thread for middle age to older Christian women.
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Chris, you sound like a well seasoned warrior. I know God is giving you grace in this long journey. I was praying for you several times today and as I have told you many times my prayer for you is that God will give you many more years of good quality life on this earth. He has answered the first part and I keep hoping he will answer the last part. I am glad that it does not say pancreatic cancer and I hope that your MO will have some solutions to this ongoing fight. Your courage is an inspiration to me. As you continue to fight this disease I will continue to pray. We all love you and will be praying for you.
Love,
Nancy
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Chris, I'm glad you're getting some answers, even those that are hard to hear.
Here's my post from another thread:
Had visit with MO yesterday. Afinitor's not working, cancer is moving toward 3N, starting Xeloda, stopping Faslodex. I broke down in the treatment room before getting my Zometa infusion. I've never done that. I even cried a bit during the MO appointment. This is getting real. Intake is down to about a cup of rice, split into two portions, and 1/2 bottle of Ensure Clear.
DH went with me to my palliative care appointment. This was my first face to face with her. DH and I really like her. She listened and asked a lot of questions. Filled out the POLST (Physician Orders for Life Sustaining Treatment.)
Will cross post this.
Love to all,
Carol
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@sunshine99 God sees your tears and holds you tight in His love. I will continue to bathe you in prayers.
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Chris and Carol, your courage and poise are inspiring. I pray you feel the Lord's awesome presence today and in the many days ahead.
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Carol, if we could all see you in person we would give you a big group hug and tell you how much we love and care for you. I pray that God would envelope you in His love and peace. He knows what you are going through and is taking evey step in this unknown journey with you. My prayer is that you can feel His love and presence and His compassion for you. He loves you SO much. My prayers are always with you dear sister.
Love,
Nancy
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Teka,
I agree with that EXCEPT I'm saying OH NO there's only seven more days in August. LOL
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Chris and Carol, sending both of you many hugs and many prayers for you that you may feel his comforting presence with you every step of every day. You both are such a blessing and inspiration! We love you!
Nancy, I'm thankful your MRI turned out stable and continuing in prayer for you.
I was in a car accident Tuesday with my nurse friend, she was driving and was momentarily distracted and ran into a light pole in the parking lot of Menards. She is okay, but the seat belt bruised some of my ribs and so I'm moving about slowly. I'm going to visit my sister and BIL in September so hoping I'll heal fast. My sister isn't adjusting real well to memory care and keeps insisting on going back to the apartment, I really thought it wouldn't take this long (10 months) to adjust. She is very angry with my BIL when he comes to visit probably because she sees him as the one who could make it happen that she go home. She was asking me on the phone when are you coming to pick me up. A really difficult situation.
Praying for you all !
Love, Wheatfields
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Wheatfields, I am sorry to hear about your accident in the parking lot. Bruised ribs sounds painful. Anything with the ribs is painful and I don't know if there is much the doctors can do but let it heal on its own. Have they suggested heat? Is your friend okay?
I am really sorry to hear that your sister is not adjusting to her memory care. I am guessing every person is different in how they adjust and the timetable that might take. I remember when we had to put our Mom in assisted living and the administrator suggested that either my sister or I should stay one night with her. So I stayed the first night and my sister stayed the next night. I had bought my Mom a nice Lazy Boy chair so I slept in that and pretty much didn't get any sleep that night. My Mom was up and down and of course couldn't find the bathroom etc. Very early in the morning my Mom comes out all dressed and she said when are we going home. So I can identify with that awful feeling. We were very fortunate that my Mom adjusted really well to my surprise. I thought she would go downhill and grieve herself to death but that didn't happen.
Do they have specialists that work with the memory care residents that you could speak to for advice. I know she probably has different activities available to her that might perk her up and realize she can make a lot of friends there.
I will add that to my prayers for you. God has ways of make a way where there seem to be no way.
I have more cicadas mite bites on my back which I can't reach and today has been difficult. The last urgent care doctor gave me was too strong and ended up making me sick but it did work and the itchig went away very quickly. I bought a lotion back applicator and it came today. I used it for the first time tonight. Jury is out on how effective it will be.
