Can we have a forum for "older" people with bc?
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Who‘s parents and/or grandparents had plastic covering their coach? And in the days before A/C it was sticky and uncomfortable.
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Mary, wow, thanks for the information on davenport/couch/sofa! Also, kuddo's for your gym dedication! I want to commit to going back to the gym at least 5 days a week when I retire. Just can't fit it in when I am working.
Jackie, glad you are back to a better pill schedule. Also, very nice that you have such an easy-care hair cut! I am all about "easy" now that I am older!
It took me 5 days to get the inside of the house decorated this year. I didn't even put up as many decorations, but it looks nice and hopefully next year I will not only have the time (because I will be retired) but I will also have the energy. I do love the holiday season!
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Cardplayer, I'm giggling a little. Not so much because of plastic coverings. We never had anything like that, but we did have plastic curtains. I think I mentioned here before that we were a family of four at my house and in the beginning and for many yrs. after, we lived on about $70.00 a month. My mother had to be many; many times as thrifty as possible. For the 18 yrs. I lived in that house we had plastic (thin plastic) curtains. We had very cheap furniture for the most part, but back then, even the cheaper items had a fair longevity. Very little was thrown out in our house. We did have as well outdoor facilities, and baths were in a galvanized tub. My dad did wall papering and painting, but back in those days you couldn't do it so well in the colder months. Besides my dad had to carry his tools in a special suitcase, made just for them, on his back and walk down the railroad tracks to most of his jobs which were here where we live now.
The funny thing is -- looking back, I can't imagine not having those beginnings. I credit who I am today for the special people who were my Mom & Dad. Some might say life was difficult, but if that was the case, my mom and dad did not paint that picture for me to see or feel. Later I knew these things were not how most of my friends lived but I grew up feeling loved and cared for and I never felt cheated in any way or different. I didn't understand what envy was until many yrs. later. I miss my mom and dad every day but sweet memories of life with them keep me company, and they are only a thought away.
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Mav, are all your doctors part of the same health system (or if they're not, do their health systems use Epic/MyChart)? If so, they already have access to your medical records, scans, tests, and scheduled appointments. If not, you should still keep them apprised of everyone on your "team." Sometimes, there's a synergy in which seemingly unrelated things might be more connected than any one provider may know--and it's especially important if different providers have prescribed different meds that may interact.
I'll give you an example. Just before the pandemic hit, I sought answers from an ENT about my pulsatile tinnitus, and my first appt. with her after the required "intake" by the audiologist was scheduled for March 2020. But my health system kept punting until June, when she finally saw and examined me and ordered MRI/MRA/MRV of my ears & brain for July 1. There was a harmless explanation (a congenital anomaly) for the tinnitus; but the radiologist noted an incidental finding of a mass in the "orbit" (eye socket) on the opposite (R) side, and recommended an ophthalmology appt. to rule out hemorrhage or tumor. As luck would have it, the morning after I got that report I saw a huge floater in my L eye. One of our best friends is a retinologist (ophthalmic subspecialist), so I saw him the next day. He noted that I hadn't had a dilated eye exam since Jan. 2019 (from a colleague of his who sold his practice & retired early in the pandemic), so why not let him dilate both eyes? I agreed. All he found in the L eye was a tiny (harmless) vitreous detachment, which explained the floater. But in the R he saw a mass consistent with a melanoma.
He is not part of a system that links with MyChart, so I told him about the brain imaging report. He referred me to a mentor of his at UIC Hospital, an ocular oncologist, who confirmed the diagnosis and performed brachytherapy (against my eyewall, sewed a disk with radiation seeds aimed at the tumor and removed it a few days later). So far, so good--the tumor shrank a little and shows no sign of activity. But because UIC uses Epic & MyChart (just as does my main system, NorthShore), he was able to contact my ENT, and coordinate imaging and exams with my MOs. So I now tell every provider about every specialist I see, however seemingly unrelated.
Also came in handy when the sports med ortho I saw at NorthShore for R sciatica ordered an MRI and referred me to a physical medicine specialist--who suggested a neurologist visit might be in order. And it was the latter who found the cause of my sciatica and ordered the right kind of physical therapy--which is already working. When my biennial bone density scan came up "osteoporosis" this time, the MO who ordered it told me to see an endocrinologist--whom I'll see next month.
I'm keeping an army of specialists & subspecialists employed...but in touch with each other. Even my podiatrists, who practice at different NorthShore hospitals.
As to my overactive medical anxiety, it's not just from my being a doctor's wife nor even my personal injury law experience. It was my PCP, not I, who mentioned "chronic kidney disease;" and cautioned that my "normal" a1c might be tied to mild anemia--as a1c is "glycated hemoglobin a1c"--so there may be more to that mildly elevated glucose than I'd been told: low hemoglobin can produce a lower a1c value.
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We never had plastic on our furniture, but did have slipcovers. As to couch terminology, I've also heard it called a "Chesterfield" (at least in Canada, per Barenaked Ladies' "If I Had $1,000,00:" "...I would buy you a couch, maybe a Chesterfield or an ottoman").
Jackie, thank you for putting modern everyday annoyances over having to belt-tighten into stark perspective. That you remember your humble childhood so fondly is reminiscent of Dolly Parton's marvelous song "Coat of Many Colors."
