Hi Dear DoggyGirl!
It is so wonderful to see you posting again....and I'm glad to hear that you are on the mend from getting your repair job! More power to you for drawing the line on the opiates. I also refuse to knowingly take prescription painkillers. We've worked damn hard to have our brains heal from a substance that effs up our dopamine receptors so I really don't want ANYTHING artificial in my system now. We're not gluttons for pain, but we sure as heck understand where drug-induced brain changes can lead and we're not willing to go back to that hell again.
Might I share a few things I have learned (the hard way) about surgical adventures? Whether it's minor or major, getting cut on is REALLY tough on the entire system no matter who you are. I have a neighbor who is an anesthesiologist and she counsels patients that depression is a common side effect of being put under. The physiological cause for this is poorly understood, but there are a number of theories out there. Here's a link to an article that isn't too technical:
No doubt, the fact that you can't get out and move the way you did pre-surgery is another definite link to depression. Our bodies NEED movement to produce those feel-good hormones and neurotransmitters.
And then there's the impact on the GI tract - especially if you're on antibiotics or other medications that impact the intestinal lining where the body produces a bunch of neurotransmitters. Here's another read that I found helpful in understanding this connection:
It's no small wonder that we feel bad after surgery.....so what to do about it?
If you're on antibiotics, send Mr. Doggy to the store STAT to buy a decent probiotic. Even if you're not on ABs, probiotics are generally beneficial for most people on a daily basis so it's worth a try.
Good ol' vitamin C is another great supplement to consider taking megadoses of since surgery also messes with our immune systems. Before my last knee surgery, my holistic doc offered me an IV booster of Vit C and some B's. My recovery was markedly better compared to my other knee surgery a few years prior. Add to that, I was no longer drinking which, no doubt, was another factor in bouncing back to health. I actually got back on ice skates for a gentle glide around the rink within 2 weeks - doctor approved!
You might also want to consider meditation. Beyond all the good chemicals meditation produces, research shows it's even effective in pain management. I've personally never tried it with BIG pain yet, but definitely have had really good outcomes when faced with yoga cramps and extreme discomfort. I'm a fan of doing guided meditation and have a load of free programs on my ipod.Meditation Oasis is one of my favorites.
If I were a betting person, I'd have a real RUFF time deciding who to put my money on in the New Hip Golf Tournament - you or NoSugar's daddy. You both sound like determined people who go after solutions with gusto. Based on what we've seen from you, this down time is just going to make you even stronger! You might even have to add a tag line to your name here: DoggyGirl - The Hipanator v 7.9!
You're on the path....you'll be running on all cylinders again before you know it!
Laura
It is so wonderful to see you posting again....and I'm glad to hear that you are on the mend from getting your repair job! More power to you for drawing the line on the opiates. I also refuse to knowingly take prescription painkillers. We've worked damn hard to have our brains heal from a substance that effs up our dopamine receptors so I really don't want ANYTHING artificial in my system now. We're not gluttons for pain, but we sure as heck understand where drug-induced brain changes can lead and we're not willing to go back to that hell again.
Might I share a few things I have learned (the hard way) about surgical adventures? Whether it's minor or major, getting cut on is REALLY tough on the entire system no matter who you are. I have a neighbor who is an anesthesiologist and she counsels patients that depression is a common side effect of being put under. The physiological cause for this is poorly understood, but there are a number of theories out there. Here's a link to an article that isn't too technical:
No doubt, the fact that you can't get out and move the way you did pre-surgery is another definite link to depression. Our bodies NEED movement to produce those feel-good hormones and neurotransmitters.
And then there's the impact on the GI tract - especially if you're on antibiotics or other medications that impact the intestinal lining where the body produces a bunch of neurotransmitters. Here's another read that I found helpful in understanding this connection:
It's no small wonder that we feel bad after surgery.....so what to do about it?
If you're on antibiotics, send Mr. Doggy to the store STAT to buy a decent probiotic. Even if you're not on ABs, probiotics are generally beneficial for most people on a daily basis so it's worth a try.
Good ol' vitamin C is another great supplement to consider taking megadoses of since surgery also messes with our immune systems. Before my last knee surgery, my holistic doc offered me an IV booster of Vit C and some B's. My recovery was markedly better compared to my other knee surgery a few years prior. Add to that, I was no longer drinking which, no doubt, was another factor in bouncing back to health. I actually got back on ice skates for a gentle glide around the rink within 2 weeks - doctor approved!
You might also want to consider meditation. Beyond all the good chemicals meditation produces, research shows it's even effective in pain management. I've personally never tried it with BIG pain yet, but definitely have had really good outcomes when faced with yoga cramps and extreme discomfort. I'm a fan of doing guided meditation and have a load of free programs on my ipod.Meditation Oasis is one of my favorites.
If I were a betting person, I'd have a real RUFF time deciding who to put my money on in the New Hip Golf Tournament - you or NoSugar's daddy. You both sound like determined people who go after solutions with gusto. Based on what we've seen from you, this down time is just going to make you even stronger! You might even have to add a tag line to your name here: DoggyGirl - The Hipanator v 7.9!
You're on the path....you'll be running on all cylinders again before you know it!
Laura
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