Pecans and ALS - It's Nuts

Eating about a handful of pecans each day may play a role in protecting the nervous system, according to a new animal study published in the current issue of Current Topics in Nutraceutical Research. The study, conducted at the Center for Cellular Neurobiology at the University of Massachusetts Lowell, suggests adding pecans to your diet may delay the progression of age-related motor neuron degeneration. This may include diseases like amyotropic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease.

Mice provided a diet supplemented with pecans displayed a significant delay in decline in motor function compared to mice receiving no pecans. Mice eating the diet with the most pecans (0.05%) fared best. Both pecan groups fared significantly better than those whose diets contained no pecans. The result was based on how the mice performed in highly specific tests, each of which compared mice on the control diet with mice consuming pecan-enriched diets.

For more information on the health benefits of pecans, recipes, photos and much more, visit www.ilovepecans.org.

Cough Assist for ALS

Cough Assist
Studies have shown prolonged survival and a delayed need for tracheotomy by over a year with its use?

The CoughAssist noninvasively helps patients clear bronchial secretions when they can't cough for themselves. The CoughAssist is a safe, comfortable way to reduce the risk of airway damage and respiratory complications. Helps patients by enhancing or replacing their natural removal of bronchial secretions with the gradual application of positive pressure to the airway followed by a rapid shift to negative pressure. The slow inhale/rapid exhale airflow simulates the natural coughing process while avoiding the potential problems associated with more invasive procedures.Many physicians now recommend the Cough Assist or Exsufflator. This product is often ordered prior to or at the same time as the BIPAP. The Cough Assist is a prescription item that is covered by Medicare and Medicaid.

Find out more, ask questions and pass on the information;
http://www.coughassist.com/
http://www.alshopefoundation.com/resp.php

ALS......The Long Goodbye

Hard to watch...but harder to live with.
This is a family's journey with Lou Gehrig's Disease.

Through Life we learn Suffering precedes Death.
Through ALS we learn Suffering engages the Family.

Because You Really Love that ALS Patient

Pamper yourself with a gentle, warm aerated stream. A convenient remote control allows you to personalize several functions including water temperature, pressure, and even offers a gentle cycling massage feature.
Follow cleansing with a touch of a button for an adjustable warm air-dry while enjoying the comfort of a gently heated seat. Both features include adjustable temperatures.
BB-1000 is equipped with state-of-the-art "smart power saving function" that calculates the most frequently used hours of the day for maximum savings with a powerful deodorizer that eliminates up to 90% of embarrassing odor.
Its patented 1 pocket 3 nozzles allow maximum hygiene with a soothing pulsating massage.
Equipped with the most advanced "Capacitance" seat sensor and "Self Diagnose," BB-1000 is truly the most advanced and complete bidet seat in the industry.

• Available in Round and Elongated. White or Biscuit.
• Convenient Remote Control
• Powerful deodorizer with carbon filter
• Patented 1 pocket 3 nozzle system
• Auto Smart Power Saving
• Extra protections on electronic parts
• Quality approved by UL CE TUV
• Heated Seat
• Warm Air Dry
• Built-in Filter
• Hydraulic Seat and Cover
• Safety Sensor
• Self-Diagnosis
• Wide Cleaning
• Massage Cleaning
• Quick Release for Easy Cleaning
• Gentle Aerated Water Stream

Pixie Dust for PALS

Lithium combined with Rilutek could slow ALS progression?

Another United States discovery, no this hot item comes from the Italians. I suppose any news is better than no news at all. Lithium has been circulated in the neruogolical fiields for about ten years and now it's the newest healer, well maybe for this week. Something is horribly wrong with research results verses dollars spent. If Rilutek was more effective we would not need this new Peter Pan theory using Pixie Dust to slow ALS progression. Seems to me this sort of distraction only keeps us in that revolving door spinning between Life and Breath. We need Uncle Sam to stop wasting tax dollars on agencies that take a disease and uses it to create weekly paychecks. How about creating one task force to work on one disease. Make them accountable for progress every quarter, no results, new team / new staff.

Like Lithium, ten years back we had another debacle that was called Myotrophin. Kyle Hahn led his fight against the FDA only to have Hope taken from him. Last week we saw the courage of Leo Green giving Hope to Lithium.

Today Kyle and Leo have been taken from us by ALS and the movie never ends, it goes on and on and on.

