It is possible to cleanse the liver and kidneys using the hulda clark liver flush and coffee enemas. Google it.

Milk Thistle is known to be effective with chronic liver cirrhosis. The kidneys and liver work together. Kidney function should improve when the liver improves. Dandelion (roots and greens) are excellent for stimulating and aiding the liver. Dandelion coffee, tea or in freshly made vegetable juice would be beneficial. Dandelion greens can be used in salads. Obviously avoid intake of alcohol & do not take acetaminophen (pain reliever), as it extremely hard on the liver.

In reply to Amy (Auburn Hills, Michigan),

Please talk to your husband's doctor about adding melatonin to his treatment plan. Melatonin is protective of most organs in the body including the liver. It also has an excellent safety profile and is not likely to cause an allergic reaction since it is naturally produced by the body. It can lower high inflammation levels associated with liver disease as well as improve antioxidant status, both of which are disturbed and out of balance with liver disease of multiple causes.

Here is a link to an abstract that discusses this:

http://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/18/4/673

Here is a link to the full study:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5412268/

N acetyl cysteine would also be worth discussing with your husband's doctor to help improve the bodies natural antioxidant defense system.

Given the serious nature of your husbands condition, it is imperative that you get his doctor's approval to be sure that these two will not negatively interact with his current medications.

Best wishes.

Art

Hello All!

And thank you for your advise and help! I have been having trouble trying to respond on EarthClinic, keeps telling me to add my location, but I couldn't see where!

Anyway, husband is on day 11 still in the hospital, and as far as I can tell, they have not done much in the way of detoxing the liver/kidneys...I know they had an IV in that was pretty much saline, sugar and had potassium and magnesium in it. That is out now. He has developed an ileus in the intestines after his colonoscopy/edoscopy, where they discovered a peptic ulcer that was making him pass a LOT of blood! They've been trying to stimulate his intestines to "wake up" again... Starting to come around finally.

Elaine, I had given him an herbal detox tea a couple days before we went to the hospital, containing dandelion root, rooibos and aloe vera. He reported an increase in the frequency of urination, but not in the amount voided at a time. This was encouraging to me, but he did not drink it again. I did speak with his nurse 2 nights ago, and I don't think his doctors would be interested in hearing about Milk Thistle, or any other remedy for that matter. I did ask about what meds were being given, and as far as I could tell, nothing really. So I was going to make him more detox tea and add raw cabbage juice for the peptic ulcer and have him drink it, but he is scared it will shut everything down so he refused. I know that is risky, but I was feeling desperate!!!

The nurse also did show me the Dr's notes and how his creatinine levels in his kidneys are almost down to normal again, but the liver doesn't seem to be responding as fast. Fluid is still backing up into his abdominal cavity, and they have drawn off a total of 9 liters from him! So it's not processing fluids and sending to kidneys so kidneys can produce urine and then flush it out.

I have been reading all over the internet and here, that it IS possible to heal the liver, even from CIRRHOSIS!, with the proper diet/supplements...but it seems I will have to wait until he is released, if that ever happens...

Amy

Amy

Ted here on E.C. discusses the liver stitched in a good percentage of his remedies.

His most often recommended supplement, therapy is lecithin.

There is a non GMO version readily available in health food shops and online. I'm more serious cases he recommends, 1 tbsp with each meal.

That would be easy to add to his food in hospital. Or right off a spoon.

Ted had a great remedy for the bleeding and aggravated ulcer in intestine. I will post for you. Correcting the intestine always is DHEA and melatonin, it seems. This will start him also getting nutrients from the food he does eat. For me it was a miracle.

Ted has an excellent book re alkalinity that will truly help in any health challenge. It is available here on E.C.

Ted has recommended higher dose niacinamide for addictions, mood disorders, digestion, liver health. 250mg to 500mg several times a day. It is a healing b vitamin. Not niacin. Niacinamide. It has proven itself in our family repeatedly.

