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

Sep 14, 2020 02:16AM ChiSandy wrote:

I haven't tried to "cast" anything from my computer to the older smart TV in the front room--my laptop is a Mac. The front room TV has built-in Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime; but since it isn't an Android OS (like the one in the den) I can't use it for Disney+. I am definitely not a fan of watching stuff on a laptop, much less a mobile device. We got Disney+ (watch it in the den) for "Hamilton," but I have no desire to watch animated or Marvel stuff. We were going to wait for the live-action "Mulan" to stream free in Dec. (no way am I paying $20+ extra on top of the subscription fee to see it now), but there's a huge controversy over it not only having been filmed in the part of China where as many as 2 million Uighurs were killed or persecuted but Disney actually thanking the gov't of that province in the credits!

The only theater-only movie out right now I want to see is "David Copperfield," but I'm not sure I want to risk my health to go see it. I'll wait for it to come out on DirecTV PPV.

Sep 14, 2020 01:39PM Cowgirl13 wrote:

My current streaming preferences are running towards international streaming services. I love Acorn which is mostly British and its just terrific. Since I've watched a lot of the series on Acorn, I now have Britbox which is BBC. Love it. I also have MHz which is international and has series/movies from about 15 countries. I absolutely love crime/detective stories. Since I threw out my TV several years ago, I now only watch on my MacBook and really like that I can see the subtitles very clearly. My hearing is so bad, even with my hearing aids turned up, that I need to be able to stop the movie several times so that I can get all the subtitles. This in no way diminishes my enjoyment of watching a series.

Sep 15, 2020 02:52PM IllinoisLady wrote:

It takes more courage to reveal insecurities than to hide them, more strength to relate to people than to dominate them, more "manhood" to abide by thought-out principles rather than blind reflex. Toughness is in the soul and spirit, not in muscles and an immature mind. -Alex Karras

Sep 15, 2020 09:19PM ChiSandy wrote:

Letrozole raised both my glucose & LDL/total cholesterol and sent my HDL plunging from the 90s down to 65 (not awful but not as protective, especially for women). Crestor lowered my LDL/total and triglycerides, and restored my HDL to the mid-80s. As to very high HDL, there are two things associated with it. One is that it is sometimes a sign of high alcohol consumption; the other is a matter of how large the HDL "particle size." It's the large HDL particles that "mop up" the bad lipids so they can be excreted; small particles aren't as effective at that. Usually, a low-to-normal triglyceride level goes hand-in-hand with large-particle HDL (the actual test of particle dimension is very expensive and not all labs do it).

Still no word on my eye biopsy path report. Three possibilities: either it was so inconclusive that it had to be farmed out to a more sophisticated path lab; the sample was too small to analyze; or (gulp) the ocular-onc is afraid to tell me lest I go into a deep funk over learning my birth certificate's projected "expiration date." Complicating matters is that not only have the nurses at UIC Hosp. gone on strike, but they've been joined by custodial and even some clerical staff. Elective procedures (including cataract surgeries, vitrectomies, imaging) have been canceled for the duration; and the surgeons have to work with agency nurses (even in the O.R.) with whom they're unfamiliar (& vice versa). At least the strike will end Saturday.

Meanwhile, my vision in my R eye is improving nearly to the point it was before this all started. But there's still that one pesky piece of undissolved "absorbable" suture sticking out my eyeball and irritating my eyelid. The sutures are supposed to take 4-6 wks to dissolve/absorb, and Mon. was 4 wks. I also was told to wait 4-6 wks post-op to get re-refracted. I think I will buy a pair of +3.0 drugstore readers, as my prescription readers are only +2.5 and I still have to squint to clearly see the tiny-font numbers in my NYTimes double-acrostic puzzle books. (I like to do those with a fountain pen--I use pencil only for diagramless crosswords).

Yesterday was our first Zoom meeting for the Bar Show (this year it's called--duh--"Change of Venue"). Plan A--record individual parts at the Bar Assn.'s studio--is off the table, as the engineer who runs it already has his hands full and his and the space's hourly rate is too steep (and this year, the show has no budget available). So Plan B will be to record parts individually at our homes or offices (in front of a green screen if possible), over a soundtrack pre-recorded by the accompanist and played over a speaker. Then the scenes will be edited together and backgrounds added. 9 is the maximum number of performers per scene (and even that's a stretch--it was necessary for the demo video of the Supreme Court, which took 3 weeks to cast, score, shoot, and edit together). To do even one full-cast number would cost upward of $500. We will be getting our assignments soon (we've been promised we'll each get to be in at least one scene); meanwhile, that SCOTUS video goes live online next week, and there will be one video per week released until Election Day (when the writing team will have to kick into high gear and the entire show will be written, recorded and released en masse).

