On the Road to Health(ier)

Quite often, I take my health for granted. Sure, I deal with pain on a fairly regular basis. Some days are worse than others. And for the most part, I’m able to live my life and do the things that I want to do. I rarely let pain stop me.

green smoothieI don’t often get sick. At least, I would have said that a year ago. Since a gallbladder attack took me to the emergency room last fall, suddenly I’ve been giving a lot more attention to my health! (I’m being very intentional with my language here: I’m not claiming the gallbladder attack as “mine”, and I am giving attention rather than paying attention.)

After the attack, I was told that I would need surgery to have my gallbladder removed. That just didn’t sit right with me. I did some research, and got a second opinion. I’ve been seeing an ND, a Naturopath. We found several other issues we’ve been addressing, which affirmed for me that the gallbladder issue wasn’t the core of the problem.

We’ve addressed thyroid challenges, and low iron. Each time we find something, and improve on it, my energy improves. For a while. Then it dips again. I’m just starting to come out of another such dip.

What does that look like? Well, for me, it means having a hard time getting out of bed in the morning. More than just a “five more minutes, please” kind of hard time. It’s full on conversations in my head about how it’s time to get up. Now. Move body. No, really. Move. Get up. Get up. GET UP!

It’s wanting to take a nap. Frequently. 10 am and 2 pm would be a good start. And 5 pm. Do I have to get up?

It’s falling asleep during my meditation. Every. Day.

It’s wanting to exercise, knowing that exercise is necessary and helpful, and I actually enjoy doing yoga, and not being able to actually move my body to do it. The extra hour of sleep is vitally more important than the yoga. Or even a walk. Mostly because I can’t nap.

It’s being in more pain than is usual. My body aches. It hurts to stay in bed, and it hurts to get up and move.

It’s falling back on caffeine and sugar to get me through the day.

None of this is what I would consider “normal” for me. When I’m feeling good, I have energy. I wake up before my alarm goes off. I don’t really have a problem getting out of bed. (Maybe one snooze.) I am able to meditate without falling asleep. I have a lull in energy mid-afternoon, maybe, and I get through it pretty easily. My pain levels are manageable.

I’m working on reducing my stress levels, both mentally and physically. I started making green smoothies for my lunch at work, and I have to say I’ve definitely had more energy this week. My pain levels are going down. I know I’m getting WAY more vegetable servings than I normally would. Along with following the recommendations of my ND, I feel that I am on the road to becoming healthier once again. And I love that it is not due to pharmaceuticals. (Oh, and my kids like it, too! Who knew?)

What are some of the things that you do to maintain your health?

Blessings,

Mary

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