Can we have a forum for "older" people with bc?
Comments
-
~Sandy~
I live in a tiny rural community south of Sugar Land. We don't have a sewer system. We have ditches. This storm is supposed to only be a rain event for us. A LOT OF RAIN!!!!!!! Flooding could become a serious issue. My backyard is under water already and the ditch in front of the house is full. We are used to this when we get heavy spring rains, but they don't last for days. The last time we had something like this was in 2001, with Tropical Storm Allison. The water came up almost to the front door. That's when we decided we needed flood insurance.
0 -
Poppy, thank goodness you were able to buy flood insurance. I’m watching live right now—Victoria & Corpus Christi are being slammed: transformers exploding, hotels flooded up through the first floor (not the ground floor). It’s a very slow-moving storm. Though it’s been “downgraded” to a Cat. 3 and then 2, that only refers to sustained wind speed. Along the coast there’s storm surge (which was what killed most of those who drowned in Superstorm Sandy). And now tornado warnings. They’re talking 15-20 feet of rain south of Houston before it ends—which might not be for a week. Knowing you’re covered isn’t that comforting when you have nowhere to go and you don’t know the hardship that awaits once you have to start recovering from the damage. Prayers for you, and that you find a way to get through this and pick up the pieces as best you can.
0 -
Self respect cannot be hunted. It cannot be purchased. It is never for sale. It cannot be fabricated out of public relations. It comes to us when we are alone, in quiet moments, in quiet places, when we suddenly realize that knowing the good, we have done it; knowing the beautiful, we have served it; and knowing the truth, we have spoken it.
Whitney Griswold
0 -
Houston is only 3 feet above sea level, hence flooding. There's no place for it to go and Galveston Bay is already high. I was at work one day when DD called to say they were canoeing in front of our house. We were lucky that it didn't get into our house; it did across the street. We went thru Carla in Houston. Total ignoramuses. We stayed in our mobile home surrounded by tall pine trees. I would never do that knowing what I know now.
0 -
H was a child when Carla came through. MIL talked about how bad it was.
We had no damage at our house during the night; just a few limbs from the pecan trees. High wind gusts & heavy rain. Neighbors tree split and fell in the ditch, so water is not draining across the street from us. We drove out into the unincorporated area about three miles behind us and saw a lot of damage. H thinks a tornado went through there. There were trees uprooted, power lines & poles down (light company busy making repairs....we counted almost a dozen bucket trucks), sheet metal twisted around trees & poles and scattered in the fields. Farmers have been busy trying to get the cotton in. There were several fields where it wasn't harvested in time and is now ruined. Everywhere we looked was water...yards flooded, creeks full, pastures under water. It had not been raining for about three hours, so that gave some of the water time to go down some, but around noon it started up again. Most is light , but there are occasional downpours. Last report I saw, Harvey was downgraded to a Category 1, but has slowed to 2 miles an hour.
0 -
Hi everyone
Prayers for all impacted by Harvey. I know you don't have to be hit directly to experience serious problems from these storms. I think I have a little understanding on why people wait till the last minute to prepare, at least in my area. Because of the possibility of being hit by a bad storm or hurricane, our officials go into high gear, telling people to stock up, put up hurricane shutters, etc. TV goes on 24 hr storm coverage days before it hits. I understand their reasoning, but it happens so often, and then the "storm" turns out to be nothing more than a bad thunderstorm. Also, over the years, especially Andrew 25 yrs ago, we were as prepared as we could get, without evacuating, as it was heading straight to Ft Lauderdale. Maybe half an hour before the predicted landfall, it turned and devasted Homestead and other South Dade (Miami) communities. After preparing for many storms that didn't happen, people tend to take their chances that the current storm will be as so many others. Putting up shutters, bringing in everything outside, takes hours if not a day or more. I know these people are playing Russian Roulette, but that's the general outlook. We fall somewhere in the middle. All of our windows, except for the sliding doors on the patio, are hurricane strength, so we don't need to shutter them. Our patio glass doors are under the roof, and we have prepared the outside for putting shutters across the patio- we just haven't bought the actual shutters. We do check our supplies, flashlights and food, and replace batteries, etc and make sure we have enough food and water to get through several days. And we do have a generator in our shed should we lose power for a significant amount of time.
