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

Nov 11, 2020 10:43AM CindyNY wrote:

MCBaker - you are right! We tend to hear what we want, so good idea to zoom.

Betrayal - I don't know how you've made it this long with the home repairs. Nerves of steel! Prayers to your family with COVID, may they get through it.

We are on our last warm day, 69 right now. Rain later today as temps go back down to normal. It was nice while it lasted! I'm hoping to get in my walk before the rain.

To our veterans, thank you for your service!

Enjoy the day.

PS - I'm not thinking 2021 will be much better than 2020, covid wise. People will still do what they please, pandemic be damned.

Nov 11, 2020 03:44PM MCBaker wrote:

I zoomed with my onco. Nothing related to BC in my liver, but it did show a 9cm fluid-filled cyst. That is huge. He referred me on to PCP. It is a benign condition. I looked it up and decided I can live with it, at least until anything else shows up needing laparoscopic intrusion. He was surprised I wanted a zoom visit, and from now on I don't have to go see him.

Nov 12, 2020 09:02AM petite1 wrote:

Good morning, ladies. It was a wet and windy night. I was up until 1:30. I haven't gone outside to see if there is any damage or yard debris. Still overcast and windy.

Nov 12, 2020 12:19PM IllinoisLady wrote:

petite -- here's hoping that things were not topsy-turvy when you went outside to check. Glad you were able to get some sleep.

Cowgirl: Big yay to you. Since we seem to be going into a period of a lot more covid and there is not enough control going on, whatever you can get done now is likely a really good thing.

MC: Good for you that it turned out to be a cyst and not something worse. I'm like you -- any procedure I can skip at my age makes me happy. Hoping that it continues to not cause you un-due harm or distress.

Pretty day here, but fairly cool. The sun makes it way easier to tolerate. Seeing the ear Dr. today but had to reschedule for the afternoon. There are two Jackie's and we both were making appts. the same general time. So, I got a c all yesterday but too late for me to call back. Had a dickens of a time this morning and couldn't get thru. Found out just now they were busy so just left ass. machine on. I finally hit the make appt. number because I didn't know what else to do.

Turns out -- the other Jackie called but it was my appt. that got cancelled rather than hers. So, they will work me in this afternoon and actually that time works better for me anyway. Yay !! I was a bit distressed as I've been looking forward to this. Ear wax ( I normally don't have it or it sloughs off w/o build up ) has built up in my ears to the point that it affects how I hear ( sometimes not so hot even with my hearing aids ) and I'm anxious to get things restored to a workable level. So -- today ( the nurse felt so bad about the mistake she is likely "fitting" me in ) I will get to go.

Tomorrow I find out what if anything I may have to do to the three tumors ( new ) in my bladder. Hopefully, just removing them will have been enough, but I'm pretty sure more scopes will be in my future on a regulated basis. Grrrr.

Hope you all have a sunny day.

Nov 12, 2020 03:25PM ChiSandy wrote:

Well, my back had been starting to nag at me yesterday morning; then around 1 pm it totally locked up. Have been trying everything except opioids (Tyl. #3, which "plugs me up"--TMI--and makes me feel dopey to boot): doing piriformis stretches, CBD drops with turmeric, regular x-strength Tylenol, Aleve, Baclofen, heat, topicals (lidocaine roll-on, CBD balm & transdermal), a whole 1mg Xanax at bedtime, and an OTC lidocaine patch (the Rx Lidoderm, which is hella expensive and no longer covered by insurance, used to work for 12 hrs). Knocked me out while I sat in front of the TV; inched my way upstairs to bed. Woke up at 8 am, rolled (painfully) over and next I knew it was 11:30 am. Naturally, I didn't make my 11:45 mani appt. (and the mayor came on TV urging people to stay home except for stuff like medical treatments). Haven't rescheduled it, as I don't know when I'll be well enough to go. And barring a miracle, will have to blow off (yet again) my penicillin-allergy challenge tomorrow morning in Glenview--not gonna be able to drive safely while on Baclofen, and my HK can't take me because it can take 3-4 hrs to get a reaction or make sure I don't go into anaphylactic shock. Besides, it's as "elective" as it gets--never occurred to me to try it until the last time Happy bit me and the NP suggested it so I don't have to take clindamycin/doxycycline next time he bites. Surprised they haven't called me again to postpone it till the "stay home advisory" expires (if ever).

Bob will be on hospital duty all weekend, so I'll be fending for myself. Gonna have my HK pull my Rollator out before she leaves for home--that & a reacher are the only way I can feed the cats when my back is still locked up. Also messaging my orthopedist's NP to e-mail me the recommended stretches and exercises, since the walk-in ortho clinic is closed for everything except serious acute injuries, and PT is likely closed as well (and unsafe if open).

Nov 12, 2020 07:06PM MCBaker wrote:

I am sure it was my new oncologist who did my breast biopsy. He claims it wasn't him. I absolutely SANG with the pain. I am afraid of having a wide-bore needle stuck into anything likely to be sensitive. However, getting it aspirated is a less-risky temporary fix, while waiting for people to get their sh-- (yes, I did say that) together about the COVID.

Sandy, I am with you on that back pain. I probably ought to take a flexoril. My upper back is getting twingey.

Nov 12, 2020 11:39PM CindyNY wrote:

MCBaker - I hope they can aspirate your cyst with little discomfort to you. Get your muscle relaxer in you too, can't let your back pain get a head of you.

