thread for middle age to older Christian women.
Comments
-
Dear sisters,
This banner seemed appropriate as many of you are going through tough challenges now. Some known and some unknown. I am lifting each of you up in prayer knowing that some are waiting on scans and some getting ready for surgical procedures.
Wheatfields, we will be praying against fear as you have your scopes on Wed. Praying your prep will go smoothly and that ALL will go well for you. Hopefully there will be some answers for you in treatment to alleviate your stomach pain.
Carol, are you okay? Praying for you.
Chris, praying for peace as you wait on further direction from your MO.
I am excited that I will have my first zoom small group session on Tuesdays watching and discussing Priscilla Schier's video series Discerning the Will of God.
Have a restful day everyone.
Love,
Nancy
0 -
0 -
My oncologist called today and wants to see me tomorrow. I am thankful she is proactive and is on top of things although it makes me a bit worried...
Nancy, how did your zoom meeting go?
Wheatfields, I am praying for your scans tomorrow.
0 -
Chris, I am really glad that your MO seems to be really on the ball and doesn't leave you waiting for long periods of time. I will be praying for you for this apt tomorrow.
Wheatfields, I know tomorrow is your prep day and I pray that will go smoothly. I know you have said this is not the hardest part for you so I will be praying for your IV on Wed for your scopes.
Chris, my zoom class will begin tomorrow evening. I am very excited. It is considered a small group but there are 40 people registered so far. Obviously on zoom you can have more than in person. I wanted to feel more connected to my church. I hope this will be a way to do that. Actually I didn't know these online classes were available but since I am still wearing a mask for me online is a good choice plus I love Priscilla Schier and I think this will be a really good series.
Take care everyone. I know this is a challenging time for quite a few of you.
Love
Nancy
0 -
Chris - I'm so glad you have a good MO who is proactive, and I'm praying she will advise just the right thing for you. Also, praying for less side effects and able to feel better.
Thank you everyone for your prayers, yes, tomorrow is a prep day, but because my appointment isn't till 12:30 (be there at 11:00) on Wednesday, I don't have to start a clear diet until supper tomorrow night. I'm armed with gatorade, broth, banana popsicles, and apple juice. I drink the bottle of prep both at 7 pm and 6am with more liquids. The nurse thought this schedule would work best for me since it's hard for me to go long periods without food. My nurse friend will drive me to the appointment and back. Chris, I did that too where I wrote out a schedule for my self so I don't make some mistake and have to repeat this
Nancy, thank you for the beautiful fall banner you posted, these last two mornings feel like fall!
Praying for all of you!
Love, Wheatfields
0 -
This is the Daily Blessing from Susie Larson today. It is appropriate for me and many others of you here today. God bless you. Chris
Daily Blessing
May PEACE settle into your soul before your answer comes. May JOY rise up within you at a moment you least expect it. May PROVISION come out of nowhere and remind you that God has your back and HE goes before you. May you defy the odds and come back from the trials you've endured. May you thrive right here, in the place God has you until He moves you. And may your life be a living-breathing testimony of God's grace and goodness, His kindness and His love. You matter so very much to Him. Have a blessed day.
Psalm 18:30-33 NLT ~ God's way is perfect. All the Lord's promises prove true. He is a shield for all who look to him for protection. For who is God except the Lord? Who but our God is a solid rock? God arms me with strength, and he makes my way perfect. He makes me as surefooted as a deer, enabling me to stand on mountain heights.
0 -
Hi everyone, I was away for four days in Yosemite with some college girlfriends. It was a lovely time for all of us.
Chris, I'm glad you got your MRI, but sorry it was an ordeal and am sorry they found new "stuff." I'll be praying about your treatment plan.
Nancy, thank you for checking in on me - and for posting your lovely photos. I'm looking forward to hearing about your "small group" Zoom. My scans came back as stable. I saw my MO yesterday and will continue with the current treatment plan.
Since I can't scroll back to read the earlier posts, I'll just send love and prayers to each of you.
Carol
0 -
Wheatfields, I have been praying for you as you go through your prep. I know it isn't "officially" starting until drinking the stuff later but praying for a smooth prep with no complications. Praying for an easy IV with NO fear and good news when you get results from your scopes.
Chris, thank you for that powerful devotion today. May you have peace before, during and after your MO apt today. I have been really praying hard for wisdom for your doctor as well.
