Ok, I know. It seems like a fad. Everyone these days is going gluten free. You see it on tv, your new friend hasn't had gluten in 6 months, it's seems like just another fad diet for the crazies.
But wait- there's more.
Have you suffered for years with unexplained abdominal pain? Do you have to take a stool softener or laxative every night before bed time just to be sure you have a BM the next day, often times feeling that your stool was still hard and incomplete? Do you have bloating, gas, abdominal distention and discomfort most of the time, even when you don't overeat? Do you find it hard to avoid passing gas, and when you do, does it force you to leave the room and fumigate the premises? Are headaches a chronic problem for you? Migraines that pound into your head and make normal everyday functions nearly impossible?
Having these symptoms can make just living and socializing and working really hard to do. I am here to say that I had all of those symptoms. After reaching my 30's it seemed that my migraines were becoming more frequent, and even if migraines weren't a problem, daily headaches, chronic constipation, bloating and gas were my constant companions. So I finally broke down and went against the grain.
It's been less than a week and I have seen improvements that are hard to believe. No more stool softeners. No problem going number 2. Getting fewer headaches. I don't feel bloated or gassy. And I have more energy throughout the day. Being just a week, it's hard to say what the next several months will be like. But I am strongly encouraged that I am on to something. It's not all in my head.
Gluten sensitivity is real- and it comes with a lot of other symptoms than the ones I was having. If you've had GI problems for years and your doc's have told you that it's all in your mind. That it's all just stress- why not go Gluten Free at least for a few weeks. Then try it again and see if your symptoms repeat themselves.
It shouldn't be a controversy. Wheat is not the health food everyone thinks it is. You don't have to deprive yourself. There are many cereals and other grain products with fiber that are gluten free- like corn, rice, flax, quinoa, amaranth. Some people can have oats too. Also I found that I started eating more fresh fruits and veggies- and that's where you really want to get your fiber- not from the breakfast pastries in the package with 20% of your daily fiber intake. If you can, start to limit your bread and pasta intake. Then replace those calories with nuts, fruits, veggies, rice cakes, hummus, and cheeses if you can have dairy.
I'd love to know about your journey.
Monday, February 4, 2013
Monday, July 30, 2012
Migraines and Massage
Those of you who have experienced a migraine know that it is no ordinary headache. Blurred vision, light sensitivity, slow thinking, and even nausea and vomiting can accompany this gruesome, mind-bending pain. I know, because I have them! They can be triggered by so many things. Women experience chronic migraine 80% more than men. They are definitely genetic, and other injuries can make one prone to them.
When it comes to migraines, massage can be a relief if received on a regular basis, but not necessarily during a migraine or at the onset of one. I have found that if I can catch one early enough, massage can be effective at alleviating or minimizing the pain of a migraine. Other times I have found the technique of the therapist or the increased circulation caused by the massage can really throw me head on into a major migraine attack.
Fortunately there is help. I have taken note of my clients and what they have done to cope with their migraines. Many sufferers simply use an ice pack on the forehead and at the base of the skull. Others use Chiropractic care on a regular basis. There are so many medicines out there to help people deal with their migraines. I personally find that when I have an attack, I have to take my prescription- or the pain will quickly become debilitating. Also Acupuncture can benefit those who have migraines.
Another method of controlling these headaches for women is getting their hormones under control. Studies have shown that there is a link between a drop in Estrogen levels and women experiencing hormonal migraines. All women have hormonal fluctuations during ovulation (about 2 weeks before the first day of your monthly) and during menstruation (your period). Women in their child bearing years have a small drop in their estrogen level during ovulation, and at the onset of that monthly buddy, the period. But women who are menopausal, pre-menopausal, or peri-menopausal have an extra burden. Their hormones are not as predictable, therefore it's harder to predict a migraine.
Just to know this can be helpful. If you are unaware of where your hormone levels are and you have been getting more migraines, it may be a good idea to visit your OB/GYN and have those levels checked in your blood work.
