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

Evaluation visit with PT yesterday afternoon in which she took measurements of both calves and thighs to document swelling. The left leg is visibly and now measurement-wise larger due to swelling. She performed efflurage to reduce swelling and by early evening I noticed a decrease in the swelling of my foot. I wore my widest pair of sneakers which are Skechers and have a lot of give because I knew wearing shoes was going to be a challenge.

By the end of PT the left sneaker was feeling very tight and I could not wait to get home to take it off. She did use TENs stimulation and ice at the end which felt heavenly. She gave me some additional exercises I can perform at home but was impressed that I was walking independently and that I was able to straighten knee to meet table top which I had been unable to d pre-op.

I noticed a decrease in leg swelling by bedtime so the massage did help move some of those trapped fluids. I return on Friday for the first real exercise session.

cindyny, loving your photos and the introduction to places I knew nothing about. I love Williamsburg and want to take a trip back there. Please take more photos so we can live vicariously. Glad visit with stepson was pleasurable.

petite1, your vacation is to where? Sorry but I have forgotten and I like to hear about your trips. As far as giving uo your home, I would say stay where you are because you ahve control over what happens to it and when. Yes, houses cost us money but so do HOA's in communities and you have no control in those places. I think we all have had unexpected household costs this past year and know that fixing them means less money for things we would rather do. But the bottom line is it is still mine after the fixes.

I have a GI doctor appointment today and have a number of issues to discuss with her. Hoping she has better answers than those she has provided to date though I think one of them is just a suck it up buttercup response. Getting older is not for sissies, for sure, but we don't have to like what is happening and can always hope for another outcome.

Sleep last night was somewhat better with at least one less awakening, so progress? PA renewed prescription for Norco and I am hoping she has rescinded her every 6 hour schedule which was an absolute flop. I need to pick it up today and return her call. I had laid out my feelings on the obstacles to my recovery from the prolonged hospitalization, lack of ambulation while there, etc. in an email and what was holding me back now: lack of sleep and less pain meds when I need them the most. I just need a temporary reprieve for pain med restrictions. Tylenol does nothing for pain that wakes you from sleep at level 9 and escalating. Thanks for your concern, Illinoiskady, petite1, harley07 and all else who posted.

Today we are to get showers late in the day and it is supposed to be pleasant until then. It was nice to get out yesterday and will be today. I am hoping to get a look at the new landscaping when I return from doctor's appointment. DH can stop on driveway, let me look and then drive me to top of driveway.

Waving hello to all and hope all have a wonderful day.

Good morning. Pouring rain as I type. It looked wet when I got up, but if rain it was during the night sometime. I was typing here when I heard a huge clap of thunder —- all the cats jumped and came to instant attention. Surprised Lil' Red didn't "talk" about it. So, it sounds like we could be in another one of our all day rains. Sigh !!! Some springs have been like this.

Betrayal, so glad to get your news. I do so hope this will be the start of something good for you. There is a "spot" where real recovery starts and I sure hope this is it.

I differ in my feelings about giving up a home. It is not something I would want to do too soon, but there are conditions for me that would make it fine. First I would have to have allowed my animals to live out their life with me — here. Apt, assisted living and other situations don't allow multiple pets and when I became a rescuer I promised those I took in a home for their whole life. I need to keep that promise.

I would although (if that was not a considered factor) miss the peace and beaty of living in the woods by our lake. But our whole life is one of change so knowing when to 'allow' change is something to keep in mind.

I too love to travel vicariously. I've only had two actual vacations my whole married life (close to 50 yrs. now) so when anyone here sends pics and wordy descriptions I am thrilled. I do hope everyone who 'visits' somewhere keeps it up. A bunch of thank you's for letting me travel with you.

Going to be a long day of rain here I think. Not due according to weatherman to stop until around 4 p.m. this afternoon. Yikes. Buddy (whom I call Butter most of the time) our orange and white cat is now the only indoor/outdoor cat we have and we make him spend the night inside, but during the day he goes back and forth. Inside to snack and then back outside. He is not going to like having to be and inside cat today.

