Can we have a forum for "older" people with bc?
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A habit for all of us to develop would be to look for something to
appreciate in everyone we meet. We can all be generous with
appreciation. Everyone is grateful for it. It improves every human
relationship, it brings new courage to people facing difficulties, and
it brings out the best in everyone. So, give appreciation
generously whenever you can. You will never regret it.
Carl Holmes0 -
Will be hot here today. We keep getting teased with rain possibilities, but a lot of it goes past us. Nothing special planned for the day. Catch-up work inside. I have more to do tomorrow when banks, stores and other places I need to go will be open.
Hope you have a good day Carole and that you remain well. Also hope your hubby is going to wear off the cough soon.
Sharing the day in spirit with all of you. Happy 4th.
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We took an eight-block walk this morning!! I worked in the garden this morning. Did not sleep well, so going down for a nap.
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Went to the Kutztown German Folk Festival yesterday with DH, DD and DSIL. Weather was warm but not humid and a good breeze so we were not uncomfortable. All sorts of crafts for sale as well as German foods and locally made sodas (Sasparilla, Root Beer, Red Cream and Black Cherry. Had no intentions of buying anything but you know how that goes sometimes. My Covid hair is long and decidedly a mixed gray so I was able to purchase several items to restyle it from the ubiquitous pony tail into a "bun" using a fabric holder and several unique barrettes that transform it into an upknot and french twist with practice required on my part. A new necklace and earrings, and my early birthday present was a floral (arrangement) picture that is entirely made of silk embroidery. It is beautiful and I cannot imagine how many hours it took to make. Of course, we had to get some Wet Bottom Shoofly pies and Lebanon bologna. DH got some locally produced cordials that we were able to sample. On the way home we stop at this one dairy which makes the ice cream and runs an ice cream shop for our dessert. They make Teaberry ice cream which is a favorite of mine so we bought several half gallons of various flavors to savor at home. It was a very pleasant day and not overly crowded, mostly outdoors so we felt safe maskless for once. Happy 4th to all.
Carol sorry to hear about DH and hope he recovers soon. Stay safe.
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That festival sounds like a lot of fun. Our high is supposed to be 68 today with partial clouds. It's actually a great forecast for July 4 which is often miserable. Ask someone is Seattle when summer starts and they'll say July 5. We'll watch fireworks on TV because we can't stay up late enough to see ours.
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Sandy - please check so we know that you and your family are safe.
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Hi Friends, It's been 12 years since I was diagnosed with early stage BC. It did not go to my lymph nodes and I was given radiation and Arimidex. I have been blessed with no recurrence. I'm now 65 years old.
Over a month ago, I decided to start brisk walking on our treadmill for my health after not exercising at all for decades. I foolishly never stretched before I started walking or even started slowly, I just went hot and heavy for 30 minutes every single day. No pain or discomfort, and it felt good.
About 1-1/2 weeks before I stopped (stopped due to injury after 30 days), I had a video followup with my family doctor and told him I gad gluteal (butt) soreness/discomfort. He said it was likely the treadmill, but not to worry.
Then 1-1/2 weeks after that, I woke one morning out of bed and was unable to bear weight on my legs due to what felt like sharp, almost sciatic pain in my butt, back thighs and near my hips, bilateral. It feels muscular, but is very bad before my bath. I kept going in pain and then would take my bath and feel much better. No more treadmill since. But every morning since then, I have the same pain I just described that improves significantly or disappears after my bath. If I'm uncomfortable during the day, I take Advil, it I can walk.
Just went to see a female doctor in our family practice last Friday. She was wonderful! To calm my worst fears, she had the office take X-rays of my lumbar spine, sacrum/coccyx, and pelvis. She wrote back to me within an hour! The sacrum area X-rays and pelvic X-rays were all normal and she pointed out the good news was it showed no cancer. The one that worries me is the lumbar spine. It showed arthritic changes typical with my age, but also showed Grade 1 minor retrolisthesis and minor anterolisthesis. She thinks this is where the problem is coming from. As soon as it can be scheduled I’ll have an MRI and she said we’d set up a treatment plan. I hope the very detailed MRI shows no tumor. (The lumbar report made no mention of cancer either way on the X-rays.) weird thing is this sciatica and inability to walk w/o serious pain until after my bath, did not occur until I brisk walked on the treadmill for 30 days.
HELP!! I’m SO SCARED what the MRI might find and if my sciatica will ever go away, and now Wednesday is my 12th mammogram. I’ve been blessed with no recurrence since 2010. Has anyone ever had SCIATICA from likely osteoporosis-related problems (from Arimidex)? I can barely walk from the pain until after my bath and then discomfort and limping until my first Advil at Noon. Sorry so long. XOX
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I have sciatica from L3-S1 radiculopathy caused by osteophytes & severe joint space narrowing in my spine. The arthritis began in my late 20s, and I had osteopenia at my first post-dx DEXAscan (just before my first radiation treatment and 2 months pre-letrozole). Prolia actually made the osteopenia milder--but as to osteoarthritis, after a certain point it's irreversible. The X-ray report said "no lytic or blastic lesions" (i.e., no bone disintegration--lytic--nor bone tumors--blastic) so that's a load off my mind.
