Hello, I am Judie....and this is my Story
In 1971, at the tender age of 18, I went to live in Papua New Guinea. My two children were both born in PNG. In 1971, in PNG, life was very basic. About 90% of our food was locally grown and my life was ‘natural’ by sheer necessity, rather than by choice at that stage. Even though most of my food was “NATURAL” I still felt there should be more.
I returned to Australia in 1980 and went to college in 1989 to study natural medicine. I graduated in 1993, and ran a small clinic for a number of years.
A sea-change in 2001/02 saw me move from Brisbane to Airlie Beach in the beautiful Whitsunday region, with my then partner, now husband Peter. Our sea-change saw us set sail in our Catamaran from Scarborough (Brisbane) and arrive in Airlie Beach some six months later.
When we arrived in Airlie Beach apart from planning our wedding, it was apparent that all was not well with my health. Up till that point, I had always been extremely fit, slim and healthy.
After our wedding in September, 2002, Peter and I set about the construction of our new catamaran. Just before Easter in 2003 I had to have some dental work done and it was after this that my health really nose-dived. During a visit from my son and his partner, my son actually asked me whether I had a drinking problem, as he noticed (as I had) that I could not pronounce many words. I assured my son that I didn’t have a drinking problem, but that obviously something was not quite right.
I basically did the rounds of mostof the doctors in Airlie Beach and surrounding districts, only to be told that I was going through MENOPAUSE!! I intuitively knew that my symptoms were NOT menopause.
After a severe choking episode at about 7pm on Monday 26th April ’04, Peter rushed me into Proserpine Hospital. Even though the offending food had dislodged during the drive, I was so scared and exhausted, that we decided to still go to the hospital. The next day I was taken by ambulance to Mackay Base Hospital. After quite some time in Emergency it was decided to admit me and a week of being prodded and poked ensued. The end result was that I was diagnosed with Myasthenia Gravis. I had never even heard of this condition before and now it was to become a huge part of my life.
Myasthenia Gravis (MG) is an autoimmune disease. It actually means “grave muscle weakness”. The muscle weakness had actually affected my ability to speak clearly and my ability to swallow properly and later was to affect my arms, legs and my ability to breathe.
At this point I knew very little about MG, and was put on some tablets that were supposed to control the symptoms and allow me to lead a pretty normal life.
Well, that was the theory, but the practice was totally different.
Some MG patients also have a tumour on the Thymus gland as well as other symptoms. A CAT scan revealed that I had a tumour but we were told it was benign but would need to be operated on and removed.
I was given a date in early June for the operation and was subsequently sent home to wait.
Life as I knew it, was no more. My muscles were so unco-operative that it was an effort for me to move from our cabin (bedroom) to the saloon (loungeroom). My days were spent sleeping, taking tablets and reading. I was no longer able to work, drive or walk. Peter and I had decided that since choking was still a real possibility, that I shouldn’t eat if I was by myself. I was by myself a lot of the time as Peter divided his time between building our new boat and working part-time.
All too soon it was time to have the operation to remove the Thymoma. Had I known what was involved I would have been much more reluctant, but this was certainly one of those times when ignorance is bliss.
I had to have 7 days of Plasmapheresis before the operation could go ahead. Plasmapheresis is like dialysis, but for the blood. Every day I would be hooked up to a machine that would remove my blood, wash it to remove MG antibodies and then put it back into my veins –this was done to reduce the likelihood of me dying during the operation. Unfortunately along with the antibodies, lots of good things were also removed, like Calcium, Magnesium and platelets. Every night I would have to be infused with these things, just so that the process could begin all over again the next day.
The operation was done by the cardiac team as it necessitated the chest bone being sawn in halves, so that the chest cavity could be exposed. I now understand that a Thymoma cannot be diagnosed as malignant or benign until the doctors actually see whether metastases has occurred or not. Abiopsy would not indicate a malignancy. Yes, another little surprise – my Thymoma was malignant. At this point, the seriousness of my condition was starting to sink in.
My son came up to visit me and I suspect he had his black suit packed in his luggage – but being stubborn I was not about to give in. My daughter was unable to visit as she was 8 months pregnant with her second child. Little did I know just how much harder life was going to get.
I was sent home after ten days. Life hopefully would get back to normal, until October when radiation would begin.
Living on a boat with my chest held together with staples was not an option. A gorgeous friend of ours moved out of his luxury apartment overlooking Pioneer Bay, so that I could recuperate at his place. Thank you Paul – you are one of the world’s beautiful people.
A couple of weeks into my recuperation, I had to visit my neurologist in Townsvillefor a check-up. Even though I would not have been able to win any events at the Olympics, I thought I was going along OK. Having never been seriously sick before I had no yardstick with which to measure my progress, so it was an absolute shock when my doctor told me I would not be going home that evening with Peter.
I was admitted back into Townsville Hospital for what was to become undeniably the most challenging 8 weeks of my life.
