Plantar fasciitis

March 25, 2018 / Margaret / 6 Comments

When I got out of bed on Friday morning, I felt a sharp pain under my right foot, near the heel. Oooh, that hurt! It got slightly better as I hobbled downstairs and into the kitchen to feed the cats and make myself a cappuccino. The more I hobbled/walked, the less the bottom of my heel seemed to hurt.

By mid morning I seemed to be okay and so, as planned, I took the bus into the center of Florence where I had lunch with some relatives, took them around Florence, and showed them the sights…I’ve always enjoyed seeing my beautiful Florence through the eyes of people who don’t live here. It’s always lots of fun.

But boyohboy, did we walk. We walked, and walked, and WALKED!!! All over the place. My heel didn’t bother me that much, although the pain would return occasionally, making me limp just a bit. The relatives didn’t notice, so the limp wasn’t that obvious, I guess.

I got home just before dinner and told Stefano about it, but my slight heel pain really paled in comparison to the discomfort he’s still in, poor sweetie.

On Saturday morning, I couldn’t stand up. The pain under my right foot was almost unbearable. Mainly, though, I had no idea what was causing it, and that was unsettling…

Anyway, long story short. Diagnosis: plantar fasciitis.

If I could go back in time, I’d change a bunch of things (hah!, wouldn’t we all??? 😉 ). One of them would certainly be my fixation with wearing flip flops. I wear them in the house, summer and winter (with socks, in winter). I mean, I wear them A LOT. Way too much, evidently…How stupid I’ve been.

Flip flops are okay for the beach, but they are flat and flimsy (although mine aren’t as flimsy as most) and most of all, they don’t offer any arch or heel support. It’s okay to use them for a short while (on the beach, e.g.), but that is IT.

If, like me, you love wearing flip flops, please be careful…You don’t want to get this thing…

Anyway, I’ve already ordered special shoe inserts and special socks. And while I’m in the annoying pain phase (although today the pain has lessened a lot), I’ll be icing the bottom of my heel and rubbing an arnica-based ointment on it…And keeping my foot at a 90-angle degree as much as possible. After this painful phase is over, there are exercises I can do…

So…no big deal. Or, should I say, no big heel. 😉

Drinking plastic

March 16, 2018 / Margaret / 1 Comment

I just read a BBC article about a new study showing that the bottled water of major brands (Nestlé, Coca-Cola, Pepsi…) is contaminated by microparticles of plastic. Here’s the link : goo.gl/fCPQp6.

Just a few years ago I discovered that Italians are the major consumers of bottled water in Europe…We’re talking, more than 10 BILLION liters of bottled water per year.

That means that every single Italian drinks about 208 liters of bottled water per year…Now, if you exclude those of us–and there are quite a few by now–who do NOT buy bottled water, that adds up to A LOT of bottles, which, er, don’t always get recycled (another problem altogether, sigh… 🙁 ).

I’ve always felt that there’s something wrong with Italians’ bottled water obsession. My gut feeling would increase during the summer, when I’d notice trucks, loaded with bottled water, parked all over the city in the HOT SUN…It didn’t take a genius to figure out that those plastic bottles were heating up and releasing toxic crap into the water…And this was even before we knew about BPA…

I still have friends telling me that they can only drink bottled water. It’s crazy.

Plus, bottled water is bad for your back!!! Whenever I’m at the supermarket, I see Italians struggling to lift their heavy loads of bottled water into their carts. Ouch!

Bottled water makes no sense to me, on any level. Of course, it makes sense to the bottled water producers that deluge us with commercials in which famous soccer players or actors tell us how healthful a particular brand of mineral water is, blablabla. Boy, I can’t even imagine how much money these brands make…

Anyway…

Truth be told, the BBC article points out that plastic particles are a bit everywhere: “Last year, Prof Mason found plastic particles in samples of tap water and other researchers have spotted them in seafood, beer, sea salt and even the air.”

But if we all stopped drinking bottled water, there is no question that we would help reduce the amount of plastic (bottles) in the environment…That’s a huge incentive to stop, right there.

And so I’m sticking to my tap water…unless, of course, I’m in a place where it isn’t safe to drink it…

My NON post

March 13, 2018 / Margaret / 6 Comments

When I first began blogging, in March of 2007, a more experienced blogger informed me that I had to publish a post every day in order for my blog to be visible on Google and not be deemed “inactive.” If I stopped writing and publishing, even for ONE day, he added, my blog be more difficult to find on the search engines, meaning that I’d lose my readership. He talked about blogging as though it were a competition.

