7.4.11 ~ Stonington, Connecticut
It’s been a while since I’ve done any blogging, but my back has been getting better by the day. I spent a good deal of time reading Healing Back Pain Naturally: The Mind-Body Program Proven to Work, and Extraordinary Healing: The Amazing Power of Your Body’s Secret Healing System, both by Art Brownstein, MD. The good doctor’s advice and suggestions were just what I needed and were taken to heart.
One thing learned was that quite often a back will act up after a period of stress. That was certainly true with this episode. On the last day of June I reluctantly went in for a routine mammogram. But there have been three false alarms before, when “something suspicious” was seen and I had to go back for a stereotactic biopsy and ultrasounds. Each time there were days and days of waiting, not knowing, and all the waiting and uncertainty made worse by my family history. Happy to report that nothing new was seen on this mammogram, a sigh of relief for a change! But until I knew the result, my muscles must have been tighter than knots, and then trying to distract myself from anxiety by sitting and slouching in front of the computer for a couple of days – it was a perfect recipe for back pain!
So, now I’ve been introduced to my body’s healing system and we’ve been getting to know each other very well. It’s amazing what a shift in thinking can do for our bodies.
Yesterday the kids came over for dinner! Larisa & Dima are settled into their New York City digs and came up here for the day, and Nate & Shea will probably be here in town another month or so before they’re off to Georgia for good. We had such a good time! For some reason it seems that on both sides of our families it’s the men who are the ones who love to cook, and it’s proving true with the next generation, too. Dima made the best deviled eggs I’ve ever had, the filling had avocado, cilantro and lime in it, and a tiny strip of bacon on top. And Nate prepared a fruit salad for dessert, with cantaloupe, raspberries, blueberries, mint leaves and lime zest. Larisa and Tim did their best trying to help me salvage a creamy red pepper sauce (for the pasta) gone horribly wrong – my ineptitude in the kitchen is legendary – I should just buy it in a jar… And Shea kept everyone happy with a mixed drink (I forgot the name of it!) she learned how to make while they were on their cruise.
We’ve had a couple of little thunderstorms and plenty of gloominess and rain today. Wish I could send some of this rain to the places that need it more than we do here…
Glad to hear that you are starting to feel a bit better. I love the photo of the “house” it really is intriguing.
Thanks, magsz2! We don’t have too many houses made of stone around here – I wish I knew the story of this one…
I’m sorry to hear about your back. I kind of know what’s it like. I hurt my back a few times and it can be debilitating. I had to undergo traction, ultrasound tx, muscle relaxants( helps a lot) , back/ abs exercises. I can’t work for a week. The worst part is the fear that it can happen again. Like you, the best healing is the power of your mind, to relax, mediatate. The love and support of family helps a lot. I just took care of patient last night who could hardly walk from pain and I tried as much to ease it. I pray for your fast recovery.
Thank you so much for your sympathy, island traveler!
I think that is one of the things Dr. Brownstein’s books taught me, how not to be in fear of the pain happening again. Fear causes tension which makes it all the more likely another injury will occur. I’m learning to have more confidence in my healing system by listening to it and responding to its subtle messages. I can feel my back responding by relaxing and getting stronger.
So true, what you say, that the power of the mind and the love and support of family and friends is the key. That must be the most difficult part of being a doctor for you, seeing people in so much pain. I have a strong feeling that your bedside manner goes a long way toward helping with the healing process in your patients.
Thank God the follow up tests were good! I’m interested in your journey into healing. And Love the stone house! I could stare at stone all day, I think.
Thank you, Melissa! Now I don’t have to think about it, for a year, anyway. Perhaps I will share more snippets of my journey in future posts – the thing about blogging is I never know how much would be appropriate to share.
I was captivated by the stone house, too. At first we just stopped the car and took some shots, but then I got brave and got out of the car and got a little closer, worried that at any moment someone might come out and scold me for trespassing!
To deal with the mammogram issues and the back issues together, that is quite a lot to handle. Glad that both are resolving.
I love that house. Just imagine how beautiful it was in its day.
Thank you for your well wishes!
I wish I had the time to research the land records in Stonington to see who owned the stone house and when it was abandoned… Or the boldness to climb in the window to see what things besides greenery might be inside…
So glad that the tests didn’t find anything! I have a family history and, while I feel I am doing a good thing being vigilant about mammograms (and have had MRIs and all kinds of other fun tests), I swear each one takes a year off of my life just from the stress of waiting for results. It’s no wonder that your back was bothering you. I’m glad that it’s feeling better, too. And that you had a wonderful time with your family (I don’t stand a chance in the kitchen – fortunately, my husband is a fantastic cook and one of our sons has inherited his culinary genes). Relax and enjoy some much deserved rest!
Thank you, Amiable! I hope by next year I’ll be able to deal with the anxiety differently! 🙂 Waiting is the hardest thing, isn’t it?
I wonder what it is about cooking that is so difficult for us? I swear it is an art and that some have a talent for it while the rest of us muddle through and hope for the best. It’s a good thing natural cooks like to share the results of their creativity!
Barbara — I’m standing up and applauding your words, “So, now I’ve been introduced to my body’s healing system and we’ve been getting to know each other very well. It’s amazing what a shift in thinking can do for our bodies.” — That’s FANTASTIC!
And the food you described sounds absolutely DELICIOUS!
Thank you, Laurie! I’m thinking none of this is new to you since you’re a professional healer. It’s nice to know you approve because this has been an exciting discovery for me…
Will be fondly remembering the good food and the happy family gathering for a long time to come…
I’m so glad to hear you’re feeling better. I read the book Healing Back Pain Naturally: The Mind-Body Program Proven to Work a few years ago, when I was crippled up with back pain. It worked wonders for me too.
The food sounds so good it’s made me hungry. I might have to go in search of something to eat. 🙂
Thanks, Robin! It’s nice to know someone else has had the same experience with the “Healing Back Pain Naturally” book. I hope the relief you got has lasted…
It’s not often we get such good food around here! 🙂 Hope you found something delicious to eat…
The stone house is steady and grounding, like mountains. There’s something about old stone that is so soothing to the soul. May your back heal, and may you live with ease.
Thank you, Monica… It makes sense that because the stones came from the ground they would be grounding. I was drawn to them enough to overcome my fear of trespassing a little and get closer to them. There was a good energy there…
Glad there was some good news.
Thanks, Paul!