A Heated Subject

Life hasn’t been easy as I grapple with the pain that doesn’t want to loosen its grip on me.

However, I’ve been water-walking, as planned, in the Parkpoint Health Club's warm pool. I’ve also been continuing with my strengthening exercises — light bands and soft ball presses that help, albeit slowly.

This is tough — probably tougher than it should be. Why wasn’t I an athlete when I was young? Would that make it easier now? Perhaps.

I do love being in the warm water, though, and it continues to be the favorite part of my “workout” regimen. But, what I didn’t plan for was how hard it was going to be getting out of the water when it is cold. Sigh.

When you suffer from chronic pain, often cold and damp make the challenges that much greater. Krista continues to plan and be flexible with me and she offers me the support I need to keep going. If she weren’t encouraging me and working with me, I believe I would have quit before now.

But what to do about the cold?

Yesterday, my son, Travis Carranza, athlete, Ironman, personal trainer, came up with a wonderful solution and I tried it last night and it’s perfect! He suggested that I toss a large towel around me when I get out of the pool. And that I quickly move from the deck right into the sauna in the women’s locker room.

Concept. Hello? Of course.

Last night, I did just that. Sitting, still in my wet swimsuit, in the sauna kept me from getting chilled. The warm rocks were a sight to delight me, as I entered the small room with wooden benches.

I stayed in the sauna until I was toasted, warm and cuddly.

For personal preference reasons, I don’t shower and change at the club. I just toss on my sweats and parka and go on home. So, last night, as I warmed up, and my clothes did, too. I pulled on my sweats and hot-to-the-touch parka and came home.

Solution discovered.

And as an added benefit, my knee hurt less today. Whoo-hoo!

Of course, the tools were available all the time but I’m not used to looking at things from an athlete’s standpoint.

I’m so glad Travis is on my side, too. Leaning on family, friends and a professional team helps me reach my goals, one small step at a time.

(And for those who noticed, I'm still cogitating on those "weighty issues.")

(**Author’s note: After years of ill health, and coexisting with several chronic conditions, I make the conscious decision to ferociously live wellness to my fullest extent. This is my journey. I know I cannot change at least one of my physical conditions but I choose live more consciously and in better health than I have for the past 18 years, since a degenerative spinal condition rendered me “disabled.”

I have a team to help me to this end. Krista Williams, a dear friend, and a senior in the kinesiology program at Sonoma State University, who has chosen me as her semester project case study and who will help guide me through an individualized physical rehabilitation program. Vilma, my literary friend, led me to a homeopath M.D. who is helping me take a whole-body approach to health and wellness. I have two additional physicians, who while more conventional than alternative in approach, have shown compassionate interest in my complexities and who believe that I can regain my health.

This blog promises to be an honest portrayal of my journey to wellness—the parts that are difficult as well as the parts that are easy. I hope that my experiences may serve to support and inspire others with chronic conditions as they journey toward optimum health.

Disclaimer: Any healing modalities I may try are individualized for me and created in conjunction with the advice of my physicians. Nothing I write should be construed as medical advice. Please seek proper medical attention for any condition(s) you may have.)