The Caregiver & Dysfunctional Families: How are you doing?

Sharynmarie,

This made me laugh when you wrote about your sister's boyfriend smoking Marijuana. You can be 99.9% sure that if you go to a Jimmy Buffet concert, there's going to be lot's of puffing. Besides, your sister is a big girl,
and these are decisions for her to make about her own life, Also, there is medical marijuana use, even though.....people liken it I guess to the bootlegging days of Alcohol. I have friends who smoke it because they've had Cancer, and
Arthritis.

I am sorry to hear that your mom is upset.
Well, at least she made you laugh a little.

Much Love & LIght! Margeaux

Margeaux~All the people I know who use medical marijuana use it to get high not medical reason. However, I suppose if I needed it for medical reason, I would give it a try. To be honest though, I tried it in my teen years and it made me paranoid so I don't think I could handle it now anymore than I could then, LOL!!

As far as my sister goes, she is not seeing this man and yes she can make her own decisions. I only wrote about it because I can see the similarity of the description of a BPD of how they attach themselves to a man quickly, idolizing the man. If she wants to get involved with a man, it is her life and her right to do so.

Hugs to you,
Sharyn

do you all think it's fair to tape a conversation with my mom to prove she is incompetent? I would advise her before hand that I'm taping..she wouldn't know whats what anyhow.

Floridadee -
Who do you want to prove it to? You can't prove it to her, and it's a bad idea to try. I think it's fair to tape it to show a sibling or doctor a sample of her behavior.

Cheawee,
You should not feel guilty because you ARE giving your all - All you can without losing your mind!

Are you a Cinderella child? I might have made up that name, but I know it exists. The child who is treated worst ends up taking care of the abusive parent, trying to win their love. Please do a decent job, but don't hope to make her see how worthy you are, because it is all in her mind, and doesn't have anything to do with what a good person you are. Try to free yourself from that wish, so you can be more at peace. There are people in the world who know you and love you. Trust their opinion of you, not the opinion of your abuser. Bless you.

@Jinx4740 I want to tape it to prove to a lawyer or to possibly let my brother hear when she calls me during the day how she is. Because my brother claims she is ok and not in the beginning of Alzheimers. I want to let him hear what I hear. And possibly her doctors. this is all new to me and coming from a dysfunctinal family I need to find an answer, I know I cannot trust my brother or his wife.

Thanks Margeaux! Yes - my humor (sick at times) has come in handy! I think my favorite was when I was in labor with my 4th child - new dr was there and said I was in too good of a mood and it would be hours....um - had he seen my chart - 4th kid...not hours - minutes! Should have seen him run in when I started to push! Lol!

As far as my kids - daughter- goes- I try to see who they really are - and I think my biggest struggle is with my youngest son who still lives with us at 23. I do baby him and Can't help it. He calls me a helicopter...and I guess I am. Drives the siblings crazy. My daughter has been a challenge since she was 2 - so strong willed. I do need to say my husband has been a good reality check for me when it comes to the kids. He taught high school for 35 years and pretty much saw it all. I'll tell you - people that critize other parents etc really do need to walk a mile in their shoes.

Didn't get to do my counciling with the eye movement therapy yet - Friday...will be interesting! She was pretty glad too that I haven't seen mom too. And interestingly enough - no word at the AL place she is - no word - so she must be doing fine! All show.

A trick for staying positive that worked for me was for every negative thing I said - I had to say two positive ones. It was a new years resolution a long time ago - hard - but helped!

Hugs to all!!

