I went to a program at a Temple in a nearby city this morning, and two things challenged my calm demeanor. The first was that the Temple wasn't where I thought it was. I got off the freeway and headed south, I should have gone north. I had two other people in the car with me, so I felt bad getting there later than planned. (It turned out that they said to be there at 10 am, but the program didn't start until 10:30, so we still got there in plenty of time.) I could have used my GPS, I could have looked it up on Mapquest, but no, I didn't need to do that. I knew where we were going. I thought.
I used to be very uncomfortable arriving anyplace late. I would worry that I might end up not getting a good seat, or there wouldn't be parking, or I would have a hard time getting into the program, because of thinking about the three minutes I missed. If I let myself get all worked up about being late, I would ruminate on it for awhile, and I would miss part of the program from not paying attention. On the other hand, if I didn't let myself get worked up, I would arrive, find a seat, and settle in to the program, and not miss more than the couple minutes I actually missed by being late. I trained myself a few years ago that usually it really doesn't matter so much if I get somewhere a little late. I usually got a fine seat, and didn't miss much the first few minutes. Just letting go of my fears helps me keep my equilibrium.
Yesterday at work (I am a psychiatric occupational therapist), I was leading a group on getting yourself out when you feel trapped. In talking about attitude, I used this example: You are on your way to a dinner, and left yourself just enough time. Up ahead you see break lights, and you end up in a traffic jam for a few minutes, making you late. You can sit in the traffic jam cursing the car in front of you, yelling at the unseen idiots who are causing the problem, and fret about being late. How would you feel when you get to dinner? The answers were the expected: stressed, anxious, tense, etc.
Now. I said, you are at that same traffic jam, but this time you say to yourself "there's nothing I can do to change it, I will just go with the flow". You take advantage of the time to make some phone calls, or just turn up the radio and sing along. How do you think you would feel this time when you got to dinner? One patient said "I would still be stressed, that's just the way I am." Some of the other patients just stared at me. They didn't get it. They could not fathom that you have control of how you feel by how you think and act. (I have used this example many times before, with good success.)
The other incident today took me a little longer to let go of. I usually wear a tallit (Jewish prayer shawl) when i go to services. I forgot to take it today. Not very many women wear a tallit, and it is a statement I like to make that I am daring to be different. Also, The tallit that I wear is painted silk, that I made myself. Like most artists, I like to show off my work,and here would be a whole new group of people who would see it. Besides that, (There is also the fact that it helps me to 'get into the groove' of prayer.) So I was ruminating for a bit during the service about not having my tallit, and thus not paying attention to the service. I had to remind myself several times that there wasn't anything I could do about it, and that no harm would come of it, I should just to let go.
I did let go, and then was able to 'get into the groove'. We all have incidents like these, where something happens not according to plan, and we get thrown off. Usually there are no lasting effects, except for the psychological ones we place on ourselves. Calling ourselves stupid, or mentally trying to undo whatever it was makes the situation worse. We make the proverbial mountain out of a molehill. If there is no harm, learn to let go. If there is small harm, apologize, make amends, and let go. (This is not the place to talk about a situation where there was great harm done.) If the only harm is to your pride or your ego, then you are causing the harm to yourself.
Learn to ask yourself if there is anything you can do to change the situation, if so, do it. If not, let go. Ask yourself if there is any real harm. If so, make amends. If not, let it go. Consciously tell yourself it is okay, that you don't need to think about it anymore. Give it only the amount of attention it deserves. Occupy your mind with other things that do matter, or with some music, a book or a movie that holds your attention.
BUTTERFLY BANNER
Papercut and colored pencil art by Sheryl Aronson X 5
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
How to Cope With Pain Blog July 2010
How to Cope With Pain blog has again chosen one of my posts to feature in their Pain Blog Carnival, July 2010. Check it out- How to Cope With Pain is an excellent blog in itself, and the monthly carnival is a list of posts from various blogs that he thinks are worth reading. My post that is listed is one I wrote On May 1. 2010, about helping yourself feel better by singing and doing Random Acts of Kindness. (You can do them both at once, if you like, or spread them out.)
Monday, July 26, 2010
Chewing Gum is Good For You
Chewing gum seems such a minor thing, but it has many advantages. The obvious one is that it tastes good (some kinds for longer than others). There are more and more flavors every time I go to buy some. My favorite is Trident Blueberry Twist. I chew it for a few minutes, then I tuck it into my cheek, and bring it back out to chew whenever I want, or whenever my mouth feels dry. The flavor lasts for quite a long time this way, and seems to last the longest with this flavor.
When I buy gum, I look for kinds that have Xylitol as the first sweetener. It is metabolized differently from Sucrose (regular sugar). It is safe for use by diabetics, it keeps bacteria from adhering to your teeth, so it decreases tooth decay. I stay away from sugared gums. I recently tried Stride Mega Mystery flavor, even though Xylitol was the second sweetener listed, because I liked the multicolored package, and I was curious. (Marketing works). It has an intense fruity flavor that is very good, but does not last as long as the Trident Blueberry.
Studies have shown that chewing gum can increase alertness, decrease stress and anxiety, and decrease levels of Cortisol, a major stress hormone. Gum can also increase concentration, and therefore performance, freshen breath, and can even help with weight lose /control.. A study at the University of Rhode Island showed that chewing sugarless gum not only lead to decreased calorie intake, but also increased energy output.
The act of chewing itself stimulates saliva, gum stimulates chewing, so chewing gum is good for people with dry mouth, like me and my fellow 'shogies' (people with Sjogren's Syndrome, an autoimmune syndrome that affects the moisture producing glands in the body).
About 18 years ago, I was at a baby shower for my sister, and I was chewing gum. When watching the movie that we took of the party, I saw myself chomping away, and it looked 'unladylike'. For many years after that, I was careful not to chew gum in public. Now I have decided that it is OK to chew gum in public, because I don't chomp noisily or rudely, and I know it is good for me.
When I buy gum, I look for kinds that have Xylitol as the first sweetener. It is metabolized differently from Sucrose (regular sugar). It is safe for use by diabetics, it keeps bacteria from adhering to your teeth, so it decreases tooth decay. I stay away from sugared gums. I recently tried Stride Mega Mystery flavor, even though Xylitol was the second sweetener listed, because I liked the multicolored package, and I was curious. (Marketing works). It has an intense fruity flavor that is very good, but does not last as long as the Trident Blueberry.
Studies have shown that chewing gum can increase alertness, decrease stress and anxiety, and decrease levels of Cortisol, a major stress hormone. Gum can also increase concentration, and therefore performance, freshen breath, and can even help with weight lose /control.. A study at the University of Rhode Island showed that chewing sugarless gum not only lead to decreased calorie intake, but also increased energy output.
The act of chewing itself stimulates saliva, gum stimulates chewing, so chewing gum is good for people with dry mouth, like me and my fellow 'shogies' (people with Sjogren's Syndrome, an autoimmune syndrome that affects the moisture producing glands in the body).
About 18 years ago, I was at a baby shower for my sister, and I was chewing gum. When watching the movie that we took of the party, I saw myself chomping away, and it looked 'unladylike'. For many years after that, I was careful not to chew gum in public. Now I have decided that it is OK to chew gum in public, because I don't chomp noisily or rudely, and I know it is good for me.
