know it works, but......

Submitted by Lauren on December 17, 2009 - 1:56pm
Body: 

I tried this for a while and was so encouraged when I had sex without pain and felt so much better. However, started back to college and got out of shape and now feel worse than ever. I have even considered (well - briefly in thoughts) surgery cause I am hurting so bad. Has anyone ever felt like you actually have a vaginal hemorrhoid?? I feel like things are dropping. (I have the whole gamet....uterine, bladder, rectal). Anyway - I am taking a month off after Christmas to work on myself again and will start after going to the chiropractor today. I tried to do the workout the other day and couldn't. It's quite amazing, though. I FELT myself pulling back in just doing the breathing! I have the added bonus of a very messed up tailbone and sacral area which adds to the whole mix. Sitting literally hurts and has since I fell holding my infant 18 years ago. I literally wanted to die yesterday, though, I was so depressed about it. Not feeling suicidal (I pray for relief that way.....wouldn't ever do anything) but I have so many health issues at 49 that limit me. Neck injury, bad overall back (6 bad discs), endocrine issues, and this - oh - and now an ulcer. I have decided that I will also take some detox time out. I know overall health contributes and Tis the season for junk when everyone shows their love with sugary goodness. Forgot to add being peri-menopausal to the mix. Anyway ladies....thanks for all you all do to encourage. Christine.....I love you!!! Merry Christmas everyone! Here is to hope...

kaismom

December 18, 2009 - 5:40pm

I feel like crap most days with one thing or another. I am 40 and perimenopausal with a severe rectocele and moderate cystocele and uterine prolapse. I have a problem with pelvic spasms which start in my tailbone and take over my whole pelvis. These happen about every 2-3 weeks and last an average of 2 hours. Perimenopause is causing me to be nauseous, off balance, and anxious many days out of the month. There is no doubt that it all sucks! To top it off I have a 19 month old daughter and I homeschool my 11 year old son.

It is easy to focus on all the bad in life when you don't feel well. The good news is we can choose to focus on the positive things and do what we can to help our health. Do the WW workout everyday and you will feel better. Take control of what you can. Make good nutritional decisions. I find if I think for too long about what is hurting me everything begins to feel worse and I start to get anxious/depressed about things. For me, staying focused on family is the best medicine. They need me to be a Whole Woman.

Just wanted to encourage you to keep your chin up. Keep your focus on the positive and when you feel like crud just remember tomorrow you may feel better.

Merry Christmas to you.

Blessings,
Kaismom

Lauren

December 19, 2009 - 10:55am

Thank you for the kind note. I'm sorry you're dealing with what you are, but it makes me wonder since you're also having tailbone issues. I have an actual injury with mine which is partly why I was doing all the research which led me here because I think surgery could have horrific consequences for me. It seems to verify that the connection is there. I also have several bad discs so have a considerable amount of pain above and beyond all this yet am trying to do a lot. (And FMS and wondering if I have rheumatoid arthritis - have autoimmune issues attacking my thyroid along with mercury poisoning messing with my entire endocrine system). It's the limitations that bother me. I homeschooled my 2, now grown, daughters, myself. My youngest I hsed from K-5th and then the oldest pulled out from 3rd to 9th. I will never regret it. I know how demanding it is, though, and having a baby to top it off....THey are so precious that young, though, and keep life meaningful. My oldest just had a baby in August but they live out in Idaho where her and her husband go to school. I've met my grandbaby but don't know when I'll see her again. Travel is hard on me and they are poor students. Still, just hearing her voice makes me happy. I think in my case I'm also depressed about my mom losing her mind. She has dementia. We've lost 2 other near and dear people in the past few years, too, so with my kids also (the youngest too) out in ID - it is hard. I've been doing the empty nest thing. My youngest is coming home tomorrow in fact, though. But there are so many pressures right now that I am just not up to. Wrapping presents is really hard on me. Sounds really pathetic and dumb, but yesterday about killed me. It just feels like my body is so out of control right now. Sitting is very painful. Always. Hard to avoid, too. I have been a total health nut since I was in my early 20s but have gotten far from that - holidays make that very easy, too. It is just time to reel myself in on a lot of levels. I try to do the blood type diet and feel better and hurt worse when I do. (Stay away from wheat, dairy, etc. and need to get off any sugar). It all contributes to your mental sense of well being. I am pretty much worthless today just from standing wrapping gifts all day yesterday. (And from shopping lately). I couldn't hardly walk getting out of bed today which means doing the work out isn't likely either. I need to stretch out with my old callanetics routine today to limber up first to work into it. I've hurt my knee twice doing the work out. I have to say - I wish the instruction part was a little more explicit but you'd lose the rhythm of it that way so I get why she does it like she does. (In the DVD). I know it has the dictionary of movements and does get easier as you go, but if you get away from it..... I'm holding water, too, though so makes my joints less pliable. I use to do cleanses all the time..... I have just not taken adequate care since returning to college as well as working. My house is a wreck. It is discouraging. My husband is gearing up for retirement, too, and has his own issues. Just a lot of changes and going downhill. I'd like to join my already passed family some times and quit having to trudge uphill some days but know my kids still need me. I think death will be wonderful because of my beliefs so in saying that, am not being morbid. I am just tired right now. I wish people who are impatient could walk in my shoes for a day or two, though. Hard to comprehend it all unless you've dealt with it. Not that I'd wish it on any one.

