Author: Wendy

I'm taking a journey learning to live a mindful and happy life, while living with Chronic Illnesses. I'm a bit of an idealist. I want everyone to be happy and think everyone should want the same for others. I don’t understand mean people. I cry easily and laugh often. I love cartoons, Dr. Who, and my wonderful husband...not in that order!

The Meaning of Health.

On By WendyIn Chronic Illness, Health, Life2 Comments

One of the first things I need to do on my journey to better my health is to define the meaning of Health. Look at each part of the definition, and see if I already fit in to it, or decide what I need to do to get to it.

Most people define Health as the absence of disease. If you aren’t sick, you are healthy.
However, according to the World Health Organization:
“Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.”

The American Holistic Health Association describes 4 aspects of one self and each aspect must work in harmony for the whole to be healthy.

  • The physical you requires good nutrition, appropriate weight, beneficial exercise and adequate rest.
  • The emotional you needs to give and receive forgiveness, love and compassion; needs to laugh and experience happiness; needs joyful relationships with yourself and others.
  • The mental you needs self-supportive attitudes, positive thoughts and viewpoints and a positive self-image.
  • The spiritual you requires inner calmness, openness to your creativity, and trust in your inner knowing.

We are responsible for our own health! So many of us have grown up believing that our health is in direct correlation with the health care we receive.  However, we are the only one who can make the lifestyle decisions that create well-being (or health).

The American Holistic Health Association has developed a quiz to help you determine your current degree of wellness.  (Let’s see how I do?)

Wellness Quiz

  1. Do you wake up with enthusiasm for the day ahead? (very often not.  I often wake up and think, what’s the point.  I can’t do anything….but I try, every day, I try.)
  2. Do you have the high energy you need to do what you want? (very rarely)
  3. Do you laugh easily and often, especially at yourself? (yes, most of the time I find it easy to laugh at myself and other silly things in my life.  This is why I watch cartoons.)
  4. Do you confidently find solutions for the challenges in your life? (I’m trying very hard to do this.  Sometimes I get overwhelmed, but I’m trying.)
  5. Do you feel valued and appreciated? (I feel loved.  Valued and Appreciated?  I don’t know.  I think my husband feels these things for me, I just often don’t see why.)
  6. Do you appreciate others and let them know it? (I do try my best to let others know how much I appreciate them and care for them.)
  7. Do you have a circle of warm, caring friends? (I think so, but lately I’ve been feeling like that circle is getting smaller.)
  8. Do the choices you make every day get you what you want? (I don’t know.  Sometimes I think they do, other days, no I don’t think so.  So I’d have to say, the choices I make on some days get me closer to what I want.)

“If you answered “no” to any of these questions, congratulations! You have identified areas in your life that you may want to change. This can be valuable information.”

So I have some work to do.  Of course, that’s why I’m here.

Any Suggestions?

I enjoyed reading and getting much of this information from AHHA web site. I’m sure I will refer to it many times in the future.


I'm so Dizzy, My Head is Spinning…

On By WendyIn Meniere's DiseaseLeave a comment

I couldn’t even lift my head long enough yesterday to make a post.

I have lot’s of things I want to share.  Things I’ve recently cooked.  Certain Sites I’m learning a lot from.  Just lot’s of things.  But I feel so bad.

Yesterday I woke up with my head spinning.  I couldn’t even reach up to the shelf right above my head on my bed to get my pills, I had to call for my husband.  Luckily, he heard me on the first call.  I got the pills in me but I desperately had to go to the bathroom.  That is not fun when the world is spinning.  It’s so awful to need help to use the bathroom.

I couldn’t hear hardly at all yesterday, and I couldn’t stay awake.  I slept until nearly 7pm.   Waking only to use the restroom and eat a little.  I got up for a couple of hours, ate a little something, then I was off to bed again.

This is day 5 of this attack.  I really wish it would go away.  Years ago when this first started I would have a horrible attack one day, zonk out for hours, then I’d feel find.  It’s not like that any more.  I don’t know if it’s because I have bilateral Meniere’s or if things just get this much worse as you get older.

Today was supposed to be my appointment with the Naturopatic and Holistic doctor, but there was just no way I am able to ride in a car.  Especially since her office is about 40 mins away.  Plus, I wouldn’t be able to hear her.

