It began with my dear grandmother in a rehab facility to recover from what we thought may have been several minor strokes that she had in the fall of 2010 and began to affect her ability to walk as the year closed.  I was with her and my grandfather in January when the doctor came in and told us that she had not had any strokes.  Instead, the conclusion of all the tests she had underwent was that her symptoms were the result of severely advanced bone cancer, she had beat breast cancer in 2005.  The bone cancer was in her hip, throughout her spine, and all over her skull.  My grandfather was devastated.  But, my grandmother, an amazingly strong woman, accepted the diagnosis and prognosis with a grace that I believe is unique to women of her generation.  She decided to work as hard as she could with the physical strength she had remaining to ease my grandfather into a life of a second-time widower, confident that we would be there to guide him through his grief and cope with the loss of his second wife.  You see, my “real” grandmother, who I was named after, died in June of 1974 of a brain tumor.  My grandfather told me that when my “Grandma Exie” died, he thought he would never find another woman to love again.  In September 1975, he married my “Grandma Bea”, a widow herself at that time, and she is the grandmother of my heart; having been born 2 months after the death of my Grandma Exie, Grandma Bea is the only grandmother I’ve known.  Childless herself, Grandma Bea inherited a small, feisty bunch that would eventually number 2 stepsons, 2 (step)daughters-in-law, 1 (ex-step)daugher-in-law, 4 granddaughters, 1 grandson, 3 great-grandsons, and 2 great-granddaughters.  She cared for us and loved us with all her heart.

My grandmother was also a woman of great faith.  I remember visiting her in Arkansas where she and my grandfather lived during my early childhood.  They had a farm with chickens and cows, which they bred.  On Sundays, I would sit along with many other young ones from her town and listen as my grandmother taught us about the Bible in her church’s Children’s Bible class.  She embodied the women of years past, who lived for God and for their families; happy to be a housewife, but not subservient or weak by any stretch of the imagination.  My grandmother regularly canned vegetables, made apple butter, and homemade southern comfort food that I still find myself craving at times.  She paid all the bills and kept my grandfather comfortable and happy.

My Grandma Bea spent the last couple of months of her life in hospice care in the comfort of her own home.  The last weeks were the hardest.  She never complained of pain, but I could see that it was getting worse.  She made a cursory show of eating, preferring instead to sip a little bit of water with her morning medicine.  I spent as much time as I could with her, rotating care with my 2 cousins, my uncle and his wife.  At times, I didn’t think that I had the strength to keep everything under control.  I still had my kids to take care of, my own home, my clients, and a business to run.  Without the support of my husband and friends, it would have broke me.

On the morning of May 14th, my grandmother took her last breath.  My parents had just arrived at their house and my mother went in, held my grandma’s hand…and she was gone.  My father contacted me immediately as I was heading out the door to go to work.  Holding back tears, I immediately called the clients that I had scheduled that day and explained why their appointments had to be canceled.  I’d like to take this moment to express my appreciation to those clients, and all of my clients, who were so supportive during this time, whether they knew what I was experiencing or not.  My office was my sanctuary, a quiet place where I felt a bit of distance from my own sorrow and pain.

Her funeral was lovely and was a time that we all could reflect on the strong, amazing woman she had been.  Her grace, faith and loyalty to family is something that I will forever attempt to imitate in my life.

2 weeks later, my uncle’s wife went to see my grandfather.  She was supposed to help him tie up some legal matters regarding my grandmother.  He didn’t answer the door when she knocked.  She called my uncle…who called EMS…who were able to get through all the locked doors.  They found my grandfather on the floor in his bedroom unconscious.  My grandfather spent a month in the ICU.  We were able to determine that while setting his alarm the night before, he had suffered a heart attack, fell backwards on the floor and spent at least 5 hours struggling to get up.  He had injuries to his head, his kidneys were in bad shape, and we didn’t know if we were going to lose him too.  Eventually, he recovered enough to be moved into a rehab facility where his caregivers were able to get him to the point of moving into an assisted living facility.  We moved him there in August and he has been there ever since.  His legs are very weak and he needs to use a wheelchair and at times, has strength to use a walker.  My Uncle is his primary caregiver and I am grateful that he is there for him.  My grandfather may never be able to return to the
home he and my grandmother shared.  Our goal now is to keep his spirits up as he faces each day in a new place, alone.

