Improvements

Good Friday, August 31, 2018 22:19:55. I have been inside my chamber for about 30 minutes. Thanks to Ginger for reminding me of the benefits of peppermint!

I had a fairly good day. Minimal headaches. Slight dizziness. My left ear is improving. My cognition was a bit off but not too bad. I actually woke eager to tidy up our back patio. I did that successfully and took my shower and then sat down to a cup of coffee and FB all before 10am. I did a few extra things that really needed to get done. One load of wash in my brand new washer and dryer set. LOVE THEM! I brought my shoes in from the garage. I taped a box for return to Costco. And ate a tuna fish lunch. Then I took a two-hour nap. O what a nap it was. So nice and quiet. Little One laid on my lap as I reclined. It was simply lovely. About a half hour later our son was here to replace our kitchen sink. We had a nice visit. Then issues came up and it looks like he will have to cut the opening slightly bigger. So he will be back in the morning. Not a bad day for this lady!

I am engaged with the peppermint essential oil, oxygen, psi at 1.3, my chair very comfortable, my cool vest getting warm and the nice ice pack at my neck. Pretty good stuff and I feel more comfortable every day in this chamber. I am grateful for the roominess too. Its like I am in a personal teepee.

Today’s theme is Improvements because that is exactly what I am all about in this chapter of my life. Where are you in yours? Good question!

In two weeks it will be 2.5 years since my fall at work that really defined why I need specific improvements in my life. I am grateful for the advanced medical treatment that is available to us today. I am expecting that what I am doing now will be common practice in 5-10 years.  The standard concussion questionnaire will be significantly updated. More radiological diagnostics will be performed. And most importantly, a TBI patient will be managed biochemically. My brain is  the mainframe of who Suzanne is. I do not have separate lobes that function in one way. Each area works together with one another for my good….my best.

IMPROVEMENTS:

10 I am doing these daily dives to help the needed oxygen get to every cell and work its intended purpose of healing and restoration inside of me. Google defines Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) as a medical treatment which enhances the body’s natural healing process by inhalation of 100% oxygen in a total body chamber, where atmospheric pressure is increased and controlled.

2) I am using auxiliary oxygen from an oxygen concentrator outside of the chamber for given amounts of time while I am inside of my chamber as prescribed by my current treating doctor.

3) I am already realizing the benefits of HBOT with sleep. Prior to these past few weeks I have had a tough time sleeping. There were months where I slept maybe 30% of what I should have been doing. There were days when I slept better in the daytime. There were nights when I couldn’t even get 20 minutes rest. It has been really bad in the sleep category. Without the needed sleep my headaches were worse. My emotional and mental state was not good at all. I was sleep deprived. Today, I am averaging 10 hours of sleep per 24 hours. I am blessed. Even my two-hour nap this afternoon was a blessing!

3) I am energized after I get out of the chamber. I love the rush of pleasure I feel. I get very tired about 30 minutes later so that’s why we have chosen to do my dives just before bedtime.

4) I am pleasantly looking forward to the future. It doesn’t seem so bleak anymore because I am getting glimpses of improvement. I had a difficult day yesterday but look at me today. That’s life, isn’t it…some days are better than others.

5) I have been wanting to get back into praying and journaling what I am learning from my LORD. I have been eager to read my bible and do bible studies again. I miss reaching back into the original languages of the Old and New Testaments. I’m not there yet but I have a new excitement brewing inside. It will return. I downloaded an audio New Testament, Psalms, Proverbs and Song of Solomon and I love listening again to the Word of God. It is filling those voids that kept getting wider and deeper….but today there is hope.

6) I am realizing just how special D is. He has walked through this whole thing without complaining or abandoning me. And now I am getting back the desire to be more than the one he cares for in a therapeutic way. I really want to dream again with him and look forward to sharing our new home together and just having fun.

7) The fog is lifting. Yes, that oppressive cloud of dense fog is clearing. With that comes the realization the I am alive and well and eager to improve and keep improving. This is delightful! If I could do somersaults like I did as a child! In my mind’s eye I am!!

You see…improvements are small and they are medium size and they are big and full. I will have days like yesterday. AND I will have more days like today.

Thank you again Ginger!

IMPROVEMENTS!!

God bless you,

Suz