Thanking Your Care Team: The Last Step In Healing

Yesterday when I came in to work, I was surprised to see a little package in my mail box in the Doctor's Lounge.

It was brown paper wrapped, and when I saw the name on the return address my heart skipped a beat!

It was the patient I had been wondering about for some time since I had done the most recent follow-up surgery--the anesthesia part--at this patient's request that I give care to them second time. Due to a mix up with the scheduling, it almost didn't happen. Fortunately the anesthesiologist assigned to the case acknowledged the patient's concern to have me for their care, and traded cases for the day with me.

So many feelings flooded over me...as I recalled the very first time this patient was under my care.

You see, I met this patient when I was on call. In the ER, I saw them in full fetal position, sitting up on the bed, wracked with anxiety. This patient was asking 'can I just go out and smoke a cigarette?' and the family member was soothing them.

I knew in a matter of hours, this patient with a terrible condition inside the abdomen, would be seeing this and not asking for a cigarette any more. And feeling REALLY peaceful, as in out of this world filled with PEACE...

I had to get full consent and agreement to go with me to the O.R. This patient had very severe anxiety disorder, and was under the care of a physician for it, for many years. I quickly took cues from the family member, and also went back to the O.R., and brought with me all of the medications in my little box, all of my anesthesia drugs.

I titrated the anxiety medicine in until this patient slurred their words, slowly, gently, saying calming things, never letting them see the needle or the syringe touch the i.v., and giving Reiki with every bit of intention I could muster.  Still sitting up, we were able to go the the O.R., induce anesthesia sitting up, and proceed with the emergent,  life-saving surgery.

I also gave significant input to the surgeon during the procedure about avoiding any 'appliance' on the abdomen because of the anxiety that would be involved. Fortunately, the surgeon saw my point, agreed, changed the standard approach to the operation under the circumstances, and the patient did well.

So what was in my package?

Inside there was a little box, beautifully wrapped, with peach ribbon. I carefully opened it.

Here also was a card, that brought tears to my eyes--my colleagues were watching and one of them said, 'All of her patients always LOVE her!'

27 March 2014

Dear (me)--

With grace and mercy, you breathe for the panicked, the terrified, the lost. You allay the fear of the anxious, the friable. There is no measure for the capacity of your wisdom and empathy.

Engraved in my memory is the treasured gift of your smile and spontaneous hug - a timeless remembering of "safe".

I am truly blessed to have been in your loving care and to have known such a remarkable woman.

With heartfelt sincerity,
 (patient)

P.S. The amulet is neither new or old. I gift this to you with endless gratitude.  If I can ever be of help to someone of my own ilk, please let me know. 

The way I see it, every human being alive, and who has ever walked upon Gaia, has this written in permanent ink on their precious foot.

Most people don't understand that healing has everything to do with recognizing this simple fact:

• To say that I am made in the image of God is to say that Love is the reason for my existence, for God is Love. --Thomas Merton.

Sometimes that label is hard to see--because of life choices and people's behavior at times--but if you look very closely, with the eyes of your heart, you will find it every single time.

And your life experience will uplift, both yourself and others in the process, of recognition of that sign of 'Love' written in indelible ink, on everyone...even if the foot is gone, the word remains on their heart...

Consciousness knows no limits.

Neither do you.

I was given the silver bracelet the patient wore--and loved-- with the words Peaceful Heart

Aloha and Mahalos,

Namaste,

Peace,

Reiki Doc

P.S. Will you, with your life,  give testimony to Love?

Testify To Love by Wynonna Judd

http://youtu.be/gFsmA3yP2Nw

Reiki And Oral Surgery

My eight-year old was found to have some extra teeth deep in his gums on x-ray. The dentist have recommended we go to an orthodontist to recommend extraction at the best possible time.

That time was last Tuesday. A dentist who was an oral surgeon and MD was set to do the procedure.

I kept my boy NPO--nothing to eat after midnight--so his stomach would be empty and the risk of choking on vomit would be less. ('aspiration' pneumonia has a fifty percent mortality rate so don't eat before surgery, not even a mint or gum! After gum, your stomach thinks more food is coming, and makes extra acid just in case for the anticipated food…)

I gave him Reiki when he woke up that morning at home. I gave Reiki while the versed (oral sedative) was being absorbed. I gave Reiki during the parent-present induction of anesthesia with the nitrous oxide.

The procedure took about ten minutes.

His face was numb and swollen. He was spitting blood. For about an hour and a half after surgery. He soiled his shirt. I explained to him this was 'drainage' that was red and was normal after surgery; it was better to spit it out than to swallow (it makes people nauseous.)

I have had oral surgery three times. It hurts like crazy, deep in the bone and liquids sting at the socket.

My boy never hurt. Not once. I gave him a dose of tylenol and ibuprofen when he got home for when the local anesthetic wore off…one at night…and one the next morning…then he refused it.

He had no pain at any time.

He had no anxiety over the blood.

He ate soft foods right away, instead of liquids., therefore he was one day ahead on healing.

He never threw up.

Acid foods (orange juice, tomato sauce, soda) were not painful to him.

The other thing I would like to share is there is not enough emphasis on the importance of the caregiver in the home after the surgery. There is much talk about Reiki in the hospital and Reiki in surgery. But for a ten minute procedure, there was one day in preparation and one day of nursing back to recovery in the home.

As I wiped the blood from his face, and as I spoon-fed him his first cup of hot chocolate after surgery, tremendous amounts of maternal love and Reiki healing spontaneously flowed through me to him.

If you are a caregiver, we all are aware of the risks of caregiver 'burnout'. This is because your energy is depleted by another and you have no time left outside of the caregiving to 'boost your energy  back up', or to 'fill your cup of energy'.

Reiki doesn't deplete the giver. It just flows through the crown of your head and out your hands. It actually GIVES the giver a little boost of the Reiki healing,too, effectively raising your energy.

