Confusion: Ever Feel Like You Have Your Head In the Clouds?

You know… spacey?

Like….. ”what the heck was I just doing?”, or “what was I saying?”,

or “what did I come in this room to get?

Oh come on, you know you do.

What is that all about?

Yesterday I bumped into Bonnie, a patient I used to care for.  We were both out shopping, and just tickled pink to have a chance to catch up.  I’m sure the other shoppers were wanting us to stop blocking the isle, but we just couldn’t help ourselves.

Bonnie is a colorful lady who loves antiques and beautiful bright colors.  Her house is a fun place to visit.  My kids were amazed by the place and always begged me to schedule with her when they could come along.  They loved the house and Bonnie loved them.

I’d do my usual routine, express my concern about her low oxygen levels, and nag her to use oxygen 24/7.  Then we always took time to laugh it up and enjoy each others company.

I noticed that after our delightful isle obstructing visit, I felt like I had my head in the clouds.  You know, spacey.  I even forgot what the heck I had come into WalMart to buy.

“That sweet old lady does that to me every time,” I thought with a smile.  I always seem to be floating just above myself when I spend a little time with this charming, busy lady.

Even though she is very sick and needs to slow down and care for herself, she is still living at a crazy pace that has been the norm all her life.  From her costume jewelry, snappy dress, and makeup, to her antique hunting and social life, Bonnie’s life is simply exhausting.

She just never learned to slow down and heal, even though she spent 3 weeks on a ventilator in ICU and almost died more than once.

Low oxygen levels cause short term memory loss.  So Bonnie has the excuse of not remembering what changes she should make, long enough to make them.

If Bonnie had discovered the ability to heal herself by listening to her intuition, she could have slowed down long enough to smell the roses years ago.

The problem was that if Bonnie slowed down long enough, Read more

Have You Checked Your Blood Pressure Lately?

High blood pressure can develop anytime.

Have you been under a lot of stress lately?

One of my dear friends has recently taken on the role of caregiver for her aging relatives.  The stress level has resulted in her blood pressure climbing.

Fortunately, the tragedy of losing her sister too soon (to untreated high blood pressure) has made her painfully aware that denial, and lack of treatment can be a deadly combination.

Facing a health robbing condition, she knows that she needs to evaluate her options and take action immediately.

So far she has been much better about getting out and walking each day.  She can’t change the stress that revolves around her, but she can choose to be gentle with herself.

The biggest challenge, she has found, is cutting back on red wine in the evening.  It is such a comfort, and really seems to help the stress so much, that she has had a hard time keeping it under control.

Each day is a new day.  Each day she faces the challenge.

I don’t worry about her.  She is aware that she needs to make changes, and she is always making new goals for herself.

Just because you have not had health issues in the past, is no guarantee that you will not develop high blood pressure tomorrow.

It is a good idea, with the current economic state, to pay a little extra attention to your blood pressure.

Do you know what you do to cause high blood pressure? Read more

Caregiver, How Many Heroes Do You Know?

Be your own hero, then you know ONE.

You and everyone you know, have an innate desire to be a hero.

Look for them, you’ll find heroes everywhere.

Who Inspires you? Read more

Are You Mourning the Loss Of Your Loved One Before Their Death?

Death is a part of life.  When someone you love dies, your life  goes on without them.

Alzheimer’s Disease and dementia can effectively take your loved one from you.  Though your lives go on, the person you loved is gone.  They are no longer who they were.  Someone else is living with you.

Grieving for the loss of a loved one that is not dead is a heart wrenching kind of pain.

Do you feel angry and sad? Read more

Why Is Physical Fitness So Important? Is Exercise About Sweating?

Do you believe in the no pain, no gain” approach to exercise?

Recently I noticed that a couple of my neighbors have taken to the road in clothing that resembles a garbage bag.  I am assuming that this attire is about causing increased sweating and increased weight loss.

It amazes me that the ladies are so willing to put themselves through such torture in the name of fitness.

Is exercise about sweating?

Is shedding fat and toning muscle all about sweat?

Why is physical fitness so important anyway?

Sedentary Death Syndrome (dying because you don’t move your body) will rob you of your quality of life and kill you prematurely.

Life without activity is not a pretty choice.

When you choose inactivity, you choose to suffer.

Do YOU have to sweat to feel better?

There are three sides to the fitness triangle.  Not all of them involve sweat.

In fact you can achieve fitness without any significant sweating.

Feeling strong, confident and sassy is nothing to shake a stick at!

Life is really worth living when you have a spring in your step and a twinkle in your eye!

What 3 areas need attention in order to achieve fitness? Read more

Water Retention: Is That Bloated and Puffy Feeling Anything To Worry About?

“Everyone gets a little bloated and puffy feeling, right?  It’s a bit annoying to get up and use the toilet all night long, but no worries…..right?”

If your doctor isn’t concerned, why should you be?

It’s just a little water retention.

There Are Reasons YOU Should Be Concerned About Excess Fluid:

1. Your body becomes completely out of balance when it holds on to fluid in an effort to protect you.
2. Any excess fluid interferes with absorption of OXYGEN and NUTRITION!
3. The sooner you achieve a healthy fluid balance, the less damage will be caused to your kidneys, heart and other vital organs.
4. Rapid accumulation of fluids can be life threatening.
5. Not using water effectively stresses your body.
6. If you use water more effectively you will use oxygen, vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients more effectively.

Creating a healthy fluid balance may be as simple as reducing your exposure to toxins, making better food choices, or supplementation with the right amount of the right nutrient.

Feeling better may be within your grasp.

Water, Precious Water!

Your body needs water!  It is an important component of every one of the trillions of cells that makes up your body.

As well as carrying nutrients and oxygen to the cells, water eliminates waste products from your body.

When your body loses the ability to maintain your fluid balance, you are on a slippery slope of deterioration.

• At first you may notice it in your skin and hair
• Then you will start noticing it in your energy level
• Your mental clarity and attitude will suffer as well

The most likely cause of early water retention is foods you eat frequently.

When your daily favorites start to cause an allergy or sensitivity related histamine release, you will retain water.

Do you eat out frequently?

Read more