Speaking Up In Health Matters

I am not a Doctor or Nurse, but I have worked in the Health Care most of my life.  Always ask questions and get help when necessary.  See your Doctor and have your exams.  Early detection is everything.


The best advise I can give anyone about health matters is:


1.  Always get a second opinion. 2.  Be your own Advocate.  Push your doctor to order test.  Even if he feels that nothing has been found.  And yet you still feel ill and know something is not right. 3. If he/she does not listen.  Find another one who will.


Case in point.  One of my eldest sisters was feeling very ill for a long time.  She was weak, nauseated, and was having a heavy menus.  She talk to her doctor who I feel is a great doctor.  But even doctors can make mistakes.  My sister is a social person. She smoked from the time she was 12 years old.


Her Doctor advised that she have a procedure in which the lining of the uterus was to be burned off with a net.  She agreed and they proceeded with the procedure.  In the following weeks she was a little better.  But I knew something was wrong, when I visited her at her home in Pecos New Mexico.


She was lying on the couch.   She looked very pale and she couldn't even lift her head from the pillow.  She said that she was still having problems and that she was still having heavy bleeding. I told her that I felt that she might have cancer.  Because all of her symptoms were not normal and the procedure didn't work.  I didn't want to scare her but I wanted her to get more help.  


By all accounts my sister is a very active person.  She is constantly doing something.  Whether is was hanging out with friends, playing tennis or playing pool.  She is a active strong woman who rarely complains at least to this degree.  When I saw her just laying there with no strength.  I will admit, it scared me.


And we have a family history of cancer.  My father, cousins, and uncle on my fathers side of the family.


Thankfully, she returned to the doctor and told him she wanted a hysterectomy.  I am not a doctor, nor a nurse.  However, I have worked in hospitals most of my life. I was a Nurse Aid have experienced many things.  I do not promote hysterectomy for everyone who has a heavy mensus.  You must try every avenue first.  What ever your doctor may feel is best for you.


My sister had the hysterectomy.  Upon examining the deep tissue of the uterus; the test indicated she had cancer deep in the lining of the uterus.  She had pap smears and they always came out good.  But because of her persistence she saved her own life.


The doctor was very kind and apologized for not listening to her.  And my sister who can be gracious told him it was OK.  At least they caught it.  Like I  said before. This Doctor is a great doctor.  He was my personal doctor as well.  And he listened to me when I spoke. And helped me a great deal. 


My sister was very lucky.  He found the cancer in its first stage.  It hadn't penetrated the uterine wall.  But was somewhere in between.  The earlier you catch cancer; the higher your survival rate.


But in all fairness, some illnesses cannot always be detected right away. Ask for blood work, CT. ect.... Especially if you feel that something is not right.  And every recourse you have tried doesn't seem to work.


Remember god gave us Doctors who are wise; but they are also human. Some cancers are not easily detected.  Such as in the case of my sister.  I still trust my Gynecologist and would continue to use his services if I lived in New Mexico.


Things to look for in Cancer of the uterus. From: Cancer Society


Important fact: Uterine Sarcoma must be found early.


The following is from the American Cancer Societies Web Site: 



"The Pap test, which screens for cervical cancer, can occasionally find some early uterine sarcomas, but it is not a good test for this type of cancer.
The Pap test is very effective, however, in finding early carcinomas of the cervix (the lower part of the uterus). For information on screening tests for cervical cancer, see our document, Cervical Cancer."Last Medical Review: 11/18/2009 Last Revised: 11/18/2009

Written by Donna C. Ledesma

Tribest GPBSM02 Wheratgrass Natures Finest Medicine - Book By Steve Meyerowitz 

Thank you!

Click Here for Angels Comments


I would like to thank the readers of Save a Life.  If you would like to summit your personal story, I will be happy to post it.  I am trying to help people become their own Medical Advocates.  I will write a story about that soon.  Most importantly lets save lives.

Thank you to Corona US, Robstown TX, West Monroe, Largo, and somewhere in the US.

May the light of God always shine upon you.  May you always be bless with love and happiness.  May his Angels carry you and yours in safety always.

Thank from "Safe A Life"
Author Donna C. Ledesma

The Little Black Book of Hospital Medicine By Dionne, Andrew J., M.D. 

Eating fruit can save your life and give you a youthful life

Subject: From Dr. Oz about eating fruit

Remember to take your Vitamins!

This is informative!

We all think eating fruit means just buying fruit, cutting it up and popping it into our mouths. It's not that easy. It's important to know how and when to eat fruit. 

What's the correct way to eat fruit? 

IT MEANS NOT EATING FRUIT AFTER A MEAL!  FRUIT SHOULD BE EATEN ON AN EMPTY STOMACH. 

Eating fruit like that plays a major role in detoxifying your system, supplying you with a great deal of energy for weight loss and other life activities. 

FRUIT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT FOOD.

Let's say you eat two slices of bread, then a slice of fruit. The slice of fruit is ready to go straight through the stomach into the intestines, but it's prevented from doing so. 

