INSOMNIACS place to talk in the wee hours

sas-schatzi

BLue hoooooooo irritation. So, I know liver stuff is going on. But do you still have your gallbladder?

Referred pain to the shoulders is part of a differential diagnosis. Referred pain that only goes to the shoulders is part of the differential between heart pain and abdominal pain. Shoulder pain with all the regular heart stuff ruled out is b/c of irritation of the phrenic nerve on the underside of the diaphragm. Gallbladder should be considered a culprit, even if liver is a problem. Even if the GB is gone the common bile duct can be a problem for some post GB removal. Long story, but they're is a certain old drug that is helpful with that type of pain. The drug isn't used much anymore in this country, but can still be used by an ordering doctor. Most just have forgotten it. OR are too young to even know about it's use in Common bile duct post removal pain. Yes, it's that old. Hey, I'm old what can I say.

I'll await your reply.

sas-schatzi

LOverly, so right about dust bunnies. Environmental stuff can create havoc. My house is still in construction disheaval. The drywall dust for me is trouble. I was sensitized to chalk in the teaching days with chalk. Drywall and chalk have a common base. Donnie got drywall dust all over everything. Now mostly confined b/c of Di's good cleaning. But my closet......walls of clothes with the dust. I took out what we needed and made baskets in the other bedrooms. But there are clothes in there that have the dust on them. Di will have to help with getting things either washed or discarded. Di and I took a days cleaning of all the high boxes, but construction dust is months of cleaning per Di.

OH, was using the facilities in the construction bathroom and looked up. There are two water marks on the ceiling. New within a short time. Not sure when, but recent. So, means there's a roof leak until proven otherwise.

sas-schatzi

Jay and Tarenee, yes we talk about everything. Very mixed group here. From long term survivors to severe stage 4. Unusal. but we like what we have. It's almost like a relief from cancer thoughts, but when someone needs cancer help, well, folks jump in.

TaRenee

Jaymeb I’m in NC in a tiny town north of Raleigh. I went to grad school at UNCG so I’m familiar with Greensboro. And I had a few friends who lived in High Point. Some of them still do. I don’t get there often now. Work gets in the way lol.

Sas, I’m not seeing a lot of results with Effexor. Honestly, I’m not sure I’m going to keep taking it. My MO said give it 6 weeks. I’m going to talk to my BS tomorrow and ask her opinion on what helps. Ambien never worked well for me in the past so that is already out for me. I just want to sleep better. The hot flashes during the day I can deal with. The night sweats that wake me up are what is getting to me. It’s not every night. But it’s often enough to be a problem. Thank you for the link and the information. I’ve never been a big one for drugs. I’m just searching for answers now. I stay so tired

Wren44

My non-medical opinion is that after 6 weeks you'll have some problems getting off effexor. Be sure to do it slowly. I take trazodone to help me sleep. It's an old old antidepressant that's pretty useless for depression, but does help with sleep.

JunieB

Sas - Yep, No phone for now. I feel rather lost. The battery will NOT take a charge. Maybe I can replace that first, before actually buying a whole new phone. I filed my taxes today thinking my refund would be deposited by maybe the end of next week. That has been the pattern I've experienced over the last several years. However, at the end of my form as I clicked the e-file button I read a note saying that the IRS is not accepting forms until January 29th and mine wouldn't be accepted until the 31st. Yay! NOT! Oh well, it is what it is.

Loverly - You seriously could have held the camera a bit lower and kept me out of the pic totally. I looked awful!

The Orchid is gorgeous. You found that for only $5.99? I see them here at the stores and they are priced anywhere from $25.99 to $39.99. I watched a show yesterday on horticulture in Costa Rico. They showed how Orchids are somehow planted on the sides of certain trees and they thrive beautifully. I am lucky to keep my 4 houseplants alive though.

Kathindc - The next 8 days are going to feel like forever. While I understand that Kirby being at the trainer is a good thing, I can also see in my demeanor that not having Kirby with me is having a majorly negative effect on my mood. I find myself not being motivated to get much of anything done. I volunteered twice last week just to keep my brain busy. Kirby missed his January grooming, so he's going to be one shaggy little boy when he gets home, but he has an appt. on Feb. 1st.

On Friday I stopped by the store where I had my quilt up for sale. The quilt has been there for several months with no potential buyers, so I removed it and am now thinking I will donate it to a charity for a fund-raising raffle. Based on my experience I think quilts should be made mainly for gifts for loved ones, because most people don't realize how much time and expense goes into the making of a quilt and don't want to pay a fair price for it. I don't remember if I ever posted a pic of this one, so here it is.

Anyway, guess that is all for now. I guess I'll go find something productive to do. Later to all.