I was reading about adult onset hearing loss today and it’s affect on people.

Here’s how I feel about hearing loss:

Since my fluctuating hearing loss often accompanies an upcoming Vertigo the first feeling I have first is FEAR. “Oh no, Not again.” is my first thought.  Then I take my medication, and sometimes the vertigo doesn’t come.  However, I almost always have disequilibrium even it I don’t have full-blown rotational vertigo.

I also have severe hearing loss in my right ear all the time, and my left ear has moderate to severe with some frequencies.  I can handle one on one conversations most of the time, even when my hearing has really dropped.  A person has to look at me, be close to me, and talk slowly. This is very hard for people to get used to doing with me, because sometimes I can hear pretty good.

I have trouble in crowds., and with too much background noise. I can start having a conversation with someone, but if others join the conversation, I’m lost and generally just get quiet or excuse myself.  If I’m having an attack, it is impossible to hear with the TV on, or in a crowd.

I have to point my good ear at a person so I can hear. That is unless I’m having an attack, then I don’t have a good ear.

I can’t talk on the phone. Even if I’m starting to hear better after an attack, it takes a long time before I can talk on the phone.

I feel left out. If people are talking around me I feel so left out, it hurts and then I get angry.  How can they just ignore me that way?  Unfortunately, they don’t even know what they are doing.

There is so much I wanted to get done.  So much I wanted to do.  How can I work on getting healthy when I can’t even stand up without help?

I feel like such a burden, and I don’t feel like I can be a very good friend.

A good and very bad Sunday.

On By WendyIn Meniere's Disease, whole nutritionLeave a comment

The day started out well.  I still couldn’t hear, but I was feeling ok.  So we decided to take a trip to the NC State Farmer’s Market.  We were on a quest for pumpkins!  We spent nearly an hour and a half picking out the perfect pumpkins for us to decorate, or just use as decoration.  It was much fun.

Since there isn’t any organic produce at this farmer’s market, after we got our pumpkins we decided to make a run to Whole Foods.  Look at the wonderful produce we picked up.  The winter squash came from the farmer’s market, the rest came from Whole Foods.  Most are organic and local, some are just organic, and well, a few are grown conventionally.

On the way home from Whole Foods I started having a vertigo attack.  At the first sign of dizziness I took my medication, but it didn’t really help.  The swaying and bumping in the car was horrible on our 40+ minute drive home.  I will never go that far from home when I’m having Meniere’s trouble.  I should have known better.

Shortly after we got home I started throwing up.  The attack started around 4:30pm and finally stopped around 7:00pm.  Actually this was a fairly short attack, considering I’ve had them last over 8 hours before.   However, it was particularly violent.  I’m so sore and tired today.  I will have to just rest and recover.

What Having Meniere's Means to Me.

On By WendyIn Meniere's Disease4 Comments

Having Meniere’s means:

You can never make definite plans. You never know when a Meniere’s attack my hit so you simply can’t make plans that can’t be broken.  I’m very lucky that most of my friends are very understanding about this.  I was invited to 2 parties today and I had to cancel on both of them.  I am so grateful that my friends will continue to invite me to things, even though they know I may not always be able to come.

Sometimes you lose friends because you aren’t reliable. (or I should say, You find out who your real friends are.) Recently I found out why a friend of mine hadn’t been in touch with me for months, hadn’t replied to my reaching out…nothing.  She feels that it’s a 50/50 chance that I’ll ever keep plans.  I’m simply too much to deal with.

I have to be prepared for the worst. My doctor calls this a disease of Random Punishment.  That means an attack could hit at any time, no matter what I do, no matter where I am.  This means not driving more than 15 minutes away from my home, on good days.  Often, not driving at all.  Having a walker by my bed and downstairs in case an attack comes on, I found this really helps me when I have the disequilibrium, I’m not completely incapacitated, I still feel partially independent.  Always having my medication with me.

Take my daily medications every day. I don’t know if the diuretic really works, but I’m afraid to find out if I would be worse if I didn’t take it.

Stick to a Low Sodium Diet. Again, I don’t know if this actually helps me, but I’m too afraid to find out what would happen if I didn’t do this.  Besides, people eat way too much sodium.  We all really need to be aware of how much sodium is in the foods we eat.

