I had a terribly painful and uncomfortable time sleeping throughout the night yesterday. I woke up at about 4am with severe pain on my back. I could hardly lie flat on my back and had a painful time trying to move my body. Each time I breathed, I felt terrible pain on my pain and chest. Even my tummy hurt. I was in tears. Hubby had to wake up to apply deep heat cream on my back for me. There was no way I could lie down to sleep. I sat on the bed – left leg on the bed and right leg put up to my chest. My hands were hugging my right leg and a stack of pillows. I felt much comfortable this way. But it was hard to fall asleep in this position, though I could breathe without much pain on my back now. Then, I lunged my body forward and lay my face on the bed to sleep, in a sitting position, as if I was doing yoga.
Today, I went to the hospital. An X-ray was taken on my back. The X-ray showed no prolapsed disc and nothing wrong with the spine. The doctor suspected it is just muscle spasm. He prescribed me with some muscle relaxant pills and pain killer pills. I have taken the muscle relaxant and the pain has subsided, albeit the pain is still there. I am also suffering from constipation now. I haven’t had a constipation for ages. I suspect the muscles and the spasms or whatever that’s wreaking havoc inside me are causing the constipation. My tummy looks so bloated and I feel really terrible now. I haven’t exercised for 3 days now.
I don’t know if the terrible back pain was caused by me spraining my back while carrying Baby in a squatting position when I washed her hair about 4 days ago at my parents. Or could this be hormonal? I haven’t had my menses for over 2 years as I am still breastfeeding Baby. Both sides of my tummy – where the ovaries are located are painful. It feels as if my menses is coming. Or could it be my PCOS wreaking havoc again? I wish I knew what’s causing the excruciating pain on my back. And I am praying hard that the pain will subside by tomorrow.
I returned from my short break in Ipoh and Penang yesterday. And end up with a badly twisted upper back. I must have sprained it while bathing Baby. Baby fussed and refused to have her hair washed while standing or sitting. She wanted me to carry her. The bathroom did not have a stool and I carried her while squatting down, twice in a day – morning and evening. The next day, I could barely move my body. I now have to walk with a very bad slouch and I can hardly walk at a faster pace. No exercising for me. I am moving about like a 80 year old grandma, save for a walking stick.
My hubs gave me a deep heat rub and used his battery-operated OTO Bodycare HANS thingy (what do you call this equipment where small amount of electricity is transmitted to the the affected part of the body?) on my back last night. My back felt better but only on the right side as he only worked on the right side. Now my left and middle back are aching like crazy. The pain comes from the upper part and goes right up to my chest and kidneys area. I can barely breathe without feeling pain. I feel so terrible now. Terrible because of the awful nagging pain that seems to come from the veins. And terrible because I cannot exercise and I have been eating hell a lot of sinful stuff during the holidays. Could I be having a minor slipped disc?
For the past 3 days, both my eyes feel very, very heavy and achy. It’s not painful but very very tired and droopy. When I wake up in the morning, I feel my eyes covered with some sticky stuff, thus blurring my vision. It felt the same this morning though I have had 7 hours of sleep last night. It must be the lack of sleep and the continuous time I am having in front of the computer. Gosh, I hope I won’t go blind!! Again, I must must must go slow with my business and treat my body well, lest I spend even more… on medical bills. So no point earning so much when all goes to the doctors, right? I must drum this into my head!!
When I don’t feel well, all I want to eat is bread. Yup, I can eat bread 3x a day and not get fed up of it. I just love bread.
This is my breakfast:
A hard boiled free range chicken egg and a slice of homemade pumpkin-sunflower seeds bread with cream cheese spread and Japanese butter, sprinkled with some toasted sesame seed.
And this is my lunch:
Homemade pumpkin bread again, this time with tuna-egg-mayo-onions. Yums, I just love sandwiches!
I recently discovered that my used face mask can be utilized to ‘mask’ my super dry feet and cracked heels too. I don’t know if anyone else does that too. I find that such an expensive facial mask can be put to better use instead of throwing it into the bin after 15 minutes of application on my face. So I used the still wet facial mask moisturizer and applied it all over my body, feet inclusive and put on a pair of socks before going to bed. The next morning, my body and feet felt silky smooth and really moisturized 🙂
After feeling sluggish, lethargic and listless for the past few days, I started drinking Yomeishu again. During my 3rd confinement, I had received 2 bottles of Yomeishu from friends. I only drank half a bottle and have 1.5 bottles left. I am one who hates drinking alcohol and would get nauseous, turn red like a lobster all over and have a heavy head if I imbibe too much.