We were hit pretty bad with Hurricane Wilma about 12-13 years ago. I don't think it got a lot of coverage, but it did a lot of damage locally. We watched our neighbor's patio door fly by, and they watched our above the ground pool collapse. We were without power for almost a month. My son, who now lives in SC, was living in townhouse nearby with his now wife. They got power back before us, and my two daughters, three grandsons and I went there to sleep. We were welcomed, as long as we left before my DIL left for work, which was about 7:30am. Our first night in air conditioning in weeks- therefore our first good night of sleep and we had to be up, dressed and out by 7:15am.
We had, by then, hooked up our generator. At first, we only hooked our refrigerator to it. Then we added one light per room., then we added one TV and by the end of it, we had just about everything except the A/C up and running from the generator. I worked at a school at that time, and they were closed for 2 full weeks. I still had no electricity at our house, but the school had power when it reopened. People thought it was crazy to make the kids come back to school when many of them were also still without power. When someone questioned the opening, our principal answered that she didn't give a hoot if the kids learned anything, or if the teachers actually had lesson plans. Most of our kids were on free lunches and our school also provided free breakfast for everyone. She said the food they got that day was probably the first hot meal and possibly the first decent food for them since the storm hit. And she said they needed to know life would and was getting back to normal. About half an hour before school was over, they asked for any students who didn't have power to come to the front office. Someone was handing our MRE's, as many as needed to feed the whole family a hot dinner. Since I didn't have power yet, I got 3 free meals.
We were very lucky that our next door neighbor was a police officer. It was impossible to find enough gas to keep the generators going, but Gary would call his wife every night to tell her where the police vehicles were filling up, and she would load all of the five gallon gas cans we had. It would be fifteen or more cans from about four families, we all had several, and she would go fill us all up. They really were live savers.
Again, my prayers go out to all impacted with Harvey.
Anne
0 -
My mom went through both Katrina (Part I) and then Wilma. Her neighbors helped her pack and get outta Dodge (up to VA to stay at a suite-motel to visit my sis) the morning after Katrina hit SE FL. Three weeks later, her COPD landed her in the hospital in Arlington and we had to fly her home (sis got her to the plane, I picked her up and stayed with her for two weeks). Then a month later, Wilma blasted through. I was supposed to come back to help her, but flights were grounded and hotels were closed (not merely full). She had no power for a few days, and was lucky to have several huge oxygen tanks because her compressor was offline. She & her home health aide (who stayed overnight during the storm) were eating out of cans, but she viewed it as an “adventure.” She had heavy bars across her reinforced windows, and said she was fascinated by the storm itself.
Power came to her part of the complex first because it was on the same grid as Delray Community hospital. I was able to come down a week after Wilma, and it was like a war zone in Delray & Boca. I flew into FLL—palm trees all around the terminal had been snapped in half. Drove up 95 to Delray. The hangar at the little airport in Boca looked like a giant celestial foot (a la the ending of the Monty Python opening theme) had stomped on it. I approached her seniors’ condo complex, and the hedges surrounding it looked like the mouth of someone who’d lost a bad bar fight. As I drove through the complex, devastation was everywhere—entire back porch walls blown off, roofs shredded, blue tarps galore. Shocked to find that her building was the only one on her street that was completely spared.
What gas there was available was >$4/gallon (very high for 2005). Traffic lights were still out. I had to drive her to a different hospital to get her weekly transfusion, and had to dodge downed trees the whole time. We were able to get her a flu shot and a couple flats of bottled water at the neighborhood center. Amazingly, some restaurants had reopened.
