I've noticed that I've been getting some visitors checking out my tip for WIRY EYEBROWS.
I've had good results using hair conditioner to soften mine. If you have tried it, what are YOUR results?
I also 'trim' the bushy brows weekly and to fill in the 'sparse' brows I use a small angled brush and apply brown eyeshadow ( I try to match my own brows) carefully ....you don't want to look like a clown. :/
Monday, September 12, 2016
NEGATIVE RESULTS
I am relieved to report that the pathology report on my endometrial biopsy was negative and I won't be needing a hysterectomy.
Sunday, July 31, 2016
DILATION & CURETTAGE (D&C)
I had my D&C procedure on Thursday. I had one benign polyp which was removed and now I'm just waiting for the results on the endometrial biopsy. I was told it would be approx. 2 weeks.
Post procedure, I had light cramping and bled for one day.
Post procedure, I had light cramping and bled for one day.
Thursday, June 30, 2016
RESULTS OF ULTRASOUNDS
I had the pelvic and vaginal ultrasounds done this morning. The tech said I should have results by middle of next week. Two hours after I got home my GYN's office calls me and says they have the results. Already? Eeek. That made me nervous. Apparently it's nothing that requires emergency 'service'. There were no polyps or fibroids detected. However, the uterine lining for a woman of my age ( 63 ) should be 5mm or less and mine is 10mm, doubled. That doesn't sound good. I go back to the GYN this coming Wednesday and and I have to have ANOTHER exam ( my 3rd in less than a week) and a discussion about a D & C (dilation and curettage) which will require an outpatient visit to the hospital. I will be anesthetized and dilated to open up my cervix and the endometrium lining will be scraped for that biopsy they weren't able to complete yesterday.
I was hoping to be able to schedule the D & C before we leave for our 2 week family beach vacation, but was told the 'turnaround' was too soon. Hopefully when we get home then. Two weeks after that my husband and I are planning a 2 week trip to California which we've both really been looking forward to. I pray we won't have to cancel. But it is what it is and my health has to come first.
I'm thinking that regardless of whether there are cancerous cells or not, there is a hysterectomy in my near future. No, my doctor never told me that, but like I said, I read too much. :/
I was hoping to be able to schedule the D & C before we leave for our 2 week family beach vacation, but was told the 'turnaround' was too soon. Hopefully when we get home then. Two weeks after that my husband and I are planning a 2 week trip to California which we've both really been looking forward to. I pray we won't have to cancel. But it is what it is and my health has to come first.
I'm thinking that regardless of whether there are cancerous cells or not, there is a hysterectomy in my near future. No, my doctor never told me that, but like I said, I read too much. :/
Wednesday, June 29, 2016
A POST-MENOPAUSAL BITE IN THE BUTT
It's been a VERY long time since I've had anything to say/write regarding my post-menopausal journey. Things were going pretty smoothly. My 'Menopausal Monster aka Mrs. Hyde' has been dormant. I've not had a period for 11 YEARS and my hot flashes are gone, although I still do not like to be overly warm.
Every summer the family goes on a two week beach vacation to the Wildwoods in New Jersey. Last week my three daughters and 16 year old grand daughter were discussing their cycles, I'm going to start our first week, I'll be done before we get there, I start our second week, me too.....and I pipe in with "I'm soooooo glad I don't have to worry about those any longer" BOO Mom, BOO Gramma. I awoke Sunday morning with an urgency to use the bathroom. To my utter surprise there was blood in my underwear. To my utter HORROR there was bright red blood in the toilet. A lot of it. My very first thought was there was blood in my urine. Is it a kidney stone? A urinary tract infection? I wasn't in any pain. No burning sensations. I cleaned myself up and put on clean underwear. I got on the computer and looked up symptoms for kidney stones and most everything I read said if you did see blood, it was light pink, and sometimes the blood can only be detected through a laboratory test of the urine. Everyone who has had kidney stones say they are in extreme pain. I ruled that out. I just didn't feel like I had a urinary infection. When I had to use the toilet again, there was more blood in my underwear and in the toilet along with a few small clots. Now I'm getting worried. My husband was at the flea market and I called him to ask if he'd stop at the store and pick me up some panty liners. I determined I was 'having a period' and how in the H*LL could THAT be after 11 years being post-menopausal? I'm one of those people who just have to go online and start searching for possible answers. I don't try to diagnose myself, I'm not a doctor or nurse. However I don't want to stay in the dark and want to try to understand what 'could' be going on. I search for post-menopausal bleeding and of course they all say it is NOT normal and to see your doctor as soon as possible. I planned to. The worst possible scenario of course is cancer. A thin uterine lining that is shedding cells might mean you need some Estrogen. Polyps and fibroids can cause bleeding. Those are most often benign and can be removed.
Since I wasn't hemorrhaging I opted not to go to the ER. I sat down and sent an email to my Dr.'s office explaining what was going on, in the hopes she would see it first thing in the morning and call me. She did. She worked me into her schedule and did an internal exam and a pelvic exam. She concurred there was a lot of blood in my uterus. She wanted me to see a GYN and have some ultra sounds done. She was trying to get me seen the same day but that just wasn't working out. I had to wait 2 more days ( today ) for my GYN appt.
In the meantime I continued to do some research. Something caught my eye CAN YOU GO THROUGH MENOPAUSE TWICE? Oh Dear Lord, please tell me this isn't so. I read several different articles/forum questions and replies and I rightfully or wrongfully came to the conclusion that the ladies who were worried may have been going through peri-menopause the first time around ( they had been in their 40's at the time and were now in their early 50's and experiencing hot flashes, mood swings but not once did I read where their periods had stopped for at least one year. I was in my late 40's when I went through peri-menopause. When I was about 49 or 50 I had stopped having them for 6 months and was elated, only 6 more months to go. Then I had one, and another and another. At one point I had gone 11 months without one....and then BINGO, got one. I was 52 before I finally completed my FIRST FULL YEAR and to my pure happiness another 10 years went by.
Until now.
