OldNewbie

First I wish to say that you all are WAY more knowledgable than me - I am in the first quarter of my first year of college (hope to be an RN) of the rest of my life....I was laid off just before Xmas after 23 yrs in an unrelated industry - FINALLY going after my lifelong dream of being a nurse (just in time huh?:chuckle ) With that said, as you can read (if you have the time) by my first post regarding hysterectomy vs. non hysterectomy - I am a HUGE cheerleader of getting it ALL out if you've decided on no children (or more children) - the pain and inconvience just isn't worth it, and you can create A LOT of problems for yourself by "dealing" with what you assume is pain from your female organs... The patches - I have something to say about the patches, and welcome any response from anyone that's more knowledgable than I on the subject (which would be all of you!:chuckle ) I FINALLY got the Vivelle 0.1 after trying many others - Vivelle in my opinion is WAY better than the others - because my body rejected the premarin (with no apparent reason), and my estrogen got to just about 0 before I did something about it, after the shot, one patch was not enough for me - so I've been wearing two for 6 yrs or so - in the not so distant past, Vivelle came up with "Dots" - my pharmacy swore they were the SAME amount of medication - well I'm here to tell you it isn't - I tried for several months to wear the Dots 0.1 (supposedly the same amt of medication as the big patches) within a week I was experiencing the hot flashes, night sweats, exhaustion, you name it....I told the pharmacy this, and they just shrugged their shoulders and said "well it's SUPPOSED to be the same..." I just have a hard time believing that the same amt of medication can be concentrated THAT much to deliver the same amt... My opinion is it's just ANOTHER way the drug companies are ripping the public off - I had one heck of a time finding the "real" (big) patches, as the pharmacies are in bed with the drug companies, so the Dots cost them less while they're charging us the same - I FINALLY found them in Canada - at a third of the cost...as I said, being laid off means I have no insurance (it's WAY too expensive for me) I'm single with no kids, so that translates to meaning I am nothing to the state and federal govt - I get zip for assistance....at any rate - anyone else finding that the Dots don't get it for you?? They sure don't work for me!! Thanks for letting me ask and vent!

Wow - this must be hysterectomy day - this is the second post I've replied to regarding this subject...which is of course, just my opinion - I had 5 laps, one ovary/tube removed before the total hysterectomy - wish I would have done the total in the first place and MUCH sooner than I did - I won't go into the details like I did on the first post - suffice it to say that we women get so used to the severe (and unecessary) pain and compensating for the horredous bleeding that a lot of women die from other diseases/failures that were caused by "dealing" with the side affects of cramps and bleeding - I would have died from an apendicitis attack had one occured during those yrs - and kidney failure had I let it go further the second time... Just my opinion, but I wouldn't leave anything in - too much risk of having to go back in...I was in my 30's when I got everything out - and I shouldn't have waited as long as I did - as with many that replied to this - I could not/would not deal with the severity of the hot flashes and mood swings, so HRT was never a question for me....everything worked like a charm - I never looked like an "old lady" going through mentopause (sp?) in 3 hrs - I would like to add one thing though - the first 6 mos of premarin worked wonderfully - then all the sudden 50-60 severe hot flashes a day - one about every 30 mins - needless to say, I wasn't sleeping, felt like 10 guys beat me up I was so exhausted from the flashes - anyway - went to the doc immediately, and thankfully he figured out why that day - sometimes your bowels and intenstines quit absorbing the HRT (premarin) or oral HRT I should say - no one really knows why - it just happens sometimes - well it happened to me and I was miserable and scared that there was no alternative - there is! After he gave me one of the most painful shots I'd ever had (oil based estrogen) to quickly raise my estrogen level, I started on estrogen patches - they work just as wonderfully as the pills did, and for me it's better because I don't have to remember to take the pill everyday...the only trouble I had was finding ones that would stick - after 5 or 6 brands (doctor samples thankfully) - I FINALLY found one that sticks until you take if off regardless if you swim, shower, or soak in the bath tub for hours - they're Vivelle (I have 0.1 - but they come in many strengths)....been on them for 7 yrs now and still feel great! You won't end up (or are by the way) an "old lady" and you'll feel 100% better - believe me - you have no idea how bad you feel until you don't feel bad anymore! Good luck!:)