Anyway, had a doozy of a (nonmedical) scare last night. First my HK & I discovered the LEDs on our pre-lit Christmas tree had finally bitten the dust after 15 years. (We troubleshot every conceivable aspect, no luck). Spent all day after PT shopping for new scrub tops to replace the bleach-spattered ones the cats scratched up, and topping up my gas tank. It was bitterly cold & gusty, so I was eager to go inside, hit the little remote and look at the lights on our backyard magnolia and front cedar to have some holiday cheer. Pushed the button--nothing. Went outside and aimed the remote at the controller--still nothing. In the dark, I couldn't see any cables (they're bright orange, yellow & blue) connected to the connector, nor bulbs on the front tree (I shone a flashlight on its branches). Dawned on me that someone must have stolen the lights and taken the cables (for their copper content). I was so upset I ate a pastry--which but for the filling was so bland as to be nearly tasteless. (Consoled myself with a keto chocolate to make sure I could still taste--check--and scooped the litterbox to determine I could still smell--double-check).
Only in the bright sunlight of this morning could my HK see the bulbs still on the front tree and I see that the cables are partly covered by mulch & brush. We changed the battery in the remote, tried the spare remote, reset the GFCI in the garage into which the main cable is plugged, and unplugged & re-plugged it. Still nothing. (Landscaper is still in Norway on vacation; texted me that the problem is likely a short in the cable between the controller & the magnolia; and that given our indoor pre-lit tree's advanced age, just hang new LEDs on it. Both will happen on Monday. He also texted me an awesome pix of the Northern Lights, so I can look at that).
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I would love to see the northern lights. The pictures make them look other worldly.
Jackie, my growing up years were similar to yours. My family was very poor but there was a lot of love and caring. I remember when my mother got a clothes dryer after most of the six kids were grown and out on their own. She never hung up another piece of clothes to dry outside. Unfortunately her kitchen could not accommodate a dishwasher because she would have loved it, too.
Today I plan to venture out and buy blooming plants for the planters on the patio. Most years I plant pansies which are cold tolerant. I am also looking for some hardy herb plants, especially rosemary. Since we arrived home and I pulled the weeds out of the planters, the planters are bare. I also need to prune the knockout roses I planted last winter. Four of the five survived the summer. Now that they are established, they should thrive without watering during the summer when we are gone.
We had a large oak tree taken down a couple of years ago. It was quite a procedure to watch and very expensive. At first I grieved for the loss of the tree but not having all the leaves and acorns to deal with has been a plus. And we don't have to worry about huge branches falling on the roof or roots growing under the concrete slab of the house.
Mary, I admire you for going to the gym daily.
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I'm paying for cleaning the floors and polishing the furniture. Woke up at 5am with pain in my lower back. If I wasn't retired, I'd call work and tell them I can come in today. Using my deep blue rub, heating pad and Tylenol. Ugh.
DD, SIL and baby and coming to have holiday meal with us. Just realized our pack and play that our neighbor lent us doesn’t have a mattress. Glad I checked it out now, as opposed to December 24. Need to get out the rest of the baby stuff to make sure we’re ready.
Hope everyone has a wonderful Friday.
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I was interested by what Mary reported about Davenport and let my fingers do the walking. Seems Davenport was an exclusive brand of furniture and some of it was purchased for the White House as far back as 1902 and is still in use, perhaps not in its original position, but moved to another area but still in use. Found that to be fascinating. It was also used to decorate some very prestigious libraries around the US. Using the definitions Mary provided, I have couches in my living room (since it is formal), and a sofa in both the family room and basement which are both informal. So while the cats are welcome on the sofas, they prefer to lounge on the "forbidden fruit" couches which is why they are draped with old towels until company arrives.
Cold today and I need to run some errands but am dreading going outside since it is only 36 degrees. It is sunny and not breezy like yesterday where the breezes caused a 10 degree drop in temps. I am trying to set one goal for each day to get things organized/sorted/ donated and/or tossed. So far this week I have done both upstairs bathroom storage closets (mine still has too much stuff but that is a work in progress), the linen closet and the third bedroom while not totally cleared has items organized by what is for Christmas, what is for our trip in 2023 and what will be used when I redecorate the 4th bedroom. I actually unearthed a circular food storage container that was shoved in the back of the closet in a bag. The container was made by Cheinco in my hometown. It is The Woodbury from 1970 and I still have all the parts (several bins and their lids plus the wood grain plastic container top). My DB worked there and gave me this as a Christmas gift. I thought it had been lost when the tree hit the house. I had used it in my kitchen for years but it is on a lazy Susan base so it needed more room than I had in the counters. I will resurrect it and put it in my pantry. I also have the gold glass food storage containers Shop-Rite made and sold during this same time period. I still use these and they are also in the pantry. I do wish my pantry was a walk-in like Jackie has rather than the oversized closet I have. It doesn't lend itself to storage of some of my larger kitchen items like my electric roaster but I may reconfigure another closet so these are more readily accessible. In the garage they end up on upper shelves and given my height challenge they are difficult to access and to get down. So the donate box is growing and will go to Green drop probably next week. I have a few drawers I want to clean out first.
