My First Pair of Orthopedic Shoes
My back hurts. My head hurts. Sometimes my hip gets stiff when I sit too long. But my foot hurts the most! Last year, I was diagnosed with gout—which was a little horrifying, humiliating, and humbling—but eventually, that got better. Then, my heel began to hurt and the pain was excruciating! I could hardly put any weight on it and hobbled around my house, assuming it was due to gout.
I limped over to my Doctor, certain I would be looking at spending a day getting xrays or MRIs and wondering if my walking days were already over. She calmly informed me that gout doesn't usually affect the heel. (But I was avoiding meat and eating anti-inflammatory foods for months! For no reason?)
So, what was the problem? Achilles tendonitis. Before this, I hadn't even heard of it! My doctor questioned my habits: walking barefoot, wearing flip flops, ballet flats, and never choosing supportive shoes (kitten heels and pumps definitely don't count). The diagnosis was straightforward, but the treatment involved:
· Stretching and physical therapy exercises
· Heel supports—not high heels!
· Supportive, full-coverage shoes
· Ben Gay for pain relief (and that classic grandmotherly scent!)
While doing calf stretches and heel raises, I started researching heel supports and orthopedic shoes, dreading the thought of wearing big, clunky sneakers. But then I came across Project Cloud—a modern sneaker that actually looked cute that I could pair with office attire. On a whim, I ordered them from Amazon and started wearing them right away. They may not be officially orthopedic, but the memory foam and full support made a huge difference for my sore feet. I can spend all day on my feet with minimal discomfort, and I've even received compliments. Most importantly, I’m able to enjoy walking again without the setbacks I used to get with my old shoes.
Project Cloud Women’s Sneakers - style meets comfort!
#affiliate
Other changes also helped: I kept up with physical therapy, returned to my regular walking routine, kept avoiding inflammatory foods, tossed out all my flip flops, and now wear supportive slippers at home. And yes—when I need extra relief, I use Ben Gay, even if it means smelling a bit like a little old lady. Of course, I’m not a doctor, so don’t swap my experience for medical advice, but I love my new Project Cloud shoes so much that I’ve bought several different styles!
Hair Loss Worries
Hair fall out has become an increasing concern for me, especially now that I am in my mid-forties. The classic messy bun may be a signature look for busy moms, but underneath the humor lies a genuine fear: losing my hair. Watching the women in my family experience hair loss as they aged has left a lasting impression, and lately, I have been noticing more hair falling out and increased breakage.
I have always had fine, straight hair that never amounted to anything more than a flat curtain, only occasionally varying the style. However, seeing thin webs of hair on the shower floor or caught between my fingers as I rinse now fills me with a sense of dread I cannot shake. The anxiety intensifies when my kids want to play with my hair; it takes all my willpower not to run from the room when they enthusiastically brush out knots.
Determined to address the issue, I have started trying a variety of solutions in hopes of seeing improvement: supplements, new shampoos, and scalp elixirs. At this point, I am so eager for results that I’m halfway down the street to the local snake oil salesman.
Here’s what I’m trying now:
Biolage Full Rescue
#affiliate
These Biolage products I have chosen to try out are paraben-free and sulfate-free, which, according to my limited research, are common but “dead-on-arrival” ingredients in hair care products. As an added bonus, this brand is also vegan. I am only one week into this new routine, so wish me luck. I plan to update this post in a couple of months to share whether these efforts have made a difference.
Or maybe it’s just perimenopause.
Maybe it’s perimenopause. Maybe it’s what all women go through when life becomes overwhelming. And maybe no one should feel like this. And maybe we all feel like this.
It all started while I was binging reels on social media of women ranting about how their bodies were changing (not for the better) and their emotions were raging and their hormones were off balance and their hair was falling out and they were stressed and not just normal stressed out, but the kind that is all-consuming, panic-inducing, mind-bending stress. And maybe it’s perimenopause. And maybe it’s what all women go through when life becomes overwhelming. And maybe no one should feel like this. And maybe we all feel like this. And maybe the world is well and truly ending. But let’s keep up with everything, including the Jones’s! And maybe I just want to scream a little bit.
But I felt so seen, watching these women rant and rave and question their life’s decisions!
It’s the era of gentle parenting, which I truly believe in and subscribe to. Most of the time. When I’m not freaking out, over-stimulated, and overwhelmed. But it’s certainly not the era of gracious and gentle self love. Not when this sarcastic, bitter rage boils through my innards and I just want to scream a little bit.
And I’m working full time and parenting full time and trying to be a good wife and daughter. I’m trying to give my children something I didn’t have. I’m trying to create a space where they can safely emote and know they can come to me whenever they need a shoulder, a hug, and a tickle. But I’m over stimulated and trying not to scream, but sure sweetie - tell me how you really feel about the limits on screen time I’m trying to enforce so you aren’t a walking zombie! Let me take that deep breath I tell you works to help when you feel a little worried. Hang on - I need about two hundred of them as I go lock myself in my bathroom for a few minutes and try to ignore the calls for “Mommy!” when you’re in the same room as your dad but insist on looking for me!
I’m trying to remember what it feels like to really laugh out loud when all I really want to do is scream and rage. And I’m proud of myself when I don’t, like the times my husband takes my chips to snack and kick up his feet. There was a time when I really didn’t care that the pillows on the couch were crooked. When did I start wanting all this control? Or maybe it’s just perimenopause. And why is it even called that? Like there’s any pausing really going on! It’s just a barrage of information, complaints, requests, decisions, bills, new symptoms… like when did my back start cracking so much as I get out of bed?
Or maybe it’s just perimenopause.
Maybe I just need a nap.