Sue Richards, regular Canadian gal, heats up as her reproductive Best Before Date expires.
Wednesday, 6 June 2007
This is not a made up or even slightly exaggerated story.
My regular readers will have noticed my blogging irregularity of late. For many reasons, I’ve been reluctant to offer an explanation simply because menopause didn’t seem to be the central theme. But - and I do mean but - ‘everything’ in my life is different today than it was a week ago and for the next while at least, my menopause blog will be taking a back seat to other more pressing issues.
Where does one start explaining something that has no beginning?
Last Monday I showed my handy man a squirrel chewed hole in the doorway to my crawl space under the kitchen of my home. He promptly blocked it with a brick and promised a new vermin proof door in the near future. I was suitably relieved.
Tuesday morning I woke to find a red squirrel sitting on the floor of my bedroom. Next - and more importantly - I noted two chunks of squirrel poo resting comfortably on my pillow - the same pillow that my head was on. Clearly I had a problem brewing and obviously I sleep more deeply than I ever imagined.
The squirrel was easy to get out of the house. I opened the door - he walked out. Then, for the next few hours, I wiped squirrel excrement off dozens of surfaces all the while praying that this visit was a one off.
Wednesday morning I woke up itchy. A quick examination revealed dozen of flea bites in a surround Sue pattern on my body. When I got downstairs and discovered my floor strewn with cd’s, more poo and a frantic squirrel trying to get out my back door - I started to grasp the severity of the situation that was unfolding.
Stepping back in time now - for a couple years I’ve been dealing with what was originally diagnosed as a ’stress condition’. Over the winter this condition took a nasty turn toward something I’ll name ‘neurological disorder’ with a side order of ‘progressively degenerative’. My motor skills are very compromised, I can only type with one hand and my walking is noticeably weird. Scary stuff no matter how you look at it and not particularly appealing for a self employed artist, blogger with no disability insurance.
Perhaps the bitter icing on my current cake - I had to cancel the publication of the 2008 Breast of Canada calendar - my seventh edition. I simply can’t do it.
[BTW: FYI - the ads on my blogs and websites are a source of income.]
Back to last week - flea infested house, red squirrel stalking the joint and me chewed up, freaked out and unwell.
Friday morning one squirrel attacked my house - ripping my screen to shreds despite my efforts to scare it away on the other side of the window. In fact by the time my neighbour was able to trap the home invader in my kitchen on Saturday afternoon, three screens had been destroyed and my house was in full lock down.
Now the funny not so ha-ha part about flea removal remedies is that anyone with a neurological disorder should NOT use them. Which leaves the only solutions for flea removal the passing of time, persistent cleaning and evacuation.
I moved out.
Currently the silver lining is starting to show. My wonderful men friends are showing up in coveralls with action plans. The original entryway for Red has been thoroughly cleared of quite a larder of squirrel food - but thankfully no nest - and the space has been secured. A dumpster sits in my driveway and will soon be filled with old, fleabag carpet, a potentially mould hiding basement sub-floor and anything else that could be negatively contributing to my health issues. I could very well be suffering from environmental pollutants - by way of vermin and old home dampness - two issues that have persisted in my abode much longer than I would like to admit.
I’m staying with friends and trying to not do as much as possible - which after I publish this post, will include this blog. I need to focus on my health and take stock of my life.
Until I return, please stay cool with your menopause.
Sue Richards
June 20th note: Almost three weeks and exactly three squirrels later - I’m mammal and flea free. But I have black mold lurking in my newly gutted basement and a power washing detoxification mold man booked for early next week. I’ve filled two 10 yard dumpsters to the brim and still I’m finding stuff to throw away! Plus, I’m now on heavy duty anti-fungal meds - perhaps the solution to my neurological disorder.
I’m still evacuated.
Menopause Tags: My Menopause Blog, my menopause blog,Sue Richards, peri-menopausal, menopause relief, guelph blog, baby boomer, womens health news, menopause symptoms .
June 6th, 2007 at 5:25 pm
This is distressing. I’m glad you have so many good friends to help you. I hope whatever’s wrong gets right very soon. I’ll miss your posts but will wait patiently for you to feel better. I’m sure I won’t be the only putting healing thoughts into the ether for you. In the meantime good luck and take care.
June 6th, 2007 at 6:24 pm
Reading your blog has frequently kept me from pulling my hair and running screaming into the night….I will miss you while your’re focusing.
