Single life after a mastectomy
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Artista- so much going on for you sister. I am sorry about the loss in your family and also your beloved pet. I have also been in the place of trying to keep things private from family when the needs appear and they want a lot of your time on the phone, too look at FB, etc. I hope you are home and settled now.
Peace sister. Keep taking care of yourself
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Good afternoon- is a warm sunny day here and I am going to the state fair in a few hours, including to a concert to see Kenny Loggins (ha ha, dating myself here). Always been a big fan of his music and seen him a few times since the 1980s, including once here about 12 years ago. Besides still having a great voice, he is still a hottie.
I went to see my endocrinologist yesterday. She is very pleased with my continued weight loss and blood work numbers. Sugars are good, everything else too is doing okay. She is leaving the practice in a month, got the word on that from my PCP in August and was able to talk to her about where she is going. I want to follow her, she is helping me through a lot of stuff and have felt a bit adrift knowing I will loose her. Took me forever to find a doctor to help me with all the problems from the AIs around my blood work, and now she is moving on. But she is planning to go back out into her own practice and I have an apt with their CNP in Dec until she gets set up (she figures next spring by the time she gets contracted back under her own shingle). I hope she can do this and we don't loose her, but also won't be surprised if she moves away either to a larger urban area. The corporatization of most groups is driving good docs to leave their work. My sister talks about this all the time. I have a plan at least for the time being.
Artista- how are you doing friend? Did you get home? Are you drains still in? Are you doing okay? I am sure it must be hard to keep things private with the family with all the stuff going on with your surgery, etc. I know you mentioned you did not tell them about your bc. Been in that place to with trying to keep things private and needs everywhere. Keep taking care of you first. I know your heart is broken too about loosing your beloved pet. Sending you hugs sister.
E- did you survive the work week? How is the new class? I think you started this week?
June- there is a new book out by Rebecca Traister. It is about the recent national election and what it means to women. I ordered it and will let you know how it is. I like her insights around things.
BB- thinking of you and hoping you are taking good care of yourself.
Thinking of all the other sisters here who may be busy with life or just lurking. Hoping everyone is doing okay.
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Hi,
I came home Sun 9/10 am. Bff has her own woes and has depression though not as bad as me so I bucked up to come home to an empty place. So very tough. Found out fav uncle died 9/3 then 9/6 Mooshy my sweet guinea pig. Forced myself to take a shower and just lay down on my bed (living room couch) spaced out.
Around 5:00 pm there was the door bell. Thought who is that. Probably nosy neighbour downstairs who finally saw my car back in it's spot. Look in the peep hole and it's my bro! He's been here since Mon 9/4 for uncle's funeral stuff with the fam. The night I found Mooshy I had my bff Anna call him to say what happened. Since they know that my life was Mooshy esp alone in here with debilitating depression and anxiety, they worried I'd take a bad dive. He comes in with a cage. Fam bound together and got me a 3 week old guniea pig, Abyssinian breed where the hair looks like she's been in a whirl wind, all over the place in all directions. Very cute. Brown, white with some butterscotch areas.
Bro told me mom's in the car. Only person I was seeing in Jan 2014 when I pulled out of fam stuff has been O when he could come up. He's compassionate, kind, loving- just a nice zen personality that everyone loves about him. My call. She's fine not coming up. I thought she's grieving the loss of her 55 y/o bro, is worried and saddened for me with my Mooshy loss that to leave her in the car when bro is here wasn't right. At the very least with my anxiety with fam I need bro present to provide that calmness he emits. My friends always wished they were a lot younger as he's a catch like that, Handsome and tall to boot with the nice thick dark wavy/curly hair he has. 44 young, 9 years younger than me.
We do a quick review of the living room to remove anything hospitally and toss it in my room which I never use. IV pole and lots of hospital tubs, gloves, gauges, etc. Have quite the collection of stuff. Put on the baggiest dress I have which I wear out. Snap down with a pink pocket inside where drain is in. Prayed she's too out of it to notice my DD/DDD are no more and how firm I look. PS did do a fantastic job with making them even and with some fat grafting too so they look more like each other. 10 stars for Kilaru.
