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

Another busy day. I had a volunteer picking up IKEA donation and I found some bedding that was never used that she also took. The charity helps people set up a home at no charge and I really find that to be nice in this day and age. I called Vietnam Veterans to arrange a pickup for 1/21 for the clothing we had removed from DH and my closets. Other phone calls to eye doctor to insure recent report goes to PCP, and Pulmonary to get supplies now that test month is up. Still having minor issues with mask, but it's much better now.

Got up early because I wasn't sure when drapery guys were coming and wanted to clear the table runners and seasonal items off the table. Some are being rehomed to the linen closet and others will be kept in a drawer. I also sorted through the kitchen island runner drawers and removed the Christmas and Easter items to be stored in the linen closet now that I have the room. The remaining runners were separated by season or theme for easier access.

Got 2 loads of wash done as well and now I am done. My back has been bothering me for the past few days, and even with the medication, I don't get complete relief. I do have to make my bed and put the items in the linen closet.

The drapery guys came, removed the sheers, drapes and the valance. They can clean the valance on site at half the cost of taking it apart and reassembling, so I took that option. More expensive than I expected, but still cheaper than replacing them. This will be their first cleaning and considering they remove, clean, replace and then steam in place after hanging, the price seems better. They are double lined and quite heavy so pin placement is critical to prevent tearing.

DB comes on Monday to paint, so the room is ready to go. We took the leaves out of the table today, took the shelves from the China closet out and they are on top the table. The wall decorations have been stashed in a very crowded living room. We need DSIL to help lower the china closet off the buffet base or move the entire unit away from the wall

I am hoping that next week I might be able to get to DD's old closet to sort through the clothing I store there. One section is summer clothing, another is lightweight jackets/fleece hoodies, the third is vacation clothing, and lastly is the center shelving holding travel items. It needs to be reorganized after I cull unwanted or ill fitting clothing. I'd like to really reduce what is here to what I really need for summer, jackets and then travel.

I have my thoracic epidural tomorrow. I don't know what restrictions I might have afterwards. I am just hoping I get relief. DGD has a basketball game on Saturday as does DGS. His is so early in the morning and they are 30-40 minutes away based on traffic. We won't be able to go to his game and I might not make hers based on how I feel.

I hope everyone has a great day and am waving "hi" to everyone.

cindyny, I missed your post about the ice maker. Hallelujah you were able to figure out what the issue was and take action. I hope it works once you re-install it.

Cindy - I also received a PM from a therapist. Good idea to report it. Hope it warms up for you. It’s not fun to have NY weather in FL.

Yes, I too got the private message & plan to report it. Glad all of you are going to do the same

I discovered that Tippy thinks his "treat" button means "eat". I am going to have to change his board around since food is so important to him. The other day, he heard "armpit" on the tv and was excited. I think it was an advertisement about dog harnesses. I gave him a haircut quite a while ago, which damaged our relationship. He thinks I shouldn't do that, and frequently asks me when he will get that haircut I promised. He is eager to get out in the new snow. We will have an inch or so each day for the next few days. I need to get more distilled water— temps will go below zero a couple of nights.

I am changing around my nutritional supplements and other OTC meds. I ran out of several and let it be. Not good. I have alpha lipoic acid (nerve damage), B complex coming, as well as acetaminophen (which I will decrease because of the others I have started). Boswella and turmeric (both for arthritis) and fish oil. MSM (arthritis), D3 (winter depression) and cetirizine. Recent research indicates that MSM is the ingredient in glucosamine and chondroitin that eases arthritis.

My right hand is doing well, taking in consideration the fact that I have arthritis in other areas (base of little finger and middle joint of middle finger). Tippy's haircut is important because of upcoming surgery on left hand. Yes, it hurts, but OT has told me that I have to use activities for exercise my right hand daily. Have been cooking. Made cookies yesterday. Five spice cookies (like gingerbread). Will make coconut cake today, as well as finishing up the repair on a batch of five missals. I have about ten left in that huge project. Did not realize how many needed repair when I started.

Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. The important thing is not to stop questioning.

Albert Einstein

Hmmnh. I did not get that PM..

Chris, it was one of those messages which made me ask "what do they want and why are they directing me to a private email"? It was for counseling and I'm not sure I require it right now. So lucky you. Tippy amazes me with his communication skills. I like the meat = eat or vice versa if I have confused them. I loved when the hand therapist used the warm wax bath on my hands. I had one, it went unused for years, so I have it away not knowing shortly thereafter I would need it again. Have you tried that?

