|
Saves $295/month on medications and regains
her lost health -- with vegan diet and exercise
by John McDougall MD
From the April 2002 McDougall Program
Arrived taking 135 pills a week, barely moving, pasty, and always
tired – left with a determined step and hope for the future. 10
days later, she now saves at least $290.05 on monthly medications.
 Mary Lou Sheehan is a retired Registered Nurse from Springfield,
Virginia who came to the April 2002 McDougall Program out of desperation.
"When I walked I felt like I was up to my waist in molasses.
I was tired all the time. We couldn't do anything in the evening,
because by 7PM I was exhausted. Even though my dietitians
and doctors tried to help me, their efforts made no difference.
They kept telling me to lose weight, and I knew they were right,
but no matter how hard I tried I couldn't get better.
"On one hand, I was afraid to leave my doctors and the hospital.
We had become so close that I think they should have put a plaque
on one of the ICU rooms with my name on it. In the past few
years, I had had a stroke and 3 angioplasties.
"On the other hand, it was plain to see that I was making no progress
– I was dying. I knew I had to stop the downhill slide with
my health.
"Things began to change when I saw a story about the McDougall
Program in a magazine called Diabetes Forecast (April 2002) -- this
program was given a 5 star rating. So I bought the McDougall
books. They made sense and I saw for the first time that I
had a possibility of getting better. The stories of the people
in the books were very inspiring. My decision to travel across
the country to Dr. McDougall's center was finally made when I realized
that I needed a jump start, and with all the medication I was taking
I was afraid to make the change on my own without medical support.
Embarrassment was also a big motivation, making me decide I wanted
a better life – I hated telling people I was 5'4" and 225 pounds.
Fortunately, through all this decision making process, my whole
family supported me 100%."
Mrs. Sheehan had suffered from high blood pressure since she was
a teenager. Recently her doctors had a difficult time controlling
her pressure (increasing to 300/200 mmHg) and she was put on a very
powerful medication called Minoxidil. She also took three other
medications for her high blood pressure upon arrival at the clinic.
She has suffered from type-II diabetes mellitus since 1987, and
for her diabetes she took two kinds of pills.
Over the course of the 10-day program she stopped all of her diabetic
medications and her blood sugar remained normal (101 and 108 mg/dl).
She stopped 2 of her blood pressure medications (Minoxidil and Prinivil)
and cut another one in half (Atenolol). Her blood pressure
decreased from 136/90 to 140/80 mmHg. Since she has been at
home her blood pressure has remained low – usually 138/74 mmHg.
She lost 6 pounds in 10 days at the program, while fully satisfying
her appetite. Now she is very active – going on daily walks,
and she is feeling great all day long (well past 7 PM). "I
called my daughter, Lori, when I came home and she told me that even
over the phone she could tell I was much better by the increase in
strength in my voice."
"I finally have hope – for first time I now know
that I can feel better and get better – it is no longer all
downhill. I walk every day. I have no trouble with the
diet – I'm 100%. My children and grandchildren are interested
too. They don't want to become fat and sick like they saw
happen to me."
Hypertension Medications:
Minoxidil 2.5 mg, twice a day = $27.09
Dyazide, everyday = $9.99
Atenelol 25 mg, everyday = $3.50
Prinivil 20 mg, twice a day = $101.98
Diabetes Medications:
Avandia 8 mg, everyday = $143.99
Glucotrol XL, everyday = $16.99
Prices from CVS pharmacy: http://www.cvs.com/CVSApp/cvs/gateway/rxtop_products
Even though these results do not occur with everyone, they are
typical for people who make the diet and lifestyle changes at the
10-day McDougall Program.
|
