Superior Self - Blog

Internet Healthcare

1/23/2023

People have been using telemedicine for years, but the pandemic has caused interest in this area to skyrocket. Telemedicine is expected to grow from $49.9 billion in 2019 to $277.9 billion by 2025. Virtual healthcare services were already growing before COVID-19. When one couldn't go to the doctor's office because of other commitments, one could call the doctor's office and have a phone consultation and a plan of action for a lot of situations in one's health care. Then the visual applications came along and made the appointments more personal and engaging. If one couldn't get a virtual appointment with their regular provider, a number of startups could fill the gap, sometimes at a better price point too.

Two examples of these companies are For Hims and For Hers. They provide virtual medical visits with general practitioners and dermatologists, as well as mental health care. They also offer psychiatric consults, consults for prescription hair-loss medicine, prescription acne cream and more. These are all presented via an ecommerce-style website.

Of course, for Americans, the biggest question is always “Will my insurance cover it?” In the the case of telehealth, the answer is “yes”: 42 states (and Washington, DC) legally require private insurers to cover telehealth services. This is an important development: according to Accenture, 62% of consumers would prefer a virtual healthcare option in at least some instances.

Why? Millenials are computer savvy, and spend more time working than the generations before them. Millennials prioritize self care and don't mind spending money on it since they work more hours than the generations before them. They are seeking a work-life balance and telehealth saves time and time is money to them. Actually, 9 out of 10 Americans practice some kind of self-care.

Americans are investing more time and money into self-care than ever before. The pandemic has left a lot of folks still working remotely and so why not see their health care providers remotely too? Many folks have not returned to the gym after the global stay at home orders, prefering to get their fitness remotely. Is telehealth here to stay? Yes.

What do you like or don't like about telehealth? I wanna know!

Blessings,
KJ Landis
SuperiorSelf on youTube

Prevent Falls as We Age

1/16/2023

When we age, falling is a real risk for mortality. If someone age 65 or older suffers a fall, it is the number one cause of injury-related death in this age group. The CDC states that falls create life-altering lifestyle changes in that age group due to broken bones or a head injury. We can help ourselves by focusing on improving stabilizer muscles, core strength, and balance issues.

Stabilizer muscles
The stabilizer muscles keep us upright and allow us to easily change directions. Two essential stabilizers for fall prevention are the gluteus medius, located on the sides of the hips, and the gluteus maximus, which are the largest buttocks muscles. These work both together and independently to allow us to stand upright and stabilize the back and pelvis as we move during activities.

Core strength
Core strength is vital for fall prevention, as the body’s core is the epicenter from which every movement revolves. As we walk, our bodies have to adapt to ever-changing ground levels. Adequate core stability and strength help us better react to these sudden changes and prevent potential falls. The core consists of several muscle groups: the rectus abdominis (the six-pack); the obliques, located on the sides and front of the abdomen; and the transverse abdominis muscles, which lie under the obliques and attach to the spine. These muscles wrap around the body and protect the spine and lower back. They also create a wall to protect the organs. Stabilizer and core muscles weaken over time as we naturally lose muscle mass, a condition called sarcopenia. Please read the blog I wrote about sarcopenia. Our generally modern, sedentary lifestyle weakens theses areas as well. We have to consciously attend to exercising these areas,

Balance
Our sense of balance naturally wanes over time, as do reflex times and coordination. This makes it easier to topple over and harder to catch ourselves if we do have a misstep. Another cause of poor balance is deterioration of the inner ears' vestibular system. It feeds information to the brain about motion and spatial orientation. This affects how we move through the world, and our awareness of it, called proprioception.

You can check your fall risk with some simple tests. Place one foot in front of the other so the toes and heel touch (like how you would measure distance on the floor) and try to stand without losing your balance for up to a minute. Another version is to walk heel-to-toe, like on a tightrope, for 20 steps. If you have trouble maintaining balance and stability with either of these, you should discuss it with your doctor.

Yoga, tai chi, mat Pilates, and strength training with our own body weight or weights are ways that we can improve our, balance, core, and stability. Seek out different types of movement for a natural and easy way to cross train. Also, cross training keeps us from being bored. Find a partner to exercise these areas with you. When someone is counting on us to suit up and show up, our accountability is stronger.

Blessings,
KJ Landis
SuperiorSelf on YouTube
KJ Landis on LinkedIn
superiorself on Instagram and Twitter
Superior Self with KJ Landis on Facebook

A House is Not a Home...

1/9/2023

The great mystic Rumi wrote on many things, both practical and spiritual. Our bodies are guest houses for our spirits, our intellect, our emotions, our physicality, and how we move throughout our lives, whether a short or long life. Are there lessons in every moment? Yes. Do we acknowledge those lessons or even become aware of them? Rarely. It is only with great focus, placing our attention upon our intention to learn from these experiences do we begin to have the a-ha moments. I invite you all to slow down this year, jus a little bit each day, long enough to ask, "What have my experiences and choices taught me today? Is this for me or for me to share as well? Make our vessel, our house, our true home.

Enjoy the poem below by Rumi. Let me know how your journey fares.

The Guest House

This being human is a guest house.
Every morning a new arrival.
A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
as an unexpected visitor.
Welcome and entertain them all!
Even if they are a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture,
still, treat each guest honorably.
He may be clearing you out
for some new delight.
The dark thought, the shame, the malice.
Meet them at the door laughing and invite them in.
Be grateful for whatever comes.
Because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond.
-- Rumi

Everything that comes our way in this life, good or bad, holds a teaching if we are mindful enough to give it our attention. If we give ourselves presence, we gift ourselves immeasurable presents.

Blessings,
KJ Landis
SuperiorSelf on YouTube

Stay Warm with Winter Meals

1/2/2023

Happy New Year! San Francisco is finally getting some cold and rainy days, which we desperately need to get out of the drought. If you’re curious about what to make on a chilly night, I have seven delicious plant-based recipes to warm you from the inside out. These recipes were reprinted from the Food Revolution Network. If you are going gluten free, choose grains that are gluten free. Our healthy, winter dinner recipes are all about fresh seasonal ingredients that turn into nourishing and tasty comfort dishes! Whipping up a delicious dinner doesn’t have to be difficult, either. In fact, a few of these recipes only require one pot and a little bit of prep time before you’ve got a cozy and delicious meal to dish up for you and your loved ones on a cold winter’s night. Click on the title to link to the whole recipe.