June 6th, 2007 at 6:35 pm
Sue i’m a regular reader just commenting to say i wish you well and to thank you for this blog - its helped me keep my head on straight when the rest of my world was going to hell in a heated basket
June 7th, 2007 at 11:00 am
When it rains ,it pours !! So sorry to hear this news. I live in Guelph and have had red squirrel issues , as well as racoons. Hope you have a speedy recovery with your health. I will miss sitting down everyday and reading your blogs. It is like meeting a friend for coffee, sometimes you laugh, cry or ponder life and what to do. I am hoping you meant the calendar is only postponed till a later date, I love it and am glad I kept all my old ones, truly awesome achievement ! Wishing you a peaceful and happy recovery Sue.
June 7th, 2007 at 1:42 pm
Sue, as usual I have been pondering your post. Wanted to make sure when you were taking stock, how many people you reach are out here and the wonderful influence you have. I now order from Homefields ( such nice co. to deal with ) , have a subscription to Ode, bought Wise Woman ( loved it, refer to frequently) , also Our Bodies ourselves and every time I went into On the Verge and saw calendars still left I managed to think of someone else who could use one until they were all gone, ( owner really lspoke highly of you as well ) also went to the pottery festival . There are probably lots I am forgetting , just hope knowing there are people out here hoping you are well and you make a difference in the world helps.
June 8th, 2007 at 10:14 am
For sure, you didn’t need this stress.
(((Sue)))
June 8th, 2007 at 10:16 am
You’re in my prayers Sue. And those of others, I know.
Glad to hear those men friends stepped up and the house is getting a clear out.
May it lead to your fully restored health and 100% wellness.
Will keep on clicking while we await your return to blogland.
Much love!
June 8th, 2007 at 1:06 pm
I’m sorry you have to go through this. Your candour and humour plus the information you provide are much appreciated. Please know that many are out here hoping and wishing for the best for you.
June 19th, 2007 at 6:20 am
I am 50, feeling thin and sexy, my friends are too young for me, people my age are a drag. This looks like a good place to hang out for a bit. You blog is grown up without all the ‘my grandkids this and my husband that and did you hear about so and so….’.
Take care,
Cindy
June 30th, 2007 at 1:39 pm
I just found your blog and need you back to your blogging.
I’m wishing you will and a speedy recovery.
I think I’m starting peri menopause and I’m frantic to get information.
June 30th, 2007 at 6:53 pm
Apologies being so late. I hope you are doing well. I certainly hope and pray that these problems are over and you can move on. Thanks for being you.
Many blessings,
Trenton
July 3rd, 2007 at 8:21 pm
Anxiously waiting your return to health, so you can help us with all these perimenopause symptoms.
I had just found your blog, which has helped me so much.
foggy head,
body aches
memory gone to the birds
restless legs
bloating etc. etc. etc.
July 6th, 2007 at 9:47 am
Sue,
I just found your blog. As a thirty year old entering surgical menopause due to ovarian cancer, reading through your old posts has been like a life raft thrown to me. THANK-YOU.
I am sending you healing thoughts and hope this time away brings you focus and nourishing rest. It is such a teacher to see you doing what you need to do to care for yourself.
I will look forward to return to your blog.
Until then, may you find those soft places to fall and sink in.
July 16th, 2007 at 2:44 pm
The squirrel story is terrifying. You are a brave woman. Keep writing. The best “cure” for menopause is to refuse to treat it as a disease or a sign of loss. I hope all of your readers will just take care of and love their bodies as they move through this passage.
July 26th, 2007 at 9:38 am
Oh my leetle buttercup, I’m so sorry. I’ve been terribly out of touch, and you’ve been going through this. Blech. Hopefully things are continuing to improve and you are feeling better.
July 26th, 2007 at 6:35 pm
Sue,
So sorry all this is happening in your life. You’ve been an inspiration to the Venuses (menopausegoddessblog.org) and we will miss your posts. I’m a nurse as well as a menopausal woman, and it seems that there is a dramatic immune system crisis for at least half of the menopausal women I know: Lyme disease, cardiac viruses, lupus, etc. I’ve written to the Nurses’ Health Study urging them to research this. Here’s hoping that your neurological and sensitivity issues get much better soon.
Lynette
July 27th, 2007 at 8:27 pm
It’s BlogHer weekend, and I’m in Seattle, not Chicago, thinking of what fun it was meeting you last year. (Looks like nina is having BlogHer memories, too!)
I hope that things are much better with you and your home.
August 11th, 2007 at 4:25 pm
Oh My Goodness!! what an absolutely horrible situation!! I can think of one silver lining, though. Those squirrels are the reason you found out about the mold, and that could well be the reason for your physical problems. You may one day look back on all this and thank the squirrels!
August 29th, 2007 at 1:31 am
Hi Sue, Hope you are continuously better. Been dealing with chronic health issues in my family as well and hope that you are finding remedies and time to heal.
Let me know if I can offer any help- I am pretty strong at aromatherapy and homeopathy. Thinking of you. Wendy