Hope everyone has a great day.
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The shepherd knows what pastures are best for his sheep, and they must not question nor doubt, but trustingly follow him. Perhaps he sees that the best pastures for some of us are to be found in the midst of opposition or of earthly trials. If he leads you there, you may be sure they are green for you, and you will grow and be made strong by feeding there. -Hannah Whitall Smith
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cardplayer, sorry to hear about your back! At least you have really clean floors! As for the pack and play, ask your DD before you buy a mattress. Apparently pack and plays come without a mattress on purpose. I ended up buying a firm mattress for our travel crib for my granddaughter because I couldn't stand the thought of her laying on a hard surface. I don't remember exactly how old she was, but under a year. Pediatricians are really picky about what a baby sleeps on when they are under a certain age, but I don't know what that age is.
Sandy, THANK YOU for all the advice! It was greatly appreciated! My PCP, urologist, BS and PS all use Epic/MyChart. Not sure what my MO uses but he is on the team so I know they keep him linked in. My cardiologist uses Athenahealth and neurologist, who I haven't seen yet, uses Healow. I don't remember what my orthopedic surgeons use. I take all my "lists of information" to all new doctor appointments. I will ask the neurologist to send information to my PCP, who will put it on MyChart and I will mention it to my breast surgeon when I seem him next week. I have had 15 surgeries and two lazer eye surgeries (for closed angle glaucoma) in the last 41 years. I noticed on your bio that you were or still are, on Letrozole. I am back on Letrozole and not a happy camper about it but do what I must. My DH's cardiologist is the one who referred him to a neurologist. You are right, you never know which doctor may put pieces of our medical history together! I had to laugh when you said you were so upset that you had to eat a pastry! Sounds like something I would do, and the same about you checking your sense of taste and smell! Actually, for some reason I don't find many sweets I used to love as tasty anymore. I still have my favorite sweets, but I am pickier now and if I am going to eat something sweet with a lot of calories, it better be amazing! Glad there are solutions to your lighting problems and your landscaper sending you pictures of the aurora borealis was a very nice gesture!
Jackie, my parents went through the depression, so they lived frugally for most of my childhood. There were 7 in my family. When I was 5, my father got a really good job and we moved from our little town in Lancaster County PA to the Philadelphia suburbs. I don't know how much money my parents had, but we lived modestly. When we got something as a gift, we had to take care of it, because we would not get a replacement if we broke it. My mother made most of my dresses and in the 50's/60's I wore only dresses to school. It wasn't until 1969/70 that female students were even allowed to wear pants, and then they had to be "pant suits!" By graduation in the early 70's, jeans were allowed. Looking back, times changed very quickly!
We did not have plastic on our furniture, but we had slipcovers, which came off if company came. My next-door neighbors had plastic on their furniture and yes, pre-AC they were horrible to sit on, especially in shorts! Hygiene changed too for young women. Does anyone remember wearing those sanitary belts with metal latch things for Kotex? Horrible!
My father was a CEO and traveled extensively. He took the family on many of his trips so as a kid I was spoiled, but I didn't know how lucky I was at the time. We stayed at the Greenbrier resort in WV when I was 5, I was the youngest child in my family. My dad lined all of us kids on the high diving board to take a picture. After he was finished taking pictures, my brother and sisters climbed back down the ladder, but not me, I jumped off. The lifeguards were panicked but my dad shouted to them that I was fine, and I was. I learned to swim almost before I learned to walk. I learned what a finger bowl was when we went to Chatham Bars Inn in MA, and I went to my first cocktail party in Denver, Co. When I was 17, I went to Spain and Switzerland with my father. I met Prince Juan Carlos, who later became king, and since abdicated and fled the country. I had the opposite experience of Jackie, I grew up well to do, but didn't know it. As an adult, I did not live anywhere near the life I did as a child, but I am happy and had great parents who believed that character, not money, is what makes a person great. My husband and I live a modest life, in a small cape cod style house. We have what we need and are happy. I feel very blessed!
I am, however, worried about my son. He and his family live in the mid-west. He got the flu, then one night this past week, got up to get a drink of water and fainted and hit his head. He saw his doctor yesterday and the doctor confirmed that he has a concussion. Ugh! He told me he will call me sometime this weekend when he feels better.
I told a friend that we never stop worrying about our kids, but that means we are lucky enough to have people in our lives we care that much about!
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Lots of pages since I last post. Jackie brought up the memory of the buffer. As a young teen I worked at Little Sisters of the Poor. We were young and did whatever they told us to do. Well after serving dinner we had to sweep, use giant mops to wash the dining room floor, and then buff it with a buffer. I Remember teenage girls, dressed in hair nets, long button down dress type uniform with white nurse like shoes. It was like an episode out of I Love Lucy. I bashed a table leg, a chair leg, and more. We laughed so hard we thought we’d both be fired. But I got that buffer to do it’s job. The more I used it the easier it was, less bashing!
I didn’t eat breakfast this morning either. I had to run out to move my car as power washing of the driveways was 2 doors away. Then I did my bike ride right away because I feared them blocking me in when I wanted to go. 3 miles today. Upon my return they were still 2 doors away. Go figure.
