12 Little Instant Health Boosts

12 Little Instant Health Boosts
Minor moves that offer major benefits for your mind and body
By Alyssa Shaffer
published in Prevention Magazine

1. Giggle
Health boost: Improve blood flow by 21%

2. Brush and floss
Health boost: Cut risk of head and neck cancer by 400%

3. Brew a pot of tea
Health boost: Cut stroke risk by 21%

4. Pen a thank-you note
Health boost: Feel 20% happier

5. Hide your TV remote
Health boost: Whittle 2 inches from your belly

6. Doodle during work meetings
Health boost: Improve memory by 29%

7. Keep your doctor on speed dial
Health boost: Slash medical mistakes up to 25%

8. Squeeze your husband’s hand
Health boost: Slash stress by 200%

9. Strike a warrior pose
Health boost: Ease back pain by 56%

10. Grill some fish for dinner
Health boost: Lower risk of dementia by 19%

11. Drink milk at breakfast
Health boost: Shed 5 pounds

12. Pour a glass of Pinot
Health boost: Live 5 years longer


Read the entire article here

Mettā bhāvanā (lovingkindness) Meditation

As those of you following my blog know, I've been challenged with debilitating headaches after having eye-surgery to repair damage caused by a faulty champagne-cork accident.

One of the things that has really made a good difference in my life is Meditation. While I've taken meditation classes over the years (I do live in Marin County, after all), recently I've discovered a form of meditation that really works well for me: Mettā bhāvanā (lovingkindness).

Here's a couple of links you might enjoy of the Venerable Bhante U Vimalaramsi guiding you in how to practice Mettā bhāvanā (lovingkindness) meditation:

Namaste.

BBC News: 'Hot' substance in chilli peppers key to killing pain?

BBC News: 'Hot' substance in chilli peppers key to killing pain

Studying chilli peppers is helping scientists create a new type of painkiller which could stop pain at its source.

A team at the University of Texas says a substance similar to capsaicin, which makes chilli peppers hot, is found in the human body at sites of pain.

And blocking the production of this substance can stop chronic pain, the team found.

They report their findings in the Journal of Clinical Investigation.

Capsaicin is the primary ingredient in hot chilli peppers which causes a burning sensation.

It does this by binding to receptors present on the cells inside the body.

Similarly, when the body is injured, it releases capsaicin-like substances - fatty acids called oxidized linoleic acid metabolites or OLAMs - and these, via receptors, cause pain, the researchers have found.

...

read entire article here

'Wild Comfort: The Solace of Nature' by Kathleen Dean Moore

Something I've long reveled in is the connection between the natural world and healing. Kathleen Dean Moore's, 'Wild Comfort,' http://tinyurl.com/25e7ykf puts the theory to study.

OSU professor Kathleen Dean Moore started out writing a book about happiness, however, as she says, “events overtook me.” In Wild Comfort, Moore tries to grapple with “the power of water, air, earth, and time to bring gladness gradually from grief and to restore meaning to lives that seem empty or unmoored.”

Love this!

No matter what, and for whatever the reason, this song (& video associated with it) always comforts me. It helped me relax during for my eye surgery (which was less than pleasant), and is a nice touch-stone when I'm in a lot of pain, like right now. Hopefully it will help me relax enough to sleep & end this miserable headache...

"Please Don't Go", by Barcelona
Kuroshio Sea -- 2nd largest aquarium tank in the world

ARTICLE: Shape Magazine, "Basic Pain Management Techniques"

ARTICLE: Shape Magazine, "Basic Pain Management Techniques" http://tinyurl.com/y2sc3ju

"One in four Americans - 75 million people - live in chronic, debilitating pain. In fact, pain affects more Americans than diabetes, heart disease and cancer combined. Here are some steps you can take to get relief.

What is pain?

