Venom therapy is going well.
I’m going through an intensive desensitization process to overcome a life-threatening allergy to wasps. A year ago, I was stung while hiking, lost consciousness within minutes, and without an EpiPen would have died within half an hour.
Last week, after only two sessions, I was given a dose of venom equal to two wasp stings. I became sleepy and spacey when it entered my body, but no loss of consciousness. No shock reaction.
It’s starting to feel a little bit like a miracle! Not that it’s fun. My body is working hard through this process. For about 24 hours after treatment I’m exhausted, then tired and foggy for a few more days. By the time I feel normal again, it’s time to go back for another round.
This treatment has made me think a lot about health, energy, and how easy it is to take feeling well for granted.
Almost every day of my life, I’ve felt physically strong. I don’t get sick often. I’ve always had a lot of energy and a body that lets me move through the world easily.
A few days of not feeling good and suddenly my mind starts telling me strange stories. That I’m getting weak. That people won’t want to spend time with me if I’m lying on the couch instead of out riding bikes or hiking.
It’s such a small glimpse into what so many people live with all the time. I think about friends going through chemo. Friends with Crohn’s disease. People living with chronic pain, migraines, depression, injuries, fatigue. People who have to carefully ration their energy and quietly miss out on things most of us never think twice about.
Every difficult experience leaves little lessons behind.
This one is teaching me to notice what a privilege it is to feel healthy in mind and body. To think more carefully about what another person might be carrying.
To offer help more quickly. To conserve less judgment and extend more compassion.
And maybe also to sit down in one of those pharmacy chairs when I need to, without feeling embarrassed about it.
Yoga is so relaxing.
People say that like it’s all candles, deep breaths, and lying on the floor in savasana.
Meanwhile yesterday I was upside down, using every muscle in my body, trying not to collapse under the weight of my own existence.
Yes, yoga absolutely helps regulate my nervous system. I come back to it again and again for the breath, the grounding, the reset.
But sometimes it’s also just… hard.
Humbling hard.
The kind of hard that makes you question your balance, your strength, and a few life choices while your instructor calmly says “soften your jaw.”
So yes, yoga is relaxing.
Eventually.
"Don't let the things that you can't do stop you from doing the things you can do"
Words from my husband @davidpatchellevans on dealing with pain. I thought this was a good follow up to my recent post about Patch breaking his femur. Listen to Inflection Time wherever you get your podcasts.
My default when I'm scared is to pretend I'm not. This venum immune therapy process has forced me to reflect on that and decide what I'm going to do about it.
Big hike up Isthmus trail today with my hubby. One year after a rod was put through his femur and two years after shattering his femur he hiked four hours of tough terrain. As he was starting to feel bad for not making it to the top, we reminded each other that he was lucky to be walking and that there were no other seventy year olds on the trail today. Everything is perspective. Being grateful for what we have at every age and stage as things do change and the things we may take for granted today can become miracles tomorrow.
Big moment for @taylorelgersma , officially signed with the @wpgbluebomberscfl .
He talks about visualization, seeing it before it happens and believing it’s possible before anyone else does.
Proof that mindset is part of the path.
Congrats, Taylor
Resting by the water after a tough week of my immune system working very hard. Thanks to everyone for all the well wishes, comments and messages. ♥️