As to his alkalinity. 1/4 tsp of baking soda in water. 2x a day. 1/2 hour after food. 5 days out of 7. Improve his digestion. Gallbladder, liver, kidney bladder, sleep.

These are some things you might try. As they are food and can be added without the staff noticing.

Here is Teds email.

Janet

https://ted.earthclinic.com/cures/liver-damage-treatment10.html

Thank you Janet!

I have read a lot about niacinamide and wanted us both to try it, but this liver/kidney issue popped up and consumed us! You have been so clear in your descriptions, this is confusing stuff, and that is helpful.

He has been on "nothing by mouth" diet a couple different times, and just yesterday was bumped to "full" liquids, so I may be able to try and mix things into applesauce or something. From yesterday to today, his levels have worsened and he is very confused. He keeps texting and calling telling me they are letting him come home. When I called the nurses station, she said "no way is that possible, his levels are worse than yesterday! " After 12 days, how is that happening? I am so scared!

I think the peptic ulcer has stopped bleeding for now, so maybe I will focus on how to detox the liver and hope that it will start working again! I am going to see him today, but don't want to flood him with a bunch of stuff, so I think I will try the lecithin mixed into some pudding or jello if they are still letting him have full liquids...

Thank you again to all of you that have offered help! I know he has done this to himself with alcoholism, but he is a good soul and I love him so much! I just can't lose him, and I have no idea what the drs are trying as far as detoxing...if anything!

Also, are you saying I should email Ted? I thought I had read he had a stroke a couple years ago and wasn't able to respond to messages?

Hi Amy,

I think the absolute best doctor for liver problems or liver failure is Dr. Burt Berkson of Las Cruces, NM. He uses a simple three pronged supplement approach that is inexpensive and successful in many cases. You can read about it here, or look on the internet for any of his many videos on the subject. He has healed many people at his clinic who have been given a very bad prognosis for recovery.

http://www.tbyil.com/berkson.htm

He uses r-alpha lipoic acid, selenium and milk thistle (silymarin). Of course, alcohol is poison to the liver, and he needs to stop drinking to repair the damage. Never take tylenol with liver disease, which is also toxic to a failing liver. I hope you can turn this around. I can see how hard you are trying to help him. Best wishes.

Glad to hear that kidneys have improved. Most doctors know little to nothing about supplements & show no interest in learning. The late Dr. Robert Atkins, an expert in complementary medicine, wrote in one of his books that milk thistle was the most potent herbal detoxifier. He said milk thistle slashed the death rate from cirrhosis by 50%. MT helps the liver to make glutathione, the body's best antioxidant. MT doses of 400-800 mg were recommended for treating liver diseases. Capsules are readily available. You may want to ask the Dr. if they will give your husband glutathione by IV. There is nothing as good as glutathione in aiding recovery from many ailments. Stay strong and positive.

Thank you SO much RSW!

I just followed the link you posted and found it totally fascinating! I cannot understand how Dr's can be so blind to anything that is not a man-made medication!

Here is an update as of 12/14/17: He has been in the hospital 14 days as of 12/16/17, and of course NO alcohol, we're good there and he knows he can NEVER have another drop! I even gave away my Marsala wine I have to make Chicken Marsala, in case I use it to cook and not all the alcohol burns off! I cannot and will not risk that.

So, I grilled the nurse yesterday, she went thru and explained all the Dr's notes with me. I asked her if there were any therapies they could try to revive the liver, or detox it, or ANYTHING at all that could help? She said there was nothing known to Dr's... she also said she didn't think the kidneys and liver are connected? I don't know if she meant physically? or their processes? Obviously they work together to rid our bodies of toxic waste...yea, so...Idk!