Mom comes up, we hug gently and focus thankfully was on Mooshy loss, uncle loss and new little girl. Man did the guilt suddenly come over me. I had no plans of getting any pet of any kind for the foreseeable future. I was beyond crushed and feeling like I just don't care about anything anymore. Mooshy's pen was all set up ready for her to come back to last Wed and her is this new baby girl going in HER pen with all HER stuff. But I wasn't about to send her back. Thankfully she had just gotten in and not made it to the shitty plexiglass set up pet stores have with subpar hay, subpar food and little attention/care. I HATE seeing pets in pet stores. Dogs and cats have long been removed, why not exotics like birds and guinea pigs. It's all about money, not animal welfare. And the supplies they sell along with the pet. This one came in the same type of cage Mooshy did. They call it large. Ha. yeah, just because what she needs fits in there doesn't mean it's large. Where's the room for her to run as they need to have exercise too. They also included cheap pellets, too large of a water bottle and plastic small dog or cat dish for the pellets. Also came with a small square gray igloo. Sure she fit in it but the ventilation in these things suck. I tossed it all out except the cage and put Mooshy's set up in there including the large igloo with her pillows which she rests on and loves. She immediately took to her home, popcorning and zipping all over wheeking a lot. She's in heaven. Now to get her on (diced since she's small) green peppers and greens that have high calcium. Up to 6 mo need to have this for her daily then we cut it out for then too much calcium can cause stones. Green peppers daily for vit C is perfect. Used my knowledge I've gained since 2013 when I got Mooshy from guineapigcages.com The only credible source (the forums esp) on the proper care of gps.
Aunt who they are staying with sent over homemade cooking, persian food. Was in heaven. Decided they'd come back next day Mon to deal with my phone which died the day Mooshy died.
Mom bought the new phone for me and bro set it up for me on Mon. Went to a good persian food restaurant near me for lunch for my fav, kabobs. In the van going there I lost track of the drain and sat in such a way that the top popped off and I felt fluid going down my leg. Great! Bro knows, he was the driver and mom was up front. Manage to ask for napkins. Mom clueless thankfully. Worried dress would be stained and the seat but nothing. Wiped it all down fast enough.
I gave bro to give fam my sympathy cards for their dear bro. I also found out my cousin's dog had eye cancer and was to be put down the next day. Could it get any worse? Loved that dog.
I have 2 aunts not far from me here in the bay area. The sweet texting me from time to time one was asking if she could come see me with my bro and mom who came yesterday to celeb my bday very early. Bro nor mom ever come in Sept so I said ok. They came yesterday and we went to Black Angus. My fav foods are persian kabobs and good steak.
Visits went well. No one noticed my chest and no more popping the top of the drain thankfully. Bro drives back south to LA tomorrow Sun and Mom flies back home Seattle on Wed. They are slowly working on going through his things in his condo. My second po visit with Kilaru this past Mon before they came was good. 40 ml in the drain every day so I knew it wasn't coming out. Healing well. Next visit is Mon. Hope to get drain out. Big pain in the ass it is.
When I sleep it is deep but feels like I slept 0. Was always fatigued before and now if it wasn't for this little one, I'd get up less. So yeah getting her was a good idea or I would have come to a hault not caring anymore. Waiting for Mooshy's remains in the urn I picked out to be sent to me. Will share when I get it.
Thanks much for all your sympathies. I have no kids, not fond of the fam (mom wore me out with her non stop talking and know it all stuff which puts me in a tizzy). I don't plan on seeing anyone else in the fam. This 1 aunt is the exception as she has a sweet demeanor. But they wore me out. Do better with not so much time with them so resting from that as well.
