Hey, Bri, hang in there.

Another suggestion to go along with Sundae Girl.

When people act stupid and say "What's wrong with you?", you respond -
"God took my hair because you touch yourself at night."
Just a thought...

Good luck.

you all are the best---sundae, the idea about whipping off my scarf at the drugstore and demanding to talk to someone about the 'product' is a killer--as all those ideas are! I like GC's idea, too. the problem is agoraphobia and they are not givig me enough ativan (anti anxiety drug) to treat it---only 0.5mg every eight hours! LORD! that wouldn't shut my dead grandma up! My doc friend thinks I should go see a pain specialist---they can prescribe pain meds for people in recovery without fear of licensce. I need schedul II drugs like oxycontin--something with a kick but no tylenol to kill my liver. SO. I need more drugs and somethihg to manage this constant crying from being rudely thrown into menopause without preamble.

I took some ativan but I really want a bottle. nothing quite evens out the brain like a smirnoff.

In some way, I hope this makes you feel better, but it probably won't and I'll just end being an ass in the end. Just know the intention was there.

A childhood friend of mine - 36 years old and father to a 1 year old baby boy - was just diagnosed 2 weeks ago with stage IV melanoma, a very aggressive cancer. It has spread to his blood and they found lesions on his stomach, and both intestines. It's so far progressed that there's nothing that can be done. Even if there was, he lacks the health insurance and resources to do so. He is dying, and he's dying soon.

My boss's wife went to the hospital 6 months ago for a sudden onset severe headache because her primary care physician's office was closed. A day later she was diagnosed with an extremely aggressive brain tumor that had grown to the size of a lemon. A week to the day from entering the ER, and coincidentally their 25 year wedding anniversary, she convulsed and died. A week. Not even enough time to accept her diagnosis and see her family.

I guess what I'm saying is if nothing else, remember that there's always someone worse off than you, and to count your blessings, even if they are small ones. Every day is a gift.

mea culpa.

I'm just simply weak.

thanks for the reality call.

No, you're not weak. I know that.

I didn't mean to make you feel bad by relaying such sad stories. Papa Smurf's mother went through all the chemo and radiation and eventually had a double radical mastectomy. She lost all her hair and all that, but now she's healthy as a horse. So there's a positive story for you.

I can't imagine what you're going through. Just seeing what my friends and family are going/have gone through, it scares and amazes me at the same time. I take so much for granted. I've noticed that the old adage that you really don't know what you've got 'til it's gone is awfully true. I'm really trying to remember this every day and be thankful for my health. I pray that each of us, ill and healthy alike, stop taking life for granted.

Chin up. Believe in the power of positive thinking.

I haven't posted before in this thread because I honestly don't know what to say. Certainly nothing as funny or uplifting as others' posts. The only thing I want to address is the "I feel lonely" comment. It's important not to isolate yourself--vitally important--and to keep making connections with people. Even this kind of virtual connection can help (and I hope it does), but it's important to make connections with the real people in your life, and I hope you keep that in mind.

Other than that, please be assured that we are (and I'm sure I can speak for most, if not all, Dwellars in this) keeping you in our thoughts and hearts.

Yeah.... what Cloud said.
I wish you were closer Bri, so I could come over and hang with you.
What are you doing with yourself at night? There are always a bunch of losers in chat that would love to keep you company...

and we make fun of people in mean and nasty ways, too! it's right up your alley

Jimbo is always there. It's almost like he's got no real friends, really...

Some of us have real friends?

Well I have one.

I used to have one . . . I think.

Hey! I resemble that remark!!!
:D

As far as "there's always someone worse off than you", I know exactly what Smurf means, but I cannot put it into any better words either...but when my daughter was terminal at 2 1/2, after a 13 mo. battle with childhood cancer, whenever I was at my lowest "why me / poor me" place, I would always run into someone I felt was a little worse off than me.
At one low point while spending one of many weeks in the hospital - Sheena was about 19 months old and having a week long chemo treatment, I ran into a 21 yr old girl who had a 3 yr. old daughter who had brain cancer and a 6 mo. old son having open heart surgery. One kid was on the 2nd floor, the other one on the 4th floor on the other side of the big hospital. The young mom was running back and forth trying to take care of both her kids all alone.
Those kind of things did always seem to happen when I was at my lowest.
I am so sorry for how you're feeling, Bri. It SO SUCKS!
We're here, please stay strong for yourself and your son. And DO keep us updated often, please!

:grouphug: