Can we have a forum for "older" people with bc?
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Lovemyyorkies, Good luck with your upcoming surgery.
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I am praying for all of you who are going through serious health problems.
At this point I am getting ready for dental surgery and a full denture on the upper. Root in a sinus with chronic conductive hearing loss and headaches, both on that side is both good and bad. I would rather look for the probable positive results than the possible bad results. Getting physical therapy at the hospital pool, coordinated with a prescriptive exercise program at the local gym. Really want to lose 20 pounds to reduce stress on right ankle. I am using hiking poles to get to and from the gym, as well as walking the dog with his leash attached to a belt.
Weather is predicted to stay below 80 for the week, so I will be using fans instead of AC. Sleep problems as usual, but the dreams are unusual. Maybe because of no screen time after 8:00, rule from athletic trainer. Chia seed for lunch, and fruit smoothie at bedtime. AF app on my i-Phone, linked with Fitbit. Gives me the willies, but that is s the way things are in 2020.
Last night, I had pork steak with potatoes and cream of mushroom soup, and zucchini and green beans from my garden, cooked in tomato soup, opened accidentally. I think I will make some zucchini bread, and see how well chia fills the stomach. Will be experimenting with bread made with flax seed meal and chia in my new breadmaker. E-bay asked me to tighten up security on my account there, I did it with great joy.
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Mary, in your pocket for the dental surgery--let's focus on the likely hearing improvement once that root is gone. Glad you can use the hospital pool. My hospital system's large fitness center is open only virtually. Pools around here are closed (except for neighborhood-park "splash pad" wading pools), as are the lakefront beaches. Not only are the rip currents powerful & deadly (at least 3 drownings in 6 weeks; and last night the Coast Guard had to rescue 4 kayakers who were carried 7 miles from shore), but young idiots party and congregate on the sand as soon as the cops leave. (No lifeguards). Our increase in cases statewide is driven by young people crowding around and inside bars, house-partying, and generally exercising their "freedom" to not mask nor social-distance. Even though indoor service at bars that don't serve meals has been banned, the city has had to shut down a couple (that serve snacks) for repeated violations (ignoring capacity limits, staying open past midnight, and even the staff going maskless); 4 more bars (not named) have been fined for 11 violations among them.
And your state has been added to Chicago's "fecal scroll" of states beginning tomorrow (anyone arriving from these states needs to self-isolate for 14 days upon arrival). Your legislature & high court overruled your governor and reopened too soon and too completely. Footage of idiots crowded around waterfront and poolside bars in Lake Geneva made my stomach churn. I don't know how they can possibly enforce the quarantine requirement beyond shoving people into state-line motels and even tent camp wards. I am old enough to remember when people had moral values that put the greater good above personal satisfaction. We have become the world's most selfish nation.
I am entertaining the fantasy that my oncologists at UIC Health will call or e-mail and ask, "hey, wanna be one of the 30,000 in our vaccine trial?" A gal can dream...
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Sandy, Kudos again for being so stall worth in the face of frustration and of the unknown. You obviously do not have an anxiety disorder. I say this knowing mine goes into full bloom, ptsd overwhelms even for a routine 6 month MO checkup which I had today. It went well but I was a wreck. You retain your ability to care for others on these boards, to be in their pocket, to educate. You’re invaluable here and present even when you’re going through really hard stuff.So I’m filled with admiration
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Sandy, Kudos again for being so stall worth in the face of frustration and of the unknown. You obviously do not have an anxiety disorder. I say this knowing mine goes into full bloom, ptsd overwhelms even for a routine 6 month MO checkup which I had today. It went well but I was a wreck. You retain your ability to care for others on these boards, to be in their pocket, to educate. You're invaluable here and present even when you're going through really hard stuff.So I'm filled with admiration
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Lovemyyorkie - welcome. I don't think we've met you before. I'm not sure what your question is. Are you asking about the possibility of a second cancer, hints for post-mastectomy, or TP? If you haven't been there yet, I suggest you join the triple P group. This will be a different journey but a hopeful one. I assume your MO has told you that with TP, the standard treatment is chemo and AI's. Let us know and people can be more helpful. In the meantime, we will all be cheering you on when you have your surgery. This is a very supportive group, not just about BC but about life.
