... You write about the health of your wife
tichye:
You should consult with specialists, for in many instances people are able to live not only long lives but also good lives without resorting to surgery — it all depends on the size of the stone, its location, and so on.
Since you write in your letter that when your wife sticks to her diet she feels more or less well, I am therefore of the opinion that you should consult with the doctors again.
May G-d grant the doctors the proper insight — which they are empowered to have by the Torah, for as our Sages say, "Permission was granted the healer to heal" — and may they provide you with the proper advice that will lead to [your wife's] speedy healing.
(Likkutei Sichos, Vol. XXXVI, p. 306 [30])
... I reiterate that which I told your brother-in-law orally:
As is known, in situations such as these,[31] one first endeavors to flush out the foreign objects found in the kidneys by drinking liquids in general, and appropriate liquids in particular. Since you do not mention this at all in your letter [to me,] it would seem that this has yet to be tried; I wonder why not.
Possibly this method can still be tried, for according to my knowledge, only after this method is tried is thought given to extract the foreign objects from the kidneys with the appropriate device. ...
(Igros Kodesh, Vol. VIII, p. 118)
In reply to your letter in which you write about your health condition and the opinion of the doctor [regarding your kidney stone]:
You are correct in that which you write, that in many instances similar to yours and possibly even more severe than yours, when one uses appropriate methods, the stone will descend [and exit] without the need of surgery.
Among the measures used are: hot baths [and] drinking copious amounts of liquids — it is also customary that natural plant oil and the like is added to the liquids. It would be worthwhile to inquire of the doctors about this.
It is not quite clear from your letter where the stone is lodged; at times the stone can be shattered with special pincers, making it easier for it to pass.
May G-d, "Healer of all flesh and Performer of wonders," heal you through the correct treatment and the appropriate doctor.
Surely I need not go on at length about enhancing your study of Torah and performance of mitzvos, for in addition to the directive — a matter of primary import in itself — to always attain higher levels in matters of holiness, this is particularly effective in drawing down additional blessings from G-d, as can be easily understood.
No doubt you are aware of the three well-known daily lessons, those of Chumash, Tehillim and Tanya. [If you have not been doing so until now,] at least begin observing them from now on. ...
(Igros Kodesh, Vol. XXII, p. 259)
... With regard to your question [about having surgery for the removal of kidney stones]: Act on the advice of a physician who is also a friend.
... In a gentle manner (so as not to injure the pride of the doctors you mentioned [to me in your letter] at all,) it would be worthwhile to ask them if they have heard that lately there are instances where instead of surgery an implement is inserted noninvasively into the kidney and it crushes the stones there (thus enabling the crushed parts to pass in the urine).
(Likkutei Sichos, Vol. XXXVI, p. 306 [32])
... You describe your health problems, particularly with regard to your kidneys.
As far as I know, there are great medical experts in Boston as well as research centers in this field. No doubt you have consulted them, though you do not mention the names of the specialists you consulted.
It is probably not necessary for me to call attention to the fact that there are various methods to break up a kidney stone, either mechanically or through medicines, but you do not mention what treatment has been applied in your case.
As you may know, in order to receive G-d's blessings, it is necessary to prepare proper "vessels" ... by enhancing your religious observance. This will surely result in an improvement in your condition.
(From a letter of the Rebbe, dated 4 Shvat, 5713)
... Regarding what you wrote about grit [in the kidneys]:
The opinion of some doctors is that removing them irritates the body into possibly producing them again, while (according to their opinion, at least) when they are left untouched — neither rubbing nor scraping them — it makes matters easier. This is also a good indication that they will not cause you any discomfort at all.
You should therefore consult with another specialist regarding all the above. If the doctors disagree among themselves [as to the best course of treatment,] then it would be best not to take any measures.
(Igros Kodesh, Vol. XXII, p. 269)
I received your letter and telegraphed you my opinion — based on having seen many similar instances — that it is worthwhile to try to treat it with hot compresses, as they succeed in softening those things similar to that which you write about — often healing them completely.
After a short period of time, one can see the results and know whether this was the proper method of treatment. Surely the doctor will agree to this as well. Your decision should therefore be in accordance with the results of the above treatment.
May G-d, "Healer of all flesh and Performer of wonders," heal you through the appropriate treatment and the appropriate doctor. ...
(Igros Kodesh, Vol. XXII, p. 83)
You write about [your problem with] moles [and that the doctor wishes to excise them]:
Some doctors, however, are of the opinion that when you excise a mole, this simply causes it to grow back again and may aggravate the situation, and it is better (at least according to their opinion) if you do nothing and just leave it alone — provided you do not even scratch or pick at it, etc. Also, the fact that they cause you no discomfort at all is itself a good sign.
Therefore, you should consult with another specialist in this area. Should there be a difference of opinion among them, then it would be better not to excise [them].
(Igros Kodesh, Vol. XXII, p. 269)
... You write that some physicians are advising ... to undergo a tonsillectomy, and that they are awaiting a call from the doctor to perform the operation:
Prior to the actual surgery you will certainly inquire again about the doctor's opinion, since it [also] depends on the weather conditions at the time and on the day they say the tonsillectomy is to be performed.
This is in addition to the fact that presently many doctors are not as assured — as they were in the past — that the removal of the tonsils is advisable or necessary.
(Igros Kodesh, Vol. IX, p. 13)
In reply to your letter of the 8th of Sivan ... and your question regarding your health and the opinion of the doctors about the removal of your tonsils:
Regarding such matters, it is customary to rely on the [concurring] opinion of two specialists in the particular area. Doing so fulfills the statement of our Sages, of blessed memory, that[33] "The Torah — the Torah of Life, in the simplest [and most tangible] sense as well, in this physical world — has granted permission for the healer to heal."
(Igros Kodesh, Vol. XIII, p. 183)
In reply to your letter in which you inform me that you have been studying in the [Lubavitcher] yeshivah in Sefarya[34] for the past two years and that there is a doctor who is recommending that you immediately have a tonsillectomy:
... Get the opinion of an additional specialist in this field. If he agrees that the surgery should be performed and that it should be performed immediately, then [you should do so, and] may it be G-d's will that the surgery is successful and take place in a good and auspicious hour.
Recite the entire Tehillim during the Shabbos preceding the operation; do so without pause, if possible, i.e., do not even recite the Yehi Ratzon until you complete all five parts. After you find out, please inform me of the day when surgery is scheduled.
(Likkutei Sichos, Vol. XXXI, p. 264 [35])
Notes:
- (Back to text) From a letter of the Rebbe, dated 21 Shvat, 5713.
- (Back to text) Problems of kidney stones and the like.
- (Back to text) From a letter of the Rebbe, dated 9 Tammuz, 5742.
- (Back to text) Berachos 60a.
- (Back to text) Later known as Kfar Chabad.
- (Back to text) From a letter of the Rebbe, dated 1 Shvat, 5712.
Advice