I have another situation with a possible infected ingrown hair in my armpit. My MO diagonosed it last Oct and told me I could deal with it. It wasn't really botheing me and I had many other more important things I was dealing with but now it is grown and swollen and very sore. So if I go to urgent care it will be my 5th trip in the month of July-August. They are going to flag me as a frequent flyer and I am really not one of those but my record sure looks like it!! I have to follow up my brain MRI with my neurologist tomorrow.
I hope your ribs heal quickly so that you are not in a lot of pain when visiting your sister.
Have a good week with good pain control.
Love,
Nancy
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Wheatfields, I too am sorry to read about your accident but am thankful you were not hurt beyond the painful ribs. I will pray you heal quickly. It is tough when we have to leave a loved one in special care. I was the one who had to physically drive my MIL to her home. My DH and BIL were already there getting her room ready. She wanted to go home for a couple of days but fortunately she adjusted quickly. She was already well into her altzheimer's when we took her. She had lived with us for a couple of years before that. We were also able to take her bedroom furniture and a few favorite pictures, etc., so it looked like home to her. That helped.
Nancy, so sorry the cicadas saga continues for you, and that you are struggling with other issues. I will pray you will be able to communicate well with your neurologist tomorrow. Urgent care has become my friend also. It is good to have medical help available. I have a sore that popped up at my Faslodex injection site. It doesn't bother me much but I am concerned. I showed it to my nurse DH and she said to let the dr know. I messaged my PCP and the nurse said what to watch for and to inform my MO before my next shot. I have been considering going to UC if it gets worse. I haven't heard from my MO about my last scan yet but should hopefully hear from her soon.
I am still waiting a call from my MO about my last scan. Hopefully she will call today. Take care my friends.
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The PA that works with my oncologist just called and discussed my scan results. She said they discussed my case with the tumor board at the hospital and they dug deeper into the scan for more clarity. They are not concerned with my liver (which shows multiple something—lipomas?) as that is not new and my blood results show no concerning symptoms or function issues, neither has it grown. She also said the thing on my Pancreas is a lipoma; a fatty mass that can occur anywhere in the body. This made me cry with relief as I was so concerned about pancreatic cancer. Even as I type this I have tears...this is a first for me as I don't cry easily! The two lesions on my spine are also not new; on the T11 and T12 (mid-back.) In the past they were hemangiomas which are not concerning either although I have been having pain for some time with bending, etc. There is a new something on a different vertebrate (T1) and she said they didn't discuss that as they were concerned with the other stuff. She said she would ask about that one. It is probably another hemangioma since I am not having any pain there, but she will ask and we will watch it. I scan every three months so we will catch it if there is something there. If I get pain there we will scan quicker.
Thank you for all your prayers. This news means I am still stable. There are still other issues, but at least this part is handled.
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Wheatfields, I'm so sorry that you were injured in a car accident. We will pray for a speedy recovery. Bruised ribs can be quite painful. I hope that your physician can recommend something for pain management.
Nancy, my husband gets ingrown hairs from time to time. They can become infected, and an OTC antibiotic cream usually helps. I hope you find relief very soon.
I'm scheduled for outpatient surgery next week. The hospital is about an hour's drive away, so it will make for a long day. I received the prep instructions and need to pick up apple juice and Popsicles sometime this week. I was told I can resume normal activities 1-2 days following surgery, so that is encouraging news.
I hope everyone has a blessed and peaceful week.
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Chris, it sounds like very good news. I am so happy for stable!!!! I need to make this short (for me) as I am getting ready to go outside and water. I know you must be SO relieved. I am relieved for you as well.
I have had two doctor apts in two different towns so most of my day has been in waiting rooms. My neurologist is leaving my doctor network as of Oct. 31 and is not allowed to tell her patients where she is going. She is THE BEST in this area so I am not sure what I will do. My brain tumor has been stable but I would like to stay with her. She could only tell me it would be an hour away. I have to Google her name after Oct. 31. That is the only way I will be able to find her.
