The ways we neglect ourselves

[Daddy2mylilgirl]

I get accused of this constantly by my family and Master.

I'm pre-diabetic, hypothyroid and have PCOS. However the damned doctor won't treat my thyroid even though my levels are on the very low side of normal and I show all the symptoms of hypothyroid disease. So I've taken to self-medicating after doing a lot of research. I take cinnamon to help my insulin and sugar along with my Doctor prescribed Metformin, and then for the thyroid I take kelp, Fish oil, D3, and I recently started taking B vitamins on the advice of another litster. I'm trying to find a local source of tyrosine and if that fails I'm going to have to order it online.

I let myself go down the tubes a couple years ago now and it's been rough trying to get back on track. I used to work out at the gym and eat better and then two years ago my life went down the shitter and it's taken a bit to get back on track. Now I have Master to help kick me back into the swing of things and that helps.

They have cinnamon supplements. Have you tried any of them? Also, agave nectar is a low glycemic sweetener you can try too.

The way I got more cinnamon in my diet was to add it to green tea with the agave as a sweetener. Just make sure to get as fine a ground cinnamon as you can cause courser ground cinnamon just sits at the bottom of the cup and doesn't mix well.

 

[bhndblueyes88]

They have cinnamon supplements. Have you tried any of them? Also, agave nectar is a low glycemic sweetener you can try too.

The way I got more cinnamon in my diet was to add it to green tea with the agave as a sweetener. Just make sure to get as fine a ground cinnamon as you can cause courser ground cinnamon just sits at the bottom of the cup and doesn't mix well.

I've actually recently been hearing a lot about how Agave nectar isn't a lick better--if not WORSE--than high fructose corn syrup. No one's come out and handed me a paper on the subject, but I keep coming across food blogs that are talking about it. I didn't see any proof for this following claim, but supposedly some producers are even just bottling up HFCS and selling it as agave nectar! Which sounds a bit "conspiracy theory" to me there, but on the other hand, the tequila industry has been talking about a blue agave shortage for years now, so it would make some sense. Regardless, it might be better to try something else...I know I've gone back to local honey; it'll likely help my allergies anyway. Certainly, if you feel comfortable with agave nectar, stick with it I haven't seen any astounding evidence presented. I have just been hearing it a lot lately, and, usually, something like that starts going around, there's some basis to it. Just noting that it might be worth looking into


OOOOoo that reminds me! I have tea brewing!! *fetches* aww yah. home-brewed chai mate. added in all the chai spices myself ^_^ mmmmm

 

[Stella_Omega]

I do it too. It's ONE stupid ass 6mp and it keeps the remicade more effective. You'd think I could remember, seeing as I supposedly want not to have surgery.

We're humans. We're very scared straight when it's immediate and stupid when it's abstract. I never forget to get my infusion, of course, that's big and inconvenient and memorable, but the small single pill? I'm a moron.

When I was taking 85 pills a day it seemed, I was on the straight and narrow too. It feels too much like that vitamin you can just forget.

That's it exactly. I had years of feeling just fine. I had months of still feeling pretty damn good even though I was Doing It Wrong.

And when I started feeling really fuzzy, yanno... I had been used to showing up anhour before the clinic doors opened, and waiting until it closed, basically, whilst I slowly went 'round the stations, and I could bring a book or my laptop with me for the wait... but now the place has had to start making appointments. And I had to wait three weeks for my appointment. By which time I was very nearly in real trouble.

I talked with my sister today, same exact condition, and she remembered doing the same stupid thing. So i totally dramalama'd at her, and hopefully it will remind her to take it seriously once more, and not let her own thyroid crash.

 

[GrimsPet]

They have cinnamon supplements. Have you tried any of them? Also, agave nectar is a low glycemic sweetener you can try too.

Yes I am already taking Cinnamon.

I use Stevia plant extract as sweetener. I even have two Stevia plants I need to pot up into larger pots so I have my own steady supply of fresh Stevia leaves.

