Costochondritis- Celiac Q & A

This is my 100th post....wow.

That deserves an electric slide with a pop and lock to finish it off- dance.

To those new to the blog, welcome- I've just been diagnosed with Celiac Disease, the reason for my Costochondritis. To my normal peeps, may I just say thank you with all my heart to everyone who has been celebrating with me! It has warmed my heart soooooooo much. You all are such a life line to me. Seriously, I have lots of luv for you people, no lie. That's right, I said luv. Cause I'm attached to all you crazy cats. That's how I roll. All attached and stuff.

So the past week has been a wee bit NUUUUTs! My mom had her last surgery from her breast cancer battle and she's doing amazing. Cancer free looks good on her. And so do her new boobies! You knew I was gunna TMI on you. I can't stop it. So I've been with her a lot and loving it. Soooo...I won't lie, I've been unbelievably excited about the new Celiac diagnoses. And going gluten free is wild. I have slowly...okay, whom I kidding, I've been like a gigantor tornado trying to make sure everything that remotely comes near my body is gluten free. I have the food down, then yesterday I started checking the gluten content on all my vitamins, thyroid meds , makeup, shampoos, laundry detergent, leave in conditioners, hairsprays, hand soaps etc...so I've been on the phone for like 10 years so far, calling all the manufacturers, making sure that what's on my body is gluten free. I thought I was going gluten free...yeah...no...not so much. I feel a little jaded- lol-...because I was SHOCKED at how I'm practically bathing in gluten every day. One of my vitamins has gluten, my hairspray- (ewww- I'm INHALING it!? lol.), my lipstick, my mascara...AHHHH!!!! ....and the list goes on. This is encouraging- so folks, I have yet to make it one full day without putting it on my person. And I thought I was all gluten free already. oops.

I tried to cook something gluten free and well....I still have to work on what a square is. chuckle.


Alrighty then, let's get to business, here are some Q & A from my comment section, here we go!

Did you have an endoscopy? My G.I specialist suspected all my issues were coming from my stomach and wanted to do a endoscopy to check my small intestines. I showed up for the procedure at the hospital, the smell just blew me over, and I went down hill from here- hives, shaking, panic, a full blown PTSD episode and all. Glorious. My fault for not going to this hospital before hand and walking through and letting my body adjust before the procedure. So no...no endoscopy for me....soooo we went a different route.

How did you come to the diagnoses of Celiac? So here's the delio- when the 90 year old Dr. in chaps-lol- Michelle!!...told me he thought I had Celiac, I started rocking out the gluten free diet (or so I thought!). This meant that my gastro doctor could not do any normal Celiac tests on me unless I wanted to go back and do a "gluten challenge" for a month. I most certainly did not, I had started to feel better and there was no looking back. So this is how I was diagnosed:

1. My blood was packed with protein.
2. After 5 weeks of being mostly gluten free, I started having heart palpitations, so we did a blood test to check my thyroid 2 weeks ago- and it confirmed that my meds were waaay too strong due to my body beginning to heal without gluten in it- super cool. (Heart Palps are one major symptom to thyroid meds being too strong- and since the only change I'd made was the gluten, I requested that it be tested....no, that's a lie- I called and sorta demanded it...in a nice but- I've had this crap for way too long and my heart is skipping beats, run his test now...sort of voice.).
   
3. Then we did a blood test that showed I was experiencing malapsorbtion- a marker for Celiac. If you are consuming gluten, you can do a stool test for this.
   
4. And last, we did Genetic testing, the test I was waiting on. Mine came back positive, positive, positive. I can back with the strongest DNA combination for Celiac disease that you can have. Holla!
5. So with those results and my symptoms, the conclusion was Celiac. ta-da!
   

Are there other ways to conclude Celiac? Sure, absolutely. I did the best I could with where I am in my life. I wish I could have done the endoscopy. But it's all good. Other Celiac and more traditional tests can be checked out HERE.

Do you feel better being off gluten?
Crap yes- I feel better! Healed, No. But one day at a time. Here is what I have slowly noticed:

• My headaches are GONE. (Insert booty shake victory dance here)
• I can wake up easier. While on heavy gluten, I can easily sleep 14 hours a day. If you suffer from fatigue or mood swings, maybe getting checked would be a good option.
• My insomnia is gone
• I think I'm a Celiac who's stomach hates Citric Acid- steering clear
• My nails are starting to grow
  
• My back pain /tightness is releasing more and more each day
• My right neck/shoulder pain is getting less and less
  
• My stabbing attacks have almost stopped and my breathing is getting better and better. My pain is about 25% less than it was 6 weeks ago. Am I nervous it won't all together go away? Yes. Si. For Shizzle . I totally am. But I can't focus on that, I have to focus on the task at hand: Target gluten. Slay Gluten. Then run like mad from the SOB... So yes, I still have Costo and I have no idea how long it will it will hang around. I'll keep you posted.
• TMI ALERT, PEOPLE! I'm not constipated anymore if I stay away from dairy and gluten, and I don't have diarrhea any more due to staying away from canola and palm oil. Here's the deal...can't believe I'm going to say this.Ugg. The next time you visit the loo, check out your ...(you know)...and if it's soft, fluffy, light brown, and one long tube-ish , and you have this little experience once or preferably 2 or 3x a day, chances are your digestive system is SUPER happy with you! But if you are constipated, have diarrhea-ish/ or stringy/ or pile-ish poo etc...then yes, getting checked for Celiac could be a good thing. Mercy,I want to wash my hands just writing about it. AHHH!!!

So what do you eat now? Well, Since my tummy is so jacked up, I'm not drinking cokes, or eating gluten, dairy, soy, corn, or any oils. Not until my stomach is healed. I hoping to add corn, soy, oil, and possibly dairy back into my diet after 6 months to a year. So currently I'm eating a pretty plain all organic diet:

• Homemade toubule Salad- I substitute water or applesauce for oil
• Red Beans
• Black Beans
• Brown Rice Cakes
• Veggies
• Lundberg Brown Rice
• Mary's quina Pretzels- the sea salt ones
• Chocolate Chips- Yum!
• Sweet Potatoes
• Apples
• Bananas
• Blueberries

How does it feel to have this answer? Weird, amazing, overwhelming, peaceful...and just right. I feel like a I just met a weird brother I never knew I had, ya know? But one that I want to shake with excitement...and then make him go square dancing with me and tell everyone we are related. Even though he's ugly and awkward and I'm pissed off at him, I'm proud to finally know him. I also feel a little guilty. I know there are so many amazing people out there waiting for their good news of healing. It's so strange to go from, "I'm a girl with Costo" to " I have Celiac." I'm still in shock. But I feel really blessed, and eternally grateful to God for this gift. After walking through the past 3 1/2 years, living the anti-gluten life will be my honor. And I know in my heart that I will never feel bad for myself for being a gluten freak, cause this kind of freakishness is totally welcome. Bring it on!

If you'd like to check out another great chick who has costo and Celiac as well- you can follow Alyssa's healing journey at Young and Going Gluten Free.

What did you do when I found out? Well...my hubby and I quietly celebrated all day on Friday. He brought me roses, very sweet....and then I got money and went shopping!! haha! It was awesome! I love shopping by myself and never do it anymore...I mean...am I going to ice my ribs in bed in a comatose state while in a new pair of hot jeans before I drag my exhausted self to the granny stroll? Nada. But maybe one day....so did I buy a pair of super sexy unneeded pair of hot jeans and a romper that is OH SO CUTE??!- You bet I did!! I went crazy. lol. I even bought lipstick. What?! Then my hubby rubbed my feet Friday night and we watched a chick flick. It was such a quiet, but really joyful and peaceful day. I was in awe and shock all day. And you know I strolled extra saucy during my granny stroll..uh huh!

Are you going to do a Celiac blog? You know it!! It's in the works.