I’m sure I’ve bored you with enough details about my health, so I will abbreviate the next 8 weeks for you. Suffice to say 3 trips to Intensive Care and being intubated (put on life support) is not what I would call fun. My neurologist also put me on steroids (Prednisolone 75 mg, twice a day), and other drugs. I had been so against the use of steroids all my life and here I was with my very life depending on them. Funny how things happen. With muscles that would not co-operate and not even being able to eat (I was fed tubally), there was plenty of time for me to consider “why me”. With the help of my fantastic team of carers, I was able to come to terms with a lot of “stuff” from my past, some as far back as “in utero”.
MG for me was not just some random illness, it was the most amazing opportunity of my life.
I like to think that I have grasped life and now live every day to its fullest. I’m sure I still have lessons to learn, but hopefully, I will be a better student in future.
After the launch of our new boat in November 2005, Peter and I decided to move to Mackay to make the care of my condition a little bit easier. It was in Mackay that I met Barbara Bourke. Barbara and I are now best friends and business partners. Together we run an internet business www.strideintohealth.com where people can access a small range of “alternative health” products and information.
Prior to being diagnosed with MG, I was working with a friend of mine, who has an ALLERGY TESTING business. My friend kindly did an allergy test for me and so I was able to eliminate problem foods from my diet. This was a step in the right direction. We also tested the products used by the dentist and they ALL tested bad – particularly when we combined them. Don’t jump to any conclusions here – the dentist did nothing wrong – it is just that people with MG have to be extremely careful with many products as there are hundreds of drugs and products, that can bring about a Myasthenic Crisis.
For allergy testing information go to www.freeofallergies.com
Due to the severity of my condition, allergy testing alone was not sufficient to turn my health around completely. Against the advice of my doctors, and neurologist I began exploring the possibility of natural supplements. After much trial and error (and a substantial amount of money) I discovered organic plant minerals.
Within just days of taking the minerals, my general health started to improve and gradually over time the improvements were noticeable to others.
The Minerals were a God send. I was no longer house-bound. Some of the side-effects of the MG had made it virtually impossible for me to go anywhere.
With the help of Barbara and Walter Last www.health-science-spirit.com I continued to work on my health. I later added both Colostrum and MSM to my organic minerals and my immune system has really benefitted.
During my time in hospital, even though I was being fed via a tube, with special protein enhanced food, my weight dropped from 64 kg to 50kg. My doctor made it clear to me that I would not be released from hospital until I was able to start gaining weight!! I still vividly remember the day that I was weighed and I had gained 100g!! All day long I had various staff coming up to me to congratulate me - I guess I hadn’t realised quite how concerned they had been about my dramatic weight loss.
Unfortunately, the problems with my weight didn’t end there. Like so many people on high doses of steroids, the weight gain continued (and continued and continued), until in January 2009 I weighed in at a hefty 87.4kg. So now I not only had MG to be concerned about, I also had a serious weight problem.
I was told by my specialist and other doctors that weight gain is just part and parcel of being on steroids. They also told me that I would NOT be able to lose weight whilst I was still on steroids. For a long time I accepted this as fact. But the truth was, I couldn’t recognise myself. Each time I looked in the mirror I would wonder who the face looking back at me, belong to, because it sure as eggs didn’t look like me.
After much trial and error, I thankfully now (May 2010) have my weight back under control.
I gave up dieting and decided to concentrate on wellness and fitness. I eat very few carbohydrates (as per Barbara Bourke’s Keto System for weight loss –www.holistichealthmackay.com.au however the rest of my food intake is predominately sprouted beans and lentils, and raw fresh fruit and vegetables with 3 – 4 servings of fish, chicken or lean steak (in small proportions) per week. My weight is now back to 77.2kg and dropping. Exercise is very much a part of my life and I combine walking with dancing.
I have done a lot of research about MG and work together with my neurologist and other medical carers. Just recently I have been given the “all clear” by my oncologist. I have also been able to stop receiving Intragam which is a plasma product that I used to receive intravenously every 6 weeks. My drug regime has been slowly reduced (in consultation with my neurologist) and I look forward to being able to reduce them even further.
My whole lifestyle, my studies and my personal experiences are what has brought me to wanting to spread the word not only about general alternative health products, but more importantly about how essential organic plant minerals are to our health.
My story continued ... By Judie Barbour (October 2011)
7 years ago I was in Townsville Hospital fighting for my life .... what an amazing journey the past 7 years have been.
Firstly to my weight. I now weigh in at a healthy 70 kgs. I still follow Barbara’s advice ( www.holistichealthmackay.com.au )and follow a predominantly low carb high protein diet with lots of “live” food i.e. sprouted and fermented foods.
In April I joined a gym for only the second time in my life. My incentive was that I had spent a lot of money on a gorgeous outfit to wear to my son’s wedding and wanted to look as good as I possibly could. I started off slowly with the exercise and only had one setback, which was my own fault for overdoing the exercise.
At about this time, my neurologist also started heavily reducing my steroid use. Over time (many years) I had reduced down to just 5 mg/day but by June was down to 3 mg. The plan was to keep reducing at the rate of 1 mg/month until I was no longer taking any.
My son’s wedding was on June 18th and the day was spectacular. The day after the wedding, I flew to Adelaide to spend some time with my elderly mum who is in a nursing home. I had a great week catching up with family, although I found some of the time with my mum quite stressful – she is mentally alert, but her body is crippled with scoliosis and arthritis.
