Mindfulness Monday – Beauty

On By WendyIn Chronic Illness, Mindfulness, Quotes4 Comments

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“In every bend of time

there is some surprise,

joy and beauty.

Mindfulness is the

light to discover it.”

~ Amit Ray

 

“Beauty surrounds us.”

~ Rumi

 

“Because of your smile,

you make life more beautiful.”

~ Thich Nhat Hanh

 

“Everything has beauty,

but not everyone sees it.”

~ Confucius

 

* As I was walking into the doctor’s office, I saw this flower; it was all alone in the middle of a parking lot, sharing it’s beauty.  I had to share it with you.

photo by Wendy Holcombe.  Please do not use without permission.

Mindfulness Monday – Grow

On By WendyIn Chronic Illness, Mindfulness, Quotes8 Comments

quote grow

“If we’re growing,

we’re always going to be

our of our comfort zone.”

~ John Maxwell

 

“The deeper you go,

the more you grow.”

~ Suzanne Heyn

 

“It’s tempting to try and

blossom before we’re ready.

Only forced plants grow that way.

Treat yourself more organically,

allow life to unfold.

~Kelly Martin

 

 

* image by Wendy Holcombe.  The Hosta Greets Spring.  All rights reserved. Please do not use without consent.

How I Grocery Shop With Chronic Illness

On By WendyIn Chronic Illness8 Comments

 

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image from pixabay.com

 

For a very long time Stuart has been the shopper in our family.  Not that he likes it, but it was necessary.  We also had someone cook for us for over a year, when we had this service she did the shopping for what she made and we just had to pick up other necessities, that really helped, but over the past few months I’ve started cooking again.  Even with my increased symptoms I’ve been able to keep this up;  I say “I”, but actually, we cook together most nights, it’s just more fun that way.  Grocery shopping was once again totally Stuart’s responsibility.

I have been able to go to the grocery store with Stuart, most of the time, but it just takes so much time and he has a lot of responsibilities outside of that.  I was feeling pretty guilty that I couldn’t go on my own.  I really wanted to take some of that responsibility off of him.  So I looked into ordering our groceries.

This started when we I took him on our weekend getaway.  I found out I could order groceries locally and have them delivered to our house.  It was great!  For the first delivery the fee was waived, however, I was expected to pay a tip.  After that first delivery it was just too expensive to pay the fee and a tip every time I ordered groceries, so I started searching for other options.  Different stores offer different options so I did my research.  The grocery store we use most often offers both delivery and pick up.  You can order your groceries online and either have them delivered or pick them up at the store.  Picking them up is cheaper, and it is really not a big deal for us.  Stuart just drops by and picks them up on his way home.  He doesn’t even have to get out of the car.  It cost about $5 each time, or $99 a year.  After we tried it for a little while and saw that it was a good fit for us, we went ahead and paid for the year.  We get groceries every week so that is a pretty good deal.  And we are not expected to tip.

Each week we plan out our menu and I order it all on line.  You can give your shopper notes to make sure you get just what you want.  For example, I can ask for green bananas if I want, and if I want part of my bunch of bananas to be green and part to be ripe, I can have that too.  Most of the time I have been very pleased with the produce I’ve received.  There have been a couple of times that I wasn’t thrilled, but I’m not sure if it was the shoppers fault or if that was all there was to choose from that day.  I make sure and give more detailed notes now, I let them know if the produce isn’t at it’s peak, I’d rather pass that day, or they are authorized to get a different variety.  (like if I order a regular cucumber, they can substitute a hot house one…something like that)

This has worked out so well.  We save money because we aren’t picking up things we don’t need.  I have the sales right there in front of me, so it’s easy to see when things we normally use go on sale and I can stock up on them.

It does have a few hurdles.  Not everything on their site has the ingredients listed and that’s really important to me.  So sometimes I have to Google it.  It can be harder to compare items to make sure I’m getting the best bang for the buck. Sometimes there are things I know they carry, but they don’t come up when I search.  If I really have a hard time with that though, I message my shopper and just have them pick it up for me.

Now if it were just easier to meal plan.

