Can we have a forum for "older" people with bc?
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Just jumping back in here to say — wonder of wonders. We had a mostly sunny afternoon. Fairly indicative of what can happen here. I was really dreading seeing it rain more. Fact is — looking at the ground, the hours of sun didn't seem to dry any of the ground at all.
I have not looked at the forecast again although it does say some day rains would be coming. As to tonight — who knows. Well, at least we had a great afternoon and my doldrums perked right up when the sun came out as they almost always do.
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Carole - your DH is a rockstar. Can’t imagine biking 5 miles so soon after a TKR.
Cindy - enjoy your upcoming concert, but please be easy on yourself.
The CT results were all normal (yay!). On Sunday night, I considered cancelling the CT and probably should have as I didn’t think there was an enlarged lymph node and I think it’s a waste of healthcare resources to chase a unicorn.
Did any of you have a Biozorb implanted with your lumpectomy? I did and my BS didn’t offer a choice and also didn’t really explain it. It took 2 years to dissolve and felt like a golf ball under the skin. The titanium clips are still in me. The FDA recalled Biozorb last year due to reports of the clips migrating out of the breast and causing damage. The CT did indicate the clips are in the axilla and I thought the Biozorb was placed in the upper outer quadrant of my breast not in the axilla. The FDA says no need to explant unless they cause a problem. I could call my BS but I expect I would get the same dismissive response I got for everything else.
Today was in the 90’s and sunny. Spent time floating in the pool. I wear a rash guard to protect my skin from the sun as I sunburn very easily.
I hope Sandy’s house is progressing on schedule for an end of the month completion.
Take care!
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Cindy, I second the recommendation to be careful and not try to get ahead of your healing (which sounds like it's proceeding very quickly). I was in the stupid boot for 6 weeks, and not allowed to do any stairs other than the 2 steps between the sunken living room and the kitchen/bathroom. It was my L foot, and my car has an automatic transmission (never learned to drive stick) so I was able to drive after about a week.
Harley, glad the neck lymph node was a whole lotta nothing. (Mine swell up whenever I have a cold or even a canker sore). But it's better to have an overly-proactive provider than a dismissive one. I hear you about the drought—we were supposed to have gotten rain yesterday and today, but nada. (And it hit 98 in Northbrook, where I was running errands). Storms are predicted for tomorrow, which of course is the day Bob has a dental appointment in the Loop. He's debating as to whether he'd prefer to deal with the CTA (parking at our Edgewater house & walking to the station) or drive down…in the rain…with the main route to Lake Shore Drive under construction. Either way he'd have to leave here by 10:30 to be "in the chair" by noon.
Picked up mail yesterday and saw that but for the range & fridge not yet returned, the kitchen is done. Looks pretty good. The crew put vinyl plank flooring upstairs to replace the cracked and crumbling asphalt tile in the office and the "pass-through" room (which will once again be the overflow closet, with new base cabinets installed where boxes & shoe racks used to be). I spent the day up at The Container Store fruitlessly searching for some stuff I'll need: tension-mounted shower curtain rod for the shower stall in the new basement bathroom (I have visions of it flooding without one); luggage rack; fabric chest or dresser (like the ones we have here instead of real bedroom furniture) for the attic guest room which has no closet; and clothing & shoe racks for the pass-through and drawer & cabinet organizers for the kitchen. But what I did was take lots of pictures because I don't want to schlep stuff between here & Edgewater until it's actually time to start moving. To that end, though, I bought plastic storage boxes for sweaters & such, a long gown bag, more hangers, and a couple of "blouse tree" hangers to save space. I'm hoping that rather than stuffing things into suitcases I can just cover the hangers with trash bags to ferry clothes to the house. We may hire a mover anyway to avoid multiple trips with our cars (like we had to do between the hotels and here last June). Two guys & a truck may be well worth the expense.
