Health issues gone rampant
Jul. 8th, 2011 10:02 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
untonuggan posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
anxietysupportI'm currently having some snowballing of anxiety and health issues creating a nasty downward spiral that is in and of itself anxiety producing. If these topics aren't triggering for you, feel free to keep reading.
THE BACKSTORY:
Last year I was largely incapacitated due to nerve issues in my foot (Morton's Neuroma) and other sundry issues. Ended up feeling really, really depressed and had to get treated for it. This year has largely been better, thanks to some physical therapy and a vacation where I got to do a lot of walking. I learned to ride a bike! I got off of a medication with horrible side effects! Things were looking up.
Possibly TMI for some folks - Then I started having really bad PMS issues. (One of the things they don't tell you about being a queer woman is that your and your partner's cycles may interfere with each other.) As in, I have had some sort of female hormone thing going on for about 2 months. And I haven't killed anyone (yet) which I figure is a minor miracle.
AND NOW FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT:
I have been having dizziness and nausea of increasing intensity for the past 4-5 weeks. Since these are such common symptoms, I've been to a number of specialists (cardiologist, ENT, neurologist, you name it). They've played with my meds (always fun) and generally aren't entirely sure what's causing it. Plus an unusual number of headaches (migraine + tension).
The crappy thing is that exercise was my main coping mechanism. I'd just go to the gym and sweat a lot and build up endorphins and things would start looking up. But I'm not supposed to exercise, because (1) it makes the dizziness worse, and (2) they're afraid I'll fall and hurt myself. (Heck, I'm afraid I'll fall and hurt myself.)
But with all of this stress and the lack of exercise and coping stuff I've started having panic attacks again. As in, wake me up in the middle of the night. Which of course makes everything worse. And then I start blaming myself, or thinking it's all psychosomatic.
I've tried meditation in the past, and it's helped, but I'm WAY out of practice.
I'm feeling a little bit better since there's now a theory as to what's causing this: vestibular migraines, which are migraines that make you dizzy but may not give you a headache. Weird, I know. But that means it's super-duper-extra-important to deal with the anxiety.
THE REQUEST:
Anyone have any tips of coping mechanisms to try when you can't do much of anything due to health issues and are totally freaking out? Know of any good meditation resources or other kinds of relaxation techniques?
If you've read this far - thank you!
THE BACKSTORY:
Last year I was largely incapacitated due to nerve issues in my foot (Morton's Neuroma) and other sundry issues. Ended up feeling really, really depressed and had to get treated for it. This year has largely been better, thanks to some physical therapy and a vacation where I got to do a lot of walking. I learned to ride a bike! I got off of a medication with horrible side effects! Things were looking up.
Possibly TMI for some folks - Then I started having really bad PMS issues. (One of the things they don't tell you about being a queer woman is that your and your partner's cycles may interfere with each other.) As in, I have had some sort of female hormone thing going on for about 2 months. And I haven't killed anyone (yet) which I figure is a minor miracle.
AND NOW FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT:
I have been having dizziness and nausea of increasing intensity for the past 4-5 weeks. Since these are such common symptoms, I've been to a number of specialists (cardiologist, ENT, neurologist, you name it). They've played with my meds (always fun) and generally aren't entirely sure what's causing it. Plus an unusual number of headaches (migraine + tension).
The crappy thing is that exercise was my main coping mechanism. I'd just go to the gym and sweat a lot and build up endorphins and things would start looking up. But I'm not supposed to exercise, because (1) it makes the dizziness worse, and (2) they're afraid I'll fall and hurt myself. (Heck, I'm afraid I'll fall and hurt myself.)
But with all of this stress and the lack of exercise and coping stuff I've started having panic attacks again. As in, wake me up in the middle of the night. Which of course makes everything worse. And then I start blaming myself, or thinking it's all psychosomatic.
I've tried meditation in the past, and it's helped, but I'm WAY out of practice.
I'm feeling a little bit better since there's now a theory as to what's causing this: vestibular migraines, which are migraines that make you dizzy but may not give you a headache. Weird, I know. But that means it's super-duper-extra-important to deal with the anxiety.
THE REQUEST:
Anyone have any tips of coping mechanisms to try when you can't do much of anything due to health issues and are totally freaking out? Know of any good meditation resources or other kinds of relaxation techniques?
If you've read this far - thank you!
no subject
Date: 2011-07-08 08:43 pm (UTC)I've found 2 books on meditation and mindfulness helpful:
-Living Well with Pain and Illness: the Mindful Way to Free Yourself from Suffering by Vidyamala Burch (website of her organization: http://breathworks-mindfulness.org.uk)
-How to be Sick: a Buddhist Inspired Guide for the Chronically Ill and their Caregivers by Toni Bernhard (her website: http://www.howtobesick.com)
I've only just read the latter, but it has specific tips and exercises on dealing with symptoms, not being able to do what you want, blaming yourself for your illness and so on. It'd take me a while, but I could write a summary of some of the tips if you'd like?
no subject
Date: 2011-07-09 02:26 pm (UTC)