When I went to bed last night, there was no blood on my panty liner or in the toilet. None throughout the night and none this morning. Hubby said "do you want to cancel your appt."? NO I replied, even though I'm not bleeding right now, I did for 3 days and that simply isn't normal at 63 years of age!
So this morning I had another internal exam and another pelvic exam. The vaginal speculum was inserted and after a few seconds my body LITERALLY SPIT IT OUT onto the floor. I am not kidding. The Dr. was floored, said she had never seen that happen. It was inserted correctly and I was relaxed ( as relaxed as you can be when a total stranger is peeking inside your most private parts). I promised her 'I' did not spit it out ( but I can't speak for Mrs. Hyde). Her assistant got another speculum and this time it stayed put. Now the Dr. was explaining that she was going to insert a straw like tube into my uterus and lightly scrape the lining. The tube would suck up the loose endometrial lining and that would be sent to the lab for biopsy. She explained it would be uncomfortable, that I'd feel some cramping. It was, I did. But what I was feeling was mostly probing because the tube would NOT go in. She asked her assistant for a thinner tube, one that has a little point on the end to make it easier to poke and enter. She was once again flabberghasted, as it just kept bending backward, it would not penetrate. Now I'm thinking Mrs. Hyde was surely brought out of her dormant state and she was having none of these alien things poking into our body cavities. To the Dr.'s dismay she had to forego the endometrial biopsy 'for now'. She said a number of times she's never had this happen to her. Naturally I couldn't explain about Mrs. Hyde, she would have made me an appt. with a Psychiatrist. I swear I heard giggling somewhere in my nether region. I'm quite upset with Mrs. Hyde, as I really want answers to why I'm bleeding. I don't need her interference.
So now tomorrow morning I'm scheduled for two ultra sounds, one is a pelvic and the other a vaginal. These will be measuring my uterine lining and searching for polyps and/or fibroids.
Please say a prayer that Mrs. Hyde behaves herself and sleeps through it all. I want this problem FIXED ASAP.
It may take up to 10 days for results. :/
Every summer the family goes on a two week beach vacation to the Wildwoods in New Jersey. Last week my three daughters and 16 year old grand daughter were discussing their cycles, I'm going to start our first week, I'll be done before we get there, I start our second week, me too.....and I pipe in with "I'm soooooo glad I don't have to worry about those any longer" BOO Mom, BOO Gramma. I awoke Sunday morning with an urgency to use the bathroom. To my utter surprise there was blood in my underwear. To my utter HORROR there was bright red blood in the toilet. A lot of it. My very first thought was there was blood in my urine. Is it a kidney stone? A urinary tract infection? I wasn't in any pain. No burning sensations. I cleaned myself up and put on clean underwear. I got on the computer and looked up symptoms for kidney stones and most everything I read said if you did see blood, it was light pink, and sometimes the blood can only be detected through a laboratory test of the urine. Everyone who has had kidney stones say they are in extreme pain. I ruled that out. I just didn't feel like I had a urinary infection. When I had to use the toilet again, there was more blood in my underwear and in the toilet along with a few small clots. Now I'm getting worried. My husband was at the flea market and I called him to ask if he'd stop at the store and pick me up some panty liners. I determined I was 'having a period' and how in the H*LL could THAT be after 11 years being post-menopausal? I'm one of those people who just have to go online and start searching for possible answers. I don't try to diagnose myself, I'm not a doctor or nurse. However I don't want to stay in the dark and want to try to understand what 'could' be going on. I search for post-menopausal bleeding and of course they all say it is NOT normal and to see your doctor as soon as possible. I planned to. The worst possible scenario of course is cancer. A thin uterine lining that is shedding cells might mean you need some Estrogen. Polyps and fibroids can cause bleeding. Those are most often benign and can be removed.
Since I wasn't hemorrhaging I opted not to go to the ER. I sat down and sent an email to my Dr.'s office explaining what was going on, in the hopes she would see it first thing in the morning and call me. She did. She worked me into her schedule and did an internal exam and a pelvic exam. She concurred there was a lot of blood in my uterus. She wanted me to see a GYN and have some ultra sounds done. She was trying to get me seen the same day but that just wasn't working out. I had to wait 2 more days ( today ) for my GYN appt.
In the meantime I continued to do some research. Something caught my eye CAN YOU GO THROUGH MENOPAUSE TWICE? Oh Dear Lord, please tell me this isn't so. I read several different articles/forum questions and replies and I rightfully or wrongfully came to the conclusion that the ladies who were worried may have been going through peri-menopause the first time around ( they had been in their 40's at the time and were now in their early 50's and experiencing hot flashes, mood swings but not once did I read where their periods had stopped for at least one year. I was in my late 40's when I went through peri-menopause. When I was about 49 or 50 I had stopped having them for 6 months and was elated, only 6 more months to go. Then I had one, and another and another. At one point I had gone 11 months without one....and then BINGO, got one. I was 52 before I finally completed my FIRST FULL YEAR and to my pure happiness another 10 years went by.
Until now.
When I went to bed last night, there was no blood on my panty liner or in the toilet. None throughout the night and none this morning. Hubby said "do you want to cancel your appt."? NO I replied, even though I'm not bleeding right now, I did for 3 days and that simply isn't normal at 63 years of age!
So this morning I had another internal exam and another pelvic exam. The vaginal speculum was inserted and after a few seconds my body LITERALLY SPIT IT OUT onto the floor. I am not kidding. The Dr. was floored, said she had never seen that happen. It was inserted correctly and I was relaxed ( as relaxed as you can be when a total stranger is peeking inside your most private parts). I promised her 'I' did not spit it out ( but I can't speak for Mrs. Hyde). Her assistant got another speculum and this time it stayed put. Now the Dr. was explaining that she was going to insert a straw like tube into my uterus and lightly scrape the lining. The tube would suck up the loose endometrial lining and that would be sent to the lab for biopsy. She explained it would be uncomfortable, that I'd feel some cramping. It was, I did. But what I was feeling was mostly probing because the tube would NOT go in. She asked her assistant for a thinner tube, one that has a little point on the end to make it easier to poke and enter. She was once again flabberghasted, as it just kept bending backward, it would not penetrate. Now I'm thinking Mrs. Hyde was surely brought out of her dormant state and she was having none of these alien things poking into our body cavities. To the Dr.'s dismay she had to forego the endometrial biopsy 'for now'. She said a number of times she's never had this happen to her. Naturally I couldn't explain about Mrs. Hyde, she would have made me an appt. with a Psychiatrist. I swear I heard giggling somewhere in my nether region. I'm quite upset with Mrs. Hyde, as I really want answers to why I'm bleeding. I don't need her interference.
