Episode 7: Year 30 Part I

Hey y'all!

So sorry I'm a few days late!!!
Today’s episode will be covering my current health regimen. 
I’ll share a funny story about aging, explain how I’ve been managing my health over the past year and share some memories about how I was raised to incorporate holistic / homeopathic remedies and practices for my health and lifestyle.

I also created a podfan page! 
This website is a way for my listeners to show support for JANERATION!

PT mentioned in podcast:
Dr. Sara Gagliano
Spooner Physical Therapy9097 E Desert Cove, Ste 110
Scottsdale, AZ 85260

Info on orthotics:
www.footlevelers.com

Xoxo,
Janny

IG: @janeration.pod
FB: Facebook.com/janny.nguyen
AZLO Lashes: www.shopazlo.com

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Transcript

EPISODE 7: YEAR 30 PART I (S2E2)

Hi everyone! 

Welcome back to Janeration, with your host, Janny Nguyen!

Let’s begin with a positive affirmation for the day:

 “I can start making small choices that lead to bigger changes”

Let’s repeat that again.

“I can start making small choices that lead to bigger changes”

You hear that? Making this statement is already a small choice you decided to make.

You’ve said it and now it's out there in the universe! Yay!

-

Today’s episode will be covering my current health regimen. 
I’ll share a funny story about aging,

Explain how I’ve been managing my health over the past year and 

Share some memories about how I was raised to incorporate holistic / homeopathic remedies and practices for my health and lifestyle.

I also wanted to announce that I created a podfan page! 

This website is a way for my listeners to show support for JANERATION!

I’ll be providing extra content for those of you who donate and subscribe to the podfan page! 

AND I’ll create content based on WHAT my listeners request! 

Maybe I’ll do extra card readings, provide samples of my singing bowls or rainsticks, indulge in meditation practices, start a support group, you name it!

So if you’re feeling tipsy and wanna give back to your host, the link is https://pod.fan/janeration 

The link will also be included in the notes section of each episode moving forward. 

I wanted to create this page to build my podcasting journey WITH my listeners; 

to show gratitude for listening, and 

to ask what I can provide for you all, through my show. 

One of my goals of creating Janeration was to inspire, motivate, and provide any healing vibes for my listeners, so please, LET ME KNOW what I CAN DO FOR YOUU, OKKAAAYYY? /  HUNNNAAAYY!

*rainstick*

One of the first things I started noticing was how I felt when people would ask me about my age.

I mean, there’s no proper way to ask that question, right? 

But before I turned 30, I would ALWAYS get so annoyed and defensive at people’s responses because I felt like I wasn’t being taken seriously. 

As an Asian american woman, I have always appeared younger, like a teenager, barely an adult.. 

So it felt kinda belittling when most people would respond to my age with: 

“omg you look like you’re 16, 18”, not even 20-something lol

Like damn, throw me a bone over here people.. Lol 

AND I know, I shouldn’t complain if I look young, but if I’m at a bar or have a drink in my hand, 

OR in an establishment where I should be of age, 

It's really frustrating to be asked to see my ID again or just to be called out like I’m a child. 

Or even spoken to in a different tone.

Can I get an amen for those who’ve experienced this? 

Let me share this story with you, so you know what I mean:

It was my 23rd birthday and I was sipping on a mimosa on a boat. 

Two of my highschool friends took me out for brunch and the restaurant had a complimentary boat ride around the port with a bar on the boat. So, of course we went!

As I was mingling with my girl friends, drinking my drank, a woman approached me and said, 
“omg how old are you? You look like you’re 12! You’re drinking??”

Ou. She pressed my button on my birthday. She was about to get it handed to her..

My response wasn’t the nicest, lol given the fact I had a few drinks in me already, and didn’t care to sound rude since, in my mind, her comment was so rude to me.

I responded with, “OMG! You look like you’re 50! Ahaha” and walked away. 

I will say now, that was rude, and I have not ever responded to anyone in that manner since then.