We always called our sectional a couch. But it was kept in the parlor, which is what my mother called the living room. And it never had any plastic on it, or a slip cover.
Lastly sanitary belts, oh me oh my I remember them. And hated them beyond words. I was 10-11 with my first “period” and thin as a rail. I’d put that belt on as tight as tight could go, because in my head, god forbid it would fall down, fall off or whatever. But I was reminded by an aunt that I had it good, they had actually used rags.
As a girl born in 59’ I couldn’t wear pants at school I’d guess until I was in 6th grade, 1970-71. Prior to that my mom would dress me in a dress, put on pants under them to walk to school. But as soon as I entered the school my mom would help me take those pants off.
We did the evening in downtown Fort Myers for the Christmas tree and wreath lighting. There was great music, an Art Walk with many many vendors selling - a great place to buy from small businesses, and many restaurants were open too. To see this vibrant area back on its feet, mostly- some still closed, felt great. So fortunate
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Dad's family had suffered during the depression. He sent every penny he could to his parents, who put it in a savings account for him. I don't know how much he received in disability from the Army-- he had had dengue fever and barely survived. He got a job at a local factory, and met Mom, who was working in her parents' drycleaning shop. They married quickly, and Mom's parents gave them a small dowry. I was born a year later. Soon after, they were expecting again, and my brother was born. They bought a house with a double lot, and we gardened on the extra ground. I remember strawberries. They then had a gas station built on the corner.
Mom made all my clothes, and we continued gardening, later on just rhubarb and asparagus, and a few grapes. Dad and his brother shared hogs and a few cattle, I think. We had a large freezer and used it as a cutting-table for sewing. One year, the gas station was empty, and we went about thirty miles south and bought apples and cider wholesale and sold them from the gas station. As well as honey, of course.
Dad hated spending money for anything, and we were actually more well-off than people might think. I have been anxious about the money I have spent on getting my work with saris started, but now I am thinking about Dad's anxiety with each enterprise he started.
Mom had scoliosis and suffered through those two pregnancies. Ten years later, she was much better, and had two more babies, both girls, this time, three years apart. Dad also made an outside entrance to the basement, so that she did not have to haul baskets of wet laundry up the stairs inside the house. Those stairs were open, and quite scary. A good share of the basement had a dirt floor, and he also took care of that problem.
The older of the two girls died in a horrible auto accident a few years ago. The younger is trying to retire from being a prison social worker, but it is difficult because they are so short-handed. Nowadays, she does exit planning, which is the part of the job she has enjoyed the most.
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Such interesting backgrounds! I enjoyed reading them. DH's aunt in Oak Forest, IL, a Chicago suburb had plastic on her white brocade couches. I had never seen that and thought it was bizarre. Yes, I do remember those little elastic belts for the Kotex pads once they were mentioned. I had forgotten all about them. They were miserable.
It's foggy and gloomy out this morning. Happy Saturday to all.
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Both my parents grew up in the depression. Mom was the oldest of 7, Dad the 2nd oldest of 5. Both dropped out of college when my Dad enlisted in WWII. My older brother was born in 1946, followed by my other brother in 1952 and me in 1954. Dad manageda furniture store and Mom stayed home, but would sometimes work around the holidays to get extra money. After my Dad died in1972, she worked retail until she remarried in 1980.
I hated sanitary belts and my Mom didn’t allow me to use tampax. Freshman year in college, Stayfree gave us free samples of their new product- pads with adhesive on the bottom. No more belts.
Another rainy day, but at least it’s warm. My back is still ailing. Been taking Tylenol every 6 hours, using the heating pad and deep blue rub. Will probably do some stretching that i was given from PT years ago. I guess if this persists I’ll give my orthopedic doctor a call Monday.
Have a healthy and peaceful day.
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When we start at the center of ourselves, we discover something worthwhile
extending toward the periphery of the circle. We find again some of the joy
in the now, some of the peace in the here, some of the love in me and thee
which go to make up the kingdom of heaven on earth.
Anne Morrow Lindbergh0 -
I too have enjoyed the life stories very much. Sort of fantastic. Some of us were poor, some much better off -- but that part didn't matter as much as the love and sharing and the great parenting/teaching process that molded all of us. I do think in many ways the days of our youth were, despite wars and diseases being something to fear and dread, easier for the fact that we all seemed to have more in common than not. I remember having respect for ALL adults. When I was not around my parents, I was expected to mind other parents just as much as I did my own. You knew what and who you could count on then. I think it was like Hillary Clinton's village raising a child.
Yes, those old sanitary belts -- definitely the pits. I did know someone, a classmate who did use rags. I remember thinking how awful. If there was anything worse than the belts, it seemed to me at the time having nothing but rags. I wondered (but far too shy to ask) just how do you keep yourself clean and w/o a telltale leak through to the clothes. An answer I don't need now, but the thought back then was enough to embarrass me.
I have been lazy today.
I hope you all had a great Saturday.
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I got the strangest voice mail on Friday from a neurology group in NJ. At my visit with the NP at my PCP's office last week, she asked if I would be ok going across the river to see a neurologist, so I am guessing she may have contacted someone on my behalf. The call was legit, but I couldn't access their portal to get the "important message they had for me" and when I called the number, I got the hospital menu, and it didn't mention neurology. I messaged my NP because the office was closed when I received the voice mail, or I would have called and told her about it. I will have to wait until tomorrow to hear back from her.
