ARE WE LISTENING?

            Are we listening?  I mean really listening.  It is an art you know.  It not only means hearing the words that slide off someone’s tongue but also deciphering the motivations and hidden meanings through observing tone, body language, and motivation.  

            Over the past few months, millions of us have stayed up past our normal bed times to watch some or all of the fifteen presidential debates.  Why? Now, I am not a politician, pundit or pollster but I surmise some have already made up their mind and only watch for the entertainment value and, admittedly, many of the debates have been laughable.  But, I believe the majority of us want to become informed and ultimately make the right choice about who is the best person to lead our country.  The dynamics of this election cycle are making it exceptionally difficult.

           Think about it.  Amazing promises of change abound from almost all of the candidates. Each candidate contends that they can do it better than the other because they are (A) establishment, (B) non-establishment, or (C) none of the above.  We want to believe our favorite candidate, at least at the moment, is the best and can do everything promised.  On the other hand, we are so disgusted with the partisan gridlock in congress we want to throw up our hands in despair and give up.  All the candidates claim they can tear down the barriers and get things done.  Bring it on! 

            But wait…hold the phone, push pause, and block the spam!   Are we not also observing name-calling, personal attacks, insults, cursing, and antics that mirror elementary school spats among the candidates?  Cute, funny…let’s think about this. If a person cannot even maintain common civility among just a few opposing adults, should we think they are going to react any different when a large group of legislators disagree?  Will they call them names and expect everyone jump to attention?  What if leaders from other countries simply have other ideas, at best, or disagree with them entirely regarding international issues, at worst?  Will they take their marbles out of the game and fly home?  

The candidates would like us to believe their campaigning demeanor is all part of the game but, if elected, they will magically develop decorum and represent our country with sagacity and finesse, domestically and abroad.   Of course, this incredible transformation from their campaign trail “anything-goes” persona to oval office stateliness will indeed allow them to instantly work through all opposition and fulfill all their promises.  Hmmm…

            The truth is very few us average Americans will ever meet or have a conversation with any of the candidates, much less really get to know them.  Making an informed decision about who to vote for based on a few soundbites here and there is difficult but it seems to be more important than ever to do so.  The world is changing and there is so much at stake. 

            Citizens do have the right to expect the candidate we ultimately elect to be president of the United States of America to not only speak responsibly but act with dignity, even under duress, every day not just when the mood strikes. Let’s put all the candidates on notice that we are looking beyond their promises and assessing their potential to inspire productive, meaningful relationships so this country can move forward.  Yes, we are listening!

Summertime, Summertime...

Sunflowers welcome the sun with delight








But Luna Hibiscus only open at night.

 Blueberries fresh from the bush are a delicious treat














And tater digging is pretty neat.


                 

 

Mowing in the summer is not

too cool

 





But a dip in a river
or pool MOST DEFINITELY RULE!

 

HOPE YOU ARE  ENJOYING YOUR SUMMER!

 

 

I'm Puzzled

   
         It all started last Christmas.  Ron gave me a 1000-piece jig saw puzzle entitled, "National Parks America."  This was appropriate for two reasons.  First, my bucket list includes seeing all the U.S. National Parks before I pass on to a better place.  Secondly, I grew up doing jig saw puzzles with my five siblings every New Year's Eve.  I loved the gift.  For the next few weeks, this puzzle dominated our dining room table. In between other activities,  I worked on it.  Ron also worked on it but our 12 year old grandson, Cole, turned out to be the quickest of all in recognizing the pieces that fit.  We completed it in just a few weeks.
    
     Hooked,  I bought more puzzles.  After all, putting together puzzles is supposed to be good to keep you mentally sharp and help prevent dementia.  I bought Ron a 750 piece puzzle entitled "Clunkers."  The finished puzzle depicted cars from the 1950s & 60s in a rustic scene staged in a colorful drive-through bar and restaurant setting.  He finished it within a couple of weeks.  My 6 year-old grandson Nathan, with his brother's help, completed a 100-piece Glow Zone animal puzzle shortly after. 

