Hello all! It’s time for a Link Party with Sheryl at A Chronic Voice! I missed last month’s link party. I just couldn’t get to it. ):
Sheryl’s prompts for July are Bothering, Demanding, Nourishing, Telecommunicating, and Tolerating. I love reading what other chronic illness bloggers write each month.
Bothering
I broke my shoulder in late January. Since riding in a car was painful, I stayed at home. My daughter did any shopping I needed done. I started physical therapy, and then the pandemic happened and I was stuck at home for another 6 weeks. I think that I’ve spent way too much time alone. I’m having trouble with sensory overload when I leave my home. Everything seems too much: too bright, too loud, having to follow winding paths through the store to avoid people. What really bothers me though, is the rudeness out there. I almost want to go home and stay there.
Demanding
My body is a very demanding being lately: both shoulders hurting, increased hip, and ankle pain, GI issues galore, brain fog, headaches, anxiety, and depression. I went to my local grocery store this morning during the early hours. By the time I got back home my lower back, and neck were screaming at me. Hello icepack!
Nourishing
I’ve been missing dairy yogurt in my life. Recently, I discovered Oui by Yoplait Dairy Free Coconut Dairy Alternative at my local grocery store. It comes in a petite glass jar and is so tasty. It feels like a real treat to slowly eat one. I love the raspberry and strawberry flavors. They also come in Mango and Vanilla flavors. Plus they use non-GMO ingredients, and no artificial colors or flavorings. Yum!
I’m using this yogurt as a more nourishing alternative to Haagen-Dazs non-dairy ice cream, which is far too yummy to bring into my home. I will eat a whole pint at one time. Not good!
I have also found that I tolerate goat cheese well. Even though I don’t tolerate cow’s milk cheese well at all. So if you cannot digest regular dairy products give goat milk products a try.
Telecommunicating
Communicating with technology other than phones has been a learning process for me. Last winter I learned how to participate in Zoom calls with my friends. I was glad to see them and hear their voices, but sometimes two people would start talking at the same time. The friend who hosted the call could see everyone’s face at the same time, but the rest of use couldn’t. Missing out on the clues we would have when sitting together, we would talk at the same time. I found this overwhelming at times.
Another technology thing I learned to do, was meet with my therapist on the phone. This was great because it allowed me to see her even when I couldn’t drive to her office. Of course, it took a pandemic to get that technology in place. Except for occasional dropped calls, it has been working really well.
Tolerating
This time of year in southwestern Pennsylvania is hot and humid with bad air-quality days thrown in for good measure. Add in frequent late afternoon thunderstorms. I try to go outside early in the day, to help me tolerate the heat better. Unfortunately, on Mondays and Wednesdays, my physical therapy is in the afternoons.
Wearing a mask in 90 degree temps feels suffocating. I’ve had to switch back to paper masks because my cloth ones are too hot. If you have any tips for breathing easy in the heat with a mask on, I’d love to hear them.
I shared a post last week on my tips for staying cool in the heat/humidity. You can read it here.
Wrap-Up Of July Link Party
I’m very thrilled to have been nominated for a WEGO Lifetime Achievement Award! The lovely Caz over at Invisibly Me nominated me for my very first WEGO award. I consider this a real honor, even if I don’t win. Thank you Caz! If you would like to vote for me you can do so here.
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Till next time, Kathy
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Great post Kathy, I hear you on the problems with communicating on the internet, with the chats I have participated in, a lot of people try speaking all at once! It is so much more difficult communicating this way than it appears! Still, I hope it is being helpful in keeping you from feeling lonely and isolated during these challenging times! Take care of yourself, and hope the humid weather eases for you soon!
Zoom chats certainly were very helpful in easing my isolation. I was just surprised at how my nervous system reacted! You take care of yourself as well.
I can’t imagine what it would be like to wear a mask in such hot temperatures, but saying that I’ve not tried going out yet. We have seemed to have lost our summer, most of it happened during the lock down. I’m sorry you’ve been having so much trouble with your hips and shoulder.
Hi, Anne! Thank you for coming by and leaving a comment.
Gosh Kathy, I hear you on the cloth masks – Singapore is humid and hot year round and it’s killing me! And yes people can be so rude and inconsiderate out there. I hope your shoulder heals quickly, take good care my friend and thanks for joining us despite the pains! x
I would not do well in continuous heat and humidity, either. Do you have any other tips for staying comfortable?
Nice post, though I;m sorry about your recent struggles. I am on the other side of PA, just over the border in northern DE, so hi, neighbor!
I also discovered coconut yogurt last year (So Delicious brand, as I need sugar-free) – yum! Nice to have yogurt back in my diet.
I haven’t done much on Zoom during the pandemic, but it’s come in handy a few times – great that you can talk to your therapist that way.
Hope the rest of your July is good, with less pain!
Sue
Hi, Sue! Thanks for coming by and visiting a while. We are practically neighbors!