Aquatic Physical Therapy

I’ve been attending aquatic physical therapy at the local hospital rehab unit.
It is wonderful to be in 92 degree F water while exercising. Gravity becomes apparent as soon as I start up the stairs out of the pool, and I want to turn around and drop back into the warm and comforting water. What a difference this has made on my ability to exercise without pain and exacerbation of Fibromyalgia and Arthritis while strengthening my back.

Endometriosis

I had a complete hysterectomy when I was 28 years old. I began having pelvic pain and related issues by the time I was 14 years old, and after many years of medications, surgeries, herbalists, meditation…anything…including six months on a Prostate Cancer treatment…before reaching the conclusion that a hysterectomy was the only remaining answer for me.

I do not have children. I chose not to have children. Having a condition with no cure and minimal relief, plus the enormous fact that Endometriosis is hereditary…I was not willing to pass this chronic, quality of life altering condition on to another woman.

I know the ache in your uterus to have a child, a baby in your belly, a living connection to a lover, but I also am intelligent enough to know the facts. Facts about how deleterious Endo can be to a relationship, a career, responsibilities, joy. I know the pain of Endo that can make you question your ability to remain sane through a bad day.

My No-No Food List

I was asked recently by a friend to make a list of the foods I am supposed to avoid to alleviate symptoms and pain of my Arthritis, Fibromyalgia and post-Endometriosis and post-Menopausal issues, plus, whatever else ails me and my digestive system. I have avoided making this no-no list for years, as you will understand when you read it…

• Sugar
• Salt
• Corn Syrup
• Citrus
• Potatoes
• Tomatoes
• Peppers
• Chili Peppers
• Eggplant
• Mushrooms
• Beef
• Milk
• Cow Cheese
• Nuts
• Seeds
• Corn
• Coffee
• Chocolate
• Soy
• Wild Rice
• Wheat
• Alcohol

I am reeling at the thought of cutting any of these items from my diet. I have had a love/hate relationship with food that has spanned Anorexia to high Cholesterol. Chocolate is my go-to addiction as I have Peanut butter-in-a-casing-of-chocolate habit. I make an unbelievably good loaf of French bread that is an art form that deserves to be done well and often. I find great joy in mixing butter and sugar with Vanilla and flour and making a form of culinary art that has no redeeming qualities other than mouth joy, a wonderful aroma, and a craving for more. A comfort food junkie, I can’t imagine life without a Garlic, Onion, Pepper and Tomato mixture with cheese and pasta. Or Potatoes in any form…

Where should I begin on this list? Definitely not at the top…I haven’t had Wild Rice in years…so I guess continuing that trend won’t hurt. Soy? Not really a fan, so I can do this. Eggplant isn’t a favorite of mine, so I guess I can forgo eating it. Seeds? Okay. I’ll start with seeds. That shouldn’t be too difficult. I’ll even add Citrus to my no-more plan. Guilt is already assailing me, as I won’t miss any of these food choices. I have to give up more to begin. Mushrooms. Ooo…that hurts already. Okay, I can do without Mushrooms. I will continue to remove these items from my diet over a period of time to see if there is an improvement in my health and well-being. Meanwhile I will have an opportunity to evaluate my food choices and where I can find hidden forms of these items that I should avoid.

Pain is subjective

…and I’ve been subjected to it long enough to know.

At doctor visits you are now expected to rate your pain on a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being the worst. They even have emoticons on an insipid chart for you to determine your level of dis-comfort based on a frowny face.

Believe me, if you are close to an 8 you aren’t getting out of bed, much less showing up for a scheduled check up appointment to point at a yellow circle faced sliding scale of smile to frown.

Chronic pain is far different from an acute case of the hurts. It goes far beyond a frowny face emotion. 

Continue Reading…

Price of Pain

You’ve seen the ads…ask your doctor if this over-priced-drug-of-the-moment is right for YOU!

Yeah…I’m on it. Next commercial…yeah…I’m on that too. There’s no moth flying over my bed and I won’t be puking on some politico’s shoes, but my cholesterol and bone numbers are better…and I no longer feel the need to strangle complete strangers for wasting Oxygen…But the pain remains in Maine.

Make a choice…painless – never free – and stay home or no relief so I can engage with the world and pretend. Pretend I can pay attention when the price is searing through my spine.

Check please.

Pain day down

 It’s one of those days when the pain meds don’t help and my mind is unable to escape it.

I’m watching Top Chef Masters and knitting these socks in bed today.