I'll try and catch up with everyone's posts here. I don't respond as my energy and brain are very low but I am interested in what's the happs with all of you and do care. Hope everyone is having a pleasant weekend. The heat wave finally broke here so it's cool now blessfully.
xoxo
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RIP my beloved Mooshy. 6/2012 - 9/6/17
Introducing 1 month old Bella Rose. Born 8/20/17. Came to my home 9/10/17. Full of spunk and energy just like her wild hair. Very friendly little girl.
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hi friends.
Arista so glad you have a new baby to give you some meaning to this crazy life we have.
I have been dealing with bad nes from Venezuela. My sister Elizabeth who was having so much problems with burning on the torax ribs and breast area has taken a bad turn. This week she is no able to feel her legs so ya finally an MRI will be done and it is suspected it is her spine so I am freaking out worry .my family can not take any more losses but to know my sister is in pain and agony is also no good. She is no able to sleep and or eat. Now not able to walk they have to bath her and care for her like a baby. My siblings are struggling and anyway here I am far far away I can't even help.
Classes started and tmw the girl who was away on vacation is back. So I ll do morning hours to leave at 3pm then go to school. I am not sure if my sister will make it. Vzla has no equipment nor good doctors or medicine at the present time is chaos so I don't know what will be done.
I ll keep you all posted .I don't belive in anything but I know some of you do so her name is Elizabeth rios if you guys can put her in your prayers this is her 2 days ago. Today no more standing can walk at all. She was using my sister s walker till 2 days ago.
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Oh E. Not another issue with a fam member. I remember about your papi. I will say a little prayer for Elizabeth Rios and for all of you for strength to get through this. Sending much love. xo
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E- I am so sorry to hear about your sister, Elizabeth. Will keep her in my prayers and wishing your familly (and the entire country of Venezula) better days. It must be so hard to be away.
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Oh bb, we don't know if it is cancer only MRI ll say. We think is is damage to her medula spine no sure in English the word for it. Basically the disc in her spine where the reason for the burning she has suffered 6 years now. The doctors kept saying it was a cause of the Doble masectomy she under go two years ago when my sister carmen git cancer Elizabeth took action and had her two breast removed by nipple spare surgery.but she already had issues with nerv sensation on her chest. Then after the masectomy the burning wss unbearable. But this past week she colaps and only due to the legs no responding they decided to order the MRI. You know the situation there with no food no medicine no resources so basically you must be lucky to find a doctor that can do something .
I ll keep you posted.
No doctor had look at her spine till now. All were blaming the breast surgery instead. It turn out the root cause was the spine.
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ya bb it doesn't end
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BB- I am sorry to hear about your other breast issue. I have pain my breasts sometimes too and they say it is from the nerves regenerating after surgery and rads. I have had less with time, but whenever anything hurts, I worry. We will always worry I am afraid, cancer is the gift that keeps on giving......
Ask her about an MRI too if no mass shows up. The junk in my right side was found by MRI and the blood supply that had formed to the DCIS mass.
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Sorry to hear BB. Get on a cancellation list if you aren't on one already. Call every day complaining of pain. It may work. Having worked in a busy surg office, the old "you are on our cancellation list" doesn't bode much because we are so so very busy that when an opening happens, we snag whoever is "under our nose." Sad but that's how it really works, hence call daily complaining of the pain.
I think singles may not be coming in here because maybe while they are single, they have help like mom, sister, someone. I took this thread as not only live alone, but doing it all alone.
E- Keeping you and your sis in my thoughts. Can't imagine.
2.5 weeks out from rev to my recon. PS did great job! It's even now! Got drain pulled. What a relief. Hate those things. Just need to put neosporin abx cream on hole left by drain and put gauze on it for 3 days. Then hopefully history won't repeat itself as it has gone with me, getting infected. Never during po period but a little more out or as in the case of last time, 5 mo po!
Labs for pcp on Fri, pcp next Tues and still have yet to reschedule MO. Keep forgetting. Only have 1 refill of Tamoxifen left.
