MIDDLE-AGED WOMEN 40-60ish

cmbear

So happy I found this thread! I was DX June 11, this week is week 11 of 12 of weekly taxol, then 4 DD of AC, ending the week of Christmas. What a great Christmas present!! Surgery is at the end of January and then radiation.

My dreams have been very vivid in the past few months since DX, that is W'HEN I get to sleep!! My Onc started me on Neurontin to help with neuropathy, and it's supposed to make me sleepy, but it hasn't helped me sleep. i miss my sleep!! But then again, I haven't really slept well for the past few years--the twice a night pee break is so fun!! What has been your best non-medication lack of sleep remedy?

Other suggestions--I need comfortable shoes for work. I work retail and am on my feet non-stop for 8 hours. It is so hard to find shoes that give support but look stylish. Ok, well I am ready to give up on stylish-- I really need comfort now. Any suggestions? 

barbe1958

Meece, I described the feeling of being paralyzed and hearing a rushing sound in my head and having trouble getting concious again. He was smart enough to have my heart checked. I was only 21 at the time! I have a bum valve.

elimar86861

The dreams are interesting, and the symbolism definitely seems to tie in with B/C ('except Barbe, but that rushing sound could have been blood flow, woosh...woosh.)  I don't think I had any B/C dreams, or maybe I'm just not remembering them.  For me, the dreams most vivid and easy to remember usually have people that I have known in the past.  My conscious knows I am very unlikely to ever see them again, but my subconscious must miss them.  If the actual people knew that I was still recalling them, they would probably be surprised to have left such a long lasting impression.

Hi cmblastic, and welcome to our world!   A nice soak in a warm bath is just as effective as a muscle relaxer for falling asleep. and if you throw in some magnesium salts (Espom Salts) it's more potent; tho' sometimes that effect only seems to make it through half the night for me.  That means I'm on the couch at 3 a.m. watching Law & Order.  If I take some melatonin along with the bathing, my chances to stay asleep are better.  

Meece

Elimar, they have lavendar scented epsom salts which also help to ease the end of the day stress.

Barbe, I don't have the rushing sound, but I have MVP since my early 20s and also have another heart condition.  In that case, When I do wake up, my heart is pumping very fast and hard.  The heart condition didn't come extremely noticibly until after chemo.  I mentioned how it had increased and MY GP immediately sent me to a cardiologist.

marlegal

cmblastic, welcome to the thread - it's a great one for sure.  wait till you attend your first party here!!  shoes - I'm a big fan of Naturalizers for comfort and true to size, and they've upped their style over the years too.  They're not cheap, but cheap doesn't work with my feet!  As for sleep issues, do you use a sound machine?  I find I sleep better if I'm lulled to sleep by ocean sounds, and when I inevitably wake up in the middle of the night, it's easier for me to return to sleep if I'm listening to that instead of listening to snoring and house creaks and street noises.  Good luck.

marlegal

I can't believe I finally caved.  I've been coming to this thread for months now and I was always able to ignore the cutesy little Cheetos pics and soldier on.  And then it happened.  I didn't go food shopping yesterday so had to buy my lunch today.  Got one of my favorites ... grilled chicken on pita with tziki (?) sauce, lettuce, tomato ... nothing too unhealthy.  An hour later, I wanted just a little something (I usually bring healthy snacks from home).  So I go over to our vending machine and yup ... you guessed it ... there they were, calling to me.  I confess I have no wilpower at all - zip - nada - gone.  Boy are they good though

 

Meece

Has anyone else seen the "Chester's \" Line of hot Cheetoes?  I thought the flamin' hot ones were just the same.  Are they?  I mean aren't Cheetos Puffed Corn?

raeinnz

lol Mary - just as well the vending machines only carry small bags!!  I have trouble with my will power since dx too.  Used to be able to resist food no problem but now I think "what the heck" far to often.

elimar86861

marlegal, resistance is futile.  It's o.k. to indulge your Cheetos craving once in a while.

                                                      

                                                     Hyuk, hyuk, hyuk!

                                              

BarbaraA

Elimar-you SLAY me!!!

elimar86861

meece, those look heavenly.  I wonder if they are lower in calories than Cheetos (and they might be a little healthier 'cause they are baked.  (I know regular Cheetos has a baked curl, but I always go for the "quick fried to a crackly crunch" ones.  I will have to try those if store has them.)

I think even the non-cat lovers on here can make the exception for the Big Cat:  Chester!!!

Meece

I saw them for the first time this past Saturday at a mini-market.  We'll have to develop a review team.

Kleenex

I am SO volunteering for the review team! Right up my alley. My cheese-coated alley.

Frito Pie might be the state snack of Texas...

Carrol2

elimar do I detect a trek fan? resistance is futile? lol I feel part borg with this port in me.

Valjean

And, the best thing about that adorable Big Cat, Chester, is that he does not shed !!!! 

