Can we have a forum for "older" people with bc?

Pretty flowers, Mary. If you potted all those yourself, a big accomplishment.

Sandy, I hope everything is ok with you.

I got the blood analysis results in My Chart and everything looks about the same except the glucose is higher, in diabetes range rather than the prediabetes range. I take two metformin pills daily but didn't take any meds yesterday morning. My appointment with the PCP is next week. We'll see what she says about the bloodwork. I had to request having it done prior to the appointment. Usually I see her or her NP and then go for bloodwork. Seems backward to me.

I just became aware that I am missing a post now and then and have to scroll a little higher.

Happy Friday to all.

Mary, love the photos of the flowers! I agree with Carole, that was a big Beautiful accomplishment!

Cindy, also Very Nice Photos!!!! Loved them! I love visiting old historical sites like that!

Petite, sorry to hear about the nightmares! Hope your day goes well and you get things accomplished without any issues!

illinoislady, hope you are doing well and feeling better with each and every day! When do you next see your doctor?

Karen, always thoughts of you! Is today another treatment day? If so, crossing fingers you don't feel too bad afterwards.

Sandy, miss your comments! Hope all is well with you!

Thanks to all for sharing your breakfast choices! I am going to look up Cliff bars, although I prefer to stick with natural foods, I do use High Protein Slimfast on occasion, and I am looking for something better.

Today two area high schools went virtual due to bomb threats! Kids and social media are a very bad combination sometimes! I feel so bad for all the good kids, who really care about school. There aren't as many of them as there was in past years, but they are still there. Virtual, no matter how good, is not on the same level as in person learning.

Happy Friday everyone!

Treatment #7 is done. Only 9 more to go. Hematologist (and two other nurses) stopped by to see the reaction on me as well as the photo. Evidently, the reaction is unusual. If someone gets a reaction it's me. He is stopping the Velcade which is the med that is causing the reaction. My monthly appointment is next Friday. He can write a Rx a stronger anti-itch cream if it gets worse and also a stronger anti-nausea if I keep having nausea. Will wait and see. My weight is down another 1.2#. In tears when I get off the scale. My weight is way too low. I see a Dietician on Monday afternoon. I need some good suggestions. I don't think I'm eating any less at meals - just not snacking and I'm beginning to wonder if it's just not snack or the meds as well as the MM.

It's finally stopped raining after 2 days of rain. Supposed to start up again tomorrow and rain the next several days.

I have my end of the year evaluation this afternoon. I finally completed all my paperwork for it. I have to do a self appraisal - it is hard to rate myself - don't want to be too high or not high enough on my ratings The comments are easier to do.

Have a great Friday

I've always seen those flowers sold as winter pansies. They are planted in fall and usually persist into spring. The larger flowers are summer pansies. Winter pansies are a nice bit of color when everything else goes brown.

Carole and Cardplayer, I wish my PCP ordered blood tests prior to my visit. That seems like a logical order, but he does not! That is another reason why I am switching PCP's. I have an appointment with another at the same practice in August.

Cardplayer, sorry your glucose level is high. Mine was only ever high, as in 102, once, and that was years ago. My A1C was in the lower end of the pre-diabetic range. That was a year ago.

My metabolic panel and chem screen were all well within normal limits. My Cardiologist orders those. I see him in June. I was actually surprised since I feel I am eating less healthy foods since my surgeries. I guess I do tend to eat healthy most of the time.

Karen, as hard as I try, I can't fully comprehend how you are feeling due to low weight. I know it IS just as stressful as being obese, but having been obese all my life, or at least being on the heavier side, and I simply can't imagine having a "too low" weight.

I know you are mentally suffering, just like myself and others do at when we step on the scale. I am so sorry you are going through that, but maybe it is time to do what I do and don't ask what your weight is, and don't get on the scales at home, at least for awhile. If I am mentally upset about my weight already, I tell the nurse I am closing my eyes and please don't tell me what I weigh. They are usually good about that. Taking a mini vacation from the scale can prove to be very helpful!

Most of the time I Know exactly what I weigh as I am trying to lose weight. Sometimes, not focusing on what the scale reads but by how I feel, works better. Your constant worry about weight isn't helping you at all!