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Write Your Own Obituary
I have heard about an exercise that can help put your life in perspective: write your own obituary. I have not tried it, but I have thought about it, and sometimes bring it to mind when I am thinking about whether or not to do something. The idea is to think about how you want to be remembered. An obituary is a brief summation of your life, what you have done, and the lives you have touched. It sounds like a morbid thing to focus on, but it really isn't.
This is a chance to look at where you are in your life and compare it to where you would like to be. What really matters in your life? Are you focusing on your priorities, or do you spend most of your time/energy on things that don't really matter? What kind of person are you, and what kind of person do you want to be? With chronic illness and pain, you likely aren't living the life you expected. Pain and illness make your world smaller, but it doesn't have to disappear completely. I found good instructions for writing your own obituary on E-How. This person tells how to put a little humor into it, while taking it seriously as a way to keep you on track in the future.
It is too easy to feel sorry for ourselves, and to get ourselves stuck. Be realistic about what you can and can't do, but don't sell yourself short. Doing things you want to be remembered for may be more difficult, but that does not mean they are impossible. The writer of the instructions suggests this as a way to motivate you and jump start your life. As the saying goes, where there is a will there is a way. (Pun intended.)
After you write your obituary, pick one goal, and write out the specific steps it will take to get you there. The more specific you are, the more likely you are to work on those steps and reach your goal. Reward yourself, be proud of your accomplishments, no matter how small they may seem.
This is a chance to look at where you are in your life and compare it to where you would like to be. What really matters in your life? Are you focusing on your priorities, or do you spend most of your time/energy on things that don't really matter? What kind of person are you, and what kind of person do you want to be? With chronic illness and pain, you likely aren't living the life you expected. Pain and illness make your world smaller, but it doesn't have to disappear completely. I found good instructions for writing your own obituary on E-How. This person tells how to put a little humor into it, while taking it seriously as a way to keep you on track in the future.
It is too easy to feel sorry for ourselves, and to get ourselves stuck. Be realistic about what you can and can't do, but don't sell yourself short. Doing things you want to be remembered for may be more difficult, but that does not mean they are impossible. The writer of the instructions suggests this as a way to motivate you and jump start your life. As the saying goes, where there is a will there is a way. (Pun intended.)
After you write your obituary, pick one goal, and write out the specific steps it will take to get you there. The more specific you are, the more likely you are to work on those steps and reach your goal. Reward yourself, be proud of your accomplishments, no matter how small they may seem.
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Patient/Doctor Relationship
Dr Rob recently posted an interesting Letter to Patients with Chronic Illness. In it, he talks about how doctors are scared by us because they like to fix people, and we can't be fixed. They get frustrated by our conditions, and are uncomfortable with how much we know about our illness (often more than they do). He gives 7 pointers on how we can help our doctor give us the care we need. I think he is very insightful and honest about a topic not often broached. His post is well worth reading, as are the comments following it (I read the first few, there are too many to read them all).
The comments I read were angry, an emotion I did not experience when I read his post. They were angry that, as insightful as his post is, it missed a major aspect. The doctor is frustrated that he can't fix us? How do they think we feel? They are frustrated for the 10-15 minutes they are with us and focusing on our case. We brought the chronic illness in with us, we have to carry it back out, and are lugging it around 24/7. I think these readers missed the point of Dr Rob's post. He is giving a look at what may be going on in a doctor's head, so we can be prepared for working with them. The fact that we, as the patient, may be more frustrated than they are is irrelevant here.
One of Dr Rob's pointers is not to put up with jerks. There are doctors who think of themselves as gods, and when they discover they can't fix us, they assume it is our fault. If a doctor won't listen to you, or makes you feel belittled, look for another doctor. Remember that a doctor who comes across as a jerk to one patient may be a perfect fit with someone else. The opposite is also true. A doctor who works well with your friend may not impress you at all. It is important to look for doctors you can work well with over time. With chronic illness, there are often many issues to balance and juggle, and it takes time to develop a good working relationship.
Your doctor isn't God. If he thinks he is, run quickly towards the exit (put your clothes back on first). On the other hand, your doctor isn't a dog you can train to follow your commands. I think Dr Rob's main point was that doctors are humans, just like their patients. We all make mistakes, we all have emotions, we each come to the table (or exam room) with different skills and knowledge. The key is for both sides to be respectful, to listen to the other side, and work together as a team, using the skills and knowledge we each bring.
The comments I read were angry, an emotion I did not experience when I read his post. They were angry that, as insightful as his post is, it missed a major aspect. The doctor is frustrated that he can't fix us? How do they think we feel? They are frustrated for the 10-15 minutes they are with us and focusing on our case. We brought the chronic illness in with us, we have to carry it back out, and are lugging it around 24/7. I think these readers missed the point of Dr Rob's post. He is giving a look at what may be going on in a doctor's head, so we can be prepared for working with them. The fact that we, as the patient, may be more frustrated than they are is irrelevant here.
One of Dr Rob's pointers is not to put up with jerks. There are doctors who think of themselves as gods, and when they discover they can't fix us, they assume it is our fault. If a doctor won't listen to you, or makes you feel belittled, look for another doctor. Remember that a doctor who comes across as a jerk to one patient may be a perfect fit with someone else. The opposite is also true. A doctor who works well with your friend may not impress you at all. It is important to look for doctors you can work well with over time. With chronic illness, there are often many issues to balance and juggle, and it takes time to develop a good working relationship.
Your doctor isn't God. If he thinks he is, run quickly towards the exit (put your clothes back on first). On the other hand, your doctor isn't a dog you can train to follow your commands. I think Dr Rob's main point was that doctors are humans, just like their patients. We all make mistakes, we all have emotions, we each come to the table (or exam room) with different skills and knowledge. The key is for both sides to be respectful, to listen to the other side, and work together as a team, using the skills and knowledge we each bring.
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Words Can Hurt, or They Can Heal
The weekly Torah portion for the past week was Devarim,' words'. It is the first few chapters of Deuteronomy. Deuteronomy is basically a retelling of the Exodus story, with some variations from the story found in Exodus, Leviticus and Numbers. The title 'words' intrigues me, there are so many ways to interpret it. Moses is talking to the Israelites, telling the story from his perspective.
Words are so important. Just think of how often a single word spoken or withheld changes a situation, or even a relationship. Think of the consequences of saying 'yes' when you mean 'no', or 'I don't care', when you really do. Think of how 'please' and 'thank you' can make it more likely we will get the results we want. Think of how great 'you did a good job' feels, and how much 'you'll never amount to anything' hurts. Remember the old saying "sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me"? Not true. Bones can heal, but harsh words just scar over.
I don't watch very much TV. I especially don't watch any of the so called 'reality' shows or contest shows. Everyone is so rude to everyone else. Sarcasm and verbal jabs are becoming the norm, and I don't like it. We choose how we interact with others. We choose our tone of voice, and we choose our words. Choose to treat others the way you would like to be treated. Say to them the kinds of things you would like to hear: 'please', 'thank you', 'you look nice today', 'can I help you?'. When was the last time you told the people in your life 'I love you'?
