Mind Xdreamz

Wellness Blog - Page 3

So, here is the recap of what started me on this healthy living journey to include my current progress. I share this in case anyone else is chained to these types of medications and need a bit of inspiration in order to get free of them.

I had been taking five asthma / allergy medications for several years and had many reasons for needing and wanting to rid myself of these - hence my quest for wellness began in 2005:

• I quit taking Advair June 2005 – I did tell my asthma doctor that I wanted to quit taking Advair some time prior to this but she told me I was on a low dosage and that it was something I’d have to take forever. I didn’t buy that stock answer as reasonable. I felt that taking Advair an inhaled steroid was making me and keeping me fat
  
  
• July 2005 I was out of work for 6 days straight with the worst flu of my life - in sum total I was sick for a month
  
  
• I went to Parrish ER and two Phys. Asst's saw me. They said I could not have the flu in the summer and that I had an upper respiratory infection and UTI. They gave me an antibiotic. I took that and within 5 days went to Dr. Kodesch (my allergy doc) and she put me on a small steroid dosage for about 5 days. I finished that and most of the flu part was gone however, I coughed very badly (deep cough that would make me lose bladder control) for the better part of a month. My symptoms were: Fever, up and down... coughing, sneezing, runny nose, stuffy head, foggy head, eyes hurt, body aches, chills, fatigue. No throwing up and no diarrhea. I had the flu. Two nurses I've talked with since confirmed I had the flu and possibly pneumonia and/or pleurisy
  
  
• I sought out an acupuncture doctor Sept. 05 for my issues. (asthma/weight loss) I saw two acupuncture doctors, I chose the latter Joan Massey of HealthQuest in Titusville - Joan has since left the area and I am pretty sure I've met my new acupuncture doctor now but haven't needed to go so that's yet to be determined
  
  
• I quit taking Zyrtec late Oct. 05 (my night wheezing almost totally went away after approx. one week)
  
  
• I quit taking Singulair Dec. 05
  
  
• Mid Jan '06 I began coughing (not quite as bad as last July). I began searching out remedies and found natural garlic tablets (thanks to Linda Garrison of Sunshine Foods in Titusville), which relieved my congestion and phlegm
  
  
• I bought Healing Oils of the Bible and began treating myself nightly with olive, grape seed or castor oil along with two drops of each (front and back) of eucalyptus essential oil and tea tree oil (melaleuca)
  
  
• I met Nora Ross, LMT Titusville, and began every 2-3 months obtaining Raindrop Therapy using the essential oils. Nora also performs Healing Touch (similar to Therapeutic Touch or "energy work") and though some may dispel that work I believe it has benefited me. During the first session I felt that last bit of asthma totally leave my lungs
  
  
• I regularly do yoga and stretching exercises, especially and at least five minutes of back aligning stretches before going to sleep
  
  
• I walk outside every day
  
  
• I practice belly dance, zumba, and salsa every day. I get bored with a lot of work out routines so I mix it up!
  
  
• I just bought an air stepper (since moving to an RV and needing to give up our recumbent bike) - so I'll give you an update on that in a month or two
  
  
• I do hindu squats or walking lunges everyday, somedays only 2 or 3 reps of 10 other days 4 or 5 reps of 10; these do not take more than a couple of minutes...I sit at a computer all day - so this is very good to get the blood pumping!
  
  
• I perform some arm/back stretches at my desk at least once per hour also, which I hope will prevent carpel tunnel from setting in - and this also uplifts my body so that I do not slouch as much
  
  
• I make juice from fresh vegetables everyday. My husband and I subscribe to a raw and living foods diet as a lifestyle. We do eat some superfoods - as well, and buy dehydrated foods from the Wholefood Farmacy (see my LINKS page for more on this). Meat, dairy and gluten is nearly completely out of my diet though my husband is a beef eater. Both of us eat fish and seafood but recognize that we need to limit it's intake as well. It's taken about a year for me, but other than butter and minimal amount of organic cheese - I eat no dairy. The meat that I consume is either organic buffalo or lamb. I do not eat any chicken or pork, turkey maybe twice a year. I don't eat much bread or baked goods at all but when we do - we choose gluten free, usually rice based bread. It's very good! We buy organic produce whenever feasible, eat no processed foods (except when we dine out - that's the only time I have no control over what additives are in the food).

I make green juice every morning, adding whole fruit sometimes to give it a smoothie consistency in the best blender and food processor machine on the planet, the awesome, wonderful, and absolutely amazing Vita-Mix!