Important Lessons Learned Over the Past Three Weeks

Ok.  It's time.  More than just the bare minimum entry.   Read at your own risk.

These are the most important lessons I've learned over the past few weeks.
1.  Honesty is the best policy.  Humility is key.

2.  Let bygones be bygones.  Whatever anyone did to piss you off, let it go.   Stephan Stills had it right: "Love the one your with" might just be one of the world's most important truths.

3.  Watch out for Essential Oils.  They might just be more powerful than you think.

4.   When the nurse asks "what is your method of contraception?," you are apt to bring laughs to the room if you quip "abstinence, unless a vibrator counts?"   Making people laugh through this ordeal helps the situation somehow.

5.  Some antibiotics have fun side effects like hives or here's a good one: leukemia.    There's a list somewhere on the internet listing the bad boys and the not so bad boys.   I'll post this info when Helen finds it again (thanks Helen).

HIVES & RASH TREATMENTS that WORK and DON'T WORK
a.  Aloe Vera Gel out of a bottle is NOT the same as fresh aloe vera straight from the plant.  Citric acid as a preservative does not make rashes happy.
b.  Aloe Vera Gel will initially HEAT the rash up, thus making it more itchy and red before it cools it down.   If you are into hard core S&M, then try it....otherwise I might skip this in the future.
c.   Rubbing handfuls of cool Oatmeal in a lukewarm shower will help heal your skin, but not your drain.
d.   Calendula cream or gel has seemingly limited results....will not help the itch but supposively will help heal the skin.  I am not personally convinced.
e.   Covering your clean body in a thick layer of cornstarch will cool the skin and give some relief for several hours until you begin to feel like a cake and then need the sheets changed.   Beware:  it make your room reminiscent of a 1970's cocaine party...powder everywhere!
f.     This one is very IMPORTANT:   fresh cilantro leaves crushed in your blender with very little water is a LIFESAVER!    Get gauze.  Put it over your rash (and liver),  add freshly mashed cilantro on top, put another layer of gauze on top.    It's amazing.  It will pull out the heat from the body.   Note to self: Be ready to sacrifice your sheets to the cause, but this is a small price to pay for nearly instant relief.

6.  Piles are NO joke.   The boxes on the various ointments say different things.   One says 1/5 of all adults experience these sometime in their life.   Another box claims 3/4 of Americans have them.    The part that I can't get over is that somewhere between 1/5 and 3/4 of you people are walking around with these things looking normal.   How is this??   I'm either much more sensitive than the average person or have a lot less grace--most likely both--but I can't walk or sit properly to save my life right now!

PILES TREATMENTS that WORK and DON'T Work
a.  Tucks ointment cream.  Forget it.  Waste of time.  Prep H?  Petroleum AND shark liver?  WHAT?  It made things worse. Skip it.
b.  Tucks witch hazel whips.   Kinda cools for about a minute.  I'd give them a 2 out of 5 stars.   Better than nothing.
c.  Tumeric mixed with Sesame Oil.  (Note to self: the Internet lies)  AGGHHHH!   Sesame Oil is heating.   Big mistake.  Don't do it. Plus even after you have wiped the area clean again, even bathed, for up to two days later Tumeric will continue to stain your undies.   Note to Self:  tumeric does not come out of undies or sheets.    Oh and here's a fun side effect:  you get to tell your nurse as she's taking a urine sample that they might find an increased amount of tumeric in the sample.   Puzzled looks ensure, though the humor aspect cannot be underestimated.
d.  Warm Epson Salt baths actually provide the most relief.   Baddha Konasana is reported to have the same effect.   So the frequent combo of Baddha Konasana in a warm Epson Salt bath has seemed like a pretty good idea to me.   Many of you are getting return phone calls while I'm here.  Sorry if you hear the water running.
e.  Castor oil seems to help soften the area effectively.   My Ayurvedic friend suggested tumeric again, but I just couldn't go there again.
f.   One tablespoon of wheat germ a day is supposed to help.   I'm on my second tablespoon now--in fact as we speak--so I'll have to let you know.
g.  Why not add organic prunes to all the grains you cook?   "Just don't overdo" that is the warning from my nurse Georgina.

7.   My car is being trucked here scheduled to arrive on Monday courtesy of Doug Lawerence.   Emily Budziak has also gone above and beyond in helping me with all the details.   Candy Jacobson's support has been unsurmounted.   Please thank them all if you see them.

8.  My friend, Richard Schachtel is a superior human being.   He has given me a place to live.   He has offered a spare room for any of you that are willing to volunteer when and if the going gets tough later in my treatment.  He has taken me to all of my appointments and been there with me.   He has been to the pharmacy and the grocery store with various strange requests about a million times since I got here.    If you have the time, please send him a thank you card.  (And this is also my Seattle address for now)

Richard Schachtel
9209 49th Ave NE
Seattle, WA 98115
rschachtel747@gmail.com

THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT.   If I don't ring you back right away, please know that I'll eventually get around to it as my energy allows.