Yes, humor can always save the day, especially if we can laugh at ourselves! I was talking to my brother who is still in the hospital, detoxing from pain medication. He had a knee replacement over a month ago, and just got out of rehab for his knee. The rehab hospital sent home the extremely strong pain medication that the hospital sent over with him from his knee surgery. He is bi-polar, and has had prescription meds. addiction before. He lives by himself. He called me from his Dr/s office 3 days after being home and announces that he has thrown all of his pain medicine away. His insurance has run out. The Dr. office can not get him admitted anywhere except threw the emergengy room, so they had him "Baker Acted". He has been in the phyc. hospital 6 days now, and is supposedly detoxed from the pain medicine he was on. Problem is, whatever they have him on now, phycotrophic (sp) meds. have him so wiped out, he can hardly talk, or function.
A human resourse person called me today and asked me the name of the rehab that my brother had just gotten out of, because he couldn't remember. While talking with my brother, this evening he ask me if the human resourse person ever figured out what she was doing..... I reminded him that he was the one that couldn't even remember where he had been staying for a month.... He started laughing. It's a sad, scary situation. I still have no place for him to go, as he is afraid he will overdose if he goes back home by himself. Can the phych hospital just release him, while he is still so heavily drugged? I bought him a nice RV to live in, and he has been doing fine for over a year, until his knee replacement. I don't know where to turn. I have talked to the councel on aging, here in Florida, they have done an assessment, but the waiting list is 24months. I don't know where to turn. I rent an apt., and have a roommate. He can't live with me. I posted the total dysfunction earlier, so I won't go into that again, but tomorrow is almost here, and I don't know where to turn. One person sends me to another person, etc. , but no insurance left, no money, no one has any answers.

I have recorded conversations that I have had with my mom because nobody believed what I would tell them I bought a digital Sony recorder at Wal-Mart so I could download these conversations to my computer and e-mail them to those doubting Thomas's in my family. Didn't help much but did get an OMG response. I guess since I deal with it all the time it should become a walk in the park. IF ONLY! This job should require a degree in drama, always trying to figure out how to adlib something.

I had something similar today. A lady from mother's church visits her weekly and then updates me sometimes. Today she said that mother comprehends that I have full control of her finances, but it is too bad that I did not discuss it with mother first. BTW full control, in fact, means that I go to the bank once a month to get a copy of her bank statement, Mother carries on as she always has, but I need to see what her cash flow is and explain to her when she thinks money is missing. Anyway, I felt gently "told off" by this visitor and explained to her that I had talked with mother back in July and mother had asked if she needed to sign anything so I could have access to her account., I said it was already done. Obviously mother has forgotten the conversation - no surprise, but the visitor might have given me the benefit of the doubt. It is the old victim game if the personality disorder. and mother does not really benefit from someone commiserating with her. Oh well.
Mother's apartment was flooded from an apartment above so she has been moved to another one till repairs are done.. I am glad the visitor took her out and listened to her. and explained that she didn't cause it, Mother was afraid they were going to charge her for repairs.
Over the flu, but the candida is not settled and now I am pretty sure my thyroid dose is too low. it would explain the worsening fatigue and a bunch of other stuff.,. Thankfully that is an easy fix. I get the results tomorrow but have increased my dose and am starting to feel better. Major work at the dentist on Wednesday - oh, what fun!!!

snorkelcat~Have you called the Area Agency On Aging in your county or city? Ask for a Social Worker to come out and talk with your brother about his options for care. I don't know how old your brother is, if he qualifies for state care...medicare or medicaid?? Is he on state disability? Such a sad situation but there must be something out there to help him. Hugs to you for caring and wanting to help!!

Pita601~If your mother is in the beginning of Alz...she is most likely not incapacitated yet. Can she still handle her finances? Is she confused with her daily mail...can't understand the difference between junk mail asking for donations and actual bills that she needs to pay? My mother was diagnosed as mentally incapacitated in April of this year. I guess her to be at stage 6-7. She could not tell the dr. her birthday, the day of the week, what month it was, she knew what state she was in, what city she was in but that was it.

What is Alzheimer's
Alzheimer's symptoms vary. The stages below provide a general idea of how abilities change during the course of the disease.

