Can we have a forum for "older" people with bc?
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I was in Normandy in the fall to see the decorations they had erected for the 80th celebration last year and we visited the American cemetery which is a sight to behold. Crosses and Stars of David as far as the eye could see. It is very well-maintained. Sad there were so many of them.
Busy day between PT and having dexascan this afternoon. Woke at 5 am with severe knee pain, so dug ice pack out and after 30 minutes pain was manageable. PT was a challenge due to tiredness and pain but I made it through. Dexascan was interesting since they now ask you to remove your bra so no metal in spine films. Plus they use velcro loops to hold your feet in pigeon-toed position while they do the hip area which I could not tolerate on the left. She did get my left hip done and then released me, while she did the right. I was able to maintain the foot in the position she wanted on the right. Results might be available by Tuesday. I am hoping stable, but think that won't be the case. I have bad bursitis on left hip which is acting up today and had a sciatic episode on this side this morning. My skeleton seems to be in self-destrict mode now.
So not a pleasant day which 2 Tylenol Arthritis didn't even touch. Norco is gone, so not sure they will give me more and am wondering what I can take to help. Appointment with Ortho surgeon on Tuesday, was changed to one with PA and I tried to reschedule it this morning before I went to PT. New system routes office calls to a central registration where you have to do a song and dance explaining what you need only for them to say well "I can give you an appointment, but I don't know the doctor's schedule, so you'll have to talk to the office". Yes, that's what I was trying to do, ugh. I fail to see how this is streamlining scheduling.
She was polite and apologetic, so I tempered my dismay about how this system isn't working, if I now have to try to reach them again. She did put me through to voice mail, which it seems they didn't listen to, or it didn't work, because I got home this afternoon to find they had called twice saying I hadn't contacted PA when I had. Of course, when I called back the answering service answered, so I sent an email. Plus they had canceled the appointment, but indicated I had? Exasperating to say the least.
They were playing ABBA at PT and it reminded me that Bumblebee hasn't been singing much lately, since I am not spending much time at the kitchen table. He likes ABBA so I have their Greatest Hits playing in the background on my laptop and he's been singing along to songs that he likes.
I've been watching the French Open and there were some absolutely wonderful games played by some very talented players. I am hoping Coco Gauff makes it through to win. She played some splendid tennis, especially against the low seated French woman, Lois Boisson, who made it to the quarter finals. She was an unexpected gem and the French were wild about her.
DH had a birthday coupon entitiling him to a free entree at UNOS. So we went there for a early dinner/late lunch. He had the Peach Glazed Salmon and said it was delicious. I'm not a fish fan, so I will take his word for it. I love their Berry and Goat Cheese salad, so I had the power lunch, which also included French Onion soup. It was great. We went to a local place for Italian gelato for dessert. I love gelato and this is flown in from Italy. Today I had Biscoff (the cookies they give you on International flights) and Strawberries and cream. It was delicious.
It is hazy sunny here with temps in the high 70's at our house, but it was 90 in some areas where there is little to no shade. Not as humid so tolerable today. Hope everyone had a great day and Illinoislady, I hope the rain moves out. We are expected to get showers over the weekend so it is headed this way.
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Night owl me was up at 6 to get to my PCP appointment. All was good, cleared for surgery. As soon as I was done I went and did the bloodwork.
At 10 I met a gf for our walk. We got in 2 miles but boy it was so humid, we took short cuts to get back to our cars! We usually hang out and yak but both of us wanted the AC of our cars, and said our goodbyes until next week.
My gf getting the hysterectomy text about 1PM, she was ok to leave. I plugged the hospital into my GPS and off I went. I’m not super sure where the hospital was but dang, that GPS took me on roads I’ve never been on. Felt lost but trusted the GPS. I got her home quicker than my crazy route to pick her up.
Stoped at a place on the way back home for fish fries, got back in my car and that’s when it started pouring. Black skies, thunder & lightening. I drove out of it, but it caught back up with me as I got closer to home.
With all that rain, plus a horrific storm last night - I still have bird poop on my car, my grill cover, and my patio glass table top. I’ll be glad when this weather is over with.
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@illinoislady and @ betrayal - I can empathize with the frustration with your doctors. I hope that you receive satisfactory answers next week. The NP I saw last Friday advised it would take a week for her to interpret my bloodwork results. It’s been a week and I’ve heard nothing and there is no After Visit Summary in the portal. No Dexascan order either.
Cindy - good luck on your surgery and wishes for a quick recovery.
