Can we have a forum for "older" people with bc?
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One of DH's friends died this morning from COVID. He didn't get the vaccine. He was self employed, cattle rancher, and not Medicare age. I am not sure if he had insurance or not. His wife is vaccinated. I hope she won't have to pay the ICU bill. She didn't work outside the home either. DH thinks she will probably sell everything and be OK financially, but we don't know. I think getting a vaccine is so much easier than dealing with a hospital stay and ICU, and possible death. Such a shame.
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That is sad petite. We are in such struggles with those who ( a few really do have valid reasons ) don't or won't get the vaccine. Hoping she does all right. Likely a real burden to go it alone which is another reason to get your vaccine.
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Despite taking magnesium and doing the "soap-at-the-foot-of-the-bed" thing (been doing both for a few years), I was awakened this morning by first a "focal dystonia" cramp over the tibial hardware in my R leg. I could see the muscles involuntarily contracting, and could barely keep my foot from dorsiflexing. It took quite a bit of magnesium spray painfully massaged on to the skin above the spasming muscles to get it to stop after 10 minutes. I rolled over on to my side--and I suddenly got a sharp stabbing cramp at the outer top of my R calf.
I take baclofen at bedtime because it short-circuits the wayward signals from the basal ganglia that generate the spasms that cause focal dystonia. Didn't help this time. The only thing I can think of is that I haven't been taking potessium for the past few days because my PCP had me discontinue Lasix (which requires potassium supplementation) because my ankle edema turns out to be due to arthritis, not fluid retention. But I got leg & foot cramps occasionally while I took it. (There's potassium in my multivite--and I can't eat fruits that contain most potassium because they contain too much sugar. So no "eat bananas" or "drink orange juice"--or even grapefruit juice, verboten with letrozole--advice, please).
Then as I was tending to one of my tomato plants, my back locked up. Oh, boy.
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NOT A GOOD DAY! Today hubby went for PSA report and received the news at oncologist of stage 2 prostate cancer......one years ago PSA normal.... NOTHING......I was with him, at the doctor's office it was almost 2 hours in the office, and exam room and I told hubby I was going to go sit in the car, my claustrophobia and my anixousness had taken over me in the exam before the doctor ever appeared ...I Went and sat in the car, reclined the sat covered myself with my fleece jacket and rolled up a fleece blanket I keep in the Subaru for a pillow. I Dozed off....I awake to tapping on the window and it is hubby and his doctor.......CANCER, .....like a BAD...only it is real!!!
Di
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Keywestfan- glad you were able to get out to a movie and enjoyed it too.
Petite- horrible loss for you DH friends wife.
Sandy- you’re on a roll. I’ve been heating, icing and even putting diclofenac 1% gel (voltaren) across my lower back. The braced knee had me very crooked. I hope your back relaxes.
At PT today she moved me to a cane, no more 1 crutch. In honesty, inside my house I use nothing but out in a crowd (went to see Willie Nelson last night) I keep the crutch in use. I have a fear of someone knocking or pushing me off balance and be re-injuring myself.
It was beautiful here again today. High 78 w full sun. I was able to get out after PT and dead head plants. Then partner came out to trim all the wayward things I found. We got a lot done and I had more movement outdoor than I’ve had in 5 weeks.
Tomorrow looks a tad cooler 73 and less sunny but I’m ok with that. Karen1956, your temps are way too hot. And Wren44 your temps remind me fall is around the corner.
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Di, I'm sorry to hear your news. Really awful to go from nothing 365 days ago and then get that news. I will send prayerful thoughts of a good treatment and good results. Sending some positive thoughts for you as well.
Sandy, hope you get good control soon too. Sometimes we seem to fall apart a little easy, huh !!!Must be what is meant when they say getting old is not for sissies. Thinking of all of you healing or getting better from ' age ' issues. I'm with you.
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Di, Sorry about your DH's bad news. I think treatments have improved greatly over the past 10 years, so wishing him an easy time and successful results.
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D12012, So sorry to hear that. cyber hug
Sandy, Sounds painful. Hope you can get some relief.
Cindy, Good to hear you are getting out and about.
Hope no one will be adversely affected by Nicholas.
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Sorry about your bad news, DI. And yours, too, Petite.
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"If I only had three words of advice, they would be, Tell the Truth. If I got three more words, I'd add, All the Time."
-- Randy Pausch0 -
More bad COVID news. My wonderful lady that helps me so much just sent a text. Her DH, who had a lung transplant has COVID. He had the Pfizer vaccines and wears masks all the time, even before COVID.
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That is bad news. I wonder if the drugs to prevent rejection made the vaccine less effective. I hope his case is mild and he doesn't need intensive care.
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Good morning. My mamo was changed to this morning. I hope there is nothing new. My friend's DH was started on antibodies. I am guessing Monoclonal antibody therapy. He is doing OK. She is still negative.
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It's in the 40's this morning and the heat pump is humming, keeping us comfortable. It will warm up during the day.
Happy Wednesday to all.
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Not quite that cold here. 57 at 10:30am.