For the first time in the 90+ year history of the show, there will be no charge to see it: it'll be up for free on YouTube. We can't put it up on the show's Facebook page, because--acc. to my duo's social media consultant--beginning in Oct., FB is about to knuckle under to ASCAP/BMI/SESAC and forbid posting of videos and recordings of "cover" songs, upon pain of having the page taken down and the account cancelled. Yes, parody--which our numbers are--is "fair use," but there have been new cases challenging and seeking to narrow the definition of "parody." And as I said, we don't have a budget so we can't pay royalties. We are taking up a collection to pay the director, accompanist & band, and wigmaster--everything else is wholly volunteer (we're doing our own costumes & props, and the cast member who does our graphics is also doing the editing). At least we won't have to find venues & buy refreshments for "after-parties."

The first video going live this week is a "teaser" montage of stills from past shows, with "We're Still Here For You" (parody of the theme from "Friends") sung & played over it. Will let you know when & where to watch it. I don't think I'm in any of those stills, but they go by so fast...

Sep 16, 2020 09:29AM IllinoisLady wrote:

Over the years I have come to believe that life is full of unchosen circumstances, that being human has to do with the evolution of our individual consciousness and with it, responsibilities for choice. Pain and joy both come with life. I believe that how we respond to what happens to us and around us shapes who we become and has to do with the psyche or the soul's growth.

Sep 16, 2020 03:53PM petite1 wrote:

Illinoislady, Hope your kitty is all right. Both of mine sleep a lot.

Sep 16, 2020 08:07PM CindyNY wrote:

IllinoisLady- I hope your kitty is ok too.

Sandy - good information from your dermatologist. We're all hoping for the best.

Its been a very busy week. Masons worked for 3 days, completed foundation work. Plumber fixed cast iron pipe into PVC within 2 hours. Roofer never showed. Tomorrow I'll call a handy man we haven't used in years, in hope he's still doing it. Pool covered, chemicals in, no more swimming. Offically I have to lower the water, put in the skimmer plug, and clean out the filter before it's truly closed. But the worst is behind us.

Temperatures dropping here fast, especially over night. Next couple nights in the 30's.

Remote learning at my house w 11 year old niece is challenging. I have no idea how anyone could work while they do this. We did "common core" math today. I think it was stressful for me not to just multiply and have an answer. Only 3 days down...hahahah, I go to bed early and now I most certainly know what day it is. Can't wait for Friday. Tee hee!!

Those of us up north, get your winter woolies ready, because baby it's cold outside!

Blessings out to all - fires, floods, health challenges. HUGS

Sep 16, 2020 10:27PM IllinoisLady wrote:

Fairly good news on Buddy. He has some sort of viral thingy -- no name yet. Dr. was waiting on report from us in three days. I think we'll report tomorrow. She said he should show improvement ( she gave him an antibiotic shot before she brought him back out to us ) in three days. He was basically improved the minute he got out of his crate. He started walking around and looked with longing at the door. He is not going out though.

He is eating with gusto which is good as he has a capsule to be broken open and put in his food. Also a syringe of meds for the next 5 days. We will get ( by phone of course ) with Dr. Britt and see what she wants us to do since we don't have a history on Buddy. He is a beautiful boy of about 10#'s at the moment -- orange and white -- huge fluffy tail which is usually up in the air. He loves to chanse squirrels and like any cat very patient and enourmously quiet until they come down out of the trees. It looks like he will be okay. The vet told me that while the size of the cat is something of a hazard in that they can get ( at times ) really sick, REALLY fast, the up side is that they can also recover at times almost as quick. Sure seems to be happening for Buddy. Our estimate is that he is approx. 2 yrs. old so fairly young.

Another long day for me.

My own Dr. phone appt. went well. She will set up a mammogram for me and later a colonoscopy. Only the second one in my life. If it is "clean" then I likely won't be required to have any more she said. I am 75. In fact, I was waiting to have the second test just as I broke my arm and could not do it then. The first test found nothing -- but even she felt we should have a " comparison " and they will at the same time I do the colooscopy, put a tube down my throat and look at the bottom of my esophagus.

Seems when I broke my arm and came up with other items from the CT scan -- they may not be the issue it seemed back them. The lung nodule shrunk and is staying shrunk. The esophageal thickening as well as the annuerysm were not even mentioned with the last CT. So, they are not as issue at this point and may never be which is what Dr. Neely told me. While they still need some monitoring to an extent -- it is possible that it is not something that I ndeed to feed deep concern over. We have passed the yr. mark since I broke my arm which is when the first CT revealed the extra problems.

