Sarah1950's Journal, 12 August 2019

Happy new house!!! And good luck with shaping up 

Hi, Sarah -- No question, going from "exurb" or country living all your life to city living is quite a change. I hope you're able to build a "home" for yourself in your new house. In 2000, I relocated 750 miles from my home and moved into an apartment. A year later, I bought a 2700sf house but an unexpected(!) divorce in 2003 drove me back into an apartment with a closet-sized storage area. I had to get rid of a lot of stuff. Each move was painful, but I slowly condensed my "comfort" belongings (things that make me feel "at home"). Several years later, I moved into my new husband's established household - 1400sf, no basement. I liked all his furniture, though, and so got rid of mpst of mine, which was old anyway. Fortunately, the love we have transformed this place into feeling like I've always lived here. Still, my books and other favorite "extra" things are concentrated in my office/playroom -- where I sleep in a recliner due to my back and our snoring!  

It's almost impossible (for me, at least) to follow a WOE consistently during a move. (I know. I've had to move many times!) So, go easy on yourself right now as you establish a brand-new "home base" while you acclimate yourself to a new community with new traffic patterns and new emotional patterns. If neighbors haven't stopped by to introduce themselves, you might pick someone who seems most approachable and introduce yourself. "The natives" may be amenable to steering you toward pleasant parks and shopping spots, houses of worship (if that's important to you), and entertainment opportunities. While you're getting settled, make any adjustments in your WOE that aren't working and make a plan. You will surely feel more comfortable in the environment when you feel more comfortable in your body. Best wishes and good luck! 

Me again! After rereading your profile, I can see why I was already "following" you: We have many of the same health issues, although I don't have COPD. One of the recent changes I've made in my diet, dropping most of the dairy, has effected the most improvement in my mobility. I have osteoarthritis in my neck, low back, knees (bone-on-bone on the left), and feet. Almost as soon as I traded heavy whipping cream for coconut milk in my coffee and tea, and began limiting cheese and ice cream, my arthritic pain all but disappeared! An autoimmune skin condition forced me to switch my NSAID, which I'd taken for 30 years, to acetaminophen. In the past, acetaminophen didn't touch my arthritic pain. However, since dropping my dairy intake, I take only 1000 mg acetaminophen at bedtime, and I'm thinking of stopping that, too. That's it! I consider this a minor miracle! Dropping dairy consumption has also eliminated my postnasal drip and runny nose. This might be a strategy for you as well. 

Any vegetable matter gives me atrocious heart burn... Might I suggest papaya enzymes. (I get them at gnc) they are fast effective and fewer bad things in them than tums etc.  

Mira, acetaminophen isn't an NSAID; and it can damage your liver. Did you try Aleve / naproxen? 

Come on Sarah, you can do this. We are all rooting for you. 

Gz9gig, I know that acetaminophen isn't an NSAID and is bad for the liver. I started it, but only once a day, at the suggestion of my dermatologist, to replace naproxen sodium (Naprosyn/Aleve). I already knew that it'd be ineffective for my arthritis, but I gave it a try per her suggestion. I'd been taking 500 mg naproxen twice daily for *years*, and indomethacin (Indocin) for years before that. All NSAIDS -- including ibuprofen (Motrin) -- are off the table with this autoimmune skin disorder (porphyria cutanea tarda). 

I also tried tramodol HCl (Ultram, an opiate!) about 15 years ago, prescribed by a clueless family practitioner who also didn't know how to manage diabetes. and I felt like I'd been run over by a truck -- pain all over. Then there's hydrocodone/acetaminophen: *That* opiate would take care of nighttime knee pain that was keeping me awake, but the drug makes me stupid-drowsy for 15 hours after I take it. I'm so relieved to have stumbled upon an alternative to medication for arthritic pain while adjusting my LCHF WOE -- losing weight, lowering my blood sugar, and protecting my liver and kidneys, in the process. I couldn't ask for anything more ... unless a do-over was in the cards! 

And that "do-over" would have to include my (current) husband! 

I miss the country life. Not in the city at all but neighbors are still too close for comfort. 

It takes a while to settle into a new home and community. Give yourself 6 months of extra self care. You'll start to feel more at home. 

Thanks everyone...I’ll write more on my move tomorrow. Looking for tips to live in society.  

Carbs loaded with fats is what gives me heartburn. When following my WOE, no issues.  

@Sarah1953, same here. I have a sliding hiatal hernia that lets food escape from the stomach into the esophagus. It had caused heartburn for which I took an OTC antacid (like Tums, only cheaper). Then, I developed a chronic cough -- without pain -- when I reclined at night, also related to the hernia. My internist prescribed an acid blocker, but when I stopped eating heavy carb-and-fat combination foods, all my upper GI symptoms disappeared. Every diet-related "remedy" convinces me all over again that I'm on the right tract with my WOE. 

Even fat has a funny concept as well sometimes it sticks to the arms, sometimes it sticks to the belly but sometimes it sticks to the face. A person looks more ugly when his fat sticks to his face and if in such a scenario there is a woman then she can be certain that she is going to have a lot of complexes because of Face fat. Reference: https://dailytrendsnewz.com/how-to-lose-face-fat/ 

Just moved myself and it’s hard to have the time or energy to eat well. Don’t be hard on yourself. You can do this! 

👩‍⚕️ 👨‍⚕️ And, and as always, check with your doctor/nurse practitioner before making any major medical or medication changes. (Just read the other comments!) 

@me,myselfandi - Absolutely! Do not change meds or dosages without consulting your prescribing medical professional. Some meds require careful dosage tapering to stop safely. Also, my sharing about my medical situation is just that: one story. Take it as "information," AND do your due diligence! Do not assume that works for one person may not work for others. 

I see my doctor regularly.