I never called the NJ neurologist she recommended but I did call one from my local hospital. All I could get was an appointment with a neurology PA in the same group but at a different hospital, Feb 7. If my NP did call the neurology group on my behalf, I will call them for an appointment with the neurologist and I will cancel the appointment with the PA from the other group.
Now, for other "blasts from the past", do you remember: typewriter erasers with brushes? I know I felt so special when I got an electric typewriter with white eraser tape to fix mistakes to take to college! Before that I remember how exasperating it was to try to line up the letters after moving the paper to erase a mistake! Computers, while still annoying, have really simplified our lives so much! Kids today have no clue what it was like to constantly rewrite paragraphs to add or delete information!
I'm decorating our tree today. Yesterday my stepson came over and put the icicle lights across the front of our house! He is so wonderful! I really do love this time of year!
I've been trying to prepare myself mentally for retirement. I don't see myself waiting until the end of June to retire. I'm leaning towards St Patrick's Day, it's a Friday this year, plenty of time to have paperwork done and advanced notice for work, and hopefully time for them to hire someone permanently to fill my position. Taking time off for the implant exchange/revision surgery would be a hassle because I would need it to be approved by the school board and hassle with the disability company. It is bad enough doing that for my mastectomy, but two surgeries in one year, would not go over well. I don't want to wait until summer for the second surgery.
Sunny today, DH watching Eagles game, life is good!
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My lower back is still giving me issues, although I did go to the grocery this morning with DH. Missing my daily walk. The bike helps a bit but walking helps with my neuropathy.
I took typing and high school and remember those erasers mavericksmom. Was glad to have access to electric typewriter in college. Started using a computer around 1984.
Watching the Washington football team loose to the Giants. Lots of football and basketball this weekend.
Enjoy your day
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Once again, the Bears snatched defeat from the jaws of victory. They lost the "Toilet Bowl" (against Green Bay, only slightly better this year than the Bears). We didn't even bother watching--too many players on the injured list to begin with.
I remember those typewriter erasers. Didn't get my first electric till college. (Bob still has his Remington manual). I was such a horrible typist that my professors preferred my papers to be in longhand (and my penmanship won no prizes back then, either). We weren't allowed to wear pants to high school (a public one!) unless it was below 20F, and then wear a skirt over them. Graduated in '67. Delighted to go to college, where I could wear jeans...but pledged a sorority, where we had to wear skirts till pledge period was over. Lived in various color Wranglers the rest of my four years.
We lived in apts. until Bob & I got our house in '87. My mom didn't get a dryer till she bought her retirement condo in FL--she would take her wet laundry in a schlep-cart up Ave. J to the coin-op laundromat. Otherwise, she used a wooden drying rack in the bathtub. I never had a dishwasher till we bought our house, either.
I recall sanitary napkins & belts too--when I complained about the little plastic clips through which to thread the pads' "tails," my mom told me that only a few years earlier she had to use safety pins. (The vending machines in restrooms and in airplane lavatories had the pads in boxes, with safety pins--no belts, though). There used to be something called a "santi-panty" with elastic strips spanning either end of a waterproof crotch--you slipped the pad under the elastics. Of course, you needed several pair, because the elastics got stained. They didn't stay on the market very long. Adhesive pads and tubeless tampons both made their debut when I was in college--a year after pantyhose made stockings & garter belts (or garters on girdles) unnecessary. When I wore dresses, I wore a panty girdle right up till after my wedding day--it would be at least 5 more years before control-top pantyhose arrived on the scene. (I still remember Dolly Parton's character's line in Steel Magnolias: "I never leave the house without Lycra on my thighs").
And this the first place we've lived in Chicago without a pantry room (pantries must be a Chicago thing, as I never saw one in Brooklyn or Seattle). Our first apartment here had a farm-style sink, no cabinets or counters (it came with a decrepit mother-of-toilet-seat dinette table & chairs, which the super said "ees for dibs"--i.e.,marking one's shoveled-out parking place), but a walk-in pantry with shelves on three sides. We had to buy a china closet. The next two apartments had pantries, one with drawers and glass doors on one set of shelves, though it too had neither cabinets nor counters, so we bought a steel storage cabinet and a butcher-block cart. This house lacks a pantry, but it has upper & lower cabinets and counters galore. No center island, so we got a second cart and put the two together.
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Interesting what we remember abut our childhoods. Yes to sanitary belts (I think I convinced my Mom I could wear tampons in high school), skirts, even when they were VERY short. I don't remember plastic but we did have slip covers. I was still typing on a Manuel typewriter when I taught in 66-68. Got s computer when I ran my first campaign in '86. I don't seem to remember when we got our first dishwasher but it was no earlier than 1976. I also remember cloth diapers, especially as I had two in them for at least a year.
