BlogHer - Health & Wellness - Comments

Shocked?

Becky-DMBR — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 20:50:12 -0600

Not at all. Here's what I found: http://deepmuckbigrake.com/2009/11/19/mammogram-guidelines/

Becky

Women under 50 do get breast cancer....

whymommy — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 11:14:25 -0600

... a lot of it, actually. Just ask the Young Survival Coalition, and the Mothers With Cancer. I am very concerned that the new recommendations will allow us to feel that it's ok to slack off and take "get mammogram" or "check breasts" off our ever-expanding to-do lists.... and that's dangerous.

Trust me, friends, it takes a lot less time to do a breast self-exam and get a screening mammogram than it does to wipe off your schedule for 6 months for chemo, mastectomy and recovery, and another 2 months of radiation. Please take care of yourselves.

I wrote about my read of the original science articles and the recommendations here:

http://toddlerplanet.wordpress.com/2009/11/17/in-defense-of-mammograms/

Am off to read everyone else's links now!

Susan

http://toddlerplanet.wordpress.com & http://motherswithcancer.com

Awakened Action

Maria Niles — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:31:35 -0600

What a great concept, Beth. Thank you so much for sharing it and the story from Colin with us. No matter how overwhelming the problem might seem, like environmental issues, you have to believe that your actions can create change and then get to it. And I believe that doing so is both positive and optimistic without being sucked in to a false hope.

Thanks so much for your kind words and comment!

BlogHer Contributing Editor PopConsumer Beyond Help

Wow, Melissa

anona-mom — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 11:52:34 -0600

I am very moved by reading about "Sarah". I never imagined how much was involved in fertility treatments, though I have embarked in the begining stages of getting "a little help" after 4 miscarriages. Clomid... had my first hot flash just a while ago, and am questioning: How much am I willing to do?

As a doula I love birth. As a mom who had a really traumatic birth, I know that things can go very wrong sometimes. In the right setting with the right support, and when things go well, birth is amazing, but that doesn't mean it needs an audience. Women act differently when being watched in birth, and that is where there are one or two unneccessary voyers. Outcomes can be affected. But more than anything, the sacred nature of birth is tarnished when it becomes a spectator sport.

And what of the child? Just because she is not aware that the first moments of her life are being broadcast, does it not still rob her of something? Can a mother truely be present for her baby if she is preoccupied with responding to her fans during labor?

Sort of takes away a bit of the miracle of it all, doesn't it?

~Laine

Submit, submit! :-)Venting

Melissa Ford — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 11:32:24 -0600

Submit, submit! :-)

Venting about infertility since 2006 www.stirrup-queens.com and we're not talkin' cowgirls...

Too cool!

Laracolvin — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 11:27:55 -0600

Notions of Identity

Feel the despair and continue keep pressing forward

Beth Terry — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 02:23:27 -0600

I love this post.

A few months ago, I had the opportunity to interview Colin Beavan, the No Impact Man who is one of my personal heros. I asked him if he ever got overwhelmed by the immensity of our environmental problems. Here is what he said:

There’s a story about a woman who’s a layperson, and she’s a Zen adept and she gets to be a grandmother. And all her life she’s been a lay preacher. And her granddaughter dies. And she’s sobbing her eyes out. And all the people are so surprised, and they say to her, “Don’t you understand that everything is just like this? Everything is one. Everything is just the way it’s always been. Do you not understand the point?”
And she stops crying and says to them, “Don’t you understand that my tears save my granddaughter and all beings?” So that is to say my compassion, my sadness for the human condition is what makes me human. So, that in itself is a great story, right? But the really important part of that story is that she stops crying. In other words, she’s overwhelmed with sadness, but when somebody comes to her who needs to be taught, she puts one foot in front of the other. She stops crying and she teaches. So, we have to accept that the problem is overwhelming and immense and at the same time just get on with it.

