HEALTH Archives • Page 16 of 56 • New Nostalgia

Beauty/ FAMILY/ HEALTH/ Marriage/ Natural Products

16 Easy Ways To Get Ready For A Hot Date

I have a hot date with my man tonight. He asked me out via email this week which was pretty cute.

We are going out to dinner. I am not sure where yet. We have a few gift certificates to chose from thanks to my sweet Cali friend Karen and her hubs. When I was sick and healing, they sent the most amazing love gift through the mail to our family. It was a stack of gift cards, some to use as a family, some to use just for Todd and I. It was an amazing gift and it has been so fun using them!

I have the afternoon free, and I thought it would be fun after a busy work week to just spend some time on me! I want to look nice for my sweet husband, and I love a chance to get dolled up. I am a licensed cosmetologist and have not worked in the field for over 13 years, but that doesn’t keep me from wanting to use my skills every once in awhile!

Here are some of the things I am planning on doing. I got all of the ideas from my Beauty Tips & Inspiration Boards at Pinterest. The first few have been shared here at New Nostalgia, and the rest of them are great ideas found on Pinterest. All links lead you to the pin, then the link. Make sure to repin if you are interested, and if you love them, follow the board!

You don’t have to be a professional to do any of these things, and many of them I do on a regular basis–like the 2 ingredient lemon scrub.

So here is what I plan on doing this afternoon:

(1) I will wash my face using the oil cleansing method, but first I will use my (2) 2 ingredient lemon scrub. While that is on I will get out my go-to coconut oil and put it to work by putting it in my dry hair. This is my (3) favorite moisturizing hair treatment using coconut oil.

While that is in, I will get out my blue mouth guard, and (4) whiten teeth for cheap. This works and it has been way too long since I have done it. I am a coffee and tea drinker, so I need to keep up on this to keep my pearly whites.

After I let the coconut oil sit in my hair awhile, before I get in the shower I will quickly (5) dry brush my skin–click through for why. On my way into the shower I will grab my absolute favorite (6) coconut-lime sugar scrub, and use the shaving technique that I rave about in that post. Before turning off the water and exiting the shower, I will use (7) coconut oil as a moisturizer. I quick slather it on, then rinse it off. It is so great to towel off and know my skin is already moisturized and there is no need for lotion. Boom! Big time- saver.

I will get out of the shower, comb and dry my hair, and (8) try this braided half-up half-down tutorial. I want to (9) bobby pins that are brought to life with nail polish, for a bit of fun color and sparkle. If the braided tutorial bombs, will fall back on my favorite (10) tutorial for a messy bun.

I’m going to (11) darken my eyebrows, I could not believe the before and after pics on the tutorial. I will use an eyebrow pencil, not dye.

I plan on wearing skinny jeans with heels, but if they are dirty–I’m so behind in laundry right now– I might try out this (12) tip for tucking non-skinny jeans into boots. I have a pair of high heeled boots that I save for date nights.

I want to try and (13) tie my scarf like this, I have a grey sparkly, striped scarf that I think would work well. If I resort to the messy bun, I may ditch the neck (14) scarf and tie one around my bun like this.

I will (15) layer on my rings to pack a punch and (16) layer on bracelets for a bit of sparkle. I have these in black & grey.

It sound like a lot, but I’m pretty good at getting ready fast, so it shouldn’t take too long. Even if it does, we ladies need to spend some time for ourselves, and this is one way I like to do that!

What are your favorite ways to get ready for a date?
What are your favorite beauty tips?

Cancer Journey/ HEALTH/ Spiritual

Faith As Small as A Mustard Seed–Or A Cancer Cell

{source}

I’m linking up with Lisa-Jo Baker and the writers of Five Minute Friday – would love for you to join us! Today’s writing prompt is: Small.

GO.

This nagging fear…it is small but there.

I am year 3 going on year 4. Remission.

Remission. Not cured.

Remission. I’m not sure what it really means.

