Best Of

Horrible day because it was my annual mammogram and it was a real shit show again. I had mammogram and then 3 spot films of area where they performed stereotactic bx last year. Then radiologist decides I need an ultrasound. So there was an inordinate amount of waiting even though initial access was the fastest ever. The rooms are very cold, so the techs have to supply warmed blankets which unfortunately don't stay warm for long. By the time they finally came to get me to escort me to the ultrasound, I needed blanket 3. She said her room was warmer, but she wasn't truthful. I arrived before at 1:40 and never got out of there until 3:30. Thank goodness, they do provide free parking though you have to go through getting it validated by office staff who had left by the time I was ready to leave. So I had to go over to the adjoining building's MRI desk to get it validated. Left with letter saying I need another dx mammogram in 6 months. That will push me into my 10 year anniversary year of being diagnosed. I have to reach out to MO to get her to order dx mammogram, so I sent her an email via the portal. I won't see her until January, but would like to order now so I can get an appointment. We had a major hospital chain (4 hospitals) go belly up in the past 6 months, so their thousands of patients are scrambling to not only find physicians, but also to get appointments.

Then I went online to the portal of my other hospital system to get a copy of my Dexascan report. I could not access the portal, was told I needed to change my password and every attempt at that took over an hour and I got nowhere. I called tech support and he said he was sending me a link via email, but it never came and he tried several times.

I just paused to check my inbox and his link never came through but I did get a valid code to sign in, changed my password and sent an email to my GI doc who I have been trying to get an appointment with in 2026 since May of 2025. They keep telling me she has no openings in her schedule, and they will contact me when she does. So seven months later, I am still in limbo with her instructions to see her in a year. So rant over now,

It was a sunny, but very cold day with temps barely over freezing. I ran to Staples after my mammogram to buy replacement pages for my desk organizer. I do put appointments in my phone, but find it easier to keep track in my book where I can look at a whole month, and then leaf through for other conflicts. They were shorthanded and I was in line with a purchase wedged in between others shipping packages. He did ask and finally got someone up to run the register. I normally don't like self-checkout, but might have welcomed it today. So all my appointments for next year, dates of planned trips, etc have been duly entered.

My appointment for Pulmonology was canceled this morning and rescheduled for Thursday afternoon. We are expected to get that snow storm that has been sweeping in from the midwest starting tomorrow morning. I am reluctant to trust that I could get there and back if we get any coverage. Our driveway is very steep, faces north and ices easily. I don't dare hike up or down now for a fear of a fall with my osteopenic hips. Better safe than sorry. This way she will have a weeks worth of data to analyze as well.

intolight, I loved Colorado Springs in the summer, but don't think I would like it in the winter. Felt the same about Jackson Hole, but did brave a January trip there to see the Elk preserve. Felt like an icicle the entire time and like an onion, I had multiple layers. I felt like the Michelin man in all the layers and doubted I could have righted myself if I fell.

carole, sorry about the fluid retention post -Thanksgiving feast. There is so much salt in prepared foods today and sugar, too. DD brought a lattice topped apple pie that the bakery added sugar to the top crust. It was so sweet, I could not eat it and peeled if off. DSIL offered to get rid of it for me, meaning he was going to eat it and he did.

cindyny, glad blood work was good. Are you pre-diabetic? Was wondering about the A1C's.

Guess that's about it for today. My feet feel like blocks of ice and I am cold in spite of having a fleece 1/4 zip top on. I'll add another layer and look for my warm slippers.

Hope everyone had a better day than me. Waving "hi" to everyone.

Wow… so far I feel fortunate. There are two large hospitals in the UC system that I visit regularly, and the other two are smaller but fine. The older one is known in the city as the best cancer center here (unless you want to travel to Denver) and is where I attend my oncologist's office. It was bought by the UC Health system and is the oldest in the city. The other one is newer but also has a cancer center, a good infusion center and both have scans, etc. I live about midway between the two , about a 30 minute drive, so I go to the one where I can get the best appointment. Sometimes the nurses, PAs, etc., float between the hospitals. There are three other large hospitals in different systems within the City too. Colorado Springs is growing rapidly and like everywhere else, finding medical doctors is tough. We moved here four years ago. I found my oncologist because I got sick as soon as we moved, went to an urgent care and the doctor there referred me realizing I was already into six years of being mbc. It got me in quicker. I took the first oncologist who accepted me in two weeks thinking I could always change, but I am happy with her.

ok friends - pathology is back and I’m officially in the club we never wanted to join. Triple negative invasive ductal carcinoma. Waiting to hear from the nurse navigator.

i left work because … it’s kind of a lot to take in and still do the “no cancer dance” for my colonoscopy patients, lol.

chatgpt says 24 big weeks of chemo. Is this your experience? Also, I turn 60 this month!! Woohoo!