I’ve been a little out of commission these past few weeks, unfortunately. I’ve wanted to write – I’ve attempted to write! But I had shoulder surgery 4 weeks ago and the healing process has been a little crazier than I expected. After the Women’s Weight Loss Solution I was already knackered, and then I had major surgery done and was out for the count until this week.
If you want to know more details about my surgery, I wrote it all out on my other website (it’s a rock climbing training site called TrainingBeta.com) in an article called “Update: 1 Month After Shoulder Surgery”. What I didn’t talk about there, though, is something I’ll tell you about here.
My Health Scare
I had a major health scare 2 weeks after my surgery. I was all fine and dandy, healing really quickly, and all of a sudden I had nerve pain in my foot. That nerve pain then turned to tingling and numbness, which quickly spread up my legs, into my arms, my face, and then my bladder.
I was terrified.
After many doctor visits and phone calls of all kinds plus an ER visit and an MRI of my brain, nobody can tell me what’s going on.
The good news?
It’s not MS, a brain tumor, or anything else awful that they can diagnose. Moreover, it’s subsiding after 2.5 weeks, and I’ve only been feeling it in my foot and face sometimes. Here’s what I think, which I think is pertinent to all of our lives.
I think it was stress.
I freaked myself out over the tingling, and it continued to get worse and worse, spreading to other parts of my body. I was so freaked out that I couldn’t eat – I lost 5 pounds in a few days – and I was having panic attacks (now you’re hearing about me at my worst – I hope you still like me after this! 😉 and I was unable to do almost anything productive. Until finally one evening about 5 days ago, I realized something:
My Big Epiphany
I am not in control of this. If I have something bad going on (this was before the MRI results came back) and it’s life-altering or I’m going to die soon, I can’t change it. I just have to accept it and live with it and do the best I can. The tingling at that point was at its worst. But once I had that epiphany, my whole body calmed down. My mind was at peace for the first time in many days.
And the tingling started to go away. It just started to disappear.
Isn’t that incredible?! I think it was stress combined with bad circulation from my post-surgery inactivity, combined with all the drugs, combined with the trauma of the surgery. That’s what I think. I’m a sensitive creature, and weird – unexplainable – neurological things run in my family, so it doesn’t surprise me I guess.
My Lesson?
Don’t get so stressed out. Don’t try to control everything. Don’t put too much on my plate. And when I have surgery, weird stuff can happen 😉
Basically, I realized that I’d been really stressing myself out recently. I felt very guilty for not working much at all, even though we’re financially ok for right now. I was in the process of buying a house in a city I don’t currently live in. I was trying to heal my shoulder and detox from lots of drugs. I was anticipating some major work projects, my dog is injured and sick, and I’m unable to exercise hard, which is my main source of stress relief.
Basic life stuff, but sort of a lot of it at once.
I decided to nix buying a house, not take on so many work projects, and I started working out as much as I can right now. I did what I could to decrease the stress, and it’s continuing to get better and better. When I do feel it, I can generally stop, close my eyes, take deep breaths and let my whole body relax, and it starts to subside. Also, I’m taking lots of quick yoga breaks while I work 
Stress is a POWERFUL FORCE! I will never take it lightly again.Â
I know this has little to do with nutrition, but it has everything to do with health. It seems that managing stress levels is just as important as feeding yourself nourishing foods. Have you ever had anything weird like this happen? If so, what did you learn? I’d love to know!
Thank you for sharing this, Neely! I’m so sorry you had to go through that – what a scary and stressful time for you. I did notice you weren’t writing – I watched all your Women’s Weightloss Summit videos (which were awesome and changed my life, by the way) – and I saw you didn’t update your blog for a while. I’m glad your back now, I can’t wait to follow along with you this year and learn from you.
Thank you again for sharing these lessons in such an authentic and truthful way, I’m sure they’ll help many people.
Thank you so much for sharing Neely, as a new member to your website I found that timely advice. Could stress be what is causing my stomach to swell after I eat and after I drink, even water? It’s distressing and painful. Any advice anyone can give me here would be gratefully received.