While working at the food pantry today I inquired of a few friends if they were happy with their PCPs and got a resounding NO, so I guess I’ll just put up my doctor. It sounds like it’s the same situation everywhere due to PCP/PA/NP shortages. What is even scarier is that one of our fellow volunteers is suspected of having ALS and when I spoke with her husband today he said she had a very bad week and he was unable to reach the doctor via phone, email or patient portal. This issue has been going for several months as they struggle to get a diagnosis and he is exhausted. Another friend at the pantry recently had surgery for a brain aneurysm and may have suffered a stroke during the surgery but the doctors aren’t sure and have sent her to a specialist, however that doctor cannot see her until May, 2026!On to brighter topics, the weather has been in the 70’s. Unlike Illinoislady, we really need rain here. I think it’s really sunny but the sun is hidden behind the wildfire haze. We had a lovely walk in a park yesterday with similar weather. We started walking the loop while we were living in a hotel during our home reno. The full loop is 7.3 miles but I can’t walk that far in one go so we typically walk 1-1.5 miles and then turn around and walk the same distance back to the car for a total of 2-3 miles. Yesterday’s segment completed the full loop which we’ve actually done twice with our out and back routes.
I’m trying to convince myself to get going earlier than usual tomorrow so I can get a bike ride in before we head to Lake Geneva for Baconfest to listen to live music and eat really yummy, unhealthy food.Enjoy the weekend!
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Betrayal — just wow. I hope your test results are better than your thinking right now.
Cindy —just wow. We seem to be coming up to what I hope is the second and hopefully last pour down today or tonight while I sleep. This time I think it poured for well over an hour. There is a road near us which is connected to the spillway at the lake and I'm sure with all the rain today one or more gates on the lake will be open which will mean that road is flooded and will be blocked off till it clears.
That said — we heard later this morning that though our original forecast was three days of rain (today being the third) they are now saying we should expect more tomorrow. I'm so UN-thrilled by this news. My car is staying clean, as is my deck and several things outside, but I'm hoping this backs off after tomorrow or even maybe later tomorrow. After the hideous pour-downs of the morning the sun actually peeked out for a few minutes ( almost un-believable) just as we got home from Mt. Vernon. After that though — immediately back to gray where it stayed rest of the day.
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harley07, ask your NP to release you labwork after the lab posts it so you do not have to wait for her to find the time to analyze it. It is pretty cut and dry since the lab values reflect the highs and lows for each but interpretation might be needed for the obscure ones. You need that Dexascan so time to shoot her an email asking for labs and for a prescription. The prescription is an automated checklist item so no big deal on her part. Just locate, click on it and send to printer or portal.
I hope you get your bike ride in and enjoy your weekend plans. That Baconfest sounds like fun. Love bacon.
I didn't want to see the PA because there is something just not right about this knee and I need the surgeon to tell me what it could possibly be. This was to be my discharge visit so another reason I do not want to meet with the PA. Last chance to have a face to face discussion. So I'm not going anywhere soon, PT can request more visits if needed and I'll play the waiting game.
cindyny, glad your planned surgery is on schedule and you were able to meet all pre-op requirements. Had a laugh about your gps story. I have yet to use mine and I've had my car for 7 years. Just haven't figured out how to plug things in and the crash course they gave me on purchase is long gone into the ether. Were you originally from this area of NY? You seem to have so many friends locally.
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I got to see my youngest GS graduate from high school tonight because they live streamed it on YouTube. He’s off to college in the fall. It was hot, sunny and windy. Everyone was holding on to their caps. He lives in Hood River, OR, and at least half the kids are native Spanish speakers. The program was in both languages with translations in the program for those who were there in person.
Sorry that everyone is having problems with their doctors. I always dread having to change
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Thanks Cindy, for the posting advice.
The dog with the towel is our Jackson, a Jack Russell. That was his name when we got him and it stuck. Mutz had been named Giovanni at the shelter but Ken had his heart set on Mutz. I got to pick the dog, so was more than happy to let him choose the name. Our DD suggested the modified spelling.
I haven't seen as much of the French Open as I would like. I've been sleeping late or dashing off to golf. The 9 hour time difference is too great for me to catch much of it although I did see the Sinner/Djokovich match before I went to bridge today.
Enjoy the Stanley Cup. We have never gotten into hockey although we went to a few games when we lived in Chicago during our student days.
Have a good weekend everyone.
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@Betrayal - I have seen the bloodwork results as they were posted last Saturday. All is good except for my LDL cholesterol. I just need to know if we need to do anything about it. WBC and neutrophils are still a bit low, but I see the MO next month for my discharge visit so she will run the labs again. I don’t think it’s anything to be worried about.
