Best Of

Hello all

Three tree Chicagoan and into light thanks for sharing your childhood stories. My mom was given away at birth (1933). Her mother’s half brother and his wife took her and raised her so she never knew any of her siblings (knew of them) but didn’t grow up with them.

Back in those days no one talks about illegitimate children and her mother was a black woman and she came out white. On her birth certificate it’s says illegitimate. Suffice it to say she never met her father or any relatives from that part of her family. She didn’t stay in touch with her bio mother and I met her mom once. I was the one who became curious about my mom’s background and tried before ancestry to locate her siblings. No luck.

Once ancestry came in the scene I was able to locate her African American family and was able to trace them all the way back to the 1700’s. She had some dna matches with siblings from the father but none of them were interested in sharing any info.
I think it gave all of us a different opinion of my mom . Her fortitude and strength has been thebackbone of our family. The family that I located on her mother’s side were all welcoming and helpful. So much history and resilience.
Life is filled with all sorts of intricacies. Thank you all again for sharing.

Tanya

Thanks all for thinking about me. I got my glasses on Monday, and I am still trying to get used to them. I feel like I am looking through a fishbowl with them. I put them on when I get up and wear them till bedtime thinking my brain will eventually adjust. I am pretty disappointed with the cataract surgery. I was out yesterday, and it was a sunny day. The glare was pretty intense; I had to squint. I don't have sunglasses, as I never wore them before.

Reading along and saying HI to all.

Shana - I too think the more conservative treatment idea is a real good one. I wish you all the best with that.

SF-Cakes - I totally understand about the not posting for awhile. I can be that way too, but I do read along regularly. Sometimes just too tired; other times, just can't focus and put things into words, even though the thoughts are there and I want to respond to someone.

Mara - So glad you are getting going with the walking. It is the best thing I do for sure. Wow, I haven't had one of those Costco chickens in years and years. They are indeed very handy and quick. Kinda makes me want one. I'll bet your cats really liked it.

Cookie - Sorry your day today was so dreary, but sounds like tomorrow will be a whole 'nother story. Sounds wonderful.

I did see my oncologist yesterday. I got my Faslodex shots (yuck!) and told him about my extra tiredness, "off" feelings, body aches, etc. Like me, he thought of things like a mild virus or a side effect thing, etc. He also asked me if I was taking calcium supplements. Sure enough, when the labs came back, I did notice that my calcium and sodium are both low, and electrolyte imbalances can do this sort of thing too; I've had it before, and it was on my list of possibilities. I haven't heard from him since the labs came in. He's usually real good about leaving comments in MyChart within a couple of days of getting lab results, etc., so I imagine I will hear from him soon. It wouldn't surprise me at all if he notes the electrolyte issue, and that turns out to be my problem. I ramped up my calcium intake today, and made sure I got even more sodium/salt. I've got to be about the only person in the world who is actually told to add salt to my diet, which I try to do now. It keeps the numbers from getting even lower and doesn't seem to affect my blood pressure at all, so the doctor has told me to go ahead and keep it up. I did get out for shorter walks yesterday and today, but I've just been extra fatigued and so very achy, that I'm just not motivated to go as far and as long as usual. Even the short walks are good though, and I'm glad I can do them.

Mara-I save all the bones from my Costco chickens in the bag. If I am going to freeze some of the chicken, then I pull it off the bones before freezing it. Then I take the bones, add 8-10 Cups of water, 2 Tsp of salt and bring to a boil. Once it is boiling I lower the heat to the lowest setting and simmer for 3 hours or so to make chicken bone broth. You can drink it or use it in other meals. It tastes much better than canned chicken broth.

Sorry I haven't posted in a bit, it seems like every time I open this site on my phone I have to re-log-in. And I don't always remember my password. And if I try to auto-fill my user name (SF-Cakes), it interrupts the whole process! Argh, technology.

Cookie, I'm so glad your port situation was relatively easily resolved, and you didn't have to get a new one.

Candy, hurrah for finally getting your new glasses! How's your vision feeling?

Threetree, were you able to talk with your MO, about feeling kind of "off"?