Alright folks- wanted to add a few random links where folks are chatting about Costo and Celiac:
Chatty Link 1
Chatty Link 2
Chatty Link 3
Super Long but AWESOME Link 4
Chatty Link 5
Random person with Costo and Celiac

Here's a website with more Celiac info and both GI and non-GI symptoms of Celiac

And remember, I'm not saying that everyone with Costo has Celiac. What I AM saying is that it's one more option to check out: if you notice your costo gets worse after you eat...or your attacks happen sometimes when you aren't lifting anything at all (sign of delayed gluten reaction) or just chilling, get yourself checked for Celiac. If you're looking to get tested on your own, cause your doctor is a knuckle head, these are some great tests in the USA:

My Celiac ID
The University of Chicago Celiac Testing Center

Well, that wraps up this post. Let me know what I can answer- or if I can help in any way. Much luv and prayers to everyone. May you feel the hope seeping through this blog to you, and the peace of God leading you to towards healing.

Costochondritis- Liver Cleanse #2

Oh mercy. Just finished liver cleanse #2. Up chucked all night because of it. TMI? Why yes, of course. So my costo hurts worse due to the -you-know. Gross. Ouch. Eeek. And ironic, you say? Why yes, course -take 2.

So I won't be doing this particular flush again. =) Me and Olive Oil do NOT get along anymore. Told Miss Oil to go jump in a pond with the leeches. Cause my house is no longer accepting "It'll be a great party with a little up-chuck drink as the main event" applications.

Going to try another liver cleanse that's more gentle in 2 weeks. .....much more gentle. Will I give up? Sheesh. No. I'm telling you. It's that OCD. I can't help it. I'll try at least one more. My goal was 3 and dern it- 3 -I shall have.

The upside? Expelled another 110 stones. TMI again? Yes, of course. But Woo-Hoo for that! I'll let you know if' I'm doing a "my pain is less" electric slide jig this next week. Come on- everyone loves the slide. Even if you can't dance- you can shuffle and slide. Don't lie.

That is all for today, my friends. Hang in there, praying you have peace amidst your storm today. And that you are in the palm of the Ultimate Healer. Where peace truly lives.

Costochondritis- Cleansing Update

To those new to my Costo blog, welcome. Glad your here, hope you find what you need, heal quickly, and never have to come back. =)

This post is an update about the cleansing process I'm doing. I really feel a lot of my costo is related to food and inflammation and thus I've headed up the steep mountain of cleansing, determined to get to the top and see what the view is like from up there.

So far, these are the cleanses I have done....

• Colon Cleanse -7 days-CHECK!
• One Week Break - CHECK!
• Parasite Cleanse-18 days - CHECK!
• One Day Colon cleanse with Oxy powder - CHECK!
  
• Kidney Cleanse -15 days - (with 2 Oxy powder every 3 days) CHECK!
  
• Liver Cleanse #1 -2 days- CHECK!
• 2 week break (using oxy powder maintenance dose every 3 days)...ON IT!
  
• Liver Cleanse #2 -2 days
  
• 2 week break (using oxy powder maintenance dose every 3 days)
• Liver cleanse #3 -2 days ( I will be repeating this process until I have no more stones, eek.)
  

If you click on the liver cleanse or scroll down and read about it, you'll get a play by play of how I'm doing after the cleanse, I'm keeping it updated.

However, I would like to let my blogging buddies know that my pain subsided for 2 days thus far after my liver cleanse (finished 5 days ago). Shocked me, to be honest. It felt so good to breathe deeply. And since my pain is consistent and very predictable at this point, it was a sweet gift....and that's my shocked cartoon picture (it's how I felt and looked after the liver flush).

Thus I'm continuing to do this cleanse along with relaxation exercises, icing, resting, eating an all organic diet, and still seeing my medical massage therapist. Good stuff.

Anyhoo, I'm going to keep at the liver flushes every two weeks and see what happens. I'm very curious. Not putting all my eggs in one basket...or maybe I am. But really, what have I got to lose, besides this blah condition?

Still praying and plugging along.

-Me

The Big Bad Liver/Gallbladder Cleanse

To those new to my blog, welcome! I'm going through a series of cleanses to see how they affect my costochondritis. PS- they found my hubby's friend in Haiti today! Alive! Trapped in an elevator for 3 days beneath the rubble of a hotel. But he's on a plane home!!

Okay...so mercy, goodness. I'm so glad to have finished the first liver flush of 3 liver flushes or more. I was a nervous Nelly about this flush. Alas, I made it. Double Woo-Hoo and triple cheers to that. If you get grossed out easily. This is not your post to read. lol. Seriously though.

Okay, so I combined the HULDA CLARK LIVER CLEANSE and the OXY POWDER LIVER CLEANSE. Hulda Clark suggests Epsom salts the morning after the cleanse. I chose the oxy powder pills since I'd rather live in the woods with cannibals than drink more Epsom salts.

Here's the liver flush combo I chose to do:

Preparation:

5 days before the flush,no caffeine, started drinking minimum of 70 ounces of water a day- with 2 tablespoons of Apple cider vinegar per every 32 ounces of water. And I drank organic apple juice, 8 ounces per day. This softens all the stones.

Ingredients for cleanse:

• Epsom salts: 4 tablespoons
• Olive oil: half cup (light olive oil is easier to get down)
• 2 lemons
  
• Ornithine: 4 to 8, to be sure you can sleep. Don’t skip this or you may not sleep.
  
• Large plastic straw: to help drink potion
• Black Walnut Tincture, any strength: 10 to 20 drops, to kill parasites coming from the liver.

Choose a day like Saturday for the cleanse, since you will be able to rest the next day. Take no medicines, vitamins or pills that you can do without; they could prevent success. Stop the parasite program and kidney herbs, too, the day before. Eat a no-fat breakfast and lunch such as cooked cereal, fruit, fruit juice, bread and preserves or honey (no butter or milk). This allows the bile to build up and develop pressure in the liver. Higher pressure pushes out more stones.

2:00 PM. Do not eat or drink after 2 o'clock. If you break this rule you could feel quite ill later. Get your Epsom salts ready. Mix 4 tbs. in 3 cups water and pour this into a jar. This makes four servings, ¾ cup each. Set the jar in the refrigerator to get ice cold (this is for convenience and taste only).

6:00 PM. Drink one serving (¾ cup) of the ice cold Epsom salts. If you did not prepare this ahead of time, mix 1 tbs. in ¾ cup water now. You may add 1/8 tsp. vitamin C powder to improve the taste. You may also drink a few mouthfuls of water afterwards or rinse your mouth.

8:00 PM. Repeat by drinking another ¾ cup of Epsom salts.You haven't eaten since two o'clock, but you won't feel hungry. Get your bedtime chores done. The timing is critical for success.

9:45 PM. Pour ½ cup (measured) olive oil into the pint jar. Add 2 drops HCl to sterilize. Wash grapefruit twice in hot water and dry; squeeze by hand into the measuring cup. Remove pulp with fork. You should have at least ½ cup, more (up to ¾ cup) is best. You may use part lemonade. Add this to the olive oil. Also add Black Walnut Tincture. Close the jar tightly with the lid and shake hard until watery (only fresh grapefruit juice does this).Now visit the bathroom one or more time, even if it makes you late for your ten o'clock drink. Don't be more than 15 minutes late. You will get fewer stones.

10:00 PM. Drink the potion you have mixed. Take 4 ornithine capsules with the first sips to make sure you will sleep through the night. Take 8 if you already suffer from insomnia. Drinking through a large plastic straw helps it go down easier. You may use oil and vinegar salad dressing, or straight honey to chase it down between sips. Have these ready in a tablespoon on the kitchen counter. Take it all to your bedside if you want, but drink it standing up. Get it down within 5 minutes (fifteen minutes for very elderly or weak persons).

