Can we have a forum for "older" people with bc?
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Dr. Google is definitely scary. However, generally when people turn to Dr. Google, they are putting off going to a real doctor. And if there is a doctor in the house, he is not a "real" doctor to you. Luckily, I found this place.
Couldn't sleep at ~ five hours of sleep. Barometric pressure 29.62 and still going down. Headache. However, that 25 mg of Trazodone is working to give me good quality of sleep. I should have asked her for something a long time ago, instead of depending on Dr. Google.
My bike is broken, possibly a bent axle as a result of having ridden on a misbalanced wheel for months. My bike mechanic is fired. I found another, a ninety-year-old man who rides six miles a day in decent weather. Really a sweetheart-- outlived two wives and still wears a wedding ring.
I asked my 95-year-old aunt who is a nurse about the CP. She checked with other relatives as well as her own observations, and she said yes.
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Sandy - I was diagnosed with MGUs 4 years ago - labs for monitoring - no treatment unless it turns into MM. So many of my diagnoses are wait and see. For supposedly a healthy 66+yo - I have "so many things going on" per one endocrinologist - Stage 3 CKD, hypothyroid, hyperparthyroidism, osteoporosis, MGUS, Gilbert's Syndrome, hypercalcemia, stage 3ILC history and the list goes on. AS long as everything stays stable, I'm okay, but if any blow up bad news. And now healing a stress fracture in my foot. Hope your labs are nothing to worry about.
Back to school today after a snow day. It should be fun navigating sidewalks with the boot. Hopefully, I can get a space in the parking garage so I only have to cross the street at our admin building. Not walking and being outside is getting the best of me. Oh and the boot - I'm not good about wearing it in the house which isn't good. I see the podiatrist next week.
Mary - hope your bike is an easy fix. What do you plan for your knee.
Cindy - would love to see the group photo!
Maverick - when do you leave?
Everyone stay safe and warm.
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We had a "windinger" of a storm during the night with driving rain, wind, thunder and lightning. Fortunately, it moved through fast.
DH is gradually doing better. He even spent a few hours in his workshop yesterday, the first time in 2023. He lost 15 lbs during his UTI siege and is still eating without a lot of appetite. He has a test at the urologist at 11, checking his bladder. I don't remember the name of the test. I went with him a couple of days ago to his cardiologist appointment. That doctor is doing some screening regarding the heart function but thinks the UTI illness was the culprit not blockage.
I enjoy reading the posts each day. Cindy, your visit with the grands made me smile. I think appropriate responses as I read.
It's sunny outside and my laptop tells me it's 58 degrees. Another nice day in the neighborhood.
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Finally catching up after several days off. I trying to keep, but still far behind. Busy with the mundane - laundry, cleaning, etc. We had nice weather for a couple of days, so we were able to walk outside. Now it's back to cooler and rainy. Had lunch yesterday with my brother and SIL. We meet at a place that's about 50 minute drive for both of us. Always nice to see them; we meet monthly. My DH keeps active. If we're not out walking, he runs on the treadmill and he lifts weights at the gym 3x per week. During warmer weather, he works outside in the yard. I need to start lift some light weights. Try to starve off osteoporosis, which runs in the family.
Hadn't heard of MGUS or some of the other conditions mentioned in the posts. Looked them up. Mary - what is CP? When you you see the surgeon about your knee? I hope everyone is doing well.
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To be a miracle worker you do not have to get a doctoral
degree, become a minister, eat a particular food, or be
able to meditate for long hours. All you need to do is to
begin to see beauty in your life and those around you.
Alan Cohen0 -
Seems like this is the time of year where many of us are getting the same sorts of weather -- some of it gray, some of it windy, rain which makes it warmer turning cooler once the rains moves out. I've started to pray that we have no more snow, even though we had very little where we are, during most of our winter weather. Just before spring and during spring we do seem prone to get not only rain but the possibility of tornadoes. Not looking forward to that, but as I've mentioned often -- we seem to be in a strange little pocket here and don't seem to get the harshest part of the weather that is often going on around us. Fingers crossed as usual for this yr.
