Can we have a forum for "older" people with bc?
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MY BROTHER HAS ARRIVED!! Couldn't be happier.
I'm having a terrible time sleeping, even though I am on a lot of medication that is supposed to make me sleep. I have had to up the dosage of one med, and add two Tylenol and still don't fall asleep till 2:30-3:00 in the morning. I have always needed at least 10 full hours of sleep to feel rested in the morning. Before DVRs and such, I never saw a TV show that came on at 10 or later. Never saw Johnny Carson, Sat Night Live, or any of the 10:00 Prime Time shows. To make it worse, my shrink retired in Dec- I had been with him for over 20 years and loved that I could just say "Jamie's moving to Lake Placid" and he knew all the history behind that statement . Every one in the family except my oldest son has gone to him through the years.
The new guy I picked does meds only. I've seen him twice- the first time he looked at the meds I was on, so he had names for my issues, the second time I was with him for 15 min and he spent the whole time trying to figure out how to print a prescription for the same med at two different doses, even though on my paperwork, I notedthat sleeping problem had greatly increased. I am not comfortable with medicine changes without discussing the problem. I'm starting to think it may be connected to my eating. I have stopped eating ice cream after 7:30 pm and that seemed to help, but last night I didn't have ice cream- but I did eat Chinese food between 8-8:30. I need to find someone who does counseling and meds- or is at least interested in why I feel the way I feel.
Bro and I are heading to health food stores to find some tart cherry juice he forgot to pack. Hope everyone has a great weekend.
Anne
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Anne, Seems, at least myself and most of my friends agree, the older we get the less sleep we need and get. I think I've had a good nights sleep if I get more than 5 or 6 hours. Maybe your body is changing with age!I used to sleep all night thru, now I wake up around 3 AM for a couple of hours! Don't know the answer for you, but that may be part of your sleep changes. Jean
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Anne, I think our needs do change over time for sleep. I try not to eat anything at least four hours before bed and more if possible. In my younger years I could eat and even drink when I wanted, but time took a toll. I remember drinking coffee all day long and taking a cup of hot coffee with me when I went to bed ( very addicted then ) and I would settle down with my book, have a couple of swallows of coffee and wake up the next morning with an almost full cup of very cold coffee on the bed side table. Not I stop coffee, only having maybe four cups a day --- once in a while five usually by 3 to 3:30 p.m. and the spicier the food -- the earlier I try to eat it.
As far as spices etc. I have found that if I lay on my left side and I have eaten a bit on the late side I'm usually fine, but oh watch out if I turn to the right. That will cause me to need at least one Tums and maybe two. I have a t.v. in my room ( everyone says that is a no-no ) but I have found that after a VERY short while I'm bored ( it has a timer ) so roll over and fall fast asleep. So --- I just turn on something that is boring to me. It has worked now for a long time.
Hope you are able to get some relief -- the few times I've been wakeful, it feels so lonely --- to feel like the rest of the world is sleeping while the sandman is avoiding you like the black plague.
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Anne - the solution for me is to eat EARLY. In a perfect world, I would like to eat dinner at 4pm. In fact, that's a challenge when others are involved. In fact, i don't eat meat or protein after 6pm. If I have to eat late, I stick with veggies & carbs, or maybe light grilled fish - but late means dinner is finished before 8pm. This has made going to sleep much easier.
Sorry, meant to say I hope having your brother there is great.
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Kindness is the golden chain by which society is bound together.
- Johann Wolfgang van Goethe -0 -
What a pretty morning. We won't have the great temps. from yesterday, but it will still be fairly nice. We are getting a little teaser of Spring. That is okay with me. They do say of March ( not all that close yet ) can come in like a lion ( lots of winds and maybe storms too ) and go out like a lamb. Who knows is what I say.
Hoping to have a good day here. My little lady is back in the hospital --- likely some sort of infectious malady. I think at the age she is ( will be 101 April 13th. ) it is somewhat common for systems to be weak and easy for one little germ to set up housekeeping . Anyway, I'll still be spending time with her -- at the hospital rather than the Manor ( her nursing home ). So yesterday ( that glorious day ) didn't finish as well. I had been by to check ( family spent the day taking in a show ) and all was fine. The upset came after I left which made me feel bad, but it happens when it happens.