       Okay, I admit it, I got cocky.  I bought a 2000-piece Mega puzzle with very intricate zoo scenes. I spread it out on a large cardboard sheet on the table because I knew it would take a while.  No one wanted to join me in this challenge but after working on it a few minutes each day for several weeks I had almost all the edge pieces.  All was going well until we had guests for dinner and I had to move it. I mistakenly placed the cardboard with the puzzle-in-progress on the arms of a recliner in the corner.  Wrong move!  On the way to the bathroom, someone knocked it on the floor.  Oh my!  I would have to start all over again.  I decided to postpone the challenge. I put it away with a plan to bring it out again next New Year's Eve.

       So I was done with puzzles for the time being, that is, until I discovered www.jigsawplanet.com.  I learned I could put together puzzles, any theme or size,  to my hearts content for free online.  You are actually timed to see how long it takes you to put your selection together and where you rank with your competition.  This feature turned out not to be such a confidence builder for me. I completed a 63-piece frog puzzle in 20 minutes.  The top completer finished the same puzzle in 2+ minutes.  Determined, I did a 48-piece Mona Lisa in 17 minutes. The best time was slightly over a minute.  Bummer!  I guess I have a long way to go but can you beat me?

New Year - New Goals

         For those of you who follow this blog, you will remember last July I posted
"Somebody  Talk Me Out of It."  I was thinking about walking the nearly 500 mile Camino de Santiago trail in Spain for spiritual and health reasons.   I promised to make a decision around Christmas about the reality of undertaking this 30-40 day/15 to 20 miles per day trek.  I set about embarking on some common sense training and conditioning to see what level of endurance I had.  This is how it went.

        Ron was supportive and biked with me on several of my longer training expeditions  My son, Craig, treated my aches with acupuncture.  He toyed with the idea of meeting me somewhere along the way to walk and provide acupuncture treatments as needed if I decided to pursue this goal.  My friend, Susan, walked and talked with me on numerous occasions which provided a great diversion from just focusing on the walk.  As she walked with me, she weighed the possibility of hiking the Camino with me.

       My training routine was consistent and progressive. I went from my normal average 2-3 miles of walking, 3-4 times per week to 5-6 miles every day.  However, I jumped it up by a mile or so per day, 7 miles, 8 miles, 9 miles, 10 miles.  I even had a spreadsheet to document my daily goals vs actuals. Each day my legs and hips ached and I was really tired. I applied ice and took Epsom Salt baths. Craig also gave me acupuncture a couple of times per week. After a month or so, because walking every day was so time consuming, I decided to back off.  I  focused on making my average mileage increases by the week rather than by day. That turned out to be a good plan. It took the pressure off of me when I needed to do other things. Life happens, you know.  

     Throughout my training, I was amazed to see how my body snapped back overnight and how ready I was to go again the next day. My energy level seemed to elevate instead of diminish. I gradually increased and, in mid-November, I was able to complete my goal of doing a 16-mile hike on the St. Marks Hiking and Biking Trail. YAHOO!  I made it in about five hours (including stretching and pee breaks).  I called my sisters, Cindy and Anita, on my cell while I walked. Ron met me at the end with a huge smile and bear hug.  We celebrated at the Riverside Café, a waterfront restaurant at the end of the trail, with lunch---a beer and steamed/raw oysters.  

     It was a great feeling of accomplishment.  To be honest, although I am relatively healthy "for my age," I really never thought I had it in me.  I guess the old cliché about you never know until you try is true, which for me meant pushing myself beyond my comfort zone.  I have been a walker for most of my life but never to this extent.  The amazing thing to me is walking five miles is easy now (as long as I stretch before and after that is). 