Other times migraines might be triggered by foods, food additives, chemicals, smells, environmental allergies, and especially alcohol. Some studies show that people with migraines have been triggered by foods with high mold counts, stinky cheeses, fermented foods such as wine and beer, yeast bearing foods, citrus, tea leaves. Also mold in the air or in your home may trigger those pesky migraines. Recently I heard of a man who had to eliminate corn and corn by-products from his diet- that was his migraine trigger. Also, sugar can be very inflammatory... And very hard to break!
Whichever method you find, it is important to know that there are physicians who specialize in helping people deal with migraines.Your best bet is elimination of trigger foods and chemicals as well as taking care of yourself and making sure you keep your stress levels in check. One of the number one causes of migraines is higher stress levels, so keeping a regular massage appointment can help guard against migraines and tension headaches.
Do any of you have any suggestions on how to control migraines? What works for you, your family?
When it comes to migraines, massage can be a relief if received on a regular basis, but not necessarily during a migraine or at the onset of one. I have found that if I can catch one early enough, massage can be effective at alleviating or minimizing the pain of a migraine. Other times I have found the technique of the therapist or the increased circulation caused by the massage can really throw me head on into a major migraine attack.
Fortunately there is help. I have taken note of my clients and what they have done to cope with their migraines. Many sufferers simply use an ice pack on the forehead and at the base of the skull. Others use Chiropractic care on a regular basis. There are so many medicines out there to help people deal with their migraines. I personally find that when I have an attack, I have to take my prescription- or the pain will quickly become debilitating. Also Acupuncture can benefit those who have migraines.
Another method of controlling these headaches for women is getting their hormones under control. Studies have shown that there is a link between a drop in Estrogen levels and women experiencing hormonal migraines. All women have hormonal fluctuations during ovulation (about 2 weeks before the first day of your monthly) and during menstruation (your period). Women in their child bearing years have a small drop in their estrogen level during ovulation, and at the onset of that monthly buddy, the period. But women who are menopausal, pre-menopausal, or peri-menopausal have an extra burden. Their hormones are not as predictable, therefore it's harder to predict a migraine.
Just to know this can be helpful. If you are unaware of where your hormone levels are and you have been getting more migraines, it may be a good idea to visit your OB/GYN and have those levels checked in your blood work.
Other times migraines might be triggered by foods, food additives, chemicals, smells, environmental allergies, and especially alcohol. Some studies show that people with migraines have been triggered by foods with high mold counts, stinky cheeses, fermented foods such as wine and beer, yeast bearing foods, citrus, tea leaves. Also mold in the air or in your home may trigger those pesky migraines. Recently I heard of a man who had to eliminate corn and corn by-products from his diet- that was his migraine trigger. Also, sugar can be very inflammatory... And very hard to break!
Whichever method you find, it is important to know that there are physicians who specialize in helping people deal with migraines.Your best bet is elimination of trigger foods and chemicals as well as taking care of yourself and making sure you keep your stress levels in check. One of the number one causes of migraines is higher stress levels, so keeping a regular massage appointment can help guard against migraines and tension headaches.
Do any of you have any suggestions on how to control migraines? What works for you, your family?
Love and Loss- My Healing Story
It struck me that when looking through massage therapy blogs, not one of them was talking about being a parent, partner, and massage therapist. Perhaps there is something less than ethical or professional about blogging on this subject, but I happen to think that it would be helpful to bounce around ideas on the subject.
The entire time I have been in practice as an LMT, I have had my hands full at home. I actually made the choice to go into Massage Therapy and Bodywork when I thought I might be pregnant with my first child. Turns out, it's a great career to allow the freedom of being a most-of-the-time mom. It also has its challenges.
I always had a dream of "owning my own" massage therapy practice. In 2010 I got my wish. And for the first several months I was painfully slow. I relied on a few faithful, wonderful clients, and the Chiropractic office next door to send in referrals. I quickly realized that this waiting it out thing was not going to work, and I would soon go into debt if I didn't do something drastic.
