I preach a lot about starting a relaxation program to ease our anxiety-related symptoms, but I've never actually done it myself. Yes, I admit it.
Over the years I've begun to develop physical issues related to my health and stress, namely hypertension (high blood pressure). I've been on a "water pill" since 2004 for it, but my numbers generally hover around 155/93.
I knew I needed a relaxation program but I didn't know of anywhere where I'd have access to biofeedback, and many of my friends think of yoga as New Age hogwash, or worse yet -- un-Christian. So for many years I just did my best to do deep breathing exercises as a way to control my stress and anxiety. Sometimes it works and sometimes not.
Someone hung up a notice recently on the bulletin board at work about a yoga class that was starting soon, and it described how it was designed for beginners and how it was a class all about relaxation and stretching. This particular class was kind of far away, but a co-worker and I decided to do some investigation and we found a similar class just 10 minutes from my house. On a whim, we decided to join.
The first class was quite intimidating and even though it supposedly only lasted an hour, it felt like 12. But when I got home after that very first class I felt like a new woman! My mood was strong and happy, and I had so much energy. About three days later I was hoping for someone to put me out of my misery since every muscle in my body ached, but Advil cured that problem.
The second class was absolutely horrible. I couldn't do any of the poses and the instructor kept coming over to me to correct what I was doing, everything hurt, and even lying on the mat hurt. She warned us we'd have "off" nights and that was definitely one.
From then on, the classes have been amazing. It's only been about six weeks but now when I go to class all the moves are fluid and easy, and I barely have to look at the instructor anymore to know what I'm supposed to be doing. When I'm done with class I feel energized and ready to face whatever obstacles are in my way, and I feel relaxed in my ability to cope with whatever life throws at me.
I've noticed that my general level of stress and anxiety has diminished significantly. When I feel myself tensing up, I remember what it feels like to be fully relaxed during class, and I can get myself there pretty quickly (or close to it) even when I'm at work or in the car or otherwise engaged in daily life. When you've forgotten what it feels like to be relaxed and calm, it's hard to know how to get there. We forget when we're so used to being uptight and stressed all the time.
Well, I had a doctor's appointment the other night to get a refill on my blood pressure medication. They took my blood pressure and it was 124/83. Now I know I can't credit that huge drop solely to yoga, but I intend to give it more credit than not. Nothing much else has changed in my life to warrant that nice drop, so I'm giving the credit to yoga.
Find out for yourself by giving it a chance! You may be surprised by how wonderful it makes you feel, too.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Excedrin: Just say 'no'
For those of us who suffer from migraines along with our MVP, there are limited options for pain relief.
Advil or Tylenol is completely useless for migraines, and the only thing I've found that helps at all is Excedrin. Here's the catch, though: You have to catch it early so you can take the smallest possible dose (like half of one capsule). Excedrin has caffeine in it, which is a huge no-no for MVP patients.
I felt a migraine coming on last night, and I was stuck someplace without access to my Excedrin (Note to self: always carry a capsule with you), so it got worse and worse. I went to bed with the headache, and woke up with it bigger than ever. So I went to work (where my pills are) and thought over my options. I could take one pill and let it take some of the pain away, or take two pills and know the pain would go away completely. It hurt SO badly, so I took two.
Big mistake.
An hour later or so, my lips turned white, my fingers turned blue, and my life started to pass before my eyes. I really thought I was going to pass out, it was THAT bad.
So, the moral of the story is don't self-medicate if you have MVP and suffer from migraines. Go to your cardiologist and ask for help. If you already have medication for your migraines, prevent -- or at least treat early -- the migraines instead of treating them once they're full-blown.
I'm calling for an appointment right now.
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
Advil or Tylenol is completely useless for migraines, and the only thing I've found that helps at all is Excedrin. Here's the catch, though: You have to catch it early so you can take the smallest possible dose (like half of one capsule). Excedrin has caffeine in it, which is a huge no-no for MVP patients.
I felt a migraine coming on last night, and I was stuck someplace without access to my Excedrin (Note to self: always carry a capsule with you), so it got worse and worse. I went to bed with the headache, and woke up with it bigger than ever. So I went to work (where my pills are) and thought over my options. I could take one pill and let it take some of the pain away, or take two pills and know the pain would go away completely. It hurt SO badly, so I took two.
Big mistake.
An hour later or so, my lips turned white, my fingers turned blue, and my life started to pass before my eyes. I really thought I was going to pass out, it was THAT bad.
So, the moral of the story is don't self-medicate if you have MVP and suffer from migraines. Go to your cardiologist and ask for help. If you already have medication for your migraines, prevent -- or at least treat early -- the migraines instead of treating them once they're full-blown.
I'm calling for an appointment right now.