Window treatments are something I rarely considered, as we hadn't done them since 1988 after repainting. (The couple who did that have long since moved away, and my HK—whose side hustle down in B'ham is interior decorating—did most of the designing for us over the past 20 years). I did order stuff online from Bed Bath & Beyond—the luggage rack is for here as we pack, and I'll bring the shower rod & curtain set over when it's delivered here. I'm still hesitant to have anything delivered there yet unless it can fit through a mail slot or between the front doors.
My singing partner left the Morris, IL No Kings protest fairly early—turns out they had about 200 people, impressive for a small town in Trump country. Lincolnwood didn't have its own protest (it was Shabbat, so half the town wouldn't have been able to attend), but Skokie & Evanston combined theirs with attendance of over 1000. Even my home neighborhood of Edgewater had its own protest, with 400 people marching down Sheridan to the entrance to Lake Shore Drive, rallying on the beach.
Our Sunday workshops went well—we had only two people for the humor-songwriting one; but the one on how to instrumentally accompany a dulcimer had 20…though because all of them brought dulcimers we pivoted to how a dulcimer can accompany other instruments. And the duet vocal workshop was great—about a dozen people did the warmup exercises, took notes and asked lots of questions.
Ah—just heard the comforting rumble of thunder! (Never expected I'd be glad to hear it).
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BTW, today I discovered that what caused my October accident resulting in a sprained ankle, hairline malleolus fracture and reactivation of a 2010 5th metatarsal stress fracture was…a shoe malfunction (yet again). Fourth out of five injuries (clog falling off my foot ascending my stairs caused a wrist tear in 2018, then gum sole of my shoe sticking to a terrazzo hospital lobby floor led to a scaphoid fracture two months later, and in 2023 another gum sole sticking to a marble tile dept. store floor when I tried to pivot caused an elbow fracture). The Oct. 2024 near-fall happened so fast I'd always assumed I'd tripped on a cat toy or a wrinkle in the large area rug in my rental house. But today, I was wearing the same shoes as on that day last October: a pair of python-print OOFOS rubber slides, size 8/39. Exactly the same thing happened today: got up from the sofa, L leg & foot a bit numb from sitting. Took a few steps forward, and the toe edge of the too-long forefoot sole caught the carpet and bent under, causing me to lose my balance (and wrench a toe or two in the process) before grabbing the stair rail finial and avoiding a fall. That pair of OOFOS is going to be donated, in favor of the less-chic size 7/38 red ones I have. A too-small shoe can cause discomfort, even pain; but who knew a too-big shoe would be dangerous?
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Wholehearted living is about engaging in our lives from a place of worthiness. It means cultivating the courage, compassion, and connection to wake up in the morning and think, No matter what gets done and how much is left undone, I am enough. It’s going to bed at night thinking, Yes, I am imperfect and vulnerable and sometimes afraid, but that doesn’t change the truth that I am also brave and worthy of love and belonging.
Brené Brown
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No sun yet this morning but due to come out weatherman says. Will be hot and likely a bit humid too. Still a very wet ground outside. Once again I'm listening to the most horrid elevator music from our Channel 4 news while they set up for the next segment. Makes me sort of miss the cable news we use to get, but not totally. A bit of my sanity returned when we left the 24 hour news cycles. Now hoping we can keep the sanity through that darn elevator music.
Good for you Sandy. You had to have a house fire, move out to do the clean -up and live in rentals to find out, but thank goodness it allowed the in-sight to become crystal-clear. Well, I do think when troubles do come, it is good to be on the look-out for un-expected gems to soften the blows we all get to take as a part of life and life lessons.
Harley I am enjoying your good news. I'm ambivalent too. I dislike having to do what often feel like excessive medical appts — but I'm here today and as well as anyone my age with my odd medical history can be because things (even if it seemed they should be fine) were followed up on in a timely fashion. I am fortunate at this time to have little scheduled and sure glad for it.
I second everyone Cindy — concert sounds great but hope no issues about seating for you.
We are due thunderstorms according to weather report today — but coming later — or as is the case here, maybe sooner, or sometime anyway.
Hope you all have a really good day.