Patricia – It could be. I’d take some deep breaths and do some grounding exercises every time you sit down to ingest anything and see how that goes. Also maybe look into seeing an acupuncturist to work on you – that sounds like something they might be able to help with – very defensive stomach energy…
Hi Neely,
I’m so sorry you’ve had such a difficult time. I too understand. Last year, I fell down my stairs and crushed both bones in my wrist. Due to many issues it took two weeks to have surgery performed. The two weeks of pain caused the onset of a nervous system disorder called RSD. I’ve suffered extreme swelling, tingling and stiffness in my entire hand. It’s been a year and just underwent another surgical intervention to restore better finger movement. I still need to have my wrist fused. I’ve learned that anxiety and stress worsens all my symptoms. I really felt this injury could cause the death of me. I’m 53 and seven months ago I decided to take control of my health. I decided to try a Paleo lifestyle change. Since, things have improved. My blood pressure issues have resolved, I feel more energetic and suffer from less anxiety. I really feel much more positive in regards to my health concerns. It has been a struggle to overcome but I can see the light.
Thank you for sharing this, Neely. I too have experienced numbness, tingling, panic attacks and more. Even when we tell ourselves we are letting go often we simply do not know how to do that…to get out of the way of our own bodies and trust it.
I want to say thank you as well for the summit. It helped me shift onto a new path where I am much more kind towards myself. My own biggest gift received from that was owning up to the fact that I was not handling stress in a good way. I didn’t know I had a choice to not go off the deep end whenever things got scary. Our bodies shut down systems it deems less important when we indicate that we’re in survival mode. It reminds us that everything else in our lives depends on us being healthy.
Thank you again! – Margit
Thanks for sharing…. I must say I am blessed to not usually have such complications with surgery but am no stranger to stress. I have most recently changed my career, my state of residence, and my marital status all at the same time. I lost 100 pounds almost five years ago and from the stress have gained back 20 pounds. I have learned the more the stress and panic over my back sliding weight the harder it is to not regain more. I know how to get this back off! But what I needed was a reminder on the power of stress negativity. I am taking steps to relax now by posting this comment. I need to own it. Thanks for this forum. Happy holidays. Following your blog from Seattle
Hey Neely
Totally can relate to your experience, wishing you a super speedy recovery
Neely, thank you so much for sharing. I have been going through terrible stress for months at a time this year. My son was hospitalized and the stress caused my body to manifest vertigo that lasted almost 4 months! It all has taken a toll on my usual peaceful and positive attitude. Your experience is a wake up call. I am stopping to smell the roses and take care of me. Wish you wholeness.
Hi Neely
That is how I got to you in the first place. Into thousand eight I injured my back again. I had my fourth back surgery and then within the last five years my fifth and six back surgery including a spinal we construction. For those five years when I exercise it would throw everything off and the doctors told me not to exercise. I had been a dancer and exercise teacher, then continued to exercise through my nursing career. So this was the first time I was completely exercise free. I still ate the way I have always eaten only had no exercise going on. I gained almost 50 pounds. I think my thyroid was out of whack and my hormones are out of whack. I started with the eating plan that you suggested weeks ago, and the metabolic aftershock exercises which aren’t hurting my back at all. I have not really lost much weight, 4 pounds, but I can see a difference in my body and I am feeling stronger. To me that is the best start of all.
Unfortunately I have had 11 surgeries in my lifetime including both shoulders. I understand the feeling of stress and the lack of control. The best thing I can tell you is make sure you do with the physical therapist tells you and you will heal. I have full range of motion in both shoulders. I just wish my back was so easy to heal. But all in all I am better and feel really positive.
Thank you for your help, and good luck with your healing.
Glad to hear you are recovering and doing better. Yes , stress can really mess us up. I’m just wondering how much the meds used in the hospital before and after surgery played a big part. Also your magnesium levels and vit. D levels could be really low. Wishing you continued recovery!
Hi Neely, Sorry you had to go through this. I had a similar situation with bladder pain and tingling in my legs. It took me years of doctor visits to figure out that stress was causing it. A book that might help you (and helped me to realize what was happening) is called “Paradoxical Relaxation”. Life changing for me. Hope you’re feeling 100% again soon!