Money was tight for my folks but I don't remember feeling like I didn't have "enough." As an adult, I've wondered if one of our favorite suppers, "stacked pancakes" was an end of the pay period treat. Mom sewed and I started early as well. My home ec teacher didn't know what to do with me when everyone else was sewing seams. I was finally allowed to bring in a pattern - as I recall a shorts outfit. Mom and I made my wedding gown (also worn by my younger sister 3 years later), my "going away" outfit and several of the bridesmaids dresses. She loved sewing for the grandkids as they arrived. Mom was mainly a stay at home mom but did do some seasonal sales work and some tutoring for home-bound students as we got older.
My sister and I are very grateful that Dad's job allowed us to travel to some interesting places over the years. They also managed to set aside enough to send us both to private liberal arts colleges. They couldn't sell their Illinois house when they moved to MA and lived in a really dreary apartment for a few years, but the tuition got paid. And they paid my graduate school tuition, especially appreciated the year Ken was an intern at Cook County.
Ken and I have always been "comfortable" but he really believed in the hippocratic oath and treated patients whether they could pay or not. I know that there were patients who took advantage of his philosophy. We did much better financially when he joined an HMO when we moved to DC in 1992 and didn't have to deal with the business side of having a practice.
Still having trouble getting the holiday things out but Debbie says our little tree will arrive this week.
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Hi- I have not posted on here for a few years. I was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer in 2016, and I went through lumpectomy, chemo and radiation and was put on letrozole, and just went off of it this last January. I live in the Chicago area. I currently have a Blue Cross medigap policy plan F. When I was dealing with the breast cancer the first year, I think I just had to pay like $100 for everything, but I have to pay $220 a month for it. One of my sisters is trying to talk me into signing up for a Humana Medicare Advantage plan with 0 premium. I am concerned though, because I was told by an insurance agent a few years ago, that if I dump my Blue Cross policy, and switch to something else, I will have to go through underwriting if I switch to another medigap plan. If I switch to a Medicare Advantage plan, and then decide to switch back to a medigap plan, I will also have to go through underwriting, and I would either be denied, or my premium would go up tons. Is there anybody here that has a Medicare Advantage plan that loves it? Did you have to pay a lot for chemo and radiation when you were being treated for breast cancer? My sister actually went online on Friday and asked a Humana agent to call me up yesterday. He asked me a few questions and determined that a Gold plus HMO plan with 0 premiums would be a good fit for me because all of my doctors are part of the plan. He was really pushy and wanted to sign me up for the plan right then. When I told him that I was apprehensive, because I would not be able to switch back without going through underwriting, he said that was correct. I said that I got diagnosed with breast cancer over six years ago, and my medigap covered almost everything. He admitted that I would have to pay 20% for chemo with this plan. I had 33 radiation treatments, and I don't know how much I would have had to pay for with that. The plan he wants me to sign up for is $0 for PCP, visits, but $15 for specialist visits. My sister points out that if I schedule 5 specialist appointments per year, that would only be $75, as opposed to the $220, I am paying right now per month. If I end up in the hospital with the Advantage plan, I will have to pay $150 per day for the first six days, and I will have to pay $90 if I go to the ER. With my current plan, I will not have to pay anything.
Humana is the only Advantage plan that covers all of my doctors' appointments. They seem to have the most doctors in their network of any Advantage program. I asked the agent, and he told me that my PCP would not have to authorize any specialist visits. I am worried though that I will have to get approval for any nonroutine test. I had xrays of my spine back in July, and I did not need any prior authorization for it. I also might have cataract surgery this next year, and I wonder if I would need preauthorization from Humana for it. I would like to hear from people who have Advantage plan and any good or bad experiences you had with the plan. I know I only have three more days to switch. I also have been told that I need hearing aids, and my Advantage plan would help cover those. With my current medigap plan I could get hearing aids for $699-$999 per ear. With the Advantage plan I could get them for $199-$499 per ear. I would also get basic dental with an Advantage plan, but my dentist is not part of any plans, and so I do not know if I would receive anything for dental. Thanks, Nancy
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Welcome back, Nancy--good to hear you're doing well. I too have BCBS Plan F (grandfathered in, as it has now been replaced for new enrolees as Plan G, with a bit higher but still low deductible). Every year our agent asks us if we want to keep it, despite now paying $350/mo each for it. And every year we look at all the medical services I require (and Bob's patients' tales of insurance woe) and we say yes. Mind you, we pay out of pocket for dental, glasses and refractions (though ophthalmologists' exams are covered) and we don't yet need hearing aids. Since I got breast cancer, all I've had to shell out for (besides premiums and Part D drug copays) was $94 for a podiatry service (one nail clipped and one callus attempted to be shaved but turned out to be a plantar wart) because I'm not (yet) diabetic. All my treatments, PT, scans, exams (including now for ocular melanoma, osteoporosis and radiculopathy) have zero co-pays. I've seen the EOBs, and the amounts billed are pretty steep.
All my doctors are now either NorthShore or UIC (for my eye cancer), and I'm not sure they would be (or remain) in-network in the glorified HMOs that Advantage plans are. I still remember when we belonged to the old Anchor HMO, operated by the Rush system. At first it was great--premiums were low, and all we paid out of pocket for were prescriptions (though we had to go through our primary care doc for specialist referrals). But then it got sold to a succession of insurance companies run by increasingly venal bean counters who instituted first co-pays, then ever-rising deductibles and high premiums. We had to go through a gatekeeper (who kept changing as doctors left the system) for everything. They instituted "utilization reviews" for patients (like me) who they felt were over-using services. They began to make deliberate typos that miscoded services and even sent premium bills to the wrong address so they could threaten to drop us for late or non-payment (they did once when we were about to leave for vacation in an hour--my then boss had to go downtown with a cashier's check to reinstate us). And we were still limited to Rush doctors & facilities (Bob got professional courtesy from his Advocate colleagues for the few services he needed).