1. One-Pot Butter Bean Soup

One-pot meals are an easy and delightful go-to during cold winter months. Butter beans create a layer of rich creaminess that makes this veggie-centric soup (think carrots, onions, and Swiss chard) all the more nourishing. Make it for the week or freeze it in individual containers so you have soup for the cold winter months to come.

2. Moroccan Spiced Sweet Potato and Spinach Stew

Make a winter meal feel extra cozy by taking advantage of warming spices, rich and starchy root vegetables, and healing leafy greens in our Moroccan-inspired and oh-so-satisfying stew. A delicious balance of sweet and savory flavors, it’s made with onions, carrots, sweet potato, chickpeas, and spinach, flavored with toasted spices, and finished with fresh herbs. With its variety of flavor and texture combinations, this just might become a go-to dish when you’re wanting some nourishing warmth.

3. Slow Cooker White Bean Chili

Just about everyone could use a delicious, plant-based chili recipe in their back pocket, and this one might be yours. Loaded with creamy white beans, millet, root veggies, and spices, it’s a healthy and comforting spin on a traditional tomato-based chili. Pile on creamy avocado and a dash of hot sauce (for a bit of heat and totally optional) to enjoy on a cold winter’s night.

4. Lentil and Quinoa Stuffed Peppers

A colorful bundle of essential nutrients in one hearty package, Lentil and Quinoa Stuffed Peppers are a delicious and fun source of healthy comfort. The star ingredients bring plenty of fiber, protein, and phytonutrients to this easy-to-make main dish. And broccoli, tomatoes, and peppers serve up a generous amount of vitamin C to help keep your immune system in tip-top shape.

5. Tuscan Beans and Kale

A deeply satisfying stew, Tuscan Beans and Kale is filled with nutrient-rich beans and greens simmered in a robust tomato and root vegetable sauce. This is a great dish to customize to your individual needs or your family’s preferences. For example, swap the butter beans with chickpeas or substitute spinach for kale. With so many delicious ways to make it your own, this recipe is surely one to keep on hand for the winter season.

6. Vegetable Cassoulet

Squash, root vegetables, potatoes, and white beans are seasonal and nourishing ingredients that provide plenty of plant power to warm you from the inside out. Our Vegetable Cassoulet takes some time to cook, but the prep time is minimal and the aroma that fills your home will make it worth the wait — we bet you’ll be counting down the seconds before you can dish it up for a bite!

7. Spinach and Mushroom Enchiladas

Healthy comfort food on a cold and frosty night has got to be the ultimate win, and our Spinach and Mushroom Enchiladas check both of those boxes! Their enticing aroma, delicious flavor, and satisfying texture can lift your spirits and keep you feeling warm and cozy. Once these bubbly beauties come out of the oven, top them with creamy avocado and an extra drizzle of savory sauce for an unforgettable, satiating, plant-based meal any night of the week!

Enjoy Hearty Comforting Meals Year-Round. You don’t need meat or dairy to create delicious, healthy winter dinner recipes that the whole family will love. Instead, turn to recipes packed full of veggies, legumes, and whole gluten free grains to make your suppers super nutritious and healthy. Doing so will not only take the chill off your bones but also satisfy your craving for a hearty meal that delivers warmth and comfort for mind, body, and spirit. By following these tips and recipes, you’ll have a variety of winter dinner meals that are hearty, nourishing, comforting, and will keep you warm and healthy during the coldest months of the year!

Blessings,
KJ Landis

Movement is Medicine

12/26/2022

I hope and pray your Chanukah and Christmas were filled with peace and reflection. May your Kwaanza and Eid bring you family moments filled with joy and laughter. My mother in law (85) was chatting with me on the phone the other day. She has stiff hamstrings to the point where she uses a walker. I am still healing from my knee replacement and the 2 back surgeries. She said, "Movement is medicine." I agree. In yoga, there is a saying, "Motion is the lotion." The more we move, the more the joint fluids get activated and moving around the body to help keep everything smooth and supple.

Yesterday, I was at my son's 24kGoldn Giveaway at Civic Center Plaza. I danced all day and gave away toys and games to kids for hours. I had such a great time moving that my back didn't hurt. Remember, I just had spinal surgery 4 months ago! I am only back to work about 3 weeks ago. This is the only way I could have been a volunteer, that is, to keep on moving. Even sitting at this desk is more painful in 10 minutes than A day of movement. So, in the New Year, rather than make a fitness or diet goal, just encourage yourself to move more than last year. Take the pressure off of yourself to meet a big struggling goal, and enjoy the journey of baby steps toward a healthier and happier you.

Be your superior self.
Blessings,
KJ Landis
SuperiorSelf on Youtube, IG, Twitter

Prunes and Plums

12/19/2022

Prunes and plums have vastly different reputations, despite being the very same fruit. Originally, all dried fruit were to help preserve the fruit way past their fresh and ripe date without it being fermented. Ancient civilizations dried, preserved, and fermented fruits, meats, vegetables, and grains. Many people associate prunes and prune juice with constipation, which doesn’t exactly bring captivating culinary delights to mind. And considering how delicious fresh plums are, they’re surprisingly not nearly as popular as many other fruits. Let's look at some common questions about plums vs prunes: What are prunes? Where do prunes come from? What are the benefits of eating plums and prunes? Plus, we’ll look at whether prunes and plums deserve to be part of your diet and some ways to enjoy them that you may not have considered.

Plums are actually members of the rose family. Like their fruit buddies the apricots, cherries, and peaches, plums are known as stone fruit because their single pit is hard, like a stone. It is a drupe fruit, meaning it has one seed per fruit. Other drupes include mangoes, dates, and olives.

The words plum and prune are sometimes used interchangeably, but the reality is a little more complicated. All prunes are dried plums, but not all types of plums typically become prunes. There are specific types of plums called prune plums, which are dried into prunes. Prune plums are a kind of plum are more fibrous and sweeter than regular plums but don’t have as robust a flavor. Drying and cooking prune plums bring out their sweetness. That's why when one has delicate teeth or are learning how to eat when a baby, one can have reheated prunes made with boiling water and the result is delicious! I love to add slices of oranges, lemons and a cinnamon stick to my slow cooked, simmering prunes. Really, it can be a dessert if one wants to wow their families at the holiday season.

Plums come in many sizes and colors, including yellow, green, red, blue, black, and purple skin. The flesh can range in hue from yellow to red and everything in between. There are mainly 3 types of plums in the USA: European, Japanese, and American. European plums are slightly smaller than the Japanese ones . There are over 800 different varieties of Japanese plums, which shows how well they respond to crossbreeding and hybridization. There are about 30 species native to the east coast of the USA. You won’t find these in stores, as the trees tend to produce sparsely. Plum trees play well with other fruits, as evidenced by the existence of pluots, which are a hybrid of plums and apricots, and pluerries, which are the offspring of plums and cherries.

