Can we have a forum for "older" people with bc?
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Good morning. Looks to be another sunny day, but possibly staying a little muted. I think it is the smoke. It is plenty warm this morning already — about 78 degrees. Looks like high 70's and into at least mid-80's for the whole rest of the week — so seems like our summer temps are definitely getting a start.
Glad your fridge seems to be behaving itself. I do think things sitting unused for long periods can misbehave. I'm having my dishwasher looked at tomorrow. It didn't empty all its water. It is far from new, but is a Bosch which is an okay one I think — at least Dh who sold appliances for Sears still then felt it to be so.
Well, even back then it was said of the newer models there was a shelf life on them of about 7 yrs. We are well past that. Then again — I may only use it once or less a month. We do not use that many dishes here now and I've always done my pots and pans by hand. So unless I remember to save up dishes for a bit we may go a couple of months not using the dishwasher. Will have to see what Baker says. I do know the buttons the last couple of years have felt a little 'sticky' to use. Another faucet of getting older we may not have considered. We don't use dishes at the same high rate as before.
I think Dr's (though there have always been issues) have a lot on he plates now. There is a lot of government interference and so much burn-out with Covid. I hope it will get better but who can say. I have been mainly fortunate and very much so these last few years. I hope it can last but truth is the VA which is who takes care of me as well as outside Dr's. I think are struggling a lot right now with heath care overall in the U.S. When things topple a bit it can take a long time and I would wonder what thoughts might be for someone who perhaps is thinking about medicine as a profession.
Wishing you all a wonderful day.
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Even Mayo is having difficulty getting enough doctors, especially for rural areas.
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Another rough night but determined to increase activity level anyway. Plan to assist DH with planting perennials by placing them where I want them and then allowing him to dig holes. I was able to sweep floors today so gradually returning to household chores. DH is erecting a fence around one of the beds in front of the house today. He needs my supervision so I'll make this brief.
Local cat rescue has a diabetic cat and is soliciting for money to pay for insulin and special wet food. My cats never liked Fancy Feast but that is what she is using for this cat. I had a diabetic cat and the cost of insulin then plus the syringes was about $90/month. They used animal derived insulin then but it seems now they are using what a human would use? After 4 years the cat we had had a stroke and was unable to use his back legs so we decided to humanely euthanize him. I found someone who could use the insulin and syringes so I mailed it to them for their cat. I will send her some money because it is expensive to keep them alive, but if this is their only issue, why not? My cat lived to be nearly 20 (19 years, 11 months)
Hazy again today due to smoke but temp is 75 degrees so warmer than yesterday. I'll enjoy it because it is to hit the 90's this week and it's too early for those temps.
harley07, I have sent emails to physicians who have documented events or conversations that did not occur because this is a legal record and must record actual facts not items they checked from an AI source. They have checklists to opt from and I love the record of a physical exam that never happened but is documented.
They may not be happy about my comments but if I don't advocate for myself, who will, especially if it is something that could come back to haunt me later or appear as if I wasn't compliant. Unless they record at the time of the visit, their memories are not all that good when they are seeing patients every 20-30 minutes. My wish would be one appointment when nothing wrong was found and I leave with just routine follow-up plans.
I would push for the dexascan because AI's do such a job on our skeletons and the damage they do can be irreversible, if not caught in time. I have been bugging them about the gradual decline in my results and the last one in '23 finally showed osteopenia and that is treated as a "wait and see" dx. I have been on Ca++ for years because of the AI's but even that could not halt what was happening. So get it now so you are not getting a surprise later. I think you have enough to deal with and they need to be monitoring your health, that is what they are being paid for.
Hope everyone has a great day.
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definitely feels like summer. I notice I burn more easily now so dragged out the SPF 50 today. Also dragged down another tent so no fighting over the big one.