So now tomorrow morning I'm scheduled for two ultra sounds, one is a pelvic and the other a vaginal. These will be measuring my uterine lining and searching for polyps and/or fibroids.
Please say a prayer that Mrs. Hyde behaves herself and sleeps through it all. I want this problem FIXED ASAP.
It may take up to 10 days for results. :/
Thursday, January 23, 2014
I'm Still Around
I don't post often on here anymore since I'm now POST menopausal and no longer suffer through hot flashes although I still HATE to be HOT or overly warm. I don't wear sweatshirts or sweaters in the winter because...they make me too hot. I stick to short sleeve tops and occasionally will wear a sleeveless top around the house. Heat is never turned up above 68 degrees, even when it's in the single digits here.
I turned 61 in December. I was about 47 when diagnosed with peri-menopause, 52 when my periods finally stopped (HALLELUJAH!) Hard to believe I started this blog/diary nearly 6 years ago. Not much has changed. Mrs. Hyde has permanently integrated herself. She is me, I am her. We're both still 'overweight' and since diagnosed with diabetes in November 2013 we are more conscious of what we are eating and watching those carbs. Lost 11 lbs since November and we're at a plateau already. I have 80 more to go. Once the weather warms up a bit, I think I'll take us for a walk and start getting some exercise in. In the early Fall when walking I would experience an ice cold feeling in my chest. Reported it to my cardiologist who was thinking 'angina' and had me take a stress test. Apparently I passed it ( although while taking it, I thought I would literally pass out and wondered if I would die). Since I've not been out walking in this frigid winter weather, I really don't know if the pain will start up again. Of course it doesn't happen when I'm walking around the house or in a store, because I'm not exerting myself. We'll see what happens when I get back out there. Hopefully soon.
I'm finally used to my CPAP machine. I wear the mask all night long now. For quite a while I could only manage 4 hours a night. I'm still not getting a full nights rest however, as the mask is a nuisance when air leaks. I tried the nasal pillow, cannot adjust to it. I found that I cannot sleep at all without the mask.
I had to have my implanted pacemaker/defibrillator replaced in Sept. of 2013 as the other one's lead pulled out of my heart. For months, I was experiencing shortness of breath just walking around the house. I thought it was due to my being overweight ( which is part of it I'm sure), but the pacemaker had quit pacing and it wasn't until I'd gone in for my yearly checkup to have the pacemaker tested that the Dr. found out the lead had extracted itself.
It was 6 years old by then and within the next year would have to replaced anyway due to needing a new battery, so we opted to have the surgery asap. I do feel much better now with one that is actually working again.
I have 5 grandkids now. The oldest will be 14 in Feb. and the youngest is 4 mo. old. They are such a blessing. There is NOTHING like being a grandparent.
I am still selling my primitive / folkart / country crafts online. If anyone is interested, you can view my work at KKL Primitives.
Thank you for stopping by!
★Denise★
I turned 61 in December. I was about 47 when diagnosed with peri-menopause, 52 when my periods finally stopped (HALLELUJAH!) Hard to believe I started this blog/diary nearly 6 years ago. Not much has changed. Mrs. Hyde has permanently integrated herself. She is me, I am her. We're both still 'overweight' and since diagnosed with diabetes in November 2013 we are more conscious of what we are eating and watching those carbs. Lost 11 lbs since November and we're at a plateau already. I have 80 more to go. Once the weather warms up a bit, I think I'll take us for a walk and start getting some exercise in. In the early Fall when walking I would experience an ice cold feeling in my chest. Reported it to my cardiologist who was thinking 'angina' and had me take a stress test. Apparently I passed it ( although while taking it, I thought I would literally pass out and wondered if I would die). Since I've not been out walking in this frigid winter weather, I really don't know if the pain will start up again. Of course it doesn't happen when I'm walking around the house or in a store, because I'm not exerting myself. We'll see what happens when I get back out there. Hopefully soon.
I'm finally used to my CPAP machine. I wear the mask all night long now. For quite a while I could only manage 4 hours a night. I'm still not getting a full nights rest however, as the mask is a nuisance when air leaks. I tried the nasal pillow, cannot adjust to it. I found that I cannot sleep at all without the mask.
I had to have my implanted pacemaker/defibrillator replaced in Sept. of 2013 as the other one's lead pulled out of my heart. For months, I was experiencing shortness of breath just walking around the house. I thought it was due to my being overweight ( which is part of it I'm sure), but the pacemaker had quit pacing and it wasn't until I'd gone in for my yearly checkup to have the pacemaker tested that the Dr. found out the lead had extracted itself.
It was 6 years old by then and within the next year would have to replaced anyway due to needing a new battery, so we opted to have the surgery asap. I do feel much better now with one that is actually working again.
I have 5 grandkids now. The oldest will be 14 in Feb. and the youngest is 4 mo. old. They are such a blessing. There is NOTHING like being a grandparent.
I am still selling my primitive / folkart / country crafts online. If anyone is interested, you can view my work at KKL Primitives.
Thank you for stopping by!
★Denise★
Monday, November 26, 2012
IT WORKS, or Does It Day 10
I received my Greens and Fat Fighter on Friday Nov. 16th. I did the 'BOOST' 2 spoonfuls
( spoon included) 5 x day faithfully. If I ate something fatty I took 2 fat fighter tablets within an hour of eating.
On Tues. the 20th I had to go for routine blood work and had a bone density test done. While there I was measured and weighed. I used to be 5' 5 1/2" tall. I've lost an entire inch. The nurse said I weighed 220. I'm a little bummed until it dawns on me....I LOST 2 LBS! :)
I continued the program even on Thanksgiving. I ate everything I wanted, but only took small portions. My plate was still full. I also had a small slice of pecan pie and 2 alcoholic beverages.
I was getting low on the Greens so ordered another jar. Hoping it comes today. I was only able to have 2 servings yesterday as the jar is now empty. I was told there would be enough for 10 days but it was more like 8 days. I got on the scale this morning and I lost another 3 lbs.
I realize it's probably water loss, but I'm happy with that. 5 lbs is 5 lbs.
Whether 'it's in my head' or not, I felt full while taking the Greens. I wasn't tempted to snack. I will continue the Greens with the 2nd jar and see how it goes.
The Greens came in the mail today, so I'm back to it!
★Denise★
( spoon included) 5 x day faithfully. If I ate something fatty I took 2 fat fighter tablets within an hour of eating.
On Tues. the 20th I had to go for routine blood work and had a bone density test done. While there I was measured and weighed. I used to be 5' 5 1/2" tall. I've lost an entire inch. The nurse said I weighed 220. I'm a little bummed until it dawns on me....I LOST 2 LBS! :)
I continued the program even on Thanksgiving. I ate everything I wanted, but only took small portions. My plate was still full. I also had a small slice of pecan pie and 2 alcoholic beverages.
I was getting low on the Greens so ordered another jar. Hoping it comes today. I was only able to have 2 servings yesterday as the jar is now empty. I was told there would be enough for 10 days but it was more like 8 days. I got on the scale this morning and I lost another 3 lbs.
I realize it's probably water loss, but I'm happy with that. 5 lbs is 5 lbs.
Whether 'it's in my head' or not, I felt full while taking the Greens. I wasn't tempted to snack. I will continue the Greens with the 2nd jar and see how it goes.
The Greens came in the mail today, so I'm back to it!
★Denise★
Friday, November 16, 2012
IT WORKS or does it? Day 1
Ok, I'm trying a little experiment. There is a product out there called IT WORKS. A whole line of homeopathic and herbal products that claim they can help you lose weight, tone up, lose inches, detoxify, and I know a sales rep 'personally' that is a crafter, like myself and uses the products herself and claims they work for her.
I KNOW there is no such thing as a 'miracle pill' but that did not stop me from purchasing one of the It Works chin wraps. I have a turkey waddle. Not huge, but it's there. I don't like it.
Chin stretching exercises that my Mom told me to try years ago only gave me stretch marks.
So I bought a chin wrap. Just one. $35. With directions to cut it up to make a total of 6 wraps.
I followed the directions to the T. After 72 hours ( claims to continue working during that time) I did another one. Then another one. I did NOT notice any improvement. NADA, NON, NOTHING, ZERO, ZIP. I let my friend know I didn't get any results and she tried to be very helpful. Maybe I needed to detox first, with green tea.
After talking to someone in the business, it was decided that it could be that all the meds I am on is thwarting any positive results. End of story............or end of Part 1?
Now we are at several weeks later. I have noticed that the past few weeks I feel bloated all the time, my lower back really hurts. I feel enormous. My 3 year old grand daughter wanted to know why my belly was so fat. I am not a BIG eater, but I know I do eat the wrong foods. I've measured, I've cut out foods, but I cannot stick to a DIET. I've tried over and over. I don't get the exercise I need because of lower back pain or pinched nerves in my legs, it's always something.
I had a Dr. appt. Tuesday and we went all over this. She surprised the hell out of me when she suggested Gastric By Pass surgery as an option. I was really dumbfounded, because I thought that was a 'drastic' option for people who weighed over 300 lbs. Well, I hate to admit this but I weighed in at 222. They MOST I've ever weighed in my nearly 60 years and I am not a happy camper. I did some research on gastric by pass and this is NOT something I am ready to consider. I would actually have to go through screenings and meetings to see if I even qualify but at this point it's all moot.
So..... I decided to give IT WORKS a shot. I purchased a bottle of Advanced Formula Fat Fighter with carb inhibitors and a jar of GREENS. They are not cheap, but 'if' they help me, it's well worth it. Even if it's only PSYCHOLOGICAL. Because nothing else has worked. Tried Weight Watchers, couldn't stick to it. Tried Curves, couldn't keep up with it because of pinched nerves. So what do I have to lose except pounds or the money I spent on them. It's only paper.
I'm supposed to take 2 tablets of the Fat fighter within one hour of a large meal ( especially if it's a fatty meal). It is supposed to :
( made by Kelloggs). She also adds it to coffee, tea, juice. Normally you would drink this once a day but I'm trying the BOOSTER and doing it 5x day for 10 days. It actually doesn't taste bad at all mixed with the K2O. I was surprised and glad.
I was expecting this package yesterday so wanting to eat better too, I had a bowl of raisin bran with milk for breakfast. For mid morning snack I had a can of V8, for lunch I had a banana. For dinner I had one slice of pizza. For a snack I had a small cup of fruit. We have candy laying around from Halloween and I wasn't even tempted to take a bite! Not one! I had my daughter pick me up some green tea and lemon and had 2 cups of that. I will have to remember not to drink it in the evening though as I had to pee several times during the night.
This is why I'm saying it COULD by psychological - on my part anyway. I know from past experience that I cannot stick to a 'diet' and to have to change my whole way of eating FOREVER is just too damned drastic. I still want to be able to eat a slice of pizza now and then, a slice of cake, my beloved Skippy peanut butter on a half toasted bagel. CHEESE! I love cheese. Now I'm making myself hungry.
Today for breakfast I had a half toasted bagel with strawberry jam. Mid morning I had some green tea and lemon. For lunch a small piece of pizza. In between I've been drinking water and have had 3 of the greens drinks so far. Will spread the other 2 out for before dinner and after.
I can honestly say I am not HUNGRY. Psychological? Maybe. I plan to have a tuna salad for my dinner with some onion, a hard boiled egg and a T. of mayo - and I will take a Fat fighter tablet for the mayo.