Beatmon

junieB: your quilt is beautiful. I treasure all of mine, made by my grandmother. Oh, how I used to fuss getting the quilting frames down every winter...I was just a kid of course.

Didn’t use my quilts for the longest time, but now I’ve decided to enjoy them

sas-schatzi

JUNIE 64 degree's haha.

Loverly, I so wish you were in the picture of Shep and I cuddling with Junie sitting there.

What was so unusual was. the weather was freezing. That's why we were so covered.

What Shep & I , multiple time's we called the "resort" was to make sure our rooms were next door to each other.

The walls were common, but you had to walk into an open air hallway then go into the next hall way. BUT THE ROOMS HAD A COMMON WALL. How were we to know that several, miles away or states away. Made visiting between the rooms miserable............

Another reason to get a cellphone ... I have no pictures.

I so loved the visit

sas-schatzi

TaRe, Please, reconsider Effexor. You have just started it , you can stop it with out repercussions. JUST like Wren said if you give it six weeks you will have problems coming off it. Doc's prescribe things b/c it supposdely fits the scenario. They don't have to live with the side effects of the drug.

sas-schatzi

Junie the quilt is beautiful. Talk to Smarrty about selling.

Beatmom Hmm the use of quilts. My Mom and first cousin had identical quilts from the early part of the 1900's. Mom used hers , Mary didn't. One was worn and a bit ragged, one perfect. Not sure what the right thing was.

I did , however, make a decision on china and glass. I observed that special glass and china(like linens) were put in cupboards. Rarely used. Then passed from Mother to Daughter. Then rarely used. Then styles changed. and the grands discarded these once thought valuable "things".

So, use your most precious possessions at every moment you can, that's why you love them.

I rescue glass.

I gave my neighbor a bowl that was from 1886. Her response was " Why would you do this".... I was teaching her how to love glass, I was teaching her about glass history, I was teaching her about USA history of glass.......We met during Irma.....She is a thrifter, but wasn't into glass. We talked about the thrifting mantra. I made her promise to keep it forever or make museum arrangements.

It caused her to see the value of something different than she knew.

kathindc

Sas, last year at Christmas DD2 had brought her boyfriend for dinner. I have Waterford, made in Ireland not the newer stuff and was told there is no resale value for it. Didn't buy it for resale value but for the beauty of it. Broke a flute years ago and couldn't get upset about it. The sound was glorious when it broke, LOL. Have several leaded glass bowls and a vase that belonged to my grandmother. My aunt tried guilting my mother to give them to her. My mom gave them to me so she could tell my aunt she didn't have them anymore then told me to hide them. Nope! put them in my china cabinet in full view. My aunt rarely came to my house.

feelingfeline

TaRenee my DH is from Charlotte.

jaymeb

JunieB

Beautiful quilt. I don't think many women quilt much anymore. My grandmother did, and I have many of her quilts. I'll pass them to my daughter, and hopefully, she'll do the same, and keep them for many generations. How long have you been quilting, and what got you interested in it?

jaymeb

kathindc

Thanks for walking me through how to post, although, I haven't mastered it. I'll get my daughter to show me, as I would love to post some great pics of our babies. This is the thread I've seen the most pics on it.

jaymeb

Blubird-De


I should know this, but what kind of bird is that you posted. What is your favorite animal? Sorry you were having pain last night. Did you get it under control? How are you feeling today? Your husband is right, I think you over did it as well. If it's ok to ask, what are fentanyl patches?

TaRenee

sas- I went to my BS today and everything went well. We talked about SE and what my issues are. She is not a fan of Effexor so we talked about doing something different. I have to slowly come off it since I’ve been on it about 5 weeks now. She wants me to try vitamins. Have you heard of or tried JuicePlus? It’s only available online. I stopped by the Vitamin Shoppe and got the knock off to try until I order it. She said she had a patient on arimidex who was having horrible SE and when she got on this vitamin regime they basically went away. Heck, I’ll try it! At least it won’t have SE to battle too. I hate taking meds in the first place. So... I’ll let you know how it goes

Anonymous

Have to read --- opps wait a sec --- had to water my pet fake lady bug, it just crawled out of my keycoard looking for the water drop. Anyways................ will rad all this later and use ipad to respond.

Quick one - the gall bladder is fine, had the contrast CT and the report on there was all clear. The left kidney has a fluid outside and a non-blocking stone inside. And adrenals has cysts or nodes on one side, I think same side as kidney.

Cleaning - so far I have only done drawers and baskets, no real dust since they are covered as drawers are and my baskets always have a cloth over the inside top. Dog dander would be my first to point at, he needs brushed thoroughly and I just cannot use my arm, it's looking bad and he smells like a goat lately. oh dear.

