Tag: mental-health

The Unhealthy State of Women’s Health

pammunkholm

From where I stand, I see a lack of research, understanding and basic human compassion when it comes to women’s health issues in our current system.

My first experience where I can look back and see that lack in my life was when my oldest son was under a year old. It was the middle of the night and he and my husband were asleep. I was on the floor of the bathroom trying to figure out why I was in so much abdominal pain. Something felt seriously wrong. I had never had this type of pain, let alone something that would put me on the floor in the fetal position. I called my mom and she suggested going in to get checked. I woke up my husband and he grudgingly woke up our son and we all got in the car.

We sat in the ER for way too long and eventually I got into a bed. They did a quick history, took some blood, listened to my guts and declared:

I had gas.

Are you kidding me? Gas is what felt like it was killing me slowly? I felt so foolish for putting my husband and son through an overnight party that nobody wanted to attend. For gas. I didn’t go to the doctor much after that. Unless I knew what it was and how they would be able to treat it. I suffered through a lot due to the embarrassment of that experience.

But it wasn’t just gas. Now I know I was developing severe endometriosis and likely due to the hormone changes of pregnancy and nursing, my symptoms were exacerbated. But nobody can see or diagnose that. So they say it’s gas because then there is an answer. An easy answer that ends their responsibility to care for me. I probably did have gas. But around organs so inflamed I never wanted anything to touch my belly for years after. I thought that was normal. It’s just gas!

After years of working around the issue I finally made the call to have a hysterectomy to end the pain and other issues the endometriosis had caused by having so much scar tissue and thick linings after years of neglect.

Now I am the owner of a body that cannot regulate its temperature. So that’s fun. After my hysterectomy I knew I could not take hormone replacement therapy. When I used it in the past it loosened my muscles. This is a bit of an issue with my body since my ligaments don’t work unless they want to. Muscles are what hold me together. When I take HRT I become the bendiest of noodles.

When I told the doctors I couldn’t take the hormone replacement medication, they literally laughed at me and said, ‘yes I would’. They guaranteed I’d be back for it.

They knew what I was in for and I was clueless. But I did not sense compassion. There was no seeking out another way for me due to my circumstances. There was just a sense of, you have no idea what you are in for, haha. Menopause has always seemed something to keep under wraps but also to laugh at the ridiculous nature of those sufferings its effects. It would have been encouraging to see a doctor offer a direction, instead of only relying on their basic training and rolling their eyes at my arrogance at denying their prescription.

I was in for temperatures rising so much in the first days that I honestly thought my butt was on fire when I sat on our leather couch. For those blessed not to have experienced such things, a hot flash is not something to look forward to. I thought it might be seeing as I’d been cold since the age of 12. I was wrong. I’m still cold. And then I’m so hot I have to take off layers and sit down and I sweat. Then I cool off and I’m soaked. These days it’s not so bad but in the early days, I’d have to stop everything and lean on something and breathe through it like a contraction. But there’s no baby at the end so that’s always disappointing. I couldn’t sleep for more than a couple of hours at a time. Again like having a newborn but I did not smile down in love at my lack of uterus to counter the side effects as you would a baby. This went on following my recovery from surgery and for the entire next year. To say this had an affect on my health is an understatement. I still sweat like the guy in red on Star Trek. Thankfully, other symptoms are not as extreme.

I hope in years to come, more resources will go to women’s health issues since we are half of the population. An important half if I do say so myself. And as we knew all along, and as it has been recently confirmed, we are actually equal to our male counterparts. Make some space, Fellas!

Until such a time as all systems and doctrines catch up to that truth, my suggestion for this week is to build your team. I saw doctors for years before I’d get fed up with them and then take more years before I’d get the energy up to start finding a new one.

Now I make sure that I am getting my time’s worth out of a doctor. Some are worth my time and energy and some are not. But this is not the end of my team. I have a counsellor, a marriage counsellor, an energy massage therapist, a physiotherapist, a reiki therapist, a holistic health professional, a functional medicine doctor and an integrative medicine doctor. I am always keeping my eyes and soul open to other options. Although, I am finding the more I am in the forest, the less I need each of these professionals.

Whatever your pain. Whatever your limitations. You are worth someone taking the time to show compassion and slow down their day enough to think about you in your doctor office time. There are such doctors out there. I went to a walk- in clinic and while prescribing my routine medication I had inadvertently run out of over Christmas break, this extremely busy minor emerg doctor stopped what he was doing to ask if I had any joint pain and if that’s why I was taking this particular med. A conversation ensued which ended with him sincerely saying he wished me well and hoped I’d find some answers. He would be on my team if I needed a family doc.

Keep going. Keep sharing your story. Find peace in the forest and answers will emerge.

If you are interested in joining me for a forest therapy walk, head over to my contact page to book in.

Take care out there, my sweet friends!