I went to urgent care this evening for the arm pit thing and the cicada bites on my back that I have had trouble putting lotion on even with my new back applicator. I thought for sure he would lance this "thing" in my arm pit and he said we could go conservative and if not improved with anti biotics then he would lance it. He thinks it is a cyst. My MO told me it was an ingrown hair that I could take care of. In a toss up I would side with my MO. It is to be dangerously hot the next couple of days and was miserably hot today and I am supposed to do hot baths two times a day for 20- 30 min laying on my side so I can immerse my arm pit in epsome salt baths. This should be challenging and probably not fun but hopefully will work. My cicadas bites he said looked angry as well. I am supposed to follow up with my pcp but his available times was not working so?
When I went to pick up my meds I had to go inside and the guy in front of me (without a mask) was getting a script for Paxlovid. When I heard that I took several steps away from him!!!!!!!!!! I guess now that the Pandemic is over all rules are off!!!! 🙄
Off to outside.
Love,
Nancy
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Hershey, I signed out and then saw the email that you had posted. I will pray for your upcoming surgery. That will be a long day with the long commute but I will pray that God will give you an extra portion of strength, grace and patience during this time. Praying for a successful surgery with good pain control and a rapid recovery.
Love,
Nancy
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Teka, my antibiotic is definitely helping both the ingrown hair and the cicada bites on my back. However the ingrown hair still looks pretty bad and is showing no signs of doing anything other than giving me plenty of me time in the bath tub with my epsome salt! I tried to schedule online with my pcp as I was told to do within 4-7 days but he is difficult to get into and no openings in that time frame. So I will have to decide what I will do.
Hershey, when is your surgery next week. I have been praying for you as you do your prep and for the surgery and recovery.
I have been praying for each one of you.
Our Zoom Bible study is going to see the movie The Forge tomorrow afternoon if our leader can coordinate all of these people. It boils down to this weekend and this is pretty last minute so we'll see. Most of the ladies don't turn their videos on so I have NO idea what most of them even look like. If we are to meet and purchase our tickets together (assigned seats only in this theater) that is going to be really interesting. LOL It is is a faith based movie by the Kendrick brothers who have produced The War Room and others that have been very inspiring. It is supposed to be really good from people I have heard who have seen it. This theater has reclining seats so if I fall asleep I am going to be really embarassed!!!! That has been happening alot lately in my own recliner.
Have a good weekend dear sisters. Teka only two more days until Sept. 1. 😀
Love,
Nancy
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Hershey, praying for you next week and the surgery will go well and for a quick recovery, and no pain.
Nancy, it does sound like a great movie! I had gotten some DVD's of War Room and others that the Kendrick brothers were in and was delighted that they were close captioned. Will be praying for you and the antibiotic does heal the bites and the ingrown hair.
Carol and Chris, also praying for your encouragement and feeling better each day.
Teka, no the air bags didn't go off, and I kinda wondered about that but they said because it was not in the hood but her corner of the car on side and the driver's side front tire, they wouldn't go off.
My nurse friend is doing fine, except I know she feels really bad about my ribs being bruised. It's right under the left breast which is the one I had the lumpectomy, sometimes I feel a flash of pain in that breast but am thinking it should be okay. The doctor had told me to alternate heat and ice and then take ibuprofen.
Praying for each of you!
Love, Wheatfields
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Nancy, I'm glad that the antibiotic is helping to clear any infection from the ingrown hair and insect bites. Difficulty scheduling with your PCP sounds similar to my situation. My doctor is part time (Tues, Wed, or Thurs only), and her schedule is booked out for months at a time.
Wheatfields, I do hope your ribs heal quickly and you experience zero discomfort on your trip to see your sister and brother-in-law.
Surgery has been scheduled for Friday the 6th. I had my pre-OP consultation with the nurse yesterday, and the hospital will call sometime on Thursday with check-in and surgery times. I have my clear juices and Popsicles ready to go as well as soup and saltines for the first 24 hours post-OP. The big project for today was getting the weeding done, and we'll labor on Labor Day cleaning the house. My prep starts at 8AM on Thursday, so I'll be staying very near to the bathroom that day. Oh boy … 🙄
May the Lord richly bless each and every one of you this week!
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Wheatfields, I am praying your ribs heal quickly as I know you are going to see your sister in Sept which is NOW. I can't believe it. I did see the movie The Forge today and it was really good. Lot's of tears but very inspirational. The older lady from War Room was also in it as a throw back to her character in War Room.