We in Chicago proper were safe today. Highland Park is 20 miles north--a quiet little mostly affluent suburb. The shooter was a twisted little "incel" who'd posted nihilistic white supremacist manifesto videos while clad in riot gear. His dad, who owns the deli/pantry a block or two from the rooftop where he sniped, unsuccessfully ran for mayor despite (or more likely, because of) having no political esperience whatsoever (he lost to the incumbent, a woman). The family is definitely a notch or two below the town's majority socioeconomic demographic. Wonder if the little bastard thought he was avengng Daddy?
We are buying a new car--taking delivery Friday. 2022 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid. SEL, not the higher gee-whiz Limited version of the non-hybrid we test-drove Friday--because the Limited Hybrid is not expected in till Sept., and we're not sure if his Fusion won't break down again before that. The Limited has automated parking assist (which, it turns out, only makes the car go back & forth rather than steer into the space); and cameras attached to the mirrors & connected to the turn signals with little screens on the dash showing the view of the curb, roadway & sidewalk directly below the front fenders so you don't run over a critter as you turn. Meh. Also leather seats, but we're paying to upgrade from cloth for ease of cleaning. Otherwise the SEL has the same options, including blind-spot monitoring, cross-traffic alerts, indiv. tire pressure sensors, and pedestrian detection.
What both models lack are a CD player and spare tire. But I bought a USB portable CD player that will plug into the USB data port (Bob loves his CDs); and ordered a full-size spare tire kit (tire, wheel, specialized reinforced jack, wrench, extra lug nuts, and carry bag). The emergency "tire mobility kit," which includes a compressor and container of sealant, is useless for tread punctures >1/4" and for sidewall damage; you're supposed to drive to a Hyundai dealer if you can; or if you can't, call Hyundai roadside assistance to be towed to a dealer--and their roadside assistance is supposedly very slow, slower than GEICO or AAA. The full-size spare kit will at least allow any tow-truck operator or law enforcement officer to change the tire. Alas, fewer & fewer new cars have even a donut spare, and none have CD players.
Terrible storms overnight--at least they put a stop to the DIY explosives.
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Just saw a photo of the shooter attending a Trump rally in Highland Park. Explains a lot--socioeconomic resentment, viewing the town as full of elites whom he perceives look down on folks like him. Wouldn't be surprised to find some anti-Semitism as a motivation as well, given that HP has a large Jewish community.
Judy, Dr. Hoeper treated my 2015 bursitis with a cortisone shot. Not surprised the walk-in DO dismissed your concerns--their training (from third year of med school) focuses mainly on the structural. Not as extreme as a chiro, but IMHO less attuned to internal medicine or neuro issues. Hope you can get some answers & explanations.
Speaking of getting older, we had our BFFs over for July 3. Her scleroderma is improving--but what they thought was her husband's tardive dyskinesia from meds, and his brief aphasic episode for which they could find no cause--has now led to a dx of Parkkinson's. Second guy in my circle of friends to develop it in his 60s.
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Five years ago I developed L5 radiculopathy with MASSIVE nerve pain. I had several steroid injections, and they put me on gabapentin. It works for me, and the shooting pains rarely bother me. The radiculopathy burned that nerve to the point that I wear an ankle brace, can't walk more than a block before my ankle muscles go on strike.
There was no need for hormone-suppressive meds. I had a bone scan several years ago, and everything is solid. I think these problems are due to a problem I have had all my life.
Last fall I got foolish and got an electric bicycle. Long story short, I fell and broke my knee. The top of the tibia. The arthritis is progressing like wildfire, and I am again getting steroid injections. I had been taking arthritis strength tylenol to cover all hours of the day and night, but now I have dropped the daytime doses.
The pain in my knee was triggering pain in my ankle area, so I was miserable. I have quit wearing the ankle brace, and now walk with hiking poles. When walking my dog, I attach his leash to a belt.
I have gotten an adult tricycle (sold the bike) and installed a motor on it, as my ortho has recommended an exercise bicycle, which is usually boring. My dog and I have fun riding around town, I know that I will eventually need a knee replacement, but I stay in today. I have a 95-year-old aunt who has frozen shoulders and can't get surgery because she is too old.