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DH wanted to put the plants I had bought in the bed by the big rock today. He wanted me to determine where they should be placed but I was actually able to dig holes for 2 of them. We put in a total of 11 perennial plants. He wanted to wait to mulch because it was so stinking hot but there was a breeze blowing and it is expected to rain later today. So I convinced him to put the 4 bags we had left on the section where it was most bare. I weeded before he mulched.
My butterfly bush finally bit the dust so he pulled out the roots and the remaining dead wood. This area has really great soil from being mulched for many years so hopefully the plants will do well. It looks nice and we will need probably 8 more bags of mulch.
I had a horrible night between hip bursitis pain and a bout of sciatica on the left, yet again. I don't know what I did to cause a recurrence, but I finally gave up at 5 am and just read in whatever comfortable position I could stand for 20 or more minutes. Tonight I will put on a lidocaine patch on the area on my back which seems to be the origin and hope it works. I mentioned this to PT today so she took it easy on me and focused on exercises I could tolerate. I did ride the bike for 4 minutes 45 seconds though my goal for today was 5 minutes. It was tolerable and didn't aggravate my back. I do push the pedals back and forth for an additional 3 minutes and 15 seconds.
It is clouding up as I type but that is no guarantee of rain. We did have a downpour overnight and I was awake to hear it. It is 80 degrees and humid but the weather forecast for the next few days is higher temps with higher hunidity so today was the best day to tackling the gardening. I'm also doing some laundry.
Sandy, I don't know if you have a Walmart near you but their Home Sense line has some really good organizers at a better price than The Container store. It will be nice to get your home set up the way you want it.
harley07, doing a happy dance about your scan results but don't agree that it was a waste of dollars. I'd sooner a clear scan than the unknown hanging over me.
Illinoislady, glad you got some sunshine for a change.
Changed humingbird nectar finally and it has shown up to try it. It just started to rain.
Washer is calling me, so I will wish everyone a great day.
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We had gray skies and rain early. I was up too early again today. Right now it’s sunny and humid. I think over the next few days we’ll definitely appreciate the new AC splits.
I had ordered some liquid hand soaps from Pottery Barn and they shipped to the store on Monday. This afternoon I drove over to get them. I had the very first parking spot but boy it wore me out going in & out. I was glad to get home and elevate the foot.
The concert right now is iffy. I’d give my ticket to another gf to go. Enjoy the evening.
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Betrayal - you exhaust me just reading your activities. Slow down and give your knee a chance to heal. Although you must have a gorgeous yard, I hurt every time you work in it.
Thanks for the reminder that follow-ups are important. I've been thinking about stopping the mammograms as I turn 80 soon.
Uneventful life for us right now. VERY HOT!! It will be a long dry summer. I suspect we'll break heat records again this year.
Sandy, you will be glad to have a time to move in gradually. My contractors got really sloppy as we pushed them to finish as we would have had to make another move because our rental wasn't available for another month. Our master closet wasn't finished when we moved back in and we had clothes laying all over the house for what seemed like weeks.
I'm enjoying the book, Chris.
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How true it is that, if we are cheerful and contented, all nature smiles, the air seems more balmy, the sky clearer, the earth has a brighter green. . .the flowers are more fragrant. . .and the sun, moon and stars all appear more beautiful, and seem to rejoice with us.
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Taco, I need to finish it and get this copy back to the owner.
We are expecting record overnight highs and daytime highs are going to be in the 90's on Saturday and Sunday. I have the apt windows shut and the air on. That will last maybe a week before the next rain hits.
I cooked quite a lot yesterday. Now the sink is overflowing with dishes. My body was begging for a rest, so I obeyed it. I realized that My Fitbit was telling me the right thing. I am having a battle with something called "post impairment syndrome." Not fun when there are so many things I want to do. Stress over the arthritis in my thumbs contribues. So lidocaine and hot water are calling.