But I think the cough is from too cold air in house last week, when it started. Thursday I will request antibiotics from MO, phlegm was greenish this am. Weird is when I don't use right arm/shoulder then not coughing so much. Hubby rubs ankle or hand and I cough. Foot, no. Kisses me on top of head, cough. Kisses me on back of hand, no. We are journaling.

Gotta get these art supplies narrowed down.

Want to read everyone's stuff, so will be back later this evening.

Diane

jaymeb

TaRenee

Has the snow completely melted where you are? Ours is about gone, and having mild temperatures. I've been ready for spring and summer since November. Just don't like winters. I see you're taking Tamoxifen. I have off and on hot flashes as well. And, I'm getting night sweats. I even have a ceiling fan blowing at full speed over me, and a fan beside me!!!! Ugggg😂😂. I think I'm in menopause. Were you premenopausal at diagnosis? I was. If I'm not mistaken, I think tamoxifen is the only hormone therapy pill for premenopausal women. Might be wrong. I wish I could get off ambien, as I've built some tolerance to it. I've been taking it for 15 years, and some nights I take two!!!

Anonymous

TaRenee,

Wanted to jump in earlier but new pup has me all discombobulated more than usual. Agh.....

Effexor did not do a thing for me either - gonna cheat and plagiarize myself from a post a few years back when I was on Tamoxifen and then Femara. Tamoxifen put me in early menopause. I am not on hormone therapy anymore - Xeloda only. Antioxidants can interfere with some chemos, thus I no longer can take Peridin-C. Sure worked swell though; wish I could still take it.

" I hate hot flashes! When I was on the Tamoxifen I was getting up several times a night to change clothes and-bedding. Ugh. I think it was a year before I learned about Peridin-C. All natural and recommended by the National Cancer Institute. It made a big difference! Bonus....the mega doses of C are supposed inhibit cancer cells and it is really good for your hair. The hot flashes aren't as bad on Femara but I still take the Peridin-C.

Peridin-C on Amazon.com - best price and good reviews"

TaRenee

Jaymeb yes, the snow is just about gone. Kinda sad looking now. But I was glad to get back to work today. lol ask me tomorrow. We get all new classes for 2nd semester tomorrow then we have testing Thursday and Friday. I’m sure tomorrow I’ll be ready for a new snowstorm!

I was/am premenopausal at dx (and still am). Funny story. (Not really but it was an Ah-Ha moment for us all). I had been cycling every two weeks. I started every other Monday. It was awful. I got anemic and was having fatigue issues. Went to the doctor. We ALL thought it was an ovary/uterus problem. Nope. US came back normal. Blood work had everything normal. (White blood count was a bit off once but not the next time) I was talking to family about how they cycled as they got to be my age (45 at the time) and we couldn’t figure out anything. Stress. Or family history. Fast forward to last year. Found the lump, had biopsy (which came back clean... thank goodness my BS had a bad feeling about it) then lumpectomy and oh my goodness it IS cancer. Yeah. That was a heck of a way to come out of anesthesia. But I kinda knew somehow. So we do testing. Tumor isn’t 95% or higher for ER/PR. Neg for HER2 Apparently we were looking in the wrong place a few years. (Dx at 47 and am now 48).

Shep, I may have to look into that. Where would I find it? I teach so anything which helps the immune system is good for me.

I’m gonna TRY to go to sleep now. I’m tired from the stress of the day. Good night all.

kathindc

Jaymeb, here's the link to Cats, cats, cats. I think you'll enjoy it.

https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/156/topics/834322?page=107#idx_3191

My older laptop takes longer to load photos. Does anybody see a problem with the directions I gave Jaymbebb?

jaymeb

kathindc

Trust me, it's not you. You explained crystal clear. When it comes to anything with technology, I draw a blank. Here I have a IPhone 7, and an IPad Air 2, and don't know most of what it does!!!!! I should have a flip phone like my 72 year old mom. I just learned to text five years ago at 43!!!! Don't know how to use a GPS. Reece, my daughter, does all of this. She has no patience to show me. Thanks for your help.

jaymeb

kathindc

Thank's for sending me that link. I'm looking through the cats thread now. On page 5. I want to see all these adorable cats. These are some of the best cat pics I've seen. I see already quite a few ladies in this thread have posted pics. What a fun thread👍👍👍🐈🐈🐈

kathindc

Jaymeb, my husband doesn't like technology. When I worked I was on both a Mac and a PC in one of the offices I worked in. Now I must say, I'm still on an iPhone 4 and that was because our old carrier was not going to support analog phones anymore 😒. Too cheap to buy a new one but the battery isn't holding a charge so I'm going to have to bite a bullet and get either a new battery or phone. A while back, I got the message to upgrade the phone, so I did. My husband has the same one. Asked DD2 if she thought I should upgrade his knowing full well what her answer would be. Yup I got the eye roll with, "No don't. He won't know what to do with it." I laughed because she knows him too well. The joke with my daughters is that he needs the Jitterbug phone.

