I've been getting that a lot lately, combined with seriously concerned looks, both in Kentucky and here in Costa Rica. I was wondering why until I happened to catch myself in the mirror last night. You know, just regular, without the posing. It was a little scary: the hair. No wonder people look at me like I might break! Here's what they see:
Scared yet? Bwah-ha-ha-ha-ha! That little bald spot in front is attractive, yes? I can't dye my hair because what's left will probably dissolve. It's all dry and stiff, un-tame-able and creepy feeling. You can't really see how thin it is here, but, trust me, what you see is all there is. Hal trimmed it when I got back… imagine this mess longer? Aaaiieeee.
I feel excellent now, back to normal except for periods of low energy. Remember when I said there's a whole layer of anxiety missing from my life? I'm not sure that it's just anxiety that's missing; I think some of it is the thyroid/adrenal low energy thing keeping me veeerrrrry calm. It's not bad, I don't have to lay down and take a vapor, just an occasional power nap. It's connected to the low temperature thing, which is great in hot weather: I have at least a whole degree on everyone else, so while they are all sweaty and gross, I remain cool and calm. Sickly looking, but cool.
I've decided not to take any drastic measures like going to see a doctor about my thyroid (some people never learn), and just give my body a chance to correct itself. A doctor will put me on drugs and there is time for that. But I have two theories:
1. The low temperature/thyroid, which causes low energy and hair loss, is my body's way of slowing me down so it can repair. Like Major Slow Down. But the bald spots all have peach fuzz on them and my head itches like crazy sometimes, so either I have another disease or the hair is growing back. I'm going with new hair and body repair.
2. The other thing is that all my systems got out of whack big-time what with antibiotics, induced comas with intense drugs (excellent drugs… so good, I'm afraid to find out what they were), very little water and no food for quite some time, then no nourishment when I finally did get food. What is it with hospitals and nutrition? "No nutritious food or drink, that will retard your healing. Nurses, be mean to all the patients, it will encourage them to get better."
Plus, it really did take almost two months before I started to feel normal. So three months of extreme physical and emotional stress. That's gonna take a toll.
I trust that my body will heal itself. These are remarkable machines carrying us on the journey, I'm very impressed with mine. I'm going to give it every opportunity to rejuvenate and do my best to stay out of its way. Ok, so moving is not very high on the restorative scale. However, I'm taking it one day at a time,
eating right and napping. If I have to throw out a bunch of excellent
crap, so be it. I am not going to stress over the little stuff.
I'm eating with particular attention to nourishing and healing my disgestive system, following Weston Price guidelines, using the Nourishing Traditions cookbook. My new goal is Vibrant Health. I've been healthy all my life and, although it doesn't look like it, I'm pretty healthy now. But I want Vibrant Health: to feel my best, to look my best. Not "pretty," which I realize has been my goal in the past because I took health for granted, but vibrantly, buzzingly, robustly healthy. If one's digestive system is not in the pink, nothing else can be. Heal that, we have a fighting chance.
I just read Performance Without Pain and it is my new bible, very inspiring. $11, a quick read, a bite-sized primer for WAPF living. Honestly, you won't regret the $11. And if you buy it via my link, I'll get about $.41 of that $11. Woohoo, I'll take it.
When I get settled, I'm also going to start doing Hot Yoga, using this DVD. Robbie, my Ayurvedic guide (and incredible massage therapist and instructor), says I'm a pitta and should avoid the hot stuff. But I love hot spicy food and, especially right now when I'm so cool, the hot yoga is just too appealing. Maybe it's the low temperature thing, but I wanna be HOT. We'll see… it's just a DVD, right? I mean, how much trouble could I possibly get into?
But back to something more interesting, like how I look. Maybe I'll really shave my head and my husband and I can be one of those aging twin couples. Ok, maybe not. Honestly, I like a little hair. Better some than none… I swear my hair is more silver than it woulda been if I hadn't gotten sick. But, hey, this is what I said I wanted: silver hair. I can hardly complain now.
Or can I?
do you get this show where you are?
http://animal.discovery.com/videos/monsters-inside-me/
Every parasite they mention is found here and I’ve wondered many times about your chickens transmitting bacteria or parasites… I know you love them.
Keep your chin up, you look great.
I’ve seen that – pretty incredible to think about! But haven’t seen it since I got the chickens… Never thought about the chickens transmitting stuff. I am going to do a couple of cleanses when I get settled, too. From http://www.curezone.com, Hulda Clark stuff. I can have chickens in KY, don’t know if I can live without them, lol. We’ll see… Thank you.
Saratica: My biker brother Rocky was here last week and after his shower he spends a while brushing out his waist-long hair and then braiding it. He’s 53 years old for God’s sake. being the bitch I am I said to him “You think that hair do looks hip?” And he said “Shut up. All you bald people are alike.”
One day at a time, sweet girl. Love, June & Michael
I don’t know how low your temps are, but it’s completely normal for women to have morning temperatures in the 97.0-98.0 range. For some, the high 96’s are also normal; 98.6 is not normal for everyone! Just thought I’d throw that in there.
We are heading to Escazu next Friday for the free hot yoga, you in?
See you the week of 2 Sept, June & Michael – can’t wait.
Erin, I always thought that, too, but the WilsonTemperatureSyndrome.com doctor says not so, that 98.6 is normal for everyone. I don’t know if that is true or not, but he makes a good case for it.
Whether that’s true or not, my “normal” temperature before was 98.6. I’m taking it 3 times a day (as he suggests) and it can go from 95.6, one time low, to 98.4, one time high. My average or “normal” now is 97.7, cool as a cucumber. Interesting stuff.
Yes, Robbie, I’m in! Maybe I’ll go tonight…
A few weeks ago I discovered your blog and since then I’ve read all the posts from the beginning until today. And I’ve lurked on CRL for a couple of years so I was somewhat familiar with your name from posts there. I wanted to thank you for all your writings. It has helped me to realize that permanently living in CR is not for me. When I first visited CR in Oct 2005 and for the next several visits in 2006, 2007 and 2008 I thought it was the place for me. I loved it. In preparation for living there I took 3 years of college Spanish and 8 immersion classes in CR. But after additional visits in 2009 and 2010 I began to have some doubts as to whether CR was for me and that was mainly due to the level of petty crime. The weather and views and mountains and beaches and people are fantastic, but I just cannot get past the petty crimes. Not that you mentioned that much, but CRL certainly does and I saw it in person. Anyway, I drifted off there a bit. Thanks again for sharing your life in CR with us. Best of luck with your move back to the U.S.
Byron Drew, Gainesville, GA
Thanks, Byron. I’m really glad that my blog helped in your decision, that is gratifying to know. Don’t tell the real estate or tourism boards I helped in that, lol!
Now that we are moving, I see the whole place through rose colored glasses, seriously loving this place and knowing I will return. We’ll see. Petty crime is something that you take for granted and are always on the look out for here. I hate leaving my house wondering if my stuff will be here when I get back–that is stressful. Other than that, you get used to it.
It’s going to be stressful living in a police state with two vulnerable teens… well, everything has its price. We’ll see!
Pura vida, enjoy your CR visits. It is a truly beautiful place with lovely people.