Stage 1: No impairment
Stage 2: Very mild decline
Stage 3: Mild decline
Stage 4: Moderate decline
Stage 5: Moderately severe decline
Stage 6: Severe decline
Stage 7: Very severe decline

Not everyone will experience the same symptoms or progress at the same rate. This seven-stage framework is based on a system developed by Barry Reisberg, M.D., clinical director of the New York University School of Medicine's Silberstein Aging and Dementia Research Center.

Stage 1: No impairment (normal function)
The person does not experience any memory problems. An interview with a medical professional does not show any evidence of symptoms of dementia.

Stage 2: Very mild cognitive decline (may be normal age-related changes or earliest signs of Alzheimer's disease)
The person may feel as if he or she is having memory lapses — forgetting familiar words or the location of everyday objects. But no symptoms of dementia can be detected during a medical examination or by friends, family or co-workers.

Stage 3: Mild cognitive decline (early-stage Alzheimer's can be diagnosed in some, but not all, individuals with these symptoms)
Friends, family or co-workers begin to notice difficulties. During a detailed medical interview, doctors may be able to detect problems in memory or concentration. Common stage 3 difficulties include:
Noticeable problems coming up with the right word or name

Trouble remembering names when introduced to new people
Having noticeably greater difficulty performing tasks in social or work settings Forgetting material that one has just read
Losing or misplacing a valuable object
Increasing trouble with planning or organizing

Stage 4:
Moderate cognitive decline
(Mild or early-stage Alzheimer's disease)
At this point, a careful medical interview should be able to detect clear-cut symptoms in several areas:
Forgetfulness of recent events
Impaired ability to perform challenging mental arithmetic — for example, counting backward from 100 by 7s
Greater difficulty performing complex tasks, such as planning dinner for guests, paying bills or managing finances
Forgetfulness about one's own personal history
Becoming moody or withdrawn, especially in socially or mentally challenging situations

Stage 5: Moderately severe cognitive decline
(Moderate or mid-stage Alzheimer's disease)
Gaps in memory and thinking are noticeable, and individuals begin to need help with day-to-day activities. At this stage, those with Alzheimer's may:
Be unable to recall their own address or telephone number or the high school or college from which they graduated
Become confused about where they are or what day it is
Have trouble with less challenging mental arithmetic; such as counting backward from 40 by subtracting 4s or from 20 by 2s
Need help choosing proper clothing for the season or the occasion
Still remember significant details about themselves and their family
Still require no assistance with eating or using the toilet

Stage 6: Severe cognitive decline
(Moderately severe or mid-stage Alzheimer's disease)
Memory continues to worsen, personality changes may take place and individuals need extensive help with daily activities. At this stage, individuals may:
Lose awareness of recent experiences as well as of their surroundings
Remember their own name but have difficulty with their personal history

Remember:
It is difficult to place a person with Alzheimer's in a specific stage as stages may overlap.

Distinguish familiar and unfamiliar faces but have trouble remembering the name of a spouse or caregiver
Need help dressing properly and may, without supervision, make mistakes such as putting pajamas over daytime clothes or shoes on the wrong feet
Experience major changes in sleep patterns — sleeping during the day and becoming restless at night
Need help handling details of toileting (for example, flushing the toilet, wiping or disposing of tissue properly)
Have increasingly frequent trouble controlling their bladder or bowels
Experience major personality and behavioral changes, including suspiciousness and delusions (such as believing that their caregiver is an impostor)or compulsive, repetitive behavior like hand-wringing or tissue shredding
Tend to wander or become lost

Stage 7: Very severe cognitive decline
(Severe or late-stage Alzheimer's disease)
In the final stage of this disease, individuals lose the ability to respond to their environment, to carry on a conversation and, eventually, to control movement. They may still say words or phrases.
At this stage, individuals need help with much of their daily personal care, including eating or using the toilet. They may also lose the ability to smile, to sit without support and to hold their heads up. Reflexes become abnormal. Muscles grow rigid. Swallowing impaired.

