I was beginning to feel those lovely experiences called 'hot flashes' in 1999 and 2000. I knew it was about time for the next phase of my 'femininity' to manifest itself in all its splendor.
February 16, 2000 I culminated some medical issues with a complete hysterectomy. After the surgery, I remember laying in the hospital bed and those little 'hot flashes' I had been experiences were now full blown heat waves. I was miserable. It amazed me how quickly that happened. The evening after my surgery, my doctor came to the room to see how I was doing. I told him I really needed something to get rid or lessen these hot flashes. He understood, didn't seem surprise and the speed and ferocity with which they came, and immediately prescribed Premarin.
I loved these little pills. I do not take medicine unless it is really, really needed. I have no daily medicines I take now except my vitamin, calcium and a Tums each night to complete my calcium for the day and help with a reflux issue inherited from my father's genes. However, there are times when you really, really need to take the meds and Premarin became a dear friend. With it...no hot flashes. I was happy.
The end of 2002 and beginning of 2003 there were lots of news stories about the effects of women taking hormone replacements resulting experiencing an increase in breast cancer. I looked at my Premarin and determined I would rather 'flash' than increase my risk for breast cancer. Premarin and I parted ways. The 'flashes' returned with a vengence.
Two months later in January 2003 during my routine mammogram, a little mass was found that was a concern. I was sent immediately to get an ultrasound. This confirmed the need to have this little tiny mass removed. Yuck!!!
I visited the surgeon, he explained what would happen, and we scheduled the surgery.
February 26, 2003, I went to Shady Grove Hospital in Rockville, Maryland for my surgery. They did another mammogram, determined where the mass was and placed a needle there. Leaving the needle in, they did another mammogram, left me in the mammogram device while they read the first mammogram, came back, moved the needle and took another mammogram. It was less that pleasant but the purpose was to have an exact location of where to cut that mass out and be sure they got everything in one surgery. Well worth the pain I assure you.
My lobular neoplasia was gone. They had clean margins after the surgery. However, to be extra sure I was prescribed Tamoxifin for the next 5 years. Tamoxifin helps to assure you are free of those bad cells which is good. However, not so good is the fact it intensifies your hot flashes and causes you to gain weight. Oh joy!!!
My belief, for the next 5 years, was that when I completed my obedient taking of Tamoxifin, that drug would eventually leave my system and I would be past the hot flash stages of my feminine journey. Wrong!!!
March 14, 2008 was the last day I took Tamoxifin. I had that date emblazoned in my memory and was anticipating the cessation of hot flashes, the stopping of easy weight gain, and movin' on with my life. I put that date in my Palm Pilot so I would and could rejoice when it arrived.
It arrived. I rejoiced. I stopped taking Tamoxifin. The hot flashes have continued to this day.
Then I heard about the interestingly named play..."Menopause the Musical". I just remember talking to someone, can't remember who, and they saw the play and loved it.
When we went to Las Vegas in January of this year, it was playing at one of the hotels in Vegas. We opted to see other shows.
When we got home, I got an eMail from the Lexington Opera House with listings of upcoming shows with the opportunity to purchase tickets before actual sales opened to the public. To my surprise "Menopause the Musical" was on the list.
I hurried upstairs and shared with Claude my desire to see this play and have him accompany me...hmmmm... He agreed and I hurried downstairs to purchase tickets.
Last night we went to see "Menopause the Musical". Claude was a good sport being there. There were other men, but not many.
I laughed a lot. So many aspects of this are now or have been a part of my progression through this phase of being a female. It was great to poke fun and find humor in those things that can be a struggle. It was great to know other women go through the same steps you are going through. It was great to all join in the humor one finds in looking back at those little trials that make up the menopause experience.
The four ladies that make up this cast were clearly comfortable with this point in their own personal lives. Which put all of us at ease with the play. The music was great music that we had loved years ago and now had lyrics put to it to tell the story. Stage set up was simple and added to and did not detract from these four great women performing.
I'm very happy I saw this fun play. I'm grateful my hubby went with me. And I truly look forward to the day when there are no more hot flashes!!!
Thursday, April 7, 2011
General Conference...
