Should People With Chronic Illness Become Pet Owners?

A big thanks to guest blogger Sandra Scott of Simple Living for weighing in on an important topic I have been pondering for quite sometime myself. Although I don't have a dog or cat yet, it is definitely something I'd like to do within the year.

So you want to become a pet owner. The rewards almost always outweigh the amount of work and the risk that your new furry companion may ruin your favorite shoes, rug, or sofa. However, there are a few important factors to consider before committing your time, energy, and income to a new pet.

For starters, consider your personal energy level. If you suffer from a chronic illness, you may also experience pain or debilitating fatigue at times. Would you be able to walk a rambunctious dog everyday? Or would a calm and cuddly feline companion be more suited to your unique needs? Also consider the potentially negative effects of pet dander and fur on your health. As long as you are able to keep your house and pets clean, pet dander probably won’t pose a significant threat to your health (unless you are asthma and allergy prone). If you do happen to be dander-sensitive, consider a cute turtle or even a beautiful array of tropical fish.

Every pet is different, and some require more maintenance and attention than others, but every pet is worth it in their own special way. If you find it difficult to meet your dog’s grooming needs, there are plenty of places to take them in for doggy beauty treatments fairly affordably. That said, it is still important to factor your pet’s potential grooming and veterinary needs into the monthly budget along with their food to determine whether or not you can really afford an animal.

Although experts can’t seem to agree on exactly why this phenomenon occurs, it has been proven that pet owners enjoy better overall health and longevity than their petless peers. I would like to think it has something to do with the power of unconditional love and companionship. Even when your health fails, your pet will remain a loyal companion by your side no matter what. They expect love and attention in return, but as long as you are able to adequately meet the basic needs of your pet (food, water, clean shelter, and some exercise) then getting a creature companion may be a feasible and wonderful option, and may even serve to improve your overall health. Or at the very least, improve your mood. Who wouldn’t love to see a wagging tail and happy grin every time they’re feeling blue and under the weather? As far as I’m concerned, there’s no better way to brighten a day.

From Worrier to Warrior

Worrier: A person who torments oneself with or suffers from disturbing thoughts, cares, anxieties; one who frets.

Warrior: A person who shows or has shown great vigor, courage or aggressiveness; soldier.

Seems it has been awhile since I posted a general health update on all the random happenings of my crazy body. And a lot has been happening. The year was off to a crappy start with an emergency appendectomy that seemed to set the tone for the rest of the health craziness that would ensue. I was just relieved I awoke from surgery and that it had been a completely routine procedure free from any major complications. I had some MAJOR tummy troubles before (probably just my appendix going bad) and after the appendectomy but I saw a GI doc who gave me some medication to take briefly that seemed to do the trick and I am now on a once-daily acid-reflux medicine called Dexilant. It is a great drug. Not quite strong enough to knock out all of the acid when I eat junk foods, but on the days I forget to take it I notice what a big difference it is making. And unlike Prilosec which I had a hard time remembering to take twice daily, I only have to take Dexilant once daily (and believe me, that's hard enough to remember!) The caveat? It is an EXPENSIVE drug. Luckily I am now enrolled in a prescription discount program sponsored by the manufacturer so I get a 30-day supply for $20 instead of over $200. I hate the fact that I am now on a daily prescription as I try not to take anything since my body is hyper-sensitive to meds. Luckily I haven't experienced any noticeable side effects from the Dexilant so I will continue my daily regime in addition to improving my dairy-free diet which I am hoping to gradually make more alkaline in the near future.

For several weeks after the appendix surgery I was worried I might be experiencing gastroparesis symptoms as so many other potsies do, but my ravenous appetite has now returned and so I am convinced it was just acid reflux coupled with a little post-surgical constipation. Although I did not take any narcotic pain medicine after surgery, apparently constipation is almost a given side effect of any abdominal surgery even among the general population. I even received my first (and hopefully last ever) enema in the ER this year a few weeks post surgery. Talk about uncomfortable. However it was also comforting to discover that I am not the only one who has had to resort to such extreme and unpleasant measures after abdominal surgery, for once I was dealing with a COMMON problem. Which was refreshing for a change. And my scars are tiny and healed very quickly. They are barely noticeable anymore.

Speaking of skin, next month I have to see the dermatologist to get a "suspicious" looking toe mole biopsied. I knew all those years of daily flip-flop wearing would eventually catch up with my feet. No one ever puts sunscreen on their toes. It is an overlooked area of the body. I also have a few other spots they will probably want to biopsy since I have a family history of skin cancer. I doubt it is anything serious, but my insurance deductible finally having been met dictates that it's time to knock that appointment out of the way. Last Valentine's Day my mom had a basal-call carcinoma removed (successfully) from her face and that served as a big warning sign that it's time to pay more attention to my skin. My grandpa is also currently undergoing various skin cancer treatments including a new laser-light treatment to remove pre-cancerous growths all over his head. I am really hoping that this new treatment will clear it up for him because it's a painless, non-invasive approach and he has undergone painful removal procedures several times already.