Ask the nutritionist when you see her/him if she or he, thinks it is ok to try to apply new eating strategies they suggest without knowing your exact weight all the time! I think one of your doctors, or the nutritionist, should be able to carry that burden for you! Someone else needs to monitor your weight for you! Try to relax and focus on how you feel. If you must, imagine yourself 5 pounds heavier! Hey, sometimes we need to play mind games to get well! I wish you the best, I know it is hard not to worry, but you WILL BE just fine!!!!!

Generosity does not apply only to money and material things; it is more about your spirit.  You do not have to be financially wealthy to be generous.  You can give love, kindness, time, listening, patience, caring, appreciation, compliments, and service.  When in doubt, give.Alan Cohen

Good Morning. Heading to celebrate DD birthday and Mother’s Day with DD, SIL, Grandbaby, DS, DIL, and DH today. We meet at DD house since she’s the same distance for us and DS from his home in Baltimore. Looking forward to seeing them and spending time with the family.

Although it rained yesterday, I did quite a bit of walking outside. In the morning, I attended a support group. The group had a trainer come provide some tips to us and then we walked about a mile on some trails next to where we met. After lunch DH and I walked in a light drizzle. Tried to watch the baseball game, but the NATS were rained out.

I hope everyone is feeling good today and has a wonderful day.

Happy Mother's Day to all the mom's here!

Cardplayer, your day sounds like it will be wonderful! Can I ask what kind of support group you belong to? I have always been worried about joining the local breast cancer group. It sounds like your group is an amazing group, and walking on trails would be something I would like to do too! I don't feel comfortable sharing with people who might actually know others I know outside the group, since I worked for a large area school district, I know a lot of people in the area. I do like that your group walks. I have a friend who has wanted to walk with me for years. I think it is time I take her up on that!

Not much new with me. I still don't feel well. Not sure why. Maybe I am expecting to feel normal too soon after two surgeries? I hurt from the abdominal liposuction, but I don't want to go back to wearing the abdominal binder. That was super uncomfortable!

Karen, I really hope this treatment is going better for you! Thought of you last night as we watched the Phillies play the Rockies. I love their green uniforms! I couldn't stay up for the end of the game, but DH did.

Sun is out again, a beautiful day! Hope the sun is shining for everyone here today!

Sun is peeking through after the thunderstorm yesterday so it should be all right today. I am thinking to get back to some walking — something that always meant a lot to me. It is hard to be like I am now, but all things change, even if you are not quite ready. Time to make the best of it.

I hope you all have a wonderful day. We will spend a quiet day here, doing anything that presents. I will likely make a big meatloaf for dinner later on.

Happy Mother's Day to all.

Oh, and Happy Mother's Day! We're going up to Froggy's late this afternoon (rain be damned) for their special menu, which we did last year. I ate so much at bedtime that I couldn't bear anything more than coffee today. Dinner's at 4:30, which is plenty early enough for me today.

Yesterday, we went to Dominican U. in River Forest for a long-postponed (since March 2020) benefit concert by Audra McDonald, who is one of Bob's favorite singers. She was magnificent, but with a quite down-to-earth stage presence, at least in a recital setting. The only reason she doesn't have an EGOT is that there hasn't been an appropriate film that would put her in the running for an Oscar. At 6 Tonys (with another nomination this year), she far and away holds the B'way record.

I made the mistake, BTW, of using the ancient and now-partly-obsolete nav system in our 2014 Outback, instead of downloading & printing the Mapquest directions (which would have taken us under an hour, all on surface streets) or using Siri (which Bob says misdirects him half the time). Because the maps haven't been updated since 2020—and no longer can be, for love or money—it doesn't "know" major lane & exit reconfigurations on interstates. Drives me nuts when it says to take a particular exit when that exit turns out to be inaccessible due to recently-divided-and-protected lanes. It's steered me wrong getting to both Lake Bluff for my derm and Madison, WI (where I need to perform this Fri.). Amazingly, it did that for THREE different exits yesterday, taking us 15 miles and 1/2 hr. out of our way—including doubling back on the tollway and then getting stuck for 15 min. at a RR x-ing for a freight train after finally exiting the tollway. We arrived in time, but shaken and in desperate need of the restrooms…which were downstairs with no elevator. Seats were great, though.