Well, I didn’t care about competing with other bloggers and/or becoming THE most popular myeloma blogger (!), but I did want to reach and possibly help as many people as possible, so I tried very hard to write and publish a post every day. Not easy, when you have “distractions,” such as a loving hubby, a job, a bunch of cats needing attention and care…and so on and so forth….

At a certain point, though, I decided, ENOUGH. I wanted to enjoy my life outside the blog. I’d done enough research to last almost an entire lifetime and, to be honest, I was sick and tired of reading scientific jargon every single day…

Plus, sometimes I didn’t know what to write about/had writer’s block. Writing became a bit of a struggle, even though I have to acknowledge that it’s only thanks to my blog that I have discovered how much I love writing…

Anyway, back then, in short, I needed a break.

And so I took a break from blogging. Just as I’d been warned, my readership dropped. Day by day, practically. It’s now down to less than a third of what it was in the “golden years.” But I didn’t care. I was outside, breathing fresh air, enjoying life, with plenty of time to spend with my friends…and so on and so forth. 😉

Mind you, I still had, and have!, a lot of readers writing to me with their questions and findings. In fact, many of them have become friends in real life, which is just wonderful. I also still had and have a lot of mail to sort through on a daily basis…often so much (mail) that I cannot reply to everyone, and for that I apologize.

Recently, though, I’ve been coming across some really interesting and/or promising stuff, which I’ve found on my own or thanks to blog readers (you know who you are, THANK YOU), such as:

the bone marrow microenvironment studies
the EBV-MM connection
Dieneke’s case study getting published in the UK (yaaaay)
andrographolide
the Chinese MM patient’s case study
astragalus

There seems to be a lot going on, which is very exciting. Inspiring, in fact. And for a while I almost got back to a post/day… 😉

But ever since Stefano came down with shingles (he’s better now, btw, but still in quite a lot of pain…hasn’t gone back to work yet), I haven’t felt much like writing. It’s so hard to see the person you love in such pain. His pain has had an effect on me, too.

I haven’t stopped doing research…But these days it’s been mostly on the natural ways to relieve the pain caused by shingles, and in fact the turmeric-based topical applications have really helped him. However, only prescription-strength Tylenol (the Italian equivalent) is able to reach the sort of INTERNAL nerve pain he has been experiencing…My poor sweetie!

BUT, of course, this negative period will soon be over. Stefano is already feeling better, and the awful rash is fading. That means that I’ll soon be back to blogging more. I’m already looking at a couple of studies on my desktop, hoping they’ll inspire me to write a post…

Okay, it’s time now to go check on my patient. Take care, everyone! CIAO! 🙂

Fuoco di Sant’Antonio, shingles, herpes zoster…

March 7, 2018 / Margaret / Leave a comment

Stefano had been complaining recently (last week) about a strange sort of pain/ache in his back that began more or less last Wednesday. We thought he’d pulled a muscle or some such thing. But the pain wasn’t going away. When he’d come home from work, and in the morning when he got out of bed, it was ouch-ouch-ouch. I suggested he at least call our GP, but he didn’t want to bother him. He really thought it was a pulled muscle. Then, on Saturday morning, he asked me to take a look. I found a little rash on the left side of his torso, but he said it wasn’t where the pain was.

And so I didn’t make the connection. Nor did he. Not until the rash had spread a bit, which it had by Saturday night. At that point, we both knew what it was, since his father and both of my parents had had it.

Shingles.

UGH!!!

In Italy it’s called Fuoco di Sant’Antonio in Italian, or fire of Saint Anthony.

Unfortunately, we had no way of getting in touch with our GP during the weekend, and my rather stubborn Stefano didn’t want to go to the ER. So he “lost” a day, since, without a prescription, I wasn’t able to get the antiviral drug (acyclovir) for him until Monday morning, after we’d contacted our fantastic GP. And by Monday morning, let me tell ya, the rash had spread all around his torso, in back and in front, and he was in a lot of discomfort.

Well, I didn’t wait until Monday to take action. On Sunday morning I made a paste with organic turmeric and a bit of water, which Stefano spread over the rash. Incredibly, the rash stopped burning and itching. It did NOT stop the rash from spreading, BUT the area covered by the turmeric paste didn’t burn or itch at all, whereas any new bumps that developed during the night itched and burned like crazy. Once he’d covered those bumps with the turmeric paste, though, the burning and itching disappeared completely.

This is how we knew it really worked.