There is a Jewish saying: Repent one day before you die. None of us knows when we will die, therefore, we should make sure our relationships are in order every day, just in case.
Words are so important. Just think of how often a single word spoken or withheld changes a situation, or even a relationship. Think of the consequences of saying 'yes' when you mean 'no', or 'I don't care', when you really do. Think of how 'please' and 'thank you' can make it more likely we will get the results we want. Think of how great 'you did a good job' feels, and how much 'you'll never amount to anything' hurts. Remember the old saying "sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me"? Not true. Bones can heal, but harsh words just scar over.
I don't watch very much TV. I especially don't watch any of the so called 'reality' shows or contest shows. Everyone is so rude to everyone else. Sarcasm and verbal jabs are becoming the norm, and I don't like it. We choose how we interact with others. We choose our tone of voice, and we choose our words. Choose to treat others the way you would like to be treated. Say to them the kinds of things you would like to hear: 'please', 'thank you', 'you look nice today', 'can I help you?'. When was the last time you told the people in your life 'I love you'?
There is a Jewish saying: Repent one day before you die. None of us knows when we will die, therefore, we should make sure our relationships are in order every day, just in case.
Monday, July 19, 2010
Ergonomic Purses
I am a firm believer in taking care of my body, even if I look strange doing it. For instance, for many years, my main purse was a large leather fanny pack. I tend to get alot of neck and upper back pain, and hanging a purse on my shoulder made it worse. Carrying the purse in my hand wasn't much better. The fanny pack was great. My hands were free to do other things, and the weight of my purse was supported by the muscles of my abdomen, lower back and legs, instead of my upper back and shoulder. It didn't exactly win me any fashion awards, but I didn't care.
I have a new purse now. Instead of a fanny pack, this one is a knapsack style, also leather. Actually, the straps zip together to form a regular strap, if I want to use it as a shoulder bag. Why would I want to, when this is so much more comfortable? Having the weight spread out over both shoulders, it seems like my purse is almost weightless. I still won't win any fashion awards, but I think it looks better than the fanny pack.
If you have problems with upper back, shoulder or neck pain, it may be caused or exacerbated by the way you carry your purse. Hanging a purse off of one shoulder puts alot of strain on the muscles of the neck and upper back. If you are like me, you go through your purse periodically and clean out the accumulated junk, but even the 'necessities' are heavy. Finding an alternative to carrying your purse on your shoulder can do wonders for how you feel. If you chose to keep your shoulder bag, try carrying it diagonally across your chest instead of hanging off of one shoulder. This spreads the weight over a larger area, and causes less strain.
About the fashion statement these purses make: I have said this before: What is more important- the opinion of people you have never seen before and may never see again, or taking care of the body you live in 24/7? Worried about what your friends/family/colleagues will think? If they say anything, explain why you are using the particular style of purse you chose. I have never gotten negative responses when I used the fanny pack, or now with the knapsack. In fact, I have had people ask me where I got them. Give one of these options a try. Your back and neck will thank you.
I have a new purse now. Instead of a fanny pack, this one is a knapsack style, also leather. Actually, the straps zip together to form a regular strap, if I want to use it as a shoulder bag. Why would I want to, when this is so much more comfortable? Having the weight spread out over both shoulders, it seems like my purse is almost weightless. I still won't win any fashion awards, but I think it looks better than the fanny pack.
If you have problems with upper back, shoulder or neck pain, it may be caused or exacerbated by the way you carry your purse. Hanging a purse off of one shoulder puts alot of strain on the muscles of the neck and upper back. If you are like me, you go through your purse periodically and clean out the accumulated junk, but even the 'necessities' are heavy. Finding an alternative to carrying your purse on your shoulder can do wonders for how you feel. If you chose to keep your shoulder bag, try carrying it diagonally across your chest instead of hanging off of one shoulder. This spreads the weight over a larger area, and causes less strain.
About the fashion statement these purses make: I have said this before: What is more important- the opinion of people you have never seen before and may never see again, or taking care of the body you live in 24/7? Worried about what your friends/family/colleagues will think? If they say anything, explain why you are using the particular style of purse you chose. I have never gotten negative responses when I used the fanny pack, or now with the knapsack. In fact, I have had people ask me where I got them. Give one of these options a try. Your back and neck will thank you.
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Mindfulness and Guided Imagery
It occurred to me this morning that mindfulness and guided imagery have alot in common. I have talked about mindfulness several times, but I don't think I ever talked about guided imagery here. Mindfulness is the passive awareness of your surroundings. You let your senses take in the information, without reacting to it or judging it. Practicing this can help you cope with pain. Once you adjust to this new way of being in your environment, you can observe your pain in the same way. Observe what the pan does and how it feels, without reacting to it or judging it. The pain becomes just another sensation your body is experiencing, (This takes practice, and the pain may even seem worse initially, because you are focusing on it.)
Guided imagery also focuses on sensations, but instead of focusing on the real sensations in your environment, you focus on what sensations you would experience in another environment. It is a way to escape from your current situation for awhile, be it pain or stress or just boredom. There are tapes and CD's you can get that talk you through what you would experience, hence , the term 'guided'. Belleruth Naperstek did a series of guided imagery tapes, individually designed for specific ailments. You can do it on your own. Some people are naturally better at visualizing alternate environments, but most people can do it with practice.
Sit comfortably and close your eyes. Imagine any setting where you feel safe and comfortable. Examples are a beach, a garden, or your grandmothers kitchen when she was baking your favorite cookies. Here is a scenario to try. Read it over first, then get comfortable and close your eyes. Take your time as you focus on each of your senses, imagining what you would see, smell, etc. If you want, you can record yourself slowly reading this out loud , then play it back.
You are standing on a beach. The air is warm, with a slight breeze. It ruffles your hair, which tickles your cheek. Under your feet, the sand is soft and warm. The sun on your back is hot, but comfortable. You look around you. The sand is freckled with shells. Ahead of you is the edge of the surf, You slowly walk over there, where the sand is cooler, and more solid from the water. You stand there, and let the water roll over your toes, and roll back out, over your toes and back out again. The water goes on and on, as far as you can see. Above, the sky is a soft blue, with fluffy white clouds scattered about. You hear the waves breaking over and over, and in the distance, a child shouts with glee. You take in a deep breath. The air is filled with a salty tang, combined with coconut suntan lotion. The coconut reminds you of the lemonade you have in your hand. You take a long, cold, sour/sweet sip. You stay a t the beach awhile longer, observing , watching, listening.
.
Guided imagery also focuses on sensations, but instead of focusing on the real sensations in your environment, you focus on what sensations you would experience in another environment. It is a way to escape from your current situation for awhile, be it pain or stress or just boredom. There are tapes and CD's you can get that talk you through what you would experience, hence , the term 'guided'. Belleruth Naperstek did a series of guided imagery tapes, individually designed for specific ailments. You can do it on your own. Some people are naturally better at visualizing alternate environments, but most people can do it with practice.
