What difference a week makes.

By Monday, I was not a happy camper at all. My hot flushes were increasing, to the point I had a dozen episodes on Monday night. I worked on Monday, which, was good, because I think it helped me make some decisions.

I am good when I am out and about. I am a good teacher, and I enjoy being in the classroom. I hate feeling like I don't want to do anything. Something is not right, I am not supposed to feel like this.

When I got home from work on Monday, I rang the surgery where I was originally 'prescribed' the progesterone cream. I was told he was on holidays - and that I couldn't get an appointment until the first of November. To say I was a little distressed about this was an understatement but it was actually a blessing in disguise. I hung up from her, after she (receptionist) told me my body was addicted to oral HRT and that if I wanted to I could add a half a tablet to my regime - and made an appointment with my GP. I felt turmoil, because I felt I was going to give up the alternative, more healthy option for a quick cop out.

I saw my doctor the next morning. He told me that he had no evidence of me being menopausal as all my tests had been done at other surgeries. I assured him I DEFINITELY was. He referred me for another blood test. From that day on I was back on my anti depressants. Although their reintroduction has really knocked me, I am sleeping so much better. I have had a couple of really quiet days after driving to work wasn't such a good idea on Wednesday, and I feel rested and relaxed. I also started taking the HRT again on the Monday preempting the doctor's findings. It's now Saturday, my hot flushes have reduced by about 80% and I know I have made the right decision for me. Yes, it's sad I couldn't do it naturally, but I can't keep at something that was becoming quite detrimental to my health and well being.

And to all the proponents of natural hormone treatment - the blood test showed there was next to no progesterone in my blood stream. The small amount which showed in the blood test can be accounted by my progesterone only IUD.

I was prepared to say this isn't for me..............I had no idea I would find out that the cream wasn't even absorbing into my blood stream. This begs the question - are the many women flocking this particular doctor among the 30% for whom a placebo works???

Ikea

In the midst of the shit week, there was a highlight! There's always a highlight..........

My sister in law and a girlfriend went to Ikea on Wednesday. It had been planned for a very long time. I had a shopping list, complete with measurements. At one stage, I thought the trip would be more of a look trip, rather than a buying trip, because of the money I had to spend on my car. I actually bought lots from my list.

* chest of drawers for Mickey and Sammy. Their old drawer was one we 'adopted' from our first unit together in 1992, it was always meant to be a stop gap, and was never intended for two kids!!

* DVD storage. A funky black and white patterned shelf which can hold up to 88 DVDs
* soft, spongy stuff to put on the bottom of your kitchen drawers, cheap and much nicer than what's available elsewhere
* new tin opener because I thought Bunny lost his from downstairs ( now it's a spare)
* set of four plastic dessert bowls
* set of four glass bowls for using with cooking (like the cooking shows when they precut chilli, measure out bi carb etc)
* wine rack (really cook stainless steel thing which holds about five bottles)
* Stainless steal tissue box
* new ergonomic pillow for Mickey
* two sets of hooks for kids' rooms
* draw inserts (compartment things)

So you can see I did really well. The place is huge, I can't wait to go back again. Even the food at the cafeteria was really nice and very reasonably priced. The dessert, a lemon meringue pie, was divine. The pastry was soft and short, the lemon stuff was creamy......mmmm........just delicious.

I drove there and back, and apart from my steering wheel still vibrating like an out of control sex toy, and getting a little lost coming out of Ikea, that was eventful, and even though I haven't driven in Brisbane for a very long time, I think I did okay. Everyone was back safe and sound.

My car was packed quite full. My gf had the stuff that was the biggest, so the drama continued when on arrival she finally admitted that it wasn't going to fit into her car. (She drives a door wedge!!) Alls well, ends well, a good friend of hers came and took it home for her, that was after her dh drove several kms and couldn't fit it into his work van either lol................ Ah, but she now has an awesome scrapbooking desk, so it's all good!!

I can't wait to go back. I like the CD storage for Billy-Joe's room, they were out of stock, so I would like to get a couple of those. I would also like to look at wardrobe storage. They have some awesome systems there. Lucky the kids are older now, because I could go beserk in the childrens' area.

So, in the midst of my shit week, there were up times too.........

The day after Ikea, I took my car back to the mechanic's (fifth time!!!) and after waiting for two hours, they told me what else I needed replacing........... Cars, they keep us poor lol..................

The weekend has been busy. I slept in late yesterday morning. I couldn't believed that I'd stayed late at scrapbooking, and then perused a book a gf loaned me, and turned the lights out at 2am. Saturday was spent finishing the washing that Bunny had started the night before. I took Billy-Joe to spend the weekend with a mate, for which I was happy for because it changes the dynamics with the two little one's and life is quite peaceful. I came back home and met the plumber who was fixing the leak on our beautiful Kleenmaid oven. I had a nice conversation with him. He is leaving plumbing and going to start a Personal Coaching type business. I was most interested so chatted to him about that...............quite an apt conversation to be having I thought. I told him to send me something when he gets himself set up. Then I went into town and bought some 3/4 pj pants and sleeveless pj tops............we've gone from being cold to balmy summer weather in a matter of a day!! I bought the little ones new jammies too. I took them to Doughnut King, chatted with a friend in Rockmans and bought some new pants and a singlet top, and then headed home where I finished tidying, and folding washing.

Dinner was stir fried vegies plus chicken scrolls from the butcher. Yummo. I had an early night.

Sunday breakfast was Bunny's homemade McMuffin burgers, then I cleaned the beautiful Kleenmaid stove, and the beautiful kitchen, and the crappy bathroom. The kids were good, just playing and Mickey helped me out doing chores, which was great, especially as I didn't ask him to help.

Bunny came home from servicing his car, and then he put together the Ikea drawers. It took 2 1/2 hours....................but looks fantastic and is so much better having all that room. I am very happy with my purchase. The destructions were well pictured and made sense, all the bits were there and everything fitted together really well.

I picked up Billy-Joe and then unpacked some more Tupperware from downstairs, which I washed and put away, putting the rest in a bag for St. Vinnies.

I have had a couple of glasses of wine, and read some of my latest Jodie Picoult book (Vanishing Acts). Bunny is making dinner............gosh I love it when he cooks - what a turn on!!!

Holidays at the end of next week................yeehaaaa!!!





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The control freak loses control

I never got to finish that post from the other day. It was so not a good day. My headache did clear though, and now a few days later, and even though I still have headaches, they aren't as frequent or as severe.........only using paracetomol twice a day, instead of all day long.

Hot flushes a little less frequent, but I am sleeping better with the St. John's Wort and Valerian, so that's something to be happy about. Except here I was not wanting to take anymore medication, and instead I am replacing it........Although I should dwell on the positives, and think that the new stuff is a lot less damaging, but I wanted to be on nothing.......nothing.........just exist on what God gave me! You know, surely all those hormones, endorphins, serotonin, cortisone, adrenalin, and all those things...........wouldn't it be good if we were given just the right amount - so we didn't need assistance. Then on the other hand, one has to question why the benefits of herbs has been around for a very, very long time.........so then maybe it isn't just a sign of the times, there's probably always been a need for things like that.

The upshot, after speaking to good friends, friends who have knowledge, friends who love me, and those who have all the above.............. I have decided that I will ring Dr. Williams' surgery tomorrow, and see what I should do. Another option, is to see Adrian the naturopath at my chemist, who may be able to make me a brew. Another option is to try another progesterone cream. Another option is to try another natural thing. I am still on the fence about going back onto HRT.

This post is finished, I want another one which is a happy one.