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Hi, Ladies. Seems like I had a lot of catching up to do. I love all the flower pictures. I don't have any this year. Maybe it is just to hot and dry. We have had some rain the last 3 days and maybe the flowers will show up late. I also enjoy the cat pictures. Midnight Louie loves sitting on the back lanai. As far as the PCP goes, most of the time I love my doctor, but the interns that run through his office need to learn bedside manners or at least people skills. My PCP likes teaching. I hope he teaches them people skills. I try to just answer their questions yes or no. They can't handle much else.
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All the cat pictures forced me to try and post them. When I click on each one, it downloads. Happy to have someone tell what else I should do to post them. Happy Tuesday!
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Loved those pictures and especially the one with a towel wrapped around his/her head. I love cats and cat pictures but I've also rescued a number of dogs as well. I love them all. Thanks. They are keepers.
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Taco, dog pictures sound humorous, which we need! To post a picture, in the area where we post- I’ve circled it in red, click on it and you can add a photo to your post.
Carole, from your refrigerator scare to a discount at the gym, welcome to your second home! My car, like your truck, is covered in pollen. Even after washing, the very next day it looks like I didn’t touch it.
Betrayal, smoke is coming our way, haze only so far. I took a walk around my gardens tonight, a few mosquitoes tried attacking me. Hoping you sleep well tonight.
Harley, graduation celebration with your family sounds lovely. That MWV just gets crazier. I’ve seen notes on the portal where they say this & that, and nothing of the sort had occurred. My thoracic surgeon does his notes into the recorder right while you’re with him; same with orthopedic surgeons.Jackie, I hope your dishwasher has an easy fix! You haven’t mentioned, or I missed it, how’s the new to you couch?
Canary, your cats love those tents!
Petite, SWFL is not getting the rain they need for plants either. I hope the water table returns over summer.
Blueberries cover the bush! My back yard walk where mosquitoes tried attacking me, it was dusk so expected.
This past weekend we took an overnight get away. We stayed outside of Saratoga, which isn’t far - but we had a free night certificate to use before it expired. We hung out and watched a movie, went out to dinner and hit the casino. No winnings to report, but I had fun on the Wheel of Fortune slot machine.
Monday we went to the Saratoga National Battlefield. We’ve been there before but because the weather was beautiful, full sun and 70, we wanted to hike around. Long story short we walked less than 3 miles, a lot of trails were on grass and ticks are numerous. We stayed on paved or boardwalk areas.
One of the British cannons left behind (1777). I found the designs beautiful, and snapped this picture. We stopped out for lunch on our way home. The whole trip was a nice treat.
Today I had lunch with a gf I used to work with. I retired 11 years ago but we have kept in touch. We try to get together a few times while I’m here. Sad news was her mom passed at the end of March and she didn’t want to say anything at the time, too emotional. We ate and yakked for almost 3 hours!
Tomorrow is another lunch with two ladies I used to work with. We get together about every other month and always enjoy catching up.
I’m eating well, as you can tell. LOL Temps were beautiful today, 79 full sun. Tomorrow should be 88! Another long book like post, apologies.
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In keeping with the flower pictures, I plan to shop for some plants today for our deck. I want a hanging flowering plant and plants for a large planter.
It's cool enough this morning that dh turned on the heat pump in the camper. It felt so cozy in bed under the covers that I almost hated to get up. But coffee beckoned to me.
We have the same brand of dishwasher at home. I think it's one of the recommended brands. Very quiet. Unlike you, Jackie, we use ours daily. I miss it during the summer when the dishwasher is a pair of hands and a small sink.
Happy Wednesday.
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It is unity we are talking about, not uniformity. What is needed is to respect one another's points of view and not to impute unworthy motives to one another or to seek to impugn the integrity of the other. Our maturity will be judged by how well we are able to agree to disagree and yet continue to love one another and to cherish one another and seek the greater good of the other.
