Can we have a forum for "older" people with bc?
Comments
-
Puffin- I hope you’re dad is feeling better soon. And that you avoid catching anything.
We finally had some rain here yesterday. Not much in comparison to how much we need, but it was something. I checked the forecast for the next 10 days and it appears possible rain for the next week. But where we’re situated, even when rain is predicted it somehow misses us. Our fake lake behind the house is so very low, not sure I’ve ever seen it this low.
We’re on the calendar to leave on May 11th. We’ve been on a cleaning jag since company left. I even put things to the curb last night that had been in my garage - a nice wooden rocking chair I swore I’d refinish, was the hardest to let go. But my garage is in order now. We leave a car here on a trickle charger so the cleaner the garage the better for our neighbor to get into my house every two weeks to check on it.
I had hoped to put a shelving unit in a corner but for now the bins are stacked up fine. It will wait for next trip down. The thing about two houses is any project you want or need done, you need to do as soon as possible. Otherwise it’s put off until, well ..until it’s time to leave!
I’m having a Honeywell Wi-Fi thermostat installed. It’s the same as the one we have in NY. This will help me be on top of any issue with our AC. The drain down here in most houses can get filled with a slime mold that blocks the unit from draining. That turns off the AC unit. If we’re here and notice it’s getting warm, I go outside and pull the drain off the wall to let the water out. I asked if I could remove the thing, it kind of drops down like a P trap of a sink. I was told it’s that way to keep bugs and lizards out. Maybe I’ll replace them with new pieces, in hopes of no issues.
Sandy - good luck with your feet and working out. After my hamstring surgery getting back to the gym was great but I felt like a slug. I started out with leg presses & curls and only machine weight, nothing added. Each week, most weeks, I added a unit which I think is 10 pounds. I’m up to a 10, which my guess says 100 pounds. I don’t think I can go higher but it’s a possibility. Only do what you can easily do, and work up from there. No sin in staying at less or no weights
0 -
It has been sunny but very windy and in the 40's for the last 2 days. It has been dropping down into the 30's overnight with frost warnings. I know that some have put delicate plants on their patios already (since all the local stores have been displaying them) and will have to end up replacing them. I always use Mother's Day as my barometer of when to purchase delicate annuals but also look at what the weather has been like before it. Wind gusts of up to 35 mph don't encourage outdoor work and I have plenty of that to do in preparation for the new steps and sidewalk. I have quite a few plants that I need to move or split before they start. I am still waiting for the pots I ordered to arrive.
I have postponed so many household projects I had on my "to-do" list due to the restoration project which has seemed to stall yet again. I am tired of waiting for them and having them ignore my emails. So I decided enough was enough after waiting over 30 months for them to finish, and I was going to go full steam ahead on projects I had postponed and saved for. I then contacted a company about refinishing my kitchen cabinets. They are natural cherry so I do not want to paint them, just have the finish replaced since after 20 years it has worn in spots. I had someone look at it and am awaiting a quote. I had asked the floor refinisher working for the restoration company if they did private jobs and they said yes. I asked him to submit a proposal for doing my family room floor and the eat in area of the kitchen (the kitchen has travertine flooring). He never bothered, so I contacted another company that showed up the next morning (Saturday) to see what I wanted. He got back to me on Monday with a quote and it was reasonable considering he is doing 3 coats of oil based poly for 2 rooms. On top of it all, he can start on Monday, May 2! Talk about a speedy turnaround. The eat in area is in the worse condition from the chairs being moved in and out even with those felt pads on each leg and there is one area where there is no more finish from the previous refinishing. I had started on this "to-do" list before the trees hit the house but had only gotten as far as work on the kitchen walls when it came to a screeching halt. The walls were being replaced at that time and they had to halt since we had no power for several days. Then once we had power back they worked double time because they had other jobs waiting for them. It turned out nice and really changed the room. But it was the only one that got tackled on that list. Funny but some of the jobs on the list got done because they were part of the damage from the trees like painting the main bedroom and getting a new mattress for that room. But then the damage resulted in unplanned projects like replacing the walls and flooring in the basement area. So its like one step forward and then two backwards.
