9/4 Loose Lips_coffee chat

[Tena and Curry(GA)]

My experiment with reducing Curry's flovent was derailed after a week. Her numbers went up to 125 at pre-meal. Didn't know if it was do to the maintence guy coming in the apartment that day so I just decided to go back to the regular maximum dose. Have begun to add fish oil to her food. Its good for reducing inflammation and Curry seems prone to inflammation related medical problems. Might try the flovent reduction again in a month or so after the fish oil gets on board. We continue w/the kitty bootcamp which seems to be helping in terms of her muscles utilizing the insulin better. Chasing treats can't be all bad, eh? Its funny.....when Curry plays she doesn't actually play w/the toy like Sidney....she just likes to run....I'll put the toy on the opposite side of the cube and she'll come charging down the hallway, run through the cube and past the toy.

Work has been fairly stressful since my co-worker left two months ago. Just very busy since I'm managing all the patients in the clinic. Hopefully that will change in a month or so. We'll see.

I began a Mindfulness Meditation course last week. Its an 8 week course for 2.5 hours on Thursday evening and then an all day event. Its what I call a 2fer....2 for one......learn and practice the skills for myself and then hopefully be able to share w/my patients in a support group I lead. If anyone is interesting in learning more about it, you can check out the information here: http://www.mindfulnesstapes.com/ I have to chuckle.....One of the tasks we had to endure was eating a raisin mindfully. Uh, don't really like raisins unless they are in something, but did the task anyway. Did you know that if you put a raisin up to your ear and squish it, you can actually HEAR it. My first raisin had ET's face on it. Maybe I just thinking about GOiING HOME. :lol: :lol:

Temp in Houston is 81 w/a high of 91. Yipppeeeeeeeeeee. Its Fall in Houston,TX. :lol:

 

[Karrie and Maverick]

It's been recommended for me to try meditation by my psychiatrist. I have anxiety but its in my body not in my mind. My mind is amazing at blocking thoughts and avoiding dealing with things and my body feels it. I fear opening up my mind though. I had homework this month and I've avoided it. I will check out the link. I've done Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and the behaviour components helped immensely.

I read an article linked somewhere on the inhaled meds forum on yahoo that fish actually was a factor IN inflammation. I stopped feeding Maverick fish after this. He was given tuna once a week. He was also arthritic and had reactions to vaccines so I wonder if it was an immune system issue. I see a lot of posts about fish reducing inflammation but I am positive the article stated it was inflammatory for some cats. It was on my old laptop. I'll try and find it so we can discuss it.

I love that Curry loves to just run. You'll have to post a video. Are they still getting along swimmingly?

Henry my overweight adoptee goes for xrays on his back/legs on Tuesday. He is VERY overweight but only two years old. I wonder what the vet will see.

Sorry about work being so stressful Hoping it starts to get better for you.

 

[Ann & Maggie11 (GA)]

Hi Tena, so nice to hear from you and Curry. I'd also be interested in looking into the Mindfulness Meditation course. I took a Meditation Relaxation self hypnosis type class from a Psychology Professor at Penn State who was doing a research project on it for patients. It was so long ago, but I remember it was extremely helpful to me at the time.

 

[julie & punkin (ga)]

i posted on punkin's condo with a dilemma i'm faced with about anya - if anyone would want to offer me some ideas, i'm sure open to it. http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=51522

i did a mindful eating class with my foster daughter - incredibly good. the teacher wrote the book "Mindful eating, mindful life." Mary Ann Wallace. i did it for my FD, didn't think i had eating issues, but in the course of a "mild hypnotic regression" realized i did. as a kid, like many kids, i had to sit at the table and finish foods that i loathed, and realized that is why i am so quick to tell kids that they don't have to eat what they don't like. i am almost compulsive about it. even now, knowing i do it, i almost can't stop. did it a couple of weeks ago when there were teens here. knew it, but still found the words coming out of my mouth.

anyway, we did the eat a raisin type of thing too. it doesn't do much for me but it's a good practice to not inhale your food mindlessly (are you listening punkin?) :lol: i'll go look at your link next.

karrie, you've got lots of company in holding the stress in your body. i suspect most of us do it somewhere. i grind my teeth and have broken some of them. yay for that! :shock:

at the moment i've been telling myself "i'm the rock in the middle of the raging stream. i don't have to let other people's turmoil move me or change me." it helps. i think changing how we think takes a lot of practice!