I this helps you to understand more where your mother is at. Hugs to you!!

Joan~How frustrating to have someone call you gently telling you off because they do not understand the whole situation. It sounds like you handled it well while it caused you some emotional concern, It sounds like you have a good handle on it...not wanting to discount this person's concern so she won't contact you in the future. Your mother must be very upset about being moved..the adjustment takes times and can/will cause her to act out more. Hugs to you!!

Not much here except the hot water on the kitchen faucet is not working. Not dys issue just a household issue. I looked online...it said it was probably a dislodged washer or a washer that has dissolved. Hot water everywhere else in the house is fine. This is life..LOL!!

Just out of curiosity...does anyone know anything about an autoimmune disease that causes female baldness??

The family history:
My father had very thick wavy hair as he aged his got got thinner and in his 70's there was some baldness on the crown of his head.

My mother had very thick, curly/wavy hair as she aged her hair went from course hair to fine hair and now at the age of 85, she has thin hair...I see this as normal age related hair thinning for both my parents.

However, on my mother's side, her brothers all developed the horseshoe baldness on the top of their heads. Known as Male Pattern Baldness. I learned in college this is caused from 2 factors...1) inherited from the mother's side of the family but...2)can only happen if the male has the gene and a higher than normal amount of testosterone.

My eldest brother has male pattern baldness...so does my son. Both my brother and my son had thick curly hair but in their 20's started losing handfuls on a daily basis. Both my brother and my son are very hairy otherwise...can grow full breads in 4-5 days, hairy backs, chests and arms, LOL!!

I bring this up because my sister has me confused. She told me yesterday she was diagnosed with a new autoimmune disease called male pattern baldness. Her dr. took a sample of her scalp for a biopsy and that was the diagnoses. My sister has always had thin wispy hair. I have very thick curly/wavy hair that has become more fine (was coarse when younger).

My second oldest brother had thick wavy hair too. He is 62 now..his hair is thinning and following the pattern of our father.

Is my sister confused about this being an autoimmune disease? My understanding of male pattern baldness is not something that comes on suddenly even for a woman. From what I read online, the autoimmune disease that causes this in women is sudden.

I am not trying to prove my sister wrong. It just doesn't make sense to what I learned about baldness yet I understand that new info is always being discovered that changes old info. Keep in mind...my sister is calling this male pattern baldness...just doesn't make since according to what I was taught. Any info from all of you would be appreciated.

My sister calls this autoimmune disease Alopecia areata

Sharyn, here on island, I see a lot of ladies with balding heads. And even younger ones in their 40's. I think I'm going to be joining those group. My older sis that I spent time in Hawaii...she said that all her kids are balding. My hair is so thin now, that I wear it as a bob haircut for years. Now, it's much shorter because it's thinner. I keep wondering how far am I willing to go to hide my baldness. I've seen several women cut it short and then sleep with curlers so that it curls over their balding head. Or be like that brave woman who walked into the office with most of her head bald and a few wispy hairs on the back of her head. Or will I follow my aunty and wear a wig? So, I don't know if it's hereditary or not.

Hi Paula, I’m sorry with the situation with your mother. I was wondering if maybe you can benefit with some online YouTube videos on how to deal with the elderlies – especially those with dementia. I need to re-watch those videos too because I have been losing my temper with father. I need a “refresher”. Just Google Teepa Snow videos. I recommend this to help us on how to react to our parents. And how NOT to.

As for your mom’s deteriorating behavior, is there any way to do it sneakily by tricking her or using some other excuse to do what needs to be done? My father wasn’t as bad as your mom. He still has pride and is too embarrassed to have my sister, her hubby and the kids visit and he stinks. He would refuse to shower for like 2 weeks. When the smell gets really bad, I will tell him straight that he smells like old pee on him and so-and-so is visiting. He needs to go shower. I don’t ask him to. If I ask, he will say he doesn’t need to shower. I just present this is what’s happening, and you need to do this. Maybe you can tweak this in a way that might get your mom to agree for you to clean the place. Otherwise, you may have to wait until she hurts herself…..

