Ayurvedicadventure

I am beginning my 4^th and final week at the clinic.  The days have melted into a haze and we have slowed down considerably.  Dr. Krishna has asked both of us to stay longer and we have been able to extend our plans, Alan by a full week and me by three days.

This is a photo of the building in which we are staying, the dining room is on the first floor and there are sleeping rooms on the next three floors.  Alan and I have separate bedrooms on the second floor next to each other, which works really well.  Alan has internet access in his room, so we end up hanging in there in the afternoons.  This is a photo of my room.

There are several neat women guests and we call ourselves an Indian sorority.  This photo was taken early in the trip in the dining room.  We are having a big time enjoying some candy from Pulla Reddy, a shop in town where they make amazing candy out of ghee, clarified butter.  It sounds strange, but they are delicious and I hope to get there to buy some gifts to take home.  And of course, the candy is not on the food plan, which made it all the more fun!

MORE ABOUT THE STREET ANIMALS

Many of the street dogs bark throughout the night and are a noisy pain.  Kim’s room is on the front of the dining building.  The other night when the dogs were quite loud at 3AM, in a fit of anger she ran down the stairs and into the street to tell them to be quiet!  Not sure it did the trick.

Then the next night just before dinner, she was walking the eight blocks back to the building after getting the banana treatment from the doctor’s house, two dogs attacked her in the street.  And just as fast as the dogs attacked, a man flew out of one of the buildings with a plastic chair to attack the dogs in defense of her.  Then he began throwing rocks at the dogs.  She said it was frightening. When she reported the incidents to the Dr. K in the morning, he said, “Do you think the ones you yelled at, got you back!” with a twinkle in his eye?  The next day she thought she spotted the attacking dog with a muzzle on his snout!

Today when I was walked the couple of blocks to the center for my treatment; a cow was sitting quite comfortably in a small street, while a taxis driver tried to get it to move.  I was so bummed I didn’t have a camera on me, it was quite a sight.  Then when I was returning from the treatment, the cow had moved a few streets and was contently eating garbage with a stray dog on the road.  Another photo op missed!

There is a dog curled up in the business center where we get the treatments day after day. I have assumed the dog is sick and dying, it seems so sad and not well.  I look for it every day, concerned it has passed, but there it is in a new spot each day.  Sometimes another dog visits with a questioning look on its face.   Today I thought hopefully, maybe it is pregnant and is just hanging.  Need our good friend, Jamie Roth, who breeds dogs to make the call.  I am tempted to feed it, but we have been told explicitly not to feed the dogs.

TREATMENT UPDATE

Alan went to a temple tonight for an overnight with Andrew, as recommended by the doctor.  The purpose of the trip is to have his head shaved and to attend a couple of early morning pujas (spiritual service).  The shaved head will be better for upcoming treatments which involve wrapping his head with dough and a cylinder and then filling the cylinder with warm oil.  Here is a “before” photo.  Alan has promised photos and a blog update on the trip.

I have completed the week of bastis (enemas) and I sure feel lighter in many ways.  Here is a photo of Sunitha (left) and Vasumathi (right) in my room to deliver what they call the big basti.  You can see it if a lot of liquid.  Luckily the big one is only given three times and there are two smaller ones given the day before and after!

I have also completed three days of the banana treatment.  The treatment balances your hormones and made me quite emotional and teary.  As I laid on the table this morning, having hot water with medicine poured all over me by two techs, I felt a profound sense of the deep love my parents felt for me and tears leaked from my eyes.  And just at the moment, Sunthia came to wipe the oils from my face to apply the daily “face pack” for ladies skin.  She was tender and sweet, it was quite lovely.  Here is a photo my face after a morning of oily treatments including the lovely “face pack”.

Tomorrow I start a week of the thyroid treatment, where I will eat only rice with some rotating herbs for 18 meals.  I will not take my thyroid med for the first two days and then potentially go to lower dose with the goal of jumpstarting my gland.  I know it will not be easy and pray it will have a positive impact!