When his office got together and formed its own group so we could get a regular fee-for-service no-network United PPO plan, it felt like we'd caught the last helicopter out of Saigon in 1975. I was finally able to choose the knee surgeon I wanted and get treated at both Northwestern and then the NorthShore system. (I'd always envied friends whose plans let them use Evanston Hospital). My initial bc treatments: mammo, ultrasound, biopsy, lumpectomy, DEXA and radiation all took place when I was still 64; the transition to Medicare and a BCBS Medigap supplement was seamless--in fact, my deductible got lower and even my small co-pays disappeared, and my prescriptions got cheaper. The one bummer about Medicare (any version) is that you can't get mfr. co-pay or discount cards for pricy branded drugs still on-patent. (For the one such drug I need whose Part D co-pay is an arm and a leg, I get it online from Canada for less than 2/3 the price--Bob faxes my prescription and their doctor in a Vancouver suburb reissues it).
(We switched from United to BCBS because Bob reports that BCBS is much better and faster when it comes to approving procedures, therapies, and durable medical equipment).
My BFF down in Grundy County was very, very happy with her Advantage plan...until she wasn't. Some of her doctors have left the network, her dentist was never in it, she is limited to Walmart for pharmacy & eyeglasses. But now at 78, with a heart condition, diabetes, retinal problems and a DCIS history, she would probably be rejected for a Medigap policy should she apply.
Advantage plans are good only if you don't mind not being able to choose any doctor, pharmacy or hospital you want, are a healthy senior--and don't mind having to drive long distances to in-network providers should the ones you use and like leave the network, or the network drops them. Humana, BTW, may try to convince you to use their mail-order pharmacy, which can be a problem if you travel and might run out of your meds (and your building or 'hood is plagued by porch-pirates). They keep nagging me to do so (I have them for my Part D because they cover some drugs BCBS doesn't) but I'd rather pay a little more to be able to choose my pharmacy instead of driving to one of their "preferred" one, much less rely on their mail-order.
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Oh, and someone here asked me if I'm still on Letrozole: I stopped it (with my MO's approval) this past April, afte 6-1/3 years.
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Hi- I just did a post, and then I got taken away from the site, and so I lost the post. The thing I am worried about is if I decide to switch back after I sign up for an Advantage plan, I will have to go through underwriting, and I was told they would either deny me or jack up my premium. If the plan is 0 premium there has to be a catch, otherwise they would not make any money. The Humana agent was really pushy for me to sign up for a policy now. He told me that I would not need to get approval from my PCP in order to see a specialist, but I used to belong to an hmo, and I thought they all required that. My sister has pointed out that if I sign up for Humana, I will only have to shell out $75 a year for my five specialist visits a year, as opposed to the $220 a month I shell out right now. I also question whether I will have to get prior approval for any procedure. Such as cataract surgery. I used to belong to Prucare back in the 80's, and I loved it the first several years, but then they were taken over by somebody else, and I think Evanston hospital was dropped from their plan, and they were not as good. Prucare might have been the plan that you belonged to as well? It seems liked maybe Rush took them over. I am just hoping to find somebody here that belongs to a Humana Medicare Advantage plan, and they can tell me how they like it, and how much they had to pay for their breast cancer treatment. The agent told me I would have to pay 20% for chemo under their plan, but I did not ask him about radiation. Humana is the only Medicare Advantage plan that covers all of my doctors. Apparently, they have 48,000 doctors in their network. Thanks, Nancy
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Hi peaches1 - I started out on Humana Advantage Plan in Virginia. All my existing doctors were in the plan, but the problem I had was with Humana prior approval process. If a test or injection was ordered by my doctor, Humana contacted them to determine if it was medically necessary. I always got the test or injection. FYI - I did have a copay for physical therapy.
I have Medicare Plan G now.
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I recently read an article in either NYT or WAPO (I read both) comparing Advantage to regular Medicare. The conclusion is that Advantage plans can be good for older healthy people. The plans offer some extras like gym membership. The problem arises when there are medical issues that would be expensive for the insurance company to cover. Insurance companies are in business to make money for their shareholders not to keep old people healthy.
We considered switching to an Advantage plan a couple of years ago and decided not to. We pay our Medicare premiums plus the monthly premium for BCBS Basic, a full insurance that covers prescription meds. That premium just went up to $470 a month. But we don't have any copays. I paid nothing for my breast surgery and for a foot surgery. DH has three stints and he paid nothing. If we gave up the BCBS, we wouldn't be able to get it back. We go to any physician who accepts Medicare.
We are not wealthy but can afford the premiums so we stick with the traditional Medicare. I suspect it will be phased out in the future if the Republican party has its way.
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Each day, and the living of it, has to be a conscious creation in which discipline and order are relieved with some play and pure foolishness.
