Lap-band Surgery

I have recently been accepted for lapband surgery mostly because of multiple co-morbidities such as Type 2 diabetes etc. Deciding on surgery was not an easy choice. I made the decision knowing that with the moderate wieght los of 40-60 lbs my health will be much improved. I'll likely be on less medications able to move more easily and have more endurance.
After multiple failures of regaining weight after dieting I have decided I need more than will power to help me to become healthier. Certainly eating healthy and moving more are important but the band will also reinforce when I am full by limiting my stomach space.
Information about the band can be accessed at the site listed:
http://www.lapbandcanada.ca/
The following site contains a group of forums from those making a decision through the process leading to surgery and after surgery recovery and living.
http://www.lapbandtalk.com/index.php

Volunteering

I recently participated in a 4 day training program to become a Lay Leader for the Row Your Own Boat Program. This link is to a PowerPoint Presentation on the program which is aimed at empowering the chronically ill to take charge of their own disease management and life skills. www.chpna.ca/.../downloads/.../RYOB_PEI_Feb_2008_Freimark_Final.ppt

I look forward to next Spring when I'll be able to co-lead a group as they explore ways to cope with a chronic illness and feel more self-empowered. I carefully considered this program and feel that I can commit to 2 1/2 hrs a week for 6 weeks. Volunteering is a way to give back to a program that was so enlightening.

Is there a way that you can volunteer? It is a wonderful way to help others and distract yourself from some of your more worrisome symptoms.

2010 Invisible Illness Week

 Linda Cohen will once again be hosting  Invisible Illness Week in recognition of those who have chronic illnesses that aren't immediately visible. This year she is encouraging us to reach out to just one person with a sticky note posted in a public place.

New Year's Resolutions and Setting Realistic Health Goals

At the start of a new year it seems appropriate to make changes to improve or stabilize our health. Making those goals realistic and accountable is the difference between success and failure. The following method of setting health goals posted on familydoctor.org increases your odds of making lasting changes.

"Once you’ve decided to take an active role in managing your illness, you and your doctor can work together to set goals that will lead to better health. These goals will be part of an overall treatment plan.

Pick a problem. Take an honest look at the unhealthy aspects of your lifestyle. Start with a particular behavior that you’d like to change in order to have better control of your illness. For example, you might decide that you don’t eat enough vegetables, get enough exercise or take your medicines as your doctor tells you to.

Get specific. Once you’ve identified a problem, state a specific goal for dealing with it. The more specific your goal is, the more likely you are to succeed. For example, instead of saying, “I’m going to exercise more,” decide what kind of exercise you’ll do. Be specific about what days of the week you’ll exercise and what times you’ll exercise on those days. Your new goal might be: “During my lunch hour on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, I’m going to walk 1 mile in the park.

Plan ahead. After you’ve stated your goal, think of things that could go wrong and plan how you’ll deal with them. For example, if it rains and you can’t go to the park, where will you go to walk? If you plan how to handle problems in advance, they won’t prevent you from meeting your goals.

Check your confidence level. Ask yourself, “How confident am I that I’ll be able to meet this goal?” If the answer is “Not very confident,” you may need to start with a more realistic goal.

Follow up. As you’re working toward your goal, check in regularly with your doctor to let him or her know how you’re doing. If you’re having trouble following the plan, talk to your doctor to figure out why. Your setbacks can be learning experiences that help you make a new plan for success.
One of the most important things to remember is that you can change your behavior. Even though your illness makes you feel helpless at times, if you work with your doctor to set goals and you take responsibility for following through with them, you can make changes that will lead to better health."
 http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/healthy/prevention/785.html#ArticleParsysMiddleColumn0003

Is your home improving your health?

Chronically ill people spend more time in their homes than healthy people. That makes it even more important that our home environment meets our health needs. At times having a healthy home is difficult to achieve because a limited income constricts our housing choices. There are ways to improve your environment no matter where you live.

One way to control your environment is by using cleaning products that are not toxic. http://www.care2.com/greenliving/5-simple-alternatives-to-toxic-cleaning-products.html Those with Environmental Illness are especially sensitive to chemicals and their health can be severely effected by exposure to cleaning chemicals. They are the canary birds of our current society warning us of the dangers of the proliferation of chemicals present in every day life. Like the canaries in the coal minds warning of gas in the tunnels these individuals show us the danger of chemical overload can present to our bodies.The following link  is to the Environmental Resource Center and contains lots of information on the subject: http://www.ei-resource.org/ .