Truth be told, random but important appointments like the dermatologist visit have taken low priority these past few months as I've been struggling with the worst pain of my life from intense TMJD headaches. I seem to be stuck in the bargaining stage of grief where I can't help but wish it were any other joint affected but my TMJ. That is the one I need to use the most in order to speak, feed myself, function. It is so hard to get by in the world without talking. People take that ability for granted everyday. I know I did. This pain really plays head-games with me since it is worst after speaking or eating (basically the two things I live for). It feels like my body is punishing me anytime I try to be myself and reclaim my lost identity by making a phone call or eating a burger (with a knife and a fork, swallowing the bites whole). My jaw goes out and the pain sets in. Punishment for doing the things I enjoy. Heck, just for doing the things that are necessary to sustain life. A food-loving girl can only survive off of smoothies and soy yogurt for so long. And I tend to lose all my marbles when I'm starving and not eating the kinds of foods that my body demands. Throw in days upon weeks upon months of pain-induced sleep deprivation and it's a recipe for disaster and dysfunction. Just getting through each day has proved to be quite a challenge the past few months and the pain has reached a point where the intense menstrual cramps I am accustomed to getting every month pale in comparison (although they have not changed in intensity at all). In fact, if anything my periods have been getting progressively more painful over time too (will deal with that one later as a trip to the gynecologist is not high on my priority list at the moment either). It's just that I know from past experience that my period represents a temporary state of pain, which makes enduring it much more bearable. There is an end in sight. TMJD pain has been discouraging because I seem to get the pain episodically but unfortunately these flare-up episodes last for months on end with no apparent rhyme or reason and I never know when the pain will finally cease. If the smell of BenGay didn't redden and burn my eyes so badly I would be rubbing it all over my face, head and neck on a daily basis.

Needless to say I have been "doctoring" for my TMJ issues again out of sheer desperation and have finally stumbled upon a few knowledgeable practitioners who didn't dismiss my pain with a prescription for valium and a box of tissues (as my gem of a PCP did at the beginning of this flare-up). I am now seeing a physical medicine doctor who specializes in pain management. He has a solid understanding of the complexities of the musculoskeletal system and has seen a few other EDS patients as well.

I am also seeing a physical therapist who has worked with Dr. Tinkle in treating his EDS patients. My jaw must have dropped open in disbelief when he not only knew what EDS was but had successfully treated it before. I will be attending physical therapy sessions with him 2-3 times weekly and receive an ultrasound treatment to each TMJ which so far has helped immensely considering I've only had two sessions. I'm optimistic that ultrasound therapy will provide some relief as my pain seems to be muscular in nature. I am also undergoing the needles in acupuncture again twice weekly for now but hoping to wean off to once weekly soon.

I gave massage another go last week with a knowledgeable practitioner who had actually had a cervical fusion surgery a few years back. I was also impressed with how well she knew the body but I am going to hold off on massage a bit longer as I think I'm doing too much right now and the sheer number of appointments every week alone is exhausting. Massage is supposed to be relaxing but I'm too stressed out by all these appointments to fully enjoy it. Once I wean off the acupuncture I would like to incorporate massage into my weekly regime. Thank god I had that appendectomy and my insurance is finally kicking in to cover these treatments (until the end of the year, that is!) I am dreading the day January 1st rolls around when I will have another deductible to meet before I can receive treatment of any kind.

Oh, also one more totally random finding worth mentioning that I probably haven't shared yet. This year so far I have had multiple x-rays (which revealed nothing except for constipation), two or three abdominal CT scans (found appendicitis), one head CT scan (they found a sinus infection on that one, told them I didn't need a CT to know that...) and an MRI of my TMJ's. I am supposed to get a full upright MRI of my head, neck and spine to check for an acquired chiari malformation and all related issues but I have decided to wait until after my birthday to do that because I'm not sure if I'm emotionally equipped to deal with another bad test result right now. Earlier this year my doctor decided to order an ultrasound of my neck to examine the lump in my throat I felt upon swallowing (which reminds me I have not yet scheduled the endoscopy I am supposed to get either. TOO MANY TESTS!) Anyway I did not expect them to find anything at all on the neck ultrasound. Figured it would just be another futile test, but to my chagrin they did find a small thyroid tumor. At 3 mm it is still too small to needle biopsy so it is just something I will have to have monitored yearly to make sure it doesn't grow any bigger. If it does then I will have to have a biopsy. But for now it is not dangerous and highly unlikely that it is any type of cancer. The endocrinologist I saw seemed pretty confident that thyroid tumors are an extremely common incidental finding and most of them are not harmful. Nonetheless it was and still is difficult for a worrier like me to forget that it is there...