So hoping that all stays well. Also sending hope for the weather to settle on both coasts and relief for all those who have sufferred damanges or losses of any kind.

Sep 17, 2020 05:50AM petite1 wrote:

Good morning, ladies. I woke up early thinking I was starving. Had an English muffin, fed the cats and might go back for a nap.

Sep 17, 2020 09:30AM IllinoisLady wrote:

Sounds like a nice day today. No more than 78. I haven't felt much for humidity the past couple of days either. Glad of that. Lots to do but with no humidity I always feel much more energetic. Still thinking about other tv services. We did get our Charter bill reduced a while back to $150.00 for our bundle so we have time. Just that in order for that to happen ( lower bill ) we had to go to only accessing 10 channels. We don't watch as much as we use to, but 10 channels is a bit skimpy. We needed some planning time though so we are still glad we did that. No need to rush into things now.

Deer are starting to roam through the yard now and they are such a pleasure to see. They will be changing their summer color to a lot darker. To me they are beautiful animals.

I hope you all have a delightful day.

Sep 17, 2020 07:19PM ChiSandy wrote:

Joan, so frustrating about your GI doc--when you're a hammer, everything looks like a nail. Hoping the chemo achieved a permanent remission.

Suddenly feeling like autumn--temp hit only 66 today and will be going downhill fast. 52 by Sat. a.m.--were we away from the lake, I'd be bringing all my plants in because the inland 'burbs may go down into the high 30s! But summer weather returns next week. Sunny & dry.

Neighbor 2 doors to the east had his acoustic band rehearse in his yard again. Bassist has his amp too loud, is a lousy lead singer, the djembe player has no idea how to "swing" or play on the 2 & 4, so everything is in the wrong tempo. Besides, I don't think it's safe to sing without masks when sitting in a circle, even outdoors. Next-door neighbor to the east is having all his trees removed tomorrow, so it'll be noisy; Bob will have to park on the street lest his car be sealed inside our garage all day. If I go anywhere, it'll be on foot. Rosh Hashonah services will be online, of course.

Sep 18, 2020 09:28AM IllinoisLady wrote:

I have always disliked the idea that we are being "tested" by God when something awful happens to us. Bad things happen, and none of us are exempt from the possibility that they will come to us as well. I have pondered a different possibility inherent in crisis that in no way changes the fact that it is a genuine disaster: perhaps the events that devastate us carry within them seeds of spiritual "initiation" into a level of knowing we would not otherwise achieve. -Sallirae Henderson

Sep 18, 2020 09:37AM IllinoisLady wrote:

Going to be cool ( for us ) at 73. Well, that works for me. I have been fairly busy lately, but that is not bad. It is time for me to take advantage of the cooler temps and get things done. We gave two desks away yesterday. Our next door neighbors reluctantly moved into town about a month ago, but upside was they now have 5 bedrooms. We had given them a desk for their older son, ( they have three children ) and now they have need of more desks and have the room to accommodate them. So the extra came out of storage and everyone is happy.

Petite: With my medical issues as of late I had to start closing my bedroom door -- so no cate or dogs now in my room. I disliked it at first, but have grown to enjoy sleeping alone again. So -- Dh now comes in if I don't appear soon enough and gets me up. You know what that comes to -- sometimes you just can't win. But it is all okay.

I hope you all have a really beautiful day.

Sep 18, 2020 02:21PM IllinoisLady wrote:

That is a bummer Betrayal, but sounds like much safer for you especially since there is some history from your Dad. It may be possible to increase the time between if you can get two really good tests in a row done. Sure hope so. The pre-care/prep is not fun at all. I was always allowed to eat what I wanted afterwards within reason. No super spicy food for a few hrs. but pretty much anything else. White foods are always good since they digest well.

Sep 18, 2020 08:12PM Cowgirl13 wrote:

Nice weather here today in SF. Bit of a touch of fall but after we have our first rain, indian summer will start and it is one of the nicest times of the year here. Also making it nice is the fact that the wind stops blowing for about 6 months. Went downtown today for an appointment with my dermatologist. He did a biopsy of something on my face and I have to say he had a big reaction to it. He said that he had seen a lot of patients with eyelid issues in the last week or so. Thank goodness I don't freak out over the word biopsy (I'll wait too hear). I'll hear in about a week. It's not in a good place actually as it is right under my eyelid. I do have to be careful as my sister had melanoma years ago. Is skin cancer a possibility if we have had breast cancer? Have a good weekend!