Venus Williams Diagnosed with Sjogren's Syndrome

Take Care of Your Health

Today the news reported that tennis star Venus Williams has dropped out of the US Open Tennis Match due to complications from an autoimmune disease.  Venus is 31 years old and has a systemic disease called Sjogren's Syndrome.   You may be wondering, what is Sjogren's Syndrome?

Venus Williams in jumper at Wimbledon earlier this year.

Sjorgren's Syndrome is a chronic autoimmune disease where the white blood cells attack the moisture producing glands.  It is estimated that over 4 million people -primarily women - have Sjogren's Syndrome in the United States.  
This disease is characterized by dry mouth and eyes, aching joint and muscle pain, overwhelming fatigue and arthritis.

The reason this news story has interest for me is because my mother had Sjorgren's Syndrome.  I watched as Mama's doctors ignored her bodily complaints over the years - telling her it was all in her imagination.  Finally, through a National Institutes of Health research program she was officially diagnosed with Sjogren's Syndrome and able to receive the medical care and support she needed.

If you or someone you love has Sjogren's Syndrome there is help available. The Sjogren's Syndrome Foundation has a website that is a useful resource http://www.sjogrens.org/

My Mama, Helen Beery

When you are not happy with a doctor's diagnoses it is ok and important to visit another doctor and get a second opinion.  
I learned the importance of a second opinion in 1997 when I had a cancer diagnose.  My original doctor was able to diagnose the cancer.  However, he did not diagnose the full extent of the cancer.  If I had only followed his treatment plan, the cancer would have returned and I may not be here.  Receiving a second opinion I learned that I was in Stage 2 Cancer and would require a full regimen of treatment to eradicate the cancer.  I was able to recovery, remarry and have a second child - all after the cancer. 

Keep in mind your body belongs to you.  How you care for and treat your body is your decision.  
As a person enters into recovery from an addiction, they may notice all sorts of body aches and pains that they were unaware of before.  Getting a good physical is an important first step in taking care of yourself.  My mother passed away 6 years ago tomorrow. She was only 70 years old.  If she understood her disease and was able to receive an early diagnose she might be alive today.  

www.stages2change.com

3 Keys to Embracing Hope

If you hang out with me for any length of time, you will discover that I take pictures everywhere I go.  I saw these words on a sign during a Christmas visit to Washington, DC.  The words are "embracing hope."  
Being a relatively new full time caretaker to my disabled husband has sunk me into a premature grief.  I have come to accept that he is not going to get better and our life will change permanently.  Coming to this realization, I found myself  depressed.  
I have always found the spoken word helpful when I am discouraged.  On my shelf I had three volumes of tapes from motivational Christian speaker Zig Ziglar.  Driving in my car, I began to listen to his encouraging and very funny teaching.  Zig talked about having hope.  
Hope is a critical element in considering the future.  Without hope, well, frankly a person may think about giving up.  
Contemplating the word H-O-P-E . . . I think of how powerful that four letter word really is.  Hope - is a word based on today with a promise of good things for the future.  
Where does our hope come from?  Is it possible to self-generate hope?  
I have found there are three keys to embracing hope:  
The first key is having faith.  Realizing there is a higher power a God who will never leave nor forsake me.  I do not have to face my future alone.  
The second key is being in community. When I hang out with friends or family, I feel a sense of belonging and love.  Again, I realize I am not alone.  
The third key is reviewing my life.  I did not get to be a member of AARP without going through a lot of life experiences.  I have had many challenges and have successfully survived tough times.  In reviewing my life, I realize that I can make it.  Hope is the lifeblood to longsuffering.  Embracing hope is important when the future is unknown. 

www.stages2change.com

Symptoms of Chronic Sleep Deprivation

Not Enough Rest Can Cause Many Problems

Sleep restores the mind and body.

Lately I have been waking up with both of my hands feeling numb.  I may be sleeping wrong - I read somewhere it can be something to do with the spine and the blood flow.  Of course, I may be working on the computer too much.  Or it could be lack of sleep.  I work out of a home office.  For years I was employed at an office.  I was required to get to work early in the morning and developed a daily routine of getting up early and staying up late.  Way too often I would stay up until the wee hours of the night and than crawl out of bed just making it to work in time.  I became sleep deprived.  I know this because, my body would ache, I was depressed, I felt hazy, and when I returned home I was crabby and exhausted. I had increasing illness and developed high blood pressure. 

It is estimated that close to 74% of Americans do not get enough sleep.  For optimum health, person requires 7 - 8 hours of sleep a day.  Why do we need to sleep?  

Our body's are not designed to go and go and go.  Sleep is God's way of restoring the body, mind and soul.  During sleep the body will fall into REM or deep sleep. Dreams occur during deep sleep.  Dreaming allows our mind to restore and resolve inner conflicts. Dreaming is also a time of heightened intuition.  It is through dreams that a person may resolve problems, develop spirituality or sense a need another person has at the time.  If sleep is interrupted or disturbed in some way there is a lack of deep sleep. 