The procedure went well though there was a change in plans about where it should be administered. I hate when they give you the permit in the OR and hover while you try to read it without your reading glasses. It said lumbar and my trigger spot is clearly thoracic. Seems PA suggested lumbar. It was changed to thoracic and after that he noticed a local muscle which seemed to be enlarged due to a knot. He asked one of the nurses to confirm his finding and he did a multi- site (wagon wheel pattern) injection with a local anesthetic and then massaged area which he said felt like a ball. This is probably where I experience the spasms given the description.

Local is starting to wear off and it may take up to 2 weeks to feel relief. Fingers crossed for shorter time frame.

One of the OR nurses was a former Sim Lab student of mine and she said she was excited when she saw my name on the schedule. Told the others I was one of the best, and other students were envious. Such a nice thing to hear. I loved teaching fundamentals and was a stickler for learning the correct way because it would become the base of their future practices. Explained to them their skills determined patient's outcomes and their onjective was not to harm patients. Most got it.

Carole, thanks for the compliment. I need to catch up on other house areas that have been neglected while I did organization duties and then moving dining room contents. I'll see what I can do tomorrow.

Cindyny, I am so glad you were able to fix the ice maker. Another notch in your handy man belt. I do think you should take carole's suggestion about starting a repair business.

Wren, glad the new drug is working and hope it continues to knock out any new spots.

Petite1, missed the gopher story, and xan appreciate the havoc they can cause in a yard. I can tell you when they are trapped, they are not relocated because they are considered pests. Same happens to other wildlife that are trapped. I hope that your cabin issues will be quickly resolved so it b is nice and toasty on your next visit. It will be worth all the troubles once they are done. What a nice place to have as an escape.

Hope everyone has a great day. The sun is out even though it is bitter cold and will remain so for the next 10 days. Waving "hi" to everyone.

Thanks, minus two, for reporting the message. I contacted the moderators when I got home.

Maybe they have been watching us for a while and picked up on the fact that I have degrees in psychology? It scares off people who think I have the ability to mindread. I am no different than all or any of us.

Betrayal, a bunch of years ago I was in for OT, and the idea of a wax bath for my hands caught on and I got one. I got rid of it two years ago, thinking I would never need it again. This morning I washed dishes with gloves on in very hot water. It felt so good!!

I only have two eggs, The coconut cake calls for three.

Mods - thanks for banning the intruder. At this time I don’t need therapy for a broken washer 😀

Petite - glad to hear things are looking up. We’ve had a problem with chipmunks/gophers in our backyard. I think if we did thermal imaging there would be a network of underground tunnels. I’m hoping that removing our inground pool disrupted their environment.

Wren - glad to hear you are mostly stable and hope it continues for a long while. Do you have any significant side effects from the Doxil?

Cindy - 50 is cold for you but it sounds good to me right now. Our forecasted highs over the weekend are in the mid teens.

Betrayal - any nurse that had you for a teacher was very, very fortunate. When reading the profiles of the nurses, NPs and PAs in my area it seems most have completed their degree with a for profit online school. I question how much clinical training they get in that situation. They certainly have their place in our healthcare system however, in Illinois they can practice without MD oversight and I’ve been less than impressed with the outcomes.

Has anyone uploaded iOS26 for their Apple devices? I updated my phone and iPad last night and do not like the look and feel of it. I think it is more difficult to read text, notifications and the device keyboard. I’m guessing a 20 something whiz kid thought the transparency of the background looked cool, but it also makes it harder to read.

Husband enjoyed local fresh perch at favorite seafood diner.

He also got takeout for our dinner.

Ice Fishing in the Adirondacks.

Harley, I still have hair on my head. Downstairs it is very sparse and blond. I have dark hair very slowly going gray.

For a young person, it is almost a sin, or at least a danger, to be too preoccupied with himself; but for the ageing person, it is a duty and a necessity to devote serious attention to himself.

Carl Jung

Microwave wraps, etc take less electricity and are less messy.

Your Orders | Hilph Thumb Wrist Ice Pack Wrap...

This is my preferred splint, pre-op,

Amazon.com: CURECARE New Upgraded Thumb Splint for Right & Left Hand, Reversible Thumb Brace for Arthritis Pain and Support, Thumb Stabilizer for Sprains, Tendonitis Relief, One Size Fits Any Hand (Pink) : Health & Household

Note that the bones of it go on either side of the inflamed real bone.

