Paddle Time
Grab some chocolate and your fave paddle, and let’s meet at the water.
Promise we’ll keep you in the loop!
Not all benefits of surgery are obvious
Surgery is not just about fixing a problem there are some underlying benefits to surgery that go beyond skin deep.
I’m not a stranger to having surgery. April 24th, I recorded my 24th lifetime surgery. I’ve had 10 orthopedic surgeries and 14 cancer-related surgeries. I’ll admit, I’m quicker than most to go under the knife, which is interesting because I’m the last person to pick up any kind of pharmaceutical. I’m an herbalist. My San Diego garden has 47 herbs and spices. Most of my surgeries begin with some sort of concoction from le jardin. And recovery always includes herbal teas and treatments.
I believe in the handy work of skilled surgeons. I also believe in an eastern and western synergistic approach to medicine.
So, let’s get started with the list!
- I get to test new herbal remedies. I’ve studied herbalism for 15 years. My herbal journey started with cancer treatment in 2009. I remember standing in line at a coffee shop in Lyons, Colorado when I noticed a tin of calendula salve. I read the tin and thought “why not?” I used it religiously on the scars left from the mastectomy and chemotherapy port. Today, my chemo port scar is barely noticeable. Calendula is known for its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and skin-healing properties. I love this flower so much that I grow it in pots on the deck and in three of my flower beds. Today, many of my skin remedies also include gotu kola, violet, and self heal. I also like to boost these with helichrysum, rose geranium, and German chamomile essential oils. (I’ve included the cream recipe I made for this surgery below.)
- I have an excuse to take naps. Mon petit ami said you know you’re an adult when you think it’s cool to take a nap. Even though most days I consider myself an adult, I still cringe when I take a nap…like I should be doing something else. But following surgery, you’re encouraged to sleep. When we’re sleeping, our lymphatic system kicks into high gear to clean out the gunk from the day (or the knife!).
- I sleep the night away. About 30 minutes before I head to bed, I take a little Night Cap (tahoefloats at checkout for 15% off) to help me sleep. Again, I’m hoping to supercharge my system by letting the lymphatics have their moment while I examine the back of my eyelids. This surgery was a bit difference because I had to be lifted into and out of bed. So, if I woke up and couldn’t shake my sig-other to give me a lift, I just went back to sleep!
- I have a moment. Every surgery I’ve had, I have what I call “a moment.” Whether I’m crying, frustrated, angry, or happy. I experience some sort of emotional release. I find these moments incredibly cleansing. Weird, I know. But in our day-to-day we seldom allow ourselves to have any sort of release. Well, surgery is a big deal. My last surgery was on 4.24.24 (auspicious date). It was my 24th surgery (whoa!). And it was on the same day 15 years after cancer diagnosis (OK, that’s just too much!). I should also say it was my last cancer-related surgery. Take a f-ing moment!
- I experience some sort of transformation. When we have surgery, it’s usually to make something better, remove something, or boost our odds for something great. In the case of my 5 (yes, 5) foot surgeries, it was so that I could walk pain-free while wearing shoes. My mastectomy removed the cancer from my body. My last surgery removed a ruptured silicon implant. With all these, my body, my mind, and spirit experienced some sort of transformation. I find the blessings from the results. To be honest, I’ve had 5 reconstruction surgeries. This is the first one I’m super psyched about!
Not all of my surgeries were fantastic. After one of my foot surgeries, I hiked from Sugar Bowl to Squaw Valley as a test-run. I literally wanted to cut my foot off from the pain. I got to the parking lot and scheduled an appointment with Dr. Dodd. A few months later, I had my final foot surgery … just before FebruBURIED 2019! I shoveled 20 feet of snow off my roof with a walking cast covered in a plastic bag on one foot and a crampon on the other. There were numerous four-letter words in my vocab hopping up each rung of the ladder.
I think for me, I hold hope in living a pain-free, super juice life. I would love to go through life without ever having surgery, but that’s not the body I have, so I embrace the benefits 🙂
Cream Recipe
Here’s the recipe I created (#1 above). I wanted something that would provide some sun protection. I didn’t need a lot because I have to keep my belly covered all summer. I also wanted a cream that would work double-duty to rebuild my skin and diminish the appearance of my scars.
The secret to great lotion is making sure the oil and water phases are the same temperature before mixing them together.
Water Phase
- 2/3 cup distilled water tea. I got the water hot, just below a boil and covered 2 cups of fresh gotu kola and violet leaves. Cool to room temperature.
- 1/3 cup glycerine
You can mix these together or add separately to the oil phase (once the oil phase has cooled to room temperature).
Oil Phase
- 1/2 oz beeswax
- 1/4 tsp lanolin
- 2.5 oz mango butter
- 3 oz calendula-infused jojoba oil
- 2 oz gotu-kola-infused jojoba oil
- 1/2 oz baobab oil
- 1/2 oz tamanu oil
Using a double-boiler, add the first three ingredients over medium-low heat. The water should be bubbling below the second pan. Heat until mostly melted. Add the remaining ingredients. Heat just enough for everything to mix well and all the beeswax is melted. Let cool to room temperature!
The Final Phase
Essential oils. Choose these based on what properties you want for your cream. I chose helichrysum, rose geranium, and German chamomile, whih are skin-loving essential oils. Use a 3-5% dilution.
Zinc 1/4 Tbsp (optional). This is very little sun protection. However, my scars will not be exposed to the sun as they’ll be covered with clothing. This was added to protect the scars for any sun exposure that gets through clothing.
Using an immersion blender, SLOWLY add the water mixture to the oil mixture. Mix non-stop until a cream forms. Add the essential oils and zinc and continue to blend.
NOTE: If you have trouble creating a creamy texture, most likely the oil and water phase were not the same temperature. I’ve never been able to save my cream if I rushed the process. If you can, I’d love to know how!
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