Endo visit

So, I'm not really sure why I go to my endocrinologist.  Basically I pay $40 to have the doctor give me a pat on the back for having low prolactin levels and randomly wiggle his finger (I will explain that more in a sec).  I can do that for myself or have my hubby do it and put that $40 towards a new outfit or something!  In order to feel like my visit was worth while I will share a couple of pointers that may help some of you save $40 :)  If you don't get your blood tested regularly there are some ways to see if the tumor is impacting your vision.

Self  vision test:  Pick something in you living room to focus on.  I usually chose the pretty orange poppy picture on my wall.  Sit so that the picture (or whatever you chose to focus on) is in your peripheral vision.  If you can still see the picture, you are good to go.  If not, you better go to the eye doctor and get a field of vision test.  You see, if your peripheral vision is going out, you won't see black spots or anything like that.  Your brain will actually fill in that area with what it thinks you are supposed to see.  If I were having problems with my peripheral vision and I was trying to see my orange poppy picture, my brain would most likely fill in that area with wall instead.  Make sense?

Two person vision test:  Have your hubby, significant other, or random neighbor or friend or whoever, hold a finger in your peripheral vision while you look straight ahead (focusing on something).  Have them randomly wiggle a finger in several different areas of your peripheral and AS SOON AS YOU SEE THE WIGGLE say so.  Say wiggle, or finger or whatever your magic word is.  If you see the wiggle, great....if not, get a field of vision test.

So, I get my blood tested fairly regularly at my family doctor lab.  My last prolactin level was 17 :)  I'm ok with that!  *pat pat*  Unless I have a huge jump in my levels I will probably not go back to the endo.  Sorry bud....my $40 will be going back to me :)

Tumor Tip :) Calcium

Make sure you are getting enough calcium.  Did you know that those of us with prolactinoma have a much higher risk of osteoporosis?  Heightened levels of prolactin disrupt our monthly cycle by lowering progesterone and estrogen and may cause our periods to come less frequently of stop the completely.  This directly affects our bone density and can cause us major problems later on.  If you don't take a calcium supplement make sure you are eating plenty of calcuim in them.  Here are some examples: Hard cheese, sardines, tofu, milk, anchovies, almonds, milk chocolate (this is my personal favorite one), most stuff made with milk, spinach, yogurt, breads and broccoli.  If you take a supplement make sure it has magnesium in it too as magnesium helps our bodies properly process the calcium.  So, if you decide to get a snack, grab some broccoli and milk chocolate and enjoy :)

Really cool article if you can make sense of it

So, I had a friend tell me to read this article, so I did, then I went back to the person and asked them to interpret.  I should have recorded the interpretation but I did not.  So you will have to interpret it yourself :)  The conclusion pretty much sums it up but I love that there is research and studies to back it all up!  Enjoy!!!

Biomed Article on Frankincense and Cancer/Tumors

Unresponsive tumor?

I had a tumor friend email me recently and ask me some questions that I just didn't have the answers to, so I am opening it up to my readers to help!  Here we go:

Do you know anyone that has a tumor that is nonresponsive to medication? 
Do you know the implications of a nonresponsive tumor?
Do you have any info or articles on this?


Any takers???

The Scoop on Toxins

So, I am finally coming up for breathe after a fun filled week in Texas!  We fully enjoyed the Vitamin D as we spent all 7 days outdoors!  So nice to be outside for a change.  Then we came back to our 3 feet of snow and I have been trying to get everything in order since then.

So, one of my online tumor friends reminded me of a great website.  It is called Skin Deep.  Personally I think it is a little extreme (as does my tumor friend that reminded me of it) but it has great information that can help you reduce personal care products in your home that may negatively affect your hormones!  I have been aware of this website for quite sometime and have been phasing out most of my cosmetics/shampoos/lotions that contain lots of stuff that can affect your hormones.  Another great website she shared with me is Natural Cleaning Recipes.  I also have a really great e-book that a friend put together.  It contains recipes for lots of natural cleaning supplies, deodorant, bath salts, body scrub and many more things.  If you are interested in this e-book please email me at hyperprolactinoma@gmail.com .  It's in pdf format so i cannot post it via blog :)

You all know that I am a big doTERRA fan.  They have some amazing products that are free of sulphates, parabens and the like.  You can find them at my online store at doTERRA.  They are under shop, and doTERRA Spa.  If you already have an account you can sign in at mydoterra.com and put in your ID number and password.  That way you can get the sweet 17-25% discount on them!  If you don't get the sweet discount and want to, you can let me know (via email) and I will explain more about it :)  I use the shampoo, conditioner and the skin care kit.  I am not a hair guru, but my sister a beautician so she is my resident expert on that kind of stuff  :)  I asked her what she thinks of the sanobello stuff and she claims it is just as good if not better than Pureology.  Means little to me, but maybe means something to someone out there.  I got the skin care kit for Christmas and I LOVE it.  I've been using it for a month and I have noticed that the bags under my eyes are almost gone and my pores are shrinking.  Plus the eye serum contains Frankincense!  We all know why I love that stuff :)  Anyway, Those are my doTERRA recommendations.  There is also a really great website where I get all of my lotion base in bulk (to which I use my oils to make it smell good and benefit me in different ways on different days!)  It is Posergy.  I also get my aloe vera gel, and bar soap there.  I avoid the stuff with their essential oils just because they don't test theirs as rigorously as doTERRA.  If I have dry skin, I add sandlewood to the lotion and rub it in.  I add lavender to it for my babies nighttime bath to help his sleep better.  Those are just a couple of examples!  Some other favorites for me are Balance, Whisper, and Ylang Ylang (all three help hormones and all three smell so good!) If you are interested in making your own lotion, chap stick and stuff, you can purchase some ingredients at aromatools.com.  I also get alot of my oil books, roll on bottles, spray tops, and glass spray bottles (which you need if you make your own cleaners containing essential oils.  Oils breakdown plastic.)

Tumor Tip #1 Reduce Stress

Pull out the Wii, Kinect or running shoes (but only of it's warmer than it is here) and play or run for 5 to ten minutes.  Yes, I got a kinect for Christmas and I justified it by saying it would help me exercise, reduce stress and therefore shrink my tumor :)  Exercise is to important for us!  It will get your heart pumping and it will oxygenate your body...including your brain!  It kicks in the endorphins and gets the neurotransmitters hoping helping you sort through something you are stressed about or just plain removing it from your mind!  These same endorphins will give you feelings of happiness :)  Regular exercise can help you fend of stress, look better and it will burn all those stress hormones that keep you worrying!  It relaxes your muscles and gets rid of that muscle tension that comes from stress.  So, start right now...get off your blogging bums and go out and do something to get that heart pumping!  I'm turning on the kinect right now!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Years! late I know...

I hope everyone had great holidays...I am still recovering, but we had a blast!  So, I have a new year resolution to share.....be better!  I have so much to improve on and so I've left is vague :)  I want to start doing Tumor Tips, that will be quick and easy things to do to reduce stress or something like that...I will do my first one today and hopefully I will post more if they aren't so long!  Also, feel free to add your own tips!  Ok...here goes nothing!