Contra-indications

[WhiEveoaeo]

Hi All
I'm having a bit of trouble with Asthma as a medical contra-indication and wondered what everyone else does. I personally have asthma and I don't feel I need doctor's approval to have a massage, however I'm told at IHM college that this is a requirement.
I know some people's asthma is more acute than others but I don't think I'd be too impressed if a therapist told me they couldn't treat me without doctor's approval. Also as experienced already with my case studies, some GP's are against complementary therapies and it's quite difficult to get them to sign the form anyway. How do I get past this without offending and turning away potential clients?
Thanks in advance

 

[vimaxlongtl]

Hiya

Ok the only thing I make sure off (and this goes for insulin dependant diabetics) is that they have appropriate medication/inhaler with them....

Asthmatics will feel an attack coming on and generally dont wait to long before they have a puff......if they dont have the inhaler with them I dont do them (not worth the risk), in terms of first appointments I cover this on the phone first so they know.

T
x

 

[Blah B]

Dear Sandieangel


hmm..tough one its the same with treating animals and is more strict legally one is not allowed to treat an animal without vets approval.

Do humans have any rights and any responsibility for self?

Surely if the client is made aware of any risks its is up to them to decide for themselves what treatment will they accept! Good to get clients to sign a form to ensure they are aware of any risks.

But good to keep doctors informed might make them realise how many problems are solved without them.

Fortunately with Reiki courses we have found the Asthma goes altogether in most cases.

Love beyond measure

Kim xx

 

[Fudge Town]

Have to say I have loads of clients with Asthma and wouldn't think twice about treating them. They usually have an inhaler. I give any breathless clients Frankincense oil to inhale during any of the treatments I do. I certainly wouldn't turn somebody away and treat people with much worse conditions anyway, so this one wouldn't faze me one jot.

I wasn't aware that this was a contraindication? It wasn't on my ITEC course as I remember.

Sorry, but I am a bit of a madam when it comes to contraindications and feel that most are drawn up in a list by colleges who are covering themselves or teachers who have not got experience. There is no way I can see that an IHM would aggravate asthma, quite the opposite.

Having said that, if your college say it is so, then you have to toe the line to pass your case studies. There is another thread on doctor approval letter just posted so have a look at that.

Hope that helps.

 

[The Nameless]

With regards to GPs not signing consent slips, it isn't just that they are against complementary therapies, they are often too busy and to be honest if I was a GP I wouldn't bother to sign a letter from a therapist who needed permission to treat somebody with Asthma for an IHM. I don't mean to sound harsh, but look at it from their point of view. If they are of the mind that complementary therapies don't work then why would we need to ask anyway? See my point?

The way round it is to get the client to sign a permission to treat slip and saying on it that they will check with their doctor. that should cover it. Put the onus back on the client. Afterall they need to take responsibility for their own health don't they? Alternatively send a letter to the GP saying they only need to reply if they think treatment is inappropriate. That will clear you.

 

[hodaCatsarorn]

Hi guys,
Thanks for all your replies, I was sure there were some sensible people out there and you've echoed my thoughts exactly.

Tiger bee. I did a diabetic for my case studies and asked her to measure her blood sugar before and after. It came down from 8.6 to 7.1. I was well chuffed!! I'm sure this won't be the same in all cases tho.

Kim. Interesting to know Reiki can help, I must try harder with that one, I'd love to be free of it - having had several attacks over the last few weeks. [:'(]

Candie. Totally agree re the gp's, I would hate to be the sort of person that follows to the letter and goes and harrasses busy GP's - wouldn't be doing anyone a favour there. It's an ITEC course so I'll toe the line till the end of the month when my exams are and then I'll use my noddle

Thanks for the advice everyone. 3 weeks to go!! [sm=hidesbehindsofa.gif]

 

[Qassem]

Hi there

I personally cannot see why Asthma would be a contra-indication. I can have asthma at times, my son has it and massaging someone's upper back, arms, neck and head isn't going to bring an asthma attack on, unless you have an awfullly strong perfume on. Things that can start Asthma is strong smelling perfumes, or any strong odour, certain wines, loads of dust be it indoors or out, animals etc.

Logically how can asthma start by rubbing someone's muscles?

Regards
Deb379

 

[fhawvepf]

i believe that it is the excessive caution put on training.

during our discussions on here, particularly in the student forum, we should only ever treat perfectly healthy people!!!!

 

[izetduyiioaiijehp]

Couldn't agree more, think it's a bit OTT with some of thes contra-indications.

Deb379

 

[AbbbeyV]

Most doctors will not agree to anthing unless it is evidenced based. As a lot of the research into complmentary medicine does not fit the stringent reserach criteria it is not considered a tried and tested approach. There is a lot of research going on but it has to be funded and that is where we become the poor relation.

I agree a lot of what has been said a client has to make an informed decision. Is someone with high blood pressure who is being treated medically someone we turn away? If we help them to relax and feel less stressed and they adopt a healthier life style we enhance and help their managment of conditions. They are often fed up with main stream medicine dont want to go to the doctor as sacred star says we can always get them to sign something that they have discussed treatment and it is thier choice.

Again if a client has thier medication with them they are often the best judge of how thier condition is.

 

[ironyzxc]

Have never had a problem with GP's signing consent forms myself and though I agree that some are totally ignorant of what we do, there are many who are for it. We actually got a GP referral this week - get the flags out!!!! She sent her patient down to us to see if we did counselling as there is an 11 month waiting list. We got her booked in and I was very pleased.

I really don't remember that Asthma was a contraindication when I did my training with ITEC.[&:]

We have also had agreement from our local surgery for the six doctors there to accept our brochure that we have written on therapies and information from the therapist's governing bodies. They said they will pass the info on to anybody they think it might help. Only problem is we haven't had the time to get them to them![]

Keep chip-chippin away. It is easier in the North!!! I know I lived in London for years and it is harder to break through there. We're in a very small town with two surgeries and get lots of their patients in but they don't inundate us! The one person we did meet who could do with some serious treatment was the Practice Manager, boy was HE stressed.