Carol, I bet you had a great time with old college roommates. Great news that things are stable. Glad to have you back. I am not sure if I mentioned that I have reconnected with my best friend from elementary school. That has been so much fun catching up. She lives in CA as well.
I've got to run. Hope to hear some good news from some of you soon.
Love,
Nancy
0 -
I have a treatment plan that includes radiation and iv chemo. I have no dates but they want to start next week. Things are happening fast. Right now I am stuck at Discount tires waiting on a flat tire fix. I would rather crawl into bed.
0 -
Oh Chris, having a flat tire on top of everything is just a lot to deal with. I can only imagine how difficult this news is to process since it is happening so quickly. We will all be praying for you and I hope you can feel the love from everyone on this thread towards you.
I do hope you can soon just crawl into bed!!
Love,
Nancy
0 -
My Zoom class started as we listened to this song. The leader of the group read the lyrics. I didn't have a chance to find them to post but this song is called In The Waiting by Vicki Yohe.
I need to clean up my kitchen but I thought of some of you tonight and these words and this song might be just what you need to hear.
Love,
Nancy
0 -
Pain
The gift nobody
Longs still it comes
Somehow leaves me
Stronger when it's gone away
Pray I try and pray
For your will to be done
But I confess it's never
Fast enough for me
It seems the hardest part
Is waiting on you
When what I want
Is just to see your hand move
I want a peace beyond my
Understanding I wasn't to feel
It fall like rain
In the middle of my hurting
I want to feel your arms as they
Surround me
And let me know that it's okay
To be in this place
Resting in the peace that only comes
In the waiting
Time, time to let it go and just believe
Trusting in what no one else
But you can see
Free freedom from the fears that
Close me in when I can't beyond where
I have been but then Again the silence
Doesn't mean that I'm alone
As long as I can hear
That I'm still your own0 -
Wow, Nancy, that brought tears to my eyes. When I think about how our heavenly Father just wants to take us in His arms and comfort us, I just choke up. It's like a parent holding their sick child. The shots are coming, but the parent is there holding them close.
Love and prayers,
Carol
0 -
Hi ladies,
Thank you Nancy for printing out that song, for I wouldn't have been able to hear it on you tube, i.e. I could hear it but not get the words. Also, thank you Chris for printing the daily blessing. All so very encouraging.
The procedure went well today, I had prayed for just the right person to do the IV and it was a man who was very nice, once in a while we just go with the anesthetist putting it in, but I like my nurse friend to be there because she is good at keeping me talking about something else that I have to explain a bit and by time I get done, they are done doing what they need to and it helps keep my mind off of it. The gastro doctor said the colon was fine but the stomach has one ulcer and two other areas that look like they could become an ulcer. So he sent in a couple biopsies to rule out H Pylori and Celiac disease I think. Then he would like me to take Omeprazole for 6-8 weeks to heal it up and then do another EGD. It's an over the counter pill. I don't like it too well because I blame nexium for causing my low bone density which I took years ago. But it's one of those arguments between the medical establishment and the natural establishment. I get a "Bone Savers" newsletter which talks about never to take those nasty bone drugs but those of us which have had BC don't have a lot of choice, because of side effects of hormone drugs. Another matter to just trust in the Lord for!
Carol, so glad you were off having a good time. And Chris continuing to pray for your treatments and well of peace springing up within your soul!
Thank you for your prayers and keeping each of you in prayer!
Love, Wheatfields
0 -
Thank you Nancy. The song was just what I need.
Wheatfields, so thankful your procedure went well.
My medical team is setting everything up for me at great speed. I get my chemo consult tomorrow, and my radiation consult on Monday. I have my port put in this Friday and my chemo starts the 26th. There are other appointments, scans etc., but you get the gist of it. My poor husband will spend a lot of time in the car and the hospital with me the next two weeks so I appreciate prayer for him. I worry about him but am thankful we made the move here so he has family and friends support. God has helped him get involved with being a chaplain for the Fire Department and making new friends with his new hobby being a ham radio operator, and this makes me happy. God has been making our paths straight and setting up our tomorrows even before we knew we needed it. I have asked to wait to start the chemo after my Women's Retreat weekend with my daughter next weekend, and everything has worked out great for that. God is good!
0 -
Wheatfields, I am glad that the procedure went well for you today and pray that the biopsy results are of no significance. I'm also thankful that your good friend was with you for support.
Chris, your medical team's approach and response are impressive. I'm glad that you will be getting a port. It makes such a difference in receiving chemo and having blood draws.