Besides keeping us "regular" with the amount of fiber in prunes and plums, they also are good for our heart health. Prunes can reduce cholesterol in the body, decrease inflammation, provide vitamin C, and help prevent bone density loss as we age. Plum extract has been shown to reduce the ability of cancer cells to survive, grow, and proliferate in colon, breast, and liver cancers.

I think if I am having a sugar craving, a bowl of prunes will satisfy me as much as a processed sugary option (maybe even more). Eat more prunes and plums regularly, and see what happens to your health!

Blessings,
KJ Landis
SuperiorSelf on YouTube

Slugging Skincare

12/12/2022

Trying the latest skin trends can be pretty intimidating, demanding on the wallet, and, sometimes, the skin. However, there’s one recent trend that stands out among the rest as a skincare technique that’s both simple to understand and easy to incorporate into a routine: It’s called “slugging.” The technique involves applying an occlusive, thicker sealing ointment as the last step in one's nighttime moisturizing routine. It’s believed that slugging can help reveal smoother, softer-feeling “glass skin” that appears more plump and hydrated. To help you better understand whether or not slugging skincare is right for you and how to do it correctly, let us look at the facts of this viral skincare trend below—along with an easy-to-follow slugging guide. If one has acne-prone skin, speak with a skin care provider before trying this routine.

Just what is slugging? The slugging skincare trend involves slathering on an occlusive—like petroleum jelly onto your face as the last step in your evening moisturizing routine. The term “slugging” is often attributed to Korean beauty skincare trends, but the ritual itself can be traced back decades, with roots in the Black community. Slugging gets its name from the shiny sheen it leaves on your face, just like that of a slug. The goal of face slugging is to promote dewy, fresh, and young-looking skin that appears plump and hydrated. In the winter months where we have a lot more dry heat inside the homes and buildings being pushed out through heater systems, it can help with rough, dry, chapped skin.

How does slugging work in skincare? Thicker compounds composed of oils and waxes are similar to thick pantyhose or socks versus thinner ones. They work by creating a barrier on top of your skin, sealing in moisture and preventing transepidermal water loss. Research suggests that oil and waxy based moisturizers are the most effective occlusives, helping to reduce water loss through your epidermis by almost 99%.

In other words, occlusives used in slugging help create an impermeable wall that seals your skin off. They help support skin repair and keep moisture from evaporating off your skin while you sleep. The theory behind slugging is that applying an occlusive on your face before bed will lock in not only moisture, but also any beneficial you applied leading up to your “slug,” making them even more potent as a result.

Can all skin types try slugging? Petrolatum, which is usually the primary in products used for slugging, won’t clog pores, and is classified as a skin protectant by. It has many uses, such as soothing skin on the eyelids or lips, and is often used as a skin protectant in baby skin products for the management of diaper rash and eczema. However, this doesn’t mean that slugging is necessarily suited for all skin types. As always, when in doubt, consult your health care practitioner.

All that’s required to finish off the night time routine with slugging is to apply the face slugging product at the end of one's usual nighttime skincare routine, after all other steps have been completed, including, cleanser, eye cream, prescription treatments and night time moisturizer.

As far as how often one should use this technique, this will depend on the individual skin type and complexion concerns. For most skin types, completely sealing the skin barrier every night isn’t necessary. One may may alternate slugging days with some “non-slug” days.

I want to hear from you and your experience with this trend. How often and with what products do you use slugging?

In Gratitude,
KJ Landis

Achy Fingers?

12/5/2022

As San Francisco is finally getting rain and colder weather, after years of a drought and warm temperatures, many days I feel like my fingers and thumbs are stiff, achy, and just not as agile as they used to be. Some mornings I see a little bit of swollen joints too. What is it? How can I help myself? Is it arthritis or natural aging, or both? Are your hands lumpy, bumpy, swollen, or red too?

Those versatile tools that always enabled you to skillfully button a shirt, open a jar, or tap out your thoughts on a keyboard may be stiff, hurting, or even changing shape.

Arthritis is most likely the problem, and its effects can compromise one's independence. "The American College of Rheumatology has a campaign on how arthritis and other rheumatic conditions affect lives, and the symbol is a fork with twisted tines. That sums it up. Using a fork or doing any simple task can become difficult, whether it’s using a cellphone, typing, grooming, cooking, or eating," says Dr. Jeffrey Sparks, assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and a rheumatologist at Harvard-affiliated Brigham and Women’s Hospital.

There are 2 main types of arthritis. The most common type is called osteoarthritis, and is a degenerative problem that erodes the cushioning (cartilage) in the joints. As bones grind against each other, new bone forms, showing up as bumps (called nodes) on the joints. The body is actually trying to heal itself by sending protein to the area, and they form new bone matter. The new bone size and shape can limit motion.

Rheumatoid arthritis is caused by an overactive immune system that (for unknown reasons) attacks the lining of the joints. Just like in osteoarthritis in, the joints can become painful and stiff. However, in rheumatoid arthritis, the joints can become swollen, red, and warm. Rheumatoid arthritis can cause fatigue, low-grade fever, sweating, poor appetite, difficulty sleeping, and inflammation of the heart, lungs, or eyes.

What can we do to be a partner and advocate for our health? First, see your health practitioner. Do not put it off. There are ways to slow down rheumatoid arthritis. Unfortunately, we don’t have drugs to halt or slow osteoarthritis. Treatment involves controlling symptoms and improving our hand function with over the counter pain medications and creams. Once again, motion is the lotion. Do hand exercises, and any type of movement which uses the hands improve circulation. I find hot yoga and hot Pilates very helpful, I also wear gloves or mittens when hiking to help warm up the hands and make my joints more agile.

I hope this has been helpful in your wellness journey.
Blessings,
KJ Landis

Adult ADHD

11/28/2022

We all are so busy with our modern ways of living and the social media craze, as well as tech devices taking up our attention 24/7. We may lose focus on the tasks at hand or even not have the capacity to truly relax. It's normal to occasionally zone out in a meeting, forget your keys, or miss what a friend just said. For some folks, focusing on daily tasks is a sort of consistent and constant battle. How do you know if your lack of focus is due to stress, information overload, or a more serious health issue like ADHD?