A Reiki class might help you to carry your burden a little easier, energetically-speaking.

It's worth a thought.


Aloha and Mahalos,
Namaste,

Reiki Doc

What I Do Better Than Anybody In Anesthesia

'The patient is CRAZY!' the PACU RN confided to me about our next patient. She had just come back from the ER to talk to them. It was an emergency case and had to go.

Apparently the patient was freaking out over the i.v. and very tearful and trying to stop the life-saving surgery. Family member was present.

I smiled inwardly, because in anesthesia one does not have to deal with an awake patient for much length of time! I relaxed and went back to the O.R. to set up for the case.

It isn't my favorite thing in the world to do, but what I do best out of anyone I know is how to handle the difficult patient.

It's the combination of my heart, my experience, my expertise, and Reiki. Even before I learned Reiki, all of the fibromyalgia patients at my old hospital knew me and made special request for my presence with them when they had to have surgery. Not that fibromyalgia patients are crazy--far from it! These souls are shell-shocked and battle-weary from a medical system that doesn't 'figure them out', offer much in the way of 'cure', and sort of marginalizes them in the process…they get 'difficult' after going through all that.

For my greatest effectiveness in this potentially challenging situation, I started Reiki on myself and the team before I even set foot in the Emergency room.

It was with some hesitation I went to see the patient; I didn't know what to expect. All I knew is there was a condition inside that would be lethal in about six hours, and I had to do everything possible to 'talk them down' and into the surgery. (The patient and family gave consent, but from the consent to the operating room, with a frightened one, takes very delicate 'negotiation' to keep them from 'freaking out'. There is a lot of room for anxious imagination before anesthesia is induced, you see.)

The patient was sitting bolt upright in bed, almost in fetal position, and rocking to console themselves. I knew there was a lot of ativan on board because I had looked at the chart; but with chronic anxiety and xanax use, our i.v. anxiolytics don't 'go too far'.

The loved one was on the phone with a cousin. She handed the phone to me. Apparently the time before last was a 'bad experience' in the anxiety department, but the time after that (the last time) was 'okay'. I was requested to follow the protocol, including family member presence on emergence in PACU.

This is a tough call. I can request it, but I can't guarantee it because it is the recovery room nurse's 'turf' and her call alone. I explained this delicately, and the family understood.

I went back to the O.R. and got my drug box. I opened the lock and placed it on the mayo stand next to the gurney in E.R. I explained to the patient I was going to give medicine through the i.v. and asked permission to touch the i.v. port.

The key to the anxious patient is to explain, to demonstrate, to move slow and to ask permission every step of the way.  If your ego is back in the parking lot, this is no problem whatsoever. If your ego is on your white coat, both you and the patient are going to have a Long Day…

Slowly I titrated (gave small amounts looking for the effect) midazolam….gently talking the whole time. 'I want you to feel better. I don't want you to cry--it's going to make ME cry!' Two of versed (normal dose), slight improvement in the shaking all over with fear. Patient was asking to 'just go outside for a smoke'… No way, sorry! Four of versed. Visible improvement, but still tearful and rocking. Six of versed. A decent 'baseline' but would be lost with any move of the patient toward the O.R. when the next surge of anxiety would hit. Eight of versed. The window of opportunity was open and would last about five to ten minutes…before the drug was absorbed by the system and anxiety returned.

Family member escorted to exit of ER. An ER nurse Sandy, came to give our patient a hug right before the O.R. double doors. If you know how packed that ER was, and you knew how many patients Sandy was carrying (and mine was not one of them), you would be as impressed as I am at her compassion for our patient.

In the O.R., I only put on two monitors. I did not put the oxygen mask on the patient. I induced anesthesia gently and with lots of 'fair warning' while the patient was sitting up. As unconsciousness fell, we eased the patient on their back, and I started with mask ventilation to improve the oxygen surplus since there was no effective pre-oxygenation by the patient. It wasn't easy to get the breathing tube in, but it went, and the case was on.

A quick phone call to recovery room got the charge nurse to go to the ER to get the ativan I needed to give again in the i.v. before emergence, or 'waking up' from anesthesia.

The case had been life-saving, but uneventful, and the family had been informed by texts by me the whole time of when to expect 'waking up'.

Here are the transcripts of our texts:

Me: Hi (name), we are closing. Ativan is on board and PACU agrees with family presence in recovery. I'll let you know when we are out of the Operating Room. Dr. (me)

Family: Thank you Dr., that's wonderful news! (family member) is on the way and will be there shortly.

Me: In recovery, extubated 'deep' therefore still 'under' anesthesia. (this was family request)

Family: Thank you. I spoke to Dr. (surgeon). Sounds like everything went amazingly well. 1.5 hour surgery, laparoscopic not open, and no colostomy bag. Any guess on when they will wake up? (I promise not to hold you to it!)

Me: Whenever her ativan wears off, it's up to them…

Family: Thank you for the deep approach, you really do know how to take care of your high anxiety patients.

Me: That's because I have it too. Namaste.

Family: Thank you for sharing that with me. I know it will help our loved one greatly when I tell them. They still feel so ashamed, especially when encountering persons who do not understand this is a medical condition. Namaste. / /

Me: No need to be ashamed…anxiety hurts. Just let them know it's possible to feel better. I am way better than I was many years ago. Xo---I think it helps me take better care of my patients, and in a way, is for me, a blessing.

Family: You are so kind. I know your words will be very meaningful to them. I am absolutely sure that helps you take care of your patients better. Which as you say is a blessing for you but also a blessing in their lives. Our loved one has been struggling with this for several years and it is not any better. In fact it's worse due to additional problems that sap their resources such as divorce, disability (broken bones requiring two surgeries), periods of unemployment, financial problems, etc. Our loved one is unable to take almost all medications due to extreme side effect reactions. Interestingly their mother was the same way with meds although the mom doesn't suffer from anxiety disorder. It's so hard to find doctors who understand that our loved one needs to find a non-chemical solution. Sometimes they are impatient with them for not trying yet another medication, which sets up another cycle of self-doubt and shame. Did you benefit from cognitive behavioral therapy or any other forms?

