WOMEN AGES 50+ FOR FEBRUARY 2021

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Replies

  • Machka9
    Machka9 Posts: 25,693 Member
    I think I would like a full month off. Off work, off appointments, off studying things, off organising. A month where I don't have to do any of the at-home stuff.

    Oh well. That's not going to happen for a while yet ... like years.

    id6y9q7l38to.png


    M in Oz
  • GodMomKim
    GodMomKim Posts: 3,708 Member
    B)
  • Machka9
    Machka9 Posts: 25,693 Member
    Machka9 wrote: »
    I think I would like a full month off. Off work, off appointments, off studying things, off organising. A month where I don't have to do any of the at-home stuff.

    Oh well. That's not going to happen for a while yet ... like years.

    M in Oz

    I would love to go on holiday like I used to do before my husband's accident where we and our bicycles would travel to some other part of the world for an extended period of time. As I say, that's not going to happen.

    However ...

    In the collection of cycling films we saw last night, one was a long cycling tour and a couple others were about shorter tours of different types.

    It got me thinking that it might be really nice to go and pitch a tent somewhere where no one else is and just be there for even only a week.


    Thank goodness I don't have uni anymore but WOW does a person's schedule ever fill up any time there's a little space available.


    M in Oz

  • skuehn48
    skuehn48 Posts: 3,074 Member
    <3
  • bananasandoranges
    bananasandoranges Posts: 2,410 Member
    edited February 2021
    Perms and curls
    I had quite straight hair. In high school used a curling iron every morning to flip back the feathered hair around my face. I used to wear light make up every day too. I would spend 15 min every morning on hair and light make up. (mascara, eyelash curler, blush maybe eyeliner on inside of eyelids, light eyeshadow). After that I almost never wore makeup that took more than 30-120 seconds (very occasionally light lipstick and/or very discrete eyeliner) and never had daily hair routine.
    I got 3 perms or so in my 30s. I loved the 1st one and then got 2 more, but only 6 months apart. It was unwise of my hairdressers to let me do so so close. By the last one was getting frizzy and not great. I liked when it grew out and was wavy, but the idea of those curlers and ammonia again seemed hard to manage, and it seemed to damage the hair.
    I went to a fancy hairdresser a few years ago and he showed me that I had a natural light wave that came out with a layered cut, and If I dry using a diffuser or sleep on wet hair, that brings out the wave. I think my hair definitely got a bit more body in the past 10 years or so. If I brush or comb my hair daily it gets straighter. If I finger comb as needed it stays more wavy. Also if I have no layers it'll be more heavy and straight so I need a bit of layers to have a bit of wave
  • exermom
    exermom Posts: 6,557 Member
    Tina CA – I’m glad to know that I’m not the only one who is getting these “questionable” friend requests. I, too, just delete them. Part of me wondered if it had something to do with my name “exermom” so I’m glad to know that that’s not it.

    Got the vaccine today. So far, no reaction. If all continues to go well, the plan is to leave early Thursday for FL

    Tracey – the one and only time I accepted a friend request even tho I didn’t recognize the name, they were friends with workaholic so I figured they were OK. Otherwise, unless I see them on here (this is the only thread on MFP that I’m involved with), I just delete them

    Suebdew – welcome back!

    Michele still in NC
  • bananasandoranges
    bananasandoranges Posts: 2,410 Member
    grateful today
    relatively good night's sleep

    Today:
    meditation DONE
    go for walk
    recumbant
    unclutter15 min
    writing
    a few calls, etc
    writing
    meeting
    writing
  • Machka9
    Machka9 Posts: 25,693 Member
    I am going to my GP in person on Monday.
    I am going to ask about my hip/back, of course.
    I am going to ask for "completely bloodwork".

    But here is the thing. I'm still making my way through menopause, and it's progressing quite nicely ... not quite there yet but nearing the finish line. WooHoo.