In all honesty, to me, it means paused. We are on hold, holding our breath to see if something so small,
so minuscule, unseen by the human eye,

will travel,

take root, grow, and uproot our lives again.

A cancer cell. It only takes one to attract others. They gather together, divide and have a tumor party. If this happens in an organ, for me, the party on this earth will be over.

Year 3 going on year 4 is a critical time. It is not time to exhale yet. It is almost long enough for the small to become large enough to reveal itself in symptoms & scans.

Speaking of symptoms, these small aches and pains. They cause a small pause within the pause. We tell ourselves they are side effects. We pray they stay small, yes, to stay bearable, but mostly to stay benign.

{source}

In these times I reach for my faith. As small as a mustard seed, yet I can move mountains. This is His promise to me.

A small seed of belief. When given to Him, he plants it and grows a tree. Shade for this aching body to rest and refresh. We sit under together, I tell Him my fear. I thank Him for the shade and this view of life. I realize that paused and planting seeds is beautiful, indeed. I believe and see, the biggest party is yet to be.

STOP.

HEALTH/ Sponsored

7 Ways To Avoid Sickness & Help Your Immunity System

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Fellowes for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

We are smack in the middle of cold and flu season, and natural ways to help build my families immunity and avoid germs is certainly been on my mind!
Here are the 7 main ways we have been fighting colds, allergies, and flu viruses. So far so good this year!

1. Green Smoothies
Lately I have been adding yogurt to our go to our go-to green smoothie recipe. We use coconut milk yogurt. It helps build good gut flora. A healthy digestive system is critical to a healthy immune system. You must be able to absorb the vital nutrients that the body needs.

2. Vitamins
We love Shaklee around here. The kids chewables are great. My girls take a multi-vitamin and extra vitamin D specifically for immunity. I have been setting my phone alarm to remind me to remind them to take their vitamins! I love how it allows me to name the alarm, and give each specific alarm a specific tone. Consistency is key when taking supplements.

3. Immunity Building Soup
We enjoy lots of soup during cold and flu season. It is a warm and comforting way to get my kids to eat their vegetables!

Here are 2 of our family’s favorite soup recipes:
Cleansing Chicken Vegetable Soup
French Lentil Soup

4. Elderberry
I am new to Elderberry, but have been SO AMAZED by it. I used it during my battle with an infection after surgery, and amazed my doctor with my bodies ability to keep the infection at bay in just the skin area. Because infection did not go all througout my body (like expected) they were able to go ahead with reconstructive surgery and get rid of all infection which was contained in a very small area.
Elderberry syrup tastes amazing. We get it from our local health food store. Take a couple teaspoons a few times a day throughout the days when you feel worn down or a cold coming on. I’ve done this several times with my family and it seems to stop the dreaded cold in its tracks. A sore throat turns into nothing the next day. I know many people who use it coupled with Vitamin D on a daily basis througout the cold and flu season as an extra insurance to stay sickeness free.

5. Washing hands
I make sure I encourage my family to wash their hands. Key moments are when my girls get home from school, before their afternoon snack; after using the restroom (of course); after blowing ones nose; and before eating meals.

6. Wiping down surfaces
I usually just use vinegar and water as my main cleaning soloution. If there are lots of cold and flu viruses going around, or if any of my family members are sick, I make my own natural disinfectant.

7. Fellowes AeraMax technology air purifier
Fellowes AeraMax™ DX-55 is another thing that I am new to, but I am sold! I care much about the food my family eats, but have just recently been thinking about the air quality that they inhale. Indoor air is 5 times more more polluted than the air outside, and 90% of Americans spend more time indoors than outdoors. This is very true for my little ‘homebody’ family! We love our home time.
Airborne germs and viruses can spread further than you might think. Some flu viruses can spread up to 6 feet away, even without a cough or sneeze to propel it, where they can live up to 24 hours! Ew.
I tell this to my kids to motivate them to wash thier hands! It works. Maybe too well…I now have a little germaphobe!

