Can we have a forum for "older" people with bc?
Comments
-
Chris, My O2 machine is provided by Medicare and I had to fight for the little one. We moved here from San Diego at sea level so I didn't need it.
1 -
Chris, you can set your fitness target on the Fitbit Inspire. Choices are Improve cardio fitness or Maintain cardio fitness. Whichever you choose does have an impact on your personalized target load for cardiac load. It then will tell you whether you are over or under your target load range/day based on your activity level.
1 -
According to my research on sleep, we need 1 to 2 hours of deep sleep. The list of people who might require less deep sleep included older people. Of course. Dreaming occurs during Rem sleep. I have vivid dreams so I must have some Rem sleep. Same with dh.
1 -
Yes, Betrayal, that is a limited choice, but I agree it is a choice.
Christine, my brother couldn't get one on Medicare in California. And he definitely needs O2, 23/7. They expected him to exist on bottles. He still works.
1 -
Cindy - what a mess. I agree - let the insurance company work on it while you enjoy Ireland.
Friends had a terrible grill - accelerant fire early in our time here. Little property damage but serious burns for several guys. One of them never got full use of his hand back.
You are all getting me fired up to get another Fitbit. Maybe it would get me to at least walk around the house regularly on these hot days when I spend too much time on the computer.
Bicycling 6 miles each way - impressive. I'm not sure I could do 6 blocks.
Be careful - fires and smoke in the midwest and northeast look terrible.
Taco
2 -
I received a 15 page detailed report from my adjuster and an email to electronically transfer over $23k to me. I didn’t see the email until late evening. I’m going to call her tomorrow after I print out the report (printer ran out of ink), and ask if I’m to accept the transfer of funds now, knowing I won’t have a contractor working on anything until September at the earliest.
My Fitbit says I get a monthly average of 1 hr 9 minutes of deep sleep. And I average 6 hours of sleep per night. Last night 4 hrs 19 minutes! So yes, stress affects sleep.
My partner has his clothes packed. I do not. I’m just overwhelmed with everything. My cousin stopped by tonight and put the new Delta cartridges in the bathroom sink. And you know how my luck has been running (it’s running away!) after he completed he let out a curse, now the hoses underneath the sink - one is leaking. He did what he could and said to put some paper towels under there in case it leaks; look at it in the AM. But I brushed my teeth and checked, to find a puddle. Add a run to Home Depot to my list for tomorrow for 2 new hoses; replace them both at the same time.
I'm headed to bed. Yard smells of burnt wood. Bathroom under sink items are in a line on the bathroom floor - after taking them out from the tub where we put them after being under the sink. Suitcases are on the living room floor. Chaos. Sleep is calling.2 -
The Visible provides more options for notes, in order to determine what lifestyle choices are influencing what symptoms. Thus, headaches seem to be related to higher activity level. Also, the more active I am, the faster it eats up cardio load or pace points. Thus, I get exhausted and drop into bed at bedtime, rather than having enough energy to shower, etc. After the first month I can print out the results and analyze them to my heart's content.
Betrayal, I just switched mine to "maintain".
Sometimes my REM sleep is so vivid that my Fitbit records it as being awake. Makes sense, since I have a history of talking in my sleep. Visible minimizes this, so I don't need to talk myself into taking a nap after a night with an episode of active sleep.
Cindy, subrogation can be nifty. Your insurance company collects the money from the other person's insurer. I once had an auto-accident. The party at fault was driving a car owned by her employer who was a dealership. I had a terrible time waiting for the check in that case. Had to send a letter to the State Insurance Commissioner's office.
I will be going to the gym on hot days when it looks like I won't be able to get enough points to meet goal. I can walk there on cold days, but when it gets real cold…..
2 -
According to my watch, I got 52 minutes of deep sleep last night. I probably get too much sleep total, about 9 hours. I was already aware that I am not as physically active throughout the day as I should be but the watch is reinforcing that realization. I sit and work puzzles on my phone and computer and read newspapers on the laptop. A lot of sitting time. I'll make an effort to walk more steps in the campground to pacify the phone. LOL. Any motivation is good. It doesn't seem impressed by my workouts at the gym. It's limited in its cardio categories, lacking treadmill and upright bike. Only outdoor biking and walking.
I'm very surprised at my bp readings and wonder if they're accurate. They're so much better than readings I get with our bp unit with cuff. I brought the unit but haven't used it all summer.
Cindy, I hope that you can settle your nerves enough to enjoy your trip to Ireland. I've been reading about some unrest there because of anti-immigration feelings. Two (3?) years ago when we were there, I didn't see any protests. Are you taking a bus tour?