Me: Yes. Talk therapy helped somewhat. I didn't take meds because I had a friend on Buspar and it didn't help. What helped the most was surrendering to the process and allowing myself to heal. It is slow. I think you might want to read All Is Well by Louise Hay and Mona Lisa Shulz, M.D. It has disease plus affirmations, like regular medicine plus holistic. Dr. Shulz is a psychiatrist who is also a medical intuitive. I think affirmations might be good for your loved one. Dr. Peter Levine has good work online for healing from PTSD. I took a class from him. Namaste.

Family: Dr. it is surely God's hand in our lives that has brought you to us today. Thank you so much for all this good information. Our loved one is also diagnosed with PTSD. Namaste.


This is NOT part of my job as an anesthesiologist!

Texting family members--offering advice--this is not anything I will ever be compensated for!

Yet it is the Right Thing To Do.

It is putting MY HEART on the line, out there, and connecting it to others to permit the Healing Process to HAPPEN. 

There is no healing for Anxiety without kindness and unconditional Love. Medications only buy time and decrease symptoms.

You know, I asked the family member right before we left for the O.R., 'what happened to your Loved one?' They were like, 'It's been this way forever!'. I rephrased it, 'Something awful must have happened to them for them to get like this.' The family member, a niece, had no idea what it was.

I did. I've lived it. In this life and in the one immediately before this life. I don't have to explain it to anybody. I only have to know enough to recognize and to treat anxiety effectively, with all the skills I have at my disposal. Reiki is an incredible layer of relaxation and healing on an energetic level, which is non-chemical and has no side-effects. It makes anesthesia so much more effective in situations like this.


It is what I do best.

And I've earned the right to say so!


Aloha and Mahalos,
Namaste,

Reiki Doc

Releasing The Floodgate

Wear Sandalwood.

Spirit urged me to wear my Miracle Botanicals Sandalwood oil as fragrance for today.

I should have looked it up...

_______________________________

On the way in to work, I did my Divine Peace Healing. When it comes to the part about my immediate concerns (myself, my son, and one other) I generally am excited to do that healing. Today I didn't want to, not at all.

I was surprised at what came out. Healing for me. You see, this is the time the other's Higher Self and mine 'talk'. I felt anger that surprised me. Some was anger at this soul for 'talking me into reincarnating'. There is a lot of 'I hate it here!' type of horror over experiences lived in this lifetime, as well as others, that my soul needs to say to his. And it does! There is a lot of 'promise me it's finished, the horrors' I want to hear. And I discovered I hate certain life choices this other has made. There is a tattoo that means very much to him, like an oath or a vow. I spit on it. My hatred of his breaking the laws of Spirit--in Heaven there are no vows--rankled me THAT MUCH! Next I took my 'soul mate of the sixth vibration' papers and waved them in front of his face, saying I had certain rights as a soul mate. He saw my point but made no motion to change. No promises. Nothing.

But I saw how judging I was, and how that was not right on my part to have such strong feelings. He had every right to live as his choice, independent of me. The rest of the healing went better. But, um, between us? The Thrill Is Gone...

________________________________

At work I did five cases before noon. They were quick. Everyone did well. I was delighted that my favorite gastroenterologist was there, and further, he asked me how my blog was doing? He is very proud of my accomplishments, even though he does not know how to 'find me' online, he understands the importance of this work.

He shared how his asthma was so bad that he had to go to Colorado for specialist treatment a few years back. The expert told him 'you have end-stage incurable asthma, and there is nothing that can be done.'.

His wife said, 'I don't believe him. We will find something to work for you.'

The only thing left was an injectable monoclonal antibody for eosinophilic asthma. It cost three thousand dollars a month. Insurance did not cover it.

His wife said, 'You make good money. Without this you can't work. Why don't we buy it for you ourselves?'

It worked so well, his doctor wrote and email on his behalf to the insurance company in support of his getting the treatment.

The insurance denied it. They said, 'immunoglobilin levels are normal'.

'It was not a doctor who was saying no--it was someone with high school education. Anyone medical would know that steroid use normalizes the immunoglobulin level. I took the risk of going off the steroids to show it was high in order to get the insurance company to pay for it.'

It has been two years now, with no long-term inhalers or steroids. He goes to the doctor's office (medical benefit, not pharmacy one if he self-injected) every two weeks.

Here is a link on the treatment: http://www.worldallergy.org/UserFiles/file/Monoclonal%20antibodies%20-%20El-Gamal.pdf

________________________________________

One patient was extra nervous. I had seen the pattern before. There was a lot of drama, and the partner and I had to wipe the tears. We did it because we wanted to, of course, but the patient was seriously upset. It took longer to talk the patient down than to do the procedure. It was the second time of the day I had a patient with fear of propofol. I gave Reiki and lots of it, and propofol too! At the end everyone was happy. However, I found that this panic attack took a toll on me. It didn't 'hit' until the drive home.

Never underestimate the effect on the emotional health of the caregiver from being 'on the front lines'. 
_______________________________________________

I stopped by the Reptile store to pick up some jumbo mice. But first, I went to the used bookstore to find a copy of Tao by Lao Tzu, as the tattoo patient with my father's birthday recommended. I found one, sort of a sequel. Here is the line that 'jumped out' at me:

If you have a spiritual experience and you want to keep having spiritual experiences, you must turn from that which you just completed and go on to the next thing.

It doesn't matter how wonderful or uplifting your experience was; you turn from that and go on to the next thing. To do less is to deny your growth and awareness.

