I was married two weeks after my 18th birthday to my high school sweetheart. Things were tough, no money, not even a bank account. The money went in a box at the top of the closet and when it was gone, it was gone. This was 1981, if you can imagine my grocery budget was $35 a week. Slim pickings even back then.

We were over at his parent’s house one spring evening like we were every Friday night. I started bleeding and thought I was starting my period early. It would not be that unusual. A little while later I started having severe back pain and my sister-in-law asked if I was having a miscarriage. First off, I was on birth control and second, I had no idea what a miscarriage felt like.

The pain and bleeding continued to get worse so we drove to the hospital. When we arrived there weren’t any rooms so I had to lay in the waiting room with my jeans soaked in blood. 

After I was put in a room, I had to go to the bathroom. While in the bathroom I had a miscarriage. In the toilet was a fully formed four-month-old fetus. I was in shock. I walked out and told a nurse there was a baby in the toilet.

While back in the room waiting for the doctor, this most insensitive nurse puts the fetus which is in a jar right by my head. WOW, what a way to traumatize someone.

It would be bad enough if the story ended there but it doesn’t.

My husband was an amateur car racer and had a big race that weekend. He never acknowledged the baby, my pain, and never even came to see me in the hospital room that evening. The next morning he headed out of town for the race without even arranging a ride for me. I had to call my ex-boyfriend’s mother to take me home. I wasn’t ready to tell my grandparents yet.

He came home on Sunday night and not a peep was said. I never mourned the baby I lost because I had to suppress my feelings because of the anger I felt towards my husband.

This memory was triggered recently and although it happened in 1982, it still hurts. To think my child would be 38 years old. That’s hard to fathom.

I’ve never had children. In 1991 I was diagnosed with Cervical cancer and had to have a total hysterectomy which ended the possibility of children.

I wanted to share this memory in order to grieve and to help anyone else who has lost a child and did not have someone there to support you. I understand.

Melinda

It’s been a weird time for me lately. I keep trying to “feel better” without much luck. One day I will give up a bad habit, and the next I am right back to it (like smoking cigarettes). My motivation levels are low, I avoid what brings joy to my life, and I cannot seem […]

Surface Pressure — Undiagnosed

I’ve reviewed several Delta 8 products and found them to be helpful for stress relief and overall quieting of the mind in order to go back to sleep. I have not felt any type of buzz or high from them and feel very comfortable adding them to my nightly routine. 

Let’s explore what Delta 8 is and if it’s right for you.

Like CBD, delta-8 (delta-8 tetrahydrocannabinol) is just one of more than 100 chemical compounds found in the cannabis sativa plant. Most people are familiar with THC (delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol), the main psychoactive compound in cannabis that gives you a euphoric high.

The 2018 Farm Bill legalized the production and sale of CBD products (which don’t get you high) on the federal level in the U.S. as long as they contain less than .3% of THC. In theory, this would allow federal legalization of CBD products with delta-8 under those same guidelines, but doctors, like internal medicine specialist Paul Terpeluk, DO, are expressing concerns about delta-8 products because delta-8 is psychoactive and produces same or similar highs as THC.

Is Delta-8 Legal?

Another reason for Delta-8’s growing popularity is that, unlike heavily regulated THC, Delta-8 is legal to use in most states. That’s because it’s extracted mostly from hemp-derived CBD, which is legal to farm across the U.S.

But Delta-8 sits in a legal gray area. Hemp’s legality stems from the so-called federal farm bill (the Agriculture and Nutrition Improvement Act of 2018), which removed hemp and its byproducts from the list of controlled substances. The reason: Hemp’s low THC levels (less than 0.3%). The bill doesn’t mention Delta-8 anywhere. Hemp advocates and others who sell it have used this loophole to legally market Delta-8 products, usually with no age restrictions. As a result, it’s now the fastest-growing product from the hemp industry.

Because there’s little oversight or lab testing on what goes into Delta-8 products, chemists and other scientists have safety concerns. Products labeled as Delta-8 may contain impurities, including high levels of THC. As a result, around a dozen states, including New York and Colorado, are beginning to restrict or ban the use of Delta-8.

Is Delta 8 right for you?

The key is to find a product that is rated and reviewed. I did several searches for the top 2022 Delta 8 Products and worked from those list. When I go to a new site, I check out the company “About Us” information. Then I see where the product is made and if it’s lab tested. From there it’s truly a guessing game but I look for products that are rated by users and read the reviews. I don’t go by price alone but do know that they aren’t cheap and will be cautious if a price is too low. 

To Your Health!

Melinda

References:

          https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/addiction/what-is-delta-8

It takes more than eating right and taking medication to stay healthy and be our best selves physically and mentally. Alternative Medicine has been used for thousands of years and if truth be told, since the beginning of time. 

What is Alternative Medicine?

It’s complementary to Traditional Medicine which we are most familiar with. The two can work hand in hand to provide a total health solution. Some forms are Homeopathy, Acupressure, Acupuncture, Natural Medicine, Naturopathy, Ayurveda, Biofield therapy, Bioelectromagnetic therapy, Chiropractic and Reiki. 

I don’t buy into all the methods of Alternative Medicine but believe in those I’ve seen results for or studies results. These are my favorite Alternative Medicine hacks to help augment Traditional Medicine which I rely heavily on. 

Supplements:

Collagen, Ginseng and Probiotic and Multi-Vitamin

Chiropractor

2-3 times per week

You can also book weight loss or quit-smoking hypnosis

Acupuncture

Acupressure

Massage

Full body and head

Reflexology

Essential oils

Nightly as a part of my bedtime routine

Hemp Pain Relief Cream

Part of my bedtime routine

Magnesium Pain Cream

Part of my bedtime routine

What types of alternative medicine hacks do you use to stay your best self?

Melinda

Chronic illness & depression are intimately linked. Here are 8 triggers from life with illness, pain & disability that affect mental health.

Chronic Illness & Depression : 8 Trigger Points  — Invisibly Me