Lie down immediately. You might fail to get stones out if you don't. The sooner you lie down the more stones you will get out. Be ready for bed ahead of time. Don't clean up the kitchen. As soon as the drink is down walk to your bed and lie down flat on your back with your head up high on the pillow. Try to think about what is happening in the liver. Try to keep perfectly still for at least 20 minutes. You may feel a train of stones traveling along the bile ducts like marbles. There is no pain because the bile duct valves are open (thank you Epsom salts!). Go to sleep, you may fail to get stones out if you don't.

Next morning: Take 4 oxy powder pills. Take 2 tablespoons of Apple Cigar Vinegar in water. Eat only fruit for breakfast, soups and light, organic foods this day. During the day, take all the parasite maintenance products.

The Next couple of days: Take 2-4 oxy powder to get ALL stones out of your colon.

About Stones:

A gallstone's size can vary and may be as small as a sand grain or as large as a golf ball. Gallstones have different appearance, depending on their contents. On the basis of their contents, gallstones can be subdivided into the two following types:

• Cholesterol stones are usually pea green, but are sometimes white or yellow in color. They are made primarily of cholesterol, the proportion required for classification as a cholesterol stone
• Pigment stones are small, dark stones made of bilirubin and calcium salts that are found in bile. They contain less than 20% of cholesterol.
• The rumor is: to heal from certain issues, you need to expel 2,000 stones, hence the 6-15 recommended liver flushes with 2 week breaks between the flushes, (depending on how many you expel per cleanse).
  

THE END!!!

THOUGHTS: Whew....it's weird to think that I've been doing all this work to get to the liver flush. Okay, so my experience with the flush? It sounds as bad as it looks. lol. There are lots of reports of people throwing up after drinking the oil. Thankfully, I did not. I really prayed about this. Cause I'd rather run a marathon in stilettos than throw up. And thankfully, I didn't have to do either. Rumor is if you have BM's due to the Epsom salts before you drink the oil, you don't get nauseated. I'm a fan of no nausea.

SIDE EFFECTS: During the first part of the cleanse, I was hungry for shizzle. Tried to keep my mind off of it. Once I started on the Epsom Salts, the hunger went away. And once I downed the oil, I wasn't hungry, just mortified at what I had just sucked down. lol. It tastes terrible. At first I didn't feel anything as I laid down as still as possible. Then at one point I felt something like marbles moving in my back. WILD. But no pain. Then as the night when on and I was watching everything I could on my DVR, I started to feel some pressure in my back on the right side. After a while, I finally fell asleep around 3AM.

I woke up at 6AM. I could still taste the oil in my mouth. Gross. My stomach felt weird. It passed. I took all my oxy powder and waited for the magic to happen. lol. And it did. I have read of people feeling really weak and sick the day after. I feel fine, thus far. Tired, sleepy and hungry, but no where near what I thought I'd feel. Very much a blessing. My back feels a little sore (I think from stones passing- I have no freaking clue). But I'm just fine.

RESULTS of FLUSH: Thankfully, I've passed plenty of stones today- currently around 250. TMI? Oooooh yes. Pretty yucky and yet, oh so cool. Oh-don't wrinkle your nose. I warned ya. lol. I'm actually pretty shocked that all those stones were in my body. Eek. Yuck. Ewww, and Wow.

HOW DID IT AFFECT MY COSTOCHONDRITIS?: How will this flush affect my chest pain? I'm not sure. I'll keep you posted. Honestly, I feel about the same today. More energy even though I'm way tired. Where the worst of my chest pain is, I am sore...odd. I'll know this week if it affected my costo. in a positive way. Will I do this cleanse again? Sigh. Yes. (insert gag reflex). I think it's very important to give it a fair shake. So I'll do it every 10 days-2 weeks for at least 2 more flushes- 3 total. That's my goal. And I'm sticking to it.

To those new to the Costo blog and costo-community- I'm going through the following cleanse:

• Colon Cleanse -7 days-CHECK!
• One Week Break - CHECK!
• Parasite Cleanse-18 days - CHECK!
• One Day Colon cleanse with Oxy powder - CHECK!
  
• Kidney Cleanse -15 days - (with 2 Oxy powder every 3 days) CHECK!
  
• Liver Cleanse -2 days- CHECK!
  
• 2 week break (using oxy powder maintenance dose every 3 days)
  
• Liver Cleanse -2 days
  
• 2 week break (using oxy powder maintenance dose every 3 days)
• Liver cleanse -2 days

There you have it. I'll let you know the verdict when I do. Some people noticed a difference after their first liver flush. Other people noticed it after the 2nd or 3rd. So I'll keep plugging along. All the glory to God for getting me through this.

Aaaaaand Exhale.

Updates:

TWO DAYS AFTER THE LIVER FLUSH: Felt good, positive, tired, and then became VERY EMOTIONAL, no physical pain. Costo pain is the same. Bulge under left ribs is smaller.

FOUR DAYS AFTER THE LIVER FLUSH: I'm sore and have moderate pain in my mid-back (feels almost like severe back indigestion), have mild pain in my side from time to time, and my shoulders are stiff, stiff stiff. I've read this is all normal due to the loads of toxins released. All of this is worse after I work out and take my vitamins. On a breathing pain scale of 1-10, (1-no pain, 10- highest pain), my costochondritis pain averaged a 2. Umm...excited pain was lighter today, but proceeding with trepidation.

FIVE DAYS AFTER THE LIVER FLUSH: Okay, I'm still stiff, but the non-costo pain I've been feeling in my body has vanished. SO thankful for this. Decided to take it easy today and rest, since the "after LF pain" gets worse after I work out or take vitamins. Costochondritis pain was a 3 this morning. Saw my massage therapist. Ouch. Pain is always higher after this. And sore. Eek.

SEVEN DAYS AFTER THE FLUSH: I finally realized I needed to be taking probiotics in between these flushes. Oops. So I'm on it. I've not worked out and really rested these past 2 days trying to give my body a rest. Just really realised how hard this was on my body. My soreness in my right side and back are minimal but still there. Started feeling some sciatica issues today. Eek. May be nothing, may be something. Tomorrow- a day of colon cleansing. woo-hoo. Costo pain is a 3. Still sore from my massage.

8 Days Later- FINAL THOUGHTS OF LIVER FLUSH #1: Will I do it again? Yes. Was it fun? No. What will I do different? I will rest for a few days after flush, take probiotics in the days following, and try Epsom salts the morning for one dose, followed by the Oxy podwer a few hours later and see if my soreness is less. Today I'm still sore in my back and right side, but it's mild. Well...I start the ACV and apple Juice in 3 days to prepare for LF #2! Eek. I saw changes in my costo pain for a few days, so onward I go...

Costochondritis- Little Engine that could Cleanse...

Please pray for the people of Haiti...such devastation, so many heroes, too many casualties, and a tight time constraint to get people out...my heart is so broken over this. My husband has a friend down there that we can't find. I feel so helpless...

Donations can be made to the RED CROSS.

Okay....moving on to what seems so small in light of a tragedy so severe....I just concluded the kidney cleanse. Double Yay for that. I'll have to say I'm a fan of the product I chose. Easy, Breezy, beautiful....kidney cleanse. So here's where I am:

To those new to the Costo blog and costo-community- I'm going through the following cleanse:

• Colon Cleanse -7 days-CHECK!
• One Week Break - CHECK!
• Parasite Cleanse-18 days - CHECK!
• One Day Colon cleanse with Oxy powder - CHECK!
  
• Kidney Cleanse -15 days - (with 2 Oxy powder every few days) CHECK!
  
• Liver Cleanse -2 days
  
• 2 week break (Liver Cleanse break-using oxy powder maintenance dose every 3 days)
  
• Liver Cleanse -2 days
  
• 2 week break (Liver Cleanse break- using oxy powder maintenance dose every 3 days)
• Liver cleanse -2 days

Advice I have for the kidney cleanse? If you choose to do it, don't take pills 5 and 6 very late night. Otherwise you'll end up having to hit the ladies room/men's room cleaning out your kidneys and your bladder instead of snoozing.

