Caught Up

Two weeks ago hot flashes finally caught up with me! Damn surgical menopause. I really thought I'd be one of the lucky ones that gets off easy without needing estrogen replacement for unbearable symptoms. -sigh- Wishful thinking!

I guess I shouldn't complain since I haven't had any menopausal feelings sooner. It's already been over two months since my surgery! The hot flashes came on so suddenly one day that I thought I was sick. I didn't even realize at the time that I was having hot flashes! If you have never experienced a hormonal hot flash, let me tell ya, they are NOT exaggerating when they say they can become disruptive to your life! These hot flashes feel like a high fever. My face suddenly gets hot (like when you open the oven!) and then the heat travels down my neck leaving me drenched in sweat. No joke! By the time my entire body feels on fire, the chills decide to take over. Let's just say I look like a weirdo out in public, and I'm not sleeping well at night! It's crazy! I thought women who complain of hot flashes were just whiners....HA! It really is THAT bad!

I had no choice but to start the hormone patch. The first few days brought headaches, crazy blood sugars and laziness. I have now made it through the first week and I'm finally starting to feel better, I can sleep without waking up in a pool of sweat! But....my blood sugars SUCK, partly because I'd like to just eat all day. I think Ive already gained 5pounds this week! Stupid hormones. Right after surgery my insulin needs dropped dramatically, even with the infection and PE I developed......but now? This estrogen patch is kicking my ass with 300's here, there and everywhere. I'm increasing insulin across the board and it ain't budging! I'm supposed to manage Maddisons numbers through her teen years!? Ack!

It's a vicious cycle. High makes me tired. Makes me grumpy. Unmotivated. Headachy. Irritable. Lazy. At this point I don't know if the high blood sugars are making me a mess or if the patch dose just isn't right! Damn menopause has caught up with me!

On the other hand, I've been having blood draws every 10 days since my PE to check my INR. FINALLY after 8 weeks of adjusting my Coumadin doses they have me where I need to be. Apparently Coumadin is another medication that is strongly influenced by EVERYTHING. What you eat, stress, sleep, exercise, hormones.....sound familiar? Like I really needed ANOTHER crazy ass medication to manage. Sheesh! Im feeling a little irritated with my own body today, can you tell?

On the bright side, Maddisons numbers haven't required logging or changes for many, many weeks now. Diabetes has been our friend. But, this week Maddi is starting with some lows before lunch, so im sure logging and tweaking is right around the corner. Cooler weather is coming ya know......even though it was 96 degrees today, I'm begging for cooler days ahead, even if it means blood sugars may go bonkers for awhile!

My Hannah has been caught up playing for both the JV and Varsity teams at school, loving every minute of it. Last week she came down with strep AGAIN, just like she does several times when school starts each year. I think her immune system weakens when she has weekend tournaments along with weekday games, homework and practice every night. She is just steps away from having those dang tonsils removed....each time she recovers slower. In fact, She felt so sick this time around that she asked me to check her blood sugar. 114. Fasting.
No comment. Which reminds me of her last a1c when she tested for Mono last year.....5.5%.....technically considered "borderline." Again, no comment.....

I just can't get caught up in all that. So, we don't. We just keep swimming. Just keep swimming.......