———

According to the Fellowes 2014 Cold and Flu Report, half (46%) of Americans are somewhat or very concerned about getting sick during cold and flu season. They recommend a 4 step process to reduce the risk of getting sick:

1. Ask about a flu shot

2. Wash hands regularly

3. Wipe down home surfaces

4. Purify the air indoors

——-

A few reasons why I love the Fellowes AeraMax™ DX-55 air purifier:

~it is ultraquiet

~it automatically monitors the indoor quality of air and adjusts the fan accordingly

~no more stuffy noses and sore throats when waking up

~uses a true HEPA filter, which removes 99.9% of airborn particles, including germs, viruses, allergens, dust, mold, pollen, ragweed, pet dander, and cigarette smoke.

~the LED lights on the machine clearly let you know what the machine is up to…when it is purifiying and when it is done, or when the filter needs changed.

~it is portable. I can move it from on daughter’s room to another.

~it is sleek-looking. I do not find it obtrusive.

~it is easy to find. You can buy the Fellowes AeraMax technology at BestBuy.com. Prices start at $189.99.

~it not only works for cold and flu season, but helps my girls allergy and asthma during allergy season.

———–
What are your favorite ways to stay well during cold and flu season?
Have you ever considered an air purifier?

Cancer Journey/ Spiritual

Figuring Out What New Means & A Health Update

My word of the year is New.

I have been talking about all things NEW here at New Nostalgia for awhile now…and by golly, would you believe I’m still learning key lessons on what it means to live new? (I hardly ever say ‘by golly’ but it sure is fun when I do!)

{#oneword –Word of the Year Personalized Vintage Dictionary Necklace from Krafty Kash}

The above verse is the one I claimed for this year, and I know better than to think that what God is saying in the verse is that this year will be problem free. But honestly, I did have my fingers crossed and my heart hoping.

I had just ended the year healing from 3 months of 3 surgeries and had some new ‘parts’ (va-va- voom!) so I was feeling very excited, hopeful and ready to start the new year.

I had even talked about how NEW meant ‘change’ for me. Doing things in a new way. Figuring out what was not ‘working for me’ (as Dr. Phil always asks…”how’s that workin’ for ya?”) and trying something different.

But somehow it sunk into my heart that “pathway through the wilderness” and that “rivers or streams through the desert” would look a certain way. Especially when it came to my health. I thought I would find some relief from the constant side effects and symptoms from having cancer. Pathways in wilderness and streams in deserts sound pretty relieving after all, don’t they?

Well, God’s ways are always higher and different than what our wants and ways would be. This is another thing I should know by now, but it is so easy forget. His ways are higher, mysterious, and always good. I trust that fully.

So I have another look at the above verse, Isaiah 43:19 and I feel He is saying to me:

“Amy…do you not see it?”

“I’ve made a pathway, I AM that stream. Follow me. Walk easy into what I have for you…with wilderness surrounding, the unknown pulling for you thoughts…keep them on me. For I am walking with you. I made that path. I know what is up ahead. There will be times I will be carrying you, but mostly we will just be easy walking together, with life swirling around and temptations lurking, it will get easier and you will be surprised by our leisure hand-in-hand walking. This is what is NEW. Your thoughts will be new. Your focus will be new. I have and am making you new this day and everyday. The world you live in and circumstances that come your way are the wilderness. I am with you, child, so hold my hand, do not get distracted and do not fear.”

Oh and that stream?

“I have for you streams of living water that will give you strength and life. I will refresh your soul. I will lead you to exactly what you need. Your eyes are on me so you will not miss the life I have for you. As a dear pants for water you long for this and I am here to give you an abundant life, where waters flow in and through you, spreading my abundant life source to others, for it never runs out. When you are weary, drink. When you are hurting or have been hurt by another, turn to me & drink. Do not go running off into the wilderness frantic and needy. I have all you need. I am all you need. This is the change. This is what is new. You will be turning to me more and more with ease, as your trust in me grows, as you remember all that I have done for you and how I have never left or forsaken you.”