Sit comfortably and close your eyes. Imagine any setting where you feel safe and comfortable. Examples are a beach, a garden, or your grandmothers kitchen when she was baking your favorite cookies. Here is a scenario to try. Read it over first, then get comfortable and close your eyes. Take your time as you focus on each of your senses, imagining what you would see, smell, etc. If you want, you can record yourself slowly reading this out loud , then play it back.
You are standing on a beach. The air is warm, with a slight breeze. It ruffles your hair, which tickles your cheek. Under your feet, the sand is soft and warm. The sun on your back is hot, but comfortable. You look around you. The sand is freckled with shells. Ahead of you is the edge of the surf, You slowly walk over there, where the sand is cooler, and more solid from the water. You stand there, and let the water roll over your toes, and roll back out, over your toes and back out again. The water goes on and on, as far as you can see. Above, the sky is a soft blue, with fluffy white clouds scattered about. You hear the waves breaking over and over, and in the distance, a child shouts with glee. You take in a deep breath. The air is filled with a salty tang, combined with coconut suntan lotion. The coconut reminds you of the lemonade you have in your hand. You take a long, cold, sour/sweet sip. You stay a t the beach awhile longer, observing , watching, listening.
.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Headaches are a Pain
Headaches make clear thinking hard. A couple of years ago, I had a headache for 7 months. Not a daily headache, but a single headache that lasted that whole time. The only thing I found that seemed to help were those headache pills like Excedrin that have acetaminophen, aspirin and caffeine. I would take 2 in the morning, which would dull the headache to a dull roar, and then sometimes take another one in the mid-afternoon. I couldn’t take 2 in the afternoon, or take any later then that, because the caffeine would affect my sleep, which was already unrefreshing. My doctor ordered various scans of my head; we tried a variety of medications, with no relief.
I searched the internet, and found a doctor who recommended some B vitamins for his patients with headaches. (I don’t remember his name, the website, or specifics on which B vitamins, or dosage.) I went out and bought a bottle of liquid B complex. Within a week, my headache was essentially gone. I have taken the B complex since then. I have had headaches off and on, for a few days, but nothing like those 7 months, until now. I have had a headaches for 1 ½ weeks, the same kind of headache as before, relieved only partially by the headache pills.
My headaches feel like sinus headaches, the front top quarter of my head affected, with my forehead the most painful. My eyebrows feel bruised if I touch them. I decided before that they couldn’t be sinus headaches, because my nose is clear, my breathing unaffected, and the scans showed nothing.
I have Sjogren’s Syndrome. This is an auto immune syndrome affecting the moisture producing glands of the body. The classic symptoms are dry eyes and dry mouth, both of which I am treating. I also have dry nose, dry other places I will not mention in this post, as well as pain and fatigue. Because of this, I tend to be very conscious of dryness and the need to keep everything moist. I use Ocean Gel morning and night, and sometimes in between to keep the inside of my nose moist.
I use a CPAP machine to keep my airways open so I get enough oxygen at night. I started using it some time before my 7 month headache, far enough before that I never made any connection. It has a humidifier, so the air is moisturized before it goes into my nose. I can adjust the level of the humidity, and try to keep it so that there is a bit of moisture in the nose pillow in the morning, but not a lot of ‘rainout’ in the hose. A couple of nights ago, I had an epiphany. I’m not sure if it was an ’AHA’ moment, or a ‘DUH’ moment. Probably some of each. I woke up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom. My nose felt a little dry, so I turned up the humidifier, and went back to sleep. DUHA!!!(?) It seems it was my sinuses causing the headache all along. They were painful from being dry, not from a sinus infection.
Since then, I have turned the humidifier on my CPAP up a couple of notches, so that the air going into my nose is moister. I do have some problem with water collecting in the hose and in the nasal pillow. Whenever I wake in the middle of the night, I take the nasal pillow off and whack it on the bedspread a few times to empty the water out of it (or beat the snot out of it, as my husband says). I also raise the hose up, to empty any water there back into the humidifier. Even so, I will sometimes get water running into my nose, or down my face. That is a small price if it solves my headache problem.
I also am using a nasal irrigator every afternoon, to add more moisture up into my sinuses. The kind I have is a plastic bottle with a nozzle on the top, from Neilmed. (They have alot of other nasal products, as well.) You put warm water in it, add a packet of saline (you can make your own; I think it is easier to just open the packet and dump). Then you lean over the sink, and squeeze the water into one nostril, and it comes out the other. I do all kinds of gymnastics with this, to try to get the solution into all parts of my sinuses. You raise your head, and let the solution drain out, and blow your nose gently to get the rest out. You do this with both nostrils.
It is supposed to clean out anything in the sinuses and nostrils, as well as moisturize them. One article I read said that you can do this up to 4-5 times per day. Here is a good resource for the how and why of nasal irrigation. There are various types of nasal irrigators; a popular one is called a Neti pot, which looks like a small teapot. This is the third day, and my headache seems to be lessening. I hope that I have at last found the cause, and thus, the cure, for my headache.
I searched the internet, and found a doctor who recommended some B vitamins for his patients with headaches. (I don’t remember his name, the website, or specifics on which B vitamins, or dosage.) I went out and bought a bottle of liquid B complex. Within a week, my headache was essentially gone. I have taken the B complex since then. I have had headaches off and on, for a few days, but nothing like those 7 months, until now. I have had a headaches for 1 ½ weeks, the same kind of headache as before, relieved only partially by the headache pills.
My headaches feel like sinus headaches, the front top quarter of my head affected, with my forehead the most painful. My eyebrows feel bruised if I touch them. I decided before that they couldn’t be sinus headaches, because my nose is clear, my breathing unaffected, and the scans showed nothing.
I have Sjogren’s Syndrome. This is an auto immune syndrome affecting the moisture producing glands of the body. The classic symptoms are dry eyes and dry mouth, both of which I am treating. I also have dry nose, dry other places I will not mention in this post, as well as pain and fatigue. Because of this, I tend to be very conscious of dryness and the need to keep everything moist. I use Ocean Gel morning and night, and sometimes in between to keep the inside of my nose moist.
I use a CPAP machine to keep my airways open so I get enough oxygen at night. I started using it some time before my 7 month headache, far enough before that I never made any connection. It has a humidifier, so the air is moisturized before it goes into my nose. I can adjust the level of the humidity, and try to keep it so that there is a bit of moisture in the nose pillow in the morning, but not a lot of ‘rainout’ in the hose. A couple of nights ago, I had an epiphany. I’m not sure if it was an ’AHA’ moment, or a ‘DUH’ moment. Probably some of each. I woke up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom. My nose felt a little dry, so I turned up the humidifier, and went back to sleep. DUHA!!!(?) It seems it was my sinuses causing the headache all along. They were painful from being dry, not from a sinus infection.
Since then, I have turned the humidifier on my CPAP up a couple of notches, so that the air going into my nose is moister. I do have some problem with water collecting in the hose and in the nasal pillow. Whenever I wake in the middle of the night, I take the nasal pillow off and whack it on the bedspread a few times to empty the water out of it (or beat the snot out of it, as my husband says). I also raise the hose up, to empty any water there back into the humidifier. Even so, I will sometimes get water running into my nose, or down my face. That is a small price if it solves my headache problem.