OK - I KNOW this is a touchy subject with MANY opinions - so please don't kill me about my opinion...remember - "everyone has one...":chuckle Hi Lisa by the way - all of this started and happened to me when I was in my 20's...as with most women, I put up with it and found ways to deal with it the best I could - mine (the gushing/clots, etc) was accompanied with GREAT (and I mean GREAT) pain - not the "normal" cramping type - but sudden and VERY severe - all I could think of is someone swinging an axe and hitting me just below the navel - and it stayed that way for days sometimes - as you are ALL aware, "cramps" or " a heavy period" has never been an accepted "excuse" to be off work, etc - so we women just endure...I was VERY lucky to get in my opinion one of the best OB/GYN's on the planet - male, but honestly, truly, interested in the pain, symptoms, etc - and not to just pacify - he's probably the only male I ever met that I know in my heart of hearts would have changed into a female for a month or two just to understand his job better - it finally got so bad and I had a laporscopy (sp?) - this was the 5th one - no one could ever seem to figure out what or why...Charlie (my doc) went a couple of steps further - turned out my tube for some reason ate my ovary - no infection, no signs of disease, no nothing - and no apparent reason for it - well the pain/heavy bleeding subsided for a couple of years - then it started all over again - I was in my 30's - toward the end (when I couldn't put up with it anymore) the bleeding was non stop - and yes, the anemia began, and you're right - it didn't take long - so Charlie agreed that this all needed to end - it wasn't like I was going to have kids, etc. - so get it out - all of it........so I did - in my mid 30s - and as many women will say - I wish I would have done it 10 yrs earlier - there is absolutely no reason to be in that kind of pain endangering other organs - I was in the beginning stage of kidney failure when I finally had the big H done - my point to this novel is even though you may be able to deal with the pain and horredous bleeding - you need to get it checked out and checked out by someone that doesn't view women and their unique problems as "so what - it's just cramps.." If I would have had an appendicitis attack during those years I would have died from it - I was SO used to the intense pain and fevers - if I had let the symptoms of pain/bleeding go much further the second go-round I would have died or been severely disabled from kidney failure... Get it checked out girl - and don't be satisfied with "it's normal for your age" it just "ain't so." I would love to refer you to Charlie, but because Ohio and the health care system treats docs so "well" he left the state - I was pretty impressed by the guy he referred me to, but now I just need a once a year for HRT and mammograms - so I don't need a full blown OB/GYN anymore - his name is Luis Morales at MVH if you're interested - ignore his office staff, they're nazis - but he and his nurses are really cool........ As Charlie used to agree with when I said - "I don't know what it feels like to be kicked in the balls - don't tell me what it's like to have cramps..." Good luck..........and if you're not going to have anymore kids - get it yanked...if you're having severe cramps, you could be bleeding into your uterus - and that's the same a bleeding into a muscle - BIG pain!! :)

You both are right of course - the biggest problem I have now is I'm still in the first quarter (of the rest of my life), so a lot of loans/scholarships/grants aren't available to me YET - I was laid off the week before Xmas, had registered for two classes (because I was still working 60 hrs a week) - when the axe fell I leaped into school full time - so I've done two FAFSA's so far, and both of them look like I'm a millionaire because of severence, etc. They won't let me file a special condition amendment until March - and that apparently won't be looked at/considered until Fall Qtr - the scholarships - I did apply for 3 - the only 3 I"m qualified for - most want 2-3 qtrs, and/or 40-50 credits - or are for high school students... The WIA - well that's another story - I'll get it eventually - but it's a big hairy fight right now - I'm premature in my question at LPN vs RN I know, but at least in my experience, planning planning planning is most of the battle - if I have a direction, I'll waste less time getting there... I've heard and seen many offers for loans repayments, bonuses, you name it as incentives at different hospitals..my plan is to follow your path Pat - live off student loans/scholarship/whatever until I get through - I'm training my ungrateful 26 lb bag o' demanding fur for the circus as we speak! :roll Thanks again - I REALLY appreciate the time you took responding...off to school I go!!!!!!!