I've been reading some posts about IT WORKS on a scam board that are both positive and negative. I prefer to come to my own conclusion.
http://www.scam.com/showthread.php?t=117913
I will keep you informed how things are going for me. It's green tea time. Til later.
I KNOW there is no such thing as a 'miracle pill' but that did not stop me from purchasing one of the It Works chin wraps. I have a turkey waddle. Not huge, but it's there. I don't like it.
Chin stretching exercises that my Mom told me to try years ago only gave me stretch marks.
So I bought a chin wrap. Just one. $35. With directions to cut it up to make a total of 6 wraps.
I followed the directions to the T. After 72 hours ( claims to continue working during that time) I did another one. Then another one. I did NOT notice any improvement. NADA, NON, NOTHING, ZERO, ZIP. I let my friend know I didn't get any results and she tried to be very helpful. Maybe I needed to detox first, with green tea.
After talking to someone in the business, it was decided that it could be that all the meds I am on is thwarting any positive results. End of story............or end of Part 1?
Now we are at several weeks later. I have noticed that the past few weeks I feel bloated all the time, my lower back really hurts. I feel enormous. My 3 year old grand daughter wanted to know why my belly was so fat. I am not a BIG eater, but I know I do eat the wrong foods. I've measured, I've cut out foods, but I cannot stick to a DIET. I've tried over and over. I don't get the exercise I need because of lower back pain or pinched nerves in my legs, it's always something.
I had a Dr. appt. Tuesday and we went all over this. She surprised the hell out of me when she suggested Gastric By Pass surgery as an option. I was really dumbfounded, because I thought that was a 'drastic' option for people who weighed over 300 lbs. Well, I hate to admit this but I weighed in at 222. They MOST I've ever weighed in my nearly 60 years and I am not a happy camper. I did some research on gastric by pass and this is NOT something I am ready to consider. I would actually have to go through screenings and meetings to see if I even qualify but at this point it's all moot.
So..... I decided to give IT WORKS a shot. I purchased a bottle of Advanced Formula Fat Fighter with carb inhibitors and a jar of GREENS. They are not cheap, but 'if' they help me, it's well worth it. Even if it's only PSYCHOLOGICAL. Because nothing else has worked. Tried Weight Watchers, couldn't stick to it. Tried Curves, couldn't keep up with it because of pinched nerves. So what do I have to lose except pounds or the money I spent on them. It's only paper.
I'm supposed to take 2 tablets of the Fat fighter within one hour of a large meal ( especially if it's a fatty meal). It is supposed to :
- Block some of the fat & carbs from meals
- Helps balance blood glucose level and reduce cravings
( made by Kelloggs). She also adds it to coffee, tea, juice. Normally you would drink this once a day but I'm trying the BOOSTER and doing it 5x day for 10 days. It actually doesn't taste bad at all mixed with the K2O. I was surprised and glad.
I was expecting this package yesterday so wanting to eat better too, I had a bowl of raisin bran with milk for breakfast. For mid morning snack I had a can of V8, for lunch I had a banana. For dinner I had one slice of pizza. For a snack I had a small cup of fruit. We have candy laying around from Halloween and I wasn't even tempted to take a bite! Not one! I had my daughter pick me up some green tea and lemon and had 2 cups of that. I will have to remember not to drink it in the evening though as I had to pee several times during the night.
This is why I'm saying it COULD by psychological - on my part anyway. I know from past experience that I cannot stick to a 'diet' and to have to change my whole way of eating FOREVER is just too damned drastic. I still want to be able to eat a slice of pizza now and then, a slice of cake, my beloved Skippy peanut butter on a half toasted bagel. CHEESE! I love cheese. Now I'm making myself hungry.
Today for breakfast I had a half toasted bagel with strawberry jam. Mid morning I had some green tea and lemon. For lunch a small piece of pizza. In between I've been drinking water and have had 3 of the greens drinks so far. Will spread the other 2 out for before dinner and after.
I can honestly say I am not HUNGRY. Psychological? Maybe. I plan to have a tuna salad for my dinner with some onion, a hard boiled egg and a T. of mayo - and I will take a Fat fighter tablet for the mayo.
I've been reading some posts about IT WORKS on a scam board that are both positive and negative. I prefer to come to my own conclusion.
http://www.scam.com/showthread.php?t=117913
I will keep you informed how things are going for me. It's green tea time. Til later.
MRS. HYDE RETURNS
It has been several months since I posted.
It has been AGES since Mrs. Hyde visited but she made a surprise ( to me) visit and stayed almost 2 weeks.
In this time I was very upset with Tom. It seemed like he was always picking on me for something really stupid. Each time I would respond with a sarcastic remark. He would roll his eyes and mutter under his breath "WHAT is your PROBLEM?!" and I would reply quite loudly...."YOU, YOU'RE THE PROBLEM". Then that would be the end of that until the next complaint / shouting match.
I had a follow up Dr.'s appt. for my blood pressure late Tues. morning. Before we left, Tom stood at the stove eating a piece of leftover Halloween chocolate. He said "Who keeps leaving candy wrappers on the counter?" Well DUH! We're the only two that live here, and if it wasn't him, I suppose it had to be me, right? I told him it was me. He counters with " why didn't you put them in the garbage?" " Maybe because I got sidetracked, who knows?" Then he starts to say something sarcastic and I blew up. "IF TWO CANDY WRAPPERS SITTING ON THE COUNTER BOTHERS YOU SO FREAKING MUCH, THROW THEM AWAY YOURSELF!". He replies "YOU BETTER TALK TO YOUR DR, THERE'S SOMETHING WRONG WITH YOU!!".
I always take my medication list with me when I go to the Dr.'s, and I needed some refills. Dr. M. says, why isn't your Venlafaxine on here? What's that? Your Effexor XR...and then it hit me.....that's for my ...........................WAIT FOR IT.........................WAIT FOR IT...............