I also am using a nasal irrigator every afternoon, to add more moisture up into my sinuses. The kind I have is a plastic bottle with a nozzle on the top, from Neilmed. (They have alot of other nasal products, as well.) You put warm water in it, add a packet of saline (you can make your own; I think it is easier to just open the packet and dump). Then you lean over the sink, and squeeze the water into one nostril, and it comes out the other. I do all kinds of gymnastics with this, to try to get the solution into all parts of my sinuses. You raise your head, and let the solution drain out, and blow your nose gently to get the rest out. You do this with both nostrils.
It is supposed to clean out anything in the sinuses and nostrils, as well as moisturize them. One article I read said that you can do this up to 4-5 times per day. Here is a good resource for the how and why of nasal irrigation. There are various types of nasal irrigators; a popular one is called a Neti pot, which looks like a small teapot. This is the third day, and my headache seems to be lessening. I hope that I have at last found the cause, and thus, the cure, for my headache.
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Buy Locally or Grow Your Own
One of the big catchphrases lately is ‘Think globally, buy locally’. Think about the ecology of the entire planet, buy locally made products and produce. This time of year, it is much easier to do for many of us. In large areas of the US, it is too cold to grow much of anything during the winter. Locally grown produce is coming into the markets now, and farmer’s markets have opened.
Farmer’s markets are wonderful places to see and buy the produce and products directly from the source. You can talk to the farmers, the bakers, the beekeepers and the jam makers. Somehow, everything tastes better when you know where it came from and how it was grown/created. You are also supporting the local economy. It is true that you are also supporting the local economy when you shop at any store, but most stores nowadays have their roots elsewhere. The profits go mostly out of town.
This morning, I was ‘shopping’ as locally as I could possibly get. We have wild black raspberries and blackberries on our property where we have our cabin. I went out berry picking before breakfast, and got about ¾ of a pint of blackberries, and a few late black raspberries. The raspberries here ripen the last couple weeks of June, followed by the blackberries the first couple weeks of July. I usually go out picking 3-4 times each year, depending on when we get to our cabin, getting between ½ and 1 pint each time.
The berries are smaller than those we buy at the store, and sometimes a little bitter. I get my arms all scratched from the thorns, and I usually get soaked with sweat, but the ‘hunter/gatherer mentality hits me every year, and out I go. It would be so much easier (and, I admit, tastier) just to buy berries, and I sometimes do, but these are MINE. I put my blood, sweat and tears into them, literally. I am providing for my family at the most direct level. Many of the blackberry vines were growing along the ground this year, so I am sure there are a lot of berries I didn’t get. My knee is too painful to squat down, but I got enough to fulfill my need. The insects and little critters out there are the winners from this.
People who grow their own produce get the same thrill. In my planter box at home, I am growing tomatoes, cukes and peppers for the first time in many years. I am thinking that next year, instead of veggies, I will grow a ‘tea garden’; with all kinds of flowers and herbs I can use for herbal tea (I do have some in my garden now).
There are plenty of ways to grow a garden without too much effort. Raised beds, or planter boxes make reaching the plants easier. They can be built at whatever height is easiest for you to reach, either from a chair, or standing. Container gardening gives you small, compact planting areas. The containers can be placed on a picnic table, where you can sit to tend them. I have seen advertised tomato plants and a few other varieties of plants that are grown in a hanging pot, and the plant hangs down from it. I don’t know much about these, but they look intriguing. Some herbs can be grown in pots on a windowsill, and can last all year. There are ergonomic tools that can make the task even easier.
Whether you like growing your own plants or not, do try to get to a farmer’s market. I always come away feeling like I had an adventure, and with some new item to try.
Farmer’s markets are wonderful places to see and buy the produce and products directly from the source. You can talk to the farmers, the bakers, the beekeepers and the jam makers. Somehow, everything tastes better when you know where it came from and how it was grown/created. You are also supporting the local economy. It is true that you are also supporting the local economy when you shop at any store, but most stores nowadays have their roots elsewhere. The profits go mostly out of town.
This morning, I was ‘shopping’ as locally as I could possibly get. We have wild black raspberries and blackberries on our property where we have our cabin. I went out berry picking before breakfast, and got about ¾ of a pint of blackberries, and a few late black raspberries. The raspberries here ripen the last couple weeks of June, followed by the blackberries the first couple weeks of July. I usually go out picking 3-4 times each year, depending on when we get to our cabin, getting between ½ and 1 pint each time.
The berries are smaller than those we buy at the store, and sometimes a little bitter. I get my arms all scratched from the thorns, and I usually get soaked with sweat, but the ‘hunter/gatherer mentality hits me every year, and out I go. It would be so much easier (and, I admit, tastier) just to buy berries, and I sometimes do, but these are MINE. I put my blood, sweat and tears into them, literally. I am providing for my family at the most direct level. Many of the blackberry vines were growing along the ground this year, so I am sure there are a lot of berries I didn’t get. My knee is too painful to squat down, but I got enough to fulfill my need. The insects and little critters out there are the winners from this.
People who grow their own produce get the same thrill. In my planter box at home, I am growing tomatoes, cukes and peppers for the first time in many years. I am thinking that next year, instead of veggies, I will grow a ‘tea garden’; with all kinds of flowers and herbs I can use for herbal tea (I do have some in my garden now).
There are plenty of ways to grow a garden without too much effort. Raised beds, or planter boxes make reaching the plants easier. They can be built at whatever height is easiest for you to reach, either from a chair, or standing. Container gardening gives you small, compact planting areas. The containers can be placed on a picnic table, where you can sit to tend them. I have seen advertised tomato plants and a few other varieties of plants that are grown in a hanging pot, and the plant hangs down from it. I don’t know much about these, but they look intriguing. Some herbs can be grown in pots on a windowsill, and can last all year. There are ergonomic tools that can make the task even easier.
Whether you like growing your own plants or not, do try to get to a farmer’s market. I always come away feeling like I had an adventure, and with some new item to try.
Thursday, July 8, 2010
What Is It Worth To You?
I just knocked over 2 - 1/2 pint boxes of blackberries as I was trying to put them away. I said a four letter word, which brought my 20 year old son into the room to find out what was going on. I picked up the berries, and had him wipe up the floor. I continued putting away the groceries. I stepped into the pantry, and my foot skidded. I looked down, and there was a large smashed blackberry, and several purple footprints where I had stepped when I took my foot off of the blackberry.
I had just gotten home from work and grocery shopping. I was tired, and didn't need this. I could have gotten upset. There have been times when a situation like this would have brought me to tears. (That's a pretty good trick for someone with Sjogren's Syndrome.) Instead, I joked about always wanting a pink floor as I set about cleaning it up.
What made the difference? I have had some long talks with myself, and I am working on changing how I respond to situations. I have limited energy. A situation like this can sap alot of it if I let it, but is it worth it? The berries cost a total of $1.98. The time it took me to clean it up (twice) was a total of maybe 5 minutes. By mid- morning tomorrow, it won't matter to us if we had blackberries on our cereal or not. This situation is not worth much energy at all. Certainly not worth the energy of losing my temper, crying, or even getting upset. It is worth about the amount of energy I expended making a joke and cleaning up the mess.
