Some of my favorite links:
Mike (my husband)
Hi.
On the 12th of June I went east - to CT & NYC, to visit with family and friends. It was the annual visit sans Mike. I stayed with my parents in CT and sister in Brooklyn.
Saw my grandmother, who has a combination Parkinsons and Alzheimers - so she shakes and can't remember much. That was disconcerting b/c she didn't remember me - she had no clue who I was! That was the 'bad' day. On the 'good' day, she did know me and we joked and talked. Phew! I hope to see her again soon, but if I don't see her before she succumbs more to the memory loss, I feel better about at least having spent some time with her now.Flying, and travelling in general, takes its toll on my system. I was away for 8 days, and had NO PROBLEMS!
What? NO PROBLEMS?! How did I do it?
I think the two, no three, most influential factors are:
Routine
Fiber
Magnesium supplementsYou know how I was experimenting with eliminating dependencies? I took the aloe out and had no reactions, so that is one less input into my morning 'routine'. Also, I began to skip the lemon squoze into boiling water (lemon 'tea'), mainly b/c by the time it was made, I had already had a glass of plain water and moved my bowel!
So, the routine of getting up and drinking some water (less and less is required as time marches on), while pfutzing around in the kitchen for a few minutes is now all that is required to stimulate peristalsis. Sometimes I even go upon waking.
Of course, my goal is just that - to wake and to move without any other stimulus.
Another part of that goal is to be able to make three doodies per day, one after each meal...While traveling, I was able to maintain my morning elimination routine. Flying did not seem to inhibit bowel function at all - and I did bring extra acidolphilus just in case. My naturopath had told me that taking acidolphilus before the flight (as usual in the morning on empty stomach), then midway through travel day, and again in evening will help maintain healthy flora in that stifling environment.
I didn't take extra on the way out 'cause I didn't feel the need. I made my quota of doodies for the day! The return did require the three servings of acidolphilus, and it worked like a charm!
I returned on the 19th. My mother came out on the 22nd to see what's up with her new house (parents are moving out and building a house about 20 miles away). I left on the 24th to go to Washington, DC for 5 days for some meetings and a conference. Basically I had 3 days at home and had to fly again.
ALmost same story - didn't need extra acidolphilus on the way out, nor on the return. Was able to move every morning without much more than a glass or two of water. A couple of days I spent a little more time in the bathroom overall b/c I drank more water thru the day than I probably should have, and b/c I wasn't eating quite as healthy as usual - it's much harder from a hotel than when staying at family!
I am really pleased at how well I am doing. A year ago I had to resort to enemas almost every day I was away. I am so far from that now! I think the last time I used the water bag was easily 3-4 months ago, and that was after several months prior. So I have found a really good combination of factors with which to regain regularity.
(I did take the bag on both trips, just as added security).I realize that my system has been messed up for many decades, and that acquiring perfect health (to quote Deepak Chopra) is a journey of awareness and conscious application, but I am fully confident that I am well on my way. The journey has been difficult at times, but well worth all effort. I look at the past 6 months and know that the next 6 will be equally enlightening.
posted by LST 6/30/2001 07:58:11 AM