Message: 1
Date: Wed, 20 Mar 2002 23:36:38 -0800
From: Lamar Morgan
Subject: What Was The Cure?
Dear Sharon,
I know I responded to your message below privately; but, I thought the
more important things I said needed to be shared with the group.
Therefore, here is a somewhat condensed version of my posting to you for
the benefit of the entire group.
Every person on this planet who has epilepsy is unique. Although we can
draw encouragement from everyone's testimony, that does not mean we can
simply duplicate someone else's solution to solve our own problem. The
first thing you need to do is have a true understanding of your
problem. Does that make sense? I personally do not ascribe to solving
health problems without the aid and counsel of a professional. I will
even go so far to say the best way to properly excise is with a physical
trainer. I have had it both ways. Believe me, having a physical
trainer makes all the difference in the world.
One evening I received a e-mail suggesting I take a look at the
Andrews-Reiter website. I went and took a look. But, that's not all I
did. I sent eight questions to Dr. Andrews concerning a possible
relationship between ADD and epilepsy. (At the time I had a girl-friend
who thought I must be ADD because that's what she was.) Dr. Andrews
responded to all my questions the very next day. She also suggested I
give her a call and discuss my situation further.
One phone call led to another. When I got word that I was being
downsized by my employer, my immediate concern was that I was going to
die. Why? Because now I could no longer afford to purchase my
anticonvulsant medication. At the time, I was on Lamictal. Dr. Andrews
helped me through this difficult period in my life. Here I was in
Atlanta, GA. Her office was in Santa Rosa, CA. I sent Dr. Andrews a
copy of my medical records. I wanted her help so bad I got on the
Internet and sought an employer in Nothern California. It was the only
way I thought I would ever see the clinic.
When I got off medication, I was still living in Atlanta. However, I
was either on-the-phone or communicating via e-mail with Dr. Andrews
almost daily. I have said in past posts that Dr. Andrews taught me a
breathing technique for those rare occasions when I saw auras. The
technique she taught me made them go away and left me feeling fine.
Since going off medication, I have only had one seizure. But, I credit
having that one seizure to not getting adequate sleep one night - not
because I went off medication. I may never be able to claim I am 100%
seizure-free. However, what I am experiencing now is the best quality
of life I have had since before that fateful day in 1965 when I had that
first convulsion.
If you expect me to tell you I had EEG's, MRI's, neurophysical
assessment, etc., etc., I can tell you that I had none of that at
Andrews-Rieter. But, I have had that done over the years. Everything
but the neurophysical assessment is documented in my medical record. I
saw to it that Andrews-Rieter got a copy of that record. They also got
the actual films of my last MRI.
What I want you to understand, Sharon, is that Andrews-Reiter takes a
very "individual" approach to treatment. You will be examined by a
psychologist. You will be examined by a neurologist. What happens
during those examinations is up to them. I don't really want to discuss
those examinations. I doubt the medical record you sent them looked
anything like mine. So, we should not expect the same treatment. Does
that make sense? What's important is NOT that you learn what worked for
me. What's important is that you learn what will improve your
situation. Therefore, I think you are seeking answers from the wrong
person. You should be addressing such questions to Dr. Andrews. This
doctor is just a phone call or an e-mail away when she is not treating
patients. Why ask a person like me to explain Andrews-Reiter when you
can just as easily ask the founder?
Andrews-Reiter did not wean me off drugs. That is not to say they could
not have done that for me over time. However, I was forced off drugs due
to circumstances beyond my control. It was not something I planned or a
doctor ordered. I was in a situation that had me in fear of losing my
very life. Fortunately, Andrews-Reiter came to my rescue at a crucial
time in my life. Were it not for them, I might not be here today.
Andrews-Reiter never pronounced me "cured" of epilepsy. What they did
was help me make sense of what was happening to me. For 34 years I now
believe I was misinformed regarding my epilepsy. Either the
neurologists who treated me over the years in New York, Missouri,
Florida, and Georgia did not know the truth about my epilepsy; or, they
simply did not want to tell me. Which was it? I doubt I will ever
know.
What you read on the Andrews-Reiter website is true. If you have not
read any of the research on the website, I highly encourage you to do
just that. It is very informative. The type size of the latest
research posted to the website is rather small. Therefore, I encourage
you to simply print it out and then read it. That might be a little
easier on your eyes. The last time I checked the most recent research
had not been completely uploaded to the website. Still, what's there is
worth knowing.
The overwhelming majority of Andrews-Reiter patients actually learn to
control their seizures with little or no medication. I am not the only
one. I can honestly say that because since moving to Northern
California I have made friends with former patients. Note I said
"former" patients. This is one clinic which actually wants people to
get well. Most of these folks I met are not taking any medication at
all. They have learned to control their epilepsy. Obviously, not every
person with epilepsy has the "drug-free" option. But, doesn't it make
sense to find out what your options indeed are? Sure it does. However,
if your doctors don't tell you the truth about your epilepsy, chances
are you will never know. Right? No doubt, that's what would have
happened to me had I not discovered the Andrews-Reiter Clinic.
Yes, it makes a difference if you have a doctor who tells you the truth
about your epilepsy. Andrews-Rieter told me the truth about mine. They
showed me my options for living a more productive life. They have been
doing that for people with epilepsy all over the world since 1983. And,
I believe they can do it for you, Sharon.