Still in a haze over the losses. Bro drove back on Sun and mom flying back to Seattle tomorrow. Everyone in black for a very long time. Forget what the persian custom is. It was 12 years since a death before my uncle (my grandma). Mooshy's urn has been delivered to the crematory. Just waiting for them to get it done and call me for my visa for payment. Once that comes, will set up coffee table as memorial to her and my beloved uncle. Will post pics. After that I will introduce Bella-Rose (Bella) the new baby guinea pig who is now 4 weeks old. But in honor of Mooshy who did so so much for me during surgeries, txs, etc, she gets acknowledged to the world first.
Hope everyone is having a good day.
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This rev sx was tougher than the TE to Perm one done last Dec. He replaced the right implant and did some fat grafting work. So more stuff to get over. Not much in the way of pain though surprisingly. I just popped a norco sx night thinking I should be didn't need anymore. Pain wasn't too bad. I don't like popping pills of any type if I can handle it on my own. So yah, very pleased. At the time of the TE to perm implant sx, it was more of getting the implants in and letting them settle for a few months to see what the end result is. It's always min 6 mo between sxs unless it's urgent. So the right wound up being lower than my left visibly so and off to the right side more and he did such a great job. I'm going to yelp to rave. I already did for him, mo, bs and pcp. I'm blessed to have a great team.
The hospital here where I had my cancer txs has one of their MO's speaking on recurrence and how to reduce your chances. 6-8 pm. Decided to go. Pretty much know what he's going to say but since my MO is no longer using the hospital infusion center that I love so much, made great RN friends, that should I need their services again, this is the guy that would be my MO. So I'm going to check him out just in case. But for now just on maintenance I'm staying with my MO who has her own set up now with infusion center. So we'll see if he says anything I haven't read/heard here and from docs.
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Good afternoon friends- been a busy Sept and chasing some new work with a new firm that is interested to sub me and feels like a great fit. Working on some pre-contracting work with them right now. The other group I have been collaborating with since the beginning of the year has been unsuccessful at getting any work from the beta project we did last year. I told the main person who I am working with I am moving on to other things now and he understands, and the door is open to help on an advisory basis if the work comes through next year. I am quite frankly more excited about the new stuff, this other thing is stale at this point. As we say in the west, when your horse is dead, get off......
Artista- congrats on getting the drain out, not having as much pain as you thought you might, and for having an outstanding medical team. I felt much the same way about my medical team and still grateful to have them for my follow ups. You sound like you are coming through this like a boss, sister. We single women who are used to handling much by ourselves usually do.....
I wanted to share the year I got my dx, my mother and aunt died two months apart (one expected, one totally shocking) during the months before. Then my sister got diagnosed two months before me. It felt like the end of the world with all that went on at once, so I REALLY understand going through all you are experiencing and dealing with both family and pet losses. Why these things happen all at once is beyond me, but my sister and I made a joke that problems no longer come in threes but more like six packs these days. I hope you continue to heal well.
If you hear anything new or interesting about how to prevent reoccurrence, would you share with us? I have heard and read up on a lot of that, but think there is always new informatin out there. Glad you could go to the talk, I think it is good to stay up on things?
BB- I think so often the lumps, bumps, buldges, skin changes, dents, etc. that we find do turn out to be from something related to treatment or scar tissue. But given it is always possible to get a reoccurrence on the other side after your primary dx too so we have to keep on top of the visual changes along with our imaging. Unfortunately, the reality of cancer is a bit more front and center for folks like us. I like the idea of being for a call for any cancellations so you can get in facing. Work it sister.
About single women, I know several on other threads but Artista makes a good point about who comes here. Women who may be handling more on their own and not living with family or those who have a lot of help. None of us really do here, from all I hear. I have invited a couple single sisters on other threads here, I think people may come and decide if it works for them. I remember there was someone who came here in the last few months that was asking about dating in the post BC world. We are a small but mighty group?
