One of the toughest challenge living with NF2 is staying focused. When we are in constant need of medical attention, it suddenly seems like everything could be beneficial. We would want to believe that all the frivolous pharmaceutical inventions could at least help us in some way. Anything is better than nothing at all.
They might help. But the people who promote the benefits of these products are relatively healthy people with bodies full of natural wellness that supports what these products promise to do. Instead of the product enhancing a person’s physical wellness, it could well have worked the other way – a person’s wellness can enhance and support the outcome of consuming these products. The task of distinguishing whether observable improvements are biological or placebo is then left to the patient.
Those of us with a chronic condition like NF2 takes on challenges differently. For someone free of NF2, any small improvements can seem big when it is enhanced by the body’s natural wellness. But we have much more to worry about in the long term than the desire for small relief.
Take my friend for example. She has NF2 and many tumors, but she only had three surgeries since her diagnosis more than twenty years ago. Rather than learning about her illness, she turns to Chinese medicinal herbs sold to her by people claiming to have been cured or have cured someone from drinking it. Instead of discussing with doctors, she would travel to the ends of the world to supplicate for divine intervention. She also takes health supplements with the expectation that they can boost her energy levels.
It seems clear that she equates strength to wellness. Whenever she experiences increase in strength, she believes that she has been helped and would stop seeking medical attention. To her, there is nothing wrong. She feels strong. But to me, her physical orientation is terrible. When she can’t even walk straight and stand steadily, having so much strength is pointless.
This brings me to how doctors and therapists assess a patient in determining what treatment or support to provide. They go by the patient’s need. ie. Does the patient need so much strength if her nerves are in a bad shape?
Likewise, in deciding whether to take a health supplement, we should consider whether we need the specific benefit that it promises to bring. If we don’t, then the money and the time spent deciding could be put to better use. Because there are so many technological and pharmaceutical inventions to prolong life. We really need to decide on which one to take and which to pass up.
For me, I think it’s best to stick with having surgeries and with doctors familiar with my case. Have a peace of mind and not worry so much. Once we start to consider everything commercially available in order to avoid surgeries, there can be no end to it. Meanwhile, our body deteriorates – naturally.