 

Have you tried ordering your groceries?  What was your experience?

Do you have any tips for meal planning when there are sooo many food restrictions we have to consider?

Good Eating everyone!

Mindfulness Monday – Byron Katie

On By WendyIn Chronic Illness, Mindfulness, Quotes3 Comments

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“It’s not your job

to like me –

It’s mine.”

~ Byron Katie

 

“It’s not the problem

that causes

our suffering;

it’s our thinking

about the problem.”

~ Byron Katie

 

“The world is what

you believe it to be,

and it changes as you change.”

~ Byron Katie

 

“When you discover that all

happiness is inside you,

the wanting

and needing

are over.”

~ Byron Katie

 

 

 

 

* image by W. Holcombe, all rights reserved.  Please do not use without permission.

Mindfulness Monday – Shadow

On By WendyIn Chronic Illness, Mindfulness, Quotes3 Comments

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“Don’t chase after your thoughts

as a shadow follows it’s object.

Find joy and peace in this very moment.”

~ Thich Nhat Hanh

 

“Put your thoughts to sleep,

do not let them cast a shadow

over the moon of your heart.

Let go of thinking.

~ Rumi

 

“If with a pure mind a person speaks or acts,

happiness follows them

like a never-departing shadow'”

~ Buddha

 

** photo by W. Holcombe. My shadow.  all rights reserved.

 

 

Am I getting worse?

On By WendyIn Chronic Illness15 Comments

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For the past year  I have been much less symptomatic than I have in years (not counting my trials with my medication side effects).  I was certain that I was prepared if this came to an end.  I’m not.  Right now, I’m scared.  I don’t want to end up like I was a couple of years ago, or what I was like from 2008 – 2016.  I’m trying hard to be okay with my life no matter what.  I got to the point that I was okay when I was sicker, but it’s so much easier when I’m not.

Before you think that all of this is because of the stress of us possibly moving to Tucson and worrying about our family, my increased symptoms started before my mother-in-law’s accident; I’m not saying stress doesn’t make my symptoms worse, but it didn’t cause it.  Although, it may be contributing now.

About 3 or 4 months ago I started having some new gastrointestinal symptoms.  I’m having excessive and extreme belching, the feeling that there is something stuck in my chest, and alternating constipation and diarrhea. Oh, and we can’t forget the excessive smelly flatulence, I really wish we could forget that, and I’m very sure Stuart wishes he wasn’t subjected to it.  I’ve been put on acid reflux medication, something I was finally able to get off of early last year.  I tried 3 different kinds of reflux medication and I’m still having symptoms, they are reduced, but they aren’t gone by a long shot.  I had an endoscopy on Tuesday, and it showed…..nothing.  A little redness, but that’s it.  She did take some biopsies but it’s not expected to show anything.  I’m kinda hoping it does.  Nothing serious, but something that can be treated and I can get off this medicine, that isn’t taking care of things anyway.  A few years ago, I was very sick with gastrointestinal issues and after over a year of testing it was found that I have fructose malabsorption.  (I already knew that I was allergic to wheat and I won’t even get into my experience with gluten)  All I could think yesterday when I heard they found nothing, was oh no, another year of testing, and possibly finding nothing.  Since I’m not throwing up, losing weight unexpectedly, or passing blood; this really isn’t a high priority to doctors.  I’m already on a low FODMAP diet and I don’t really want to make another major change to my diet, but I’m guessing that may be what’s going to happen.  Damnit!

With the crazy weather we’ve had this winter my migraines have gone out of control!  They were a bit better, but recently I’m having migraines every day.  It’s driving me crazy.  The pain goes from a 5 to a 9, sometimes all in the same day.  I’m only supposed to take medication 10 days a month, as of the 12th I’d already taken medication 8 days this month.  Crap, crap, crap!  They say to take migraine meds at the first sign of a migraine, if I did that, I’d be out of meds in 10 days, instead I wait until it either gets to a 7, or it’s been non-stop for a few days.  That really sucks.  I will be taking meds a few more days this month.  I’m going to start a DHE regimen to see if I can break this cycle.  That’s means getting a shot 3 times a day for 3 days.  My butt is going to be so sore, and these shots hurt, but hopefully I’ll feel better next week.  DHE is not a preventative, but it does a good job at stopping a migraine, and it often works on cluster headaches too.  Doing the 3 day regimen is to break the cycle, not to prevent new attacks.

