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

We got home about 3 PM yesterday to find the basement with about 5” of water. The neighbor across the street, their side yard looks like a pond/lake. Others in the area also have flooded basements.

I immediately called my cousin to see if we could use his portable sump pump. It ran for hours and I finally turn it off to shower.

I had a chest CT scan today, ordered by Thorasic surgeon. My lung nodules haven’t increased in size, all good. Phew!

I came home from that and immediately hit the basement sump pump again.

In addition to the basement issue, I had the cable tv guy here, because of course my cable wouldn’t work. (remember they took off my seasonal hold and then I couldn’t keep what services I had) So at 2:45 I had to unplug the pump and be upstairs waiting for him.

He showed up and I let him know about basement - I undid the modem down there because they said I had to return it. As soon as I finished that I checked my phone. No line. SO the modem they said I wasn’t using, of course I was using. They were wrong and I was right, but no satisfaction as I had to go back down to the flooded basement and hook it back up.
They took my old modem to give me the new faster high speed one. Now …nothing is going well. On my phone everything is loading slower than before, so much so I turned off the WiFi and I’m using data.
Upstairs streaming the WiFi listed as “poor” and the streaming kept buffering. I’ve got to call tomorrow and ask them WHAT is better with this set up? If they can’t figure out something to make me “whole” again with good WiFi service, I will be cancelling ALL of it and getting wifi from any other carrier. THATS MY rant. They’ll drive me to drink.

The basement, while I was with the cable guy, started refilling! The water table is SO high. 42 years in this house and I’ve never had more than a puddle. Except the year the boiler pressure valve blew and filled the basement - but never rain. AND we’re expected to get more rain Wednesday thru Monday.

I’m ready to shower and get in bed to read, or pull the covers over my head. Last night we spent online paying bills that we received while we were on the road. I think we’re caught up that way. I still have a full suitcase to put away. Haha! Oh it’s good I can still laugh.

I hope everyone had a good Monday!

This we know.  The Earth does not belong to people; people belong to the Earth.  This we know.  All things are connected like blood which unites one family.  All things are connected.  Whatever befalls the Earth befalls the sons and daughters of the Earth.  People did not weave the web of life; we are merely strands in it.  Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves.

Chief Seattle

Taco, I loved the idea of a “made up daughter.” I’m glad both dd and friends were able to meet. Hoping your cough subsides.

Betrayal, I too am glad your anniversary party was a success.

Basement - our house is towards the bottom of a hill, which allows us to pump water out below the house. I think it’s ground water coming up, not what I’ve sent running down the street. I’ve got the windows open down there for cross ventilation and will add a fan. I need dry days and unfortunately there is rain forecasted over the next 6 days.

Internet seems to be working better. After the stress goes away, I think I should still look to get rid of Spectrum.

It’s 76 and sunny. I’m going to check the pool, maybe use the sump pump to drain the cover. I’ve already replaced the battery in the Ring camera in the garage, and even got side tracked with trimming off dead stuff from plants.

Enjoy your day!

I say good morning, but it's late afternoon. Back from VA. We got there a bit early so I was able to have my test and leave before my recorded start time. How great. I do appreciate it. Also, while it doesn't look all that much like rain here it was forecast —- so we went and got home while staying nice and dry. No more trips to Marion until the 9th. of May.

So, nothing much going on here. Betrayal — a bit of time off is good for you. Taking it easy while you heal and having a nap now and then to recover lost sleep is not a bad thing. I know you might feel like you're getting too far behind, but getting all 'caught up' in healing and rest should produce some really good energies of of these un-expected days — so do enough to stay from going to far afield, but be GOOD to yourself during any recuperations. I found out here — everyone is thrilled to let me rest up as long as I need to, then get the work done. It's okay — been that way so long now I'd feel anything else was really wrong.

Cindy, sorry you're having to deal with the basement. It does seem we have in the last few yrs. had weather situations that were said to have been caused by global warming trends. There have been soaring temps for places that never had them and for us not only a lot of rain, but previously so many more night rains then since we arrived back home here in 1997. Hotter than ever, wetter than ever, and maybe that will end up being a thing where you are.

I think you likely would have to have a floor put in your basement but in our first house here (which we didn't have long) there was a lg. basement and on each side there was a round hole in the concrete floor where sump pumps were installed — plugged in all the time. If the water during a rain rose much at all it triggered the sump pumps — which is why we always had a dry basement. I would only do that though if your issue had a continuity issue which doesn't sound entirely likely right now.

I hope everyone had a really wonderful day.