And that’s why I’m writing this post today, with Stefano’s permission…because it’s a bit of good information that can be given to anyone who has shingles. As I noted, the turmeric + water paste will NOT stop the internal nerve pain caused by shingles (you need antiviral meds for that…), but it might stop the superficial burning and itching. I use the conditional tense “might,” because of course we all react differently, even to the same drug or treatment. But his case is a rather nasty one, and his skin should be itching and burning like mad. It’s not. Not at all.

The first few days (from Saturday night to yesterday morning) have been the most difficult. Last night he managed to sleep without any trouble. So I think the acute phase is over…And we can relax a bit…

Anyway, I’ve found another use for turmeric! Of course, it’s nothing new to Ayurveda…but it was to me! 🙂

Snow in Florence…

March 2, 2018 / Margaret / Leave a comment

So very exciting! Yesterday we woke up to a thin blanket of snow covering our street, and it was still snowing. As for accumulation, official estimates have been between 2 and 5 centimeters (5 cm is about 2 inches). We live on the outskirts of town, and we definitely got 5 cm, perhaps a bit more.

Yes, a very small snowfall, but it was enough for all the schools in Florence to be closed. No, I’m not kidding. Based on the forecast, on Wednesday the municipality announced that there would be no school on Thursday. Why? Well, simply put, because Florence doesn’t do well in snow, not even a few inches.

We’re simply not equipped for it.

Our last snowstorm occurred in December of 2010…although, unlike yesterday’s snowfall, that was a BIG one (well, for Florence, anyway). In 2010, we got more than 10 inches of snow (I wrote a post about it, in fact, and posted a few photos of our snow-covered neighborhood…).

The city was completely paralyzed back then…I remember barely making it home from work, and Stefano got home only after 1 AM, after nearly getting stranded near his office…It was a mess for most people, but for ME, it was COMPLETE JOY!!!

Anyway, I know that those of you who live in places that get much bigger snowfalls will laugh at us (and, having lived in Boston, Toronto, Cape Cod, in a way I do, too), but that’s the way things are here. After all, it would be pointless and expensive to have a lot of snowplows rusting away inside warehouses, waiting for that one possibly-big snowfall we get every seven years or so…Right?

Back to yesterday. After taking a few photos of our street and our garden, I really wanted to go up to Florence’s panoramic terrace overlooking the city, the Piazzale Michelangelo, to take some photos of the city…but it’s far from our house, too far to walk (based on the forecast, the snow was going to turn to rain at lunchtime…not enough time…).

Stefano had to go to work (his SUV has winter tires, unlike my little Panda), so I begged him to take me up to the Piazzale. I reasoned with him that snow is such a rare event in Florence and that we just had to go to the Piazzale. He replied, “no, sorry, I really wish we could, but there just isn’t enough time. I have two shipments going out today and have to be at work ASAP.”

I understood, of course. But still, I was so disappointed! Oh well. I began getting myself and my camera ready for some neighborhood shots. Not the same thing, of course, but it would have to do…

But then I saw that sneaky boy getting out his camera gear, his new lens in particular…

Haha, very funny indeed, Stefano!!! Yes, I married a comedian… 🙂

And so we reached a compromise: we’d stop at the Piazzale to take some photos on the way to his office, but then I’d be stuck at his office all day. Clearly, I was more than happy to be “stuck.”

So here are some of my photos. Sorry, they look fuzzy and dark because the snow was still coming down, and the light was terrible (for photos, anyway). I took some others with my cellphone, but for some reason they aren’t downloading onto the computer. These will have to do.

In the end, we had tons of fun yesterday. One of Stefano’s colleagues had brought her daughter to work, so she and I went outside while the grownups were working 😉 …We chased each other around the snow-filled parking lot and had a fierce snowball fight. What a blast!!!

I know I’m in the minority, but I LOVE SNOW (in case that weren’t obvious…hehe). I know, I know, I would probably change my mind if I lived in a Northern European country and had to shovel a ton of snow every day every single winter, but since I do not, snow always gives me a sense of peace and beauty…the sort of feeling you get when you meditate. Although…that feeling is totally gone today…It’s been raining hard all morning, so the snow has all melted…oh well…

It was lovely while it lasted!!!

Two gadolinium-based contrast agents are banned in Italy

February 28, 2018 / Margaret / 2 Comments

Wellwellwellwellwell! WELL!

I just read a bit of welcome (or, wellcome!) news in Italian. If you understand Italian, here’s the link: goo.gl/JYN8ec. In a nutshell, beginning today, yes, TODAY!, two contrast agents used in MRIs have been banned in ITALY. And, quelle surprise (not), they are gadolinium-based.