He obviously was in metabolic acidosis when we first came in, so they were treating with sodium bicarbonate in pill form. (funny, cuz I had him drinking baking soda water at home, as we thought he had a kidney infection) So, his kidney and liver levels were all slowly coming back to normal, mostly kidneys. In the last couple of days, they have started going up again as well as white blood cell count. I think they may have overshot the sodium bicarbonate and she said he is now too alkaline! They are giving him something that starts with L -can't remember? to add more acid and balance the pH. I can't give him anything by mouth with acid, like ACV, as I do not want to cause the Peptic Ulcer to start bleeding again.

So, my plan is to take him some detox tea again, with aloe vera, dandelion root, rooibos, and chamomile. I would like to mix in some Lecithin granules that Janet mentioned, also Milk Thistle, Selenium and ALA from what I read in your link...Is that too much at once? I don't want to flood his system, but I feel 2 weeks is too long and the longer we go, the less the chances of reversing or halting the damage! I guess I feel he has nothing to lose at this point, and want to know what I should start with? Or is my plan good?

Amy

My note went typos and all. Sorry.

Upon further thought re what you said about him taking him on and off food. How terrible. Ted is still unavailable. The link I posted did not allow you to click on it. I will try posting again.

It can also be found under Teds Remedies, email # 10. In his ailments section under liver.

You can look up the ulcer in intestine too. Under ulcerative colitis.

The addiction, the why of it. How to stop it. Is listed in many other remedies. I learned when we started to get off antidepressants. Not one of us had a diagnosis for depression. But you must read about weaning off them as it is prudent to wean. Never cold turkey. It may exacerbate his problem. He also may be on Tramadol. Cocaine with the high removed. Another tricky withdrawal. Knowing these things will prepare you better to see the big picture. Ted talks extensively re addictions and the why of them. Niacinamide is usually the first nutritional need. I never knew addiction and nutrition are so closely tied. B vitamins. The low b1 thiamine niacinamide, choline/inositol. How our brains need alkalinity. How our guts need DHEA to allow absorption of nutrients. To successfully overcome additions.

I also recommend following Grassroots health on Facebook. Lack of vitamin D can be a real issue. It is for all of us mid state northeners. Then your thyroid gets worse and worse. I and my husband take high dose d with no ill effects. With its companions, magnesium, b12, selenium yeast...excetera

His health foundation is the building block of success. It is the difference between white knuckled sobriety and natural elimination of the physical need. Alkalinity, D3, niacinamide, lecithin, DHEA, are the tools to get the results.

When faced with this multi dimensional challenge, reading each of Teds related email is a good way to get a grip on the big picture. I also read within E.C. itself. Especially stepping down from any drugs given. They give a great mental picture of the whole situation.

So in Ted's info, I type in the search bar, ted bangkok niacinamide, or whatever I wish to learn. The most recent post will be his newest. I may scan the whole chapter. Or focus in. When I started I was very ill, my mind did not function at all. So I actually reread everything. I was so bad, I had to rehearse making remedies.

Here is, I hope teds link

Janet

https://ted.earthclinic.com/cures/liver-damage-treatment10.html

Thank you Janet & Elaine!

I am taking ALL of these remedies and this info to heart and and scouring all of EC for anything I can find to help him. I can't thank all of you enough, for offering help and support, and not judging or condemning him because this was caused from Alcoholism. We will be working on healing the whole body along with the heart and mind IF I can manage to get him home! I will update as we go...

Amy

Thank you Art,

I followed the link provided and I feel Melatonin a very beneficial supplement to add...Unfortunately, from the reaction I got from his nurse when I asked about Milk Thistle, I do not think the Dr's are interested in hearing about supplements or alternatives. I keep checking with the nurses everyday to see if the medications have been changed, and so far I don't thing any of the supplements mentioned in this thread will interact with what they are giving him... basically only Xanax and a medication to bring up his acids now. I am going to start him on a regimen over the weekend when I can be there to give 3x per day, or whatever. Mostly I can only be there in the evenings after work. He is afraid to try anything I bring for him. He's afraid it will shut down everything! Well, everything is already shutting down, so I feel he has nothing to lose!

