Can we have a forum for "older" people with bc?
Comments
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Sandy - glad to hear you got the A/C in your car fixed especially with the very hot weather headed our way in the coming week. It sounds like you are extremely busy coordinating the repair of your home and your temporary living quarters. I hope that once you are moved into the Lincolnwood home you will be able to relax.
Betrayal - sounds like all the pre-surgical PT is paying dividends as you progress through post-op recovery. I’m thinking of you as you work through the painful stuff.Cindy - condolences on your aunt’s passing. It’s particularly poignant as she is the last of the older generation in your family. A stark reminder that life moves on and we are now the ‘older’ generation.
Petite - I didn’t experience any hot flashes going off anastrozole last year but everyone is different. This might be a good question for your doctor.
Jackie - hope you are doing well. Glad to hear you think the new MO will be a good fit. I find it can take time to settle in to a relationship with a new doctor.
MM - you sound like everything is going well. Hope Kelce is fully settled in. DD’s trip to Scotland sounds fantastic and hopefully cooler weather than here in the U.S.
Carole - the resort is certainly keeping you busy. I envy you the cooler temps. Minnesota is a beautiful state.
A ‘hello’ to Taco, Chris and Puffin and anyone else I missed.
Not much new here. I’ve had a little (emphasis on ‘little’) more energy the past few days so I’ve been hanging out in our pool to cool off. Also made significant progress on my vacation photo book. DS is home for the weekend and I’m so happy to see him.
Stay cool!
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MM, our first car was a barebones Datsun econo-box with no options save an automatic transmission. Our radio was a transistor on the passenger seat. Power-nothing (manual brakes & steering, crank-open windows). And what my law school buddies called “480 air conditioning:” 4 windows down, 80 mph. Only saving grace was that we lived in Seattle so it never really got hot more than a couple of days a summer. Of course, flash forward 50 years to Chicago—we’re predicted to hit near 100 this week, with intermittent storms.
I’m worried about my FL cousins—my 94-yr-old cousin lives in am independent-living apartment in a seniors’ village in Coral Springs. His daughter and her boyfriend built a palatial home in Delray along a canal (they are avid boaters & snorkelers). I hope the canal didn’t spill its banks.
Betrayal, glad to see you’re making progress post-TKR. My L hip is going downhill fast—might pop in to a NShore ortho clinic one aft this week to see about an x-ray/ultrasound and a cortisone shot to tide me over till we’re fully moved into Lincolnwood and this squamous-cell excision is behind me. I also have an endocrinologist appointment coming up in July—I will discuss with her whether it’s time to start maintaining. I’m down at my revised goal, and like the way I look in clothes (naked, OTOH, I resemble a melted candle). At Nordstrom’s today, I have discovered I am now a size Petite Small (one T-shirt is PXS), and a couple of Topshop shirts I plan to wear as light jackets are size 4 (though I know Topshop & Eileen Fisher run big). May discuss whether to stay on Zepbound/Mounjaro indefinitely but give myself a bit more leeway in terms of food variety (still, no desire to eat sugar), or start spacing my shots out to every 10 days or even 2 weeks.
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Sandy, are you considering having the extra skin removed?
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Sandy,
The Dr. to see at the pop in Ortho at either Skokie or Glenbrook is Dr. Eric Hoeper(pronounced to rhyme with paper.) I had a very unfortunate experience there with a DO Ward McCracken who misdiagnosed my terrible groin pain and knee buckling two years ago as “minor knee arthritis and a little bursitis.” When I went back 6 months later and saw Dr. Hoeper it was my completely bone on bone hip causing the pain all along.Two weeks ago, I used a weight machine in the gym. The next day I had( and I have a high pain tolerance ) excruciating pain down my shoulder, shoulder blade, arm to my elbow. Could not walk because I could not let my arm hang down.I waited for it to get better in my usual foolish was. Got even worse.Thought of torn muscles, ligaments , tendons. Went online to North Shore Connect a week later and made an appointment to see Dr. Hoeper at Glenbrook Hospital. He alternates between Skokie and GB.He said when I used the word “excruciating,” he knew what it way. Shoulder x rays were fine. Nothing wrong.I doubted him when he said the pain was from my neck which didn’t hurt. X rays showed fused,crumbly misalignment of disks. I asked him if this was a normal 90 year old neck. His reply “ I don’t see many 90 year old necks.” It is a pinched nerve.
