spy153's Blog

Lol, there were so many here, I almost couldn't get them copied to paste in here!

I'm not bragging.  I'm mainly keeping track here.  But I am definitley having a good time with this !

That's what it's all about, right?

I know there are others here that are waaaaaaaaaaay better than me., too.  I look up to them.  I wish I knew how they do it. 

To all those who lost loved ones and prescious memories last night in the storms, I would like to express my deepest sympathy for you and your family.  Last night was scary for all of us.  God Bless! 63 tornadoes touched down across the Mississippi Valley last night.  Many lost loved ones.  Many lost memories.  Many lost their homes.  I wish I could give you all hugs.

After a horrible morning already (stupid hubby problems!  )  I needed to see this today.  I could go off on a rant here real easy., but I will just leave it at this.... He isn't doing the male gender any favors right now.  It's men like him who ruin it for the rest of the bunch.  But seeing these this morning made me feel a little better.  Oh, GOD, I would love to win the jackpot tonight!!!!!   

    I must be dreaming while awake again. 

First Mega Millions, now Powerball? 

 I don't drink, but if I did.... cheers, love! 

Say hello to the biggest dummy of all time, when it comes to menopause.  Me.  Most doctors I have had the displeasure of knowing will not take the time to answer all of my questions regarding this particular phase of life.  So,  I would like to put an official list on the Internet so those looking for answers like I was can find them here.  Perimenopause can come on anywhere between the ages of 35 and 60, depending on your family history, lifestyle and dietary habits. 

Possible symptoms of Perimenopause:

Hot flashes

Mood swings

Decreased sexual drive

Increased sexual drive

Weight gain

Difficulty concentrating

Heart palpitations

Migraine headaches

Irregular and /or heavy periods

Involuntary urine release and bladder urgency

Insomnia

Vaginal dryness and painful intercourse

Panic Attacks

Nerve endings causing a rash around the neck (possibly other areas too)

 Aching joints and muscles

Chin whiskers

Night sweats (When you have a hot flash at night, drenched in sweat)

Thinning hair

Sudden chills after a hot flash.

What's causing all the ruckus?  These are physiological responses to the body's declining level of estrogen.  And it is all a perfectly normal and a natural process of life.  It is that dreaded "Change" we've all heard so little about.

Not every woman will have symptoms of perimenopause.  Most women do not have every symptom listed above.  75% of women who report having symptoms of perimenopause report having hot flashes.  So chances are good, you will too.  The best defense against these are drinking plenty of cold water throughout the day and taking a multivitamin that includes ALL of the B-vitamins to help regulate body temperature.  Often times, this will put an end to them right here.  But there are plenty of options available, including Hormone replacement therapy, lifestyle changes, behavioral changes, or dietary changes.   That's why they call it "the change."  You have to change everything.  Explore them all. 

You will notice most of the symptoms are anxiety related. The Migraines, insomnia, nerve rash on the neck, heart palpitations and panic attacks can all be helped by listening to classical music.  Vivaldi, Mozart and others in d minor.  It has been reported that this kind of music will work with the alpha waves in your brain., creating relaxation.  "Elevator music" is what I always called it, but it works pretty good most days.  Try not to eat a lot of meat.  Eat vegetables and carbohydrates.  And keeping your weight in check will be a huge benefit.    I know this sounds like a contradiction in terms, "eat carbs and keep your weight in check."  Believe me, you will feel better.  Walking daily only 30 minutes or an hour will help to reduce stress significantly.  If you can not do this, as I was agoraphobic for a while, buy a treadmill and try that.  Or walk around your home while others are there to make sure you are okay.  Don't be afraid to do this.  I know how scary it is to worry about passing out and no one being there to help you.  If 30 minutes doesn't help you sleep better at night, try an hour.  If you feel like you need a better workout, please feel free to do more.  All you can do is help yourself at this point.  The more exercise you can do the better.  Never put undue stress on yourself unless it is an emergency.  Take care of you.  If you don't feel like doing spring cleaning this year, don't.  Or hire someone else to do it for you.  If you can't muster up the strength to drive, don't.  Let your body adjust to the changes and then make a go of it.  Doctors and others will make you feel as if you HAVE to try to press through when you are feeling like you can't.  DON'T.  You may just have to take off from driving for a while and make other arrangements until you feel better.  I had an aunt who had to stop driving for 8 years.  What benefit would it have done her to put herself through undue stress everyday?  This is a long term thing and adjustments have to be made until your body has finished the process.  When it is all over, you can go back to being the socialite-athlete-superwoman you once were.  You can even come back stronger if you take care of yourself.  But just for now, relax.  Do what you need to so you can take care of YOU. 