Hope you all have a fine day and not too much rain — unless you need some because I have plenty enough to share.

Sky is clear. Sun it out. Hope no more rain for a while. I'll enjoy getting out and doing a couple of excursions to store and bank. Very much need to get my bank deposit in.

Hope you all have a good day.

Betrayal, it’s hard not getting enough pain meds to get a solid nights sleep. I’m hoping your dr recognizes it for what it is. The massage to move fluids sounds like it worked; maybe they’ll do it at each PT visit, or every other.

Jackie, I’m glad you got some sun! My NY house shows puddles in the basement, it comes up thru the dirt floor. It has lasted dry so long, but they’re getting rain daily so it was only a matter of time.

Moving out of your home - my parents vs SO parents. My mom stayed in the house until the day she died (from CLL) at 87, in her own bed with us surrounding her. My dad was hospitalized (congestive heart failure, medicated, then dehydrated) and needed to go into a nursing home; he died there 4 days after arriving. So he had been in his home almost till the end. Both parents highly dependent on us, my sister, they’re grandchildren and other family.

Partners parents previewed multiple places; picked where they wanted to be - top floor, with a balcony, overlooking the lake. They didn’t get in for at least 1 year. Then they sold their home and moved into an independent living facility. The apartment had 2 bed/2bath, living room with a small eat in kitchen, with a screened in balcony. Their rent included a meal plan with breakfast & dinner, in a restaurant type dining area - multiple choices for each meal, with chef. The place had many activities, including a putting green outside. They moved in there in their mid 80’s. Both very active, the mom more so.
I think making the move while fully functional was a good choice for them. They weren’t home alone, nor dependent on people to care for them. They were able to adapt quickly, as they both still drove.
After 3 years my SO dad passed away in his sleep; their mom stayed there another 6+ years or more; moving to an assisted living facility closer to family as she needed more help.
LONG story short - everyone is different. What’s right for one, isn’t right for another.

Yesterday was Colonial Williamsburg, where we spent about 6 hours and walked about 6 miles. It is full immersion into colonial times, and I had a great time exploring and picking up a bit of history as we went along.

I could show you many houses, but it’s the gardens showing summer is around the corner that caught my eye. The last 2 pictures are at the Governors Palace; and the last one.

Had my yearly with PCP yesterday. Biggest need is new thumbs. She couldn't deliver on that. But I alrady have an appointment with the specialist for that. She did tell me that my health is good for someone my age. I responded that I remain young and don't compare myself to people my age. And I am younger than I look.

Tippy now has a fairgrounds button, and he uses it frequently. Only one visit to the fairgrounds per day!! He loves to get out and run.

The more we let each voice sing out with its own true tone, the richer will be the diversity of the chant in unison.

Angelus Silesius

Jackie, sounds like things are going well for you, too. Sounds like Buddy is being well taken care of, despite what HE thinks.

Petite, I agree with you. Without being with his person and handed off to one sitter after another, your cat is going to be unhappy. But remember, you are more important than him.

Cindy, a house with a dirt floor basement? Have you thought of doing anything about that? It was probably only about four years after they bought my childhood home that they poured a floor for it. Much more usable, especially for storage. We also extracted honey for sale down there, so it had to be clean. And allergies….

Beautiful gardens!! How many problems can one hotel have? Phone system in poor repair is not really a problem, in the age of cellphones. Bee nest outside the window is an excellent lesson in natural history. But no hot water?? At least you can make sure your bill is discounted for that problem.

Betrayal, I haven't been responding to your difficult recovery because I would be only using the word ice. But I am sure you already know that. All I can do is offer my prayers. Keep up with the massage. I did try it a few times.

Oh Cowgirl - I will certainly keep you in my thoughts.

Cowgirl that is so sad, my sympathy to you. I hope you can focus on the great three years you had together. They joy your brought to each other can never be erased. I’ll keep you in my prayers.