Nancy, thank you for posting the lyrics. I'm a visual person (not so much auditory), so reading words is more impactful and meaningful for me.
0 -
Thank you Teka. I hope you are doing okay as you wait for your knee surgery.
Carol, I know this is a very raw song which was meant to go deep into our spirit. I wish I could share the whole teaching video that we watched for our zoom session. It was just so, so good. The gist of it was that as we go through desert experiences how God is using that to prepare us for His will for us even though we can't see it at the time. I'm really glad to hear your scans were stable.
Wheatfield, I will try to remember in the future to add the lyrics to the songs I occasionally post. Actually BCO kept blocking me from adding the lyrics to the original post so I was somehow able to get around what ever the issue was by posting them in a new post. The lyrics were not exactly accurate but I think you can get the gist of what she was singing about. I am glad your colon was clear. That would be something if those stomach ulcers were caused by H Pylori which I think is a pretty easy treatment. I really understand your dilemma of traditional medicine vs. alternative. I have walked that tightrope for many years with my doctors on opposite sides of the fence. In the end you have to do what you think is best for you. I do hope that you will find a good solution to get rid of the problems you have been having. I am so glad to hear that you were able to get your IV done with some distractions to help. I am glad that is over for you and know will be praying for a good result after your treatment.
Chris, you are on a fast track right now. I am very impressed with your oncologist and the fact that all of this is falling into place so quickly. I know this has to be a lot to process in a very short amount of time. I am thrilled that you and your daughter will be able to go on this Women's retreat before chemo starts. I am glad to hear that your DH has friends and family near and that he has a new hobby and is chaplain for the fire station. God is looking out for all of you for sure.
Hershey, I have been praying for you to be able to find the perfect Medicare insurance that will work out for your situation. As I mentioned to Wheatfields I will try to post the lyrics in the future if BCO will let me do it.
I have been at the Butterfly House today. I did a whirlwind of camera time there for three times in a week. They close on Saturday for the season. I will post some butterfly pics when I can go through them more carefully.
Have a good night dear sisters. No matter what situation you find yourself remember that this is no surprise to the Lord and He is working all things for the good for you.
Love,
Nancy
0 -
0 -
Thank you for that reminder, Nancy! I love that scripture.
Carol
0 -
Nancy, I've registered for a Medicare workshop next week that's presented by the county health department. My husband and I are leaning toward a Medicare Advantage PPO plan through United Healthcare. Their 2023 provider directory is already online, our physicians are in-network, and no referrals are required to see a specialist. The monthly premiums are a bit higher, but copays and coinsurance are low (most are zero dollars). Prescriptions are competitively priced, especially if one uses Walgreens. We've sometimes used Goodrx in the past, so that is also an option. We will need to choose a dental plan and another for vision, so more homework is in our future.
0 -
hersheykiss, sounds like a good plan and that you are figuring things out. Once you get settled it should all run smoothly. Also, don't forget you can always change in a year.
I had my port put in today. It was a bit scary when they put the sheet totally covering my face and head and then left me there for awhile. But I just kept quoting scripture until they finally put me out. Onward!
0 -
Hershey, this is the plan that I have. The specifics might be different but in general that is what I have. I don't think my premium is that much but the copays are the typical 20% that regular Medicare charges. I think the prescription drug prices could be better but in general I am happy with it. I don't think I have ever had a rejected claim except for prior authorization drugs have been a pain in the past. That is where the GoodRX has come in to save me the hassle. My plan has a tiny bit of coverage for vision but basically I don't have extra vision insurance. I buy my own Dental which was the same company that I had as a perk to my retirement. Once you decide you will feel a sense of relief. Going to that informative workshop will really help. When I did that we could personally call the person who conducted the workshop if we had any specific questions. I have been praying you would find a plan that you are happy with. As Chris mentioned, you can always change your plan the following year if you choose to do so. My plan paid for my Y membership. That was a really nice perk as that was a pretty big chunk of money in savings to me. Unfortunately my Y permanently close during the pandemic so instead of swimming now I walk. Hope it all works out of you.
Chris, since I have never had a port I didn't realize that this is a type of surgery. Not expecting a sheet over your head would leave a lot of people pretty anxious. I am glad you got through it. We will all be praying for you knowing how difficult this sudden change has been and what it means to your schedule and your general well being.
Have a good night dear sisters.