Went over as well to check on the doggies ( Yorkie and miniature Schnauzer ) who have always been pure delight. Still, family is giving up and having a trainer, train the lady ( becoming canine alpha ) to be able to control some behaviors. These behaviors, while not considered super bad have been still very annoying at times -- like bringing in little sticks through the doggie door and sitting somewhere chewing them --- ends up making a big pile of splinters in the carpet. Jumping on the furniture w/o being invited which startles people and disallows good visiting with family members. Also, the pups didn't and haven't accepted walking on a leash. So, they will end up even more of a delight later on.
Hope you are all going to have a fantastic Sunday.
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Northstar, maybe its because us older people know how to live life and are busy doing it. and know how to appreciate a beautiful morning without a keyboard or mouse.
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Cliff - It took me awhile to figure our tho Northstar was. Although she started this thread, she has not posted since 2010. I guess that makes her no longer a regular. Most of us who post on this thread even sporadically are well rounded enough that we spend time outside and also with our computers.
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For what it's worth, it's never too late to be whoever you want to be. I hope you live a life you're proud of, and if you find that you're not, I hope you have the strength to start over.
no author name given.
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Good morning, everyone. I'm up and dressed in my workout clothes. Dh is picking up his brother at the airport around 11 am so we're going to the gym a little earlier than usual.
We had house guests this weekend, a couple from MN, so the little-used guest room is getting some use.
Otherwise I plan to go about my usual Tuesday and visit my mother at the nursing home. She has another UTI. I wonder if she ever gets rid of the infection.
Happy Monday
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Hi gals.... Carole, sorry about your Mom.... Those UTI's can be a real problem! Our 92 year old friend had one last year, and wound up in the hospital, then a rehab place. I finally was able to go see her, and she didn't even know who I was.... Does something with your head, I guess.... I sat and talked to her, then when I left, I just went out in my car and cried.... I thought she would never recover!
But then, a couple days later, her DIL called me from the rehab, and said "Someone wants to talk to you"..... She handed the phone to Theresa, and she was perfectly normal! I was SOooooo relieved! And she kept improving, with a lot of help and time..... went back to her AL place, and is still kicking and onery!
Those stubborn infections sometimes NEVER clear up, it seems like.... changing medications might help, but THEY have SE's also....
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The moment one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help that would never otherwise have occurred. A stream of events issues from the decision, raising unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance, which no person could have dreamt would have come his or her way.
W. H. Murray
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Chevy, you do show up here --- that's good. We miss you when you don't. Happy Valentines' Day to all. I ( for some silly reason ) have not been able to post pictures or other things for a while now or I'd find a nice card/message/meme, but drat -- that part of my computer has changed something on me and I haven't figured it out yet. I may yet have to call my computer geeks and have them try to help me.
I think/hope we will have some sun today but not sure. You know same old thing --- no matter what the weatherman may predict, it is not something we can rely too much on.
Hoping you all have a fantastic day spent doing things that make you happy or content or both. Smiles and hugs to everyone.
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Hi all
Chevy and Carole- I had a UTI while going thru chemo. I don't remember any particular symptoms. I do remember going in for a nap, which in itself was unusual, then waking up at around 7pm, walking out of the bedroom and saying to my daughter that I needed to go to the ER. I remember saying that, but I have no idea why I said that. Thank goodness my daughter took my word for it, and off to the hospital we went. Don't remember much of that. Just found out recently that once I was in a bed, I kept asking Nancy where my husband was, getting more and more agitated each time. Nancy, realizing I had no idea what I was doing, kept saying he just went for some coffee, he was just taking a walk, etc and called my son in So Carolina at 5am, pretty upset- ok, she wa close to hysterical, and he immediately started over. Meanwhile, the nurse finally asked Nancy where her Dad was and why wasn't he there? Nancy whispered that he had died a little more than a year ago. The nurse then asked Nancy if she could give me something that would calm me down and most likely put me to sleep. Minutes after me getting that, my son arrived. I gave him a hug, And said "you're finally here" leaned back and was out like a light.
