The Road to Healing Continues

The past couple of weeks have been crazy!! After the Memorial Day Weekend debacle of having a mini-stroke I was feeling a little weary and cautious of more medical tests. However, I have made this commitment to participate in my health care so I went back to my primary care office to have a follow up as soon as the weekend was over. The effects of the catheterization and the TIA seemed to have dissipated but the determination was made that my blood pressure was running moderately high and I should have my carotid arteries checked out to make sure there was no plaque built up that could break off and cause another incident.
I am now on a diuretic for the blood pressure. That makes life interesting. Especially since I drive all over the state visiting domestic violence programs about four days a week. I have a pretty good idea where all the clean gas stations are (Irving and Dunkin Donuts have the best) and I can pace myself pretty well. Fortunately, the other day I made a quick stop before I arrived at a program. The first words out of Joyce’s mouth when I walked in the door were “Did you PEE?!!!” Not “Hi” or “How are ya?” but “Did you Pee?” They had bug bombed the shelter and the bathroom would not be accessible for another hour and they wanted to make sure I was all set. I laughed so hard I almost had to pee! Poor Joyce. She will never live it down.
I had an ultrasound on my carotid arteries last Thursday. That was my favorite procedure. No cutting, no drugs, didn’t even have to take off my clothes.
Yesterday I went to see my naturopath M.D., Dr. Jane. Usually I hate going to the doctor because the first thing they do is make you get on the metal machine of disappointment and regret – the scale. However, I had lost nine!! pounds in the past month. And I know four of those were before I started the diuretic.
Last month, Dr. Jane had put me on a supplement produced by Thorne called DL-Phenylalanine. She had told me it was to increase my dopamine levels but she had not told me that it was the magic pill I had been looking for all my life. It has stopped my sugar and chocolate cravings. I even turned down the free donut on “Free Donut” day at Dunkin’s AND I sat next to a box of Munchkins during a meeting and did not dive in. Dr. Jane had not mentioned this side effect to me because she is a researcher and didn’t want to influence my thinking. Well, butter my buns and call me a lean biscuit. I love it!!
We also went over all the tests for the past weeks and my heart is clear and healthy and my carotids are clear. The TIA was most likely caused by a clot that was created during the catheterization and as Dr. Jane put it, “there are hopefully no more boogers floating around in there to cause any more problems.”
After donating a lot of bodily fluids for testing I have now found out that my fatigue is caused by B12 and Vitamin D deficiency – both are supplements I take regularly but not enough – and adrenal fatigue caused by long term stress. Dr. Jane put it very medically when she said “your adrenals are pooped.”
I am now on a regimen of supplements along with a food plan to address my insulin resistance (precursor to diabetes), exercise, meditation, yoga and just plain good living. Before, when a doctor would mention a dietician or a meal plan to me, I would tear up and have a temper tantrum because I knew I would fail. However, with this help with the sugar cravings and having the sense that I have a medical team that listens and supports me, I feel that I can participate fully in my self care.
My spiritual practice is also a large part of this for me. As someone who considers herself a Buddhist I try to incorporate the practice into my daily life. A few weeks ago, even before all of this started, I found information on the Medicine Buddha. I have started chanting daily and included this chanting in my healing process after the catheterization. Last Saturday I attended an empowerment ceremony in New Bedford, MA where I learned more about the Medicine Buddha and received the blessing. In Buddhism it is believed that any benefit we seek for ourselves is also sought for all other living beings. It is my hope that my healing will affect others. I don’t even have to have the healing of the body. I am grateful for healing of attitudes and attachment to the things that make me suffer. How I respond to life is infinitely more important than what life hands me.
I am so grateful for having this opportunity to post on this blog. It keeps me motivated and is also a means of accountability. Given the great support I have with friends and family and my new doctors I am feeling that good things are happening.