Ahhhh…true refreshment. How could I want for more?

These reminders come with some new symptoms that I have been having.

During my surgeries I had pleurisy and pleural effusion (fluid on the lung and lung inflammation). It is not super common during surgery and it threw my surgeon a bit. They put me on antibiotics and I felt better…until recently. I am having pain in my left lung. Not as painful as when I had pleurisy but very noticeable. I am also short of breath and get winded just walking up stairs. I have noticed cold weather we have been having irritates it when I am out in it.

I have been to the doctor and they are suspicious of radiation damage to my lung. It is on the left side that was radiated and can be common in breast cancer survivors. I knew when I had treatment that I would be dealing with side effects from treatment in the future, but I thought it would be when I am in my 50’s, 60’s or 70’s. Not this soon.

I have an appointment with my Oncologiest on the 19th, where I will have full blood workup and a chest X-ray. As much as I hate to do more radiation to the area (radiation is accumulative, and I have had a lot of it) they need to know what we are dealing with. The lung is a common place for breast cancer to metastasize, so we need to rule that out. It is also the exact area where my tumor came .1mm from my chest wall, so that makes me a little nervous. The thing that I hold on to is that they did a chest MRI back in December, and nothing suspicious showed up there. Just fluid and inflammation. The problem is, there is always a reason for pleural effusion. To fix it, you need to find the underlying cause.

It is funny when you are hoping for radiation damage. Not that I want that at all, but it is much, much better than hearing cancer is back. If breast cancer comes back in an organ, it is an automatic stage 4.

I am also curious about how my heart is doing. The chemo and radiation both effect the heart, fluid on the lung can be a sign that the heart is damaged, too.

Honestly, I am doing well with all of this. I am not fearful of it being cancer, although I very well know statistically where I fall and that it could be.

I struggled more with being disappointed that my NEW year with my NEW word was not working out as I had planned. Notice the ‘my’ and ‘I’ in that statement. Yeah, I’ve been working that out with God.

I found myself mourning my youth and a youthful body, as reality is I feel old. The hormone blockers make me feel very old with hot flashes and all things menopause related. I have been having lots of joint pain and stiffness on this new med. And now it looks like I have an old lady lung. One of my first thoughts when I heard what this pain could be was “now I will never run a marathon.” Not that I ever would have….but it ticks me off that I probably couldn’t even if I wanted to. From all I have read it seems like radiation lung damage is permanent and if anything can get worse over time. Poo.

So yes, it was a hard week last week processing all of this, and I questioned God about the verse He gave me. And He was close. And He showed me where my thinking needed to change. And He held me when I mourned. And He has given me an extreme peace while I wait for my next appointments.

This is what walking on the path with Him looks like. RELATIONSHIP. Telling Him of my fears, questioning Him, processing with Him. He is ever so close and faithful. This week the two of us just paused on the path together, He held me & listened, then reminded me of all His promises, and told me to drink. I am refreshed. I have eyes to see. I have NEW hope, purpose, & peace.

Cancer Journey/ HEALTH/ Music Renews/ Spiritual

He Is Making Me

I spent most of the day yesterday making appointments. Not just for me, but for my family, as I have fallen behind in life during my surgeries and the holidays.

~Orthodontist (2 girls)

~Ophthalmologist (3 of us)

~Dentist (2 of us)

~Pediatrician

~Parent Teacher Conference

~Counselor

~Oncologist #1 (Zoladex shot)

~Oncologist #2 (6 month check up)

~OB (follow up on pelvic ultrasound)

~Plastic Surgeon (2 month followup)

~Hair Stylist (me)

February is full of appointments, but I still felt good about it all. It felt great to get things on the calendar that I have not been able to get to. At least it did yesterday.