This is the first time i have not had an after visit summary posted to the portal. My guess is the NP is behind on her charting and by the time she writes the notes she will have forgotten the visit. I’m still trying to get the RN’s notes for the MWV portion corrected. My PCP returns in October and when I looked online the earliest I can schedule a visit is December. I’m out of town most of December so I booked an appointment for January 2026. 🤷♀️. I listed the reasons for the visit as I need a Dexascan order and discuss LDL levels.
@Wren - love that you could watch your GS’s graduation on YouTube. This is certainly one of the positive benefits of technology
@Taco - the dog wrapped in the towel is my favorite picture although they are all adorable.
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@betrayal my wbc and neutrophils are low too and my docs are not concerned. Hmmm. Meanwhile the prednisone and amoxil have done nothing to my lung issue so going to the clinic Saturday. Ugh. I hate wheezing like bagpipes. On a positive note the show I’ve been working on opens next week. I did set decoration and costumes. Here are a few costumes from tonight. Mother Superior in the grey nun outfit “ forgot “ to were her black bib. OMGG! Enjoy.
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If I keep my eyes open, I see bugs and snakes and intricate tiny flowers and cool rocks and nice smiles and beautiful architecture and gentle kindness. If I keep my heart young I notice great places to play, nice sunsets, cool hideouts, neat ice formations, and strange and unusual birds and animals. Life is never ordinary. We can make it seem ordinary by closing our eyes and hearts to its wonder, but that's not life's fault. I prefer to notice the little things and then leave them be--never trying to take them with me or preserve them--because that's what life's supposed to be, and that's what makes me happy and keeps away disappointment.
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Good morning. So far this a.m. we are soaked from previous rains but lo and behold some early sun. It was so pretty. I walked to the kitchen for a cup of coffee and out the kitchen door window could see this shaft of sunlight through the trees with a sort of mist all lit up piercing it seemed all the way to the ground. I just stood there admiring the sight for a bit.
Very muted now and I don't expect it will last at all. But sure was nice to see. So, we will see how the day goes. Perhaps a couple of items at the store. I need to get some stew beef. It is one of my anytime favorite meals.
I'm okay sometimes with just a PA but I too prefer the Dr./Surgeon so as to feel I'm on the same page they are and vice versa. Generally I do get that so I do not have much for complaints. I'm also assigned an RN who assists the Dr. so that makes it easier for me to keep up for the most part.
I do hope you can see who you need to Betrayal. You do need answers so you can plan effectively and have some sort of time estimate for getting life fully back on track.
Taco, I think Mutz is a really cute name and the spelling seems to make it even more so. We never got around to another name for Lil' Red. Now it is who he is for better or worse.
Love the pictures Canary — especially the last one. Hilarious. Hopefully you will get some good help at your clinic visit.
Hope you all have a really good day and hopefully — not too wet.
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Illinoislady, I love beef stew and don't make i t often enough. I stopped buying stew beef packaged as such because it had gotten so expensive. I buy a cheaper beef roast and cut it up to make stew beef. It's usually not as fatty, too. I freeze whatever I don't use for future use.
Very overcast today and raining now. DH said during his walk with Regan it sprinkled. We could use some rain since we've had to water the plants lately. I've not made much progress on gardening but hope to be able to do some next week if not this weekend. He's still working on installing stakes to hold new fencing on the first bed. He needs help, but refuses to ask for any, which means this project will be prolonged.
harley07, I apologize because I didn't realize you had seen blood work results on portal. You didn't indicate if LDL was high or low but here's some info for you which may tell you what future plans can include. It seems you are very active and I will infer, physically fit from your 14 mile bike rides.
Factors Affecting LDL Cholesterol Levels:
- Genetics: Family history of high cholesterol can increase your risk.
- Age: LDL levels tend to rise with age.
- Sex: Women may experience higher LDL levels after menopause.
- Diet: A diet high in saturated and trans fats can raise LDL levels.
- Weight: Being overweight or obese can also contribute to higher LDL.
- Medications: Some medications, like those for blood pressure or HIV, can raise LDL as a side effect.
- Medical Conditions: Diabetes, chronic kidney disease, and other conditions can also impact LDL levels.
How to Lower LDL Cholesterol:
- Diet: Choose a diet low in saturated and trans fats, and rich in fiber and fruits and vegetables.
- Weight Management: Maintaining a healthy weight can help lower LDL.
