I was pretty frustrated about the post that I spent a lot of time writing and then losing. For some reason, it showed up in a few email inboxs (I guess for those of you that are "followers"?) but wasn't posted here. IDK but I just reposted it. I was able to do that because a few of you forwarded the email in it's entirety and I just copied and pasted it in to the new post.
Anyway, on to more journaling of my symptoms, etc.
So I have been trying to create a timeline of sorts and suddenly had a realization about something. When I was in Utah in March, we were planning on staying a week or maybe 10 days. So I brought about 12 days worth of medication (Tegretol, etc) with me "just in case....". I ended up realizing about day 9 that I was going to need to probably stay longer than the 10-12 days even. I calculated my extension on whether or not I could stretch out my meds so I was taking 100mg less of the Tegretol every other night so I could stretch it a few more days. I'm thinking that that's about the time I started with the really intense fatigue. Is this an "Ah-ha" moment? Could this be the onset of my woes? Well, if not entirely responsible, at least it seems like it might at least partially be.
Here's the How I've been in the Last Few Days report:
Friday evening was ok. Low energy but nothing eventful in particular.
Yesterday, Saturday, however, I felt halfway human in the morning with the least amount of arm weakness in quite awhile. I moved pretty slowly and was trying to really pace myself but felt ok so I got several things done (paid some bills, emptied the dishwasher, took out the kitchen trash and got the mail out of the mailbox as well as cooking some eggs for breakfast and made a green smoothie for later in the day). That's the most I've got done in one day for almost two months! And all without the super weak right arm/hand thing going!
I just did not want to even try to push the limits, so I laid down on the sofa around 2:00. Well, that did it. I tried to get up about 1/2 hour later but just didn't have the energy to do anything else. I had to do a little bit of convincing, but I finally gave in and just hung out there for the rest of the day and evening. I actually was able to read from my new book about Adrenal Fatigue. Here's a dilemma for you: How do you figure out how to understand and treat yourself for Adrenal Fatigue when you're too fatigued to read the book? LOL
I would read for about 15 minutes, then rest for about 15, and so on and so forth. I'm actually almost done with the book. Now I'm on to the chapters about changing lifestyle, food, etc. Maybe in the long car ride I will be able to finish it. I'm taking lots of notes in a spiral bound notebook and going to try to implement these changes as best I can.
Another dilemma. One of the recommendations is for people with Adrenal Fatigue (and everyone else as well) to do some sort of exercise every day. It can start out with only a 20 minute stroll down the street. What do you do if you don't have the energy to do even that? I'm going to have to modify that and make my stroll a 2 minute out, 2 minute back stroll and see if I can extend the length of time/distance over the next several days/weeks.
It DOES recommend you increase at your own pace. They are not placing a structured timeline to it. The author/doctor strongly believes you should listen to your own body and progress at a pace only YOU can dictate. Actually, I'm thinking of starting out with the 11 minute chair exercise link that Talia sent. The first day I tried it, I only lasted about 1-2 minutes before I tired too much to continue. I'm encouraged enough about my 3-4 hour span of decent energy yesterday to think that I can begin the increased movement (exercise) soon. I hope to have a block of time in the mornings once we get to Utah to devote to this. It also talks about meditation, yoga, etc. If I get pooped out from that, I can just rest and wait for some degree of rejuvenation!
Jensen left for his drills on Friday and will only be back this week for a few days before he does his extended drills. He'll be gone until the first week of July. He's been more helpful this past week and the timing of this trip to Utah is perfect. Without him in Oregon, it will be a little harder to do those heavier task items or run some of those errands that he's been doing for me and Jeff. I would ask that everyone keep him in their prayers so he will be safe and healthy while he's performing his duties for his country. He won't be leaving the U.S.A, but might still be in dangerous training drills, etc.
Carolyn Lee posted on Facebook that she was giving away some audio books that she's collected over the last several years and, of course, I jumped at the chance to get my hands on some of them. I can rest assured that they won't be raunchy or inappropriate. I told her they would be fabulous for our drive to Utah so she hand delivered an entire shopping bag full of them! I haven't gone through them yet, but am sure we'll find at least several of them of interest.
Yesterday, I got a package in the mail. The return address says, "Tittelfitz Fan Club"! So cute. In it was a little photo album with pictures of Micah and Brooke! Some of the faces they make and the poses they create are just hilarious! I was laughing pretty good at a lot of them.
Speaking of laughing....one section in the Adrenal Fatigue book talks about self-therapy. Even little things like making yourself laugh several times a day can be so healthy. The book tells a story of a man who has a serious, possibly life-threatening medical condition. He was hospitalized and his family was told that he might never be discharged. He decided to do some research online about what he could do to help himself. He read over and over that laughing was very healthy. Several times throughout the day, he would read comic books, watched funny DVD's and YouTube videos and other comic online media, etc. to get some serious belly laughter going. After only a couple of days, he was making amazing progress. He also took 30 minutes a day to meditate - wherein he decided to make the center of concentration his mouth and made it into a half-smile for the whole time. He also read something about the value of Vitamin C and added more of that to his supplements. He was discharged from the hospital after only 2 weeks with only these three changes. The doctors could not believe or understand how he made such an incredible recovery. He is now leading a productive life - full of laughing and smiling.
It's true, sometimes Laughter IS the Best Medicine!
Well, I guess I better try and gather some energy together to pack my suitcase. Our goal is to leave today and our wishful thinking is to leave before the afternoon gets too far away from us. Woohoo! Utah Tittelfitz clan and Hot Springs Pools - here we come!
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