I must say that the Yomeishu has indeed helped me overcome the fatigue and I feel more energetic today. Today, I ran for almost 40 minutes and didn’t feel tired at all. I even skipped my 15-minute cat nap today and still feel on top! So to those of you who feel sluggish and tired, try drinking Yomeishu. I wish the Yomeishu managements reads this and rewards me with a few bottles of Yomeishu 😀
Yomeishu improves the following symptoms:
1) Physical fatigue
For people with the trouble of physical fatigue such as feeling tiredness, continuation of fatigue, etc. Yomeishu, as a health tonic, relieves fatigue while strengthening physical power.
2) Chilliness of tip of fingers, hands, hips and legs
For people with severe chilliness of hands, feet and hips caused by air conditioners. Active medicinal ingredients contained in Yomeishu widely circulate throughout the body with blood circulation to regulate the functions of metabolism, and as a result, chilliness is improved.
3) Continuation of gastrointestinal trouble after meal
For people with weak digestive organs, gastrointestinal disorders or susceptible to weakened stomach and intestines. Drinking Yomeishu before meals will regulate gastrointestinal activities and strengthen them.
4) Recovery of physical strength during and after illness
For people requiring physical strength during and after illness, and people with delayed recovery of physical conditions after illness. Active ingredients of Yomeishu will regulate principal activities of the body and lead to an original healthy condition.
5) Poor appetite
For people with poor appetite, or incapable of eating despite of appetite. Drinking Yomeishu before meals activates gastrointestinal workings due to the active ingredients and one is capable of recovering to normal appetite.
6) Susceptible to be tired or a weak body constitution
For people with a weak body or feeling a lack of strength. Yomeishu, as a health tonic with a moderate action, strengthens the body and steadily enhances physical power while alleviating physical fatigue.
7) Always look sick
For people with who are of little color due to the chilliness of the tips of the fingers caused by the accumulation of fatigue. The active ingredients of Yomeishu circulate throughout the body with the blood circulation, activate the whole body metabolism and improve the trouble of little color.
Though I am a health freak, I tend to have a weakness for certain snacks and carbs like cookies, cakes, bread and the occasional sinful Cheezels, Twisties and fish muruku 😀 And do you know that I eat my carbs mostly in the morning and during lunch time? After 3pm, I try to refrain from carbs. I have a rather heavy breakfast, a medium heavy lunch and a light dinner. That’s because I am busiest in the morning and afternoon, minding my 3 kids and running about. So the calories and fat will be burnt more efficiently during that time. By evening, my activities are slowed down, thus logically calories intake and carbs should also be reduced. I hardly ever eat supper, hate the idea of having food in my tummy when I’m sleeping. That will surely be transformed into fat and added to my jelly belly! In between meals, I try hard not to snack on carbs, though I will snack on cherry tomatoes, fruits and nuts.
Some researchers suggest that eating late at night, when our body says we should be sleeping, will disrupt our circadian rhythm, or internal clock, which governs not only our sleep cycles but feeding and activity cycles as well
Here’s an excerpt of an interesting article from healthnews.com:
“Sleep has a very important role in metabolism,” said lead author Deanna Arble, a neuroscientist at Northwestern. “While I do not believe the field is advanced enough to prescribe appropriate eating times for each individual, I believe we can at least say that humans should avoid eating during their normal sleeping phase because this could lead to increased weight gain.”
But Arble says it is also important not to lose sight of the importance of total caloric intake. “If you are taking in excess calories daily, the time you eat probably doesn’t matter—you will still gain weight,” she said. “Similarly, if by eating small meals for dinner you decrease your overall caloric intake, that could be more beneficial than timing.”
For someone not consuming excess calories each day, and they’re doing everything by the book but still gain weight, maybe look into the time of day you’re eating. It could be a factor.”
When I am in no mood to cook a proper meal for the kids for lunch, they get to eat green tea noodles with cold cha soba sauce and fried eggs, sandwiches or toasts. As for me, I’ll either eat toasts and sandwiches (which are my favorites) or simple yoghurt with muesli and lots of nuts and seeds.
Here’s one of my lunches :
Anlene high calcium mixed berries yoghurt with muesli, cashew nuts, pine nuts and roasted almonds.
Anlene strawberry yoghurt with pine nuts, cashew nuts and almonds.
I know some of you will be saying “OMG, what yucky lunch! How can she swallow such stuff?” but I tell ya, it’s a matter of getting used to healthy eating.