Afterward, we went to the nearby Oak Park branch of Cooper's Hawk winery (a chain where we haven't been since mid-2019, in Oak Lawn when Bob had to stay over at the Hilton before an early morning of rounds at Advocate Christ; we've also been to the Orland Park branch, and they have others in Wheeling and downtown in the "Viagra Triangle"). We should have made a res the night before, but had no idea how long the show would run. So they couldn't seat us in the dining room so we sat at the bar instead.

The bartender/servers were quite overworked and the kitchen was slammed. It was noisy. My soup was lukewarm; my mocktail arrived late and—unlike its ingredients listed on the menu—had sugary "simple syrup" (or 7-Up/Sprite instead of club soda); and when I took my fork to fish through the ice for the cucumber garnish at the bottom of the glass, I speared a mint leaf that had a HAIR hanging off it. Ugh. At least my steak salad was good and so was the suggested pairing glass of Meritage—such a big pour I gave most of it to Bob.

Hi @chisandy,

I don't know if you have a smartphone, but if you do, I found some navigational apps that are better at protecting your privacy if that's a concern for you (in case that's why you print directions).

I put baking soda on the carpet and vacuumed it up several hours later. Smelly because today and yesterday have been rainy. Still resisting the urge to order something expensive. I think his accidents soaked down to the padding.

I will finish up on a sewing job tomorrow. It turned out to be messy because of communication problems and departing from the original pattern in multiple ways. She is self-conscious because of saggy upper arms. I told her that nearly everyone our age has them, and this top has to have shorter sleeves because of its design. She didn't know that saggy upper arms are common among older women because she is severely visually impaired. Went half-price on the job.

Outpatient. Celebrex (sensitive stomach). He understands my concern about pain> high blood pressure> hearing loss. Will keep me reasonably comfortable. And concerns about opiate use. There are several people who have had drug problems here, and I am concerned about them trying to get access to my meds. I suspect that Tom and Laura will take me down to Beaver Dam, so as to avoid the stress.

Yes, I have a whole new set of prehab exercises. The major point of them is to memorize them now by doing them, so later with fuzzy brain they will be a routine and therefore easier. Prehab is without rehab. Most people have visiting PT services for the first two weeks, and then outpatient PT at hospital or clinic. Some people complaining about shin splints, so I am still doing the preventive exercise for that from my previous list.

A lot of switching to home-centered post-surgical care is due to the fact that there are more possibilities of exposure to germs in hospitals, rehab centers, and nursing homes. Knee replacement is especially vulnerable to that. I brought up that subject, and he made a facial expression of intense grief and agreed. I quickly changed the subject.

Taco, I was in a local golf store last week to have some golf grips replaced on five clubs. Out of curiosity I asked if they had any women's individual clubs. The store is typically focused on men golfers so the store employee showed me only two clubs. One was a driver priced at almost $500. Too expensive for me. When I was more into golf, I bought clubs on Ebay. I've had the same ones now for 8 or 10 years. I did recently buy a beautiful new golf bag that I admire when I walk past it. LOL. I wear gloves on both hands for sun protection and am having to order from Amazon.

I am starting to feel some nerves about departing on Sunday. I will start packing cool/cold weather clothes today since we experience a range of temperatures in MN.

I will hold off a few days on checking the pantry for items to take with us.

I got a sweet text from my niece Rebecca who thanked me for being a Bonus Mom to her.

Happy Monday to all.

10 years is an eternity when it comes to orthopedic surgery advances. Add to that the pandemic’s effect on all congregate-care settings, including inpatient rehab; and the major danger of metal implants failing because bacteria like MRSA can form a “biofilm” around them. The reason I did inpatient rehab both times (discharged from hospital after 2 days) is that the post-op protocol back then was 10-14 days of TWICE-daily PT and daily OT—which would have been impossible for me due to my house being 7 steps up from street level. (Stairs were taught toward the end of inpatient PT). Insurance wouldn’t have paid for 2x/day medi-car transport to a PT clinic that would have necessitated.

