This is a timely post for me, too. I am getting HRT through an online provider. This is a very recent thing. After describing some of my...ahem...difficulties due to menopause, the dr suggested this type of PT for me, too. They refer to another online provider for this--which I am very skeptical of. Maybe they have local PTs that you can see in person. I don't know. It was never on my radar before this consultation. I suppose I should look into it further.

I understand that... {{ETA: wait... "any person would buy"...Most females I know have no interest in gaming. My girls are not typical girls, and this was painfully obvious from middle school all the way through college/grad school. So I disagree that it is something that "any person would buy"}}... but it's...comedy. I guess not all comedy is welcome here. Good to know--not surprising. But comedy--as a genre--is commonly irreverent and offensive. Everyone has their limits though which is understandable. People who would buy tickets to see a comedian know what they are getting into usually (thinking of so many comedians who made bank offending people regularly). No so here on the boards. I get it. Also, I still think it's hilarious. 🙂

That is a very helpful article!

I think before Prozac and certainly before euthanasia, I'd try Feliway Optimum. It works really well! Please tell your friend about it. It is a diffuser for a "feel good" pheromone for cats. We have 3 cats (4 when one dd visits). One of our cats gets anxious and over grooms to the point of raw oozing sores. He will also spray. The Feliway has helped so much. The over grooming is 100 percent better--no longer an issue at all. The spraying still happens but only occasionally. Like recently we moved all of the furniture out of our basement living room and laid new flooring. Then we put the furniture back but in a different arrangement. He has sprayed a few times in one particular spot. He's just sensitive to change. I'm really surprised your friend's veterinarian didn't suggest Feliway. Mine did because of the over grooming/skin issues. It really is a game changer. I will say...Prozac at the vet is probably cheaper than Feliway--depending on the size of the house. But I HATE trying to give a cat medication. That is the worst.

Hmmm. My 20 something daughters would absolutely be the ones buying gaming computers and video games. I thought it was hilarious anyway.

That's good. Hope your sleep doctor and study are better than mine. I still don't understand what the point of the study is if they aren't going to look at my sleep stages.

It's interesting to see how we all who struggle with chronic illness have learned to look at every possible angle because our doctors just can't. They don't have time. There is so much for us to untangle. I'll throw one more thing that is definitely worth checking: a sleep study. Rule out sleep apnea or another sleep disorder. I discovered that I have Periodic Limb Movement Disorder. SSRIs can exacerbate it, so I weaned off of Zoloft. That helped some. {Incidentally, that is another reason to get the ferritin checked. Low ferritin is the primary cause of PLMD. (The cause of mine happens to be purely neurological.) A lot of doctors will blow off a low ferritin number if your hematocrit is okay, but some people are more sensitive than others. Just something to keep in mind. It can make you feel terrible.} I also use an Oura Ring to track my sleep. That was really enlightening. I thought the sleep doctor would have pointed this out from my sleep study, but he didn't. I figured out that I was getting very, very little deep, slow wave sleep. Sometimes zero. Long story short... between a new med and lifestyle changes, I am getting some consistent deep sleep, and I cannot believe how much better I feel. It makes me sad to think about how many people wouldn't think to check this. For me...it didn't matter how many hours I slept, I still felt horrible. It was the lack of deep sleep. eta: I think the hormonal changes of peri and menopause probably caused the change in the quality of my sleep. I just started HRT 4 days ago. So far so good with that.

CFE/ME is (or should be) a diagnosis of exclusion. Unfortunately, a lot of doctors will blow off the symptoms and not even bother to do the boat ton of labs that are needed to rule other stuff out. Or as in my case, the doctor will throw you a bone and order a thyroid panel and maybe rheumatoid factor. I was on my fourth doctor, and she ordered a ton of bloodwork that included ANA. That was a strong enough positive that I could be referred to a rheumatologist. Autoimmune disease can take years to show up in bloodwork.

You might want to look into Hyaluronic Acid oral supplements. But do a little research on what molecular weight is best. I used to think a low molecular weight was better, but more recently the studies I've seen are using high molecular weight. donotage.org is a reputable source for high molecular weight. I am taking Pure Encapsulations which is low molecular weight. I will probably switch when this supply runs out. Not sure. Still looking at research. Topical HA has been really hyped over the past several years, but it doesn't really do anything--unless you are getting it injected as a filler of course. (I have never tried that though) Topical HA can actually dry your skin further if you live in a dry climate because (supposedly) it will draw moisture out of your skin. Here is a link to donotage.org HA supplement. There is a TED talk video if you scroll down. eta: just watched...it isn't about skin rejuvenation at all. It is about her work with long lived species of animals. There is probably more info on the website's blog. https://donotage.org/pure-hyaluronic-acid

I'm praying.