Alan was scheduled for three flights on India’s Jet Airways to fly from Leh in the north to Hyderabad in central India on Tuesday, the 16^th.  I rode out to the airport to meet him with the Senior Dr. Raju as he was flying back to the clinic in Delhi.  Getting to ride with him was an unexpected treat. Dr. Raju is 60 and has a very youthful energy and delights in everything. The conversation was a gift for me.

When we (Murty and me) arrived at the airport’s waiting area, there was an Indian movie being shot, complete with an Indian movie star.  I snapped a quick photo before being told, “No photos, Madame” by the uniformed guards that are all over the airport.

Alan arrived looking a bit sun soaked and tired, yet healthy and happy from his adventure. Murty, the driver is in the photo with Alan. As we road through the streets, Alan tried to recognize familiar streets from his previous visits.  I smiled that I was the comfortable one with the rhythm of the clinic’s daily patterns. This was certainly a 180 from our arrival last year, when I was so uncomfortable and he was the old hand at how the place operates.

Seeing the Doctor

We saw Dr. Krishna together for our pulse readings the following morning.  Alan updated him on his health and showed him all his recent medical reports.  Dr. Raju suggested some new herbs to be taken daily throughout the year to ensure his continued good health.  The doctor was not happy to hear that Alan planned to only stay for 15 days of treatments.  He encouraged him to change his return plans, so he could have 23 days to have all the various treatments he felt he needed.  We will see if that can be worked out between the airlines and his office.

Update from Camp

Jacob left last week for the 21 day canoe trip and this is a photo of the group at trip departure.  Jacob looks so huge to us!  He is the third from the left, in the red shorts. Camp reports he is one of the stronger kids on the trip and is loving the experience.  Sarah is having a blast and the counselors report that she keeps the cabin in laughter much of the time, teaches them her songs from the play and is enjoying wind-surfing. She did write last week with what sounded like a bit of homesickness, which is always hard to hear when you are half a globe away!  Camp reports that it has passed and she is in good spirits, enjoying the second session of camp.

My original motivation for coming to the Raju family clinic was to cure an autoimmune thyroid issue.  I am back for year 2, based on a positive first treatment last year.  I have come to realize this may take several years.  Honestly, I am so impressed with the benefits to my well-being in two weeks here I am open to future visits, even with how overwhelming I find life in India.  Yesterday we had a lecture by Dr. Raju, Senior on benefits of the ayurvedic approach.  I learned more about their daily herbal practices that will make a big difference in my healing and that I will be embracing at home this year.

I have been doing the basic treatments for about two weeks, which include taking herbs upon waking, also before the simple meals and daily massage type treatments with oil and herbs.  I am definitely slowing down and feel calmer, and am losing my American speed that I normally feel throughout daily life.

Thyroid Prep
I went to have an ultrasound on my thyroid gland to ensure all is well before we started the thyroid treatment.  Once again, Murity came to get me.  As we drove through the congested streets, I thought of myself as a character in a movie where I was the American or European protagonist living in a foreign land.  I respect the local traditions and am respected by the locals even though I am from a different land; and I was given some extra help to understand how to navigate this world. I am ever so thankful for that extra help!

Murity showed me into the ultrasound office, which looked just as a previous guest had described to me last year. The scan was completed quickly and the doctor and her assistant were kind and spoke English.  The doctor said everything looked fine including that the gland was a bit sunken. She said she expected that it was previously enlarged, which was true some years ago.  The bill for the scan was 700 rupees or about $11.  No insurance required and I was given the scan photos and a positive report.   Done and out in 20 minutes.  American healthcare could learn a thing or two from the Indian medical system!

Next, a tech came to the clinic to do a blood test to ensure all was good; it was fine.  To give me the results, Dr. Khrisna logged in to my iPad and downloaded them.  Very cool!  I was able to forward them to my US doctor with a few clicks, and she sent her comments back within a day.  India is such an interesting contrast of its old customs and the benefits of modern technology.

An Outing
I wanted to go out and have a good meal before I started the days of rice meals and the doctor said it was fine.  I went to a 5-star hotel called, Taj Krishna Hotel with another guest for a good lunch. The hotel and restaurant were beautiful and a huge treat for me to go out in the world.  I thought I ordered simply, however half way through the meal I was not feeling well and spent the balance of the time in the restroom.  At one point, I thought I would have to get a hotel room, thinking the one-hour ride back to the clinic would be too much.  I was able to rally and we were driven over to a large mall where we had promised to meet Natalie, one of the Australian guests.