This is why I love this site way above any of the others I've visited looking for info/insight into a brand new industry for me....You know how highsight is - I wanted to be a nurse about a thousand years ago when in high school - and someone slipped me acid or something and I ended up in aviation - I loved it and did just about everything you could do, got slipped some more acid and did the mgt thing - well, slimy big business practices, and 9/11 - yada yada yada - ended up wasting my life (23 yrs) at one company just to be thrown away and told I was useless (me along with many others)....so here I am, an old broad (a cranky old broad at that! :chuckle ) just STARTING to do something about my VERY old dream... I think I can do it, and have received a lot of encouragement from people like you - for that I thank you... You've also given me WAY too many options to think about!!! Remember I'm just a dumb pilot and mechanic - we need ONE direction on how to tie our shoes! ONE! I sincerely appreciate all the advise - I actually thought about chucking all the RN/LPN stuff and getting it all in one fell swoop in a BSN program - big problems at the moment - MONEY, MONEY, and MONEY...the financial aid/scholarships/grants I've applied for and have researched don't include a 4 yr degree from the onset - most only pay for whatever gets you on the street and off their program the fastest is what most offer - now once I DO get the ADN, then I can start the whole "begging for free money" dance again...I also wanted to say that in my not so eloquent speech, I apparently left the impression that I have animosity toward the LPN's that are jumping in the program I will be waiting to get in - I absolutely certainly do not - if I spent the time, money, and effort getting my LPN, I would EXPECT to get some type of preferential treatment - I am in no way sneezing at the LPN program/transitioning to ADN...I was only trying to get some insight for what may be the best path - right now, the way the school I'm going to works - the LPN vs. RN deal is six of one, half dozen of the other - the obvious advantage to the LPN route is money making ability and most of all experience....the ONLY down side to that scenerio for me is working while going to school is going to add more time to the process...as I said, I am soliciting any kind of funding I can get, and have been trying to position myself so I don't have to work until I get the RN - it's going to work for sure for a year - after that, dunno...remember that I have different experience in license getting - in some of my licenses I worked through them - took me twice as long, and cost me almost twice as much - some of them I saved the money, took the time it took off and dedicated myself TOTALLY to that license/rating - the later worked WAY better from a lot of stand points - I spent less money, took less than half the time, and I was WAY better at my skills...I know I'm comparing apples to oranges, but I still say practicing your skills (whatever they are) daily rather than only during test time/when you HAVE to is WAY better.... Lastly, I also must have left the impression that getting the LPN first is a way to get out of some critical classes - nope - I didn't mean that either - I don't believe in short cuts when you're getting a license (legal permission) to do something as important and critical protecting someone's life - I didn't do it when I was flying or fixing airplanes, and I certainly wouldn't consider it nursing... I apologize if I unintentionally offended anyone - as I'm AGAIN demonstrating - sometimes my fingers get off on a rant and don't check with the brain first!! Thanks SO much AGAIN everyone - I have A LOT to consider! STILL Dazed and Confused.....

Hello! I'm still in the pre-req stage of an ADN program - there's a LONG waiting list to get into actual Nursing school which you come out with an ADN/RN - Something one of the Allied Health counselors told me that has me confused on which route to take I'd like to pose to this board and plead for someone to render their opinion.... The waiting list is over a year - the counselor told me (which I don't think she meant to) that if I take the basic courses at this college, drop out and go to an LPN program, which is averaging 18 mos - then come back, I don't have to take the PAX (pre-admission to get you on the wait list), you don't have to take the Chemistry, you don't have to take the ALH120 (Nurses Aid Cert), you don't have to take 4 of the NSG courses, AND (the biggie) there's no waiting.........the bad part is I REALLY like this school, they have a great reputation and programs - but the waiting list is long enough without now knowing that LPN's are shoving people like me further down the list....so the million dollar question is - should I drop out for 18 mos, do the LPN and then go back? Or should I stick out the waiting list and go directly to the RN? I should add that my goal is a CRNA (I know, at my age it's a lofty goal) - but at the VERY least - RN- which after all the school I just might stay there - don't know yet.... Any way you look at it - it's going to be a 2.5-3 year stint - I'm currently unemployed, paying my own way for EVERYTHING at the moment with no help - trying to get the WIA deal - which they HAVE to give me, but for now I'm in the "making you jump through MANY unecessary hoops to make you go away" stage. They obviously don't know (but will) that I invented the "I'll stand here until you give me what I'm qualified for..." I'll find funding eventually - I'm prepared to sell everything if I have to - I'm more concerned with the time issue at the moment - I'm an old broad! Help! I'd like to know the pro's and con's of both scenerios from all the wisdom that's on this board! Thanks!!!

