chinese secrets

"To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded."

Ralph Waldo Emerson

I first met Dr. Lim a year ago. I am so very fond of him and his smiling Asian face with Howardesque eyebrows. I look forward to Saturday mornings with him – yes, frightened me, who develops a telltale nervous rash and wants to vomit or bolt at the western doctors. From herbs, to manners, to common sense, he has taught me many things.

“Come in Mrs. Martin. How you feel? Any better?”

Dr. Lim is so delightfully caring. He genuinely gets excited when I’m doing well, and concerned and sad when I’m not. I have no fear in telling him how I’m going because he won’t shrug off anything that I say lightly. He deals with the whole of me, from muscles to mind, and respects my feelings and emotions in a way I rarely come across.

Many doctors sit there coldly and then declare there is nothing they can do for my condition. Then they smirk when I mention that I’m seeing a Chinese Medicine doctor. They bemoan the use of my money on something that obviously won’t work if they have declared my condition is untreatable. I wish for open minds and love in the western profession.

“Drink warm water, is good for you.”

For a couple of winters my immune system was a nightmare, permitting me 5 day breaks between colds. Dr. Lim suggested that I drink warm water. He told me that when cold water goes into the body, it naturally cools it down and the energy required to warm it back up takes away from its ability to fight off viruses.

Since switching to warm water and boiling the jug a trillion times a day, I've only had two mild colds in a whole winter. It’s an incredible change. Sometimes you don’t need a pill or potion, just some smart body sense.

“On sunny days, go for walk outside.”

To keep myself from fainting, I've had to exercise very often for the last few years. I diligently go to the gym because I've been told to, but, eww. After I moved to Geelong and felt the low mood cloud descend on me, I opted out of trying more antidepressants {after a hellish experience coming off them last time} and instead took Chinese Herbs and sunshine. The choice is unshowered dripping males and fluorescent lighting, or fragrant spring flowers and sunshine. I'm still amazed at how joyful I feel in the sun, smelling flowers - it's a merry combination.

“Eat yoghurt for this problem, you feel better.”

Recently I had a bout of tummy bloating, severe heartburn, and other unmentionable bowel dilemmas...I expected him to give me another bottle of herbs for this issue, but instead he said to try yogurt first. As I can't tolerate dairy, we decided on a probiotic. His intuition was right on, as it immediately settled things down. I do love a simple pharmacy or food solution and avoiding a trip to the white coats.

“I have something make it go away. Be all better.”

I came to Lim after two trips to the physio which hadn't solved my neck pain and headaches. He came back from his store room with patches to put on my neck and back, containing strong herbs like Menthol and Camphor. I wanted to believe this would help, but after an unsuccessful week of treatment at the physio, I was fearful of ongoing pain. I skeptically put the patches on, and in 3 days I was pain free.

We can't underestimate the importance of easing another's burden, even if we can't take it away. I was dancing around the house over joyed to have one less pain on my plate.

Smile often

Dr. Lim and his son who helps him smile continually. They absolutely beam. I've never met such smiley people in my entire life. From the dozens of 'you feel better soon's' to the 'we find something just right for you's' I feel a warmth which is delightfully refreshing for a jaded appointment attendee. After my appointments they usually chat to Ben and I for quite some time like we are their friends - about our lives and their lives, and always with lots of laughter. I've never left without the smile they gave to me in the room.

They don't worry about being 'professional', a word which has come to feel so clinical and cold to me. I feel they embody what doctors really should be - caring, affirmative, and eager to reduce pain.

"Tenderness and kindness are not signs of weakness and despair, but manifestations of strength and resolution."

 Kahlil Gibran

words for wednesday {page 7, home}

Pinterest

“Joy is what happens to us when we allow ourselves to recognise how good things really are.”

Marianne Williamson

If you were to ask me how I was, I would probably sigh.

I am relieved.

I have endured a month of too many appointments, and weariness from being a vulnerable patient too many times. I have been ill from hour long waits at doctor surgeries, saddened by coolness and misunderstanding in medics, and exhausted from leaving my safe little home, the one place I have a chance of surviving in. The ironic truth is that I am ill from seeing my medics. I am always learning how better to manage my life, and going to these doctors just after I moved house was not my wisest plan. Sadness has been all pervasive - the greyness that robs every usually-fun moment of its fun.