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We're all assigned a piece of garden, a corner of the universe that is ours to transform. Our corner of the universe is our own life--our relationships, our homes, our work, our current circumstances--exactly as they are. Every situation we find ourselves in is an opportunity, perfectly planned by the Holy Spirit, to teach love instead of fear. -Marianne Williamson
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It is nice now, but overnight we had a thunderstorm of long duration. Still raining off and on this a.m. I had to leave early and go to Mt. Vernon for blood panels and an EKG. for my upcoming kidney scope. If my results are good on the 22nd. ( fingers crossed ) I will start doing the scopes with the much lighter anesthesia and won't have to do blood work and EKG's all the time. Just a date for the OR would be just about all that is needed. Had lots of work yesterday as I did my work at home, fed the feral cats, went to my friends' house ( she is on a short vacation ) and did her cats indoors and out, picked up mail and newspaper. Then on to the other friend who I do twice a week, then out to the third friend who I have been seeing once a week, then stopping on the way home to my vacationing friends' house to do her bunch again, then home. Went to a dinner celebration then and finally after a long day mostly gone got to kick off my shoes get washed up and get in pj's to watch t.v. before bed. Some days are long.
I will be done with my vacation friend after I go once more late this afternoon and tomorrow in the morning. In fact, tomorrow will be a much lighter day for me since I had extra to do today. It is one of the days I do the other friend in town but is not hard. Just have to go to the other side of town.
Will get blood test results on the 20th. by phone. I expect that they will be okay. They never really seem to change much. My wt. so far is staying stable rt. at 170. I remain surprised but sure am glad. I had pretty much given up being able to lose any wt.
Hope you all are having a good day.
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Good morning. We had a thunderstorm move in early. It is 80 degrees, already. I am waiting for my mamo and ultrasound results.
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Have been up since 3:45 and unable to go back to sleep. Have EGD and colonoscopy scheduled for tomorrow so today is prep day. Oh, boy I am just overjoyed of being without solid food since 7:30 last night until procedure supposedly at 11:30 tomorrow. They are never on time for these procedures unless I am lucky enough to snag first one in AM. Somewhat anxious as well since this is the 3rd colonoscopy I have had in 15 months after they found a precancerous polyp in the appendiceal orifice in June of 2020. Procedure last September was scheduled for same time but it was closer to 1 PM before they did it. They could not find the lesion then so this is why I am having the repeat a year later to ensure it was totally removed by the initial biopsy. So fingers crossed it is gone because it is considered highly malignant otherwise.
It's quiet here at that hour and even the parakeets did not want to be social. Normally they are quite noisy. Haven't seen the 3 cats yet either and normally once my feet hit the floor they are clamoring for food. Hope everyone has a good day.
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Betrayal- I hate those kind of nights. You know it’s awful when your pets don’t want to be up with you. I’m hoping your procedure goes on timely with good results.
Rained like crazy here late afternoon yesterday. Thunder & lightening show too. This morning it was overcast but seems to be clearing up.
I overdid it yesterday. After PT (no more cane!) I went to Kohl’s and walked around looking at clearance - I get NY clearance on shorts for FL. Felt great, until it didn’t. I made my purchase and got to my car with my lower back out to my hips killing me. Took 2 Advil that I planned on taking as I left PT, but in my bliss of no more cane forgot to take. I still had to go to CVS for a script and a few other things. I got home, foam rolled and iced parts, put voltaren on from hip to hip, and sat w the heating pad on and off. Pain went away. Moral of my story, just because I’m without a cane doesn’t mean I should be walking for a long period of time. I need to build up.
I think I know why they braced me, besides what it does to protect the hamstring. It forces you to SLOW down. The slow progress is all part of this recovery to normal hamstring use. I’m 5 weeks PO. I shopped like it was in the rear view mirror.
Hope everyone’s day goes well
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All my experience of the world teaches me that in ninety-nine cases out of a hundred the safe side and the just side of a question is the generous side and the merciful side. -Anna Brownell Jameson
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Here's hoping for results and answers that please you for your test. Sorry for the wakefulness. It never feels good to wake too early. Especially more so with no company to talk to.
Cindy, I bet we have all done that a time or two. Just so happy to MOVE forward once again that we reward ourselves. I'm glad you were able to fix your error okay although I'm sure there was plenty of distress first. Going slow is difficult but you are on your way now with a bit of a reminder to sneak up on that freedom a bit more just yet. Here is hoping for continued great progress to normal for you.
Light day today, whew !!! My friend got back early from her sm. vacation so I now have some un-expected time for myself and won't have extra work to do. That is rare and is always a delight although for her I do like to "clean" things good before she gets back. She was happy though. So nothing special planned today.
Hope you will all have a good day and hopefully decent weather.
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Cindy: Our body does have a way of reminding us when we have exceeded the limits of good sense and I am sure we have all had this lived experience. Glad that your interventions worked but you now have a reference point for what constitutes overdoing. Remember slow and steady wins the race (from someone who only has 2 speeds: full steam ahead or neutral).