Anyhow, when I turned 30, it was so nice to say “I’m 30.” Not 20-something years old, 30. 

I think saying 30 just made me feel more confident. 

Like I passed a level in life, so I felt less annoyed when people would “compliment” me on how I appeared to look, age-wise. 

This is something so small, but I just feel better about this conversation now whenever it comes up. 

I don’t feel the need to get so defensive anymore, but I guess it's just one of those things you literally have to grow out of! 

*rainstick*

One of the things that I didn’t realize when you’re reaching your 30’s is the need for orthotics! 

I didn’t realize how much they can do for you!

For those of you who aren’t familiar with orthotics, they’re basically feet soles personalized for your body’s needs to correct your overall posture and stance. 

Like if your shoulder drops, pelvis tilts, knees rotate, or the arch in your foot drops. 

I go to the chiropractor regularly, every 2 weeks to maintain my health and wellness--which is how I was able to get mine.

My chiropractor has this scan machine, called “the foot leveler” and you basically stand on this platform with your socks and shoes off, and it measures your stability index.  

After taking this quick lil assessment, my results showed that it was vital for me to start implementing orthotics into my daily routine. 

My stability index is pretty bad, and I think it's from a number of things that occurred in my life; especially the car accident I had 9 years ago. 

I knew I needed them, but they were so expensive! 

I took the test last year, but didn’t pull the trigger on buying it yet because it was $400 for 2 pairs. $300 for the first, and $100 if you get the second, so I felt like I had to wait until I was able to afford them.. Which wasn’t until a month or two ago. 

But anyhow, wearing them for the first few days made my feet a lil sore, because like anything you wear on your feet, you gotta break it in a lil before it's comfortable. 

I was able to get orthotic templates for my feet directly on flip flops AND a pair of soles that I can put into any pair of tennis shoes I want. 

So far, so good! I even had a few friends try it out to see their reaction and they loved the support it gave them! They also felt the need to get it too!

So if there’s anyone out there who needs to check their posture or give their feetsies a lil lovin’, 

go to a chiropractor and invest into some orthotics! Yall can thank me later! But also:

We have to remember to take care of our body and thank it for all that it does for us on a daily basis!

From sitting in front of a computer desk to actively working, cooking, exercising; our body does so much for us! So we gotta remember to give it some TLC! 

*rainstick*

Growing up in a traditional, Vietnamese household, my family and I always practiced eastern medicine and holistic, natural remedies before having to use western medicine if we needed to. 

I remember seeing a jar in my parent’s bathroom--now that I think about it, it was actually an old glass liquor bottle filled with a yellow-ish color, having a smooth, slippery-like, but creamy, liquid texture that we would always use if anyone was ever hurt. 

I have no idea what was in it, but thinking about the texture and consistency, I’m sure it was some kind of turmeric-ginger blend with coconut oil and some essential oils.. maybe eucalyptus or tea tree? 

I think..

Now that I’m actually listing these ingredients, it sounds like healing vibes for sure! LOL,  go daddy! 

My sisters and I knew my father made this natural herbal concoction, and we used to always joke around about what he put in that bottle..

But now I really wish I had that recipe! It sounds like liquid gold!

It would give me so much nostalgia.. & give me something to hold onto from my dad.

Talking about this now brings me back to the memory I had, where I stubbed my foot and my dad used this concoction of his on me.. Whoa, I’m glad I remember this! 

Talking about this literally just opened a portal of other memories I had as a young child.. 

Anyhow, I also grew up eating LOTS of vegetables, mainly because eating meat was so costly, and with 9 kids in my family, that’s a lot of protein to go around! 

The protein that we had the most was fish; specifically mackerel fish. 

Since there were so many of us, my dad used to take my sisters and I to Redondo Beach, (in CA)

to go fishing for our family. 
We were a villager family for sure, lol always rolling so deep no matter where we went!

As a fisherman, my dad was a freakin 'natural. 