I do start Botox next month.  I tried it a few years ago and it helped for a while, but it stopped working.  We are hoping I have a better response to it now.  My doctor is willing to prescribe the new GammaCore, but insurance won’t cover it and it’s really, really expensive!  Hopefully they’ll cover it in the future.  It’s shown to help with both cluster headaches and acute migraines.  It doesn’t prevent migraines, but it can stop them, and since it’s not a medication I wouldn’t be limited to the 10 – 15 uses a month.  There is also 2 new medications coming out later this year for migraine prevention.  I hope insurance companies will cover them as soon as they come out, a new migraine prevention medication is desperately needed.

I’ve also been much more dizzy.  My balance is worse recently, and the world often spins when I move my head too fast.  Last night I kept having vertigo every time I looked up.  Just moving my eyes to look up made me spin.  That was new, and I hope it never happens again.  I think this increased vertigo is migraine related, but I can’t be sure.

Today I had a confrontation with someone and I didn’t handle it as well as I’d have liked.  It left me shaky and full of anxiety.  When I tried to explain it all to Stuart I got so upset I started to seize.  I haven’t had a seizure in a very long time, luckily this was very minor, but it scared me.  I am happy to say that I calmed myself during this by deep breathing and chanting with Stuart.  Sometimes this mindfulness thing really works.  🙂

Now if I can just take each day as it comes and not worry so much.  My worrying isn’t going to make it better.  I think it’s time to get serious about my meditation practice.

 

Anyone out there go from feeling better to feeling worse again?  How did you handle it?

How do you deal with it when you know something is wrong, but the tests come back normal?

Anyone trying or planning on trying the GammaCore?

How are you guys doing?  Any news?  I haven’t been able to read many blogs lately, or be on social media at all, so many things going on.  But I want to keep up with all of you, so please, how are you?

 

 

Mindfulness Monday – change

On By WendyIn Chronic Illness, Mindfulness, Quotes5 Comments

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“Some changes look negative on the surface

but you will soon realize that space is being created

in your life for something new to emerge.”

~ Eckhart Tolle

 

“Life is a series of natural and spontaneous changes.

Don’t resist them;

that only creates sorrow.

Let reality be reality.

Let things flow naturally forward

in whatever way they like.”

~ Lao Tzu

 

 

**photo by W. Holcombe.  Tulip Magnolia in my backyard, the beginning of Spring 2018

All rights reserved.  Please do not copy without permission.

 

Life, it changes in an instant

On By WendyIn Chronic Illness, family16 Comments

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My husband’s stepmother (M) was on her way to a basketball game when she tripped and fell face first on cement.  In that instant, our lives changed forever, we just didn’t know it yet.

After the accident the only real damage evident was the loss of all her front teeth.  She was recovering and was going to be fitted with a bridge, but during her follow-up with her physician to discuss other symptoms she was having, they found that she had dangerously low sodium.   Low sodium can cause swelling, for the most part that’s not dangerous, but “when the cells of the brain swell, it’s much more detrimental.  Because the brain cells are so tightly confined by the skull bones, even a small amount of swelling can be dangerous.  This is particularly dangerous when sodium levels drop rapidly, causing brain cells to swell rapidly, Without immediate medical treatment, this rapid swelling could lead to coma and death.” (1)   M was quickly admitted to the hospital, however, she was nearly comatose before they could lower her sodium levels.

The severe drop in sodium caused havoc with her body, we knew she would require physical rehabilitation.  However, when her sodium levels returned to normal, it was obvious there was something still wrong.

