I have been here at my sister's since Sunday. My body is loving it. No pain, no stiffness.
I moved heavy furniture today helping her. I lifted, carried, restacked heavy books. I worked hard for 3 hours. I could not have done this a week ago.
I am going home Friday.
If I get sick again, then I am going to turn around and come back here and if it goes away.....then I will know that is is the stress he is causing me.
My brother-in-law and I talked about that tonight. He started pointing out to me all the stressful things my husband says and does. Things I hadn't paid an ounce of attention to.
Others are seeing what I'm blind to. It helps to know.
This is my "great experiment" We won't know the results for a few weeks....but I have to say, it is wonderful to be able to move again.
DW
Showing posts with label polymyositis. Show all posts
Showing posts with label polymyositis. Show all posts
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Too much stress - what it can do to your body
Just something to think about.
Diseases caused by stress:
Skin disorders
Obesity
Asthma triggers
Autoimmune Diseases
Hypertension and heart disease
Migraines and headaches
Constant stress can cause serious immune system dysfunction.
Home, children, overtime at work, finances, volunteering, husbands.
Death of a loved one, divorce,substance abuse, miserable jobs.
All promote the release of cortisol (our stress hormone) which can cause destructive immune factors to be released.
Abnormal levels of these cortisols are associated with autoimmune conditions, inflammatory diseases and allergic conditions.
When cortisol counts go up, DHEA counts go down. DHEA is the immune and anti-aging hormone which helps repair and maintain tissues, reduce atherosclerosis, increase insulin production and balance, control allergic reactions, and balance the immune system.
Low levels of DHEA cause sexual dysfunction, muscular shrinkage, memory loss, degenerative disease and poor immune function.
Life with a non-complaint diabetic is 24/7 stress.
So how do we go about reducing stress?
1. touch therapies and reflexology....relax the muscles, relaxes the circulatory system, sooths the nervous system.
2. slow down. take care of yourself. eat healthy food. take a daily multivitamin that includes high levels of B complex.
3. learn relaxation techniques that suite your lifestyle and personality
4. meditate (any activity that helps keep your attention calmly in the present moment)
5. breathe. Deep. Slow. In. Out.
6. self massage
7. take a time out. No wonder I love long hot baths.
8. music. sing. play the piano. listen to soothing music.
9. positive thinking. 30 seconds is enough to shift your heart's rhythm from stressed to relaxed
10. love. Love your pet. Love your child. Love yourself.
So I have failed at this. I have been under such intense stress for the last 3 years. First with his heart attack, then open heart surgery a year later, then the 2 spinal fusions surgeries a year after that (this past February) 21 days of him in the hospital with me fighting for his life, for his care, nearly 24 hours a day. Then 3 months of intense home care.
And in that process, I did not take time to take care of me. Oh, I thought I was. But I really wasn't. My art wasn't enough. My body started to attack itself. I ignored every single symptom. Until 2 weeks ago when I physically could not move. I called my doctor and said I needed help. Today, she did all kinds of xrays, lab work and she thinks that my immune system is attacking itself. We are going to rule out as much as we can, but it seems apparent that my body has attacked my muscles, causing weakness and muscle pain.
We are starting physical therapy immediately and will be treating this with meds. There is hope for a good prognosis, but if we don't "fix" me, I could well end up in a wheelchair - way too young!
All because I thought it was more important to take care of him than to listen to my own body.
Hrump! I think things will be changing around here tomorrow! I have cleared my calendar for the next 10 days. I am going to stay with one of my sister's next week and relax. Completely and totally forget about everything and anything here. Sort of a "cleansing" process so to speak. I will be altering my diet, adding exercises and stretches, doing everything possible to nip this in the bud.
My body is screaming at me to slow down. I'm going to listen.
DW
Diseases caused by stress:
Skin disorders
Obesity
Asthma triggers
Autoimmune Diseases
Hypertension and heart disease
Migraines and headaches
Constant stress can cause serious immune system dysfunction.
Home, children, overtime at work, finances, volunteering, husbands.
Death of a loved one, divorce,substance abuse, miserable jobs.
All promote the release of cortisol (our stress hormone) which can cause destructive immune factors to be released.
Abnormal levels of these cortisols are associated with autoimmune conditions, inflammatory diseases and allergic conditions.
When cortisol counts go up, DHEA counts go down. DHEA is the immune and anti-aging hormone which helps repair and maintain tissues, reduce atherosclerosis, increase insulin production and balance, control allergic reactions, and balance the immune system.
Low levels of DHEA cause sexual dysfunction, muscular shrinkage, memory loss, degenerative disease and poor immune function.
Life with a non-complaint diabetic is 24/7 stress.
So how do we go about reducing stress?
1. touch therapies and reflexology....relax the muscles, relaxes the circulatory system, sooths the nervous system.
2. slow down. take care of yourself. eat healthy food. take a daily multivitamin that includes high levels of B complex.
3. learn relaxation techniques that suite your lifestyle and personality
4. meditate (any activity that helps keep your attention calmly in the present moment)
5. breathe. Deep. Slow. In. Out.
6. self massage
7. take a time out. No wonder I love long hot baths.
8. music. sing. play the piano. listen to soothing music.
9. positive thinking. 30 seconds is enough to shift your heart's rhythm from stressed to relaxed
10. love. Love your pet. Love your child. Love yourself.
So I have failed at this. I have been under such intense stress for the last 3 years. First with his heart attack, then open heart surgery a year later, then the 2 spinal fusions surgeries a year after that (this past February) 21 days of him in the hospital with me fighting for his life, for his care, nearly 24 hours a day. Then 3 months of intense home care.
And in that process, I did not take time to take care of me. Oh, I thought I was. But I really wasn't. My art wasn't enough. My body started to attack itself. I ignored every single symptom. Until 2 weeks ago when I physically could not move. I called my doctor and said I needed help. Today, she did all kinds of xrays, lab work and she thinks that my immune system is attacking itself. We are going to rule out as much as we can, but it seems apparent that my body has attacked my muscles, causing weakness and muscle pain.
We are starting physical therapy immediately and will be treating this with meds. There is hope for a good prognosis, but if we don't "fix" me, I could well end up in a wheelchair - way too young!
All because I thought it was more important to take care of him than to listen to my own body.
Hrump! I think things will be changing around here tomorrow! I have cleared my calendar for the next 10 days. I am going to stay with one of my sister's next week and relax. Completely and totally forget about everything and anything here. Sort of a "cleansing" process so to speak. I will be altering my diet, adding exercises and stretches, doing everything possible to nip this in the bud.
My body is screaming at me to slow down. I'm going to listen.
DW
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