But now the UK protocol of a decade ago (no formal “physio,” just self-exercises, icing and elevation) has spread worldwide. After I was finally sent home, a PT would come to my house 3x/week, along with a visiting nurse every other day to take my vitals and a finger-prick to measure INR and fine-tune my anticoagulant dose (clots are the other major complication of lower-limb surgery). Home visits were 3 weeks, then I was on my own to go to outpatient PT 3x/week (first time, the clinic would send a car for me because it was my R, “driving” leg; a year later I could drive myself because my cars had automatic transmissions so my L foot had nothing to do). The thought back then about joint replacement being essentially an outpatient surgery was that orthos who did that were “cowboys.” Now, a combination of COVID and economy has made that standard-of-care.

BTW, the first time, rehab was on an emergent basis because despite admonitions during pre-op “joint replacement school” I didn’t think I’d need it; and we had to scramble to find a center with availability that my then insurance would cover—hence the lousy facility in which I spent 10 days. The next time, even before starting pre-hab and joint-replacement-school, I researched and toured inpatient facilities and made two reservations. That’s how I ended up in a great facility with better food, activities, a restaurant-like dining room (to which I could invite guests), great therapists, nicer surroundings and mostly ortho patients. (The first one had memory-care and hospice patients on my floor, without regard to gender—old men kept wandering into my room). The 2 weeks there flew by!

Regan decided to chew the battery cover for my TENS unit and getting a replacement has not been easy. The company I bought it from does not offer this for sale because "it comes with the unit". Well, surely they make them separate because it is removable? Did not have the patience to deal with the online salesperson. Finally found one that I hope works where the price for the battery cover is nominal, but the shipping is 4x's as much.

Asked DH to pull out power washer so I could do the front porch. He reported it was not working so I went to check and here he had not turned the nozzle on. It works, so I did the porch deck and the ceiling where the spiders love to live. So residual cobwebs are gone and the porch is done. Waiting for it to dry so I can see if I need to do any more passes.

Waiting for porch and patio furniture to be returned by refinisher. They are wrought iron and the patio furniture was purchased over 30 years ago and when he finishes, they look brand new. Several pieces are only about 20 years old and were purchased after our first tree damage which was mostly confined to the back of the house and patio. Porch pieces are about 20 years old as well. I used to scrape them down and paint but it is a lot of work and the paint layers were getting too thick. He sandblasts them and spray paints them as if they were an auto. It has been nearly 20 years since the last painting so they were due.

DD and DSil helped reassemble patio yesterday. They got my planting table out of the shed and set it up so I could pot plants. So I got 4 large planters done and the planter for the hummingbird which contains lantana camera. The bird bath is in place as is the fountain. We still have one table and chair set on the patio so we were able to have dinner outside. The weather was so pleasant and it felt good to be able to be outside for a meal. I still have plants that need to be placed in planters, so I just need to select the pots I want to use.

Cindyny, glad to see you reached your destination. Looks like you have a "to-do" list as well of household updates.

Carole: Looks like you are approaching your launch date as well. Hope your journey is safe and pleasant.

Karen: Sorry to hear you are still experiencing SE's from your treatments. Once I was too thin and was teased about that; now I am overweight and am fat shamed about that. So it seems that there is no happy medium about weight. I think if you stop getting on the scale this might lessen the anxiety you are feeling about your current weight. If you are eating and it is healthy, that should be your focus. Indulge in foods that are higher calorie to see if this helps.

Mary: Seems you are approaching your surgery with an "all you can do" attitude to ensure a good outcome. Instead of memorizing your exercises, can you get printouts that serve as a back-up if memory decides to take a vacation. My PT's were always able to print both a written and picture of the exercises (including the steps) they wanted me to do.

Sandy: Thanks for your review of your TKR journey. Times have changed in 10 years and I can remember subjecting fresh post-op knees to CPM (continuous passive movement) machines. They were not appreciated at the time and have since fallen out of favor.

Taco: Sorry this is a tough time of year for you. I hope you are able to find some comfort in knowing that we are here for you.

It is a lovely day so I want to try to get outside again. Hope everyone has a good day.