How To Guide

Example 1

Kelly

Bulimia is a disorder that somebody suffering from it begins to hate the idea of living. Kelly, a thirty-year-old woman is a long-term bulimia sufferer. She has been battling for the past seventeen years. It’s a long and arduous journey with more downs then ups. She had to resist the temptation of binge, which wasn’t easy at all.

Kelly underwent a therapy and has been taking medication for years. At one point, she had more cavities than teeth, scratchy hands, stifle reflexes and a constant stomach pain. She had to spend a fortune in recovery and nothing helped much. In order to improve the way she looked, she tanned constantly and became an easy victim to skin cancer.

Kelly is a strong individual who never gives up fighting bulimia. She’s getting endoscopy and a colonoscopy done shortly. But she always feels that her mother could have helped her initially. She feels her life was fought making some hard choices on a day-to-day basis but it had to be done.  Her advice for other sufferers is to be… Read More

Example 1

Angie

Angie continues to live with bulimia and hates life to the fullest. It all started when she was a teenager. Her experiences are unpleasant – she didn’t like the idea of settling abroad and hated being the dullest student at school. Her mother accused her of being fat and since then she developed a dislike for structured mealtimes and began to binge in secret.

When Angie was twenty her teeth hurt when she ate sweets. She was made to attend four counselling sessions with a sympathetic lady counsellor. Angie grew bored of the sessions and stopped attending. She felt there was no hope until she met her GP, who was very practical in his approach. He prescribed anti-depressants for eight weeks and that seemed to have a positive effect on her. Angie began to see a ray of sunshine finally.

Her old habits of secret eating continue to haunt when she finds herself hiding sweet biscuit wrappers. But she hopes to unlearn those habits gradually.

Click for source

Example 1

Joy Weiss

Crohn’s disease is a debilitating digestive disorder, affecting millions with no single cure for it. In 2001, Joy Weiss was the first patient to undergo stem cell therapy to deal with Crohn’s. When she was only 11 she had been diagnosed with this disease which prevented her weight from becoming normal and there was very little that she could actually eat.

She used to suffer daily from severe cramping abdominal pains and had bloody diarrhea. Because she could not absorb nutrients from her food, she developed osteoporosis. She was advised a colostomy which her doctor put off because of her young age. First she underwent two cycles of chemotherapy and said she started feeling better very fast.

The stem cells used were harvested from her own bone marrow. She has a follow-up every few years and is happy that now she can lead a normal life and eat pretty much what she wants.

Click for source

Example 2

Billy Tytaneck

When Billy Tytaneck was 12, he was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease. He had till then suffered… Read More

Example 1

Polly Todd

Mrs. Polly Todd was diagnosed with breast cancer way back in 1975. She already had one breast removed because three cancerous nodes had been found. She was told that her chances of survival were dim. She went for an expert opinion and this diagnosis was repeated. She was advised chemotherapy and radiation, which she did not want to undergo.

When a friend mentioned the Laetrile-nutritional program, she decided to try it out. She also used diet, vitamins and enzyme therapy. Thanks to the nutritional program, she beat her cancer and had no recurrence of the disease while those with similar diagnosis, who opted for conventional treatments, lived only for 1 1/2 years. Her story is documented in the book “Alive and Well’.

Click for source

Example 2

Brenda Cobb

Brenda Cobb was diagnosed with breast and cervical cancer in the early stages. She decided she did not want to go in for surgery or chemotherapy or radiation. Her doctors told her that she would need surgery, chemo and radiotherapy otherwise she would be dead within a… Read More

Example 1

Ms. G

Ms. G at the age of 72, was single and lived alone. It was only when neighbors complained about the smell and flies coming from her house that people from the mental health services visited her. They found that her apartment was filled with five feet high piles of refuse, urine and feces on the floor, and no furniture. She was herself in a malnourished state, filthy and wearing layers of dirty, urine soaked clothes.

She was hospitalized and there, too, she was aloof, verbally offensive, isolated herself and did not want to be in hospital. She refused to take any medicines and was found to mentally competent. After three weeks in hospital she was discharged, but refused offers of help from the social services. She said she would take the help of an old friend of hers to help clean up her apartment.