 

[Daddy2mylilgirl]

I've actually recently been hearing a lot about how Agave nectar isn't a lick better--if not WORSE--than high fructose corn syrup. No one's come out and handed me a paper on the subject, but I keep coming across food blogs that are talking about it. I didn't see any proof for this following claim, but supposedly some producers are even just bottling up HFCS and selling it as agave nectar! Which sounds a bit "conspiracy theory" to me there, but on the other hand, the tequila industry has been talking about a blue agave shortage for years now, so it would make some sense. Regardless, it might be better to try something else...I know I've gone back to local honey; it'll likely help my allergies anyway. Certainly, if you feel comfortable with agave nectar, stick with it I haven't seen any astounding evidence presented. I have just been hearing it a lot lately, and, usually, something like that starts going around, there's some basis to it. Just noting that it might be worth looking into


OOOOoo that reminds me! I have tea brewing!! *fetches* aww yah. home-brewed chai mate. added in all the chai spices myself ^_^ mmmmm

Thanks for the heads up. Guess I'll switch back to local honey as well.

Thankfully, I still was able to get rid of my diabetes even while using the agave.

 

[Bandit58]

I've never had a problem remembering to take pills. I took the contraceptive pill for many years and never forgot it once Now I'm on HRT. I never forget that one either

I have an alarm set on my phone to remind Sir to take His warfarin because it has to be taken at a set time every day (with an hour window either side). In the mornings I get both our lots of meds out together (most of mine at vitamins and supplements!). He has one pill to take in the late evening which I get for Him before I go to bed.

In terms of neglecting myself - I'm not allowed to! I have to take care of me so I can take care of Him. So if I'm sick I give it a few days and if I'm not getting any better or it gets worse He insists I go to the doctor.

 

[Stella_Omega]

Yes I am already taking Cinnamon.

I use Stevia plant extract as sweetener. I even have two Stevia plants I need to pot up into larger pots so I have my own steady supply of fresh Stevia leaves.

Now, that's pretty cool!

 

[bhndblueyes88]

I've never had a problem remembering to take pills. I took the contraceptive pill for many years and never forgot it once

Lol, I messed mine up all the time. I didn't FORGET very frequently, but I took them with bad timing a LOT. Finally waited until we'd hit deductible on the family health insurance, and got myself a free IUD

 

[graceanne]

Wow, talk about a timely thread. I cannot, for the life of me, remember to take my meds. I've set timers, I have people remind me, I put up notes and signs and everything I can think of to remember my meds. What my problem is that I'm a dingdong. I will think 'time to take your meds' and go into the kitchen where my meds are and by the time I get there I've forgotten why I'm there. Either that or I'll think 'ok, when i get done with this' and then totally forget. Other times I won't be able to remember if I've taken them so I'll either not take them or I'll take one and make myself sick because I already took one.

But the thing is that recently I've been wondering. I do not have any issues remembering to give the kids their meds, why do I struggle so much with mine? I was wondering if it ties into my self esteem issues - I've never been good about taking care of myself with the exception of externally, and that's so that I'm not an embarrassment to K and the kids.

Of course, there's also the possibility of frustration. No matter how well I take care of myself I either don't lose weight or I gain it. I cut all processed sugars and flour from my diet for six month and GAINED weight. What the fucking point when no matter what I do I'm fat, tired, and in pain?

 

[graceanne]

I've never had a problem remembering to take pills. I took the contraceptive pill for many years and never forgot it once

I never forgot my pill, either. *shrugs* Fear of pregnancy is a huge reminder.

 

[Stella_Omega]

Wow, talk about a timely thread. I cannot, for the life of me, remember to take my meds. I've set timers, I have people remind me, I put up notes and signs and everything I can think of to remember my meds. What my problem is that I'm a dingdong. I will think 'time to take your meds' and go into the kitchen where my meds are and by the time I get there I've forgotten why I'm there. Either that or I'll think 'ok, when i get done with this' and then totally forget. Other times I won't be able to remember if I've taken them so I'll either not take them or I'll take one and make myself sick because I already took one.

But the thing is that recently I've been wondering. I do not have any issues remembering to give the kids their meds, why do I struggle so much with mine? I was wondering if it ties into my self esteem issues - I've never been good about taking care of myself with the exception of externally, and that's so that I'm not an embarrassment to K and the kids.

Of course, there's also the possibility of frustration. No matter how well I take care of myself I either don't lose weight or I gain it. I cut all processed sugars and flour from my diet for six month and GAINED weight. What the fucking point when no matter what I do I'm fat, tired, and in pain?

years ago, I invested in some of these weekly pill holders these round weekly pill holders I only need to take my pill once, in the morning, but when I needed two different times, I set up two of the holders. If I miss a pill, it stays in the holder, and I can see what I've taken and what I've missed.

Would that help you, graceanne?