I don't know what the tax base is in FL but know that we get NY shoppers all the time, especially before school starts, because we do not tax clothing. Tax nearly everything else but tax base is 6% for most items (except gas which is really high) but 7% in Philadelphia.
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Betrayal, Sorry for your early waking. I do that too and it's not pleasant. Good luck with your prep today and your exam tomorrow. I hope the results are speedy and just what you want to hear.
Cindy, We've all done it. I'm glad you were able to get the pain to go away. Sounds like it was a bear.
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6-7% sales tax? Sounds like a dream come true: add IL, Cook County & city taxes, and it's nearly 11%.
Di, hugs for you and your DH. You will get each other through this, and we will be in your pockets every step of the way. Petite, prayers for your friends.
Cindy, glad you were able to get out & about, but bummer about your back! I had to attend Yom Kippur services virtually last night & today. Couldn't handle the 1/2 mi. walk to temple (and if I used a cane or Rollator, it would be an invitation: "Little old lady here--come & get it"). Parking lot was cut in half (HC permit holders only, by advance registration) to accommodate outdoor seating. Remote parking lot at the Greek Orthodox church 1/4 mi. away would have been my go-to, except the school buses they use as shuttles have extremely tall steps, and descending even regular stairs is a challenge with a backache. Fortunately, unlike last year (when the services were pre-recorded and edited together), the services were livestreamed in real time, with a live choir (in a Plexiglass booth). It was so frustrating to see all my fellow congregants, and want to reach out and say hi. But YouTube isn't Zoom, so it's one-way. (Not entirely a bad thing, as I was able to stay in my PJs with my kitty on my lap, with no one the wiser).
What seems to help me is 10 mg baclofen BID, heat 10 min. on, 20 min. off; 2 Tylenol + either 3 Advil or one Aleve q. 6-8h; 33 mg. Receptra "Serious Relief" CBD gummy or tincture; and alternating Lidocaine roll-on with Voltaren 2% gel (the last tube of the "Voltadol Forte" I bought in Rome in 2018). Despite what a masseuse at a folk conference told me back in 2014 ("ice, ice, baby"), when it comes to back pain heat is better, as it relaxes the muscles--ice is good only immediately after an actual injury like a sprain or contusion, because it can cause muscles to contract.
After the storm upon storm after storm that was our August, northeastern IL is officially back in drought. All in all, as long as we don't have Western-style conflagrations, given the choice I'll take a brown lawn over a flooded basement and falling trees every time.
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Good morning. It is dark and getting ready to rain. Our sales tax is 6%. DH is getting hard of earring and has the TV volume is high, I am wearing ear plugs. Anyone have any experience with ear phones for the TV?
Betrayal good luck with your procedure and the prep. It is the worst part.
Cindy, Easy to over do. I think we have all done that.
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In our rough and rugged individualism, we think of gentleness as weakness, being soft and virtually spineless. Not so! Gentleness includes such enviable qualities as having strength under control, being calm and peaceful when surrounded by a heated atmosphere, emitting a soothing effect on those who may be angry or otherwise beside themselves, and possessing tact and gracious courtesy that causes others to retain their self-esteem and dignity. Instead of losing, the gentle gain.Instead of being ripped off and taken advantage of, they come out ahead! -Charles Swindoll
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Should be all-right today but likely the start of getting our humidity back. We had a bit yesterday but not enough to bother me. At least our temps. should not go so high like they were doing before. Lots of leaves trying to find the ground. We have two lawn tractors so maybe SIL and hubby will keep the yard much cleaner this Fall. We are awaiting the return of our SIL who should have his money by the 20th. and he feels like he can get a truck right away. Seems there are all kinds of them now -- and maybe a much more reasonable price.
I'll have a long day today, but I got the kitchen cleaned really well yesterday and I have orange chicken ( easy to cook ) for supper. Will be working at the farm today.
I hope you all have a really good day.
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I keyed a big long story, hit enter and gone.
Thanks ladies. My pain is from piriformis muscle inflammation. I've had problems w it before. Ice, Advil and stretch. No exercises until next week.
We're going to a Smithsonian associated museum tomorrow/Saturday. They offer free admission once a year, I should have mentioned this earlier in the week. Dr Seuss in Springfield, MA is where we're heading. You can google Smithsonian free day and see what's in your neighborhood/state, or nearby - like us, in a neighboring state. Money we save on admission we spend on a meal in that community. (They email you a “ticket” to admit 2
Weather is supposed to be ok tomorrow. But Sunday, Monday & Tuesday is supposed to be beautiful. Enjoy the weekend
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It's more cold than cool this morning. Low 40's. The heat pump is humming away. So far September has been a nice month with lots of sunshine and comfortable day time temperatures. Our neighbors Wayne and Laurie have a fire going most afternoons for a happy hour gathering and pleasant conversation. We steer clear of controversy.
I did my share of mowing yesterday. Nothing planned today since we won't be setting up at the farmers market any more Saturdays this summer.
Happy Saturday to all.
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