Amy

Hi Amy,

I am enclosing a link to Dr. Berkson's clinic, and wonder if you could contact him to get his advice on what to do for your husband that would not tax his liver too much? I have read that he will give (usually integrative) doctors directions on how to administer ALA intervenous IV's, which is what he uses at his clinic. The capsules would be the next best thing. I hope someone at his clinic will give you the correct suggestions. This would be the safest route for your husband. Looks like he is open through next week.

http://drberkson.com

I have read that Dr. Berkson does not have high charges, even for people who visit his clinic, but he may want to see your husband's records. The hospital can probably fax them to him.

I will be praying for a good outcome for you and your husband. Please keep us posted and take care.

I can add a couple more natural remedies which are often omitted for Liver recuperation/regeneration.

Eat cooked Beef (calf) Liver or Chicken Liver. Start out with small servings and gradually increase as condition improves.

Or

Take a supplement form of Raw Liver Glandular or Liver Extract or Liver Concentrate.

If aged over 50 yrs, take some type of Growth Hormone boosting supplement. There are many products on the shelves, some may be labeled as HGH or IGF-1. As for starters, take the amino acid combo of Arginine/Ornithine/Lysine prior to last meal of the day, and the amino acid GABA prior to retiring. Eat lots of fresh or canned Pineapple during the recovery process as it is very beneficial.

Another amino acid with many benefits including improved liver function is SAM-e.

Along with all the other E.C. posters advice & support, you can certainly be optimistic as the liver is a remarkably regenerative organ.

Amy,

I am not a doctor and can not tell you or your husband what to do. At this point, you and your husband will have to make some hard choices. He has to decide if he is willing or not to try other approaches. If he is not willing, then you are just spinning your wheels and will have to adjust your thinking to the idea that your husband is going to do what he is going to do and not what you want. If he is willing, but only if a doctor tells him what to do, then you will have to find a holistic doctor in your area that the two of you can work with.This may be a more expensive approach if your insurance will not cover it.

The first step from this point is you and your husband have to have a heart to heart conversation about each of your expectations and hopes and find some common ground to proceed from.

If you both decide that you will stay with his current doctor, then being passive to the doctor and his nurse is plain and simply not going to cut it. If you want them to consider melatonin or any other supplements for your husband then you will have to be firm, but nice, in letting them both know what you and your husband want. If they have not been able to improve your husband's situation to date, then they need to be at least willing to listen to what the two of you are thinking and have to say. At a bare minimum, his doctor has to let you know if melatonin or any other supplements you are considering is compatible with all meds he is taking. If your doctor won't do that, a pharmacist should be able to answer that question for you.

In a previous post/reply to someone else here on EC, I posted approximately 20 links to studies and abstracts that directly discuss the gut protective properties of melatonin. Melatonin is naturally produced by the body, especially in the gut in much larger quantities than in the pineal gland and there are melatonin receptors throughout the body. The body is designed to use melatonin, but doctors rarely prescribe it, but will readily prescribe medications which are totally foreign to the body because this is what they are taught in their training.

In order to find out all of the potential health benefits that melatonin has to offer, you will have to look at the numerous studies that are available on line. When you understand that melatonin receptors, like vitamin d receptors are found throughout the body, you start to understand that they are there for a purpose.

Here is a recent mouse study abstract that will give you a good idea of what melatonin can do and how fast it can act while having an excellent safety profile.Best wishes.

Art

Alcohol Alcohol. 2017 Sep 1;52(5):521-528. doi: 10.1093/alcalc/agx045.

Melatonin Restores White Blood Cell Count, Diminishes Glycated Haemoglobin Level and Prevents Liver, Kidney and Muscle Oxidative Stress in Mice Exposed to Acute EthanolIntoxication.

Kurhaluk N¹, Sliuta A², Kyriienko S², Winklewski PJ^{3, 4}.