What are some of the symptoms of not enough sleep?

* Depression and Irritability

* Feeling Stressed Out

* Poor Decision Making

* Headaches

* Inability to Concentrate

* Weight Change

* Increased Illness

Sleep is important to life expectancy.   One of the ways to prolong your life is to get enough rest. Tonight, go to bed early and when you are able - take a nap.  Let your body regenerate.

www.stages2change.com

Dispelling the Myths of Change

I Want to Change But . . . 

"Only those who dare to fail greatly can every achieve greatly."  Robert F Kennedy

Many times we know we need to make a change.  We may even want to make a change.  We might even take the first step to change.   But something happens . . . .we stop, get redirected, give up, reconsider, or just plain quit.  What is going on?  Why is change so hard?

Let's face it we are creatures of habit.  Even when life is not ideal, we would rather keep it the same . . .than face the risk of making a change.

I have discovered that there are some myths about change.  These myths - if believed to be true - will get in the way of making a change.  Here are four myths about change:

Myth 1 - The belief that life is stable.  The truth is that life is full of change.  Change is going to happen, so we might as well plan for the change.

Myth 2 - The belief that change is an admission of failure.  The truth is that making a change may be the result of growing in maturity.  The desire to live life in a more healthy manner is not a sign of failure - it is just the opposite a sign of maturity.

Myth 3 - The belief that change should be spontaneous.  The truth is that our lives do have daily goals and structure.  Why not plan some healthy change?

Myth 4 - The belief that change will make matters worse.  The truth is that healthy change will bring about a more positive lifestyle which makes a person better able to handle life.

Perhaps you are thinking about making a change.  You need to know that change is possible.  You can decide to make a change for your life to be better.  Today may be the day that you take the first step toward living a healthy life.

To learn more about change check out the website:  www.stages2change.com

Taking a Risk for Better Health

You Can Do It!

  
Traveling through Iowa, I took a picture of a sign that was a good reminder to me about making changes and taking risks.  The sign was written to remind parents and encourage children to keep taking small risks. 

Risking is key to growing up.

Risks are about making changes, and changes are never easy.  When is the last time you took a risk?  I mean really attempted to do something that you thought was scary or could be disastrous?  Did you know that risking is key to growing up?

As a child, taking risks is  commonplace.  It is all apart of being young and experiencing new things.  When we become adults, we can stop taking risks.  We can develop daily habits and routines that are often hard to change.  Sometimes these habits and routines are not the most healthy. What if you did a little experiment to see how easy it would be for you to make a change?

You could mix up your daily routine in some way.  For example: if your morning routine is to crawl out of bed, pull on your robe, step into the kitchen and pour a cup of coffee, sit in the recliner and read the paper before facing the world . . . you could change your morning routine and see how easy it is for you.  Perhaps you get up, get dressed, go for a half a mile walk around the neighborhood, come home, have coffee and then read the paper.  How well would you adapt to the change in routine? 

Sign in play area in the Des Moines, Iowa Science Museum

Recovery from addiction requires many small changes and many risks.  Recovery is choosing to let go of unhealthy habits and choosing to embrace healthy habits.  Taking risks and making healthy changes is easier when you are not alone.  A supportive community and recovery counselor can walk with you through this process.  Decide today to take that first risky step towards good health.  You will be glad you did.

To learn more about how to overcome addiction and develop a healthy lifestyle check out our webpage at:  

www.stages2change.com

3 Steps to a Healthy Body

Last night I was reading in one of Dr. Gregg Jantz’s books on how to have hope and how to be healthy. I thought I would do an experiment and try his three easy steps – just for today.  The steps are very simple:  first do not weigh yourself, second eat a healthy breakfast and third move your body for 15 minutes.  

I don’t weigh myself anymore. The last time I stood on a scale, I felt it was staring back at me with a condemning finger and critical eye saying “YOUR FAT!”  Not weighing myself was an easy step to take.

I am not much of a donut, sugary cereal breakfast person so that was not too hard either.  I poured myself a bowl of granola with dried fruit and poured 1% milk on the granola.  Yummy breakfast.  I did drink a cup of VIA Starbuck’s coffee with cream – weak point for me.  After I dropped my son off at school, I decided to do step 3.  Move my body. Exercise for exercise sake has NEVER been easy for me.  Recently I have gotten lazy enjoying naps and sitting at my computer.


Today I chose to make the effort to move my body for fifteen minutes.  The morning was fresh and cool; I was reminded of a duck pond near our home.  Pulling in the parking lot I noticed someone feeding the ducks.  I found the path and walked around the lake.  As I strolled around the lake I noticed a group of geese landing in formation feet first on the lake.  I was amazed at how they were in a V shape and all landed with their feet touching the water in unison.  I thought of how God has created us to do amazing things and it is natural to use our gifts talents and abilities.  Like the geese we too can work together in unison, making a beautiful display of God’s handiwork for others to notice.  Just for today, I did take the 3 steps for a healthy body.  Just for tomorrow, I may do it again!

www.stages2change.com