We went to Riverdance the 25th Anniversary on Sunday with DD and DSIL and it was a really good 2 hour show. I had to ask the woman behind me to have her daughter stop kicking my chair twice before the message was honored. The girl was too young to enjoy the show, was obviously bored because she kept talking (outdoor voice) and then kicking my seat. I did ignore the talking but not the kicking. They did return after the break and changed seats so they were no longer behind us but did not make it to the end of the show. I think the girl won. After we went to this restaurant that receives lots of publicity and is somewhat pricey. It was the first we have eaten out in 2 years. The place was not full and the tables were nicely spaced so we didn't feel uncomfortable. The meal was wonderful. I had crab cakes that were solid meat and no filler served with a jicama and fennel slaw that was tasty. DH had lamb chops, DSIL had a filet and DD had grouper. We all enjoyed the meal and plan on going back for our anniversary which is in May.
Puffin: I hope your Dad is on the road to recovery.
Cindy: It sounds like you are well on the road to finishing your projects before your return to NY.
Carol: Had to laugh at your DH's sharp response about his GF's at the gym. What a whit he has.
Have a good day.
0 -
Dad's feeling better, has 1 1/2 days left of his anti viral pills. They finally got his mail delivered so now he has a newspaper to read. I'm feeling fine too, though still wearing my mask in my building just to be safe. I got a message from Eventide tonight that they now have 30 positive residents. They'll be testing everyone every Monday and Thursday until they've gone 2 weeks without any new cases.
0 -
Sandy, thanks for the reference. Treatment is changing so quickly, it's hard to keep up.
Ken retired as a general surgeon in 1997 and he was doing mastectomies for everyone until the end. I remember his talking about taking a lot of heat from insurance companies for wanting to do a double with those who had a family history.
I had the nicest evening. The food bank dedicated the new warehouse which is fully paid for, saving us thousands of dollars in rent a month. Fifteen years ago, this guy who had lost his job with a food bank merger, decided to start his own to insure that people in our local area had food. First year they gave about 50,000 lbs. of food out of a small storefront. He's still there and now runs a two million dollar operation. Last year we served over 800,000 clients! It is truly a family of love - his kids are now stepping up. One runs the thrift shops, one the pantry, and his son's father in law runs the warehouse. It is such a privilege to be on the board.
0 -
Adversity, if for no other reason, is of benefit, since it is sure to bring a season of sober reflection. People see clearer at such times. Storms purify the atmosphere.
0 -
Gray today.....not a good time maybe for the yard sales around the lake. Maybe there will be 'clear' times. Hope so. Nothing much else going on. I am glad for a quiet day. I will be going over for 4 days only to feed my friend's cats. I can use a bit of extra funds and am looking forward to it.
Glad to hear about your dad Puffin. Also, that you seem to date un-affected. Fingers crossed it stays that way.
Hope you all have a good day.
0 -
Fosamax was never an option for me due to GERD. At first, neither my drug insurance nor medical insurance would cover Prolia, so I was given a Zometa (aka Reclast) infusion which was a nightmare--first they were late bringing it in from the cancer center's pharmacy, then they couldn't find a suitable vein, and then when it started going in it burned like crazy with every click of the pump. Then the next day I got a "faux-flu" (fever up to 103F) with aches and neuropathies for three days. I decided osteopenia was acceptable. Fortunately, a couple of months later I finally was old enough for Medicare. But at first, Part D wouldn't cover Prolia because it was a "hospital treatment" and Part B wouldn't because it was a "drug." My MO wrote an appeal, but before it could be decided, CMS did an about-face and decided it was a Part B "treatment" whicn my supplement covered. (I'd have been out of pocket $4K every 6 months otherwise). Now I need to see if Part B & my supplement will cover a DEXAscan before 2023, the last one having been in March 2020.
0 -
I’m not on Medicare yet but my endocrinologist was able to get me a dexa scan after being on the generic fosamax for a year. So I ended up having one two years in a row. I’m not sure if he’ll get me another or I’ll have to wait until 2023.
