Can we have a forum for "older" people with bc?
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To live content with small means; to seek elegance rather than luxury, and refinement rather than fashion; to be worthy, not respectable, and wealthy, not rich; to study hard, think quietly, talk gently, act frankly; to listen to the stars and birds, to babes and sages, with open heart; to bear on cheerfully, do all bravely, awaiting occasions, worry never; in a word to, like the spiritual, unbidden and unconscious, grow up through the common. -William Ellery Channing
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Snowing outside as I sit here by the window. Not sure if we will get an accumulation or how much. Much more serious snow (just looking at the density of it) than we have had. Our other two snows barely covered the ground. We won't get the big snowstorm predicted for up North - Chicago. That part is good. So far this is coming sort of fast so we may end up with a good amt. Still, if it is nearly 39 on Sunday and 49 on Monday -- it may not last long.
Too bad daughter is at work. This will be her first snow. We will see how she feels about driving home after work. Anyway, if she were off, she would likely be outside already enjoying being in the middle of a med heavy snow. She grew up in southern California and though she has been back here once before there was no snow then.
Nothing much on for today. Just watching snow accumulate.
Sandy, I do hope your 'storm' becomes a bit less than the prediction.
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Sandy, definitely no pet dander in our house. But definitely some dust. Yesterday I changed the filter in the air intake in the hall. In the afternoon when the temperature rose to the 50's, I opened the kitchen door and some windows to let in fresh air. Always an iffy proposition since "fresh air" might be a carrier of something to irritate the sinuses. DH had a bad night last night and ended up taking off the sleep apnea apparatus. I asked him this morning if he thought he'd run any fever and he said no. He's in the kitchen now making his breakfast so he still has an appetite. A good sign.
My hair lady and I decided to change my style a bit to accommodate the curliness of the back of my hair. I did this once before some years back. The hair on the top of my head is fairly straight. The sides wave and the back is curly. At least it's not curly on one side and straight on the other side. Sheryl said she had a customer once with that situation. She used the diffuser to dry the back curls but I will probably just apply a gel and let the back air dry. I don't go anywhere anyway except to the supermarket and the gym, and I wear a mask in the supermarket. Appearance is not a big concern except to me when I look in the mirror. In the mornings I usually laugh at myself before I comb or brush my hair.
Today is an ugly day outside. Gray and cold. I may spend some time in the kitchen doing some prep for dinner. I have poblano peppers that should be blistered and peeled to use in a chilis relleno casserole. They're much better than canned chilis.
I think I have gone to the gym for a class every day this week. I may skip today. Maybe I should dust!! LOL.
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Carole, nothing wrong with a different textured section. Some women actually shave a fade on one or both sides or the back--ugh. Take pictures, put them on Instagram, and you will become an influencer! Crazy question: how old are your pillows? They (especially down or feather) can harbor dust mites, I think I'm gonna replace my 5-yr-old goose down pillow (though it's soft and comfy to sleep on, it's definitely likely "mite-y"). I have one of those top-rated Home Goods "Coop" pillows, but it's too hard (even with some fill removed) and too big to fit my silk pillowcases (necessary to prevent frizz). I do have a "My Pillow" (bought at Costco before Mike Lindell became infamous), but I use it only temporarily to prop myself up sufficiently to fall asleep on my back--necessary for the kitties to nuzzle me to sleep. Then I put it aside between Bob & me to use as a cat cushion
Per what I'm seeing on our deck railing and gas grill lid, 6" of snow here and counting, same as Evanston. Wilmette already got >8", Midway 7". HK says they've even gotten 3" out in Austin--she and her neighbors are tag-teaming with their shovels. I have friends way out west in Algonquin--they got only flurries! This is the polar opposite of how Chicagoland snowstorms usually happen. Bob says he's fine with dumping recycling, trash and cat litter, provided he can kick his way to the garage or back gate. I think we can wait till tomorrow, when we'll be able to clear off the dumpster, recyling and compost bin lids. Worst comes to worst, we can put the bags (and whatever boxes the kitties haven't claimed) out on the deck till paths get cleared. Bob is so happy to get out of the house (no snow angels, his knees are too bad for him to get up off the ground) that he has volunteered to go around the corner to the Greek takeout place to bring home gyros, broiled chicken and salad. If the landscaper comes by to shovel by tomorrow, he will head to Just Tires to get air and his sensors checked. This is not the fluffy stuff we got last week, which a broom could handle--this is "heart attack" snow. It keeps alternating between flurries and big fat flakes.
