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Posted 7/9/2016 3:32 PM (GMT 0)
I tend to be a little hyper and that's one reason I chose to study Zen, but during my course with UC I seem to have lost that type of instant bliss. But it's okay I guess. Forced me to really study my bodily reactions to greed, hatred and ignorance (attraction, repulsion and ignoring). Anyway I went over the top anxious during and after my first introduction to Prednisone.

A month ago I sprained my ankle. I tried RICE (rest, ice, compression, elevation) but only managed occasional rest and elevation because there's too much to do--it's gardening season! Walked around on it constantly ouch! Then my low back went out because of all the limping. So I became crippled and forced to rest, it's day 5, and I feel so much better!!

REST.

in peace
Posted 7/9/2016 4:16 PM (GMT 0)
Continuing to raise the bar for tolerance never works.

Maybe ask others to give you a nudge in that department so that you can actually get your brain on a cognitive level to intervene earlier.

Good you're starting to feel better...it doesn't, however, mean you're not still fragile to cause damage if you push beyond what your body can tolerate before things are healed.

Take care, and take your advice to rest between your schedule of doing the things you love (and need) to do.

q
Posted 7/9/2016 9:10 PM (GMT 0)
zengirl, I hear what you are saying and I am aware it is important to find that balance.

I am on Prednisone and it makes one a little fearful from all the stories that I have read on here, it does appear it can have grave consequences including psychological reactions with people.
Are you still taking it, and do you feel like it has changed who you are permanently, or do you feel like you are working your way back to who you once was. Do you think the Pred made you a bit manic, hence the gardening? like hurting yourself by walking on your poorly ankle. The only odd thing I have found is that I seem up for cleaning LOL! which believe me isnt something I am normally interested in.Take care.
Posted 7/9/2016 11:59 PM (GMT 0)
Our restless minds (don't they call it "monkey mind" in yoga?) make us want to get up and out and DO STUFF even when our bodies need a break.
I recently found this visual bliss, hope you enjoy it. It's live cams of animals around the world.
The link is for bears catching salmon in Alaska but scroll down and you can watch kitten, puppies, eagles, jellyfish and much more.

explore.org/live-cams/player/brown-bear-salmon-cam-brooks-falls

I'm a gardener too and understand the desire to get out in the garden. Instead of working set up a chair in the shade and enjoy the birds, butterflies and enjoy the weather. Just "be".
Posted 7/10/2016 11:23 AM (GMT 0)
I forced myself to rest yesterday -- well not completely -- had to cook and do laundry. But I broke down and hired my nephew to do yardwork that I haven't done in weeks. Just having that done made me feel so much better! Knowing that it needed to be done and not having the energy to do it was really weighing on me. I had to laugh though -- he's 17 and it took him 7 hours to do what it normally takes me about 3 hours to get done. That kinda gave me a lift because I have been feeling so old and worn out with this flare.

Glad you are feeling better, Zen!
Posted 7/10/2016 2:34 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks everyone for your thoughts! I'm just having to learn this--other than the UC (which also made me restless because I couldn't leave the house) this is the first time I've been truly disabled. It's a hoot when I have to stumble/rush to the toilet I haven't made in time on occasion.

Poppie I don't believe Prednisone permanently put my nervous system on the fritz but it exacerbated underlying tendencies towards depression and anxiety which I used to control with meditation and breathing. Since I'm hypothyroid there is also a chance my adrenal system was put off balance in some way. My M.D. is also checking for ANA's and the possibility of another autoimmune problem. But she convinced me to try a few anti-depressants in the meantime...with some horrible side effects.

Cool link Imagardiner! My garden patch is only a mile away but it means walking to my car, getting in it, out of it, walking across about an acre community garden to my little 10 x 10, watering weeding etc. Other folks in the garden are helping me out. I also have a small garden here in my apartment building, and yes I have been going down there just to water and sit, but I'm on the 2nd floor (no elevators) so can only get down once a day and YES it helps we have a lovely garden and lots of birds (very close to a green belt).

Anyway, in Zen, every "situation" is an opportunity to practice and that includes calamity, illness, etc. But depression/anxiety/tremors combined with physical disability is a tough one. I'm tinkering with my meds and checking in with my MD Wednesday. Be well everyone!
Posted 7/10/2016 5:25 PM (GMT 0)
watching bears garden sounds very relaxing to me - I read that right, didn't I ?
Posted 7/10/2016 9:55 PM (GMT 0)
Zen you sound like my DW, she can't sit and relax for more than a few minutes, there's always chores to do, and her mind idles at a crazy pace.

I on-the-other-hand, would be perfectly happy just laying around without a chore or plan for the entire day. But, I'd get in trouble if I didn't helpout. So, I do help, and try to get her to settle and relax to the best of my abilities lol. It's a challenge.
Posted 7/11/2016 12:16 PM (GMT 0)
John, if you haven't seen the comedy video on YouTube about the difference between men's brains and women's brain I recommend you watch it ;)

Zen, I am the same way. I have a hard time forcing myself to be still. When I fell down the stairs and fissured the cartilage in my knee, I had to use a walker at first then crutches. I went crazy because there was so much I wanted to do! Same thing when I broke my ribs lol But I have learned that forcing yourself just makes things worse.
Posted 7/11/2016 3:24 PM (GMT 0)
ipoop your DW is lucky to have you around to help her mellow out! There definitely is an aspect of OCD to my depression/anxiety but meds so far haven't been too helpful, in fact both Zoloft and Paxil made me even more nervous/aggitated/worried. I return to prayer and mantra and that helps...for a second or two. But I still swear it was the Prednisone that sent me spinning to this place; i.e., this is physiological and not psychological.

Sherry I remember when you did that! I wonder if it was your body's way of forcing you to chill out.
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