(part deux):

Meanwhile, beginning to gear up for our long weekend in NOLA for the Folk Alliance Int'l conference next week. I leave Thursday and Bob will join me on Friday. For the first time I won't be bringing an instrument, because I didn't try to book any hotel-room showcases. Still might join an open song circle or two, and borrow a guitar (or a dulcimer if there's a tuned one in the room). I just perused the list of panels and official showcase performers, and realized that this definitely isn't the Folk Alliance I attended even a decade ago: the emphasis is now international, indigenous/ethnic (especially Louisiana), and geared towards minority and LGBTQ+ considerations. But that's okay: I'm 75 (come Friday) and there's a new generation. The definition of "folk music" has become far more fluid, and we "old guard" are aging out and passing the torch. (Some of the "Wisdom of the Elders" panelists are in their early 60s). The "Folk DJ panel," which used to be about how to get airplay, is now about recruiting Gen Xers & millennials to take over the radio shows from septuagenarian DJs (and transitioning to a streaming rather than broadcast model). My regional Midwest conference ('FARM," which my partner attended but I couldn't because of my move-back and Bar Show rehearsal schedule conflicts) is a far better fit—in fact the Southeast Regional one (SERFA) in mid-May (both w/in a day's drive) would also be better.

So we will be treating this as a midwinter vacation—I will attend a few panels (including Ani DiFranco & Tom Paxton) during the day; Bob will hit the casino, gym & pool and we will prowl the Quarter. I will hang out with a few friends (including my favorite local folk DJ) for some meals & coffee. Skipping the official buffet dinner Fri. night to celebrate my 75th at Commander's Palace; Sun. morning we'll do jazz brunch at Court of Two Sisters (Bob's fave), which will keep me away from the beignets at Cafe du Monde, in favor of omelets, all-you-can-eat shrimp & salads. (I haven't tried even a single beignet since our last visit in 2023)! Bob didn't even want me to buy him a day-pass to the conference (even though I bought a Folk Alliance "supporter" membership for him). We may take a tour or two on Sunday afternoon. We fly home Monday. (As for our cats, between Gordy, our BFFs and our HK's neighbor who comes in twice a week for a couple of hours to tidy up, they'll be fine).

The logistical headache will be weather: the day I leave it'll be maybe 30F, but single digits again by the following Monday night. So I will wear UGGs for travel (no longer have to remove shoes) and a packable down coat over my trenchcoat (it'll be low 60s & rainy while we're there). The last time we took a winter trip to a warmer clime I stuffed my down coat/hat/gloves into my suitcase before checking it at the airport and then re-donned them as soon as we got our bags back before hitting the taxicab line. Bob insists on driving this time, so we'll take the shuttle to the parking lot. (I will take a cab or rideshare down on Thursday). I deliberately bought SW's highest-fare ticket so I can get two free checked bags—one of which will be Bob's suitcase.

Also just booked my Bar Association CLE (continuing education) trip to Greece for the end of April (2 days after a gig up in Madison). 3 days in Athens, 3 on Santorini. I've never been. Bob doesn't want to come along, as he wants to save up his days off for a river cruise (Paris-Prague) we plan to book for late summer/early fall. I decided (with Bob's blessing) to fly business class—10 hours in steerage, er, coach, is more than I can handle at my age. I can still do everything short of lifting a rollaboard into the overhead bins, so no more exit row seats for me.

We both decided that this may be the last year both of us are physically capable of international travel—and at this point I'm in better shape despite my stiff upper back. His knees are shot and he has trouble keeping from falling if he bends down too far, so he's starting P.T. in early March to improve his balance and strengthen his quads to take the load off his knees. He refuses to get any gel or steroid shots in his knees, much less take off the 12 weeks he'd need to recover (first rehab and then home/clinic P.T.) after knee replacement. Knowing him, he'd insist on going back to work—assuming he could drive or get rideshares—a week or two after coming home from rehab. For my R knee it was 6 weeks before I could safely drive; after my L, I drove right away, including to the P.T. clinic. I did take a Viking River Cruise (Danube-Main-Rhine) 12 weeks after my R knee replacement—I did okay with just a cane and walking shoes, and taking elevators wherever available. (Wet cobblestone streets were the only true challenge).