Gave me a Medrol pack, 16 PT visits, a long optimistic explanation. It’s been 3 days, still painful, but considerably better and I can walk again with my arm hanging down.
I’ve been lurking here and draw such encouragement from the way challenges are met, by the bravery and courage of everyone.4 -
We are all flowers in the Great Spirit's garden. We share a common root, and the root is Mother Earth. The garden is beautiful because it has different colors in it, and those colors represent different traditions and cultural backgrounds.
Grandfather David Monongye (Hopi)
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Good morning. Keywest, I'm so glad you were able to see someone and get a "definite" answer for what happened to you. I think any time someone gets a Medrol pack they are INDEED in excruciating pain and 'need' serious help to get over the hump. I hope it continues to resolve to your satisfaction. I think you are pretty brave yourself facing this new challenge.
Chris, I think I had the same question reading what Sandy wrote. I'm glad that you have the un-wanted wt. gone Sandy, and very happy that you have something that helps with avoidance of sugar. Salt, sugar and fat used to enhance food or your sweet tooth are hard to dis-lodge many times. Hats off.
I am hoping that all of you in treatments of any kind have as smooth a path as possible.
Just a little hello and Happy Father's Day to anyone who still has a father(Puffin) and to all the ladies here who may have a better half to celebrate with today — happy day to all of them as well.
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Sharing with you what I put on another part of the blog:
By the way, I do wish a happy day to all Fathers today. I miss mine everyday — not just on HIS day. When I was going through a few of my years I wasn't sure how I felt about my dad. In later years I discovered I wouldn't trade him for anyone else. He had a tender, loving and compassionate side that he didn't show a lot of the time — but he showed it to me and changed my world completely.
HAPPY FATHER'S DAY.
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Happy Father's Day! Today is DH's birthday and Father's Day.
DH has had to be a "go for" for anything I require from upstairs. Today was a somewhat frantic search for a recent prescription refill that I needed. DH had taken a bag of meds he had picked up from the pharmacy last week and left them on the stool in the bathroom. Whew, glad they were just misplaced and now I can fill my pill boxes for the week. I do keep the overflow in a bin in the closet so I had him check that and bring down a bottle of another med I had run short on. With the new TSA rules, I need to hang on to some smaller empty bottles with correct labels for our trip. I like to travel with what I will need plus one or 2 day overage and then dispose of bottles at end of trip. Less to drag home and I was offloading some meds into small sandwich bags (mostly supplements) for the same reason since those bottles are quite large. Will have to rethink that or just skip supplements.
Sorry to hear of your latest injury, westkey. Glad you found an orthopedic surgeon who listened to you. Being dismissed by them I think is rare but it happened to me with my knee and I am still trying to figure out why he dismissed me. Like you, I did end up in better hands though, so maybe there was a hidden message there? Like to think it was divine intervention.
Harley, thanks for your support. I hope each treatment brings you closer to a resolve.
Sandy, happy you have reached your goal and hope you can come up with a successful maintenance plan. I do wonder if what hospitalized Oprah was one of the SE's of the drug she is using? If it was, she most likely would not reveal that since she has become the face of these drugs for weight loss. Unfortunately, weight loss does result in saggy skin and it does present a dilemma about living with it vs doing something to tighten it up.
Knee pain is manageable during the day and have been just taking 1-2 Norco per day rather than every 4-6 hours. Tylenol 325 or 650 is what I am using depending upon pain level. Ice helps when I have higher pain levels. Tomorrow will be 2 weeks out and overall I feel good. By 7 PM I am swollen and stiff but hoping that is going to decrease shortly. I see the Orthopod this Thursday for post-op x-rays and visit. Hopefully I will be able to start out-pt. PT next week. I made appointments in advance for 3x/week and hope I can keep them. I really like my PT because the goals we establish are joint decisions but I do defer to her knowledge. Hoping she doesn't start on the recumbent bike because I don't think I am ready for that yet. I have a Cubii and can use that to supplement at home once I get clearance.
It's only 72 now and sunny but do not know what the high temp for today will be. I think it is supposed to be pleasant and hope I can go on patio today to eat with DD and DSIL. If not, then I'll just stay inside.
Hope everyone has an enjoyable day.
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Happy Father's Day to all the dh fathers. I was fortunate to have a father who was a fine human being.