To this day, Nancy uses that as proof that Rob is my favorite. I think, again, not remembering any of this, I thought Rob was his dad, and finally feeling I was safe with Bob, I relaxed, and let the meds put me to sleep.
Ann
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I think a UTI should be the first thing suspected when an older person begins seeming crazy and disoriented. Often it's the first symptom.
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If you have integrity, nothing else matters.
If you don't have integrity, nothing else matters.
- Alan K. Simpson0 -
This morning on Facebook I got a message reminding me to wish someone a happy birthday today. Usually I just add my birthday wishes to the box and hit "send". I got to thinking I hadn't seen Jim post anything recently so I went to his actual page and found a whole page of condolences on his death last summer. I met Jim through a cancer forum, and the last time he'd posted he was feeling fine and had just finished a woodworking project for his daughter. So glad I listened to that tiny voice in my head and didn't post a message.
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Chevy, good to have you pop in and chat with us.
Puffin, sorry about your friend.
Dh and his brother went to NO to the WWII museum. They took my Prius and left me dh's Tundra truck. I drove it to Sam's Club and did some shopping with a list.
When I was stowing purchases, an old tennis friend stopped and chatted. It was good to see her and remember our younger days of tennis matches
Now I'm back at home enjoying the temporary solitude. Hope you all are having a good day.
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Glad you listened to that little voice too Puffin. It has saved me time and again. I have a theory as to why the little voice starts nagging you. We often see ourselves as alone in this world. We never, never are. Even when no one else is around -- and so seeing certain things, the voice is nudged that it is time to help us out a bit. It is one of the greatest gifts we have -- those who make sure we truly are NEVER really alone.
Struggling with my sinus issues a bit again. I had taken the loratidine for almost a month and hating it --- so I thought I'd back off. That was a couple of days ago. This afternoon I have pressure in my head and ears, and a sore throat and cough. Guess who is taking that good old loratidine again. A couple of days should get me back where I need to be.
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I agree about UTI's causing mental issues. According to my neurologist, dementia is often misdiagnosed. Much of the time it is either from low B-12 or UTI's. For those of us who have had strokes, we are at risk for something called unmasking syndrome. The neurologist said most doctors don't even know about it and indeed, I've gotten blank looks from physicians when I incude this in my medical history. I had a moderate brain stem stroke in January 2013. A year later the same symptoms were back. I went to the ER and after some tests, was admitted. The next day the neurologist came to my room and said the MRI I'd had the night before showed no new infarcts. All the other tests were negative except for the urinalysis which showed I had a UTI. (I had no symptoms at all.) He told me about unmasking syndrome. When a patient who has had a stroke develops a UTI (or rarely a type of blood infection) the brain thinks it is another stroke and "unmasks" the stroke symptoms. It was bizarre...the symptoms were all there, exactly the same as the year before. This has happened several times since then. Unfortunately I have to go through the ER and get admitted every time because the symptoms I present with are real...just the reason for them is different. They err on the side of caution.
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We got back from Houston today after several days of appointments at MD Anderson Cancer Center for Mike. We got good news from each doctor we saw and Mike is thrilled. The leukemia doc said Mike is not only in complete remission from Acute Myeloid Leukemia, but all the more complicated molecular testing has come back and shows nothing amiss. Mike was put back on the clinical trial chemo two weeks ago after a three month break due to his fall and subsequent brain hemorrhage. He isn't having any side effects. There was some worry that the chemo may have contributed to his syncope episodes which caused his collapse and brain damage. The cardiologist is happy. Mike had a cardiac monitor put in his chest two weeks ago and it shows no problems so far. It will stay in for a few more months due to some errant beats that are a concern. We saw a specialist in the Bone Marrow Transplant department and were pleased to hear that our doctors in San Antonio have done everything "right." The medications prescribed are exactly what MD Anderson would have prescribed. The doctor said that after reviewing Mike's history, she was surprised he was still alive. She said he was the most complicated case she had seen in her career. The leukemia doctor had said the same thing the day before. He said he had many patients who were not nearly as sick as Mike had been back in July/August/September when we first went to MD Anderson, but most died. The doc said it was amazing that Mike had survived the "salvage" chemo they put him through and even more surprised that he had survived the paralytic ileus complication in the second month of hospitalization there and the similar critical events that happened here in San Antonio during Mike's October/November/December hospitalization.
