Taking the plunge

Hi @Maggie

I was on a blood pressure med for anxiety 5 years ago that made me feel so slow, tired and depressed. I went off it pretty soon after I started it. It was awful - if you are feeling like that I so empathise. Hopefully the BP and meds will be sorted and stabilised soon.

My life is a mixture at present. My health is slowly improving from my efforts of healthy living (detox diet, exercise)I having been putting in, so my energy levels has increased slightly. Sleep one night for 4 hours and can be full of energy and the next 7 hrs. Sleep all over the place but getting there. Daughter posted on FB how much she loved her mum and couldn't live without me (first time she has ever said that!). We saw my hubby's specialist yesterday - the kidney cancer tumour that was a concern has shrunk to near nothing! The doctor was flabbergasted (he had no treatment). They are doing more tests to make sure there are no longer cancer cells present in that area and haven't missed anything. All I can say is my prayers were answered there once again.

The current battle is last night I just discovered my best friends husband has lung cancer - she spoke to my husband crying which means it's serious. They rushed him in to see a specialist the same day he had the rountine lung scan and have ordered another pet scan. They never do that unless its very serious (fears it spread). I am yet to speak to her today but will shortly. Her husband is also my best friend. He is her world. I feel numb and overwhelmed. The grief never ends my friend. I feel devastated.

My husband is still in chronic pain with his back and knee etc and has to have another needle. Brother is coming up this weekend as is daughter on Friday night. Feel overwhelmed wondering if I can keep up. One day at a time for now...

Half my cross stitch is rolled up in a frame (it's large). A pic would only show the bottom part. I should be finished in a few weeks and will put the photo up. Below is a photo of what it will look like when completed. Have you had a chance to stitch at all? Anymore garden pics? Your others were so beautiful.

I think of you a lot my friend and truly care. We can get through this together, moment to moment until better days shine. Yes life is a daily battle for many. Lots of love ❤️

@Former-Member - hope all goes well today with your husband's first chemo treatment. I know how draining and hard this can be. Thinking of you and sitting with you 💕xx

Hello @Former-Member - hope you get some rest and feel better soon 🌹

Hello @CheerBear@Former-Member@Sans911@Faith-and-Hope@Former-Member@Bunniekins@Appleblossom@Phoenix_Rising - hope your day is shaping up to be a good one. 💕

Sweet Heart Gate cross stitch

Oh WOW @Former-Member I said a few weeks ago I'm like a pin in the ten pin bowling alley, everytime I get up, there's a ball headed full speed ahead in my direction. That sounds just like you also, we scrape ourselves up and get knocked back down, full speed. I am sorry to read of your friends husband. I often wonder if sad things happen more before Christmas or it might be me imagining things, whatever it is, it hurts.

I am impressed with your detox diet and exercise and slight improvement, a high five from me. Sleep, oh how I'd love to be able to sleep. It makes things so much worse to cope with and something we cants seem to do a thing about.

Your xstitch is amazing. I haven't done much I'm afraid, my concentration is all over the place. I have only managed to move the sprinkler in the garden as its so hot, everything would die if I didn't. I'm so over trying meds. I think I have gone through all the ADs on the market, plus bipolar meds, ECT, nothing works, it's disheartening. I think when things are complex, it gets harden to find something helpful. My BP is just coming up, that means a little more energy, for that I am greatful. It's been terrible these past weeks, feels like hell.

Im not surprised to hear D says she loves you and can't live without you, credit to you for all the HARD work, your love is strong, as is hers. I hope you manage some rest over the coming weekend with B and D coming. No use telling you to go easy, as I know what I would do. Just do what you can. We are all hear to listen if you need to off load or unwind.

I think we are topping you in temps these days. Please someone, turn off the sun!!!!!!

Take care dear lady.

@Former-Member

some wonderful news in your response there....

incredible about your husband....attitude has it's part in healing illness...

I know that you would be part of that....being there for your husband and daughter...

we have two close friends with cancer at present....

one lady wants to go out for a meal...I was trying to arrange before her next appointment with encologist...she wants to wait until she hears the news...she told me that her husband turns 75 next year...plans for celebrations on hold until after her appointment..

other friend has got through cancer before with chemotherapy but has come back with a vengeance...he having issues with thyroid so all other treatment on hold....he and wife are very despondent and angry....can understand...

so many of us are experiencing more and more people in our lives affected by cancer...

wishing you more peace and calmness ....as for all others on here...

Thank you @Maggie@Former-Memberand @Faith-and-Hopefor the lovely supportive posts - really brought a smile to my face.
@Maggie - you have such a way with words and how app - "Feel like a pin in a bowling alley, every time I get up, there's a ball headed full speed in my direction!". Ditto ! It's so wonderful for us to be able to come on here and talk about it and share with each other.

What is the current temp in Tasmania at the moment?

Sounds like it's gone from a cold winter right into summer temps without allowing time to adjust. That happened here last year and all, young and old, were drained by it. Hope for a cool change for you all down there soon. It's very hot and humid here, but there is a constant cool breeze off the water that is making it feel like perfect spring weather. We can't survive here in summer without air conditioning.

Good to read that your BP is on the rise. Hopefully this will continue and stabilise at a healthy level. When it drops it is like letting the pressure out of a tyre - totally flat. It is a horrible feeling. Feel for you. Not surprised your concentration is out at the moment - totally understandable. A good GP is a treasure at these times.