Another housing consideration is if your housing is accessible enough so you are able to function well in it. I live in a mobile home and it meets my needs well since it is all on one level. This has enabled to do my laundry without being exhausted by stairs. It has a small square footage which makes it easier to clean. I am able to live in a quiet environment which allows me to rest more thoroughly.

Is your home helping you to be more functional? If not are there simple solutions to make the home safer? Brighter lights for those with dimming eyesight might be as simple as a light bulb change. Taping down scatter rugs would make walking safer for someone no longer steady on their feet. Installing wall bars in the bathroom could keep a person independent in the bathroom.

Sometimes simple renovations or purchases can make a home more comfortable. Flooring could be changed to make it more walker or wheelchair friendly. A more accessible tub or shower could be installed. A chair that lifts could be bought to assist rising out of the sitting position.

It just takes a minute to sit down and think about your problems and how you can address them. Often an Occupational Therapist is a good person to give advice in this area. http://www.saot.ca/OT.htm

What do you do if your housing really is contributing to your health issues? You may have to consider moving. You may have come to the time when you require more care or a home without chemical problems in the air. Many local governments have housing for the disabled you may qualify for or assisted living facilities. The final decision will be yours. Will your home help your health or damage it?

Sleep the Great Health Restorer

I struggle with my sleep being fully restoring and constant fatigue is my major symptom of chronic illness. I have learned a few things that have helped me have a better quality of sleep. Adequate sleep is important for your immunity as well as many other body systems.

The most important  issue that I uncovered was that I had sleep apnea. Being diagnosed and using a CPAP machine at night to help my breathing increased the quality of my sleep. The following link describes apnea and other sleep disorders and their symptoms. http://www.sleepeducation.com/Disorder.aspx?id=50  The next link describes a CPAP and how it is used. http://www.sleepeducation.com/CPAPCentral/  One advantage of the CPAP after you get used to the mask is the quiet sound of the machine acts like white noise to block out other sounds making it easier to fall asleep.

I started to use an eye mask to block light while I slept and ear plugs to block noise. I bought a memory foam bed topper to decrease pressure on aching joints and pressure points. Education on sleep hygiene helped me make some wise changes in my routines around sleep and the comfort of my bedroom. This link gives helpful advice on sleep hygiene and how it helps the quality of your sleep. http://www.sleepeducation.com/Hygiene.aspx

Shutting off my racing thoughts to allow me to have a restful sleep rather than a restless night remained a problem. Writing down a list of things to do the next day allows my mind to let go of those future tasks. Journalling to relieve emotional stress allows me to let those issues go overnight. Sometimes I need to use a relaxation CD to allow muscle tension to release before I can sleep.

Changing all my meds that have fatigue and tiredness as side effects to evening doses instead of taking them throughout the day was another step to a more restful sleep and to a decrease in fatigue during the day.

Allowing myself to return to bed on the morning that I awake severely fatigued has helped also. As well as resting lying flat at times through out the day so my fatigue doesnot become so overwhelming that I am so overtired that I cannot sleep.

Counteracting a Winter of the Soul

 I love living in a country that has very distinct seasons. Spring, Summer and Fall can be brief but beautiful and Winter can seem to linger cold and still for too long. Have you ever had a winter of the soul? A time when life is bleak and you are in mourning for a stage of your life that has past.

For me that winter was a long bout of mono on top of my other chronic illnesses. Months turned into years of overwhelming fatigue, crushing brain fog and a great sense of loss for the work I no longer can do. Both my children left the nest and I was no longer able to assist my disabled brother and aging mother. I was required for health reasons to move out alone into a small bachelors suite while I struggled to focus on regaining a measure of my own health.

How did I counteract the bleakness? I read my scriptures and focused on finding joy. I added small things to my life that gave me joy such as listening to music or having fresh flowers in a vase. I learned to listen to my body and rest as much as it needed and worked on overcoming my resentment when my health didn't allow me to do the things I desired to do. I accepted the unconditional love and acceptance of my pets. I started a joy journal where I recorded small things I was grateful for in the day such as the beauty of the stars in the winter sky. I looked for inspiration in the lives of great people such as Helen Keller and Mother Theresa.

I still struggle at times to see the colors, the beauty in everyday life but now I have an arsenal of joy starters to counteract the bleakness. Here is a joy starter to share with you. The following is a link to a motivational movie showing beautiful photos and inspirational quotes on how to find joy in your life. http://www.simpletruths.tv/land.html