Taco
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Evers was unsure whether a shutdown order by governor would fly by the Republican-appointed supreme court. But he thought it was worth a try. Legislature is dominated by Republicans, so it could not be done by legislation. Now it boils down to a county-by-county deal. LaCrosse county will start the school with virtual teaching, they are in bad shape. Our school district, the largest in therms of square miles in the state, will, as I understand it will be doing alternate days, with Fridays being individualized instruction for struggling students. I think that applies K through 12, but I am not sure. The point is, that suddenly mask-wearing is the rule rather than the exception--- for the sake of our kids.
I just got some pictures of Lake Geneva beach with relatives on my Facebook feed, must not have been crowded that day.
I am reading Michelle Obama's book and enjoying every page.
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LoveMyYorkie, Having a 2nd diagnosis and surgery so soon is tough.I don't have experience beyond lumpectomy, so no tips to offer.Just good wishes for the best outcome.
There is so much going on here...and, as it was mentioned, it would be nice to get our socialization somewhere besides medical appointments!
Camillegal, as Wren said, some of us feel like the "old guard"...it's good to see you checking in and to hear you are still working!
Puffin, in your pocket for surgery -- for comfort before, and a quick recovery after.
Jackie, I am enjoying your quotes once again! I'm glad the Omeprazole seems to be helping. And it's time to lose the catheter! Yay!
I hope you enjoyed your first drive! It's good for your DH to have errands to run - mine can't wait to get out whenever there's an excuse!Carole, I'm glad you got a little break from the heat but it seems likely to return. Stay cool.
Happy Anniversary!
We just took a 4 day trip to Maine where New Yorkers are currently welcomed without quarantine restrictions. The cases in western Maine are very low, and population and tourists are spread out. We dined outside at a tavern. But none of the servers wore masks. There seems to be a personal freedom theme there, and rules vary. But in a resort area, both locals and tourists should respect the safeguards (in my opinion). We prepared our own meals the rest of the trip.Sandy, I like your approach to getting your lab drink and appointment. When I had my breast biopsy, I went to the lab and picked up my glass slides and drove them to two cancer centers to avoid the endless wait for re-analysis, appointments, and slow mail.
I do hope you will have a successful treatment and a good outcome.Betrayal, the baby parakeet is amazing.Thanks for sharing! During quarantine, we have been watching and photographing osprey chicks in a local nest. They grew so fast.
CindyNY, I'm sorry to hear about your stepson and family's confirmed Covid diagnosis. It sounds like they will be OK.
It's good to hear your scan is done.Let's hope the results will help with a clear plan.
After reading about your renovation in the heat, I am relieved to hear you got temporary cooling.0 -
Cindy, prayers that your stepson & family's COVID recovery is complete.
Judy, thanks so much for the vote of confidence. I'm not as much of a "rock" as people think: bless my nightly Xanax, CBD, CBN and melatonin. Not to mention earplugs & eye mask. Only way I can get to sleep and stay asleep past dawn. Without the CBN, the pulsatile tinnitus would keep me awake; without the earplugs, so would the sound of the fan, AC and snoring. (And this morning, the next-door neighbor was having his air ducts cleaned--sounded louder than the city doing sewer work last week)!
Yorkie, I wish I could give you some advice--but my first cancer was Stage IA Luminal A, and my new cancer has nothing to do with my breasts. I had only a lumpectomy & short radiation, no chemo. Hoping you can get some guidance and reassurances.
Joan, wish it were safe for me to drive to the DC 'burbs (NoVA) to visit my sis, but by the time we do, IN, OH, MD and possibly PA would be back on Chicago's $#it list of states requiring quarantine upon our return. Our Gov. broke the news we'd all suspected but were afraid to admit: we are in this for the long haul, and the pandemic precautions will have to remain in place for 6 months longer.