MOOD SWINGS!!!!! I hadn't taken my medication for nearly 2 weeks!!! I have no clue what happened to the bottle. Luckily for me ( and Tom) he went down to the drugstore as soon as we got home and picked it up for me. You aren't supposed to go off this medication cold turkey. I wasn't even trying to get off it. But I do know when I miss 2 days in a row I get horrible headaches. And I DID get headaches, but did not realize I was out of those pills. That's pretty easy to do I guess, it's not like I take one or two - I take 9 pills ( includes aspirin) a day. I even distribute them in those weekly medicine containers. Can't understand how I missed them, but I suspect Mrs. Hyde had something to do with it.
It's been quiet on the home front for the last two days. Things are back to normal. Tom asked me both mornings if I took my mean pill.
★Denise★
It has been AGES since Mrs. Hyde visited but she made a surprise ( to me) visit and stayed almost 2 weeks.
In this time I was very upset with Tom. It seemed like he was always picking on me for something really stupid. Each time I would respond with a sarcastic remark. He would roll his eyes and mutter under his breath "WHAT is your PROBLEM?!" and I would reply quite loudly...."YOU, YOU'RE THE PROBLEM". Then that would be the end of that until the next complaint / shouting match.
I had a follow up Dr.'s appt. for my blood pressure late Tues. morning. Before we left, Tom stood at the stove eating a piece of leftover Halloween chocolate. He said "Who keeps leaving candy wrappers on the counter?" Well DUH! We're the only two that live here, and if it wasn't him, I suppose it had to be me, right? I told him it was me. He counters with " why didn't you put them in the garbage?" " Maybe because I got sidetracked, who knows?" Then he starts to say something sarcastic and I blew up. "IF TWO CANDY WRAPPERS SITTING ON THE COUNTER BOTHERS YOU SO FREAKING MUCH, THROW THEM AWAY YOURSELF!". He replies "YOU BETTER TALK TO YOUR DR, THERE'S SOMETHING WRONG WITH YOU!!".
I always take my medication list with me when I go to the Dr.'s, and I needed some refills. Dr. M. says, why isn't your Venlafaxine on here? What's that? Your Effexor XR...and then it hit me.....that's for my ...........................WAIT FOR IT.........................WAIT FOR IT...............
MOOD SWINGS!!!!! I hadn't taken my medication for nearly 2 weeks!!! I have no clue what happened to the bottle. Luckily for me ( and Tom) he went down to the drugstore as soon as we got home and picked it up for me. You aren't supposed to go off this medication cold turkey. I wasn't even trying to get off it. But I do know when I miss 2 days in a row I get horrible headaches. And I DID get headaches, but did not realize I was out of those pills. That's pretty easy to do I guess, it's not like I take one or two - I take 9 pills ( includes aspirin) a day. I even distribute them in those weekly medicine containers. Can't understand how I missed them, but I suspect Mrs. Hyde had something to do with it.
It's been quiet on the home front for the last two days. Things are back to normal. Tom asked me both mornings if I took my mean pill.
★Denise★
Wednesday, April 04, 2012
Menopausal Monster In The Top 11 Menopause Blogs
Healthline editors recently published their final list of the top 11 menopause blogs on the web and http://menopausalmonster.blogspot.com/ made the list. You can find the complete list at http://www.healthline.com/health-slideshow/best-menopause-blogs#1 (in no particular order).
http://www.healthline.com/health-slideshow/best-menopause-blogs#8
Thank you Healthline editors!
★Denise★
http://www.healthline.com/health-slideshow/best-menopause-blogs#8
Thank you Healthline editors!
★Denise★
Monday, February 27, 2012
SURVEY FOR PERI-AND MENOPAUSAL WOMEN
Professor Daniel Fessler, professor of anthropology at UCLA, is interested in people’s attitudes, particularly those of peri-and postmenopausal women. If you have about 20 minutes or so to spare, please take some time and complete this survey. The survey is completely anonymous.
If you would like to help by participating, please click on the link below or copy and paste it into your web browser:
Thanks very much!
Daniel M.T. Fessler
Associate Professor of Anthropology
Dept. of Anthropology, UCLA ★Denise★
Monday, February 14, 2011
Top 30 Menopausal Blogs
Nancy, author and owner of the website How To Become A Nurse Practitioner contacted me this morning to let me know about her Top 30 Menopause Blog list of which Menopausal Monster is included, in the Comedic category. Yay! Thank you Nancy.
★Denise★
Comedic
Sometimes we all need a good chuckle. Check out these blogs to make you smile, as well as provide some factual information!
- The Menopausal Monster
The Menopausal Monster is a comical blog that chronicles the everyday life of a woman, Denise, going through her trying menopausal times! She is upbeat and gives great advice on how to handle various situations. If you are looking for some chuckling relief, tune in here!
★Denise★
Friday, January 28, 2011
SURPRISE!!
Last week we worked our tails off preparing food and decorating the hall in secrecy so Tom wouldn't suspect that our daughters and I were planning a surprise retirement party for him.
The last two days before the party I wasn't so sure that we had pulled it off but went on pretending that we were going to our next door neighbor's surprise wedding anniversary party. It wasn't until we walked through the doors ( everyone else was already there by the time we arrived) and our guests began cheering and whistling and the shock on Tom's face when he 'saw' who the guests were and the realization that the party was actually for HIM that I knew he had never suspected a thing! It was so much FUN!!
I forgot to bring my camera and am so bummed out about that, but I was hoping that maybe the girls remembered to bring theirs and would take photos of the cake and buffet table and decorations. They took a few pics on their cell phones and only a few of those were any good.
★Denise★
The last two days before the party I wasn't so sure that we had pulled it off but went on pretending that we were going to our next door neighbor's surprise wedding anniversary party. It wasn't until we walked through the doors ( everyone else was already there by the time we arrived) and our guests began cheering and whistling and the shock on Tom's face when he 'saw' who the guests were and the realization that the party was actually for HIM that I knew he had never suspected a thing! It was so much FUN!!
I forgot to bring my camera and am so bummed out about that, but I was hoping that maybe the girls remembered to bring theirs and would take photos of the cake and buffet table and decorations. They took a few pics on their cell phones and only a few of those were any good.
