Primal Journal - Siobhan page 30

[KerryK]

Hate you have to, but I'm glad you're going to the Dr.

I love our digital camera... I take tons of pics and bured in a sea of ok or good pics is the odd hang-on-the-wall fabulous shot. Plus you can try capture the goats or sheep.

[Coll]

Siobhan, so sorry you are still in so much pain! Scream away if you need to honey... Good on you for changing to a standing station at your computer. I did that a few weeks ago and while it has taken a while for my feet to get used to being stood on so much I am really enjoying it and my back and neck are also grateful! Just remember to focus on good posture while standing there especially to engage your core muscles. I found in the beginning I would sag in all kinds of directions without realizing it ... much better now though I do tend to forget about those abs at times and find myself in a slouch

Have you tried soaking for about 12 minutes in a warm bath with plenty Epsom Salts dissolved in it. I have been reading up about how low our magnesium is in general and I know that we absorb it well through our skin and it can be very helpful in sprains etc. I just thought that could boost your healing too - of course you have to get in and out of the tub which may not be doable at this point without help... another thought to add to your long list, or I suppose you could get some magnesium gel. SOrry I am thinking as I write as you may have noticed, lol. I found the "Ancient Minerals Magnesium Gel Plus" on amazon and it is supposed to not be irritating to the skin as some magnesium products are known to be. Uh, hope there is something helpful in there, at least know that I am concerned about you and wishing you all the best with kicking this horrid pain out!

Another thought, be sure to drink enough so that you can flush out those toxins and leftover drugs! Do what your body wants food wise but keep the fluids going!

[Judg]

More pain is not good.

When you are up to taking pictures, that lady who lives with the cats would also be a good subject...

[Siobhan]

Just got home from a rather grueling day of doctor appointment, xrays, talking to boss (unpleasant), chiropractor, and argument with pharmacy. Good news - sciatica, which should go away completely with time. Bad news - it bloody hurts like hell. Boss was very grumpy with me when I told him I am out for the week. Like I want to use my precious earned time for a stupid thing like this! I want to use my earned time to go on a fabulous vacation and be fed grapes and jerky by gorgeous cabana boys! But hey, I have stayed primal throughout, got very hungry and ate primal from the salad bar at the hospital.

Pharmacy effed up my prescriptions and I panicked a little. The sooner I start taking them, the better. I hate to take meds, but enough is enough, it has been a week and it has only got worse. Luckily I straightened it out and I can go back and get them. Whew!

[JudyCr]

I pulled my sciatic nerve when I threw a box of pottery up to a truck driver loading a truck. I actually heard it. Then I fell to the ground. I was 28 yrs old, hubby owned a darling little pottery shop where he worked me like a dog. ER docs told me I needed surgery or I could opt for 45 days total bed rest. I'd never had and haven't had since (3 decades later) any pain like that. I was in bed for 45 plus days and I prayed for the every 4 hrs to be over so I could take more pain pills.. To this day 2 toes still numb, too much gardening will make it hurt like hell, you get the pic. Moist heat helped tremendously, I was in love with that heating pad (along with those narcotics).

You've got to take it easy. It's already inflamed, stay off your feet, call in all friends, exes, anyone who will help.. Maybe that curious landlord. You cannot take this seriously enough. The doctor in the ER that fateful day as I lay there bawling, gripping my leg so hard a terrible bruise lasted for wks, looked so sad and told my husband that I'd most likely have this injury for the rest of my life. After you heal as much as possible walking will help a lot. Also swimming, even better, especially heated pools, insurance company may pay for a health club with heated pool for you. I'm so sorry but it will heal but you have gotttt to take it easy right now. Also sorry for all this but been there and it's not pretty!

[Siobhan]

It's hard to believe the pain, isn't it? That one little spot in the back...I think I am getting off fairly easy, it could be much worse. I can't find my heating pad! I have a really nice one, too! I've turned the electric blanket on high, am heating damp towels in the microwave. Taking all the meds the doctor said to take - I hate meds, but this is no time to be fooling around.

I'm having the weirdest cravings. I was at the grocery store and shrimp looked really good. I hate shrimp. Well, I used to hate shrimp. Apparently I like them now. They are little protein bombs. Maybe it is all the protein talk. Then I squeezed a lemon into a glass, added some water and a little stevia, voila! Tasted like the finest thing I ever drank. I'm thinking of having another one. Guess there are worse things to crave than lemons and shrimp.

