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Neal's Yard Remedies Independent Consultant Sue Kaup

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Archives for April 2017

April 29, 2017 by Sue 2 Comments

HOW OUR FAMILY FRACTURED OVER CARE OF OUR MOTHER

home, house, family dynamics

The only certainty in life is death. Yet we all go about our merry way and live life as though it will never happen to us, or the people we love. How different things would be if we weren’t all in denial about the end of life. Having an elderly parent forces one to face the reality of death.

fractured family, family dynamics

When it comes to caring for an elderly parent, one would think everyone would be on the same page. When that parent can speak for themselves, you would think it would be even simpler. In our family of five children it hasn’t gone down that way.

I can’t even imagine how difficult it becomes when the parent can’t speak for themselves.  Maybe when there is a durable health power of attorney that clearly spells things out, it’s easier. I don’t know. What I do know is adding to the heartbreak of my mother being sick with an inflamed gallbladder, and unable to withstand surgery because of a weak heart, I feel like I’ve lost one of my sisters.

Transition Care versus Home Care

From what I can tell, one of the biggest differences of opinion between my sister and me was transition care versus home care. (mine) My sister and I both told Mom we’d be okay with whatever she decided about where to go when she was released. The hospital seemed to agree with my sister. They claim people tend to get back in their own homes faster following a stay in transition care. Perhaps they can’t wait to get out, or can’t afford the expense? There may be good transition care out there, but I don’t hear anyone raving about it, and it’s not like you can always choose the one you prefer, as there may or may not be a bed available.

The last time Mom was in transition care they forgot to have her take her water pills, and with congestive heart failure, that could have been a fatal mistake. My Dad’s voice echoes in my head from one of his last stays in transition care before he passed away. “Sue. You’ve to get me out of here. They’re going to kill me.”  Another reason I preferred my mom come home with me was cost. Medicare will pick up the cost of transition care in some cases following a 3 day hospital stay. In Mom’s case the hospital changed her to out-patient observation status, so she would need to pay for it out of pocket.

Physical Therapy at Home

Mom is able to get around with a walker. She’s not on oxygen or an IV. Basically she was just weak from being in and out of the hospital for close to a month, and needing to build up some stamina. A couple of days after she was released we visited her doctor, and I asked what she might not be getting at my home, that she would be getting in transition care. Mom’s doctor explained transition care is great after knee or hip replacement. Everyone thinks you will get tons of physical therapy, but in fact it’s more like twice a day for 30 minutes each. In Mom’s case she needs to rest after 5 minutes of walking because her heart is so weak. When I heard that, it confirmed to me that Mom was better off getting her strength back at my home.

It hasn’t been easy. She has occupational therapy, nursing visits, doctor and lab appointments, physical therapy, home health aids, and social worker appointments. Some are at her home, some are at mine. My husband and I moved to the guest room downstairs, so Mom can be on the main level. I’m blessed to have my mom in my life, and I don’t know how long she will be with us. But I feel my mom is better off with people who love her, than with people getting paid to care for her.


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Filed Under: Holistic Wellness Tagged With: caring for elderly parents, elder care, family dynamics, siblings

April 14, 2017 by Sue 2 Comments

HOW PRESCRIPTIONS COULD BE MAKING US SICK

prescription drugs, medicine

Prescription drugs are not the subject I planned to write about when I started my blog. Wellness is, however, and this is my blog, so that is our subject for today.

My mom is in the hospital. She got sick over a month ago while visiting my sister in California. After several days in the hospital they decided she had gallstones and an inflamed gallbladder. Ordinarily removing the gallbladder is a fairly minor procedure, but Mom has atrial fibrillation and leaky heart valves and they were reluctant. As a temporary fix they inserted tubing and she was released to transition care with a liver catheter. After a few days she went back to my sister’s home to get her strength back. Later it was decided surgery could be better handled with her own team of doctors in Minnesota. Wednesday she flew home and went in the hospital to get the catheter and gallbladder removed.