    However, I am having a lot of what I assume are hot flashes.
    I feel slightly nauseated and a bit dizzy like I'm coming down with something.
    Everything from my head down all the way down goes all prickly like pins and needles when you sit on your foot or have an arm under your head. But the pins and needles are mostly on my head, neck, shoulders, arms and chest ... and they're quite painful.
    Then I go really, really hot.
    And finally it eases off.
    One phase builds on the other, so I remain nauseated when the pins and needles start and right through the hot phase and the pins and needles continue through the hot phase.
    Fortunately, I guess, the whole thing is only a few minutes. But they can come one right after the other with maybe 5 or 10 minutes in between ... or maybe I won't have one for a few hours.
    Stress seems to set them off or sometimes they just come.

    I cannot use hormone replacement therapy so my gynaecologic oncologist has put me on a serotonin-based anti-depressant which is supposed to help and does sometimes, I think.

    So I'm trying to think of other solutions.

    I dress as though it were 30C, I have a fan blasting at me at work, and I use Evening Primrose Oil and a collection of other vitamins and minerals but I tend to use less than the suggested amount.

    I drink tall glasses of water and limit the amount of coffee I drink, especially hot coffee.

    And I've run out of ideas.

    Any suggestions?

    M in Oz
  • wizzywig
    wizzywig Posts: 1,246 Member
    Still catching up :)<3
  • wizzywig
    wizzywig Posts: 1,246 Member
    Katla - I can just imagine the surprise when a kitten was delivered along with the cottage cheese :D

    Heather - Bea looks well wrapped up :) This is what I look like on our morning dog walk lately, I even have some waterproof trousers to keep wind out! Yet I see people out and about not even wearing a coat, is it me? Come on people wear put a coat on, you must be freezing!

    Not sure if anyone else has noticed in their part of the world, but since lockdown here in the UK (especially York) we see more people than ever on our dog walks. We used to see the odd dog walker, but now we have to dodge joggers, kids on bikes, large families taking over the whole pavement. Never seen so many people, I think lockdown is so depressing that people would rather be outside whatever the weather. :o

    Time to go to the optician, had a bit of a problem with my eye so going to get it checked out.

    Take care <3
    Viv UK
  • auntiebk
    auntiebk Posts: 2,619 Member
    "Get to do"s and "chose well"s
    Chose well: BP, call CareCredit to confirm limit for bridge, NFIRS through Nov 2018, dogs to powerline.
    Bonus: started vehicle grant app, researched drug/alcohol policy templates, budget committee email.
    Get to do:, take BP, dogs to powerline, fire district: continue vehicle grant app, board meeting prep and meeting, input 2019 call sheets into NFIRS and start 2019, call Credit union re: credit card, ask for boots donator contact info, appreciation letter or certificate to boots donator, research effective conflict resolution, index mutual aid files; call S, call C, call R, FM Cu, watch STAS Day 20, make experimental almond paste, declutter sideboard, practice new dances (Do Your Thing, Pure Movies to Wine, Beer, Whiskey, I ain’t never gonna love nobody but Cornell Crawford (Alley cat), A Little Less Broken, One Margarita, I’m so used to being broke, All Night, Nothing but You, Blame it on my beating heart, Homesick); finish mulching flowerbed; broadcast cover crop seed in veg garden areas, invest another 10 minutes in prepping living trust, Freddie’s for complete series TDAP <$48, get Shingrix vaccine, find and configure a screen time popup, figure out where to plant naked lady bulbs, and soon as it warms up above 50 and dries out below 60% humidity I’ll tape and spray paint those rusted areas of Aunt Elsie’s stove. Reconcile Joe’s EOB’s Thrivent shows only 2263.48 so far, next BGBS ask Terry about GB’s FD firetruck tax levy – contacts, media, advocate???, call Wild Rivers (541 247 3514) for dog wash/nail trim appointments.
    Reward: inventory seeds, plan next year’s garden, wishlist replenishments,
    Friendly February:
    10: Look for the good in people, even when they frustrate you: This will be the challenge at tonight’s board meeting.

    Heather :love: the bridal pic, in awe of your talents!
    Allie ((gentle hugs)) sending balm and rest.
    Annie today was my second day in a row of less than optimal food choices. We CAN kick this pattern.
    Terri do your sheets and towels get warm in the hot press?
    Kate hope your pipes didn’t freeze (did you keep faucets dripping?) and your heat is restored already.
    Michele what a devastating loss at such an early age! :cry: Lately I’ve gotten and declined a few friend requests like that. Trolls. Safe travels!
    Margaret glad to hear your DH is getting first shot. Bless you for postponing yours on Drew’s account.
    Tracey could there be frozen water in your drain? Sure hope the pipes didn’t freeze! Messy and $pendy. “…no just your husband” ROTFLMAOWMP!
    Suebdew so VERY good to see your smiling face!
    Machka sure hope your GP can help with the nausea/hot phase/pins and needles. That sounds just awful! You make me glad that my worst menopause symptom was a decade of anger.