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Taco, I am 2 plus months post-op and chomping at the bit because recovery has been so slow. The holes I dug were barely 6 inches deep, actually required litte effort because I reclaimed holes from plants that had died and I had just pulled them out. It had rained heavily so the soil was moist, not heavy and easy to dig. I did quit after 2 and the weed pulling was minimal because DH had already done one pass. DH did the rest of the plantings and the heavy part of the mulching. My laundry room is located near the back door and just off the kitcehn so easy to do a load and then rest.
Chris, sorry to hear you are experiencing post impairment syndrome. I hope the hot soaks and lidocaine work to get you relief. Did I read you are having surgery on one of the thumbs? Stay indoors during the heatwave and if you must take Tippy out try to aim for cooler times of the day.
I opened the back door to yell at a doe that keeps trying to eat my hostas. She is really stuboorn and this is becoming a daily chore. She has gotten quite a few so far. It is brutal out there and this was before 9 am. The humidity just smacked me in the face so I will be remaining indoors until this weather breaks or waiting for cooler times. Yesterday there were 2 does and 2 young fawns on the hill. I love watching the fawns play together though as my DB says they will be next year's pests. As much as I hate what they do to my garden and the need to now have to put up fences to protect my plants, I do love seeing the deer.
I do have some gardening chores that are less taxing like taking the dead branches out of the hydrangeas and weeding the hill near the driveway, they will wait for cooler weather. Ideally I like to weed after rainfall because they are easier to extract with their roots intact. I will also weed in a light rain because it is cooling. I wish my plants did as well as the weeds or that I could convince the deer that the weeds are delicious.
So we are expected to be locked into very oppressive heat and humidity for the next 5-6 days with the possibility of severe storms starting today. Not liking this weather. I want to be outside and that's why I planned knee surgery in the hopes I could participate in summer this year.
DD's birthday in on the 21st and she is taking GDS and DGD camping. I am hoping wherever they go that temps overnight are cooler. Called DD this am and DGD answered the phone. They went to a carnival last night and had a sleepover. She is such a great aunt.
Today's plan will be focused on straightening up around here. There are just the 2 of us but DH has a habit of making a trail through the house with things he lays down instead of outting them back where they belong. I also have some ironing to do and will also straighten up the bedroom. I have laundry to put away since I was too tired to do it last night.
I went to bed around 11, tried to read but could not concentrate, so I turned out the light and woke at 8:30. I did wake once for the bathroom, but slept pretty well for a change. I am hopeful I can get back to a more normal sleep pattern. I'm going to try Tylenol Arthritis at bedtime to see if that will help with pain.
Notified that one excursion DD and I were to make on our Alaska cruise has been cancelled. So we need to find a replacement. This is her first trip there so I want it to be what she wants to see.
Just saw doe attempting to go under the Japanese maple to get the hostas there. She is persistent. She has to crouch to get at them since they are located under the bay window so access is not easy plus the Japanese maple is not very tall. The hummingbird has been at the feeder several times this morning. I'll have to change nectar more often in this heat.
Stay safe from the heat if it is in your area and I hope everyone has a great day.
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Hi all. I am new on this thread but not to BCO. I am 72 and was diagnosed 9 years ago. I am probably on my last oral med but I am doing pretty well on the Orserdu so far. I'll join in more later as my son's family with three grandsons 11 and under are here for a visit.
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Back to chat this morning. Some mornings I guess I'm just not ready to 'think' yet so trying to post is difficult and when I go back and read posts when I feel like that they always seemed a bit stilted — not enough warmth.
Chris, Betrayal and anyone (I'm included) facing plenty of heat this next few days, I'm with you. Staying in if possible is the thing to do. It seemed to have descended quite quickly here as well. We will actually have lots of dry ground soon if it goes as long as predicted. Not sure we will get into 90's like Chris, but with the humidity it will be oppressive anyhow.
We had two young deer in our backyard this morning and they are a joy to me as well. We have little planted that they seem to want to munch in so that part is good. Likely why they don't always stay in the yard overlong. I did have a small variety of hosta plants but they all got old (those that were able to survive Dh and his lawn mowers. I have three different types of ground covers that don't appear to be much favored by the deer so that has worked out for me. The issue on one bed is that they trample through so even though it is self spreading I have a couple of bare spots in one place that I've not been able to fix well. Those areas don't lend well to fencing at all.