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Good morning. Overcast again today. Yesterday and the day before seemed to be haze from smoke muting the sun, but weather forecast indicates the possibility of rain for today and the next two as well. Thank goodness we did have two or three dry days. It's turning into a somewhat interesting spring/summer so far. I'm sure global warming is still in play so who knows, but so far from what things were like here back in 1997 when we came home. Left 34 yrs. previously and never came home once in all that time. Been back a long time now.
We are loving the new couch. It is a bit more comfy than the old one. I liked the old one but in part due to the fact that it has a lot of wood to it, but a ruffle around the bottom and longer wooden legs so very easy to sweep under. The new one bears some similarity in that unlike a lot of couches — it allows for being able to easily see and sweep underneath. It's good for the way we live since we shun carpeting and have only wood floors. The new couch is made in a way that the legs are not as prominent (seeable) but still easily allows the sweeping. Fact is, with no carpet on the floor, moving the couches and or furnishings is fairly easy no matter what hey are. Another bonus for older people.
I hope everyone has a great day today and Cindy — I loved the pictures. Meant to tell Petite how much I enjoy the pics of Midnight Louie. We lost our all black cat a few months ago and there is still some distress over it, but that doesn't mean I can't enjoy someone's else's. We think Lil' Boy (who was nice size actually) was perhaps 21 when we lost him. He was always very healthy, loving and only had one bad tooth his whole life. He was just old and he had a favorite place he always wanted to be. Required him to jump which he was always able to do. We still wonder (mild stroke?) why the night before he died he fell off the cabinet he sat on all the time. He was ?stunned for a bit, but then his breathing returned to normal and he was eating even — the next morning when we woke up he was gone.
Anyway, all pictures are very appreciated.
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Yes, Jackie, many of the characteristics of a futon.
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Loving all the flower pictures. Keep’em coming.
Petite - I was thinking the same as you - that some of the healthcare providers need to brush up on their people skills. I’m sure that technically they are fine but when they pivot from looking at a screen to facing a person, they do not seem to know how to have a conversation. I also need to get much better at answering just ‘yes’ or ‘no’ even if neither reply is really accurate.
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Late again today but spent this afternoon talking to a former student as she drove from Ohio to NC. She is working as a traveling nurse and considers NC her base. The original job she was hired for in OH was misadvertised with them offering a lower salary for what they deemed a new skill set. It seems they were less than truthful about training and were very critical making her doubt her abilities and she is a seasoned Oncology nurse.
Fortunately she was able to find another position in the area so was able to turn a lemon into lemonade. Lesson learned that not all is as advertised and she needs to let others know. She is hoping to return to her favorite hospital on her return home.
Did not take pain med last night and had a rough night again but am trying to save what I have left for worse nights and tonight may be one of those. Even PT admits she thinks this knee has been more challenging post-op than right one as far as PT progress, swelling and pain. So it is just not me, which makes me feel somewhat better. I just feel lethargic.
I had a down day yesterday and was hoping today would be better. I did get my bedroom dusted, watered forst floor house plants, straightened up and did 3 loads of laundry. I thawed chicken breasts to grill and have white corn (my favorite) and an acorn squash for sides. Very tired and it is very warm so I feel drained. DH will turn on AC since tomorrow is to be even hotter than today.
It is sunny with still the smoke haze but not the smoke smell we have experienced in the past. Temp in the mid-80's with humidity to match so sticky hot and poor air quality so staying indoors.
harley07, some physicians lack social skills because of their training which is based on being competitive and social isolation. I thought I had sent an email to my PCP about a prescription renewal only to discover today that I had nor clicked send. So I added a second one which will expire in July when she is no longer my PCP and hope she will place an order that pharmacy can fill then. Although new one starts July 1, I won't meet her until September and don't jhve enough in reserve to last until then.
Illinoislady, glad the new couch is to your liking and eases cleaning. Having animals means all the hairballs gravitate to unde furniture, under heating ducts and otehr places that seem to let loose when you generate a breeze. With 2 cats, each has a different shed pattern; Leo decorates furniture and Misty sheds all over with fur floaties.