The blessing of my being ill last weekend was that I planned to be home all weekend anyway.
Twice each year we have General Conference for our Church meetings. This conference is held in Salt Lake City. There are five session. If you were on Mountain Standard Time they would be at 10am and 2pm for everyone with an evening session at 6pm for the Priesthood (all the boys and men). Then Sunday there would be 10am and 2pm sessions for everyone. These conferences are always held the 1st weekend in April and October. Often Easter falls that first weekend in April. I've wondered if the community wonders why in the world there is no big Church service going on Easter in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints across the land. Really, we are attending Church, just in our own homes and for a lot more hours than just the Sunday meeting schedule.
As a child, I can remember being able to finally receive the broadcast over the radio. Our family would gather in the living room around the radio and listen to any session we were able to get. Then we would write letters to the radio stations so they knew there were people listening to these broadcasts and they might feel inclined to broadcast again the next time we had General Conference. You often didn't know until right close to the time of General Conference is a radio station in our area would be broadcasting conference.
Then they were able to send a 'feed' to the meetinghouses and we could go there to actually see, on a movie screen at the front of the chapel, the faces of those speaking. It was truly a marvel to be able to get that kind of broadcast.
Now we can watch General Conference via BYU-TV on satellite and cable. Most people stay home conference weekends and view these broadcast (except the priesthood session) in their own homes. Although all sessions are also available at the meetinghouses for those who don't get satellite or cable.
When Claude was called as Bishop in Maryland, we were given tickets by our stake president to seats for a session of conference in the tabernacle on Temple Square in Salt Lake City. It so happened that Cordell, Claude's brother was also Bishop in his ward in Utah at the time. He and Julie, his wife, also got tickets and the four of us went to two session of conference together. It was delightful to sit in that old building with them as our Prophet at the time, Gordon B. Hinckley, announced the building of a LOT of new, smaller temples around the world.
This broadcast not only goes to the members of the Church in the United States but across the world. Now things are done so quickly you can hear the messages given again by going to lds.org and clicking links to get to them in a few days after the conference. It is truly amazing.
I love General Conference. We curl up in front of the TV, I keep my tablet and pen by my side, I make notes of who spoke and their topic and any quotes I want to remember. This year I had two quotes that really touched me. Here they are:
During one of the talks Pres. Harold B. Lee was quoted as say, "Apparently the gospel is to comfort the afflicted and to afflict the comfortable." This elicited a nice chuckle from the congregation.
Another quote was stated by the speaker as follows: "A person cannot give a crust to the Lord without receiving a loaf in return."
In May and November we receive the Ensign, the Church's magazine, with each talk published in print. I read these cover to cover and highlight quotes and ideas and stories I want to remember. Can't wait for the May Ensign this year to re-read all those wonderful talks.
I'm happy, if I had to spend a weekend not well, it was General Conference weekend where I could be filled with that 'healing balm' of gospel doctrine plain, pure and simple.
Twice each year we have General Conference for our Church meetings. This conference is held in Salt Lake City. There are five session. If you were on Mountain Standard Time they would be at 10am and 2pm for everyone with an evening session at 6pm for the Priesthood (all the boys and men). Then Sunday there would be 10am and 2pm sessions for everyone. These conferences are always held the 1st weekend in April and October. Often Easter falls that first weekend in April. I've wondered if the community wonders why in the world there is no big Church service going on Easter in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints across the land. Really, we are attending Church, just in our own homes and for a lot more hours than just the Sunday meeting schedule.
As a child, I can remember being able to finally receive the broadcast over the radio. Our family would gather in the living room around the radio and listen to any session we were able to get. Then we would write letters to the radio stations so they knew there were people listening to these broadcasts and they might feel inclined to broadcast again the next time we had General Conference. You often didn't know until right close to the time of General Conference is a radio station in our area would be broadcasting conference.
Then they were able to send a 'feed' to the meetinghouses and we could go there to actually see, on a movie screen at the front of the chapel, the faces of those speaking. It was truly a marvel to be able to get that kind of broadcast.