    Fire district grant application may require more information and compliance than we can provide. Almost hope the board decides to let it slide this year and apply what we’ve learned to one next year instead. Between that, tonight’s meeting and minutes, it may be a few days before I can check in again.

    Lighter, lovelies!
    f8qt1s098sxm.gifBarbara, the Southern Oregon Coastie AHMOD
    February: leaner/stronger/kinder than January.
    daily: sit with Joe: 10, weigh/wii: 9/11/33, steps>5627=3169, vits=9, log=9, CI<CO=7, CI<250<CO=6, Tumble=4 Shadow=6 mfp=9 outside=5 up hill=5
    wkly: BB&B,T’ai Chi or SWSY x3= rx=1 dance=1 clean 60 mins=.5 packwalk=1, wt=1/31:141.3 2/7:142  2/14: 2/21: 2/28
    mnthly: board mtg= , grant=1 , 21 plan= bonus: AF=4 play=7 sew= waist=42.5
    2021: choose to be leaner/stronger/kinder NOW
  • Machka9
    Machka9 Posts: 25,693 Member
    wizzywig wrote: »
    Not sure if anyone else has noticed in their part of the world, but since lockdown here in the UK (especially York) we see more people than ever on our dog walks. We used to see the odd dog walker, but now we have to dodge joggers, kids on bikes, large families taking over the whole pavement. Never seen so many people, I think lockdown is so depressing that people would rather be outside whatever the weather. :o

    Take care <3
    Viv UK

    When we were in shutdown here last winter, there were a lot of people out walking. :)


    M in Oz
  • cityjaneLondon
    cityjaneLondon Posts: 12,792 Member
    Viv - It's the same here. The seafront promenade is much busier than usual at this time of year. I don't go out of the house much, but DH does. I tend to go out when it's nice weather, so, if course, it's very busy. Most kids are not at school, so they do have to be taken out to work off some energy! A lot of people also bought dogs during the lockdown. Plus, if you are working from home, you need a constitutional. :)

    DH signed up for a random testing by post thing. It's to check the spread of covid in the general population, not a test for him specifically. He had to book a courier for today and make sure the test was completed by 8 am. The courier hasn't come yet. Very complicated forms and procedure, we think. Much too complicated for most people. He wasn't feeling too great with vestibular migraine and slightly wheezy chest overnight. He's OK in the daytime.

    Sun is shining, but tonight is set to be the coldest for maybe 10 years. :o
    Kate UK - I do hope you can get your boiler sorted. :sad:

    The last of my over 70 friends got her vaccination today. Pfizer. Only two have had AstraZenica. I don't think it makes much difference.

    I'm feeling confident enough to have an outdoor accidental meet up in the park at the weekend. No touching, kissing etc, just to say hello at a distance to the grandchildren. Strictly that is not allowed as you are only allowed to see one person outside at a distance. However, we will be going for a walk and accidentally come across them on our way.

    Love Heather UK xxxxxxxx
  • bananasandoranges
    bananasandoranges Posts: 2,410 Member
    grateful today
    relatively good night's sleep
    lovely walk
    bright sun reflection off the snow, feels even sunnier
    coffee out today, reading paper, standing up outside with mask in front of café
    (not really legal to linger in front of café/restaurant, but for some reasons some cafés get away with it and others not)
    fridge partly cleaned (amazing how it can need a bit in after a month) did more deep cleaning today, disassembled plastic holding up shelves and cleaned the muck under there. :s glad to get that done. a wee bit more to finish tomorrow.
    feel way better than yesterday today

    Today:
    meditation DONE
    go for walk DONE
    unclutter 15 min DONE
    recumbant -later during a writing break
    writing
    a few calls, etc
    writing
    meeting 2pm (in school with many people, my role is minor or passive-on radio mode eating lunch I think, I may not speak or even put on video)
    writing
    iron -later during a writing break
    Snowflake1968 wrote: »
    Although to be fair, when I ask he helps I just hate asking.

