Everything is So Up in The Air!

It was 5:30 pm on a Tuesday evening. After a long day that started early, I had finished what I needed to do at our design-build business that I run with my husband. He had invited me to join him at a new shopping center restaurant near our office to have a paleo burger. The rain had been plentiful that day, unusual for California, and it had stopped for the moment. 

As we walked side-by-side and chatted, I slipped and fell on the slick, new cement. It felt more like I hydroplaned as I lost both feet from under me, flipped around and landed on my right arm. Stunned, I got up right away, saying "I'm okay." Until I looked at my right arm. It looked deformed. And it hurt like hell. I had to hold it with my left arm as we walked for help.

We headed to the shopping center clinic and through a series of events and x-rays, I ended up in the emergency room at John Muir Hospital to have my wrist put back into place. I broke both wrist bones in the fall - my radius and ulna. They had shifted to the left and had to be moved back into place. That 6 hour ordeal ended well enough, as I didn't need surgery and my wrist went back to where it belonged.  

As a sensitive person and a Wellness Coach, I knew I had to amp up my self-care to meet this tragedy. During the painful resetting of my wrist, I practiced my heart breathing. My blood pressure was sky-high (of course), but breathing in and out to the count of 5 kept all my other vitals in check.

I mentioned to the ER doctor that I am sensitive and react to medication easily so I don't need as much as a "typical" person (if there is such a thing!) He was fabulous - he worked with the nurses and specialists to minimize the doses I received, and gave me a protocol for home that worked for me. I'd had experiences in the past that doctors would look at me sideways when I mentioned my sensitivity. I appreciated being respected and supported.

When I got home that night, I couldn't rotate my wrist at all; I couldn't push a button with my right index finger. I had to get help dressing and undressing. Everything had changed in an instant for me. In Chinese medicine, I was entering a year of change that people often describe as "everything is so up in the air!" or "I feel like I had the rug pulled out from under me." Those descriptions both fit how I felt. 

As a part-time cashier at Whole Foods, I couldn't work. As a blogger and author, I couldn't type and writing with my left, non-dominant hand looked like I had just started kindergarten. My healing journey had begun - doctor's visits, x-rays and physical therapy.

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I love bright colors, so I chose this cast. I'm grateful I had a choice.

I knew the importance of supporting my body well through this trauma.

I got to work:

• Worked on not scaring myself, which I am a natural at!
• Took a positive mental approach
  • I couldn't do 95% of what I could do on Monday - so disappointing
  • I chose humor, being positive and non-blaming - everything happens for a spiritual reason and although I couldn't see why - yet, if I took the focus off my healing to blame others, that wouldn't move me forward
  • I developed specific daily affirmations that supported healing
  • I paid close attention to my moment-to-moment self-talk to keep it positive and loving
• Listened to my intuition about how to care for my body, and followed it
  • If I needed heat therapy for my arm, yet the "experts" recommended ice packs, I did the heat
• Amped up my nutrition
  • ​Increased my daily amount of Vital Proteins grass-fed collagen peptides to 2 scoops per day - religiously
  • Made homemade bone broth (my husband had to do it because I couldn't cook) which I had 2 cups a day daily - religiously
  • Ate a banana a day
    • I had experienced physical shock (slurred speech, shaking, high blood pressure) during my ordeal
    • I began having foot cramps for a few days after ER
    • I know this can be related to low minerals, like potassium
    • The bananas made a big difference - no foot cramps the days I ate a banana
  • Increased my supplements
    • ​Magnesium with meals
    • Sprayed magnesium oil on my hand throughout the day to manage the pain
    • Increased fish oil and turmeric to aid with inflammation
    • Drank my adrenal cocktail (filtered water, 1/2 fresh lemon squeezed, 1 tsp 40,000 volts electrolytes and 1/4 tsp GABA powder) to aid sleep
• Did my physical therapy religiously (the upbringing in my Catholic religion has served me well when it comes to doing things religiously)​

I continue to practice gratitude daily. I'm thankful that:

1. The break wasn't worse; I didn't need surgeries
2. My arm had gone back into place; thank you arm
3. I had a great experience with my ER team; we even talked about how powerful the mind is with healing
4. My husband loves to cook and took good care of me, doing everything for me until I could start again
5. My arm responded well to my care and I am healing faster than normal
6. My daughter stepped in to help with daily tasks (even dressing)
7. I could go to Amazon and, one finger at a time, order easy pull-on bras, pants and tops
8. I could go to a doctor and get fixed
9. I had a team of physical therapists to teach me how to get my movement back

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THE LESSON

What did I learn from this ordeal?

I tend to stay in situations that don't work for me way too long. I had been feeling like I needed to make some changes, for my happiness, and I wasn't. The break "broke" my routine in such a drastic way that I had no choice other than to make changes that supported myself better. 

The added nutrition and healing of my bones has strengthened my fingernails more than I could've imagined. Because I put my bone healing at such a priority, my hair, skin and nails have gotten better too. Yippee!

I learned I can survive and thrive through an ordeal like this. Four months later I am still healing. I'm healing! I will do my pushups again by May (I was told a year - no way - I'm healing too fast to have to wait that long!) The human body is amazing equipment that works for our highest good every day of our lives. It needs to be honored and deeply cared for, and it will respond in kind to us.

In realigning my priorities, I am writing a series of easy-to-use books on wellness practices for Sensitive People. I'm starting with following your intuition above all else. Stay tuned.
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How can I help you with your journey?

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