Cucumbers are Cool...And Curative!

While I very seldom read email forwards, the ones from my grandma tend to be useful and from reputable sources. This one, detailing the health benefits and myriad household uses of cucumbers, caught my attention. I already knew cucumbers were healthy. An alkaline food, they help balance pH and are one of the only foods that never cause me acid reflux. They really seem to help settle my stomach and are refreshing. I also love me a cucumber peel facial. Here is the email forward verbatim:

Never thought that CUCUMBER can do so much!

The Amazing Cucumber

This information was in The New York Times several weeks ago as part of their "Spotlight on the Home" series that highlighted creative and fanciful ways to solve common problems.

1. Cucumbers contain most of the vitamins you need every day, just one cucumber contains Vitamin B1, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B3, Vitamin B5, Vitamin B6, Folic Acid, Vitamin C, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Potassium and Zinc.

2. Feeling tired in the afternoon, put down the caffeinated soda and pick up a cucumber. Cucumbers are a good source of B Vitamins and Carbohydrates that can provide that quick pick-me-up that can last for hours.

3. Tired of your bathroom mirror fogging up after a shower? Try rubbing a cucumber slice along the mirror, it will eliminate the fog and provide a soothing, spa-like fragrance.

4. Are grubs and slugs ruining your planting beds? Place a few slices in a small pie tin and your garden will be free of pests all season long. The chemicals in the cucumber react with the aluminium to give off a scent undetectable to humans but drive garden pests crazy and make them flee the area.

5. Looking for a fast and easy way to remove cellulite before going out or to the pool? Try rubbing a slice or two of cucumbers along your problem area for a few minutes, the photochemical in the cucumber cause the collagen in your skin to tighten, firming up the outer layer and reducing the visibility of cellulite. Works great on wrinkles too!!!

6. Want to avoid a hangover or terrible headache? Eat a few cucumber slices before going to bed and wake up refreshed and headache free. Cucumbers contain enough sugar, B vitamins and electrolytes to replenish essential nutrients the body lost, keeping everything in equilibrium, avoiding both a hangover and headache!!

7. Looking to fight off that afternoon or evening snacking binge? Cucumbers have been used for centuries and often used by European trappers, traders and explores for quick meals to thwart off starvation.

8. Have an important meeting or job interview and you realize that you don't have enough time to polish your shoes? Rub a freshly cut cucumber over the shoe, its chemicals will provide a quick and durable shine that not only looks great but also repels water.

9. Out of WD 40 and need to fix a squeaky hinge? Take a cucumber slice and rub it along the problematic hinge, and voila, the squeak is gone!

10. Stressed out and don't have time for massage, facial or visit to the spa? Cut up an entire cucumber and place it in a boiling pot of water, the chemicals and nutrients from the cucumber with react with the boiling water and be released in the steam, creating a soothing, relaxing aroma that has been shown the reduce stress in new mothers and college students during final exams.

11. Just finish a business lunch and realize you don't have gum or mints? Take a slice of cucumber and press it to the roof of your mouth with your tongue for 30 seconds to eliminate bad breath, the photochemical will kill the bacteria in your mouth responsible for causing bad breath.

12. Looking for a 'green' way to clean your faucets, sinks or stainless steel? Take a slice of cucumber and rub it on the surface you want to clean, not only will it remove years of tarnish and bring back the shine, but is won't leave streaks and won't harm you fingers or fingernails while you clean.

13. Using a pen and made a mistake? Take the outside of the cucumber and slowly use it to erase the pen writing, also works great on crayons and markers that the kids have used to decorate the walls!!

Pass this along to everybody you know who is looking for better and safer ways to solve life's everyday problems.

Lemon Juice, Coconut Oil, Apple Cider Vinegar, Oh My!!!

I was so excited to discover the above chart on MindBodyGreen.com. I am all about utilizing natural, chemical-free remedies whenever possible. I intend to try all these products for the various uses listed as I am chronically chemically sensitive and striving to eliminate the toxins from my life.