I should get moving. Today I plan to play some solo golf. I'm curious to see how many steps that will involve.
Happy Tuesday.
2 -
Good morning, ladies. I had repeat labs this morning. The doctor changed my thyroid dosage and needed to check levels.
Cindy, the fire damage looks bad. Many, many years ago, I was grilling steaks. After cooking, I thought the fire was out and went to bed. The wind picked up and turned the grill over by the deck. The deck caught on fire, burning the fence and melting the child's plastic slide and swing set. Our homeowners paid and I paid the deductible. (i have not used charcoal since)
Carole and others in Fitbit discussion, I went bowling with my friends, most of which, have Fitbits or similar. Most everyone was getting the message "a fall was detected calling 911". 911 was not called, but we had a good laugh.
intolight, hoping all goes well with a new PCP. I have to get a new PCP as mine will no longer be a provider for my insurance on Sept. 1. I have been with him and his group for years, even before age 65. It will certainly be a big adjustment.
3 -
Petite, I had a good appointment with my new PCP. I really like her. She was very thorough discussing my past medical struggles, and made suggestions how she could help me further. She even picked up on the fact I have struggled with cold sores in the past and prescribed me a med for when I first feel one coming. Every other doctor ignored this even though I struggled in a big way with them when I was in the hospital three years ago. Then she pulled her chair closer and asked how I was really doing… the first doctor who ever did that for me. She also shared with me she had a mastectomy three years ago and has a follow-up scan this Friday. Her transparency was refreshing and let me know she understands and is "present" for her patients. Made me cry of course…
5 -
That is really encouraging, Christine.
1 -
intolight, I am so glad you were able to relate to your new PCP. It is so important that we feel a connection with our HCP's to ensure we get the care we need and want. I will meet my new PCP in September and I am hoping I am as lucky as you. I loved the one who just moved to a distant site. It also is nice that her experience with BC shapes her practice.
Chris, glad you switched your Fitbit to Maintain. That's what I use because I am not looking to increase my activity at my age. My desire is to remain vertical, able to ambulate with minimal discomfort and to remain as flexible as possible. It is harder in the winter since my gardening is seasonal and I do not do snow removal.
I was able to complete mulching the circle abutting the driveway today. So the daffodil hill and it are all mulched. Next will be to install the fencing around the azalea bed and finish mulching it plus the bed it is attached to. It was warm at 75 degrees but not as humid, so bearable. I was out there for about an hour since this area requires hand mulching between the ground cover and some of the plantings. There are ferns here and they are starting to fill out. DH will make a Home Depot run for 10 more bags of mulch. I currently have 6 so should be able to complete the upper hill azalea bed.
I'll send photos I took of my Starry Night hibiscus and the crepe myrtle in bloom. This is why I garden.
harley07, the energy you expend on your lengthy bike rides is probably still more than I do with gardening.
petite01, here's hoping your lab work was good. I wonder if your bowling friends have Apple watches or the equivalent? I know my Fitbit won't call anyone if I fall. That is funny that it registered as a fall probably when they were releasing the ball?
Taco, my Fitbit does prompt me to move hourly when I am on the computer and 250 steps/hour is not difficult to achieve.
carole, sleep measurement encompasses all the levels as we move between them throughout the night. There are 3 stages of Non-REM sleep of which stage 3 (deepest sleep), precedes REM so they are the levels where restorative sleep is achieved. These latter stages occur later in the night.
Illinoislady, hasn't posted for several days and I am worried about her. This is unlike her to not post her daily quotes and a daily message.
Sandy, hope the blinds get installed today and the refrigerator gets fixed. Move in time is not that far away.
Hope everyone has a great day.
1 -
2 -
Here's the young buck. He broke his left antler. He's small compared to the one we see in the fall.
1 -
Betrayal - the flowers are gorgeous! I can see why gardening beings you joy. I presume the buck is thinking about ways to circumvent the fencing so that he can continue to enjoy delicious meals 😀
I share your concern that we have not heard from Illinoislady. I hope that she is okay and perhaps only experiencing computer/technical difficulties.
3 -
harley07, he eats birdseed on the ground but doesn't go near the plants. He's relatively shy and spooks easily so that is why the picture is blurry. No close-ups of him.
2 -
betrayal, Visible tells me that gardening is the most cardiac intensive activity that I engage in. Mind you, I don't push those pedals as vigorously as on a self-powered bike (s-bike rather than e-bike).
1 -
Betrayal, beautiful flowers and pictures. They show your dedication. My watch showed me 5.5 hours of deep sleep, 1.5 hours light sleep and 18 min of Rem. Of course I took a sleeping pill first. It is a whole different story with no help.