M was having severe issues with her memory.  She could read, but she couldn’t comprehend what she was reading.  There was further testing, and it was found that she had a tiny subdural hematoma.  (later is was determined that the hematoma was worse than initially thought)  There was also talk of Alzheimer’s, as this runs in her family.  (from what I understand she was having minor memory issues before the accident)

Soon it became apparent that M would need long term care.  She is not expected to make a full recovery.  She will be entering a long term care facility in less then 6 weeks, and her children plan to sell her house in 6 months.  I’m not sure if they are selling it because the may need funds, because she is not expected to ever come home, or because it would not be a safe place if she ever did come home because as it is a split level and she has to be very careful not to fall, or a combination of the 3.  She also has osteoporosis and they’ve warned if she breaks a hip or something, they can’t do anything for it and most people often die from it.  (no, her children are not kicking dad out, this was decided by all involved)

M is one of the most logical people I know.  She was a computer programmer for years.  That’s pretty amazing since she is in her late 70’s and computers have come a long way in the last few decades.  She took out a long-term care policy years ago, knowing that Alzheimer’s runs in her family; she wanted to make sure things were taken care of if she also got it later, I wish Stuart had been able to get a policy like that, the insurance will cover all of the cost of the facility, and it’s expensive.  I never dreamed that a good assisted living facility would cost $6000 a month.  From what I understand, this place is just wonderful.  They even have dog and horse therapy.

Stuart’s father (Dad) and M got married about 7 years ago, about 7 years after Stuart’s mother passed away.  (I’m really not sure about the exact time in there)  He moved in with her and they have been living in her house.  This is a major life change not only for M, but also for “dad”.  “Dad” does own 3 houses of his own, but someone is living in 1 with the option to buy, 1 is too far out of town for him to travel to the facility M will be in, and the last one needs some repair.  He plans to sell the last one within the next year.  So “dad” has to find a new place to live.

We’ve been discussing quite a bit recently, before the accident, about where we’d like to make our forever home, where we’d like to eventually retire.  (well, when Stuart retires, I haven’t been able to work in years)  After hearing this news about M, we’ve decided to actively pursue moving to Tucson, AZ.  We have family and friends there, it’s warm there year round, and housing is less expensive.  We’ve discussed this briefly with dad and it sounds as if he would really like us closer.  We plan look for a house that has some kind of room for a guest to live-in; a guest house or little apartment would be ideal; that way dad can live with use without feeling like he is intruding on our marriage.  I’ve looked up doctors and I’m please with the possibilites.  I even found a group that supports adults with hearing loss.  Now, Stuart just has to find a job.

This is a major life change for everyone in our family.

It’s a lot to process.

 

In a moment, everything can change….drastically.

 

 

 

http://healthyeating.sfgate.com/results-critically-low-sodium-6200.html

Mindfulness Monday – How to

On By WendyIn Chronic Illness, Mindfulness3 Comments

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“Respond; don’t react.

Listen; don’t talk.

Think; don’t assume.”

 

~ Raji Lukkoor

 

 

“Begin at once to live,

and count each day as a separate life.”

 

~ Seneca

 

 

“The way to live in the present is to remember that

‘This too shall pass.’

When you experience joy, remembering that

‘This too shall pass’

helps you savor the here and now.

‘This too shall pass’

Reminds you that grief, like joy, is only temporary.”

 

~ Joey Green

 

 

** Early Spring Daffodil photo by W. Holcombe.  All rights reserved.

 

What It’s Like Currently Being a Student in America — Queerly Texan

On By WendyIn Chronic Illness7 Comments

I’ve grown up in a post-Columbine world. The talk of school shootings is not something new to me, I’ve been taught how to prepare for one my whole life. I’ve spent hours siting in dark classrooms, huddled in the corner with my classmates praying it’s only a drill. As of February, there have been a […]

via What It’s Like Currently Being a Student in America — Queerly Texan

as I read Alyssa’s words I kept thinking,

“Our Children’s Lives Are Worth More Than a Gun!”

I don’t care what you feel about your right to own a gun, it is not greater than the life of a child.

Under no circumstances does anyone need to own an automatic weapon.  Period.

The argument that we are blaming the gun instead of the shooter doesn’t cut it.  As I heard someone say yesterday, “If my child hits someone with a stick, I don’t blame the stick, but I still take it away.”

We must support gun control.

Please read Alyssa’s post, it speaks volumes.