And yeah, I also know what you mean about self esteem issues. My partner has started to take daily meds, and he bustles around and makes a bit of a fuss about it-- and it's very irritating to me, it seems a titch self aggrandizing.

But, it isn't.

It's a sensible thing to do, because the bustling has turned into a ritual that reminds him to take the damn stuff, which after all keeps him healthy and around.

 

[IrisAlthea]

I didn't have a problem taking my pills before when I could do it right after getting out of bed in the morning and directly before bed at night.

The new medicin has to be taken with food or I get sick as a dog and suddenly I have a hard time remembering it. My food routines are less organized and like DGE said, everything gets crazy when stress gets added to the mix.

The obvious answer would be to get better routines when it comes to eating but that's where some kind of rebellion gets in the picture.

 

[kiwi_submissive]

I think its alot of that whole it won't happen to me mindset and somethings things get worse slowly so you really don't notice it creeping up on you.

I know for a fact how harsh the sun is in New Zealand, we have the among the highest rates of skin cancers and melanomas in the world. Do I wear sunscreen even after been told by a specialist the first time I had a spot looked at that with my skin type I would get melanoma if I did not totally cover up and wear sunscreen. Nope (it always happens to someone else). Ten years later I have now I have had 7 spots iced off me with some vague ones that I need to keep an eye on. I am definitly listening now and in summer I will never leave the house without applying sunscreen and covering up totally.

 

[Noira]

have you ever read Terry Pratchett's Disc Wolrd series? When the Patrician is deathly ill, they call in the horse doctor, not the MD's. The reasoning is that the horse doctor gets his patients back in the race if he wants his money...

It's a good book, too. I love Pratchett's writing. He writes people.

I'm very good about taking my asthma medication (now). While it's not habit, and I cringe every time I have to pay for it, I really love breathing. A lot. You don't notice it until you can't breathe right and then it's the only thing you can think of at all.

Being able to breathe all day is wonderful!

I'm... not so good at taking care of the rest of me. Need to see a dentist. Need to see an eye doctor. Need to get bloodwork. But damned if I miss taking one of those inhalers, I spend all day gasping for air. It's a start.

I can't help but think, though, that people who only think about their weight (for example) can never go anywhere. That's the problem with us people who spend all of our time thinking about other things! We forget about ourselves because we're lost in a sea of far more interesting, enlightning things than what our bodies happen to be churning out. See, just think about it from that angle. Our forgetfulness is clearly from too much self-enlightenment.

Just remember, to the people who forget about themselves because they're caring for others--if you break, you can't help anyone from there. It's hard for me to remember sometimes. I'm a caretaker by nature and I often let my emotional health slide when trying to take care of other people's sanity. But when I'm lying propped up in bed, rasping for breath, wondering if I'll have to go to the ER again, I can't do anything but think about how I'm breathing... and I can't do a thing for you there.

So I take my meds. Breathing FTW. I had to find a schedule that worked for me, though, and I can remember to take my medication right before bed, but I can't in the morning because I get scatter-brained then. For medication that requires a specific window of time, that might not work, but for those who just have to take medication, maybe fiddling with the time of day you take it might help, because it becomes part of a ritual. I have no morning ritual, but I do have a go-to-bed set of habits. Some people I know always take vitamins with lunch. Others keep them on their computer desk.

@IrisAlthea How much food, though? Could you just take them with a couple crackers in the morning, or something, and retain the 'schedule works if it's right in the morning'? Or could you maybe get a magnetic pill box and stick it to the fridge?

 

[Marguerite01]

@ Stella_Omega
my stepmother is on thyroid meds and has done exactly what you've been doing because she has been looking after my Dad and is "Too busy to remember". I've bought her a digital pillbox that has an alarm and so far, this week it is working. Cross fingers.

 

[bhndblueyes88]

I think its alot of that whole it won't happen to me mindset and somethings things get worse slowly so you really don't notice it creeping up on you.

I know for a fact how harsh the sun is in New Zealand, we have the among the highest rates of skin cancers and melanomas in the world. Do I wear sunscreen even after been told by a specialist the first time I had a spot looked at that with my skin type I would get melanoma if I did not totally cover up and wear sunscreen. Nope (it always happens to someone else). Ten years later I have now I have had 7 spots iced off me with some vague ones that I need to keep an eye on. I am definitly listening now and in summer I will never leave the house without applying sunscreen and covering up totally.