Don't worry, byfaith. Medical science has an answer,
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Life rushes us along and few people are strong enough to stop on their own. Most often, something unforeseen stops us and it is only then we have the time to take a seat at life's kitchen table. To know our own story and tell it. To listen to other people's stories. To remember that the real world is made up of just such stories. Until we stop ourselves or, more often, have been stopped, we hope to put certain of life's events "behind us" and get on with our living. After we stop we see that certain of life's issues will be with us for as long as we live. We will pass through them again and again, each time with a new story, each time with a greater understanding, until they become indistinguishable from our blessings and our wisdom. It's the way life teaches us how to live. -Rachel Naomi Remen
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by faith, these ladies are very knowlegeble so I hope you are able to move forward to get the best solution for you.
Going to be a scorcher today I think -- heat index well over 100. Another great day to stay inside and work, slowly. I hope all had a safe 4th. although I do note much of the news is depressing. Happy to hear you were okay Sandy and not so close to Highland Park.
I hope all have a quiet, nice day.
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Glad you're safe chisandy. Sounds like you had a fun day betrayal.
byfaith - sorry you're having sciatica pain. I had sciatica before my diagnosis and did PT to help alleviate the pain. So far, I've been able to avoid a reoccurrence. I hope you're able to find relief.
Laundry and cleaning. We walked earlier today. Another hot day with afternoon thunderstorms. Enjoy your day
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Living room floor was inspected by Project Manager today and he too feels the floor needs a third coat of polyurethane to be finished. Then the painter will be back to fix the splatters on the walls and baseboards caused by the floor guys and to paint the patio lights. He will contact the cleaners to arrange delivery of and installation of the drapes and sheers (I have not seen since November of 2019) coordinating with floor and painting completion. The cleaner also has clothing and shoes I haven't seen in the same time frame. So once these have been completed, there is still a punch list of finish items to do and I may once again have my house back. It does mean we will have to redecorate the rooms and restore them to their previous look though I can tell you that in the rooms we have completed, some items were edited out and donated in favor of a new look. By the time they complete all these projects it will be past the 2 year anniversary of when they actually started the restoration (though not in earnest). My chief criticisms are still the lack of coordination of the restoration projects, the length of time it has taken for what was to have originally taken 3-6 months (really) and how they ghosted us on occasion.
Our 4th was pleasant with lower temps but the humidity was creeping back up so sticky feeling while working. Finished planting new perennials and put the last plant in the second new flower bed, mulched this and called it a day. Sprayed plants with coyote urine in an attempt to keep the deer from snacking on them. DD and DSIL show up with DS's elderly dog who just loves my dog (they are dog sitting my DS's 3 dogs). Of course he goes and rubs up against one of the coyote urine sprayed plants and reeks. So bath time for him and then a leash to keep him from "scenting" again. He's male so what is it with male's and wanting to roll in stinky things? My female wants no parts of stinky bushes.
Supposed to get bad thunderstorms this afternoon so I will run errands now. Hope all have a good day.
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Sorry - I haven't had sciatica. But I'm crossing my fingers that the MRI will not find any tumors. Do check back & let us know Faith.
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To all my fellow “over 60” sisters …. too many to mention here:
Thank you for sharing your sciatica experience. As part of my annual BC exam, I have blood work tomorrow and 3D mammogram. Praying for good results and 12 years a BC survivor
Thursday I have a video visit with my family doc to discuss my “sciatica” X-rays. Previously, she reported over the patient portal ASAP and I saw the radiologist notes of lumbar, sacrum/coccyx and pelvic X-rays. The lumbar spine was the only one with a few problems, a couple from arthritis and two I’m guessing from Arimidex, but doc will explain. (retrolisthesis and anterolisthesis). It does seem like *quite* a coincidence I got serious sciatica for the first time after 30 days “playing the fool” on the treadmill, and will discuss with doc. I thought walking was good for osteoporosis, but not stretching etc. is not! I exercised very poorly for someone years out of practice
I’ll be scheduled to see a doc in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation for ideas and also undergo physical therapy. Tried to schedule the doc-ordered MRI today to have a deeper look than the X-rays, but first available was early August. Think doc may mark STAT during Thursday video visit. AGAIN, THANKS TO ALL OF YOU!
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byfaith, sounds pretty nasty--having both backward & forward vertebral displacement. Ouch. BTW, I was always taught at PT (and later when I had a trainer at the gym pre-pandemic) that you warm up with gentle brief cardio (stationary bike, treadmill or recumbent elliptical) before a workout or PT, & stretch after, followed by icing if you need it. Stretching a cold muscle is asking for strains & even tears.
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Good morning. I haven't stopped in for a while, the log on is still difficult and makes me grumpy. DH is finally doing better. For this I am so thankful. Nothing much going on with me. Next month is the BC anniversary and all the appointments that go with it.
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Happy Wednesday to all. DH takes his final Pavlovid pills this morning. We're hopeful that he will test Negative.