But I’m sure it was because my parents were fish farmers in Vietnam.

My sisters and I would stand around my dad on the pier, waiting for him to reel in the fish. 

Everytime my dad reeled back the fish pole, it would always be filled with so many fish.

When he did, we would grab the fishes off the pole and place them in buckets.

We did this regularly, so much that I dreaded eating fish as a kid.

Cuz you know, when you have too much of one thing, you get tired of it. No matter what it is..

But hey, our taste buds change as we get older, right? 

Like I used to hate onions, mint, avocado, cheese.. 
But now I absolutely LOVE them and can’t believe I didn’t like it before!

And now that I live in a different state than the rest of my family, 

I always crave fish the way my mom would cook it; and feel so much comfort whenever I eat it.

-

SO, now that I am much older, (30), and I understand my body, its needs, and what I have to do to maintain my overall health and wellness, 

I spend a good amount of time learning about what I should be putting IN my body, 

Especially because I have a few health conditions I need to stay on top of.

For instance, my weird bladder condition, Interstitial Cystitis. 

If you guys remember me talking about it from episode 2, 

There's a lot of food and drinks that I have to stay away from because it will irritate my bladder.

The hardest food to give up currently is tomatoes for me :( bc I shouldn’t have anything too acidic, 

but luckily I don’t have a problem with giving up dairy, since I grew up eating foods that were rice-based; sometimes plant & soy-based whenever my family and I would eat vegetarian cuisine for certain cultural and religious occasions. 
My mom always infused our foods with so many fresh and dry herbs and I’m so glad I was taught to eat and drink these foods at such a young age. 

Because now, there are always herbs in my kitchen.

From dried star anise and turmeric to fresh lemongrass, peppermint, wild basil;

I feel so nourished and healthy every time I eat them. 

Kinda obsessed with lemongrass and like to throw it in a lot of my marinades and soups! 

Anyhow, in addition to eating properly, I had to go through a series of treatments and take oral medication daily to maintain my health and help alleviate pain associated with my bladder.

Now that I’ve had 10 years of dealing with this medical condition, years of trying different methods and remedies, I eventually learned how to navigate and create the best treatment for my body; naturally! :)

For the past 10 years, I’ve had to take this oral medication called Elmiron. 

It’s the only “FDA” approved medication for this medical condition that's supposed to help with the rehabilitation of your bladder walls.

(bc ppl with this condition have perforated inner walls) which causes lots of pain.

Whenever I would run out or miss a dose, my bladder would flare up and not be happy.

However, when I moved from CA to AZ, I knew I had to set up all of my medical worries by getting a new urologist, physical therapist, and chiropractor. 

What I didn’t know, and newly discovered was that I was able to seek treatment for my bladder condition through physical therapy of the pelvic floor muscles.

When I first heard of this type of therapy from Thuy’s best friend, I was surprised that it was a possibility! She referred me to a clinic where I reside and it was literally the best thing that’s happened to me (health-wise) since I’ve been diagnosed. 

After my initial consultation with my physical therapist, Dr. Sara, I was so relieved that there was another solution to treating my pain and rehabilitating my body!

Dr. Sara did such an amazing job explaining how the anatomy of a woman’s pelvic region is affected by all of the muscles surrounding the bladder. 

So basically, in order to help my bladder relax, I had to understand that I had to help other pelvic floor muscles relax as well, to release the tension it was holding up against my bladder, does that make sense? 

And, when I began this treatment, I was on Elmiron. 

What actually made me consider not using Elmiron anymore, was 

1) my prescription needed to be refilled and my doc in LA wouldn't refill them anymore because I live in AZ, so I needed to ask a urologist in AZ to fill that prescription. 

2) I didn’t want to spend anymore money on Elmiron bc it was insanely expensive, like $1k/bottle

So, Dr. Sara actually suggested trying aloe vera pills, as an option. 

Aloe Vera is a natural acid buffer, so I gave it a shot!