[Coll]

Siobhan, glad you at least know exactly what you are dealing with! And I have to say that we love lemon, water and stevia! It is the best on a hot day. I freeze the lemon juice (after squeezing a whole bag of lemons) in ice trays and then add as many as I need to whatever container I am making lemonade in. Usually I do a 1/2 gallon jar with about 8 cubes and 10 tiny scoops of stevia. Delicious indeed - definitely satisfies some kind of craving.

[Marcie]

You have wonderful posts. I'm still chuckling a little on 'The Canadian' post. I started around the time you started. I'm not having great success (13 pounds in a month but the first 10 were the first week). I travel a lot and find it difficult to get my food planned out well.

I love the frozen lemon juice idea. I could throw those in my magic bullet and it would be like those wonderful iced lemonades so many fast food places advertise.

I hope your meds kick in and you are feeling better soon.

[Siobhan]

Thank you, Marcie! It is really inspiring to me when people stop by and read my scribblings! I write just like I talk, so it is probably better that no one is here with me in person, I would drive them crazy. (Ask my co-workers, they will tell you how weird I am. Ask them about the blue blood.)

It is hard to stay primal on the road - I used to travel extensively and although I wasn't primal I did try to eat well and I always knew that fresh, simple foods were the best. Try getting fresh, simple foods in an airport, hah! If you are lucky you can get a mealy, horrible tasting red delicious apple for $2. Not even a Fuji! And a decent portion of high quality protein, forget it. Refined carbs - all you want! Ugh. Sometimes I am amazed that EVERYONE isn't fat.

The lemon thing is wonderful, everyone should know about it. I woke up thinking about it and made myself a lovely glass. My last lemon, will be making a trip to the store! Would be excellent with strawberries, I think.

For the first time in a long time, I woke up a bit hungry. Had a chicken sausage and half an avocado. Avocados are one of my very favorite foods. And the aforesaid lemonade. My macros look very good!

Then I took the handful of pills I am unfortunately committed to for the next week. I wish I could say the back is better - it is maybe marginally better, and the pain is now radiating down my leg, which is probably a good sign. I can get up and lie down without screaming, definitely an improvement.

[Siobhan]

Funny how the cats love the guest room, or should I say the bed in the guest room. Since I started sleeping in there, I can hardly get them out. They have even forsaken their favorite sunny window, which is decidedly uncatlike. Must think about this.

I think I may have found a tuna that I can eat with a mostly clear conscience. First I couldn't eat it because of the dolphins, then I couldn't eat it because of turtles, albatross and other seabirds, and of course the ever-present mercury problem. I bought a can of Wild Planet Tuna with great trepidation, thinking it was probably one of those slimball companies that slaps a clever name on something to fool people into thinking it is somehow different or better. Came home and looked at the website and it actually looks legit. It is, of course, more expensive. I don't care. It won't be wasted. I am not really spending more on food because although the food is more expensive, I eat less of it and it is easy to avoid waste. I'm no longer throwing away moldy bread or half-eaten boxes of crackers or cooked pasta dishes that have turned blue. Pretty much everything I eat can go into the freezer and come out still edible. The next step will be to get rid of the plastic storage containers and use glass. I think a trip to the thrift shop is in order.

Trying not to worry about my medical bills I have racked up this past week. It is no good worrying about them, it is done. I have insurance but still it is very expensive and although I live a comfortable life, I don't have much extra when the bills are paid.

I have an organic chicken roasting the oven now. It is quite beautiful. I have visited the farm where the chicken lived its life. They have very large wire enclosures on wheels that get moved every day so the chickens are on fresh grass and can eat insects and whatnot as chickens are supposed to but are protected from predators. They also pasture their goats on these same acres, so it is a symbiotic relationship. And they grow hay to feed the goats in the winter when forage is scarce. Very neat system. I am not so naive as to think it is all that simple, and I know for certain that farming is backbreaking work. I get raw goat milk from the same farm, so wonderful this time of year, so sweet.

A co-worker is having an open house at his goat farm this Sunday, it kills me that I probably won't be able to go. I have been looking forward to it for so long, but I don't think I will be able to stand the car for that long. It is at least a 45 minute drive and driving is about the worst thing I can do right now. Except for being on this stupid computer of course. On that note, I will sign off for now -