- Shoulder – released from PT – YAY!
- Foot – in process
- Next up – sliding hiatal hernia…
When my gastroenterologist told me I had a sliding hiatal hernia, my first thought was “oooo I learned to work with that in my last VM class!” I don’t think I’ve been excited by a diagnosis before. That trip to Tuscan was worth it! So I started doing a little bit of the work on myself.
In the visceral manipulation hiatal hernia protocol, there are 3 techniques. I’ve only done the first on myself so far, and it’s producing results. Have a hiatal hernia? Help me/help you…. See “Studio updates” for a deal on a 45 min session.
What is a sliding hiatal hernia (aka haitus hernia)? A portion of your stomach comes up through the diaphragm, typically due to trauma (hmmm, yes, I’ve had that). The ‘sliding’ means it moves – it can move above & below the diaphragm. Some hiatal hernias don’t move.
You end up with acid reflux, bloating, and food sensitivities… hmmmm…. Sounds like me!
My hernia can be treated through diet. When the nurse showed me the food list to avoid, I’d already eliminated everything. I will note, coffee & chocolate are on there. I enjoy 1 cup of Joe per day. I’m not giving that up, and the nurse agreed. I actually have coffee with my almond milk for this very reason – cuts acidity. And the 100% dark chocolate – these days I just do 1-2 rows of my Lindt bar. It goes with my fresh ground almond butter. Way better than sugary store-bought nut butter cups.
The recommendation I’m now working on is to be finished eating 3-4 hours before bedtime. It’s taking practice, planning & diligence to get all my 1800+ calories in by 4p, the cut off time I’ve found works best for me. I probably do better on the days I’m in the Austin, as I pack & track my food for the whole day at once. Sometimes in Taylor, the day gets away from me. I’m learning.
The days I have been successful with finishing calories in by 4p I also sleep so soundly, making it worth the effort. Which means I’m also creating space for a mid-afternoon meal in my schedule.
Aren’t I supposed to have free time now that cross country is over? Insert belly laugh emoji here.
It’s time to focus on the house for a bit: “home work”. I’m selecting 1 area a week for work, updates, refreshing and/or purging. The first week focused on Blueberry (my car) & getting the garage ready to become a greenhouse for all my driveway lovelies (aka plants). That’s a big tackle after 6 month of neglect, but I need to get ready for sub-40 temps. It’s also outside.
I’ll try to give you a heads up when the plants move in, as I know a lot of you use them as the identifier for my house.
This past week I’ve been working on the kitchen, and getting re-organized, minimizing, and continuing to work on updating. I’ll be adding contact paper to the drawers & bottom cabinets, as well as on the pantry walls. I had fun looking for something similar to what’s already in the upper cabinets, and complimentary to what’s in the pantry. Just a little different, but both make me happy!
I’m also getting some painting finished, within the limits of the shoulder and foot (ie I stop a little above head height, with friends coming to help with the top part of the walls).
The desk area is next. If things go as planned, it’ll take me til mid-December to get a once over on the whole house. Everything should be just a little bit farther along, and ready for the next round of updates, refreshes, and purges after track season.
Sharon Tri’s (tries?)
- Swimming – Since resuming swimming, I feel I’ve gained ground quickly, even while keeping my swims around 30-40 minutes. I’ve been able to backstroke! My neck didn’t like it before. Ditto for flip turns – though I don’t do them when I use my snorkel. During shoulder PT, they did a few new things for neck. Evidently, it helped! Now to slowly work on snorkel free swimming.
- Biking – I checked in with my foot PT, and I’m inside for now, at least until I can load the foot when jumping down. S’okay. I know I’ll be outside soon.
- Rowing – I’m still getting in 2x most weeks, but finding it challenging to do on days I do a full hour of strength/rehab. Rowing is classified as full body & weight bearing, so I need it for my osteopenia since running is currently off the table.
- Home exercise plan & other strength training – 30-60 min per day… combining shoulder/rotator cuff, general strength, and the foot stuff. And all starts with 15-30 min of whole body stretching – which is making a huge overall difference. Knees, hips & low back are loosening up after those 6 weeks in a boot.
I’m sure as I get along with the foot rehab, things will settle in more. Every week is different. I had to remind myself recently that I need recovery weeks frequently, even though I’m doing barely anything relative to past me. This is where I am now.
If you have a Hiatal Hernia and want to see what visceral manipulation is all about, book a 45 min session in either Austin or Taylor, and apply coupon code HIATAL for $15 off. One discount per person.
Studio hours through November 22, 2025
- Mondays – closed
- Tuesdays
- if in Taylor – 12-515p
- if in Austin – 915a-215p – early appointment available!!!
- Wednesdays in Austin – 12n-5pish
- Thursdays in Taylor
- 12n-515p
- Fridays in Taylor – 10a-230p
Thanksgiving week schedule
- Monday 11/24
- Middle school running, 8a
- Taylor, 11a-3p
- Tuesday 11/25
- Pilates Mat (online), 1045a
- Austin, 9a-215p
- Wednesday 11/26
- Welcome to Viniyoga, 830a
- Austin, 1145a-5p
- Thursday 11/27 – closed
- Friday 11/28
- Pilates & more, 830a
- Taylor, 10a – 130p
December schedule will continue to have Mondays in Austin, and a short Tuesday in Taylor so I can get office work done.
Upcoming Austin openings for November
- Tuesday, November 11, 915a (for 30, 45 or 60 min only)
- Wednesday, November 19, 1p
- Monday, December 1, 915a
- Wednesday, December 3, 415p
- please contact me to get on the waitlist
Upcoming Taylor openings for November
- Thursday, November 6, 3 & 415
- Friday, November 7, 10a
- Tuesday, November 18, 2-515p
- Thursday, November 20, 3 & 415p
- Friday, November 21, 10a
- Friday, November 28, 10a-12n
- please contact me to get on the waitlist
