tree has so many anti-viral and anti-fungal benefits that the Australian army puts it in soldiers' first aid kits."

I make my own additive to save money. The additive I bought cost $19.99 per 32 ounce bottle. I make 32 ounces for around $6, a whooping 70% savings! Easy, convenient and all natural. I recommend this home mixture to experience extra clean and extra fragrant clothes. Please note that the Tea Tree Oil itself has a very powerful fragrance. Your clothes will not retain the smell of the Tea Tree Oil even if you don't use fabric softener.  Wash a regular load of laundry using your regular detergent, bleach and softener adding the Tea Tree Oil mixture as an additional cleansing step. The result is addicting! I never wash clothes without it!

health

I'm a Baker, Faker and Prosthetic Foot Maker

I'm a baker, a faker and a prosthetic foot maker. I'm not a joker, nor a smoker or a midnight toker.  Don't you hear that Steve Miller Band song when you read the title of this blog?  I've been singing "The Joker" since the title popped into my head!  Ooee baby I'll sure show you a good time.  Ooooooo, Ooooooo, and then the guitar solo..............can you hear it?  If not, click here.



It sounds like I really love peaches and have been out shaking the trees! lol  Trey and I took a road trip to Memphis at the end of August to learn how to make my prosthetic feet.  We were eager for our training but Sydnee was worried for us to travel together. She says both of us are opinionated and won't back down.  Really?  So I wasn't the least bit worried when we made our way to Beale Street.  He can walk the musician swagger and I can talk the sheet music!  We had a good time and bought some cool shirts but oddly enough didn't listen to any music.  Maybe we are just too opinionated!

It took us three days to complete our training.  We watched my right foot being made and I must admit, I felt a bit weird watching a man stroke a model of my leg.  He was repairing the mold and then actually building layers of silicone on the mold with his bare hands, but it just felt a little odd.  I was hoping it was just me but nope, Trey got weirded out too!  Don't think about that too much, ok?  There were multiple steps to making the prosthetic from measuring the silicone, coloring it and extracting the air to minimize bubbles.  The silicone has to be baked for it to cure and harden to the mold.  That's why I'm a baker.  It's a fake foot which makes me a faker and soon I plan to make a new foot which will make me a prosthetic foot maker.  I'm thinking about calling Steve Miller to see if he would like to revive his music with a new twist.  I can't wait for the day he pulls into my driveway and knocks on my door.  I'll open the door and greet him with this line, "Come on in Steve, I'll be right with you, I've got a foot in the oven!"  hahahahaha  I am a Joker!

Right here at home,
Tammy
The Happy Handicap

p.s.  Leave me a comment!

health humor