☼ Junglechicken

[apace41]

10 minutes ago, Junglechicken said:

My therapist said that it is in fact a narcissistic trait, because it is very inward looking.

 

Its because we're very focused on ourselves..........

 

With all due respect to your therapist, JC, that is total and complete horseexcrement.  A narcissist does what they do with the intent of manipulating their environment for their advantage.  A hypochondriac does nothing of the sort.  There are arguments that one who feigns illness in the hope of gaining the sympathies of others is a narcissist, but those of us suffering from health anxiety, while definitely inward focused in that endeavor, are not being narcissistic.  If any trait that involves "looking inward" is narcissistic, then the whole concept of self-contemplation is turned on its head.

 

Sorry to be so aggressive but I see that as a personal affront (not from you but your "therapist").  Is that supposed to help you deal with the issue?  Sort of "tough love"?

 

Best,

 

Andy

[Junglechicken]

Andy,

 

I understand your outrage at this, and I will be re-visiting her comment about HA next week.

 

She is incredibly supportive and has helped me (in a big way) to overcome many psychological hurdles.

 

It was certainly not put in a derogatory way.

 

Best,

JC

 

 

[apace41]

1 minute ago, Junglechicken said:

She is incredibly supportive and has helped me (in a big way) to overcome many psychological hurdles.

 

I thought about qualifying my comment because I figured you had a good relationship with her and I didn't want to offend, but I chose not to figuring you'd know where I was coming from.  I'm sure she is excellent and I'm glad she has helped you.  I just think this was an "off-handed" comment that places someone who is "self-labelled" with HA into another label that is even more insidious because it is harmful to others as opposed to oneself.

 

Best,

 

Andy

[Junglechicken]

Andy,

 

Of course, absolutely no offense taken......and I understand where you're coming from.

 

I will still be re-visiting her comment next week.

 

Best,

JC

[Junglechicken]

My gut hasn't been happy this morning.

 

A few visits to the loo 

 

Its possibly because my running intervals have stepped up (x2 8 mins), also the emotional feat of trying to accept that my mother doesn't love me unconditionally................... or maybe its the fact that I had a Bio-live dairy yoghurt last night??

 

Don't know, I maintain a food diary so hopefully my Naturopath can answer those questions.

 

 

[Flowers]

Hi JC

 

How you feeling now? Hope your tummy has settled.

 

Flowers xxx

[Junglechicken]

Thanks Flowers, yes it cleared late this afternoon.

 

i guess you could call it "gut sensitivity" of sorts.  

 

Am now convinced I am lactose intolerant as I had a dairy yoghurt for desert at dinner yesterday, had some cramps, then all the fun today.

 

How have you been?

 

JC xxxx

[Flowers]

Hi JC - a bit of a coincidence after the yoghurt then. Keeping a food diary is a great idea to prove lactose intolerance. Glad you are feeling better anyway.

 

~Thanks for asking after me. I am in a bit of wave. Mornings are awful with  heart palpitations, nausea and shaking amongst other things but it gets better as the day goes on. Still getting out later on in the day  for a walk or some exercise which helps.Although I feel agitated my mood is good.  I need to be distracted  from the symptoms or I feel worse. Too much cortisol methinks.

 

I can't complain as I have had a pretty good run of it for the last few weeks. Each time I am in a window I hope that the waves are not going to come back and I can start to taper again. I think the waves are getting lesser in strength and duration though so that is good.

 

Just got to keep plodding on. 

 

Flowers xxx

 

 

 

 

[Junglechicken]

 Flowers, that's wonderful.

 

The fact that your baseline mood is improving is a sure sign of healing, and your shorter waves are another sign.

 

Yes, we have to plod on through the metaphorical mire.

 

JC xxx

 

 

[Junglechicken]

Gut has been better today, but is still sensitive.

 

Possible causes:

 

Lactose intolerance 

FODMAP issues

Running

Stress / emotional issues

Something "serious"

 

Looks like I'll follow that FODMAP diet after all.

 

 

 

 

[Junglechicken]

Still got IBS/gut issues 

[Junglechicken]

Does anyone have any soothing natural solutions for IBS??

 

Really need help with this before my interviews (wed, thurs).

 

Thanks all,

JC

[ChessieCat]

Slippery elm might help.

[Junglechicken]

Thanks Chessie, I'll give it a go!

[Flowers]

Poor you JC. Do you think it is stress induced due to the pressure of the interviews?

 

I use my stomach as a barometer of stress/WD symptoms. It is always my stomach that gets affected before anything else!

 

Good luck for Weds/Thurs.

 

xxxx Flowers 

 

[Junglechicken]

Hi Flowers,

 

Yes, I think so....having checked back through my food diary for other IBS episodes, they coincide with when I am stressed.  This episode has been going on for much longer than usual though.