Keywestfan, you're my heroine. I'm 81 and hope to be going to the gym at age 90 if I make it that far. I'm enjoying the gym this summer. I go a little late, 10 to 11, when the early birds have left. There's a little room that I use for doing my back exercises on a floor mat. I will also begin a balance routine. For cardio I walk on the treadmill for 30 minutes or ride the upright bike for the same time and try to get my heartbeat into the 130's. I am now doing some weight machines for the legs but am limiting the upper body workout to hand weights, 8 lbs. I'm still a little cautious about exercising the pecs because of the new implants. I see some of the same people, mostly older folks. It's a friendly atmosphere.
Betrayal, glad you're doing well. Sandy, congrats on the weight loss and new eating regimen. I love your description of yourself as looking like a melted candle body. I wouldn't mind a little drooping skin if I could get rid of 20 lbs or more. Of course I have some drooping skin anyway!
An overcast day here so far but cool enough to have the door open for fresh air. We may have some drizzly rain off and on but it isn't windy so we have the awning out.
Happy Sunday.
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I am concerned about the droop of the inside of my thighs, my belly, and my upper arms. Not bad and not worth considering surgery for.
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Got a call this afternoon after getting home from visiting Dad - Evy, who was just here visiting me last week, died this afternoon. She went to the emergency room this morning having trouble breathing. Tests showed she had fluid around her lungs. She had indicated she did not want to be intubated and she died this afternoon. We have been talking every night on the phone at 7 o’clock, this has really come as a shock. She gave no indication of feeling bad when we talked last night.
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I am so sorry. Especially with the suddenness of it.
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Puffin and Cindy - so sorry for your loss. Hold tight to all the happy times together.
We celebrated Father's Day last night at our country club - meal was only fair unfortunately. Today we watched golf and the Diamondbacks.
Busy week coming up. Primary tomorrow and ortho PA with questions and scheduling of my PKR plus the usual stuff. Extra time with Ella, including a PT visit for her. She qualified for a national skating contest and then sprained her ankle and has a short window to get her routine shaped up again.
Betrayal - sounds like you are making great progress but don't get too far ahead of yourself.
Have a good week everyone.
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Puffin, I'm so sorry to hear about your friend Evy. I'm sure it's a bit more difficult since you are having so many medical issues yourself, and the fact that as Chris mentioned so sudden.
My thoughts are with you.
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Puffin, that’s so sudden. The loss of your friend has to have blindsided you. The nightly call will be missed. ((HUGS)) to you.
I’m already in bed and just checking the site to catch up.
Flights home were great. Delta has free movies, games, and I was able to watch live tv. I watched the Stanley cup finals start on first flight, and the next two periods on the second flight.I think I’m caught up and tomorrow should be back to a normal day. I have a 1:15 appointment with my breast surgeon, just my yearly check.
I’ll check back in tomorrow.PS- Jackie, heat rising up to 100 over the next few days (unreal!!). We put the AC in the bedroom today so we’re not doing it tomorrow during the heat.
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Good morning, ladies. Tornado in Crystal River last night. No one was injured, but 2 structures destroyed.
Cindy, How is in down there?
Sandy, congratulations on the weight loss.
Betrayal (((hug)))
harley (((hug)))
When I don't write all the events down, I forget.
Hi, to everyone else.
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Puffin, so very sorry to hear about the loss of your friend. ((((cyber hugs))))
Cindy, glad you got home ok and flights were good. I haven't paid any attention to the Stanley Cup this year, not sure why. I love hockey! Wishing you the best for your BS appointment tomorrow. I never want to see a BS again! I hate my body so much that I won't allow any doctor to examine me again, unless I have excruciating pain from illness or injury. I have no breasts, just mounds left from the mutilations. They look hideous as a pair. I no longer care, as long as I have a blouse on, I look okay!
Keywestfan, it is "funny" how pain can present itself. If the diaphragm is irritated, the pain is felt in the shoulders. I hope you pain gets less and less quickly and soon you are pain free!
taco, glad you enjoyed the country club for a Father's Day celebration . Some of the best food I ever had was at a County Club! Sorry to hear about Ella! Sprains are often worse then breaks, so I hope she doesn't rush to get back too soon. Instead, I wish her a truly speedy recovery! I really enjoy watching ice skating! I hope your Primary Election goes without a hitch. My state Primary did. It is the fall elections I dread.