And drastic I did. I heard about a daily deal company called Groupon. It was everything I had hoped for, more clients than I could've dreamed of generating on my own. In 13 hours I sold over 230 massages to prospective clients. I was living the dream...on my own- with a big chunk of money in my business account seeing 6-7 clients, 5 days a week.
Then I was hit with a life-threatening medical emergency. I had no idea what was going on when I collapsed on April 8th, 2011 after going through some emails. I was off work early and found myself panting, dry heaving, faint and dizzy. Having just seen my OB/GYN that day I thought, surely this is nothing serious. I had been having some symptoms I was concerned about, so I visited his office to look at what could be the problem. His response to my concerns was to wait it out and see what happened. He said that because I was still nursing my nearly 12 month old- and my body was confused, my hormones were out of balance. Six hours later I was about to pass out with debilitating abdominal pain, shortness of breath, and feeling I had been stabbed in the shoulder. After 45 minutes and symptoms getting worse, I started wondering if I was going to die. There was nothing I could think to do but call my mother. Twenty minutes later she came to my rescue, called 911 and I was taken to Hillcrest Medical Center in Tulsa via ambulance.
Turns out when I got to the ER I had been bleeding internally for the last two hours. My abdomen was filling with blood and I was on my way into surgery. I was pregnant- and the embryo had traveled into my fallopian tube. This is called an Ectopic Pregnancy. It can be life threatening when the mother is unaware of the pregnancy. Many times these pregnancies are hard to detect because most home pregnancy tests can't verify them if they are in the first 4 weeks. They had to go in and remove the right fallopian tube because it had ruptured. Thank goodness I had wonderful doctors and a great surgeon. When I was out of surgery they explained the procedure. I had a full c-section incision. I had just had my baby, Hank one year earlier via c-section. I knew what the recovery was like and I realized I would not be able to work for at least six weeks or more.
This was a problem. I had committed myself to honoring over 200 Groupons in a period of six months. Being the only massage therapist was going to mean that all those new clients would either have to wait or get a refund. To my surprise, not everyone was understanding. This was not a choice I had made- and there was nothing I could do about it. I just had to let my body heal. I couldn't even take care of my kids alone. I wasn't allowed to lift more than 10 lbs. and my youngest, Hank wasn't even walking and still in diapers. I wasn't allowed to drive my oldest son to school. Couldn't go grocery shopping. It was a tough, painful recovery. But I made it with lots of support from my wonderful husband and family. My mother-in-law even came down all the way from New Hampshire just to help out around the house and take care of the kids. I didn't even deal with the loss of the pregnancy until about a year after all of this happened. It was just so unexpected and so traumatic- I couldn't even go there mentally.
But, the fact was, I lost a baby. Even though it wasn't planned, and I didn't know I was pregnant. I had to deal with that fact. Everyone deals with loss in their own way. I guess my way of dealing was just acknowledging the fact that it happened- that it was an unavoidable loss- if I wanted to stay alive. And also I already had two, beautiful boys keeping me busy and growing up too fast. They are both such miracles. As recently as this spring I have faced the loss and mourned. I know it's all ok. I still have the option of trying again if my husband and I decide to do so.
Growing a business can be such a challenge. I started to think that my reputation as a professional massage therapist had been ruined by those few people who were inconvenienced by my recovery time after surgery. But it turns out that even after all of that waiting, many people were just happy I honored their Groupon coupon past the date it expired. Daily Deals also have their purpose, but for the solo therapist- unless you are needing a quick kick-start for your practice- it's a bit too overwhelming! If you do decide to go with a Daily Deal- LIMIT YOUR SALES! You can be a much more effective Therapist by a providing a few EXCELLENT massages per working day. Make sure you take time for yourself throughout your day. And if you need help Establishing Personal Boundaries, check out my next post!
The entire time I have been in practice as an LMT, I have had my hands full at home. I actually made the choice to go into Massage Therapy and Bodywork when I thought I might be pregnant with my first child. Turns out, it's a great career to allow the freedom of being a most-of-the-time mom. It also has its challenges.