Again, LOTS of good info - thanks again! I agree with the comments that I need to shadow/volunteer in the areas that I think will interest me...I will do so if I ever feel confident enough to get my nose out of the books!! I'm hopeful that I'll get that one great professor and/or counselor that everyone who's graduated seems to have had that will make everything easier and clearer for me....I'm BRAND new at everything - so it's a bit overwhelming at the moment - I'm finally over the all consuming feeling of complete stupidity when asking every other person where things are, how to you fill this out, how does this work.... I think (hope) after next week (first week of school) that I'll feel better about something! Anything!! ha ha Thanks again everyone.....I'm always open to any and all comments regarding funding, classes, tests, study guides, etc. etc. etc. etc. etc..... :roll

Youngfemaledoc, I'm new here, and just embarking on schooling to hopefully become an RN. I just lost my job in aviation after 23 yrs at one company, and 26 yrs in the business. I feel a need to chime in about your comments because I was (still am) a pilot and aircraft mechanic AND female. I spent A LOT of wasted negative emotion about nearly everyone mistaking me for a flight attendant. If I told someone I worked for an airline they automatically assumed I was a stewardess...this was a lot of times while I was standing in front of them with shiny gold bars on my shoulders and wings on my chest. For many years (recently) I was denied necessary flight ppwk and access to "flight crew only" areas because no one believed I was actually a pilot - I was escorted off more than one airport ramp area with tools in my hands, grease on my face, and ID's out the ying yang while working on an airplane (big jet).... I FINALLY got sick of myself and all the WASTED negative emotions and constantly having to scream to the moon that I was a REAL pilot or a REAL mechanic.... When I stopped reacting to the "flight attendant" assumption, it was like magic - I was unspokenly accepted and respected... When the people that were denying me realized that the aircraft wasn't going to go anywhere without me, they catered to me like I was the Queen of England (without me having had said a word) The comment I used most when someone would apologize for not believing/recognizing that I was a REAL pilot and/or mechanic, I would just say with empathy and a smile - "Geez, they even let girls drive cars now..." My point to all this is, when you realize that EVERYONE in your profession is a critical part of the process, and deserves respect and dignity, you start getting it back for yourself. The airplane wasn't going to go anywhere without the mechanics and flight attendants either - they are just as important and educated about the process as me the pilot...once I got it in my head that it was not an insult to be mistaken for a flt attendant, I was a much happier more focused person... I've heard a lot of horror stories about doctor/nurse relationships...I'm hoping that it isn't as bad as I'm hearing...if you remember that you as a doctor, that has earned your place in the medical world - and I'm sure being female, had to do and be more than your male counterparts (I experienced the same thing getting my licenses) that the nurse and other health care workers had to work just as hard to be in their place - you might feel less hostility/frustration.... I read a poem many years ago entitled "The Forgotten Mechanic" that is very to the point - EVERYONE can remember Limberg, Earhart, etc. - but can anyone remember the name of the mechanic that put them there?? It's not easy being a "hero" (remember I was one) - but it's the real "hero" that always remembers the people (nurses/therapists, etc) that "put them there" i.e. makes them look like heros/makes their jobs easy.... No one person can be the whole chain - it takes MANY links.... Just my opinion - I could be wrong.....

Wow! This is why I love this site - not only does it answer a lot of the questions I have, you guys are GREAT!! Thank you so much for the much needed advise, study options, encouragement, and guidance... I'm not giving up on the WIA - I'm one of those people that won't go away, so they're going to have to deal with me eventually...I guess I let the nasty @#%& get to me that day because I had just come from a financial advisor that gave me the facts of just how much I'm going to get screwed on taxes...unbelieveable the govt allows big companys to do they slimy things they do, and then the same govt tell YOU, the peeon, that you don't deserve any help!! I know by your replies that I'm preaching to the choir - it's just maddening....believe me, if I can get by that PAX test, I will be back down there the same day being just as loud and rude as they were to me demanding another "worker" that doesn't feel their job is to berate and demoralize....I'm just going to have to bite the bullet on winter and spring qrts...oh well - I guess that's what credit cards are for huh??? LOL... Hey, AmyLiz - seems you and I are going to the same college (Sinclair)....I will definitely check out the study guide for the PAX test - my 44th birthday (WOW) is Wednesday, sounds like a good gift to ask for if the bookstore sells it!! Is it comprehensive and worthwhile to study?? Did it help you?? I've really GOT to ace that thing - I think your placement on the waiting list is based on when you took it and how high you scored isn't it? Also, Fulwood - how did you get an aid check so quickly? $10K would pretty much last me a year....the college I'm going to is VERY cheap (and ranked very high too) - and I, like you spend A LOT of years working 7 days a week to get my house - something I don't want to give up - even the financial advisor says it would be stupid for me to sell the house (one of the first things I wanted to do after losing my job) - doesn't make sense to go into an apt that is about $100 less a month than my mortgage, and geez - let's not talk about MORE tax hits on me!! LOL... Do you remember what program got you that amount of money so quickly? I would be very interested in checking that out.... And yes, I am going to the financial aid office Monday morning to make SURE they change my status to NO income rather than what is showing on my 2002 W2.... Maybe I'm being overly optimistic (a real change for me!) - but after talking to you people that have been there, done that, I feel A LOT better about my chances of making it... Anyone thinking about the ICU? What courses/experiences could I take or do that would help prepare me?? Thanks again everyone!! You've made me feel A LOT better about my old self!! LOL