Author information

Abstract

AIMS:

The aim of the study was to examine the effects of melatonin impact on changes in haematological profile, biomarkers of oxidative stress (dienes conjugates, malondialdehyde (MDA), oxidatively modified protein levels, total antioxidant capacity and antioxidant enzyme activity) in liver, muscle, kidney and erythrocytes, and glycated haemoglobin (HBA1c) in mice during acute ethanol stress.

METHODS:

Assays were carried out in quadruplicate: control, melatonin (10 mg/kg, 10 days), acute ethanol stress (0.75 g/kg/day, 10 days) and acute ethanol stress plus melatonin groups.

RESULTS:

Acute ethanol stress caused a significant increase in the total number of white blood cells (WBC), especially neutrophils in the blood, and HBA1c levels vs. control mice. The correlation between lipid peroxidation and the glycated haemoglobin level was shown (r = 0.93, P = 0.007). Ethanol reduced the antioxidant capacity by increasing reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and the level of oxidatively modified protein content, diene conjugates and MDA. Melatonin administration in animals during acute ethanol stress reduced antioxidant stress biomarkers, WBC, HBA1c levels and ROS production.

CONCLUSIONS:

Melatonin had protective effects on liver, kidney and muscle tissues by preventing the intensive lipid peroxidation processes in initial (diene conjugation production) and late stages (MDA level), and significantly reduced the level of aldehyde and ketone protein derivatives. Furthermore, melatonin restored elevated WBC count and HBA1c level and diminished ROS production.

SHORT SUMMARY:

Ethanol reduces antioxidant capacity and leads to exaggerated reactive oxygen species production and consequent increases in oxidatively modified proteins. Melatonin exerts protective effects by preventing the intensive lipid peroxidation processes. Melatonin significantly reduces the level of aldehyde and ketone protein derivatives, restores glycated haemoglobin level and white blood cell count.

Amy,

I previously mentioned the use of n acetyl cysteine (NAC) for the liver. Here is a good article that came out today on Dr. Mercola's website that discusses NAC as it might relate to the liver among other health benefits.

Art

Hello Friends!

I have an update! As of Friday, 12/15/17, he was extremely full of fluid again, and they could not perform the fluid draw procedure because he was violently shaking from being so cold. I DID manage to get him to drink about a cup of the detox tea, which I made with 4 tea bags to 2 cups water, so was very concentrated. Also gave him 2 capsules of 582 mg Milk Thistle, and 1 liquid gel capsule of 1200 mg Lecithin, as that was all I could find! Later that night, he was apparently trying to go to the bathroom and fell 2 different times! I was terrified for a minute that I had overloaded his system and hurt him in some way! Now they have moved him to a room with a video monitor and put restraints on his hands because he keeps trying to pull of his oxygen, and he still keeps trying to get up for the bathroom. So at this point it would be really difficult for me to give him anything without their knowledge... I would mix into food, but he eats so little of it, I would have to mix it into only 1 or 2 bites, which may affect the taste and he may refuse to eat it. But, I will try...

Over the weekend, he was progressively getting more and more confused and disoriented due to the ammonia building in his system. They gave Lactilose (sp?) to counter the ammonia, and yesterday they were able to draw a lot of fluid off the abdomen. He also passed a lot of very green BM. I'm told the color is a good sign, means the ammonia is being expelled from his system. With each BM he was gaining more clarity, like a fog was lifting. I was SO encouraged and GRATEFUL!

Yesterday, I did ask his nurse if I could speak with his liver Dr, to flat out ask for approval to just TRY Milk Thistle and some of these other things, because he has nothing to lose. Unfortunately, because we are not actually married, I ran into resistance from her about even paging him to speak with me, and she basically said no Dr in this hospital is going to be open to that kind of thing! I cannot believe this and I am SO disgusted with the medical industry!

I will try to slip him some of the Milk Thistle if I can. I feel my only option is to let them try and stabilize his liver and release him so we can pursue a Naturopathic Dr that will help us heal the liver, and not just write him off to needing a transplant!

Thanks SO much to all of you here on EarthClinic!

Amy

Thank you Art!

