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Value This Life

Value This Life

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A Warning From My Scary Health Episode

Visiting the doctor’s office is pretty low on most people’s mental list of fun things to do. If you’re like me, you tend to avoid going to the doctor unless absolutely necessary. There’s nothing wrong with that tendency, but it can sometimes be a challenge to know whether avoidance is helpful or hurtful. In fact, it may only be evident in hindsight. I’m not here to advocate either approach, just to share a recent experience that made me glad that I decided to make an appointment at the clinic.

It started after returning home on an 8-hour flight from Maui. I don’t sleep on planes, so it ended up that I was awake for more than 24 hours. That can affect anyone, so it wasn’t a concern when I started having weird episodes of tingling all over and having a “head rush,” feeling weak and having odd thoughts. It happened several times a day for a couple of days but then stopped and I pretty much forgot about it, chalking it up to lack of sleep, stress, and tired adrenals.

About three weeks passed, during which we had several major life events: an unexpected death in the family and the subsequent funeral, a dozen houseguests for more than a week, a wedding rehearsal dinner for 75 in our backyard, a son’s wedding, another son leaving for school overseas, and then another extended trip, this time to Florida.

A few days after returning from the second trip, the episodes began again only this time they were more frequent. When they occurred six times in one day, I made an appointment with our family doctor. The odd spells were disconcerting and even scary. My heart pounded, I felt weak and strange. It didn’t matter if I was sitting, lying down or driving, episodes happened and I began to feel like I was constantly on the edge of the next one.

The morning of the appointment arrived. I had an episode before the appointment, making me glad I was going in. After an examination, several diagnostic tests, an EKG and a 3-part blood pressure check, this was the diagnosis: moderate dehydration!

In looking back I realized that with travel, business events, two long days at Disney World, and a long flight home, I had gotten completely out of a routine and had not been drinking fluids. Upon arriving home, things were busy with unpacking and getting life squared away. I even remembered being thirsty and not taking time to drink water!

As you can imagine, I was both relieved and embarrassed. And wiser, for sure. I had no idea that dehydration could cause such a thing. I started drinking water and the episodes stopped, although the vague feeling still lingers so I’m not quite fully hydrated yet (the doctor appointment was only yesterday).

I’m sharing this story for education….and as a warning. Dehydration is no joke. One of our sons was hospitalized for three days with it after a stomach virus when he was two years old. Even mild dehydration can cause all manner of symptoms, from headaches to chills to foggy thinking. Moderate dehydration can progress to muscle cramps (which I also had) and tingling hands and feet (mine was whole-body tingling, and it was unpleasant and scary).

Sometimes in the busyness of life we forget the simplest of self-care and good health practices….like drinking water. You can bet that I have a new appreciation for good water, and don’t even mind the frequent bathroom visits. This experience was a wake-up call for me to pay better attention to my body’s signals and NOT put off meeting my body’s needs. Maybe someday this warning from my scary health episode will trigger a memory if you or a loved one has similar symptoms. And let’s have a healthy new respect for that common advice to “Drink plenty of water!”

UPDATE: After nearly a year of continued episodes, including unexpectedly fainting in the shower and bruising from head to toe, numerous tests revealed that I have neurocardiogenic syncope. It’s basically a miscommunication between the brain and some functions of the body, including blood pressure. It is related to the vagus nerve and my guess is that this nerve was inflamed or compressed due to spinal surgery. Stress and–you guessed it–dehydration can trigger episodes. Treatment is more water, more salt, weekly electrolyte drinks and no caffeine, as I hope to avoid medication. At this writing I haven’t had an episode in three months. The good news is that tests in search of answers show that my brain and heart are perfectly fine!

 

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About Charlotte

I'm a grateful wife & mom of 12 amazing persons. I love to inspire & teach busy women to find beauty in everyday life by caring for themselves, creating comfortable homes with their families and living out ordinary days with grace and gratitude. I'd love to encourage YOU!

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Hello & Welcome!

I'm a grateful wife & mom of 12 amazing persons. I love to inspire & teach busy women to find beauty in everyday life by caring for themselves, creating comfortable homes with their families and living out ordinary days with grace and gratitude. I'd love to encourage YOU! Read More…