Symptoms typically last two to ten years, officially, but I have heard of women going through these symptoms for 20+ years.  Don't worry, 20+ years is normal.  There's nothing wrong with you just because yours is lasting longer or shorter than the others.  When your periods stop for a full twelve months, doctors consider this to be menopause.   Often times, your symptoms will end once your body has adjusted to the new level of estrogen. 

Foods that can  help:

Baked potatoes

Sweet potatoes (No syrup)

Whole grains and fiber 

Lots of Vegetables of all kinds and colors should be a big part of your diet.

Ice cold water

Things that can help not listed above:

Prayer

Daily meditation 

Laughter

A physical

A pap smear

A colonoscopy  (Surgery may stop panic attacks due to colon problems)

Educational materials on menopause/panic attacks/perimenopause 

People... (some may wish to avoid crowds, but people in general will help you focus on something other than your health condition) including reading to your children or helping them with their homework.  Spending time in general with people sometime throughout the day.

Gardening, playing freesbie, reading, volunteer work, painting and other relaxing activities...

Keeping your environment clean and clutter free

Take mental vacations by going through travel magazines or visiting travel websites. 

Invest in a water purifier

Repainting your living space to relaxing colors.  Relaxing to me may be yellow but pink to you- so whatever feels best.  If you paint it the wrong color, don't worry.  It's only paint.  You can redo it or have it redone.

Placing more rounded objects in your living/working spaces as opposed to boxy-type pieces of furniture.  Studies show these to be softer and more flowing to your emotional health. 

Things to refrain from during this time:

Caffeine in any shape, form or fashion.  (coffee, tea, soda pop, chocolate, certain medications, diet pills)

Sugary foods (junk foods such as ice cream, candy bars, candy, etc..)

Alcohol. 

Hot liquids, especially spicy hot soups and coffee.

Smoking 

If you have panic attacks, in addition to above, but only if you find it bothers you and not simply because I say it will: 

Aspirin

Decongestants

Antihistamines (including Dramamine and meclizine)

Loud, racy music

High traffic areas

High places in general

Amusement parks

Loud sporting/recreational events

Scary/horror/action/drama films, television shows and plays

Largely crowded areas

Lying in the sun too long

Working in the sun too long

Overexposure to ANY heat source

Tunnels, caves, elevators, small rooms, etc...

Smoking sections and smoke filled rooms

Risky people who refuse to be considerate to your needs

Flying

Heavy fumes of any kind

Diet pills, patches and creams (even the decaf kind) because of certain herbal steroids in the active ingredients.

Yep, it can be tough.  But remember this, every woman over the age of 60 has gone through it and they survived.  Like giving birth, it's scary.  It's big.  But it's doable.  Talking to others about it helps to let you know you are not alone and not feel so scared by it. 

Now, I know this has been a long post.  Like I said, I did it so others would be able to get some information to answer some questions like I had when I first started and had no one to turn to, or so I felt.  This will always be attainable through a google search., albeit lost in a sea of other results, and helpful for others.

Let me just first say I would love it if I could do that and know where they were going to come out.  Then I would love to be able to make them come out on either Mega millions or Powerball.  I won some money on Mega Millions the last two draws., which made me ecstatic.  It wasn't much money, only the mb a couple of times and a three and 0 on another.  But it was something in a long stretch of nothings.

Wouldn't it be nice?  Lounge around in the sun with the warm ocean breeze blowing all over your body?  Ohhhhhhhhhhh!  I ache for the beach !  I don't drink anymore, but use to I would be sipping on a pina colada.  Isn't that blue water hypnotic?  Maybe this year I will try a non-acloholic version.  This is MY idea of a vacation.  Swim, sand and sun!  I hope I can enjoy something like this, this year, without any hot flashes !  Last year was too hot ! 

My dvi cable for my monitor has gone out.  I know, they only cost about twenty bucks, but I could not get one last night.  No one was open.  So, today I am stuck on the good old laptop.  Which has none of my databases on it.  Which means I can get nothing done today as far as my numbers predictions go.  Then, when I do get it later today, it will be hard wiring heck for the evening.  Why can't they build these things to last?  When I bought my monitor, it was almost 400 dollars.  You would think for that kind of money, it would last longer than a couple of years.

If you have made it your new year's resolution to quit smoking this year, let me be the first to commend you.  It's easier than you think, just try keeping these things in mind----constantly!

-----For your afterlife, do you want smoking or non?  Heaven and Hell are real places to me.  I can not see walking into Heaven with a cigarette in my hand.  And the only other place "smoking" is...well, you know.  But that is the kind of smoking no one could enjoy.

-----God says he will "destroy those who are destroying the earth,"  in Rev 11:18 of the KJV.  If you think that isn't you, just blow some smoke through a white washcloth or piece of  white toilet paper.  All that stuff is going somewhere.  It is also going inside the lungs of little babies who have no choice in the matter.  Then try cleaning that out of that wash cloth.  It isn't easy.  It takes very hot water and detergent.  Then some bleach to destroy the fungus residue left behind.  And that is the stuff you are pumping into your lungs everyday! 