Today, I need an attitude check. I no longer feel great about a month full of appointments, because I’ve had to add a few more.

My sweet friend Ann was here with me this morning and we were sharing our hearts. I told her that I have had some new side effects from the new meds I am taking–joint pain in my feet, ankles, spine and hips. She understands as she has been living with rheumatoid arthritis for at least 15 years. She knows joint pain, and has shown me what it looks like to walk through life with pain and grace.

I also told her that I have been having some chest pains that remind me very much of when I had pleurisy and pleural effusion after surgery about a month ago. The pain is not as severe as it was, but very noticeable on my inhale and causes me to breath shallow. I’m also feeling a little breathless, and have to stop mid-sentence at times to take a breath in. It has kept me up at night.

My Ann gently encouraged me that it was time to call the Doc.

I needed that push. You see, I chose the word NEW as my word of the year. I am healing very nicely from surgery and everything does feel new and fresh. I have REALLY been enjoying that feeling, and if I had it my way…that nice, shiny, new, no-problem feeling would stay around for a bit…if I had it my way.

So I start dialing.

Being a cancer patient, one question we often run up against is “which doctor do I call?” I have my 6 month checkup February 19 with my oncologist, and if I had my way, they would move it up for me and see me now due to my chest pain. They have a lab right there in office, and an x-ray machine. It would be easy, one appointment, nice and tidy. But that is not usually how it goes..and it didn’t.

I called my oncologist and because my surgeon was the one to deal with the pleurisy a month ago, she said to call him. I had a feeling she would say that.

I called my plastic surgeon’s office and his nurse was so very sweet, but she said exactly what I knew she would. “You need to call your primary care doctor and be seen and let her listen to your lungs.”

Now I’m sitting here, not dialing and honestly….pouting.

I don’t want another appointment. I love my primary care doc, but I know she will be thorough and order a whole bunch of tests, which will send me around the city of Lincoln and cause me to have to make more appointments.

After making all these phone calls while my dear Ann was still hear, I received a call from my OB with results from an ultrasound I had last week. It was to make sure the shots I take really has shut down hormones. This is important as I am taking a med should only be taken if a woman is in menopause. The OB nurse told me I need to be seen to discuss the ultrasound. There is still what they think is a cyst on my ovary which surprised us all, because I am on shots that cause chemical menopause.

This is when I got upset.

I’m taking these shots so I would not have to deal with these cysts anymore. The news that it is still there really surprised me. I’m not happy about it.

This is when my Ann, after holding my face with both hands and giving me a hug, started to sing a song. A song that she could not get out of her head. She asked me if I had heard it.

We looked it up on YouTube and listened together. I have listened to it 3 times since she left.

Here is what I am reminded of through this song:

There has to be broken to be healed

There has to be empty to be filled

There has to be loneliness, to know our desire is really for Him

He is making me.

Make me broken

So I can be healed

‘Cause I’m so calloused

And now I can’t feel

I want to run to You

With heart wide open

Make me broken

I heard the beginning of the song, and my immediate thoughts were..”I don’t want to be broken. I don’t want to heal anymore.” Yep, right smack in the middle of my pity party.

But I know my God. I know He is healer. I know He is faithful. I know how amazingly precious the moments have been with Him in my most broken state. Precious moments I would not trade.

I do not want to become calloused and unfeeling. This is what I feel when I start thinking of ‘what-ifs’ and worry about the future and all these crazy appointments! My head spins, my thoughts worry, my heart pouts & I become distracted and numb. This is NOT what I want.

I want a heart wide open. So yes, Lord, make me broken.

Make empty

So I can be filled

‘Cause I’m still holding

Onto my will

And I’m completed

When you are with me

Make me empty

Did you notice above how many times I said “if I had it my way”? Tight grasped holding onto my will. Oh why do I want it? Have I not seen? Have I not heard?