- Regular Exercise: Physical activity can improve cholesterol levels.
- Smoking Cessation: Smoking lowers HDL cholesterol and raises LDL.
- Medications: If lifestyle changes are not enough, your doctor may prescribe cholesterol-lowering medications.
I have genetic factors including family hx, age, gender, weight and medical conditions that raise mine so I am on a statin, though low dose compared to others. Two DB's have had cardiac issues with stent placement and/or bypass surgery. I could do better with diet, exercise, and weight management. My HDL runs low so PCP monitors it but doesn't think it is of concern.
I hope you get some answers soon. The NP's notes should be available within 24-48 hours post-visit according to Medicare.
canarycat for over 40 years we had season tickets to the Walnut Street Theater (oldest theater in US) and saw on an average 5-6 plays a year. We loved it as it was a reason to get out of the house for a date night. What was the name of the play you showed photos of? I hope you get something that addresses your lung issues soon.
Taco, when we left for my dexascan appointment yesterday, Djokovich and Sinner had just started to play. When we got home after the dexascan and dinner at Unos, I caught the tail end of the match. Sorry to see Djokovich play his possible last match at Roland Garros but he has had a wonderful career.
Watching Sabalenka/Gauff match but hate how Sabalenka is grunting with every stroke. I do understand the physiology, but it is annoying. I hope Gauff wins.
Hope everyone has a wonderful day.
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@betrayal - thanks for the info. My LDL is high and it’s been an issue for the past 9 years. I’ve tried a couple of statins and cannot tolerate them, however I’ve had success with ezetimibe with my previous PCP. Unfortunately current PCP’s philosophy is to prescribe statins or nothing. Two years ago she indicated she would consider Repatha but that is out of my budget and I’m not interested in an injection. I think she was trying to force me into using a statin. She insisted on a coronary calcium scan and when the results were a score of zero she dropped the whole cholesterol lowering discussion.
I’ll pursue the topic with the NP along with the Dexascan order in the next week or so. I’m not a great patient and I think I used up all my perseverance trying to get BC treatment a few years ago. Primary care is a real weak point in my area, but fortunately my current oncologists are fantastic. As long as I’m not in imminent danger of dying I try to avoid doctors.
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The quest for perfection will stop you from getting results throughout your life. Realize right now that perfection is a relative term. What seems perfect to you will seem flawed to someone else; what seems perfect to them will seem ridiculous to you. It's all a matter of opinion. Do the best you can and let go. History will judge what you have done. And more often than not, it will forget and forgive all of us. Enjoy the journey. It's perfect as it is. All is well.
Joe Vitale
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harley07, if the ezitimibe worked, I don't see why your PCP is trying to make you use statins. I looked at the price for Repatha and it is ridiculously expensive. I feel for you that your PCP is not patient centered in your care, but essentially being a bully with "my way, or the highway tactics". I hear you about only seeing a physician, NP, PA out of necessity. I'd like a visit where I get an "atta girl" rather than a new medical concern but realize at my age this may be wishful thinking. However, you are a trooper and have my admiration for your ability to face hiccups with grit and grace.
There is no one size fits all in medicine and I guess that's why I loved my PCP. With every change necessitated by my medical needs, my PCP and I would discuss the pros and cons of approaches. She advised an increase in my statin dosage when my LDL went up but I could not tolerate the increase, so we went back to the original dose. It has now decreased into the normal limits so I am glad and so was she. I don't know why it went down, but glad it did.
Overcast day again with temps in the 70's. Rain on the horizon and I hope to be able to cut the dead wood out of the hydrangeas. I have 3 more bushes to do. I don't like the clippers we have because they are too heavy for this job. I just need a good pair of secateurs which I thought had, but they seem to have disappeared. The big ones work best on tree branches where you need the force to sever it.
Will clean bird cages before I head outside and need to make new nectar for hummingbird feeder. Haven't seen hummingbird lately so I am wondering if it found a better one.
Hope everyone has a great day.
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Today is DH's birthday. Nature is not celebrating. So far it's a gray windy day in the 50's. We have a dinner reservation tonight at an Italian restaurant that we both like. We will picking up Dorothy, whose husband Carl died unexpectedly last summer. They were dinner friends during the summer. Dorothy's birthday is on June 11th so tonight will be birthday celebrations for dh and Dorothy. She invited us to have dessert and an after-dinner drink after dinner at her house.