As soon as you measure your present experience with a past experience, you have judged it, and your judgements will be upon you. You have then propelled yourself out of Spirit.

To get yourself back into the Spirit, you move into the present moment and love whatever is happening.

When you are not living in expectation, you can't be caught in negativity.

The book is signed by the author, John-Roger. It says 'For (almost my first name, only one letter off), Best Wishes'.

There were no mice.
_________________________________________________

I cried in the car on the drive home.

I felt lost.

I get very tearful around Dad's 'anniversary' or 'birthday in Heaven'.

I also felt the sting of rejection from my twin soul.

He has no feelings towards me.

I should have noticed.

I should have shut the F up and gone on my own way a lot sooner than I did.

I had a heart to heart with Ross, my 'guide' who is 'up there'.

'Is there no happiness for me in this life?' I asked, with my whole heart.

His answer? 'Did you Learn and Grow from it?'

'Yes.'

'Then move on. There is no loss when one Learns and experiences Growth from it.'

At that point I realized whatever is happening in my perception may be archon-influenced--it might be half-true--but my heart knows there is no connection. Painful as it is, I accept it.

Out of all the Twin Flame, soul-mates of the sixth vibration, mine does not like me. Mine does not want anything to do with me. Mine is more interested in everything else, ANYTHING ELSE, and not me. Won't lift a finger. Won't go out of his way. Is Asian 'polite'. And that is about it.

His silence is a weapon against my heart. More like a ten-blade (this is a scalpel). It cuts to heal. God only knows what it is meant to heal? But there is not one drop of anesthesia for my soul...and in some way, I suppose, that is 'good'.

I am a two when it comes to birth years. Two's and three's are not known to 'mix'.

_________________________________________

If it's not mine, take it away.  I prayed that. It worked enough to get me the rest of the way home.

And also Spirit sent this:

By the way, sandalwood is good for social anxiety. LOL
Here is a link: http://socialanxietydisorder.about.com/od/alternativetreatments/p/sandalwood.htm

Spirit has got me figured out. And also over half of my patients!

I think a vacation is in order. Ahhhh...where should I go?

Namaste,

Reiki Doc

P.S. Here is what All Is Well has to say about asthma--I might need some affirmations : )

It is safe now for me to take charge of my own life. I choose to be free.

One more 'thing sent from Source' on the subject: http://thecreatorwritings.wordpress.com/2013/05/30/love-another-love-yourself/

Colonoscopy Number Two

My friends in psychic development class contacted me about a month ago. 'Do you have a recommendation for a gastroenterologist? The orthopedic surgeon you sent me to was such a good match!'

Of course. I saw the list of names provided by insurance, and recommended about three who I thought would be a 'good match'  for colonoscopy.

My friend is really anxious.

My friend had a totally bad experience with 'conscious sedation' during the last colonoscopy. They had to cut the procedure short because my friend was so uncomfortable.

It took a lot of rearranging the schedules in advance and a lot of phone calls to make me available for the study. I wasn't sure if I could make it, but I got there on time, and the GI team was running late.

Then the GI doc wanted to take lunch. I was going to join him, but in the waiting room were my friends, the one to have the study and the other to drive home.  They had such delight on their faces at seeing me 'all dressed like an anesthesiologist', I chose to stay with them until the GI doc came back.

The nurses were flustered at the rush. It was because I had to be starting a case in the main O.R. in forty-five minutes.

My boss cut in ahead with his case first. The nurse invited me to insert an i.v. while she got my friend ready 'so she would feel more comfortable'.

Nurses like it when I start and i.v. especially when stressed. It is one less thing for them to do. (You should see the times they don't even try and just say 'it looks too difficult we left the veins for you!') Most of the time they put them in, though. I am lucky. They do it way more often than at my last work.

I got a twenty-two gauge in on the right hand with a quick wince from my friend, and a loud 'It's over!' by me.

Her friend came in and sat in the chair as I worked.  After I examined the patient and the patient records, as we waited and talked I gave Reiki.

At the feet, I asked, 'Do you mind if I touch your feet?' We do hands-off Reiki, as we were taught, but Spirit nudged me to lay my hands on the soles (plantar) and back (dorsum) of the feet. I got the okay.

It turns out there is peripheral neuropathy.

I  could even feel the bowel prep in the abdomen, there was a lot of discordant energy in the bowel as my hands hovered over the area.

Soon it was time to go. I had seen patients like this. Many times! I knew how much anesthesia to give. I knew how much the study was going to 'stimulate' (be painful) so I took her deep.

I had let the GI doc know it was ME that send my friend to HIM through my referral. So he did his best, and biopsied microscopic polyps and took forever looking every which way, although the study was technically difficult due to exceptionally long colon.

During the case I got two phone calls from the angry surgeon who badgered the front desk at main O.R. to find me for his next case. I also had my boss walk in twice, offering-sort of-to take over but then he would have been late for his next case. To the first, I said, 'ask my boss. He scheduled it. I am on a special request case. If you have to find someone else to start it' and to the second, 'I think I should finish this'.

It finally ended. I took her to recovery, gave report, hugged her ride and said everything is all right. But my surgeon is mad I me, I am fifteen minutes late, I have to run.

That ride is my reiki teacher.

She sent reiki to the surgeon in the O.R.

He did the fastest oncology case I have ever seen--with full node dissections--faster than a normal case.

He was on fire!

Thanks Reiki.

Later that night I checked on my patient with email messages.

Shortly after the procedure, my patient was doing the things they love to do, according to the ride. My patient emailed me too with a big THANKS!

I heard from the ride friend that around eight o'clock at night, her friend the patient looked at her and said, 'Reiki Doc is my HERO!'

I was so excited. My dream and my dedication is to 'turn things around' for people who have had traumatic experiences with invasive tests and surgical procedures.