The early Greeks and Romans advanced the idea that the brain played a role in producing the perception of pain. In the 19th century, physician-scientists discovered that opiates such as morphine could relieve pain and chemist Felix Hoffmann developed aspirin from a substance in willow bark. Aspirin remains the most commonly used pain reliever today.

In 1994, the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) defined pain as an "unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage."

According to a survey by the National Center for Health Statistics (2006), 26% of adults experienced pain lasting more than 24 hours in the month prior, and 10% experienced the same pain for a year or more. Pain requires particular attention in infants and children since they are not always able to describe the type, degree, or location of pain they are experiencing.

The truth about women and pain

Pain is a regular, if unwelcome, reality for many women, perhaps even more than it is for men, and yet, according to the American Pain Foundation, they are often undertreated. Most women have pain with menstruation at some point in their lives, and childbirth can be painful. Some common disorders of the female reproductive tract are painful. Also, painful autoimmune diseases are much more common in women. To cope with their pain, women tend to use more approaches than men, such as learning about their condition, turning to others for support, and finding ways to relax more and manage stress.

Still, it can be hard for a woman to get help for her pain. Some doctors are less likely to give women painkillers because they think that women overstate the amount of pain they feel. Studies have shown that given the same amount of pain, men are less likely to report it than women. Men might feel they need to "tough it out." But this doesn't mean that the pain women are reporting isn't real. ..."

READ MORE: http://tinyurl.com/y2sc3ju

Focus: Winning is a Habit

"Winning is not a sometime thing, it's an all time thing. You don't win once in a while, you don't do things right once in a while, you do them right all the time. Winning is a habit. Unfortunately, so is losing." ~Vince Lombardi

It's amazing how easily one can get distracted and get off track, isn't it? For me, the headaches following my lens replacement eye surgery have certainly been distracting. Everyday I am grateful they are not as horrendous as they were immediately following my operation. And I suppose I don't mind them too much (which is easier to write when I'm not in severe pain!) as long as I re-frame them as an additional cost to the $20K price-tag to see again. I will eternally be grateful to my eye surgeon, Stephen D. McLeod, MD, Chair of the Department of Ophthalmology at UCSF School of Medicine. Thank you.

For those of you following my blog, finding inspiration has been a focal point. Life has so many options, and so many distractions, too. Add to that the fact that I am a project oriented person, and finding worthy projects that can accommodate my frequent headaches has been curious to say the least.

Fortunately I have a great new project I'm working on that I feel strongly about. As my professional background is in event production, I'm delighted to be applying some of my skills to helping a world-renowned conservationist photographer and author create a social media presence. Being type-a, my little soul is tickled beyond belief to have something to 'focus' on; especially something that I can get behind so enthusiastically.

And since winning is a habit, I'm going to recognize that today I cannot see out of my new eye. What that means is that I already have a headache, and it will be a difficult day pain-wise. However my 'focus' is to win, so I'm going to release the pain & relax, which will allow me to stay focused on winning.

What can you focus on today to keep you on-track to win at being the best you can be? Tell me...

Counting Blessings (& Butterflies)

"How does one become a butterfly? You must want to fly so much that you are willing to give up being a caterpillar." ~Trina Paulus

Ever had a 'Brain-Freeze' from eating ice cream!?! That sudden burst of pain that hits when eating anything cold too fast?! My so-called 'breakthrough' headaches feel like that, except instead of lasting a few seconds the way a 'brain-freeze' does, my headaches hit at that intensity for 2-3 hours.

I bring this up because although I went 2-days without a 'breakthrough' headache last week (which is huge!), I've been slammed with real nasty ones since Wednesday. The good news -- when I'm feeling gracious enough -- is that I’m thrilled that I went 2 days without 'breakthrough' pain! And on top of that, the bad headaches only seem to last 2-3 hours, which is manageable (in comparison to what they were after my eye surgery). However as I'm writing this my Vicodin hasn't hit yet, so I'm not exactly stoked at the moment. This too shall pass... right!?!