 

[Tena and Curry(GA)]

It's been recommended for me to try meditation by my psychiatrist. I have anxiety but its in my body not in my mind. My mind is amazing at blocking thoughts and avoiding dealing with things and my body feels it. I fear opening up my mind though. I had homework this month and I've avoided it. I will check out the link. I've done Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and the behaviour components helped immensely.

Some of the tapes have a structured meditation where you aren't allowing the mind to open but more to focus on your breathing or a body part. It teaches the mind to focus one thing at a time. As the mind wanders, you compassionately bring your attention back to the breathing or the body scan activity. The process of focusing and re-focusing on one thing can change the tension that is unconsciously held in the body. The focus is not to relax but to focus and re-focus on one thing. There was an interesting article published this year in Psychiatry Reserach: Neuroimaging that spoke about the benefits of Mindfulness Meditation. An interesting read. It increased the gray matter in the brain. I can always use more gray matter....in my brain....not on top of my head. :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[Sienne and Gabby (GA)]

Those of you who are wanting a mindfulness book that focuses on its use with anxiety may like this book by Orsillo, Roemer, & Segal. These authors have done the groundbreaking work in applying Kabat Zin's and others work to anxiety.

 

[Sherry & Zoe (GA)]

My experiment with reducing Curry's flovent was derailed after a week. Her numbers went up to 125 at pre-meal. Didn't know if it was do to the maintence guy coming in the apartment that day so I just decided to go back to the regular maximum dose. Have begun to add fish oil to her food. Its good for reducing inflammation and Curry seems prone to inflammation related medical problems. Might try the flovent reduction again in a month or so after the fish oil gets on board.

Temp in Houston is 81 w/a high of 91. Yipppeeeeeeeeeee. Its Fall in Houston,TX. :lol:

Hi Tena....

I am curious...how does Flovent affect BG? The way I understand it.....the Flovent molecule is too large to cross from the lungs into the blood so there are minimal if any systemic effects from inhaled flovent. Being that it is a steroid, if it did cause systemic effects then diabetes (and increased blood sugar) would be a concern. Flovent works in the lungs to keep the inflammation in the lungs (asthma, bronchitis) controlled. So increased Flovent would/could mean increased blood sugars, not the other way around.

Yay for Fall....we have started to see lower temps here in Florida, too....such a relief...to have 89 be the high instead of 100! :mrgreen: Have a great day.....and LOVE the new picture of Curry. By the way....Zoe plays the SAME way...runs by the toy.

 

[julie & punkin (ga)]

love the reviews for that book, sienne. the last comment on the book starts out with the "product description"

You can't just "get over" anxiety. In fact, the very things most people do to try to feel better--avoiding feared situations, pushing worry out of mind--only make the problem worse.

one of the things Dr. Wallace does is to have you just "sit" with yourself. she teaches this thing called FEAD - feel, embrace, accept and invite divine guidance (however you define that) - instead of feeling your emotion, sit with it and feel it. nurture it and let yourself know that it's ok to feel that way.

with the mindfulness eating exercise she led, she had our class recall sitting at the table as a child having a happy dinner experience. then recalling a negative experience (I was looking at That Plate with Canned Peas), then to step outside of yourself and look at your face (you shoulda seen mine! :shock: :lol: with a great big old EW on it!), then tell your 5 year old self what she needed to hear in that moment to be happy.

I immediately thought "you don't have to eat foods you LOATHE!" - and then came the instant string of revelations - i felt so guilty for blaming my mom for making me eat food, because she made me eat everything because she grew up in the Depression and food wasn't wasted. i didn't make my kids eat anything they didn't like, and hence they are picky eaters. it's was incredibly enlightening to see how one factor influences the next and the next.

