Going to Convention

Last week I attended the 2012 Stampin' Up! convention and it was amazing!  I won't go into business details...that's for my business blog...but I know many of you were praying for me and my sensory issues and I wanted to update you on what happened.

I had many strategies to use, including rubbing my left arm, rocking my left foot, wiggling my fingers, and ear plugs to help trick the nerve and keep me from being oversensititive.  I had to use all of them from the airplane ride on for the first few days.  I noticed by the third day that things were getting a little worse.  I even had to leave my group and sit in the back of a general session on Friday, which was definitely a low point for me. 

Then during my Friday afternoon class I started paying attention to what was going on in every single class and general session:  loads and loads of picture taking.  Part of my therapy includes wearing glasses with flashing lights, so I started focusing for brief amounts of time on the flashing of the cameras.  And I started needing my ear plugs less and less.  By the time we got to the final general session on Saturday, the loudest gathering of them all, I only needed my ear plugs for ten minutes.  And I didn't use them at all on the plane ride home!

I know I'm not cured b/c I still needed to use all the strategies briefly at church last night, but I'm definitely improving.  Maybe the total immersion into light and sound shocked my systerm...I don't know.  But I feel different and I am definitely making a step in the right direction.  So thanks for all of your prayers--I could certainly feel them as well!!

Health Update

I have started my next round of treatment and some of it remains the same, like the vibration table and adjustments.  I'm also doing some therapy for the sensory issues.  Basically I listen to low tones for a bit then later I will use some glasses with blinking lights.  Right now I'm trying two things in church:  Wearing an ear plug and rubbing my left arm.  The ear plug did not really work last night but rubbing my arm did.  We'll see what he says at my next appointment on Friday.

I will also be starting iron supplements and I CAN"T WAIT!!  I'm just dragging every day and I know that's why.  Rob has been trying to feed my iron rich foods and I do notice a difference after I have eaten them. 

The heat is not helping us one bit, but thankfully I do have an air conditioned bedroom.  I have noticed an increase in my pain levels and it's definitely from the heat.  Swimming with the kids does make me feel a whole lot better so we go as often as we can. 

In just over two weeks I will be going to convention and I plan to take each day at my own pace.  At least that's the plan :)