Dr. Robert A. Emmons’ book, ‘Thanks! How the New Science of Gratitude Can Make You Happier’ draws on the first major empirical study of gratitude to scientifically show how the cultivation of appreciation can measurably change peoples lives.

Counting my blessings has always been something I've relied on over the years when life hands me lemons. And yes, some times are more difficult than others to reach for that proverbial silver lining. When I'm trying to stay positive, a trick that always works for me is to make a list of five (5) things I'm grateful for:

1) My WONDERFUL best friends. No matter what, you always make me smile!

2) Friends and acquaintances who, even if they stumble or fall, pick themselves up & keep going.

3) The AMAZING beauty of the San Francisco Bay Area, and of this beautiful planet in general.

4) The ability to heal, learn, push, strive, achieve, and be human.

5) Butterflies, Chinese Astrology, and Marcel Proust in a hot mineral soaking tub.

So tell me, what are you grateful for!?!

A Spirit of Adventure

"Ineffective people live day after day with unused potential. They experience synergy only in small, peripheral ways in their lives. But creative experiences can be produced regularly, consistently, almost daily in people's lives. It requires enormous personal security and openness and a spirit of adventure." ~Stephen R. Covey

Wow.

As those of you following my blog know, I've been focused on finding inspiration in my life as I'm recouping after my eye surgery. My surgery (& ensuing headaches) have certainly put me in a 'No Bull&^%$' state-of-mind, to say the least! I suppose that is because it has been such a struggle with all these %$#@ headaches. Fortunately, I'm 'seeing' progress as I figure out my limitations & how to work around them.

When I was younger I was a rules-follower. That's how I was raised, and that's what one did to fit in. By now I've figured out that being true to myself works better because I'm playing to my strengths, not to someone else's ideals. And by experiencing the personal security that goes along with trusting my instincts, my natural sense of adventure and openness feel stronger than ever. And it feels good!

While I still struggle with headaches, eye-strain, dizziness & some (understandable) fatigue, I'm making it a personal challenge to test my limits & see just how much living I can get away with. I'm still doing all the right things (eating healthy, exercising regularly, expanding my mind with learning & projects, socializing, meditating, etc.), and yet my 'No Bull &^%$' Fly-Zone is allowing me to seek out (and find) daily inspirations. This world is SO vast, and holds so many amazing things... and I want to experience as many of them as I possibly can.

So tell me, what speaks to your sense of adventure? What makes your heart & mind take flight & soar? Tell me...

Adaptation

"It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is the most adaptable to change." ~Charles Darwin

Well, it certainly is good news that brother Darwin asserts that it is the most adaptable that survives, not merely the strongest nor the most intelligent! My best friends will describe me as many things (I am human, after all), and strong and intelligent are always part of that equation. Fortunately. And while the past several months since my eye surgery have been an interesting challenge due to the &^%$ headaches, I'm proud to state that I am definitely adapting!

What has helped me the most has been finding inspiration anywhere I can be it in nature, literature, movies, music, and people. Love is also a large factor. What I love, I love passionately. Always have. And I'm proud to have wonderful people in my life whom I love and love me, too.

And while these *&^% headaches used to scare me, I'm not frightened anymore. I know I am loved, and through my friends' eyes I have learned to see my own strength, intelligence, and adaptability. When the pain gets really bad, it's okay to feel it (even if it makes me cry), because it reminds me that I can see again. And that's the most amazing thing. Ever! There's so much beauty in this world, I'm eternally grateful to see it. A million thanks Dr. Stephen D. McLeod of UCSF...

So tell me, what do you love passionately? What can make you adapt and push through any obstacle in your path?

Tell me...

What Inspires You?

"It's so hard to find someone to admire... now I'm gonna try to improve my life." ~Madonna

Now that the 2010 Vancouver Olympics have come and gone, and I no longer have my friends to cheer for in that arena, I realize that I'm a little bored and in need of more inspiration.