Click for source

Example 2

Ms. W

Ms W was 78 years old, a retired office clerk, whose husband had died seven years earlier. When neighbors complained about a foul smell coming… Read More

Example 1

Terry Mill

Terry Mill is just one of the hundreds of thousands of people that have been diagnosed with clinical depression. His diagnosis was made more than ten years ago and his account, “How I Overcame Depression” details his struggle against the dark clouds that tried to overwhelm him every single day.

Terry describes the initial confusion of the onset of depression, explaining that he thought it would eventually pass on its own. He denied the fact that it was depression and suffered with it for too long. He suffered from various signs of the illness, including crying, insomnia and loss of appetite. Terry states that recognising have you have depression is the first step towards getting better and only then will you be able to find a therapist that can help you. He highly recommends therapy and states that it is important to make sure that you take your time to choose the right one.

Click for source

Example 2

Mada

Mada’s story is published on The Experience Project website as part of a group… Read More

Example 1

Phil Kissi

The Prostate Cancer Charity website is an excellent resource for people looking to draw inspiration from the personal stories of those men who has suffered with prostate cancer. Phil Kissi MBE is one of the people whose stories are featured. Diagnosed in 2006, he realised he may have the illness when he watched a programme on TV about it.

Phil describes going to the GP to get tested for prostate cancer and finding out that e had an aggressive form, although it was still in the early stages. He also describes how lucky he was in catching it incredibly early. Phil goes onto day that the element he found was most helpful in learning how to deal with prostate cancer was having  GP whom he could talk to and lean on when in need of support. He recommends finding a GP who can offer you the same if you are diagnosed with it but ultimately says that the best thing you could do for your health is take responsibility for it.

Click for source

Example 2… Read More

Example 1

Ruth Rodan

Ruth Rodan writes a unique blog on the New York Times website and has excellent advice for people looking to learn how to relax and release stress. When she was pregnant, her family added to her stress, especially her aunt, as a result of the things they would say. However, Ruth soon learned how to relax.

Instead of using conventional means, Ruth turned to self hypnosis to let the stress drain from her body. She used a self hypnosis tape to relax but it took quite some practice to get there. Ruth points out that it did not work at first, although her husband found it useful. However, over time, it did begin to work for her as she gave herself over to it more and concentrated on the world less. As such, her advice would be to never give up if something does not work the once. Try and try again!

Click for source

Example 2

Dawn Rosenberg McKay

Dawn Rosenberg McKay’s article “Do You Know How to Relax?” offers tips to help you… Read More

Example 1

Terry Edwards

Terry Edwards is an experienced snorer. In fact, he believes that his wife essentially deserves a medal for putting up with it for so long. Like half of the world, he undoubtedly had a snoring problem but took steps to put that right. In an article he wrote, “How I Stopped Snoring – Simple Tips and Advice”, he offers others hope without the need for expensive treatment

The first thing you need to do, so Terry says, is find out why you snore in the first place. He explains the mechanics of snoring and then offers some of the most simple common sense tips around, many of which are ignored. For example, Terry recommends using a pillow to prop yourself up, avoiding smoking and alcohol and losing weight if you need to. All of these points help to tackle snoring at its root. As such, Terry’s advice is priceless and definitely worth remembering.

Click for source

Example 2

Dan

Dan is a reformed snorer. He is also a blogger with a specialist stop snoring blog… Read More

This extremely rare condition is usually found among the elderly.

This syndrome is named after Greek philosopher Diogenes of Sinope, who lived an ascetic life as a beggar. He was known for his disregard for normal domestic comforts, social interactions and material possessions. Similarly, a person who is afflicted with Diogenes syndromes has no regard for personal comfort and does not live a ‘normal’ life.

His or her living conditions will be pathetic – even if he or she is well off and does not want for money. There are numerous well publicized incidents of people who suffered from this disorder, including Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis’ relatives.  In Charles Dickens’ Great Expectations, the character of Miss Havisham had this disorder and it is sometimes called Havisham disorder.

What is Diogenes syndrome?

It is a disorder which affects the elderly, usually geriatric people. Very rarely, it also afflicts younger people. The sufferer does not care for personal hygiene and does not take care of himself or herself. It is an extreme behavioral disorder which is very difficult to treat.

Unlike Diogenes who… Read More

Cerebral palsy first manifests in infants and shows up as a developmental problem in the early stages.

An infant is supposed to reach certain development milestones at certain periods of his or her growth. While parents have been told not to pressurize their kids or be disheartened if they don’t reach their milestones, let us not forget that these milestones also present a standard for doctors (and parents) as an indication that there may be something wrong.

