Well, I was doing very well until...

Submitted by JulieJ on September 13, 2005 - 12:11pm
Body: 

...we bought a new bed last month. It is awful. My back is killing me, and my prolapse has gotten worse. :( I can tell this has affected the whole alignment of my spine. The terrible thing is, I let them take away my old bed, so there is no returning to "normal" any time soon. We did order another replacement bed, and it came today. But it is so hard to tell if it will actually be more comfortable/supportive just from laying on it in the store. I am just sick about this - that I did this to myself. I am going to a physical therapist tomorrow who I have worked with before, and maybe will be finding a new chiropractor. I guess I will have to find a "new normal" for myself now.

Christine, do you have any advice? Is there a sleep surface that is better than another? I am just out of my mind upset about this. I was doing so well....

Julie

Christine

September 14, 2005 - 10:25am

Dear Julie,

I

sybille

September 14, 2005 - 10:46am

I wonder if 'prolapse of the stomach' is responsible for the 'buddha belly' so many of us experience during menopause?

Sybille

Christine

September 14, 2005 - 4:24pm

:D I don't know, but I think the condition is associated with some pretty severe digestive problems since the stomach hangs below the duodenum so the digestive process has to travel uphill.

Speaking of bellies..it was so cute...my new neighbor at the WW Center told me yesterday that she's been diligently practicing the posture and has developed a sudden LOVE OF HER BELLY! We agreed how powerful the posture is and that it seems to emanate from the belly. I know many of you have had the same experience.

I think my buddha belly is from a slowing metabolism and an ever deepening love of FOOD!! :-)

JulieJ

September 14, 2005 - 5:55pm

Well, my new bed slept well last night, at least. I am so afraid to get too excited about it, because my other bed felt good at first too. The one we got yesterday is a Talay latex foam bed that is firm on the inside and somewhat plush on the top, so you are supposed to get support with body-conforming "cushiness" on top. It was NOT cheap either. Let's pray that this gives me some relief!

I went to the physical therapist today, and she said that my sacroiliac (sp?) joint is sprained. Is that just from the change in beds, or did the bed weaken my muscles and then my everyday activities (e.g. lifting a chunky 35 pound toddler!) injured me? Who knows? All I know is I HURT! But at least I am getting help now. My PT says she is moving to Texas in the spring - WAAAAAHHHH! I may just have to follow her there! She has helped me so much over the years. I think I am going to hold off on a chiropractor and see if only seeing her can help me, before I get over my head financially. But I do have the name of a guy who is highly recommended by some friends of mine from church.

Thanks for reminding me that this is a marathon, Christine. :) My bladder didn't seem to be as low today as yesterday. Probably in part because I moved as little as possible, and made my dh do all the lifting of the baby. :)

I know it's probably melodramatic to say that I've been traumatized by all this, but in a sense I feel like I have. I've spent the better part of a month in agonizing pain, with little to no sleep, and afraid to lay down anywhere for making the pain worse. My BP has been through the roof and times, and my anxiety is sky high! Please keep sending up prayers for rest and recovery for me. Hopefully, I'll have good news to share soon. I'm a fighter and a survivor!

Julie

Christine

September 15, 2005 - 5:42am

Sacroiliac dysfunction is no fun...I know!! A couple of years ago I was not taking my own advice, was writing alot (sedentary) and was not being very diligent about seated positions. Most aggravating I think was sitting sideways in the overstuffed chairs in my home office with my legs thrown over the chair arm and reading or talking on the phone (back in total "C" shape.) Anyway...one day I leaned over to toss something in the waste basket, heard/felt a SNAP! and couldn't stand back up straight without horrendous pain!! It was three weeks of hell and when I'd get down on the ground I'd have to crawl like a paralyzed person back up to standing. I was pretty sure what it was, having just spent several months with my nose buried in orthopedic literature. My symptoms were the classic description of "My back went out and I couldn't stand back up straight" given routinely by people whose SIJ has slipped. So...I ever-so-carefully kept my spine in good positions and gently stretched it side to side every day, mostly lying on the floor and drawing one knee across to the other side. It took a full three weeks to recover, but I couldn't believe that after so much pain and paralysis I was completely normal after that time. A good lesson, though.

I'm sending prayers your way, Julie.

Christine

sybille

September 15, 2005 - 10:58am

Slow metabolism and lack of portion control can translate to a Buddha belly but so can the abdominal adipose tissues hanging onto whatever estrogen is left. I only use progesterone and there are times my body lets me know how spoiled it had been while bathed in estrogen.

It seems like back problems are plaguing a lot of women, especially here at the office.

Sybille

MeMyselfAndI

October 3, 2005 - 12:35am

Do those Tempur Mattresses help anything? They look so comfy I was thinking of getting one.

Also I had whiplash after-pains and got tempur type pillows - 4 days later all pain was gone :)

Sue