thread for middle age to older Christian women.

Nancy, it was exciting to read about your little night adventure. I am so pleased it all worked out well and you stayed safe through it all. Good job on being brave enough to venture out on your own and try something new. I am sure you will learn more along the way and become a real pro in no time.

Chris, that is great news about your DH's biopsy not being cancer. I knew you were worried. That is a wise thing regarding genetic counseling. How are you feeling?

Yes. my first solo trip with my camera was quite the adventure. I could have done without the scare from the deer but she later sent me a thank you note for not hitting her. LOL

Teka, my next booking has a hot breakfast and pool. I will not use the pool but will certainly eat the breakfast. Yes, that rainbow was pretty special. I have never seen one that seemed so close as if it were coming out of the ground. Yes, God answered many of my prayers for this trip and I just felt that rainbow was a quiet message that He has me covered is so many ways.

The exhaustion of it all really hit me today. I had some errands to run and by the time I got home I was done in. What does one do when they have the passion of a 25yr old in the body of a 74 yr old. I continue to walk every night at least 1.5 miles and sometimes up to 2. I am slowly getting in better shape each month I think.

Have a good night everyone.

Love,

Nancy

Chris, so thankful your DH's biopsy turned out okay, praying that you are feeling better.

Nancy, thank you for sharing your beautiful rainbow picture and glad that your night time adventure went well and safely.

My nurse friend got a call yesterday that all of the bone marrow tests were negative and there was no need to see hematology/oncology. We are praising the Lord for that. The primary care sent the results of the bone scan to an orthopedic doctor to see what he thought of the "lesions" on the spine. So we have a couple lines in yet to find out why the discomfort she has in the abdomen and the bladder issue of getting up all night to go. She has a referral to a urologist PA and another to a gastroenterologist. I still have the numbness from the shingles on one side of my forehead into my hair and the upper eyelid. Still hopeful that someday it disappears. Towards the end of the day it seems to itch more and have a soreness about it.

Praying for each of you!

Love, Wheatfields

Hi dear sisters,

Teka, it was nice of the deer to leave you some beans!!! Yes, those pesky yellow jackets love the fall. My niece who lives on a very large acreage of farmland in Iowa was out mowing and apparently ran into a wasp nest. She got stuck six times and had to go to urgent care and even had to miss some work because of itching and a bad reaction. Those yellow jackets are now sitting on the edge of my new birdbath and when I try to flush out the water with my hose I never know what they are going to do. Thanks for telling me about Nikki's time on BCO. She is young and has a family to take care of so I am sure she has her hands full.

Wheatfields, I'm sorry to hear you are still dealing with the aftermath of shingles. I don't know if this would be any help but for several weeks I was experiencing bad itching on my scalp. It was not dandruff. I really do think it was stress induced. I saw my hair stylist recently and I was telling her about it. She pulled out a bottle of Tea Tree Oil and said she has this for one of her customers. I haven't bought any yet but I am anxious to try it. It is supposed to help with itching. I realize that your situation is very different but maybe something to look into. I am glad to hear that your nurse friend doesn't need to seek out an oncologist after the bone marrow results. I know she still is having other issues. We will continue to pray for both of you.

Hershey, I'm glad you found the leak in your faucet and was able to replace it even though it required two trips to Home Depot. I don't know how plumbers do it without having back trouble. I am glad you both were able to get it installed yourselves.

When my Mom was in her assisted living facility it was out in the country so I remember my sister saying watch out for the deer as it is mating season so I was on guard. I know the forest preserve I was at had many deer as I watched their night cam on YouTube to see all of the wildlife they had so I am not too surprised that this happened. I will be more careful when I go back in three weeks or so.

Chris, I hope you are feeling good and hopefully enjoying some nice weather.