Chris, loved the butterfly button pad for Tipper and how you left him a "peek" area at the bottom of the windows you covered. They look like they are working for you.
Taco, loved the decorative pictures you had made and glad to see what Mutz looks like. Loved his underbite. What a nice way to remember you beloved dogs.
cindyny, loved the photos and seeing the blueberries brought back memories of my 15th summer when I picked them for an income. Hardest, hottest, dirtiest work I ever did and learned so much from the migrant workers who taught me how to make money. Could not get a work permit for a real job until you were 16 so only farm work was permitted. I have never picked blueberries since and it took me a few years to consider eating them again since I got to take home some pints that were left over. Mom made pancakes, blueberry crisp, blueberry buckle, and blueberry pie, etc. if it started with blueberry she made it. Took weeks to get stains out of hands and feet, too.
petite1, Midnight Louie is so handsome and stately. I truly think we become their servants.
canarycat, enjoyed the catio photos.
Hope everyone had a great day.
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Jumping back on in case anyone comes late today. It is pouring like crazy as we speak. It's the third or so time since 4 p.m. this afternoon. We have just gotten incredible water this yr. so far. I was hoping the weatherman would be wrong but spot on. So a couple more days of this as well. We are also hearing a lot of thunder that I've not since much lightning with it — its out there somewhere.
So, the appliance guy came this afternoon. Of course, the machine chose to behave and "seem" as good as new almost. There are a couple of areas that could be at issue. We are checking overnight to see if an area halfway up (some sort of opening there that could leak water — but it didn't seem to do it while he was here. So the next thing will be loading it and and seeing if it operates correctly through it's cycles. I'm hoping that it just had an 'older' person's day and chose to be persnickety just because and will just go back to good operations. I think as well I likely need to use it more often than every couple of months or so. We use study paper plates a lot now because we tend to eat a whole lot less than we use too so we don't have the dishes ( or so it seems to me ) to use the dishwasher a lot. We do run through a lot of silverware fast despite the fact I have a 12 person set which come with double amt. of teaspoons.
Well, anyway crossing my fingers. Likely we could get more rain thorough the night since night rains have become so prevalent around here. We are going to have some real drying out to do when this three day run of rain is done.
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petite. Midnight Louie loves that chair!
taco I loved all the dog pics.
saw my GP today back on prednisone and amoxil. Ugh. Gotta up my probiotics too. On a positive note I booked off sick and am currently watching game 1 of Stanley Cup playoffs.
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I love all the photos. Midnight Louie looks very comfy on that chair.
my post vanished. I’m back on prednisone and amoxil. Darn lungs! Bonus I’m off sick today so watching game one of the playoffs.
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ugh. Try # 3. Love all the pictures!!!! Esp midnight Louie. 😊
Back on prednisone and amoxil. Took today off work and watching the hockey game. Yay.
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Go Oilers! It would be nice for Canada to take the cup. Partner, he follows Red Wings; I favor the Rangers. But we’re rooting for the Oilers.
I’ve been waiting for my surgical packet to arrive in the mail. The scheduler called me last Thursday. Tonight at 6:21 pm it showed up in my email. I can’t download one attachment it’s so large; one is 10 pages long, one is 2 pages, another I didn’t even open.
I tried to print the 2 page attachment out. Well, remember my long drawn out story about Spectrum giving us a new modem? Well although we named it the same as the old modem with the same password, there is a new IP address (I think that’s what it’s called) and now the WiFi printer & WiFi will not connect to each other. I sat on the floor next to the printer, and did try to reconnect them multiple times but in the end I threw in the towel. I’ll drive over to them tomorrow and request they print it out for me.
