Inflammation, the Sneak Thief

The body inflamed

Almost seven years ago, December 2018, I became primary (and sole) caretaker for my mom. At the time, she was 86 and in very poor health. Today she is 93 and in much better health. I honestly didn't know whether or not she would live out another year, but I prayed and researched and changed her diet and added supplements until slowly she began to find her way back to health. It wasn't optimum or perfect health. There were battle scars. Still, it's amazing that at 93 my mom is takes only one minor medication for a chronic issue resulting from a couple prior injuries and years of an unhealthy food relationship.

Fast forward to the beginning of this year, 2025. I awoke one morning to a feeling of dread and extreme exhaustion. This wasn't right. This wasn't me. I've always been able to have several projects going at the same time - keep house, maintain the yard, cook the meals, plant and tend a garden, grow herbs, research, write, take a class, study, take a couple of trips a year, pay the bills, handle mom's business, care for two senior dogs, take out the trash....well, you get it. But this particular morning something was off, something was wrong. Over the next several months, my motivational and energy levels kept declining. Finally, I realized I only had this small window of "feel good" in the mornings when I seemed to be able to get a little accomplished and not much at that before I was exhausted. Eating meals made me feel horrible, so I skipped most meals. Lunch was my one indulgence during the day after which I'd immediately start getting a headache and feeling foggy and sleepy. I had no choice but to take a time out and rest for a couple of hours in order to complete the rest of the day's responsibilities.

I knew that this wasn't the natural aging process kicking in that most want to claim. I don't even believe in that. Nor was it laziness on my part. I wanted to do the things I'd done before. At the same time, I didn't want to have to do those things. Before mom came to live with me, I was an athletic outdoors person always on the move jogging, hiking, kayaking, marathon shopping (lol), taking road trips. Now, I was just a slug who did good to manage a few tasks, drag myself to bed, and do it all over again the next day. I knew I had to do something, but I didn't know what!!! I was that tired and my brain was that sluggish. Me...an herbalist, a healer, a naturalist. My continual, silent scream was "Just tell me waht to do!!!" I was trying things hit or miss, but I didn't have a plan...just a hope. I was STUCK!

One morning I started praying a lot and journaling a little. Over the course of a few months, I began to realize some things. When you become a full time caregiver, it's very easy to lose yourself in the day to day demands. Important things start to slip little by little - daily exercise, supplements, healthy eating, social activities, remembering that you're an individual apart from the person you are caring for. Their needs take priority, and you slip away. You don't mean to and you never think you will, but it happens. As this occurs, your health starts to suffer. It's in small ways at first, but, left unaddressed, you wake up one day to find yourself exhausted, unmotivated, aching, "sickish" feeling and so foggy you can't plan a way out. I was that person.

One day about three weeks ago, I believe Abba answered my prayer for help. I was complaining to my Health Coach/Partner for the umpteenth time when she broke in and said, "You haven't specifically asked for help, but here's what you are going to do. You are going on an anti-inflammatory regimen for 90 days. No maybes, just do it. I'll write it up tonight and send it to you tomorrow. Let me know if you have questions. "I remember thinking, "Ugh. One more thing I have to pay attention to and execute. And now I'll have to cook, and I don't feel like cooking and yada yada yada, whine whine."

I did received the plan the next day and was even more depressed when I read it. It involved three meals a day, exercise, frequency therapy, supplements and a few other things. And the recipes didn't exactly excite my taste buds. IMMEDIATE OVERLOAD. But something in me stirred. I felt a nudge to at least try. And so I began...the following Sunday. I committed. And, by the way, the recipes have been delightfully tasty for the most part.

Why am I writing this? Well, here I am two weeks into the 90 days and the difference it has made is unbelievable. I want to share my journey, the ups and downs, all in hopes that it might encourage you or someone out there who's facing similar feelings and/or challenges. I had eaten healthy, taken supplements, exercised and done things to stay strong and healthy most of my adult life. Slowly those things had slipped away and taken me with them. My reasons may not be the same as someone else's. It could be that surgery took you out of the game for a minute, or a breakup, maybe the death of a loved one, or you lost a job. It could be any number of things. It doesn't matter. What does matter is that when we fail to be proactive and participate in our health, we make bad choices. Bad choices lead to inflammation which begins taking us down a dark and sickly road if left unaddressed. Our bodies are so amazing. They try so hard to make up for our deficits, but there's a limit.

I hope you'll join me on this journey and find encouragement for yourself or someone else. My coach asked me to journal, so, here goes. This is all I could muster for the first two weeks.

Week1 Day 1 - The Road Back - "I have been feeling worse and worse over time. I am so tired I don't even want to think about journaling. I'm exhausted. That's all anyone needs to know! " To be continued......

Love, Jen

If you are looking for a listening ear and a caring heart to help find direction and get back in the game of life, contact Coach Ali G at the MORE tab above or @ https://www.vivifyanew.com/. Ali specialized in personal counseling, relationship counseling & life and health coaching. She's been down some hard roads, so it's more than just talk!