Still considering some fencing for Red. I would like to be able to let him spend more time out of doors but no one else seems to like the idea of fence. I'm not talking a huge area — in fact, it would be fairly small and in an area in front where the riding mowers can't go (needs push mower or weed wacked) but I apparently haven't made a good case so far. Guess we are all spoiled as our other dogs were better behaved and could be let out and would pretty much stay in our yard.
Having mothing much planned today — a bit of bill paying is about it. Then back to my long, long list of things to work on. Going to have to get the pantry soon again. I think I'm going to have to figure out how to just keep less in there. No matter what arrangement I try it stays nice for a week or two and then little by little no one keeps to the pattern I've made. Soon, things are wildly out of place or tossed into any empty space even I'm sure they know it usually is a reserved space. Well, looking on the bright side — I'll always have something to do as long as I share home with others.
Even after yrs. Dh will often ask me where something is. He is the type if he can't spot it immediately upon opening a door, he thinks it is gone — not even recalling that he put it away last time, only three shelves down from where he originally got it. The rest of the family KNOWS what they do and will look, but it is irritation to know everything I want will result in a 'scavenger' hunt first.
Hope you all have a really good day. Hugs to all recovering from something and also those who have to deal with heat. Or too much gray or rain.
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Include northern MN in the heat wave this weekend. The high is supposed to get up to 90 degrees on Saturday and Sunday. June was so nice and cool that we are spoiled. I don't look forward to closing up and turning on the air conditioners. We have one in the main living area and one in the bedroom. They're both on the noisy side.
I'm not familiar with the split a/c installations. All newer homes in the south have central air and heat. Older homes might have window units, which can be more economical. My sister has a window unit in their bedroom even though she has central air. Instead of getting the whole house colder at night, they rely on the window unit.
Nothing much happening that's worth mentioning. Hope everyone's day has gone well.
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We expect temps in the mid 90’s over the weekend and into early next week. I plan to stay inside and if I go out it will be to float in the pool.
Dexascan did not happen today because I had CT with contrast on Monday. When I made the appointment earlier this week I told the scheduler I had had CT contrast but she checked the box as ‘no’ rather than ‘yes’. Oh well, I rescheduled for a few weeks out.
Stay cool everyone.
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hello everyone. I just finished reading all the posts. Wowsers. Everyone is busy or Healing (which is busy too).
I love the birdbath. I toy with getting one for our front.
I spent the last two days in the LIFE program with inspired health. Our group was unique I. That it was all patients. No support peeps.
It was a great and full two days. Many different topics like nutrition, lymphedema and cancer and exercise, relaxation. They provided lunch and healthy snacks. It was all free!Tomorrow I venture to mid island which will take about 2 1/2 hours driving on highways. Going to a friends wedding in Port Alberni which is on Saturday. Decided to book off a few vacation days and booked a hotel. There are only two reputable places there. lol. I have mini trips planned all summer. This is #1 of four! Here is a stunning photo of the Legislature here in Victoria. Taken by a pro! I love the purple Alium. They remind me of the Dr Seuss Lorax.
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Impressive picture Canary. I really like the Alium as well.
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Bad storm rolled through and DH ran into many roads blocked by downed trees. He had gone out to pick up takeout and it took him nearly 45 miutes to make it home. Normal time would have been 15 minutes. Evert new route he tried also had a blockage so a very cicuitous route home. Reports of lots of home damage in some areas due to downed trees as well.
Our driveway and yard are covered with branches broken off of trees; none large but lots of them. Rain came down so hard you could not see out the windows and lights were flickering but we have a generator, so I no longer worry about outages. It seems to have blown out of area for the moment but I think more are to follow.
Welcome intolight. Please feel free to stop in when you can. Enjoy the time with your family.
canarycat, loved the photos.
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Add my welcome for Intolight. Looking forward when you have more free time to get to know you and share stories.