Two women in the golf group at home have suffered with sciatica. They've done a lot of PT and treatment. It has been quite an ordeal for both of them.
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The unhappiness we experience is not so much a result of the difficulties encountered along our journey as it is of our misperception of how life instructs us. We may see a failed relationship as an indictment of our self-worth when it is really a lesson in using better judgment, in valuing ourselves more, in expressing greater appreciation for our partner--lessons to prepare us for a more loving and fulfilling union. If we are passed over for a much-anticipated promotion, it may be just the push we need to get more training or to venture out on our own as an entrepreneur. As we rise to meet the challenges that are a natural part of living, we awaken to our many undiscovered gifts, to our inner power and our purpose.
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Petite, I have had a cumberson time of logging in as of late. Started a week or two ago. I guess I will 'ask' but it may be something that persists. I was able under the old system to have a link that would automatically jump me onto the right page. I think it could be possible to do this again, but electronically speaking, not sure I can figure it out.
Glad to hear your Dh is feeling better. Never feels too good to see our other half suffering and not much we can do as overall fixers for things.
Having hopeful thought for you and your hubby Carole. Hope he does get a 'good' test after his last pill. Hope to that there are no lingering issues afterward. Sounds like you were able to NOT get ill with it.
Heat again today. I will help my friend. She keeps her a/c down a lot more than we do here although I feel plenty cool here at 77 -- I think she sets it on 72. If you are outside and walk in my house it feels like you are instantly going to freeze. Then again -- still have to keep my left arm ( one that got the bad break a couple yrs. ago ) covered sometimes as the coolness will make it a little achy.
Hope you all have a good day.
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Another hot day here. Had blood work early this morning in preparation for my 6 month checkup with my PCP tomorrow. DH and I are on the same schedule but see different doctors. I plan to discuss results of last echo. Thought my heart would return to normal after I finished Herceptin but my last couple of echo (for surgeries) show some concerns. Could be just normal age stuff, but it didn’t show up till last MUGA scan.
Had a walk around the lake in our community. The lake was pretty full since we’ve had lots of rain. It’s a challenging walk for me, but I enjoy the scenery.
Enjoy your day.
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Hot, muggy humidity and showers that were to occur yesterday never happened. Spent an hour fighting the evil weeds (before I started to pour with sweat) and am making a dent in this large flower bed. Hydrangea that I split have taken well to being transplanted here so that made me happy. Once I finish weeding the bed, I will mulch which means buying probably 20 more bags. SO goal reached for today and next goal set should complete weeding here. Watched a woodpecker chip away at a small dead sassafras tree and I was able to see wood chips flying which was a first. He was making a lot of noise for as small as he was.
Floor finishers to come later this afternoon to put third coat on living room floor which should finish that floor. Painters will need to do touch-ups on baseboards and wall then plus paint patio lights. Have a good day and stay safe.
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When we love a person, we accept him or her exactly as is:
the lovely with the unlovely, the strong along with the fearful,
the true mixed in with the façade, and of course, the only
way we can do it is by accepting ourselves that way.
Fred Rogers0 -
Wow !!! Big thunderstorm last night after mid-night. Pretty wet outside this a.m. but it is not raining at least. Bound to make it fairly muggy. Likely there could be more later, but sometimes we do get missed. Just have to wait and see. I accomplished a lot yesterday. Hope I can extend that energy into some progess today as well. My usual response to rain or grey is to curl up in a chair somewhere. We will see.
Hope you all are doing fine.
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The storms skipped us last night and today it's been cloudy and humid. We walked earlier today and then went to our doctors appointments. DH appointment was right on time. Mine was an hour late. So we won't do them at the same time again. But we got our TDAP vaccines in preparation for our granddaughter birth in the fall. PCP was good with my bloodwork and check. Said my fatigue is probably due to 3 surgeries in the last 7 months.
Enjoy your day.
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DH and I went to the mountains for a couple days. Left Tuesday and arrived to rain, lucky to get a walk in after dinner. Two gorgeous days yesterday and today. Yesterday hike a trail that is about 1 1/2 hours straight up. Lots of stopping and huffing and puffing. We do that trail once/year. Today hiked our favorite trail. It will only let me post 1 photo at a time. Came home this afternoon.
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We're in the Finger Lakes, on Keuka Lake, staying with family who rented the camp. Loving being right on the water! Beautiful days, swimming, shopping, winery visit to Dr. Franks (I don't drink wine, so I was the driver), just an all around great trip. We've had sun, no rain - although on the trip out here we left home in the rain. We leave either tomorrow evening or Saturday morning. I'm hoping for Saturday, the more relaxed the better. We should do this more often. Hope everyone's weather veersaway from the storms.
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Lovely pictures.
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Enjoyed the pictures. Thanks for sharing.
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