Love,
Nancy
0 -
Chris, having a sheet placed over your head and then being left alone must have been surprising and stressful. I'm so glad the port placement was successful and you have some time to recover before your first infusion.
Nancy, I'm very much looking forward to attending the Medicare workshop next week. It's sponsored by the county's community services department. At registration, we provided our mailing address and then received a packet of information that includes all the workshop PowerPoint slides. So informative and helpful.
It's a good time for my husband and I to reevaluate our dentists and dental coverage. Right now I'm a patient at a dental practice that's near my work, and that location is 16 miles from my home! It also has high turnover (I haven't seen the same dentist or hygienist twice over the past three years). There's a dental practice not even five minutes from my house that has received very high reviews on Yelp and Google, so that may be where we go instead.
Praying that everyone enjoys a relaxing and peaceful weekend.
0 -
Hershey, you might inquire into Medigap also. Also, each plan has levels. I pay a little more (like $10 per month) but I have no co-pays, don't need a referral, and can go anywhere including out of state. I am very happy with my plan. Most of my prescriptions are three dollars or less except of course for my cancer drugs. That's where Medigap comes into play. It also varies by state which is why they wanted your address. For Colorado, I have Aetna for medicare, Humana for prescriptions, and Cigna for vision (which I haven't used yet so that I have to see) and dental, but again it varies by state so don't just go with that. Check which plans your doctor accepts (schould be on their website) and you can look up specific medications as that varies also. Your brochure should have provided a website where you can enter your prescriptions and it will show you what is covered. I will try to see if I can find it for you and send it a little later. I am very happy with what I have. I don't even have a co-pay for an MRI or CT scan. I think my ER hospital visit was like $65 or something. I have had a doctor visit everyday this week, including portal surgery yesterday, and haven't paid anything. Good luck!
0 -
Good discussion on Medicare. When my girlfriends and I were talking about Medicare during our Yosemite trip (sheesh, are we really getting that old???), one strongly suggested I look into getting Medigap. Two of my friends are attorneys. One of them was the one who suggested Medigap. The other one gave us the number of a woman in the Napa, CA area who helped her navigate all the Medicare stuff.
Carol
0 -
I've spent most of this afternoon ... wait for it, wait for it ... researching Medigap policies!!
AARP and USAA have attractive policies in my state, but they are offered to members only (we'd need to join the organization). Blue Cross Blue Shield is attractive as well. Our prescriptions are all generic and covered under Tier 1 benefits. The best strategy is mail order with 90-day refills.
I've also done a deep dive into the dental and vision policies. Cigna for dental and VSP for vision seem the best suited for us. I currently have VSP through my employer so we are acquainted with its coverage.
This Medicare journey is turning into my full-time job! HA! ;-)
0 -
Insurance is confusing and annoying for sure. Medicare sounds awful to deal with.
I'm in a struggle with (I guess) vanity. I'm not normally like that...have always been pretty low maintenance. But I went and got my new super soft chemo curls cut the other day. My hair is baby soft and very fine. She put some sort of styling aid on it, I think she called it curl foam. Now it's dry like straw, after washing the product out. I'm going to email the stylist and let her know, but I'm so upset. My husband says my hair still looks good. I guess I need to remember it will grow out. It's pretty short anyway. I believe it was an alcohol based foam, which now I know not to use, but I'm just beside myself that one application of something could cause damage instant. It's weird.
0 -
gb, definitely email and call your stylist. I am sure she didn't know. I have never heard about this but will be mindful in the future.
0 -
GB, I'm sad that the styling product may have damaged your hair. I have a lot of hair, but it's super fine and wavy. My stylist does not use leave-in or styling products on my hair. She uses shampoo and light-weight conditioners only. Sometimes I get a little heavy handed at home with the conditioner and end up weighing down my hair. Less is more for me, I guess. I think it's a good idea to let your stylist know how the product affected your hair so she doesn't use it on you in the future. She may have some helpful tips to make things right as well. Professionals appreciate feedback and work hard to have happy clients. I hope it all works out for you. There's nothing wrong about having healthy hair.
0 -
I'm actually now wondering if it's just the way she cut it, rather than damage from the product. When I lie down the hair is prickly and stabby on my neck, but the hair looks nice and shiny. It doesn't look dry. I think she used a razor, I wonder if it made the ends really sharp or something. I don't know. Not all of it feels like this either. Some parts are still soft.
0