0 -
anne..thank you for asking about Kaileen...she is doing quite well after a pretty difficult time._here is a picture of Kieran....
0 -
here is a picture of GENEVIEVE who will be her part er in crime o e day...cousins born 2 1/2 months apart
0 -
And here they are already plannning how they can get in troubl
0 -
Here they are plannning how to get in trouble..
0 -
Sometimes the only words are awww !!
0 -
Both are adorable, Ducky. Lucky family.
The problem with preparing for a hurricane or an earthquake (up here) is that you need to buy a lot of food you would never eat otherwise. Then when you don't need it you have to use it up anyway or throw away the money. The only food I can think of to store is canned tuna and maybe beans. It seems like everything we eat is fresh because we have a garden and go to the farmer's market weekly. Everything seems to require cooking or refrigeration.
0 -
Give yourself the gift of forgiving others,
not because THEY deserve it,
but because YOU deserve the serenity and joy
that comes from releasing resentment and anger.
Unconditional forgiveness is the path to your own inner peace.
- Jonathan Lockwood Huie0 -
~Wren~
I know what you mean about the food. We have a stash of water that we can keep for a while, but any canned foods that we wouldn't normally eat is donated to the food pantry when hurricane season is over in November and we replenish it again in June. We eat out of our garden,too. But by this time of the year the season is over and the garden is resting. We continue to cook because rain, shine or ice, H will cook outdoors.
We have a lot of water...H & S drove out to the unincorporated areas (pasture) to release a rat that had gotten into a live animal trap. They said we are an island. We have 3 ways to get out of here, but all are under water now. Even if we could get out, the freeways are all closed.
We have lived here for 27 years and have never had to shelter. We had to today. A tornado went right over us; thank goodness it didn't touch down. I am so glad I insisted on an interior closet and an interior bathroom when we built this house.
It has been a long wet day & it will continue to be like this at least until Thursday.
0 -
You were in my thoughts, so I'm glad you posted. I bet both of our previous houses are flooded at this point.
0 -
Stay safe, Texas gals
0 -
We have family SE of Austin. So far so good, but a lot more rain coming. Watching live weather channel.
0 -
Your description of Wilma was very accurate Sandy. I spoke about that yesterday, but I wanted to mention that once it passed and everyone came out to survey the aftermath, our whole street (a very long street) was totally blocked by fallen trees, branches and other debris. The guys at our end got saws, axes and any and everything else and began clearing the way. My neighbor on one side was a policeman, and on other the other side was an EMT, so they knew they had to clear the way. Many hours later, we realized the people on the other end of the street were doing the same. What a pain in the butt it was, acquaintances became life-long friends as a result.
I have had another interesting few days. I got my third and final epidural in my spine on Tues. Can't get any more for at least 8 mos. I went for my physical therapy on Thurs. As usual, they took my blood pressure. It was too high, so the therapist told me just to sit and relax for a few minutes and she would try again, which has happened a few times, so I wasn't upset. Second reading was higher. Dr said to put the heating pad on, and to do the masssage. It was even higher- by this point it was 179/104. They sent me home without therapy. I took it myself Fri morning after being seated and relaxed for at least 90 min. It was 188/107. My brother said that I should just sit calmly while he showered and then we would take it again. But as he came out of the shower, he said that maybe we should get it checked, regardless of the reading. I agreed, because our mother died from a stroke. When we got to the ER, l was 210/148. I had no other symptoms except for a little pressure in the front of my head. They gave me a pill. After about about hour, it had come down a few points, but not significantly. I asked them to detach me so I could use the restroom
I wAs back in the bed for a half hour or so before they hooked me up again. At the same time, the nurse was putting an IV in to draw blood, and to admit me so I could get IV meds overnight. When the machine took my pressure, it was 178/102. Bloodwork was all fine, so they sent me home. I asked what to do if it spiked again-the Dr's answer was that I shouldn't check it- my nerves would keep it high. So I rested Sat, and then last night about 8, I told my daughter it was high again. The upper # was only 155, which is high, but not dangerously high, but the lower number was over 100.