    @Snowflake1968 Tracey, I think you have to ask. It's your responsibility. I think asking guys to step up is a way to help them become more aware, and in fact they tend to appreciate it in the long run. They are more a partner and not an old-fashioned guy. Also asking him for help when you need it is part of keeping yourself well, to help you to be there for him and also for others longterm.
    I would say on average women tend to intuit and step in and help more without as much asking, and men tend to need more specific requests. But in this day and age, I'd say many (even among us over 50s) are up for the challenge, to become part of a more "balanced" partnership, where everyone "wins" in the end.
    Machka9 wrote: »
    However, I am having a lot of what I assume are hot flashes.
    I feel slightly nauseated and a bit dizzy like I'm coming down with something.
    Everything from my head down all the way down goes all prickly like pins and needles when you sit on your foot or have an arm under your head. But the pins and needles are mostly on my head, neck, shoulders, arms and chest ... and they're quite painful.
    Then I go really, really hot.
    And finally it eases off.
    One phase builds on the other, so I remain nauseated when the pins and needles start and right through the hot phase and the pins and needles continue through the hot phase.
    Fortunately, I guess, the whole thing is only a few minutes. But they can come one right after the other with maybe 5 or 10 minutes in between ... or maybe I won't have one for a few hours.
    Stress seems to set them off or sometimes they just come.

    @Machka9 I never had serious hot flashes and possible not at all. Nothing to speak of. My older sister had long and many. (Tank top in cold winter with sweaters on and off all the time for a long time).Your symptoms sound very strong. I'm so sorry. I wonder if it only hot flashes or a parallel thing (painful pins and needles and nausea), exacerbated by the stress of hot flashes. The blood work up sounds wise.
    I was perhaps only lucky, but I was one of the 25% that didn't get them to speak of, I also eat tons of soy: soy milk, soy yogurt, tofu. And it is said "A 2015 analysis of 10 studies found that plant isoflavones from soy and other sources reduced hot flashes by 11 percent"
    So the soy didn't hurt anyway.

  • bananasandoranges
    bananasandoranges Posts: 2,410 Member
    weight a bit up, I haven't been tracking well lately. need to knuckle down.
  • Machka9
    Machka9 Posts: 25,693 Member
    bananasandoranges wrote: »
    Machka9 wrote: »
    However, I am having a lot of what I assume are hot flashes.
    I feel slightly nauseated and a bit dizzy like I'm coming down with something.
    Everything from my head down all the way down goes all prickly like pins and needles when you sit on your foot or have an arm under your head. But the pins and needles are mostly on my head, neck, shoulders, arms and chest ... and they're quite painful.
    Then I go really, really hot.
    And finally it eases off.
    One phase builds on the other, so I remain nauseated when the pins and needles start and right through the hot phase and the pins and needles continue through the hot phase.
    Fortunately, I guess, the whole thing is only a few minutes. But they can come one right after the other with maybe 5 or 10 minutes in between ... or maybe I won't have one for a few hours.
    Stress seems to set them off or sometimes they just come.

    @Machka9 I never had serious hot flashes and possible not at all. Nothing to speak of. My older sister had long and many. (Tank top in cold winter with sweaters on and off all the time for a long time).Your symptoms sound very strong. I'm so sorry. I wonder if it only hot flashes or a parallel thing (painful pins and needles and nausea), exacerbated by the stress of hot flashes. The blood work up sounds wise.
    I was perhaps only lucky, but I was one of the 25% that didn't get them to speak of, I also eat tons of soy: soy milk, soy yogurt, tofu. And it is said "A 2015 analysis of 10 studies found that plant isoflavones from soy and other sources reduced hot flashes by 11 percent"
    So the soy didn't hurt anyway.

    I'm pretty sure it's all related. That combination is quite common ... only some women don't have much in the way of perimenopause symptoms and many women use HRT. I'm one of the few who has lots of symptoms but can't use HRT.

