Charlie Louvin – Charlie Louvin’s Health & Wellness Blog

Epilepsy Information, Stigma Poll and Lack Of Earning

On July 24th, 2015 I responded to a poll that asked if there was still a stigma related to epilepsy. I said YES!

Also, in reply to the poll I replied:
I have had epilepsy, catamenial epilepsy for almost 41 years. I’ve been intractable, I am photosensitive but am on medication to control it.
It took a long, long time to find the right pills.
I have been overdosed, misdiagnosed, thrown around like a “number on a doctor’s file”, and believe me, even doctor’s don’t know the meaning of the word “seizure”!

You never know until you experience one.
I used to experience up to 300 simple partials per day.

I have complex partial and simple, but they feel the same exact way.

I’ve used biofeedback therapy successfully, aromatherapy, especially jasmine, and a field called psychoneuroimmunology.

I studied the books of Joan Borysenko, who was my friend, writing about this.She gave me an author’s copy of her book “A Pocketful of Miracles”.

I have helped others with this disorder as the President, CEO and founder of The Epilepsy Connection. I made no money but I saved lives and helped others. The more I helped others the better I would feel. The healthier I would become.
I’m on a new drug now for 1 week called Keppra, that is working well.

I am in the middle of a disgusting divorce battle that unfortunately my ex-husband didn’t think enough of me to tell his company that he divorced me! I used to …

Education

Two Heights: Two Worlds – Your Life Held in a Pill’s Worth

Who would guess that 3,006 milligrams of anything could control a person’s destiny? Simply, your anticonvulsant pills are your keys to life, rather than merely survival. This is why you need to know what the latest medical breakthroughs are regarding epilepsy research and how you can apply this knowledge to your seizure type(s).

When my pills work there is no threat of seizures, and I usually know in the morning what cards I’m dealt. My payoff is that my legs work, my work on The Epilepsy Connection is more efficient, and I’m bestowed total control of the outcome of my day, minute by minute. Working pills are my “genie in a bottle” that grants my main wish – health. I thrive when given a day with nothing to adapt to; I can focus intently on what I choose without aborting seizures to remain conscious. There is no need to strategize an urgent place to sit to prevent injury. Peace is not something I search for but rather it is a morning gift and revelation as well. There’s a huge red ribbon lushly wrapped around it. To say that this is refreshing is a massive understatement.

One day, when health stability and the inspiration to write a winning article coincided, I headed for an aesthetically beautiful place to write. I was there with my mother, just days before, on an unstable day guided by the wheels of a chair. Friends I met on my visit with her took “triple takes” in …

Wellness

Baby Sitters & Caregivers Importance to You and Your Child

There are about 30,000 children in the USA with epilepsy with dedicated parents that cannot always be with them. The statistics on how many of those children are having uncontrolled seizures is not known, but I don’t see a proliferation of seizure-free children roaming the streets! How many parents that represents for all those children is unknown.

Women are often divorced and left with their child because their callous husband couldn’t understand or tolerate the inconsistencies of epilepsy. If a mother raises a child alone, which is a monumental undertaking, combined with a chronic disorder is a rough road. This parent is equated to a balance scale collapsing from carrying too much weight. Divorces or parental emotional breakdowns don’t have to be the reality if a parent builds a “safety net”. The name of that “net” is a Baby sitter or Caretaker. Baby sitter is a name for babies to 10 years old and a Caregiver from 11 and beyond.

It just isn’t feasible to bring your child everywhere! Aside from the fact that a parent cannot be with their child all the time, there’s the need for giving the parent “time off”. Depending on how frequent and severe the seizures, a child’s epilepsy and all its implications can be draining. “Time off” for parents is critical. Strength is necessary to be the best for your child. Being emotionally drained makes a parent incapable of giving the degree of attention …

Health

The Benefits Of Massagers For Health

A complete and professional massage can play a vital role in healing a large number of health problems, such as back pains and inflammations. However, as you cannot go to a massage specialist all the time, you can think about buying a massager that would make the exact same thing.

Having a massage in the intimacy of your home with the comfort and efficiency of a professional are the main reasons for which some people buy electric massage chairs and renounce their weekly session with a massage specialist.

Studies show three principal benefits in using such massagers:

Muscular massage improves the nervous and lymphatic circulation, increasing the blood flow and facilitating the absorption of nutrients by your body. Massage eliminates toxins from the treated areas and revives the external tissues. Massage therapy reduces tensions and improves flexibility, allowing your body and mind to fully relax.

These benefits work both physically and psychically to reduce the common symptoms of back pains. By studying the human body and the feedback from users, it was possible to develop many types of massage for health chairs, suited for different clients and having numerous benefits.

Rules to follow when buying a massager for health:

Most of the chairs can automatically take the shape of the body, while others have to be adjusted manually or with a remote. This is a necessity as it guarantees your whole body will benefit of the effects. In case the chair is incorrectly calibrated, it will not offer …

Health

Women’s Healthcare Under Attack

Women’s healthcare is under attack.
Raise up your voices and protest.
Let the politicians know
You’re not hiding behind a pretty dress.
Speak out loudly.
The cause is just.
Don’t let your rights be abused.
Tell the right wing politicians.
You have paid your hard earned dues.
Do not accept legislation
That puts your health at risk.
Healthcare is a right,
And not some unwarranted gift.
Birth control, contraceptives,
Breast screening and much more.
These are rights for you to protect.
They must not be ignored.