Yesterday we were told surgery would not be an option. I decided to contact an aromatherapist friend and see if she had any thoughts about what might be helpful for gallstones and her gallbladder. My friend asked about what medications my mom was on, because she didn’t want to use any essential oils that could interfere with something she was already taking.

Mom is 88 and has several significant health issues, and therefore she’s on a regular smorgasbord of prescription medications. Blood thinners for the heart, high blood pressure, heart burn, kidney disease, all kinds of things to counter act the high blood pressure medication, and cholesterol lowering statins. Every time they prescribe something new, it seems another issue pops up, causing even more prescriptions with even more side effects. I didn’t have a list, so we were just chatting about her various conditions, and I remembered she had trouble with gout in the past. My friend’s husband did as well, so we discussed the fact that allopurinol has many side effects, and because Mom isn’t having gout trouble at the moment, she shouldn’t need to be on it.

I decided to call the hospital and speak to her nurse about getting her off the gout medication. I did not expect the response I got. The nurse said the hospital never takes patients off their medications. They need to go back to their primary physician after they are released, and ask them about taking them off. Really? I asked if someone comes in with a condition, and they are on a medication that is known to make it worse, they will leave the patient on it until they are released and see their regular physician? The nurse sounded a little apologetic and said well, if it was really life-threatening, they might consider taking them off of it. We left it that she would make a note of my request for the doctor, but she didn’t think they would make the change.

So here we are, 2017, and with all the technology we have for so many wonderful things, wouldn’t you think someone could come up with a computer program to input all the prescription drugs a patient is on to see if they could be causing a serious condition? Why isn’t this one of the first things they look at?

I find this so frustrating. My dad was given a drug that basically fried his lungs, and caused him to be on oxygen at the end of his life. Several times I took him in to the ER for breathing problems, and each time they pumped him full of steroids and sent him home, when all along a prescription was causing making him sicker. After the hospital told us what happened and about the rare side effect that caused his problem, I researched what I could and found that if a patient had been a smoker, this was more likely to happen.

I’ve also read about all the side effects from long term cholesterol-lowering statins, and have tried to get Mom off of that one. It appears once you are on a drug, you will stay on it. Whatever happened to do no harm and risk vs. benefits?

I share this in case you have a loved one in a similar situation. Why isn’t the medical field doing more to get people off of drugs that could be making them sicker. Should pharmacists be playing a bigger role in patients that are hospitalized? When your gut tells you something isn’t right, demand answers. Ask when you are put on a prescription drug when you can stop taking it.

Filed Under: Aromatherapy, Holistic Wellness, Medicine Tagged With: hospital care, prescription drugs

April 13, 2017 by Sue 1 Comment

TOP 5 MOTHER’S DAY GIFTS FROM NEAL’S YARD REMEDIES

Mother's Day Gifts, Neal's Yard Remedies

Mother’s Day is right around the corner, and no one deserves to be pampered more than your Mom. Neal’s Yard Remedies has the perfect gift for Mom, whatever your budget.

Aromatherapy Essential Oil Diffusers for Home-Loving Moms

Esta Diffuser | Aromatherapy | Neal's Yard Remedies | NYR Organic | Essential Oil Diffuser | Mother's Day Gifts

The diffuser is perfect for every Mom! It will instantly transform her room and enhance her mood with color-changing lights and a humidifying mist. Choose her favorite essential oil for calming, uplifting or balancing. You can find diffusers priced from $55 to $70.

Diffusers from Neal's Yard Remedies

Wild Rose Body Elixir for Luxury-Loving Moms

I can’t think of a Mom who wouldn’t love to boost her head-to-toe radiance, especially after a long, drying winter. This deeply enriching cream is made with organic wild rosehip oil, acai oil and cocoa butter and is infused with balancing essential oils. Perfect for the Mom who deserves a little luxury and the Mom with sensitive skin. You will find Wild Rose Body Elixir for $51 here.