I'm calling him Magic Mike from now on. He is thin and incredibly debilitated, but it's all uphill from here! We head back to Houston next week for another couple of tests and appointments but then should go on a once a month schedule. That will be nice. Making that 4 hour drive so many times has gotten quite old.
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Wow! God is good. So happy for you.
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Sandra - thanks for sharing the GREAT news. I'll look forward to seeing you sometime in the next couple of months.
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Fantastic news, Sandra!
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"There is no exercise better for the heart than reaching down and lifting people up."
-- John Holmes0 -
Sandra, add my good wishes that Mike is doing so much better than anyone could have hoped. I really feel part of this success is NOT looking for trouble/possibilities, but working with each thing as it comes and moving on. I hope he continues to improve and that you can get on that monthly schedule and both have a bit more life that doesn't involve so many trips for tests and treatments.
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I think Mike totally deserves the title of Magic Mike! He has survived impossible odds, several times over. I will still be praying for both of you.
Anne
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Thank you for sharing this wonderful news Sandra!!! He is indeed Magic Mike! He could not have done it without you right by his side. May you both continue to do well.
Think you have made everyone's day here with such great news.
XOXO
Paula
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Hi guys! I'm sorry..... I was just sort of "out of it" for a couple weeks, with that "upper-respiratory" whatever! She first said Pneumonia, but I went back again in a week, got MORE antibiotics & Prednisone, then this last time, I was much better.... Probably Bronchitis along with Asthma. Then those treatments had a lot to do with me losing my voice, I think..... But at LEAST I feel okay!
Anyway, I've been working out in the YARD!!! It feels Sooooo good to be able to feel normal again!
Okay, yes, I had a "small infarct" near the 8th cranial nerve in my brain stem, and that's why I lost my hearing. Tamoxifen is an ototoxic drug, like chemo, and in SOME women, it causes a "stroke" and depending where it hits, that area is affected.... permanently. It is not common.... But I have been wearing hearing aids for over 6 years, and I can hear pretty good! I only took Tamoxifen for 1 1/2 years.... And I quit, after knowing that's what caused my hearing loss.
Sandra.... so happy for you both! "Magic Mike" eh? Haaaaaaaaaaah! I get different images when thinking of that, because I saw the film! Does a gal good to see things she isn't used to....
Yes, those UTI's! So interesting. The last one I had, I didn't even know it! Just a routine urine test, showed it..... I canNOT take Cipro for it though! Causes so much pain in my one shoulder, I can't even MOVE it! Urinary tract infections are so hard to figure out, I guess.... I had no symptoms! So you can be running around and not even KNOW you have one it seems like!
No pain, no nothing! But I drink a LOT more water and this tea now.... Since this Asthma, I make a tea with a couple tea bags, cut up fresh ginger, Lemons and Honey! Drink it HOT, and then keep heating it up as it cools off. Simmer all this for a few minutes, then drink.... I also made little "rice bags"..... I fold a new wash-cloth in half, sew up 3 sides, then fill with rice, and dried lavender....! Sew the open end up, and heat it in the micro-wave for a minute or 2..... Then put it on your throat, or wherever you hurt!
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Great news, Sandra!
Glad you're feeling good enough to work in the yard, Chevy. I know you love making your yard beautiful.
Today went well. I brought my mother seafood gumbo for her lunch. I buy it at a local place on the way to the nursing home. Then I wheeled her down to bingo, got her set up with cards at a table with her friends, and then went to Walmart to do a little shopping for her.
Now I'm home sitting in my chair and resting. We're going to dinner at nearby Crabby Shack where dh's brother can get boiled crawfish. They're in season now. I'll probably order the fish special, broiled or grilled. It's always good and I need to avoid the fried seafood that I would enjoy if I ordered it.
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