Gina's journey

[Pema]

Are you glad to have the emotions?

[Northern Star Girl ✅]

    @Gina P
Dear Gina:
Terrific update that you posted on your Blog....
    I like my "BOB" aka: Battery Operated Boyfriend, it even has an on/off switch and
    I keep fresh batteries on hand.

If you and I continue on with that subject we should consider going to the "Sexuality" sub-forum board!
LOTS of Fun for certain ! ! !

Regarding politics, I understand what you are saying.  Politics and Religion are "hot topics that
can get people going.  We do have a "Politics" and "Spirituality" sub-forums that can be utilized for deeper conversations that uninterested members will not go to.

I always look forward to your postings on your Blog Thread and elsewhere around the Forum.

Oh, and how is Dundee doing?  Liking the new surroundings?

HUGS, Danielle [Northern Star Girl]

A couple of weeks ago, I  that I had my first Orgasm since surgery. No, it was not a fluke! Had several since and each one has been better than the last. Last night I took my mechanical  friend into the shower and .... knees went weak, I grabbed for something to hold on to. The door flung open and I almost fell out onto the floor. Wow! Ok maybe TMI, sorry. 😮
  I continue to cry a lot. I have read stories from others that get emotional at the start of HRT. That never happened to me and I have never really been able to cry. Now years latter its trippy to tear up over a song or FB post. I'm sure things will settle down in a few weeks but for now its different.
  Many of my friends, who don't like to talk politics, but always do anyways, have stopped talking to me. I found their 'NO' politics rule only applies to view points that went against theirs. Even a call for love and peace is considered wrong. No big loss. At least now I know who my true friends are!

[Gina P]

Are you glad to have the emotions?

I feel more alive then ever. Of course it's going to take some getting used to. I never realized how dead I felt inside before coming off this drug. Of course I don't agree with everything said around me but I feel inclined to comment more about my feelings which I now have. To answer your question, yes I'm glad!

[Gina P]

   Don't worry Danielle, I won't be talking about "BOB" anymore. I was just happy that after 19 months post op, it finally happened. I had all but given up hope.
  Dundee is doing fine. I think he and Finnegan miss their old barn. They only have a shed to get into now. Perhaps next year I will get some stalls built and a proper barn. For now though my home is more important. Ridding has ground to a halt as the weather is not fit for it, or am I just getting soft? I was looking at old pic's on my phone, where we road in snow and cold. Now it just doesn't seam that important.

[Pema]

I feel more alive then ever. Of course it's going to take some getting used to. I never realized how dead I felt inside before coming off this drug. Of course I don't agree with everything said around me but I feel inclined to comment more about my feelings which I now have. To answer your question, yes I'm glad!

Oh, that's great! I wan't sure if it was unwanted or neutral or desirable, so this is fantastic to hear.

Congratulations!

[Gina P]

My emotions have leveled out. Still cry easily at things happy or sad but I think that's the way it is supposed to be. 
   So tired of all the political bickering in the country. When will it end? On a good note: WV has a bill going through their house, HB 5251. It would expend the states, 'Human rights act' to include protections based on sexual orientation and gender identity..... Hopefully it will pass.
   Work continues to drag on in the renovations to the house. Most of the floor is removed. Floor beams are 24" apart. I will have to move and then add a few, to make it 16" apart. I also need to add some support beams to help in the longer spans.Then comes plywood. I am also going to rebuild the very steep cellar steps, soon before the floor.
   It's been brutally cold. Most mornings its 0 or below. (I know Danielle, that's warm for you!) Today it is supposed to break, and go up to the 60's. I can't wait!

[Lori Dee ✅]

That sounds like a fun project. A lot of work, but fun.

I remodeled my kitchen ages ago. The end result made it all worth it.

[ChrissyRyan]

I bet your place will turn out very nice.  Safe, built to code, and built to last.

Chrissy

[Gina P]

Weather has been mild. Most of the snow and ice have melted. Now the mud is a problem!

   I had a fight with the wife a week ago. We have patched things up but the lingering depression and doubt of our future remains. I built my forever home before and was forced, or choose, to move. Now doing it over again, rebuilding and planning, is hard with the nagging thought of what if we were to split? I have been having dizzy spells, not sleeping good, and terrible poor concentration. I measure something in the house then forget and have to do it over again and again. The renovations have slowed to a craw. Did get an exterminator to take care of the termite problem. Tec says he wants to work for me over the weekends. Defiantly can use the help. We will see if it materializes. 

[ChrissyRyan]

Weather has been mild. Most of the snow and ice have melted. Now the mud is a problem!

   I had a fight with the wife a week ago. We have patched things up but the lingering depression and doubt of our future remains. I built my forever home before and was forced, or choose, to move. Now doing it over again, rebuilding and planning, is hard with the nagging thought of what if we were to split? I have been having dizzy spells, not sleeping good, and terrible poor concentration. I measure something in the house then forget and have to do it over again and again. The renovations have slowed to a craw. Did get an exterminator to take care of the termite problem. Tec says he wants to work for me over the weekends. Defiantly can use the help. We will see if it materializes.

I hope all of this resolves well for you.  Perhaps you should make a drawing and measurements sheet to jot down each measurement and label what it measures. 