I get frustrated with the car's GPS. Doesn't always like to give the most direct route. So until I'm to the point where I actually need it, it keeps telling me that it's recalculating. I'll probably give it a nervous breakdown. 😃

kathindc

Junie, I'm shocked that your quilt didn't sell. It's beautiful. Love the colors. You're so talented.

JunieB

Beatmom & Sas - Thank you!

jaymeb - I didn't start quilting until after I moved to the Northwest in 2006. The quilt pictured was my third one. I had done one for a person I thought was a friend, one crib quilt I sold at a loss and this blue/red one. Until I moved here I didn't think many people quilted anymore either, however here, the mid-west and northeast there are many many quilters, and many different styles of quilting. Next to Kirby, fabric is my greatest weakness. I mostly do purses, diaper bags, other baby items, aprons, and now walker carrier bags. I didn't grow up with any extended family, but my mother made many of mine and her clothes, but never quilting. I just think they are beautiful. It is my hope to be able to make one for my sister now that I know I have one.

Sas - The weather has taken a major dip in temp here. Our high today was 50 degrees for a short time and we are getting hit with a major soaker tomorrow. But that is better than what they're having in the mid-west. The news said tonight that there is an area in one state (I forget which one) that has 70 miles of snow & ice on their freeways, with many cars abandoned on the roadside. Yikes! I am grateful to be where I am.

Shep - Sorry, I almost forgot to tell you how beautiful the pic of you & Marty when she was a puppy is. I could see she adored you even then.

Also, one of my friends DH emailed this pic because they have 2 very spoiled chocolate labs that they adore too. The pic is not one of their dogs though, just a funny pic that I hope you all enjoy.

Ok, I'll say goodnight for now. I hope you all have a great night.

kathindc

Shep, you got the pup!!!!

sas-schatzi

Junie, The tax filing thing probably have to do with the new tax plan.

Kathindc, so glad your mom gave you the glass. Your aunt probably already had pieces from her mom. What pattern is your Waterford. I agree it's the beauty versus resale. Love it when the table looks elegant. The feel of a fine piece of glass in your hand is very nice. The wexford Anchor Hocking is the everyday stuff. It's tough. Can go through the dishwasher with no worries. But it isn't elegant. When I feel certain way I always find an elegant glass to drink from.

Not sure why he would say no resale value. I'd comeback at him if he ever says something like that again. There is resale value for anything, it just takes a bit of work. Checkout "First Dibs". Nice stuff I found another site that if it pops up again I will try and send the link. Plus, think Ebay, Etsy, Laurel Farms, replacements.com, classicreplacements.com, countless others. Why auctions, if things have no resale value.

You could use the example of a car. It loses a significant value when it's driven off the lot. Even when it's a used car. Do you not buy the car? Rare cars increase in value i.e Rolls-Royce, Lamborgini, but who buys those Hahaha.

Plus, there are different values. Again, the beauty which is an intrinsic value. investment value, tax value, market value etc. If he spends his life only looking at one type of value, he will miss enjoying a lot of things.

sas-schatzi

TaRe, ohhh 5 weeks, I thought you said you'd been on it for only a week. Might take another 5 weeks to get off of.

Two ways to wean, one learned from the ladies on the Hot Flash Forum. Effexor is a capsule with little pellets. Many there counted pellets You were either on the 150 dose or 75 dose. Seems there is a 37.5 dose. At the 37.5 dose is when they started counting pellets.

Second way, My counselor used this method for his patients. Locate a compounding pharmacy. Medicine Shoppe is a fairly extended compounding pharmacy. They can reduce the dose per doc order. Then when you get to the lowest dose that they can recapsule switch to prozaac. It is available in 5mg increments and can be reduced by 2.5 mg per dose.

Sounds like a lot of work, but over the long haul, it will allow you to not experience the side effects.

Let us know how the Vitamin Juice plus works for you. For me, pain is way way better than it used to be.

I think it was Wren that suggested melatonin or maybe Blue. We had some research here awhile back that showed that it helped with sleep and pain and recurrence of cancer. Of course, I forget where it is now. Sure wish I'd reposted it to Pain and Other Things. (maybe I did and forgot)

If taken for cancer prevention of recurrence should be in the 10-30 mg range. I'll see if I can find it. My personal experience was 20mg was to much. I take the 10mg dose.

70charger

Sas-schatzi what is the name of the old drug that works well after GB removal for pain? Does it work for the spasms as well? My daughter is always doubled over with her pain , pressure & spasms. Completely disabled her for the last 7 years now. thxs Fran