I had a couple doctor visit last week, including to my endocrinologist that is helping me with my blood sugar and weight loss (now down 32 lbs total, 27 this year so far). She is leaving the practice, which I had heard from my PCP, and have a plan to see a CNP with this group in December. She is going to try to go back into her own practice, which she was doing before and hope to continue on with her next year. She has helped me more than you can know, and hope she does not leave the state, but that would not surprise me either. I need a good resource until I am off the drugs next year, but can talk to my MO about it in January too when I see him next. I hate to loose her, she has helped me enormously!
Gotta run but hoping everyone is hanging in and getting through what they need to here
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Artista- I took a photo of this flower in Santa Fe a couple weeks ago and this is for you sister. It is a dahlia
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Thanks Jazzy. Wow, I didn't know about your aunt and mom. So sorry for your loss. A month after my dx my bff Anna's sister was dx'd with pancreatic cancer. I view that fam as my own so I was crushed. She died 3 mo later. The day of her wake I had the 1st of my 3 iron infusions. Red cells were to low to start chemo. I could barely be upright as I was so anemic/weak but I went to that wake and stayed to the end. I don't think they minded me closing my eyes from time to time from weakness. I don't pray much but it could be seen like that. Then the next day was to the catholic church for a service. I sat in the back so no one could see me struggling to sit up. Then to the grave site where I really struggled to walk and stand so long. But I willed myself. It was the least I could do for Maria and Anna.
Maria was mentally challenged from having had a huge seizure when she was in 6th grade and basically was left at that level. No one told her she had cancer. She wouldn't understand and would freak. She knew I did though and would always ask how I'm doing. Special needs people are special indeed. They know no hate, nothing bad.
Mom got DCIS 2.5 cm last Oct. Bro told me in Dec but mom doesn't know I know. And she doesn't know about me. Got through these visits last week with no one noticing ( 1 aunt, mom and bro who's the only fam who knows). Whew.
Sorry to hear about your endo. It's so hard finding a good doc AND the right fit for you. That's one reason why I'm checking out this guy at the talk tonight to see how I feel about him potentially being my MO should cancer come back in some form. He's gotten rave reviews but one needs to feel comfortable with the person as well. It's an asian guy. I had bmx/recon and love the fact my MO is a female, top in her line. I never had a male gyno. I just hope I never have to make the decision.
I too have a ton of weight to lose. I'm 230 lbs. I was 212 at dx. I still haven't cracked open the phentermine since I had issues come up then sx.
I will take a notebook and jot down notes tonight to share. I'm sure they'll be handouts. Brain isn't always sharp.
Beautiful flower sister Jazz. Too bad we can't all buy a ranch somewhere and we all become roommates. God knows I could use both the sisterhood irl and financial help. But alas, everyone is far.
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Artista- I am sorry about your losses too. Rains it pours.....
I want to PM you about something regarding weight that may be helpful to you.
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Posted this in the treating bc naturally thread and part of it in the essential oil for cancer thread. Not trying to change anyone's mind. Everyone should do what they feel best for them. So I'm assuming it will be ignored there.
I attended a talk last night given by a researcher onc at UCSF who specializes in breast cancer. All these supps and oils and such, there is no real research on because it's not FDA approved. One thing he did say is essential oils, supps, herbs ARE medicines. You need to treat them all just like to you rx drugs. And they really don't know the interaction of them with what meds you are on, and not just cancer meds- other meds you may be taking for another condition. When someone brought up the $ in rx meds, he counteracted with the $ in these essential oils/herbs/supp "natural" which there is nothing natural about any of this as they are all MEDICINE to your body. Just because something is tooted as "natural" doesn't mean it works better or as good, and isn't actually harmful to your body. The focus on just shutting down estrogren has taken over many people from truly understanding what they may be doing to their body. Not everyone is the same. The research on this stuff is sparse compared to rx meds. Iffy at best he said. So the message on this part of the talk was tread lightly with this alternative stuff. Also pointed out that Adriamycin, taxanes and aspirin are plant based meds.
Dr. David Lee is a researcher at UCSF which is very highly acclaimed institution. Tread carefully. Here's the slide put up on this topic:
Nutritional and herbal supps:
No high quality human trials demonstrate any cancer related benefit.