My great relief comes not just from getting to stay home, but from feeling little bits of joy again, of happiness, or pleasure, or humour, where before it was entirely bleak. I am enjoying relief, savouring it, and remembering for future that it always comes.

“There is nothing like staying at home for real comfort.”

Jane Austen

Although I would rather enjoy my home in moderation i.e. on the weekend and in the evening, I think Austen is perfectly right. My home is a beautiful, comfy, cosy, restful, safe haven. To view it like that rather than my prison changes everything.

Flannelette jamies have been really doing it for me lately. Who knew $11 spent at kmart could make for such snuggy appreciation.

“Change your thoughts and you change your world.” 

Normal Peale 

“Although the world is full of suffering, it is also full of the overcoming of it.”

Helen Keller

dear doctor

I have gone to 7 doctors about my illness since I first noticed that something was dreadfully wrong with my body as an 18-year-old. Each time, I tried to control my excitement that ‘this might be the doctor who will help me’. And most of the time, I was either bitterly disappointed right then and there by their misunderstanding and belittling of my pain, or in a few weeks or months after trying their treatments and finding myself as sick as ever. Every sufferer I know has been on a very long journey to find a doctor who can understand and help. Meanwhile, the days, and months, and years tick by – with no one who knows what to do.

Doctor No. 1:

Told me that I was depressed (which I was), and this was causing fatigue. But didn’t explore the million dollar question which is this: was the depression causing the fatigue, or was the fatigue causing the depression? Ah, Doctor No. 1, you did not solve the problem. You did give me a doctor’s certificate, and for that I am grateful.

Doctor No. 2:

(GP & Naturopath) Put me on restrictive diet, prescribed vitamins and other costly concoctions. I am still on these things, not because I think they will heal me completely by themselves, but because I think my body needs every single helper it can get – and diet and nutrients are essential. Told me I had Chronic Fatigue Syndrome –Doctor No. 2, thank you so much for giving my suffering a name, it sounds so much more convincing than, “I’m not well.”

Doctor No. 3:

Told me that I was a stress-head, and asked repeatedly if I had anorexic tendencies. Told me there was nothing wrong with me physically – I just needed to have fun, eat fattening food, enjoy life (ah, but ‘tis hard when so sick). I tried so hard after that appointment; I wanted him to be right, for the cure to be that simple. I ate caramel slice, I went for an enthusiast walk each day, I skipped flute practice, I chanted ‘it’s in your head’ to myself – alas, Doctor No. 3, you were mistaken.

Had appointments with psychologist that Doctor No. 3 had referred me to – psychologist told me that being engaged was making me stressed and ill, too much pressure too young. Told me to just move in with Ben (because living together without a marriage certificate is so much less stressful). We didn’t see eye to eye, so I left.

Doctor No. 4:

Told me I had bronchitis and glandular fever. True, at that time I did. Told me to stop trying to go to uni with a raging fever each day. You were a wise doctor.

Doctor No. 5:

Horrible, humiliating lady. Told me she didn’t believe in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome or my story of being bedridden for months. Told me she wouldn’t give me a referral to see a specialist in Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) I’d heard of, because she had never heard of it, and was too lazy to find out what it was. Doctor No. 5 made me cry so I didn’t go back.

Doctor No. 6:

Told me she had lots of patients with fatigue and understood the numerous symptoms. Told me that it would be abnormal if I wasn’t depressed, as being couch bound is very disturbing. Gladly referred me to the POTS specialist. Spends most of our appointments talking about the big picture of life. Doctor No. 6, you are a breath of fresh air.

Doctor No. 7:

Specialist in POTS – diagnosed me with POTS and said I had the full hand of symptoms. Made me feel like my case was normal, curable, and certainly not in my head. Actually - lack of blood to my head, due to blood pooling in legs, is the issue. Helped start me on my strenuous exercise programme. Doctor No. 7, now I am a fitness junky, and feeling oh-so-much better. It took a long time to find you, but 7 is a perfect number.