My Body, Mind and Spirit network has just become a Featured Host on Blogtalk radio and it's all because of my listeners and, of course, my sponsor for Living With Hope, the Power of Pain Foundation.

Living With Hope (originally called Living With RSD) started in 2007 with my hope of getting more information about my own health issue, Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy. I interview doctors, therapists and patients; both traditional and more recently alternative practitioners with expertise that runs from prevention to cutting edge technology.

I try to empower, inform and educate my listeners with information that may not be readily available in their local area. Through the power of the internet, I personally get to speak to some of the most knowledgeable doctors and researchers in the world.

Living With Hope is broadcast live on Monday's 4pm pacific and Friday's 9am pacific. You can call in to ask questions to my guests or post your questions in the chatroom to be answered on air. If the time is not convenient to stop by the live shows, you can listen to the archives at any time on my radio page.

Savy Seniors, my newest show is live on Wednesdays 3pm pac. My co-host, Sharon Rowell and I cover all the latest news about health, medicine, safety, caretaking and programs that are available to help seniors live a fun, productive and long life.

And, for fun of course I do a Saturday show, 3pm pacific,  with readings from spirit given by Seers of the Soul and lots of fun music from the 50's-80's. Oldies but goodies.

If you are interested in being a guest on any of these shows, please email me at goldfield_nv@hotmail.com.

A Work in Progress

What was your first thought when you were diagnosed with a chronic illness?

Could you have ever imagined what happens next? Did you know at that time that your old life was over and you were embarking on the biggest journey of your life?

It has been 7 years now for me. At first, I refused to believe the diagnosis of Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy and pretended I would be getting better soon. I figured it was just going to take longer than usual. Over the years, like anyone else, I had had my share of surgeries and sickness. Nothing prepared me for this! This was a whole new level of B A D......

I went through the usual; denial, depression, anger..lots of anger...Stayed there a really long time. The "Why Me" and the "It's Not Fair" phase lasted longer than it should have. But, since there is no guidebook when your life is being destroyed bit by bit, I just let it happen. 

By the time I had gotten to my lowest, darkest place, the disease spreading like wildfire through my entire body, I started to give up.....Listening to the medical "experts" who proclaimed my life was over was just the icing on the cake. I figured they were experts, right? 

WRONG. They were not the experts on my body. I was! 

How could I have let strangers determine what my life was going to be? Why did I not see it?

Hence, the rebuilding part. I learned new tools. New ways of thinking. Ways to work around my physical limitations.

I will probably always be a work in progress. But, that's OK. I am best builder for ME. I know what I want and need. No one will limit my dreams, my desires and hopes. Not unless I let them......

 

Giving Up Is Not an Option

There are times in everyone's life that feel hopeless. Life is not easy; I don't know that is is supposed to be. What I do know is that life is what YOU make it.

I have lived with a chronic illness (reflex sympathetic dystrophy) for over 7 years. The loss cannot be measured. My career, my life savings, friends and my identity. I was no longer a successful consultant,  juggling career and family. I was what????

Somehow, I became a "disabled: person. That was now my identity. I could no longer care for myself; dependent on others for the simplest things like eating. It was humiliating and depressing. For many years I accepted that title. Living without hope; wondering how much worse things would get. My disease is incurable and progressive. The doctors make that perfectly clear. Wheelchair-bound, medicated to the hilt, I wanted to give up. If the doctors said there was no hope of getting better, then I should believe them, right?

For some reason, I decided to see what I could accomplish in one years time. If, at the end of that year, I was still a vegetable in a wheelchair, I was planning an escape. It was not an easy decision but I had nothing to lose.

The first thing I did was decide what "level" of quality of life I could accept. Knowing I would never be able to work again was the hardest. Because my right hand is atrophied, getting any function back in that was not possible  and my left hand is also severely limited.

Walking again became my first goal. In order to do that, I needed to get off some of the medication that cause dizziness, blurred vision and depression. Yep, depression from the 3 antidepressants I was taking. Ironic, isn't it. That the medications they gave me actually INCREASED my depression. When you read all the side effects of medications, you never think you will be effected. It's always someone else...right.......

That was in 2009. It has not been easy but I did it. Am I still physically limited, yes. But I can walk with a little help sometimes. Mentally, once I got off the medications, I started to think clearly again. I knew that even if my physical condition didn't improve much I could still get mentally to a place of happiness and contentment.