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Pycnogenol
I read in More magazine that some studies have been done on people with osteoarthritis and arthritis who took 100-150 mg of Pycnogenol daily for three months, and who had a 40% reduction in joint pain.
I don't know about the rest of you with MVP, but I feel like my body is one great big ball of inflammation -- so anything to reduce it is a good thing in my book.
Has anyone tried it? I think I'm going to go check it out at the Vitamin Shoppe today and give it a try.
I don't know about the rest of you with MVP, but I feel like my body is one great big ball of inflammation -- so anything to reduce it is a good thing in my book.
Has anyone tried it? I think I'm going to go check it out at the Vitamin Shoppe today and give it a try.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
False teeth are looking pretty, pretty good
Today I had a dentist appt where they were supposed to fit me for a new crown on the tooth that just had the emergency root canal last month. They started prepping me and I just felt like something wasn't right so I spoke up and asked them if they had gotten the report from the endodontist and they said yes, so I asked them when that report was dated and they responded "June."
I told them the tooth I needed the crown on was the one I just had the root canal done on, but they kept insisting I needed the crown on the tooth behind it. I made them take an xray to show them the root canal that had just been done and she agreed that it needed a crown, but she still insisted the one behind it needed one too because it was chipped and there could be problems with decay and I could lose the tooth (why I had never been told that tooth needed a new crown, I don't know -- or maybe they did and I forgot). So I had already paid $390 for the wrong tooth, so I asked how much more to just do both crowns at the same time? She said it would be the same price (so another $390), but that they would check with insurance just to make sure.
After a few minutes she came back and said it would be 20 minutes to hear back from insurance and why don't we go ahead and get started on the one I had paid for and I said sure (because I'm an idiot), so they started drilling. A few minutes later the front desk lady came in to tell me that according to my dental records (on file with our insurance), the dental work done on the latest root canal tooth was done in 2005 and they only will pay for new crowns for the same tooth every five years -- so I would have to pay full price, no help from insurance.
I asked the dentist if what was there now would last until next year and she said no way, which is what the endodontist had said too.
So, my one-hour one-tooth appointment turned into a two-hour two-tooth appointment and my benefits card is now completely maxed out and I used over $300 on my hubby's benefits card too -- and we have yet to get the bill from his ER visit a couple of weeks ago, so who knows if there'll be enough left to pay it on the card as well.
Next year we're both getting $3,000 benefits cards.
I am going to appeal the insurance decision. I have no idea how to, but I will figure it out.
Meanwhile my face is swollen and sore and I have two temporary crowns causing me grief in my mouth. And I have accepted that I will never, ever, be able to not ask the question, "You know not to give me Epi, right?" No matter how hard I try not to, I always end up asking.
I told them the tooth I needed the crown on was the one I just had the root canal done on, but they kept insisting I needed the crown on the tooth behind it. I made them take an xray to show them the root canal that had just been done and she agreed that it needed a crown, but she still insisted the one behind it needed one too because it was chipped and there could be problems with decay and I could lose the tooth (why I had never been told that tooth needed a new crown, I don't know -- or maybe they did and I forgot). So I had already paid $390 for the wrong tooth, so I asked how much more to just do both crowns at the same time? She said it would be the same price (so another $390), but that they would check with insurance just to make sure.
After a few minutes she came back and said it would be 20 minutes to hear back from insurance and why don't we go ahead and get started on the one I had paid for and I said sure (because I'm an idiot), so they started drilling. A few minutes later the front desk lady came in to tell me that according to my dental records (on file with our insurance), the dental work done on the latest root canal tooth was done in 2005 and they only will pay for new crowns for the same tooth every five years -- so I would have to pay full price, no help from insurance.
I asked the dentist if what was there now would last until next year and she said no way, which is what the endodontist had said too.
So, my one-hour one-tooth appointment turned into a two-hour two-tooth appointment and my benefits card is now completely maxed out and I used over $300 on my hubby's benefits card too -- and we have yet to get the bill from his ER visit a couple of weeks ago, so who knows if there'll be enough left to pay it on the card as well.
Next year we're both getting $3,000 benefits cards.
I am going to appeal the insurance decision. I have no idea how to, but I will figure it out.
Meanwhile my face is swollen and sore and I have two temporary crowns causing me grief in my mouth. And I have accepted that I will never, ever, be able to not ask the question, "You know not to give me Epi, right?" No matter how hard I try not to, I always end up asking.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Going to the dentist
Well folks, I've gone to the dentist twice in the past week and neither time did I take preventative antibiotics. The ADA says they're not required for getting a root canal, so I decided to trust the medical community and go along with that.
So far I've lived.