While I still have daily headaches, I'm definitely managing them much better. I now understand most of the triggers that cause my headaches, which means I can avoid them, or minimize my exposure to them, thus avoiding the really crippling ones. Bright lights, for example, trigger pain, so by wearing clear sunglasses the effect is diminished. Granted I feel self-conscious about wearing sunglasses indoors or at night, however I can't be bothered by what the world thinks. I'm tickled-pink to be that much more active again! And while I'd much rather report that I don't have daily headaches any longer, I'm stoked that they are much less intense than before. Yeah!

And since I'm much more active, life is looking up -- pun intended! I'm able to exercise much more regularly (yeah, endorphins!), and my social life is picking up again, too.

And I'm still amazed each day when I meet someone else who has gone through some physical trauma, particularly those who have also suffered a traumatic eye accident. It's fascinating to hear their stories, and to commiserate with them about their recovery process. Talk about finding inspiration!

So tell me, what inspires you?

Where are you getting your inspiration from that makes each day better than the last?

What is it that makes you smile, even when it's difficult?

What inspires you to become a better version of yourself?

Tell me...

Would you take my hand tonight?

I'm writing this blogpost from a local coffee shop, where I'm glad to be surrounded by people and activity while I'm struggling thru a killer headache. While my headaches aren't any better yet (in fact, their intensity & frequency has picked-up again), I am better at learning how to manage around them & still be productive. The more active I am, particularly the more visual stimuli I have, the more headaches I incur. I think my new eye gets tired, as I notice a decline in vision as the headache rages. However one bright spot is the fact that I know when one starts, I can work thru the pain knowing they only last 1-3 hours on average. And my vision returns in my new eye after the headache subsides. Funny what you can get excited about when intense pain is a daily part of your life...

I've found that eating something seems to help when a headache starts. It's an old trick I learned in college when I was dealing with the aftermath of the migranes I suffered as I was regaining my vision after the champagne accident. For whatever reason, if I put something in my stomach, it's as if some of the blood leaves my head as I'm digesting whatever, plus it provides a base for a couple of vicodin. Once the vicodin hit, I can still feel the pain, however I don't care as much. It's as if I know the pain is there, but as long as I don't make it worse by driving, or reading, or focusing visually too much, I can get by until it subsides. Fortunately my typing skills are pretty good, so I can actually write this blog without too much visual stimuli. Guess that's one reason why so many of my blog posts are me lamenting headaches! Granted, my computer screen is visible from outerspace because I have the font so large, but hey, what can you do, right!?!

The pain gets up to a 9-10 daily when these headaches hit, so don't get me wrong, they hurt like hell. I'm just glad that they don't last all day, and now that I know them, I also know I can endure them. Plus, after about an hour or two of intense pain, the headache starts to subside & I have a lovely vicodin-high that makes me smile! If only the unassuming people around me knew I was stoned on vicodin right now! LOL! Unfortunately this phase only lasts about 30 minutes, however it's a welcome relief as it means my misery will be over in about an hour. Thank god. Even though I'm putting on a brave face daily as I deal with these &^%$#@ headaches, I really hate them. So I keep reminding myself that I am making improvement, which I am. And having my mp3 player on helps, too, as silly as that sounds. Anything to keep seeing that silver lining...

It can be difficult to stay positive, I'm not going to lie. But knowing that these daily headaches only last 1-3 hours makes it much better! I remember (all too well) how awful it was to have them this bad 24/7, just a few weeks ago. Another good thing is that I'm learning to control my day & the daily headache is now typically hitting later in the afternoon/early evening, which actually is also a welcome relief! Being type-A, I always feel better having a sense of accomplishment about my day. And by conserving my energy and visual stimuli, I can put off the headaches until later in the day, which is wonderful! If I have to have them daily (and, by the way, if anyone can tell me how to not have headaches at all, I'd greatly appreciate it!), I'm much happier that they are hitting later in the day. It's amazing how the littlest things can make you happy! ;-)

I'm noticing that I am much more vulnerable (& in need of a hug) when the headaches hit. One thing that is helping is that I am in closer contact with some of my friends. Speaking frequently with my best friend, Cher, is the most amazing tonic. Even though I'm going thru a tough time, it's good to know I am loved and appreciated. My confidence has obviously taken a hit. Having friends to laugh with & take my focus off the pain helps. Thanks for 20+ years of the best friendship ever, Cher! And thanks to Gordon for understanding.