-------You already know it is destroying your health.  But what you may not know is it is also like taking a big fat pain pill every single day and you can not possibly tell what is wrong with you if you aren't feeling it.  I quit year before last.  I use to smoke 2 packs a day, sometimes 3 if I didn't sleep well.  I use to get colds and the flu almost all the time.  One of the last years smoking, I got pnuemonia.  Do you know I have only had a cold one day since I quit?  And the flu for one week? (The flu would not have lasted that long if I could have taken something for it, but I couldn't because that kind of medication makes my panic attacks worse.) 

-------It is destroying your nerves.  You may not think much of those now, but in your later years, you are going to need those in perfect condition.  Life has a funny way of testing you more the older you get.  If you destroy them now, what will be left when you are older? 

-------If you find all too often that you are running short of money when you need it most, ask yourself if it doesn't have anything to do with your smoking habit.  What brand do you smoke?  Are you smoking the most expensive stuff on the market?  Why? Not only are you killing yourself, but you are paying someone top dollar to make sure you do it. 

-------Try buying the worst brand of cigarettes you can think of.  For instance, if you smoke regular cigarettes, try buying menthol 110's.  The displeasure of it will encourage you to quit.

-------Make a point to walk 30 minutes to and hour everyday.  It has to be just strenuous enough to take your breath away.  Why?  So you will appreciate what breath you have.  And then there's that whole endorphins thing that will make you feel better and boost your self-esteem.

-------Smoking is just another way people try to fill in the missing gaps of their lives.  Ask what it is you are missing?  Spirituality?  Love? Friendship?  Why not just go out and get that stuff instead?  I can guarantee it will make you feel better in the long run than that old stupid cigarette.  Someone once asked me why I didn't read romance novels since I'm such romance freak.  All I could do was look at her, puzzled.  "Why read about it when you can live it?"  I asked.    And I do. 

-------People try to say God isn't real, but just why do you suppose scientists can't make a human being?  Because God is the only one who can give us the breath of life. (Gen 2.7 KJV) It is a prescious gift.  And when we smoke, we are wasting that gift.  Corrupting it.  Without it we can not live.  (Gen 6:17 KJV)

-------Pray everyday.  Spend at least 5 minutes in prayer everyday.  The time isn't so much important as the act of doing it everyday and making a connection with God.  Make a routine of it.  This will nourish your spirit.  In turn, your spirit will help heal you.  Not to mention the wonderous things that a relationship with God will do for you.

-------Whenever you are feeling a craving for a cigarette, try eating a piece of candy.  If you are diebetic, you can use a piece with splenda in it.  The sugar in the candy, even the little bit with splenda, will help your brain create the same feel good chemicals that smoking does.  This fools your brain into thinking it had a cigarette without all the bad side effects of actually smoking.    And give your hands something to do as in fiddeling with a rubberband or trying to roll a pen between your fingers. 

If you still want a cigarette, pick up something with a little weight to it, like a heavy candle and do some arm curls with it.  Try to let the arm hang down by your side and lift it while keeping your elbow into your side.   I promise, in no longer than 30 minutes, the craving will go away and the next one will not come around until much later.  No you are not going to be sitting there doing arm curls all day long.  Try it and see for yourself.  But you will be doing arm curls quite a bit at first.  Or sit ups, if you can, are better.    The  point here is to use up any anxious energy you may feel as a result of wanting a cigarette.  Plus,  it passes the time faster as opposed to just sitting there wanting one. 

You can also try striking up a good conversation.  Play a handheld video game.  Send some text messages.  You get the point.

--------While you are quitting, you will probably be coughing up a bunch of junk.  The longer you smoked, the more you will cough up.  Don't worry, it's a good thing.

   Here's to more good news for the future !

I almost NEVER get two nights in a row with good results on the two biggies (powerball and mega millions.)  Usually, I'll do good on one and terrible on the other.  Maybe this is the start of something better?  Wish me luck.  And the Missouri lotto?  Wow!  Calfifornia Superlotto Plus?  Cool.    I see others do this all of the time on here.  But I never expected me to do it.  So, I am ecstatic.

-  I would love it if someone would invent a bra that didn't cut me in half.  Why do they assume women with big breasts are small built in their upper frame?  I have the classic  V figure.  Traditional bras are murder on me.  I don't think I have ever seen a woman who's big breasted that were real and had a small upper body frame.  Naturally big breasted women tend to be athletic and have beautiful faces with smaller hips.  So we need a bra that can work with us.  Not hurt us! It does little good to have a beautiful face if it is scrunched up in pain all day.

