LittleTurtle: Mental Health & Pain Rehab

[LittleTurtle]

MAIN QUEST

To be pain-free and feel happy

 

 

Goals:

 

1. Not weigh myself weekly

 

I have weighed myself almost every week for the past two years and it has gotten me NOWHERE!  Caring about my weight for the last 24 months has been exhausting and depressing.  Now that I've figured out the weight gain and retention was almost completely due to medications, it's time to move on.

 

 

2. Journaling

 

For me, writing in a journal is one of the most therapeutic stress reliefs.  I used to do this regularly and I'd like to start again.  I'll probably use my old Live Journal for the time being.  I'd like to have at least 5 entries a week.

 

3. Inversion Table

 

I just got one of these for Christmas and I intend to use the table every single day.  Every. Single. Day.  The length of time is no matter, just as long as I'm on it.

[spooky]

following along

 

Great goals LT, looking forward to a challenge filled with scale-less happiness

[Sunmage]

Welcome back!

 

The inversion table looks interesting. Don't forget to tell us about it

[Ambisagrus]

Yes! Scales are stupid. You aren't buying meat at the grocery store, after all, and as a measure of overall health that number is virtually useless. I have an accompanying rant on heart rate monitors.

I also have a writing goal this challenge. Seems several of us do. Good luck on this one.

Peace in the new year!

[oldnews]

Ooh, inversion table. Interesting. 

 

Good for you, stepping away from the scale. I hope you start to feel a lot better about your goals once you've stopped thinking about it in numbers.

[LittleTurtle]

I've been a bit worried that I'm not challenging myself enough on this one.  Don't get me wrong - I fully intend to continue with diet and exercise, I just don't want to become obsessed like I tend to do.  My main concern is pain.  I tend to push myself too hard because I care too much what the scale says and I end up hurting myself and setting my efforts back a big step.  My exercise efforts will be more towards listening to what my body is telling me.  My diet isn't going to be so strict that I eliminate half of everything and then stress when I have a meal that I would deem less than perfect.

 

If I lose weight - awesome.  If I don't - who cares as long as my body is limber and without aches.

 

I'd like to focus on energy levels as well.  I'm always freaking exhausted no matter how much or how little sleep I get.  Any advice on how to improve energy would be greatly appreciated.  

[Heidi]

Kill your scale! Bury it next to the television.

Energy: little bits of movement to break up sitting spells; a multivitamin, especially with b complex; some activity that gets your heart rate up, for 30 minutes, no less than three times a week. Honestly, anything.

I love all the simplicity. This is the way of peace.

[LittleTurtle]

I went to the doctor today for some respiratory issues I've been having since the day after Christmas.   I'm all loaded up with meds and ready to kick some ass starting tomorrow.

 

The bronchitis may have been a huge source of my fatigue this past week!

 

I go back to work tomorrow after having 12 days off, and in no way am I looking forward to being back at work, it'll be nice to have some semblance of routine once again.  Also…having 12 days off from work isn't as fun as it sounds when you've been sick for 8 of them.  On the bright side, it's much better to be sick when you don't have to worry about going to work.  

 

I'm so ready for tomorrow.  Bring it!   

[Jittersthe.Clown]

[Sandylion]

I feel ya! I had a total of 2 extra days off, plus weekends, for the holidays and I was sick the whole time. Just starting to feel better now. Great goals. Sometimes a less challenging challenging is the way to go. Embrace the healing!

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[Fearkiller]

Yay, an LT challenge! \o/

 

 

[LittleTurtle]

Day One:

 

I'm still feeling really awful sick.  Even with the codeine, I didn't sleep well last night because of the severe coughing.  I'd say about a half dozen people asked me why I was even at work today, but I powered through because being cooped up at home the past 12 days hasn't done a bit of difference, so...  

 

When I got home, I FORCED myself to get on the treadmill and walk while jamming to my favorite tunes.  I coughed almost the whole time, but it felt good to move a little.  I did some seated rows and worked on hip stuff (i.e - trying to work on my form with squats)  The more I practice my squats, the better my messed up right leg feels, so…note to self and all!  I've been on the inversion table twice already today and will probably go again before bed.

 

Regarding the inversion table.  I'm hooked.  We don't have it set for full inversion yet…I'd say about a 45 degree angle so far.  It feels amazing!  I like to pretend I'm a bat when I'm on it.  LOL!  

 

I've been going to a chiropractor since mid-December and it seems to be helping, but it's hard to tell because all this coughing has my back way out of whack, but I'll be a good patient and continue with it for awhile.

 

I've had like 75 ounces of water today and nailed my diet…er, well…I probably didn't eat nearly as much as I should, but I haven't really had an appetite since I've been sick, but what I did eat was nutritious and healthy - no wheat, dairy or sugar today.  