I will say, though, that the generalized anxiety I always feel when going to the dentist just drives me crazy (so to speak). I'm so sick and tired of feeling anxious at every little thing. My body fails me too often. I usually remind the dentist's office at every single appointment about my inability to handle epinephrine, but this time (as with the ADA) I decided to trust them and not remind them (I know it's written in big text on my file and even highlighted in yellow!). However, within five minutes of receiving my shot I just couldn't handle not asking and so I made a fool of myself. The nurse patted me on the arm and assured me they did not give me epinephrine and asked how I was feeling and told me my heart was racing simply at the "excitement" (said tongue-in-cheek). Then I relaxed and felt fine.
Stupid body.
So far I've lived.
I will say, though, that the generalized anxiety I always feel when going to the dentist just drives me crazy (so to speak). I'm so sick and tired of feeling anxious at every little thing. My body fails me too often. I usually remind the dentist's office at every single appointment about my inability to handle epinephrine, but this time (as with the ADA) I decided to trust them and not remind them (I know it's written in big text on my file and even highlighted in yellow!). However, within five minutes of receiving my shot I just couldn't handle not asking and so I made a fool of myself. The nurse patted me on the arm and assured me they did not give me epinephrine and asked how I was feeling and told me my heart was racing simply at the "excitement" (said tongue-in-cheek). Then I relaxed and felt fine.
Stupid body.
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Digital mammography
I had a screening mammogram today, and despite all my worries and fears, it was almost a pleasant experience.
Digital mammography is new technology, and lucky for me I got to enjoy that technology today! Compared to my experience with film mammography three years ago, this was a walk in the park.
The compression time is cut in half, the quality of the image is much better, the machine automatically releases the compression once the image is complete, and the technician is right in the room with you instead of leaving you alone.
I was very impressed with the technology and the staff. I would never have thought that I'd have access to more advanced technology here in Raleigh, NC, as opposed to the Washington, DC, area -- but I guess I have misjudged this good ol' southern town.
If you have a choice in the matter, next time you have to get a mammogram ask if you can go digital. It's worth asking for!
Digital mammography is new technology, and lucky for me I got to enjoy that technology today! Compared to my experience with film mammography three years ago, this was a walk in the park.
The compression time is cut in half, the quality of the image is much better, the machine automatically releases the compression once the image is complete, and the technician is right in the room with you instead of leaving you alone.
I was very impressed with the technology and the staff. I would never have thought that I'd have access to more advanced technology here in Raleigh, NC, as opposed to the Washington, DC, area -- but I guess I have misjudged this good ol' southern town.
If you have a choice in the matter, next time you have to get a mammogram ask if you can go digital. It's worth asking for!
Saturday, November 1, 2008
Over-the-counter medications for colds
I am currently suffering from a major head-cold. The sinus pressure in my head combined with the horrendous sore throat is making me feel absolutely miserable. You know how they make the people look in commercials who are supposedly suffering from colds? I feel like how they make them look!
For those of us with MVP, knowing which cold medications to use is sometimes tricky. Here's what I found in a quick search on the 'net (from http://www.midwestheart.com/resourceseducation/patient-education/valves/mitral-valve-prolapse):
All those big words get confusing (to me, at least), and trying to read the fine print on all those cold medicine boxes while you can barely see from your burning, watery eyes just makes it near impossible.
It's best if you talk to your doctor BEFORE you get a cold, so once you're suffering you know exactly what to take and what not to take. Some of us are told to only avoid antihistamines, and others are told to avoid decongestants too. If you have to avoid decongestants completely, something like Mucinex to loosen up the mucous is probably the only option (besides a nice steam bath!).
For now, I'm going to go crawl under the covers and try to sleep.
For those of us with MVP, knowing which cold medications to use is sometimes tricky. Here's what I found in a quick search on the 'net (from http://www.midwestheart.com/resourceseducation/patient-education/valves/mitral-valve-prolapse):
"It is recommended that MVP patients avoid stimulants that may alter the effects of the heart. Over-the-counter stimulants such as: ephedrine, phenylpropanolamine, pseudoephedrine, epinephrine, and caffeine are used many times as decongestants, weight-control pills, asthma medications, 'keep awake' stimulants, and pain relievers. These types of drugs should be avoided unless specifically prescribed to you by your physician."
All those big words get confusing (to me, at least), and trying to read the fine print on all those cold medicine boxes while you can barely see from your burning, watery eyes just makes it near impossible.
It's best if you talk to your doctor BEFORE you get a cold, so once you're suffering you know exactly what to take and what not to take. Some of us are told to only avoid antihistamines, and others are told to avoid decongestants too. If you have to avoid decongestants completely, something like Mucinex to loosen up the mucous is probably the only option (besides a nice steam bath!).
For now, I'm going to go crawl under the covers and try to sleep.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