I have heard of them! I think I’ve actually ordered from them before—can’t remember what because it’s been awhile. Thanks—that’s great to know!

I only sleep on soft/low density latex. I am a side and tummy sleeper. I think latex is perfect. Not firm latex though. I get the soft, squishy, bouncy. I used to be able to find them for a good price at BBB and some department stores. Now it’s somehow become a “high end” item that I can only get online. And they’re pricey. It’s frustrating because I need to buy more. My adult children prefer them too and pilfer them when in between moves or visiting. Surely Mom won’t notice if I leave my cheapo pillow and take her latex back home instead… 😂

I remember you mentioned your electric canner before and I made a mental note. I will probably try to sell the one I have and try to budget for it.

Same. I can eat mollusks (scallops, clams, squid, etc), but not crustaceans (shrimp, lobster, crab, crawfish, etc.)

That’s bizarre. I’ve never ever heard of it.

Same here. I bought a pressure canner from a friend a couple of years ago, and I still haven’t used it. I had to buy a new range last summer and got induction. I bet the canner won’t even work on an induction cooktop.

Oh dear. That’s brutal. I’d nuke them honestly. Honey bees I would spare, but they aren’t likely to sting. I know wasps have their purpose, but you’ve got to do what you need to do without being attacked by wasps. You are very much environmentally conscious. For you to continue to be environmentally conscious, you have to weigh the cost of continuing to live with these pain inflicting creatures. I do understand the dilemma. I’m so sorry.

@Melissa in Australia what variety of apples grow well in your region? I’m so curious about this —I’ve never thought much about it. This is why I asked in my previous comment. I mean…I think I understand about the apple trees, but my grandmother has BOUNTIFUL blueberries and blackberries every year. She also has an apple tree—which I acknowledge does not produce the same nice apples that are grown in the northern regions. I’ve always known apples aren’t a good crop here in the SE US. But berries… we have berries o’plenty of ALL types. 🙂 But still I get it. There are certain varieties—premium varieties of apples—that just don’t do well in my climate. Peaches do amazing here. Pears and plums, too. And pecans. The SE US has the best pecans you’ll ever eat. 🙂 But apples…not so much. We definitely need Michigan’s chill hours to get our yummy apples!

I actually do this for most of my camping reservations. Not that we camp a lot or anything, but I much prefer to have the whole day to pack up. I can sleep in a little, and take my time. We tent camp, too. I’ve never done a first come first serve/no reservations.

@Faith-manor edited to add: I think I don’t know what chill hours are. What does that mean? I don’t understand the blueberry thing. We grow blueberries all over the place down here in zone 8, and we don’t get that cold—not for long anyway. Is it a different variety?

That was very helpful—thank you!

Yikes! I have never heard of this. Is there a fix?

I’m so glad to hear this update! I prayed for him. MRSA— that’s serious. Scary that it can happen to anyone seemingly out of the blue like that. I’m so thankful he is recovering and has good support!

This is a good question. We as wives don’t have clout for some reason. I have been making dh watch reels on social media from Mary Claire Haver OB/GYN. I can tell he’s like…whatever. So I guess she doesn’t have clout either. 😉 But this is why it’s important that we keep it in everyone’s face so to speak. This subject has never been given the attention it deserves. I think the tide is turning. “Perry” was an absolute b$&:? for me. I was welcomed into the club by my first ever full blown panic attack at 40. Just out of the blue! I knew it was peri menopause even then. I have nothing but respect for anyone trying to bring more awareness to this. It wrecked me. I’m on the other side now—post menopausal. I’m picking up my HRT patch and progesterone pills tomorrow! I could go on such a RANT about trying to get help for this over the past several years. I’m pretty pissed about it tbh. I ended up going through an online company which is absolutely ridiculous. Because all the local ob/gyns here are either “we can’t be bothered/suck it up it’s natural” or they're money grabbing and only offering stupid pellets or specially compounded creams. 😡 I LOVE this video. It’s so good to be able to laugh about it. They’re amazing.

This is so interesting to me. I haven’t flown in more than 20 years. I would be clueless. I’m sure I would want paper, too!