When I look back on 2011, I think about how hard it was.  It was scary to hear the doctor’s talk about my grandmother’s terminal illness.  It was exhausting to spend any free time I had at their home, while neglecting my own.  It was full of sorrow as I faced the loss of one grandparent and the possibility of losing another.  It was frustrating to know that my kids’ entire summer was spent in hospitals and rehab centers instead of with their friends.  But, 2011 was also a year that I learned the power of faith. I learned to be grateful for my family and friends.  I learned that my kids are stronger than I thought, and so am I.  I was touched by the care and concern of my clients.

As I look forward to 2012, I hope it has more joy for me and my family than sorrow.  Regardless of what will come, I endeavor to face the year with grace, strength, and faith.  I think it would make my Grandma Bea proud.

My Grandparents, Husband, Sons & Me December 2008

My Family, Uncle, Cousins & Grandparents July 2010

I hope that 2011 has been a great year for you!  I haven’t blogged as much this year as I had intended because it has been a year of many ups and downs that have kept both my hands and my mind extremely busy.  I am so grateful to all of you for continuing to read my blog and educating yourselves on the benefits of massage therapy.

As of this moment, my plan is to share the highlights of my year in 2 upcoming posts…until then, please enjoy the latest issue of Body Sense magazine!

It’s that time again, a new issue of Body Sense magazine has become available.  I hope that you enjoy the articles and are moved to schedule a massage with your local therapist as soon as possible.

I know it’s been a while since I’ve written a post, so stay tuned to one I’ve been working on.  And remember…

Massage therapy does a body good!

Here is the Summer edition of Body Sense magazine, I hope that you enjoy it and will stay tuned for some more personalized posts to come!  Have a great weekend everyone!

Thank you so much for taking some time to read this issue of Touch Points Newsletter.  I hope that you will find the articles informative and helpful in your quest for better health and well-being.  Massage therapy has so many benefits and as we in Michigan work hard to come back from some very difficult years, it is important that we realize that massage is not a luxury.  Many of us have lost some or all of our healthcare insurance benefits and are looking for ways to stay healthy while being economical.  If you can set aside just $5-$10 a week in your budget, you can maintain a massage therapy schedule that can really make a positive impact in your sleep, productivity, emotional and mental states.  So, after reading these articles, I encourage you to first, schedule an appointment for a massage (even 30-minutes can make a difference), then, pass this newsletter link on to a friend or share it on twitter and facebook.  If we all work hard to support one another, we can make a positive move toward improving the health of ourselves and our communities.

Thanks so much for reading!

Touch Points Newsletter

I am excited to discuss any of the information you find inside, and happy to schedule your next appointment.

http://cp.revolio.com/issue/26357

The episode centered around accusations of rape against one male student at the fictional Hudson University.  The first half of the episode focused on the accusations made and how the lead detective’s daughter was indirectly involved.  Then, the drama really began.

In the course of the investigation, the detectives learn that the accused may have willingly caused his girlfriend to abort their 8 week old fetus without her knowledge.  Supposedly, he had applied a substance, he dubbed “love potion no. 9″, to himself prior to intercourse.  Supposedly, that substance was a mixture of petroleum jelly and misoprostol.

Here is where I went from purely being a viewer enjoying one of my favorite shows to a birth professional wondering how a drug that most women have never heard of had become a prominent feature of the second half of this episode. It is interesting to note that according to The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), in 2006 approximately 1 in 5 women had their labors induced , and misoprostol is a commonly used agent for this purpose.