My teacher said, 'you can check that one off your list!' and is requesting me for their next scheduled colonoscopy.

I am their private anesthesiologist!

Love,

Reiki Doc

The Patient Who Healed Me

This article is 'schmaltz'. Pure, unadulterated 'cheez' that will get you 'perklempt'. So if you are not into being emotional, please stop reading here. Thank you.

Now for the rest of you, I have a story. It is a story about a lady who was terrified about her surgery. I am talking, 'I need Versed NOW' kind of anxious.  (I was called by the nurses in Pre-Op holding to settle this one down, with anxiolytic, if necessary. I did.)

The wonderful thing about this patient, is that she was recently married and having the operation to help 'with having kids'. I won't get into specifics, but let us say 'parts is parts' and we are there to 'fix it'.

Sometimes I get tiny wishes in my heart. Ones that I don't have the courage to say, or even 'say to myself'. But they are from my heart. It went: I wish there was something she could do that was nice for me so that she will get pregnant.

I know this sounds bizarre, but I am 'lucky' for people having kids! Every time someone has done something genuinely NICE for me, from their heart (and this is rare, seriously--but I get a 'vibe' when this happens) the next time I hear from them they are with child. I think there are about ten in all, so it is more than a coincidence. It is energetic.

The case goes along routinely. Except for one thing: everyone commented on how she was pretty. The scrub techs, the nurses, and the surgeon. I have NEVER heard anyone talk like that. But she was covered in a blanket, everyone was looking at her face, and saying 'she has a really pretty face. She is really a beautiful girl.'* Anesthesia wise she is normal and healthy in every way. Until I hook in to the energy system.

Healing energy flowed from her to me!

I felt it. Sweet calm energy of healing. It was unmistakeable! Instead of the usual 'flow' of Reiki (Source through me to patient), something flowed from patient to me. For the entire case! I just sat there  and enjoyed the surprise from Spirit.

It wasn't until bedtime that I put it all together, and I hope I got my wish: for her to experience the joys of motherhood and family. I hope 'it works'.

Love and Light and Namaste,

Reiki Doc

* -- mom says it was like that the day I was born. All of the nurses were nuns, and were commenting on how I looked. Even the other mothers told mom how beautiful her baby was. Mom said this went on the entire week we were in the hospital together (she couldn't pee, after a big repair). It was kind of spooky to mom. She said it was like on 'Bewitched' when Tabitha was born and there had been a spell cast on her by Endora. : )

Love-A To See You

"There is no fear in love, because perfect Love casts out Fear"

Two Visits:

The Convalescent Home: Grandmother

Grandmother is ninety years old, and has dementia. A survivor of abuse as a child, she recently suffered at the hands of a loved one and their partner, who had considered her an 'investment'. The details are not important, except for the purposes of a back story for this 'talk story', ya?

She is in her new home, one that is closer to the family. It is my first visit. She is lying in her bed, low to the floor, little cap on her head and two crocheted blankets on her. One was the expensive pink one I had bought. She smiled and kissed me, and I greeted her with delight.

She wanted to know if I had brought her anything. I pulled out a bag of M&M's and fed them to her one at a time. She smiled with pleasure at the chocolate. I had to make a big show out of eating them with her, as she will not eat if you do not eat a little too. 

In her broken English, she said, 'what do you-a know about-a this life? It can-a be short, long-a, you-a never know--who would have-a thought that I would be here-a like-a this?' She points up to the ceiling and says, 'Only God can decide when we live or we die'.

I saw her kiss the hand of the nurse that gave her medicine and a supplement shake to drink. (she had been badly malnourished and thin). 

She looked and me and said, 'We should be happy all the time!'

She also thought today was two miracles, one because I came to see her (she had been thinking about me) and the other because her table was so pretty with a table cloth at dinner. 

'I am-a so blessed! she said, as I said I had to go. 

'Mangia!' I told her, as clearly I was distracting her from her supper.

'Ciao!'

'Ciao.'

Telemetry, Big Box Hospital: my parent

There is drama. All three children are at the bedside. We watch the T.V. together. The i.v. had caused the hand to swell. Although the metabolic problems were corrected, a new problem has cropped up.

The sister who spent last night and is going to spend this night 'looks like she is in jail', my other sibling said.

It is true. In the hospital, with a loved one who is fearful of every little thing, even the way the tubing to the leg squeezers (to prevent blood clots) is arranged, it puts a person on edge. The hypervigilance of the parent, the constant need to reassure, to explain the same thing over and over again is emotionally draining.

'Hey doctor, I have a question for you?' my parent said. They wanted to know about the condition requiring a long-term drain. I explained it my best, in my most gentle and optomistic terms.

The parent grunts and says, 'That's what the specialist said.' All day long, there has been obsessing about the drain. How to manage it. Hoping against all hope for a way perhaps one person would say it was not needed after all.

There is a total disconnect between the ego and the clinical situation in this patient, who happens to be my parent. Three kids, all taking turns to keep our parent from being alone, for one week, making huge sacrifices of our time and energy all to keep our parent's fear in check.

I have seen this kind of mindset clinically. There is no way to calm fear in someone like this. Not without chemicals like Versed. It just doesn't work.

My doctor, whom I saw recently because of a cough that keeps getting worse, issued me a one-hour each day limit. My doctor is from the same Mediterranean background as me. His parents are even more like this than mine!

The moral of the story is:  there is no 'I' in Love. Grandmother is all heart. Parent is love taking third place after Fear and Ego. Parent is innocent, except for permitting this pattern in the first place; it has taken root and is lowering the quality of their life experience.

'There are two ways to look at life. The first is as if nothing is a miracle. The second is as if everything is a miracle.' - Albert Einstein

What habits would you like to cultivate in you? The first step is to be aware of them. In the dining room, there was a woman with echolalia. She would say the same thing over and over. 'I don't want any! I don't want any! I don't want any! I don't want any! and 'Help me! Help me! Help me! Help me!'

