I wrote this for the cancer patients I was helping to support in a local community cancer centre. But a lot of us will recognise the feeling of zero days where you do not feel you can perform to your maximum. I am seeing this in the refugees with their post traumatic stress... and myself with all the stress I am finding with no financial dignity. As you read this you will see it is paramount for patients to have the funds to be able to regain well being and restorative healing. So it never makes sense that a government or system fails to realise this... People need to invest in themselves to keep well.. and this needs governments to design policies to invest in the people to ensure journeys to well being.
No Energy!
There will be times when you have days where you feel stuck in the mud. Trying to do things for yourself and around the house seem like plodding in treacle.
These days of non productivity are normal.
You feel you have no energy and if you try to swim against the tide you become more frustrated & exhausted.
Prepare for these days –
Firstly ensure you have been following the instructions of your practitioner!
Do you need to drink more?
Have you taken your medication in the right order & right time?
Remember your treatment is toxic to the system & needs flushing out. Providing your practitioner is not worried about the function of your kidneys then up your fluid intake. Dehydration can make you drowsy as your blood urea levels become high. Urea is formed from the breakdown of protein and is flushed out of your body by the kidneys. So you may need to drink more.
BUT LET THAT FLUID BE NUTRITIOUS & HEALING.
Daily cranberry juice may keep a bladder infection away! Cranberry juice has long been recommended to ward off bladder infections. A specific type of tannin found only in cranberries and blueberries interacts with the little projection on the E.Coli bacteria ( the common cause of urinary tract infections), the bacteria are prevented from sticking to the wall of the bladder and causing infection. www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/14367.php
NO JUNK DRINKS – YOU ARE TOO PRECIOUS FOR THAT!
As cancer cells are dying they create debris. This needs cleaning out of your body. So not only are you drinking enough but are you peeing enough too! This debris needs cleansing and flushing out of your body as it can be causing sluggish feelings and actions in you if not. If you are noticing lack or small volume of concentrated urine and yet drinking extra – let your doctor know. Doctor may want to check your blood for kidney functioning.
Note here when under high degree of stress the catacholamine effect is to increase metabolic rate in response to the fright, fight flight response so their can be a lot of toxic debris from this too. So all this is important to think on your support to well being and feeling able to cope. This will need vit B complex to help you cope physically and mentally.
Look at herbal support such a Milk Thistle to improve your liver function. Your liver is a major detoxification organ and needs extra support during this time.
Up your daily intake of Vitamin C as this is a powerful anti-oxidant to help detoxify your body. It also helps the absorption of iron. Try to acquire the taste for green tea, ( I know it is a strange taste!) but it is a major block to cancer cells see link below.
If you really can not work with its taste and camourflage with other flavours then try it in tablet form. If you can bear more tablets to take that is!
Not feeling like eating?
Then up your carbohydrates – the complex slow release ones such as starches in pasta & rice and cereals. You may not feel like eating, but ensure that all your food intake – be it little – is rich in nutrition. Be sure you are taking in enough iron to combat anaemia and its associative lack of energy. If you are breathless on exertion & having palpations then you must have a blood check to look at your haemaglobin levels. Your red blood cells need to be able to deliver oxygen to all your cells to maximise energy production you see!
NO JUNK FOOD YOU ARE TOO PRECIOUS FOR THAT!
In your preparation for these days maybe you could have some ready made, homemade meals from the days you were full of energy. On these high energy days cook a little extra to store. Prepare it with love so that the high energy and love vibrations of that day, help you on the Zero function days to heal. Make sure you have some fresh fruit in the kitchen so you can make a smoothie to feed you on the Zero days.
Healing tapes – lay quiet & listen to some inspiring music or a self help tape…But try not to challenge yourself by overly concentrating – just let the words and music enter your subconcious. There are a selection of CDs from www.shopatpennybrohn.com designed for cancer patients.
Relax with a book! – read if you can but try not to burden yourself with a goal of lots of chapters, then feel aggitated with yourself for not achieving what you usually can do. Reading short stories are enough or listen to a talking book. There are many top selling novels in audio form on the market.
Or have a book of inspirational verses that feed your mind and psyche. You may find that on these days you create some inspirational thoughts or verses of your own. You have time on a Zero day to listen to your creative mind!
Relaxing bath by candlelight – Maybe allow yourself to soak in a bath with aromatherapy oils and with calming candlelight around you. I would suggest your partner help you create this and keep a loving eye on you whilst you relax and savour the moment.
Not too hot or too long! Then change into some snugly pyjamas for the rest of the day! Pampered and comforted.
Healing Sleep – you may find you drift into a deep healing sleep and this maybe only 5 min or an hour or two. But like babies and animals this sleep is a time for re-growth, re-generation and healing.
Family to understand! – Let your family know that you are not low in mood but low in energy levels. Help them understand that your are having a Zero Day – so they respect your time and help as they can without hindering and over fussing!
Chill out and move with the sluggish flow of the Zero day – don’t resist or fight it. It maybe that your mind, body & spirit need time to regenerate.
Your journey will be like a river! Just like a river there will be times of calm, tiny inlets of stagnant flow and times of turbulent flow. Sometimes the flow will be just right in tempo and mood for you. Other times you will feel it carrying you away. You may need a befriender or support group to help you navigate through the journey.
With the right raft of support, you can navigate your way along the river to wellness & wholeness. Peace, harmony & healing. When you look at your Zero days maybe you have been doing something rather than nothing.
Restoring and healing yourself!
Written with love from
Marjorie Bahhaj BSc RGN RM (rtd)
IF YOU WOULD LIKE ME TO COME ALONG TO YOUR CENTRE OR UNIT TO PRESENT THIS TALK AND LEAD A DISCUSSION GROUP ON THIS THEN I AM HAPPY TO COME ALONG.
My fees are a donation to the Family Link Up project I run and travel expense for talks outside London -
Many Thanks Contact: marjoriebahhaj@gmail.com
Many Thanks Contact: marjoriebahhaj@gmail.com
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