MIDDLE-AGED WOMEN 40-60ish

Kitty - hope you feel better soon - ((hugs))

**kitty**

Kitty,

Just be kind to yourself. I get that way when I get too tired too. Do what you can to get plenty of rest, and remember that it does get better. :::gentle hugs:::

eli , why does your s take 3 hours?   had mine yesterday now have to schedule a breast mri ,and see the mo on fri. busy week. kitty feel better

elimar, that looks like a Canadian dumpster until I say the yard notation. Intersting....you have Waste Management on your planet?

Lee Ann,

I'm sorry to hear that your chemopause is getting the better of you. My MO gave me an Rx for Neurontin when it was really bothering me (for the hot flashes), but I never started it...decided the SE's weren't worth it (yet). And it takes a few weeks to build up in your system too, from what I understand. 

I would reiterate what other's said about the towel...when I had little hair, I slept on a hand towel...make it a soft one, too. 

I have a quiet little desk fan that I keep on my night stand. It keeps air moving on me without chilling out DH too much. 

You might want to talk to your MO about an Rx for a sleep aid. Mine wasn't wild about it, so told me to take Benedryl. Eh...it works sometimes. Sometimes I use OTC sleep aids. While I was chemo, I had a low dose Vicodin for my neuropathy that helped too. 

You'll get through it, and it should ease back a bit after you are done with the infusions. (Not sure how old you are...)

Hang in there!

I posted the following in a different thread, then realized I wanted to share my thoughts here as well. So just skip it if you've read it before!

I tried an experiment today. Standing next to the bathroom counter, I pushed down with my hands and tried to lift my weight up off the floor. My left side felt strong and competent; my right side (the UMX side) said NO. My damn pectoral muscles were cut, don't I know that? But still I tried, wanted to test my strength. I used to be strong, ya know? So I tried it. Again. A third time. By then I was in tears, the disappointment of my body failing me worse than the pain in my chest and shoulder. But I had to try it, I HAD to.

I think I remember the PS saying my strength would never really be the same as it used to be, but I think I chose to ignore that. I wasn't always strong, nor physically fit. I grew up a last-picked kid in gym class, then once I was out of college I remade myself. I learned how to lift weights, how to breathe while running, how to be an athlete... well at least the best version of an athlete that my body would allow. And now? Well, I've had injuries and surgeries before, and I got strong again. But this time, I'm not sure... I guess I'll have to do the experiment again in a few weeks.

Thanks for listening, ladies. I just needed to get that off my chest (ha!).

Eli, Barbe and Marthah: Thank you so much for the suggestions. I am totally going to do the towel thing tonight...that sounds brilliant. I also have this terrible fear of running outside at night if there is a fire while I sleep ( not sure why) so I can't bring myself to do the nude thing...but underwear and a tank are sounding good. I will look for the chillow (sounds funny) and I just had my DH dig the fan out. Hopefully tonight will be a better night and if not, my family can just wear lots of sweaters and things over the next couple of weeks. You ladies are the best!

Kitty: So get the feeling down issue. Thankfully everyone is always supportive and understanding so vent away. Warm hugs and thoughts coming at you. 

Just a little something for everybody to have a good laugh over. Or, roll their eyes at.

When I was much younger, when my girls were little & stayed with a sitter, my cousin, myself & our DH's would go over to Michigan State University after the college kids went home after spring term & we would go through the dumpsters on campus. Yep, you read right.

It was fun! You would not believe the good stuff they throw away! Great lamps, filing cabinets, dishes, alarm clocks, sweatshirts, pens, tablets, books.... it was amazing. We wore cruddy clothes & shoes, packed a lunch (yes, we had sanitary wipes to wash with!) & then went back for more. We'd spend hours doing that and we were not the only ones. My DH & I would stay overnight at my cousin's house & do the same thing on Sunday. We always went home with lots of good loot!!!!!

Oh, the crazy things we did when we were young ........

E ~~ Good news on your MO visit.

Valjean I woulda been right there with ya.  No point in letting the good stuff go to the dump.  Yes its crazy what they throw away.  But now heres the really sad part, I would so do it still.  I am a junker at heart.  I love it.

My chemopause was not to bad.  The Tammo is what put me over the edge.  I even take Effexer and it does help.  Some days they arent to bad, but other days they are a nightmare even with it. I dont have the night sweats as bad as I use to so thats a bonus.  I know they can be a bugger.  

I did go ahead and use ambien for a sleep aid.  I found that when I woke up drenched in sweat and was so hot that I couldnt get back to sleep it helpped me get back to sleep.  Normaly if I sleep for just a short while its like a nap then I was up for hours so this helps that.  Just make for sure you take it and do give yourself plenty of time to sleep it off.  I found this out the hard way too.