Next up, liver cleanse. If you're ready for me to get off this cleansing kick, that makes 2 of us. lol.

Chug, Chug, Chug...

Costochondritis- Kidney Cleanse

I'm on day 7 of my kidney cleanse. So far, so good. CLICK HERE for the product I chose to use. It's easy, not too harsh. I've actually had a couple of days where my pain was less intense....hmmm... We shall see...

2 pills, 3X a day for 15 days.

Not too shabby. I chose this product because it looked really safe and easy. After the intricate parasite cleanse...what can I say? I was tired. =)

However, if I was to do another kidney cleanse- would have chosen the challenging but only 5 day/ credible Dr. Shultze kidney Cleanse.

Tomorrow I start back up on the organic raw apple cider vinegar in preparation for the liver cleanse next week.

Side effects on the kidney cleanse thus far?

• lower back pain- started going away today- day 7
  
• cloudy Number 1 some days - grooooooss!!!!! But I gotta put it out there for you future cleansers. Sheesh. -)
• Hard time falling asleep a bit
  

So far, here's where I am:

To those new to the Costo blog and costo-community- I'm going through the following cleanse:

• Colon Cleanse -7 days (Oxy powder, Click HERE for info) -CHECK!
• One Week Break - CHECK!
• Parasite Cleanse-18 days - CHECK!
• One Day Colon cleanse with Oxy powder - CHECK!
  
• Kidney Cleanse -15 days - (with 4 Oxy powder every few days)....in the middle of it...
  
• Liver Cleanse -2 days
  
• 2 week break (Liver Cleanse break-but using oxy powder maintenance dose every 3 days)
  
• Liver Cleanse -2 days
  
• 2 week break (Liver Cleanse break-but using oxy powder maintenance dose every 3 days)
• Liver cleanse -2 days

Still plugging along on my little train....chug... chug... chug....praying the next stop is the bright city of " Praise God, I'm pain free!" With Costo in the rear view mirror...as road kill.

I dig it.

Costochondritis- Parasite Cleanse

Hugs to everyone. I truly hope you had a blessed and beautiful Christmas.
Happy Birthday to my amazing savior, Jesus Christ. Luvs you!

Alright- to my costochondritis peeps- I'm finally finishing up this parasite cleanse in the next few days. YEEEEES!! FINALLY!! Holla!! It sounds so gag-ish, but honestly- the critter cleanse wasn't too bad.

To those new to the Costo blog and costo-community- I'm going through the following cleanse:

• Colon Cleanse -7 days (Oxy powder, Click HERE for info) -CHECK!
• One Week Break - CHECK!
• Parasite Cleanse-18 days - CHECK!
• One Day Colon cleanse with Oxy powder
• Kidney Cleanse -15 days
  
• Liver Cleanse -2 days
  
• 2 week break (Liver Cleanse break-but using oxy powder maintenance dose every 3 days)
  
• Liver Cleanse -2 days
  
• 2 week break (Liver Cleanse break-but using oxy powder maintenance dose every 3 days)
• Liver cleanse -2 days
  

I chose to do Hulda Clarkes 18 day Parasite Cleanse. The following is the chart and info for the cleanse. For more information on the Hulda Clark parasite cleanse, you can CLICK HERE

Hulda Clark's 18-Day Herbal Parasite Cleanse Handy Chart

(1 teaspoon Black Walnut Hull Extra Strength Tincture = 1 Black Walnut Hull capsules). Take 1-4 Othinine at night to flush out the toxins left by parasite die off.

www.HuldaCl ark.com	Black Walnut Hull Tincture Extra Strength Dose	Wormwood Capsule Dose (200-300 mg)	Clove Capsule Dose (Size 0 or 00)
DAY	drops 1 time per day, like before a meal.	capsules 1 time per day, on empty stomach (before meal).	capsules 3 times per day, like at mealtime.
1	1 drop (or 1 capsule)	1	1, 1, 1
2	2 drops (or 1 capsule)	1	2, 2, 2
3	3 drops (or 1 capsule)	2	3, 3, 3
4	4 drops (or 1 capsule)	2	3, 3, 3
5	5 drops (or 1 capsules)	3	3, 3, 3
6	2 tsp. (or 2 capsules)	3	3, 3, 3
7	Now once a week*	4	3, 3, 3
8		4	3, 3, 3
9		5	3, 3, 3
10		5	3, 3, 3
11		6	7
12		6	Now once a week*
13	2 tsp. (or 2 capsules)	7
14		7
15		7
16		7
17		Now once a week*
18			7

The following are the products I chose to use for this cleanse. I found them all at my local health food store.

Side Effects: mostly acid reflux (from the cloves), stomach upset (when you get to the 2 tsp of black walnut), and some muscle soreness in the beginning. I used tums to offset the acid reflux and all was well with the world again.

The products I used were:

Black Walnut - Click HERE
L-Orthinine link - Click HERE
Wormwood link- Click HERE
Cloves link - Click HERE

If you choose to do the cleansing process and have completed the colon cleanse and are moving on to the parasite cleanse...and you think "ummm...that cleanse looks WAAAY to crazy...too many pills and crap."

Never fear....there are 2 other parasite cleanses that seem to be really popular, easier to do, and safe:

• First is HUMAWORM (30 day cleanse).
  
• Another popular parasite cleanse is PARASITIN (30 day cleanse).
• The reason I chose the Hulda Clark cleanse is although it's intense- it's only 18 days to Humaworm and Parasitins 30 day cleanse. All three are great choices. I was just ready to get on with it. lol. Next year, when I know the outcome from this round, I'll take my time with the Parasitin cleanse.

So there you have it. The Parasite cleanse chapter is coming to a close in the next few days. I'm SO happy to be finishing this up. I'll stay on the maintenance program though. gooooo (sounds like ewwwww). So did my pain get any better doing the parasite cleanse? Not really. Not unless it was related to side effects that were bathroom related. Catch my drift? So if you think your costo is related to your stomach, intestines, colon,liver, etc...you may experience some relief while doing this cleanse due to more frequent bathroom use, thus less inflammation in certain areas. Kapeesh? But for the most part, the reason I'm doing the parasite cleanse is because it's on the check list of safely getting to the liver cleanse. Which is where we (or I) want to go. Cool? Cool.

Next up: one day colon cleanse, then on to the 15 day kidney cleanse. TMI for one post? ummm...yes. =)

Costochondritis- And Tums

Just a thought....

Are you curious to test if your stomach issues and/ or foods you eat are contributing to your Costochondritis?

Try tums or another anti-acid throughout the day and see if you feel any better (only if doctor allows..you know the drill.=)

I discovered that while using Tums when I ate a food that I knew would make my costo worse (for a special occasion)...the pain wouldn't intensify that much. Super Cool.

Cosotchondritis- Colon Cleanse

LOL. Just saying the words "colon cleanse" makes me giggle. But then it hurts, so I stop. =)

Okay ladies and gents....my personal opinion is that many of us have Costo as a result of our diets which cause inflammation and serious candida- a known cause of Costo. I believe this is not the only factor in this crippling condition, but a major contributor to the problem...I believe:

• 1/4 of my Costochondritis is due to diet/inflammation/food intolerance/candida

• I believe 1/4 is scoliosis, so I'm predispositioned to it.

• 1/4 is injury through repetitive trauma (weight lifting)

• 1/4 is bracing through stress.

Yours may be due to a combination of these listed above or soley from another source.

Anyhoo- I'm fighting the food/inflammation/candida problems with an organic/anti-inflamm diet and a full body cleanse to get rid of the inflammation and as much candida as possible. If you have acid reflux in any way, gerd, have been sent to a GI doctor, or if below your ribs you feel a little bulge...or if the space below your ribs/under your ribs on one side is tighter than the other side, you may have food issues that are causing inflammation in your stomach, colon, liver, and kidneys.