:lol: on the gray matter on top of your head, tena!

 

[Tena and Curry(GA)]

Hi Tena....

I am curious...how does Flovent affect BG? The way I understand it.....the Flovent molecule is too large to cross from the lungs into the blood so there are minimal if any systemic effects from inhaled flovent. Being that it is a steroid, if it did cause systemic effects then diabetes (and increased blood sugar) would be a concern. Flovent works in the lungs to keep the inflammation in the lungs (asthma, bronchitis) controlled. So increased Flovent would/could mean increased blood sugars, not the other way around.

I agree. Dr. Moss had said her lungs sounded good on her last exam and her Eosinophil count had decreased since we hade moved to this new apartment. In the old apartment it got so hot that I had to purchase 2 portable a/c units that pulled the crappy Houston air inside and I think that may have exacerbated her asthma. I was wondering if the allergens that caused an increase need for more flovent were not as much a factor any more since I moved. I'm not sure. So I tried the experiment. I may have aborted it too soon. In a couple of days time she showed me a 67 again. If she needs to stay on the 880 mg of Flovent a day in order to reduce the inflammation in her lungs, I'mg OK w/that. But if the move to the new apartment has allowed for less inflammation in her lungs.....then I wanted to try less Flovent.

 

[Tena and Curry(GA)]

Those of you who are wanting a mindfulness book that focuses on its use with anxiety may like this book by Orsillo, Roemer, & Segal. These authors have done the groundbreaking work in applying Kabat Zin's and others work to anxiety.

Thanks Sienne.

 

[Sherry & Zoe (GA)]

I agree. Dr. Moss had said her lungs sounded good on her last exam and her Eosinophil count had decreased since we hade moved to this new apartment. In the old apartment it got so hot that I had to purchase 2 portable a/c units that pulled the crappy Houston air inside and I think that may have exacerbated her asthma. I was wondering if the allergens that caused an increase need for more flovent were not as much a factor any more since I moved. I'm not sure. So I tried the experiment. I may have aborted it too soon. In a couple of days time she showed me a 67 again. If she needs to stay on the 880 mg of Flovent a day in order to reduce the inflammation in her lungs, I'mg OK w/that. But if the move to the new apartment has allowed for less inflammation in her lungs.....then I wanted to try less Flovent.

OK....I get it, why you were trying to reduce her Flovent...makes sense! Zoe is on the 880 mg of Flovent and after my attempt to reduce it and the flare up she had (lots of coughing attacks)...I'm sticking with the 880. Zoe is consistent with her BG's ...at least for today! :mrgreen:

 

[squeem3]

Does meditation in general work for stress? I was toying around with the idea of maybe trying meditation to deal with daily life issues and stress.

There were so many cute teeny kittens at the shelter today Only 8 weeks old which is a bit too young to be away from mom. Then again Squishy was 6 weeks when I got him and he turned out fine... until he "broke" :razz: Even a supposed 3 month old was tinier than Leroy was at 3 months. And there was a love bug of a just over a year old mostly black female. I had to drop off some donations of cardboard tubes, jingle balls that neither Leroy or Emma play with, and some neat cubbyhole-like boxes I got from BJs. And I had to pick up a refill of Revolution next door at the vet hospital, of course stopping by Squishy's memorial plaque along the way.

 

[Christie & Willie (GA)]

I didn't pull it up before posting, but thanks to whomever posted the Simon cat stuff yesterday... I spent 45 minutes before bed watching those, waking Willie up with my cackling!!

Thanks for all the great suggestions today on meditation, stress, etc. I carry a ton of tension in my body and am working on dealing with it with a series of things... cervical traction pillow, inversion table, back stretcher, back aligner... it all does seem to be helping. I'm also learning about trigger points and have been working on the ones I can reach (massager on order and should be here Wednesday!). I'll have to check out the meditation stuff!! I often use a relaxation CD to help fall asleep... It's funny, i will sit there and listen to the guided relaxation part, thinking "god, this is lame. thank heavens I got this free at a hotel, because seriously?!? LAME!!!" and yet, I've never made it through the whole thing still awake! :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: I actually spent $7 to buy it again from amazon when I lost my copy!