Before I call in the plumber on Monday, I'm gonna take a look inside the toilet tank. I'm noticing the flush stops prematurely, before the telltale "gulping" sound that a proper flush makes. Wondering if something is making the flapper close too soon. Hope it's that, and nothing requiring having the toilet augered out again. Good thing we have two bathrooms (knock wood). I don't mind having to Lysol like crazy every time I'm about to use the master bath. Dreading showering, though--been using dispoasable washcloths to avoid a chill (or catching virus particles).
My GERD is behaving itself, though I woke up with a very froggy throat which seems to have been abated somewhat with black coffee. It's always the worst in the morning, especially when the kitties insist on sleeping on me. (I awoke with Happy on my chest with his head on my chin, purring like an outboard motor. Haven't let Heidi cuddle me because she's been on Bob a lot this week). I've lost my top half octave (out of three), but I won't need it for services next week. Still giving myself vocal rest and hoping to start woodshedding soon--especially if Wed-Thurs.' Snowmageddon drives services back to online-only. This feels like a repeat of Dec. 2019, only without the paroxysmal coughs and initial fiery throat. Hope the laryngitis doesn't kick in fully. No fever, no aches (mild headache but only when wearing my retainer).
Meanwhile, my PCP says I can safely trust three negative rapid tests each two days apart--I was exposed no later than Friday night, and Omicron has a 2-3-day incubation period. So this is likely a revisit by what had been my annual "throat cold," which stayed away for >two years.
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I used to work downtown in a highrise on the 11th floor. We had a snow with big flakes and it was wonderful to see them from above. Unlike many people I managed to get home OK that night. The city can't seem to grasp that bendable buses don't work on snowy hills and always end up blocking the streets.
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LOL--when I lived in Seattle I was always amazed by people who had no problem driving on "compact snow & ice" to go skiing at the mountain passes; but when the city would get an inch or so of snow they'd spin out and crash into each other, especially on hills.
Not very hungry--definitely having that telltale "throat cold" feeling I get every year or two around this time. Eyes & teeth hurt a little until I remove my retainer. Oral thermometers said 98.5, forehead 98.9, but ear (new Thermoscan) read 100. Uh-oh. Bob said to put my mind at ease and try that second test in the OnGo kit (it's been 24 hrs. since yesterday's). Followed every step to the letter. NEGATIVE again (this time confirmed by the app).
So I officially have some kind of cold, maybe adenovirus (which I could have had in Dec. 2019 instead of pertussis, as I never did get a throat culture). I asked Bob how the heck I could have caught a cold, considering I haven't been around anybody but him since Sunday. He replied, "I probably had a cold on top of COVID." (Heck, people can even get flu and COVID at the same time). The 24-72 hr incubation period for the common cold fits precisely when I began noticing feeling crummy (colds are "3 days coming, 3 days with ya, and 3 days going.". Gordy dined with us (I sat closer to him than to Bob) Sat. night, but he hasn't reported any symptoms. Anyway, I'm gonna semi-quarantine for awhile--anything that would prevent spreading COVID would prevent spreading a cold. Not leaving the house or having the plumber over till at least the weekend is over. Bob walked to the Greek joint to bring me some broiled chicken & salad (bet he will have a gooey greasy gyros & fries plate).
I might investigate what's up with the toilet tank--maybe all I'd need is a new float or flapper, which I could get delivered and install it myself.
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I'm sorry I skipped the senior exercise class at the gym yesterday because my sister Michelle and her daughter Rebecca attended the class for the first time. Michelle, who is early 60's, called me, laughing because they barely survived the class and they're both years younger than most of the other participants. She intends to make it a priority to go to the class. She has issues with her knees and back and will have to be moderate. It will be fun to see her more often. We don't live all that far apart but go about our separate routines.
I may venture out to some stores today, wearing my mask, just to get out of the house and vary my day. I'm feeling a little house bound.