Upon my return home I “caught a cold”. Instead of doing the sensible thing and taking natural remedies I resorted to taking Sudafed (according to the chemist, Sudafed should be OK for people with Myasthenia). I wanted to dry up my runny nose as I had clients booked for hypnotherapy sessions.
What happened next was scary. Without warning I experienced several very severe choking episodes. Was the Myasthenia back?? If so, what had brought it back, since I had been going so well. Appointments with my GP, blood tests etc showed nothing. I got so desperate I even spent 7 hours in Accident & Emergency at the Base Hospital, before discharging myself.
Slowly but surely, I am getting back on track. I have, under doctors advice, increased my steroid dosage back to 5 mg/day. I visited Walter Last ( www.health-science-spirit.com ) and am now taking Lugol’s Iodine Solution, MMS and Olive Leaf Extract, because Walter feels that I contracted a virus (not a cold) after becoming very run down. I obviously didn’t do my health any favours by resorting to suppressive therapies like Sudafed – I do know better. I am also taking Potassium Citrate to alkalize my body.
As a hypnotherapist ( www.naturalstateofhealth.com ) I understand how much the mind can impact on our bodies and our health, so I am once again using hypnosis (self hypnosis) to help restore my mind and body back to better health. I have done it once, so I know I can do it again.
Perhaps I had started to take my (improved) health for granted – I had stoppedtaking my Organic Plant Minerals and my Colostrum as diligently has I had previously done.Believe me when I say I am back on the straight and narrow again.
Perhaps the “return of the Myasthenic symptoms” was in fact a healing crisis. I guess we will never know. For more information about the healing crisis, go to www.health-science-spirit.com/healingcrisis.html
Abundant Health and happiness......Judie
I take the minerals, Omega 3 and Glucosamine every day and not only has the pain of my osteoarthritis disappeared, but I am much more flexible and the operations that my specialist said I would have to have years ago are no longer necessary. I had tried many glucosamine supplements but it was only when I added the minerals that I got the positive results.
Peter B,MacKay Queensland, Australia
During my adult life, I have always believed in taking responsibility for my own health, as much as possible. This means I have become as knowledgeable as I can about my body and the factors which can both help and harm my health. I endure the problems of mature onset asthma and have tried to manage this problem with a minimum of medical intervention and prescription drug use. I have long been aware of the importance of getting enough minerals into my body and suspect that some farm animals receive a better mineral intake than do some people. When a friend recommended Sizzling Minerals to me, I read the literature and realised that this product was something special. I have taken them with enthusiasm, for about 12 months now, as I am confident that they are derived from a unique and beneficial source . So, while I am always looking out for new ways to improve my health, I have reached the end of my quest with mineral supplementation. I don't believe I can do any better than this particular mineral supplement and intend to keep taking it on a permanent basis.
Kind regards, Mrs S.
I was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis, but know that when I used natural supplements, my condition improved dramatically. I recommend using the minerals as the first line of defence. My husband and 2 children also take the minerals daily.
Michelle, Nurse, Mackay, Queensland, Australia
My Personal Testemony....Gerri Decher
I don't think I'm particularly different to other Baby Boomers. I'll be sixty-three this year, but when I talk to people the main topics of conversation seems to be global warming and the environmental destruction of this planet, and the health challenges they are having.
I can certainly relate to them because as children my generation was blessed with having an abundance of fruit and veggies packed with good nutrition, so I had good health just the odd seasonal sniffle. Then.......eighteen years ago I suffered serious spinal injuries that resulted in major surgery, 3 months hospitalized and a long rehabilitation. I slowly recovered from those injuries but the whole traumatic experience devastated my immune system and I developed severe and at times, life threatening allergies.
I can certainly lay claim to being a good trier. I tried everything. The Glyconutrients, the vitamins, the HGH, the antioxidants, the oils and potions. I do believe that the majority of companies do strive to give the public good product and some of them even did work, for a while.
I began studying complimentary medicine to support the traditional treatments and slowly after lots of trial and error, tears and despair I was introduced to a unique pure plant derived mineral that turned my life around. Today I enjoy the best of health and am also handsomely rewarded with a substantial residual income that is constantly growing and has enabled me to retire and work from home.
Now it's your turn. You can do your own research, spend the countless hours I did, listen to all the 'experts; selling you their products, buy the books... or you can take advantage of me.
Please join me in bringing an awareness of this unique product that is fundamental to our health and wellbeing and a business opportunity that is simple, fair and lucrative.
Our parent company US Naturals has a 25 year record of excellence and unquestionable integrity
Brightest Blessings, Gerri
This is what Dr David McCollum has to say about Minerals
Around the world people are living longer and in later life many will need some form of long-term health care as their day to day health is not usually that good.
But for many people the cost of drugs and that much needed health care could be financially devastating! The one solution could be a full spectrum of 75 Plant Derived Minerals - there cannot be any better long term health 'policy' than to ensure you consume at least 1 Sizzling Mineral wafer per day!
As we all know, Prevention is better than Cure!"
Dr David McCallum