I did have a question for all of you. One of my good friends is going through chemo. I will be taking her this coming week to her 2nd chemo. We had brunch today and I had no idea what all she had been through. A few days before I left last weekend she was calling the paramedics for severe chest pain. She ended up having to stay all night to wait for the cardiologist to come and to order some heart tests. They all came back fine but then she got this rash that she has now. Her cancer is gynecology related but the cancer has spread. She is on Taxol which I know is an often given chemo to bc patients. Do any of you have first hand knowledge of this chemo and if it causes acid reflux? I seem to remember one of you having issues with that. She has to have three more treatments before surgery and then a few after. The mass has already killed one of her kidneys and is right on the bladder and rectum. Her hair is now falling out. I have known her for years and she rarely has been sick so this is definitely an adjustment for her. I just pray she will be able to tolerate the chemo as it has already helped some of her pain. We have the same oncologist. She has a great faith. We go to the same church.

Have a good weekend everyone.

Love,

Nancy

Nancy, I was treated with the same chemo cocktail as Teka (Adriamycin, Cytoxan, plus Taxol). Taxol was much easier on me than Adriamycin and Cytoxan. It wasn't a walk-in-the-park by any means, but I was able to resume daily workouts and my anemia improved. My oncology team closely monitored me for signs of neuropathy, skin rashes, nail changes, and chest tightness. Taxol is a powerful cancer killer but notorious for causing severe allergic reactions; the infusion drip rate is intentionally very slow, patients are premedicated with antihistamines and steroids, and vital signs are monitored throughout the infusion. Chest pain is a very serious complication requiring the oncologist's attention. Your friend's treatment plan may require modification such as a dose reduction or change in chemo agent. The oncologist will make that decision beforehand.

I will be praying for your friend. Thank you for supporting and being with her. It means a lot.

Nancy, I am praying for your good friend and her treatments. It is difficult to watch someone going through all that. You are a good friend to take her. I also trust you are doing well and enjoying the end of summer.

I would appreciate prayers, once again. I have had a headache for over a week now and my oncologist is concerned. So I am going in for a brain MRI tonight. I just had a scan six months ago and that one showed no concerns at all, but she remarked that something has changed. I appreciate that she is so proactive and I am pretty sure it is something else, but I will check in and see how things go. She checked my responses, etc., and everything was fine. My latest tumor markers were down too. This is how we roll when in active treatment as you all know.

In the meantime I am enjoying warm summer temperatures while beginning to prepare for our winter snow.

Teka, the brain scan was all clear for any issues so I still don't know why I have a headache, but I'll try to wait it out. My MO responded all was well and to let her know if they persist. I now have had a reaction to the IV contrast (at least we think that is the culprit.) Yesterday I broke out in hives and they continue today even with Benedryl. They are mild but I will keep watch over everything, and my DD nurse checked me out so I'm okay. Just very tired and itchy, and have swollen glands. I haven't said anything to my MO yet, but if they persist I will. I don't think the ER will do anything other than Benedryl anyways.

Thank you Wheatfields. How are you doing? How is your nurse friend? I am praying for both of you.

Teka, I am planning on getting both of them. I haven't scheduled either yet. It has been a very busy time. I tend to catch a lot of germs so I really don't want to take a chance.

I just spent a fortune on a new laptop which will be able to handle my photography editing needs. It is a very high powered gaming computer. The gamers would be appalled that I am not using it for that. My previous two laptops have been similar and have served me well. I just had my company come for a furnace tune up. I need a new furnace. I knew it was coming but wasn't expecting it to be soon. He showed me a crack so hopefully next month that will happen.

I have had my handyman that is finally back from Florida come and see my computer/Cammie room. I am having the carpeting ripped out and replaced. Cammie lingers on if you get my meaning!!! He doesn't install carpeting so that complicates the furniture out of the room situation but hopefull I can schedule in such a way that it will be a seamless operation.

I will be going downstate for my second Milky Way shooting soon. I am getting closer to being able to finally edit my photos from the first trip. I will be using new software and it is a learning curve so hopefully by fouth of July you might see pictures. LOL

Please pray for my friend going through chemo. She is really having a time. I was sure that her MO would reduce or change her chemo for her 2nd treatment but he didn't after she landed in the hospital for two days from the first chemo. She missed church this past Sunday. She NEVER misses church.