Getnstrong, in our people’s custom, there is nothing wrong with taking photos of our dead loved ones in their coffin. We did that with mom’s passing this March. We took photos of posing by her coffin with her showing. What baby brother and I objected and he got mad – was when our 2 nieces posted mom’s photo in the coffin. That was very tacky and very disrespectful. I wanted to get on the phone and blast both of them. But baby bro handled it. But boy was he very pissed off!

Snorkel, if it gets really really bad with brother, you can try calling the local government’s senior citizen department. Perhaps they can give you some tips on helping your brother via various programs. It doesn’t hurt to ask around. When mom was diagnosed with dementia at age 55, father was able to apply for Meals-on-wheels hot lunches for the weekdays. He was able to apply on a research program on dementia in return, they provided a one-hour caregiver respite AND a limited amount of vouchers for supplies like pampers, wipes, gloves, etc....He applied with the Catholic Social Services and we were able to have them come 4 hours a week to help mom. Instead father had them break it down to 1 hour a day - and they just wash mom. They were experts at getting her to shower even though she didn't want to. They were very nice and patient and cajoling to mom.

I agree with Sharyn about doing things for them when they can do it themselves. Father and I had major arguments because everyone spoilt him except me. I mean, he even wanted me to press the darn remote control to raise his bed’s head up!! It’s a remote control! I’m not my sister. I tell him if he wants up, to use the remote. He cusses and gets mad and eventually does it himself. That’s one of many examples of our clashing.

one does need to see humor in life

I was told by my mothers landlord that in order for them to fix her leaking roof, we have to take her out for 2 days!! The reason, she is verbally abusive to the workers and while this is true, I told them she's an old lady, she can't hurt them I find it hard to believe they can't deal with her. Sissies, I've been listening to her noise all my life.

Take her out for everyone's sakes just cause you can deal with her does not mean that workers should have to do so. They are contracted to fix the roof period.

Book~It does sound like the thinning hair may be a hereditary issue in your family. How about the men, are they balding too. I worked with a woman who had very thin hair, you could see her scalp and she was in her late twenties..this was back in the 80's, she now wears a wig and it looks really good. It changed her self esteem to the point that she dieted, loosing a lot of weight. The wig style she picked out was so flattering on her face, it was quiet surprising. We have no other women in our family with this, just my sister. Next time you go out shopping, stop in a shop that sells wigs and try some on, see what you think. I told my sister to do the same thing.

Paula,

Your mother is definitely in great need, but you shouldn't have to tolerate this kind of abuse. We just recently had a death here at our property last week.
The deceased suffered some serious osteo-arthritis and a whole host of other ailments. She was quite immobile. In hindsight, one thing that keeps popping
up in my mind the last few days, is that she should have had something like,
Life Alert.

Have you contacted Department of Social Services, at all?
They may be able to put you in touch with some help, which it sounds as if you could really use.

O.K., Paula, welcome to this thread, and let us know what's happening in your life.

Much Love & Light! Margeaux

Book~I asked my sister some questions about the baldness. She said the dr. said it is a male pattern baldness but she is not satisfied with the diagnosis. The psychiatrist upped her dosage of Wellbutrin and she said a rare side effect of it is hair loss. Plus she is having tremors (Parkinsonism type shaking) I am wondering since the psychiatrist told her he has never had a patient that he could not find an antidepressant that worked for them, if she possibly is not depressed and her symptoms are just because of her health issues or maybe one of the other drugs she is taking for diabetes.

I ordered see's candy suckers that are decorated like black spiders (enough for all the residents in memory care), I bought Bridgette a witch costume...it wraps around her belly) but the little chubby girl is too big around so I am going to go to JoAnns and get a velcro strip to add to it. It has a hat too. The nurse said it was ok for all the residents to have a sucker.

