cathielu

Hello! I am still working on getting in better shape and improving my energy level and strength. Yesterday I bicycled 26 miles. This morning I ran one mile in 10 minutes, a new record for me. I am also doing some stretches to regain my flexibility. I am seeing gradual improvement. When I am able, I might work part-time as a nanny. Love, Catherine

Hello everyone! I have been hoping these past several months that I would have a complete recovery of my health by following my blood vessel physical therapy. I have improved so much, and no longer have dangerous swings in my circulation, and am no longer confined to a bed or wheelchair during the day. I am even able to exercise every day, and am in better aerobic condition than ever before, which is exciting. However, I am still having a lot of fatigue which is preventing me from going to college or work. I keep trying to go back to school, but can't keep up with the workload. I have been interviewing for jobs lately, and exploring all the options, even for part-time work, but am realizing that I'm not in good enough health to work either. It is so confusing for me to find my path in life with this condition. It is hard being different, and having such a discouraging problem. Sometimes I want to hide. I am glad that I have found the best arrangement to strengthen my blood vessels as much as possible though. I am doing a lot more socially with my church singles group. I hope that you all are doing well. Love, Catherine

Dear Smiles, Hello! I have a like new fully reclining power wheelchair that I am looking to sell now that I have recovered my health. It is a Quantum 1100 power chair from Pride Mobility with a manual reclining back, manual elevating leg rests, and adjustable head rest. It is a very nice chair, and powerful. The control has been moved back so it can be reached while driving lying all the way down, and the security feature that prevents operation while reclined has been disabled. I live in Phoenix, Arizona. Love, Catherine

Hello! Here is some more information. I started jogging 2 minutes at a time right away, then had to lie right down. I did that 4 times per day. I have some low back injuries that make it painful to lie partially propped into a sitting position, so I didn't sit up until I could sit all the way up. I slowly propped up my bed 24 hours per day over six weeks until it was up on 6 8" cinder blocks under each end of the bedframe at the head, which was 4 feet high. It could be done just during the daytime, but recovery would be slower. I saw improvement within a few days, and slowly improved, with some new things I could do each week. I also had heel pain, so I had a thick foam pillow under my feet, and even stood on the balls of my feet most of the time. One of my primary care doctors recommended propping up. We didn't know that my condition would eventually completely resolve with this treatment. Heavenly Father brought it back to my mind and inspired me that I would finally succeed if I kept trying. Every day I stand up a total of at least two hours (while getting ready, eating, and other things). That keeps my blood vessels exercising. I also make sure that I don't lie down at all except to sleep. If I need to relax during the day, I sit. I exercise a lot now, which is stress relieving for me. Especially bicycling is a wonderful freedom. I still feel very sad over the suffering I have gone through over these years and want very much to help everyone else who is not getting the healing that could be theirs. I have submitted complaints to the hospitals who left me on tilt tables to suffer to the brink of death, and led me away from the path to healing that could have been mine. I am still trying to find peace over having been mistreated. I pray a lot about it. I am not sure what path my life will take yet, but I hope to be married and have children. Love, Catherine

Dear friends, Hello! Has anyone tried the propping up therapy? How is it going? It takes a long time, but is worth it. I had to be very careful because sometimes I propped up 2" too far and then my resting heart rate was up to 100 bpm and I was having chest pain and not able to sleep because of the adrenaline that my body was pumping into my bloodstream to keep my blood pressure up. Then I had to lower down 2" for a few more days, and was able to keep improving over time. I love you all and hope things are going well! Love, Catherine

Hello friends, I am so grateful for my recovery! Gone are the terrible attacks of fatigue after eating (sometimes I would pass out). Gone are the feeling of always being cold, the chest pain, the difficulty concentrating, the hopelessness. Now I don't lay down except to sleep, and I am sleeping horizontal again, and not having to wear the support hose. I have been reviewing chemistry these past two weeks to prepare for my summer chemistry class. It is all coming back to my memory, and I can think so much more clearly now, and can study a lot more. Today I ran in my church's 5K (3.1 mile) run. I did it in 34 minutes, with jogging the whole way without slowing to a walk. This is the first race I have ever been in. The men are so much more friendly now! I am finally living the life I never had. Love, Catherine

Dear Rachel, Hello! I have appealed for coverage of compression hose, but was denied. However, I found some inexpensive hose at Walgreens (Futuro brand). The pharmacy there orders it in when I request it. I get the large, waist-high, firm support ones, for I think $26. Love, Catherine