What is cerebral palsy?

Cerebral palsy is a sort damage to some parts of the brain, a kind of paralysis which causes manifold problems. In the same way as adults are affected differently after a stroke, so too infants face different problems.  Some kids face minor almost undetectable problems, in others the problems are acute. There are different kinds of cerebral palsy depending on what portion of the brain is affected.

Spastic - kids with this have problems with muscle stiffness affecting movement. These could be minor, causing stiffness and spasms. The side which is more affected may not grow as… Read More

Example 1

Alanis Morisette

Anorexia and bulimia are quite frequent amongst celebrities as well.  The entertainment world has specific standards when it comes to its celebrities, so everyone is trying hard to keep up.  However, some of the celebrities have struggled with eating disorders long before they reach fame & fortune.

For example, Alanis Morisette was both anorexic and bulimic as a teenager.  At 14, she was already a rising star: she starred in a popular Canadian show for kids, had a publishing contract and she started recording a disc.  All these things were overwhelming for the frail teen.  Alanis was frustrated, sad and disappointed.  She barely ate anything.  Carrots, black coffee or Melba toast was the only things she ate for months.

Four years later, a close friend helped her fight the eating disorder.  She recalls a book that played a major role is her recovery, called “Eat to Live”.  At 35, Alanis Morisette is now aware that starvation is not an option.  She eats healthy foods such as nuts, fruits or spinach and considers eating ‘a sort of… Read More

Example 1

Marcus

The audio file on the incredibly useful hair transplant website The Bald Truth features Marcus, a patient who has had a hair transplant and has effectively seen all of the tricks of the trade in doing homework on various doctors and clinics. In fact, he also had some problems as a result of poor choices to begin with.

Marcus offers the advice of going to a skilled physician for a hair transplant. He said that staying close to home is often a key to getting the best possible experience but not if the doctor has a lower level of skill than a better doctor elsewhere. The best options as to how to get a hair transplant are therefore not always the most obvious. You should also choose a doctor that you are comfortable with and offers the best possible level of aftercare. These two factors alone should dictate your choice.

Click for source

Example 2

Jayne

Jayne, the lady that is featured in this video, suffered as a result of hair loss. She makes it quite clear… Read More

Example 1

Jeanne Borden

Jeanne Borden’s Running Scared is a short story that is designed specifically to convey just how scared she felt when dealing with breast cancer. Comparing herself to a mother sending her soldier son to war, she expresses her fears, thanks and prayers in several paragraphs of prose that are enough to touch even the coldest of hearts. In effect, the story is Borden’s way of coping with breast cancer because putting her thoughts on paper seems to serve as therapy.

Borden’s account of how she is feeling about her treatment for breast cancer can effectively give others the tools they need to be able to cope with breast cancer because it lets them know that they are not alone. As Borden describes how she embarks on her journey and gives herself over to her treatment in order to live, she is speaking directly to the reader, thus giving her readers hope and a method of coming to terms with the illness as well as learning how to cope with it.

Click for source

Example 2… Read More

Example 1

Jan Pederson

Jan Pederson was an active, healthy woman. She exercised with her husband three times a week.  In the beginning of 2003, Jan felt that her strength was lower than usual during her gym routine.  After working out, Jan was bloated in the abdominal area and experienced back pain.  A friend of her, who was a nurse and she suggested a medical checkup.

Jan’s pain was a sign of ovarian cancer.  She did some blood tests and an ultrasound and the results indicated a mass and fluid. Jan went into surgery and the doctor removed a two-pound tumor and a big quantity of body fluids.  Coping with stage III ovarian cancer was difficult, and Jan admitted herself at the Cancer Treatment Center at Midwest Regional Medical Center.

The center’s staff was very professional, supportive and dedicated to treating cancer, regardless the stage.  Five years later, Jan is an ovarian cancer survivor and works as a volunteer in the centre where she found cure and understanding.

Click for source

Example 2

Maria

When Maria started to fell… Read More

Example 1

Dr. Cornella

Many women develop urinary incontinence, and this can seriously damage the self-esteem and social life.  Briefly, urinary incontinence means not being able to contain the urine in the body.  With age, we all lose muscle function, and urinary incontinence is one of the consequences.  Therefore, it is hard for them to develop a social life, because of the involuntary urine ‘accidents’.