It's like the legs of a bar stool. While a barstool can stand with only one leg, it has better support with more legs. Having friends to chat with daily is definitely helping -- a lot. My friends, and neighbors, Susan and Jim Whipple, have been fantastic. We get together frequently for coffee, walks, movies, groceries, etc. And since Susan has endured migranes most of her life, they both get it. Being single, I'm always aware of not wanting to impose myself on my couple-d friends. Susie & Jim have been fantastic. Thanks you two! Your friendship means a lot.

So I'm pleased to announce that while I'm still struggling with these &^%$#@ daily headaches, I'm making steady progress with my life. Good things are coming my way, and I'm excited to see all my hardwork (and that of my friends, doctors, and business associates) pay off. Thanks so much to everyone in my life who is checking-in to say 'hi'. You have no idea how very much that means to me as I'm getting back on my feet. I'm eternally grateful, and becoming my optimistic self again.

Ride
performed by Cary Brothers
http://tinyurl.com/dxzt43
Ride by Cary Brothers (Album Version)

Onward & upward! ;-)

Well hang on...

This week has challenged me. In a different way than most.

I had a birthday that I had no desire what-so-ever to 'celebrate'. The physical struggle after my eye surgery has been so great that I'm feeling depleted. And a big, fat, shining reminder that I'm aging wasn't what I needed. [Thanks millions to all my friends who wished me happy birthday. May we celebrate next year?]

My new laptop that I purchased two weeks ago (after mine blue-screened) bluescreened! So I dutifully took it back to Bestbuy for a replacement. I replaced it with the same make & model, and when I got that one home the wifi didn't work. So I dutifully took the second (2nd) computer back to Bestbuy for a replacement. I changed make & model this time, and when I got that one home the power switch was faulty. So I dutifully took the third (3rd) computer back to Bestbuy for a replacement. I changed make & model again and now I'm on my fourth (4th) computer! [At least this fourth works. And I've finally completed the music section on my website (http://www.little-bear-productions.com/outdoors.html), now that I have a working computer!]

I'm still dealing with some headaches and dizziness. While I'm a lot more mobile now than I have been since my eye surgery, I also have several physical limitations I didn't have before my surgery. And now that I'm regaining some strength, I'm frustrated that I'm not 100%. A) I have to rest my eyes frequently. That can make the difference between an 1-hour headache, or a 5-hour headache. B) Sometimes I just can't see much at all. And that's pretty scary. C) Sometimes I feel as if a bullet went thru my head. D) Sometimes I get so dizzy that I stagger like I'm drunk. E) My confidence is waning. [But I am seeing slight improvement, which helps. And I finally have a neurologist appointment scheduled for December 22nd.]

And as much as I'm tired of sounding like a broken record, I suspect my friends are tiring of hearing it. I'm very aware that everyone else has their own lives, and are struggling with their own issues. I only wish I had more strength to better lend them a hand, too. [So I thank you all for the friendship you offer, as it truly means a lot to me. Especially in the quiet moments.]

Up until now my spirits have been pretty good. This week has really challenged me.

So I think what I need to do is try my best to count my blessings, and look for more inspiration.

• This week I'm grateful that I got to trim the Christmas tree with Greg & Neil, and their adorable 3-year-old daughter, Elle. Thanks for the holiday cheer!
  
• I'm grateful to Hot Toddy for his love and humor across the miles.
  
• I'm grateful that I'm going to see Cher tomorrow for lunch.
  
