Nutty 3 weeks!! Pt 1.

Around the Bend

Wow, it seems like whenever I need to prepare to be gone for any period of time something in my mind makes life go nutty for me.  There also appears to be a relation between the nutty factor and the length of time I'll be gone.  Just a day, slightly nutty but deal-able without much difficulty. 1-2 weeks, well that gets more interesting. This 8-9 weeks of being gone has reached an entirely new level of nuttyness in my life!

Since my proposal for this Artist in Residence included blogging about this trip from acceptance until I complete the work I've decided to write a couple blogs going over some of this nuttyness and what I've been doing to overcome it.  Hopefully, once I leave it will disappear and I can focus on my art.

This specific blog will deal with some health things that have come up recently.  Something you should know about me, I think drugs and surgery are a last resort.  If they are needed to save my life because I'd die very soon without them then I'll consent to it.  I do, on occasion, take some Excedrin Migraine when I have one after I try heat and oils first. Many times, those work and handle what is going on, but not always :(

On Feb 16th I started to have some discomfort in my abdomen, but didn't think too much of it since it's been off and on for a few months and I was told I had a hiatal hernia and usually I would feel it when I put pressure on my abdomen, like bending over to tie my shoes. Pain was in the same general location so I just figured I just aggravated it.  Friday morning the pain was much greater and within 30 minutes of waking up I couldn't take it and went to the ER.  My system took over a week to deal with the drugs they put into me and they told me I have gallstones.  The doctors solution, the ONLY solution, was to have it removed.  I had no signs of infection so it wasn't an urgent need. I asked about other solutions and the ER doctor said the drugs were really expensive, had horrible side effects and weren't reliable.  He then walked out of the room so I couldn't ask anymore questions, told me I was good to go home and to follow up with my primary care physician. I put off that call until they called me actually.

I did call a naturalistic practitioner and she was reluctant to do anything citing that the treatment isn't often helpful and it can cause an acute attack. I can understand that and I appreciate her being upfront with me about it.  I would hate to be in her shoes trying to help someone and they have an attack during it and need emergency surgery. I have no qualms to see her again for help or exercise classes because she was honest and stuck with her integrity. I wouldn't even want to try and change her mind on it.

I talked with my chiropractor who told me to take something called Beta-TCP as it has some of the pancreatic enzymes and research has shown that beets have an amazing ability to thin the bile.  He did a kinesiology testand and my body loved it so I have been taking these with every meal.

In the past I also did some work with essential oils from Young Living Essential Oils.  While I haven't done much with the company over the past many years, I still keep a supply of peppermint oil as it helps me with heartburn from my hernia and my migraines.  I drink a couple drops of the oil in water (after shaking it up to mix it up or it isn't pleasant) Within 30 minutes any heartburn is gone and I love it.  In the past I would put some on the back of my neck, temples and forehead when I was getting a bad headache or migraine, but if you get it too close to your eyes the fumes make them water.  Lately I have used some mixed with their V-6 massage oil and wintergreen.  Within 10 minutes of rubbing it on my neck, shoulders, chest, temples and forehead my neck and shouldn't muscles are loose and I can move my head trying to touch my ear to shoulder and I'll feel the vertebrae in my neck move right back into place.

Majestic

When I did some research online it was recommended to drink Frankincense and lemon in water every hour. I did this for several days, though not always hourly.  I stopped for a couple days and started to feel the same discomfort that started the first time.  I drank some more while waiting for the other oils to arrive.  Never went beyond a mild pain.  Other research from Japan showed that the essential oils of citrus plants (lemon, orange and tangerine were mentioned specifically).  In those studies the oils were shown to soften and dissolve the stones over time.  One of the naturalistic remedies I've seen also include a lot of oranges to help soften the stones so they can be passed. I've not had any more problems for almost 2 weeks now and I'll continue to drink my water with citrus oils in them.

I added some other core supplements to help my body get balanced again so it can heal itself.  I truly am a believer that the body will heal itself if you handle the crud in your mind and give the body the nutrients it needs. I'm starting to feel better than I have in years, I'm having more energy and sleeping more soundly and less until.... well, this one is long enough so the next blog will get into the until....

I will be posting pictures, videos and other bits on this blog regarding my Artist in Residence at Badlands National Park. As of the publishing date of this blog I am still trying to raise some funds to help with this program as it is volunteer.  I have a Kickstarter campaign going until 4:24 EDT March 14th

The information in this blog isn't evaluated by the FDA nor is it intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease.  It is only my observation from my own experience.