Betrayal, Thank goodness your Dh was safe at storm time. Sounds like a bad storm came thru, though thank goodness didn't sound like it stayed long. Also that you only had smaller branches in your yard. Today was to be our last rain day, but none yesterday or today. Just the darn heat. Hope that is all you get now, just those sm. branches. It still can be tedious to clean up.
Hoping everyone having storms presently stays safe with nothing major.
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Intolight, welcome to the group. Enjoy your visit with family.
Jackie, my partner is the same as yours. I always say, we’ve lived together here going on 30 years - the item you’re looking for is where it’s always been. Or when he puts something away for me and asks - where does this go? He’s passed it for 29+ years and is oblivious to it. (child’s rocker; basket with catalogs, just about anything) HA!
I had 3 gf’s here today for a visit. We were able to sit outside in the screen house for the first 3 hours, but moved into AC as I felt like I was baking.
Tonight I took a shower with my shower cover on my foot. I’m not sure how I did it but I think I didn’t pull it up high enough, I got the cotton at the top of the ace bandage wet. It then absorbed that water into the bandage. I pulled it an apart as best I could and sat with a hair dryer,..cursing under my breath (or out loud but quietly HA!). I’ve went on to the portal to see if I could get an appointment for a bandage change. Cluster that was and did not get anything. I’ll call as soon as I’m up tomorrow morning.
Sunday, Monday and Tuesday are our scorcher days. Highs up to 96 is expected. Of all the times to be stuck in a bandage and Velcro shoe, the upcoming week isn’t one I’d pick! I’ll miss the pool, but on the flip side I’ll love the new AC.
Betrayal, it’s only been days for me, but I relate to the need to get out in the garden.
Harley, your dexa scan saga would be funny, not funny. By time you get one, it could be time for the next one.
Canarycat, love that picture. Oilers loss was sad.
Sandy, it’s all coming together and fingers crossed it’s a done deal on 6/30 for moving back over the next month.
Carole, the AC splits are just about silent. They provide AC, dehumidifier or heat via a heat pump.
That’s what it looks like mounted up on the wall. Same size one is upstairs too. Very energy efficient to use.
I’m off to bed. Have a great nite!
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Cindy - you are really gonna love those AC splits over the next few days. Great timing to install this year.
Intolight - a warm welcome!
Canarycat - I love the picture. We took a vacation to Victoria and Tofino in 2018. Loved it. As we get older, I’m not sure how much traveling we will do beyond next year but I sure wouldn’t mind a return trip.
Wow Betrayal, what a storm! Glad you, DH and your home are safe.
Chris - I’m sorry to hear the thumbs are giving you pain again. You just can’t seem to catch a break (no pun intended)
Taco - ultimately you will need to make the difficult decision whether to discontinue having mammograms. I have not had one in four years. The care I had during my BC treatment was so poor that it crossed over into unsafe territory. For my overall well being I’ve had to take a step back from mammograms. This decision has caused my current GYN oncologist some heartburn. I have an appointment with him next month to discuss this and the best way to follow up on a pancreatic cyst that was found on a CT last year but has remained stable. I doubt I’ll change my mind on having a mammogram, but you never know.
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We had rain during the night but no dangerous weather. Tonight's forecast again calls for the possibility of severe weather. DH suggested we leave the camper closed this morning and turn on the a/c in the afternoon. We actually needed a/c late yesterday afternoon but relied on fans for comfort. It was down to 60's this morning.
Cindy, thanks for the picture of the splits. I haven't seen those.
Canary, beautiful flowers. My neighbor's burgundy peonies are blooming. They're spectacular.
Good luck to all of us in surviving the heat and possible violent weather.
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When you honor your most authentic self--your Spirit--you are allowing your Light to shine and touch the world. Living authentically, in its simplest terms, is living your Truth, the truth in your heart and soul. It's allowing yourself to be guided by Divine Truth and Wisdom, each and every day, and doing your Highest, most authentic work in the world. It's joyfully creating and living your Highest purpose!
