Sunday, June 13, 2010

Video - Dr. Tania Ash on Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue


This is a video on the above issues and it may or may not be relevant to any of you - but it was for us and will always be. Our youngest was lucky to come across two exceptional doctors, her first one Dr Ashley Berry (Oately - Sydney) who took one look at her back in 2002 and said "You are not depressed, you are very sick) a breath of fresh air - as ordinary GP's are in the Dark Ages on this issue - sort of "if we can't fix it or know what it is it must be in your head.

Then when she moved she was lucky enough to meet with Dr Tania Ash who moved mountains and really worked hard to find out WHY? Where others just treat symptoms - she investigated and looked for the causes which were multiple - Although now not 100% our daughter now has a chance at life and is able now to work a few hours a day but still has days when she is tired...and not just tired - but exhausted.



Its not just being a little bit tired - so if you know anyone who is sick with one of these or both please listen and if you can in any way help them out like offering help such as shopping for them, asking them what they need and being compassionate. People said to Ali at times or out of her hearing "She could go out (or do things such as meet people etc) if she wanted to or if she pushed herself" The few people who visited her mostly did not understand she just could not sit up and talk with them but after a very short time had to go back to bed - they thought she was being rude...and never acquainted themselves with what was really happening to her.

Like if its not a broken leg or known and visible illness you must be putting it on. My heart broke over and over for her and there was little understanding even amongst extended family of the extreme illness she suffered. an illness which in the end would have killed her, as her liver was already showing signs of damage as if she was an alcoholic and this is a girl who is lucky to have three glasses of wine a year. It was an awful time, and we were really torn because I could only visit her occasionally as I had to be with Don who was also ill. I felt terribly torn...she tried to come home here for a few months but the doctors here were useless - suggesting prozac etc (maybe so she could die laughing!!) She' not out of the woods yet having to have injections every three days of Vot B12 which her body does not absorb, along with its not absorbing much Iron, Vit D and others essential to life.

If you know anyone with these illnesses, there are doctors in Australia who have done extra training with the Australian College of Nutritional and Environmental medicine (ACNEM) and this is their web page
http://www.acnem.org/modules/mastop_publish/?tac=1
If you look in the heading "Find a doctor" there are lists of these doctors right accross Australia and new Zealand - it could turn someone's life around or at leasthelp find them a doctor who understands the issues

8 comments:

Maggie May said...

She's lucky to have such an intelligent, loving mother.

Mom said...

A good doctor is a wonderful thing. glad your girl found someone who cold help her get on the road to recovery.

Anne said...

I can imagine how torn you would have been. She is lucky to now have the help she needs.

Cazzie!!! said...

Therese, thanks so much for the personal insight into such a devastating problem for so many people out there. I shall pass this link on if it is okay with you.. there are many that will benefit from it. You are a good woman :)

Middle Child said...

Maggie May, I am the lucky one to have such wonderful daughters - being their mother has been my privilidge 9once we got through those teenage years!!!)

Middle Child said...

Mom Drs Berry and Ash were a Godsend...they gave Ali back her life

Middle Child said...

Anne...Not lucky..it should be like this for all who have a chronic illness...this should be the norm.

Middle Child said...

Cazzie good to know you will pass it on. As to being a good woman - never been called that before - been called lots of other things...Don used to say i was a "real woman" whatver that meant - he may have been been refferring to having too many curves and being kind haha