What is misoprostol? Well, it is the generic name for an anti-ulcer medication otherwise known as Cytotec.  It is an oral tablet that is dispensed in either 100mcg or 200mcg per tablet and the recommended dosage is 1 tablet 4 times a day
with a meal.  According to the package insert under “Indications and Usage” it states: “Cytotec (misoprostol) is indicated for reducing the risk of NSAID (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, including aspirin)-induced gastric ulcers in patients at high risk of complications from gastric ulcer, e.g., the elderly and patients with concomitant debilitating disease, as well as patients at high risk of developing gastric ulceration, such as patients with a history of ulcer.”  In the section labeled “Precautions”, it states the following: “Labor and delivery:  Cytotec can induce or augment uterine contractions.  Vaginal administration of Cytotec, outside of its approved indication (italics are mine), has been used as a cervical ripening agent, for the induction of labor and for treatment of serious postpartum hemorrhage in the presence of uterine atony.” and here is the point that all women who may be presented with the option of inducing labor using this very common method need to note: “A major adverse effect of the obstetrical use of Cytotec is the hyperstimulation of the uterus which may progress to uterine tetany with marked impairment of uteroplacental blood flow, uterine rupture (requiring surgical repair, hysterectomy, and/or salpingo-oophorectomy), or amniotic fluid embolism.  Pelvic pain, retained placenta, severe genital bleeding, shock, fetal bradycardia, and fetal and maternal death have been reported.”  The statement continues: ” There may be increased risk of uterine tachysystole, uterine rupture, meconium passage, meconium staining of amniotic fluid, and Cesarean delivery due to uterine hyperstimulation with the use of higher doses of Cytotec, including the manufactured 100mcg tablet.  The risk of uterine rupture increases with advancing gestational ages and with prior uterine surgery, including Cesarean delivery.”  Further down in that section, the insert states: “Nursing mothers: Misoprostol is rapidly metabolized in the mother to misoprostol acid, which is biologically active and is excreted in breast milk.  There are no published reports of adverse effects of misoprostol in breast-feeding infants of mothers taking misoprostol.  Caution should be exercised when misoprostol is administered to a nursing woman.”  Early in the insert, it is noted that the maximum concentration of misoprostol acid in breast milk was seen within 1 hour of the patient taking the dose.

So, let’s break this down into easy-to-understand language.  Basically, what this insert tells us is that the FDA has approved the use of misoprostol, or Cytotec, for the treatment of ulcers.  It tells us that, while it is commonly used for induction of labor, using it this way is “outside of its approved indication”.  This is commonly known as using a drug “off-label”.  This is not illegal, but it is also not regulated.  Therefore, it is imperative that consumers, and remember that a hospital patient, any hospital patient, is still also a consumer and has the right and the responsibility to become fully informed about any medical treatment, pharmaceutical or otherwise, that a physician may offer.  Some of the risks of misoprostol include contractions that are extremely prolonged and could be life-threatening to the baby, a marked decrease in the flow of blood between the uterus and placenta, uterine rupture, excessively frequent contractions, and release of the baby’s first bowel movement in utero which can be a sign of fetal distress.  It also tells us that infants who are breastfed within an hour of their mother’s taking an oral dose of misoprostol will be exposed to it through her milk.

Now that we have a basic understanding of what misoprostol is and what it is used for, let’s get back to the episode.

The episode continues with the unfortunate death of the accused’s girlfriend, which is apparently due to her succumbing to toxic shock syndrome, a bacterial infection, that was caused by “incomplete expulsion of the products of conception”.  According to the ME in the episode, her immune system had been compromised by the application of the misoprostol directly to her cervix.  One detective then cynically responds that misoprostol is “the gift that keeps on giving”.

What does this mean for you?

Well, now that this drug has received some national attention, albeit in the fictional arena of a primetime drama, and despite some inaccuracies that are inherent to that arena, you will hopefully be more inclined to stop and ask questions about the method of induction your physician or midwife may recommend.  The tablets come in 2 different dosages, 100mcg or 200mcg, but the recommended dosage for induction according to World Health Organization is 20-25mcg orally every 2 hours or 25mcg vaginally every 4 hours.  The difficulty with this is that the tablets are manufactured to be taken whole, in their 100mcg or 200mcg amounts.  This means that the tablets must be cut; and anyone who has attempted to cut a pill in 2 pieces, let alone 4, knows how difficult it is to accurately do that, leaving the true dosage in each piece questionable at best.  This should be an important consideration for anyone who is offered this method of induction.