• I'm grateful that I got to see Susie-Q, if only for a few minutes to giggle in the rain. Hopefully Christmas Jim will feel better soon.
  
• I'm grateful to Shoshana for her support & musings thru the miles.
  
• I'm grateful to Martin for his friendship & smiles, always. You see me so well.
  
• I'm grateful that I'm going to spend time with Bradd for Xmas.
  
• I'm grateful to Larry for his trust, and his ferocious appetite for brownies.
  
• I'm grateful to Johnny Boy for his friendship & watching the fireworks in the rain. It was nice to get out.

Thank you.

Everybody Hurts
performed by R.E.M.
http://tinyurl.com/n9yg7m
Everybody Hurts by R.E.M.

I will weather the storm!

Things are going well. My challenge is to figure out a good balance between being Type-A and listening to my body. The headaches still occur, however they fortunately aren't as frequent. I'm contending more with intense dizziness now, which isn't as bad as the pain.

All in all, while it's an adjustment & I'm not yet 100%, I'm happy with how much progress I'm finally 'seeing'.

As for my medical, I'm going back to UCSF on Thursday for visual field testing to figure out why the vision in my new eye is like looking through a peep hole.

For those who are new to my blog, I'm recovering from eye surgery to repair damage to my left eye. The cork of a faulty, over-pressurized champagne bottle struck my eye many years ago -- causing a lot of damage -- and my recovery has been challenging, to say the least.

Now I'm striving to make proverbial lemonade out of lemons, one step at a time! Simple distractions along the way help, such as something beautiful that takes my breath away, whether visual or audio. :-)


I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm
written by Irving Berlin
performed by Kay Starr (Stuhr remix)
http://tinyurl.com/yah3aor
I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm by Kay Starr (Stuhr remix)

Onward & upward!

just leave love alone...

Think I've been overdoing it. Well, actually, I know I've been overdoing it. This morning I woke up incredibly dizzy, which is never a good sign. There's a thin line between a little vertigo giving you a cheap buzz, and the full-blown crazy-vertigo that, by definition, makes you fight the urge to vomit. Nice, huh!?! I'm on the tea-cup ride, an elevator, and a magic carpet ride, all at once. While I've always been a huge fan of roller coasters, and have always been the one to hold my hands up on any ride, this is a bit much even for me.

So rather than letting it get the best of me, I called my best friend of nearly 20 years, Cheryl Knarr Rick, right after grinding some fresh coffee beans. There are reasons why she's my best friend. It's good to have someone you can turn to when you have tears in your eyes, especially before the coffee's been brewed! So now, with my huge cup of coffee in hand -- and a pep-talk under my belt -- I'm making the best of it. Thanks Cher.

The past three days have been a whirlwind of visiting with friends, driving, doctors appointments, lawyers appointments, and working on a new website. Oh, and Thanksgiving, too, which was lovely! I spent the holiday with Cher and her family in Sonoma. It was so nice to see everyone. I particularly enjoyed catching-up with Cher's mother, Dr. Catherine Knarr Turner, who also underwent a lot of trauma vis-a-vis her vision this year. Poor thing! It's nice to chat with someone who can relate. And last night I got together with my friends (and neighbors) Susan and Jim Whipple. We laughed so hard! OMG!!! It's no wonder I'm dizzy this morning; I really have been overdoing it. I'm type-A, what can I say!?!

So now I know I just need to take it easy today. Rather than a strenuous hike, perhaps a stroll instead (hence my choice of photo today). It's SO gorgeous here, that it always buoys my spirits to get outside. Back in July when it first became apparent that something was seriously wrong with my vision I picked up a little camera. Think I'll break it out & see what I can stumble across. And I also think I'll try to find some music that's a bit more cheery than this, too! :-)

Velvet
performed by The Big Pink
http://tinyurl.com/cufr82
Velvet by The Big Pink




Onward & upward!

Love is, to me, the sweetest drug...

It's amazing how busy one can be scheduling various doctors appointments!