Looking at possible dates to fly out to NE to see our DS and family. Kind of thinking the early fall, but if we go in July, our DGDs will be home to spend more time with us. Sadly, their schools start in early August, and I am not sure we can get out there before that. We went out at Thanksgiving one year and had a wonderful time. Wouldn't mind doing that again this year but possible fallout from the Presidential election, no matter who wins, I don't feel comfortable going anywhere in November. Maybe Christmas or around oldest GD's birthday in January.
Chris, I forgot to mention, congrats on not having to move! I am so happy for you!
Beautiful sunny and warm day today. Wishing everyone here a good day!
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The human family is very diverse, with many different beliefs and
cultures and ways of life. Many conflicts in our world are caused
when people are intolerant of the ways that others see the world.
Learning tolerance is an important cornerstone to creating a better world.
Robert Alan Silverstein0 -
Good afternoon. Whew !! Morning was a bit busy as going to the hearing specialist's ofc. was changed to morning hours. We were also waiting for the plumber who didn't show. He said he will be late as he is hunting up one of his thinner helpers. Some of the crawl space is okay under the house but other spots are fairly tight. Had we been smarter we would have had it re-excavated to some extent when we moved here. Dh could and did do the majority of work you might do in a crawlspace so it would have been for us more so than others hired. Now at our age and as well having to hire help can be tricky. Fingers crossed.
91 here today and feeling a mite humid. The a/c does fine but I think with our very large and open rooms, another fan might be in order for the living room.
I'm being really lazy today, but yesterday I spent the afternoon gathering up items to donate. A big air fryer I don't use as well as a big stand mixer I only used once. Also a big crock pot, unpacked and never used. A waffle iron as well. Someone who can use these things needs to take them out of my warehouse so I can have a home again. These were just a part of the first layer. Still boxing clothes also, so I'm slow but I do find time to make progress when I don't expect it.
I hope you are all going to have a really good day whatever you are about.
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Illonoislady, someone is really going to love those appliances that you are donating and think them a treasure.
Quiet day today after having DD and DSIL here yesterday. They brought dinner and a cake for DH's birthday/Father's Day gift and gave him a gift card to Bonefish Grille. Did put 2 loads of wash in and they are done. Doing exercises and slept better last night than night before. DD brought me a lovely bouquet of flowers.
This was probably the last we will see of their dog. He's been hanging in there but has lost so much weight in spite of eating with some regularity. I was able to pet him and he took a "greenie" from me since that was our normal routine with me being the treat lady.
Today in mid-80's but pleasant according to DH who has lunch on the patio and reads his book there.
I finished all 11 seasons of Father Brown on Britbox and loved it. Each episode was about 45-50 minutes so I could take a walk after each one to promote exercise. Now I have to find another series with several years worth of episodes. I do favor murder mysteries but am also up to date on Call the Midwives as well. They both will have new future seasons for me to watch later.
My right leg is very colorful from the bruising from the surgery and where they positioned the tourniquets. Sort of looks like a sunset with purples, oranges, yellows and blues. Largest bruise is behind knee and that one is tender.
puffin, so sorry to hear about your friend. I hope her memory will be a blessing to you and that someone else will step into the gap with frequent phone calls. (((Hugs))).
petite1, glad the tornado was not close to you.
cindyny, glad you have made it back home but returned to weather that is more like Fl.
1946taco, hope that Ella's sprain doesn't keep her from competing. PT can work wonders and hope it will get her back into competing form. Good luck with planning your surgery.
MM, I would plan on going to NE over the summer so you can explore the area with your family. Can the adults take off from work when you go there? Weather in the fall can be real iffy.
Sandy, hope there are no new snags with your habitat or your home. Glad you were able to find clothing to carry you over. We were lucky when we could remain in our home during restoration. I don't know if we would have been able to find housing for us, our dog, 3 cats and the parakeets plus would they have paid for lodgings for over 3 years?
Hope everyone had a great day.
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Puffin - my sympathies on Evy’s passing. I’m sure you will feel her loss keenly but hope that her memories bring some solace.
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Puffin I am so sorry about your friend's passing. What a shock. Hugs to you.
Betrayal glad to hear things are improving day by day.
I have two doctors appointments this week but otherwise quiet. My tummy was feeling g off today but I managed to take a swim later in the day and I feel better. Dh cooked dinner so a bonus.
Hello to all I didn't mention.