     What I did not expect to happen during the many weeks of walking through the woods, on trails, and sometimes at the gym, was to evolve from focusing on the exercise and the end goal of doing the Camino to increased awareness of the present moment, especially on the outside walks. Because of other commitments, the timing of my walking schedule had to be flexible. This was good.  I began to pay attention to little things like how the air touching my face and, even the woodsy sounds of nature, were different, depending on the time of day or season  I love the lush dark green summer woods but, as the seasons changed to fall and into winter, I began to see things that had been hidden before, like the late afternoon sun enhancing the color of the leaves and dancing on Overstreet Lake.  I guess I had a lot of time to ponder and maybe even space out a bit.  Gradually, I acknowledged I did not have to do the Camino to be inspired or achieve my fitness goals. 

      As I began to absorb this small revelation, my attention turned to Ron and how much I loved traveling and seeing new things with him.  The Camino trek was just not his idea of a vacation.  I decided I would rather spend the time and money I would have used to go to Spain on something we could do together.   Although he was supportive of my earlier goal, I think he feels the same way.  Consequently, we are planning a trip to Eastern Canada in the summer and a "follow the leaves" trip to the northeastern U.S. in the fall.

     So I went full circle from my July blog, I talked myself out of it.  No one had to do it for me.  Don't get me wrong, I love walking more than ever. I actually get a bit cantankerous when weather or commitments keep me from doing it.  As a matter of fact, my new goal  is to log in 1200 miles in 2015.  Unless, of course, someone talks me out of it. 

    
        

 

POTS

     My guess is you have never heard of POTS.  No, I'm not talking about the herb you put in brownies or smoke.  The POTS I'm referring to makes you feel lousy.  I had never heard of it until my beautiful, young daughter-in-law, Paige, was diagnosed with it almost three years ago.  It rocked her world!   And, the worlds of those of us who love her.

  So what is this malady?  POTS is the acronym for postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome.   It is hard to diagnose or manage.  In the U.S. alone, it is estimated to affect more than 500,000 people and millions world-wide. POTS can strike any age, gender or race, but it is most often seen in women between the ages of 15 and 50. Men and boys can develop it as well, but approximately 80% of patients are female.  Technically speaking, it falls under the broad category of a dysautonomia autonomic disorder. It is believed to be caused by many phenomena, including pregnancy, trauma, and can be genetic. There are many confusing facets of this autonomic disorder which are way over my head.   My watered down interpretation is that having an autonomic disorder means your brain and your heart are not communicating effectively.  This makes me visualize the scene in the movie, "The Jerk." Steve Martin's character tried to clap his hands together but he could never make contact. 

     There is no known cure for POTS.  Sometimes symptoms can diminish with age. Some patients have fairly mild symptoms and can continue with normal work, school, social and recreational activities. For others, symptoms may be so severe that normal life activities can be significantly limited.  Statistics show that approximately 25% of POTS patients are disabled and unable to work. Fortunately, Paige is not in that group, but much to her chagrin, she does miss work a few days per month due to POTS.   Here's the rub:  most people who suffer from it look normal and healthy.  That is why it is so hard to diagnose and is often misdiagnosed.

     Here are some of the symptoms of POTS:  headache; fatigue; sleep disorder; weakness; hyperventilation; low grade fever, tremors; sweating; anxiety/palpitation; dizziness/vertigo; and pre‐syncope/syncope (fainting).  Paige's experiences with POTS included every one of these symptoms.  

      In a way, she was lucky.  When it became overwhelming, she did not have to wait years to find out what the heck was going on or be told in the meantime it was all psychosomatic. After a major episode of hyperventilating and nearly fainting at work one day, she was sent to the emergency room and ultimately hospitalized.  Her family already had a connection with a local cardiologist, Dr. Farhat Khairallah, who specialized in dysautonomia because her father, after fainting while driving,  had been diagnosed earlier with a similar form.  Dr. Khairallah was immediately called in.  He put her through many tests, including a tilt test.  This is a test many doctors would not even consider.  During this test, blood pressure and heart rate are measured.  The patient starts out horizontal on a table and is slowly raised to a 70% vertical position.  One of the criteria for a POTS diagnosis is a heart rate increase of 30 beats per minute (bpm) or more, or over 120  bpm, within the first 10 minutes of standing.  Paige's heart rate fluctuations were right in line.  She realized after her diagnosis and learning more about this syndrome, she had been feeling symptoms for years, dating back to her teens, but it had worsened over time. 