Some women who suffer from this affection choose a vaginal placement of mesh.  One of Dr. Cornella’s patients needed the same procedure in order to correct urinary incontinence.  Dr. Cornella has positioned the mesh in such a way to avoid the risk of erosion.  In addition, Dr. Cornella managed to reduce the urinary leakage by reducing the prolapse using a sling procedure.

The patient recovered successfully after the surgical procedure. She enjoys all sorts of activities that were inaccessible before, such as exercising, dancing or cycling.  Fortunately, urinary incontinence can be corrected.  Don’t let it stop you from doing what you want in life!

Click for source

Example 2

Richard

Urinary incontinence can… Read More

Example 1

Kate

Kate was suffering from extreme pelvic pain for months and she was frustrated because doctors could not set a diagnostic.  The good news came in 2006, when Kate finally found out why the pain was tormenting her: she had VVS, also known as the Vulvar Vestibulitus Syndrome. Along the prescription drugs, Kate decided to work with Dr. Richard Marvel in order to reduce the pelvic pain.

He recommended her to work with physical therapists for the next months; this way Kate was going to fight the affection in two ways. At the Health Physical Therapy center, Kate had the advantage of working with Melissa Reinhardt and Jennifer Ortiz.  The centre was created for providing quality physical aid to women with specific medical needs, such as pelvic pain, urinary incontinence, constipation or irritable bowel syndrome.

After eight months, Kate’s pain was almost gone, and her general state has improved significantly.  However, the vestibule area was still making problems, so Kate opted for a vestibulectomy.  After the surgery, she continued the physical therapy sessions and she regained her… Read More

Example 1

Katherine Ross

Katherine Ross has a turbulent past when it comes to her weight. Ever since she was a teen, Katherine used food as comfort whenever she felt she is losing control of her life.  At the time, a number of events such as graduation, first years of college or leaving home aggravated the condition.  Katherine was eating because of the stress.

The feeling of guilt and the fear of gaining weight made her purge all the food.  Of course, her parents were unaware of the fact that Katherine is bulimic. In college, she weighed 160 pounds and her self-confidence was seriously affected. Her family noticed her weight problems and on Mother’s Day, Katherine was forced to recognize the truth ad she promised her mother she would never purge again.  Her recovery was slow but sure.

Katherine started eating three meals a day in small portions.  It was something new.  Katherine began to pay attention to the taste of the food and tried to enjoy her small meals.  She got used with her new eating pattern and… Read More

Kim

Many people don’t like admit they have hemorrhoids. They choose to suffer in silence, enduring the pain and the consequences of hemorrhoids. Unfortunately, many of them hope hemorrhoids will go away in the same way they appeared and they never go to their doctor. When the bleeding, itching, uncomfortable sensation becomes unbearable, they finally choose to seek for professional help. Kim was in the same situation. She was too embarrassed to go to the doctor, even felt a bit guilty for not going faster.

Kim was pregnant when she discovered her first hemorrhoid. A friend told her hemorrhoids are common during pregnancy. They appear due to the increasing weight and pressure on inferior blood vessels, but they disappear after giving birth. For Kim, the nightmare kept going even after giving birth to her beautiful daughter. The hemorrhoids grew bigger and bigger, reaching the size of a ping-pong ball. She tried numerous fiber diets, local treatments, pads, medication – nothing worked. Kim didn’t give up and started searching the internet for new solutions. Then she found the H-Miracle, a book… Read More

Bettina Woodburn

Bettina Woodburn found out she had cancer by pure coincidence. In 1973, she attended a women’s conference; one of the discussion topics was breast cancer. As soon as Bettina got home, she tried to check her breasts for lumps. She was shocked to find a lump, just as the ones described as the meeting. After performing a biopsy, the doctor told her the news: she had breast cancer. The next step was the mastectomy.

Bettina felt like an essential part of her body was removed, and she struggle to go on with her life as a mother, wife and woman. There was nothing that could replace her breasts whether we are talking about sheepskin prosthesis, sponge rubbers or socks. Finally, betting chose to reduce the size of the other breast in order to achieve a sort of balance. After years of coping with cancer, Bettina has understood that life is short and we need to continue no matter what happens. Therefore, she joined the Veteran Athletics group at 60 and won many medals in the international marathon competitions.… Read More