Comments on: Overcoming Obstacles

By: CF

CF — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 14:58:33 +0000

Trent, thanks for this post – my wife and I have been dealing with some similar issues and this helped keep things in focus. Hope you’re feeling much better very soon.

By: Lindsay

Lindsay — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 03:36:40 +0000

Hi Trent,

Some of your health issues sound eerily familiar. Have you ever been tested for food allergies? I had a whole slew of ongoing problems, from sinus infections and migraines to joint pain and a lot of environmental allergies. Finally someone had me tested for food allergies, and I was almost off the charts with sensitivities to gluten and dairy. I’ve been a lot healthier since I eliminated those foods from my diet.

Just something you might look into–it’s amazing (but not really surprising) how much our diets can throw our bodies out of whack and make us susceptible to a lot of bugs.

Best wishes for your improved health!

By: jan

jan — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 01:26:09 +0000

This is a good post. Keeping going is a good move. Life puts all kinds of things in front of us but then it gets better. Hang in there.

By: Anna

Anna — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 13:01:22 +0000

Bactrim is the worst! I took it while pregnant last year and it gave me the most agonizing rash over every square inch of my (extremely large, pregnant) body. I felt like a hippo wallowing in poison ivy. I hope you feel better soon.

By: borealis

borealis — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 02:43:35 +0000

Thanks for opening up and telling us. But I don’t think many people would know what TMJ means. You gotta be careful with acronyms.

P.S. TMJ is a jaw disorder…. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temporomandibular_joint_disorder

By: Rozzer

Rozzer — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 00:18:52 +0000

Talk about HOPE with a capital H O P E – I just finished the book Left to Tell by Immaculee Ilibagiza. Wow! I am so thankful for every little thing I have after reading her story of surviving the genocide in Rwanda.

I had shoulder surgery 2 months ago and it’s been a long recovery, so I can relate to feeling down. After reading this book I thank God I have two arms!

Take care

By: Olivier

Olivier — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 22:41:26 +0000

This article has really struck a cord with me. You certainly have a much more positive attitude than most people out there, that’s for sure and the fact that you share it and have a positive impact on other people’s lives is admirable. This article is the epitome of that I believe.

In any case, you mention that you have been focusing on a healthy diet in the last month. Would you mind sharing that in a forthcoming article or give others and myself pointers as to what you have in mind (other articles, books, etc.) as I am trying to do the same, but I am still failing quite badly.

One other thing worth mentioning is when you have obstacles in you life is to do something that you love doing. Only positiveness can come out of doing something you love. Just my 2 cents.

Thank you very much indeed.

By: BonzoGal

BonzoGal — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 22:24:25 +0000

I’ll cross all my digits for a speedy recovery for you! There are lots of “virtual friends” for you out here, and we’re all pulling for you!

By: beth

beth — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 17:21:13 +0000

You certainly have plenty of well-wishes and suggestions for feeling better, but I do have one more! I know you have mentioned in passing that you have thyroid issues. My two cents would be to get your levels checked if it’s been a while. For me, after 20+ years on a steadily upward-trickling dosage, I have had to bump it up 50% in the last 2 months. And if you have been fighting a thyroid issue, however minor, you probably know how it can throw everything else in your system off-kilter! It’s so much easier to keep the rest of my body healthy when that part is properly balanced. :-)

By: Saver Queen

Saver Queen — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 16:45:20 +0000

Thanks for these suggestions. My family and I have been through so much in the last year. I’ve been diagnosed with a chronic disease and that’s really just the tip of an enormous iceburg. I really keep focused on the hope that things will get better. I really believe that they will.

By: Sara

Sara — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 16:37:07 +0000

As already mentioned here: yoga, yoga, yoga. It is not a cure-all, but certainly a good start. Maybe a massage would help too.

By: Awesome Mom

Awesome Mom — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 16:19:52 +0000

I hope you feel better soon! Health problems really can take a toll on you and I am glad you are being upbeat.

By: Allie

Allie — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 15:33:21 +0000

Best wishes for a speedy recovery Trent! Glad to hear you’re giving yourself a little bit of a break. You need and deserve that.

By: brooke

brooke — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 14:04:33 +0000

I truly hope you feel better, Trent. This blog has come to feel like an old friend, and I see that alot of people feel the same way. Uplifting is seeing so many people, all of us complete strangers with only this blog in common, offering ideas to keep one of our own feeling well. You have alot of people wishing you good health, you are very much appreciated, and I hope your body heals itself. Thanks for all you do.

By: Eve

Eve — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 06:24:23 +0000

Hope you feel better. Your column is the first thing I read each am while drinking my coffee and getting ready for work. I believe in a good night rest , exercise ( my cheap therapy} , and laughter is what keeps my body in balance. I have also just started to meditate 15 mins a day and wow it really helps clear the mind of all things. I wish you all the best.
peace out:)

By: Amit

Amit — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 05:58:19 +0000

Dear Trent,

Start practicing “Pranayam” which is basically a old hindu technique for breathing.

Baba Ramdev is a person who is spreading it to the whole world.

I use to face the problem with Sinus. And now for last 3-4 years i havent faced it.

It all about “Pranayam” and “Yoga”

:)))

Want you to be fine..since the first thing i expect in morning (here in India) is 2 blogs from your side :)))

By: Sylvia

Sylvia — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 04:51:30 +0000

trent, thanks for this honest post. i lost my husband in september and have been fighting a bunch of little things since then. knowing it’s my immune system and doing something about it are two different things. but i liked your tips about getting up and keeping on, and will follow them.

what i wanted to comment on is your reaction to Bactrim. i think that is a horrible drug, too widely used, and at least in my case i was never told what to watch for……i started it last year for a sinus infection and got sicker and sicker until i came to one day and realized i hadn’t eaten, voided, drank, or been aware of much for 4 days. i got the ambulance and was on i.v. for hours till they got me up and moving. i always thought an allergic reaction to antibiotics was high fever and hallucinations, which is what happens when i am given penicillin by someone who doesn’t read the alert. now i have to include all the sulpha drugs on my alert, not just bactrim.

so i think you are very lucky to have made what progress you have.

i hope your family brings you joy and the new year brings you much improved health.
Sylvia

By: Michelle

Michelle — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 04:43:15 +0000

Wishing you a speedy recovery, Trent.

By: Kelly

Kelly — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 04:40:46 +0000

Dear Trent, because of the awesome high quality of your posts (and that I don’t Twitter yet) I couldn’t tell you were ill until you mentioned it. You have been a great inspiration for your readers and this is yet another example of learning from your life and sharing those lessons with us. I sincerely wish you a speedy recovery. There are many good suggestions here in the comments as well as the ones you originally mentioned. Your kids and wife should be a big help- I know when my spouse starts in with his silly jokes, and my daughter is a punk, it’s impossible not to smile and feel grateful despite how we originally feel. I hope someone brings you some healthy homemade dinners, so you and your family can spend time together helping you recover. Hang in there.

By: Jessica

Jessica — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 04:15:10 +0000

I have been dealing with SAD since I was about 12, and it has less to do with Vitamin D than about getting enough light at the right intensity. I start using my light therapy lamp in September and use it for 30-60 minutes in the morning consistently, and it makes a HUGE difference.

But honestly, it just sounds like Trent is running through a bunch of illnesses, and being sick makes me feel crummy too, but it’s not depression.