DH has been taking Rapatha for a number of years and it has worked well for him. He is unable to tolerate any of the statins. He applied to the manufacturer for a lower price and was approved. I think he pays $15 a month. The injection is every other month. He gets a three-month supply. The only headache is having to go through a doctor's approval procedure periodically. Insurance companies never give up hope that a pricey med won't be approved.
Happy Sunday to everyone.
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Good morning. The sun is out bright and clear. If the grass wasn't beat down in spots and some areas still looking muddy you'd have no idea it spent three days and part of a 4th. pouring. Sure is nice to have that sun.
I envision myself one of these days hoping for rain because that's the way it seems to go, in that feast or famine pattern. Betrayal, I think you are right. Aging if anything gives you something to focus on — ever changing to one degree or other it seems, health. I recall it seems having my annual check-up and getting into such a ho-hum doldrum. Then along came my fist breast cancer. Well, even that came and went and once again (just not quite so strongly) things settled down. But since the broken arm — that seemed to have started something. I'm hoping this yr. (so far, so good) that I'm back to just going to yearly check-up just to make sure —despite the fact that the yearly check-up has turned into half a yr. check-ups.
Happy Birthday to your hubby Carole and Dorothy. How nice to include her in your birthday plans since she hasn't her mate to share the milestone with. Nice for her and so good hearted of you.
I take a half a cholesterol pill a day, along with a half a diabetic drug. Seems that some of the heart meds i take tend to raise those numbers and it is a way to keep them in an area that precludes harsher measures for fixing something not so much caused by my body. I'm good with it.
Hope you all have a great Sunday.
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Carole, happy birthday to DH and your friend. How nice of you to include her in birthday celebrations. Hope you have a wonderful meal.
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I did it again - wrote a long post and then an alarm went off on my phone, I came back and it’s gone.
Poured, poured and poured yesterday. 1.74” of rain which broke a record from 1901. So much rain, I had to pump the water off the winter pool cover again.
Beautiful sunny day today, 79 high. I hooked up the hose to the outdoor Windex bottle and went to town. After that I ran to my grand nieces soccer game. Partner, he took the tree crap off the pool winter cover; hoping for a Wednesday pool opening.
I moved out from a wall the large end piece of our entertainment center - it’s a display cabinet full of stuff. The AC split will be going on that wall and for access I had to move it. Oh the dusty cob webs I’ve seen! I used magazines as a hack to slide it on the carpet - side to side movements. I moved it a day early because I have an appointment with my muscle therapist chiropractor tomorrow at 11. Once I see her, my muscles are so loose I’m not supposed to do much.
Carole, hope your dh dinner bday celebration, as well as your friends, was fun.
I didn’t take notes and about now, I’m afraid to look back! If I lost this post I’d quit. You all know I wish you all the best!1 -
Carole - happy birthday to your DH and friend. It is very sweet of you to include your friend in the birthday celebrations.
Betrayal - I totally agree that an occasional ‘atta girl’ when seeing the doctor would be nice
Canarycat - I love that you are involved in the theatre. How did you get into set and costume design?
Another gray, hazy day here in the 70’s. We got two brief thundershowers and that was it. I wish Cindy and Illinoislady could send some of their rain my way.
Had a great 15 mile bike ride yesterday. I’m slow but it was a huge psychological boost to get back to the 15 mile mark as that was the distance I was riding prior to last year’s cancer diagnosis.
Baconfest was a total bust. Last year it was held in a park by the lake in the town center. Quite a few food vendors, good music and a good vibe. This year they moved it 15 minutes out of town to the county fairgrounds. Few people, fewer food vendors (none really bacon themed) and the promised bands from 4:30-10pm were missing. We stayed 10 minutes and left. Headed back to town and had dinner on a restaurant patio overlooking the lake. Oh well. We’ll take that festival off of our calendar in the future.
Wishing everyone a good week.
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Dh and I have an early appt. tomorrow in Marion so we will be late with all posting.
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Went to the county dairy breakfast yesterday. Free bus ride from our fairgrounds— two blocks away from where I live, to the farm. I could have ridden over there on my bike. It was nice, i saw about five people I know. Borrowed a book on New Amsterdam from the genealogical library.
Did some gardening, went into a panic because I wasn't watching Tippy 100% of the time and I didn't see him poop yesterday. He made three big poops today.
We have beans, lettuce, butternut squash, strawberries, tomatoes radishes, peppers, and cabbage in our garden. Wish I could actually do some work in it, but my thumbs!!
Someone has complained about pine pollen in the past. The trees around here are producing a lot of that bright yellow stuff. Never saw it before.
