Dr. Christiane Northrup, host of Flourish!

New York Times best-selling author and beloved authority on women’s health and wellness, Dr. Christiane Northrup, interviewed Larry and Belinda Wurn on her radio show, Flourish!

There was a delightful energy between Dr. Northrup and the Wurns as they discussed their journey in discovering the Wurn Technique®. Dr. Northrup commended the Wurns dedication in finding this technique in an effort to treat the source of Belinda’s own debilitating pain. What they  discovered were  tight, glue-like adhesions that formed as a result of the intense radiation therapy that Belinda endured during her battle with cervical cancer.

Larry and Belinda went on to explain that their pioneering work with fertility issues, sexual dysfunction, and bowel obstructions developed as a result of patient’s testimonies about natural pregnancies, increased function, and decreased pain following treatment at Clear Passage.

Dr. Northrup stated, “I’ll tell the entire world, I’m planning to come down and go through your program for five days.” Dr. Northrup has a true understanding of how adhesions can cause pain and dysfunction throughout the body.

To listen to the interview on our podcast, Hands that Heal, visit Turning Back the Clock.

Have you ever left an appointment with a healthcare provider feeling frustrated, or that your needs were not fully met? Did you feel that your healthcare provider did not listen to you? Or maybe you left the visit not fully understanding your diagnosis or why you need additional medications or tests? If any of the above scenarios sound familiar, you are not alone. Many of us have experienced this at one time or another, and sometimes more than once.

We all have the responsibility to take a pro-active role in our own well-being; we need to be in control of how we want our bodies to be treated and taken care of. After all, you are the true expert of your body. You live in it every day and experience the joys, sorrows, aches, and pains that no one else really knows. Therefore, we all need to have the tools to effectively and thoroughly communicate our needs to our healthcare provider.

Over the years I have complied and gathered the following suggestions which I have found to be beneficial for me during appointments and I hope that you might be able to add some of these suggestions to you own tool box for future reference.

• Once your appointment has been scheduled with your healthcare provider, start compiling a list of any questions, symptoms, and concerns that you would like to have addressed during your visit. I find it useful to have a small notepad in my purse to jot down any questions that come to mind.
• A couple of days prior to your appointment, go through your compiled list of questions and concerns. Review each item to make sure that you have been simple, direct, and to the point with your question. Next, prioritize each item in order of importance to you. (In my experience it has been beneficial to have the most important items discussed first.)
• Take your list with you to your appointment. Don’t be afraid to be direct with your questions. Remember, you are the expert on your body. Address each topic simply, but frankly. Write down your healthcare providers answers. If you do not understand the response from your healthcare provider, ask her/him to please repeat the answer in terminology that you are comfortable with. Address each item in the same manner.
• If something is being said that just “doesn’t feel right,” follow your intuition and speak up, letting the healthcare provider know your feelings. And remember, if you need time to think about an option, test, medication, or procedure, it is ok to take the time to think about it before agreeing to anything. The only exception to this would be in a life-threatening instance when you would need to make a decision on the spot.
• Once you reach the conclusion of your visit, summarize what your understanding is of each item addressed with your healthcare provider and ask if s/he has the same understanding.

There is a multitude of material available to you on the internet on the topic of effective communication. For more information on tips to effectively communicate with your healthcare provider, I suggest checking out the following sites that may be of interest to you: www.healing.com and www.takingcarge.csh.umn.edu/healthcare_system/communicate

The stress of preparing for visiting relatives, decorating the house, finding the perfect gift for others, and cooking scrumptious holiday meals can quickly take a toll on the body. However, women are often reluctant to take the time to re-energize or focus on themselves.

Let’s face it, the holiday season may be a time filled with joy and merriment but if the season usually leaves you feeling run down like you need a holiday from the holidays, then it’s time to learn to give a little something to yourself.

Women’s health expert Belinda Wurn states, “Women are generally nurturers and tend to focus on serving the needs of others. This can have negative consequences for women if they don’t also make time for themselves to relax and de-stress.”

Taking time for oneself can be especially difficult when a woman feels like she doesn’t deserve it. Many women are uncomfortable acknowledging their own accomplishments and strengths. Yet, without taking the time to recognize the positives, they often only see the negatives.

Sydney, who struggled with infertility, explained that all she could think was, “This part of my body isn’t working, and I hate it.” Her feelings of guilt and self-loathing were further compounded every holiday season when the focus turned to families full of young children.

Wurn, who is currently co-authoring a book about female infertility, explains, “The first step to regaining health and fertility is to recognize everything your body endures on a daily basis. Women put incredible loads on their bodies without even realizing it, creating a lot of stress- especially during the holiday season. The body functions as a whole and if one area is overworked, another part often compensates.”

Many women recognize the stress the holidays bring. Yet even though they know they deserve some special time, they still deny themselves because they feel overwhelmed with all the tasks at hand. According to Wurn, that’s when it’s time to delegate duties to family and friends. Instead of baking that pie, ask a friend if they can bring a pie to dinner. And remember that you don’t have to attend every party or help every neighbor or family member who asks. Learn to say, “I’d really love to but my plate is full.” If you’re still having difficulty setting aside time, schedule time for yourself on your own calendar.

Wurn recommends women take the opportunity this season for a self-treat. A self-treat can be as simple as a bubble bath, massage or yoga, or time set aside to read a good book. “When women start to give back to their bodies,” Wurn explains, “It sets in motion a path for better health. Once they are reinvigorated, women are able to offer so much more to others.”

Nicole, who also struggled with infertility, took Wurn’s suggestions to heart and focused on giving back to her body. Nicole stated, “I had to learn to trust my own instincts and do what I felt was best for my body.” Nicole incorporated numerous changes into her life including exercising, eating healthy, and taking time to relax. After four years of struggling with unexplained infertility, Nicole became naturally pregnant and gave birth to a baby girl.

Wurn explains, “Women can take this stressful time of year and make it the beginning of something great.”

Go ahead and buy yourself that stocking stuffer this season—bubble bath oil, a book, or a certificate for a massage or yoga class all fit easily into a stocking.

To learn more about Belinda Wurn or her upcoming book, Miracle Moms, Better Sex, Less Pain, visit http://www.clearpassage.com/.