Now we can watch General Conference via BYU-TV on satellite and cable. Most people stay home conference weekends and view these broadcast (except the priesthood session) in their own homes. Although all sessions are also available at the meetinghouses for those who don't get satellite or cable.
When Claude was called as Bishop in Maryland, we were given tickets by our stake president to seats for a session of conference in the tabernacle on Temple Square in Salt Lake City. It so happened that Cordell, Claude's brother was also Bishop in his ward in Utah at the time. He and Julie, his wife, also got tickets and the four of us went to two session of conference together. It was delightful to sit in that old building with them as our Prophet at the time, Gordon B. Hinckley, announced the building of a LOT of new, smaller temples around the world.
This broadcast not only goes to the members of the Church in the United States but across the world. Now things are done so quickly you can hear the messages given again by going to lds.org and clicking links to get to them in a few days after the conference. It is truly amazing.
I love General Conference. We curl up in front of the TV, I keep my tablet and pen by my side, I make notes of who spoke and their topic and any quotes I want to remember. This year I had two quotes that really touched me. Here they are:
During one of the talks Pres. Harold B. Lee was quoted as say, "Apparently the gospel is to comfort the afflicted and to afflict the comfortable." This elicited a nice chuckle from the congregation.
Another quote was stated by the speaker as follows: "A person cannot give a crust to the Lord without receiving a loaf in return."
In May and November we receive the Ensign, the Church's magazine, with each talk published in print. I read these cover to cover and highlight quotes and ideas and stories I want to remember. Can't wait for the May Ensign this year to re-read all those wonderful talks.
I'm happy, if I had to spend a weekend not well, it was General Conference weekend where I could be filled with that 'healing balm' of gospel doctrine plain, pure and simple.
The Birthday Song...
Last year I struggled with birthdays. I'm usually ahead of the game and ready to mail packages in plenty of time for birthdays. Not last year. I just couldn't get it together. Everyone got their gifts but I always felt slow and behind in getting the gifts and getting them mailed.
This year I wanted to not be in that position. Girl Scout cookies were purchased. I picked them up and wrapped them and put them in the box in the order the birthdays occur.
I was ready for Bailey before her birthday in February.
March we have four birthdays. Gifts were purchased and ready to be mailed in plenty of time to be there on Aubrey, Andie, Nissa and Paul's birthdays.
For April, Todd got his present today (his birthday) and called to thank us. Jake's is ready for me to box up to mail.
Papa comes in May. Claude and I looked at giving him a steamboat ride during the Great Steamboat Race that is a part of Derby Days in Louisville. After several phone calls about the particulars of this event, we decided it would be more fun to just get the steamboat ride at another time. Then Claude suggested the lunch or dinner train that begins in Bardstown Kentucky. I talked with Papa yesterday and gave him his choices. He has chosen well. He will be riding through the Kentucky countryside on the Bardstown lunch train in May.
So birthdays are runny much better for me this year. This makes me happy.
The pitiful part, an trust me, pitiful is the best word for it, is Claude and I singing "Happy Birthday" to our family.
Now, Claude and I know a little about music. We play instruments and we both sing. We are not professional musicians by any stretch of the imagination but, come on, "Happy Birthday" is not the most difficult piece of music to sing. And yet...we have managed on two occasions this year, while trying to sing "Happy Birthday" to our family members over the phone when we called on their birthday, to butcher, truly butcher, that well known little ditty.
The saving grace was calling on Aubrey's birthday just as the family was getting ready to light the candles on her birthday cake and sing to her. Nissa put us on speaker and we chimed in quite nicely for Aubrey with the family in Michigan. Today Todd called us and I sang by myself so it went fairly well.
Jake...steel yourself...you are next. Will it be a rendition you can even recognize? One can only hope!!!
This year I wanted to not be in that position. Girl Scout cookies were purchased. I picked them up and wrapped them and put them in the box in the order the birthdays occur.
I was ready for Bailey before her birthday in February.
March we have four birthdays. Gifts were purchased and ready to be mailed in plenty of time to be there on Aubrey, Andie, Nissa and Paul's birthdays.
For April, Todd got his present today (his birthday) and called to thank us. Jake's is ready for me to box up to mail.