Keep my emergency medications with me at all times, and take them at the FIRST sign of vertigo. I know I mentioned before that I should always keep my medications with me, but I felt this needed repeating because it is so very important.

Living in silence some of the time. Since my Meniere’s is advanced, and in both ears, if I have an attack in my left ear that really diminishes my hearing, I simply can’t hear.  I have a little ear piece that amplifies sound, but often it is distorted due simply to the fact that my hearing loss is different on different frequencies.  This is very hard on me and I’m sure it’s hard on my husband and friends.  One day I can hear fine, the next day I can’t hear them at all, that has to be confusing.  And I get so frustrated.

Feeling left out some of the time. Sometimes I feel left out simply because I can’t hear what people are saying.  Other times it’s because I can’t attend functions I’d like to with my friends because I can’t hear, drive, am too dizzy…

Feeling hurt and angry some of the time. I think part of this is a because I not only have Meniere’s but I also have other chronic conditions.  It’s hard not to get mad at the world sometimes.  It’s also hard not to be hurt when you are all alone and don’t feel like anyone could possibly understand.

Finding out how very lucky I am. Every time I have an attack, I am amazed at how well my husband handles it.  If I had to do this alone I think I would go insane.  I’m also very lucky to have the wonderful friends I do.  They are very understanding, treasure the time we get to spend together, and never forget about me.

Doctors, Stir fry, and Hearing

On By WendyIn Chronic Illness, Gluten-Free, RecipeLeave a comment

The Digestive Health doctor called to let me know my results from the “procedure” (colonoscopy) I had done on Tuesday.  However, I was unable to answer the when they called.  She called at 1:09pm and left a message that she wanted to discuss the findings with me.  She said not to worry “it’s not bad”, but she still wanted to talk with me and for me to call her back.  Today is Friday, their office closes at 1:00pm on Fridays, how was I supposed to call her back?  Now I have to wait until Monday to find out what the findings were.

I did make an appointment with a Naturopathic and Holistic physician for next Wednesday.  The first appointment if for one hour and thirty minutes.  Hopefully, she can give me some guidance.  I guess it will depend on what the results from my procedure turn out to be.  I do feel like this is a move it the right direction.

Last night I made a really good stir fry.  I love how you can just throw some stuff in the wok with a little sauce and in just a few minutes it turns into a wonderful meal.  I already had rice made so all I had to do was warm that up.  I didn’t have a lot of on hand so I scrounged the kitchen and found a bag of frozen Thai style vegetables, a can of black beans, garlic, San-J Gluten Free Tamari Sauce and heated up a little olive oil and then threw everything in the wok.  I was very pleased with the outcome.

I did another stir fry recently with black beans, fresh veggies, tamari, garlic, onions, and a splash of Mirin.   I served this stir fry over Mung Bean Fettuccine Noodles.  I like these noodles, but I actually like them better in a cold salad.  They are great left over, and make a wonderful pasta salad.  However, when we’ve eaten them in hot dishes they just seem a little off.  The texture doesn’t seem quite right.  Don’t get me wrong, the dish was still good, but I think I would have liked it better with either rice, or a different type noodle.

We went to our therapist today for the first time in 3 months.  (We started going to see her when I was having such a hard time being disabled from the Meniere’s disease.)  Now that I’ve so much going on again I decided it would be a good idea to start going back to see her.  It’s much better to voice my anger there than to take it out on my husband all the time.  Stuart is wonderful and very understanding about when I get so grumpy and everything starts to get on my nerves.  He understands I’m not really mad at him, I’m just so mad at life.  I still don’t think it’s right for me to be mean to him, but it is nice that we can talk about it and that he understands that my anger is displaced.

Unfortunately, I’m having increased Meniere’s symptoms.  It started this afternoon, I noticed I couldn’t hear everything that was said.  Then tonight I couldn’t hear Stuart unless he was looking at me and there was no other noise in the room.  The tinnitus is so loud it’s very hard to hear over it.  The fullness in my ears is worse.  Now, all I have left is the vertigo.  I really hope it doesn’t start, but I won’t be surprised if it does.