Speaking of all my back stuff.... time to go hang upside down for awhile!!

 

[Beth & Atlas]

one of the things Dr. Wallace does is to have you just "sit" with yourself. she teaches this thing called FEAD - feel, embrace, accept and invite divine guidance (however you define that) - instead of feeling your emotion, sit with it and feel it. nurture it and let yourself know that it's ok to feel that way.

with the mindfulness eating exercise she led, she had our class recall sitting at the table as a child having a happy dinner experience. then recalling a negative experience (I was looking at That Plate with Canned Peas), then to step outside of yourself and look at your face (you shoulda seen mine! :shock: :lol: with a great big old EW on it!), then tell your 5 year old self what she needed to hear in that moment to be happy.

:lol: :lol: :lol: When I went through my First Degree Correllian Training one of the meditation exercises was very similar. To sit still, in the quiet and feel your emotion and own that emotion. Once you dicide to own that emotion you are then ready to deal with it productively through the divine guidance. Meditation is to help you accept what is in front of you and find a pathway to deal with it. The only person who is in control of your feelings is you. No one can make you feel bad. Once you embrace the idea that you feel bad and accept it as yours...you can then move forward away from it in any manner that is good and safe for you.

 

[Tena and Curry(GA)]

Does meditation in general work for stress? I was toying around with the idea of maybe trying meditation to deal with daily life issues and stress.

There were so many cute teeny kittens at the shelter today Only 8 weeks old which is a bit too young to be away from mom. Then again Squishy was 6 weeks when I got him and he turned out fine... until he "broke" :razz: Even a supposed 3 month old was tinier than Leroy was at 3 months. And there was a love bug of a just over a year old mostly black female. I had to drop off some donations of cardboard tubes, jingle balls that neither Leroy or Emma play with, and some neat cubbyhole-like boxes I got from BJs. And I had to pick up a refill of Revolution next door at the vet hospital, of course stopping by Squishy's memorial plaque along the way.

Regarding your question about meditation....Yes it can. Its an interesting process. While I'm meditating I don't necessarily feel relaxed. We did a body scan the other night and had to lie on floor. Ouchie for my back. I couldn't relax at all, but I continued to try and focus on the her words and my breath. The process of bringing my attention back again and again to my breath was the key. Overtime, the idea is to learn and I mean learn to stay in the moment. Focusing on your breath can help to stay in the moment. If you stay in the moment more and more over a period of time the brain begins to change...the mind and body can change as well.

Regarding purchasing Revolution.....I purchase mine online through 4CornersPharmacy in New Zealand. Alot less expensive. I get it from them since I als0 purchase my Flovent for Curry's asthma from them.

 

[Karrie and Maverick]

I wonder for those that feel physical anxiety and avoid things to avoid feeling the physical symptoms - what does meditation do. I have avoided meditation to date as I have a fear that it will just bring on physical feelings of anxiety instead of relaxation. Does this make sense? I know its a question for my psychiatrist huh. I have the saturday night live "deep thoughts" skit going in my mind.

My psychiatrist is working (well trying to) with me on "letting a safe moment be", but I am not allowing any safe moments. If I feel anything it gets such down almost instinctively and not consciously. I'm never angry, I am never sad for myself. I get sad for others but grieving stopped very quickly after Dad and Maverick passed. I like not being the highly emotional person I once was. But I hate that I've lost my courage and strength and I'm tired all the time also. And I haven't done any of my homework for my next appointment. I have two weeks to say I've been practicing letting a safe moment be. I've had a month and a half. He said he's going to work with me to make it a gentle experience. But I have to say once he told me about being blocked and that it was most likely the reason for my fatigue - and I started to see what he was talking about was like a crack in my world opened up. I felt horribly vulnerable and unsettled. The thought of unblocking made me feel like I'd be hit with a universe of feelings all at once and I spent three days highly irritable. But then I started avoiding dealing with it and my status quo was back.