OOOOORrrrr, your diet and stomach may not have anything to do with your Costo. lol. Unfortunately, each case is specific to the make up of your body and thus tons of trial and error is needed to find the smoothest road to healing. Blah. Arg. Gag.

One way to tell if your stomach is contributing or causing your costo is to follow the Margaret Hill Diet and see how you do.

Another option in addition to ant-inflamm. diet is to cleanse. Remember I'm just putting options out there for all of us to try. Feel free to take it or leave it. You know your body best. I'm trusting all of us to use our own filters.

The order to do a a full body cleanse is:

Colon Cleanse (I used Oxypowder, Click HERE for the website)
One Week Break
Parasite Cleanse
Kidney Cleanse
Liver Cleanse
2 week break
Liver Cleanse
2 week break
Liver cleanse

I just completed the 7 day colon cleanse. Without a doubt, I could tell a difference in my pain, so I'm going to continue to trudge through all of the cleanses. The entire process takes a few months. I start the parasite cleanse on Sunday. I'm using Hulda Clarks Parasite cleanse. I'll keep you posted as I go. For the colon, I used Oxypowder after a lot of research and prayer. It's all natural and I took it during the day instead of the nighttime. I'm a nervous nelly with any herbs or meds...so I called the headquarters and they told me I could take it during the day. lol. They only reccomend that you take it at night so you can be all "cleaned out" before you go to work.

I took 8 pills a day for 7 days and was very pleased with the results and the product. VERY gentle. Make sure you eat as organic as possibly and add the apple cider vinegar/raw honey as the instructions suggest. Helps things along. lol.

Tip: Also, make sure you eat healthy and organic the day before you start it...this will keep you from having a churning stomach all night or day. Don't be like me and think, "heeeey, I'm doing a colon cleanse starting tomorrow, I'm gunna eat lots and lots of yummy fries today!!!"

....big no-no. Bad Lucy.

Costochondritis- Apple Cider Vinegar

Hello friends, Here's a remedy I use 3x a day. I started it last week. Thanks Sally and Cathy! I add Bragg raw/organic honey to it. I'm using it to detox my body and fight candida- which I believe is a huge cause of Costochondritis. It's great in helping to aid in inflammation. If you have stomach problems, gerd, or acid refluc- I'd add it right away. It's not an immediate cure for costochondritis, but it's definitely a tool to add to your belt on your journey to healing. I've tried it, I like the results I see, and I'm keeping it. =)

"Apple cider vinegar is more of a natural health tonic that helps the body to heal itself and is especially effective when used as part of a general detox plan or a healthy lifestyle. That is when you'll see the best results.

The general recommended dosage is usually 2-3 teaspoons Apple Cider Vinegar and honey to taste in a glass of water, taken three times a day. The dosage and application, however, may vary depending on what it is being used for.

Here's a list of Apple Cider Vinegar remedies and recipes for various ailments. They're fun to try with no dangerous side effects.

Other Apple Cider Vinegar Cures List

Acid Reflux Syndrome.

If you suffer from acid reflux syndrome you should take a little apple cider vinegar in water with each meal as it helps to prevent the symptoms and cure acid reflux syndrome.

Arthritis.

One area where apple cider vinegar may be used is for arthritic pain. When using it to relieve this pain it is best used externally either by creating an apple cider vinegar poultice (dip in a mixture of ACV and water) or by soaking aching hands or feet in an ACV and warm water solution.

Asthma

Sipping a solution of apple cider vinegar and water (approximately 1 tablespoon of ACV to a glass of water) can help to relieve the wheezing of asthma and can be repeated if necessary.

Candida

Create a douche using 2 tablespoons of ACV to 4 cups of warm water. Also try Yeast Infection No More

Cholesterol

If you have problems with high cholesterol you can get help by using the general recommended dosage of ACV with a healthy diet and lifestyle.

Coughs and Colds

1-2 teaspoons of ACV can be used in ½-1 glass of water for colds and coughs; for colds drink half a cup several times a day and for coughs drink when the throat is irritated or before meals.

Fatigue

Taking the generally recommended dosage of ACV three times a day, with meals, can help to relieve fatigue.

Hay Fever and allergies

Hay fever and allergy sufferers can also benefit from taking regular doses of apple cider vinegar (the generally recommended dosage.

Applw Cider Vinegar Cures: Weight Loss

This is a bit of a controversial topic but apple cider vinegar for weight loss has been used for centuries. Some report amazing resultsd and for others it's uneffective. The claims are that the regular dose of apple cider vinegar with your meals can help increase your metabolism and so help your body to burn more fat and calories as well as suppress your appetite naturally.

Menstrual and Menopausal Problems

Some women have found that regular dosage of ACV tonic can also be used to help alleviate symptoms of heavy and painful periods, as well as the hot flushes and sweats associated with menopause.

Apple Cider Vinegar and Your Teeth

When using apple cider vinegar cures it is important to realize that in it's undiluted from ACV can harm your teeth and dental enamel. As an extra precaution, you can rinse out your mouth after drinking your ACV tonic.

Apple Cider Vinegar and Your Digestive Tract

You should never take ACV in undiluted form as the acid can harm the digestive tract.

The benefits of Apple cider vinegar cures and natural remedies are quite vast but as I mentioned before it is best incorporated into a healthy lifestyle for best results."

PS- I drink it with a straw so it won't hurt my pearly whites.

Costochondritis- Massage vs. Medical Massage

Reading through my blog, you'll see that I'm a fan of medical massage therapy. Many people have asked me, "what's the difference between the 2?" Well, I have no clue. =) But I came across this article that went into great detail about the difference between regular massage therapy and medical massage therapy for Costochondritis. My goal is never to steer anyone to do what I'm doing, but to simply put as much information out there about Costo and the different ways that sufferers handle and heal from this Gag Gag Gag condition. =)

"Simply put, Medical Massage Therapy is the focused use of advanced massage techniques to treat a specific condition and achieve a specific outcome. In some cases the condition treated is first diagnosed by the patient’s physician. In other cases the medical massage therapist simply treats the patient based on the patient’s subjective description of his symptoms following a thorough assessment of the patient’s muscles, posture, etc.

Techniques used during a medical massage often include neuromuscular therapy, myofascial release, and lymphatic drainage massage among many others; however, they can also include more common techniques such as Swedish massage. The major difference between a medical massage and a regular massage is that it is performed by therapists with advanced training and the treatment is structured to obtain a specific outcome.

All massage therapists in Arizona must be licensed by the state to legally practice, however, there is no separate license that recognizes “Medical Massage Therapists” over any other licensed massage therapist (LMT). Any LMT can legally perform any type of massage, including medical massage.

Despite this, it is very helpful to seek out a Medical Massage Therapist if you require massage therapy to treat a specific symptom. Any therapist using this term to describe himself or his practice is clearly advertising that he focuses on medical massage. This will narrow down your search for the proper massage therapist for your needs from among the thousands of therapists who mainly focus on relaxation or general therapeutic massage techniques. You can think of the term Medical Massage Therapist as a specialty among massage therapy. It is similar to a family practice Medical Doctor advertising that she specializes in “medical care for women”. The MD is still just an MD like any other, however, knowing her focus is a great help to the patient when seeking a doctor.

Costochondritis is an inflammation of the cartilage that connects the ribs to the sternum. It causes sharp and often severe pain in the costosternal joint (where the ribs connect to the sternum), sometimes mimicking a heart attack. While the cause of this condition is not know, medical massage therapy focused on the breathing muscles and other muscles that attached to the thoracic cage (rib cage) has been shown to be an effective treatment for the pain associated with costochondritis.

Humans normally have 12 rib bones on each side, ten of which attach to the sternum via costal cartilage. Cartilage is softer and more pliable than bone allowing the ribs to expand during inhalation. Dozens of individual muscles attach to the ribs and many of those muscles are used during inhalation. When these muscles are tight (hypertonic) additional stress is place on the costal cartilage contributing to the painful condition.

Additionally, the pain from the cartilage inflammation sometimes causes patients to breathe more shallowly contributing to muscle tightness that can cause continued pain long after the cartilage inflammation has dissipated.

By assessing the condition of the breathing muscles and other muscles connected to the rib cage, your medical massage therapist can formulate a treatment plan to effectively alleviate your symptoms completely in many circumstances. Your therapist will stretch and release hypertonic muscles in the intercostals (muscles between each rib), diaphragm (your main breathing muscle) as well as the other muscles he or she finds are exerting an abnormal amount of pressure on the costosternal joints.

For the massage therapist:
Be sure to assess all muscles of inhalation as well as any other muscles which attach to the thoracic cage or thoracic spine. While all muscles are important to assess and treat if needed, specific muscles which should not be overlooked are; the sternocleidomastoids, scalenes, obliques, rectus abdominis, internal and external intercostals, pectoral major and minor, diaphragm, serratus anterior, latissimus dorsi, and trapezius. Muscles on the posterior of the body must be addresses even though symptoms may only present themselves at the costosternal joints because of the pressure these muscles exert on the thoracic cage. You may experience difficulty in palpating and releasing deeper muscles until the more superficial muscles are released. According to the Mayo Clinic other treatments for costochondritis include muscle relaxers, NSAIDS, antidepressants, physical therapy, and heat." - written by Steve Ibach with help from the mayo clinic website.

Costochondritis- Skilled Relaxation Exercise

Here's an example of a skilled relaxation exercise for Costochondritis. You can use it or discard it it. Just throwing it out there. Please use at your own discretion and liability. =) lol. Gotta put that in there. =) Those who have benefited from an exercise like this, did it 2X a day for 20 minutes. Those who claim to have kept Costo away permanently with skilled relaxation, did it every day, 2x a day for a year.

What do you need to do this exercise?

1) Dark Room
2) 20 minutes of Relaxing Music (think yoga or piano music)
3) A soft place to lay on your back
4) Optional Tip: Lay on a heating pad- put it on your back

HERE WE GO!!

• Start music, lay on your back, and relax
  
• First Song - Just take the time to relax and calm down. Then check in with your body, start head to toe and acknowledge where the tension is. Example: I feel tension in my neck, I feel tension in my shoulders, I feel aches in my knees
• Second Song - Check in with your feelings. Time to let it out. =) Example: I feel tired today, I feel scared I won't heal, I feel angry about XYZ (say it out loud).
  
• Third Song - Tension Release: Start Head to Toe. Gently Flex EACH and EVERY muscle as you count 1-7, then on 8,910, slowly release the muscle. Example, Tighten your face then release, tighten your neck, then release, tighten you upper back, release, tighten you wrist then release, tighten your forearm, then release, tighten you bicep, then release....etc. Work your way down your body all the way to the toes.
  
• Fourth Song- Sand Exercise: Start head to slow and imagine your body is sand dropping off but by bit as you breathe calmly. Relax
• Fifth Song- Heat Exercise - Start head to toe and imagine your a deep warmth washing itself over your body, relaxing all your muscles - imagine your on the warm beach.
  
• Sixth and Seventh Song- Breathing Exercise: Laying on your Back, allow your belly to be as soft as possible. 1) Breathe and allow your lower belly to fill up with air with each breathe. (not your chest, only the belly) 2) Next as you breathe, fill up the lower belly and then middle lungs with air. Release the middle lungs and then then let the belly fall. 3) Next, (in one breathe) fill the belly first, then the middle lungs, then fill the chest with air....as you exhale, release the chest, then middle, then exhale the air from your belly. Repeat this 3rd step for as long as you are comfortable doing. If if feels like too much, just breathe easy and then go back into the 3rd step.
• Eighth and Ninth Song- Color Breathing: Relax...inhale and exhale slowly through your nose and out through your mouth. Focus on your breathe, and give it a color. Blue and Lavender have a calming effect. Imagine inhaling this peaceful color as it fills your body through your nose and exhales through your mouth.
  
• Tenth Song- This is your song. Imagine on the inside of your eye lids is a screen and you see all the words that are who you want to be...relaxed, Peaceful, Joyful, Strong, Healed. Etc...When I get stuck, I always just focus on the word RELAX......
  
• You're Done! YAY!

You can customize it/combine it with other exercises you like, etc. If you are looking to follow a CD, CLICK HERE for the CD I started with and still use from time to time. Great stuff. You get the music links in your e-mail immediately when you buy it. Cool.

Costochondritis- Current Action Plan

Here's a picture drawn by Lynn Armede DeBeal. Thanks for sharing your drawing with me, Lynn! You captured it perfectly.

Alright folks- so I've thrown out a TON of things for everyone to try. I'm going to update you on what my crazy/hurting/sometimes hopeful/sometimes just ticked off self is currently doing:

• The sauna 3 days a week- this is helping with the pain- sweat is good stuff
• Walking 6 days a week
• Jogging 3 days a week for 30 minutes- I JUST started this. Ouch. It hurts. But I feel more opened up in the rib cage after I do so. Gotta tape up the girls though.
  
• No talking- Yup- keeping the trap closed. It hurts to talk, so I don't do that often. Not irritating the injury while willing it to heal is a good thing. I don't even talk on the phone anymore- I'm a texting machine.
• Serrapeptesse at night- I take 2 pills a day. Does it help? Beats me. But a natural pill that eats inflammation Sounds good, though.
• Fish Oil and Yarrow
  
• Taking all vitamins, minerals, calcium, and Aciai berry daily. Gotta keep the rest of the body well.
• Starting Yoga on my own today. Only poses that don't hurt the rib cage...I've tried it many times and it hurt like crap. But today I'm trying only poses that are pain free and will post them soon.
  
• Light Stretching
• Praying for healing and daily strength/along with journaling and bible reading
  
• Medical Massage Therapy 2X a week
• Skilled Relaxation 2X a week- very good stuff- helps with the pain.
  
• Rest 2-3 hours a day at a 45 degree angle so I won't further irritate the ribs.
• Ice daily
• Keep a calender of everything I do and my pain on a scale of 1-10
  

This current game plan of trial and error has gotten my breathing pain on an average of 4/5 to a 3/4 this month. Yes, talking, moving, etc pain is much higher, but the breathing pain has got to come down. That's been my first goal.

Costochondritis- Skilled Relaxation

There is a lot of buzz about skilled relaxation and Costochondritis. Skilled Relaxation is the continued practice of relaxation techniques. We all have a flight or fight response to stress...so skilled relaxation is a coping tool for the stress we have each day. It teaches us when we are stressed or have increased pain, to relax instead of bracing.

Will it heal costochondritis? I have no clue. I wish. =) The jury is still out for me. However, we all know the second we get stressed out, the Costo pain gets worse, way worse, due to the bracing. S.R. teaches us to relax instead of tensing. Good Stuff. Stress is really hard on our bodies and we don't want to give our bodies any reason to increase our pain.

Better to spend 20 minutes a day teaching your mind and body to relax than to spend it focused on the pain.

This CD is the one I use- cheap, price: $11.98, and only 20 minutes a day- you can buy it and then you get an e-mail with a link to download the material. So you get the CD on your computer in seconds. There are 4 tracks you can use to mix it up. Good Stuff. Click HERE for Emmett Millers Letting Go of Stress CD

Or you can click HERE for another skilled relaxation exercise I use.

Costochondritis- PT's Point of View

Hello all! So I wanted to share with you what this physical therapist shared with me. I've seen 3 different PT's to no avail. However, I've interacted with Neil Chasen and what he said was interesting...thought I'd share.