I had a scare earlier this year with one of my moles along my hair line that changed. It took me a few months, but I FINALLY made myself go into the dermatologist. THey did a full check and scraped a couple other moles as well...and it turns out that the one on my hairline was fine!!!! BUT It is good that I went in, because one was moderately dysplastic, and the other was mildly dysplastic. So it kind or jarred me into remembering to be more careful!

 

[GrimsPet]

Now, that's pretty cool!

I work at a Plant nursery so I have access to various plants and know which suppliers to order them from. It also helps my current right hand in the nursery is a man who grew up immersed in herbal and homeopathic medicine. The kid - I say kid because he's 14 years my junior- has the uncanny ability to walk up to a random weed growing in the nursery, identify it and tell me what it can be used for. He's the one that got me started on the kelp, cinnamon and will soon have me taking a tincture of clever, and red clover. The tincture is a blood purifier and is supposed to help with my ovarian cysts. I already told the kid if the world goes to hell and medical professionals no longer exist, he's going to be a very wealthy man and I'm going to keep him happy.

This is the same kid that also pointed out to me that small tiny minute amounts of foxglove is alright if tinctured correctly (the plant is poisonous - it's called digitalis for a reason). He said the small leaves on the flower stalk have such high concentrations of the poison that just one of those small leaves is enough to kill a full grown man. We sell Foxglove plants in the nursery because folks love the flowers, however he warns then when they buy one that it is a poisonous plant and that if they have small kids or animals around that like to chew on random plants that it is one they should not get for their garden.

He's full of this random and truly useful knowledge. I keep him happy and pliant with lots of caffiene and chocolate. I also am working in one of the safest spots when he's around - he's a second degree black belt in karate.

The last benefit of him working there? He's hot young (21) eye candy!

 

[leyna]

Thank you, Mz Cunningham, pussyg (have we met yet, baby? ) CIC.

Sir Winston, let us know how it goes, okay?

I had a friend who figured out that the place he didn't feel like smoking.. was in the bathtub. So, when he desperately needed a smoke, he took a bath instead. He said that he was perma-pruned for a month and paind an astronomical water bill... but it got him over the hump.

Keroin, I am going to treat myself to a really pretty water carafe to keep by my bed. I can take it when I wake up, as long as there's some spit in my mouth... If i have to go get a drink of water, I've realised, that's all she wrote and I'm busy making coffee etc after that.

it's so damn irritating, because I used to take them every morning like clockwork! And then I got... i dunno, rebellous or something.

My guy keeps his synthroid by the coffee maker - when he has his first cuppa, he takes his pill. The only time he ever might forget or take it late is when he's at my place -- then I feel badly for not asking/reminding him.

I always tell people close to me to take care of themselves and their health is more important than any job, class, whatever, but i am the worst offender. I ignored/put off/put up with a medical problem for so long that i wound up having a 3 pint blood transfusion, was hospitalized twice and had to have major surgery and was out of commission for a month.
Pushing yourself because "you're needed" doesn't do anyone any good.

 

[the captians wench]

I get accused of this constantly by my family and Master.

I'm pre-diabetic, hypothyroid and have PCOS. However the damned doctor won't treat my thyroid even though my levels are on the very low side of normal and I show all the symptoms of hypothyroid disease. So I've taken to self-medicating after doing a lot of research. I take cinnamon to help my insulin and sugar along with my Doctor prescribed Metformin, and then for the thyroid I take kelp, Fish oil, D3, and I recently started taking B vitamins on the advice of another litster. I'm trying to find a local source of tyrosine and if that fails I'm going to have to order it online.

I let myself go down the tubes a couple years ago now and it's been rough trying to get back on track. I used to work out at the gym and eat better and then two years ago my life went down the shitter and it's taken a bit to get back on track. Now I have Master to help kick me back into the swing of things and that helps.

We could be sisters. Wait, you're not a cousin of mine are you?

I have the same, except I'm not sure if hypoglicemia is the same as pre-diabetic, and I haven't actually been tested for thyroid issues.

My problem is I finally found a doctor who didn't just look at me and go "if you loose weight you'll take care of all of this issues" and throw some birth control at me because I'm "that age". Like the pill and weight loss is some magical cure all that no one ever told me about before. And they don't help you to loose weight other than telling you to stop eating junk, before they even ask what my diet is! Anyway, when I found her, 3 months later she stopped practicing, and I didn't like her replacement. So now I'm inbetween doctors.

I just don't like going for well visits. I feel like they are a waste of time, but I know they are important. Maybe I should just start thinking of myself as sick, then a well visit won't seem so wasteful.