 

[squeem3]

Regarding purchasing Revolution.....I purchase mine online through 4CornersPharmacy in New Zealand. Alot less expensive. I get it from them since I als0 purchase my Flovent for Curry's asthma from them.

I just looked at the 4Corners web site. I could have saved $100 on 4 boxes of Revolution (3 doses/box) I'll have to buy from there next time, which will be in 6 months :? Generally I buy meds from the vet hospital pharmacy because it's just convienient... and gives me a reason to visit Squishy's memory plaque :smile:

I'll have to look into meditation. It seems interesting. There are two area adult community education centers that offer beginners classses in meditation and other ways of dealing with stress and in general body well-being. The centers offer all sorts of neat classes, from arts and crafts to business to cooking to just fun activities. I was looking at taking a sort of health-related class on using the Alexander Technique to minimize pain in hands and wrists... if I can take half a day off from work :-|

 

[julie & punkin (ga)]

i've done meditation off and on for years. i think it's really good for you. i even bought "meditation for dummies!" :lol: to learn how. i led guided meditations as part of stress relief nights with my high school youth groups. stress is a huge problem for people in our society, right down to children. it's not good for any of us.

when my head hits the pillow, i'm out within probably 2 minutes max. literally. when i was in college i took a yoga class and they had you "follow your breath." that's the basic first step of meditation. i settle onto my pillow, take a breath and begin counting. inhale -2-3-4 exhale 2 3 4 - and repeat. that's it. whatever your natural speed of breathing is. i'm asleep in moments. one reason we have trouble sleeping is that our minds won't turn off. the counting helps you turn it off - i think you basically bore yourself to sleep! :lol:

i tried doing a walking meditation recently, but had trouble focusing on it - i was in Portland with tons of people on the sidewalk with me. wasn't really conducive to it. the thing i had read suggested saying 2 positive words, one with each foot.

i do think it changes you - i wouldn't analyze anything, karrie, just "sit" with your breath by counting. i find it very calming. i never think of anything while i'm doing it. that's the whole point, to not think. there's lots of free guided meditations online, too squeem - you don't have to buy anything or even take a class, although that's a nice way to get started.

for me, if my general state of being is frazzled, it's like meditating pulls all the wild hair ends in and tucks them, so i feel more centered and, well, maybe competent is a good word. just more together.

christie, i'm laughing at the image of your apartment with you hanging upside down - does willie play with your eyelashes while you're suspended? i can imagine punkin and anya wondering if i'd lost it and watching me hanging there! i've wondered about those upside down thingies - they probably are awesome for your back.

 

[Tena and Curry(GA)]

christie, i'm laughing at the image of your apartment with you hanging upside down - does willie play with your eyelashes while you're suspended? i can imagine punkin and anya wondering if i'd lost it and watching me hanging there! i've wondered about those upside down thingies - they probably are awesome for your back.

Julie...you are a hoot. I can't stop laughing.....I got such a visual from your comment. :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

One fellow who taught meditation and relaxation said he had a technique for helping folks to fall asleep.

Try counting your breaths up to 100. He said he never knew anyone who could make to 100.

Ni, Ni all

Slept tight.

 

[julie & punkin (ga)]

:lol: i can't help it. the stupidest, most random things just come to me. and then they fall out of my mouth . . .

 

[Karrie and Maverick]

You guys are a hoot. I really am so thankful you guys started this thread. If you guys were closer lunch would be on me. It came at the most perfect time. I'm receptive to it :lol: :lol: :lol: I am committing to you guys by the end of the day I will have made an action on making the meditation reality. My stomach is already fluttering typing that. To this day I avoid anything with butterflies on it - no agendas, greeting cards, etc.

A big part of my ongoing anxiety is that I absolutely hate my job but feel trapped in it. But my physical anxiety prevents me from looking for a new one. I print out opportunities and thats as far as I get. By the time I get back to them the submission deadline has passed. ohmygod_smile ohmygod_smile ohmygod_smile ohmygod_smile I should hire someone once a month to help me :lol: