Journey- to- Wellness

Journey- to- Wellness

June 29,2006

I am feeling much better Ihave had 4 sessions of chiro and roger is great and he is really helping me My pt is helping and so is my pilates. In about one hour Istat my Rolfing sessions so I am pretty excited.
I was feeling poorly and and in a fog from a sleeping medication my shrink had given me last Friday. I didnt know what was wrong but Iwas sleeping and sleeping and felt like I was in this fog. I realized yesterday that since it was the only new med I was taking and Ihad stopped taking pain meds that it had to be it so I quit and I feel beter
Ihave been talking to Heather about the BED I am trying to give it a shot and its hard She is giving me lots of advice and ways to prepare food
I am enjoying reading some of the other blogs and learning from them. I got an email this morning from someone on my IBS website who lives near me so hopefully we can meet up Iam sure we can help each other out
I have some busy weeks ahead and now putting the chiro in 3 times a week is really stretching the time. We ar going to Bakersfield this weeekend to visit with some relatives visiting from NJ and then next wekend my daughter Rachel willcome home and we wil spend the weekend in Santa Barbara to atend a wedding I am very excited. Ilove SB and havent beenthere ina long time
But I am getting ready for my big trip I am going to Nashville July 22 for the NAtional Hadassah convention. I am so excited Hadass is the worlds largest womens and Zionist organization I am very proud to be part of it. I am on the board of the Northern Region of Hadassah Southern California. We raise money for Israel and the HAdasssah Hospital in Israel and train and educate people from all over the world in the medical profession. Our Hospital accepts everyone even the Arabs, even though we are at war with them.
That is part of the Jewish tradition to help every living soul.
evry year our conventionis ina different city and this is my second time to go. I went 2 years ago when it was in Phoenix. We spend the week in workshops learning about fundraising and health issues and teaching Jewish children, leadership skills, tolerance, educational seminars about what is going on in the mideast. We have veery famous and distinguished speakers and we meet woman from allover the world and have a great time. And there are somany great tours and things to do in NAshville.
I am traveling with about 12 people from here and our first stop is the Grand Ole Opry.
We also vote on a lot of issues that Hadassah takes a stand on in the world.
Its going tobe a wondrful enlightening trip.
Ihave always enjoyed going away on trip and retreats with women. It seems always more fun.
Well Tom mymasage thrapist/rolfing master will be here soon.
I am going tohave a wonderful evening
Lots of love
KAren

Journey- to- Wellness: Journey- to- Wellness

Journey- to- Wellness: Journey- to- Wellness

Today is Saturday June 24,2006

This has been a hard and very busy week and it takes me so long to get on this computer and write my blog. I have to admit I am very fatihful to Heather It s like I need to read what she says.
Heather, I do think of you as a mentor and a coach I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for you. I find I try so hard to be able to write back to Heather and get my true feelings out that it pushes me away from my own blog because I place such importance on Heathers There is so much to learn I am so damn slow about learning and even forming opinions
It is Saturday afternoon I am so exhausted. Its very hot but very hazy. The old me would be down at my pool for the day. I am still having trouble going to the pool And I know I need that exercise. I need it to make my body stronger and I need it to maintain my weight which is really out of control right now. One day I feel lean and flat stomach and the next I am a bloated pig. My constitpaton has a lot to do with it and Ihave been eating poorly .I try and then I forget. Its not that I am eating bad I eat all healthy foods and lots of fruit and veges but I am not getting balanced nutrition Sometimes I just need to eat what's there and I have been eating at odd times.
Well the back and leg pain have gotten way out of control. I am taking too much pain med.
My primary hasn't goptten back tome oin a week after numerous phone calls and a letter. So I am putting myself in charge making my own decisions even if they don't agree with my husbands I am dealing directly with Blue Cross or my providers In physical therapy I made them change my program I was making no progress Now I am getting a deep tissue massage and stretching and the electric stim
When I left Thursday it was the best feeling from there in a long time. I am starting my rolfing on Thursday and I started with my old chiropractor from years ago I have always liked him and believe in him and trust him. There is no insurance there but I am committed so that a lot of cash out of my pocket and I mean my pocket not our pocket which means I am going to have to give up my private pilates and yoga and qigong. Maybe I can work in some classes. Also no splurges on Coach or Nordstums. I have my session with Rhonda. But that will be it I really have a lot of faith in the chiropractic and if insurance comes through on acupuncture I will be thrilled
I am going to be going nearly every day for a year. Plus my other medical appointments at UCLA and therapy.
I know I will have to work my business more. I am in the Skin Care Business and I sell Arbonne.
Even in this crazy week with pain, new refriderator shopping and seeing my best friends new baby I managed 2 presentations and did quite well. One this morning after yoga class whichis why I am probably so tired I had so much trouble getting up maybe I need that nap. It was going to be a relaxing weekend as I have 2 really busy ones coming up.
So I will close for now Thank you all so much for listening to my storiesI feel renewed faith with Roger (the chiropractor) and the Lord. I believe things are going to start getting better and I am never going to have that back surgery
Lots of love to all
In Health
Karen
2:45pm