@betrayal Thanks for the mention. I’ve been dealing with the after effects of my lumpectomy and lymph node surgery. It turns out I’m allergic to the surgical glue on both incisions and the surgical cleanser so I have a horrendous rash over my chest, abdomen and arm as well as redness where the incisions are. Needless to say it’s been a very uncomfortable 2 weeks. I meet with the oncologist tomorrow to get pathology results but in My Chart it’s all the best news - cancer has been “eradicated”! I’ll see if she still wants me to do radiation to get rid of any microscopic cancer cells that may be around. Then Thursday is an appointment with the surgeon’s PA who helps with the actual surgery itself. It will be interesting to see her reaction to my healing.
I hope everyone is able to enjoy a bit of outside weather.

Good morning. I think I'm back to myself now. Days like yesterday are ok, but I guess it must be a bit of age — I seem to need to fog up a bit once I'm back home and can relax and not be ON having to complete tests, drive to and from and do gas stops and other incidentals along the way there or home. I turn into our lane and I can already feel the deep sigh starting knowing I can relax again.

Sun is out — slightly muted but i think we are ok today. Ground outside still quite wet. We have a super water table here, but sort of easy for us here at the lake. Big ravines either side of us take all the 'big' water directly to the lake save for that that soaks in where it falls. The slow rains here soak in.

orknitter, no wonder you have been quiet. Sounds like you are beset by an awful situation. It is good to hear that you are for now eradicated. I'd likely still want the radiation just to catch any small wandering cell. I just don't know what the actual standard is these days. My presumption is that there isn't much of anything you can do to "help" your skin but time.

I'm trying to send sunshine to anyone who needs some. I'm always willing to share what I have.

Hope you all have a good day. You as well Betrayal. Hope last night was restful.

cowgirl, happy birthday!

Orknitter, I hope your rash goes away quickly, it sounds so uncomfortable.

Jackie, I’m glad you got some sun! I know the feeling of getting home to sigh in relief.

Betrayal, glad you had half decent sleep. Still hoping a great night sleep for you is just around the corner, I'm hoping your “brat” settles down. This wet basement is exhausting me, I had a solid 7 hours of sleep! Also it’s good to have your nodules checked on. I go every 6 months for nodule checks, or close to that.

Taco, happy birthday to you too! It’s sad that Ken doesn’t think he’ll see 2026. It’s a good thing that DD is there now to see to anything needing attention. Helpful to know everyone’s wishes in advance.

HUGS to all of us for the various challenges we’ve faced so far.

I ran around this morning getting errands done, and ignoring the basement. I dropped off gifts I bought on the trip home; mailed out gifts to Texas grands; went to the bank for cash - nephew graduates this Sunday; went in search of Claritin D - 3 pharmacies before they had 24 hr/15 count; and ACE hardware for a new hose.

I came home in time for lunch. Then I got busy with the new hose, hooking it up to water as per directions before use, then hooking it up to the submersible pump. I still couldn’t get the pump to work. Tested the pump again using a full bucket of water without a hose, it emptied it out in seconds. Hooked back up, nothing. By 3:25 I ended up with an ocular migraine, stress induced I’d guess. I took Excedrin migraine med and put a sleep mask on. It passed in 1/2 hour, and left me with a dull headache at the base of my skull. I quit working on the basement.

While I was futzing with the pump, I used the old hose to fill the pool. It’s 100’ hose, that to reach the pool it’s pretty much stretched out so no worries of a kink. So although the pool isn’t opening soon, the cover only has water logged branches and pine needles, which will make it easier to actually open (that’s the plan anyway).

After dinner I grabbed my clippers and got busy taking out dead stalks from the 4 hydrangeas out front. They were so beautiful last year, but who knows about this year. I’m just thankful I was able to get it done before rains came. I’ll fertilize them tomorrow before the next rain.

Tomorrow I see the orthopedic surgeon for a toe, I’m giggling as I type this. My 4th toe is getting squished by my middle toe - it’s stepping on it. In Sept of ‘23 a podiatrist did a procedure to release the tendon. I think it was ok for a while but no longer. This toe tendon, if I’m honest, has bothered me soon after the surgery, on & off. But as you all know, you learn to live with issues that don’t kill us. And on that note, good nite!

orknitter, I don't know what the RO will recommend, but will share what I was told about post-lumpectomy radiation. It has an expiration date so if you opt out there is no going back. So it is looked upon as a once and done treatment. Yes, you can't have it again, but if it knocks out whatever is lurking, you shouldn't need it again. Since you did not post the stage or class of your BC, its hard to know. Whereas, it seems your Verzenio treatment did not confer long term suppression if you had a recurrence? Tough decision. Good luck with whichever you opt for.