Keyboarding is too painful to do much, and the spelling errors are frightful!! But I am still alive.
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I Choose
to live by choice, not by chance;
to make changes, not excuses;
to be motivated, not manipulated;
to be useful, not used;
to excel, not compete.
I choose self esteem, not self pity.
I choose to listen to my inner voice, and not to the random opinion of others.
un-attributed.
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Good afternoon. Very late today. To boot, my friend Ray came over and left little Kiko ( she's a very miniature black Poodle) for me to watch while he does a long errand. So, it will be difficult but okay. Lil' Red is easily jealous, but put Kiko in the floor and they do okay together. It's if she has to be picked up. Red is much younger so won't quit trying to play. Kiko is a little over 8 yrs. old.
Did okay going to Marion. It rained last night and was still quite wet outside when we lift. I really thought it would rain on the way there, but by the time we arrived it was sunny and stayed that way. Sunny here when we got home too. There is hope we will get dried out now for a bit.
Interesting about the pine pollen. We had some for a time, but I think we have had so much rain that we may be through almost all of it now. The trees looked fully leafed out along with everything else.
I hope you all had a good day and I'm looking forward to getting here tomorrow at the right time.
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Late day for me as well. Regan got us up at 6 this morning so I am dragging. I had PT and finally was able for the first time to push the bike pedal fully around. I have been trying for about a week but I would hit the top of the arc, and the knee would just say "nope". I was only able to do it for 75 seconds but that is a start. I was really sore after PT and sleepy as well.
It started out rainy this morning but has cleared over the day but still with hazy skies. Temps in the low 70's and a mild breeze.
Got Dexascan results but unable to interpret latest findings except that it appears I am not stable and remain osteopenic. Hoping PCP will chime in with her interpretation and I have some questions for her.
PA did reorder Norco so I have a supply for those days/nights when pain really ramps up. She said pain at this time is expected so not to worry. Office reached out to reschedule appointment of course, while I was at PT and I didn't realize they had left a message. I'll call tomorrow.
Illinoislady, I hope Kiki was able to withstand Lil' Red's attempts at play. I have to watch Regan with Misty because she tries to play with her and doesn't realize she can't play that rough with her. She paws at her and knocks her over at times.
Chris, I hear you about typing with sore thumbs. I seldom use my thumbs with my method for hunting and pecking which passes as my typing skill set. However, simple tasks such as buttoning, using a zipper, etc remind me how dependent we are on functioning thumbs.
harley07, I spend 8-10 minutes on a recumbent bike and am tired at the end. I can't imagine doing 15 miles but applaud you for regaining what you thought you had lost. Keep it up.
DD ran into a former nursing student of mine and he was telling her stories about how I taught him Nursing Mathematics, encouraging him to learn how to do it in his head, rather than relying on a calculator. He still checks his dosages this way and has passed the method I used onto other nurse's he works with.
He challenges them to do it on their phones (using the calculator) and then reveals his answer. Usually they get the same results but he is so quick they are astonished. He then shows them how to do it. I also had him for clinical and he shared stories of that experience with her as well. Nice to have positive feedback. His sister-in-law was also one of my students and she always sends hellos.
Hope everyone had a great day.
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Harley, sorry the bacon fest was a bust. We’ve had that happen before, looking forward to an event and it’s horrible. Your 15 mile bike ride is admirable!
Jackie, taking care of another dog could upset lil Reds apple cart. I hope you all survived the visit.
Chris, I use my phone for all these posts, so it’s my right index finger doing all the keying. When my thumbs act up, so many tasks cause pain, or I’m outright unable to do them.
Betrayal, good news you’ve gotten the pedal around on the bike. Take all the victories you can.
Canarycat, hoping your play was a success. And GO OILERS! We’re turning on the game now.
Well, we had more rain today. At least 1” in my basement. I went to my muscle therapist chiropractor and oh it felt heavenly. She worked long at the spot on my back, and even worked on my knee.
I did a deep clean on the display case of the entertainment center. I should do it more often, but most times I’ll use a Swiffer. I threw out a bunch of old greeting cards stuffed in the very bottom, and found items be returned to the cable company too.But now the unit will remain out in the middle of my living room for another day. The contractor installing the AC splits had to postpone until Wednesday. Because… you can guess, MORE rain is expected up thru about 1 PM. We’re now on for Wednesday, 8 AM. This night owl will have to get to sleep earlier than usual.
No plans for tomorrow, I thought I’d be busy with the contractor. Maybe I’ll deep clean something else. This being stuck indoors is for the birds.