 

Now, I'm off now to update my journal.  I've had an entry every day so far this year.  I also like to read past entries.  I started the thing back in 2004.  May 24th to be exact.  I just read my very first entry and I was sick then too!  Poor Little Turtle!

 

I hope to go to bed early tonight (maybe a half teaspoon more of codeine!) and pray I don't cough all night.

 

 

 

OH!  In completely unrelated news, I received a late Christmas gift this this afternoon:

 

 

This mug pretty much sums up my life!  I love it so much!  

[LittleTurtle]

GRADING

1. Exercise (even though not a noted goal on this challenge, it's still important and I am for at least 3 points per week):

*Gentle and healing exercises (i.e walking, yoga, swimming, misc. chiropractor assigned movements) = 1 point / Deep & mindful stretching = .5 points

12(+) points = A

9-11 = B

6-8 = C

< 6 = FAIL

 

2. Inversion Table

25(+) days = A

22-24 = B

19-21 = C

< 19 = FAIL

 

3. Journal

20(+) entries = A

17-19 = B

14-16 = C

< 14 = FAIL

 

Spreadsheet for Accountability

[LittleTurtle]

I'm still feeling pretty sick.  I've coughed so hard and so much that I now have laryngitis (which is an awesome thing to have when you're a receptionist at a high school...).  The codeine isn't helping me sleep, and I've begun to wonder if anyone has died from sleep deprivation.

 

The doctor did tell me last Sunday that if I wasn't feeling better by this Saturday to call the clinic and have them call in an antibiotic to the pharmacy for me.  

 

Something's gotta give.  

[Ahyar Dreamspark]

I'm still feeling pretty sick.  I've coughed so hard and so much that I now have laryngitis (which is an awesome thing to have when you're a receptionist at a high school...).  The codeine isn't helping me sleep, and I've begun to wonder if anyone has died from sleep deprivation.

 

The doctor did tell me last Sunday that if I wasn't feeling better by this Saturday to call the clinic and have them call in an antibiotic to the pharmacy for me.  

 

Something's gotta give.  

 

Ouch, I hope this clears up fast!

 

Re. sleep deprivation: if it was lethal, grad students could never exist!

[Sandylion]

I'm not a doctor, but if you are coughing so much, a steroid and bronchodilator puffer, combined with a cough suppressant syrup, and an antihistamine would probably help with sleep more then codeine. Also, codeine has ... Unpleasant side effects.

I hope I don't sound like a knownitall, I just want to offer some help

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[LittleTurtle]

I'm not a doctor, but if you are coughing so much, a steroid and bronchodilator puffer, combined with a cough suppressant syrup, and an antihistamine would probably help with sleep more then codeine. Also, codeine has ... Unpleasant side effects.

I hope I don't sound like a knownitall, I just want to offer some help

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

I appreciate the help!  I'm on Prednisone, Albuterol, Mucinex Cough Syrup, Tessalon Perles, and the Cheratussin AC Cough Syrup.  None of it seems to have done a bit of difference, so now I'm playing the waiting game.  The doctor said that if I had no improvement by Saturday (1/9/16) to call the clinic so he can call in an antibiotic.  I think at this point, it may be safe to assume I have some kind of bacterial infection (but I'm no doctor either! )

 

All I know is that the last day I felt like an actual human was Christmas Day.  That was 12 days ago.  It seems like forever ago though.  

 

PS - I'll give an antihistamine a shot tonight!  That always kicks my ass!  

[oldnews]

I hope you feel better soon. Getting sick during a challenge is always the worst.

[LittleTurtle]

A-HA!!  I just realized that the Cheratussin AC is NOT equivalent to Promethazine-Codeine (which is what I requested at the doctor's office).

 

I just got hooked up with the latter today, so I have high hopes for QUALITY sleep tonight!  YAY!

[Gobnait]

Ugh, if I could give you an Alfred with a bottomless teapot, I would.

[LittleTurtle]

Druids:  Never underestimate the power of a good night's sleep.  I think I might just be on the mend!  

[Sunmage]

Druids:  Never underestimate the power of a good night's sleep.  I think I might just be on the mend!  

 

Thats very very very true!

 

So how are you feeling after 2nd night of good sleep in a row?

[LittleTurtle]

Thats very very very true!

 

So how are you feeling after 2nd night of good sleep in a row?

I actually just ended up calling the clinic for that antibiotic.  I still feel pretty rough.  

[LittleTurtle]

Ugh.  I can't even today:

 

http://www.msn.com/en-us/music/news/david-bowie-pop-star-who-transcended-music-art-and-fashion-has-died-at-69/ar-CCnq6O?li=BBnb7Kz

 

My heart is broken today.

[LittleTurtle]

Today is my second days of antibiotics.  They FINALLY called in a Z-Pak for me!  It only took being miserably sick for almost 20 damn days...

 

I haven't done much on the exercise front, but I'm not going to feel too guilty about it while I'm on the mend.