I’ll go there by 10:15 to get it printed. Then I’ve got an 11 AM appointment with my PCP to get clearance. Then I’ll get the bloodwork done. Then I have a 4 pm appointment at the cardiologist for clearance too. I’ve got a headache just thinking about it. Wasted day, add in it’s a wasted sunny dry day. CALGON!!
Today’s high was 89. Tomorrow expect 88. I did notice the haze today from smoke, it reminded me of a sky that could rain.
Jackie, so glad you like the new couch.
Betrayal, what a blueberry story! I’m glad I’ve never had to earn money picking them. Half the time the birds eat them up, or the rabbits stand as tall as possible and eat them up too. I tell SO to keep an eye on them, but wildlife gets more of them than he does.
Here are some of the roses. Pink ready to bloom are a wild heirloom rose, can’t kill them. Red ones are 2 older bushes that I believe had grafts that died off and the red took over. Darker pink are 2 bushes of Jackson Perkins, a name I no longer remember.
I hope we all can enjoy Friday!
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If I were to wish for anything, I should not wish for wealth and power, but for the passionate sense of the potential, for the eye which, ever young and ardent, sees the possible. . . what wine is so sparkling, so fragrant, so intoxicating, as possibility!
Søren Kierkegaard
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Good morning. So enjoyed the entries so far today. I quit watching hockey quite a while ago. Mainly, I have never been able to successfully follow it on tv. Sometimes it is not that easy in the arena. So, in honor of Canary I will root for the Oilers. As I lived in Detroit for some time the Red Wings were my favorites and New York —- and I just liked pretty much all the Canadian teams of the day.
It's quite wet outside and fairly apparent it seems that we will at some time get more. Not a real happy camper here, but at least it's not cold or slippery from snow and ice. Still, I could take the rain better without all the dark and gray.
Cindy, you almost can't disappoint me with a rose. My mother had rose bushed in our yard and so roses have always 'spoken' to me. Same with lilacs that were in the yard next to us. As likely noted, I often use roses for my avatar and that is why — just a way to say hi to my mother in heaven every day — so I'm good with all your roses.
Hope you all have a great day.
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Jackie, I had miniature roses in 3 pots. I’m down to one left. They lasted years, so I can’t complain. The last survivor (yellow) has some greenery, so I hope it will eventually bloom.
I went to the orthopedic surgeons office to get them to print the surgical packet. They gave me 26 pages. As I looked through it at home, I realize they did not print the one for my PCP (appt 7:20AM).
After my soap opera is finished, I’ll be on the floor in front of the printer trying to figure out how to link it back up with my phone. If you hear any loud screams, not to worry, it’s just me.
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I bought a little mini knockout rose plant at Walmart's yesterday. Also bought a large red geranium plant from a nursery and a variety of smaller plants for a large pot on the deck. Oh, and a hanging planter with red and white petunias. I do like petunias but I'm not a fan of the black variety that is making its appearance this year.
It's very dry and we need rain, but I wasn't expecting light rain this morning when I was playing golf with the women's league. I got out my rain jacket and we finished the 9 hole round. Now the sun is shining brightly.
Happy Thursday to everybody.
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UPDATE: an angel must have been on my shoulder. As I pulled the printer app up on my phone it showed it was online! I was able to print the 2 pages I needed and be done within 5 minutes. Whatever torment it put me through yesterday, I must have done something right.
Carole, my grand niece gave me a big pot of variegated purple petunias. They were beautiful, note I say were. We came home one night and not a petunia was left. I have to guess it was a rabbit standing tall, who ate each one right off the plant. It looks like someone took scissors to it. Better luck with yours!
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cindyny, deer also like petunias. In fact there are very few plants that are deer resistant since they will eat anything when hungry. Why they are hungry when there is so much green to eat now, is a wonder. But I think gardens now are a smorgasbord for them. Loved your roses and wish I could grow them. I have even tried with the ones they are touting now as frequent bloomers the Knockouts, etc and no real luck. Glad the printer got the message, too.
carole, glad you found the plants you wanted. I had black petunias last year and loved them for a change from the common colors.