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People who take the risk make a tremendous discovery: The more things you care about, and the more intensely you care, the more alive you are. This capacity for caring can illuminate any relationship: marriage, family, friendships--even the ties of affection that often join humans and animals. Each of us is born with some of it, but whether we let it expand or diminish is largely up to us. To care, you have to surrender the armor of indifference. You have to be willing to act, to make the first move. -Arthur Gordon
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I have found it easy to see less of some of my relatives. They do have really separate lives from me. One cousin focuses strongly on grandkids while my grandkids are grown-ups and living in other states and having kids of their own. Another cousin I do spend a lot more time with overall as we like bargain shopping and I often ride with her to St. Louis, Mo when she has Dr.'s appts. there. We stop to eat on the way home and sometimes visit the department stores right across the river in Illinois on the way home. With covid and other issues a lot has changed, and we don't do near as much. I hope this Spring and summer will allow us to get out a bit more, but it all depends on how our covid problems behave.
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It is 18 degrees and snowing steadily. It is supposedly light snow but on the roads it has frozen underneath so it makes driving dangerous. The road looks slushy with tire tracks in it.
The birds have been flocking by the feeder and DH has to trek out to refill it. The yard ahs drifts so it will make it a challenge him to trek up the hill to feed it. The juncos this morning were burrowing little cuplike holes in the snow in search of covered ground seed. Funny how they would hunker down in them. The janpanese maple right outside the kitchen eat-in area was covered with 7 mourning doves. They had their feathers all puffed up, their heads pulled in and their eyes cosed. It was something I have never witnessed before. All was fine until Leo (my most gentle cat) decided to play great game hunter and startle them by slamming the window.
Am cooking a large pot of ham and lima bean soup. Forgot to tell DH to pick up carrots yesterday and discovered that I was also out of canned plum tomatoes today. So I will precook this and add them when we can get to the grocery store again. Thought I had some frozen carrots but no such luck. He did get me the soup herb I like to use for soups, I had the butt ham in the freezer and the dried limas in the pantry. As much as I like to use dried beans, they are such a bugger to get soft. I soaked them overnight and am following th directions to cook them for another 2 hours but hope this works. Otherwise, I will cook them today and let them soak more to se eif this is the answer.
DH is plowing a pathway in our driveway so we can get up and down if needed. He did fill the bird feeder so the birds will be happy. In weather like this they need the supplemental feeding just to survive the cold. Hope the woodpecker comes as well as the cardinals. They always make this weather cheery.
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Well, so much for home rapid-antigen tests. Had 4 of them (3 different brands) 2 days apart--but still started feeling lousy by Wed. night, feverish yesterday (ear thermometer read 100.1) and definitely feverish early this morning. Ear thermometer read 100.3 and even the forehead thermometer said 100. Went to my health system's Immediate Care clinic for a flu test, but they also gave me a 1-hr. PCR test for COVID. Negative for flu--but positive for COVID!
Actually, feeling a bit relieved, as the uncertainty was worse than the confirmation. Waiting for a call back from the hospital pharmacy as to where to pull up to pick up my Paxlovid Rx (they're saving the sotrovimab infusions for patients >80, immunocompromised, &/or un-or-under-vaccinated). They're gonna throw it and a bottle of water through the car window.
HK says to leave the laundry alone, and that scooping cat turds should suffice w/o having to empty out & change the litter. NP says I'm likely already 3 days in, and would have PCR tested positive had I come in Tues. or Wed. If I'm feeling fine and afebrile w/o Tylenol for 24 hrs. by Tues. I can break quarantine and my HK can come back in as long as we both mask. But Bob & I no longer have to isolate from nor mask around each other. He's even going back to work Monday (albeit masked). Kinda liberating.
Everything here has been plowed & salted, so we're good to go until Snowmageddon starts on Wed. night. (They've revised the accumulation prediction down to a foot or less, from the 21" predicted earlier). We got about 7" yesterday, but Wilmette in the N. 'burbs got over 10". Whole lotta sledding going on.
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Well, so much for that. You will emerge on the other side just fine. Amazing how contagious this stuff is. I am sending three items to my client. We are having some concerns about sizing as she is a bit large. USPS's website does not list this size of envelope.
