Strange but peaceful day. Had straight caffeinated coffee this AM and it sent me through the roof. About thirty mins of yoga later, bathe, meditation and I felt some what OK to ride. Hmmm. it all went well but I felt out of sync with myself. The horses were great - bringing a sense of rhythm to me. Pepper was good. Just moving her forward - off the spur. The spooking is a stupid habit she picked up. she just needs to be ridden through it. All my ranch friends would be laughing at me. She needs a whoa and a go. Learn how to carry herself naturally then go for the details. She's a quarterhorse. Stock quality. Quick little mare. Probably good in the cutting arena. I need more guts. Today was fine but I don't have my turn-back seat yet and it shows. The others were all good. I was the one being bad today. They all carried me today.
So what does this have to do with MS? so much. Today was an off day. But I worked through it. I took my meds, I did my yoga bits, I drank my ShenTrition, ate my apple...meditated and breathed my way into a rhythm with the animals. Thus bringing a rhythm to me. Sometimes I think MS is a sign of getting out of whack - and we just need to be whacked back into place. Gently whacked that is.
I start to tense during the morning. Can I ride them all in time? Time for what? to get the car back. To end at noon because that is the habit I have started. To not wear myself out. Today was fine. Six is the max. for now.
The MS has been testing me lateley. I've been needing more nutrients. More water. More rest. More health. And I've been giving in. Mostly all good. Yesterday was wine tasting in Los Olivos. Always a good time. Breakfast at the Pharmacy in Montecito, a drive up the pass, shopping at Jedlickas, a #28 from Paninos, Rusack picnic area, Beckman babes...it all works. But today, back to the grindstone. Marketing work. Nonprofit work. Horse work. A lot of work. Just not much money. Oh well. Life is good and I'm enjoying the heck out of it.
Off to bathe and meditate a bit before my evening responsibilities. Charni is speaking about her experience in China and I'm going to the BBQ sort of. I have no meat to bring or anything but will figure it out. I just want to hear her speak. Very nice and intelligent, talented woman. So, it's the Tournament of Roses cocktail party (maybe) and then the club. First of all, it's time for some me-time. Some taking care of me. Gentle care for the MS girl...
Caroline Craven - Certified Life Coach, MS Advocate, Motivational Speaker, Writer & Patient Expert living with Multiple Sclerosis.
Horses help to Heal 2/8/09 12:43 PM
The horses have been a huge help for my MS. Riding again. Movement. I haven't ridding in some 15 years but it's coming back. And for once since my illness attacked me I feel as if I can do something useful. Not just brain work but really useful for me and the animals. I'm feeling a bit MS-ie lately but its because I'm not taking the best care of myself. Yesterday was a very emotional day for me. Among things not so pleasant I was asked to ride a young quarter horse coming down from Oregon. She just needs mileage in a cutting saddle. I can do that. Want to do that. The horses need to be a part of my life right now. Along with my friends and family. Work and school. I have a full plate. The other parts of my life can chill for awhile. Must get to school work - just a note to remind you MSers that it's OK to take a chill break. We need them. We deserve them.
MS on a different level
One thing you do not want to do with MS is stay up really late, drinking lots of red wine and eating mass quantities of fondue. Now granted, many movies were watched, friends were close, laughter loud...but no, that's not something to do with MS. At least if you do it, then make sure you have nothing much planned the next day that involves using heavy equipment. I found brainstorming to work...
School is more challenging than expected. The many changes in my physical and mental life. Last week I was worried about my vision failing me on the highway. That I would misjudge. I was fine. But I am conscience of every piece of energy going in and out of this body. The water I'm drinking now. The work I'm getting done. The stress releasing.
Tomorrow is a Monday and that is a big day. School at the end. Meetings in between. goal: Not to over due before school. Tomorrow is week four. There will only be ten left, I'm enjoying the heck out of it, don't get me wrong. But I will be glad to have one less thing on my plate.
Life management. that's what MS is about. Among other things. But if you don't make changes and expect your medications to make everything OK than you're in for a different disease. MS defines itself through your subconscience.
Blog Entry dated 1/28/09 6:53 PM
Today was a bit of an MS day. My fault exactly. I sipped a bit too much whiskey last night then got up and rode four horses. Not the healthiest or wisest approach. Time to settle down now.
Went and saw Doubt today. Incredibly tight in all aspects. Dug it. Tried Benjamin Button yesterday. Wanted to like it. But it didn't do it for me.
Tomorrow I'm heading up for some wine tasting in Santa Ynez. Taking a day off the horses for which my body will greatly appreciate.
The cool thing is I got to ride Mac today. He's my type of horse. Just dig that little fellow...
I can feel the inflamation in my legs as I sit here. And it's not from the laptop. I am inflamed. I double dosed my shentrition with aloe and had some good ice water, but I'm inflamed. Probably doing permanent damage to my nerves. Time for water and tea. maybe and Ibu though they are not my favorite. But it's better than letting my body heat up too much. That can't be good for it.
Am off to watch some Family Guy. Sleep well and here's to another day closer in finding feasible solutions for multiple sclerosis.
Blog Entry dated 1/23/09 1:27 PM
Can't feel my finger tips. Definitely the MS. Could be the rain and soggy riding I did but that was all good. The riding is critical for my health. Been thinking a bit about MS today. Just read an article about a new medicine by Biogen that might help rebuild the damage done to the nerves with MS. I still think prevention is the best solution. Forget the western medicines that cover up the symptoms. Listen to your symptoms and obey your mind, body and soul! We all need the western medicines to help us feel better. But we shouldn't hide our symptoms to the point of not noticing them. They are red flags. Whoa, slow down. Take care of yourself. now!