If you start to look at situations from this perspective, you will likely find that you are investing more energy in alot of situations than they deserve. We often react spontaneously to a situation, not taking the time to think if it is worth it. My four letter word was my spontaneous reaction, but it gave me the time I needed to assess the situation, and redirect my response into clean up mode instead of act up mode.
Think about these two words: react and respond. A reaction is spontaneous and unplanned, and often is a behavior learned from past experience. A response is usually thought out and planned, and designed to fit the situation. The way we react to things can be hard to change, since it is automatic, but with determination and practice, it can be changed. The way we respond is easier to change, because we have time to think things through, but again, it takes determination, and reminding yourself of the benefits of such a change.
The benefits of learning to respond to each situation with the amount of energy it deserves are not only the energy you save, but also the decrease in your stress level. Practice catching yourself before you respond, and asking yourself how much the situation is worth. This is not only useful with spills or mishaps, but also in an argument. Is it really worth fighting about? Does it really matter? Do I really care that much? Will I even remember it a week from now? You will likely find your own questions that will help you determine what the situation is worth to you.
I had just gotten home from work and grocery shopping. I was tired, and didn't need this. I could have gotten upset. There have been times when a situation like this would have brought me to tears. (That's a pretty good trick for someone with Sjogren's Syndrome.) Instead, I joked about always wanting a pink floor as I set about cleaning it up.
What made the difference? I have had some long talks with myself, and I am working on changing how I respond to situations. I have limited energy. A situation like this can sap alot of it if I let it, but is it worth it? The berries cost a total of $1.98. The time it took me to clean it up (twice) was a total of maybe 5 minutes. By mid- morning tomorrow, it won't matter to us if we had blackberries on our cereal or not. This situation is not worth much energy at all. Certainly not worth the energy of losing my temper, crying, or even getting upset. It is worth about the amount of energy I expended making a joke and cleaning up the mess.
If you start to look at situations from this perspective, you will likely find that you are investing more energy in alot of situations than they deserve. We often react spontaneously to a situation, not taking the time to think if it is worth it. My four letter word was my spontaneous reaction, but it gave me the time I needed to assess the situation, and redirect my response into clean up mode instead of act up mode.
Think about these two words: react and respond. A reaction is spontaneous and unplanned, and often is a behavior learned from past experience. A response is usually thought out and planned, and designed to fit the situation. The way we react to things can be hard to change, since it is automatic, but with determination and practice, it can be changed. The way we respond is easier to change, because we have time to think things through, but again, it takes determination, and reminding yourself of the benefits of such a change.
The benefits of learning to respond to each situation with the amount of energy it deserves are not only the energy you save, but also the decrease in your stress level. Practice catching yourself before you respond, and asking yourself how much the situation is worth. This is not only useful with spills or mishaps, but also in an argument. Is it really worth fighting about? Does it really matter? Do I really care that much? Will I even remember it a week from now? You will likely find your own questions that will help you determine what the situation is worth to you.
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Conserve Energy: Act Like a Rain Barrel, Take 2
About two weeks ago, I wrote about setting up a rain barrel, and I related it to energy conservation for ourselves. Here is what I wrote then:
"The philosophy behind using rain barrels relates well to coping. Many of us live with fatigue, which limits how much we can do in a day/week/etc. We can't just hop in the car and go, go, go. Like a rain barrel, conserve your resources (eg- energy), plan ahead and reroute energy to where/when it is most needed. When you have extra energy, don't erode yourself by trying to do too much. When I need to water my plants, I can use the water in the rain barrels, or if they are empty, I can use the water the city supplies us. With energy, we don't have that option. Once our energy barrel is empty, it is empty until it 'rains' again. (Like our energy, that can be unpredictable.) Don't waste what it you have. Save it for a sunny day. Get plenty of rest and do what you need to do to maximize your energy. If you have something you want to do in the evening, plan your day with enough down time that there will be energy left in your barrel.
I like this 'rainbarrel theory of energy conservation'. Over the next few weeks, I am going to try to develop it further. I am open to any and all input. Send me your ideas."
No one sent ideas (I'm still waiting), but I have some new thoughts of my own. Rain barrels are usually set up on bricks or something else that raises them off of the ground., and are designed to run just from gravity pulling the water down. We had planned from the beginning that we would have ours run by a small demand pump, so my husband set them up directly on the ground. We knew that the rain barrels would not have very much pressure.
Before the pump was installed, there was a nice trickle from the hose attached to the rain barrel, which I could use to water one planter box if I held the sprayer close to the ground (not good for my body). The hose would not even work for the other planter box, because it was uphill a bit from where the rain barrels were. I watered that planter by filling up a watering can inside the apartment, taking it outside and distributing the water in the planter, and repeating 8-9 times. Needless to say, I was very happy when the pump was installed. Now the water comes out of the sprayer with just the right amount of pressure. Very useful, considering we are in the middle of a heat wave, mid 90's every day, no rain.
I see the rain barrel without the pump installed as me. I have some energy, but it is only enough to do certain things, and it doesn't reach as far as I would like. The pump represents the things I do that increase my energy, and make me more functional. I take medications. I use a CPAP machine, which helps me breathe at night, and keeps my oxygen level up where it should be. This, and going to bed earlier than I used to help me get a good night's sleep, so I wake up fairly refreshed in the morning. The rain barrel has a limited capacity, and if we don't get rain soon, it will run dry, and I will be back to using the watering can method. I have to gage how much water to use, to try to keep my plants happy, without using up the water too fast. I have to gage my own energy in a similar way, so I don't use up my energy too fast and 'run dry'. The water supplies nutrients to the plants to help them grow. I supply nutrients to me when I eat, and I try to eat mostly healthy foods, like lots of fruit and veggies, whole grains, minimal meat, and, of course, Jelly Belly Jelly Beans (they're beans, right?)
"The philosophy behind using rain barrels relates well to coping. Many of us live with fatigue, which limits how much we can do in a day/week/etc. We can't just hop in the car and go, go, go. Like a rain barrel, conserve your resources (eg- energy), plan ahead and reroute energy to where/when it is most needed. When you have extra energy, don't erode yourself by trying to do too much. When I need to water my plants, I can use the water in the rain barrels, or if they are empty, I can use the water the city supplies us. With energy, we don't have that option. Once our energy barrel is empty, it is empty until it 'rains' again. (Like our energy, that can be unpredictable.) Don't waste what it you have. Save it for a sunny day. Get plenty of rest and do what you need to do to maximize your energy. If you have something you want to do in the evening, plan your day with enough down time that there will be energy left in your barrel.
I like this 'rainbarrel theory of energy conservation'. Over the next few weeks, I am going to try to develop it further. I am open to any and all input. Send me your ideas."
No one sent ideas (I'm still waiting), but I have some new thoughts of my own. Rain barrels are usually set up on bricks or something else that raises them off of the ground., and are designed to run just from gravity pulling the water down. We had planned from the beginning that we would have ours run by a small demand pump, so my husband set them up directly on the ground. We knew that the rain barrels would not have very much pressure.