I am so glad you are feeling better. I believe in the power of a Higher Power and the use of essential oils. Here is my site http://www.mydoterra.com/tanyamcmillian/
Stress is scary it can do many things to us and essential oils can safely take away much stress may you be blessed.
Thank you for sharing, Neely. Our bodies are amazing in that when it needs to heal, it will throw things our way that make us stop in our tracks. I spent a lifetime piling stress upon stress upon stress onto my body. Working 12 hour night shifts for 12 years, constant sleep deprivation, exercing obsessively, not eating enough……trying to control EVERYTHING. Finally, at the ripe “old” age of 49, my body said: “I’m done, sister.” I’ve spent the last year trying to get my body back to “normal”……that is, some level of homeostasis. Our bodies are miraculous in that it wants to heal, and it wants to feel good. So, enjoy the journey……listen to your body, take care of it, get plenty of sleep, etc, etc…….BUT, enjoy the journey! I will be thinking about you and praying for healing for your body.
I’m sorry you had to learn this lesson the hard way. I’m hoping that I’ll learn from your experience choose to de-stress before I get to a state like yours. Thank you for your honest sharing.
Neely so glad it’s subsiding and you’ve got a handle on it now….stress is an unknown in our culture….although we know we have it, we don’t really understand it’s effects. I used to get really angry and cranky over little things at home when I was super stressed from work as a teacher and got sick all the time. I had headaches and chronic upper back and shoulder pain constantly due to early onset osteo-arthritis. (would you believe, I’ve concluded it’s from stress?!…no surprises there?) I’ve since retired early and the stress level has dropped considerably…I’m a much nicer person to be around and the back and shoulder pain only flares up when I’m getting stressed…..so time for pilates which settles it down. Good luck with your shoulder….I can understand the pain you’ve been in……here’s to a stress -free (or at least, relatively stress free) beginning of the next chapter! x
Hi Neely! I’m so sorry for all your health troubles! I’ve never had any complications following surgery, but when I was in college, I stressed myself out so much I had high blood pressure, headaches, weight gain and persistent stomach trouble. I had always had a problem with perfectionism and it really caught up to me. I have since learned that life is messy, a beautiful mess, that is wasted if I stress myself out trying to be perfect. I do yoga and walk for my main forms of stress release, but I also practice thankfulness each night. Occasionally, my perfectionism monster rears her ugly head and I always know it BC I get a terrible cramping pain that alternates with pins and needles directly under my right shoulder blade. It is usually accompanied by a tension headache. When that happens I do a little more yoga and clear my schedule of any “extras”. Spending quality time with my husband and daughter also does the trick. ;0) You are such a beautiful, helpful, kind person and I wish you health and happiness!
Warmly,
Angela
Neely,
I so appreciate you sharing this story! I had the same stress manifestation over the past year. I had a traumatic event occur and started having panic attacks after that would always start with my limbs and face going numb and have strange sensations and would escalate to chest pain and feeling like I couldn’t breath. It is so helpful just to hear others share their story because when you feel real physical symptoms due to your stress its hard to not hold on tight and spin in circles looking for what’s wrong with you, which just makes you wind tighter and tighter.
It has taken me a year, and still working through it, but I’m getting so much closer to being able to let go and surrender to the desire to control stress. As I get closer my symptoms too get better, as you said with your experience.
The mind is so powerful and it is a great lesson in control and unconditional love.
I wish you all the best and am very grateful for you sharing your vulnerability!
I had tingling start in my jaw and go all around my face some years ago with welts over my body. It took them some time to figure what my weird symptoms were. It turned out to be hyperthyroidism! Not your usual way to react.