Merry Christmas to you, too. I've missed church too often lately, too. I know going will make all the difference. I need it..... I've been battling depression for a while now off and on. Lauren

Christine

December 25, 2009 - 11:51pm

Dear Lauren,

I hope your daughter arrived safely and that you were able to share a warm and loving Christmas together. I was only able to read your post tonight, as I’ve been in an utter whirlwind for weeks. We wrapped up our busy holiday season today with tobagganing in deep snow, and I am *finally* able to rest.

I like to think that if I had a sanctuary with all the right support I could help women like you. We are all entirely too isolated - and isolation, I believe, is much harder on women than men. Christmas is especially hard on women because generally I think it is we who put the whole thing together for families...and wrapping presents nearly puts everything over the top!

I hope you were able to avoid the temptations of holiday sweets, as sugar greatly exacerbates inflammatory disease. I have indulged in food and drink and now it’s time to go back to a simple diet. I’ve avoided sugar for so long, though, that I’ve (almost) lost the taste for it. It’s amazing how we develop a more natural palate over time. I feel quite certain I’d be diabetic had I not started to bring consciousness to my sugar cravings back in my twenties. Hm-m-m, and then there’s my daughter’s lavender shortbread - lol.

It sounds like the workout may be too rigorous for you right now. A daily walking program plus firebreathing might be far more useful. I can’t say enough about the benefits of walking, especially if you include a few large movements with your arms. I like to clasp my hands right above my head and straighten my arms all the way up - then pump them slowly up and down while I walk. Walking never aggravates my prolapse, but works to move things forward - running even moreso.

Menopause can be so overwhelming, but I want to emphasize that it doesn’t mean we have to go downhill - or at least that we have to continue in that direction. Aging and disease do not have to go hand-in-hand, and we can “youth” just as we can “age”. I think you know this, given your comments about detox and health. The concept of “stabilization” can apply to aging also.

The same goes for prolapse! Our symptoms wax and wane depending on so many factors, and stress + heavy work is the worst. However, a hot, herbal bath; good night’s sleep; and relaxed morning walk can do wonders to turn your condition back around. Like everything else in life, there is an uphill spiral and a downhill spiral. The key is to keep moving forward - even if only baby steps - and to ask for help at every turn. Nobody does it alone.

God bless you, Lauren!

Christine

louiseds

December 27, 2009 - 9:12am

Hi Lauren

Christmas is indeed a maelstrom of activity, and love and hate, elation and depression. It is damned hard work, and lovely when it comes, but even better when it passes and recedes into hopefully good memories. Menopause seems to be a bit like Christmas too. We dread it, we cannot wait for the periods to stop, and we just want it to be over, and peace to descend at the other end. To be perimenopausal at Christmas time really sucks!

But it all passes, eventually. My pain is easing. I hope yours is too. I am all goosed out and all puddinged out, all gifted out and all carolled out. I am glad it only happens once a year.

cheers

Louise

Lauren

January 21, 2010 - 1:10pm

I just read this. I welled up reading you and Louise' responses. I am pulling out of it, but I seemed to have reached a deep deep level of pain from somewhere. I think menopause puts us through all sorts of transitions and most of them are actually healing, but when dealing with so much disability what I have been trying to take on about had me giving up. I took a break from school and am about to start it going again. I've been doubting my ability to handle taking on a new career at this age and school took me away from subbing which is what motivated me to do it in the first place. I've been praying for answers and think I'm ready to get back into things. And, yes, my diet has been atrocious. I've realized I cannot tolerate gluten and there were things aggravating my ulcer and blood sugar to the point of vomiting. It's not even like I was eating that bad but for me it was unhealthy. Then I went beyond that for the holiday celebrating = ) We only got our tree down this past week. It got to the embarrassing point = ) And I have been sitting on my rear way too much on the computer. I am regrouping - again. Not sure what my problem has been, but it's time it stops. I do need to do some detoxing. I feel that in how I'm thinking and feel physically and otherwise. My spirit has been low and in need of nourishment, too. I did do the first part of the routine the other day and stopped at that - then did a callanetics stretching routine later. I've walked a lot at school in the last day or so. My knee is doing something I need to get checked out too (soft tissue). I'm not sure I have the firebreathing down but when I do that stuff it does help. Thank you so much for all your support and help on so many levels, Christine. I love you for what all you have done for all of us!!! (And for answering my message). Lauren

Lauren

January 21, 2010 - 1:11pm

Thank you so much, as usual, Louise for your sweet responses. They mean a lot!

kiki

January 21, 2010 - 3:52pm

HI Lauren,
sorry not to reply to your original post--missed some in Dec business! But it's January, new year, new ideas...though it seems to leave a lot of people in a slump. But sounds like you are seeing what you need, and looking at how to move forward. But go easy, go gently. I find changing my diet one bit at a time is easiest. ie cut out the gluten, then cut out white grains (cutting out gluten can lead to eating a lot more white grains which are not great--a lot of gluten free bread is just pure starch, as are white rice pastas etc...). reduce the sugar, then cut it out. i've cut way back on grains, and that helps on every level. just takes some thought, but having said that i got home late from work exhausted, would love just a piece of toast or big bowl of pasta. instead got the lentils cooking and by the time i did everything else, they are ready so enjoying them now.

up the excercise with baby steps, put reminders up if you are like me and the day passes without remembering to firebreathe in the craziness. reminders to take time for us, to look after us, to nurture ourselves on so many levels. enjoy the walking like Christine says. most days walking and when i remember breathings are all i get--but wow do i feel the difference!

and as all gets easier, everything else will too i'm sure--school, body changes...and no xmas for another 11 months! ;-)
Kiki

louiseds

January 21, 2010 - 10:18pm

Yes, ours came down on 16 January. It even had a few cobwebs. I am sure that there will be some that are still up. April was my record!

L

:-)