Exercise for the day:

We took our dog, Sandy, for another walk around the block, this time we went clockwise instead of counter-clockwise and there is much more of an incline that way.  My hip was not fond of that at all, but I kept going, and kept my heart rate up for most of the walk.  I also worked in the little gardening area in the front of the house.  I dug up old plants, and worked with the dirt some.  It needs much more work, but I didn’t have what I needed to finish the rest.

Green Cleaning

On By WendyIn LifeLeave a comment

As I was cleaning today I was thinking about how differently I clean now than I used to.  I grew up with all sorts of chemical cleaners.  If there was a cleaning problem you used some cleaning product to fix it.  We had window cleaner, toilet cleaner, kitchen surface cleaner, bathroom cleaner….

Did we really need all that those chemicals to clean our homes.  Nope.

Now I use microfiber towels for a lot of my cleaning.  There are different types of microfiber towels, there’s a multipurpose one, one for glass, one for polishing…  I bought a group of these a while back.  I thought it really didn’t make much difference which towel I used where, but I have found that some of them are really good for cleaning, and some are really good for polishing.

I usually wet a multipurpose cloth with water (cleaners will reduce the effectiveness of these cloths), ring it out, then I wipe all my counters down, my stove, my microwave….Then I go back over the areas that show streaks with my blue polishing cloth.  It is wonderful for my black appliances, they just sparkle.

The multipurpose kitchen cloth is normally all I need to clean the grease and grim from my kitchen.   However, if I need more cleaning power this is what I use:

  • Lemon juice – cuts through grease, removes stains, and deodorizes. One example of using lemon juice is on wooden cutting boards: cut a lemon in half, sprinkle generously with salt, and scrub the cutting board with it. Another example is cleaning your kitchen sink, just sprinkle baking soda in your sink then use part of a lemon as a scrubber, then rinse and your sink will sparkle and smell great.  If you have a garbage disposal make sure to put the used lemon in there and run it with water for a little while to keep it fresh and clean.  Using lemons in your cleaning routine leaves a fresh, natural citrus scent.  Lemons or lemon juice does wonders in the bathroom too.
  • Baking soda – all-natural sodium bicarbonate is an excellent all-around cleaner that you can use all over the house. Use it to polish surfaces such as stainless steel without scratching. It also softens hard water and removes acidic stains. Baking soda is a natural deodorizer, and is great for use in the fridge, basement, or litter boxes, to name a few places. Sprinkling it over the carpet before vacuuming is also useful in absorbing odors. Mixing baking soda with water and spreading this mixture in the oven will loosen baked on grease and grime. Simply spread over soiled areas, let it sit overnight, and wipe clean. Safe to use around food, a baking soda and water paste is also ideal for cleaning the refrigerator.
  • Distilled white vinegar – about as multipurpose as baking soda, vinegar is a natural deodorizer and disinfectant, and breaks up grease and dirt, lifts out mineral deposits, and helps cut through mold and soap scum. Use it as a spray, mixed with water, to clean windows, and even as a natural spider-repellant. Use it straight in a spray bottle to combat mold and mildew. Vinegar is also excellent for use in shower stalls and bathtubs, where soap scum is a problem. Mixing vinegar with organic salts will give it extra power and provide scrubbing action. Vinegar mixed with hot water is also an excellent floor cleaner for mopping. Vinegar is also an excellent glass cleaner.
  • Olive oil – an excellent, all-natural treatment for wood. Use alone, or mix it with lemon juice for a safe and effective furniture polish.

With just a few items that you probably already have in your pantry, you can safely and easily clean your home.

Remember, if you decide to use some of the “green cleaners” on the market there is no standardization for terms such as “non-toxic”, “all natural”, “biodegradable”….  Many of these terms are simply useless, be sure to read the ingredients.  If they are vague, don’t buy it.

Be careful when buying “organic” cleaners.  In the food industry organic means grown or raised without pesticides.  However, with household cleaners it simply means that all the ingredients are carbon based, which includes some harmful volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that release dangerous fumes.

For more information on more green cleaners, making your own, what to look for in products, and what terms really mean; check out The Greener Choice.  I was very impressed with the information I found there.

Getting things done

On By WendyIn Diet, Gluten-Free, RecipeLeave a comment

Today I’m no longer running a fever, but I’m still have GI distress.  Oh well, don’t know why I’d expect that to change.