I have a Dr appt at 2 this afternoon. I will keep you updated.
Anne
0 -
Annie, My DH lives with crazy BP. We take it every day, sometimes good , sometimes high. they may have to play with your BP meds. He lso has "white coat " BP, always goes up if he is in the hospital! Hope they get your under control.
0 -
Praying for Texas...
0 -
"In the midst of hate, I found there was, within me, an invincible love. In the midst of tears, I found there was, within me, an invincible smile. In the midst of chaos, I found there was, within me, an invincible calm. In the midst of winter, I found there was, within me, an invincible summer. And that makes me happy. For it says that no matter how hard the world pushes against me, within me, there's something stronger - something better, pushing right back." ~ Albert Camus
0 -
I continue to send prayers for lots of positive energies for those in Texas. It has been raining here today ( a nice rain ) and I ran way late as I needed to run over and babysit the new puppy. Adults had a couple of tests at the hospital and little puppy totally disliked the crate --- so I went over first thing and stayed till the hospital testing was done.
Fingers crossed that things turn out fine for you Anne. I've had some ( intermittent ) white coat issues -- but not bad for me. Hang in there....
0 -
Anne, I know it sounds impossible, but keep calm. Good idea not checking your BP too often—after awhile it’s like DIY white-coat syndrome. There’s an arsenal of meds that can bring it down, usually a cocktail of several pills. (I’m on a combo ARB/HCTZ).
Seconding ducky’s prayers for our TX sisters—LA too, as Harvey is turning ESE again.
Had to blow off training this morning, due to digestive issues (was afraid of an “accident” or puking during workout). I had mentioned the gory details over on the “drinking” thread, but my guts were flip-flopping all weekend because my son Gordy left early Fri. evening and didn’t come home till last night. I stayed up past 5 am both nights, sick with worry. Wasn’t answering his cell, posting on FB/Instagram (except one pic Sat. aft) or Tweeting; used his bank card exactly once, for dinner on Sat. He left his computer here, and it’s password-protected so I couldn’t check for clues. Ashamed to admit I went to his FB feed to see if any of his friends had tagged him or he had posted any comments. He finally returned my texts twice, but cryptically, to tell me he was ok and had his meds & inhaler with him. Finally texted he’d be home by 10pm, and he was shortly thereafter. Turns out he was with his new girlfriend…had no idea he was finally dating; they’ve been seeing each other for a couple of weeks but he didn’t say anything lest I get pushy & start dreaming about wedding bells & grandkids. She even lives in the neighborhood. But my gut is still taking time to recover—not just from the weekend, but reacting to being off three weeks of iron supplements. (I have lost two pounds—so I’d been literally “full of it”). Even had a tiny bit of spotting (kind of anemic-looking) from my ‘rhoids. My tailbone is still bruised & sore, but now I’m getting a preview of the SEs of Wed.’s prep. Already hitting the diaper rash ointment.
Wed. is gonna be crazy. Begin liquid diet in the a.m., with something with enough calories to get me through training, then mani-pedi (no time for cardio before that), then the (yuck) prep. Stocked up on chicken bone broth & flavored waters (coconut, maple, peach—all of them clear. No Gatorade—it tastes too much like prep). Then Thurs. a.m. more prep, followed by my highly intimate and extremely uncomfortable close-up. Hope all they find are the hemorrhoids and that’s what’s causing the iron loss. If they find anything more…well, one step at a time.
0 -
Thanks for the encouraging words.
I don't, as far as I know, have white coat syndrome. The daughter that lives with me does- when she goes for her PAP, they want to admit her to the hospital. Twice, they have made her get a full cardiac workup before they will give her the birth control pill. I have found out my brother also has white coat issues.