Mental Remission is what I call it. I made a list; one side things I can do and one that just was not ever going to happen. I tried to be realistic. At first, the list was very short. Then, I began looking around to find something that would make me smile again; laugh again (sometimes at myself), and finding joy in the smaller things in life. There were all there, hiding in the fog of depression.

If you see even a small bit of yourself in this post, I hope you will make that list. Get involved with others. Reach out! Help is available! Figure out just what you can still do; and go for it!  Everyone has a talent. Guess mine is talking. That's why I started my radio show, Living With Hope.,Just because you may be ill, home-bound or physically challenged does not mean it is an end; it is a new beginning and can be challenging and exiting.

Chronic Disease and College

My guest blogger today is Marina Salsbury

About Marina:

Marina Salsbury planned on becoming a teacher since high school, but found her way instead into online writing after college. She writes around the Web about everything from education to exercise.

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Living with a chronic disease requires time, energy, and commitment to maintain health at the highest level possible. Add to this the difficulties of adjusting to college with its heavy study load, often hectic schedule of courses and online work, and social demands, all while dealing with the upheaval of late adolescence and early adulthood. This is the challenge faced by an increasing number of college students.

Recent research indicates seven percent of college students in the United States deal with chronic diseases. Among these are so-called invisible conditions such as diabetes, depression, asthma, arthritis, and chronic fatigue syndrome.

Almost any chronic illness can afflict college students. Some struggle with conditions present from birth, such as brittle bone disease and muscular dystrophy. State-supported colleges have special dormitories and services available for students with severe conditions. However, students who must deal with less visible health problems can get left out of the loop. Even though their diseases aren't apparent to most people, the trek across a large campus can be exhausting for students with chronic fatigue or heart conditions. These students must be proactive in pursuing the services and accommodations that will make it possible for them to succeed.

For those living with chronic illness, any or all of the following can present serious obstacles:

ñ  Obtaining appropriate transportation and/or parking permits close to classes;

ñ  Scheduling treatments, medications, and regular meals;
Dealing with sudden exacerbation of illness;

ñ  Obtaining prescriptions and regular check-ups;

ñ  Managing symptoms;

ñ  Getting needed accommodations;

ñ  Finding personal care attendants if needed;

ñ  Following a fitness plan for optimal health.

A larger issue is how appropriate care and guidance can be delivered to college students dealing with chronic conditions. The usual clinical settings on campuses are geared toward acute care of illness or trauma, rather than the ongoing education and support required for managing conditions that aren't going to abate.

Students with these types of problems need adequate support and special services to improve their health and their chances of success in the competitive environment of a college campus. While the college office of disability services can provide some help, the individual must take charge of managing the condition. The following steps may be of help:

Check with your primary care physician and specialists before leaving for campus. Ask about vaccinations that may help in maintaining health. Obtain a one- to three-month supply of medications and other items needed to monitor and control your disease. Find out where to obtain refills and whom to consult for urgent care. Prepare a list of medications used and any allergies, plus details about your condition and phone numbers for specialists and your primary care physician. Keep copies of this list in your wallet and in your dorm room.

Visit the campus office of disability services and discuss needs with the people there. If no office of disability services exists at your school, contact the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation near your home and ask for help to obtain accommodations for your condition. Services may include having a note-taker, receiving extended test time, obtaining a private room, and other supports.

Check your insurance. It is now possible to remain on your parents' insurance policy until age 26, but make certain this is arranged or you have other adequate coverage. Make sure you're covered if you attend a school in another state.

Visit the campus health center early, before illness strikes, and explain your situation to personnel there. If satisfactory care is not available on campus, find a nearby source of care you can use when needed.

Develop a support network. Inform those close to you about your condition and that you may need assistance at some point. Don't dwell on the subject or ask for help you don't need, but keep a circle of peers, professors, and counselors informed about the situation.

Maintain your treatment routine. No matter how hectic the schedule at school gets, stay on top of your medication, treatment, meals, and exercise as recommended by your physicians.

Get plenty of rest. Anyone sleep-deprived is more vulnerable to illness. You're in charge of maintaining a schedule that will help you stay as healthy as possible.

Living with a chronic condition is no picnic at any age. For college students, it is possible to maintain control of chronic health problems while also participating fully in campus life, but it requires a sensible program of medication, treatments, and physical fitness.