Isaiah 40: 28-31
Do you not know? Have you not heard?The Everlasting God, the LORD, the creator of the ends of the earthDoes not become weary or tired.His understanding is inscrutable.He gives strength to the weary,And to him who lacks might He increases power.Though youths grow weary and tired, And vigorous young men stumble badly,Yet those who wait for the LORDWill gain new strength;They will mount up with wings like eagles,They will run and not get tired,They will walk and not become weary.

I am completed when you are with me.

[Chorus:]

‘Til You are my one desire

‘Til You are my one true love

‘Til You are my breath, my everything

Lord, please keep making me

My one true love, my desire, my breath my everything. Sounds like a Valentine. So fitting for February.

Make me lonely

So I can be Yours

“Til I want no one

More than You, Lord

‘Cause in the darkness

I know You will hold me

Make me lonely

Oh boy this is a tough one. One I am doing battle with. I want to be heard & understood. Cared for. Loved. Held.

God knows the desires of my heart. He cautions me to not want anyone or anything more than Him. He tells me He will hold me in the dark, fully known, fully loved.

[Chorus}

‘Til You are my one desire

‘Til You are my one true love

‘Til You are my breath, my everything

Lord, please keep making me

Yes, my word of the year is ‘NEW‘ and my Ann reminded me today that He is making me new daily. He gives me a new day, gives me new strength, and opens my eyes to the new.

So I will set aside my pity party, and make the phone call. Maybe.

Or I might wait until the 19th for my 6 month checkup and see what my blood work says and if Oncologist is concerned and pain is still there, she can order a chest x-ray to be done in her office. I will see what my body tells me in the next day or two. If it stays the same or gets worse, I will call my doctor. If it gets better, I will wait.

In the meantime, I will listen to the song one more time, and remember:

There has to be broken to be healed

There has to be empty to be filled

There has to be loneliness, to know our desire is really for Him

He is making me.

Drinks/ HEALTH/ RECIPES

The Beet Rejuvenator

Now that we are past the holidays, I have been trying to get back on track with eating a healthful diet. I am a sucker for sugar, and find myself craving it after eating so many holiday treats! I have been trying to detox off of sugar and caffeine, replacing sweets, treats & coffee with green smoothies & juicing.

One of my favorite juices for detoxing is Beet Rejuvenator. I really used to dislike beets, but the more I eat them, the more my palate adjusts. They are one of the most powerful, cleansing vegetables you could eat.

This juice is super cleansing and packs a punch of goodness! I’m surprised that it is one of my favorites despite the ‘my-not-so-favorite’ beets in it! The carrots help sweeten, and ginger + lemon always add a great flavor to any juice, and cucumber mellows everything out.

The Beet Rejuvenator

3-4 Carrots

1 Cucumber

1/2 Lemon

1 Ginger Root (1 inch piece)

1/2 Beet Root (including stem and 1-2 leaves)

Juice.

————-

Need a juicer?

Breville compact is what I use and I love it!

Cancer Journey/ HEALTH

Zoladex Shot Side Effects 2 Week Journal — A Health Update

If you read , you know that I have had a big cancer med change. After 3 years, I dumped Tamoxifen, as it was NOT the drug for me, and now I am going through the process of becoming POST menopausal by taking monthly Zoladex shots. I will start taking Arimedex in a week.

Arimedex is an aromatase inhibitor that can only be taken by women who are post menopausal. It inhibits production of estrogen NOT produced by the ovaries in the body, making sure none is left, which is the goal for us cancer survivors whose tumors are fed by hormones.

When I got my first shot last week, I searched the web for first hand stories of women who had been in my shoes. I am one who likes to know what to expect, so reading others experiences and stories is always comforting to me. I found some personal stories, but not many. I thought I would keep a Zoladex/Arimedex side effect journal not just for my own sake but for those who will come behind me wondering what they are in for.

I’d love to think there will be no side effects, and some women are that lucky, but most are not. I don’t think one can expect to go from pre-menopause to post-menopause in the period of 2 weeks and not have side effects.