Mary, I hope WI can get stuff sorted out so that remote-learning can be more effective than it was this spring. I'd been hoping that before my surgery my singing partner & I could do a social-distanced concert (livestreamed or on YouTube) on either one of our decks; but if he were to drive down here from Madison I'd have to put him up in our attic for 2 weeks (much to his wife's consternation); and if I were to drive up there I'd have to quarantine upon my return. Looks like we'll have to do Zoom, alternating solo songs if we do a concert together at all. (There's no way to harmonize or play duets simultaneously from separate states online--the buffering, delay & echo would be a nightmare. We'd have to record ourselves solo, send the .mp3 to each other to play through earbuds and add our own parts, then somehow edit them together. That's how they do those "distanced" ensemble performances on TV).
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For some reason today I can't seem to keep up. Love MyYorkie hugs to you. Soon I will go VISIT my two favorite Yorkies who along with their miniature Schnauzer sister ( and the owners of course ) sent me such a pretty get well bouquet. I have to keep it in my bedroom with the door closed because my cats are overly fond in a big way towards flowers and greenery in vases of water.
MCBaker, hope your huge improvement when your dental issues are handled.
I can barely wait for tomorrow morning. Dr. Figenshau called this afternoon with a report on pathology. I should be able to get that tomorrow as well. My computer is acting up so I'll see ya'll tomorrow.
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Having to deal with health issues, using portable A/C units in an ungodly heat wave (not really all that effective) and ongoing construction work is really pushing my buttons. The workers do not show up when they say they will, today showed up with no warning, and there has been a major change in the punch list for the living room ceiling which lead to an argument with the project manager who proved he cannot do math when he told me about a reduction in costs. I was so angry I told him he had just voided the contract and I was within my rights to throw them out. I just love when they say "why worry, your insurance company is paying for it" and they I say "yes, but I have paid and continue to pay premiums for that coverage".
To be quite honest, I am sick of it all and the fact that the original damage occurred in November (1st), the insurance company never got a structural engineer here until January 2nd and they had to wait to file for permits since all contractors had to provide info (another delay) and then Covid -19 shut everything down. Work began on 7/6 and most of that was exterior only, there is so much interior work to be done and everythging is on hold until the electrician, A/C and plumbing work is done and then they can schedule an inspection. This has been a nightmare due to lack of coordination on the part of the restoration company since A/C cannot come before 8/4 and we were told once the roof was on, they could begin work. Roof was completed on 7/17.
I probably should have posted this on the "Steamroom for Anger" so I do apologize. The baby parakeet evolution has been the only bright spot for the past few weeks so thanks to those of you who have enjoyed it. Never envisioned being a grandmother to a parakeet.
I am in the pocket for everyone who is awaiting a procedure, the results from a procedure or is waiting for family to recover from an illness. Today is not a good day so hopefully tomorrow will be. Jackie, I hope all is okay with your pathology report.
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Courage begins when we can admit that there is no life without some pain, some frustration; that there is no tragic accident to which we are immune; and that beyond the normal exercise of prudence we can do nothing about it. But courage goes on to see that the triumph of life is not in pains avoided, but in joys lived completely in the moment of their happening. Courage lies in never taking so much as a good meal or a day of health and fair weather for granted. It lies in learning to be aware of our moments of happiness as sharply as our moments of pain. We need not be afraid to weep when we have cause to weep, so long as we can really rejoice at every cause for rejoicing.
Victoria Lincoln
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The older we get the more I start to feel having the right to be angry with workmen and others. Way too many people seem to harbor a somewhat un-professional cavalier attitude. Also I see it ( as in your case Betrayal ) as easy for the workmen to dismiss in lg. degree because they are doing ( after a fashion their job ) the work but feel not one breath of empathy for the person needing the work. I don't necessarily think all the work men or contractors need to cry a river over someone's else woes, but they could at least TALK as though they understand the upset, and disappointments of things not going right. After all, they are fortunate someone isn't at their homes doing much the same. So much concerns which shoe is fitting on whose foot.