Supps have se's and can be dangerous, even "natural" ones
Treat herbal medicine as if it was a rx med
Check for known se's, drug-herb interactions. Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center website given as best source:
https://www.mskcc.org/search?keys=herbs
https://www.mskcc.org/search?keys=supplementsBe very very careful if you are receiving chemo.
Also brought up this thing I've been seeing going around on alkaline diet. Very interesting. Cancers live in all situations and adapt to their environment so forget about going this route. Plus the body is 7.4 ph naturally, to function properly. Too much alkaline could be deadly. The other end, too acidic, and get very sick. Body has a tendency to make it's way to where it needs to be, 7.4 ph. So don't intentionally mess with this.
Exercise- Yes! Big time can be a major factor in reducing cancer recurrence. For ER+ can be up to 50% reduction in chances of recur. Active = walking good pace for 3 hours a week. Can split it out. If bad joints, water walking/arobics. 3 studies found the risk of dying from colon cancer was reduced by 43-61% with moderate activity (3 hours a week). Prostate cancer benefits from exercise too. Pointed out exercise isn't for weight loss. You are looking at getting healthy. If you walk 1 mile you burn 100 calories. Need to walk 35 miles to lose 1 lb. Reality is the way to lose weight is watch your intake of food to the amount of activity you have. Eat less.
Diet- Organic foods are safer but it's a myth that it's healthier than reg produce. No pesticides and just makes it safer.
Many interventional trials have been performed in large groups of pts with bc, colon cancer and prostate cancer. Different diets studied:
low fat
high fruit and veggies
low glycemic
No intervention trial has demonstrated improvement in cancer related outcomes with long term follow up. However diet can prevent a cancer from developing in the first place.
Common sense diet for cancer:
balanced diet
eat in moderation
lots of fruit and veggies
min preservatives
shop perimeter of the grocery store (fresh stuff there)
If your grandmother doesn't understand the ingredients then don't buy it.
Aspirin- For some people aspirin can be started to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and colorectal cancer. No reduction in breast, lung or advanced prostate cancer.
Vit D- He doesn't know why pcp's are into testing so much for vit D on cancer pts. If your value is over 20, you have sufficient vit D. You don't want to be lower because it can be at least partly responsible for dementia, cancer, etc. Vit D doesn't prevent pre cancer polyps in the colon. Most studies giving vit D supp have not shown benefit in regards to cancer prevention (both primary and recurrence) and survival.
Summary- Lifestyle
The great lifestyle change that can improve a cancer survivor's chances of NED for good is exercise.
Goal 3 hours a week.
Aspirin can prevent recurrences and improve survival in pts treated for colorectal cancer.
Aspirin can prevent colon cancer from ever developing.
Eat a common sense, balanced diet. Everything is ok in moderation. No need to eliminate anything. Brought up sugar. Yes sugar feeds cance, but cancers adapt to become no need for sugar. Cancers are very adaptable to changes in the body. One reason why so hard to find a cure. They change to go with the new environment. So of course for health, lower the sugar the better, but to cut it all out thinking ah ha isn't the right thought. Moderation for everything, even red meat. Some people cut fruits out thinking sugar. He calls that kind of nuts. Moderation is the take away.
Nutrtional and herbal supps have not been found to be helpful and there can be risk of harm.
Talk to your doc about specific questions. Always question as advances are made in the field.
Final word: LIVE. Don't get so wrapped up in cancer that you forget to live your life.
After the talk I found the lady next to me was dx'd at 46 and was NED for 31 years! Tamoxifen had just come out and she was on the 2 year plan. Now at 77 there she is, again. I was the youngest one in the audience. Probably was 30-40 people there. It was held in the auditorium of the hospital and recorded to be televised on the local hospital channel. I asked a couple questions so my face will be on tv at some point.
I just copied the screen shot handouts that were given to us. Not an audience who would go home to read research studies so he kept it at the bullet points bottom line, which I appreciate. Just tell me the latest. Dr. David Lee's specialty is breast cancer and he attends the big conference in Tx ever Dec which runs a few days.