This was a REALLY great article and I will be shopping for NAC, amongst other things, immediately! I do wonder if anyone has researched which supplement companies actually make high quality supplements that contain what they SAY they contain? I saw a news story that tested several brands from store shelves, and they found very crazy results! So, how do you know you are getting what you think you are?

Amy: Try to find a non-alcohol brand of a liquid extract of Milk Thistle preferably with also Artichoke, Turmeric, and Dandelion. Add a dropper of this to some Pineapple juice and administer by mouth 3,4, or 5 times day/night.

Another remedy that would proof extremely helpful is adding a dose of D-Mannose to some Pineapple juice 2x day to rid the kidneys & uti of infection.

Hello Amy It is a difficult situation you are going through and you have my prayers. I have been watching your post and you have gotten many good advices from our most knowledged contributors. I had to respond though, when I saw you had given liquid lecithin. This contains fat which would only further overload a toxic liver. It is very important to only use the dry granulated lecithin as it is defatted. Only can this form bind to the oils/fats, heavy metals on the toxic liver and be excreted from the body. Ted has recommended a tablespoon with each meal, but of course you would do your own research and start slow. My best to you

I have not been able to get the lecithin in him except a couple of times, as I mixed it together with the powder milk thistle and made a paste to try and sneak it in a mouthful of pudding. My problem is that he doesn't want to eat! I will keep that info in mind! I recently discovered there is liquid milk thistle and I see Tim mentioned that as well so I'm getting that TODAY! He DOES drink boost juice boxes, so this may be the answer to all our prayers. The Dr told us yesterday they'll be moving him to a palliative care facility... the step before hospice!!! He also wouldn't consider trying silymarin (milk thistle) as they are MEDICALLY trained, and do not use herbal remedies because they do not work! I read about ER's in the UK using milk thistle for mushroom poisoning, ER's in Germany using it for alcohol poisoning and a study from the University of Maryland proving it works! I just cannot understand our medical system...

That being said, I'm off work for the next week and will be lacing his juice boxes with milk thistle!

I thank you ALL for your prayers and support! I am NOT ready to give up! PLEASE keep them coming!

Happy, HEALTHY Holidays to all

Amy, hoping you have had improvement in your husband's illness, my prayers for you both

Amy,

So sorry to hear about your husband. The Food Grade Hydrogen Peroxide will cleanse the liver. You can buy the H2O2 at your local health food store. It is documented as treatment with success in the book "One Minute Cure". It is natural and the same as the Ozone Layer around the earth.

A mothers first breast milk, after birth, is full of H2O2 to fire up the babies immune system.

You can go also find information online at the website, The One Minute Cure.

I have used it for lung cancer and am cancer free.

I have other family members that have beat cancer and other sicknesses with it. Liver is listed in the book as one of the things that it cures.

You take just drops of it in 6 ounces of distilled water, on an empty stomach 3 times a day.

Wish you and your husband the best of luck!

Respectfully,

Weslo

Hello Weslo, and thank you for your input. That's truly amazing that you were able to beat cancer with natural remedies!

I mentioned on 12/24/2017 that I was going to start giving my husband Milk Thistle on Christmas Day, which I did. The doctors and nurses had no idea, and were pretty shocked at the improvement he was showing in only a few days time! The jaundice was almost completely gone, the fluid in his abdomen was not filling up as fast or as much as before, he was brain function was clearer, he was less confused...He was SO good, in fact, they released him to a Palliative Care home.

I thought we were almost out of the woods! Unfortunately, it was New Year's weekend and he didn't see a doctor for 5 days once he got there, and the staff was completely incompetent! He was becoming more and more confused again, and very lethargic. I was only able to get the Milk Thistle in him the first day or so he was there. I had to go back to work, so I didn't know he had started refusing his meds (like the lactilose that reduced the ammonia levels) until it was too late. They told me patients have rights and if they refuse medication, they do not force it on them. Well, in his state of confusion, the lethargic state he was in, he was not in the right state of mind to refuse his meds! They didn't even know he had a port sewed into his side under a bandage for draining the ascites fluid! I had to show them how to perform a sterile procedure and how to drain the fluid. I am not a nurse or medical professional! They should have known how to do that! Once the doctor finally saw him, he was IMMEDIATELY admitted back to the ER, at a different hospital this time.They induced a coma, inserted a respirator tube, got his ammonia levels down from 227!!! To something like 73...still high, but better.