This is why I am on the board of an organization called Green Sangha, which combines mindfulness with action. "Awakened action," as they like to call it. Of course, we meditate. And then we act. Retreating to a monastery is fine for some. But for those who want to make change, action is crucial.

Beth Terry
www.fakeplasticfish.com
@fakeplasticfish
FaceBook

Maybe This Will Help

AskNowAmerica — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 21:37:49 -0600

I was very fortunate to make this statement, "that's it, I quit!" and made two points, as I took dead-aim at the trash can in my office. That was February 10, 1969! I was up to a pack-and-a-half a day, after 7 years of smoking. A friend of mine, from Germany, advised me to use pieces of a solid-chocolate Hershey candy bar. She was right, it would help me at times I felt the urge for a cigarette. I would simply break-off, one of the square pieces, and place it underneath my tongue, and the urge would gradually dissipate: One-week became one-month, then, after three smokeless months, I suddenly had the overwhelming urge for a smoke, as I was out clubbing with my buddies; between drinks, I asked one of my friends for a cigarette; he obliged, and handed me a filterless-Lucky Strike! I lit up, and took one hefty drag, and then...I thought the top of my head would explode! I apologized to my buddy, and told him I was trying to quit, and, put-out that stick of dynamite! I can honestly say, I have not smoked another cigarette in over forty (40) years!

I am quite certain that everyone cannot quit "cold-turkey," as I did, but there are some modern-day methods, that can help you reach your, "that's it, I quit," goal. I came across a blog, which I later posted, in hopes that it will help someone: http://puff-away-smokestik-usa-review-ny.blogspot.com It does not claim cessation in quiting, but many people who used it indicated, that they were able to reduce their smoking habit, and some quit completely. It may seem pricey, but so is, continuing to smoke-away!

That's awesome :) I am a

MommaRoberts — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 09:07:42 -0600

That's awesome :) I am a Carolina fan but Hubby is die hard Clemson :)

~David's Wife 6/9/07~ ~Haleigh's Mommy 11/13/07~ ~TTC Baby #2 8/2008~

the other as self

Vita lingus — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 20:37:18 -0600

Well America may well as I have said previously begining to have to discuss the other as self... that is one of the things that is poignant in " Dreams from my father" Yes the difference btw language and commuication....Listening and Hearing chatter and genuine dialogue

Delegating duties

Denise — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 17:52:07 -0600

That's a big one. Don't just ask for generic help, be very specific. (And those offering help should try to offer specific help, if they can.) Thus my plans to gift TW with tea making coupons. She's asked before and I've turned her down or grudgingly done it. I know it's one thing I can do that will help, just a little. :-)

That crying in the car thing, that's a tough one. Probably pretty good advice - if you ever manage to get into a car by yourself. That doesn't happen often around here.

I'm so glad you chimed in.

~Denise BlogHer Community Manager
Flamingo House Happenings

LOL maybe today wasn't a good day for that?

Denise — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 17:49:41 -0600

But yes, you should.

~Denise BlogHer Community Manager
Flamingo House Happenings

crying in the car

Laurie PK — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 17:41:06 -0600

This is great advice, Denise!

I wrote a series of caregiving articles for a Boomer website, and I interviewed Marc Silver, author of Breast Cancer Husband. He said crying in the car is a great stress reliever for men -- and I suspect women might benefit from letting lose when all alone, too!

He also said that you have to ask for help! He encourages caregivers to just ask -- and another nurse I talked to said that caregivers need to assign and delegate duties, not just ask for help.

Thanks for this article; I'm not a caregiver, but I keep writing about it! Maybe caregiving is in my future...

Laurie

See Jane Soar

Quips & Tips for Achieving Your Goals

Ummm...

TW — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 15:42:32 -0600

I was thinking in my dream day of today that I would make a caregiving kaboodle list.

Retro-Food.com

Go Tigers!

Denise — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 13:58:46 -0600

(I'm a South Carolinian and a Tiger, heh.)

~Denise BlogHer Community Manager
Flamingo House Happenings