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Sandy, it was me who asked if you are on Letrozole. Glad you are off it now. I am back on it again and so far so good.
I have a UHC Medicare Advantage plan, but it is a PPO so I can go anywhere they accept Medicare. I have co-pays, $10 PCP, $20 specialist, $150 hospital stay and low premiums. It is a private plan through my DH's retirement from a major pharmaceutical company. It covers eye exams, glasses, etc, but not dental. We have dental via my job, but when I retire in the spring, we will simply absorb the costs. Getting dental insurance is expensive in my area.
Sun is brightening up the day, although it is cold outside. It didn't feel as cold to me as the thermometer indicated when I went to do errands, the high I think today is supposed to be 46, which really isn't too bad. I only hate it if it is in the 20's and below.
I decided to keep the appointment I have in February with the neurology PA. She will be knowledgeable enough to advise me and I won't feel as if I am taking up valuable time of a neurologist from a patient with definite, possibly serious, conditions. I am less and less inclined to think my symptoms are all linked and the only symptom I think may require neurological testing (brain scan) is not serious and I am not concerned about waiting until February.
Today I definitely made up my mind to retire in March. I will make the calls and get the ball rolling so I can then schedule my surgery. I want to give my employer time to hire a replacement. My husband and I went over all the pros and cons. I wish I could work another few years, but it just isn't going to happen. I actually do want to write, and I have a lot I want to do, so I won't be bored and may even take on a part-time job.
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Lazy weekend and a lazy Monday as well. Not sure why, but I'm having trouble feeling like doing much. On the other hand -- I made a meatloaf last night for which leftovers barely made it. I don't know why but it was off my repertoire for some time as too salty. Where I got that idea, I'm not sure. Since i can control most of the salt in anything I cook it didn't make a lot of sense -- so we all pigged out on it. Yrs. before I put lots of goodies in it, like flavorings that made it taste like pizza or just dollops of cheese in the middle with sometimes black olives. I'm a bit adventurous about foods I really like and mixing them together sometimes. Can't do it now though too much.
Maverick, applause !! Glad you were able to figure out work versus retirement. In my mind much better to retire when you can make the choice yourself. I figured I would not retire until about week before I went to 'hopefully' a really nice place. Might have happened just that way, but I worked right up to the time I went to the VA. emergency room gasping for breath in congestive heart failure. I couldn't pick my time, because it picked me.
I haven't been at all bored although I've given myself permission to be a lot lazier than I though was possible for a somewhat hyper-type of person. I have to admit much of this last yr. has been one used for recovery, with lots of tests and rehab cycles. One of the nicest things is I don't have to do all the work I used to around my WORK schedule. I can schedule it when I feel like I have a good time rather than when I absolutely have too because there is no other time. This will work out for you and I hope will be something you can look forward to more and more in the new year.
Dh and I got our flu shots on Friday. Nice to have that out of the way. We tried a little earlier last week and the one before and the lines were long. I'm hearing that covid is once again spiking a bit after so many people getting together over Thanksgiving and I've known a couple people who've had the flu so I'm really glad we got it done. I was feeling some concern over having waited longer than we meant to.
I'm seeing only an occasional person or two wearing masks at the stores and in many of the stores the plastic barriers have been removed. Guess they could always be put back but seems like many are comfortable now going back to the old norms. I do find though that curbside pick-up still has plenty of followers and there is even a special section in our Walmart parking lot for them. I notice this mainly as it is the row I always parked in when I went. Grrrrr. I'm glad though for those who need it.
Hope you all had a good Monday.
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Around here (Cook County), masks are still required at all healthcare facilities (though not in hospital coffee shops & cafeterias when seated and eating/drinking). Had my mammo at Evanston today, and when I sat inside the hospital Starbucks, I lowered my mask for each sip of my cappuccino. We went to Orchestra Hall last night to see the klezmer concert headlined by Itzhak Perlman and Andy Statman. Masks were "recommended," and worn by staff--but only by about half the audience. We kept ours on. Bob went to a symphony concert there in June (I was performing out-of-town) and masks were required--as was proof of vaccination. We also masked in the Lyft and in the taxi going home. The concert was awesome (the backing band was the Klezmer Conservatory Band from Boston, all virtuosos--some of whom were multi-instrumentalists), At one point they brought up the house lights to encourage dancing at our seats (and in the aisles on the sold-out main floor). The singing was in Yiddish, but still delightful. Only disappointment was that they didn't do Statman's "Flatbush Waltz" (which we used to play when I was bassist for our temple's band). Probably because it's a slow piece--lovely but not festive.
My holiday lights--indoors & out--are back on! The problem outdoors was a moisture-caused short in the connection between two cables, so the landscaper dried it off and taped it to make it fully waterproof. And our indoor tree's lights turned out (despite their age) to be just fine. The trouble was a bad transformer & controller; the landscaper replaced them with a combo one of his own. So tomorrow our HK will hang ornaments.
I'm having a sore bum--there's some sort of cyst "where the sun don't shine." (eeeeuwww). Have a message in to my GYN--no way am I going to have some stranger at urgent care look there; and it's not worth hogging a "tripledemic"-burdened ER.
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