"Occasionally, and typically following trauma, but not always, one can sustain an injury to the juncture between the ribs and the cartilage between the breast bone (the sternum) and the ribs. Alternatively, the irritation can arise between the sternum and the cartilage. I usually see these sorts of injuries after a motor vehicle accident where the seat belt coming across the rib cage creates the injury or when the chest is driven into the steering wheel is the cause. I have one recent case where the irritability was not traumatic at all, but came on after a case of severe and persistent coughing. Patients following open heart surgery often have to deal with this injury.

This is a difficult injury to manage because there is not much blood supply. The pain is seemingly irritated with breathing deeply. Palpation of the joint line can illicit pain. The pain can be bilateral, but is most often unilateral.

The best treatment for this condition is a combination of aerobic exercise, even though it might hurt to breath at first, ice on the irritated chest wall, and a therapeutic dose of NSAID's on board as tolerated. Physical therapy in the form of manual therapy is valuable to oscillate the joints to promote healing, but this is tricky and needs to be done very carefully." - Neil Chasen

Okay, for me, I've had a very difficult time with his theory of aerobic exercise b/c moving is so painful. As you all understand. =). However, this is something I'm looking into and started this week. I jogged lightly for 20 minutes in addition to my daily walk- followed by the sauna. It hurt to do so, but I have noticed an improvement in my breathing, and for that, I'm very thankful.

I don't think I could have done the light jogging until now. I've been on a little bit of a house arrest, no talking, no hanging out with folks, trying to get the inflammation down as much as possible. And I'll continue to do so.

Other forms of cardio didn't work for me b/c chest muscles are needed to swim, use the elliptical, arc trainer, etc...translation: OUCH!! I'll keep you posted. Remember if you try this theory out , it needs to be coupled with NO LIFTING anything. =)

The End.

Costochondritis- The Sauna

Okay, here's a shout out and credit given to Corey, who challenged me to do some more research on the blood flow and soft tissue healing.

When you read and talk to PT's about healing soft tissue, they use therapies such as an ultrasound and laser light therapy to increase the blood flow to the injured area.

Everyone's Costo comes from different sources, mine was from repetitive trauma and stress on my ribs through weight lifting and being stressed to the max at the same time.

So here we have a soft tissue injury that is painful and deep. The goal with my medical massage therapy is to push out the inflammation as well as increase circulation in the ribs to aid in the body's healing.

It's been cited in several medical journals that people with chronic pain have toxins built up up in their system. I had a test done a month ago and my lymph system is retaining about 25%. This doesn't surprise me because it's very challenging to really sweat out toxins , especially when when moving causes increased pain.

It's also been cited in several medical journals I've been reading that going into a sauna and having toxins released can lessen the pain of chronic illnesses such as fibromyalgia. Not only does a sauna release the toxins in your body, it raises your core body temperature and increases the blood flow in your body, allowing your body to really fight inflammation.

Since the ribs have such a low blood flow, I think adding the sauna to your regimen is a wonderful tactic.

I'm on day 2 of adding the sauna after my 1 hour walk/stretching....I'll keep you posted!

Costochondritis- Trigger Point Ther,

Trigger Point Therapy was brought to my attention by my sister -n-law. Thanks Katy! It's something I'm looking into....

The following is cited from the Trigger Point Therapy Workbook.

"Chest pain diagnosed as angina, heart pain, pleurisy, and costochondritis (inflammation of the ribs) may actually be referred pain from myofascial trigger points (tiny contraction knots) in strained or overworked pectoral muscles of the chest. Pain from these trigger points can also lead to the supposition that you have a separated rib, an ulcer, or gallbladder trouble.

These are some of the surprising discoveries by Doctors Janet Travell and David Simons, revealed in their widely acclaimed medical textbook, Myofascial Pain and Dysfunction: The Trigger Point Manual. The trigger points shown here in the pectoralis major muscle can cause pain that feels like angina from the heart.

Breathing Difficulties

Trigger points in chest muscles can cause distortions of your posture that promote shallow breathing and shortness of breath. Tenderness, pain and breathing difficulties caused by these trigger points are often mistaken for symptoms of emphysema, hiatal hernia, or lung disease.

Pain Referral

Travell and Simons also found that pectoral trigger points can refer pain to your upper back. In middle-aged women, trigger points in chest muscles can contribute significantly to development of a dowager’s hump by keeping the shoulders and head pulled forward. A complicating factor in finding the source of chest wall or rib cage pain is the fact that it doesn't always come from trigger points in chest muscles. It can be referred just as often from back muscles or from the scalene muscles in the neck. The following three drawings show scalene trigger points and the patterns of pain they send to the chest and back.

Misdiagnosis

It goes without saying that your chest symptoms can be signs of a true medical problem. Nevertheless, Doctors Travell and Simons believe that trigger points are the primary cause of pain and that the public suffers needlessly because too many doctors are still uninformed about them. Physicians are often mistaken diagnoses and misdirected in their diagnoses and treatment, including needless surgery. For more on what Costochondiritis can be mistaken for, click PLEASE CLICK HERE.

Imaginary Pain?

When pain comes from trigger points, it's not unusual for diagnosis to entirely elude the physician, who then is apt to write the problem off as minor or imaginary and categorize it as untreatable. Trigger points should be at the top of the list during any examination for pain in the chest, sides, or upper back.

Self-Treatment

When healthcare practitioners have had adequate training and experience, trigger points are easy to locate and treat. In fact, there are ways to treat them yourself quite effectively.

In The Trigger Point Therapy Workbook, nationally certified massage therapist Clair Davies simplifies Travell and Simons' extensive research into myofascial pain and makes it accessible to the layman. When trigger points are the cause of your angina, false heart pain, chest pain, or costochondritis, you can gain significant relief using his safe, precise methods of self-applied trigger point massage."

To find out more about the book and the method, please visit the homepage. To read a growing number of reviews by people who have been helped by the book, take a look at the book’s page at Amazon.com.

Costochondritis- Gastron Technique

There's a technique called the Gastron Technique. I have read in a case study that this technique helped a volleyball player with Costochondritis. So I did a lot of research and think it has a valid point of view. I've chosen to use a medical message therapist instead of the Gastron Technique. But it's something to look into.

The following is cited from The Natural Standard, The Authority on Integral Medicine:

Graston Technique® is a patented form of non-surgical instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization that is used to break down scar tissue and restrictions in fascia (connective tissue present throughout the body, surrounding blood vessels, nerves, muscles, bones, and organs).

The Graston Technique® uses a unique set of stainless steel instruments designed to break up scar tissue buildup in body areas such as the shoulder or wrist, which are often associated with acute or chronic soft tissue injuries. Soft tissues include skin, muscle, nervous (neurological), and connective tissues. Examples of soft tissue injuries include strains, sprains, subluxations (partial dislocation of joints), carpal tunnel syndrome, and repetitive stress injury. Treatment using the Graston Technique® involves sliding a stainless steel instrument designed for a particular body part over the surface of the skin in a back and forth motion. Generally, advocates suggest several Graston Technique® sessions for treatment of soft tissue injuries.

Scar tissue is a type of fibrous connective tissue that may occur in any area of the body. This tissue generally receives a smaller blood supply than normal tissue and doesn't expand easily. Scar tissue also tends to be thicker than the tissue it replaces after an injury. Scar tissue may build up around muscles, tendons, and ligaments as the body heals from an injury. As a result, the movement of the surrounding body tissues may be impaired, or the patient may experience pain when they try to move. Clinically, the buildup of tissue after an injury is called soft tissue fibrosis, but most practitioners refer to these areas as adhesions.

An athlete invented the Graston Technique® after experiencing an incomplete recovery from a knee injury. Surgery and other forms of conventional therapy did not return the athlete to full functionality. In order to find a way to fully recover from the soft tissue injury, the athlete used his background in machining to create the first templates of the stainless steel instruments used in the Graston Technique®. The parent company of the Graston Technique® is TherapyCare Resources. The first clinic using the Graston Technique® opened in 1994. Since then, several major sporting organizations use the Graston Technique® for professional athletes. Several bodywork therapy schools have integrated this modality into their curriculum.