     She explained, " My doctor believes I have been experiencing POTS symptoms since my teens.  As a teen, I started having dizziness and fatigue anytime I would get up from a sitting position,  I thought everyone experienced this so I was not concerned.  My heart began racing so much in college I had a series of tests done, including wearing a heart monitor.  I've always had trouble keeping my hands and feet warm.  I even had chilblains (blistering caused by inflammation of small blood vessels) removed from my toes when I lived in Colorado in the 1990s. I was diagnosed as having Meniere's disease in my ears about 2006.   In 2009, I had painful vasospasms when I was nursing our youngest.  Consequently, I had to stop nursing him after six months.   I had a low grade fever and felt awful for almost a year before my episode at work."

      So what happened after Paige was diagnosed?   Dehydration is known to be a big problem with many heart and autonomic malfunctions so one of the recommendations to counteract the symptoms were to a drink at least 90 ounces of water every day.  Dietary restrictions, strangely enough, included increasing salt intake.  Some researchers suggest increasing vitamin B-12 if blood tests show there is a deficiency because it improves the nervous system.  She was never told that was her problem.  Dr. Khairallah put her on Fludrocortisone to increase her salt retention, Midodrine which causes vasoconstriction, increases blood pressure which allows more blood to return to the upper parts of the body.  He also gave her Adderall to increase vasoconstriction and blood pressure.  In addition, Paige followed up with a doctor 200 miles away who specialized in POTS and, by the way, could relate on a personal level because he had POTS. She was advised to avoid caffeine (except when she needed an energy jolt to function) and alcohol. She was cautioned not to lean over or stand up too quickly because the blood would have a tendency to pool in her extremities and cause the dizziness.  The most consistent research indicates a regular exercise program is the one thing that has the most positive effect on managing POTS. Paige was encouraged to keep her strength by exercising, i.e. walking or riding a stationary recumbent bike.  Another suggestion was to maintain a realistic schedule, otherwise be prepared to suffer from fatigue when she overbooked herself.  

     The water consumption was not a problem.  Paige incorporated an increase in the number of ounces she drank immediately.  Increasing salt was easy.   However, as a working mother of three, who experienced fatigue, dizziness, anxiety, and occasional low grade fever, trying to follow any consistent exercise routine or avoiding a hectic schedule has been nearly impossible.  Although her symptoms are still sporadic, i.e. she has good days/weeks and not so good days/weeks, Paige manages to push through much of the time. 

     Her goal from the onset has been to try to maintain as much normalcy for herself and her family as possible.  Sometimes she feels really good and is full of vim and vigor.  She did cart wheels with her nine year old daughter at Thanksgiving for heaven's sake!!!  Alas, the following week she could barely make it through a day of work much less deal with children, homework, soccer practice, etc.     She dropped the medication after several months because they did not seem to help.  Currently, her approach to managing POTS is acupuncture, taking a daily multi-vitamin and salt tablet, with an occasional B-12 vitamin.  She plans to incorporate a stationary recumbent bike regimen in 2015. 

     I am often amazed at how much she is able to do under the circumstances.  The good news is that she has a supportive husband, family and friends who kick in when she is going through a rough patch.  Not everyone who has POTS has a support group.  For those that don't, there are lots of support groups available, online and otherwise.  If you are interested in learning more or getting help for yourself or a loved one, check out these websites:  http://www.dysautonomiainternational.org; http://potsplace.com; http://dysautomia-support.meetup.com.