Ah -- to day. Well a spot of news -- so first the good. Heard from Dr. Figenshau and the St. Louis/Barnes Urology Lab says the cancer they found indeed remained local and as well remained low grade. So that was excellent news to get. The slight downer was that Dr. Barrientos ( Urologist here ) decided that I should have at least three days of Flonase ( he is likely to prescribe this long, long time ) in me before the cath. comes out. Dr. Figenshau also took the opportunity to order a one time only antibiotic to be used on Friday -- about an hour before the cath. is taken out. I hate that I have to wait three more days but it isn't a lifetime and it will be safer in all likelihood. For that reason I was glad to have the addition by Dr. Figenshau of the one time antibiotic.
Hope you are all doing well and have tolerable weather.
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Jackie, do you mean "Flonase," or "FloMax?" The former is an OTC steroid nasal spray, for nasal allergy symptoms; the latter is a prescription pill to improve bladder function and ease excessive urinary retention (usually prescribed to men with enlarged prostates). I don't see what your nose has to do with your urinary output!
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Betrayal, please add me to the list of those enjoying the saga of the baby parakeet!
All, also add me to your pocket for all the health cares and worries going on. This time when it rained it is pouring!
Jackie, sorry for the delay in Cath removal but better safe than sorry. At least the path report was good.
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Jackie: Don't know if you can have cranberry juice but if you can I would have it on hand when the catheter comes out. It will helps acidify your urine and keep some bacteria at bay. Drink lots once it does to flush out your system and if cranberry juice is off the list, water will work. Just avoid OJ for a while. It is not a urine acidifier and actually makes urine more alkaline.
Better to have it for a few more days and be safe. So glad the path report was favorable.
Thanks for the comments about contractors and construction workers. I may actually turn that on them and ask if they would find this suitable in their house. Next hurdle will be with insurance company that only wants to replace siding on the damaged end and second story on the front of the house. New siding was installed 14 years ago but there will be a color discrepancy with back and garage end of the house due to fading and weathering. New siding sample doesn't match though it is the same color and brand. I do not want a two-tone house no matter what the insurance company says.
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Sandy I stand corrected -- Flomax.
ETA: Actually, I'm a fair water drinker. I keep a bottle here by my computer, by my tv chair, by my bedside, two places in the kitchen, in my car and other than a couple of cups of coffee and a very occasional glad of soda ( mainly with pizza once a month or so ) I drink little else but water. Usually all meals go with water. So, I think I will make it ( I'll ask about the cranberry juice since I love cranberries ) but for the moment I feel fairly secure about the water.
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Hi, Ladies. I think my state, Florida has topped the list with COVID 19 cases. I now have 8 masks, 1 for each day of the week and a special occasion. Not that I go out much, but one never knows.
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Illinois Lady, We fostered a cat who got up on the table while we were out and ate about half a bouquet. We realized this when he threw it up, undigested, on the floor.
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I've amassed a cloth mask wardrobe, trying to color-coordinate them with my outfits (such as they are). I never have to wear them longer than an hour or two at a time, and when I take them off I hang them in a sunny window.
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I've made the masks we use, they go into a laundry bag when we get home, are washed in the laundry and dried in sunlight. Because I'm using previously washed quilting fabric try to coordinate with clothing but not always possible.
Current mask project is cat and dog print fabrics for masks for DIL's veterinarian clinic. Stymied at the moment because my sewing area is in one of the rooms affected by the defunct A/C; don't think my machine with a computer would like sewing in 90+ degree temperatures and I know I don't! I have a dozen or so cat fabric masks to the point where I have to stitch them.
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Add me to the list of liking that baby bird! So sweet to see.
Masks - my first one was red w white polka dots, matches absolutely nothing! But since then I've seen Rosie the Riveter making the same color and I'm good with it. We've purchased 10 solid black, a royal blue, a sea shore pattern, and I was given a Vera Bradly floral one. My little grand niece is going to try to tie dye some white ones. I just slap it on & go.
I have sympathy having to deal with contractors. We're always at their mercy.
IllinoisLady- great report on the cancer, and Friday will be here before you know it.
I'm starting to pack for Cape Cod. With COVID, no bedding at all is provided in the rental homes. I found an old comforter and a throw blanket in our 3rd bedroom (a dumping ground for more stuff than I care to tell, lol). Washed & dried them, and they're ready to go. I'll be putting stuff together thru Friday as the list is long.