While the headaches are still constant, there are some slight lulls that allow me to get some work done scheduling appointments & visiting various doctors, too. Being type-a, it feels SO good to have a sense of accomplishment, no matter how small. The pain seems to be exacerbated by use of my eyes, so driving, computing, etc. need to be planned accordingly. Driving (particularly with sunlight or headlights glaring) is a challenge, so I prefer to keep my voyages short in distance.

Although the headaches still reach a painful crescendo daily, once they subside, I can function a bit more than in the height of last month's severe pain. I'm more determined than ever to stay positive & find solace in small things. Music, books on CD, and the company of friends still make a huge impression.

The other day I ran into my neighbors, Susan & Jim Whipple. It was so fun to see them and catch up. They treated me to a lovely evening, which was such a welcome repose.

Tomorrow I'm back to The City for more appointments.

The Sweetest Drug
performed by Madcon
http://tinyurl.com/yzc7jd6

Onward & upward! ;-)

I'm glad I finally found you here...

Today is the first day in months that I finally think I'm going to 'round the proverbial bend. Finally! I've been living my own horrible version of Ground Hog Day, with these crippling, debilitating headaches. It's hard to put into words how all-consuming pain can be... You know it's bad when all you can do is cry, because nothing can stop the pain.

So I'm basically off all the Vicodin. Now I only take one (1) at the end of the day when the pain is the greatest. Each day that goes by without the drugs, I seem to be feeling a bit stronger. Even though I wasn't on it for an extended amount of time, I ingested SO much. For goodness' sake, I took #60 500mg pills in about 1 week's time! It wouldn't surprise me if I was overdosed.

My beloved friend, David Dillon, was in The City the past couple of days for a medical conference, so we got together and had a ball. It was so nice to see him! We always have such a nice time together. Just what I needed. While he was in meetings, I took it easy & rested, or canoodled with friends, so it worked out nicely for both of us. He's playing doctor, too, and has put me on 'MOXXOR' (http://moxxor.com), which is an all-natural supplement consisting of omega-3s extracted from New Zealand greenlip mussels, plus antioxidants.

So far, so good. The combination of being off the narcotics, seeing DD, and starting the omega-3s is working. While I'm not free of headaches, they are about 2-3 on a scale of 1-10, instead of 9-10. Believe me, I'll take that. Now I just need to continue resting, building my strength, and wait to get in to see the neurologists at UCSF to make sure there's not something more serious going on in my little brain.


Dreamer
performed by Toni Childs
http://tinyurl.com/curuap

Onward & upward! ;-)

everything once dear to me...

http://tinyurl.com/6octdz

Today has been a good day! I'm trying my best to take less Vicodin (6-8 a day, plus other medication is too much for my comfort). I've made it thru today until 4pm! That's a huge accomplishment, and now I'm seeing if only one vicodin will help, or if I still need 2 to curb the pain? Not that today was easy. The headaches, nausea, and dizziness are still there. I've just found that if I don't use my eyes too much for detail work, I'm able to get by longer without crippling pain.

I went to the public library & picked up an audio copy of 'Rose' by Martin Cruz Smith, which has fascinating character studies within an interesting historical mystery. I tried re-reading the book recently, however the eye strain doesn't let me read more than a page or two at a time. When I was at the Univeristy of Michigan I utilized books on tape a lot, so I decided to revisit them again. I've been missing reading so much these past three months, and it's nice to get work done while listening to something interesting. I was always the kid in gradeschool who was too restless to sit thru 'Story Time' without being able to color... an early multi-tasker I suppose. It's been great to keep my mind focused away from feeling disabled, etc.

An acquaintance of mine who had successful double corneal transplants has highly recommended me to see Daniel F. Goodman, MD. I have an appointment tomorrow to meet with him for a second opinion. I'm still waiting to get in to see the neurologist, so I'm glad to have some traction here. It's so true that you have to really manage your own medical treatment & recovery.

