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My Shunt Surgery – Recovery
I remember the moment I woke up in recovery and was told I just had shunt surgery. Part of me felt like I was still in and out of consciousness in the ER. Part of me thought I had passed out from the pain, and they had performed an emergency shunt surgery. Within a few minutes though, my husband and his sister were at my side, and I began to remember that it was all planned. Nurses came by to take bedside X-rays, and I rested, soaking in the new information that was now a part of my life: I had a shunt. I had a medical device inside of…
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What is Lyme Disease?
Lyme Disease is an infectious disease that can develop when a particular bacteria has invaded the human body. Causes There are many species of bacteria involved in Lyme Disease across the world, but the most common one is known as borrelia burgdorferi. When a tick infected with the Lyme bacteria bites a human, that bacteria can be transmitted into the bloodstream. Although more research is needed in terms of transmission, it is important to note that this bacteria has also been found in other insects such as mosquitoes, fleas, deer flies, spiders, and horse flies. Though Lyme Disease has not been proven to be contagious, it can be sexually transmitted…
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What I Learned in One Year
Well, it has officially been one year since the launch of Weather in April, and what an experience it has been! It truly is amazing how God works. In the beginning of my diagnosis, I felt like the last person on earth. Little did I know what world was really out there – a world of others who feel what I feel. See what I see. Experience the same life I do but only with a different lens. It is almost as though I have learned more in this past year than I have throughout this entire sickness. And I don’t think that would be the case had I not…
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Labeled Disabled
Recently, I received some wonderful news. I have officially been declared disabled. Wait, what? Come on. Let’s talk about what nobody wants to talk about. Disability. Everything about it seems to scream caution. Judgement. Legalities. Who really wants to be disabled? Who really wants to be limited by what their body can or cannot do? It just doesn’t make sense to speak disability upon yourself at the same time you’re claiming healing. But to some, it’s an answered prayer. My Story It took a year from my epidural for my health to spiral out of control. But I still remained too proud to admit that my body was not what…
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Health Care Frustrations – How You Can Help
So you’re sick. You’re feeling miserable, and your body is in so much pain that you think you might be dying. What do you do? If you’re like me, you’re thinking the ER might be your last hope. Of course, nobody ever wants to resort to going to the hospital, but when you’ve tried everything, and nothing is working, what choice do you have? Except, say you get there, and there’s nothing they can do. Let’s say you wait for hours in the ER, go through the hoops of IV’s and questions only to be told nothing is wrong with you – only to go home in the same exact…
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What’s the Deal with Protein?
What is protein? To put simply, protein is pretty much the composition of life itself. From the basis of your DNA, protein can be found in every single cell of your body, creating and repairing everything that makes you exist. For you science nerds out there, protein is composed of various amino acids such as oxygen, nitrogen, carbon, and hydrogen. Some amino acids however can not be produced by the body and must be consumed through food. Examples you may have heard mentioned before would be tryptophan, lysine, and phenylalanine. Thought it was all about the muscles? Try your bones, your blood, your skin, cartilage, tissue, hormones, everything! Protein is…
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The Perfect Kitchen
When people tell me they want to lose weight or get healthy or even simply eat better, the first thought that comes to mind is, “What’s in their pantry?” I have a bit of an obsession with sorting through pantries and refrigerators and pruning them until they are beautiful in my sight. It is my idea of interior decorating. So if you are interested in making some healthier choices for your life, I’m here to help. Designing Your Dream Kitchen The first thing to understand about cleaning out your pantry is that you never go in and throw everything away. Frankly, that’s just wasteful. Instead, understand the method behind it.…
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The Chronic Illness Game Plan – How to Stay Prepared
Here in Louisiana, we’re all gearing up for hurricane season. After having been through some of the worst storms, the people around here have learned how to prepare. Even though it’s only for a season, you don’t take any chances. Living with a chronic illness, however, is like living through hurricane season all year round. It’s unpredictable. It’s destructive. Episodes can come out of nowhere, and you never know which direction they will take. But like with a storm, you can only learn to be prepared. Having a plan in place will make everything go a lot smoother not only for you, but for everyone involved in the path of…
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A Pinch of Salt
Salt is crucial for survival. In fact, sodium is actually an electrolyte the body needs for muscles and nerves to function properly. It helps regulate how much fluid is in the body. Unfortunately however, many people consume too much salt. This means your body is retaining too much water. Your blood pressure can increase, and your heart has to work harder. This can all cause cardiovascular diseases, stroke, hypertension, and kidney disease. While we do need sodium for our bodies to function properly, it’s important not to overdo it. So how much salt can we have? The American Heart Association recommends less than 2,300 mg a day, ideally aiming for…
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Six Tips for a Healthy Grocery Trip
In order to develop a healthier diet, you must first learn what your diet is actually composed of versus what you want it to be composed of. So today, my friends, we will take the first and most important step of learning how to read labels. Now, I do understand we all might have different dietary restrictions or needs, but most of these are general guidelines. From these guidelines, you can begin to learn what you’re looking for and adjust accordingly. Get your grocery lists ready because I have six tips for a healthier shopping cart! 1.) Keep it Simple Think about the layout of most grocery stores. Outside Isles:…