Slept last night without any pain meds but maybe one bathroom wake. It felt good this morning. Knees are both painful and have been since Monday. So I am trying some Ibuprofen today to see if that will help. Meant to use Voltaren gel but forgot to apply it while I was upstairs. I may go back uop later. I cleaned mirrors, and watered the plants upstairs, straightened up and put away the laundry I did yesterday. So small ventures in returning to housekeeping.
Got a call from Ortho PA that surgeon can't keep appointment next week and did I want to see her. Not sure so I will wait until tomorrow to reply. I have this one spot that swells on the outer aspect of my calf that even stumps PT who is addressing edema. Not sure if she can dx what it is and if she will provide some additional pain meds for the next 2 weeks. I have been rationing them as it is.
Have dexascan tomorrow and dreading results. Hope I am stable with osteopenia but even wish I don't have that.
canarycat, got a kick out of how things wouldn't post and then all attempts showed up.
It is going to 90 degrees today and lawn service showed up after missing last week. We are on every other week schedule so grass was beginning to resemble a meadow. Concerned about ticks when grass gets that high, too. So lawn looks good again. Still hazy skies.
DH continues to work on installing posts for fencing around bed in front of house. He's close to finish but it has taken him 3 days to install 6 posts that you knock in with a sledge hammer. I wanted him to ask DS for help but he won't and I definitely have my limits. Now he has to stretch fencing with hardest part being getting it straight as it comes rolled.
Hope everyone has a great day.
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Yay, Cindy. Good to hear you and your equipment are back in sync. I've seen this happen before — where changes are made, but seems that in order for full restoration the machine(s) seem to have to sit for 24 hrs. Of course I don't get it. I'm in general illiterate about machine workings, and that likely should be doubled if it electronic like computers, etc. It has in fact, happened a time to two to me — and then not happened enough just to keep me confused and un-certain. No wonder I go down to Tony at H & H. I worry that he will decided to retire.
Carole, your deck is once again going to be a work of art. I usually fall in love with anyone who is able to have a nice sized pot of a nice variety of plants together. Your weather there sounds fairly nice temp wise. Maybe some of my rain could find its way to you - - - I'm oh so willing to share.
Betrayal, Harley, Taco, Petite, Chris, Keywest or anyone I've missed — saying hi and thinking about you.
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I love the flower pictures and the dogs. LOL
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To awaken each morning with a smile brightening my face; to greet the day with reverence for the opportunities it contains; to approach my work with a clean mind; to hold ever before me, even in the doing of little things, the Ultimate Purpose toward which I am working; to meet men and women with laughter on my lips and love in my heart; to be gentle, kind, and courteous through all the hours; to approach the night with weariness that ever woos sleep and the joy that comes from work well done—this is how I desire to waste wisely my days. –
Thomas Dekker
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D-day today. I took my urine sample in. Of course I picked the day it was pouring rain and pooling badly on some of the highways. Yesterday was not a bad morning though wet — why I thought today would be similar, hmmmm.
Well, despite a couple of huge pour-downs we made it. Got to the front desk and nobody seemed to know exactly what to do. So finally I said — Dr. Regan ordered this and I'm doing exactly what he told me to do. Bring it in as soon after I was done as I could — so it wouldn't degrade too badly. It's all yours, and I'm leaving now, thank you. I presume they too might have needed another cup of coffee JUST like I did. I only had one cup which I hoped would get me and my pee to Mt. Vernon. I'm home now having that precious second cup. You know, it's Friday — maybe that had something to do with it too.
Otherwise all is well. Sadly, the weather report has extended our day into more pour-downs — maybe some wind, maybe even tornadoes — but mainly severe thunderstorms. Sigh. My issue with it — we are predicted to have an extension and have more of this tomorrow. Ugg.
Hope you all have a good day. Not too wet hopefully.
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