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valuethislife

valuethislife
Have you ever procrastinated about doing something Have you ever procrastinated about doing something, with thoughts of dread and overwhelm?😬And then done the thing,  finding that it was easier and faster to get done than you thought it would be?🥴Yeah, me too. Note to self: The dreading and putting off costs a whole lot more emotional energy than just doing the thing. 😊
In our busy ordinary lives there is a tendency to In our busy ordinary lives there is a tendency to get by with the barebones of running the household—but we skip the joy, comfort and encouragement part.   We trade an artful arrangement of beautiful things on the coffee table for a stack of newspapers and mail. The TV takes the place of a board game. Irritation with our family flavors our speech.   Sometimes this happens so slowly that we barely notice it, and then one day we realize that our home life is out of sorts.  With that realization comes the choice to fix those little things. Tidy up the clutter, get the laundry caught up, read aloud to children, and set a pretty table for an ordinary supper.  Look around your home with fresh eyes to see if it needs a reset. Even 20 minutes of tidying can make an amazing difference.❤️
Unexpected October ice storm in Oklahoma. Power ha Unexpected October ice storm in Oklahoma. Power has been out for 2+ days, grateful for a generator and hot water. I figured out that complaining doesn’t make electricity come back on. 😊
Always wanted a “mother’s ring” with birthst Always wanted a “mother’s ring” with birthstones of our children but we never found a design with 12 stones. 💍 It was a forgotten wish until I received this bracelet as a sweet gift. I can rattle off their birthdates like a boss but sometimes the size of our family still surprises me. It grew one baby at a time and I grew along with them, like all mothers do. There’s no rewind button, and we can’t go back and have a do-over. But we can be grateful during EVERY season for what we have, and I am!❤️
“They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their “They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength.” Not “they that complaineth much” or “they that talk about their issues all day long.” I’m guessing that “not waiting” means sucking the life out of strength instead of renewing it. But waiting can begin in this very moment. 
•
(pic from my kitchen window)😊
Sometimes it’s a struggle getting started on a t Sometimes it’s a struggle getting started on a task, but we all love how it feels when the task is done. Maybe it would help to think about how good the result will feel before we start!
Yeah, I had to run to the store to get eggs before Yeah, I had to run to the store to get eggs before 14yo could mix up cookie dough. 
👉🏻Note to self:
Don’t wait until it’s time to do a task to check whether you have what you need to do it. Realizing you’re short on supplies or information at the last minute costs time and causes stress! Knowing that you’re prepared eases the pain of getting started. Put “check for ingredients” on your to-do list!
How much life do we waste worrying and fretting an How much life do we waste worrying and fretting and dreading....when the thing we’re upset about IS GOING TO GET DONE?! It’s going to happen, it’s all going to work out, and we probably won’t even remember it by next week. Sometimes it helps to remember that!💕
We bought a house built in the 80’s and have bee We bought a house built in the 80’s and have been doing that fixer upper thing. Sorry for the blurry “before” but just think “black hole” and you’ll get the idea.😂 Amazing what paint and decor can do for a space. Sold the old mantel on FB Marketplace for $60 and bought the unfinished new one for $45. Found the print in my garage, lol. Mirror from Hobby Lobby. Sorta reminds me of my life pre-Jesus. Dark to light. Old to new. Same basic human, transformed with light and love.❤️
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Looking For Something?

valuethislife

valuethislife
Have you ever procrastinated about doing something Have you ever procrastinated about doing something, with thoughts of dread and overwhelm?😬And then done the thing,  finding that it was easier and faster to get done than you thought it would be?🥴Yeah, me too. Note to self: The dreading and putting off costs a whole lot more emotional energy than just doing the thing. 😊
In our busy ordinary lives there is a tendency to In our busy ordinary lives there is a tendency to get by with the barebones of running the household—but we skip the joy, comfort and encouragement part.   We trade an artful arrangement of beautiful things on the coffee table for a stack of newspapers and mail. The TV takes the place of a board game. Irritation with our family flavors our speech.   Sometimes this happens so slowly that we barely notice it, and then one day we realize that our home life is out of sorts.  With that realization comes the choice to fix those little things. Tidy up the clutter, get the laundry caught up, read aloud to children, and set a pretty table for an ordinary supper.  Look around your home with fresh eyes to see if it needs a reset. Even 20 minutes of tidying can make an amazing difference.❤️
Unexpected October ice storm in Oklahoma. Power ha Unexpected October ice storm in Oklahoma. Power has been out for 2+ days, grateful for a generator and hot water. I figured out that complaining doesn’t make electricity come back on. 😊
Always wanted a “mother’s ring” with birthst Always wanted a “mother’s ring” with birthstones of our children but we never found a design with 12 stones. 💍 It was a forgotten wish until I received this bracelet as a sweet gift. I can rattle off their birthdates like a boss but sometimes the size of our family still surprises me. It grew one baby at a time and I grew along with them, like all mothers do. There’s no rewind button, and we can’t go back and have a do-over. But we can be grateful during EVERY season for what we have, and I am!❤️
“They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their “They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength.” Not “they that complaineth much” or “they that talk about their issues all day long.” I’m guessing that “not waiting” means sucking the life out of strength instead of renewing it. But waiting can begin in this very moment. 
•
(pic from my kitchen window)😊
Sometimes it’s a struggle getting started on a t Sometimes it’s a struggle getting started on a task, but we all love how it feels when the task is done. Maybe it would help to think about how good the result will feel before we start!
Yeah, I had to run to the store to get eggs before Yeah, I had to run to the store to get eggs before 14yo could mix up cookie dough. 
👉🏻Note to self:
Don’t wait until it’s time to do a task to check whether you have what you need to do it. Realizing you’re short on supplies or information at the last minute costs time and causes stress! Knowing that you’re prepared eases the pain of getting started. Put “check for ingredients” on your to-do list!
How much life do we waste worrying and fretting an How much life do we waste worrying and fretting and dreading....when the thing we’re upset about IS GOING TO GET DONE?! It’s going to happen, it’s all going to work out, and we probably won’t even remember it by next week. Sometimes it helps to remember that!💕
We bought a house built in the 80’s and have bee We bought a house built in the 80’s and have been doing that fixer upper thing. Sorry for the blurry “before” but just think “black hole” and you’ll get the idea.😂 Amazing what paint and decor can do for a space. Sold the old mantel on FB Marketplace for $60 and bought the unfinished new one for $45. Found the print in my garage, lol. Mirror from Hobby Lobby. Sorta reminds me of my life pre-Jesus. Dark to light. Old to new. Same basic human, transformed with light and love.❤️
Follow on Instagram
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