My good news for the day, I was able to cancel an appointment with the endocrinologist. It was on the books before they found the thyroid nodules and was a general check up. I go for an ultrasound and then review of that in October. Free up the July appt for someone who needs it.
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Coming up for air, briefly.
I am currently in Contractor/Adjuster Hell. Yup, still stuck here in Lincolnwood. You will remember that we didn't even get permits issued till March (fire was 6/1/24). It was late April before contractor's crew chief called with photos of paint, carpet, cabinet, & counter samples. But the paint job has been incredibly sloppy: baseboards look like they were painted by a toddler (they didn't even use painter's tape). Front room wall needed repainting because drywall joint was visible through the paint—and now for the past 3 weeks nothing has been done to paint over the spackle that was applied). Problem is that the contractor subcontracted a work crew consisting of 3 older Polish guys, and only the chief speaks English. And due to labor shortages caused by the usual pool of Latino day laborers who congregate outside Home Depot drying up because they're terrified of ICE, this skeleton crew has been rotating between our house and other sites. Kitchen is half-finished, wrong fans were installed (supposed to have included remote controls but these didn't—and the pull-chains are too short and high up for me to reach!), bedroom closets were improperly installed (poles missing, baskets/racks bass-ackwards), bedroom cabinet door missing, linoleum in two second-floor rooms chewed up. They installed cheap "mushroom" semi-industrial ceiling light fixtures (like in schools) instead of the pendants I picked out. Window frames painted so thickly that they can't operate. Screens missing. Closet doors painted so thickly that they don't open smoothly or close properly. Tons of junk that needs discarding. And the fire-damaged rear exterior wall is still unrepaired except for a part that's been boarded-over. And of course everything is filthy.
When I met with the electrician last week to plan fixtures (and I sent him and the crew chief pix of those I chose), he said that even if work proceeds apace the city is so slow scheduling inspections (necessary for a Certificate of Occupancy) that we probably can't move back till at least August, and he suggested we request a lease extension through August. So I did, from both Homelink (housing liaison) and Freestand Home Solutions (landlord's agency).
Well, Friday I got a call from State Farm's adjuster (who hasn't been the sharpest knife in the drawer since this started) that he will NOT authorize a lease extension past 6/30! I explained what needs to be done and why it's taking so long, but he wants it in writing. I again informed Homelink and Freestand Home Solutions that we need an extension to 8/31, but he's stood firm in refusing. Our contractor (who picked out the Three Stooges of a work crew) said his office would work on producing the necessary detailed letter.
Today I went over (since our mail forwarding expired 4/30, we go back every other day to pick up mail) and saw that there's at least a month's worth of work that needs finishing satisfactorily—I took loads of pictures. The contractor called me back and said his crew chief said the place will be ready by 6/30! (In whose universe)? I let him have it and sent him 58 pictures of everything that's still unsatisfactory—but he needs to see for himself as I point will it all out in person this Thursday. It will be a hellish week, though—tomorrow I have to go out to Glen Ellyn to sing with my music partner on the radio (WDCB FM 90.9) during "Folk Festival" to plug our appearance at the Gebhard Woods Dulcimer Festival this weekend. (And have I been able to practice? Hahahahah…we haven't rehearsed because he lives up in Madison, WI). And Thursday night is yet another hospital dinner…down in Beverly…which will require driving separate cars since Bob will be coming from work. (At least that means Bob can't drink). Friday afternoon I have to head down to Morris for the festival. (Hope I can still get a motel room—otherwise I'd have to leave here Sat. & Sun. before dawn, as we're on first).
We can't order movers and cleaning crews, buy mattresses or set up deliveries (and re-deliveries of stuff in storage) till we have an ironclad date for satisfactory move-back. So it's the opposite of the Army's "hurry up & wait," rather "wait, wait, wait…HURRY UP!" I've been understandably paralyzed into inaction. Bob has been working hard so he's in no condition to help out with the administrative stuff (he doesn't know how, anyway, because docs have staff to do it for them). Meanwhile, rent here is $6750/mo (through now it's been paid by State Farm), and though we can afford to pay the next two months ourselves we shouldn't have to. (Adjuster snarkily says I should make the contractor pay). It's all-inclusive, but we still have to pay utilities, landscaper & property taxes back home.
I have my hands full with the cats—especially BangBang who is insanely jealous of anything that takes my undivided attention away from her. Roxy is a joy…except when she vomits from the pica that has her nibbling plastic & paper. (BangBang also has pica—she needs dentistry but I can't get her into a carrier—we've had to cancel several vet appointments. (Dentistry can't be performed by a visiting vet).