I apologise to the men reading my blog. Lots of female talk….although…I know these very same injections are used for Prostate cancer in men to shut down testosterone, so if you are man reading this in the middle of that battle..WELCOME. I know you have your own set of side effects that are not fun. May God be with you and keep you well.

I also know Zoladex is often used for those who suffer with endrometriosis, so if that is you, WELCOME, and know that I have read your stories and my heart goes out to all the suffering and pain endrometriosis can cause. I pray the shots work for you and relieve your symptoms.

On to my Zoladex Journal:

Day 1:
Sore from injection. Immediate nausea, but I think this was due to the the shot brought.

Day 2: Sore at injection site. No emotional symptoms. I feel great!

Day 3: Bruise at injection site. I feel great!

Day 4,5: I feel good. No symptoms. I actually feel more than good. I feel great and very emotionally stable. Zoladex gives a burst of estrogen and testosterone the first week, then the second week is when it shuts the ovaries down. I guess my body likes that burst.

Day 6: Starting to get hot flushes. Not too extreme. It is worse in the late afternoon/evening. I was also teary in the evening. I had reason to be, but I cried more than I normally would and was aware that I was reacting differently than I normally would. Felt on edge during the day…less patient than normal. Also took a 4 hour nap which has not been normal for me.

Day 7: Woke up very nauseous. Headache. Lightheaded and a bit of ringing in my ears. I feel tired and want to take a nap at 10:00 am. Looks like I’m officially on the ride to instant menopause. Blech!

_______________

So there is week one. I am typing this in my pj’s from my bed. I’m going to get up, get dressed and go shopping even though I don’t feel well. I’m going to pretend I feel great and see if my mind can convince my body to feel better! (it worked)

Despite feeling icky, I still feel better than I did on Tamoxifen, and this is easier to take because I expect it. To chemically shut down hormones and achieve such a fast menopause cannot be a walk in the park, so we will see how this next week goes!

_______________

Day 8: Slight headache, no big deal. Feel great emotionally. Hot flashes at night before bed.

Day 9: Woke up with slight nausea and headache. Did not last. Felt great emotionally. Energy good. Hot flashes at night. Not too severe.

Day 10: Same as day 9.

Day 11: Ditto.

Day 12: Woke up with hot flashes, but they did not last. Felt great emotionally during the day. Had pretty severe cramping in my ovary area. It felt like ovulation but more intense. Lasted a couple hours. Had an emotional breakdown late in the day. Argued with hubby and YELLED at the poor guy. He would say he deserved it but my reaction was way over the top and I cried a LOT. We were able to get it together…forgiveness, making up, making out….;)…and took the kids to a movie.

Day 13: Woke up with hot flashes & headache but slept great. Head feels heavy today, ringing in ears, hot flashes gone by 10 a.m. Energy low today.

Day 14: According to what I have read, I should be in chemical menopause by day 14. So far so good! I am pleased this shot has been easy so far. I am nervous about starting the Arimadex, and I’m going to put it off a week so I can enjoy my birthday and Thanksgiving. I will keep a journal about that drug, too, and let you know how it goes! Eek!

______________

Here is the verse God gave me this in church, and I am claiming it as I face the unknown of this shot and its side effects, and also the unknowns of how the drug Arimadex will affect me as I start it next week. Love this verse…here are two versions.

“Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes. (Matthew 6:34 MSG)

“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” (Matthew 6:34 NIV)

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Update:
I have been on Arimidex (aromatase inhibitor) for 2 weeks. I am due for my 3rd monthly injection of Zoladex tomorrow. I am doing well on both. I have many hot flashes and that is becoming quite the nuisance, as I get really chilled but then immediately have a hot flash. I take my hoodie jacket on and off all day long! I will talk to the Doctor about this, but overall, I am doing really well and I am SO GLAD to be off the Tamoxifen. I am no longer needing 3 hour naps! It is so great & I am so thankful.

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