 

BUT, the interviewer kindly emailed me earlier today and suggested that I have one interview for both roles on Thursday instead.......phew! Makes a lot more sense and saves everyone time.

 

Anyway, my ND advised peppermint oil capsules, charcoal and NT Complex.

 

Our gut is definitely our barometer as to what's going on in our heads.

 

HUGS,

JC xxx

 

[Junglechicken]

Feel frustrated with my running.

 

Last year I was faster, and my body didn't ache as much......is it age? is it because I'm heavier?? is it WD?

 

I dunno, my body feels a lot creakier, stiffer etc.,  I'm going to be 43 next month 

 

One frustrated Junglechicken.

[Flowers]

9 minutes ago, Junglechicken said:

Feel frustrated with my running.

 

Last year I was faster, and my body didn't ache as much......is it age? is it because I'm heavier?? is it WD?

 

I dunno, my body feels a lot creakier, stiffer etc.,  I'm going to be 43 next month 

 

One frustrated Junglechicken.

Ha Ha! You are only a baby compared to an old crock like me! 

 

It is probably a combination of all three. I think for me in WD I have carried a lot more stress in my body which has led to stiffness etc. I have a physical job so like to be fit. This year when I have been well enough to work it has been harder. 

 

I do my relaxation exercises regularly and that helps most of the time. I couldn't run for a bus!

 

I think you are great for still doing the running at 43 which must be physically demanding.

 

Even if you are slower you are still out there running which deserves some merit I think.

 

Flowers xxx

 

 

 

 

 

 

[apace41]

1 minute ago, Flowers said:

It is probably a combination of all three. I think for me in WD I have carried a lot more stress in my body which has led to stiffness etc.

 

For what it's worth, and I don't know how much is withdrawal and how much is age (I've lost weight so it's not that), but I went to the chiropractor this morning and she was amazed at how stiff and tense my body was in general.  She worked on my shoulder, my legs, my back, my neck and each one she said that she could feel the tension way deep within.  I am convinced that a significant portion of this is a result of the drugs and the effect of removing the drugs from the body.  When you reduce serotonin levels in the body some of the relaxation mechanisms of the muscles are disabled and that leads to rigidity.  In my case I have the benzo withdrawal in my history as well so it's not a surprise.  All of these things acting together, combined with the advancement of age, are the likely cause.  I hope that as my brain/body start to reregulate after the drug I will see improvements in this.

 

Best,

 

Andy

[Junglechicken]

2 minutes ago, Flowers said:

Ha Ha! You are only a baby compared to an old crock like me! 

 

It is probably a combination of all three. I think for me in WD I have carried a lot more stress in my body which has led to stiffness etc. I have a physical job so like to be fit. This year when I have been well enough to work it has been harder. 

 

I do my relaxation exercises regularly and that helps most of the time. I couldn't run for a bus!

 

I think you are great for still doing the running at 43 which must be physically demanding.

 

Even if you are slower you are still out there running which deserves some merit I think.

 

Flowers xxx

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Flowers,

 

There are veteran marathoners (60+ yrs old) who can run faster than me!

 

I agree with you in that the tension held in our bodies due to stress, is detrimental to flexibility.

 

A decade ago, I smoked, was overweight, have a night out drinking with hangover the next day AND could still run 10k with hills no trouble!

 

This SUCKS!

 

JC xxx

[Junglechicken]

4 minutes ago, apace41 said:

 

For what it's worth, and I don't know how much is withdrawal and how much is age (I've lost weight so it's not that), but I went to the chiropractor this morning and she was amazed at how stiff and tense my body was in general.  She worked on my shoulder, my legs, my back, my neck and each one she said that she could feel the tension way deep within.  I am convinced that a significant portion of this is a result of the drugs and the effect of removing the drugs from the body.  When you reduce serotonin levels in the body some of the relaxation mechanisms of the muscles are disabled and that leads to rigidity.  In my case I have the benzo withdrawal in my history as well so it's not a surprise.  All of these things acting together, combined with the advancement of age, are the likely cause.  I hope that as my brain/body start to reregulate after the drug I will see improvements in this.

 

Best,

 

Andy

 

Andy,

 

Its worth a lot actually, thank you for telling me that.

 

I feel like a lumbering elephant, and have had to have my whole body manipulated too by my osteopath.

 

I would call it the "tin man" effect of AD medication.

 

Looks like I may have to stick with pool-based exercise.

 

Best,

JC

[Flowers]

19 hours ago, Junglechicken said:

 

Flowers,

 

There are veteran marathoners (60+ yrs old) who can run faster than me!

 

I agree with you in that the tension held in our bodies due to stress, is detrimental to flexibility.

 

A decade ago, I smoked, was overweight, have a night out drinking with hangover the next day AND could still run 10k with hills no trouble!

 

This SUCKS!