Valerie Rickel
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Good morning. We have doors and windows open this a.m. but won't be able for too long. The sun has popped out so it will heat up fast now. Nice and cool while we had a few lingering clouds. It still looks moist outside on the ground although I don't think we have had any rain during the nights and sure didn't get any during the days it was predicted. Four days predicted and we had two. That is the way it goes here it seems.
Wow Cindy. Sorry about those bandages getting wet. I too have never seen an a/c split but then we had a heat/ac unit outside on a big thick concrete pad (commercial type usually sitting on roofs) here when we bought the house. Replacement was close to $20,000 when it went bad. Nothing doing. We had a linen closet inside big enough to hold a regular HVAC for $5,500.00 so we have it inside now. I have always missed the linen closet but I'd miss the $15,000.00 a lot more if I had tried to keep our outside unit. The A/C for our inside HVAC not sits outside on that pad — so it still has a use. By the way — while I could wish it weren't the case, it is almost nice to know I'm not alone in a partner who avoids certain kinds of knowledge about his own home.
Maybe it has something to do with the fact that women are the major persons usually who set up a home since they are in fact the major users as far as cleaning, restocking etc. Perhaps that is why men don't want to bother with those little pesky details of being familiar with their own homes.
Taco, it is hard to choose sometimes about the right things to do. I keep having mammograms since they are only on a yearly basis and I trust my providers. It doesn't seem much to do really since I could nearly walk to where they are done, and they are great (really small town) about getting the results on the portal. I have to trust the VA. since I'm pretty much restricted to only having them. They have been pretty proactive and while sometimes it has been something of a hassle I've turned out to be glad — things found early and taken care of asap. Age I think is always a factor needing consideration too. Wishing you well in whatever decision you make.
Harley, that is remarkable that care was so poor for you. I can see why you chose your path. I hope your GYN Oncologist can help you with your decision. It does sound like a rough way to have to decide when so called 'normal' is at least once a yr. I would be hard pressed if I knew incompetent people were "in" charge of my health and well-being too.
Carole, I hope you are not caught up in storms as well as anyone else. For now I think we are just going to be concerned mainly with heat and humidity.
Hope you all have a good day. Waving hi to all who have not as yet posted.
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cindyny, thanks for the photo of the A/C split. I was unfamilar with them. We have a separate A/C for the basement which has it's own outdoors condenser but it is larger than what you have. The basement also has haseboard heat. We installed both when we refinished the basement. Take it easy on your foot because you don't want complications but I can sympathize that you want to be moving.
carole, glad you are cooler where you are even if you have to resort to A/C on occasion.
harley07, I also had a poor BC experience related to the BS and RO. Sorry you also had a rough time when we need compassion and caring the most.
As far as mammograms, I haven't had that conversation with my MO yet but I doubt she will want to stop them.
I know my GI doc told me no more colonoscopies because I would be the cutoff age for my next one and they believe you are more likely to die of something else other than colon cancer. However, with the caveat, if I notice any changes, I am to let her know.
Illinoislady, it must be nice to open the doors and windows for breezes early in the day. We open the door and get slammed in theface with oppressive humidity. DH still takes Regan for her walks but I am going to encourage him to go earlier for the next 5-6 days due to oppressive heat and temps only going into the 80's overnight.
I just cut the dead wood out of the last 3 hydrangeas, so they are done, but so am I. It was more back breaking than I anticiapted. I plan on sitting in a comfortable chair with an ice pack. It is 79 degrees with a slight breeze and the humidity is not as high as it was yesterday. But when you are working out there it seems hotter.
Got a call from PT this morning asking me if I felt I could use the stairs to access their gym. It is on the second floor of the building and they only had backup generator power. So only some electrical outlets worked and the elevator was out. I went in through the front door rather than the back so I was able to do the one flight of stairs which has stesp, a landing and then more steps so more than in one's house. I made it but told her I was not going to do "stepper exercises" today because I would be doing them coming and going. She agreed and I did some substitute ones for my back. There was only one younger patient there and no one came in after me. Most of the patients I encounter during my appointment are like me, they need the elevator for access. I asked and they said they had a lot of cancellations.