I started taking probiotics before every meal, hopefully this will help get my gut back to normal.  I also restarted taking my multivitamin, and extra B-12 + B complex supplement.  I tested low on B-12 but B-12 should be taken with a B complex and if you are a little older (over 40), like I am, you should take your B-12 sublingually (under your tongue).  B-12 isn’t absorbed as well in the stomach as you get older.

I also completely cleaned my kitchen. (more on cleaning green in my next post)  I wanted to make sure I’m not accidentally getting any cross-contamination from my husband’s gluten food.  He doesn’t bring much gluten in the house, a loaf of bread, and cereal of his own.  However, today I realized just how many crumbs from his bread and toaster get everywhere.  He has his own toaster, but have you ever noticed how many crumbs there are around a toaster and on the counter near a toaster, even if you clean them up every day.  I’m afraid I may have been getting gluten.  So we’ve decided there will be no more regular bread with gluten in our house.  I’ll just make bread more often, and Stuart can use the toaster oven like I do.

My favorite Gluten-Free Bread recipe is:

Flax, Quinoa, and Almond Meal Bread

(this recipe originally came from Kira at The Medicine Women’s Roots blog, but I changed it a lot)

Preheat oven to 375F.

  • 1 Cup Milled Flax Seed
  • 2/3 Cup Blanched Almond Meal (could probably used unblanched)
  • 2/3 Cup Quinoa Flour
  • 4 Teaspoons Baking Powder
  • ¼ Teaspoon Salt
  • 2 Teaspoons Baking Soda
  • ¼ Cup Olive Oil, Butter, (do not use butter to make this dairy free), Grapeseed Oil, Coconut Oil (only use unrefined with a sweeter bread)
  • 4 eggs
  • water to texture desired, just enough so that the batter pours in the pan thickly.  It took a little over 1/2 Cup of water for this recipe. The more water you use the longer it will take to cook.

Mix dry ingredients together.  Gently beat eggs together before adding to dry mixture.  Add oil.  (I had my coconut oil in a mixing cup and added the eggs to mix together but the coldness of the eggs turned the oil solid, it was difficult to mix the solid oil in the batter.

Add water a little at a time until you get the desired consistency to pour thickly into your loaf pan.

I used a Pyrex bread pan with parchment paper, cooked at 375F for 40 mins.

I hope Stuart likes it. 

This afternoon we went for a walk around the block.  It’s nice to get outside this time of year.  The weather was beautiful today.  As we walked we saw a few neighbors out doing the same, we stopped and chatted for a while.  That may not be great for exercise, but it was great for the soul.

Flax, Quinoa, and Almond Meal Bread

Not a great start…

On By WendyIn whole nutritionLeave a comment

I have a fever today.  Not enough to worry about an infection or anything from the colonoscopy I had yesterday, but enough to make me feel very icky.

So I’m not saying this is day one.  Day one will be the day I start the elimination diet.  However, I am going to attempt to incorporate more exercise in my life every day.  Today, I will at least do some stretching, since I don’t feel well I don’t think a lot of exercise would be a good idea.

I’m finding myself hungry a lot lately.  Nearly every time I eat I end up in the bathroom, you would think that would discourage me from eating, but I get so hungry.  I’ve decided to start eating small amounts more often to see if that works.

I just ordered the book, The Whole Life Nutrition Cookbook, I’ve been reading the authors’ blog and I think that the elimination diet in the book may be very helpful to me.  As I believe I’ve mentioned before, I would prefer to eat whole foods as much as possible.  Nothing can beat home-made food made from the freshest ingredients.

The book should be here some time between October 26 – 30.  I can really get started on trying to figure out what I’m having trouble with at that time.  I downloaded the list of things you can eat on phase one and I think I’ll try to start eating mostly these foods even before the book arrives.  The elimination diet actually starts with a 2 day green smoothie detox, however after my extreme cleanse for my colonoscopy I may not do this part.  I don’t really like green smoothies, I’d much rather just eat the greens.  I’m sure the smoothies are so you can digest the greens easier, but the taste of the greens and fruit mixed just doesn’t hit my taste buds right.

So there’s the plan so far.