6 months into taking aloe vera supplements and, OMG I’ve never felt better about not taking an actual drug for my bladder condition.

I could not believe the amount of relief and peace of mind this combination of therapy was giving me.

I tried so many things! 

From various herbal supplements, to different forms of  treatment, nothing was really really working.  

Years ago, probably mid-way into dealing with my pain, I did a series of acupuncture treatments and drank a very strong steeped herbal tea for a few months and actually went into remission.

Meaning, I was free from all symptoms and pain.

It worked, but my remission didn’t last long because I think I was so stressed at the time due to finding a stable job right after graduation from college; that I went back to having to alleviate my symptoms.

And we all know how stress can mess with our bodies...

BUT OMG It’s been a year and a half since I began seeing my physical therapist, and I cannot thank her and her assistant enough for everything they gave back to me;

My energy, my health, my preference for natural ways to alleviate the misery I have been enduring for ten years! 

I am so happy to say that I don’t need that drug anymore and my overall bladder health is so much better than where I was at initially!

It means so much to me that I don’t have to rely on a prescription drug! 

It may not matter to some people, but for me, it’s a HUGE deal! 

Because my body is already so sensitive to what goes IN it; I just want to be as holistic as possible.

My body is a temple. She deserves the absolute best; and cleanest care I am able to offer. 

I cannot begin to thank Dr. Sara, and her assistant, (whose name is also Sarah) how much they have helped me heal. 

So if you’re listening to this, Dr. Sara and PTA Sarah, I freaking love you two so much! 

Shout out to all the PT assistants that were there for me as well!

I am forever thankful and grateful AND feel like the luckiest patient in that clinic!

*rainstick*

Another annoying thing to have to deal with as I went into my 30th year of life was my jaw; specially, TMJ.. but I feel like that a whole ‘nother story in itself, so let’s save it for the next episode ;) 

I have so much more to share about it; and the supplements that I take for my entire health and wellness are also natural remedies that I’d like to get into detail with, 

So let's pause here and begin our oracle card reading for this episode!

But before I begin, I just want to mention that since I have been diagnosed with Interstitial Cystitis, 

I have only ever met 1 person who’s had this same medical condition as me.

And in the beginning of my diagnosis, I felt so alone, because no one could experience or understand what I was going through, internally. Physically speaking and mentally. 

It was really stressful going through this medical crisis all alone. 

I mean, I had my family and friends who knew I was going through a hard time, but no one really understood the stress and pain, irritability I was experiencing.

So if there’s anyone out there who has Interstitial Cystitis or has experienced any difficult, chronic medical condition and you’d like a support system, I’m here for you! Janny gotchu ;)

And let’s not forget to thank our body for ALL that it does for us! 

Give yourself a hug and a kiss! Learn to love yourself, and ALL parts of yourself.  

Be thankful you are alive & PAVE your way through life no matter what happens to you, or your body.

Alrighty, I’ll be using the same Chakra Insight Oracle Guidebook by Caryn Sangster

So, let’s clear our mind, relax our body. Take a deep breath *take a deep breath*

As I shuffle the cards, set an intention 

If you can, write it down to remind yourself of your intention.

Okay, here we go!

*reading*

If you liked what you’ve heard so far, please make sure to visit my website at https://janeration.buzzsprout.com where you can follow and subscribe to my podcast!

Don’t forget to also follow me on IG under @janeration.pod 

OR on FB at www.facebook.com/janny.nguyen

AND

If you’re feeling tipsy, please visit my donation link at pod.fan/janeration to show your support for Janeration!

Thank you again so much for listening in!

Stay tuned for my next episode! 

Talk to you all soon! 

Xoxo,

Janny 

BTW: Our last episode singing bowl sound was created with the crown chakra, so

For today’s episode, I will be starting over and using the root rchakra singing bowl. 

Please remember to lower your volume or end this podcast to omit the singing bowl sound if it's not for you.

*whisper* 

Here we go!

*singing bowl*