Which brings me to my closing thoughts. The chronically ill are a very special population. We are not just worriers. We are also warriors. Can we be both simultaneously? Yes, although the two concepts would seem at odds to most people. We assume both roles everyday without even realizing it. Being a warrior is hard work. Not worrying about our health is even harder. I cannot imagine any of my "normal" friends or relatives enduring the endless medical tests and treatments we have. It takes persistence. Patience. Mental and physical fortitude. In between doctors' appointments, we often forget to live. Or at least I do. My goals have gone from hosting my own talkshow to simply making it to my next doctor's appointment on time. But does it really matter if I am on time? Or even in one piece when I arrive? Not so much in the grand scheme of things. I have accepted the fact that I am imperfect. All the labels and diagnoses mean very little to me anymore. I just want to be happy and pain-free, warts and all. And to transform my inner worrier into a proud warrior for good. Just like the musically-gifted Mr. Mraz has done...

Adrienne McGuire's EDS Story

I am thrilled to welcome an amazing guest poster to Defying Gravity, Adrienne McGuire. Check out Adrienne's other compelling reads at Daily Path.

I’m 37 years old and was diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome Type III just last year. I have two children who are both very active and require a lot of physical and emotional attention, which can be a real challenge when you’re suffering, which I have been for most of their lives. I saw many different doctors over the years, all of whom proclaimed that they could find no reason for my pain. Some chalked it up to anxiety; others called it fibromyalgia. But I knew there was something else going on.

Hindsight is 20/20; isn’t that what they always say? Looking back now, I can see that my EDS and POTS problems started when I was young with several fainting spells and a distinct inability to withstand any amount of heat without passing out or nearly passing out. I had horrible shoulder and back pain as young as 13 and have ever since. My neck has been in and out of spasm since age 20. At age 22 my entire body began to twitch, which I now know was from overuse. By 25, my legs were constantly aching so badly I was in tears daily. And that was eleven years before my diagnosis.

Last year I had to say goodbye to the old me and say hello to the new me with limitations when a rheumatologist told me I have the hypermobile form of EDS along with a case of POTS that fluctuates with hormones, as do my other EDS symptoms. As I educated myself about the disorder, I realized that the only way to control the symptoms was to slow down. I had to explain to my children that I can’t do all of the physically active things that we used to do, and that was really tough. I mourned my lost abilities to run, hike, carry my kids, and play on playgrounds. I had a mental break and ended up in the emergency room several times. That was 9 months ago. Today, I am moving forward.

Though I lost some abilities, I gained so much in the way of mental strength and focus. I could no longer work as a legal assistant but I became insanely determined to create a life for myself that worked. By pacing, therapy (both physical and mental), trial and error to find effective medications and supplements, meditation, and learning how to ask for help, I have managed to look at my life with a positive spin. I now wear silver ring splints all the time and other supports as needed for wrists, knees, elbows and neck. I take medications that control my POTS symptoms which means I can get out more, albeit in short bursts. I recently talked to my doctor about getting a wheelchair for long outings. But, overall, when I look at my life now, with a disability, I am so much happier and grounded than I ever was before.

Adrienne McGuire is a writer, website consultant and wellness enthusiast who abandoned the corporate ladder to create a life that worked for her.  Her journey down the road less traveled took her to www.dailypath.com, where she is now an integral part of the writing team.

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Why Hands-Only CPR Could Be Dangerous

One of my biggest phobias is passing out in public. Granted, it has only happened once but it was quite a memorable occasion considering it happened on the day of my college graduation. Luckily, my friend was able to rouse me and I don't think I was out for too long. I was given some water and snacks and muddled through until the ceremony was finally over and I could get the heck out of the blazing sun and into the air conditioner. I thank my lucky stars that no one called 911 and that no one made a huge scene.

Since that day I have hoped that I never ever pass out in public for fear of people making a scene, calling an ambulance or even administering unnecessary CPR. The following public service announcement advocates the use of hands-only CPR, which I am not opposed to at all. I do take issue with the incomplete CPR instructions, however. While I love that this PSA incorporates sign language to drive home the hands-only CPR idea, it's message could be potentially dangerous for a potsy who passes out in public:

"If an adult suddenly collapses, call 911. Then push hard and fast in the center of the chest."

Um, they skipped the part about listening for breathing and checking for a pulse...in the wrong overeager hands, hands-only CPR could result in unintended harm for people who pass out. Just because an adult has passed out does not necessarily mean they have suffered a heart attack. It could be a low-blood sugar issue, a heart arrythmia or orthostatic hypotension.

Always, always call 911 FIRST and FAST! Then, assess the situation quickly. Check the ABC's: Airway, Breathing, Circulation. Make sure their airway is unobstructed and clear. Check to see if they are breathing. Then check their pulse to make sure they have one. If they do have a pulse, DO NOT administer CPR, at least not yet. But keep monitoring their pulse until help arrives. It is also courteous to say something like "I'm here to help," or "Help is on the way." The person may or may not be able to hear you but try to keep them calm and comfort them. If they have any clue what is going on then they are likely pretty terrified. If you do have to administer CPR you may end up breaking a person's ribs, but that is a small price to pay for keeping them alive. And remember, you are protected by the Good Samaritan Law. No one is going to press charges for trying to save their life.