The mall looks like an American one, an open mall filled with Indian stores, including a food court and Subway.  We headed to the top floor and went to a spa for a one-hour reflexology foot massage.  The spa was dark and quiet, except for the movie theater playing through the wall.  The foot massage was intense, almost painful, yet I still was able to have a good nap for a bit of it.  The ride back was quite something, with Friday night traffic overflowing through the streets.  I was so happy to return to the quiet of my clinic room after the crazy afternoon.  I did well up with tears the next morning when telling the doctor about how overwhelmed I felt by the city streets.

A Change in Direction
All treatment decisions are made based on your daily pulse reading.  I was ready to begin the week-long thyroid treatment on Sunday, which would include 18 meals of rice only with different herbs, and a special herbal paste applied to my neck.  When I had my pulse read that morning, the doctor said I wasn’t ready for the treatment.  I understood, I was quite tired.  Instead I would be given the week of bastis (enemas) to help release the toxins and allow my system to become stronger for the thyroid treatment. He just changed the order of the treatments to fit my system needs. Last night I had the first basti, a small oil one and interestingly, I had the best sleep since I arrived almost two weeks ago.  Today I will have two more, after lunch and dinner.  They mean business on clearing out the toxins!

Update on Alan
Alan has returned to his hotel after a fabulous trekking trip.  I got to have a quick chat with him today and he raved about his trip.  He will be flying down to southern India tomorrow and will arrive at the clinic in the afternoon.  He will post some blogs and photos soon, so we can get a sense of his adventure.

Reasons I am grateful for Christopher Alan Myers:

1. He loves unconditionally and teaches it each day.
2. He is a wonderful husband, father, son and in-law.
3. He enjoys helping the kids with their schoolwork and projects.
4. He makes me laugh at the most unexpected times
5. He makes everything we do better.
6. He brings interesting projects to our lives, like Ricki (the dog), the ducks and now a rowing boat.
7. I feel his love deeply when we are not together and it always makes me smile contently.
8. Even when I am mad at him, I am happier and calmer when he comes home.
9. He reads the web extensively on many subjects and never shows off.
10. I enjoy Judaism more because of his commitment to it.
11. He is patient and kind when I don’t feel well.
12. I am healthier because I live with him.

CAM, taken 8/24/12

The Clinic Street

The clinic is located in a middle class gated community called Sahara Estates.

There are many tree-lined streets with houses.  Here is a photo of the street where the clinic is located.  It is not that unusual, except when you compare it to the mass confusion, poverty and humanity in the streets outside of the gates, as you can see in the photos below.

Here are a few neat houses in the neighborhood where we enjoy on our morning walks.

The other day I went into Hyderabad with two other gals to get some simple supplies for our rooms at a store called the Big Bazaar.

The store is like a very old fashioned Target; much smaller in scale and crowded.  Many of the products are made by American companies, just Indian versions – like Tide and Scope.

I took these photos of the streets as we rode in the auto rickshaw, so I could share what the streets and store looks like.

The shoppers just inside the gate

Here is a picture of pal, Kim from Sidney and me just inside of the gates before hailing our ride. 

Plus here is a photo of the auto rickshaw or Tuck Tuck, as they call it.

The other thing about the streets, inside the gates or outside, is the unbelievable amount of wild dogs roaming the streets.  The dogs remind me of the phrase, “the survival of the fittest.”  These dogs are tough, in great shape and are all about getting their next meal.

They seem to ignore people for the most part.  At home, I adore dogs; that is people’s pets.  Yet, here I am absolutely unnerved by the dogs.  I am afraid that one will bite me and have some disease.  I avoid them at all costs and work hard to be calm if any come too close when we do our morning walks about the gated streets.  I realize that I don’t want them sense my fear.  I am thankful that other walkers are not afraid of them.