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I start Paxlovid tonight--fingers crossed. What's weird is that but for the low-grade fever & slight headache I have now, this bout of Omicron COVID feels exactly like the coughing infection I had in Dec. 2019 a week after we returned from London. Maybe I had "COVID Classic" (pre-mutations) back then?
Spoke to my hospital system's infectious disease doc tonight--he said that Paxlovid is superior to the sotrovimab infusion (90% vs. 80% efficacy), and that the reason Bob was offered the infusion instead was probably that his hospital's pharmacy didn't have Paxlovid. (It's still in shorter supply than either the infusion or Merck's less effective Molnupiravir pill. NorthShore Health was one of the first systems to get it). In fact, the I.D. doc said that as supplies of Paxlovid increase, it will be prescribed far more often than the infusion. (I'm not the world's easiest vein stick, so I appreciate being able to take a pill instead). I didn't want to go through any drive-throughs--even wearing gloves and an N95--en route home because I didn't feel comfortable exposing anybody. So tonight I'll nuke leftovers and dress up a Greek salad.
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Sandy, hoping you feel better quickly.
It was a cool 59 when I started reorganizing a corner of my garage. I had taken all the bins off the floor, moved things around, swept, hung a clock, and scrubbed down the door into the house. I even changed all the HVAC filters. We ran some errands in shorts with a thin fleece, 1/4 zipper. But at about 3 pm I headed to the skating rink to see a neighbors daughter in competition. Cold to the bone with a sweatshirt over my thin fleece, and Eddie Bauer thick throw blanket wrapped around me after 2.5 hours. Got into my car and switched from AC to heat! It was almost 6 pm and sun setting. Super cold for southwest Florida.
It may go down to 36 here tonight but my house has retained warmth and we’ve yet to put heat on. We’ll play it by ear, but if we’re cold the heat will go on. By Wednesday it’s back to 80-81.
It is soup making time. Warm the house and the body. Enjoy the weekend.
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Mary, you are so right about the insanely high transmissibility of this thing. We both felt so smug about being fully boosted, washing our hands 20X/day, wearing KN95 & N95 masks (even in restaurants between drinks & courses), not traveling, staying in most of the time. But it's out there, and Fauci's right: eventually everyone will catch it--unless they never leave the house and never let anybody in.
Cindy, when we visited my mom in Delray back in 2004 it was so cold that i had to scrape frost off the car windows in the morning. (Think it got down to 29). Something told me not to unzip the lining from my leather jacket, and to keep gloves in my pockets before leaving Chicago. We'd go out to dinner and people would be huddled by the patio heaters waiting for their tables. They looked at me like I was crazy for not shivering. (For me it was warm for December)! Few things are colder than raw rainy weather in places you expect to be warm.
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Cindy, it is 21 degrees this morning.
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Sandy, so sorry you have to deal with this, even if it just seems like a bad cold, slight fever. You acted quickly when you must have suspected the rapid tests weren’t giving the correct results. We use the Binax Now which Gil got from Northwestern U, but noticed that some of them have past expiration dates. Have stocked up on Flow flex and other brands. Here, at the Mather, they PCR test every Friday , but think they may be stopping. I’m not sure I would know how to act as directly as you did. Probably wouldn’t have thought to go to Immediate Care- think there’s a North Shore one on Main Street in Evanston.. Then, how did you even get connected with the hospital pharmacy to get the Paxlovid or to the ID doc? I play these scenes out in my head and think I would just call PCP office, but that might not be the way.. So glad you took control and did everything right. Feel better and well by Tuesday. My 62 year old friend got a terrible cough, aches, fever in mid December 2019, which knocked he for a loop and, at the time, said she thought it must be some strange new virus- nothing she’d had before.
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sandy, I’ve not heard of the Rx you’re taking. A family fried, retired PCP told my DH where we can go for 4th shot. We haven’t decided what to do yet. They are started to relax things in Denver. Max mandate expires end of week. Large venues no longer requiring vax to get in.