What is ADHD? Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common mental health condition. It’s linked to trouble focusing, impulsivity, and over active minds and body. ADHD can affect children or adults, but it starts in childhood, not adulthood. You can be diagnosed with ADHD for the first time as an adult. If you just started having trouble paying attention, it's probably not ADHD. While symptoms of ADHD usually start in childhood, they may look different as an adult. For example, adults don’t always experience the "H" in ADHD, which stands for hyperactivity.

There are a wide variety of ADHD symptoms in adults, some more well known than others. There are two symptoms most common in adults who have ADHD: difficulty paying attention and impulsiveness. Some of us think that is just young adulthood! I remember being in my 20s and having freedom from my parents for the first time. I was making my own decisions for the first time. I was traveling the world and experimenting with all of the opportunities and adventures life had to offer. Does that mean I have ADHD? No!

If you’re an adult with ADHD, you may often find it hard to:

Finish tasks that don't interest one or aren't easy
Focus attention on conversations, reading materials, or jobs, may change jobs a lot
Remember things (misplacing or losing things)
Pay attention

Impulsivity Adults with ADHD may:

Act without thinking, make quick decisions without thinking about the consequences
Talk excessively, blurt things out, interrupt or even finish people’s sentences for them
Find it hard to relax, feel restless, find it hard to do quiet things like read or watch TV
Get easily bored, for the moment something loses one's attention, one may switch gears without a second thought
Find it hard to keep jobs or relationships, speak without a filter or have trouble following rules

Since every person is unique, there are also symptoms that are less common, like hyperfocus. Spending all of one's time focused on one activity can get in the way of daily life. This is especially true if it’s an activity that causes one to lose sight of everything else. To break the hold of hyperfocus, set reminders to take breaks.

Some folks experience mood swings. A good way to manage mood swings is through exercise. Exercising allows one to sharpen one's thinking, and help one to better handle stress, releasing endorphins, oxytocin, and happy hormones, making one feel healthier and happier.

If one has adult ADHD, it can be difficult to sleep. Dr. Zucker from Kaiser permanente says, "It’s hard to shut off at night, the brain just keeps going." One may find trying to sleep is there, but one keeps jumping from thought to thought. Or one may be awake, continuing to hyperfocus on something interesting. A good way to deal with this restlessness is to find a mindfulness or meditation practice that calms the body and mind. That may mean yoga, stretching exercises, doing a breathing meditation, or even putting on background music that is slow and peaceful.

It can be difficult to diagnose adult ADHD, as almost everyone has experienced these symptoms at some point in their lives. In some cases, depression and anxiety are to blame. ADHD, depression, and anxiety can all coexist, but just because you're sad or depressed doesn't mean you have ADHD. The only way to know for sure if you have adult ADHD is to talk to your health care practitioners. If you’re noticing a disruption to your everyday life, it’s time to make an appointment.

To your health,
KJ Landis
SuperiorSelf on YouTube
@superiorself on Twitter and Instagram
Superior Self with KJ Landis on Facebook
KJ Landis on LinkedIn

Nadi Breathing is Not Naughty Breathing!

11/21/2022

Nadi breathing is a way to practice alternate nostril breathing. In Sanskrit, the word “Nadi” means flow. When we take control of the breath instead of allowing the automatic life force of breath to just do its thing, we are being a partner with our health. Breath is what separates us from death. Every living thing breathes. It is also a tool which enhances our health! It is free. We do not have to buy it on the internet, or pick it up in a store. We take our breath with us everywhere. With taking control of our breath or even just observing the natural breath, we can enhance a sense of peace, calm, winding down, or even stimulating the body with energy if using an energetic breathing technique.

Being mindful of our breath allows us to reduce glucose in the bloodstream, reduce cholesterol naturally, reduce blood pressure, anxiety, depression, and enhance performance and recovery times when doing physical exercises. Breathing is an emotional gift. Studies indicate that, over time, it can improve cardiovascular health and lung function, as it balances your heart rate. This in turn reduces your stress and balances hormone release, which we know is good for overall physical and mental health. There is also strong evidence that alternate nostril breathing improves brain function, memory, and focus.

Nadi breathing is also called Nadi Shodhana Pranayama. It has a long history in yoga and as a reliable way to achieve mental, physical, spiritual, intellectual, and emotional balance. Don't we all need that? Breathing is safe. It is a simple go-to as well when having a tough day.

Nadi Shodhana Pranayama (Alternate Nostril Breathing)

1.Find a comfortable chair, floor cushion, or mat. Sit up as straight as you can, but don’t strain. This is not a yoga pose.
2. Let your left hand rest gently in your lap. Bring your right hand up to your face.
3. Place the index and middle fingers of your raised hand lightly against the space between your eyebrows.
4. Close your eyes.
5. Take a nice, long, easy deep breath through your nose – inhale then exhale.
6. Close your right nostril with your thumb, and then inhale slowly through your left nostril.
7. At the top of your in-breath, close your left nostril with your ring finger, so that both of your nostrils are closed.
8. Pause for a moment.
9. Release your thumb from your right nostril and exhale (keep your left nostril closed).
10. Pause again for a moment.
11. Now reverse the process. Breathe in slowly and steadily through your right nostril. At the top of the in-breath, close up both nostrils again, pause, and then release your out-breath through your left nostril.
12. Pause again. Repeat the breathing process, alternating nostrils. Do this several times, slowly and mindfully.

I hope this has helped your day or evening, as health is your wealth!
In Gratitude,
KJ Landis
SuperiorSelf channel on YouTube
@superiorself on Twitter and Instagram
Superior Self with KJ Landis on Facebook
Books sold everywhere!

Cardiac Distress or Cardiac Arrest?

11/14/2022

Cardiac arrest is different from cardiac distress. The main difference between the two is the heartbeat. When you go into cardiac arrest, the heart stops beating. If you have a current CPR certification, you know exactly what to do in this type of scenario, using your first aid and AED training to help revive and/or keep the blood and oxygen flowing through the body until emergency medical help arrives to take over. Cardiac distress is caused by stress and is often referred to as a severe anxiety or panic attack. The heart does not stop beating, although the victim of cardiac distress can feel many of the same symptoms as an individual in cardiac arrest. When someone is experiencing cardiac distress, first aid and CPR training online programs will not be effective treatment because the heart does not stop beating.

