An update and Encouragement

First of all, thank you to everyone here. What a community! What support!

Next, hahaha Kiwi! Yes, I COULD go out with Casanova, but he lost interest after my phone kept conking out on him. I think that he feels convinced I did that purposely. That's ok. Whatever God has in store, I am up for. : )

Mishek, as to bowels, a big "oy vey" on that topic!! I think that really did me in for a while even though I had no idea it was that. And I do think it's a chicken and egg kind of a question. For all I know that was the original aggravating factor for me. OR it became a problem because of the POP. I don't know. I suspect it was a prob before and I didn't know. As for now, yes, yes, it's much easier. EVERYTHING is easier now. But I make a very conscious effort not to get backed up. Fruit, veggies, water and Cascada Sargada (spelling?) which is a natural laxative that's effective and not annoying. lol I do think it's possible that this whole topic is really key in pop.

In case it helps I've made up a comprehensive list of things I did while trying to get over POP, in case it helps anyone. Although I can't cite which one thing I did was the clincher to send me on my way to health - or if in the aggregate they got me healthy -I can say that none of the things listed below HURT me nor STOPPED me from getting over my pop 100 percent.

1 I did 5 to 10 kegels (once in a day only) for maybe one or two weeks. As soon as it started to feel bothersome, I stopped. Lots of people say they don't know which muscles his involves. I didn't know either. So I tried to imagine the muscles you would use to grip around your husband's you know what in he middle of sex. And I just tried to squeeze like that. THE IMPORTANT THING, I feel is that you have to take CHROMIUM PICCOLINATE that day. Chromium builds muscle "where u need it." (KEGELS WITHOUT CHROMIUM DID NOTHING, NOTHING, NOTHING FOR ME). If u arent' exercising u don't notice any muscle change while taking chromium. If u ARE exercising THAT specific muscle gets stronger. I know this to be true because when I was taking chromium and driving a long way I got a small but BULGING muscle on my CALF that was used to simply push the gas pedal down all day!!! it's THAT effective. A couple of months ago I was taking chromium and realized I got a small but BULGING muscle on my LEFT leg - and then realized o man, that's where I was BRACING myself with my leg - to keep pressure off my bum when driving!!! I can't help but wonder if taking the chromium and doing kegels was in my getting better. But of course I will never know. I just know I can't even feel my u on a check. It's THAT how high up it is (or forward).

2 I lost weight IMMEDIATELY. Everyone said o not so fast, yada yada. Well I lost 23 pounds in six weeks and I did it by totally illiminating soda, cheese and desserts.

3 I did not wear any even remotely tight clothes again - ever. I keep the posture - always. From the second I saw it on this site - until this very second. Always.

4 I put tumeric on foods.

5 I watched a lot of comedy. If stress is bad for this, and I think it is, then I figured laughter, happiness, fun must be good for it. I was joking all the time. I laughed at myself. I saw the funny side of POP and I really went with the laughter and lighter side of things.

6 I wouldn't let myself cry TOO much. I am guessing chemicals are released that aren't helpful if you CRY TOO much and too long, on and on. And I certainly felt I could cry forever in the discovery of POP.

7 I lied on an ironing board that I put the pointed end onto a chair. I threw a thick blanket over it and would lie on it with feet up. To let gravity help my u get back into the upper stratosphere of my body. : ) At times I would roll over onto all fours afterwards for just a second.

8 Already mentioned keeping empty. Oh, I also cut down on drinking liquids.

9 I made sure my bras weren' too tight, nor too loose. I bought maternity clothes that were cute and that no one would know are materinity clothes! I bought a pair of pants suggested here, by the way! So thanks! bought from a UK store and LOVE them!

10 I made certain to not come in contact with anything I am allergic to (dust and mold or certain foods) and made sure to stop coughing. Yes, I stopped coughing. Instead if I now feel the urge, I swallow or take a sip of water instead and I also rarely sneeze now and used to sneeze throughout the day! BUT in any case, now - doesn't matter what I do. Sneezing no longer affects me.

11 I STOPPED taking fish oil, vitamin E, aloe vera juice, etc. It had occurred o me that things that have too much oil are heavy, weighted down, soggy, and slippery! So wondered if somehow my organs, my u specifically, was somehow getting weighed down and slippery. I suspect it was too much oil that I was taking before. Now I only take on cod liver oil about once a week. That's it. Big change for me not taking oil supplements. And I feel great.

12 I did start taking glucosamine, lysine - and for about three weeks I took sharks carilidge. Then just this week I started taking shark c again....I really do think they all helped. I think the shark cart in particular works.

13 Swimming - THE moment that I got the final "click" that everything had snapped back into place was the very moment I was walking up stairs after swimming for the first time. It was about six weeks after I'd first discovered the pop. It really seems like while I was swimming, everything went back into place COMPLETELY for the very first time - and stayed that way. I guess it was bound to happen at some point - and that was my moment. I had the heavenly "oh my gosh I am healed" moment!! (I had been praying while swimming, btw. And imaging feeling better and telling God I BELIEVED He is ABLE to heal me - that it only takes a word. He is faithful. And He IS able).

Thanks everyone for the support. Thank You, God. Thank you, Christine, thank you Louise, Fab, Alemama, Granolamom, Kiwi, everyone - thank you. I will try to remember to check in with y'all from time to time. I know how hard it is. Keep your chins up! I prayed A LOT during all this. And I highly recommend it to y'all. I prayed BELIEVING and seeing myself WHOLE again. Oh, and any insults - and bickering that may arise - let them go. Immediately. I think that is healthy - and right! I would not let ANYTHING get to me during this time.
: ) Keep the faith. I got over POP 100 percent. And y'all can too!

Peace, love and praying for y'all to have the joy of everything getting back in its place for all of you too!..
Love you all!!
CSF

Thank you for the well wishes! And a lot of times when I'd hear encouraging words to the younger women (I'm 50), I'd think to myself - "Tell my body I'm young - and my body will heal too!" lol A real click for my brain was when I read that there is INFO from our BRAIN stored in all of our CELLS.

That is a clear case for mind over matter and positive thinking, maybe better said. After that initial horror and despair and desperation that seemed to last forever, I started striving to picture what it would look and feel like to feel better. And I started kind-a practicing telling my body. I read A LOT too. And I read every post. Yes, every post. And a lot of them more than once. There is sooooooooooo much info here. Chin up, everyone, positive thinking and yes it took a lot of work, the mercy of God and support from a zillion kind-hearted women here. And thank you, Christine, I do keep y'alls words in mind all the time. And every day I stand a new way - because of you.

All of u keep strong, you can reach whatever goals you have. It's all possible. As we all know, this was impossible for me. And yet it happened. Tomorrow I go biking!!! : ) With Cassanova. He called afterall. ; )

I am even lifting things again, though I haven't lifted an elephant or anything. I am realizing the shark cartilidge DID contribute, so worth a note to self on that one! I feel a little like I abandoned y'all. Please know I pray for every, every, every person who comes to this site seeking help and for the monitors and for Christine and Christine's family - and for the medical community, physical therapists, etc. The "Whole" Community ........Keep the faith, all! Love you all.........
CSF