Teka, I was going to say SMARTY PANTS, but I didn't think that would come across very nice on a Christian forum so I will just say smarty pants. LOL So for you Sept means😁 and for me it means 😥. I don't have anything against Sept but I just want summer to go on and on and on……………………………
BTW my epsome salt baths are finally showing some progress without going into gory details. Enjoy the cool weather of Sept.
Love,
Nancy
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@hersheykiss I will be praying for your surgery on Friday.
@bandwoman1234 Glad to hear things are improving. How was the movie?
I am still not feeling my best but am surviving. I probably will not go with the family to the fair this weekend though. It is an annual tradition but I just can't this year. It has more to do with the crowds and heat than anything else. I am learning to be content at home.
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Hershey, we must have been typing at the same time again. I saw your email post and wanted to respond.
We'll be praying for you for your surgery on the 6th and for the prep the day before. That part is no fun. Praying your surgery is successful with good pain management and a rapid recovery.
Yes, I am thankful the antibiotics are doing the job. I am finally getting better at using my back tool to put the ointment on my bites. I am so thankful I have that. Now if I could figure out how to bandage my armpit then I would be in good shape. My attempts have failed.
I hope you get your weeding all in this holiday weekend. I am finally getting my mulching resumed and that feels so good albeit three months later than I had expected. I try to dress to prevent the mite bites but they bite through material apparently or crawl under my top. I just hope I won't remember this season 17 yrs from now!
Love,
Nancy
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Chris, I sure wish that you could feel better. I keep praying for you. I'm sorry you will not be able to attend the fair with your family. Maybe some quiet time and rest will be some comfort to you.
The movie, The Forge was really, really good. I don't think it is going to be available for watching at home in the near future at least for streaming. I am not sure if you are up to going to the movies but we went at the very first matinee and there was hardly anyone in the theater but it is Labor Day weekend and many are doing something outside to soak up the last warm weather of summer.
I only have a few more days on antibiotics and willl be glad to finish those. The underarm cyst or ingrown hair is still looking infected but it is draining some. My pcp is not available and the doctor at urgent care said to come back if needed so I may have to go back if this thing still looks as red as it does now.
I hope you can enjoy the weekend.
Love,
Nancy
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Hershey, I have been praying for you for several days that your prep will go smoothly on Thursday and that your surgery will be successful with good pain control and a very rapid recovery.
Love,
Nancy
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Thank you so much for your prayers! Surgery went very well. We'd never been to this hospital; it is very modern and spacious with generous patient parking. Google Maps took us on a seamless route through country roads, farms, and corn fields. Such a peaceful drive to get our long day started. Hospital staff were excellent, especially my anesthesiologist. She was thorough yet so kind, gentle, considerate, and caring. I want to clone her to be everyone's doctor! :) The hospital pharmacy sent me home with two pain medications, but I haven't had to use either. The surgical site is a tad tender, not painful at all. I'll call on Monday for a follow-up appointment with my surgeon.
The prep on Thursday was … let me just say that laxatives are not my friends. I'll leave it at that. ;)
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Hershey, I am so glad your surgery is over and esp. that awful prep. It sounds like you are doing very well with pain management and not needing the pain meds. That is awesome and a definite answer to prayer. Driving through farms and cornfields can be relaxing. I hope you will be back to your normal routine very soon and I hope your surgery fixed things for you.
I woke up to hearing my gutter contractors installing at 7:20 am. They got a beautiful and very cool day to do the job. I have not been feeling well since yesterday and I got to bed after 3:30 so I am staying in and hope that I don't need to talk to the workers. I had a stomach ache on the way to my eye apt yesterday and then just felt extreme fatigue when I got home. My plans of mulching today went out the window. This is so similar to what I felt just a few weeks ago and I am convinced it is withdrawal from the steroid ointment I have used so much this summer. I have nausea but just enough to not feel well without getting sick. My optometrist said where he lives they just got the cicadas emergence three weeks ago. I said if you are going to get them then this late is good as the mites won't have a chance since we will probably have a frost before they present as a problem.
You are all in my prayers. I hope you have a good weekend.
