[chede]

My mom has REM (for a few years now) Disease. For the last year or sick she is sick ALL THE TIME. She can hardly eat. She is always nauseaus. Even pills to help with that feeling do not help. The doctors have told her there is nothing they can do for her. They don't know why she is sick. Her memory is going, she is having difficulty doing simple tasks... I understand this could be the start of dementia or Alzheimers.. or other? I believe she has Parkinson's, she has tremors. But why is she sick constantly? Mornings mostly are the worst, sometimes she just lays on the couch all day long being sick. Her stomach is always sour. Any ideas?
Also, do you know of a support group for REM Disease?
thanks

[lurkingforacure]

Originally Posted by chede

My mom has REM (for a few years now) Disease. For the last year or sick she is sick ALL THE TIME. She can hardly eat. She is always nauseaus. Even pills to help with that feeling do not help. The doctors have told her there is nothing they can do for her. They don't know why she is sick. Her memory is going, she is having difficulty doing simple tasks... I understand this could be the start of dementia or Alzheimers.. or other? I believe she has Parkinson's, she has tremors. But why is she sick constantly? Mornings mostly are the worst, sometimes she just lays on the couch all day long being sick. Her stomach is always sour. Any ideas?
Also, do you know of a support group for REM Disease?
thanks

I would first go after trying to get her tummy balanced with probiotics, no sugar, organic foods when possible and no processed foods. It may be that she also has a food allergy. The fastest and easiest way I have read to see if this is the case is to eliminate all grains (this is really hard) and all dairy. if she gets better, you can add one food in at a time to see if she reacts....if all is well, you can add another food. For example, no wheat products of any kind for a week or two....if she is doing better and then you give her a piece of toast and she gets worse again, there's part of the answer. Note that it can take a long, long time for an inflammed gut to heal.

I have noticed that my family does the best when we don't eat much bread and wheat products, little to no sugar (sugar can actually cause inflammation and if she already has it, make it much worse), and a lot of healthy fats, like olive oil and nuts. You can chop nuts up in a food processor and mix them into things if she has a hard time eating them.

I just got a subscription to Dr. David William's newsletter which has a lot of articles about healthy gut-you may want to consider doing that. When I signed up I got a CD containing the last 9 or so years of his newsletter for twenty bucks, I think it was, so worth it. I don't have any affiliation to him so no commercial interest whatsoever, I just like his natural, healthy approach. You can google him to get to the website if you are interested.

I hope she feels better, it is miserable feeling nauseau for very long. Maybe a few drops of peppermint oil in a glass of water might help in the short term? Good luck.

[olsen]

Does your mom take any medications? supplements or vitamins or herbs?

[chede]

Thank you for the suggestions. She eats toast/wheat bread when she does eat. I'll talk to her about it. She drinks this supplement stuff in blue and white bottles that the doctor has her drink so she can at least try to stay at the same weight (she is really skinny). I'll look what they are when I see her again.

As for taking meds, etc... yes but I don't know what meds they are. She has a few in a pill box. I don't know if she takes anything like vitamins. I would think she is suppose to because she can hardly eat. I'll try to check and see what she is taking.

[chede]

Originally Posted by lurkingforacure

I would first go after trying to get her tummy balanced with probiotics, no sugar, organic foods when possible and no processed foods. It may be that she also has a food allergy. The fastest and easiest way I have read to see if this is the case is to eliminate all grains (this is really hard) and all dairy. if she gets better, you can add one food in at a time to see if she reacts....if all is well, you can add another food. For example, no wheat products of any kind for a week or two....if she is doing better and then you give her a piece of toast and she gets worse again, there's part of the answer. Note that it can take a long, long time for an inflammed gut to heal.

I have noticed that my family does the best when we don't eat much bread and wheat products, little to no sugar (sugar can actually cause inflammation and if she already has it, make it much worse), and a lot of healthy fats, like olive oil and nuts. You can chop nuts up in a food processor and mix them into things if she has a hard time eating them.

I just got a subscription to Dr. David William's newsletter which has a lot of articles about healthy gut-you may want to consider doing that. When I signed up I got a CD containing the last 9 or so years of his newsletter for twenty bucks, I think it was, so worth it. I don't have any affiliation to him so no commercial interest whatsoever, I just like his natural, healthy approach. You can google him to get to the website if you are interested.

I hope she feels better, it is miserable feeling nauseau for very long. Maybe a few drops of peppermint oil in a glass of water might help in the short term? Good luck.

PS, what kind of peppermint oil? I looked online and there are so many peppermint oils but they say perfume or essential oil for bath, or for cleaning products.. I'm not really sure what to get to be safe to put in water. What do you suggest? Thank you again!

[mrsD]

There are drug tablet/capsule checkers at
rxlist.com and drugs.com
They even ID generics.

Perhaps getting an oral capsule of peppermint would be better.
example:
http://www.iherb.com/Now-Foods-Peppe...Softgels/16549

Ginger extract is very good for nausea.
example:
http://www.iherb.com/Now-Foods-Ginge...g-90-Vcaps/597

Neither is expensive. People taking warfarin/Coumadin cannot take ginger with doctor's approval and knowledge.
Take ginger with a full glass of water to prevent reflux.
Ginger has studies showing effectiveness similar to RX anti-nausea drugs.

[lurkingforacure]

Originally Posted by chede

PS, what kind of peppermint oil? I looked online and there are so many peppermint oils but they say perfume or essential oil for bath, or for cleaning products.. I'm not really sure what to get to be safe to put in water. What do you suggest? Thank you again!

We just get the peppermint oil in a little glass jar from Whole Foods....it's about ten bucks for the bottle.

BTW, another handy use for this, told to me by a plumber, was to drop some of the peppermint oil onto cottonballs and put them under the sink, refrig., anywhere you think mice or rats might go/be. They don't like the smell, to them it's like a moth ball, and they stay away. Not only was I surprised to find that it worked, but it made the house smell delicious! I felt like I was walking into a peppermint patty when I got home! You have to replentish fairly often, but given the wonderful additional effects, it's worth it! Hope this helps.

[Nan Cyclist]

I also have REM and have battled the belly for a long time. I take .5mg of Clonazapam for the REM, just before going to bed. Ginger is a godsend. Little candies called Ginger Chews settle my stomach nearly every time. I buy 11# at a time from Amazon or you can get them in little packets at many good grocery stores. If I'm anxious or upset, I might eat two or three ginger chews. All the wheat and dairy advice is right on the spot from my experience. The next thing is to get her moving, walking around the block to start with, then build into an exercise program. Good luck.

[chede]

Thank you thank you!
I will try Whole Foods.. we live by a field and have field mice, can't wait to try that.
Can't WAIT to have my mom try the candies. That med sounds familiar, I already sent my dad an email (they live a few hours away) and asked when she was taking the meds (morning or night).
I will also see them this weekend and will look at Whole Foods for the candies, but Amazon is next on the list to order.
Have a great day!

[chede]

Can you tell me which Ginger Chews you buy? there are SOO many on Amazon, I have no idea what to get?!! Thank you!