Update on the Hiker
Alan left for the trek early Wednesday morning, as he posted.  I was able to catch him for a quick call before he left and was pleased to hear he was feeling much better and was excited to get on the trip.  A guide will take him to the group once they have driven up into the area of the trek.  He will be out of communication until he returns on Monday afternoon.  Then he will fly down to the clinic on Tuesday morning.  I can’t wait for his arrival and am counting the days!  It’s a good thing to miss your husband.

Morning Walkers

I have been at the clinic a week and had my 7^th treatment.  The days have fallen into a nice routine.  I walk the neighborhood streets each morning at 6:00 with a few guests for exercise, have my pulse read before breakfast and spend about three hours each day getting treatments.

For new readers, who want to read more about the ayurvedic treatments, Alan has provided very detailed descriptions of the treatments in previous posts – see “Mind and Medicine,” July 2012 or “Getting in the Flow and Levels of Healing,” Feb 2011 to get a good explanation of Panchkarma, the cleanse we are doing.

Last year when we arrived and I was in shock at the clinic, Alan suggested that I think about the clinic like camp, and I was completely offended.  I have to say, this year with comfort of the process, and a few fun friends, I could ALMOST say the day has the rhythm of camp.  There is a lovely camaraderie with the other guests; we make the best of the simple and bland vegetarian meals, while comparing notes from our days.

Pulse Reading
Each morning either Dr. Krishna (Raju) or his sister Padma takes our pulse.  Krishna is the primary doctor at the clinic with a global following.  When he is not available, any of his siblings can read a pulse, as the gift has been passed down for over seven generations. When I first arrived, Padma read my pulse for a few days, as Krishna was travelling. When I came in to the office for the first time, I introduced myself, as she hadn’t taken my pulse last year and wasn’t sure she knew my name.  “Oh yes,” she said she knew me and had read all of our blogs and loved them!  She said she thought I was very funny and she liked how I presented tough or negative situations in a positive light. She said she wanted to make sure I was happy and to please share any suggestions I had for the clinic.

Padma and her motor scooter!

WOW, I was amazed that they had read it and wanted my opinion.  I was thankful our posts had been honest and respectful of the clinic even on days when we were frustrated (and that would be more me, than Alan on the frustrations). When I told some of the guests at breakfast about this exchange, they said you have real power, use it. My thought was to be careful and respectful if there was power and not to overuse it.  I did mention in that first conversation, that I remember the soup being much more flavorful last year and it seemed a bit bland.  We were delighted when the soup seemed to improve in the next few days!

Padma said I was deeply tired and set up the treatments I would have for the next seven days.  On the second day while listening to my pulse and not looking at my body, she asked if I had a rash.  Yes, a rash had appeared on my leg that morning.  She added a special green gel to the daily treatments.  Quite amazing, what they hear in the pulse! Dr. Krishna came back for morning check-ins on my 4^th day.  I was delighted to see him; he has such a lovely and warm energy about him with a twinkle in his eye.  I think everyone feels like they are special in his presence.  His pulse reading reported the following:

• You are much stronger than last year (yes, I was expecting those words!)
• It is still your hormones that are challenging you (yep)
• Your body is confused (don’t I know it!)

We talked about giving me a few days to get more rested before starting the thyroid treatment.  And when I reported that my thyroid has been aching for some time, he said I would get it scanned.  Sounded like a good idea; I had never had it scanned in all these years, the doctors always check it by hand. The daily treatments are as lovely as I remember them. I was disappointed when I learned that Prya, the beautiful, English speaking tech who took wonderful care of me last year, was off having her first baby.

The Techs in the treatment center

Padma made sure I had very good techs and was happy to make changes so I could have my pick, another unexpected benefit from the blog! The techs who are working on me are probably even better this year, with stronger hand strength.  Although I miss the casual banter, as most of them speak very little English.

Sometimes it is hard to understand instructions, although the quieter treatments are probably good for me.  I have plenty of time to relax as I ponder healing and letting go. My only real challenge is my ability to get a good night’s sleep.  I seem to have left the nightly sweats at home, hallelujah!  I can barely keep my eyes open and go to bed by 9:00 each night.  However, I am up much of the night and up for the day before dawn.  I think this will get better as I move through the healing process. And for the meantime, I am thankful for afternoon and treatment naps!