We finally got rainfall tonight. Around 5 pm it started pouring. By the end, 2+ hours later, we had 4+ inches. So needed! But we did cancel an outing with friends, roads and visibility were bad.
Chugging along on getting prepared to leave, we changed out the batteries in our smoke detectors. I had our friend neighbor handyman attempt to swap out our thermostat for a new Wi-Fi thermostat. We couldn’t get it to work at all. We had it on & off the wall, trying every wire as a “C” wire - it runs low voltage from your system to run the thermostat. In NY, near 100 year old house with the same Wi-Fi thermostat, it had to have a low voltage adaptor plugged in for it to run. This house is 17-18 years old so it shouldn’t be a problem. I’m thinking that on Monday if we can’t figure it out, I’ll place a call to my AC guy to get it installed. I need to set my phone/tv/internet on seasonal hold. If the new thermostat is in, I’ll need to increase the Wi-Fi while we’re gone, an additional $20 a month. If it’s not installed, I won’t have to do that. So seasonal hold hasn’t been done yet either. We’ve got time but I know time, it moves quickly.
Hope every has a great Saturday!
0 -
I picked up my new glasses with red frames yesterday. So far I don't like the new prescription as much as the old one.
We're going to a church fair today where a great niece is performing, playing guitar and singing. We'll take our chairs.
Happy Saturday.
0 -
I got new glasses recently, and there is something wrong with the prescription. I am seeing double towards the end ot the day. I usually get a prism added into the prescription, I don't think he did it this time.
0 -
Good morning. Yesterday one of my BFF's and I went hiking to look at caves in the Withlacoochee Forest. We had a great day.
0 -
Nature tops the list of potent tranquilizers and stress reducers. The mere sound of moving water has been shown to lower blood pressure.
Patch Adams0 -
That is one that connects to others. We did not go into any of them, because we are little old ladies that refuse to take Fosamax and did not want to slip and break a hip.
0 -
Carole, I had red frames for years. I still really like them, but the V.A. only had blue ones this yr. Likely I will look for either color next time I make a change. I'm not a stranger to having some issues with prescriptions. When Dh was still with Sears in Mt. Vernon I went to another store in the Mall there. The glasses were awful but they ( the other store ) kept insisting they were fine -- likely were for someone else but not for me. After two days I went to Sears Optical -- they tested me and found the prescription all wrong. So, they made more glasses and I got a refund from the other store. Not before they put me through signing a bunch of it's not our fault papers.
At that point, I did not care. I never intended to go back there anyway and just wanted my money -- which I finally got. I do know it takes me a little while to 'adjust' to a new prescription. Then I put on my 'old' glasses and they are not right. I was never affected by noticing the change until I got older. Now, there is always a period when things are okay, but don't seem quite right. The fact that I have rather poor eyesight and have to wear my glasses at all times when awake likely helps during this adjustment period.
Mary, you really sound like you do need the prism back. Hope you and Carole both get relief. Petite, your hiking trip sounds like it was a great deal of fun. I love to walk although 'hiking' is sometimes fairly strenuous, but I'd do that too if I could go slow I think. Today I will start taking care of my girlfriends kitties -- the outside cats and the outside dog who is in a pen. Rosie is a yellow lab retriever. Full of spirit, but very loving. This is my first foray into doing a bit of work. I've done so well since me med changes -- and I'm not expected to be as spot on as I was before when I helped out at Linda's. Still, I think it will be fine. It is only four days -- and so shouldn't be exhausting in the least. She mainly needs the boxes cleaned all the time. Keep them from doing things around the house they won't do if they have a clean box.Starting to try and rain here. Not liking that but we knew it was coming. I hope you all have a great Saturday0 -
I was first told about the eye muscle imbalance problem I think when I was in High School. I just looked it up, and it could be due to dry eyes. I guess I will try eyedrops for a while and see if that helps. Then I can go back and tell them that dry eyes is not the whole problem. (I am up in arms with subject-verb agreement, especially with collective nouns-- abuse is getting worse and worse-- but dry eyes is a diagnosis, not a bunch of eyes. Sigh!! Rant done)
0 -
Really sad to read just now that Naomi Judd passed away. She suffered severe depression for many yrs. and I think that she took her own life. It is a truly sad thing. She was about to be inducted I think this Sun. in the Country Music Hall of Fame. Hard for her loved ones but I hope she found peace.