Munch, munch! Oops, got some cheese on the keyboard. Darn it!

elimar86861

Carrol2, My frames of reference often come from non-Earthly things (and yes, I may have watched an season or seven of Star Trek:TNG.)  I'm sure that having a Borg-port in right now lets you tap into the collective mind so that you already know that.

P-Mom, I am having sympathy back pains right along with you.  (Not exactly, I have been moving furniture around quite a bit as I reclaim a bedroom now vacated by older boy.)   I don't need an epidural* like you are getting, but a massage on Weds. might be just what I need.  Hope the nerve block puts an end to all those ER visits, you poor thing!  

(*only needed those whilst birthing my two hellions.)

Meece

I went natural with all my birthing experiences, so I have no experience with epidurals, other than I really would have liked to have the option. 

If you are in so much pain, i can imagine you wouldn't want anyone kneading your back no matter how good the masseuse, however, wasn't pain free massage one of the attributes of Girard?

chrissyb

Had two of my kids natural but the third was emergency C section.  I had the epidural when I had my knees arthroscoped so I could watch what the surgeon was doing.....oh what fun, no pain and an interesting show on the tele....lol.

raeinnz

I had epidurals with both my pregnancies and they were sanity savers.  My twin labour was induced because I was 3 days overdue  ( I was huge - couldn't drive because I couldn't reach the pedals if the seat was far enough back to fit my belly in) and the back pain was unbelievable - later had an emergency C section so it was good the epidural was in place to save having a GA.  Awake the whole time and no pain.  Epidural and C section for my second pregnancy too although it started naturally.  Both babies turned posterior at the last moment hence the agonising back pain - very annoying.  

mumito

Raeinnz The book is just as good as the pillars, but very long I am still not quite finished it. Our novels here are usually more expensive but I bought this one at Costco. Marle welcome to the cheetos club.The mexican cheetos have chilie powder added.Yum.

Meece

I have a mystery.

Beginning yesterday, I started getting emails any time someone made a post on this thread. This is the only thread I get the email notifications for.  I have searched for something I may have hit yesterday morning to start this ball rolling, but am stumped.You can imagine how fast my in box could fill up.  Does anyone know what I did?

BarbaraA

Meece, under your favorite topics, there is an on/off switch that says add email notification. This is on the far left under the topic.

PauldingMom

I just can not wait until tomorrow.   I had three natural child births and although painful at least you get a sweet baby in the end. This back/leg pain is so constant it's really wearing on our nerves. 
I need me some CHEETOOS but I can't drive:( any one want to Fed Ex me a bag??

elimar86861

Take two (snack bags) Cheetos and call me in the morning.  Dr's orders...Dr. Pepper, that is.

Meece

Thanks Barbara, I was looking in preferences and elsewhere.  I must have hit that when I was trying to open the thread.  You can imagine what my inbox looked like last night!

suzwes

Good luck tomorrow Paulding.  I hope you get some relief.  Elimar, do you think the two cheetos will help with my UTI?  I have the first one I've ever had and it's not fun.  Maybe I'll try the cheetos remedy along with all of the cranberry juice, orange juice and water I've been drinking!

There was no epidural option with my first three babies (in 1980, 82 and 84) but by 1991, for number 4 they had that option.  It was wonderful!!!  Long live the epidural.

suzwes

Good luck tomorrow Paulding.  I hope you get some relief.  Elimar, do you think the two cheetos will help with my UTI?  I have the first one I've ever had and it's not fun.  Maybe I'll try the cheetos remedy along with all of the cranberry juice, orange juice and water I've been drinking!

There was no epidural option with my first three babies (in 1980, 82 and 84) but by 1991, for number 4 they had that option.  It was wonderful!!!  Long live the epidural.

elimar86861

suzwes, the cranberry juice might do the trick.  Don't drink O.J....it's irritating.  Also, get some Azo Standard from a drug store.  It relieves the discomfort of a UTI and turns your pee a lovely rusty orange.  BUT, if you try that for a couple days and it's still irritating you (while not taking Azo) then you might have to do a round of antibiotics. 

You can take two Cheetos, but only as a comfort food for this.  

suzwes

Thanks Elimar.  I have both AZO standard and AZO cranberry.  My PA told me to do the OJ too cause the acidity may help get rid of the bug - and also to take Vit C.  So far so good.  I remembered the orange pee from when I did clinical nursing so that was good because if I hadn't remembered I would have feaked!!  So happy pyridium is OTC.   Actually, I'll probably avoid the cheetos cause I'm having too many calories from the juice!  Oh well, the UTI is about the least of my problems in the last few years!

Thanks for the advice Dr. Elimar Pepper, it is appreciated!

Meece

There is also an OT product called Cystex, which helps.  Never fails the UTI come on late on Friday evenings and you have to go through the weekend feeling miserable.