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Do not compare yourself with others, for you are
a unique and wonderful creation.
Make your own beautiful footprints in the snow.
Barbara Kimball0 -
Good morning. I think we are in for another toasty day here. I don't spend an over amt. of time out of doors on days like this, but I have to admit I wasn't anyway due to the cicada's or rain — whichever was happening. As for the cicada's we are not seeing nearly as many, and I don't hear the deafening sounds now either. It is easier to be outside.
Plumber didn't show yesterday so we will see about today. Dh and SIL used bombs to eradicate as many bugs as possible under the house. Also sprayed around the foundation first hoping to keep them from coming inside to escape. I agree about the underside of the house, since someone has to be under there to work. Still though I hate to upset the ecology part of the outdoor balance. I'm not really too fond of bugs, but they are pretty numerous here in Illinois. Surprising how few we actually saw when we lived in California. Well, if we don't keep cleaning them out of the crawlspace, they will take up residence again after the poison is gone.
Reader, hope your Dr. Appts. go well for you later.
Thinking of all of you and hoping you are going to have a good Tues.
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We had heavy rain and thunder and a limited amount of hail about 4 am. When we got up we learned that the top of a large tree had fallen in the campground. Fortunately it didn't hit a camper or damage anything. The owner will have to get the tree man to come and take care of the tree top. It's much too large for dh to deal with.
I hope everyone is having a good Tuesday.
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I meant to mention to Sandy that I read an article about the weight loss prescription meds this morning that gave instances of the meds causing almost immediate improvement in illnesses like arthritis and high blood pressure, before considerable weight loss. Not in every patient but in specific patients and even in some patients who didn't experience significant weight loss. Doctors are not jumping to any conclusions until studies are done.
I remember when I was first prescribed HRT for menopause symptoms and it was believed then that a benefit would be lower chance of heart disease. The big nurses' study eventually proved just the opposite.
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Hoping for success today — the plumbers finally arrived. Dh got tired of waiting on them and went to town with me. I needed things from Walmart. He really dislikes having to STAY home while someone else is out and about. Fortunately, on the way home I checked rear-view mirror and a big white truck was behind me. It turned into our lane behind me too — and I assumed it was going to the neighbors. Followed us right into our drive — plumbers. So, hopefully I'll be able to do laundry soon again. Had to stop finding donation clothes because I re-wash everything.
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After a decent weekend, last night and this morning were rough. I do take 1 Norco at bedtime to help with less painful sleep but it didn't help much. I took more Tylenol and used ice packs at 3:30 and at 4:30 finally managed to doze off again.
PT came, climbed stairs to bedroom and practiced getting in and out of bed. Getting out is easier but was able to lift leg to raise it to level of mattress though I think I will use my yoga belt in the future. Will continue to sleep in recliner due to easy access to ice packs in the middle of the night.
My cat, Leo, is very shy and his favorite place is a wicker chair in the primary bedroom. He was there when the PT came with me and actually stayed for most of her time in the room. He did take off but I was able to coax him back up the stairs and into the room while she stood next to me. Usually people only get to see his butt as he makes a hasty retreat.
After PT left, had to take another Norco and more Tylenol about 2 hours later. Dozed off and finally pain is in tolerable range. I don't know why I had the flare up but it hadn't been that bad for quite a while. I continue to walk around the island.
Very hot, humid with high heat warnings for young and elderly. I'll admire the sun from indoors. Would love to see if there are tomatoes on my plant yet since it had flowers when I bought it. DD to bring me some free ones from her teacher neighbor's school science project.
Tomorrow OT comes so we will do the stairs again while she assesses my ability to get in and out of our tub/shower safely. Glass doors are far too heavy to remove and not sure shower chair would fit due to doors. It's more about getting in and out as well as being able to stand long enough to shower. I do stand to wash up at the sink but find myself tired by the time I finish washing all I can reach.
I am pleased with my progress so far and as PT said, a one day set back is okay. She feels I am ahead of the curve in comparison to other TKR patients she has visited, so accept it and hope tomorrow is better which I will. I've had tougher challenges this year and survived them. Hope everyone with challenges ahs had a good day.
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Betrayal, your recovery details make me dread dh's TKR planned for October.
Hope the plumbers' work went well, Jackie.
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No reason to dread it. If it goes well, there is a whole new world out there. Just a big bump in the road of life.
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