The other day, I noticed a small white horizontal line on one of Sherilyn’s fingernail. I wasn’t alarmed because once in a blue moon, I have it too. I have read somewhere that this could be a sign of a vitamin deficiency. Coincidentally, I also have a small white horizontal line on one of my fingers now (picture above). So I did a google search and this is what I found :
Did you know you can tell a lot about a person by looking at their nails? Not just what their shade of polish is, or whether they do heavy housework or not by the nail length. We’re not just looking at cosmetics here, but rather at unpolished nails and seeing if they have anything to say about health.
(As always, it is important to note that this is provided to be purely informative, and under no circumstances should one take this information and use it for self-diagnosis. If you are concerned or suspect you may have any condition, see your doctor immediately.)
Nails are our protection for the nerves in our fingertips, while toenails protect toes from damage or injury. They are part of the skin layer and are made up of a protein called keratin.
A healthy blood supply will create a peachy-pink nail bed. If there is a deficiency or physical problem within our bodies, the fingernails can show it.
What are some of the problems that an show up on the nails, and what are the signs?
Discolored nails: Diabetes, stress, allergies and simple illness can cause your nails to appear discolored. A greenish nail color, however, can be a sign of infection, either in the nail bed or in your system.
Bluish nail beds can be a sign of lung trouble, such as emphysema or even asthma. A simple dark blue line in the nail can be a sign of skin cancer. Tiny black streaks can indicate a heart problem, while reddish-brown spots can indicate a deficiency of folic acid, protein or vitamin C.
Yellowing nails are early signals of various internal disorders, such as diabetes, respiratory or liver problems. White lines in or across the nail can signal fever, liver or heart disease, kidney disorders or, more likely, a lack of iron or zinc in your diet.
We see what the color of our nails has to say, but what about the shape, texture and overall condition?
Nail shapes: Nails that tend to curl under at the tips can signify respiratory or heart problems, while nails that are raised at the base can also signal respiratory trouble. Square, wide nails can be a result of a hormonal disorder while flat, thin nails can be from insufficient vitamin B12.
The texture of fingernails can tell as much about a persons general health as the color can. Below are some common texture abnormalities and what they can possibly indicate.
Nail textures: Vertical ridges that appear on the nail can indicate disorders as simple as iron deficiency, poor absorption of vitamins and nutrients, overall poor health or they could indicate something as serious as kidney trouble. (So, you see why consulting your physician is so important.) These vertical ridges, as well as bumpy nails, can also suggest that one is prone to developing arthritis. Ridges running horizontally across the nail can indicate physical or mental stress.
Nutrition plays an extremely important role in every function of our bodies, right down to the tips of our fingers and toes, literally. As well as signs of other possible disorders, nails can let us know how we add up when it comes to getting all of our required nutrients.
Since nails are mainly made up of protein, they can immediately alert us to a lack of it in our diet. White lined bands across the nail beds can signal a protein dificiency. You can get protein from beans, oats, seeds, nuts, eggs and lean meats.
Calcium is also important for healthy nails. Without it, the nails lose their strength and become brittle and dry. You can find calcium in green leafy vegetables, dairy products, sesame seeds or even a daily supplement.
As mentioned before, ridges in the nails can be a result of vitamin deficiency, one of which is the B vitamins. Vitamin B is needed for strengthening, while vitamin B12 also strengthens while promoting normal nail growth and healthy coloring.
Vitamin C is another necessary vitamin. Adequate intake can help prevent hang nails and swelling of nail tissue, and a frequent occurance of either of these symptoms is a good indication of a deficiency.
Probably the most common sight on the nails is the “white spot”. Although it has been noted that white lines can be symptoms of a serious disorder, their presence is more than likely a result of iron or zinc deficiency. Before worrying about any severe disease, your first step should be to see your doctor and have him/her test your levels of iron and zinc. Zinc supplements are easily found in any pharmacy while additional iron intake needs to be monitored by your physician.
The best way to assure yourself of healthy nails is to eat a well balanced diet. You’ll need plenty of protein as well as fresh fruits and vegetables. Sufficient water intake is also important, for as well as keeping the rest of you healthy it provides moisture for nails. If you feel you are still not getting enough essential vitamins and minerals it is recommended that you
I’ve been having cracked heels for several years now. I’ve tried almost every cracked heel cream in the market including Vaseline petroleum jelly but none really works. Each time I show the hubs my cracked heel, he would suggest bringing me to see a skin specialist. But being a procrastinator, I have yet to make an effort to see a skin specialist. I’m the type who will only make a trip to the clinic/hospital if there are issues concerning life and death for me and my kids. My feet? It’s only hard skin, callouses and peeling / flaky skin, not much pain unless my itchy fingers start peeling the skin…. and I think I can bear with it coz who would stare at my heels anyway? LOL!