Hope this info helps. At the very least, it's food for thought.
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hello everyone!! i've been lurking around....same complaints so not going to bore you guys.
artista: sorry about your pet. glad you are happy with the reconstruction.
BB: i hope the check up is uneventful for you.
E: sorry about your sis...
jazzy: thanks for sharing about your mom and aunt....it's very traumatic to go through
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BB- Glad it got moved up. Hoping the best for you. As for all the appts, I just schedule it and just do it. Schedule how you think will get you to go. I don't like leaving my house much with my anxiety crap so I will have back to back appts as much as I can to get it all over with so I can have a long time before the next round of follow ups hits. See what works best for you, getting it over with like I do or spreading it out to 1 a week-- something that you will stick to.
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BB- I am glad nothing showed up on the imaging. No suggestion of an MRI? Weird pains no one will understand. I have them too, but not bad. If they thought bone mets, I would think a PET scan?
Because I am self employed, I pretty much hard line folks when left waiting too long that if the wait continues, I am leaving. I happen to know that "walk outs" cannot get billed with or without a co-pay, so that is lost money. Plus orgs are all about metrics and patient satisfaction these days and walk outs are not a good thing to have. It makes the org look bad if they have to many of those because it means they are not managing the schedule well and loosing money.
That being said, you had a more emergent situation and needed to be seen. But think it is fair to ask someone how much longer because you have other apts you will miss. They expect us to show up on time and we receive the same courtesy? It has become much worse through the years in my opinion.
Because I am self employed, I can manage these apts because my time is my own, I just let my clients know I will be unavailable for a morning, etc. But it is so much harder for FT folks whose bosses are watching the clock. I am at the doctor constantly for something, even basically yearly check ups. Lots of docs these days.....
BB, if you get a follow up on patient satisfaction from your healthcare group, do complete it and be honest about your experience. They cannot improve unless they know?
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BB - doing personal stuff in business hour is no fun at all. the places that i've worked, there's absolutely no privacy. i always step away from my desk or else my neighbor would know me intimately.
i don't mind using business time to take a #2.....
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yeah...the wait time is way longer than 15 min.....
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BB- I agree with you about endless surveys. I get them for everything too. Most of the time, I only do them if I a) get stellar service or b) need to tell them they blew it. I agree that none of us have time to respond to everything. I am constantly asked to review things on line, like my Molly Maid cleaning service. Ugh!
I feel for you on the credit freeze. There was a big Blue Cross/Blue Shield breach that year and was worried from the get go I could be impacted when I heard it. A colleague of mine is a cybersecurity expert and gave me the advice awhile back "assume your stuff is out there and be ready to react." I queries BSBC about it and was told if I was impacted, I would get a letter. Just so touching. And no I did not get a letter, but knew it was coming.
Six months later, as I was leaving town on a biz trip, I started getting calls from credit agencies about my request to open up some new credit cards. Ugh! After a couple of these, I knew I had a problem and had to quickly put a watch on my credit before I left town. After I got back from my trip, I froze my credit. I expect a new round of hard inquiries and calls with the Equifax stuff and maybe my stuff going out more again, but so far so good. I have to maybe unlock my freeze soon for a consulting group I may be working for to do a background search and dreading that knowing that EVERYONE is locking theirs down right now, it won't be easy. Healthcare orgs always require detailed background searches on consultants and employees to ensure patient safety, especially if you are working in any of the actual medical facilities. I am checking with the HR dept to see if they are just doing the criminal background stuff or the whole shabang. Wish me luck!
There was also a breach with one of the cancer centers in town several years back, where I had a consult on my rads treatment. I started getting some weird stuff in the mail that suggested that info may have been put out to some marketing companies.The thought of my healthcare dx out there on the black market is disturbing to me. Orgs that don't protect your health and financial items suck.
There is nothing but hassles for us consumers these days.
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hi ladies so I will go back to read all your post since I was not able to come here the past days.