More snow Tuesday night into Wednesday with high of 15F. I took a gamble and order size small KN95 and they are too small. I was worried they might be Had to order 10 All are individually wrapped. Do t know if they will take them back They we’re out of the regular size Need to figure out what to do with them I really like the style So May order 10 regular size
Everyone stay safe and warm.
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The true Light is a gentle love which, rising in you, causes you to look on the world with understanding and compassion and respect. When you respect the souls of your brother and sister, you respect their lives in every way. This gentle spirit, this respect one for another, must come. For this is the generation of the one true Light, and this true light is that of love.
White Eagle
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Keywestfan, I had the same illness as your friend in January 2019. It turned into double pneumonia and 6 days in the hospital. My coughing was awful. After I recovered my voice had changed and I wondered if coughing can damage the vocal cords.
DH is doing much better. I think the steroid he was prescribed has kicked in. He has responded positively to steroid treatment in the past. It's good to have him feeling better for his benefit and mine. He does not suffer in silence.
Betrayal, I enjoyed your word picture of a snowy winter day. I would gladly provide you with some fresh carrots!
It's a pretty day here with the sun shining. I'm looking forward to watching the football games this afternoon. I usually record the Sunday morning political talk shows and zip through them, watching the panel discussions and segments that interest me. It feels good to fast forward through the politicians I don't favor!
Happy Sunday to all.
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So sorry you have to deal with Omicron Sandy. I fear you may be right as mentioned that sooner or later everyone will fall heir to Omicron. So far, so good here, but Dh seems to find every reason under the sun to have to go out and I will admit that he does do a huge amt. of the grocery shopping as it is. My daughter works so even though I tend to stay out of the public almost ALL the time, there is opportunity. We have, as far as I know, done better in our small community but even my cousin got it -- so it is lurking.
It is sunny out today and we are expecting good temps for a couple of days. Sadly, it will bring rain possibly and afterwards we will go back to cooler temps again. We will be on the on/off syndrome, I think. We have been known to have freak snowstorms all the way up to April (first week usually) so it will be ride it out and wait as Spring approaches.
Hope you all have a great Sunday.
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I was supposed to go for a Covid test yesterday, but the northeastern snow bomb put the kibosh on that. So I had a test today (Sunday). I will have radioactive seed location tomorrow, and a lumpectomy on Tuesday. I am 71 and was diagnosed by 1/29/21 biopsies of my lumpy, fibrous breasts. I am scared shitless.
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Vander, you will get through this. Breathe deep, pray if you have a mind to, and take it one minute at a time.
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Vander, so sorry to hear you must deal with this diagnosis. You have a lot of company here and MC is quite right. I imagine a good many of us were just as sure that we might not be up to the challenge. I hope you find strength you had no idea was there which happened to me and I'm sure many others here. Just do take it all one minute at a time, ask lots of questions when you need too and if needed come here often. We are always ready to lend an ear and all the comfort you need.
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Vandercat: I always experienced being afraid right up until the day of surgery and surprisingly on the day of surgery I had a sense of calm wash over me. Can't explain it except to think maybe my body was relieved to be getting rid of the problem. I was nervous, but not fearful. I wish you the same experience and a good outcome. We will be here for you.
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Vandercal - waiting is hard. You are lucky that things are progressing quickly for you. Once they do the lumpectomy, you will get a treatment plan and won't feel so panicked. If you haven't done so, you may want to check out the "lumpectomy lounge." That's where ChiSandy and I met five years ago. Don't know where in the northeast you are but saw some REALLY snowy pictures from my sister in Hingham, MA and my daughter in Freeport, ME. Holding you close.
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Vandercat - glad you found us, but wish you didn't need to. Sending hugs.
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Good morning. It is warming up and should be a pleasant day. We had some bad news, our niece has tested positive for COVID. She starting with high temperatures, muscle aches, then joint pains and now she has congestion.
vandercat, cyber hugs
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Vandercat- best of luck today with seed placement. HUGS And as we say, we’ll be in your pocket!
Petite - you had it colder than we did. My house this morning said 64, which is chilly. But I just added a fleece bottom under my night shirt and robe. It should hit 70 here today.
Nothing exciting planned. I’ll hit the gym for some PT, come home to foam roll. Only thing on my “to do” listis grill steaks for dinner.
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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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