Having said all of that, I feel it important to admit that 13 years ago, I was given Cytotec orally to induce labor in my second pregnancy.  Admittedly, I was not the birth-savvy woman that I am today; and knowing what I do now, I would most likely handle my son’s birth differently.  Thankfully, my labor went beautifully and he and I came out of it healthy, happy, and whole.  But, I feel that it is my duty to help other women have access to the facts so that you all can make truly informed decisions, if and when, you are faced with them.

Ethan summer 2009

Bottom line is this.  Sometimes we can learn a lot from television.  Or at least we can begin a conversation that will lead us to become more knowledgeable about the world around us.  I have said it many times in my work.  I am not anti-intervention, I am pro-informed consent.  I hope that this post has helped you to become better informed about a very common intervention in birthing rooms around the country.

Due to circumstances beyond my control, I needed to relocate my massage therapy office.  A blessing in disguise, I am now in a fabulous location right downtown in Farmington, having officially moved in October 13, 2010.  My clients and myself have enjoyed the proximity to so many wonderful shops, boutiques and restaurants, the weekly Farmer’s Market, and the local library.  We have also enjoyed the beautiful design of my new office that allows all of us to enter the space and experience immediate stress-reduction, as we are surrounded by peace, quiet, and soothing colors.

My massage therapy business thrived, despite the current Michigan economy.  Most of my clients have recognized the importance of regular massage therapy as part of their preventative care.  With stress levels so high, and the accompanying physical pain that is often a by-product of chronic stress, people are continuing to choose massage therapy as a low-cost, natural alternative to support their health.

I enjoyed the opportunity to mentor a newly graduated massage therapist, and although she has since moved on, it was a pleasure to watch her learn where her niche was in this amazing profession.  I wish Katie the best as she pursues her passion while working in a chiropractor’s office, bringing pain relief to his patients.

As with many things, though, when a door closes, a window opens.  I am thrilled to welcome Kristin Klein to my office.  She has moved here all the way from Alabama in an effort to join me in working with women and providing support during pregnancy, childbirth, and she is also offering postpartum doula services which will allow a new mom to have a second set of hands to assist her during her transition home in the first few weeks of having a new baby.

As a massage doula, I was blessed with the privilege of assisting 8 families during labor and childbirth to meet their babies for the first time!  5 girls and 3 boys took their first breaths this year, and 4 women became mothers for the first time!

On a personal note, my family suffered the loss of 2 wonderful women this year as well.  Within 2 weeks of each other, my husband’s 94-year old grandmother died peacefully in her sleep on July 31 and my sister-in-law’s husband lost his mother unexpectedly when she died in her sleep on August 11, 2010.  It was an incredibly difficult time for us, as anyone who has lost a family member can imagine.  Both women had been wonderful mothers and grandmothers, our Grammy was also a great-grandmother as well.  We will miss them both.  My own grandmother suffered a mild stroke and is thankfully recovering, if slowly.  My husband continues to care weekly for his father whose health is unfortunately deteriorating slowly.  As you can see, even massage therapists are not immune to experiencing times of great stress.  It is for this reason that I am extremely grateful to all of my clients who allowed me the honor of working with them during a very difficult year.  For me, giving massage  is as therapeutic as receiving it!

The year ended on a high note, as I attended the birth of my 8th doula baby of the year.  This was the 3rd baby for my client, all girls, and the first birth I have witnessed where the amniotic sac remained intact until the baby’s head was born.  That amazing birth will be a described in a separate post very soon.  Suffice it to say that in today’s highly-medicalized birthing environment, it is rare for a doula to see and I count myself very privileged to have the experience!

As of today, my own children have returned to school and I am returning to my office after a much needed break.  I am very excited to see what 2011 holds for me, my family, and my business.

Well, those are the highlights of my year.  I would like to thank my family and friends who held me up when I felt myself crumbling beneath the pressures that naturally come with so much happening.  I would also like to thank my clients, without whom, I would not be able to enjoy so much professional success.

I hope that everyone can join me in looking at the new year as one full of hope, promise, and good things to come!!!

Grammy, you will be missed by us all!

2nd Massage Therapy Room

My new Massage Room

Press Release for Michigan Business Directory

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