Papa comes in May. Claude and I looked at giving him a steamboat ride during the Great Steamboat Race that is a part of Derby Days in Louisville. After several phone calls about the particulars of this event, we decided it would be more fun to just get the steamboat ride at another time. Then Claude suggested the lunch or dinner train that begins in Bardstown Kentucky. I talked with Papa yesterday and gave him his choices. He has chosen well. He will be riding through the Kentucky countryside on the Bardstown lunch train in May.
So birthdays are runny much better for me this year. This makes me happy.
The pitiful part, an trust me, pitiful is the best word for it, is Claude and I singing "Happy Birthday" to our family.
Now, Claude and I know a little about music. We play instruments and we both sing. We are not professional musicians by any stretch of the imagination but, come on, "Happy Birthday" is not the most difficult piece of music to sing. And yet...we have managed on two occasions this year, while trying to sing "Happy Birthday" to our family members over the phone when we called on their birthday, to butcher, truly butcher, that well known little ditty.
The saving grace was calling on Aubrey's birthday just as the family was getting ready to light the candles on her birthday cake and sing to her. Nissa put us on speaker and we chimed in quite nicely for Aubrey with the family in Michigan. Today Todd called us and I sang by myself so it went fairly well.
Jake...steel yourself...you are next. Will it be a rendition you can even recognize? One can only hope!!!
Sick...AGAIN!!!
Last week I read on Facebook when a friend, Tricia, needed help hemming a dress for her daughter for a formal dance.
I shortly received a phone call from Katelyn who read the same Facebook post. She wanted to be sure I read that one and she really thought I could help with hemming that dress. I shared with Katelyn I had read that post also and wondered if I couldn't help but was concerned about the fabric of the dress and whether my machine and hands could take that hem up and not mar the dress. Katelyn and I talked for a long time after that catching up on her life and sharing what we were each multi-tasking at as we talked on the phone. Just love talking with young people filling their lives with school, a new job, etc. Lots of energy, even if they are tired, and lots of hopes and dreams to fill each day.
Later I checked Facebook again and found that Nissa had commented on Tricia's post by saying she was sure her mom (me) could help with that hem. Tricia thanked Nissa and said she would message me.
Tricia did message me and I responded with my hopes that I could help and my concerns about the fabric.
We set up Saturday morning at 8:30am for Tricia to bring her daughter and the dress to my home to have a look.
Saturday morning, April 2nd, I was awake at 5am and did not feel good at all. I spent the rest of my early, early morning hurling. This was NOT good. At 7:30am I sent a comment back to Tricia on Facebook that she really shouldn't come to my home to let me look at the dress. Concerned she wouldn't get the message, I called Nissa and got Tricia's phone number and called and told her I was very ill and we couldn't work that day. She understood completely as her family went through this the week before. We left it that I would call when I was well again.
Monday I left Tricia a message that I was back in the game and we could look at the dress Tuesday or Thursday this week. Her kids are on Spring Break from school so today is the day and we'll see Tricia in about an hour.
I cannot believe how sick I have been this winter. This has to be, bar none, the worst winter I have ever had with being ill in my 60 years on earth. December I had bronchites. January I had Influenza A, February was okay, March I got something unidentified but it was like have bronchitis and the flu again. I did not go to the doctor but stayed inside my home for a full week trying to recuperate. Then this last weekend with some stomach bug.
I say, "Enough already". I think the thing that gets me about this winter is I am keenly aware I am not the only person dealing with sickness multiple times through the winter. It just seems to be the winter has gripped us all with is microbial, viral fingers and wouldn't let go.
I'm healthy once again and looking forward to warmer weather and feeling healthy all the time...except that those pesky pollens that create allergy havoc are descending on us as I write. Maybe this won't be as bad a spring with allergies since I paid my dues during the winter with illness. What do you think? I think that thought has promise.
I shortly received a phone call from Katelyn who read the same Facebook post. She wanted to be sure I read that one and she really thought I could help with hemming that dress. I shared with Katelyn I had read that post also and wondered if I couldn't help but was concerned about the fabric of the dress and whether my machine and hands could take that hem up and not mar the dress. Katelyn and I talked for a long time after that catching up on her life and sharing what we were each multi-tasking at as we talked on the phone. Just love talking with young people filling their lives with school, a new job, etc. Lots of energy, even if they are tired, and lots of hopes and dreams to fill each day.