 

JC xxx

Sorry JC 

 

Didn't mean to undermine your concern. It must be very frustrating for you. As you can tell I know nothing about marathon runners but if you can see a decline that is a shame.

 

What Andy has said is very interesting isn't it?  It would explain the stiffness. xxx

 

Love from Flowers 

 

 

[Frogie]

19 minutes ago, Flowers said:

Sorry JC 

 

Didn't mean to undermine your concern. It must be very frustrating for you. As you can tell I know nothing about marathon runners but if you can see a decline that is a shame.

 

What Andy has said is very interesting isn't it?  It would explain the stiffness. xxx

 

Love from Flowers 

 

 

JC:

 

You are a lot younger than me. My oldest will be 35 in November, and my youngest (that hasn't talked to me for 8 long years) will be 27 in October.

 

I think it's wonderful that you can run like that. You must be in great shape.

 

I used to run 2 miles 3-4 times a week, now these horrible meds have made me fat. And being disabled in a foot, not being able to run doesn't help. I can walk, so I try once in a while to walk around the block. But with my baby Brownie being sick, I don't do much. I have done my volunteer work, but I just want to stay home with her, let her lay under the blanket on my lap or next to me in my chair.

 

I've rambled enough. Hope you are doing well.

 

Take care,

Frogie xx

[Junglechicken]

Thanks Frogie and Flowers,

 

Funnily enough, yesterday I had a better run......yes, and I felt stronger. 

 

I bought a book called "Run for life: A complete running guide for female runners" by Sam Murphy. 

 

Its made me realise that it will take time (probably even more time now) for my body to re-adjust to the forces being put on it.  And thrown into the mix factors like, WD, anxiety & depression and those hormones that we love to hate: cortisol and adrenaline; accumulated muscle tension from stress, aging process....its no wonder that I'm not like I was last year as so much has happened in that time.

 

Anyway, needed to have a whinge and thanks for "listening".

 

HUGS,

JC xxx

 

[Junglechicken]

Oh boy, that was horrible 

 

A poor pigeon just flew full force into our sliding doors and killed itself..........

[apace41]

1 hour ago, Junglechicken said:

Oh boy, that was horrible 

 

A poor pigeon just flew full force into our sliding doors and killed itself..........

 

Would it be wrong of me to wonder if the poor thing was trying to come off psych meds?

 

Glad you you had a better run, JC.

 

Best,

 

Andy

[Junglechicken]

Maybe Andy 

 

There was a cartoon I saw once about some crows sitting around talking about how much they hated those big sliding doors because they can kill themselves flying into them.  Also insects fly into them all the time.

 

If we weren't renting, I would put up some black tape crosses so that birds could see that something was actually there.

 

Yes, I think my run on Friday was a bit of a breakthrough, I am resting my body today as felt tired this morning.....am trying to listen to my body better rather than let my sports "ego" take over and insist I get out the door even when fatigued.

 

I also have to pay particular attention to my immune system, as pushing the exercise too much will compromise my immune system again rather than help it.

 

Best,

JC

[Frogie]

Hi JC:

 

Just had a question for you.

 

What brand and what mg Milk Thistle are you taking?

 

Thanks! Hope you are doing well.

 

Take care,

Frogie xx

[Junglechicken]

Hey Frogie,

 

I was taking "A.Vogel" milk thistle which comes in a little bottle.

 

You dilute a few drops with water and drink.

 

JC xxx

[Frogie]

Just now, Junglechicken said:

Hey Frogie,

 

I was taking "A.Vogel" milk thistle which comes in a little bottle.

 

You dilute a few drops with water and drink.

 

JC xxx

Ok thanks. I was looking for a capsule. Any ideas?

 

Thanks,

Frogie xx

[Junglechicken]

No ideas on capsule form Frogie.

 

Can you get to your local health food store and see what they have?

 

Or you could order some online?

 

JC xxx

[Frogie]

2 minutes ago, Junglechicken said:

No ideas on capsule form Frogie.

 

Can you get to your local health food store and see what they have?

 

Or you could order some online?

 

JC xxx

Yeah we actually have a health store believe it or not! 

 

There is so much on line, I'm so confused (doesn't take much right now) lol...

 

Thanks...

 

Take care,

Frogie xx

[Junglechicken]

Oh joy!

 

Having gut trouble again, aka "IBS".....gurgling, etc.,

[Flowers]

Oh No!  Have you eaten anything that you thought might have triggered it the last time or is it stress related?

 

 

Flowers xxx

[Junglechicken]

It'll be stress related Flowers, probably because of all the interviews and waiting to hear back from the companies.......and family stuff 

 

It has eased off this evening thank God!

 

JC xxxxx

[Flowers]

So sorry JC. Some days I spend more time in my bathroom than anywhere else!  

 

Hope you find the job you want soon. 

 

Love from Flowers xxx