Before the pump was installed, there was a nice trickle from the hose attached to the rain barrel, which I could use to water one planter box if I held the sprayer close to the ground (not good for my body). The hose would not even work for the other planter box, because it was uphill a bit from where the rain barrels were. I watered that planter by filling up a watering can inside the apartment, taking it outside and distributing the water in the planter, and repeating 8-9 times. Needless to say, I was very happy when the pump was installed. Now the water comes out of the sprayer with just the right amount of pressure. Very useful, considering we are in the middle of a heat wave, mid 90's every day, no rain.
I see the rain barrel without the pump installed as me. I have some energy, but it is only enough to do certain things, and it doesn't reach as far as I would like. The pump represents the things I do that increase my energy, and make me more functional. I take medications. I use a CPAP machine, which helps me breathe at night, and keeps my oxygen level up where it should be. This, and going to bed earlier than I used to help me get a good night's sleep, so I wake up fairly refreshed in the morning. The rain barrel has a limited capacity, and if we don't get rain soon, it will run dry, and I will be back to using the watering can method. I have to gage how much water to use, to try to keep my plants happy, without using up the water too fast. I have to gage my own energy in a similar way, so I don't use up my energy too fast and 'run dry'. The water supplies nutrients to the plants to help them grow. I supply nutrients to me when I eat, and I try to eat mostly healthy foods, like lots of fruit and veggies, whole grains, minimal meat, and, of course, Jelly Belly Jelly Beans (they're beans, right?)
Monday, July 5, 2010
Surviving a Crowd
Last night we went to an Independence Day celebration at a park in a town near our cabin. The town is not huge, but not tiny, either. It seemed that not only every resident of the town was there, but all the neighboring counties, as well. Two or three radio stations were broadcasting from various locations around the park, and the city band played patriotic music, including salutes to every war the USA has been in, and to each branch of the armed forces. Ending the evening was a wonderful display of fireworks. We had a perfect spot for viewing the fireworks, so we thought. It turned out that they were being shot off to the right of where we expected them to be shot off, with a tree directly between us and them. More on this later.
I seldom go anyplace where I expect a crowd anymore. It has been years since we have been to a concert or fireworks display. My husband suggested we go this year, I agreed that it sounded like fun. It occurred to me that a good topic to post on would be how to survive a crowd. People with chronic illness or pain have to plan more carefully for things most people take for granted.
* If walking is an issue, find out where parking is in relation to the event. Don’t forget your Handicapped Parking placard if you have one. Arriving earlier will likely get you a closer parking spot. I do fine with walking, though I had to tell my husband and son to slow down a few times.
* If you walk slowly, or don’t like to feel rushed by people behind you, either leave the venue early, or wait until most of the crowd has gone. There will be less people around you or behind you.
* Leave your vanity and strappy heels at home. Wear comfortable, supportive shoes. What is more important, impressing a bunch of people you have never seen before, and will likely never see again, or preserving the health and happiness of the body you live in 24/7?
* If you will need to stand in line, maybe your companion can stand in line for both of you, while you sit off to the side. I have seen canes that have a little seat attached
(this is just one of the options Amazon had listed) that could be useful for standing in line .
* Find out what food and drink will be available, and where they will be in relation to where you will be. If you have special dietary needs, such as gluten free or sugar free, take your own food/drinks rather than take chances that they will have what you need. I always have water and snacks with me, even if I am just going shopping.
* Take with you whatever medications and other supplies you might need. Include anything you would be taking a couple of hours after you expect to be home, just in case you get stuck in traffic. We folks with Sjogren’s Syndrome don’t leave home without our arsenal of eye drops, nose sprays and mouth moisturizers. Gum or candy with xylitol helps keep the mouth moist, I like Trident Blueberry Twist.
* If getting to a bathroom quickly is a necessity, find a place that will give you easy access. As my mom taught me, always go right before you leave home.
* Find out what seating accommodations are available, or if you need to bring your own. Last night, most people were on blankets on the ground, some people had folding or collapsible chairs to sit on. We had a blanket, and I had a squish pillow for extra padding.
* Hearing: If excess noise is a problem for you, don’t sit too close to amplifiers or speakers. Take earplugs if you think you might need them. If you have difficulty hearing, sit closer to the speakers, or close to where the action is. Sometimes being able to see better will improve hearing, as well.
* Vision: If bright lights are a problem, take sunglasses even if it is at night. Some ball parks and other places have very bright lights. If you need more light, a flashlight can help in some situations, or a magnifying glass may be useful.
* If you don’t like wind in your eyes, there are glasses/sunglasses that wrap around the sides of your face, or goggles that block the wind
completely. Again, which is more important- impressing people you don’t know, or caring for your own body? A hat with a visor can also help.
* If noise and commotion get to you (I tend to ‘shut down’ and withdraw into myself when there is too much commotion around me), try sitting on the fringes of the crowd, instead of right in the midst. This can also help you get away easier.
* If you are unsure of the weather or the air conditioning where you are going, wear layers or take a jacket/long sleeve shirt. I get cold easily, so I always take a jacket with me for wearing inside air conditioned places in the summer.
* If you need to take many items with you, consider using a backpack or a young, hardy person to carry your stuff. We did both- loaded everything into a backpack, and had our 20 year old son carry it. You could also use a wagon or cart on wheels.
Most of these ideas are just common sense, but common sense is not all that common, especially when brain fog is an issue. So, about that tree that blocked our view of the fireworks? It is kind of a metaphor for my life. I had a good life, good job, wonderful husband, etc. Then illness hit, and the view of my good life was blocked. It took some scrambling and rearranging, but we adjusted. We saw about 80% of the fireworks. About like my life.
I seldom go anyplace where I expect a crowd anymore. It has been years since we have been to a concert or fireworks display. My husband suggested we go this year, I agreed that it sounded like fun. It occurred to me that a good topic to post on would be how to survive a crowd. People with chronic illness or pain have to plan more carefully for things most people take for granted.
* If walking is an issue, find out where parking is in relation to the event. Don’t forget your Handicapped Parking placard if you have one. Arriving earlier will likely get you a closer parking spot. I do fine with walking, though I had to tell my husband and son to slow down a few times.
* If you walk slowly, or don’t like to feel rushed by people behind you, either leave the venue early, or wait until most of the crowd has gone. There will be less people around you or behind you.
* Leave your vanity and strappy heels at home. Wear comfortable, supportive shoes. What is more important, impressing a bunch of people you have never seen before, and will likely never see again, or preserving the health and happiness of the body you live in 24/7?
* If you will need to stand in line, maybe your companion can stand in line for both of you, while you sit off to the side. I have seen canes that have a little seat attached
(this is just one of the options Amazon had listed) that could be useful for standing in line .* Find out what food and drink will be available, and where they will be in relation to where you will be. If you have special dietary needs, such as gluten free or sugar free, take your own food/drinks rather than take chances that they will have what you need. I always have water and snacks with me, even if I am just going shopping.