I slept decently again last night though I am still sore like I was yesterday. Only took one Norco and made it through the night but had taken daytime doses yesterday which I had not been doing. Rainy again today so that impact continues.

DH has colonoscopy today so hope he gets the all clear and the word that this is his last. He did well with the prep and if he was up during the night did not disturb me. Believe me, his idea of being quiet is just short of "bull in the china shop" category. Same with voice modulation, his whispers are normal voice range.

Today I am going to attempt ironing some of the wash I have done. I have probably 2 loads of wash to do as well. I'll do what I can and rest often.

Weather is dreary with heavy fog warnings for most of the area. Not effecting us locally but not sure of outlying areas. Not expected to see full sun again until Sunday at the earliest. Temps high 60's but it is damp so I am sure it will not feel warm. Lawn guys to come today but grass is very long and very wet, so not sure what it will look like. Seems like their cut from 2 weeks ago never happened.

cindyny, you are right back to being the Energizer bunny with your activities. my DB told us a sump pump needs a certain depth of water before it will activate. So we have one that hasn't worked because even though we might get a bit of water, it wasn't deep enough to trigger pump. Woeks well if we dump a bucket in it but we don;t get buckets of water. Hope you get drier weather to help with dry out. Hope your ortho surgeon will take care of your hammer toe, though most refer foot surgery to podiatrists anymore. It has to be uncomfortable.

Hope everyone has a good day.

Good morning. Happy Birthday to anyone having them. Also, saying hi to all not posting. Hoping Carol is fine and soon will be home from her trip. I'm starting to feel some concern and I'm hope it is pure silliness on my part.

Cindy, I wish I were your neighbor so I could work on your basement when you can't or when you just need a because break. It's not so great when you have days of rain that make it impossible to be highly fruitful with the things that need to be done. So with all that you are still a whirl wind accomplishing things at a pace that sounds incredible to me. Then again, until a few yrs. back and the bad mitral valve I spent most of my days running from one job to the next without a moment's thought. And I'm giggling a little with you —- how well we all probably do know that we found long ago that with some things — you just keep going because so many other things are bigger and your still walking or whatever.

Taco, I do hope you can get some rain and that its a nice long soaking one. When we lived in Calif. there was generally only one real rainy period (our winter) a yr. So fire was always an issue. Glad you had such a good family visit. You and Ken are very brave about getting things organized for your daughter for later on. That is such a wise thing to do — it is hard to deal with the aftermath of those we love and there will still be so many decisions — to have all the major parts in place will turn out to be such a blessing. I too am touched about the both of you being realistic about Ken's health. Facing challenges takes a lot of the sting away. No one is ever prepared but at least nothing will be a real painful surprise either.

Good for you Betrayal — getting some decent sleep although it does sound like you could still do with some catch up in that department. Here's hoping. I too hope your Dh gets good results on the colonoscopy. It would I'm sure be a real delight not to have to undergo them anymore. I was sure glad to be able to give them up. I only ever had two in my life (enough for me for sure) and with both their were mild complaints that I could have been a bit 'cleaner'. Same thing always happened to my Dh as well. The DYNAMITE didn't seem to work as well for us as it did others. So, here's hoping.

It's good to keep an eye on the lung nodules. I was sure glad they were a part of my check-ups although it meant extra medical appts. For anyone who has smoked before or who has spent a fair amt. of time around other smokers, it would not be a bad thing to have a scan just for nodules. I'm told they are very prevalent in former smokers. Also of note, if you have found yourself in a situation where you have spent a fair amt. of time around smokers — you end up smoking too. The difference is — you inhale the smoke but never blow it out — like a smoker does.

I hope you all have a most wonderful day. Sending hugs to anyone who needs one.

orknitter - Happy Birthday!. Wishing you the best on your radiation decision.

I wrote a long post, was interrupted and looked up camps for rent online. BAM the post was gone. I’ll try the fast & dirty version.

Basement is good. Puddles receded overnight. I’ve removed the pump, put the window screen back in. It’s still muddy, it will take time to dry out.

Toe - surgery to place a screw in it to keep it straight. Insurance being checked, they’ll call me with surgery date. I’ll be in a beautiful Velcro shoe, I think for 4 weeks; but immediately able to walk on it. I had to cancel my visit for new orthotics until after surgery

It was up to 82 today! There was talk of rain, it never materialized here. Still rain on the outlook thru Monday. But they’re saying spring showers. I’ll be keeping my eye on the basement.