-  High heels with egonomic cushions on the soles.  (Invisible please!)   Do they really have to hurt so bad?  I love wearing high heels but hate the side effects.  And what's up with all these shoes that want to cut off your circulation to your toes?  Its as if the only people designing the high heels in the world are people who hate those who actually wear them !!!

-  An all cotton material that doesn't shrink. 

And here's a concept, how about a movie that is funny for adults and doesn't involve sexual content or cussing?  Implied sex is fine.  Just don't want to see it.  Some of us consider that "looking on someone else's nakedness"., which is something I don't believe in. 

-  An excel add in that just does random numbers based on the numbers we have already put in.  I use to have this function on another computer., so I know that it exists, but not in a stand alone add in for anyone to download for just any version.  There are add ins available to download for free, but they are not automated.  I want one that lets me set it up to my specifications and then is automated.  I don't want to have to keep setting it up.  Or do it in a different window than the one I am working in.

-  Jewel weed juice.  All natual jewel weed juiced up and bottled.  No artificial anything or you will compromise it's uses.  I realize this comes in a creme, but they all contain other ingredients.  I want the juice in its natural form., with the leaves.  Currently, the only way to get that is buying a pound of the stuff or picking it from your yard (which I'm not good at) and juicing it yourself.  No, I don't want to drink it.

- A measuring tool that would allow you to mark off an uneven wall.  Jagged even.    Would be nice to not have to inch it along a jagged wall when laying tile pieces.  More like a template maker in a tool much like a measuring tape.

These are just a few I would like to see developed.  Some nights I have gobs of ideas.  Most though, come from just daily necessity.

Could a slipped disk be cured by walking?

    I can't say that I was diagnosed with a slipped disk.  But, then my doctor will not tell me the truth about what all is wrong with me.  You might not want to believe it, but neither does yours.  Don't believe me?  Ask to read your own medical file and see what a fit they give you.  I had one doctor tell me there was no such test to tell if someone having hallucinations or not.  Then I pulled out a standard text book for pre-med students that I obtained while on a trip visiting my aunt who is a professor for medical school.  (did I say that right?)  I found it interesting reading, and was curious if my doctor was on the up and up.  Turns out  NO!  The doctors available to me, any and all of them, are so far behind on their information.  Anyway, I told you that to get me to this.

    I had a car accident 7 years ago that left untold damage to my back and other parts of my body.  Like I said, the doctors in my area are not very good., either because they choose to be that way or are sworn to be, but in either case, not very good.  My back has been "thrown" easy ever since.  Even lifting a basket of laundry to carry it from one room to the next seemed to pull every muscle in my back out.  But something wonderful happened to me yesterday. 

    As a part of my new year's resolution, I set out to lose some weight.  I already eat pretty good but lacking in the exercise department severely.  So I humbled myself to begin with 30 minutes (If I could do it without passing out or having a panic attack) only at 1.5 mph, which is a very slow pace.  (I say humbled myself because I use to run 5 miles a day, 5 days a week.  And only last summer I was doing 3 miles 3 times a week.)  You see, it got to where I couldn't even walk on the treadmill 10 minutes without my head spinning and chest tightening and felt as if I would pass out.  I never even felt that way after a 15 mile road march!  So, while I was out paying bills and shopping for dinner, my head started spinning and my chest was tight.  I felt since I was like that anyway, I might as well do the treadmill thing.  I figured it might even make me feel better.  I already felt bad.  So, I put on some ear buds and cranked up the mp3 player.  I did my usual routine that I do when I am having a panic attack, I tried to distract myself with unusual noises and sights.  It was terrible, I will not lie.  My chest felt like it was going to explode.  I was breathing fine, but felt like someone was holding a plastic bag over my head.  My back was jumping and twitchy and felt like it could snap at any moment.  I had only been walking for twenty minutes!

    Then it happened.  A few little pops from my lower spine.  One huge pop from my upper part of the spine.  I actually felt it sliiiiiiiiide over into place!  Then a lot of pain. 

    I had popped my back all kinds of ways before, just stretching.  So I figured this to be nothing. But, I noticed the constant, blunt pain in my back, opposite my left lung, that I had for over a year now, was gone.  And with each passing moment, it was feeling better.  My chest wasn't as tight as time passed too.  I continued to walk out the 30 minutes on the treadmill.  But when I stopped and got off of the treadmill, I felt kind of like you would after getting off of a really wild roller coaster.  So I "brought myself down" by walking backwards in a circle for another 10 minutes.  (This is a good technique to distract yourself if you are ever worried)  Then some stretches so I wouldn't be sore later.

    For the first time in over a year, I got to lay down in my bed and not feel like someone has stuck a brick under my heart.

It's snowing!  I love the snow.....And, in my family, when it snows on New Year's Day or Christmas, it means "new beginnings"  and good ones to boot. So glad to see it coming down out there. 

I wonder, does anyone else have a superstition about New Year's Day in their famiy?  Would you share it?