0 -
From what I recall having read, Naomi Judd had not only hepatitis C and depression but also agonized over Wynonna's severe fibromyalgia for at least a decade. It is an awful disease because not only is it difficult to treat but many people (even doctors) don't take it seriously. I have two friends with it who are in constant pain (and one of them is also saddled with long COVID, still on supplemental O2 after a year). I suspect that since Nanci Griffith's cause of death was never given, she, too may have taken her own life due to depression over disabling chronic pain (she had two different cancers, rheumatoid arthritis as well as depression and eventually Dupuytren's contracture, which robbed her of the ability to play guitar).
May their memories be for a blessing.
0 -
Sad on both passings. My sister has fibromyalgia so I’m familiar with it. Horrible chronic pain they blamed on everything until an accurate dx
0 -
Corrie Ten Boom
Worrying is carrying tomorrow's load with today's strength--
carrying two days at once. It is moving into tomorrow
ahead of time. Worrying doesn't empty tomorrow of its
sorrow, it empties today of its strength.0 -
Major thunderstorms and threat of tornadic activity last night. Got up this a.m. to sunshine and I can't see where so much as a drop of water fell. This is how it can be here in our little pocket. Not always, but enough that I don't worry so much until I'm positive there is something to be concerned about.
Nothing much today. Of course, I'll take care of the animals for my friend -- but otherwise, whatever I decide needs my attention most here. Have a PCP visit coming up. Guess we will figure out how to deal with my medical issues at that point. Haven't heard a word from the Dr. who does colonoscopies here. I also need to get total clearance for my bladder lesion to be removed.
Hope you all have a good Sunday and good weather.
0 -
I just read an article in the WAPO about a tick that causes an allergic reaction to eating beef. We have an acquaintance in MN who was bitten by this tick and has this allergy. The tick has a little white spot on the back. It lives in the southeast but with climate change is moving northward. I'm always a little nervous about ticks during our summer months in MN, but it's mostly the ticks that carry Lyme diseases that I am concerned about.
A weird subject for Monday morning, most of you are probably thinking! LOL.
The sun is shining and it's supposed to get very hot today. Summer weather is here with heat and humidity. I have no plans except to go to exercise class at the gym. There are things to do before we depart on May 19 but it's too early for most of those preparations. The last few days are always busy and tiring.
Happy Monday.
0 -
Congratulations on yet another year of sun-birding, Carole.
My bike mechanic came over and picked up my trike yesterday. I need to get the dimensions of the basket so I can turn it into a safe place for Tippy to ride in. It rained off and on yesterday, but the mechanic was able to come over and get it. I ought to take a look at the creek.
0 -
How necessary it is to cultivate a spirit of joy. It is a psychological truth that the physical acts of reverence and devotion make one feel devout. The courteous gesture increases one's respect for others. To act lovingly is to begin to feel loving, and certainly to act joyfully brings joy to others which in turn makes one feel joyful. I believe we are called to the duty of delight. -Dorothy Day
0 -
Carole, the news on ticks is quite timely for Spring. The men in the family ( my fingers are definitely crossed ) have each found a couple on them. They ( the ticks ) seem to be mainly on trees and shrubs, but if none are available can also be in taller grass. That is a good reason to keep your lawn mowed early and don't be squeamish about keeping the mowing blade low.
You can get ticks all summer but they seem far more prevalent and active in Spring. I had heard about the ticks with spots but hadn't seen any and had in fact forgotten about them. Good reminder since our weather is evolving. We may have to watch not only for ticks, but possibly other things we don't normally find in our territory.
Nothing special for today -- just taking care of my friend's animals. Dh usually goes with me but he just sits on my friend's couch and naps while I do all the work, hmmm. It's okay -- I'm fussy about what I want done and in what order.