Individuals who experience cardiac distress can learn personal and effective techniques to help manage these severe panic and anxiety attacks, such as taking slow, deep breaths to decrease the heart rate, or practicing yoga and regular exercise to manage stress long term. Once a person is diagnosed correctly by a health practitioner with cardiac distress, one can create a plan of non-medical interventions to help oneself. Meditation, yoga, tai chi, and any slow and mindful exercise will help one stay calm. Sometimes, however, medical intervention is necessary. Some individuals have a need for prescription or herbal medications along with proper self-management skills to lessen the frequency and duration of severe panic or anxiety attacks. Individuals who experience cardiac distress are often suffering from other conditions as well such as depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. Taking control of your health, both physically and mentally, from a holistic perspective, can help give you a proactive mindset on preventive healthcare.

Blessings,
KJ Landis
SuperiorSelf channel on YouTube

Broccoli Takes the Cake!

11/7/2022

Around 30 years ago, President Bush declared that he didn't like broccoli. His momma probably boiled it and overcooked it until it was mushy when he was a kid. The former president said that he was forced to eat broccoli. If you were forced to eat overcooked broccoli too, you may be missing out on this delicious and nutritious superfood. Nowadays, we know much better how to prepare and enjoy this superfood. According to the US Department of Agriculture, broccoli consumption in the USA more than doubled between 1980 and 1988.

Originally, was domesticated from wild cabbage in ancient Italy. It is a part of the brassica family, including cauliflower, cabbage, kale, kohlrabi, and Brussels sprouts. Like the artichoke, it is a flowering vegetable. The stalk is firmer than the flowers, and is commonly used in broccoli slaw, broccoli soups, pureed, or chopped into smaller pieces to be added to salads. There are different varieties of broccoli, from purple varieties to the beautiful cone shaped romanesco style, pictured above. Broccolini is a hybrid of kale and broccoli. Broccoli rabe is actually a member of the turnip family.

Broccoli is a good source of fiber and water. It has vitamins C, K1, and A, as well as folate (and other B vitamins), potassium, iron, manganese, and calcium. It provides around 2.5 grams of protein per pound. It has the distinct odor of sulfur, which promotes health, has antioxidants, and anticancer fighting properties. If one wants the most nutrition absorption from broccoli, steaming or quick stir frying is best. Adding some healthy fat to the vegetable will allow the body to absorb the nutritional components that much better. This rate of nutritional absorption is called bioavailability. The latest crop of broccoli popularity at the grocery stores is broccoli sprouts. They look like alfalfa sprouts. They are the 3-5 day old baby broccoli plants which are super nutritious. Broccoli, as well as all brassica plants provides us with great fiber for better elimination in the digestive system. If one has chronic constipation, try eating broccoli every day in many preparation forms and see the natural way to heal that issue.

How do you like to cook and eat your broccoli? I want to hear from you!
Blessings,
KJ Landis
SuperiorSelf channel on YouTube

The Incredible Edible Artichoke

10/31/2022

The artichoke is the official vegetable of California. It is a member of the daisy family, and native to the Mediterranean region of the world. Originating from inedible thistles (thorny sharp plants), the artichoke is the product of long and intensive cultivation that has created not just a tasty food, but an incredibly nutritious one as well. It is my favorite vegetable. Most artichokes are green, but there are some purple varieties as well. On a recent walk around San Francisco, I witnessed the flowering vegetable in full blooming glory.

The edible part of the plant comes from the softer middle to bottom of the flesh of the green petals, the center of the stem, and the inner artichoke heart. The thistly portion in the center looks like pale green or purple hair, so pull that part off before enjoying the luxuriously velvety textured heart. After boiling, steaming, grilling, or baking, we eat the vegetable by turning the petals over and scraping the inside edges against our front top and bottom teeth. Some folks like to dip the bottom of the petals in olive oil, butter, mayonnaise, herb aioli, or salad dressing, one petal at a time. I prefer a bowl of melted butter. The slow process of eating a whole artichoke can be a mindful eating activity. It is a satisfying and slow meal time. The largest artichokes may take up to an hour to steam or boil, so prepare some appetizers while you wait for the hero!

The artichoke is extremely nutritious. It has phytochemicals, antioxidants, magnesium, potassium, niacin, and folate. Artichokes contain a lot of fiber, some of which comes in the form of the fabulous prebiotic fiber called inulin. A prebiotic feeds the probiotics living in our intestines. We cannot digest the fiber, so the plant fiber makes us have a bowel movement, but the healthy bacteria living in the the gut microbiome eats the fiber as their meal. Probiotics living in the intestines help us absorb the nutrients from the foods we eat.

If you don't want to take the time to prepare fresh artichokes, canned and frozen artichoke hearts are also available. Be mindful of the ingredients list on the packaging. They often have added salt and preservatives which alter the flavor. It is also fun to try jarred marinated artichoke hearts from Spain and Italy. The olive oil and herbs they are held in add to the flavor of any dish made. Try adding the marinated jarred variety to salads, pizzas, and artichoke dips!

How do you like to prepare your artichokes? I want to hear from you!
Blessings,
KJ Landis
SuperiorSelf channel on YouTube

Some Final Thoughts on Healthcare in the USA

10/24/2022

As I wrote the past 8 blogs about my spinal health issues and emergency surgeries, I was reminded by a close friend that I needed to back up and see the bigger picture. When we are immersed in pain and suffering, we can only see and feel that at any moment. When the pain is chronic and acute at the same time, it is all we know and understand. I felt like I was being disregarded and personally attacked on so many levels during my time in the Kaiser hospital system. Someone outside of ourselves, such as a loved one or counselor can help us to realize, we are not our feelings. We can acknowledge them, yet move on. We can move forward, and by being a health advocate for ourselves, we can fully take care of our overall wellness, being a partner with the experts. Isn't that what I try to do when I teach yoga and Pilates, personal training, and meditation? I try and give personal empowerment to each and every student. My personal motto for the students is always the same: LOVE YOURSELF INTO A BETTER EXISTENCE.

Now that the fog has cleared, and some time of healing has occurred, I can see the bigger picture, the 30,000 foot view from the clouds. Healthcare workers in the USA (and worldwide) have been extremely overworked and driven to exhaustion over the past 3 years since the pandemic began (even before the virus was identified, thousands of people were overtaxing the healthcare system with a mystery illness). They have been forced into overtime, not compensated for their own pain and suffering, and many couldn't even go into their own homes to be with their families after their extra-long shifts (due to safety concerns or short turnaround times between shifts). Many weren't given the mental or physical support by the management that they needed. Workers' face masks had to be used over and over again! Simple procedures all of a sudden became complicated ones, there were too many questions and not enough answers surrounding the pandemic virus and its variants.

