Heidi Rae Coaching - My Love Story

Beauties!

I wrote a Love Story. It's my love story. It's a story about me finding myself and, therein, loving myself. All of myself.

A love story

“As I began to love myself, I found that anguish and emotional suffering were only warning signs that I was living against my truth” Charlie Chaplin

Just a very few years ago, I was taught about my worth. For over 40 years, I searched high and low for love. My journey was intently focused on finding love. I wanted more than anything to be loved. It was a “righteous” desire, certainly. I would change how I looked or talked or what music I listened to. I’d overlook all flashing, siren-sounding red flags. If I loved enough, I thought that would eventually be reciprocated.

Then on a simple whiteboard, in the small office of my therapist, I learned that I was innately lovable… my worth was whole, my value infinite. I was always enough, simply because I was born.

“The absence of self-love can never be replaced with the presence of people’s love for you.” Edmond Mbiaka

When I began actively working to love myself, to accept myself, to honor myself - my world opened up immeasurably. I loved infinitely better as a mom. I loved more than I thought possible as a Gigi. I connected with my forever partner. I love him better because I love myself better.

So while this may not be a mushy romantic love story, it’s the most important love story in my life! Because I’ve learned to actively love myself, I can love and be loved. It’s my love story.

We all have a love story, don't we? Some have been written. Some have not even been started. Some have chapters. Some have verses. Some are private. Some are quite public. Some are quiet, some loud. But we all have one. My hope is that you find yours and write it. Write it down. Your love story.

XOXOXO

 

Heidi Rae Coaching - Menopause Update & Hormone Costs

Beauties!!

I have some great news/advice! I went to the pharmacy last night to pick up more patches. They are PRICEY. Like, expensive. I asked the cute pharmacy tech if they would cost less if she used the "discount card."

NOTE: I found out about this "discount card" through my other prescription that is filled monthly. I went to fill it one time and the cute tech said that she got me a better price for it by using this discount card that I guess they just have in their system. That's the only reason I knew about it.

The cute tech last night said, "YES!! Oh my goodness, these patches are SO much cheaper with the discount card rather than your insurance." She wasn't kidding. I saved like $85 by doing it that way.

MORAL OF THE STORY: Ask your pharmacy techs to check the price through the "discount card." Blessing!!!

Update:

ONE hot flash since my last update

My v-health (I can't say the actual v word on here because I get blocked... for real) is back to normal

I still am not experiencing any breast pain

My sleep is still inconsistent

My joint and muscle pain has lessened. I am moving my body daily and making sure to stretch, as well as making sure I have plenty of potassium and magnesium

I am SO grateful that I started on my estrogen patches! I continue to move the locations of the patches each time I change them, i.e. from the left side of my body to the right, from my upper torso to my lower torso, etc. I haven't had any skin irritations at all.

XOXOXO

 

Heidi Rae Coaching - Bad Days

Beauties!

Do you ever feel like having a bad day is a bad thing? Like, you're breaking some kind of rule? Like, you're SUPPOSED to flip the switch and fix yourself??

I do.

A lot less than I used to... but I totally do!!

We always hear:

"You get to decide how you react to situations, so..."

"Change your attitude!"

"Your issues are not that bad."

"Snap out of it!"

The list really does go on and on.

Those phrases, and others, make us feel like there is something wrong with us if we are having a bad day... Lord help us if we are having a string of bad days in a row!!! NOTE: I am not talking about clinical depression (which I have). I am talking about bad days.

What if, instead, we tried this:

ACCEPT that you're just off you're game (give yourself permission for having a bad freaking day!)

Engage your body and your mind (your vitals)

List what your grateful for (I did this in the car this morning all the way to work... kind of forced myself to do this!)

Become an observer of your thoughts!

Show yourself kindness (shout affirmations to yourself!)

Remind yourself of a few things:

Your worth is not up for discussion. It's innate

It's a bad day, not a life sentence

You've literally survived all of your bad days... literally

You are lovable and loved and enough and amazing

XOXOXO

 

Heidi Rae Coaching - Why Do We Exercise

Beauties!!

I am SOO happy to report that my hot flashes are all but gonzo. The volcano seems to be under control. I am also happy to report that I am sleeping better. I am still having some pretty significant muscle and joint aches, but am dealing with those. Exercise, Epson Salt baths nightly, stretching, and wintergreen rub nightly.

Speaking of exercise:

Do you exercise to punish yourself, to burn the extra calories you had with your snack, or to reward your body??

I'm genuinely curious!

I can honestly say that I exercise to stay sane. I also exercise to reward my body, to thank my body for sitting all day! I thank my body for lifting, bending, sitting for hours on end... for moving, for being connected to my brain... for protecting me, for functioning!