During Baby’s 3-week stay in the hospital recently, my cracked heels’ condition improved and the skin was quite soft. During my stay in the hospital, I only wet my feet a couple of times a day, unlike now. My feet are wet all the time now coz I have 3 toddlers to mind and it’s impossible to keep my feet dry. I can only surmise now that if I keep my feet dry all the time, the skin would remain soft and not start to peel.
Perhaps I should really make it a point to seek medical help for my feet coz they look gross and hideous, like a grandma’s feet, with dry and wrinkled skin….
Macro shot of my upper foot and toe. Notice the unsightly flaky skin?
Macro shot of the cracked heel…
I did a Google search on home remedies for cracked heel and here’s what I found from www.home-remedies-for-you.com :
-Apply any shortening or hydrogenated vegetable oil after washing the feet clean on dry and cracked areas of the feet. After applying a thick coat of shortening on the feet, wear a pair of thick socks. Leaving this application overnight can surely provide positive results in few days.
-Apply the pulp of a ripe banana on the dry or cracked area of the heel. Leave it on for 10 minutes and rinse it clean.
-Soak the feet in lemon juice for about 10minutes. Follow this therapy on a weekly basis until one finds a change.
-A daily regime of cleaning and moisturizing is a good cure for dry or cracked heels. At the end of the day soak the feet in warm soapy water for about 15 minutes. Rinse feet and pat dry. Make a healing mixture comprising of: one teaspoon Vaseline and the juice of one lemon. Rub this mixture onto the cracked heels and other required areas of the feet till it is thoroughly absorbed. This can be done daily until visible results are obtained.
-A regular application of a mixture of glycerin and rosewater is known to soothe and cure cracked heels.
-Another result oriented solution is to melt paraffin wax and mix it well with little mustard oil. Apply on the dry or cracked area of the heels. Rinse it off in the morning. A continuous application for 10 to15 days can achieve desirable results.
Diet for Cracked Heels
Consume a diet rich in calcium, iron, zinc and omega-3 fats
Cracked heels are caused by deficiency of vitamins, minerals, zinc and omega 3 fatty acids. Therefore it is essential to have a diet rich in vitamins, minerals and zinc. Omega-3 fatty acids are not naturally produced by the body, therefore it has to be ingested from food or supplements.
Here is list of essential foods that one can include in a regular meal and help curb deficiencies that may cause cracked heels:
-Vitamins (Vitamin E) rich foods include: vegetable oils, green vegetables, cereals, wheat germ, whole-grain products and nuts.
-Minerals (Calcium and Iron) rich foods include :
1) Calcium: milk, cheese, yogurt, goat’s milk, fortified soya milk, mineral water, ice cream, tinned fish, juices, cereals and broccoli are excellent sources of calcium. Dairy products such as milk and yogurt are also considered as one of the best sources of calcium.
2) Iron: Meat, chicken and fish are good sources of iron. Iron is also available in cereals, eggs, vegetables and beans; however it is not as easily absorbed into the body as the iron from meat, chicken and fish.
3) Zinc rich foods include: Oysters, chicken, crab, kidney beans, yogurt, brown rice, spaghetti.
4) Omega-3 fatty acids are largely found in: Purslane herb, cold water fish, and flaxseed oil or flax seeds. Here are some simple suggestions towards caring for the feet effortlessly:
-Keep feet clean and dirt free
-Exercise the feet regularly
-Alternate hot and cold water for a feet bath to soothe the feet
-Moisturize and exfoliate the feet whenever possible
-Avoid walking bare feet as much as possible
I really think the above natural remedies and suggestions are way too burdensome for a super busy mummy like me. I’m constantly on my feet and hardly have the time to rest my feet. The only suggestion I can try is to apply a concoction of Vaseline + lemon juice on my feet and put on a pair of socks each night before I hit the sack.
I am a WFHM with 3 beautiful girls - Alycia, Sherilyn and Cassandra. I quit the job that I love to stay home with my 3 angels as that's what I've always wanted to do. I am a health freak, fitness freak and a clean freak too. I love to eat and live the clean and healthy way; I want my kids and hubby to do the same too.
I always believe that your health is your wealth and if you have good health, that's the best gift you can ever ask for from God.
I have been writing product reviews, food reviews / restaurant reviews and product advertorials since 2007. Please email Shireen at shireenyong@gmail.com to inquire if you are interested to place an advertorial or review in this blog.