Maiden Forest Therapy Walk

pammunkholm

While I have spent a lot of time in the forest and learning about forest therapy and the healing available there, I had not as of yet experienced my own personal, forest walk. I chose a day and made it happen. I have to tell you, I experienced a peace and tranquility that I do not find in many places in my life these days. There’s really something to this! Walking in nature is great. Join me to experience a forest therapy walk that takes it to the 10x level. Head over to my contact page to book a walk with me.

Walking in a forest has many benefits. I don’t suspect it’s any coincidence that while I am spending more time outdoors and learning of the benefits, my health is finally improving. I’ve been able to tackle this beast of a bump in the road of my life. I have been trying since May of 2011 to find out what was wrong, then to fix it, then to manage it. In reality, I was in pain long before that date. I see nature is starting to do it’s work.

For years I have not been able to build and maintain muscle. It would start to build and then I would have a setback. A fall. A jolt. Getting overconfident and trying to go for a walk in boots instead of shoes (the difference in weight would drag my foot bones out). Minor incidents would set me back months. And every time the frustration around the whole situation would build.

I did not stop to take care of myself. This is my piece of advice for this week. When you are sick or hurting, it is your body telling you to stop or rest. Listen to your body. Regardless of what others are telling you. I cannot stress enough how important it is to take time to reassess what really matters. I suspect if you looked at it, you’d agree your health should be closer to the top of your list of priorities.

This cannot be proven in a court of law but this is my truth for what has happened to me. My body had a condition that made functioning in life extremely painful on a daily and hourly basis. Hyper mobile joints joined by endometriosis. I lived a seemingly normal life while managing the pain. Managing by ignoring until bedtime and then taking a daily prescribed dose of pain medication to knock myself out. I didn’t think I could stop and take care of me. I had kids to raise! Supper to make! Laundry to ignore!

I kept going until there was a period in my life that was very high stress. Constantly. This set off a jack in the box effect of nerve problems. Now I twitch. I spasm. I shake. My body is subpar at best when it comes to keeping a reasonable temperature for more than a few minutes at a time. Absurd and erratic symptoms. And it is not something I have figured out how to stuff back in that so- called box. And I keep seeing this in others. An underlying condition that is difficult to manage while living life. And yet they do. Stressful situation that triggers an emotional reaction. And nerve pain and silly symptoms ensue. Worst jack in the box ever!

So what do we do about it? There are not many answers. Meditation. Medication. Sleep enough. Eat well. There is value in adjusting your life to meet the needs of your condition. These are great for overall health for everyone. But what about when the need is immediate and great? What about when your friend with stage 4 metastasized cancer is in so much pain that nothing is helping, no medication can mend that. Or when your body feels like it’s falling apart but the doctors say you are fine, there’s only so much meditation can do. What about when you feel you have no support and you are running on empty?

Forest therapy. Join me in remembering my first walk.

I took along my trusty sidekick. This is Odin. No the perspective of this picture is not off, he really is that big. He is not impressed that we are stopping in the middle of a perfectly good walk to take pictures.

I found the sun. It’s been hiding. I look forward to sharing the changes of the seasons through pictures and words. On this particular day it was so still. It was just Odin and I on this beautiful trail. I could hear a few birds chirping. There was one spot on the trail where the creaking of a tree that was on its way down and braced by other trees was really loud but I never would have noticed that before. The air had a chill but it was perfect as we warmed up on our walk. I enjoyed breathing in deeply. Drawing in what winter has been keeping safe until its time. The cold air felt good on my lungs. I could hear Odin breathing. He is the heaviest breather of all time. I didn’t mind. It fit the surroundings. Better here than in my kitchen.

I followed this butt all the way around the trail. I looked at the different tracks in the snow and pictured the wildlife that was close by and peering at me from their hiding places. I tried to identify the different types of trees and shrubs.

Behold the beauty of my elephant skin hands. I’ve come to embrace it. They look like my Grandma’s hands. I came upon a bench just off the trail. I sat down for some time to feel and just be. This tree was by the bench. It seemed like a good tree. While I can’t yet put my toes directly on the ground at this time of year, holding a tree can provide the same benefits of grounding.

Such a happy guy. Hard to get a picture with all his messy kisses. He’s a nincompoop but we love him. Petting a dog while they are grounded also gives you the benefits of grounding. Holy moly. Does anyone have a breath mint for this guy? Did something die in there?!?! Cheese and crackers!

This is just a glimpse into what I experienced on my maiden forest walk. Even looking back at the pictures brings the uplifting feeling back. I strongly encourage you, if you are able, to get outside and watch the changes of nature as we progress into spring! And if you have a hard time making it happen on your own or you want some company, head over to my contact page to book a forest therapy walk today.

The price is right for the first two weeks. Free! Spots are limited so book today.

Take care out there, my sweet friends.