The weather is so beautiful now. My little hummingbird still thrills me as she looks for me by hovering and looking at me. She has done this with three different windows. I see her pretty late in the evening still at my feeder. They said that hummingbirds do return to some of the same places after wintering in wamer areas so I sure hope to see this one coming back next year. I have made more nectar this year that ever before. I don't know if I am the only one feeding them now or what but this has been very unusual.

I hope you all have a wonderful day. I have prayed for each of you.

Love,

Nancy

Chris, I sure hope that your hives are gone. I hope your crown went well. I know how you love going to the dentist!!

I have not felt well most of this week. I had nausea and fatigue but am feeling better now.

Teka, I have been really stressed with all the new things I am trying to cram into my brain before I go on my second Milky Way shoot even though the long term forecast is not looking good at all. Clouds are the bain of astrophotographers as there is not much you can shoot with clouds. I also found out I have to get a new furnace after buy this very expensive laptop computer for photo editing. I am quite stresseed dealing with Cammie's room and my computer room. I have so much to go through so that my poor handy man will be able to move all of the furniture. The question is where will it all go. He already said the hallway will not house all of it which I pretty much new. So you post it note about one task at a time is what I needed to absorb.

I hope eveyone is doing okay. Have a good Sunday everyone. God is still in control even though our country may be out of control.

Love,

Nancy

Nancy, I'm glad that you are feeling better. You certainly have a lot on your plate right now. Prior to the carpet installation your handyman may suggest using Kilz primer on the floorboards to eliminate odors. It is highly effective but has a very strong smell. Make sure he opens windows for cross ventilation during and after its application (your sinuses will thank you for it).

Chris, your MRI results are great news. We are not due for flu or COVID vaccines until October. Hopefully the vaccine approval process will straighten out soon for pharmacies and Medicare.

We are beginning to plan a landscaping project for the front yard. My husband called the power company this morning to come mark utility lines. We need to rent a small backhoe to remove six very large invasive plants left by the previous owners; drought tolerant native perennials will be planted instead. Autumn is the perfect time to get perennials in the ground, and I'm excited to go plant shopping later this week.

Praying for peace and comfort for all of you and for our nation.

Chris, I am glad to hear your hives are gone and that your dental apt went okay. I am waiting on my flu shot at the recommendation of the pharmacist when I was planning on getting it last week and was not feeling well.

Hershey, your new landscaping sounds exciting. I have wanted new landscaping for several years in my front yard and my problem is I can't figure out what I want. I see many of my neighbors and theres looks fine for them but not necessarily what I want. My bushes are old and needing replaced but priorities happen. I had a furnace guy out and he found a crack in my unit. I sure wasn't expecting that. I thought maybe I could get another year out of it but not with a crack. So a guy is coming soon to measure and talk prices so I will hopefully be getting a new one installed soon before the cold weather hits.

Teka, how was your breakfast. I used to have a favorite place near me and I would get quiche lorraine a lot. That was before my gluten free days started. What is your favorite?

Chris, I am so glad your cancer is not genetic. I am sure that is a huge relief to you and you DD and DGD.

I need to ask for prayer. It seems like my good long stretch of feeling good has hit a snag. I have had trouble with my neck for many weeks as I remember mentioning it to my pcp at the beginning of August. I don't remember how long I had been dealing with it but at that time I down played it because I was sure it would go away. I wake up every morning and I can hardly turn my head one way. I would do neck exercises and after a hot bath it would improve so I kept hobbling along with that until this week. I had a checker at the grocery store bag one of my bags which was way too heavy. I didn't realize it until I slung it in my cart and I immediately felt low back pain. From that point on I have had severe pain in my neck at night to where I couldn't sleep and Tylenol was not touching.

