Menopause, Here I come Again!

[Sailor]

Terrible traffic! All those school mums in mega-sized four-wheel drives picking up their progeny from exclusive private schools. Their erratic driving being between my oncologist and Dorovitch. Would I make it to the Dorovitch blood suckers before their due closing time of 4 pm. A quick glance at the back of the request form reveals that Dorovitch does not seem to inhabit the inner suburbs of Melbourne. Middle eastern suburbia here I come, if the mega-sized shopping buggies and school pick up conveyances will allow. First Dorovitch, five minutes to go and no staff - they have packed up early. Second Dorovitch, closing half an hour later, crowded, all clutching a number, all looking as if getting even a drop of blood from them will take forever. Fifteen minutes later the bleeder appears with a sign saying closed - loud murmur of protest produces the response - "I'll see all those with numbers". Another fifteen minutes and I am in, forms filled, Medicare slip signed, blood taken and out as the mobile protests with the Chief of Domestic Operations enquiring if I am OK as I was expected home long ago. Just to get a baseline blood result! I drive out into peak period traffic, well behaved and crawl home. Earlier that afternoon there was the unanticipated visit to the oncologist. Vague pains at midnight two week before had turned into serious pain at three in the morning. Last visit blood levels had come down so it was a case of review in three months. I have a habit of doing things like this - blood levels go up, start to come down and then the monster returns with a vengeance. Last time it was more androgen deprivation therapy then experimental radiotherapy. More Radiotherapy is out of the question now, so it is just the ADT. Another Zolodex implant. Blood tests today then again in six weeks, just to be sure it is still working. Review in three months, probably another implant then. Summer is a great time to be having hot flushes and mood sings. Menopause here I come again! (Here’s one for Harker - my spell checker want to change Dorovitch to Doro itch!) Sailor 20/10/2010 It is found that anything that can go wrong at sea generally does go wrong sooner or later Alfred Holt 1877

[samex]

Oh Sailor, I do feel for you but marvel at your continued sense of humour(albeit sometimes of the darker kind). As a 53 year old female (50 at time of chemo), the only good thing about chemo was the acceleration of menopause.What had commenced about 6-12 months earlier ran away screaming at the onslaught of chemo. The hot flushes still make occasional appearances but they are usually overridden by numb and/or tingling hands and feet. As I continue to say,however, at least we are here to feel them. Take care, S

[harker]

Earth to earth Dust to dust If Dorevitch doesn't get you Gribbles must

[Sailor]

ADT, morning sickness and Complementary Medicine? Well I have done it - I am now using complementary medicine. Not actually for cancer, after all I have some standards! In the first couple of week of Androgen Deprivation Therapy, you go through side effects similar to early stage pregnancy - I think it is all aimed at getting us recalcitrant males in touch with the feminine sides of our nature. So food fads and nausea. I couldn't look at the usual fare for my regular Friday lunch with a colleague. Had to have fish and that meant white wine not the usual half bottle of red medicine. Also have had the low grade nausea since this morning. So I'm on ginger. I believe there have been some clinical trials on the effectiveness of ginger, so at least there is some evidence for it. Now you can take ginger in a number of ways. Get fresh ginger from your fruit and vegetable store, grate it finely, pour on hot water and drink the infusion. You can use it in cooking with all sorts of fruit and meat dishes. You can have ginger marmalade on your toast. You can buy crystallised or natural ginger and eat it as a snack. You can pour Stones Green Ginger Wine over ice cubes and sip it. You can make a Whiskey Mac - one third Green Ginger Wine, two thirds Scotch Whisky, ice optional. Those latter two sound like complementary medicine to me - definitely in favour. Cheers Sailor Boats, like whiskey, are all good. R. D. Culler

[samex]

I was going to be almost serious and suggest the ginger and lime refresher cordial with soda water, with a sprig of mint.A chemo survival drink of choice. BUT - I feel that you are in greater need of the green ginger wine etc. Perhaps it is not only for recalcitrant males like yourself to get in touch with your feminine side but also a little payback for those raised eyebrows at times of incomprehensible moods and the irrational behaviour of your opposite gender. Take it easy Sailor, and the ginger does help.Either that or Maxalon! S

[craftyone]

Hi Sailor, I found (during chemo) that peppermint water or tea do work as well - just not as "nice" as the scotch. Don't know if it would work with scotch or at all nice.... Don't take it out on your Chief of Operations, though (the mood swings, that is) might not be good. thinking of you craftyone (or as Jules2 has nicknamed me crafty)

[Sailor]

Hi Craftyone There is a concoction known as mint julep that seems t have phenomenal amounts of: mint; sugar; 90% bourbon whisky. Would that do the trick? I suspect the result would be similar to that form the experiment that was done in the 70's to see if marijuana actually worked as an anti-nausea drug during chemotherapy. Two groups were set up receiving the same chemotherapy. The test group were also given the active ingredient of cannabis, the control group a placebo. The result was that the episodes of vomiting were exactly the same between the test and control groups, but those in the control group just didn't care about it. When I look at the recipes for mint julep, no wonder those good O'le boys spent so much time reminiscing! Cheers Sailor Fifteen men on the dead man's chest— Yo-ho-ho, and a bottle of rum! Drink and the devil had done for the rest— Yo-ho-ho, and a bottle of rum! R L Stevenson

[Jules2]

How about chocolate coated ginger? I am suprised crafty hasn't thought of tht one! Sailor, must admit I don't envy thee early stages of preganancy although I really only got nauseous when I didnt eat so I was very lucky. Ginger ale with scotch might work or bundy and ginger beer is quite nice. Dark n stormy that one is called. Enjoy your play with ginger. Julie

[Sailor]

Hi Jules 2, Now why didn't I think of chocolate coated ginger - dark and fairtrade, of course. Bundy and ginger beer, sounds worse than scotch and ginger beer. Actually after ten days the morning sickness has passed on, now to just wait for the hot flushes. Maybe the bundy will help with that. Cheers Sailor Not sure sailors would have sung the following, but Rum was a navy tradition, but served as grog - rum and water. Until lime juice came along they believed it kept off scurvy!! God made the sugarcane grow where it's hot, And teetotal abstainers to grow where it is not, Let the Sin Bosun warn of perdition to come, We'll drink it, and chance it, so bring on the rum. Bundaberg Rum, Overproof Rum, Will tan your insides and grow hair on your bum, Let the Blue Ribbon beat on his old empty drum, Or his waterlogged belly, we'll stick to our rum.

[Jules2]

Sailor Rum is a perfect choice for a sailor and suprisingly it actually tastes quite nice with ginger beer. Not that it is something I could ever drink a lot of and it had to be very cold for me to enjoy it. As someone that previously hated bundy I was very suprised. Chocolate coated ginger is great although not sure how healthy it is. I have just been reading about the properties of avocado's and suprise suprise they are high in a mineral that I am thinking my body is in short supply of. Glad the nausea has passed for you - that bit is not so nice and hopefully the hormones will be kind to you. I am sure all the women on this site will be full of empathy as we have had to deal with them for many years. I am supposed to be hot flushing but am not, one day i guess i will. :) THe chocolated coated ginger would be great as chocolate is great for hormones. :D Julie