So much happening so my poor sister situation is worse than what I thought. I fear she has cancer now. In her spine just like my sister Carmen. Why I think it is cancer? Well the pain she has is very bad and also yesterday was her MRI and they have the cd so my brother in law her partner took the cd next morning to her dr. And then the doctor saw something he did not like so he order 3 more scans of the spine this time with the liquid. Can't remember the name of that liquid they usually put in our vein to see contrast.so you see the MRI he order first was only scan no contrast. Now he wants more he also prescribed a series of medicine to be put by vein and my family found a nurse to go do it at home it is given twice a day. Is something only available if you are hospitalized but considering there is no way to do that right now in my country due to lack of beds and lack of medicine available. My brothers and sisters search and search till theyan age to buy the ingredients then pay a nurse to come do it at home. The words the doctor say tell me it is cancer my siblings are no familiar with cancer terminology but I do know that when you see cancer in an xray most times is a white shadow instead of black. And the doctor mentioned what he sees in the medule should be dark is white . Anyway I spoke to my brother and sister I told them what I feel and we now every night when we go to sleep we are concentrating on praying well no much me praying but they do believe in it so they do pray. I am more like meditating seen her in peace no pain just going in her sleep. We do not want her suffering and they are praying to their God that she pass away soon and with minimal pain. I know you guys may see that very wierd but it seems we are heading for a very difficult time. My sister is in very bad shape now is worse every day and very fast and I know only cancer walks that fast. Specially in the spine. She can't feel her legs now and oh another thing the doctor said the treatment ll take the pain away but she will need surgery urgent and only depending on the report of the MRI s he ordered now. Which leads to my confirmation this is more than a disk or a simple thing. You see he is only seen cds with no report so he is also blind to a stend but I know better than that. I know this is the end of my sister.
Today my other sister who took days off work now to care for her she left her alone 10
minutes wile she went to the lower level of our house to get something and when she came upstair my sister fail cuz she try to get up to put her plate on the counter . Well she fall and hurt her knees and her back. Imagine so yes I will lose another sister to the fking c. I am very very trouble by this guy's only uou here know how it feels.
Anyway all is shit how will my family pay for an operation which now cost more than a house? No insurance back home there is no assistance from the gov for illness actually no food nothing my family is no rich but with all the sickness we had we became poor like never before . Brother will sale one of our properties but no one is buying anything back home so yes the picture is bad. We just want her to pass away before the cancer get her the horrible pain we all saw Carmen endured . Anyway that is my update for now I will read your post and I ll post later I don't want to overwhelm you with my drama but I know u all care for me as if j am family.
Love you all
Sorry for the errors I just walked in the door I had to do late shift today so got off at 7pm
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here u can see some of the images
And her fall today
I won't be able to sleep for a wile now all I do is imagine her passing with no pain I just can't take it again. This is just horrible Bb I love you. Please try to see the dr soon I am like you I have no words of encouragement for my family for her kids for myself all I can do is keep going and keep asking why. Why why
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Oh E. No words either, just sending you, your sister and family much love and pray for strength. Just can't imagine. Hang in there. 1 day at a time. xxx
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E- my heart is broken for you and your family. Sending you love during this time
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E - i am so sorry about your sister. (((Hugs)))
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girls I am ok I am meditating hoping she does fast. Is all we can do for now.
Love you all
I ll keep you posted
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hi girls. The 3 aditional MRI ll be done tomorrow. Her doctor managed to get her in tmw in one of the clinics where he can have access to it right away cuz he works there. Humm I ll ask for the name of the vein treatment is something for pain and also to reduce the swelling of the spine. We are scared cuz today it was the last one so hopping the pain does not comeback so fast specially cuz tmw she ll be moved to do MRI she has been confined to bed cuz she can't feel her legs. Anything below her breast actually. Even her private parts she can't feel. So imagine she is not able to poo only by enemas.
Anyway sorry if it is too much information
I ll let you know the names of the inyecciones
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