It is very important to know your family health history. I am talking about parents and grandparents mainly. If you also know the history of their siblings, that is even better.

You can be very diligent about the foods you eat, make sure you breathe clean air (no second-hand smoke), get the right amount of exercise; and you think ‘I am doing this right.’  However, no matter how hard you try, if you inherited the genes you might as well get yourself prepared.

I grew up in Canada but both parents were born in Poland.  Living in a duplex my paternal grandparents lived below us and my family lived in the upper 3 bedroom flat.  The heat consisted of a large space heater in the middle of the flat.  I lived there for over 20 years.

Both my parents chain-smoked.  Breakfast consisted of Danish or a piece of cake.  My father was an alcoholic for most of my years at home.  So that is where most of the money went, to cigarettes and his beer.

Years later you start to see what happens to their health by living that way.  They both had Type 2 Diabetes; my father had cirrhosis of the liver; my mother had high blood pressure; both had high cholesterol; my mother started having heart problems; and my mother died at the age of 69 of breast cancer.  My father died 9 months later of a heart attack on his 72nd birthday.  I feel had they taken better care of themselves they might still be here today.

I swore I would not live like they did and I would live much longer than they did.

I am very adamant about taking your health into your own hands.  This is just another example of why.  However, this past year I had tremendous difficulty trying to find answers for my own health.  Again I watch what I eat I read all labels, there is absolutely no smoking in my house.  But, for the past year no matter what I did my health was going downhill. My legs started to swell up to the point I couldn’t walk anymore, my body was doing the same. I researched the internet.  I went to see doctors after doctors, and it got so frustrating especially when the doctor would say “maybe you are just that way!!”  AHEM!!

Over the years of seeing doctors I have acquired a family doctor, a Neurologist, a Gynecologist, a Rheumatologist, and a Psychiatrist. Each one happily prescribing a pill, or 3, for their part of my body.  So when problems come up like they have in the past few months, no one knew what might be causing what, however they did say it was not their concern.  This is not their problem.

Except for one doctor, my psychiatrist who knew what to do to find the problem.  Of all doctors a psychiatrist came and saved the day (so to speak).  I had to be admitted to the hospital right away.  They detoxed my body of all those pills. Then brought back only the ones I needed and also found that some were clashing with others.  All side effects and all problems including the swelling are now gone.  It took 18 months to find someone who would actually listen and help.  Thank God, I had those 18 months, by the end I felt I didn’t have much more to give.

I have only one issue left to deal with.  No matter how much you try, some things will catch up with you.  I found out I have Type2 Diabetes.  I am very good at controlling it with diet alone.

So far I have the high blood pressure from my mother, and I was shocked about the Type2 Diabetes because I thought that can be prevented. I have Fibromyalgia from my father.

Damn hereditary genes!

Have a Great Day!!

Donna

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