A New Me in One Year

On By WendyIn whole nutritionLeave a comment

I’ve been struggling with my health for most of my life. The past 2 years have been especially trying.

Today I had a colonoscopy, and it found nothing unusual. I’m tired of feeling bad and no one being able to tell me why. I’ve had lower GI problems for over 2 months now, and I’ve gained about 25 pounds in these 2 months.

Tonight I emailed a couple of nutritionist in the area asking if they can help me with an elimination diet to see if there is something in my diet that is causing this havoc.

I also walked around the block for the first time in months.

I should mention that I have many other things afflicting me:
Meniere’s Disease
suspected Celiac’s Disease (I am gluten-free and it has helped me immensely.)
Wheat Allergy
Hypothyroidism
Hypoglycemic
Chronic hip pain (I had a torn labrum twice last year. My orthopedist would like to perform surgery to see if he can figure out what is still causing so me so much pain. I’ve had numerous MRI some with dye, and none of them show anything that can explain the amount of pain I’m having. Note: this is a new doctor, not the one who did the 2 surgeries last year. He thinks my hip-joint could be pinching the cartilage, it wouldn’t show up on the MRI because you are in a relaxed position. My muscles and tendons are also too tight, even though I’ve had a lot of PT.)

This blog is going to follow my life over the next year, and my attempt to get healthier.

Williamsburg, VA, Food for Thought – Original Post from Glutenfree Greenie

On By WendyIn Chronic IllnessLeave a comment

this post originally appeared on GlutenFree Greenie on November 11, 2009   (placing on this blog to document in one place when my Meniere’s Disease went Bilateral)

First I’d like to apologize for not being around very much lately. I know I don’t usually get into my personal life on here, but I feel I should explain a little why I haven’t been around very much. As I’ve mentioned before I had hip surgery on October 13th, to repair another torn labrum.

 

On Halloween night at the end of a very nice party full of wonderful gluten free food from lots of glorious friends, I started having an acute Meniere’s attack. Meniere’s Disease affects the fluid balance in the ear. They don’t know what causes it or how to correct it. An acute attack causes fluctuating hearing loss, vertigo, extreme tinnitus, and various other symptoms. I went to the ENT on Monday and found out that one of the tubes I had put in in March had fallen out. So, on November 13th I had new T-tubes put in. I’m still having an acute attack, it’s not as bad. My hearing is still in flux, and the tinnitus is really bad, but at least the vertigo has pretty much leveled off.

 

We are vacationing in Williamsburg, VA this week thanks to some wonderful friends who invited stay with them. It’s been really nice to just relax after my surgeries.

 

We’re staying at a place that has a full kitchen so we’ve been eating in a lot, but last night we ventured out and ate at a place called Food For Thought. I found them on an internet search before we came to Williamsburg, I saw on someone’s blog that they have a gluten free menu, but they don’t have it on their website, so I emailed them. The owner was kind enough to email me back with a pdf version of the gluten free menu. The prices there are a little steeper than I’m used to, but the food and service was excellent!

There aren’t a ton of things on the gluten free menu, and I was in a comfort food kind of mood, so I had the selection on the menu where you can pick 3 sides and have a side salad or soup. I decided to up scale my salad to a mini-cobb salad and my 3 sides were mashed red skins, steamed broccoli and grilled asparagus (the asparagus was a special).

My husband had grilled medium rare tuna, some special rice, and french green beans. He cleaned every morsel off his plate.

 

My asparagus came with a sauce on it and I asked the waitress to make sure it was gluten free, and come to find out it wasn’t. But it wasn’t on the gluten free menu since it was a special, she was so sweet and very embarrassed that she didn’t think to check, I wasn’t worried and understood completely. She offered the asparagus with the sauce to my husband which he just gobbled up! And I received the most delicious grilled asparagus ever.

 

For desert I had a flourless chocolate tort with vanilla ice cream. Very smooth. My husband had something that looked like a huge sopapilla with ice cream and apples. He loved it.

 

Our final bill came to less than $50 before tip, so not so bad after all. Of course. We both drank water, that really makes a difference.

 

Would I go back there? You bet ya! But I do wish it had more gluten free options.

And I would really scrutinize the gluten free menu. I wasn’t positive about all of the options.