For anyone who is new to my blog, I was blinded in my left eye by the cork of a faulty champagne bottle several years ago. Recently I underwent lens replacement surgery to help correct diminished (and double) vision by removing a 'traumatic cateract'. My recovery has taken much longer than anticipated. I've only been able to wear a contact in my new eye for less than a week (I was legally blind in the eye the past 2 months), so I've been experiencing excruciating headaches the past two months. My surgeon wants me to see a neurologist, so I'm waiting to get in. He's concerned that my eye isn't the only thing causing the headaches. In the mean time, I'm doing my best to heal, stay positive, and feel human.

To that end friends, exercise, music, and audiobooks are a wonderful, healing distraction. :-)


The Clockwise Witness
performed by Devotchka
http://tinyurl.com/6octdz

Onward & upward!

I'm so human, it's okay for me to feel this way...

I am determined that although these headaches have got me down physically, I'm not going to let them keep me down emotionally. To that end, I'm doing everything within my power to stay positive & allow myself to heal & continue gaining strength against these crippling headaches.

Physically I'm focusing on eating the right combination of protein, slow-carbs, and fresh fruits & vegetables for what my body needs. I'm drinking lots of filtered water, taking vitamin & mineral supplements, and avoiding anything unhealthy like alcohol & sugar.

In addition to focusing on eating well, I'm trying my best to start exercising again. The headaches have been too crippling to get out much, however I swear my body & mind always feel much better after exercise. It's easier for me right now to walk with someone else; I tend to weave when I walk from dizziness (too much visual stimuli). My friend Sharyn Trevillyan stopped by the other evening and we went for a 1/2 mile walk in the hills of my neighborhood. The lights in the surrounding hillsides were lovely, as always. It was fun to see her and catch up, too.

Since I haven't exercised regularly in about 3-months, Epsom salt baths are fast becoming a mainstay in my life. My physician friends may know more about it than I do, however the claim that the magnesium sulfate reduces inflammation when absorbed by the skin feels incredible! I add essential oils like eucalyptus, lavender, and peppermint which makes for a nice way to rest my eyes for about 45 minutes.

Yesterday I spent the day with my best friend, Cheryl Knarr Rick, and her 3-year-old son, Alexander. We had a picnic lunch along the waterfront overlooking San Francisco & the Golden Gate Bridge, then went for a relaxing walk on a quiet street where Alexander rode his little Strider bicycle. It was the perfect day. Cher has always been the person in my life who is as companionable as solitude. I'm fortunate to have her has my bestfriend.

Since focusing too much with my eyes caused the headaches to get worse, I'm finding other alternatives to keep from getting bored (as my best friends know, I don't handle boredom well)! Music is helping greatly with that:

So Human
performed by Lady Sovereign
http://tinyurl.com/brclky
So Human by Lady Sovereign


(which is a quirky remake that I'm sure I might tire of, but am enjoying for the nostalgia)

Close to Me
performed by The Cure
http://tinyurl.com/n5eybx

no more cryin' here...

As of yesterday I have a new contact lens in my new eye! Unfortunatley the headaches are still incredible. I'm going to sleep with a headache, sometimes waking in the middle of the night with one, and am waking in the morning with one that builds steam as the morning progresses.

My surgeon, Stephen D. McLeod, MD, wants me to see a neurologist. As Dr. McLeod pointed out before my surgery, he wasn't sure that the traumatic cataract was causing the headaches. My contact lens doctor, Patick Casey, OD, also wants me to see a neurologist. Now that the traumatic cataract is gone, I shouldn't be having headaches, much less the intensity that they are. As Dr. Casey put it, it's never a good sign to wake with headaches.

So now I'm waiting for an appointment to see a neurologist at UCSF who specializes in headaches. Let's hope that these ^&*%$ headaches are caused from eye strain, not something more sinister.

Wash Away
performed by Joe Purdy

http://tinyurl.com/5gj5mt