Costochondritis- Healing Naturally

I believe there is a place for both eastern and western medicine in our lives. I'm thankful for both. The following are the natural remedies I've tried...remember to you use your own best judgment with your doctor! Here we go!

Last Updated: January 19,2010

I've graded them from 1-10 from my own experience.

1 = Didn't work at ALL for me
10 = A total gift of healing, it works great!!
# = Haven't tried it yet
@= Trying it now, the jury is still out

• (4) Apple Cider Vinegar and honey- Been on it a week, and will stay on it. Helps with inflammation. CLICK HERE for more information on it.
  
• (5) Skilled Relaxation: Some people have really raved about it. It's your call. You can read more about it HERE. I just started doing this 2X a day for 20 minutes each time (on day 6 of it) and can tell a difference in my pain. I would definitely put it in your routine 2X a day for a month before you dismiss this remedy. It's the cheapest and easiest to do!
  
• (5) Aerobic Exercise- I'm trying it now...check out my post on it.
  
• (@) Serrapeptase - This is an enzyme that eats inflammation. I have been told by other Costo sufferers that this healed them...so I'm on week one of it.
• (4) The Sauna - I'm trying it now, check out my post on it, good stuff.
  
• (4) DMSO Cream- This cream starts to work about 30 min after application. I really was impressed by it...however after a few months, it bleached my skin. Eek!
• (@) Noni Juice- I haven't tried it. Let me know if you do.
  
• (@) Colon, Liver, and Parasite Cleanse- I've heard from a few people with Costo that after round 1 of a cleanse, they started to feel better b/c it addressed the inflammation in other parts of the body- possible the origin of the inflammation. I'm trying out this process right now...
  
• (1) Physical Therapy - I personally found that PT was more painful for me (used 3 different PT's over a year and half). However, I do believe there are some very talented therapists out there who may be knowledgeable and wonderful with this condition. I may try it again with someone new after the pain subsides.
  
• (5) Light Stretching- It's natural to want to curl up in a ball when the pain gets worse. But light stretching is really important. Don't allow that rib cage to become concave. Really keep the posture up. Lightly stretching the entire body after a light walk is really important. The best stretch I have is standing in a door way, putting my hands on either side of the door way and stepping through the door to stretch the rib cage. First do the exercise with your hands up really high. Next, do the exercise with your hands at shoulder length. And relax and breathe as you do it.
  
• (3) Fish Oil - I think fish oil is great for a light case of Costo and helps reduce inflammation, a great addition to your daily nutrition. Good stuff.
• (@) Rolfing- I haven't tried this...let me know if you do. From what I understand, it can provide temporary relief.
• (4) Alexander Technique- This is a relaxation technique that seems to be a great tool. The more you can relax the rib cage, the better.
  
• (3) Getting lots of sleep so your body can recover is very important...here are some tips.
  
• (1) Exercise and weight lifting- It's different for everyone. Some people hurt worse if they are inactive....being a sitting position for long periods of time, like driving, can increase the pain. For me...I can't sit for long periods of time. However, I can't do any exercise besides a walk. No lifting at all. Anything more strenuous increases my pain. However, an hour walk daily helps me physically and emotionally. I used to exercise harder and was like "it's never going to go away, so I might as well be fit." Now, I believe that wasn't a smart choice at ALL! Now I'm committed to doing whatever it takes to get well....time to listen to our bodies.
  
• (@) Maintaining...so this is a regimen a very kind woman shared with us. She was healed from Costo and is maintaining her healing....check out her story...
• (@) Japanese Acupuncture- Heard this has been a great deal of help for some people, but not long lasting.
• (#) Acupuncture - I have not had it on my ribs, but I did 3 months on my back and saw no difference, I will try on my ribs in the near future. I have heard mixed reviews. Many people have said it helped, but when they stopped, it got worse again. Others say it's a great tool to healing.
• (0) Prolotherapy- For me, lost and lot of shots with no help. Prolotherapy may be good for some other conditions...but for me, no way, no how.
  
• (6) Rest and Reduce Stress- Okay, so here's the deal. We all have lives that are trucking along and while rest may seem like an impossible feat. It's very important. Now, I'm not saying you should lay on a couch all day and not move. But if what you're doing is irritating your ribs, stop doing it! Make a list of all the things, big and small, that stress you out or increase the pain...and pick several to cut out of your life for a while. I personally am not talking on the phone right now. Talking really irritates my Costo. When I'm on the phone or talk for over 15 minutes, the pain increases...so I talk to everyone via e-mail. It was really hard at first, but remember that everyone wants you to heal and is rooting for you!!! Explain it to everyone and stick to your guns. They love you and will support you! They want you back! You'll also find this takes stress out of your life. Stress is a HUGE instigator, increasing the Costo pain. I think this has to do with "bracing" when you get stressed, thus increasing inflammation.
  
• (3) Heating Pads and Ice - Ice takes the edge off for me. Heat works for others. I found putting a heating pad on my back and ice on my ribs both helped with inflammation and relaxing.
• (1) Compression like a corset- This doesn't work for me b/c pressure causes me pain, but for some sufferers, it helps when they wrap the area.
• (5) Controlling your diet - Eating a diet that lowers inflammation and decreases acid reflux can really help. This is important in keeping the pain down. When I eat large amounts of fried foods, my pain increases. If you keep a journal...you'll figure out what foods really trigger it for you. If I stay vegan, I feel the best.
  
• (2) Vitamins: magnesium twice per day and B12. Magnesium - 250mg each time for a total of 500 per day. The B12 is only once per day at 500mcg. This has helped some sufferers. I do recommend that you talk to your doctor and take what every viatims/mineral you both decide on. It's important that while having this condition, you stay as healthy as possible. I currently take Vitamins, Minerals, Calcium, and Acai Berry daily.
• (#) Gastron Technique- Check out my post in September for details.
  
• (@) Reiki Therapy- I've never tried it, read a testimony that it helped a sufferer.
• (7) Medical Massage Therapist- This is been the biggest help for me, personally. After seeing over 70 doctors including ER visits, the pain had spread to my shoulder and back, I began seeing a message therapist at my PT's office. She finally convinced me, after only messages on my back, to let her work on my ribs. She had suffered from Costo herself and had been healed quickly through message. I was skeptical, but let her try. The first month was really tough, as you all know...she would touch my ribs and I would just about scream in pain. She has been VERY patient with me...so I'm three months down the road and my pain has gone from stabbing attacks (7/8) on a pain scale to a burning, gnawing ,around the clock, 4/5 on the pain scale. She is very confident in this therapy, we shall see. I will keep yall posted. I am so thankful for her! And I finally feel hopeful again for the first time in a long time.
  
• (0) Chiropractor- Okay, for some Costo sufferers, this has really helped them out, which is wondeful!! I tried 3 different Chiropractors and was way worse off when I left.
• (#) Trigger Point Therapy...I haven't tried it, but I'm looking into it.
  
• (6) Kinesio Tape - This tape has been a huge blessing. For all the women out there with costo, you know that wearing a bra is a thing of the past. So I order this tape and literally tape my breasts up. Sounds silly, but the weight of the breasts cause more pain, especially in movement. Try lifting up your breasts and see if you can breathe better...if you can, purchase a roll of this skin friendly tape and try it out. It really helps me get through the day. I cut a piece of tape about 6 inches long and cut the corners (it stays on there longer) and vertically put the tape below the ni*** and lift up the breast and place the tape high above the ni***. Tip...put a small piece of cotton on the ni*** to avoid irritation. Also, take the tape off at night to give your skin a breather. It may not be as helpful for those with a large chest.
• If you have something to add that has helped you out, let me know! Thanks everyone!
  
• And Please vote on the poll!