The first time we realized my BP was so high was at physical therapy. I have the same therapist most of the time and I am very comfortable with her. There have been other times that my BP was high, and we just retook it after a few minutes and it was okay, so that didn't make me nervous.
I just got back from the Dr. She, also, cannot find any cause but she did double my BP meds, because she says I was on a very low dose.
Someone (male) called me today from my old Dr's office. I guess they are still on my file at the hospital. He said he was a "customer service" rep for the practice. Wanted to know how I was feeling, yadda, yadda. Then he asked if I had scheduled an appt. with my Dr as instructed by the ER. I told him no, that I was no longer using that practice and why. Said after 30 yrs, I couldn't handle calling for an appt and being told first available was 6 weeks away. Couldn't handle seeing a PA twice about the pain in my back and being given Percocet and told chiropracty was my only option other than surgery. Couldn't handle being told to get an MRI stat, and being told they would have the results that afternoon, only to find out the Dr had left for the weekend ( it was Thurs) and no one called me back till Tues. I told him by then, I had already seen my new Dr, gotten the results of the MRI, and had appts for an orthopedic Dr and a pain management Dr.
He told me that practice now has an urgent care facility that I could go to for most things. I said that was nice, but no one told me about it, and regardless, I didn't think I was asking too much to be seen by my doctor in his office with a serious back problem sooner than first available in six weeks. I stayed very calm and conversational, but made my feelings pretty clear.
Anne
0 -
OMG Sandy - I would lose my mind if I couldn't reach any of my kids for 36 hrs. There is no excuse in this day and age for worrying someone like that. My kids are all grown and most live quite a distance, and we don't talk or text every day. But if I tried to reach them and couldn't after 12 hrs, I would lose my mind. They are the same about me. If my son in So Carolina usually calls me on his way home from work every day. If I don't answer by the second time,he is on the phone with my daughter in GA to find out if she knows about any special plans I might have, if she doesn't, he's texting the daughter I live with. (He doesn't call her, because once on the phone with her, you never get off). Usually I am just on the phone with someone else, or maybe out to dinner, but me being unreachable freaks my kids out.
Back to your son, him not letting you know he wasn't coming home for two nights is unthinkable. I understand wanting privacy while the relationship is new, but a simple text saying "Mom, everything is fine, I am staying with a friend for he weekend" would have not caused you the 2 sleepless nights. We live in such unstable times that "dropping" off the map for 48 hrs is not acceptable. Accidents, drugs, terrorism - things our parents didn't have to think about are, unfortunately, an almost every day occurrence now.
Sorry you had to go thru that. Tell him you have a GPS system on his phone, and if he disappears again, you will show up wherever he is in full Mama Bear mode and totally embarrass him in every way possible.
Kids!!
Anne
0 -
~Anne~
I have white-coat syndrome - mostly where needles are concerned.
~Sandy~
I understand your anxiety when it comes to your son. Mine is in his early 30s & I pace whenever he goes out. He rarely says where he is going & so I worry. He has never stayed out overnight, but there is a girl friend (I made the mistake of asking if he liked her & nearly lost my head!) that he sees a lot. I know her from work and I like her. They used to work together & still do in a way. Same system; different departments now. He is very private and I won't ask questions either. Both are working on their Masters and then want to establish their careers. So, I have asked him to at least let me know if I can lock up before I go to bed (he doesn't always remember his key) & then lie awake until I hear him come in.
0 -
Sandy, hoping your innards turn out to be totally fine and stay that way. I think we all worry about our kids ( even we don't have too ) because they are an extension of us. We have gotten to where we are in one piece and want the same for them. Also it is a different far less safe world. As you say -- gangs, drugs, and terrorists, and all sorts of negative type events that never came into play years ago.
0 -
OK, he told me her name & age (twenties), how they met (social media), and what she does (teacher).
0 -
Marie Barone!
0