A friend of the family took this family photo of Tom and I, our daughters and our grandchildren.
Too late, I realized no one thought to get some photos of Tom with his buddies from work which would have been a nice momento for him.
One of Tom's buddie's wife offered to make us rigatoni and my friend and neighbor made us stuffed cabbages, both were delicious and so much appreciated! We also had friends and relatives who offered to bring cookies which was also wonderful.
Menu:
Fried chicken, hot sausages w/rolls, rigatoni, stuffed cabbages, Chinese coleslaw, hoagie salad, linguini salad, potato & cheese casserole, kolbasi in pineapple and brown sugar, mandarin orange jelly dessert and a sheet cake & cookies galore!
We also had a DJ who is a co-worker of our eldest daughters.
★Denise★
Saturday, January 15, 2011
VENTING: RSVP Means TELL ME IF YOU ARE COMING OR NOT!!!
Venting here. Having a surprise retirement party for my hubby Tom next Saturday and more than half the people invited have not responded to their invitations! This drives me CRAZY! I've had this happen with all 3 of our daughter's graduation parties, 2 of their weddings..........what's wrong with people??!!!
Come on PEOPLE.....you really don't want Mrs. Hyde to come out of hibernation do you?????
★Denise★
Come on PEOPLE.....you really don't want Mrs. Hyde to come out of hibernation do you?????
★Denise★
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Menopause Related Insomnia and/or Depression
I was recently contacted by Katie Niedt, Outreach Coordinator of Fisher Wallace Laboratories:
Karen is trying to raise awareness among menopause related blogs so I am passing along this information.
★Denise★
I follow your blog and am writing to make sure you are aware of the Wall Street Journal article just published re: my company’s medical device that treats insomnia, anxiety and depression. This is an important treatment option for women suffering from menopause-related insomnia and/or depression:
The device is cleared by the FDA and our Medical Advisory Board is comprised of several of the nation's top doctors.
Karen is trying to raise awareness among menopause related blogs so I am passing along this information.
★Denise★
Sunday, December 26, 2010
Tuesday, December 07, 2010
FINALLY....An Explanation!!!
For the past year and a half I've been experiencing these 'twitches, flutterings, hic-cups, palpitations' feelings in the right side of my chest beneath the breast and to the right. They are not painful but they are extremely annoying. I can actually see that area moving. Sometimes it looks like my breast is doing a naughty dance. After a couple months of this when I went to my doctor for a prescription refill, I mentioned it to her. I don't think she took me seriously. And of course my breast would not dance for her when I wanted it to. Apparently it has a mind of it's own. While I was waiting in the waiting room to be called in it was having a merry time fluttering. Maybe it was shy in front of the doctor, I don't know, but it wasn't co-operating. On the way home in my car it was twitching like it had a tic. A couple more months go by and this irritating flutter, twitch, palpitation is getting more frequent and more noticeable to family members. Come on Grandma, do that again!!! I'm trying to have a sense of humor about this, but it's seriously disturbing to me. I had an appointment with my cardiologist about 3 weeks after my other doctor appointment. It was at Thanksgiving time last year. My cardiologist took me more seriously ( although he also did not detect what I was explaining to him. All was quiet and non-moving) ...until I left his office. But he did have me pick up a heart monitor to wear for the next 48 hours. Every time I felt the movements, I was supposed to chart it. I did. They happened frequently and at different times during the day and night. I also had to chart what I was doing when they happened. I could be eating, sitting, laying down, in the line at the grocery store, watching TV, sitting at the computer, etc. Thanksgiving Day 2008, we returned the monitor to the hospital. Several days later I got the results back. There were no results. My heart was normal ( for me) and not showing anything unusual. So all Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter again I keep having these weird movements in my chest/breast. Sometimes I actually went days without anything and it was wonderful! Then it would start up again.
Well..................today was my yearly appointment with my cardiac physiologist. He's the one who replaced my lower lead on my pacemaker/defibrillator last year..... twice. He wanted to see how I was doing since then and had to run some tests on the pacemaker to make sure it's working properly. His associate did the tests and while she was reading the papers that were spewing out from the machine she noticed something unusual on the readings everytime she made my heart race with the testing. My husband noticed something else. He said " Your chest is fluttering". He could see it from across the room. The associate said "FLUTTERING? Where?"
She ran some more of the tests and my chest/breast was doing the Watusi. She actually saw it. To make a long story shorter, it turns out that the upper lead on my pacemaker which sends electrical impulses into my right ventricle appears to be next to a nerve in my diaphragm. When it sends an impulse, sometimes the nerve receives it too, and that causes the jumping around in the right side of my chest. The physiologist turned off that upper lead. It does nothing now. Since coming home, I have not felt anymore movement and it feels GREAT to feel 'normal' again. He is also having me decrease by half, my daily doses of Coreg. I may feel more fatigued but that will be better than those twitches. I'm supposed to call him in 2 weeks to see how I'm doing. If I don't feel any better, then he says the next step will be to go 'in' and replace that upper lead.
I NEVER would have guessed my pacemaker had anything to do with all this.
★Denise★
Well..................today was my yearly appointment with my cardiac physiologist. He's the one who replaced my lower lead on my pacemaker/defibrillator last year..... twice. He wanted to see how I was doing since then and had to run some tests on the pacemaker to make sure it's working properly. His associate did the tests and while she was reading the papers that were spewing out from the machine she noticed something unusual on the readings everytime she made my heart race with the testing. My husband noticed something else. He said " Your chest is fluttering". He could see it from across the room. The associate said "FLUTTERING? Where?"
She ran some more of the tests and my chest/breast was doing the Watusi. She actually saw it. To make a long story shorter, it turns out that the upper lead on my pacemaker which sends electrical impulses into my right ventricle appears to be next to a nerve in my diaphragm. When it sends an impulse, sometimes the nerve receives it too, and that causes the jumping around in the right side of my chest. The physiologist turned off that upper lead. It does nothing now. Since coming home, I have not felt anymore movement and it feels GREAT to feel 'normal' again. He is also having me decrease by half, my daily doses of Coreg. I may feel more fatigued but that will be better than those twitches. I'm supposed to call him in 2 weeks to see how I'm doing. If I don't feel any better, then he says the next step will be to go 'in' and replace that upper lead.