Cloudy right now, but doesn't seem like there is much for moisture in the clouds. My kids have been in and out and say it is cold. Likely is since we are wet outside. and there are strong winds off and on, enough to make you feel damp and cold. Hope maybe for sun tomorrow.
I know what you mean Sandy. About the cancer. I spent the first few yrs. after the original dx in a bit of terror every time I had to go for a mamo. Then reaching the 5 yr. mark being okay. Then yrs. of nothing till the Ureter cancer. Thought after losing the ureter and kidney I was fine -- then the bladder cancer which didn't totally resolve with the chemo treatment. Fortunately, it always stayed low grade. So kept my dx. through a few more tests and it decided to give up. It was always a source of worry, but staying low grade always allowed for the tumors to be removed during the 3-month testing cycles. I was actually dx'ed 3 times in total. I will have one more 6-month check-up and it I'm still clear, I think I will go to the category of once a yr. It did get easier to deal with since it never was given the opportunity to be there long enough to go into high grade.
Wishing for all having tests (and of your family members and friends as well) good outcomes and otherwise good treatments that will be successful. Also, that we all get some good weather. I don't do well when there are too many gray days. A it of sun is cheery and warming and good inspiration for welcoming Spring when it gets here.
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Cardplayer-- I see the surgeon about my knee at the end of February. CP is cerebral palsy, just what you thought it is. In today's world it is best that people are open about it, even if it is not immediately evident.
So I work hard balancing the end of my femur on the top of my tibia and fibula, with a weak ankle and poor physical coordination from birth. It is a challenge. But I just realized that my favorite pair of winter boots has wear on the outside edge of the heel. That makes the challenge three times worse.
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Sorta bummed. I just read that David Crosby has passed on. I'm a fan of lots of music all the way from classical to country. I liked David most when he was working as Crosby, Stills and Nash. The article stated that he was 81 and dkd not give a cause of death, but he had a lot of ailments -- like Hep C and Diabetes along with heart issues. RIP
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David Crosby- the double album 4 Way Street was my favorite growing up. All those songs are a part of my life. I think in 2006 we saw them perform at SPAC for a progressive democrat type event. Rocking in the free world runs through my head. RIP indeed.
Our power went out about 7:30, came back on about 10. TV seemed ok when power came back and then froze going on 11:30, and we’ve lost internet. Quiet strange night. Our hone here is called a villa, but it’s what up north we call a duplex. Our “shared wall” neighbors had electricity! Various homes though out the development were without; power company said 153 without power, then dropped to 67, then it was on.
The kids didn’t send me the chokehold picture, or I would have posted it. I’ll have to ask for it. When they returned to Texas they found their AC unit hissing Freon and had to leave immediately to keep the kids safe. HVAC guy looked at it, needs repairs at a cost of $2,400. Told them to open all the windows, repair will get done tomorrow. Which reminds me to call our HVAC guy tomorrow for our regular maintenance check.
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The trouble with us is that we expect too much from the great happenings, the unusual things, and we overlook the common flowers on the path of life, from which we might abstract sweets, comforts, delights.
Orison Swett Marden
The Joys of Living0 -
48 degrees and Sunny outside. Yesterday was low 70's, sunny, and very comfortable outside in short sleeves. Always changeable weather here but seems more so this winter. I'm comfortable inside the house and can always go to the gym for exercise. Or go and walk around in large nearby stores for diversion.
My new carpet cleaner hasn't done a thing! It sits there waiting for some human motivation to put it in motion.
Happy Friday to everyone.
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Glad your family got home Cindy but wow on the a/c unit. Seems like they are always costly if something goes wrong. They will likely be more than glad to get back in their home and get back to normal daily life.
Dh got his eyelid surgeries yesterday so I'm having to take over a number of things. Fortunate most of them are small chores so I won't miss much of anything that I normally do daily. I must say he looks the dickens - like he got in a fight and lost, and the papers say some of the bruising etc. could last for some time. He won't see well for a few days either but is getting around okay this morning. Yesterday, he had to be led around for the first few hours at home. It's a lot to go through so I hope he gets good relief once the healing is done.