Thank you for your kind words for my friends cancer dilemma - I had nightmares (again) over it last night. Tears are always below the surface but am pushing myself to keep going at the moment. I can only imagine how he is feeling if I am feeling like this. Losing him would be like losing a beloved brother to me. I have lost so many friends, as well as my father, to cancer. It's too common and an insidious disease that robs so many and the effects trickle down the line to loved ones. My friend did not smoke but he worked daily tinkering petrol mechanics and oil based products. I use to say "please wear a mask" - but men are stubborn.

Chemicals in food, the work environment and in the air are a major cause of cancer. As are cigarettes and excessive alcohol (I read chemicals in wine and hair dyes can cause it also). Living in clear air like Tassie is an advantage over it - as is organic food or what I am eating presently - "super foods" like raw salads, garlic, ginger, lemons, broccoli, beans (yes, I am eating it raw), green tea and so forth - with no added fat, salt, dairy, wheat or sugar helps boost the immune system against such diseases. As does a positive attitude. People are commenting how youthful and good I am looking - so it works 😊. That's a plus.

I do relate to you feeling disheartened over meds that don't seem to make much difference. They did help with me at first, but these effects were short lived and the side effects ended up making me feel worse after being on them for awhile. I did take a mood stabiliser a few times this last couple of weeks, I had too. I take them when I can't sleep for days and get hyper in my mind - depression and faulty perception assails then too. But I stopped taking them hoping I can handle this now by keeping busy, healthy living and trying to reduce worry, stress - very hard to do in my life (too much of the latter over a period time will trigger an episode of bipolar for me). I will only take them for sleep if I have too - the sides effects are not good. I nearly fell backwards on the stairs from dizzy spells and I suffer short term memory loss when on them. They also over time put weight on. My small frame does not carry extra weight without suffering pain everywhere.

It definitely does get more difficult to treat when things are complex, I have found this too.

I do totally understand what you mean by sleep deprivation - it's does make life much harder to cope with. I can go through periods of sleeping too much to not at all for days - and those sleepless nights I can have high energy - but I will come crashing down in a heap soon after and my emotions go with it. When I do get at least 7 hours sleep I cope much better with life. I try and stay in a rountine - but rarely succeed.

Is there any mood stabiliser or sleeping pill etc you can take just on the odd occasion to catch up on sleep? I find that helps me. My GP advised me to do this in emergencies. I will even take allergy tablets at times to help with sleep. Not ideal, but better than not sleeping at all.

With what has happened with my friend I feel the need to put off this weekend with my brother, but because of his illness he may never want to see me again if I do (he can get paranoid thinking we don't want him here etc). I am feeling the pressure. Not sure what to do.

I hope it cools down for you there in Tassie. We have predicted temps of up to 29 with 100 percent humidity. Time for the pool here soon. Please stay cool and look after yourself in these temps - so important. I will be interested to read how your BP goes and hoping your energy levels continue to rise so you can dance in the rain soon - rain would be lovely to shut the sun off !!!. Thinking of you always my friend. Sending a warm hug

Hi @Former-Member

Also very sorry to read about your two friends with cancer. It seems to be everywhere.....My male friend with lung cancer is twenty years older than me - he is 75 also. Although he looks 60. He looks and was incredibly fit so it has been a shock.

Its true what you say that attitude does help towards healing - my husband approaches his illnesses with a very positive outlook once he gets over the devastating shock and grief of it. It makes all the difference - as does faith in a good outcome. Otherwise depression and despondency will take over and will weaken the bodies defences.

He was given 18 mths to live 19 years ago - it had spread throughout his body. The doctors said no one can survive that, so he beat the odds well and truly. The treating hospital wrote a story on him - they say he is the "miracle boy". They also feel good that their medical expertise played a large role. This article gives others going through it hope.

The cancer does come back occasionally and he keeps beating it - but it does put us through it. I can understand the initial despondency - my husband did grieve at first thinking he may never see his loved ones again......It was awful. We went through shock, grief, anxiety, denial and anger to a positive state of mind dealing with it the best we could. We stayed positive, getting the best medical treatment, healthy diet/exercise making lifestyle changes and prayed our hearts out. And the outcomes are good so far and I am feeling so grateful. But my husband is always dealing with some health issue....it's always hard. Ironically this last week he was given good news the same day our friend got bad news. Seems we can't catch a break sometimes 😪. One day at a time for now...

I do understand the anxiety your friend whom you were hoping to arrange a meal with is going through. It's like life is on hold until we know what the verdict will be and then deal with and adjust the best we can. I hope the news is good for your friend, or at least treatment will give good results. Please let us know how your friends get on.

Yes, here is too much cancer around. I have lost many close people to it. I hope one day they can find a cure. I always believed it's in the rainforest somewhere - if only governments would put money into that opposed to war and all the wrong priorities. Hope your day is going good 😊 xx

@Former-Member - thinking of you ❤️💜💕🌹🤗

@Former-Member

loved your response.....

gosh that is incredible....I think I recall you mentioning that a long time ago...so much that I have read over the 12 months that I have been on here and forgotten....

your kindness is accepted with much gratitude and warmth..

I didn't realise how much grief I am hanging onto....

made me cry...a good thing..

so do not have much to say....

words cannot match my feelings

I do appreciate your kind thoughts...

Thanks @Former-Member I hope yours does too.