…

Health

Brilliant Home Health Care

Home Health Care is a brilliant facet of modern medicine. After 22 days in the hospital with a life threatening illness, I was sent home with scheduled visits for home health care. I was still on IV antibiotics via a PIC line and had a 10cm open wound on the side of my neck. HHC came in that first day and taught my husband how to administer the antibiotics and when, and scheduled further dressing changes. At this point I had a wound vac dressing, but that was soon discarded as the area was problematic for that therapy. I was consistently impressed with the professionalism of the nurses that visited me. They were obviously educated and specifically trained to home care and most of them were personable and respectful to me and my husband. I especially liked the ones who told me what they were doing every step of the way, and who listened to my concerns and questions and answered them particularly. It is so necessary to quiet fears and present listening is the best way to do that, from a patients point of view.

I had a great rise in peace of mind being able to leave the hospital and go home; it felt like such a victory. It also facilitated my husband being able to return to work and those caring for my home and pets to return to their lives. If home health care had not been available, these milestones in my recovery would have been …

Health

Interview with Health Coach Nico Vazquez

Health Coach Nico Vazquez received his Bachelors of Art’s in Exercise Science from Warner University. He played four years of baseball at Warner and led the Florida Sun Conference both junior and senior years in stolen bases. Later, he played professionally with the Toronto Blue Jays baseball organization. Nico currently resides in Los Angeles, and has been a Health Coach for two years.

How did you get involved in becoming a Health Coach?

I began as a health coach when I first moved to L.A. While looking to make some extra income. I heard about the Herbalife opportunity became a HERBALIFE distributor-health coach

Is this the same as a Fitness Trainer?

Negative. There are “fitness trainers” who also do the health coaching work but, as a health coach we do of course focus and encourage a healthy active lifestyle but mainly focus on the nutrition aspect.

What are the common mistakes people make when they set out to, “get in shape?”

1. Cut calories (eat less) and workout more. Yes it is important to keep your calorie count under your RMR (resting metabolic rate/ the amount of calories your body burns at rest) when trying to lose weight, but it is more important that our bodies are receiving the right amount of nutrition or fuel for the body to function properly. When people start eating less to keep the calories low they are also depleting the nutrition value the body is getting.

2. Don’t eat anything- big mistake. Again, the …

Health

Bridal Hunger Games Aren’t Healthy

Unlike most women, I didn’t diet for my wedding several years ago. Most bridal boot camp-type diets are fairly harmless, but there’s a dangerous trend right now that some are calling “bridal hunger games.” Brides are following a feeding tube diet or K-E Diet of 800 calories a day, fed through a nasal tube, according to a New York Times article.

Just the thought of the diet makes me feel repulsed.

Avoiding the rebound weight gain

I had a specific reason for not dieting for my wedding. I have always heard women who go on crash diets end up gaining significantly more weight in the long run.

Sure, I would love to have fit into a size 4 wedding dress instead of a size 8, but it wasn’t worth it. I know one friend who whittled herself down to 110 pounds for her wedding, only to gain 50 pounds on the honeymoon cruise. She ballooned to obese in just a few weeks.

Finding that healthy glow

I’ve enjoyed watching the wedding boot camp fitness television programs; fitness trainers can help a woman tone up before a wedding.

Brides often argue that they want their wedding photographs to be perfect. But people who look the best are those who are radiant and healthy with good muscle tone.

Starving doesn’t give a bride a glow, but love does.

Pushing women to develop eating disorders

Some experts argue American women are developing a collective eating disorder. The feeding tube bride is just further …

Wellness

Curb Your “Hangry” State With These Healthy Snacks

Do you turn into a grumpy, “hangry” version of yourself without snacks to nosh on throughout your day? Being hungry without something to satisfy your tummy can quickly cause irritability, sleepiness and crankiness all at once. Whether it’s in the afternoon at the office or on a weekend day running errands, avoid your “hangry” state with these comforting, gratifying snack ideas.

Organic apple and string cheese

Apples are the perfect snack to satisfy a little bit of crankiness. They can give you as much energy as a small cup of coffee and they are much healthier than a bag of chips. Pair apple slices with bites of low-fat string cheese for a completely satisfying snack.

Mixed nut packet and dark chocolate chips

Tackle your mid-afternoon slump with a pre-portioned bag of mixed nuts and a tablespoon of dark chocolate chips. Many grocers now carry pre-made nut packs, or you can make your own with a healthy mix of raw almonds, walnuts and soy nuts. The sweetness from the dark chocolate chips will tame your craving for a candy bar.

Crudite with hummus

At the start of the week, chop your favorite fresh veggies so they’re ready to go when you need a quick bite. Having fresh celery sticks, baby carrots, bell pepper slices and steamed broccoli will make snacking a cinch. Pair the ready-to-eat crudite with hummus.

Goat cheese on wheat crackers

Portion out one-ounce servings of goat cheese. If you’re feeling like a bag of chips or pretzels, reach …

Foods

Healthcare in America

There is an important dialogue going on right now in America. As President Barack Obama says it’s happening over dinner tables and in work spaces and in churches all over America. It’s also happening on the World Wide Web and on sites like Associated Content. Jeff Musall is one of my favorite content producers. I subscribe to his posts and regularly read his pieces with intense interest. However he just published a piece about this healthcare issue which brought up some legitimate facts; his overall conclusion though, was one I could not disagree with more.

In the piece Jeff says that this discussion about Healthcare reform has been going on since Nixon. While I don’t have the facts in front of me, I’d believe as much. I’ll bet it’s been going on even longer as the modern healthcare system is constantly evolving and elicits all sorts of opinions. Doctors and scientist come up with new medications and better treatments and faster recovery times. This is all great for people with illnesses; it’s also given the United States a crutch to continually lean on in the feigned hopes that just taking a pill will somehow remedy all which ails you.

What’s missing from the discussion isn’t nearly as troubling as what’s present. Front and center in all these debates is the attack on insurance companies. But that’s what the government would become under this Obama care! Jeff quotes the government option as being “3%” vs. the “33%” of current insurance plans. …

Health