Everyone was playing the blame game. Even the politicians were playing the blame game, from the top down, and that wasn't helping heal the sick or help the healthcare workers partner up and solve any of our systemic problems. All it did was show how broken we are in our healthcare system overall. Many healthcare workers left the industry. So, who was left? Now, near the end of 2022, most hospitals, clinics, live-in facilities, and short term care units are severely understaffed. There is such a need for staff that many are seeing the financial benefits of becoming traveling nurses, travelling medical social workers, and all support staff, even down to the cleaners and food service workers in the healthcare industry. Finally the money is there to support some of the desired incomes, but the solidarity of a consistent work environment and common goals shared in many settings is gone. There is a lack of comradery. There is a lack of community. When a group of workers share the same or overlapping shifts together for years, they become a family. There is a sense of knowing and trust. I have experienced this myself as an employee of 25 years at the Hilton in San Francisco.

I do not think the people who choose to go into the healthcare fields do so just to make money. I think they truly want to help people. The amount of schooling and dedication is large and long. The education and training is expensive as well. Now it is time to back up even further to see the world view as we move forward in the care of our world citizens. Let us take better care of the professionals who take care of us.

Blessings,
KJ Landis
SuperiorSelf channel on YouTube

Spinal Surgery Diary, Part 7

10/19/2022

After a few days at home, my physical therapist came to my home. Luckily for me, he was the same person who was helping me last year after my total knee replacement surgery. I immediately felt better taken care of than when I was in the 2 hospitals. I made great progress, and within a week I was able to walk up and down my stairs, and also was able to walk to the corner of my block with a cane and my physical therapist as my companion. Getting in and out of my bed was the most painful experience in the 24 hour cycle of healing. I began to get "moon face," a condition caused by the steroids in my system. My face puffed up, even though the rest of me was wasting away from inactivity. I lost all of my muscle strength. I called my new condition, "flat-ass-itis," to try and inject humor into my lack of exercise.

At day 12 of home healing, my physical therapist thought it was time to learn how to sit in a chair. Up until this point I had been flat on my back or walking upright a few minutes here and there. I was successful at sitting 2 minutes at the kitchen table without pain. It made me realize that humans are not meant to be sitting at desk jobs all day long. This is why lots of lower back aches are caused by sitting, driving, etc. We are meant to be moving upright, all day long!

I was so thrilled not to be eating flat on my back. Later that day I ate dinner at the kitchen table while speaking to a friend on FaceTime. I lost track of time. Maybe it was about 20 minutes of seated activity? It was definitely too long to be seated in a chair. A few hours later, my right buttock and leg began to hurt incredibly, and by morning the level 9 to 10 pain with electrocution was back. The crying ensued. I called my Kaiser surgery team and they doubled my prednisone and told me to stop sitting up altogether. After a few days I felt some relief. By the time 3 weeks had rolled around, I still was not comfortable. We drove back to San Jose and had my stitches taken out. It was still hard to move comfortably, especially in and out of bed. I still was either flat on my back or standing tall. After another MRI, it was shown that my disc had reherniated. The plan was to have a more invasive surgery, a spinal fusion. The only issue was with the pre-operative appointments by phone. My surgeon wasn't available for more than 3 weeks, just to talk! I immediately let the staff know that I wasn't prepared to suffer this deeply for another month. They somehow had to make it work.

Miracles showed up, and there was a cancellation for a phone appointment just a few days later. When I asked about if I could just skip the chat and have the surgery instead, the phone scheduler laughed. Then she got more serious and said, actually, there was a free spot for surgery two days after my phone appointment. Winner, winner, chicken dinner! Talk about manifestation!

My spinal fusion surgery was scheduled for September 8, less than 4 weeks after my initial surgery. I knew relief was in sight. Spinal fusion is when they take the disc out completely, substitute a rubber disc, and stuff pieces of bones and ground up bones in between. Then they create a metal cage around the lumbar 5 and sacrum 1 bones, add screws, and sew the back up again. The bones will grow into the screw threads and there is no more disc to leak. There will be no more movement between the L5 and S1 bones. They also planned on fixing the broken L5 vertebra. More stability and less electrocution was in my future!

Please share this with loved ones and your social media. It is important to speak up for your own health.
Blessings,
KJ Landis
SupeiorSelf channel on YouTube

Spinal Surgery Diary, Part 8

10/19/2022

On September 8, we woke up early and drove to San Jose, about an hour away. This time I was sent 2 preoperative kits in the mail! I was fully prepared with my cleansing wipes and special carbohydrate drink! When I arrived, the admitting and surgery team were very accommodating, especially compared to the last surgery and hospital experience. For full disclosure, between surgery one and surgery two I called the county health department in San Mateo and San Francisco, in order to share my experiences and disappointment with my care at Kaiser. Later on, after the second surgery, I also made a full report with Kaiser grievance department too. In order for me to stop crying and feeling like I was not hear, seen, or cared for, I needed to release in an official manner.

I stayed in the San Jose Kaiser for 3 days. Some of the same staff was there to take care of me again, and they were my favorite nurses! The day I was to leave, I lost all control of my right leg and fell. Lucky for me, nothing was seriously damaged. A nurse and a passerby helped pick me up and put me back into bed. Even though I fell, my prognosis was so good that I was released off of the Prednisone, which was creating "moon face" and mood swings. My beautiful teenage daughter brought me home, and laid with me in my bed for a little while. I could actually feel the spine stabilizing and I could also move around the home with less pain. The exiting and entering of my bed was much less painful even 1 day after surgery! I was able to sit at the kitchen table the day after I got home! I was told to literally do nothing except walk to my bathroom and back to bed for 3 weeks. For an active human like me, this was difficult. I was distracted by a steady stream of loved ones visiting me.

I had forgotten how many weeks it had been since the fusion surgery, and due to the medications I was on, somehow thought I was further along than I was. I walked too long outside with my husband about a week after surgery and the next morning woke up with a huge pear shaped swell at the incision site. I was told by telephone from a physician's assistant to put heat on it to improve circulation. After a week, the swelling still wasn't deflating. Then I went in to have my stitches removed. The other physician's assistant said cold compresses are for reducing swelling and hot was for stiffness. So, I was given the wrong information initially. Wow. I said that I hoped there was a conversation to be had with the initial advice. The response was a smile and silence. After all, they are in the exact same surgery unit and hold the same position...