Sometimes we get echolalia in our head. They can be good thoughts. And they can be fearful thoughts. The examples are in the talk-stories shared above. We do not have to permit echolalia of the fearful thoughts. We have the strength to acknowledge them, and nip them in the bud, plucking them out like weeds, and concentrating on the beautiful loving thoughts we would like to have. This IS a miracle! That we have the power to select and 'edit' what is on our mind. That is the definition of Free Will and the ticket to Freedom for the Higher Dimensions.

Namaste,

Reiki Doc

Reiki C-section: A Case Report

The benefit of Reiki  in childbirth is most noticeable with the anxious patient scheduled for a repeat cesarean section. This is a case report of how Reiki and the discipline of a Reiki Master/Karuna Reiki(tm) Master made a difference in one couple's experience in childbirth.

The Reiki process starts out with preparation: all the equipment and medicine required to anesthetize for surgical childbirth are in place. Organization and consistency increase the calm for everyone involved in the procedure. Anesthesia sets the tone for the O.R., no matter what.

Next is the patient interview and quick examination. I am taking in a lot of verbal, non-verbal and body language cues when we first meet. I set you at ease talking about your last experience, and what can be done to make this experience better for you? For example, if the last time you were so numb you could not breathe and just sort of went to sleep, I would instantly know that you were too anxious for surgery, were moving and panicking enough to endanger yourself and the surgeon, and that the anesthesiologist snowed you with sedation. That your arms were strapped to the arm boards when we normally do not do this at this hospital, confirms my hunch.

 I counter this with kindness, friendliness, and asking if you would enjoy a little music during surgery? You are caught off guard, pleasantly surprised, and make a specific request for a religious music station on Pandora. I agree.

Next I warn the room what to expect. Anything outside the range of typical, I let my colleagues on your case know about it so we match. Anesthesia, nursing, scrub tech. I want seamless delivery of care. Any concerns of yours, I make sure everybody will know.

 Upon your arrival to the Operating Room, I switch to Pediatric Mode because I know you are anxious. Everything I am about to use, I show you first. I explain. And I imply (you are an adult so I don't actually say it for each thing, just the major ones) that it will not hurt. I make a point to show you the Carpuject cartridges of midazolam, and point out that if the anxiety gets intolerable for you, you can ask for me to give it. I let you know you are in control. Psychologically, it is like knowing that the chicken exit door is there when you are in line for Space Mountain at Disneyland. I am honest, and let you know I would like to wait until after the baby is born, so that baby will not be born under sedation, and that you will remember the experience of childbirth, for it is special. You agree.

The block is placed with instruction and explanation. See this, I use it to scrub your back. It is cold, wet, and a little scratchy. Here are the papers I stick on you. Here is a bee sting. It is numbing you skin so you won't feel the rest of the spinal going in. The medicine is going in now. Your legs are going to go numb right away. Think of it as my borrowing your legs for a while until your baby is born. I do this in less than five minutes. My skill is exceptional at this point, technically. Speed, accuracy, and keeping you calm with my manner. You have no clue, but I know the others in the room are impressed.

We lay you down and put the rest of the monitors on. I give you antibiotics. Your anxiety kicks in, and you grab both of my hands in terror. There is a trick to anesthesia in obstetric surgery: you won't feel hot, cold or pain, but you WILL feel someone is working on you. Like at the dentist. This is a challenge for you to grasp. I see this in the anxious and the less educated. I am okay with this. I let you hold my hands. The charting can wait.

As long as you are monitored and doing okay with your blood pressure and heart rate and oxygen saturation, the Reiki training helps me to focus on YOU. You are terrified and therefore in need of my services. Now. It can't wait. I start Reiki.

No wonder why you are terrified! You have no connection to ground whatsoever! You take your spirituality to heart, and are more focused on the higher chakras and Heaven than here. I ground you. I give SHK to calm your emotions. And I give transition symbol for the impending birth. I do many many symbols with my eyes and I see them work in the same manner as if I had pushed a drug. Same onset. Same efficacy. Your partner arrives, and is a professional spiritual person. A pastor. You look up to this person, and ground yourself to them, but not to Gaia. I get it.

And I work. I let all my work pile up, and I console you with your partner as every little tug and pull gets you on edge as the surgeons work. The baby is born and I see your anxiety go up instead of down. Is the baby okay? The bonding you do with your partner at this point is intense. I say I am blessed to be here at this special moment in your lives, and I mean it sincerely. I reassure you both.

Soon your partner cuts the cord and you are anxious again. I have to give medicines for uterine contraction and catch up. I let you know and you apologize for 'being so worried', and also refuse sedation that I offer.

You meet your newborn, with wonder and delight of a child. I take pictures of the new family. The baby and partner go, and you clutch my hands again. I am caught up with orders and charting. It is no skin off my back, and I roll with it.

The conversation turns to Friday the Thirteenth. It is my lucky day! You share that you would never schedule an elective c-section on that day. There is talk of Winchester Mystery House. The surgeon does not know what it is. I joke and share it was job security for the laborers and craftsmen, and still income source now. I mention our family has a picture of a ghost there. It's true, it was a bedroom, and when the film was developed, there was a body size light lying on the red bedspread. You say that you don't believe in ghosts. I backpedal artfully, and say we used to spook each other while watching slides.

I know it was real. I was there when that picture was taken. I felt her presence. But this is not the time or place for such. You thank me profusely for letting me squeeze your hands. You are okay now.

Your family member says she felt a calm when I walked in the room and introduced myself earlier. She knew at once everything was going to be okay.

You are a twin. And I asked about the twin experience? When your sibling gave birth, you felt the pain. You couldn't explain it. And you show up at family events wearing similar outfits without even planning it. You are best friends and yes had a language of your own. People treat us like one person, you share. That is real. That is what Reiki is all about. Being real, putting up with people's programming, and making space for the real person inside of your heart to speak.