Mkestrel, hoping your cold is definitely on the mend, and those lilacs are so beautiful.

Intolight, hurrah for good scan results and that your meds are working!! My phone kept trying to auto-correct that to "wowing", and that works, too. Your meds are wowing!

Tanya, beach days sound heavenly. The beach here is generally chilly, but hoping for warmer days, love the warm sand in the toes feeling.

Shanagirl, not having surgery and taking a more conservative approach sounds like a really good plan. Really hoping they will be able to reduce your pain! Pain makes it ever so much harder to feel hopeful, at least in my experience.

Mara, thank you again for keeping this thread going! I need to check out that music link you posted

@shanagirl No wonder you've been in so much pain. I hope that the conservative treatments will work for you. Surgery in that area can be tricky even for a very healthy person.

@candy-678 Oh Congratulations on finally getting those much needed glasses‼️ 🤓

@threetree @tanya_djamila @mara51506 @chicagoan @intolight so hey all you gals. The list is not a written list. It’s. Rather, it’s a mental list of 2 or 3 goals I’m determined to accomplished the next day, sillies🥰I’m no longer that anal about written lists that I used to do sometimes before major undertakings. Besides, my girls, I did not acccomplish one goal today, anyway, I’ve just been so tired and painful today. must be the coming weather change.

I’m really glad I got thru my cervical neck bone scan & CTon Monday and able to speak about the results and a plan with the Neurosurgeon my Onc insisted I see. The bone scan was bad. “Severe” it said. It really validated my pain. The CT was the same.

The plan is trying more conservative treatments that are not invasive like an ACDF surgery. So I meet with the Neurologist, associated with the Spine & Brain Institute with him to decide which i the best treatment to go with. I am so happy I’m not going to have that surgery. Whew 😅

Study Result

Narrative & Impression

Following intravenous administration of 29 mCi technetium 99m-MDP, a bone scan limited to the cervical spine was performed. Additionally, SPECT imaging of this region was obtained in axial, sagittal, and coronal planes. Comparison: None. Findings: Severe radiotracer uptake along the C5-C6 endplate. Severe bilateral facet hypertrophy extending from the C3-C4 to C6-C7.  Impression: 1. Severe discovertebral degeneration at C5-C6.2. Severe bilateral facet arthropathy extending from C3-C4 to C6-C7. Electronically on 5/6/2025 11:09 AM

Mkestrel - Really sorry about your cold. I can understand why you went kayaking anyway. Sometimes you just gotta do what you gotta do, especially if it makes you feel good. I can also understand that living on loratadine. That might be what I need to do. How does one tell the difference between that bad cold and the allergies? Thanks so much for posting the lilac picture - I can't get enough of the lilacs these days. They are everywhere on my walks, and I just love it! I was out yesterday and saw even more and bigger bushes, as I went some different ways than usual. The air out in the neighborhood even smells like lilac everywhere. I was walking down one street and I smelled lilac, but for the life of me couldn't locate a plant nearby. I think it was just the whole air out there yesterday. So beautiful. All lavender and white.

Chicagoan - So sorry about your cold too. With all those boxes of kleenex, I have the same question that I do for Mkestrel (and myself). How do we know for sure whether it's a cold or hay fever? The plants and blooms are really at peak right now, and I've had a lot of similar symptoms too. I suppose I could try the Loratadine and see. I just don't like to ply myself with all sorts of things if I can help it.

Mara - Very interesting about the AI songs. I never knew that you could do that! Could be a real fun way to pass some time.

Well hope everyone enjoys the spring and all the blooms in your geographic area today. It's all so lovely.

@mkestrel We must have had the same cold. It was horrible. I went through boxes of kleenex and lost my voice completely for over a week. That was the last stage of my cold so hopefully it is the last stage of yours. Glad you went kayaking-don't need to speak for that! What beautiful lilacs!

@shanagirl beautiful aquarium.

I've had a beast cold for two weeks and my voice is still gone ugh. I went kayaking anyway. I planted some tomatoes and peppers. My lilacs are blooming. I live on loratadine lol but I love spring flowers. Wishing all a good day…