Now, I am 4 weeks into my home healing journey. I can walk about 20 minutes around the block without a cane. I am off of all pain medications. When I went off of the heavy medications I had diarrhea for 4 days. I suppose this was the release I needed. I had constipation for days off and on since the initial pain began in May. Narcotics will do that to a person. Also for the first time in my life I had hemorrhoids. I am currently on medication for those, and being tested for a bacterial infection in my colon. When a person takes antibiotics in the IV for lengthy periods of time, usually during hospitalizations, it is easy to wipe out all of the good bacteria when killing the bad bacteria. I feel so much better all around, though. My physician's assistant said that my back and leg will never be completely without pain for the rest of my life. I will have good days and bad days. I will be able to be active again, but there is a chance the disc above the fusion will herniate later on in life. I must be mindful with my movements.

Isn't that part of our wellness goals anyway? Be mindful in words, deeds, actions, and thoughts...
Please share this with your loved ones and on your social media channels.

Blessings,
KJ Landis
SuperiorSelf channel on YouTube

Spinal Surgery Dairy, Part 6

10/17/2022

Finally, surgery day was here! On Thursday, August 11, I woke up at around 8 am, asking for my carbohydrate drink once again. This particular drink is given to enhance surgery and recovery, and is routinely drunk given a few hours before surgery. Once again I was denied because the intake doctor from the previous evening was not listening to what happened at the previous hospital, how it was supposed to be traveling with me. Then I was told it would be sent to my room at the Spine Specialty hospital in San Jose. The surgery nurses could only exclaim, "Too late now!"

The lumbar laminectomy and discectomy surgery is where the surgeon removes parts of the spine that are close to the spinal cord in order to make more space as the nerves and cord heal from the foreign matter breaking off of the disc, disc center, and broken bone bits, pressing upon my nerves. The surgery team also removes all of the foreign bits off of the nerves. Afterwards, there is more room around the spinal cord, and within a year the nerves should stop the feeling of numbness, tingling, and electrocution. Luckily for me, I only had to ask a few times for the catheter to be inserted before surgery. I knew I would have a problem if I couldn't relieve myself for hours. They gave me general anesthesia and then flipped the whole table over, like I was the center of the sandwich with my face down.

After surgery, I remained in the hospital 3 more days, for a total in-patient of 8 days, not including the off and on ER visits. When my husband came to pick me up at the hospital, I remember the discharge nurse specifically saying I was off of all chores for 6 weeks. That was a blessing! The ride home was interesting, as I was laying down as flat as the seats would allow. I was reminded of my childhood vacation rides, traveling along the highways and staring at the electrical wires as they danced along the skyline. I appreciated the clouds, the sky, and the trees. I appreciated the sun warming my skin through the window as we traveled from San Jose towards San Francisco.

When we arrived home, I had a walker and a cane to help me maneuver back into the house. Soon after settling into my bed, my home health physical therapy team called and set up weekly appointments to help me get in and out of bed, and to learn how to safely walk around the house a minute or 2 every hour. I was still suffering from the electrical shocks, but knew they would subside over the next year. I felt positive about my future. The hardest part for me, mentally, was, now, my extremely active lifestyle was to be completely placed on hold. It was really difficult to swallow that information, as my whole life is wrapped up in movement and meditation, in work as well as in play. How do I define myself without movement? For the weeks to come I cried all day long, off and on, due to the pain medications, my healing process, my pain levels, the intense level of Prednisone steroids in my body, and my lack of independence. My husband tried to make me laugh every day. He would mention that my 10 minutes of feeling sorry for myself was almost over, so it was time to change my attitude again. Bless that man, my ride or die for 33 years!

Please stay tuned for part 7 of my spinal surgery diary! Share these with your loved ones, and on your social media.
Blessings,
KJ Landis
SuperiorSelf channel on YouTube

Spinal Surgery Diary, Part 5

10/14/2022

After a night with multiple pee pads taped to my body like diapers, I finally received antibiotics in my IV for the UTI. Wednesday morning, I had a few more phone and Zoom visits with the surgery staff at San Jose Kaiser. They were setting me up for Thursday's surgery. I was really ready to move to a specialty center. Perhaps there I would be treated as a suffering human instead of dismissed as a person who was annoying the staff. I still had not figured out the state disability application on line with EDD. Luckily for me, a nurse who had surgery the year before helped me out as he passed by my room to see if I needed anything. Hip, hip, hooray! I am grateful for the miracle.

I was visited by a floor doctor, patient care coordinators, and daytime staff of nurses, cleaners, assistants, and food service staff. I could only drink broth, and it was delicious. I kept asking for the surgery kit with the special carbohydrate drink, and after 4 requests, I was told that now I would receive it in San Jose as soon as I arrived. I made them pinky promise. I also asked multiple times when my ambulance transport was going to happen, and I was put off multiple times without an answer. I asked for something to help me make a bowel movement. After 4 hours I was finally given something to help with the pressure in my belly. Remember, I could not put any pressure on my right foot or leg. I could not stand or sit. I was handed a bed pan to handle lifting my body all by myself in order to defecate without any assistance. At least I was issued 4 diapers for the transportation to San Jose.

At 5:15pm, exactly in the middle of rush hour on a weekday, the ambulance arrived to transport me to the other hospital. It took 2 hours plus more time to set me up in the new hospital room. The ambulance staff were incredibly kind. Unfortunately my UTI was not so kind, and I urinated through all of the diapers, pads, and onto the gurney. Perhaps the floor was wet too. I kept crying, saying I am so sorry, ashamed, and embarrassed. The ambulance staff lifted my spirits up, telling me that it was their job to assist, and to release any negative feelings about my condition during the travel.

When I arrived in San Jose, there was only one nurse who came in to see me after almost 45 minutes. It was too late for any food or water, except for my carbohydrate drink, which was to be taken the next morning. I hadn't eaten anything since August 4th except broth on August 7th. The nurse explained that they were extremely understaffed. At around 8:45pm, a doctor came in, saying he was my intake doctor who would put all of my information in their computer from the other hospital. I was asked to share why I was there. After 60 seconds I was abruptly told to stop talking. He said he could not do his work if I was talking. Wow. Just wow. He had a horrible bedside manner and obviously did not care about the patient at all. After he left the room, 2 nurses came in to finish the intake of my situation. They were much better at listening. I asked the doctor about my pre-surgery kit with the special carbohydrate drink which was supposed to help healing during the surgery and afterwards. He said that he didn't see it in the medical orders, so he was not going to give it to me. This is standard procedures for any surgery. I kept asking for my regular medicines as well, which were to be put in the IV and also given to me by mouth. This intake doctor either eliminated or changed some of my medications without even confirming with me what I was already taking! He completely dismissed me when I asked for the carbohydrate drink again! I think I cried a river of tears since August 4th. Both of the night nurses shared that this particular doctor was not compassionate or caring. He was not a favorite among the staff there. I cried myself to sleep. I prayed that the next morning's surgery would be guided by God.