At least my (physical) health is okay for now—passed stress test & echo, but cardiologist insists that 77 is too high an LDL for me because of my coronary calcium score. Skin mapping turned out okay too. Of course, there are the usual aches, pains & strains. I have my mammo (hopefully, after which it'll revert to annual) 6/27 and my ocular onc appointment in Aug. (ditto). Still osteoporotic, of course; and have been unable to set up gym membership due to everything going on (and still can't wear socks w/o excruciating toe pain, which podiatrists refuse to treat). Fortunately, haven't re-sprained my ankle and the foot stress fracture hasn't been acting up.
But now UPS has effed up this month's delivery of Zepbound vials—first the truck broke down so the stuff had to be sent back to Gifthealth (LillyDirect's pharmacy). But every time a new shipment goes out it gets left out on the loading dock and "returned to sender." 3 times in the past week! (Invariably I get a UPS notice that it's out for delivery but 2 hrs later "returned to sender"). Gifthealth's chat rep apologized and confirmed it's suddenly started happening to lots of people. My guess is that it's another ICE issue: regular drivers haven't been showing up at UPS facilities for fear of arrest & deportation, so they've had to hire incompetent temps who don't understand temperature-sensitive shipment protocols. Today is shot-day, and I do have 4 weeks' worth in the fridge. But if this keeps happening I may have to go back to buying it in "pens" at Walgreen's—for more than twice the price. (No, Medicare won't cover it and by law Medicare/Medicaid patients can't use manufacturer discount coupons for brand-name drugs). I pay $500 for the vials from LillyDirect, a condition of which is that insurance cannot be involved—but when I buy the pens at the pharmacy I have to pay $996-1200, depending on which pharmacy and whether I use SingleCare or GoodRx. Used to be that I would order & pay for the vials and they'd be at my doorstep, in dry ice, w/in 36 hrs. Not now.
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Sandy, I'm horrified. But then, I do realize with Trump, Ice and the insanity of it all. a lot of things one could count on are down the tubes. I wish I were there. Heavens, I have no idea what real help I could be other than a shoulder to cry or pound on —- whatever emotion needed handling the most.
You always end up seeming to make things seem as though you breeze right through, but even if you do I'm praying that you are indeed in your home no later than the Aug. date. It's time to return to the life that was and will be again.
You know — there is so much going on now with the ICE issues. It's a wonder time hasn't stood still — nothing like it should be. Can't blame those who have to hide now, but I'm hating it.
Praying your health continues to hold up fine.
Sending major hugs to you.
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Sandy, now you know why we were glad we were able to partially occupy our house during the restoration. The restoration manager we had was ineffective. I was constantly on his tail after he failed to get the gutters (tied into an underground water mitigation system) back on the house before the hurricane hit, and we ended up with a basement full of water. Prior to that the basement had minimal damage, now we needed to totally replace the flooring, we had blowers in the basement to dry it out for weeks, and several walls had to be removed and replaced which meant the entire basement had to be repainted. I had my own punch list of everything that needed to be done to meet their specs and mine because they still installed the wrong shoe molding when the correct was cited in the specs, etc. So I suggest you look at what the restoration/insurance plan is and do your own to ensure everything is to your liking before you sign off. I doubt you will be in by 6/30 and I would invite the insurance agent to do a walk through with you. He is dropping the ball as well.
I don't think many have considered the impact of losing the latino workers on our every day life. In this area they work in restaurants, lawn and tree services, construction, farm labor and the lowly jobs that no one else wants.
I am hoping you can get your Zepbound soon and that the rest of your hassles become less burdensome. It's nice to have you back even if only for an update on your restoration.
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It's going to be an interesting week - ICE protests (just saw one in Dallas), the military parade and the "No Kings" protests. In spite of it being over 100 degrees, I know many are planned, including in my suburban community NW of Phoenix. There is also a planned caravan between area sites for those who are unable to participate at the designated locations. Although I've done my share of "marching" with his blessing in the past, Ken will worry too much if I go.
I don't think a lot of people have thought about what the crackdowns will have on the economy. So many industries rely on immigrant labor, whether some people want to acknowledge it or not.
Sandy, your house troubles sound way too familiar. Sorry it's been so awful. Good to hear from you.
Haley - I too am impressed with the 15 mile bike ride.
Chris - what's the name of the book you borrowed about New Amsterdam? Should I look for it? I have two Dutch lines that were there early.
Have a safe week everyone.
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