* Take with you whatever medications and other supplies you might need. Include anything you would be taking a couple of hours after you expect to be home, just in case you get stuck in traffic. We folks with Sjogren’s Syndrome don’t leave home without our arsenal of eye drops, nose sprays and mouth moisturizers. Gum or candy with xylitol helps keep the mouth moist, I like Trident Blueberry Twist.
* If getting to a bathroom quickly is a necessity, find a place that will give you easy access. As my mom taught me, always go right before you leave home.
* Find out what seating accommodations are available, or if you need to bring your own. Last night, most people were on blankets on the ground, some people had folding or collapsible chairs to sit on. We had a blanket, and I had a squish pillow for extra padding.
* Hearing: If excess noise is a problem for you, don’t sit too close to amplifiers or speakers. Take earplugs if you think you might need them. If you have difficulty hearing, sit closer to the speakers, or close to where the action is. Sometimes being able to see better will improve hearing, as well.
* Vision: If bright lights are a problem, take sunglasses even if it is at night. Some ball parks and other places have very bright lights. If you need more light, a flashlight can help in some situations, or a magnifying glass may be useful.
* If you don’t like wind in your eyes, there are glasses/sunglasses that wrap around the sides of your face, or goggles that block the wind
completely. Again, which is more important- impressing people you don’t know, or caring for your own body? A hat with a visor can also help. * If noise and commotion get to you (I tend to ‘shut down’ and withdraw into myself when there is too much commotion around me), try sitting on the fringes of the crowd, instead of right in the midst. This can also help you get away easier.
* If you are unsure of the weather or the air conditioning where you are going, wear layers or take a jacket/long sleeve shirt. I get cold easily, so I always take a jacket with me for wearing inside air conditioned places in the summer.
* If you need to take many items with you, consider using a backpack or a young, hardy person to carry your stuff. We did both- loaded everything into a backpack, and had our 20 year old son carry it. You could also use a wagon or cart on wheels.
Most of these ideas are just common sense, but common sense is not all that common, especially when brain fog is an issue. So, about that tree that blocked our view of the fireworks? It is kind of a metaphor for my life. I had a good life, good job, wonderful husband, etc. Then illness hit, and the view of my good life was blocked. It took some scrambling and rearranging, but we adjusted. We saw about 80% of the fireworks. About like my life.
Saturday, July 3, 2010
Pain-Blog Carnival, Take Two
Yesterday I posted about one of my previous posts being included in the How To Cope With Pain Blog June Pain-Blog Carnival. After that, I went exploring the other posts included in the carnival. Each one has its list of other blogs and sites they like. I am amazed and humbled by how large a community of people have chronic pain and are reaching out to connect with others. Spend some time exploring this. Click on a blog that sounds interesting, then from there, click on another blog that catches your interest, and then another and another. Wow.
Friday, July 2, 2010
Pain-Blog Carnival
About three weeks ago I posted about some of my favorite blogs. One of them was titled 'How To Cope With Pain". The psychiatrist who writes it looks for other blogs about coping with pain, and brings them together to introduce them to his readers. I think it is a great way to get more readers for himself, for the writers of the other blogs he features, as well as let people know about other blogs that might interest them. One of my posts, Titled Its Okay to Ask For Help, was featured in his June Pain-Blog Carnival. Check out the carnival for other pain related blogs of note.
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Read: A Cheap Way to Travel
Abraham Lincoln said, "The things I want to know are in books; my best friend is the man who'll get me a book I ain't read." When I am very busy, the thing I most crave is time to sit and read. Reading is a way to travel to distant lands, to zoom back in time, or shoot forward into the future. It is a great way to cope with pain. It is a way to escape your own life, and try on the life of another for awhile. Sometimes people with pain or illness have problems with concentration and/or memory, from the illness itself, or from medications. Collections of short stories and magazines are two options that provide shorter segments to read. I also enjoy reading children's books. Many of the young adult (YA) books are every bit as interesting as adult books, but some are shorter, and/or have larger type, so are easier to read. (Not all are shorter, such as the Harry Potter series, an example of how interesting YA books can be.)
We own alot of books. Whenever we travel, we like to look for used bookstores or independently owned bookstores, that have different selections of books from the big box stores. When we moved, we got rid of alot of our books, mostly to the local library for their book sales. Somehow, we still seem to have a zillion books, and I still keep buying them.
I also frequent my local libraries. Besides paper editions of books, there are books on tape and on CD, and electronic versions. The books on tape or CD are great for people with eye problems, hand problems, or anyone who can't or doesn't want to handle and turn the pages of a book. I like to listen to books on CD in my car. I don't always get them finished on time, but my library allows renewals online. If I forget to renew, I figure my fine money goes to a good cause.
Electronic books, or E-books are available through many sources. In order to read e-books, you need either a device designed for that purpose, or a program (or app) for your computer, phone, or other device. There are many different e-readers and many different devices you can use to read e-books. I have an Ipod Touch, and I got a free Kindle app, and can download books from the Kindle website. Their standard price is $9.99, but they have quite a few books that are free. I also have MobiPocket on my computer, and I can get e-books from my library to read. Devices specifically designed for reading e-books are called e-readers. The most famous is Kindle, but there are many others. Wikipedia has a nice comparison of a number of them.
Once you have a device you can read e-books on, there are many sources for e-books. Make sure that the device/program you are using is compatible with the books you get. There are many sources of e-books. Some have regular books, which are published as e-books as well as paper books, others feature writings that have not been published before. Many of these sites allow you to publish your own writings, as well as read what others have written. (A topic for a future post?) Search online for 'e-books' and the name of your program or device to find compatible books.
A favorite t-shirt I have seen said "Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it is too dark to read.
We own alot of books. Whenever we travel, we like to look for used bookstores or independently owned bookstores, that have different selections of books from the big box stores. When we moved, we got rid of alot of our books, mostly to the local library for their book sales. Somehow, we still seem to have a zillion books, and I still keep buying them.
I also frequent my local libraries. Besides paper editions of books, there are books on tape and on CD, and electronic versions. The books on tape or CD are great for people with eye problems, hand problems, or anyone who can't or doesn't want to handle and turn the pages of a book. I like to listen to books on CD in my car. I don't always get them finished on time, but my library allows renewals online. If I forget to renew, I figure my fine money goes to a good cause.
Electronic books, or E-books are available through many sources. In order to read e-books, you need either a device designed for that purpose, or a program (or app) for your computer, phone, or other device. There are many different e-readers and many different devices you can use to read e-books. I have an Ipod Touch, and I got a free Kindle app, and can download books from the Kindle website. Their standard price is $9.99, but they have quite a few books that are free. I also have MobiPocket on my computer, and I can get e-books from my library to read. Devices specifically designed for reading e-books are called e-readers. The most famous is Kindle, but there are many others. Wikipedia has a nice comparison of a number of them.
Once you have a device you can read e-books on, there are many sources for e-books. Make sure that the device/program you are using is compatible with the books you get. There are many sources of e-books. Some have regular books, which are published as e-books as well as paper books, others feature writings that have not been published before. Many of these sites allow you to publish your own writings, as well as read what others have written. (A topic for a future post?) Search online for 'e-books' and the name of your program or device to find compatible books.
A favorite t-shirt I have seen said "Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it is too dark to read.
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