    I've been having the dizziness and occasional hot flashes for a decade now. I've been having the combo I mentioned for about 5 years ... only the first few years the hot flashes weren't quite as frequent but they were longer and more intense. Now they're more frequent but shorter and milder.

    It's just frustrating because I'm nauseated a lot during the day and in particular on my bus rides home which is really starting to stress me out. It's kind of like a self-fullfilling prophecy. About 5 seconds after I get on the bus I have a hot flash, I think because I figure I'm going to have one and it's going to be really uncomfortable and I'm going to be scrambling to remove as much clothing as I can while people are piling onto the bus. So I stress myself out!

    Fortunately, in those 5 years I have had months where there have been no hot flashes. And right after I finished university, I stopped having them for a bit ... but since December, I've had appointments and deadlines and things again, and they've been back.

    M in Oz



  • KJLaMore
    KJLaMore Posts: 2,847 Member
    Good morning all! Happy Wednesday! An update on stuff:
    The medicine cabinet was finally hung on Sunday evening! lol It took Tim and Colin a good hour/hour and a half to hang it (squabbles about the right way to do things); but it is up. Finally! Next project: putting up shelves above my large window in the living room (for my books only).
    My licensing consultant will be here tomorrow! Yea! So...I will have my license in hand by the end of the month! Yea!

    Tracey- I really enjoying shoveling on the weekends, when I have the time to take my time to get it done. I don't mind it too much on weekdays, but I have to get out earlier and/or move faster to get it done before my families arrive. Today is the first day in four days that I didn't have to get up and shovel. (And my back is grateful for that!). There are a lot of things that I always think about having someone do for me; but then I think of my late mother in law. As she got older she had people doing pretty much everything for her, and I really think that led to her death. The deterioration of muscles, strength, energy...I am pretty sure she just felt like she didn't have a reason to get up and do anything anymore. :( I do think my job keeps me young (at heart).
    Machka- We must be around the same place in menopause. My hot flashes are like that, only without the nausea. But the pins and needles pain, extreme heat, and the horrible dizziness is there. Mine seems to happen when I am stressed, (well, stressed more than normal). I will have flash after flash, that lasts for about a day. Then it will go away for a few weeks. Writing it down, here, to tell you about it, makes me think I need to document my flashes in my journal (where I used to document my cycles). Because, now that I don't have regular cycles, I wonder if the flashes are coming at the same time my cycles would have been coming. Hmmmm. I never gave up coffee with mine. I don't think I would. I don't think I could stand the withdrawal symptoms along with the flashes.
    Suebdew - Hello dear friend! I am so glad you and your hubby are getting around and getting stronger! I will be interested to know how the shots work for you, both! I am planning to get to TX next month to visit my grandsons, although Covid restrictions will most likely keep us (you and I) from visiting; know that I am thinking of you and hope to be able to visit again with you (and Cathy in ARlington) soon!
    Pip- Love the flooring!
    Beth- Congrats on the mortgage pay off! Yea! That is a life goal for me!

    Well, pancake day for the kiddos. I better get cooking. ttfn xoxoxo KJ (Kelly)
  • margaretturk
    margaretturk Posts: 5,295 Member
    Tracey I am finding our 1to 10 below with 15-25 below wind chill challenging enough. Stay safe my friend in your neck of the woods.

    DH made appointment for shot when I was checking on son's house and a quick errand. I saw remenants of bad accident on the way to son's. Felt so bad for them to have to deal with this in this freezing weather. No one appeared to be hurt at least.

    DH is going three hours one way north and will have wind chills in the negative 20's when he goes so to take Drew unless we leave car running in that frigid temp is not practical. I am not even taking her out in the car around here. We have had car jackings where they take the car with a dog inside the car. Fortunately it was warmer when this happened and they let the dogs out and they were found and returned to their owners. Now it is so cold you cannot leave a dog in a car without risking your dog getting frostbite.

    I have a cousin who lives in the community of Buffalo, Minnesota that was on the news yesterday. She is in California right now and her husband could hear the helicopters overhead, so they were safe. They go to that clinic for their medical care so scary for them and sad for their community.

    Just about half way through cold snap, so light at the end of the tunnel.