Chrissy

[Gina P]

A friend suggested I might be dehydrated. Makes sense! Drink more water... Now to find a bathroom?!!☺️ 

[ChrissyRyan]

Happy Valentine's Day!

[Gina P]

   Finally nice weather! Got the horses out for a short ride yesterday. Felt so good. Even the spring peepers have been singing in the evenings. Flocks of robins have been here also.
   Work on the house is still crawling along. Just finished rebuilding the basement steps and cutting a new door to the back porch area. This will add some more space for the kitchen and make the steps more navigable. Currently resetting the floor beams from 24" apart to 16" and setting the height, so all the house will have the same floor height. Many of the beams are warped or bent and need some trimming to level them. Most of the wiring and plumbing are drilled through the beams, so all have to be rerouted for now to move them. It will all be replaced soon anyway. As I'm moving wires the panel box fly's off the wall. It was never securely connected! Just one of the many problems I encounter.
   Broke down and went to the doctors about my dizziness. She believes it is BPPV. Something about the small crystals in the ear being in the wrong place. Anyway she recommended a few exercises to alleviate it. Also, the my new glasses had the wrong lenses. Add that to being a bit dehydrated and I felt dizzy.. She did some blood work just to check and make sure everything else is good. Had her do an estradoil check as well. Came back 196.

[Lori Dee ✅]

Hi Gina,

I, too, have BPPV. And I was diagnosed back when I was doing a kitchen remodel. Dehydration helps the crystals to form - so stay hydrated. The remodeling work involves turning and twisting your head at different angles. That is what makes the crystals fall and cause dizziness. My doctor said it means we have rocks in our heads. 😄

Learn the Epley Manuever exercises. There are YouTube videos for it. I would do them mornings and evenings. Then again, anytime the dizziness set in. Sometimes it takes longer (more time in each position), and doing it several times in a row.

The first time it hit me, it scared the crap out of me. Staying hydrated is a big help.

[Pema]

I'm a big fan of hydration, too. Since our bodies are mostly water, hydration is essential for us to function properly. When we were young, we could compensate with our youthful invincibility, but as we age, every little bit helps.

I have low blood pressure, so hydration is important just to keep the volume up. But absorption of nutrients, distribution of medications, you name it - it all requires water. I literally carry a stainless steel bottle of water with me everywhere I go. Of course, what goes in must come out, but it's worth it in the long run.

[Stottie Girl]

Hi Gina,

I, too, have BPPV. And I was diagnosed back when I was doing a kitchen remodel. Dehydration helps the crystals to form - so stay hydrated. The remodeling work involves turning and twisting your head at different angles. That is what makes the crystals fall and cause dizziness. My doctor said it means we have rocks in our heads. 😄

Learn the Epley Manuever exercises. There are YouTube videos for it. I would do them mornings and evenings. Then again, anytime the dizziness set in. Sometimes it takes longer (more time in each position), and doing it several times in a row.

The first time it hit me, it scared the crap out of me. Staying hydrated is a big help.

Ah you beat me to it Lori, My dad has this condition too. That manuever is weird but it works almost instantly. Really interesting how they worked that one out! My dads eyes go weirdly twitchy when we do it too which is apparently a thing.

[Lori Dee ✅]

Ah you beat me to it Lori, My dad has this condition too. That manuever is weird but it works almost instantly. Really interesting how they worked that one out! My dads eyes go weirdly twitchy when we do it too which is apparently a thing.

The twitchy eyes are from the dizziness. It is the brain trying to reconcile what the inner ear and the eyes are telling it. Yes, the Epley Manuever is a great way to treat it without medication. My doctor wanted to put me on a sedative. I declined.

[Stottie Girl]

The twitchy eyes are from the dizziness. It is the brain trying to reconcile what the inner ear and the eyes are telling it. Yes, the Epley Manuever is a great way to treat it without medication. My doctor wanted to put me on a sedative. I declined.

My dad self diagnosed and self fixed himself (with the aid of my Mum) before talking to a doctor about it. He has an amusing letter from the GP saying how impressed he was!

[Gina P]

Dehydration helps the crystals to form - so stay hydrated. The remodeling work involves turning and twisting your head at different angles. That is what makes the crystals fall and cause dizziness. My doctor said it means we have rocks in our head.

Coming from a rock hound, I will take it as gospel, Lori! Thanks ladies!

[Gina P]

Dizziness has mostly gone away. More water, exercises, meds.... I take it as a win, win!
  Work on the house, has been progressing slowly but moving forward. The neighbors niece, a 27yr old has been working for me. She is a hard worker and drives me to keep up. We are removing the floor beams, which have sagged an inch or more. Flipping them and cutting them straight then resetting them at 16" centers instead of 24".The wiring and pluming is run through them which must also be removed and or rerouted first. Some of the sills are rotted and also need replacing as we go. Probably would have been easier to build from scratch!
  The weather has been beautiful. Was in the high 60's yesterday so I took the day off and rode the horses. Also trimmed the apple trees. There are 4 of them. I gave them a spray of dormant oil to, I know a little late but its on. Looking forward to getting some apples in the fall. There are also 2 very neglected peach trees. I hesitated to trim them until I see just what is alive or dead. They got a drink of the spray as well.
  The apartment is getting small and the wife and I seam to always be in each others way. It is a long ways out but I can't wait to get in a bigger place.