In the meantime, the whole meal rots and ferments, and turns to acid. The minute the fruit comes into contact with the food in the stomach, and digestive juices, the entire mass of food begins to spoil. 

Eat your fruit on an empty stomach, or before your meal! You've heard people complain: Every time I eat watermelon I burp, when I eat durian my stomach bloats, when I eat a banana I feel like running to the toilet, etc. This will not happen if you eat the fruit on an empty stomach. Fruit mixes with the putrefying other food and produces gas. Hence, you bloat! 

There's no such thing as some fruits, like orange and lemon are acidic, because all fruit becomes alkaline in our body, according to Dr. Herbert Shelton who did research on this matter. If you have mastered the correct way of eating fruit, you have the Secret of Beauty, Longevity, Health, Energy, Happiness and normal weight.
When you need to drink fruit juice drink only fresh fruit juice, NOT the concentrated juice from the cans. Don't drink juice that has been heated. Don't eat cooked fruit; you don't get the nutrients at all. You get only the taste. Cooking destroys all of the vitamins. 

 
Eating a whole fruit is better than drinking the juice. If you should drink the juice, drink it mouthful by mouthful slowly, because you must let it mix with your saliva before swallowing it. You can go on a 3-day fruit-fast to cleanse your body. Eat fruit and drink fruit juice for just 3 days, and you will be surprised when your friends say how radiant you look! 

KIWI: Tiny but mighty, and a good source of potassium, magnesium, vitamin E and fibre. Its vitamin C content is twice that of an orange! 

AN APPLE a day keeps the doctor away? Although an apple has a low vitamin C content, it has antioxidants and flavonoids which enhances the activity of vitamin C, thereby helping to lower the risk of colon cancer, heart attack and stroke. 

STRAWBERRY: Protective Fruit. Strawberries have the highest total antioxidant power among major fruits and protect the body from cancer-causing, blood vessel-clogging free radicals. 

EATING 2 - 4 ORANGES a day may help keep colds away, lower cholesterol, prevent and dissolve kidney stones, and reduce the risk of colon cancer. 

WATERMELON: Coolest thirst quencher. Composed of  92% water, it is also packed with a giant dose of glutathione, which helps boost our immune system. Also a key source of lycopene, the cancer-fighting oxidant. Also found in watermelon: Vitamin C and Potassium.

GUAVA & PAPAYA: Top awards for vitamin C. They are the clear winners for their high vitamin C content. Guava is also rich in fiber, which helps prevent constipation. Papaya is rich in carotene, good for your eyes. 

Drinking Cold water after a meal = Cancer!

Can you believe this? For those who like to drink cold water, this applies to you. It's nice to have a cold drink after a meal, however, the cold water will solidify the oily stuff that you've just consumed, which slows digestion. Once this 'sludge' reacts with the acid, it will break down and be absorbed by the intestine faster than the solid food. It will line the intestine. Very soon, this will turn into fats and lead to cancer. It is best to drink hot soup or warm water after a meal. 

Remember to still take your Vitamins!A serious note about heart attacks.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF A PENDING HEART ATTACK

Women should know that not every heart attack symptom is going to be the left arm hurting. Be aware of intense pain in the jaw. You may never have the first chest pain during the course of a heart attack. Nausea and intense sweating are also common symptoms. Sixty percent of people who have a heart attack while they're asleep do not wake up. Pain in the jaw can wake you from a sound sleep. Be careful, and be aware. The more we know, the better our chance to survive. 

A cardiologist said if everyone who gets this mail sends it to 10 people, you can be sure that we'll save at least one life.

It  can even be your life!

Advocate Wrist Blood Pressure Monitor - Blood Pressure

Breast Cancer Awareness - My personal story

This month we are acknowledging Breast Cancer Awareness. This is a very important subject for me. There have been at least three family members that were suspected of having breast cancer. Unfortunately one was a long distance cousin. She passed from breast cancer at a very young age. Her family was unable to afford a funeral. The Ledesma/Garcia Family has a family plot in Orange Grove Texas called, "La Parita". The grave site is intended for family members who can not afford to be buried in town. It's free for any family member in need.


I was also diagnosed with a lump in my left breast when I was only 18 years old. I was very frightened. I cried every day. And I felt angry and was wondering why me? Thankfully I had my father to help me through that difficult period in my life.


I remember that I was diagnosed with the lump at a free clinic in Corpus Christi Texas. They told me that the lump felt like the size of a quarter. Unfortunately, they referred me to a doctor six months later.  There were many young women who were their for many reasons.  Some for birth control others for Gynecological reasons.

When I went to see my doctor who was also a surgeon. I remember that he was very angry. He was angry because I was so young and I wasn't referred to him sooner. I remember that they asked me to lay back with a flap of thin tissue paper around me. It looked like a vest. He was very careful in keeping my dignity. He palpitated around in a circular motion and pressed down a bit. That's when he felt the lump.


He told me that he was going to need to do a biopsy. He and a nurse prepared me and explained what that meant. They told me that they were going to use a long needle that if they drew fluid then it was possible that it was a sac full of water/fluid. Which would be a good sign. However, If they felt tissue then a small piece would be extracted for examination via the needle.