Are there a lot of ticks where you camp, Carole. I hope not. I hope you all have a great Monday.0 -
Thunderstorms last night (not that I heard them due to my hearing) and rain this morning. Much needed moisture. Cold and damp rest of the day 30s and low 40s. Tomorrow back to the 60s and by the end of the week high 80s!! Too hot for me. Personally, this time of year, sun, blue sky and 60s is perfect.
Have a great night.
0 -
Having had Lyme disease twice, it was not a pleasant experience. The first time I noted the "bulls eye" on my abdomen and because we were in Spain for 2 weeks all I could do was treat the temp and aches with Panadol. It wasn't very effective but the physician that was on our trip and who so graciously recommended I not start an antibiotic in case I had side effects. Saw my PCP the day I got home and had satellite bulls eyes on my back and legs. The original one was now the size of a dinner plate. The second time I felt something behind my knee and it was the tiniest of ticks. The bulls eye appeared about 2 days later and I started on doxycycline then. Again we were heading off for Italy so I had to wear long sleeves to prevent sun exposure and lathered up with tons of sunscreen. Not as bad the second time but caught early. My antibody test still comes up weakly positive and it has been about 20 years since I had the disease.
Day 1 of floor refinishing for the family room and eat in area of the kitchen and they are really doing a thorough job. Both rooms have been sanded, dings fixed and tomorrow they will put a coat of oil based poly on in the morning and then another in the afternoon. The third coat will go on Wednesday morning. The poor dog has had to be confined in an upstairs bedroom and she is thoroughly confused. Two cats are in the basement and the third is in another bedroom. So by the end of the week I can take one "to-do" off my list. Still haven't heard boo from the restoration company in response to our 4/12 email listing all that still needs to be done so the insurance company reached out to them. A job that was to take 3-6 months tops has been in place since their final start time of July 2020. Considering I have lived in disarray since November 1, 2019, it is getting old. True the pandemic delayed the start but it is not responsible for their poor planning/organization of repairs. Quality of work is good but not the consistency nor organization of the work.
Beautiful day today so I was able to get outside to do my "steps" for fitbit. Hope tomorrow is nice as well so maybe I can garden before my GI appointment in the late afternoon. Have a good day tomorrow.
0 -
Carole, My hike in the forest must have made you think of ticks. I was worried about getting a tick. When I was a child I had one under my arm.
0 -
I have never given very deep thought to a philosophy of life, though I have a few ideas that I think are useful to me. One is that you do whatever comes your way as well as you can, and another is that you think as little as possible about yourself and as much as possible about other people and about things that are interesting. The third is that you get more joy out of giving joy to others and should put a good deal of thought into the happiness that you are able to give. -Eleanor Roosevelt
0 -
DH has had a couple of ticks on his body in MN that I have had to remove with tweezers, very carefully. A man who works at Itasca State Park lives in one of the condos at the resort. He gave everyone a card with the different kinds of ticks in the area.
I missed the daily Wordle for the first time today. Several times I have guessed the word on the last try. Most days I get it on the third or fourth try.
I am playing golf today and will suffer in the heat and humidity, I'm sure.
Happy Tuesday.
0 -
Petite, I have had ticks almost everywhere on me. One of the real surprises was when I discovered one on the back of my earlobe -- right about in the middle. It is squishy and soft there. Surprised that I've gone my whole life w/o more there. Had them just under the elastic in my underwear, and several in the undersides of my upper arms. Back of my knees -- some of the places they stop to attach I'm thinking they must really need a meal to start. I don't like them at all and am repulsed and edgy after I find them on me until Dh gets rid of them, but I accept that where I choose to live is sort of optimal for them and I'm the one who has to adjust.
I've been fortunate so far that I usually start itching fairly quick after the attachment takes place so they don't last too long on me. In Spring we have to become super watchful. Later on in a couple of months -- they all slow down pretty much and we don't have to have heavy vigilance going on, although we need to have awareness for the whole summer season.
Going in a bit to my friend's. The city has been working on her street and it is dicey getting in and out. Grrr. Hope they have moved down from the top of the street -- she is the second house from the corner, so maybe I can come and go easier. I would imagine all those on the street will be glad when it is done.
Hope you all have a good day.
0