Hello! Thank you. The date with Ray was very nice. We had a good conversation. He is very friendly and cheerful. : ) I am also going to go dancing tomorrow night. My treatment for my orthostatic hypotension began with propping up my bed and wheelchair night and day 2" every four days, using cement stepping stones and cinder blocks at the head of my bed, with the foot of the bed against the wall. Sometimes my resting heart rate went up to 100 and stayed there so I had to lower the bed 2" for a few more days. I also started jogging 2 minutes four times a day. At that time, it was not safe for me to sit up or stand or walk, even for a few minutes. I also wore firm support hose to keep the swelling down in my legs and feet, which was severe without the hose. After 6 weeks my bed was almost 45 degrees propped up. I was able to sit up all day, and start going for long walks. Over the next few months, I stood for longer and longer periods of time until my circulation was completely restored. Now I stand for at least 2 or 3 hours per day to keep my blood vessels exercising. My thinking is much clearer, and I have a lot more hope now. I am going to have a repeat echocardiogram and a tilt table test. The last echocardiogram showed leaking of the mitral valve, because my blood pressure was so low that the heart was not fully stretched to its normal size, and the valve flaps were overlapping and not properly sealing. I also got support from many friends and leaders at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which helped me a lot to cope. I hope everyone with this condition feels better soon. Love, Catherine

I want to share with everyone the miracle in my life - I have found the right physical therapy to restore the functioning of my blood vessels and eliminate my life-threatening orthostatic hypotension. I have been gradually propping up my bed and wheelchair night and day very slowly over a period of months. Eventually I was able to start standing for longer periods of time. Now my circulation is normal, and I am starting back to college. I have been jogging two miles per day, and am going to enter a community 5K (3 mile) run this Saturday. All this after having been partially or fully bedridden for 17 years, and having two near-death experiences on tilt tables. I even have a date for tonight! :^) I have had some improvement in my three low back injuries too. Jesus really has helped me through this, and is still blessing me. Love, Catherine Cook

Hello! 8^) My favorite movie is definitely "Finding Faith in Christ." It is about Jesus' miracles. He always makes me feel better. You can get a free copy of it at http://www.mormon.org/findingfaith Love, Catherine

Here is what I have learned about pain and God's love. Catherine Cook :^) How Heavenly Father Heals Our Severe Pain and Hopelessness Imagine God is lovingly looking upon your innermost thoughts and feelings. You?ve lived your life as faithfully as you knew how. But imagine you are still struggling with a terrible pain in your spirit ? an endless sorrow which plagues your soul and weighs it down in excruciating misery. This festering wound is a lifetime of severe suffering. It is an infinite emptiness created by tremendous burdens you are overwhelmed with during the course of your life. Perhaps it is severe physical pain and disability, or loneliness, or neglect or abuse from those you trusted, or knowing horrendous evils. Remaining is a gnawing fear of the future, recurrent flashbacks and nightmares, even the dread that you will never feel a fullness of joy, and never have an eternal loving relationship. Now imagine that Heavenly Father can clearly see and understand your catastrophic torment. Imagine Him as He proceeds to heal your spirit - even your heart and mind. First Heavenly Father sends word about Jesus Christ, who thoroughly understands your deprivation. With His infinite love and understanding, He is the friend you have needed. His companionship fills the void in your soul that nothing else has been able to fill. With Him, there is hope. ?With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.? (Matthew 19:26) With His help, you realize that your efforts to overcome the seemingly insurmountable impediments in your life have increased your ability to understand others. Not only that, but your increased experience makes you more capable of having close, loving relationships. You become aware of the Holy Ghost prompting you to reach out to certain people. You find that you know how to comfort them and encourage them to follow Jesus Christ. Heavenly Father also promises to give you a perfect, immortal body. Next He tells you about your eternal family ? your faithful relatives who will accept the Gospel of Jesus Christ, who want to belong to you, and you to them, forever. Many are your ancestors who look forward to meeting you. Heavenly Father?s next plan to make your fullness of eternal joy possible is to introduce into your life an eternal companion who has learned, grown, and overcome like you have - a person who understands you and knows how to love you. A person who can serve alongside you in your work in Heavenly Father?s Kingdom, including a family of your own. You find that there are answers to your questions. Your emptiness and pain can be replaced with strength and everlasting joy, beginning right now. ?For behold, this is my work and my glory - to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.? (Moses 1:39 - The Pearl of Great Price)

Dear Ariella Hello! I have back and shoulder injuries that are not healing. My electrophysiology cardiologist says my hypotension is causing my body to degenerate and not heal properly. Good thing I am still alive. Love, Catherine :>)