Later I checked Facebook again and found that Nissa had commented on Tricia's post by saying she was sure her mom (me) could help with that hem. Tricia thanked Nissa and said she would message me.
Tricia did message me and I responded with my hopes that I could help and my concerns about the fabric.
We set up Saturday morning at 8:30am for Tricia to bring her daughter and the dress to my home to have a look.
Saturday morning, April 2nd, I was awake at 5am and did not feel good at all. I spent the rest of my early, early morning hurling. This was NOT good. At 7:30am I sent a comment back to Tricia on Facebook that she really shouldn't come to my home to let me look at the dress. Concerned she wouldn't get the message, I called Nissa and got Tricia's phone number and called and told her I was very ill and we couldn't work that day. She understood completely as her family went through this the week before. We left it that I would call when I was well again.
Monday I left Tricia a message that I was back in the game and we could look at the dress Tuesday or Thursday this week. Her kids are on Spring Break from school so today is the day and we'll see Tricia in about an hour.
I cannot believe how sick I have been this winter. This has to be, bar none, the worst winter I have ever had with being ill in my 60 years on earth. December I had bronchites. January I had Influenza A, February was okay, March I got something unidentified but it was like have bronchitis and the flu again. I did not go to the doctor but stayed inside my home for a full week trying to recuperate. Then this last weekend with some stomach bug.
I say, "Enough already". I think the thing that gets me about this winter is I am keenly aware I am not the only person dealing with sickness multiple times through the winter. It just seems to be the winter has gripped us all with is microbial, viral fingers and wouldn't let go.
I'm healthy once again and looking forward to warmer weather and feeling healthy all the time...except that those pesky pollens that create allergy havoc are descending on us as I write. Maybe this won't be as bad a spring with allergies since I paid my dues during the winter with illness. What do you think? I think that thought has promise.
Let's Blog...
Realizing this will appear at the end of today's entries...I, nonetheless, begin with this Blog entry.
Blogging takes time, so to do it, you must 'take time' out of your schedule to spend the 'time' needed to write or type. Many a day it is just tooooo busy to Blog for any period of time. Other days you just are under the weather physically or emotionally and can't sum up the energy and direction needed to complete a Blog entry. I've experienced all of these situtations in the past week. Hence, I haven't Blogged in a while.
I have read the Blog entries from my family that I follow. I'm always happy when someone has made a new entry and I can read, and/or see pictures and/or video. They may have a link to something that I'm really interested in and needed a nudge to go read that item. I love finding out what is happening with my family.
Some have not Blogged in a while and I wonder if they miss my Blog entries, like I miss theirs, when I don't get them done regularly. Then I usually chuckle I because I know can be very 'wordy' in my entries. Like, who really has time to read all that stuff I write anyway.
I'll keep Blogging, even if I get behind for whatever reason, because this is my journal of sorts. I hope my family keeps Blogging also.
So here I sit and I'll now make several entries of things that have happened over the last week.
Blogging takes time, so to do it, you must 'take time' out of your schedule to spend the 'time' needed to write or type. Many a day it is just tooooo busy to Blog for any period of time. Other days you just are under the weather physically or emotionally and can't sum up the energy and direction needed to complete a Blog entry. I've experienced all of these situtations in the past week. Hence, I haven't Blogged in a while.
I have read the Blog entries from my family that I follow. I'm always happy when someone has made a new entry and I can read, and/or see pictures and/or video. They may have a link to something that I'm really interested in and needed a nudge to go read that item. I love finding out what is happening with my family.
Some have not Blogged in a while and I wonder if they miss my Blog entries, like I miss theirs, when I don't get them done regularly. Then I usually chuckle I because I know can be very 'wordy' in my entries. Like, who really has time to read all that stuff I write anyway.
I'll keep Blogging, even if I get behind for whatever reason, because this is my journal of sorts. I hope my family keeps Blogging also.
So here I sit and I'll now make several entries of things that have happened over the last week.
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