He used a local anesthetic and I prepared myself, by closing my eyes. I didn't want to see the long needle go into my breast. There was a small problem. Upon entering the tissue he found the lump, but did not extract water/fluid. Instead he extracted tissue.

Next, I was scheduled for surgery.  Dr. Rolong was very re-assuring.  He told me that he was going to make sure that the incision would not cause me  to have an inverted nipple.  He explained that he would make an incision like a half "C".  Then he would extract the lump.  He told me that he would sew it from the inside so that I wouldn't have a terrible scar.  He did a great job.

After that I went home and I waited for the news. I cried a lot and my father was there with plenty of hugs and re-assurance. He prayed for me and asked god to intercede on my behalf. I was so worried and frightened. I went through so many emotions. I was scared, angry, confused, hopeful and anxious.

They were going to examine the tissue to see if it was benign or cancerous. I don't remember exactly but a few days later they call came. It was a cyst. Thankfully benign. (non-cancerous)


This why I feel that breast examinations are very important.

1. Your breast should not be odd in size. Such as one very much larger then the other.
2. There should not be any kind of discoloration. Such as Orange, yellow, or blue.
3. If you press the nipple there should not be any fluid excreted from the nipple.
4. If you do have lumps. Check to see if they move around.
5. If they do, chances are they are just cyst. But you should seek a Medical Doctor for any lump.
6. If the lumps don't move. Seek help right away.



Early signs (from the Radiology Associates Breast Imaging Center)


1. A lump is usually single, firm, and often painless
2. A portion of the skin on the breast or underarm swells and has an unusual appearance.
3. Veins on the surface of the skin become prominent on one breast. ( stand out)
4. The nipple becomes inverted, develops a rash, changes in skin texture, or has a discharge.
5. A depression (indentation) is found in an area of the breast surface.


Preventive information: from the Radiology Associates Breast Imaging Center)


 1. Low-fat diet. regular exercise.  (there are studies that show overweight people have a higher risk of developing breast cancer.  Men or Woman.
2.  Monthly self examination starting at age 20.  (or as in my case 18)
3. Have clinical breast exams every 3 years from 20-39 years of age. 
4.  Woman age 40 and older should have a screening mammogram every year and should continue to so for as long as they are in good health.




The earlier that you can catch the lump the better for you. I was fortunate.


Take care and god bless. Go to the link that I posted for more information. http://www.breastcancer.org/


Donna C. Ledesma


Bali Double Support Comfort-U Back Bra 

Save a Life!

I can tell you a personal story, one of which you may or may not have heard about. You see, my father was a light smoker and a light drinker. He was a loving father and a hard working man. He took us on so many trips growing up. We went camping, to Kings Island in Ohio, Six flags, Sea world and traveled a great deal.

On the day that my father first complained about chest pain. I will tell you that I was very nervous. I was nervous because I have extensive training in CPR and worked on a Medical Surgical Floor at Saint Vincents Hospital in Santa Fe New Mexico for about 4 years and 10 months just shy of five years.

I knew that heart attack symptoms can manifest in many ways. I often studied the chart on our floor. The diagram indicated that an individual can have pain either on the left arm, right arm and center chest. And the pain may radiate to the back below the clavicle. In women it can manifest as indigestion. Some of the signs of impending heart are dropping things involuntarily. Leg cramps and waking up with a severe headache. Most often people who suffer heart attacks are likely to suffer the heart attack in the early morning hours. Such as my father did.

He complained of pain for about four days. I took him to his doctor and his doctor whom we trust was a family physician; told him that he pulled a muscle. I wished now that he had ordered an EKG. I offered to take my father to the emergency room. He declined, because he couldn't afford the bill and felt it would be cheaper to go see his personal doctor.

My father passed away from heart attack sometime between 3 and 4 am sitting on the couch watching television. In some ways I feel cheated. My father was only 69 years young. His mother and father lived to their eighties. So naturally I thought my father would too.

But there was another problem that shortened his life. My father was diagnosed with colon cancer. He had a colonectomy in 2003. He survived colon cancer, endured tremendous pain in his lower gut. He also endured chemotherapy and was never the same man again. He would often look very tired and yellow. He was very weak and slept a great deal. He went through bouts of depression. And he tried to hang on as long as possible. He did have some good days. And on those days he worked on his little projects, such as: fixing bikes or vacuum cleaners. He survived six more years.  He died at the age of sixty-nine.

Now that I know that my family has a genetic predisposition to cancer; I want to save as many family members as possible. My sons, my uncles, my aunts, my sisters and my brother.

My eldest son Sebastian bought the smokeless greensmoke cigarette for my middle son. He wanted to help him quit. It was the greatest idea! My son tried the product. Liked the way it tasted and didn't feel agitated. He really enjoyed the product. So when a friend of mine sent me the link I decided to promote this product.

How many of us have family members who smoke? And how of us, have family that has passed away from the carcinogens in cigaretts. I have an uncle who passed from stomach cancer he was a smoker and a drinker. My father passed from a heart attack he was a mild smoker, but a smoker non the less.


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