I always had a dream of "owning my own" massage therapy practice. In 2010 I got my wish. And for the first several months I was painfully slow. I relied on a few faithful, wonderful clients, and the Chiropractic office next door to send in referrals. I quickly realized that this waiting it out thing was not going to work, and I would soon go into debt if I didn't do something drastic.
And drastic I did. I heard about a daily deal company called Groupon. It was everything I had hoped for, more clients than I could've dreamed of generating on my own. In 13 hours I sold over 230 massages to prospective clients. I was living the dream...on my own- with a big chunk of money in my business account seeing 6-7 clients, 5 days a week.
Then I was hit with a life-threatening medical emergency. I had no idea what was going on when I collapsed on April 8th, 2011 after going through some emails. I was off work early and found myself panting, dry heaving, faint and dizzy. Having just seen my OB/GYN that day I thought, surely this is nothing serious. I had been having some symptoms I was concerned about, so I visited his office to look at what could be the problem. His response to my concerns was to wait it out and see what happened. He said that because I was still nursing my nearly 12 month old- and my body was confused, my hormones were out of balance. Six hours later I was about to pass out with debilitating abdominal pain, shortness of breath, and feeling I had been stabbed in the shoulder. After 45 minutes and symptoms getting worse, I started wondering if I was going to die. There was nothing I could think to do but call my mother. Twenty minutes later she came to my rescue, called 911 and I was taken to Hillcrest Medical Center in Tulsa via ambulance.
Turns out when I got to the ER I had been bleeding internally for the last two hours. My abdomen was filling with blood and I was on my way into surgery. I was pregnant- and the embryo had traveled into my fallopian tube. This is called an Ectopic Pregnancy. It can be life threatening when the mother is unaware of the pregnancy. Many times these pregnancies are hard to detect because most home pregnancy tests can't verify them if they are in the first 4 weeks. They had to go in and remove the right fallopian tube because it had ruptured. Thank goodness I had wonderful doctors and a great surgeon. When I was out of surgery they explained the procedure. I had a full c-section incision. I had just had my baby, Hank one year earlier via c-section. I knew what the recovery was like and I realized I would not be able to work for at least six weeks or more.
This was a problem. I had committed myself to honoring over 200 Groupons in a period of six months. Being the only massage therapist was going to mean that all those new clients would either have to wait or get a refund. To my surprise, not everyone was understanding. This was not a choice I had made- and there was nothing I could do about it. I just had to let my body heal. I couldn't even take care of my kids alone. I wasn't allowed to lift more than 10 lbs. and my youngest, Hank wasn't even walking and still in diapers. I wasn't allowed to drive my oldest son to school. Couldn't go grocery shopping. It was a tough, painful recovery. But I made it with lots of support from my wonderful husband and family. My mother-in-law even came down all the way from New Hampshire just to help out around the house and take care of the kids. I didn't even deal with the loss of the pregnancy until about a year after all of this happened. It was just so unexpected and so traumatic- I couldn't even go there mentally.
But, the fact was, I lost a baby. Even though it wasn't planned, and I didn't know I was pregnant. I had to deal with that fact. Everyone deals with loss in their own way. I guess my way of dealing was just acknowledging the fact that it happened- that it was an unavoidable loss- if I wanted to stay alive. And also I already had two, beautiful boys keeping me busy and growing up too fast. They are both such miracles. As recently as this spring I have faced the loss and mourned. I know it's all ok. I still have the option of trying again if my husband and I decide to do so.
Growing a business can be such a challenge. I started to think that my reputation as a professional massage therapist had been ruined by those few people who were inconvenienced by my recovery time after surgery. But it turns out that even after all of that waiting, many people were just happy I honored their Groupon coupon past the date it expired. Daily Deals also have their purpose, but for the solo therapist- unless you are needing a quick kick-start for your practice- it's a bit too overwhelming! If you do decide to go with a Daily Deal- LIMIT YOUR SALES! You can be a much more effective Therapist by a providing a few EXCELLENT massages per working day. Make sure you take time for yourself throughout your day. And if you need help Establishing Personal Boundaries, check out my next post!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)