Thank you so much for your advise and encouragement - no, I have no previous college experience, which is what is giving me the most anxiety...I've got it in my head that the only thing that will distinguish me from the 200 18 yr olds that I will be graduating with is my grades...that's what is stressing me the most - I put a lot of pressure on myself anyway, and the "pressure point of the month" for me now is getting good grades... I also appreciate the funding options, I have completed the FAFSA, which I'm finding out is the Mother of all forms - the trouble is, they are using the previous years income - because my company really screwed us with serverance pay, vacation, etc. my 2003 income is going to look like I'm a millionaire - I'm hoping that someone somewhere will see that taxes took most of that, the figure isn't anywhere near my "normal" income, and most important - I'm making NOTHING now!! I also went to the beginning stages of WIA (Workforce Investment Act) - it basically pays for school for 2 yrs without interupting any unemployment you may be getting - as long as it's an approved program, (which nursing and the school I'm going to is) they'll pay...I ended up with the counselor from hell who basically made me sit there giving me no information and degraded and demoralized me...I realize that this is part of the "game" because the State's (I'm in Ohio) don't want people to know about the program, and the ones that do, they do everything they can to discourage you...WIA is a Federal program, administered by the individual states - if the states don't offer it openly, they lose all Federal money...but like I said, the more people they can talk out of it, the more of that Federal money goes to the State ... she said she was denying my application before I could put my purse down because I wasn't IN Nursing School - so the plan is after I hopefully pass the PAX test (pre admission to nursing), I will get a letter from my school stating that I am now eligible and accepted into the Nursing Program - take it back to the WIA nazi's, shove it in their faces, and sit there until they approve me for an already approved funding program....as someone said on this board before, if you're single, (male or female) you get little to no help with anything...I can't get health insurance for under $400 a month and a $3000 deductable, and it doesn't pay for office visits, prescriptions, dental, or eye...that I just can't afford - so I'll be uninsured for the duration of school...the govt grants I'll probably be denied for also - I've kind of resigned myself to the fact that life isn't fair if you've worked all your life and suddenly lose your income - so I'm probably going to have to get more than a few loans and try to get through it the best I can.... If you haven't tried the WIA, do it - be warned that it's a long degrading process, but is going to be worth it in the end...I hope!! I appreicate the comment that I'm not too old....it just doesn't feel that way at the moment when all I'm seeing is "kids" that are almost young enough to be my grandchildren!! I'm hanging on to the thought that age is experience, so hopefully they can teach an old dog A LOT of new tricks!! I am still open to the best route to the ICU...and any/all opinions on working in the ICU.... Thanks Again!!!!:)

First, I would like to say that this is by far the most informative site I have seen. To make an extremely long story short, I recently lost my job of 23 yrs (aviation) - just prior to the layoff, I decided I needed to take action on changing careers - I enrolled in my local community college (first time in college at 43!!) and began the process of fufilling the prereq's for their Nursing School (Assoc.'s RN). Well, needless to say, the career change is now a necessity and needs to happen much faster than originally anticipated. The unfortunate part of losing the job, is I've also lost the funding. I have decided to step up the efforts, and enrolled full time (begin Monday! Yikes!) - while I ride the unemployment train in an effort to maintain my living, I have begun the process of applying for student loans, grants, scholarships, etc. There's so much out there, I have no idea if I've applied for everything that's available to me. OK, my questions are this if someone has the time, and would be so kind as to help guide me... Are there any study guides/books to help with the PAX exam? (At my school it's given twice a yr with a Chemistry prereq - timing should work out, as I'm taking the Chemistry in Spring Qtr, and next PAX test is June...) It's critical I pass the exam the first time, as after passing there's still an approx. year waiting list... Does anyone have advise for courses, etc. (other than the required) that would be helpful? I would ultimately like to end up in the ICU, and in my dreams, MAYBE go on to be a CRNA...(I realize if I actually take that path, I'll be 65 before I finish!) Any and all advise is MUCH appreicated, I'm old to just be starting school, new at everything, and VERY anxious and scared to death! Thanks!!