Last night I took an old pain pill from one of my surgeries. I also took extra strength Tylenol not realizing until tonight that the pain meds already had Tylenol in it. I have been spacy all day and didn't dare take any more Tylenol. I had an HOA meeting tonight and was having trouble finding some words which was crazy. I had another trip scheduled to shoot the Milky Way this weekend and I canceled that hotel today. Thankfully I am getting a full refund. I have a muscle therapist which I will call if I don't start improving. I had a neck surgery in 2001 and I sure hope this will not have to be repeated. I remember hearing years ago that it might need to be repeated in several years. I am not having any of the symptoms I had back then and hopefully won't have. I chalk this up to losing Cammie and being very stressed about everything.

On a positive note I think I have finally figured some of my photo editing software enough to maybe post a Milky Way photo soon. I feel like a mother who has labored for a long time and is now getting ready to show off the newborn. LOL Okay that was a bit dramatic. You get my point though.

We are experiencing glorious weather for Sept and no one is complaining.

Have a great weekend everyone.

Love,

Nancy

Wheatfields, thank you for your prayers. I will certainly be praying for your MRI tomorrow. My sister is gearing up for some surgery. She hasn't had many surgeries and I know is dreading the whole thing even though she doesn't come right out and say that. She is probably going to have similar surgery that I did last year with my knee but she also has a Baker's Cyst to deal with as well. I sure hope your nurse friend can get some relief from her insomnia. Has she had a sleep study? Actually my pcp recommended that several years ago and I wanted to wait. He has never mentioned it again. That would surely show restless legs if that is in the doctor's thinking. I remember a friend who had neuropathy after chemo and she used a product called Arnica I think that was it. It was for pain. I am not sure if that is exactly what you are looking for though. You sure have had a long battle with shingles. I will pray that you can find something that will help you with that as well.

Take care. Let us know about your MRI when you can.

Love,

Nancy

Hershey, thank you. Last night I was able to sleep without pain but we had a lot of thunder in the night and that was not helpful for sleep but we need the rain. My neck doesn't feel great today but I thought in the night it seemed better.

I had paid extra for insurance through the booking agent and that was supposed to cover refunds. I don't actually see it in my bank account yet but I am supposed to get a full refund. I knew this weekend was going to be a total wash out downstate but I had planned on going down anyway and scouting out some other places within the preserve to allow for a better composition. I am not on my laptop now which houses my pictures but I am finally ready to post a picture. October is the end of Milky Way season for the Northern Hemisphere. It also requires clear skies so we'll see if any chances come up that is good timing for me to get away. I may be in PT then so looking up is not a great thing. I remember my neck surgeon saying don't paint any ceilings. Who knew back than I would be dabbling in astrophotography!!

The new tree on my parkway is a Silver Linden and they attract pollinators as well. My tree isn't big enough yet to produce the flowers that attract bees. I am scared to death of bees but I went for it anyway. LOL The city and me paid for that tree and you could only pick from their choices. The tree is only in its third season I think. It survived all the cicadas and I thought that might be the end of it last year but thankfully not.

I hope you new plants do very well. Purple blooms. Every year I have Columbine that I never planted come up and spread it's seeds everywhere. They are purple but I can't say if they have had bees on them. They do like the flowers on my hostas and the hummingbirds do too.

Wheatfields, how did your MRI go?

Have a great weekend everyone.

Love,

Nancy

Chris, I don't know if I will have PT but I have been through this drill before. The first thing my pcp wants to do is refer me to a specialist or recommend PT. This what I was trying to avoid but I realized that I do need to be evaluated because this could be something serious and me blindly going forward thinking it is only muscular.

I am sorry that you struggle so much with your side effects. I just hope one day soon cancer patients will have drugs that can be very effective without so many side effects. I know they have come a long way but I guess nothing is perfect. My good friend going through chemo has had a time. She will be gearing up for her 3rd chemo this week. After her fourth treatment which I am supposed to take her to then she will have surgery to remove the large mass in her pelvic area.

I am going to post my Milky Way photo for you all finally. I figured out what I was doing wrong. Typical of computer issues it was some simple thing but with disasterous results.

I hope everyone has a good weekend.

Love,

Nancy