Tomorrow I might wander to the local nursery looking for plants to fill the 3 pots that go on the front steps. Although, I still have a suitcase to empty… but I don’t want to stay inside.

Hope we all have a great Friday.

When I was six or seven years old, growing up in Pittsburgh, I used to take a precious penny of my own and hide it for someone else to find.  I was greatly excited at the thought of the first lucky passerby who would receive a gift in this way, regardless of merit, a free gift from the universe. . . . I’ve been thinking about seeing.  There are lots of things to see, unwrapped gifts and free surprises. The world is fairly studded and strewn with pennies cast broadside from a generous hand.

Annie Dillard

At PT this morning, everyone with a cell phone had an emergency weather alarm go off on their phone simultaneously. It was alerting us to severe thunderstorms entering the area and then the skies opened. It poured and you could not see out the windows of the facility. It is on the second floor of the building so we could not even seen the cars passing on the busy road it is located on or the apartment complex on the other side of the highway. It continued for over an hour and let up just as I was leaving. Then the news switched to the panicky weather reports on tornado warnings in several counties in NJ. The skies were very dark and leaden all morning. The next round of severe thunderstorms is to pass through this evening with a third to hit us in the early morning. I do not want to hear that we are not experiencing climate change since tornadoes were rarely occurred in this area in forever and our biggest weather concern was hurricanes/excessive snow. The kightning and thunder that accompanied the storm lead one guy to ask if we were in a bowling alley.

I slept for several hours after taking pain med and woke at 4 am yet again. Had to get ice pack since pain was radiating into foot, took another pain med and read until 5 am when I dozed off again. I woke at 8 but according to Fitbit only got 3.25 hours of sleep. Very sore today but was able to do exercises she wanted and to do full reps of 20. I can now descend steps with one foot on each step but still not able to ascend that way yet. So progress but slower than I want.

DD and DSIL stayed after picking up DH from colonoscopy suite and went to Panera to get us dinner. DSIL then mopped my kitchen floor which made me happy. He likes to clean and does a super job. It needed it but I usually wait to do it until we have sunny weather so the dog doesn't track in dirt. DH put a towel down so she gets her feet wiped as she comes back in.

cindyny, I sometimes buy hanging pots of geraniums/impatiens/vinca from Giant (grocery store) because there are 3-4 plants in a pot for less than $10 and I then put them in my window boxes or in large pots where I will have multiple plants. So if that's cheating, I do it, too. Cheaper than trying to buy individual plants that can be $4-5 each.

Deer have eaten all the bleeding hearts except those under the bay window and those by the stream which has a fence around it. They just started eating them last year for the first time and I am really mad. They also started attacking the hostas and this is while the woods are full of green plants they can eat. Annoying to say the least.

I hope everyone is safe from violent weather and had a great day.

((Hugs)) taco.

Happy belated birthday to your DH, Illinoislady. I hope he had a good day.

According to Fitbit I had 5 hours of sleep which is a new record though I was up several times with knee and foot pain. Iced it and took pain med drifted off to sleep again. So it was more cumulative than straight through 5 hours but I'll take it.

DH has been pulling weeds from one bed where we are trying to get pachysandra to fill in. He gets exasperated because they return after a good rain and I try to offer pointers that the method he is using is failing because he fails to get the roots. Then he gets defensive and is not open to constructive assistance. So he left to go outside in a huff and I hope he gets over it. Raking is not effective for weed removal. Don't want to argue and sometimes he is hellbent on causing one. Advice: take a walk.

Sun is out today but tornado dmage in NJ as predicted. Not as bad as what occurs in other states but unusual for this area. Today is to be in the 70's but may have a shower later. Seems we are still in drought condition in spite of all the rain lately.

Saw hummingbird near outdoor light located at patio doors. Not sure what it is doing but I need to get feeder out today. I am late in getting it out since I normally do it by Mother's Day. It is in garage and I am not doing those steps yet. Will ask DH to bring it in again. Love to watch it feed.

Many of area physicians are part of major hospital system but have their own portals which means they are in general inaccessible. I reported difficulty with the one for the NP I saw the other day and still cannot access it. I will call and ask them to send me visit summary. I know my user name, changed my PW but still cannot access it and this was on the instructions sent by the office. Still doesn't work.

Hope to plant dahlia bulbs today in a pot I have. Originally it held dahlias when DD gave it to me and now I'd like to use it again.

Hope everyone has a great day.