Health - hoping every one is moving towards solutions with us all in your large pockets.
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Life is a refining process. Our response to it determines whether we'll be ground down or polished up. On a piano, one person sits down and plays sonatas, while another merely bangs away at "Chopsticks." The piano is not responsible. It's how you touch the keys that makes the difference. It's how you play what life gives you that determines your joy and shine. -Barbara Johnson
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I've been making masks, since I had a bunch of appropriate material and it's a great way to clear out drawers. I gave a bunch to the local food bank - they sell them and use the proceeds to fund the food bank's operations. I have an Etsy shop, but they're so expensive to ship from Canada that I don't think it's worth the trouble. Lots of people are selling them locally, too, so there's a lot of competition. I'm wondering if Christmas-themed masks are going to be needed? I have a bunch of Christmas fabric, too.
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PingPong: I think you are right about shipping from Canada. I'm not impressed with the ones from Walmart very much since they are all in plain colors but it is a reasonable price. We paid $7.50 each for the " Etsy" masks we got early on -- they got stuck in a post ofc. several states from us and it nearly a month before we got them. There were few to be found around here, but a family member found some he had and shared with us so we could have a mask while we were waiting. Great way to contribute to your local food bank. I bet they were glad to get your contribution.
Cloudy ( I think storms are out there somewhere ) and the heat and humidity are on their way back. We had a great couple of days w/o and I sure enjoyed them. This time of yr. is usually fairly iffy now and we won't be real sure of what is coming or not.
Hope you are all going to have a good day.
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After 5 weeks on a cane and no end in sight, we've decided to look for a house to rent and plan to sell ours. We're looking somewhere close to our DD who lives north of us in Shoreline. Seattle and Shoreline run together, so it's not all that far, but a 10 minute drive would be awesome compared to 40" on the freeway. I fell in our basement on the concrete floor and can only do stairs with a really good handrail. DH is all for it after doing the laundry in the basement for 5 weeks. The kids have been begging us to do this for a long time so they're thrilled. I'm not clear how you pack for moving when you can't sit or bend over comfortably, but we'll see.
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Wren44, That sounds like it would be difficult. Hopefully you can find someone to help with the packing. Are you looking for a house without a basement?
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When my elderly FIL came to live with us 10 yrs. ago, we added second handrails on our stairways up to the bedrooms and down to the basement. This also helped me immensely, especially when I had my knee replacement surgeries; and now that Bob's feet are in such painful shape (he won't get orthotics to help mitigate his bunions & hammer toes) he needs both handrails to climb and descend stairs. A neighborhood handyperson should be able to do this for you--the guy who shoveled our snow did it for us.
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Wren, I am sorry because I guess I missed your having taken a fall. Just wow !!! I presume you'd want a house with no stairs at all, or one that all the amenities are on one level leaving upstairs or basement mainly for storage only. That sounds far better now. Seems like nothing is easy once we reach a certain age as I found it hard to pack when we chose to return back home here in 1997. We only had a 750 ft. small single-wide mobile then -- though beyond excellent storage which made the packing difficult. Had to un-pack and re-pack based on moving cross country.
I hope you are able to find some help with all of this. If you will be renting in the meantime maybe quite a lot will not even have to be un-packed and you can wait for the final move into a new home. I'm sure you have thought of all this, so I will just say I'm thinking about you while wishing I was there to help.
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I have three identical masks that I rotate through the laundry-- aquamarine. Thinking about making more, but three is enough. I am not that interested in matchy-matchy.
I am more interested in walking around the neighborhood, with my hiking poles. PT is encouraging me to walk heel to toe instead of flatfooted- but that ankle goes kaput. I am also supposed to concentrate on pulling my belly in while I am walking. I don't know if I can do that many things at a time. I know all the sciatic exercises, and if I get busy on it, I can prevent more damage to my sciatic nerves. All these things require dedication to the long run, changing the way I do things, and perseverance. I don't want to but I must.
Wren, you have plenty of kids, in-laws and grandkids. Who knows, maybe you will have so many offers of help that you will have to schedule workers so things don't get too crowded.
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