Neely! So I feel like I know you now! I so appreciate your being so candid!! I am learning the power of rest. I am a recovering powerlifter, : )) I have always used exercise as stress relief…(I am a personal trainer) until I began to actually breakdown from overtraining while taking care of hubby, twins, and mother. I discovered that you CAN workout too much! and I have packed on at least 15 lbs from stress, tingling, jaw tightness, and “white noise” in my ears when I begin to reach my stress limit!!! The weight is from the cortisol is what I am told – and it is ridiculously stubborn!! I have tried it all: rest, yoga, long walks, long breaths, eating paleo (which helps me tremendously as long as I do NO grains!) It also keeps inflammation down, thank goodness. After 3 years I am starting to understand more and more the rhythm of my own body. this stress thing is so real, and so hard to quell. I am a type A and want to push, but learning to balance… journaling has become my big release – along with long walks outside and kayaking. (I used to rock climb, too, but now just on occasion : ( ). Still not sure when this weight will come off… which is another stressor for a personal trainer! But the lessons I am learning are priceless! I am praying for wisdom and guidance; but I believe it’s a journey… darn it!! Good luck! I know you’ll do soo great!!
Thank you for sharing your story, Neely – and thank you for being really honest about the challenges you’ve faced recently. This is a really good reminder to slow down and de-stress. I’ll take it to heart. Glad to hear you are on the mend.
Hi…what you just described is the Kidney channel in Traditional Chinese Medicine.. You may want to look up a goodChinese Dr to help you with this and putting a balance back into your life! Goodluck!!
http://www.yinyanghouse.com/acupuncturepoints/kidney_meridian_graphic FertilityCenter.org
Neely, glad you’re feeling better and thanks for sharing. I do know what stress can do to a person. My stress started with a family squabble, then work, then Christmas. I can do something about the family issue but the work issues and Christmas I can’t do anything to stop it. I have to work and Christmas will come whether I’m ready or not. I’m eating out of control, I’m tired, my stomach hurts constantly, my hormones are out of whack again, I have brain fog, I can’t sleep and I’m anxious. I have decided that I need to deal with the stress differently than in the past. I’m trying self talk and meditation. I have found that you don’t just sit on the floor and meditate. It is something that has to be learned and practiced often. I’m on the way to healing and hope you are too! Have a great holiday!
Neely! I’m so sorry you’re having to deal with this, but man! your story resonates with me. I’m dealing with high blood pressure right now, all because of stress. Sending you love from Vermont and wishing you peace, quiet, and true relaxation to heal your whole self. XO
Hi Neely! Wow, what an experience. I’m glad you are healing and doing well. Please keep us updated with your progress.
I recently started your 30 day program. Not going well at all. I actually never really got started. Cant seem to find motivation. I know I desperately need to lose 50 pounds but I think I might have given up on that ever actually happening! Sigh…. Anyway, Glad you are recovering! Enjoy reading your posts!
I’ve had things like that happening since I was in high school. I was working out of three theatres at the same time I was in college prep classes, and stressed my way into shingles and bronchitis. In college I would get ALL the symptoms of being sick, fever included, if I was too stressed and skipped sleep – and one good solid night’s sleep would magically “cure” my illness entirely.
I’m horribly stressed now, and instead of giving me flu or stomach bug symptoms, I’m manifesting as thyroid and fatigue problems. I guess this is the result of chronic stress rather than acute stress? I see no relief on the horizon, though, and exercise (even a simple walk) makes me feel like I tried to run a marathon. I can’t seem to get ahead. I’m not losing any fat, though I really need to. I’m just relieved to have gotten to where I’m not gaining anymore! I know that the fat will come off when I’m not stressed like this, but I don’t know when that will be…
I feel for you on the surgery – I had my fourth knee surgery last spring, and did not heal as fast as I used to. I ended up with one of the incisions still wide open 2 months after the surgery! They had to cut it again down to the joint to check for infection, and it took another 2 months to close properly.
It is an epiphany that will reocurr, Neely, when your spirit tries to get the attention of your physical self. Practicing what you preach, so to speak. Luckily, you are in touch with that soul/spirit. Happy mending and congratulations for listening to your inner self. Warm wishes and blessings…jed, 57 years old in NM and still having epiphanies.
Thank you so much for sharing. I got the breast cancer diagnosis 5 years ago and immediately a quiet little voice in my head and heart said “this is all because of how you’ve responded to stress”. Wish I could say I’m handling it better now, but at least I’m mindful of it. Wishing you the very best!