You do have psychic experiences. More so than most of my patients. I used Reiki to set the tone and do adjustments on you, the way the guy would on City Dog (that mojo just flows down the leash from him to the dog, an owner said), or a horse whisperer would to horses.

Reiki lets me get into your aura and give you a better experience than the one you had the last time, the one that had you afraid of re-experiencing this entire pregnancy.

I gave you joy. I gave you hope. I gave you comfort and exceptional care. I went against the grain of every anesthesia training I had in my body (drug her! ) I worked with the best in you that was hidden and it showed.

The one who experienced it the most was your partner. I got a hug of deep appreciation, for only they knew how anxious you truly were. More so than you imagine! And I contained it without the use of sedative drugs.

I gave you a chance to remember the birth of your child. But in the grand scheme of things, I was only a tool in the hands of our Creator. I think your religion would let you agree to that. (Although if you knew the rest of me you might shun me and say I was not holy enough for you to tolerate me, because I talk to dead people and that is from Satan according to your religious beliefs.)  I am okay with it. And this is what the practice of energetic medicine, in particular, the application of Reiki during cesarean section, is an advantage on all counts.

Only anesthesia can use it with the patient unawares. Everyone else has too much to do. Any Reiki volunteer with their hands would make it obvious, and be unacceptable to you.

I visited you in the morning. You thought is was very nice of me to stop and check. You gave a great big smile, right from your heart.

Love knows no boundaries. And the work of a healer is to neutralize fear in all of its manifestations.

Namaste,

Reiki Doc

The Letter D Extruded: The effect of Anesthesia Drugs

It's odd, sometimes the answers are right in front of you, the ones that you can't see. Something that has bothered me as an anesthesiologist and psychic is the nearly united sentiment of the natural healing community that Conventional Medicine is Bad.  I have gotten into it online with several people, trying to inject some reality into childbirth, anesthesia drugs, and this perception that Conventional Medicine is Bad. And that Conventional Medicine is Designed to Make Someone Rich.

I see it as one way to address Common Human Suffering, through Disease. And the people who are from the granola-forces just refuse to see it.

Then it occurred to me: both are correct.

General Anesthesia uses very strong medicines, that produce severe side-effects. For some people, in their perception, the benefit is worth the price. And for others, the price is not worth the benefit.
What can be done to bridge the chasm between both points of view? Begin open discussion! Here are some of the side effects I experienced personally this past week. And here are some tips on how to avoid them. That way, anyone out there on whatever side can know the facts, and apply them to their benefit if the need for General Anesthesia should arise.




Anxiety Going under anesthesia and having surgery is frightening. You don't have to be aware of it. I asked, 'Please don't let me remember what the inside of the O.R. looks like; I have seen too much.' And my friend gave me anxiety medicine in my i.v. in PreOp Holding. What I remembered was patchy at best.


 Awareness Being awake in the O.R. CAN happen. If you are having cardiac surgery, conscious sedation without an anesthesiologist, OB anesthesia, emergency surgery you are at higher risk. (Your blood pressure is low and more anesthesia would only lower it) Obesity, female sex, and chronic use of prescription or non-prescription mood altering substances can increase the risk. Open discussion with your medical team and anesthesia provider can tip them off that 'you might need MORE' to stay 'out'. And if possible, BIS intraoperative monitoring can measure your level of consciousness while you sleep. For most people this sticker on the forehead is enough to ensure that appropriate levels of anesthesia are maintained. Then it is only if you have low blood pressure due to profound illness, that less anesthesia (which lowers the blood pressure) can be used, and that risk of awareness is present. 


 Muscle Relaxation For some surgery, it is important that you do not move (delicate, such as neurosurgery or cardiac surgery). For others, it is important that your muscles relax so that the surgeon can see inside (abdominal). For this strong muscle relaxing (paralyzing) agents are given. These are separate from pain medication and 'forget' (amnesia) medication. Although there is the chance you can 'wake up and not move', more often the case is that you will feel weak when you wake up. It will seem hard to take a breath, and your movements will be shorter and weaker.  Time will take care of this. Do not be afraid, for your oxygen is being monitored continuously and help will be given if your saturation is low. Five minutes or more and you will be normal again. Not to worry!


 Dryness of mouth Eating a cracker was miserable. I had no spit. It took glasses and glasses of water to get it to go down, and it stuck on my teeth. To reverse muscle relaxant, anticholinergic drugs are given. They dry up spit, and slow the gut. Sometimes you will feel the need to be thirsty for days following surgery. This is a normal side-effect of those drugs. It will pass. Note that the oxygen given is not always humidified too. It can be drying. 


 Dryness of eyes  tear production is decreased under general anesthesia. If dry eyes are a problem, ask for lubricant to be put in them while you are asleep. This worked wonders for me. Vision might be a little blurry when you wake up, but it is better than very dry eyes.


 Nausea and Vomiting Gut motility is slowed considerably by 1) surgery 2) anesthesia 3)pain medicine 4) reversal of muscle relaxant. I am on toast and tea for three days after surgery. Here is what to do--mention to everybody you have the problem and don't want to throw up. This justifies the expense of MORE medication. Get 1) a long-acting antiemetic (in pre-op) like scopolamine patch 1.5 mg transdermal or Emend (aprepritant) for three days of fighting nausea after 1 dose. 2) zofran round the clock 3) decadron round the clock 4) intraop benadryl 5) hydration at least 20 ml/kg intraop 6) avoid triggers (reversal, nitrous oxide).  Keep on supplemental oxygen and walk as much as possible to get the gut moving again. Until you pass gas from below, don't try to eat too much. Your gut is still asleep.