Cleaning Tips for the Chemically Sensitive

This post has been a long time coming. While my chemical sensitivities are not as severe as they used to be, I still consider myself a highly sensitive individual when it comes to smells. Luckily I am not usually sensitive to soaps and detergents, but everything else around the house is fair game, particularly when it comes to cleaning products. I don't have any products like Windex, PineSol, 409 or anything of the sort around the house. Instead, I rely on products that don't trigger my chemical sensitivities. A few of my favorites are Bon Ami, the entire Seventh Generation line, (especially their dishwashing detergent!) baking soda, vinegar, hydrogen peroxide, and occasionally rubbing alcohol. If I ever have to be around chemicals I use them outdoors only. I even polish my nails outside on the deck because the smell of the polish and the remover bothers me indoors.

I keep a pretty tidy house thanks to having mild ocd tendencies. So I never let things get dirty enough to warrant the use of chemical cleaners. For dusting I simply damp dust everything. I wash the countertops with water and a dab of dawn dishwashing liquid. If I need to disinfect surfaces I will use either hydrogen peroxide or rubbing alcohol. A 50/50 mixture of hydrogen peroxide and water in a spray bottle does double duty as a powerful unscented glass and window cleaner and a disinfectant. It's one of my favorite products. Some people also swear by a 50/50 mixture of vinegar and water for window cleaning but I haven't tried that one yet. I use Purex Free and Clear detergent in the washing machine and I don't use any fabric softener or dryer sheets as they're simply not necessary. I use organic wool balls in the dryer as an alternative. Glade Plug-Ins, Febreze or any sort of air freshener sprays are also not necessary. If you must scent your air to create extra ambiance, use things like soy-based scented candles made with essential oils, or try putting a few drops of your favorite essential oil in a diffuser. There are myriad chemical-free and natural product lines on the market these days, in big stores, online and made by small businesses and individuals. I love Dreamland Naturals on Etsy for affordable all natural soaps and bar shampoos.

Not only is chemical-free cleaning way healthier for you and your family, it's also much easier on your environment. By going chemical free you're reducing your carbon footprint and going greener. It's a win/win.

October was Dysautonomia Awareness Month! How Did You Celebrate?

It's the last day of Dysautonomia Awareness Month! How did you commemorate the occasion? Many people spread awareness online, through successful social media campaigns like "Thumbs Up for Dysautonomia Awareness" where people proudly sported blue nail polish on their thumbs to show solidarity and support for dysautonomia patients. Many others also took the opportunity to raise awareness in their communities by hosting fundraisers, educating physicians, or friends and family. It's important to realize that raising dysautonomia awareness doesn't end in October. It's a 24/7 pursuit. Individuals around the world are working tirelessly to spread awareness 365 days a year. For more ideas and information on how to keep spreading awareness or to host a fundraiser to benefit new and ongoing research, please visit DysautonomiaInternational.org.

On Losing the Ability to do What You Love

"...I was dancing again, every muscle effortlessly engaged, articulating in perfect synchronicity."

About a month ago, one of my best friends sent me an article that brought me to tears. While I'm sure her intention wasn't to make me cry, this article hit way too close to home. She sent it to me because she knew it would resonate within me like it did within her. We had both been dancers in our former pre-POTS lives. More specifically, ballerinas. Living a beautiful life doing what we loved and were perhaps born to do. We were introduced to each other through a mutual friend who also had POTS and recognized that we were destined to be besties. We bonded instantly over our similar past experiences and our current shared love of reality dance TV. While watching Breaking Pointe is no substitute for dancing ourselves, it certainly does help fill the void.

The night before I received the article in my Facebook inbox, I had had a dream that I was dancing again. It was haunting, but not a nightmare. It was a very vivid, beautiful dream that made me feel very much alive and self-actualized in those brief moments I that was dancing again, every muscle effortlessly engaged, articulating in perfect synchronicity. Unlike my current reality, I had complete control over my own body, and it felt good. Exhilarating even. I was in my old ballet class with my former instructor Miss Mary guiding my movements across the floor. Except I was my current self in present day, just in an alternate reality. A reality much more fulfilling than my own.

