~Wellness Wishes for August~

This month we would like to dedicate our Wellness Wishes to Marcia, our Lab Techincian of 24+ years that will be retiring on September 3rd.  She will be missed by many!  Please join us for her retirement party on September 1st, 2010.  A "come and go"  will be held at Pine Meadow/Barley Club on Golf Road from 5:30 to 7:30 for everyone to stop by, have some cake and wish her well.   Here is a note from Marcia to all our patients...

How often have you heard someone say or asked yourself “where have all the years gone”?  I’ve been asking myself that exact question lately.  Where have the last 24 1/2 years gone to be exact.  It really doesn’t seem that long ago that I first came to work for Dr. Bircher, in 1986, in a little office in Chippewa Falls.  I was fairly new back in the workforce after having taking 15 years off to be a “stay at home Mom”.  I knew only a little about chiropractic, hadn’t used my x-ray degree since leaving Spooner Memorial Hospital in 1969 and stepped into a career that changed my life.  Lots of changes have taken place over the years.  Staff have come and gone, doctors have moved on and even the move in 1998 to the beautiful facility we are in now.  Now, I am about to embark on yet another change-RETIREMENT.  It was not an easy decision and one that I make with mixed emotions.  The hardest part will be leaving you the patients.  Many of you have become friends and family.  We’ve shared life’s sorrows as well as the joys.  It has been a privilege to take the journey on the road to health with you and I sincerely hope I’ve made a positive impact on your quest along the way.  You have all enriched my life beyond measure.

Retirement plans are sure to include more camping, fishing, travel and of course a lot more “Gramma time” with Paighton, the light of my life.   Volunteer work with the elderly has always been close to my heart, so I’m sure I will eventually get back into that.  For now though I’m going to just “gear down” and see where life takes me.  My final day at Optima Health & Vitality will be Friday, September 3rd, 2010.

I would still love to hear about special events in your life, so be sure to pass the news on to me through the staff or just drop my a note at:  Marcia Root, 3151 Locust Ln, Eau Claire, WI  54703

To all of you, I wish you good health, a good life and time to enjoy both.

God Bless,

Marcia

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Wellness Wishes for July

My Lyme's test is negative but I still have all the symptoms...

We all know, or have heard stories of someone that has dealt with Lyme Disease and the awful affects it can have.  Living in the Midwest, ticks and the diseases they carry are part of our everyday lives, especially this time of year. 

Recently, one of my staff member’s husband came to the office for an appointment and mentioned how achy, stiff and tired he had been lately.  I asked if he had gotten a tick bite recently and he said yes, last summer.  He was quick to mention that he was concerned about Lyme’s, but he had been to his MD and had been tested for Lyme’s three times and every test came back negative.  After examining him and reviewing his symptoms, I requested his lab tests to review what had been previously done.  As I expected, the test he had to detect Lyme’s was a Lyme Screening test. This is the most common test performed and in some offices, the only test available to check for the disease. 

 My patient’s symptoms did not improve by his next appointment so I ordered a different Lyme test, from a lab called IGeneX.  This test is a more comprehensive test and includes a test called Western Blot. When the results came back, it confirmed what I and the patient suspected-a positive test result confirming Lyme Disease.  If this patient had not had a Western Blot test he would have gone untreated and continued to get sicker. With treatment, nutritional support and regular adjustments he will be able to regain his health and return to his active life. 

If you feel you may have Lyme disease, even though a previous test may have shown negative results, I highly recommend asking for a Western Blot or IGeneX blood test.  Lyme disease can be very serious and needs to be treated as soon as possible. 

                                                                   Dr. Steven Bircher

The Difference between Lyme Disease Test:

• Lyme Screening Test–Detects antibodies that are produced in response to the disease.  However, many people will not produce these antibodies and therefore will receive a false negative test result.  The accuracy of a screening test can be very low, resulting in many people infected with the disease to go undiagnosed and untreated.

• Western Blot-A much more specific type of Lyme’s test.  This test detects multiple antibody bands within your system.  This test has a much higher accuracy rating then the screening.

• IGeneX Testing- IGeneX is a company specializing in diseases such as Lyme’s.  The IGeneX test is a much more comprehensive test then the other two and is highly accurate.  This test is usually performed after the other 2 tests show negative results but symptoms of  Lyme’s continue.

If you are concerned that you may have Lyme Disease, schedule an appointment with one of our doctors as soon as possible.

 Did you know nutrition can affect sore muscles, back pain, night vision, mood swings, weight gain and fatigue?  Have you experienced these symptoms and feel you have tried everything to “fix” them, but are not getting the results you need?  The answer may lie in your nutrition.

When you have questions about nutrition and what your individual needs are, where do you turn?  Do you Google nutrition on the internet, buy a health magazine or call a friend and ask what works for them?  Although you may learn some new information from these places, none of them can help you discover your specific nutritional needs.  The place you should look to discover what your body is calling for is often the last place people think of...your blood chemistry.  A simple blood test can provide an innovative, science-guided look at your nutrutional strengths and weaknesses.  By identifying various blood values, significant information such as electrolyte balances, mineral level, tissue hydration and much more can be obtained.  When you address these imbalances and correct any imperfections, you can maximize your body's metabolic process.  Talk to one of our doctors today about having a Blood Nutrition test performed. 

A balanced nutritional state is essential for achieving and maintaining optima health!