Remember the study that came out some years ago about how much myeloma cells simply LOVED gadolinium, and proliferated at mad rates when placed in it? If not, just do a search of my blog for “gadolinium.” Gadolinium can also have a bunch of not-very-nice side effects…

The reason for this ban isn’t, however, because of that important gadolinium-myeloma study. No, what’s happening today in Italy is mostly a precautionary measure, based on the July 2017 recommendations of the EMA, the European Medicines Agency, which in turn are based (!) on the findings of its Pharmacovigilance Risk Assessment Committee, which is Europe’s equivalent to the U.S. FDA. Basically, small quantities of gadolinium have been shown to accumulate in the brain, and there is no way of proving that those quantities do not cause any damage in the long term.

Hence the ban.

Does that mean that gadolinium has been completely banned? Unfortunately not.

In some cases–when there is no other way to reach a diagnosis, e.g.–the smallest dose possible will be used. But there will be no more widespread use of this crap. Oh sorry, did I say “crap”? Oh dear, so I did. 😉

Another thing: the gadolinium-based contrast agents gadoxetic acid and gadobenic acid will continue to be used in liver scans.

But that is IT. Gadolinium is on its way out (at least, that’s what I hope!).

We need to focus on finding non-toxic or at least not-so-toxic contrast agents. There must be another way to do this…there must be…

Ah, speaking of which, I just read about potentially safer manganese-based contrast agents in an article titled “U.S. patients left fending for themselves with gadolinium safety risks”: goo.gl/zCz5gM

And this is where I am going to stop today, with the hope that a non-toxic contrast agent can be found…

P.S. I’ve been having difficulty accessing the Internet in the past few days…It’s on, then off, then on again…a real drag. I want to publish this post before I lose Internet again, so I’m not going to reread it, as I usually do…pazienza!

Off I go…Need to feed the cats and have lunch! Ciao! 🙂

“The therapeutic effect of modified Huangqi Guizhi Wuwu Tang for multiple myeloma.” A case report.

February 23, 2018 / Margaret / 10 Comments

This morning I came across an interesting case report of a Chinese female patient who was diagnosed at the age of 49, in July of 2000, with IgG kappa multiple myeloma. After going through nine chemo cycles (mainly melphalan), she discontinued the treatments because of serious side effects. The full study is available for free here: goo.gl/evtUrQ

Less than a year post diagnosis, in May of 2001, she began taking a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) remedy known as Huangqi Guizhi Wuwu Tang. It’s a combination of five herbal extracts, including astralagus root and fresh ginger.

Results:

Her fever and sweats and other side effects disappeared or improved.

She had no (or minor) side effects from the herbal mix.

She has remained stable for 18 years.

Occasional joint pain/backaches, but no bone lesions.

Her renal impairment has not worsened significantly.

Her quality of life is “excellent.”

During the years, the herbal mix and dosage have been modified, based on her symptoms. The basic ingredient, though, has remained astragalus root. You can scroll down the study for a list of all the ingredients. Very interesting!

At one point she stopped taking the herbal mix for “several months.” Big mistake. Her symptoms, including renal function, worsened. She went back on the herbal mix and has not stopped taking it since then.

Based on their patient’s medical case, the authors suggest that “Modified HGWT, especially the Chinese herb medicine Radix Astragali could potentially be an alternative option for the treatment of MM.”

Of interest: astralagus seems to have an effect on the bone marrow microenvironment, which has become almost an obsession of mine in recent weeks, as you may have noticed. So I want to do some in-depth research here.

The BM microenvironment is discussed mainly in the Discussion part of the study. Now, I don’t want to turn this post into a laundry list of “this extract had this effect, that extract had this other effect on this and that” and so on. Too many details, so I suggest that you go have a look at the Discussion when you have the time…

In case you don’t have time, though, here’s the gist:

The herbs used in this traditional herbal mix, with its multiple targets and low cost, “may play an important role in attenuating dysfunction of bone marrow microenvironment.”

Astragalus, in particular.

Very interesting…

Another possible use of this mix, the authors add, would be to relieve at least some of the harsh side effects of chemotherapy. Of course, never take anything without first consulting with your doctor!

But my writing time is running out so I have to end this post…

I wanted to end it with a quote from the study: “Routine physical examination results of the last 2 years showed the patient’s disease remained stable. Though MM is not cured, her life quality is excellent…”

I mean, at this point we know that our myeloma cells won’t just disappear…I can live with that, as long as my quality of life remains the same…or…gets even better (hey, why not shoot for the stars? 😉 )