How to Alleviate Anxiety at the Doctor's Office

My guest blogger today is Allison Gamble. She has written an interesting article about fear and anxiety when you have a doctors appointment. Of course, those of us living with a chronic illness go quite a bit so I thought these tips may help you out!

Fear of visiting the doctor is not abnormal, nor is it uncommon. In fact, the National Institute of Mental Health has reported that approximately 19.2 million adults, about 20 percent of the American population, are terrified. Due to their numbers and the sheer psychological strain that accompanies this paralyzing fear of health care professionals, the disorder has actually been given a name: latrophobia, more commonly known as “white coat syndrome.” It doesn’t take psychology degree to understand how the condition came about. Doctors come with the implied bad news of illness, memories of shots from childhood, the pain of the doctor’s exam, even the embarrassment of sitting, naked but for that flimsy paper coat, in the silent room while you wait for the doctor. I’m getting anxious just writing this. Like any other phobia, however, facing your fears head-on is the starting point toward eliminating or alleviating that fear.

Often, the source of your stress over seeing a doctor derives from a lack of comfort with the specific physician or practice. If you don’t connect well with the doctor’s staff or you have had a bad experience while visiting the doctor in the past, you might become severely anxious over visiting this doctor again. Unfortunately, this anxiety will prevent you from keeping your appointment, regardless of the visit's importance. While finding the right doctor is not always easy, it is one of the first steps you should take to overcome you fear. Having the feelings of comfort and security when in the company of your doctor is important for everyone, even for those without fear of doctor visits. Being able to speak freely and comfortably with your doctor can not only improve the efficiency of the visit but may also quicken the pace of the appointment, so that those suffering from latrophobia can get in and out quicker, and leave with a sense of pride and the feeling that the visit was well-worth the time and energy spent.

If you’ve got latrophobia, consider requesting the company of a close friend or family member during the doctor’s appointment. Stress levels increase while sitting in the waiting room and having a supportive friend by your side can greatly relieve this stress. You can also ask the accompanying friend or family member if they can come into the examination room with you once called in. Your friend can remember to ask questions you might be too nervous to remember. Whether the appointment is a simple check-up or if you are about to receive potentially life-altering information, attending the doctor's office with someone who can provide a helping hand is also an effective way to help in the treatment of social phobias. With this support, you may feel more confident speaking to your doctor and, the more you communicate, the more confident you will feel socializing while alone in the future.

Prior to visiting the doctor, you can also opt to call ahead of time and inform the secretary, or doctor if he or she is available, that you are afraid. Requesting that the doctor's office staff and the doctor accommodate you by realizing your fears and lending you support is one of the most effective ways to fight off this anxiety. Once the staff and the doctor are notified of your needs, they may be able to offer special accommodations, such as shortening the amount of time you must spend in the waiting room or examination room, being especially friendly and comforting, or offering you a cup of water to calm your nerves. Most doctors are familiar with this fear and will go the extra mile to make their patients feel comfortable. Knowledge of their patient's fear can also lead doctors to connect the stress disorder with other symptoms you may have, and then work to treat the anxiety by referring you to a therapist or psychologist, or prescribing the patient medication for the treatment of anxiety. If the office staff or doctor does not show the type of understanding you need or they don’t take this fear seriously, you should find a new doctor.

Some people think that anxiety can be ignored, by replacing anxious thoughts with positive ones. The truth is that anxiety normally leads its sufferers to think only of that which they are anxious about. Since ignoring anxiety is not always possible, you can attempt to think through and itemize the thoughts and feelings that are creating their feelings of anxiousness. Identifying the root might help to improve your feelings about the effects. For those who suffer from latrophobia, thinking of the potentially negative things a doctor might say upon their examination can boost one's anxiety exponentially before or during their doctor's visit. If this type of thinking makes up a majority of the source of one's anxiety, remaining occupied is an effective way to combat the stress, such as reading an interesting magazine article while sitting in the waiting room, studying the posters on the walls of the examination room, or bringing a good book to read to every doctor appointment.

Latrophobia is an illness not to be taken lightly. Those who suffer from this disorder without seeking the guidance they need to work through it can become overwhelmed by their fear and skip doctor visits far too often, putting them at risk for physiological illnesses.