Yesterday I couldn't ride. If the British were coming I guess I could have gotten on, but I had to choose not to because I had a charlie-horse cramp in my right leg for two hours. Talk about painful. My fault - big day before. Rode 3.5 (one was a pony). Worked, meetings, cooked for a dinner party and entertained. I was wiped out. Too much for this little girl. Today I rode two. In the rain. It was nice. Soggy but nice. My muscles are getting taxed to an acceptable level. Last night I had several tangerines. And decaf green tea. And whiskey. This morning was green ShenTrition, Apple, Banana, Juice and Coffee. I have my weaknesses. I try for decaf but live with others so the community pot is often half-caf. I can feel if I've had too much caffeine. I heat up like a radiator with a broken thermostat. Today I can handle a little caffeine. I got chilled to the bone. Not an often feeling for someone with MS. My body is so unaccustomed to being cold that it doesn't know how to exist. It tenses up, aches for a bath.
My right ankle is sore but that's not from the MS. The pain from MS is different. My ankles is swollen and bruised - from being banged around with stirrups and skimpy boots. And by stretching some taffy tight muscles and tendons. I found some polo boots I might get. Been using jodphur boots and half-chaps. I feel like I could use a bit more support. I don't have a loud leg but I do make good use of them.
OK - I'm testing Contribute. So we'll see if this works. Then I can add it to my list as I twitter, fb, and plink my way thru life...
Another day with Multiple Sclerosis
I rode three and half today. one was about 12 hands so I only considered it a half. Penny the Pony. They were all fun.
I rested long last night. Something about Multiple Sclerosis - you must manage every aspect of your energy. I was tired yesterday. Really worn out. Light meal, light protein. A warm salt bath. Bed and a good night sleep. I could feel my lifeline burning. Too much. Needed to slow down.
Felt rested today. The sore muscles are giving way. Strangely I'm sore in my lower back. That is new to me. Understandably so as the riding is using long lost movements.
I doubled up on my ShenTrition today. Actually I have been triple dosing some days. Taking an apple with me in the morning. Cooling, healing foods. Soups, Fruit, Cooked veggies, proteins, comples carbs. A nice mix of healthy, flavorful and colorful foods.
I know that I would probably be much healthier if I was more strict with eating mung beans and not drinking whiskey. But, the thing is, I lived like that for awhile. Now I don't mean to be reckless but I enjoy some festivities in my life. Quality of life. Sanity. For me.
With that in mind, is it time for my whiskey yet? no...much more work to be done.
I rested long last night. Something about Multiple Sclerosis - you must manage every aspect of your energy. I was tired yesterday. Really worn out. Light meal, light protein. A warm salt bath. Bed and a good night sleep. I could feel my lifeline burning. Too much. Needed to slow down.
Felt rested today. The sore muscles are giving way. Strangely I'm sore in my lower back. That is new to me. Understandably so as the riding is using long lost movements.
I doubled up on my ShenTrition today. Actually I have been triple dosing some days. Taking an apple with me in the morning. Cooling, healing foods. Soups, Fruit, Cooked veggies, proteins, comples carbs. A nice mix of healthy, flavorful and colorful foods.
I know that I would probably be much healthier if I was more strict with eating mung beans and not drinking whiskey. But, the thing is, I lived like that for awhile. Now I don't mean to be reckless but I enjoy some festivities in my life. Quality of life. Sanity. For me.
With that in mind, is it time for my whiskey yet? no...much more work to be done.
Blog Entry dated 1/21/09 3:36 PM
My laptop is doing the most annoying thing. Somehow it thinks that Times New Roman is some other, artsy funky font I downloaded for a project. Just something else to figure out.
Riding has been a great move for me. Getting that blood flowing. And I'm really sweating. Today was humid. I had a polo shirt on under a light breathable windbreaker and I soaked it good. I think this is good for MS. We're told to stay away from the heat (I don't necessarily agree). I don't have the guts to mt. bike these trails around here anymore and what else, running? body too beat up. Swimming? The smell of chlorine was ok for the first few years. I like my senior sniff and strolls with the hound dog. In fact I think it's good for me to slow down. The riding revs me up. The strolls slow me down. and I did AIM on Monday. my version of Yoga - Attentive Integrative Movement. Love it. I could feel the gerbils escaping from my body as it turned into the liquidy gel it should be.
I wish I would hear from the Montel Williams MS Foundation. There is much that I want to share about my experiences with the situation in order to help others. Watch this spot...
MS Girl
FarmGirl we started out as. MS Girl we've branched into. The fact is, MS doesn't have to be the life sentence many think it is. A consideration of fates that never crossed my mind. If it wasn't killing me, it sure as hell wasnt taking me down this sissy-ass way.
Come on. We are so much stronger than our disease. We just need to work together and find our strengths, our weakness, and use our hearts and minds to heal us all the way around!
When we find solutions for MS it's for all of mankind. Any inflammatory or auto-immune disease is going to benefit from our research and studies.
Let's go, and gather as much information we can about this disease.
I will meet you back here when we have some good stuff to share.
Join us and share your thoughts!
Come on. We are so much stronger than our disease. We just need to work together and find our strengths, our weakness, and use our hearts and minds to heal us all the way around!
When we find solutions for MS it's for all of mankind. Any inflammatory or auto-immune disease is going to benefit from our research and studies.
Let's go, and gather as much information we can about this disease.
I will meet you back here when we have some good stuff to share.
Join us and share your thoughts!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)