Remember the man I posted about who always had a problem when I brought Bridgette in??? I noticed the last few times I have been there that he was not there. My mom told me a woman had died about 3 weeks ago. Today I noticed he was not there again and it dawned on me that it was his mother who passed away. I am sorry for him and his family, but I am glad I did not have to confront him regarding me bringing the dog to visit.

My sister said that the psychiatrist lower the dosage of Welbutrin back to 100 mg a day instead of 200mg. I am thinking that since sis has low blood pressure and Welbutrin is very energizing, that the higher dosage was causing her to have tremors...IDK it is just a guess. I took Welbutrin and I could not consume anything with caffeine because it would cause heart palpations for me.

This has been a horrible day for me with open enrollment regarding my insurance coverage at work. In the last 1.5 years it has been a nightmare to get logged into the website with a username and password. The problem I have is it will let me create the username and password...then I am to use the same username and password to access the application process. The site won't accept my password. I have spent over 2 hours calling numbers to my union but because of open enrollment they are not able handle the amount of calls coming in. I finally got hold of a woman, I explained to her the situation and how I cannot go into the union office because I am not just working, I am taking care of my mother, her house and my house...so please help me because this should not have to be this difficult. Bless her, she tried...but I have been locked out of the site again. I will try tomorrow morning early for tech support. I feel like a big baby because I have been blubbering for the last 2 hours over this since this seems to be an on going issue with our union and their website. They will not do hard copies...it has to be done online or we have to go into the union office. I don't have time for that. So I am feeling sorry for myself, it should not have to be this difficult.

sharyn - I am sorry about the confusion with your union. I know it can be very frustrating, I will join you in the rubber room. I have been tearful for a few days now. I think just this prolonged illness - first the flu then my guts acting up - not severely painful but pretty uncomfortable at times, and unpredictable so I have not wanted to leave the house much. Tomorrow I will go to the dentist and will take whatever meds I need to, to get through a couple of hours safely. Imodium works pretty well. My thyroid test came back normal but I am having trouble believing it as I had at least 1/2 doz symptoms of it being too low and I have felt so much better since taking a little extra. Doing some reading and apparently the test should be done first thing in the morning, and I went in mid afternoon, when the levels tend go in the wrong direction. I can go again in 6 weeks or see the doc to go sooner.

I need some feedback. I have been thinking of what that gal, M. who visits mother, said to me and why it upset me. It is the same game mother has played with my sister and anyone else who will listen, all my life, which is to bad mouth me, and misrepresent what happened to make me look bad. M is believing everything mother is saying, it seems, and feels she needs to tell me how to correct my behaviour. She did it last summer too I DON'T NEED IT!!! My cousin's son finally has admitted that mother did that with him, but he has gotten clued in over the years and doesn't visit her any more. Mother and my sis still do it and then my sis lands on me with 1/2 or non truths and rips a strip off me. I think I have to say something to M, but just not sure what. Mother has gone through several people at the church who have reached out to her and I am sure this will happen to this gal too eventually. M said to me in the summer that it was too bad that people in the church did not reach out to mother. I told her that they had and eventually got hurt and backed off. I am thinking of suggesting to her that she read about BPD and narcissism - maybe ending her some info. and also to please check with me before assuming that what mother is saying is true, Mother told M that the ALF is taking $2000 more for her rent than they should be - not true! I thought after I talked with M last summer that she "got it" but apparently not. She thinks that by "listening" to mother she is helping her, and maybe she is to a degree, but agreeing with her "off the wall" tales is not. It only fuels the fire.
someone mentioned earlier about letting the past anger go - fair enough - but the continued abuse is still an issue that has to be dealt with. In my case that involves my sis and my mum due to mental illness.
sharyn and book - re hair loss - a family member wears a wig and it looks fine and is not too expensive. The one she has can even be slept in. If I ever need to, I will get one. Our family has very fine hair, so hair loss shows.
Good advice to those above - look for resources in the community. Often it is not healthy for someone who has been abused to do hands on caregiving -it triggers too many emotions. I stay at arm's length as much as possible.
cmag -wondering how you are doing. I am sure you have a bit of work to do to sort things out re your mother's estate.
hi to everyone. Hopefully I will be back on track soon, ((((((((((((hugs)))))))))