2 -
I’ve been so preoccupied I didn’t notice Jackie was missing until someone else said it. If I remember correctly she’s posts on a FB group too. I’m not on FB but maybe one of you ladies knows where to find her on FB. I too hope she’s ok.
My sleep for the past 2 nights has run 4-4.5 hours. Too much going on in my head. I received another notice about the electronic transfer of funds from the insurance company. This one said if I didn’t do the electronic transfer in 4 business days they’d mail a check. I don’t want that happening while we’re not home, so I did the transfer. I’ll be checkbook flush until I start paying out for repairs.
Ireland- someone asked and I forgot to post where we’re going. Arrive in Dublin, staying a few days; then Ballyshannon for a few days; on to Cty Fermanagh for a few days; then Letterkenny same, for a few days; Belfast for a few days; spending the last night in Dublin to take the hotel shuttle to the airport the following day. We’re on American Airlines and all checked in.
My partner is the driver in Ireland, as he has done the three times we’ve been there. But he pointed out after next year he’ll be 70, and they won’t rent him a car. He said I’d have to drive. My retort is, then we’re taking a bus tour, because I’m not driving.I ran to Home Depot before 9, it was full of working men. Got my new faucet hoses and out the door I went.
Once home I got the chlorine floats (they look like a shark with sun glasses on) out of the pool and refilled. One went back in, the other is waiting until the 14th when my nephew will put it in. Then I put the robot vacuum in the pool. Of course, luck having left me, it stopped in the middle of the pool! Usually it’s at a side to enable me to use the hook to get it out. I had to get the real pool vacuum with the extended pole to drag it to the side. Side note - my solar cover is fried. As I was pulling it off, full of water and pine cone pieces, I pushed my hand through it 2x. We need a new one, but not today!!
I’ve dyed my roots. Can’t let a bunch of strangers see my white roots. LOL Then I packed as well as I can. I’m bringing my sneakers but highly doubt I’ll wear them. Wearing the Clark’s flip flop type sandal, and packed the hiking looking Clark’s cloud steppers. I’ve got a rain type jacket, a Columbia fleece, and a light weight fleece. If I don’t have it, I can buy it.
That’s it ladies. I bought an E-sim card for Ireland and think it’s installed on my phone. We really don’t know what we’re doing but fingers crossed. And I put the WhatsApp on my phone to use it as needed.
It’s 88 and sunny but the fires in Canada are making it horrible out. Looks like a fog in the sky. Posts about a red moon were answered with- it’s because you’re looking through the smoke.
I’ll try to check in. Everyone be safe. Hoping we hear from Jackie and that she’s ok.
1 -
Cindy -have a fantastic time in Ireland!
1 -
betrayal I love all your plants. My hibiscus didn’t winter. Boo. I love them though. My plant my moms gave me is finally starting to bloom I’ll post it in a few days.
im a bit worried about illinoislady as she always posts a daily affirmation or saying. Any gals on here know how to contact her? I’m hoping it’s just techno stuff.Crappy day today and with that a crappy mood. Lol. I’ve accomplished a few things but not the things I had originally planned. This too will pass. Tomorrow night is the first get together for Agatha Christie’s “The Hollow”.
Here are a few pics of my mutant giant red carrot. Only half grew.
1 -
Looks like Jackie's last post was 7/31. That is a long time for her to be off line. Like all of you, hope everything is OK.
1 -
14 posts this morning! Thanks for posting pictures of your blooms, Betrayal. I hadn't noticed Jackie's absence, but I'm concerned. My best guess is computer issues. Funny about the watch messages during bowling. My watch doesn't have that function. DH's Apple watch does. After Keywestfan's fall some years back, I urged him to get an Apple watch. I probably should have one, too. Something to consider.
We had gentle rain during the night. A nice sound on the roof of the camper. It's overcast now but not raining so DH will head to the golf course for Men's League. I will go to the gym and also to Walmart for a few items.
1 -
No posts to read this morning and no word from Jackie.
1 -
This is in the hotel lobby - might be the same shot from 2 years ago. Our flight arrived an hour early. We really should have booked a room for a day earlier, because it’s high season the hotel is fully booked and had no rooms to spare. Check in is 3pm but they said to check with them at 11. We didn’t get to sleep until 12:30 or so. Our own fault for thinking they’d get us in a room like they did in May of 2023.
My ankles and both feet were swollen. I tried to elevate them as we sat in the lobby. Now after my 3 hours of sleep they look ok. We’ll see how they hold up.
Getting ready soon to head out to dinner. We pretty much wasted the day. Our travel companions usually go to bed at 10 PM, so landing at 11:30 has really thrown them. Their phone wasn’t working right, couldn’t hook up their computer either.
I hope we hear from Jackie. Maybe send her a private message.
Flowers looked gorgeous. I want some of those winter hardy hibiscus plants.1 -
Finished mulching the azalea bed section of the bed on the hill. I still have the tail to do but that will be easier since I don't have to fight the incline. We should be able to start fencing in the area now and I will be able to free the hydrangea from it's tight enclosure. That area still needs some weeding.
Was reading on Nextdoor, a local feed, and a woman posted she had free ferns but you had to be willing to dig them up. I reached out and within 4 minutes I was at her house digging away. She has an overgrown bed and was interested in finding both an azalea and rhododendron because they were on the small size and no longer visible. I found both with digging out the ferns surrounding them. I filled 2 Home Depot buckets and about 6 smaller ones DH brought along. I will plant them on the front hill to fill in any spots where we could not get pachysandra to grow. Her soil was not as rocky, but they were mature ferns, so had long roots. She gave me some black-eyed Susans and an orchid flower impatiens. She also was so pleased she told me I can return for more ferns if I want them. Ferns are not hard to plant, but I still have about 30 holes to dig first.
It's sunny, now 78 degrees but with low humidity and a nice breeze to help keep you cooler. My new sweat band worked really well though I feel like an old ninja wearing it. At this age, I really don't care about how I look.
Had 6 boneless short ribs I thawed and seared this morning to put in the slow cooker. I didn't have as many mushrooms as I thought I did, but I can always add them to the leftovers. It smells so good in the kitchen right now. They are a good size so I know we will get more than one meal from it. So beef stroganoff for dinner tonight with wide noodles. I should use this cooking method more often.
I caught the buck with intact antlers in the backyard yesterday and got a shot. As I was waiting on the patio for him to reappear since he's a bit spooky, the hummingbird came to the feeder. I could hear the noise its wings make when it is hovering and it is quite loud. Sounds like a small motor. Could not get a photo of it because the phone scared it.
So busy day and I am in desperate need of a shower, because I am dirty from mulching and digging. Forgot to wear boots so need to wash sneakers as well.
Yesterday was laundry day so I spent time searching on Ancestry for elusive family and did have partial luck with 2 lines. One is not a direct relationship but my cousin's cousin and I was just trying to see who still survives. The other was my paternal grandmother's line and I had some success.
I did send Illinoislady a private message which was opened, but no response received. I am hoping all is well with her and her family. This is so unlike her and I am worried.
DGS invited us to his birthday party this Saturday. I plan on hitting Costco before we go to the party since I don't need any perishables just restocking of some canned goods, personal products, and pet supplies.
Hope everyone has a great day.
1 -
With each passing day my concern for Illinoislady is growing. I keep hoping her absence is due only to technical difficulties. Betrayal, thank you for sending a PM to Jackie.
Cindy - glad you arrived safely in Ireland. Enjoy your trip and rest your foot as needed.
Carole - I love listening to rain on the roof, but unfortunately we are lacking rain again.
DH had the melanoma re-excised on Tuesday. This time it’s more uncomfortable for him. He won’t admit to pain but I see him flinch when he moves wrong. His precancerous lesion will be removed next week.
We headed to Fontana today for lunch. Food was just OK and then we took a little over a mile walk along the lakeshore. The temps are in the high 80’s with a real feel of 93 and bright sunshine. It was really hot! So we cut the walk short and headed to get ice cream.
Hoping we hear from Illinoislady soon.
1 -
I am heartbroken to post that Illinoislady passed away on Sunday, August 3, 2025. I had reached out to her twice after her long absence, and the message was read, but it remained unanswered.
Today, I was notified that a search of Centralia showed an obituary posted for possibly Jackie. I checked and it was, so I will share the link here for those who may want to read it. She was the glue that held this and other forums on BCO together, and I am hoping as a legacy to her, we can keep this forum alive. She would have wanted that because she was so committed to being there for anyone and everyone, no matter what their need was.
Please feel free to post your feelings for her so her family may see the good she did here and in life, in general. I know I will miss her dearly. Her quotes were a bright spot, as were her daily messages of her life with her family and lil' Red.
May her memory be a blessing to everyone she touched on this forum and may she rest in a well-deserved peace.
https://www.sutherlandfuneralhome.com/obituaries/jackolin-iossi/#!/Obituary
If the link doesn't work, please cut and paste.
5 -
OMG I can't believe it😪 She was so kind and reached out to me when I was really going through it. I'm so sorry to hear this.
3 -
Thank you Betrayal. Words alone cannot describe what Jackie meant to this forum and she will be deeply missed.
3