The hummigbird has been coming to the feeder so I will make some new nectar tonight for tomorrow. I cehcked the feeder to see if it felt hot because it does get some sun exposure and I don't want it to burn its tongue. I slipped 2 ice cubes into the feeder to keep the temperature lower and dilute it a bit.
The doe was in the backyard when we returned from lunch after PT. She was eating the leaves that fell off the Tulip poplars and not my plants. She is more than welcome to them because they are all over the yard and have to be picked up. They always seem to break off in heavy rain and high winds.
Hope everyone had a wonderful day. Stay out of the heat and keep cool.
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Hi Ladies. I live in Colorado Springs at 7000ft elevation so the 90° we have today is a little unusual for us. We do have an AC but we haven't used it in the three years we have lived here. We prefer to open the windows in the evening. It always cools down and tonight it will be 58° so we are good with that. We do have ceiling fans which help. We have low humidity so it makes it bearable.
As far as mammograms, I haven't had one since my dx in 2016. I get scans every three months so that takes care of that. I do get colonoscopies though.
@betrayal Why are you getting PT? I ask because I am getting PT specifically for cancer patients. It is new in my area since January and they focus on stamina, core, and balance. It has really helped me although I will probably move to doing it at home only at the end of July. I don't do steps though… If I find I need the recumbent bike I can go to our rec center. I can only walk about 20 minutes before I have to sit down, but I do try to do it as much as possible.
My grandkids leave tomorrow so I will try to keep up more after that—if my brain functions well enough…
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Intolight, I had my left knee replaced in April. I had my right one replaced in June 2024 and it was a cakewalk compared to this one. The left knee was in worse shape, but the right was more painful before replacement. My surgeon told me that this knee would be like a second child, not necessarily as cooperative as the first, and she was correct. I rode the stationary bike for 5 minutes today after a 3 minute warmup where I just push the pedals back and forth. So I am making progress, just not at the pace I'd prefer.
It's nice to hear they have developed a BC PT program that focuses on keeping us vertical and safe. I'm glad you are able to participate and envy your bike skills. I'll get to my 10 minute ride eventually.
I've spent time in Colorado at conferences in Breckinridge and in Colorado Springs plus other towns on personal vacations. Beautiful state, but as a flatlander I always had to adjust to the elevation. Loved Garden of the God's and the Airforce Academy.
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@betrayal Wow, you are brave with your knees. My DH needs his done but refuses so far. To be truthful, I can only do 13 minutes on the bike so far. I can walk longer through a store, etc., with stops etc., but they have me do the recumbent bike at PT with slight pressure. I want to walk outside, but I also am on oxygen 24/7 and that means I need to take a walker to carry the small tank if I walk outside. (They don't want me carrying it far with the mets on my spine.) I take it with me when I go out and carry it from station to station at PT. It is a pain! but it is what I have to do at this elevation. According to my MO my body is just wearing out after nine years on oral cancer meds.
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Intolight - I applaud you for your determination to remain active. PT for BC patients sounds like an excellent idea. I don’t envy you the 90 degree temps, but 58 at night sounds lovely. Years ago I attended a sales meeting in Colorado Springs. It’s such a beautiful place it seemed a shame to waste it sitting in conference rooms. We did get a 1/2 day to do an activity and I took a horseback ride near or through (don’t quite remember) the Garden of the Gods. It was a highlight of the trip.
I skipped volunteering at the food pantry today as I had a message from my GYN Oncologist to schedule an ultrasound for thyroid nodules seen on the CT scan earlier this week. I’m sure it’s another boondoggle but I’m trying to be compliant with at least some of his requests. I can’t get in for a few weeks so I now have a medical appointment scheduled for every week in July.
Since I hadn’t heard back from the NP’s office regarding correcting my visit notes, I sent in a formal amendment request earlier this week to the hospital system. They called this afternoon to review my request. I was polite but firm that I wanted the records corrected as quickly as possible.
Stay cool everyone!
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