Stay tuned for part 6 of my spinal surgery diary. Please share with your loved ones and on your social media.
Blessings,
KJ Landis
SuperiorSelf channel on YouTube

Spinal Surgery Diary, Part 4

10/13/2022

On Tuesday, August 9, 2022, I was still in-patient at Kaiser, South SF. The afternoon was full of visiting staff, making certain that I was aware of my Zoom appointments imminent. I was scheduled for a laminectomy and discectomy for Thursday in San Jose Kaiser. This particular hospital is a spine specialty center. I was to be transferred by ambulance on Wednesday. The patient care coordinator told me that there is a special carbohydrate drink I was to carry with me and take 2 hours before surgery to ensure rapid healing. I asked if they were going to bring me the kit or should I send my hubby upstairs to get the drink and special wipes for sanitizing my body. The staff assured me that I would have everything ready before the ambulance took me to San Jose on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, the social worker came into my room and quickly gave me the rundown of the disability forms I was to fill out on line. I was given 2 weeks disability at first, and then 6 weeks total with this surgery. Unfortunately, with all of the pain medicines inside my IV, and now feeling like I had a UTI as well, I was not understanding the social worker well. I felt overwhelmed with all of the tech instructions. I asked for her phone number or office extension so that I could contact her in case I became stuck while applying on-line. The reply was that she didn't have an office or phone number because she was a floating social worker amongst many Kaiser hospitals and therefore could not assist me. The suggestion was that I get a tech savvy friend to help me. After the social worker left, I tried many times to make the disability application complete, but my skills were limited due to the drugs in my system. I began to cry again. Also at this time my catheter was really irritating me something fierce.

I asked to have the catheter removed. After it was removed, there was blood in my urine. I still couldn't walk due to the electrocution pulsing through my right buttocks, leg, and foot. I asked for a UTI test. They gave me an external catheter. It really is a cool invention. It looks like a white hot dog made of thick gauze in a blue rubber hot dog bun. I was to place the entire thing between my legs into my crotch. When I felt like I had to urinate, the suction began, and the urine is taken to a container on the wall behind my bed through a tube. The UTI test was given. I had not pooped in 6 days at this point. I was feeling pretty sorry for myself at this stage of my visit. I still wept on and off all day and night, just as much for the medical system not believing me for days as I suffered in pain as the pain itself. Maybe Kaiser ER thought I was a drug addict looking for pain meds when I went to the ER multiple times? This was the first experience in 25 years with Kaiser where I was not treated as a human telling the truth.

Late Tuesday evening, a night nurse introduced herself. She said that she was a visiting nurse from Texas and was used to critical care in the cardiac unit, so there wasn't much to do here. She said that she was right outside my door if I needed anything. However, when my external catheter wasn't working correctly, I peed the bed multiple times. Her tune changed quite dramatically. My night nurse didn't even offer me adult diapers to make me more comfortable. I was chastised for not having the external catheter in exactly the right spot to work correctly. The team had to change my bedding, my outfit, put pads under me, and eventually decided to tape the bed pads around my torso like a diaper. This was so they had less visits to make to my room. Meanwhile, I asked for the results of the UTI test. After it was shown to be positive, I asked multiple times in the wee hours of Wednesday morning for the antibiotics for my UTI. Between 1am and 3am, the nurse telephoned the on-call doctor 3 times at his home asking when the pharmacy was going to be sending it up to me. After the 3rd time, my night nurse came in to tell me that I had to chill out because she was being yelled at by the doctor, telling her to stop bothering him at home. Meanwhile I was still suffering from the UTI! So when the test came back earlier, and was shown positive at around 5:45pm, nobody had given me the results information or medicine to help with relief...

Please stay tuned for part 5! Please share with your social media and friends and family. We need to be our own health advocates when we are really in the weeds (and any time we have a health concern)!
Blessings,
KJ Landis
SuperiorSelf channel on YouTube

Spinal Surgery Diary, Part 3

10/12/2022

As I loudly screamed and cried in the ER on August 7, 2022, around 12:45pm, the ER doctor in charge and a head nurse took turns coming into the area where I was being treated and yelled at me more than once. They said that I had to calm down because I was frightening the other patients! They finally subdued my rants with ketamine in an IV. I didn't know what that was, but it was stronger than anything else they had previously given me in the past 2 visits. So this was proof that when they told me on day 1 and 2 that they had given me the strongest available legal pain killer in the ER, they were lying. This was my 3rd visit to the ER within 4 days. I softly wept and for over an hour begging for a catheter. At this time, it had been more than 6 hours since peeing and I have a history of bladder retention. Remember, I also hadn't pooped in 4 days.

Once again, they didn't believe me. The staff took their sweet time, ordering a sonogram to see how much fluid was actually retained in my bladder. Only after this procedure did they assess that my hollering was for a legitimate reason, and gave me a catheter. Immediately, almost a liter was emptied. I could feel the plastic tubing scraping the insides of my body which later on provided me with a gift of a urinary tract infection on top of everything else that was going on. As I wept more quietly, I changed the the mantra to, "I neeed an MRIIIIII!" After an hour and a half more, I was rolled into the MRI area and also had an XRAY of my back. As I suspected, the spondololysthesis weakened the spine, and there was a disc herniation between my lumbar 5 and sacrum. In my case, the center of the disc leaked onto the main nerves controlling the muscles in the buttocks and legs. The gel, particles of hard disc, and broken lumbar bone were entering my nerves, creating the severe internal electrocution of the right lower parts of my body.

I was admitted to the hospital while they were trying to figure out what to do next. I continued to cry, my jars of tears collected from the fact that for days the medical professionals didn't believe me, as much as from the continuous pain and suffering. Luckily for me, I was scheduled for an emergency epidural the next day, a Monday, To my surprise, my regular chronic pain doctor was there to administer the steroids into my spine on the right side. An epidural puts steroid medicine precisely into the area of the spine to help relief the pain for months. It is not the same as a completely numbing epidural when a woman chooses this in labor and delivery. The epidural gave me some relief for about 24 hours. I still was not permitted to get out of bed, as I could not anyway. It was physically impossible.

My chronic pain doctor checked in on me on Tuesday afternoon in my room. He set up an appointment for later in the day with a spine surgeon specialist by Zoom. Hallelujah!

Stay tuned for part 4. Please share this on your social media and with anyone you love.
Blessings,
KJ Landis
SuperiorSelf channel on YouTube