 

[midwestyankee]

Last week I saw my doc about a spot that had appeared on my leg about 18 months ago. Convinced that I was about to die of skin cancer because it seemed to have changed shape, I broke down and made the appointment.

Turns out I will be dying. Just not because of this but, rather, because we all do eventually. It's just an effing age spot.

I'm too young for this shit.

 

[bhndblueyes88]

This is the same kid that also pointed out to me that small tiny minute amounts of foxglove is alright if tinctured correctly (the plant is poisonous - it's called digitalis for a reason). He said the small leaves on the flower stalk have such high concentrations of the poison that just one of those small leaves is enough to kill a full grown man. We sell Foxglove plants in the nursery because folks love the flowers, however he warns then when they buy one that it is a poisonous plant and that if they have small kids or animals around that like to chew on random plants that it is one they should not get for their garden.

*vet student voice* Digtalis is a cardiac glycoside. Cardiac glycosides are used to treat congestive heart failure and arrhythmias. They are ionotropic, meaning that they increase the force of contraction, in this case, by increasing the amount of calcium utilization by the cardiac muscles. They also slow the rate of contraction by this same method. --COLLIE WARNING-- collie dogs may show an increased incidence of neurological symptoms due to the high prevalence of a p-gp deficiency in related breeds.


yaaaayyy pharmacology!!!




Sorry. Outside of school/work, I never get to use this stuff

 

[cfuhrer]

Stella, I have been on Thyroid meds since I was 13. That's 29 years. It took me several years to get to the point where I didn't think about it anymore. So don't get down.

But do take steps to help yourself make it habit.

For me:

- I wake up at roughly the same time every day and take it then.
- I keep my pills in the bathroom, out in the open, right next to the sink so they're always top of mind.

Figure out how to outsmart your forgetfulness. You can do it.

My synthroid is in a handy dandy weekly pill box and goes in the same place as my hairbrush. The only fault with that is on days like today. I don't work on Thursdays so my first stop is not hair and make up but rather to take care of the baby. But, I did pull them out and put them with my day planner so I can take them before I eat lunch.

 

[cfuhrer]

I was wondering if it ties into my self esteem issues - I've never been good about taking care of myself with the exception of externally, and that's so that I'm not an embarrassment to K and the kids.

Of course, there's also the possibility of frustration. No matter how well I take care of myself I either don't lose weight or I gain it. I cut all processed sugars and flour from my diet for six month and GAINED weight. What the fucking point when no matter what I do I'm fat, tired, and in pain?

I have to sympathize with this. I have no trouble remembering meds, brushing, flossing, etc. I go to the optometrist and dentist when I'm supposed to, I have my annual exams and lab work done. My struggle is weight.

Part of it stems from self esteem: I have feelings of inadequacy and have used the weight to insulate myself from the perceived criticism.
Part of it is emotional eating: like was mentioned above; life circles the drain and in addition to functioning in survival mode to keep life moving forward, out comes the life raft made of doritos.
Part of it stems from physical limitations: I have issues with my feet so even non-strenuous day-to-day walking is very painful, let alone any meaningful physical activity.
Part of it stems from food choices: I know the grilled chicken salad is good for me but it just doesn't sound good, so I have the crispy chicken salad instead.
Part of it stems from futility: I've been trying to lose weight since I was fifteen, what makes me think its going to work now?
And part is because aside from my weight there's nothing wrong with me. My blood work always come back good. Blood sugar, liver function, lipids; all normal. So, if I'm "healthy" then the fat is just a matter of vanity and *I have bigger things to worry about* than vanity.

Having bigger things to worry about is where Stella's issue comes in. At what point do we consider our own self "big enough to worry about"?? And I don't have an answer for that. I wish I did because then everything I wrote above would feel like a winnable battle and we could all settle down to work on winning it.

For as long as this post is you would think it would have more to offer.

 

[teknight]

I
Why do we DO this shit to ourselves? Those of you who don't can you please explain how it is that you don't?

Stella, you're not doing this to yourself to punish yourself or some shit. It's a question of behavior- your routine's been thrown off. All you need is to get a clear stimulus that you associate with taking your pill. You need to get back into the habit of doing this.
Gimme a bit and I'll try to find some articles on habit formation.

 

[the captians wench]

I heard once it takes 30 days to form a habit. Once things are habit, they tend to be easier to deal with.

So maybe if you just take it 30 days at a time, it would seem like a more manageable goal?