Hope you all have a good day.
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Very sad news about David Crosby. He led an interesting life. I never saw him in concert, but have several CSN albums.
Crazy power outage Cindy. Hope your DH is doing better this afternoon Illinois. It's mid40s today and partly cloudy with wind gusts up to 30mph. Yikes. We're back to sunny days and high winds.
Have a safe and healthy day.
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Ego could be defined as whatever covers up basic goodness. From an
experiential point of view, what is ego covering up? It's covering up
our experience of just being here, just fully being where we are,
so that we can relate with the immediacy of our experience. Egolessness
is a state of mind that has complete confidence in the sacredness
of the world. It is unconditional well being, unconditional joy
that includes all the different qualities of our experience.
Pema Chodron0 -
Beautiful sun this morning and no one could be happier than me. I get a bad case of super blahs when there are too many gray days. Will be about 40 or so. The next few days don't sound wonderful though. Mixtures of snow and rain, but I don't think either will last long. Snow won't be much and the rain coming on its heels will likely wash the little (less than an inch) away. Well, its all a part of ushering in Spring.
Nothing special today. More catching up. Dh is seeing better though still blurry. Glad it is coming along. Still looks like he lost the fight, but he will likely come out with me to go for some groceries. He gets cabin fever really easy.
Hope everyone has a really good day.
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Jackie, Cindy and Cardplayer, I too was sad to hear about David Crosby's passing. He played on one of my favorite YouTube videos, Grateful Dead's "Ripple" from the playing for change Collection of videos. If you haven't seen any of these Playing For Change Band videos, they are songs by top musicians and played collectively by artists all over the world. Ripple is my favorite. I also love Peter Gabriels "Biko" and Tula and Roberto and group "Teach Your Children" in Brazile. Great music for great causes promoting peace. I often say "music is my religion!" It is what brings me peace, what inspires me, what lifts me up when I feel down, what got me through my darkest hours and what gives me more joy than I could ever hope for! It is my go to medicine that comes with no "drug interactions" or lists of side effects! Yes, I will be forever grateful for David Crosby and many, many other musicians!
Mary, I wish you the best with your surgeon appointment in February.
I also have a surgeon appointment in February. Thanks to BCO and another topic on here, (exchange surgery) I learned about questions I should ask at my appointment.
Carole, weather in the 70's, now that is my kind of weather!!!
Sun peaking through here, and big Eagles/Giants game tonight (watching on TV). Now the big question, will I be able to stay awake to watch the whole game? My guess is "probably not." Unless of course it is an extremely exciting game, and I emphasize the word "exciting!"
Enjoy the weekend everyone!
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Jackie, you seem to be living in a subtropical climate. I don't remember it being that warm in the winter when I was growing up in far Western Illinois.
I am looking forward to that ortho appointment, too.
I am now a chesty lady, for the first time in my life.
Writing. I will be cutting a whole chapter, yet again. Sigh.
Yesterday I hired someone to walk Tippy. He will not let anyone else walk him, other than me and her.
Moved the exercise bike into my living room. Since I am not currently sewing, we put some pieces of furniture away.
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Sad to learn about Crosby's passing. He had a raft of medical problems--T2DM, coronary artery disease, and was on his second liver due to a long bout with hep C. He'd marveled at how nonetheless he'd been able to reach 80. Bob's & my first date was CSNY at Fillmore East in June 1970 (my FIL went down to the box office to buy the tickets before work). That was one of the concerts on the "4 Way Street" album. Saw CSNY twice more in Chicago. Never saw the Byrds live, nor Crosby solo. Ironic how most of the clips in the news "tributes" showed him harmonizing on Byrds & CSNY songs he didn't write or even co-write. They should've shown "Guinevere" (one of my all-time favorite songs ever), "Almost Cut My Hair," "Deja Vu," "Long Time Comin'," "Eight Miles High," or "To the Last Whale/Wind on the Water." But as to his harmonies, the blend was so perfect you couldn't pick his voice out of the mix...but without it, there was a hole you could drive a truck through. (Those middle harmonies are always the toughest to write & sing).