 Incisional Discomfort Take enough pain medicine so you can cough. I prefer non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (ibuprofen, toradol) for my pain. Sometimes in surgery these can affect bleeding and surgical outcome. So I took narcotics, which made me throw up.  It was a vicious circle--your options are to stop taking the narcotics and just hurt (I switched to ibuprofen except at night) or to take strong antiemetics. A good alternative is i.v. acetamenophen 1000 mg q 6 hours (Ofirmev).


 Itching  Itching was a serious problem from the narcotics. I scratched under my leg squeezers, on my back, on my arms and legs. There are scabs from clawing at myself. Benadryl usually is used in this situation, but it gives me nightmares so I opted to itch. Nubain also is excellent for stopping itching from narcotics.


 Constipation  Because the motility is slowed and the colon keeps absorbing water, constipation is a problem after most surgery, especially abdominal surgery. Keep on stool softener colace as long as narcotic pain killers are used. Walk. Increase fluids. Take psyllium. Mineral oil and prunes are also useful. Give yourself an entire day after surgery to get used to normal bowel function again. This is day two to day four. It is painful.


 Airway Obstruction  standard of care is to use a Masimo pulse oximeter on the patient post-op on the surgical ward. I have mild sleep apnea. I do not wear a mask. I was surprised at how often my oxygen saturation dipped below 93%. It would alarm at 90%. A few deep breaths would fix it. What happened is ATELECTASIS (drop in lung volume from shallow breathing after surgery) and NARCOTIC RESPIRATORY DEPRESSION (I would forget to breathe). Insist on a monitor on you or your loved one. It is the standard of care. And do incentive spirometry, breathing exercises, sitting out of bed in a chair, and walking to reverse the atelectasis process.


 Bleeding and Hypercoagulation Surgical trauma to tissue makes the patient hypercoagulable (more likely to clot). This is a risk for deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolus. Stockings, leg squeezers (sequential compression stockings), lovanox injections, subcutaneous heparin injections are for decreasing the risk. My surgeon was concerned about bleeding from my daily aspirin, and had me stop it. So I was sure to do  leg exercises and wear the compression hose. Take these same risk-reduction measures for long distance travel by car, train, or plane to reduce clotting risk. A friend of mine diagnosed a PE on himself mid-flight, and on landing had to be transported to a hospital for anticoagulation with a heparin drip.


 Risk of Falling/ Impaired Balance Getting up after surgery makes you light-headed. Have someone there. Hold on to an i.v. pole or a walker when walking at first. You will get your balance back again.




Urinary Retention Anesthesia and narcotics upset the cholinergic balance on the little muscles that tell your bladder sphincter to relax and let urine flow. For some with big prostates, the normal balance is lost for good, and medical intervention is necessary through a catheter or surgery to open the flow. If your first void or two after surgery is difficult, push as hard as you can, and know it will improve with time. Do not allow your bladder to overdistend, or else it will need bladder rest. Have your nurse help you with a quick in and out catheter first. Foley catheters tend to increase risk of infection, and need to be out by three days.




Sore Throat Your throat is likely to be VERY sore after any kind of surgery. My entire mouth burned. For days. Roof and tongue.  It is from intubation, laryngoscopy, and the bite block that is hard plastic that is used in the mouth. I lube my patient's endotracheal tubes and use soft cotton for a bite block, and they never get a sore throat unless intubation was difficult. Avoid citrus and you will get better.


 Nosebleed  My nose was full of dried blood. For days. I am not sure why. Perhaps a tube was passed through the nose to empty the stomach while I slept? I am still working on this one. You are not alone!


 Annoyance Everything bothers me! T.V. People talking. The way other people drive me in the car (they hit lots of painful bumps). Now it is post-op day five, and getting better. I have not experienced annoyance like this before, and am not sure where it comes from. Glad it is going away.


 Amotivation/passivity  My Life Force is weak. Daily Reiki is helping. And sunshine too. Eating to raise my vibration back to its natural state. Caring from friends, family, and coworkers helps with this one too.


 Chakra Imbalance  I have a sense for my chakras. Having surgery imbalanced them. But others chakras in the healing process are overcompensating. As I achieve balance, I am gentle with myself, as it is not going directly from imbalance to balance. Instead, it is going through many 'rebalancing' combinations that are uncomfortable along the way. I focus on my Heart Center. I listen for Guidance, which is quiet. And I Trust and Envision being back to normal for me again. Let me restate: I avoid low vibration, I am patient, I take in High Vibration whenever possible, and I wait. Sleep is one of the best things out there to heal the physical and non-physical alike.




 Miscommunication/being misunderstood Everyone working with you, be it professional, friend, or family, is going to see you through the distortion of how they see themselves. For me, the most extreme is my son, who is too young to understand the consequences of what I have been through. He cannot comprehend my being sick. I extend myself to a limit that I place on myself, for him. I protect my incisions with pillows against accidental harm (for example, he went to hit my arm at seeing an 'out of state' license plate, missed, and socked me square in the incision!). You are a perfect creature in illusion. It is all right to take steps to 'bend the illusion' somewhat in order to protect yourself. And have patience that everyone is doing the best they can, based on their individual state, to help you. Their intentions are good.


 Difference in Vibration/lack of Telepathy I went quiet. I missed it. The only thing I get is right before I wake up. It is coming back. There is only so much energy to go around. Be patient. And it will come back. Concentrate on Now, and know that everything is blessed and Right.


Healing is a lesson in itself. It is a powerful lesson. And when you see for yourself what surgery can do, and how you can bounce back, you will be inspired by the body's ability at reparation.

If you do not wish to undergo surgery, that is okay. But inform yourself so you can help others.

Imbalances that become physical are only lessons that have become harder to not notice.

Everyone has their lessons. As healers you shall experience them too.

One day all of this will seem antique. Better things are ahead. Until we get to them, add Reiki to the mix. And Namaste.

Reiki Doc