Journey- to- Wellness

Journey- to- Wellness

Day 7


I think I am going to stop labeling these by Day It was my intention to write everyday Oh well We know how that is

TOday is June 19. It haS been 2 weeks since my Cancer Relay and my body has not recovered yet. I have been in an enourmous amount of pain and it is bringing me down I have trouble even writing this.
I want to keep this blog in the now but I did have sever spine damage 3 years ago and I have never beeen the same. After my first surgery I was better but not completely and as a result of surgery I have nerve damagein my leg and in my bladder. And because of the pain meds it really wrecked my IBS. Anyway 3 surgeries later and I am still in excrutiating pain. I really push myself to get past the pain and go on with my life but sometimes it is really hard. I have had so many different kinds of pain in my life but this one has really destroyed the life I knew and was used to.
I am on a path this summer to repair myself and hop that all works out because if it doesnt I am looking at another surgery whichI dont want but I know it is the answr So I want to prove my doctors wrong.
For the past several months I have been activley doing physical therapy, pilates, qigong,massage, energy healing, aquatic exercise and swimming. In the next month I plan to add rolfing,yoga,intuitive healing, coaching classes,acupuncture and pain management.
My plan is to feel much better and strong by mid October which is the end of the Jewish holidays and I plan to go on a mission to Israel. If I am not well than I cant go and I will have to be gearing up for another surgery.
My last surgery was in April. That was to fix my bladder and the incontinence problem that had developed from the spine surgery. I dont even know if my body can handle a surgery tht soon But I am planning on being well.
So I am trying to live my life as positive as I can,learn from Heather if you know her from her blog, Transendbulimia.
I pray alot and have to believe that I will be well.I read from the scriptures and I feel that God will heal me and not let me down.
I will ask you all to pray for me.
Right now this is what is on my mind and I will work into the story I left behibd and never finished
Please bear with me
In love & health
KAren

Journey- to- Wellness

Journey- to- Wellness

Day 6

I wanted to write really bad. Its been a very long week for me. My weekend 24 hour Relay for Life was a wonderful experience. This is my 8th year.I have been on the Board of Directors of the American Cancer Society for nearly 20 years. After I lost my mother to cancer I pledged myself to do whatever it takes to find a cure for cancer.
Everyday I am so grateful to not have cancer. When I started having my back problems I was diagnosed with a huge tumor on my spine that they thought was cancer. I was so frightened and sick. And being that I had an HMO it was months down the rode before I even had a biopsy to find out that they were 98% certain it wasnt cancer. It took another 2 months for the surgery to be approved to find out that it wasnt cancer. In the past 20 years I have seen so many friends and relatives develop cancer and many of them died. Its been really hard for me. But my commitment is something I hold on to that maybe in my own small way I make a difference
I have also had 2 scares with breast cancer, one just in the past few months.
But the weekend was one of celebration and memories and education and awareness. And I would go through that day anytime I had to, to help in supporting the fight against cancer.
Unforunately my body doesnt handle this 24 hours very well. It leaves me drained and in a lot of pain. But it doesnt matter. I would walk till Idropped if it would bring back my mother and friends and find a cure.
I have ben on a lot of pain meds this past week. I hate them but now they are necessary.
I have had therapy 3 times this week and the pain is not subsiding. My neurosurgeon is really wanting me to think about more surgery. I am keeping it on the back burner for now I still havent healed up from my bladder surgery 2 months ago.
I have got my electrodes on my back and leg right now. I have been wearing them all week. It gives just a tiny bit of relief.
My IBS is acting up too so its been a bad week. I know I have also been doing too much. My mind is runnning on overtime and the sleeping is hard so I am taking extra meds for sleeping.
tomorrow is my hypnotherapy. I know that will help soon
I dont want to keep writing about my pain because I am on this very high energyfrom Relay. My spirits are good and I am happy and grateful to have had the privilege to walk the track for cancer.

I am very tired so I am going to close.
Next time I will get back tomy story.
In love & health
Karen