Bob took a look at my bloodwork. I asked him whether it showed multiple myeloma. He replied it "wasn't good," but that MM was at least 5 or even 10 years away from diagnosis. He had a patient with similar numbers--took 10 years before she officially had MM, and still lived many more years, into her 90s--and had chemo only "at the end," palliative. I will learn more on the 13th. So I have something in common with Tom Brokaw.
Funny how a decade ago, I was an obese kvetchy hypochondriac with creaky knees needing replacement. 10 years later, I'm on my second cancer with a third one "in the works." But I'm thinner, my new knees still work great and I still look 62 (or so I'm told, though I don't hear "you're how old?" quite as often as I used to).
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We get better when we get older. Or at least we like to think so.
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Our weather has changed around here. Yrs. ago there was more snow. In general, we could count on a whole month of off and on snow, though no huge accumulations at one time, and at least one month of really cold weather.
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It seems that buying a new stove will be part of the 2023 experience. I was using the oven at 400 degrees for a sheet pan supper on Friday night when an alarm sounded and F--3 (or 2?) began flashing on the electronic panel. We replaced the electronic board for the oven some years ago and it apparently has gone bad again. The stove dates back 30 some years to when we renovated this 1970's ranch house and moved in. It has been much used since we mostly eat at home. DH checked to see if the board was still available and couldn't find it.
DH is always ready to buy something new and he likes the idea of a convection oven in a new stove.
Another expense will be taking my Toyoto hybrid to the dealer to replace the starting battery. DH did some troubleshooting and discovered why the car seemed to want to stay in the carport lately.
Since things are said to happen in threes, I'm nervously awaiting the third drain on the bank account.
It's a gloomy day here so far. We plan to watch football later in the day.
Happy Sunday.
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"To keep the heart unwrinkled, to be hopeful, kindly,
cheerful, reverent—that is to triumph over old age."
— THOMAS BAILEY ALDRICH
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Had our rain overnight, which tuned to the very light layer of snow and ice which rapidly melted this morning. Sounds like it will be the weather report for the next few days. Hope so anyway. Sorry to hear about the stove Carole. Fantastic that it went 30 yrs. I do think the convection ovens are really nice, but I have one and have never used it. It does take quite a while (at least mine at its age which is at least 10 yrs. or more now) for the convection part to kick in -- which is why I've not bothered. I think it could really be handy though when cooking times are long -- say like for a turkey. The feature I like most on my stove is that it has the long burner in the middle so that you can use a griddle to cook on there or turn on any of the three burner areas in the middle to cook another extra pot when you are having extra veggies. Also, has very heavy iron pan grates. I truly appreciate those. Sealed burners very nice as well.
I think the batteries for hybrids can be VERY high, but they do have a long shelf life, don't they? I certainly do hope you get to bd the exception this time and don't have that 'threes' thing happen.
Hope you all have a nice Sunday.
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Happy Lunar New Year!I hate to have unexpected expenses Carole. Hope you're able to keep it at 2 things and not 3. Do you have a double oven or would you just use the convection oven instead of a regular oven? My DH is still driving his 17 up year old Camry. It has less than 50K miles on it and we just use it around town. We'll probably get a hybrid Camry if it stops running.
Sorry to hear about your blood work results Sandy. I'm sure you're anxious for your appointment with the doctor. Are you having symptoms?
We're getting rain today, but it's 35 degrees so no snow. Hope everyone has a healthy and peaceful day.
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Hello to all! Woke up this AM to unexpected snow flurries, accumulated about 3 inches. Watching Bengals vs Bills playing in the Buffalo snow. Go Bengals!
Last Thursday (1/19), hubs was diagnosed with 3 blood clots in his lower leg (calf area). He is on Eliquis & will see the Dr again this Thursday. He has always been extremely healthy - no prescriptions until started on 10mg Lipitor in autumn 2021. He turned 75 in September 2022. Hoping for a good prognosis.