Love,
Nancy
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Hershey, hooray that your surgery went well and you are doing so well with the pain. That is a relief!
Nancy, so sorry you are not feeling well. Steroids can be a wonder drug but the side effects including withdrawal are no fun. I avoid them as much as possible. Hopefully you can bounce back and get the needed work done soon.
I still have extra fatigue and slight pain even though I have been on my lower drug dosage for a month now. Somewhere this past month I think I caught a minor cold from the DGD (yes, it is that time again) so hopefully that is all it is. I see my oncologist next Thursday so perhaps by then I will feel better. I can do small things like a sink full of dishes, but then I have to sit down for awhile. Later I get up and wipe down the counters, etc. I can almost cook a meal but usually someone has to do the finishing touches. I am tired of feeling useless. My DH wants to go and do something but I haven't the strength. This is not how we wanted our retirement to go! We are sort of stuck anyways helping our DD with our DGD. My DH needs to be available on and off all week to take her to the bus stop and be here at night while our daughter works. The trade-off is that we get to be with her and watch her grow up. That is priceless!
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I just read on another thread where Carol has decided to enter hospice. I know all who knew her here will keep her in our deepest prayers. She has touched us all with her sweet spirit.
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Dear sisters, I received an email from Carol. She has been in the hospital and has now entered hospice. She reached out to another person and she gave me her initials but I didn't know who that was. Chris, that is probably how you found out as well and thank you for sharing that.
She mentioned she would write later. I did ask her if Marty or some friend or relative could let us know when she transitions to heaven.
I told her we would surround her with our love and prayers during this difficult time. I do pray that the Lord will not allow her to suffer for much longer.
Carol has been such an inspriation to me and I am sure to all of us. Her sense of humor along her journey has lifted everyone around her up. Her amazing faith in the Lord has been a testament to her undying faith in Him. Her blog was something very important to her and I believe she knew that her most recent blog might be her last one as she honored her dear soulmate by talking about him quite a bit.
Let's also pray for Marty, her children and her friends during this difficult time.
Love,
Nancy
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Chris and Nancy, thank you for the update on Carol. She has been through so much of late, and I've been concerned for her. I pray that our Lord will surround her and her family with His love and peace.
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Dear sisters, I just received another email from Carol. She asked if it was okay to give my email to her husband and of course I said yes. She said she has had lots of visitors and feels so loved so that really made me happy for her. I asked her if she was at home or at a facility. I will relay any updates from her.
Chris, I am sorry that you are feeling bad. I know this was not the retirement you had hoped for. I know you both sacrificed a great deal to move to Colorado to be with your daughter and granddaughter. I pray that God will bless you greatly for that sacrifice. I am praying you will feel better. It could be a cold that is the reason for your fatigue. Continued prayers for you dear sister.
Hershey, how are you feeling today? We have had a couple of days of pretty cool weather and then the next few days we are back to summer. I hope you have some cool weather as you tend your garden when you are able.
Wheatfields, how are your ribs healing? I know you were planning on visiting your sister in Sept. I do hope you feel good when you make your trip.
Teka, I imagine you are basking in all the glow that September brings. 😎
Take care everyone.
Love,
Nancy
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Dear Nancy and Chris, thank you for sharing with us an update on Carol. I'm praying that the Lord will keep her in perfect peace and His hand of healing would be upon her. And that she feel His tender love and be surrounded by love, family and friends. She has been a dear testimony of great faith in our Lord and Savior.
Nancy praying that you are feeling much better and Chris also, that you can get much needed rest and feel better.
Hershey, I was so glad to hear that all went well with your surgery and that you are on the road to recovery.
Teka, I will think of you in the north country while I'm in Arizona next week!
My ribs are almost as good as new and I leave Wednesday for AZ and then return the next Wednesday. My great niece, who goes to nursing school in Phoenix had and accident with her scooter on the campus and broke her left hand. She had to fly back to WA where her parents are to have the surgery done. She is quite concerned about missing a semester of school. My nurse friend is doing better, but still struggles with fatigue.
Praying for all of you dear sisters!
Love, Wheatfields
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Carol, if you are able to read these posts this banner is for you.
I am fervently praying for you and for your family.
Love,
Nancy
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