I really try to be mindful and present while I am moving my body. I internally thank every single body part while I move - my feet as they step, my ankles and knees for bending, my hips for holding it all together, my arms for swaying, my hands for holding on, my ribs for allowing my lungs to expand, my lungs for expanding, my veins and arteries for taking my blood and oxygen throughout my entire body, my skin for protecting all of it. my cellulite for holding that fat that keeps me warm!!

There was a time when I didn't do this (until I was paralyzed). I would exercise to punish myself for eating too much. I would exercise to not be fat, or to be less fat. I would exercise to try to make myself prettier or less ugly. Then I realized our bodies are freaking amazing!! They put up with what we put in them (that includes thoughts).

I feel that the more self aware I am, the better I am at thanking my body and my mind. The more I do that, the more I am sincerely grateful for my body and my mind.

XOXOXO

 

Heidi Rae Coaching - 13 Days on HRT

Beauties!

I am on day 13. This is where I'm at:

* Three hot flashes in thirteen days. PRAISE!

* Dryness, therefore pain, is all but gone. Again, PRAISE!

* I don't have any breast pain but, thanks to my village, I've been warned that might come later.

* My muscle and joint pain is pretty significant. I know this can be a side effect of my HRT. I take a hot bath each night. I'm on a heating pad all day. I stretch throughout the day. I am still exercising because it's important for my mental health. When it's really bad, I take some Ibuprofen. If you have any other suggestions, I'd LOVE them!

* As far as my hair and skin, I haven't experienced anything one way or another.

* No major fluctuation in weight.

* My mood is the same: Sassy

* My additional heart palpatations have subsided. I feel like I only experience what I always have due to my cardiac condition.

* I am sleeping better, for sure.

 

Heidi Rae Coaching - My HRT Side Effects

Beauties,

I have now been wearing an Estradiol patch for 11 days. I switch, again, tomorrow.

The pros, for me, far outweigh the cons! But, there are a couple of things that I am experiencing. I want to be completely transparent with my journey through menopause and hormone replacement therapy!

First of all, my doctor was very honest with me regarding my HRT. He started me with a lower dose, knowing that we can increase it if necessary. I feel like it's a great dose for me. There are some known side effects when females have too much estrogen:

* Weight gain, especially around hips and waist

* Heavy or light periods

* Fibroids in the uterus

* Fibrocystic breast lumps

* Fatigue

* Low sex drive

* Low mood or anxiety

**I think it's important to be aware of these. I am not experiencing too much estrogen, personally.

I am experiencing some more-than-usual back and neck and muscle pain. *Note: I've had three back surgeries, so I have constant back pain at a pretty high level. Because of the chronic pain, I just don't notice it as much. However, it's noticeable lately. I also have above-average (more than usual) muscle pain throughout my body. My workouts are consistent with what they always are. Tylenol and Ibuprofen can help with these pains.

After doing some research, I am not alone. These are possible side effects with Estradiol. Others include runny nose or congestion, darkening of skin on face, and unwanted hair growth. I'm not experiencing these.

Other noted side effects of taking estrogen:

* Headaches

* Breast pain or tenderness

* Nausea

* Mood changes (depression)

* Leg cramps

* Mild rash or itching

* Diarrhea

I'm not experiencing any of those.

I have had TWO hot flashes in the last eleven days. I was having them absolutely constantly prior. Personally, I feel that the libido issue had to do with the pain that I was experiencing which I also feel was due to the dryness. The dryness has cleared up since I started my HRT, which has in-turn helped my other issues significantly. My sleep is slowly getting better as well.

Carry on.

 

Heidi Rae Coaching - Update

Beauties,

Now that I am somewhat human again, I want to take a step back to talk about what to expect when you're expecting menopause!

The result of declining estrogen in the body can include:

Hot flashes (about 75% of menopausal women experience them)

Night sweats

Mood changes

Sleep problems

Vaginal dryness

Depression or increased depression if you already have depression

THIS COULD BE A YEAR OR MORE. (Heidi OUT)

Average age of menopause: 51 (can vary between 45-55)

After a hysterectomy (me), when you still have your ovaries, or one ovary, or part of an ovary, (me), you can plan on that age range.

Do your best to avoid:

Alcohol or caffeine

Spicy food

Stress

Being somewhere hot

I read these. I rolled my eyes, as you might have guessed. First of all, taking away my Diet Coke also cause depression, so... Second, avoiding stress is comical to me. Like, FUNNY. Third, don't go somewhere hot. I am not sure that we can live as eskimos for twelve months.

For me, the idea is doing my best. I experienced all of this, but is much better now that I am on my patches. The key for me has been getting with my doctor as soon as I realized I had serious issues. Now, I am on a hormone patch.

UPDATE:

This morning, I switched out my patch again. I am on my third patch. I feel 99% better since starting my hormone replacement therapy! I have not had a hot flash in three days. My dryness is 90% better. I am sleeping better!