| Date of Birth |
1965 |
| Occupation |
Nurse |
| Hobbies/Activities |
Walking/Running, Swimming, Hiking |
| What condition have you been
diagnosed with? |
Sjogren's, Fibromyalgia, Osteoarthritis,
Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Asthma |
| How long have you been diagnosed
with this condition? |
Sjogren's & Osteoarthritis-
2002 Fibro and IBS 1986, Asthma 1999 |
| How would you explain your diagnosis? |
Way too much stress in my life
and a really sensitive mind-body connection. Nursing is physically
demanding and I have been doing it for 15 years |
| What kinds of things about your
diagnosis affect you: |
|
| - Physically? |
extreme fatigue, pain in hands,
feet, shoulders, neck, tight back, pressure points are sore |
| - Psychologically? |
fibro fog sure gets
in the way of my biostatistics class! depression/dysthymia
has been the main psych issue but it's not severe for me (thank
goodness) |
| - General Quality of Life? |
I have an active 12 year old son
and a 5 year old daughter. I used to be an athlete- tennis&
softball - and I was having difficulty getting the energy
up to do teach the activity as well as just hold the ball
or racquet. I tried to play dodgeball and couldn't grip the
ball like I used to- I was the only girl to win in in high
school- a really great achievement in my book! |
| What Treatments are you receiving
& how were they working? |
Meds. I was encouraged to keep
running but I knew that I was doing my body more harm than
good. I was having flare ups two weeks out of four and they
were getting worse. I left bedside nursing because it was
too strenuous on my knees, hands and feet. |
| How did you hear about Bikram
Yoga? |
My sister who occasionally goes
in Austin |
| Did you have any fear or tendencies
about the yoga? |
I am the stiffest, least flexible
person in the world. I was afraid I would look stupid and
wouldn't be able to do anything. |
| How long have you been practicing
the yoga? How often per week? |
I've been going about 9 months,
at least three times a week. 4 times a week is really a good
week. |
| What changes have you noticed
in yourself that you believe are a result of you practicing
the yoga? |
I can lock my legs. I am close
to touching my forehead to the floor with locked out knees.
I can see the back windows in back bends and I can twist my
spine around. My shoulders and neck are still stiff and I
will be trying massage to help with that. I never thought
I could do a position where I am balancing on one foot. Most
importantly, I went skiing for the first time in 20years.
I used to be an intermediate skier but I injured my left knee.
I picked up where I left off on the slopes and I was NOT sore
the next day. It was the biggest psychological boost I have
ever had (short of getting married and having children of
course!) |
| Has any of your conventional
treatment changed since practicing the yoga? (i.e. discontinuation
of medication) |
I was on seven medications, having
IBS flare ups once a month and fibro flare ups every six weeks
for a week at a time. I am now only taking two prescription
meds and use my inhaler once in awhile instead of twice a
day. I now have an IBS flare up once every 3 or 4 months.
I have fibro flare ups every 2-3 months for a few days at
a time. I can still do Bikram yoga during the flare ups and
usually sit out on a balancing stick posture or standing bow.
|
| What would you like to tell
people who are feeling hesitant about trying the yoga? |
ven if you can't do anything at
all, you can still lay on a mat, breathing deeply, scanning
your body and releasing your tension mindfully. The heat feels
wonderful and you "can" visualize sweating out the
toxins that keep you feeling down. You absorb the energy from
the room. You will make friends that will support you in the
class and out of it. You can try the postures on the floor
first and then work up to the standing ones. |
