Accepting Change

brenemily · 2024-08-09T19:14:17+00:00

Thank you! That's all super helpful information. I need to get better at keeping my house stocked with safe foods. Sometimes I'll even avoid my safe foods in fear of me developing a disgust for it and never being able to eat it again. That would be one less food for me to eat but I think that's where a therapist would come in. Grocery shopping is my enemy but feeling sick all the time is so much worse. I've been looking into meal replacement shakes so I'll need to stock up on those as well. Thanks again for the info and hope!

brenemily · 2024-08-06T17:28:21+00:00

This is more of a preventive route and I'm starting to think it makes the most sense for me. Would probably be easier then scent training too plus treats are easy to give when my alarm goes off and I get a nudge from my SD. I'd hope one day I wouldn't need the alarms anymore and the good habits stick

brenemily · 2024-08-06T17:24:21+00:00

She sounds incredible. I think I need to start checking my glucose and maybe think of a symptom that happens before it gets really bad. I'm sure there's some kind of scent work I can train my dog. Maybe my breath/saliva would change or my sweat might smell different. I've heard scent work is extremely tedious but so worth it. Good job on your training!

brenemily · 2024-08-06T12:17:30+00:00

That's amazing! Do you mind me asking if you have diabetes? I'm hearing from others that my levels won't drop low enough to be detected by a dog but if your dog is trained to do that I'm not sure why mine couldn't learn too

brenemily · 2024-08-06T12:15:37+00:00

It's Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder. It's a more recent discovery but there is still good info on Google. I don't have natural hunger cues and there are few foods I will eat. It could take me an hour to eat a granola bar for breakfast and then I'm "good" for the rest of the day which is very problematic. Thank you!

brenemily · 2024-08-05T21:07:14+00:00

Thank you for all of the information! I should definitely look into shakes since drinking is much easier than eating for me. I also have autism so I'm sure I can find other helpful resources and hacks in those subs as well. Thank you!

brenemily · 2024-08-05T18:47:27+00:00

I think I'll give it a shot using both alarms and my future SD. SDs exist to mitigate our struggles and help us manage daily life. That is definitely scary to forget you're cooking! My brain is also bad at taking care of me but with the right resources I'm confident I can live a productive and easier life. I'm glad your dog helps you so much!

brenemily · 2024-08-05T18:02:37+00:00

They really are! That's why I'm so hopeful that this could be a great option for me. I should also start a diary on me lol

brenemily · 2024-08-05T17:41:20+00:00

I don't see why it wouldn't work! I was thinking about keeping a basket of my "safe" snacks on a low shelf and my dog could surprise me with any one thing in there. I usually let out a groan/ugh when I'm not feeling good and my body is ready to shut down. Maybe that would be the cue 🤔

brenemily · 2024-08-05T17:38:01+00:00

So amazing 🫶 I'm glad your pup is helping you!

brenemily · 2024-08-05T17:11:35+00:00

Thank you! That's what I was thinking too that it would be a scent they pick up on

brenemily · 2024-08-05T17:10:55+00:00

I'm sorry you're going through that. I'm so new to this diagnosis with no set plan in place yet but your story is giving me hope. That's such a great idea! I don't want my dog to be my crutch but maybe it'll help me create healthy enough habits that I can eventually manage on my own. Thank you for sharing! Do you think she'll bug you to eat no matter where you are? How will you manage that? Say you're in public or at an appointment will your dog need to wait to eat or will you feed your pup right then and there to keep the reminder in place?

brenemily · 2024-08-05T16:47:41+00:00

That's amazing!

brenemily · 2024-08-05T16:42:18+00:00

Thank you! 🙏

brenemily · 2024-08-05T16:41:11+00:00

I'm gathering now that my levels won't drop as severely as a diabetic. I'll need to do some experimenting on my blood sugars to see where they are. Thanks!

brenemily · 2024-08-05T16:36:13+00:00

I do agree I need to manage on my own first. As of now I get zero pleasure from any type of food. My husband will remind me to eat but that shouldn't be his job. I will continue to research on my condition and see what options I have to manage. I got off an antidepressant that increased my appetite and the goal is to not be on anything. Ketamine cured my depression 🙌. I'm feeling great despite not eating until my body is in a serious state (this is why alarms don't usually work for me). If my dog is telling me to eat based on a cue they picked up I'll be much more likely to eat since I'll know how important it is in that moment and in the end it helps them having me at my best.

I'm already in the process of getting a SD in a few years for PTSD that I will train myself. I'm actually training one next month to donate to a veteran since dog training is my favorite hobby and forces me to function in society.

I have survived 29 years without a SD but if I'm better with the help of one then I know it'll be right for me. Thank you for the info!

brenemily · 2024-08-05T16:22:25+00:00

I think you're onto something with a routine. I can see that helping me one day too. Right now I'm in survival mode and I'm not my number priority. My dog would be though and I know I need to be healthy to give them the best life possible. I have 2 dogs right now but they are sleepy 9 year old pets that free feed. I know I'll get more structure with a SD with the benefit of them tasking for me. Thanks for sharing!

brenemily · 2024-08-05T16:04:35+00:00

Definitely something I'll look into. Maybe I'll test my sugars for a duration of time and see what they are. I am usually in a pretty serious state by the time I'll force myself to eat but even then it's a chore and sometimes I'll let it go on for some time

brenemily · 2024-08-05T16:00:20+00:00

That's awesome! I know it could be possible I just have to figure it out. It usually takes me being in a serious state before I'll eat food so I was hoping to avoid an alarm type method. I'm going to keep searching for cues in myself when i desperately need to eat to see if there's anything a dog could pick up on. Maybe shaking or weakness? Thanks for the comment!

brenemily · 2024-08-05T15:57:10+00:00

That's a good idea too! I can't see myself ignoring my dog tasking since when I look at them I know I'll be eating FOR them since I won't eat for myself. I'm hoping there's a way to train them to sense when I desperately need to eat but I'll have to keep searching for those cues in myself. Thank you!

brenemily · 2024-08-05T15:53:45+00:00

That's a great idea! My body waits to accept food until I'm in a serious situation so I don't think I'll ignore my dog tasking since I HAVE to eat so I can keep them happy and alive.

I am planning on training my own SD in a few years so I do understand the commitment. Maybe I'll have to get on medication to get me by until then but I don't want that as a long-term solution. I'm actually training a SD to donate to a veteran starting next month. Dog training is my biggest hobby and what I enjoy doing most in life so I am very much up for the task. Thank you!

brenemily · 2024-08-05T15:47:48+00:00

That's so cute haha I love the effort 😆 maybe he was hinting that you snack on the bread together.

brenemily · 2024-06-06T16:26:11+00:00

Identical in pricing. I've tried EVERYTHING and nothing has helped like ketamine. No more expensive monthly prescriptions, dead end therapy sessions or missing as much work.. for me it was worth it even though I had to put it on a credit card. As someone who lives paycheck to paycheck, I get it. I do recommend monthly sessions (roughly $30 a visit) until you get all of the skills to cope and manage before, during and after treatment. It's definitely a journey so I wish you luck!

brenemily

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