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Stoves - I have a self cleaning regular oven with convection; and it also has a steam clean setting where you put water in the bottom of it. Pretty neat in that cleaning. But I too have never used the convection part. One reason I haven’t used it is I’m unsure of cooking times with it, and don’t want to destroy a pricey piece of beef. They come with everything now, even wifi. Not sure I’ve ever stated it here before but I truly get no enjoyment from cooking. No foodie, and not a big eater. The more basic the better for me.
Celiac my partner had a clot in his calf 4+ years ago and was put on Eliquis. One dr said he could go off it, another said to stay on it. His doctor son said to follow with the drug. He takes a very low dose, a half pill in the morning and a half at night. I think his dad had similar issues. He was 62 when it showed up.
It hit 80 today, very sunny. I got a bike ride in, the first in about a month. It was just under 2 miles and I was good with that. I hung 2 swing arm lamps above the master bed. In NY I have one plate with 2 swing arm lamps over the bed and love it. Here, now that I have holes drilled and anchors in, I’ll get used to it. HAHA! Not as bright as NY ones, which have 3 way bulbs. The new ones have 60 watt dimmable bulb.
Our AC unit gets yearly maintenance tomorrow morning. Texas stepson returned from the FL trip to find his leaking Freon in the house. Repairs done yesterday to the tune of $2,400. Stepson in NC went to PA to check on his home there, it’s been leased out long term through Airbnb and needed some minor repairs. He also discovered he needs a new HVAC unit and he’s looking at $10-11k. This better be only 2 out of 3! Ours was replaced in 2019 and I’m hoping general cleaning at $59.
Sandy you’ve stood up to cancer twice now. Here’s hoping your doctor gives you some reassurance. Jackie, I wonder if you could get one of those bright lights that people with SAD use to keep the gray day blues at bay. Mary, you always seem busy to me. Tippy keeps you on your toes too with his walks. Petite, still sending you great big HUGS! Good juju to all of our gang, another week begins tomorrow!
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This should probably be in the dinner thread, but I'm most comfortable in the older than 60, and would undoubtedly be most at home if there were an older than 80. Sandy, you don't look 62, more like 56 and certainly not low, low 70s. Happy Birthday, Monday, the 23rd, as joyous as possible. The reason I mentioned the dinner thread is my brother is coming to visit from Hudson, NY for 3 days. Unlike vegetarian me he is a true foodie. Think we will go in your neighborhood to Chengdu Impressio, and then Parachute, Rooh, and Andro Tavern.Brother wants Rabbit kidneys…I like white bread and French's yellow mustard
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Maverick, look for a p m from me soon.
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Judy, if you go to Chengdu Impression, be aware that it's BYOB--but they do have the glassware, ice buckets & corkscrews. Also, you need to give them 24 hrs. notice for the Peking duck; but the tea-smoked half-duck is always available. Supposedly, whole fish (which they have steamed) is traditionally symbolic of abundance during New Year; and long noodles of longevity. Haven't tried Parachute (no reason to visit the otherwise dull Avondale area, and the recent accusations against the owners of employee harassment had been a turnoff). In the wake of both the quasi-scandal & lockdown, it temporarily became a grocery & market featuring ingredients for its specialties. Haven't heard of Rooh or Andro Tavern--would be interested to learn about your experiences there.
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A convection oven is an oven with a fan circulating the heat and lessening the cooking time. I had one years ago and found the adjustment easy. The popular counter air fryers are small convection ovens.
Jackie, the stove we bought yesterday at Lowe's sounds similar to yours. It has an oblong burner in the middle AND (I'm excited about this) a simmer burner. One negative is that there is no overlap on the sides like older stoves have so you have to buy a spacer to cover the gap with the countertop.
My assignment today is to call Toyota and check on replacing the starter battery in my Prius. A hybrid has two batteries, a starter battery and the battery that runs the motor off and on. The starter battery is cheaper than the other one, about $200 from our research.
Happy Monday.
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