Getting Through A Forced Fast

No, it was not a political thing - my body / mind / spirit forced me into a fast.  I got to a point of being unable to even drink.  My digestion shut down initially from a stressful shocking news (or rather my reaction to).  It happened in the evening or so.  Only the next day, I was able to mentally deal with the news.  However, it took weeks to get my digestive track back to normal function.

      *** I am sharing this experience, as well as all the information I ever share, in hopes it would be helpful to others ***

• Most importantly, the biggest lesson learnt - to listen to your body, not "logic".

• I will have a detailed information below.  Just want to emphasize  that I got myself to the point that water was actually may have been causing more harm since my body was depleted of needed minerals already.  In fact, I rarely drink water - all my liquids come from food I eat.  Nor does our cat drink water.  Our dog prefers raw goat milk and bone broth or even water from defrosted peas.

• I focused on getting better.  Losing weight, bluish right hand fingers (pinky, pointer and the top part of my fingers in between - the troubled meridians), how long it was taking, etc. were just my observation, not a deterrent  

• Pain was my guide :)  I trusted my body knows what it's doing.  I just have to listen and provide.  No-one else can do it for me.

• I didn't lay in bed waiting for help - taking care of myself gave me strength.  I never stopped being active, even if it was as minimal as just wiping the dust, cooking, taking the dog and cat out, gardening, singing, dancing and listening to uplifting music, watching comedies, jogging , walking and exercising at whatever degree my body allowed.  Stretching and aligning my body made me feel better.  Jogging  or walking was a must for my stomach and circulation.  I knew my body was balancing for better.  In fact, my bad nail started growing again! and my eyelids lifted!

• When eating, even a bite-size food, I focused on chewing it well.  I observed how my body was working and made corrections when needed - i.e. sometimes eating less at once, learning to spend less time in the bathroom (When not eating much, having a bowel movement was not always a given.  Yet, forcing it, was creating a strain on my stomach muscles, causing pain, maybe even opening of the valves).  I tried to include foods that were easy on my stomach in texture, to promote the bowel movement.

• Missing nutrients creates a strain on the body, including the heart.  I could really feel it and still do, even though I'm over the hump.  

• At one point, my body told me I had to eat or else.  And to eat chicken, fish, etc., combining in any order, disregarding any theories.  For 22 years, I have been a raw foods vegetarian!  No more - my body was dictating to eat the fattiest parts of the chicken and fish.   I was not hungry, but the acid was burning me from inside quite painfully, and my body was craving non vegetarian foods (just like when I was pregnant, I had to eat burgers).  To sooth the stomach pain, I would lick a little Udo's oil and the pain would subside within minutes.  I once took a lick of baking soda, but then thought, it may not have been a good idea, though it did provide a temporary relief.  I had to lay on the floor on my stomach until I was completely relaxed and pain-free.  I can't tell you how happy I was to hear my stomach's gurgling sounds - it was doing what it was supposed to do!)  What also helped a lot, taking a bath, getting heat on my back and stomach (I literally laid electric radiator on myself).  Later on, I could just wrap a wool scarf around my stomach and back, and that kept me relaxed and warm enough.   Btw, at one point, our cat laid down right next to my tummy, and that felt so good.  At other times, he kept a distance, just laying in bed with me.                                                                                                                                                                                             My first chicken I cooked for half a day - 2 chicken wings, onion and celery - that's all I wanted.  I mostly drank the soup.  My friend brought shelled buckwheat for me - I cooked it and ate with a ton of oil or butter.  Basically, it was like a healing remedy, sitting inside my intestines and giving it so needed oils.  In fact, I preferred full portions, as it took longer to sit in my intestine.                                                                                This incident helped me gain an insight into taking care of my dog.  I used to take Pepper for a walk and not feed her until I knew her stomach was emptied (she goes a few times in the morning).  Now, I feed her after the first walk. 

• My stomach hurt on touch in many places, touching it made it even worse.  In fact, it was an entity of its own sometimes :)  At one point, an acquaintance suggested that I see a surgent - "why be in pain".  I know way to well that path - they cut you, creating real problems, which may be even lethal.  If I am to go, I do not need more pain and suffering inflicted! 

• When in pain, muscles may contract, creating more pain.  I learnt to relax.  I did use essential oils, but very minimally - lavender on my back and stomach.  Later on, when I was already eating, I used packets for children that have lavender added to the sweet-tasting powder.

• I told myself - I got myself to such low point, I'll get myself back! 

• I did at one point go for an acupuncture session, more to calm my husband than for myself.  I did get a relief for an hour, having needles dipped in mugwort oil, on my stressful points,  and heat on my stomach.  The acupuncturist also gave me some salt and water to help me replenish the minerals my body lost.  When I got home, I used vegetable salts instead.   She confirmed what I felt - that water was making me sick, as I stopped drinking it.  On the negative note, the young lady used all her acquired  medical and holistic knowledge to diagnose my "medical" condition since I had my menstrual cycle stopped and my vegetarianism. :)  Theories, theories all over creation :)  There only a point in time, this very moment that your body is balancing.  The next moment, it will be different.  No need to do "research"  on my "condition".

• I never complained nor talked about how I felt, not to focus on my condition.  I only shared notes for this post with my insightful friend

Using acupressure and aromatherapy

When I was ready, I used acupressure myself on myself, and then aromatherapy.  Both were extremely helpful.  

When doing acupressure on myself, my body speaks to me as to where the painful acu-points are.  I usually press on one, then I feel where the next one is (and it can be anywhere on the body), inhale and exhale, trying to relax the location.  Usually, the second acu-point hurts more, so I let go of the first one, and continue on with a new point.

For aromatherapy, one day I used basil, marjoram and lavender to relax the tender points.  I also used EndoFlex to support the endocrine system and its organs.  The next day, I used AromaLife on a few painful acu-points that all seemed to be on the same meridian.  I felt almost an instant relief.  I also rubbed JuvaCleanse topically on my liver, and EndoFlex as above.

The night before, I used massage oils to relax and support my back and stomach muscles that have undergone so much stress over the last few weeks.  I used OrthoSport and OrthoEase on my muscles, and Sensation on my legs and arms (I lost quite a bit of weight, unfortunately).

I feel great being able to eat my favorite foods (I was craving sunflower seeds, which I sprouted, and walnuts), raw goat cheese, etc.

How did I sink so low?

For quite a long time, I was focused on writing music.  It absorbed all of me.  I neglected what I ate and when, thinking that if people in concentration camps survived on minimum, I could too.  There - I planted a wrong seed... 

Some people may argue that I made mistakes.  NO - MY BODY KNOWS BETTER!