Chris, many years ago I had the basement looked at for a floor to be poured. For the 4-5” of concrete there were 3 options: dig down and pour, but then it would be below the foundation and it would require foundation work. Or pour on top of existing floor, losing the 4-5” of head space. I’m 5’8” and crouch now. The third option was to just pour a # size gravel (I have it written at home) in through a basement window and rake it out level. The water would still rise but you wouldn’t step in it and would be able to store things in bins down there. I opted to do nothing. I’ll never store things down there, even in the high spots that stay dry.
The house has no 1st floor closets, I was told because back when it was built 1920’s, you didn’t need one. So an area where the entrance to the basement is located, has been turned into a makeshift closet. To get to the basement you need to empty a full coat rack, 2 shoe racks, 2 stacked milk crates, loose shoes, and one of those plastic 4 drawer storage units. LOL I know it’s a cluster.

Petite, your trip sounds great! Midnight Louie will be miffed at you upon your return, but he’ll get over it.

Jackie, Buddy sounds like a wayward teenager keeping you up awaiting his return.

We’ve been fortunate, no rain today either. GPS took us off of the main route I-95 into a roundabout way. Before getting to the loop, we were delayed 20 minutes, we saw a horrific 3 car accident. Police, fire trucks, and ambulance came down the middle of the 2 lanes. More police and a tow truck used the side of the road. When we came upon it, the car/SUV in the middle looked like it had been compacted- front & back. I didn’t even want to look. Partner assured me no one in the ambulance, all standing outside with police.

I will be home tomorrow, using my own hot shower and sleeping in my own bed - not that any of the beds have been bad. Ha! I’ll be glad to get there.

Everyone enjoy your Sunday!

Cindy, you pretty well answered my questions. Might be worthwhile to have another evaluation. Since you treat it like a crawlspace, maybe it could be sealed off like one. There could still be some health benefits. Would be a lot less expensive than pouring a floor, or even covering the dirt with rocks.

Glad you will be home soon. A hot shower would sound good in your situation.

Cowgirl, my prayers for you.

I decided to give Tippy a haircut. Began it outside, but he was skittish. Went inside on the sofa, no problems. Even asked him if he wanted more haircut, and he stretched out for more buzz-buzz. Dogs are such odd creatures. Humans are the only ones odder.

Good morning. Happy Mother's Day to all. We have nothing special planned today. Sun is out though a bit muted for now. May or may not be some rain but I sort of hope not. We have had so much more this Spring already. Temps cooler though. So far it has not been too warm for me.

((((((Cowgirl))))))

major fatigue has set in. The joys of Letrozole and COVID shot. I was in bed by 830 yesterday!!! Usually 11 pm or later. Hope all are doing well. Loved the holiday photos Cindyny!!!
cowgirl -sorry for your loss. Though glad you two did reconnect even if not a long while.

Happy Mother’s Day to all who care for those in their life - whether human or animal.

Cindy - love the photos of your trip back to NY, although the one hotel seemed a bit ‘odd’. Safe travels.

Thinking of all of you who are dealing with health issues and holding you close.

Petite - enjoy your vacation. It sounds wonderful. As for the pool - I can relate. We have a pool and while it’s great to use, I swear something breaks every year. This year it was the automatic pool cleaner, last year it was the pool pump.

Reader - your photos were lovely. I think Carole is still on her cruise.

A low key Mother’s Day for me. I’ve heard from my son (still working a full time and a part time job - I hope he doesn’t burn out) and we will plan to get together in the next few weeks. Yesterday, DH and I hiked part of the Shore Path around Lake Geneva in Wisconsin. Weather was perfect at 70 and sunny. There are some magnificent homes along the lake, especially those from the early 1900’s when the wealthy from Chicago built their ‘summer’ homes on Lake Geneva. By hiking the shore path you can see these lovely homes on one side, with the water on the other side.

Have a good week to all!

As you express joy, you draw it out of those you meet, creating joyful people, and joyful events.  The greater the joy you express, the more joy you experience.

Arnold Patent

cowgirl ((((hug))))