Fragrance for All Moms

Neal’s Yard Remedies has two fabulous choices of fragrance, perfect for Mother’s Day. Pure Essence Eau de Parfum No. 1 Frankincense can boost her spirits while beautifully scenting her skin. Pure Essence Eau de Parfum No.2 Rose is a velvety scent of rose, imbued with wonderfully calming and uplifting properties.  Pure Essence No.1 Frankincense and Pure Essence No.2 Rose both sell for $62.

 

Beauty Sleep Concentrate for Moms Who Need More Rest

What Mom wouldn’t love getting a better night’s sleep? Help her make the most of her sleep with Beauty Sleep Concentrate. This moisturizing lotion is scientifically formulated to support your skins natural night time regeneration, while helping reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Beauty Sleep Concentrate sells for $57 and you can find it here.

Mother’s Day Gifts $20 and Under

So many choices for Mother’s Day if you are on a tight budget! Remedies to Roll are pure essential oils in an organic base oil to give Mom some Relaxation, Energy and more, and are $17 each. Many of Neal’s Yard Remedies essential oils are $20 and under. How about Bergamot for $18, or Patchouli for $16? Hand creams come in Wild Rose, Garden Mint & Bergamot and Geranium & Orange fragrances and sell for $15. Gift Mom and support the bees at the same time when you give her Bee Lovely Hand Cream for $19.50 Shop HERE for these and other great gift items.

Still stumped about what to get Mom? Contact me! I’d love to help you come up with the perfect gift for your Mom!


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Filed Under: Aromatherapy, Neal's Yard Remedies, NYR Organic, Organic Beauty, Organic Health & Beauty Tagged With: gifts, gifts for mom, mother's day ideas

April 8, 2017 by Sue Leave a Comment

10 BENEFITS OF AN ALKALINE DIET

vegetables, alkaline, food
You may have heard certain celebrities talking about the alkaline diet. Supporters claim all kinds of health benefits without much scientific proof backing them up.
Human blood is slightly alkaline, with a PH of around 7.4 (neutral being 7.0). Some people believe the body is healthier in an alkaline state, and that diet will get and keep it there, if given the right food and water.
Alkaline Diet Benefits
Alkaline promoting food includes fruits and veggies, and acid promoting food includes meat, dairy, sugar, coffee and highly processed foods.

Benefits of staying alkalized

  1. Better metabolism, gastrointestinal health and detoxifying
  2. Prevention of diabetes and improved weight management
  3. Improved immunity and disease prevention, such as cancer and Parkinson’s
  4. Anti-aging effect
  5. Prevention of osteoporosis
  6. Risk reduction of dementia/Alzheimer’s
  7. Improved dental health
  8. Better skin, nails and hair
  9. Increased energy
  10. Reduction in arthritis symptoms
An overly acidic body can worsen digestive problems, reflux disease, heartburn, high cholesterol and high blood pressure. An alkalized body is thought to improve glucose tolerance and inhibit the growth of tumor and cancer cells.
Promote an alkalized body by including green leafy vegetables, cruciferous vegetables, warm lemon water, apple cider vinegar water, and alkaline water in your diet.  Choose organic food to avoid pesticides, and chemicals. Fully inhale and exhale to expel CO2. Cucumber, seaweed and celery are good choices. Have your veggies steamed or raw. Garlic, spices like cinnamon and sprouts are good. Snack on raw, unsalted almonds and drink herb tea. Get plenty of exercise.
Stay away from processed, packaged and fast foods. Avoid soda and limit coffee and alcohol. Reduce dairy, especially hard cheese and meats. A healthy mix is said to be 80% alkaline foods and 20% acid producing.
Can an alkaline diet improve your health? It sounds like a healthier diet than the typical American eats, and it can’t hurt to give it a try to see how you feel.

Looking for more wellness tips, and information about Neal’s Yard Remedies specials and products? Join my VIP Group.

Filed Under: Holistic Wellness, Organic Health & Beauty Tagged With: Alkaline Diet, Food is medicine, Healthy Food Choices

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