In my present reality, I am currently in physical therapy for a bum ankle. Or at least what I thought was a bum ankle that to my dismay actually turned out to be two bum ankles and a bum hip. It's no secret that years of ballet takes a toll on one's body. And perhaps even more of a toll when you're hypermobile and repeatedly encouraged by over-zealous instructors to relish in your perfect turn-out. While I haven't danced ballet for several years, apparently I still walk like a duck, my hips stuck in a perpetually turned-out state. My physical therapist also happens to be hypermobile and is good at correcting these issues. She uses pilates as a way to strengthen muscles and thereby control her own hypermobility. I did not realize how bad my ankles had gotten until she said that I need to learn how to walk all over again. Apparently I've been doing it wrong all these years.

As I raised into releve alongside a supportive countertop in physical therapy, I kept having flashbacks to the ballet barre and and all the hours that I had spent there, nearly deforming my own body from three years of age onward, as it was growing and developing into the body I have today. Going to ballet class was as routine as brushing my teeth in the morning. As the years of class went on, all our bodies grew to be the same shape and size, so that we were all nearly identical and could all wear the same size costume if need be. There was certainly not much physical diversity in ballet. Most of us were naturally hypermobile to some degree. If you weren't, you simply couldn't compete in the ballet world. Or, you had to work very, very hard at it. Those are the type of dancers I respect the most. The ones who have to work at it. Now that I'm aware of my hypermobility, I realize I possessed an unfair advantage in the ballet world.

I have been asked the following question several times by friends and family: if you could go back in time knowing what you know now, would you have still danced ballet? The answer is undoubtedly yes. Although it may have caused irreparable damage to my body, I was simply meant to do it. And there has always been a void since I stopped dancing. I consider myself a generally happy person, but there's always been something missing. And I know precisely what that something is.

Ballet was my outlet, my escape, my passion. It helped quell the obsessive compulsive tendencies I had hidden as a child. It also came so naturally, more naturally than sports or other athletic pursuits. I didn't have to work at it. It was effortless. The rest of my life has certainly not been effortless by comparison. Physical therapy is hard work. I am developing a new awareness of my body, and an appreciation for what I put it through. I am trying hard to correct bad habits that ballet helped me acquire over the years and push through the pain. I carry with me everyday now the physical reminders of having once been able to do what I loved. And to me, it's all been worth it. If I could still dance ballet today, I absolutely would.

Dysautonomia International's First Annual Patient Conference & Lobby Day Recap!!!

Here is a highlight video of the 2013 Dysautonomia Patient Conference & Lobby Day held in Washington DC earlier this month! It was a tremendous success for dysautonomia patients and physicians alike!

It's EDS Awareness Month!

No, it is NOT erectile dysfunction syndrome awareness month, nor is "EDS" an acronym for that! EDS stands for Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and May marks a special month of awareness for this life-altering genetic connective tissue disorder which often results in extreme joint hypermobility and frequent dislocations among myriad other symptoms. I did not learn I had this condition until long after my POTS diagnosis. Many people with EDS also suffer from dysautonomia as a secondary condition. My POTS and TMJ are likely both linked to EDS as an underlying cause.

As a former ballet dancer I have always been very flexible. And that was a major attribute growing up. But never realized I had stretchy skin until an orthopedist pointed it out. And more importantly, I never realized that these seemingly harmless traits would predispose me to other serious health issues like POTS. I am very fortunate that my joints seem to be holding up okay so far (knock on wood!) and feel for all the EDS patients who have already had multiple joint replacements at my age or younger. EDS manifests differently in each patient although most of us share those hallmark traits of flexible skin and joints. Some people have very severe cases which can result in disability and even death, and others are plagued by milder cases that don't impose a major impact on daily life.

If you are extremely flexible and suspect you or someone you know may suffer from EDS, please talk to your doctor about it. And consider getting a referral for genetic testing. Diagnosis can lead to more comprehensive, tailored treatment and can help doctors and surgeons determine safer means of treatment. For instance, when I was struck with appendicitis and found myself in an emergency situation, I was able to inform the surgeon and anesthesiologist of my EDS before surgery. They took extra special care of me because of my EDS diagnosis, paying careful attention to the position of my jaw during surgery, as it is prone to dislocations. Knowledge is power. Take ownership of your health to help your healthcare team provide you with the best care possible!

