To growl at anyone who suggests a woo-woo cure for my incurable condition?

[crashdoll]

I'm not again complimentary therapies. I think they play a role alongside conventional medicine but I am sick to the back teeth of people who suggest ridiculous cures for my Rheumatoid Arthritis and another rare autoimmune condition. It's severe - I have joint damage, I am disabled by it and I need strong drugs to get it under control so I can have some sort of life. It may go into remission, it can be controlled but it's unlikely to be cured at this point in time.

I have no problem with people who say "my auntie has this and recommends ice packs and gentle swimming once a week". But I am getting fed up of "20 minutes of standing naked in the rain and you'll be cured".

I've done the nodding and smiling crap but it's not working. I don't want to be rude or swear because I know people are genuinely trying to help but I'm not a fan of woo 'treatments' and people just are not getting the message. AIBU to bare my teeth and growl a bit?

We were given crystals from a spiritual healer to cure cystic fibrosis and renal failure. The 'healer' also advised us against hospital treatment. She was a crazy bitch IMO, and had we listened both DH and DC would have died.

Diets arent going to cure serious illnesses either, but a good diet can sometimes help control a condition, rather than cure it.

I feel your pain OP (not literally of course - poor you). I went blind in one eye for 12 weeks and had a stroke, both in the second month of pregnancy, and was diagnosed with MS, while DH was working away, so i was dealing it all alone.

Everyone i told said 'oh it's just pregnancy hormones when I was pregnant i was sick too, have you tried ginger tea/lavendar bath oil?' and then somehow turned the conversation round to me sympathising with them about what a bad pregnancy they had had. The worst was my sister who texted me 'suck it up, everyone gets sick when pregnant'. Erm I know morning sickness is shit - i had that too - but i think expecting me to just take MS on the chin with some ginger tea is a bit much. I was amazed at how many people just made it all about them while i nodded and smiled.

When I looked at this I thought you meant woo woo as in the cocktail! (Guess it might temporarily take the edge of the pain!)
Yanbu.
My son had a speech delay and the number of people who said "you should speak to him more". (We did talk to him.. A lot!) They also said "its because his older brothers are speaking for him" as well.
I actually asked ds1 if he knew what ds3 was saying and he replied "haven't got a clue. I thought you knew!"
I did have a lot of "there's nothing wrong with him eee's just lazy".
He's halfway through a special speech and language nursery now and is doing brilliantly. He's no where near lazy!

Pharmaceutical companies have huge power, and their motivation is not purely altruistic. If you start looking at how much money and other perks doctors in the US get from certain drug companies, you might be surprised.

I really don't mean to be rude but do you not see the irony of posting such things on this thread? Look, if you have a chronic condition, as I see your dp does, it's kind of a given that you've considered everything that might help. I'm quite sure more of the people on this thread have already looked at their diets. Some people will have found that eating xyz or cutting them out helps, others have pretty poor quality of life and have discovered that chocolate can make a shitty day just about ok. That's their choice. There really isn't any need to educate anyone about the evils of pharma companies. sits in the corner stroking lovely drugs

most of

My mum has RA. She had severe joint pain. Couldn't sleep due to pain. Totally incapacitating. Medication including steroids didn't touch it.

She now has a v v limited diet. No gluten, no dairy, no nightshade veg and there are other things as well she doesn't eat (can't remember full list - also no citrus no pulses). Also she eats v v small amounts - not more than 1200 calories a day. Also she avoids foods that cause "inflammation" - including limited omega 6 and enough omega 3.

Anyway - its not a "cure" as if she slips up on the diet (even little bit gluten - basically she has to be as strict about gluten as a coeliac) joint pain comes back - and she still is on the medication BUT its not incapacitating and she can get on with her life.

People are just trying to help and my mum has got relief from pain as she listened to one of the well wishers. I also have an autoimmune condition (although not as bad) - my advice would be too look up rheumatoid arthritis and paleo diet - ITS NOT A CURE - but the theory is that the food you eat can have a big effect on the condition.

Also this:

Again NOT A CURE as such but a strict diet that can alleviate symptoms.

Shodan I love FOBIKY. I wish I'd known about it when we were considering whether to go through fertility treatment.

Actually Mrs Jay believe it or not some people I know do find Epsom salts helpful for pain

yeah I know but it used to be my MIL cure all that and boiled water

a woman I work with does that ear candle thing and that cup suction doodah , not sure what it is all meant to do she wanted to try the cup thing on my back

my friend sadly died of stills disease about 10 years ago her brother said it was all in her head and all she had to do was practise positive thinking and be cured

I agree with you laqueen I have another friend who gets into selling all this kinda health crap on facebook , she is so gullible

OP I think you should just be more positive about it and it will be better... just kidding but along the lines of things that have been said to me about my list of ailments which include asthma, gastric problems, anxiety (mainly caused by my health), and various bodily tumours, and arthritis.

Like FrankellyMyDearIDontGiveADamn I have PCOS which affects me in many different ways and have had many comments of "this worked for me/someone I know/etc" (yes because you know better than my consultant who is the best in the country...) the one that really hurt though was a friend who said something like "people are fat because they're greedy not because of any medical reason like PCOS and its just an excuse because she and Victoria Beckham have it and they aren't fat..." really upset me for a while as I have explained to her in the past about how it affects me and it felt like a dig at me :( (I may have outed myself now...)

I am considering getting a "fuck off" card made to show people ;)

what about a copper bracelet?

I totally agree tiggy. Two separate counsellors told me that I needed to think positively in order to achieve a pregnancy. Who knew that my positive thinking would improve my husband's sperm count?

I remember watching a film like about a conman who conned millions out of people doing phsycic[sp] surgery the loon a rich loon but still a loon, jackie stallone claims she does the same thing

Yy to the fertility thing. People are always trying to persuade me that I will be able to have a baby if I take certain herbs or a homeopathic pill. Everyone loves the 'stop worrying and it will happen' line too.

Once, after recovering in hospital from major surgery, a nurse asked me what I'd had done. When I told her she said, 'oh you should have just used epsom salts'. I looked down at my bandaged legs and said thanks, but I think it's a bit late for that now, isn't it?

((((luffly drugs))))
((((luffly peer-reviewed science that has saved my life))))

I read Branleuse's suggestion as, 'Cock under your pillow, maybe?' I have a different autoimmune disease with extras. I might suggest that to dh tonight.

OP, YANBU.

I have Crohns, I get seriously peeved with all the experts who know nothing about autoimmune disease who like to question my food choices. Should you be eating that? Strangely enough my actual drs told me for a few years that it was in my head and positive thinking would help!!

I have nerve damage from a spinal injury during childbirth. After 2 years my mobility pretty much back to normal, but I will always have pain and altered sensation from the mid point of my back down. According to my mother, 'all women who have given birth feel a bit ropey afterwards' and the answer is to go swimming. Ah, so no need for the 9 tablets I take every sodding day then....