I am feeling up in the air while I wait to hear from the letter that my lawyer sent to my step-dad with a copy of the will which requested a time convenient to him for when I can come over and get a few things that belonged to my mother; outlines what needs to be done with the car that belonged to my mother and I; and reminds him of his offer to pay $8,000 down on the cost of the funeral. The letter was sent last Wednesday. He's had about a week to respond without even a phone call. I'm sorry that my mother never told him that years ago she made me co-owner with right of survivorship of her personal accounts in a separate bank and of her investments. That has got to have hit him like a ton of bricks, but for whatever reason, my mother did this and did not tell him. So, I inherit the money, the investments and the land that my mother inherited from her mother which was in a trust for me and now belongs to me. He now has full ownership of two houses and will soon have my mother's car for free so that his helper can continue to drive him around in it like she has for the last 4 years.

Emjo, I most certainly empathize with your feelings of frustration about having prolonged illness. Out of desperation, I've done quite a bit of research this year (in past years as well, but especially since the mold illness hit) into a couple of things you mention - candida, thyroid.

I've also been tested for thyroid levels over the years and have always been told my results were within normal range. I will tell you that I suffer all the classic symptoms as well as my mother has hypothyroidism, and supposedly it is genetic. Anyway, since I can't seem to get help from medical community, I've learned a little about holistic medicines/natural supplements. I recently started taking Iodine in the form of Lugols Solution, you can find online or vitamin store. I take 1-2 drops per day. It supposedly helps with thyroid function. It does something, to be sure. You can feel the all over warming sensation after taking just the one drop each day. Its inexpensive and has been around for many years.

Clearing up candida: I've learned a bit about battling a fungal/yeast infection within the body, and began taking grapefruit seed extract, oil of oregano, colloidal silver, and the Lugols solution. These supplements (along with restrictive diet) came up again and again in the mold illness videos I watched. I personally think a high quality probiotic is key, too. I just ordered the VSL#3 packets. But if you have a physician to prescribe probiotic, I think the prescription ones work, too. Or kefir. I have experience taking both water and milk kefir, they're both excellent natural probiotics and very inexpensive really, since you "grow your own."

Ok, so those are just some of my thoughts about the thyroid and candida. I'm going through a similar problem of being physically run down long term this year. I had battled back using juicing and regular cardio and some other tools, but I took an antibiotic a couple months ago (for what I now realize was a fungal sinus infection) and it knocked my system way out of whack again. Now I battle back again. ;) I sympathize, Joan, its just so frustrating to have low grade chronic fatigue and illness.

(((Hugs))) to everyone ;D

ABB, I think you and father would get along famously. He is into health pills, etc.. He used to take colloidal silver, and herbal anitbiotics, etc...

Emjo, Cmag and Margeaux...{{HUGS}} ..I've been a bit down lately. When I read sad posts here, my mind just shuts down. I think it's just pure exhaustion. I am tired at nights, when I wake up and during the day.

Sharyn, I can see a bald stop forming on my top front area of my head. My eyes goes to it every morning. We don't have a store wig here. I would have to order it. I went online and found one that people were raving about. It's a specially made wig to fit your head. Unfortunately, you have to go to their store so that they can measure your head, and then you choose the style, and ...tada! A perfect fit wig. So, I got to debating if I should wear one of those "caps" that cancer patient's wear when they have chemo and lose all their hair. I can settle with that if I can get all kinds of color to match my clothes. AND I don't have to worry about it flying off my head when we have our regular windy storms.