Cosmopolitan Magazine Covers Dysautonomia!

In case you haven't seen it yet, there is currently an article on Cosmopolitan.com written by fellow dysautonomia patient Ilana Jacqueline, who provides Cosmo readers with a firsthand account of her experience with POTS. Here's the link to her story.

http://www.cosmopolitan.com/advice/health/rare-diseases?click=main_sr

Thanks Ilana, for sharing your story with all those Cosmo readers out there!

Year in Review

Although I don't write a Christmas letter or anything of the sort, I figure my dear blog readers tune in from time to time throughout the year and are probably all too aware of the health goings-on in my life. So I will try my best to keep this brief and not too negative. It has been one heck of a year to say the least!

Let me start with the good. Certain aspects of my health have improved significantly. My resting heart rate is good! Normally anywhere between 56 and 66 beats per minute on any given day. And there have been many days where my standing heart rate hasn't been so bad either! (70's, 80's, 90's, I rarely reach the 100's anymore!) I am always thrilled to check my blood pressure monitor and see relatively normal numbers there too. It helps me breathe easier when I think about how those same numbers used to look a year ago. Can I say my POTS is gone? Well, no. There are days when my HR still spikes upon standing, I still get the occasional dizzy spell and brain fog seems to plague me on a daily basis. But when I compare my symptoms and my numbers to what they were 5 years ago the difference is dramatic. And there are even some days where I even feel somewhat normal.

In terms of chronic pain and limitations however, this has been the worst year of my life. The TMJD pain is unbearable half the time and it impacts my life severely. I have had to drastically modify my diet to soft foods exclusively and master the art of being quiet which has proven very difficult both emotionally and functionally. It is really tough to not be able to make phone calls to doctors or insurance companies. Not to mention not being able to speak to friends and family very often. I have had to shell out $1300 for a home ultrasound machine like the kind they used on me in Physical Therapy after my insurance company cut off physical therapy completely. It is about the only thing that brought me any real relief. I am currently going through the appeal process with my insurance company about covering the ultrasound machine as durable medical equipment for a chronic condition.

A local neurologist also thinks Botox injections would help quell the muscle spasms in my jaw and facial muscles, but insurance does not want to cover that either because it is not FDA approved for anything other than the treatment of migraines (which I am not having). Although my medical insurance does cover TMJD, they certainly don't seem to cover any of the treatments that have worked for me. So the battle continues. Sadly, this type of battle has become all to familiar to many of us. Having to fight for the basics all the while fighting our own battles against our ailing bodies. My wish for the new year is that less people will suffer and struggle with their insurance companies. That we will not have to fight as hard to receive adequate treatment and relief.

May my friends and readers experience improved health and  relief from chronic conditions in 2013. Keep on fighting the good fight and never never never give up!

Holiday Giveaway Courtesy of Katie's Knits!

'Tis the season for fabulous knitted goods! And Katie's Knits has plenty of them! She does everything from custom blankets to handbags, all created with love and care.

It is no surprise that there is a lot of talent in the chronic illness community and Katie's happens to be knitting. I have great respect for anyone who can knit as I simply lack the patience for such painstakingly intricate work. But Katie has a flair for it. She uses the softest, high quality yarn and crafts her creations with convenience and practicality in mind. I am in love with this purple handbag.

And these cute coin purses, which are very handy on a wheelchair.

And these scarves. I am particularly fond of the pink one!

If you'd like to win some lovely knitted goods just in time for Christmas, please comment on your favorite item below and head over to Facebook and 'like' the Katie's Knits page. 

I will be selecting three lucky winners drawn randomly from a Santa Hat on Monday, December 17, 2012. Good luck!

In the meantime, if you'd like to purchase some of Katie's Knits, contact her about a custom creation via her Facebook page to take advantage of special holiday pricing!