I NEVER would have guessed my pacemaker had anything to do with all this.
★Denise★
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Senior Wedding
My sister sent this to me in my email today. I thought it was cute and wanted to share.
Senior wedding
> Jacob, age 92, and Rebecca, age 89, living inMiami, are all excited about their decision to get married. They go for a stroll to discuss the wedding, and on the way they pass a drugstore . . . Jacob suggests they go inside.
>
> Jacob addresses the man behind the counter:
>
> "Are you the owner?"
>
> The pharmacist answers, "Yes."
>
> Jacob: "We're about to get married. Do you sell heart medication?"
>
> Pharmacist: "Of course, we do."
>
> Jacob: "How about medicine for circulation?"
>
> Pharmacist: "All kinds."
>
> Jacob: "Medicine for rheumatism?"
>
> Pharmacist: "Definitely."
>
> Jacob: "How about suppositories?"
>
> Pharmacist: "You bet!"
>
> Jacob: "Medicine for memory problems, arthritis and Alzheimer's?"
>
> Pharmacist: "Yes, a large variety. The works."
>
> Jacob: "What about vitamins, sleeping pills, Geritol, antidotes for Parkinson's disease?"
>
> Pharmacist: "Absolutely."
>
> Jacob: "Everything for heartburn and indigestion?"
>
> Pharmacist: "We sure do."
>
> Jacob: "You sell wheelchairs and walkers and canes?"
>
> Pharmacist: "All speeds and sizes."
>
> Jacob: "Adult diapers?"
>
> Pharmacist: "Sure."
>
> Jacob: "We'd like to use this store
>
> as our Bridal Registry."
★Denise★
Senior wedding
> Jacob, age 92, and Rebecca, age 89, living inMiami, are all excited about their decision to get married. They go for a stroll to discuss the wedding, and on the way they pass a drugstore . . . Jacob suggests they go inside.
>
> Jacob addresses the man behind the counter:
>
> "Are you the owner?"
>
> The pharmacist answers, "Yes."
>
> Jacob: "We're about to get married. Do you sell heart medication?"
>
> Pharmacist: "Of course, we do."
>
> Jacob: "How about medicine for circulation?"
>
> Pharmacist: "All kinds."
>
> Jacob: "Medicine for rheumatism?"
>
> Pharmacist: "Definitely."
>
> Jacob: "How about suppositories?"
>
> Pharmacist: "You bet!"
>
> Jacob: "Medicine for memory problems, arthritis and Alzheimer's?"
>
> Pharmacist: "Yes, a large variety. The works."
>
> Jacob: "What about vitamins, sleeping pills, Geritol, antidotes for Parkinson's disease?"
>
> Pharmacist: "Absolutely."
>
> Jacob: "Everything for heartburn and indigestion?"
>
> Pharmacist: "We sure do."
>
> Jacob: "You sell wheelchairs and walkers and canes?"
>
> Pharmacist: "All speeds and sizes."
>
> Jacob: "Adult diapers?"
>
> Pharmacist: "Sure."
>
> Jacob: "We'd like to use this store
>
> as our Bridal Registry."
★Denise★
Saturday, September 18, 2010
AHHHhhhhh Fall's Here
I am thrilled that we are FINALLY having nice cool evenings and mornings. I've been able to use my CPAP machine again. Wasn't able to use it all summer because it was just so hot and miserable I felt like I was suffocating when I put that darned mask on that I had to rip it right back off again. I wish I could say that I'm sleeping good, but I haven't really noticed any change. I'm still very tired when I wake up and could still very easily take a couple short naps during the day if I actually had the time. Maybe it will take a few more weeks til I notice any difference.
Have a good weekend!
★Denise★
Have a good weekend!
★Denise★
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
HAI -Hospital Associated Infections
It's been awhile since I've posted here. Nothing new going on with me other than I've been very busy with my crafts and sending them out of state to a couple shops for consignment.
I received an email today from Barbara Dunn of haiwatch.com and it's just easier for me to paste the letter than to try to explain it.
Hello again Denise
I've reached out to you in the past about Kimberly-Clark's efforts to lead the fight against Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs). I wanted to follow up with some very exciting news. Kimberly-Clark has launched a new online program - the HAI WATCHDOG* Community - where healthcare providers can discuss best practices for defeating HAIs. The goal is to help eliminate these often preventable infections through discussion and education.
The HAI WATCHDOG* Community allows members to start discussions, post photos, videos and even enter the 2010 HAI WATCHDOG* Awards. Entering the awards program not only allows healthcare providers to share and learn from each other, but also gives contest participants the opportunity to be rewarded for their efforts with an educational grant.
I would love for you to join the community and share this news with the readers of Menopausal Monster. I've created a microsite which explains everything:
http://haiwatchnews.com
If you are able to post about this, I'd love to get the link to your post. Please let me know if you have any questions or need more information.
Thank you,
Barbara
I received an email today from Barbara Dunn of haiwatch.com and it's just easier for me to paste the letter than to try to explain it.
I've reached out to you in the past about Kimberly-Clark's efforts to lead the fight against Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs). I wanted to follow up with some very exciting news. Kimberly-Clark has launched a new online program - the HAI WATCHDOG* Community - where healthcare providers can discuss best practices for defeating HAIs. The goal is to help eliminate these often preventable infections through discussion and education.
The HAI WATCHDOG* Community allows members to start discussions, post photos, videos and even enter the 2010 HAI WATCHDOG* Awards. Entering the awards program not only allows healthcare providers to share and learn from each other, but also gives contest participants the opportunity to be rewarded for their efforts with an educational grant.
I would love for you to join the community and share this news with the readers of Menopausal Monster. I've created a microsite which explains everything:
http://haiwatchnews.com
If you are able to post about this, I'd love to get the link to your post. Please let me know if you have any questions or need more information.
Thank you,
Barbara
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