Lou Gehrig's Patients Get Their Bill Blocked

January 7, 2008 - by Donny Shaw - OpenCongress.org

The ALS Registry Act, S. 1382, has been frozen by Senate trickery. As a person coping with ALS my dream is to keep it on the front page. This century old disease deserves more than a whisper.
ALS, commonly known as Lou Gehrig's disease, is the most horrible disease in our modern times. ALS is the disease that takes a deadly toll on the body by a process of total muscle paralysis, which causes death in a very short time. While the amount of those being diagnosed is on the rise our numbers remain just low enough for science and the medical companies to turn and look away. ALS is the disease we like to whisper about. Reminds me of the homeless Veteran standing on the roadside with a cardboard sign that reads "Hungry, God Bless."
Senator Tom Coburn of Oklahoma is also a Doctor that thinks the Center for Disease Control collecting data on the variables of ALS is a waste of money. The ALS Registry Act was written and introduced four years ago. Endless hours by ALS Advocates and congressional time taken to approve and make sure it is acceptable has all been lost. The Senator found a way to kill the clock just before the other team won; Senate trickery called a "Hold."
Before adjourning for the year, Coburn vowed to put a hold on any bill that didn't meet a set of criteria that he outlined on his website. Apparently, this is one of the bills that didn't make the cut, but Coburn has not yet issued a specific explanation as to why. He's got a lot of explaining to do with this one -- it is co-sponsored by two-thirds of the Senate and the House of Representatives already passed their version of it by an overwhelming vote of 411-3.

Doctor, Senator, Deacon Kills ALS Progress

ALS commonly known as Lou Gehrig's disease is the most horrible disease in our modern times. ALS is the disease that takes a deadly toll on the body by a process of total muscle paralysis, which causes death in a very short time. While the amount of those being diagnosed is on the rise our numbers remain just low enough for science and the medical companies to turn and look away. ALS is the disease we like to whisper about. Reminds me of the homeless Veteran standing along the roadway with a cardboard sign that reads "Hungry, God Bless."
The person with the three identities is Senator Tom Coburn of Oklahoma. He is the Doctor that thinks the Center for Disease Control collecting data on the variables of ALS is a waste of money. The ALS Registry Act was written and introduced four years ago. Endless hours by ALS Advocates and congressional time taken to approve and make sure it is acceptable has all been lost. The Senator found a way to kill the clock just before the other team won; Senate trickery called a "Hold." No public explanation yet but our guess is the Doctor has more important items to deal with. Saving Lives and Money?
As a Deacon, you would think he might give testimony to Benevolence before he creates the false identity of a Fiscal Conservative. The ALS community is not asking for a handout, we just need to be counted. Simply connect the dots of this horrid century old disease, that's all.
The ALS Registry Act S.1382 is now on "Hold" frozen in the Senate and more ALS victims are left by the side of the road holding a cardboard sign that reads "Help, God Bless."

Grinch Holds Lou Gehrig (ALS) Patients Hostage

ALS patients nation wide are being held hostage this Christmas by a Grinch on Capitol Hill. His name is Tom Coburn, Senator from Oklahoma. The Wall Street Journal posted the front-page article on Dec. 21st and detailed how this Senator worked late while others adjourned for the Holidays. His scrooge style mission was to place a "hold" on selected bills, a procedural maneuver that allows a single senator to prevent a bill from being passed quickly without a roll-call vote or floor debate. The bill held hostage is the ALS Registry Act S.1382. This legislation would authorize the establishment of an ALS Registry at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The House of Representatives passed the bill on Oct.16, 2007 by an overwhelming 411-3 vote. The Senate H.E.L.P. Committee favorably reported the Senate version of the bill on Nov. 14, 2007 and more than two-thirds of the Senate has cosponsored the bill. The ALS Registry Act is needed to build on projects underway at the CDC and supported by the Congress and the Administration.
This bill was drawn up and introduced by Congressman Elliot Engel, N.Y. in 2004. When this bill finally becomes law it may take the CDC two years to collect the first of its ALS data. My question for Senator Coburn would be to tell me how many ALS patients would die in this five-year period. If we had the ALS Registry Act we would know the facts and much more Senator.

All Dressed Up and Nowhere to Go

When I was a teenager I remember a sign out front of a funereal home across from the Dairy Queen. The sign read; Today we lay to rest; Alfred P. Smith (Atheist) All Dressed Up and Nowhere to Go.Since ALS has robbed me of the ability to dress myself I leave everything to my wonderful wife. After a refreshing shower I remained in a trace as she dressed me for the day. It was a Florida perfect day and thought the time had come to do a little outdoor reading. After a while of sitting in the sun my wife brings out my last place Devil Rays ball cap. Dropping the book while turning the page I noticed I had on my boating shoes, fishing shorts, golf shirt and now the baseball cap. If you're familiar with ALS you should know that not one of these sports is possible for me anymore. I said outloud "isn't this just great, here I sit, All Dressed Up and Nowhere to Go"

What ALS has Taught Me

1. Patience
2. It isn't necessary to bite your nails.
3. Picking your nose is a memory.
4. Most doctors don't know anything about ALS.
5. Metamucil is my new friend.
6. The medical community is "big business" and their bottom line is profits.
7. If you really need to know something about ALS ask a Caregiver.
8. Some PALS have no sense of humor.
9. Some PALS do.
10. A good wife, spouse, makes life worth living!