After 4 days, he was transferred to the Henry Ford Liver Disease Center in Detroit. Because of the respirator tube, I couldn't give him Milk Thistle for at least a week. He hemorrhaged, need 8 units of blood, thought it was the end...it was terrifying! He stabilized and shockingly, was doing well a day later. After another 1-2 weeks, the doctors told me there was not much more they could do, his low liver function was causing the kidneys to fail. They said he was not producing urine. They took out the catheter and said we needed to talk to hospice. I was not giving up. He had a feeding tube inserted because after they removed the respirator tube, his swallow reflex did not come back right away.

So, the next day, on a Wednesday, I started to sneak liquid Milk Thistle mixed with Turmeric and black pepper into the medicine port on the feeding tube. I did it again Thursday. I wasn't able to get much into it, and it was really difficult to do in an open ICU with nurses everywhere! I came to see him that Friday and he had peed the bed, a LOT! That just goes to show you just how powerful even just a little Milk Thistle and Turmeric are... So they put the catheter back...there was urine in the tube and in the bag. I couldn't understand how they were failing, and we should give up on him, if there was urine in the catheter! I had hope!

I did NOT know he also had Klebsiella esbl, a resistant, super bug pneumonia... No one told me this until 3 weeks after he had been admitted! Straw that broke the camels back?

I asked the nurse what she had given him for pain...she said liquid Tylenol! I couldn't believe they would give him Tylenol for pain with a barely functioning liver! I felt a panic go thru me. I had to get him out of there. I asked for hospice and told the man that met us that we wanted them to leave the feeding tube (since he still could not swallow on his own) so we didn't feel he was starving to death. He told us they would go at our pace and they could leave the feeding tube when they brought him home, at least for the first few days. I was hoping that would be all I needed to get enough Milk Thistle and Turmeric/black pepper in him to help. When the hospice people called his daughter for approval, they lied and told her if they removed the tube, he would be able to swallow, that the tube was preventing him from swallowing! She let them remove it because she believed the lie. When I got there later that day, I knew it was over. He was doped up on morphine, and asleep, so all I could do was sit with him and hope that he heard me telling him how much I loved him. I went home to get my living room ready for his hospice bed, feeling frustrated, angry, panicked.

He died the next morning. I felt so defeated. I felt that I was blocked at every turn. I feel it was actually the pneumonia that did him in, but we will never really know. I know this is long, and I apologize, but I hope others will gain from our story. He had wanted to go home after the first 2 weeks we were in the first hospital, but the doctors said it would be "against medical advice" and his insurance would not cover any of his care. They scare you into doing what they want, but do not believe in any integrated therapies that may help, even scoff at you for suggesting things like Milk Thistle. Once they get you admitted, you are at their mercy, you are their "prisoner". I keep thinking if I had taken him home with me then, maybe he'd still be here today, and my heart would not be shattered.

Thank you to all who gave advice and support.

Dear Amy,

I am so very sorry. You were so good to him to the end.

And so kind to be willing to share your story to help others, which I am sure it will. You are a caring and sacrificial person to be willing to consider others in your own grief.

May God bless and comfort you.

I wish I could give you a hug.

Love,

~Mama to Many~

Dear Amy - I am so sorry to hear of your loss. You can be assured that your husband was aware of all that you did to help him and of your love to the end. Sadly, you were let down by the entire medical system - an increasing common occurrence these days. You are in my thoughts and prayers. Tears heal, memories comfort and love lives on forever. Take care.