    In our short jaunts outside I end up carrying Drew for at least a third of it because her paws get too cold. I reward her with find the treat games and chase her toys, so we are making it through this.
  • cityjaneLondon
    cityjaneLondon Posts: 12,792 Member
    Just ordered Bea a new warm, padded coat for her birthday. I think I will give it to her early for our cold weather. It has a big rainbow on the back and the sleeves zip off to make a gilet. :D DDIL said she wanted one, but I was worried that March was a bit late. I can give her a small extra on the actual day.
    Got 20% off and free delivery!

    Love Heather UK xxxxxxxx
  • exermom
    exermom Posts: 6,557 Member
    If anyone would be interested in this Shape Cardio Bikini Body DVD for the price of the shipping, pm me. For me, it's just too "dancy". I do think if someone likes dance, this is probably a beginner DVD

    Michele NC
  • pipcd34
    pipcd34 Posts: 17,361 Member
    4-8 inches scheduled to snow in Tacoma. We don’t have to ride in in anymore. Kirby is happy about that. Today, sunny and high of 66
  • sh0tzz99
    sh0tzz99 Posts: 973 Member
    Machka9 wrote: »
    I would love to go on holiday like I used to do before my husband's accident where we and our bicycles would travel to some other part of the world for an extended period of time. As I say, that's not going to happen.

    However ...

    In the collection of cycling films we saw last night, one was a long cycling tour and a couple others were about shorter tours of different types.

    It got me thinking that it might be really nice to go and pitch a tent somewhere where no one else is and just be there for even only a week.


    Thank goodness I don't have uni anymore but WOW does a person's schedule ever fill up any time there's a little space available.


    M in Oz

    What about staycations? We did that for Christmas one year and it was wonderful. We just went downtown and stayed in a hotel, ate dinner out and enjoyed having no chores in front of us. You could do that with the bikes. Go camping on the other side of the island, perhaps?

    I agree about the time getting filled. When I finished my university programs, I seemed to be busier than ever. The time just gets filled with other stuff...like all the stuff you didn't do when you were studying. I have since managed to cut back on that "stuff" and take some time for myself. For example, exercise is easy for me to push aside, because I don't like it. Now, I make it a priority for my own health. Instead, I just don't obsess about cleaning my house. The dirt will still be there another day.

    Tina in CA
  • sh0tzz99
    sh0tzz99 Posts: 973 Member
    Machka9 wrote: »

    I'm pretty sure it's all related. That combination is quite common ... only some women don't have much in the way of perimenopause symptoms and many women use HRT. I'm one of the few who has lots of symptoms but can't use HRT.

    I've been having the dizziness and occasional hot flashes for a decade now. I've been having the combo I mentioned for about 5 years ... only the first few years the hot flashes weren't quite as frequent but they were longer and more intense. Now they're more frequent but shorter and milder.

    It's just frustrating because I'm nauseated a lot during the day and in particular on my bus rides home which is really starting to stress me out. It's kind of like a self-fullfilling prophecy. About 5 seconds after I get on the bus I have a hot flash, I think because I figure I'm going to have one and it's going to be really uncomfortable and I'm going to be scrambling to remove as much clothing as I can while people are piling onto the bus. So I stress myself out!

    Fortunately, in those 5 years I have had months where there have been no hot flashes. And right after I finished university, I stopped having them for a bit ... but since December, I've had appointments and deadlines and things again, and they've been back.

    M in Oz



    My sister said when she started doing intermittent fasting leveled her hormones and her hot flashes stopped. I don't know why that would matter, but perhaps it's worth a try?

    I have the hot/cold flashes too. It seems to happen when I'm bundled up a lot or sitting in the sun, so I'm not 100% convinced that is what they are, but that's probably it after my health issues the past few months. They are not severe. I don't even sweat. I feel like I'm going to break out in a sweat, but then they stop. The weather is funky here right now and since we don't have insulation in our house, it's hard to get the indoor temperature just right. It's cold on one side of the house and hot as "the dickens" (as my grandparents said) on the other side. So, I wear a lot of layers and they are off and on all day long.

    Wish I had more advice. I'm just now learning about all the symptoms "horrors" of menopause and am trying to pass it on to my younger sisters and other women who aren't quite there yet. I think our society does women a disservice by making it taboo to talk openly about "women issues."

    Tina in CA


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