Sandy - knock on wood my back has been ok. I was given rx lidocaine patches ($35 copay for 2 boxes) and Soma. I slept so great on Soma that I moved it away from my night stand. I had to ask myself did I need it, or did I want it? I didn't need it so downstairs it went. It also binds me up, TMI but truth. Also after taking it for 3 days, I'd have to wait for a Friday night to stop - very disruptive sleep after stopping. I feel your pain and hope you can get through it. I see a chiropractor muscle therapist, w/o her I'd probably still be on meds.

My FL house had a lot of wind and rain. My newest little tree, a fox tail palm, folded over in the wind. Neighbors sent a video of it. I think it may have died prior to the wind taking it down, I haven't seen it since May. No other damage so very thankful.

Upstate NY temps have dropoed. It rained most of yesterday, but just gloomy and cooler today with rain tomorrow morning.

A lot of local schools here are going full time remote learning. Colleges sending kids home after testing them. SUNY Albany has said next semester won't start until February, and no spring break. Gov has called for bars, restaurant, and gyms to close by 10; still can do take out after 10. Movie theaters had opened, today they closed again. I'm not liking the looks of the increasing covid cases.

Stay safe, have a good night & a great day!

Nov 13, 2020 09:27AM petite1 wrote:

Good morning, ladies. We did not have any storm damage. My BFF had a lot of debris. She lives in a stilt on the water. So, thankfully, all is good.

Nov 13, 2020 11:57AM Betrayal wrote:

Petite1: Glad to hear you did not have any damage from the storm.

CindyNY: My DB and DSIL have a home in the FL panhandle and lost a few palms to the drought like conditions over the summer. They just had a sprinkler system installed so hopefully they do not have a repeat.

I spoke to my DB who was dx with covid 19 and he seems to be making some improvement. He still sounds somewhat short of breath but his oxygen levels are improving. Seems they had been exposed via their son-in-law who was very ill for 2 weeks and it spread to their daughter, his wife. Since they are in a bubble, their extended household is my DB, his wife and their one DD who lives home. The baby had a fever but I haven't heard if she was dx'd. So 6 members of a family in two separate households in a short period of time. It is so scary.

The numbers here and in NJ are on the increase which makes this a scary time again especially since we have workmen coming in and out. We avoid contact with them as much as possible but if we go into a shutdown again, my house repairs will again be on hold. So offer a prayer we do not have to go into shurtdown again.

Does anyone want to hear I bought a new bed a year ago to replace the one that was destroyed? I also bought a warranty which now has expired and I have yet to see the bed. The MBR is shaping up but still is awaiting a new floor installation which is supposed to be installed next week. The other 2 bedrooms have been painted (walls, new windows and ceiling) but the other trim needs to be painted (on us) for them to be "finished". I can handle that and find painting to be an activity I actually enjoy because it doesn't require any mental energy and I can "escape". I enjoy seeing the completed project, it's clean and fresh.

I made the painters catch the stink bugs who snuck in while they had the windows open. They are looking for a winter home, like to hide in curtains and they drive my cats crazy when they buzz around. They did catch and release them, LOL.

The A/C guy came yesterday to determine how to finish the new system. Seems the outlets to the MBR require some design adjustments to make them functional and the one connection, for the downstairs, disrupted by the carpenters installing the flooring in the attic will be fixed. Once the bathroom exhaust fans are connected to the exterior we will be able to move the items stored in the garage back. So more culling as we move them. I just need to sort through Christmas items since everything else has been sorted. Once the garage is emptied we can start to move items from the finished basement to the garage. The basement has also been overflow storage for items from the MBR and LR so some of those contents will be put in their rightful place. I think I will push to get the basement done next since it just requires flooring replacement, some wall repairs and painting. My DH is doing online teaching from his office there so it would be nice if it is all done before classes resume in the New Year.

It is overcast, breezy and bonechilling cold today though it is 50 degrees. After rain for the past 2 days, I'll take it. No workers today so I'll go get some groceries and prescriptions for the dog. She just turned 12 but still has her puppy moments. Have a good day and weekend. Thanks for all your well wishes, they are appreciated.

Nov 14, 2020 09:31AM IllinoisLady wrote:

Everything that has a beginning has an ending. Make your peace with that and all will be well. the Buddha

Nov 14, 2020 10:32AM MCBaker wrote:

May be the old quibble about whether encapsulated cancerous cells are precancerous or cancer. Either way, nothing to sneeze at.

Nov 14, 2020 11:33AM MCBaker wrote:

Betrayal, good that things are finally coming together for you with the house.

Nov 15, 2020 08:16AM IllinoisLady wrote:

The winds of grace are always blowing;
all we need to do is raise our sails.

- Anonymous

Nov 15, 2020 11:59PM Reader425 wrote:

Hope it was a nice day Illinois! We had wind and now some rain but not too bad. I woke up slow with a headache so zoom chuch was later; had a zoom breast cancer support meeting also, then mostly reading and relaxing. An easy dinner and early to bed to read. Our book club made new selections so I'm off and running.

To the A.M. posters have a great start to your week. 🙂

Nov 16, 2020 08:22AM IllinoisLady wrote:

Sunny this morning, maybe some wind later, but it is quiet now. Likely in the low 60's so a bit of improvement. My busy time starts today, but it should be fine and only a couple of added things so far. That's okay as I can drop one job off tomorrow -- I will have Tues. and Thurs. off each week until my friend recovers for her hip replacement surgery. I hope she does well. She was really limping the other day. She is such a good person.

Looking forward to things getting quiet soon as we transition to a new president and new yr. Mainly hoping that we at last can take the steps that will ACTUALLY start really helping us gain some control over this awful virus. I so want everyone to be safe and continue to be sad for all those and their families who we have lost.

Hope you all have a great Monday.