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

IllinoisLady

Sandy, hoping you found a good spot for yourself and appendages and got to sleep. Going to be hot and muggy ( humid ) all day today. Went out for a bit this morning and picked up twigs and small limbs from the storm. Still a lot of the small debris out there but too hot to stay out for long. Last night we put up a small medal decorative fence around my newest plantings done about three or so wks. ago now. Not because Dh would run them down with the mower -- though he easily could because he tries to finish too fast. More so because Bill, my black Lab should he see a clear spot of dirt, feels it his sworn duty to go dig there turning over lots of damp earth and than lying down in pure pleasure. He never notices how many fresh plantings are destroyed.

Since I love Bill it is far easier to just erect a small barrier and let him come and go as he pleases afterward. He has the air-conditioned house, even if instinct seems to prefer damp dirt. We have chances for showers on every day, including today, save for the 4th. How interesting that the holiday is off limits to rain. So -- I full well expect we could have a major pour-down on the 4th. I think we are laying low for the most part and not doing anything. Thinking of maybe doing something on the grill for us -- barbecued chicken and maybe some potato salad with cheese-cake for dessert. We will see how things go the next couple of days.

Hope you are all going to have a really nice sunday.

ChiSandy

Got all my MCLE completed before the midnight deadline—reported compliance at 1 a.m. (reporting deadline isn’t till 7/31, but if I don’t report right away, I tend to forget due to the lack of a sense of urgency). Some courses were really boring, others so arcane that the occasional “WTF???” escaped my lips; but the ones I really liked were on animal law. Next compliance period ends 6/30/20–by then we’ll have to complete not just law and ethics/professional responsibility courses, but also diversityinclusion and mental health/substance abuse as well.

carolehalston

Gentle rain here this morning. The resort is still over run with wedding guests. We were asleep last night when rudely awakened by very loud music. Clancy's had shut down the wedding celebration at 11 pm, when the restaurant closes, and the party had moved to Mary and Lyman's deck. We put up with the racket until midnight and then dh went over and shut them down. Their deck is only about 60 feet from our camper, so we're talking close quarters. Once people get drunk, they have no concept of being considerate of others. I'll bet there are some hangovers this morning.

I will be glad when all these folks clear out and we can get back to normal.

I got up at 8 am, wrote cooking instructions on the aluminum foil covering a breakfast casserole I had made for Mary, and carried the casserole over to her deck.

On the positive side, the temperature is comfortable this morning. Low 60's when I got up. DH is wearing a sweatshirt cardigan. He gets much colder than I do.

Hope everyone is surviving the summer heat. Hope you and your dh get over those summer colds, Sandy.

Happy Sunday.

IllinoisLady

Rain has arrived along with some thunder so Bill is sticking to me like Gorilla glue. With our high water table we were just drying up a bit, but I don't have any reason to believe this will be one of those deluges like we have been having. While those 60 degree temps sound fantastic to me right now ( heat index over 100 here ) in reality I'd dress on the warm side unless I planned for a lot of work. If the sun it out I'm generally okay, but I'd have on long pants and a heavier tee if not a long sleeve shirt.

Midnight is well past my bed time so I'd have been feeling the need to DO something if people were partying 60 feet from me.

Taking a friend ( her birthday ) out to lunch tomorrow. Hope you all had a great Sunday. Hope Lyman and Mary got hitched w/o a hitch from their or anyone's hang-over.

carolehalston

Jackie, I'm wearing shorts and a tee shirt this morning but also a sweatshirt cardigan. Low 60's when I got up at 8:00. We had rain during the night but I didn't hear it. The forecast is for stormy weather tonight with the possibility of hail.

We're going to the gym this morning. I always weigh there on the "doctor" scales. I know I will be up today even after sweating off a lot of fluid.

Happy Monday to all.

IllinoisLady

Be patient with everyone, but above all with yourself. I mean, do not be disturbed because of your imperfections, and always rise up bravely from a fall. I am glad that you make a daily new beginning; there is no better means of progress in the spiritual life than to be continually beginning afresh, and never to think that we have done enough. -St. Francis de Sales

IllinoisLady

Kindness may be achieved by all, rich and poor, learned and illiterate. Brilliance of mind and capacity for deep thinking have rendered great service to humanity, but by themselves they are impotent to dry a tear or mend a broken heart. -unattributed

IllinoisLady

We hold these truths to be self-evident:
that all men are created equal,
that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights,
among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
- Thomas Jefferson (third President of the United States)
[Declaration of Independence, and inscribed in the Jefferson Memorial]

carolehalston

Nature put on some fireworks early this morning. DH had to jump up and roll in the awning. He was too late to keep one of my large, beautiful geraniums from being blown over.

Now the sun is coming out. It's supposed to be hot and humid today. Not sure whether we will participate in a boat parade. I am feeling a lack of interest.

Happy 4th to all.

IllinoisLady

Going to be rather quiet here today. Dh is at work until 4 p.m. He was slated to close the store at 3 p.m. but he has a boss that really pushes it. I took Dh some lunch and helped him dust all the lawn tractors that were sitting outside. Quite a few so I was dripping all over by the time I got done. Dh is there by himself which is another way to push for profit.

Sorry to hear that you didn't get to one of your geraniums Carole but glad the other is okay. The weather is unpredictable. Never know what for sure you will get. It will be hot and muggy here which was expected but not sure about anything else.

ChiSandy

Gonna grill steak if it doesn't rain, use the cast iron indoors if it does. Hot & sticky, storms predicted. Will either let Mother Nature water my herbs & tomatoes, or wait till way after dark to do it myself.

Wren44

It's 75 and cloudy with wind. Supposed to get up to 84, but I don't think it will do so unless the sun comes out. I'm not sure how the fireworks will do with clouds and wind. Guess I'll have to wait and see.

IllinoisLady

Have the courage to say no.
Have the courage to face the truth.
Do the right thing because it is right.
These are the magic keys to living your life with integrity.
- W. Clement Stone

IllinoisLady

Pretty toasty out this morning, but cooler is coming. It will get to almost everyone starting tomorrow. I'll sure be happier. Normally we wouldn't have such heat ( as we have had ) in June so glad it is backing off. July can be hotter though and is usually toward the end in yrs. past when we would think about using a/c. Most of my plants are doing well. Many are drought tolerant to a degree, so hopefully we will slow down on some of our rain. Don't want to see them take on too much water. I have a couple that look a bit sad though they are okay. I think they'd just rather be a bit dryer.

Dh home today. I think we might go out and look for some new lights. Our kitchen ceiling lights are old and cumbersome ( florescent ) as well as one of our bathrooms old fluorescent lights. I think we should modernize them a bit. I also picked out new ceiling tiles for my bedroom. They are ordered and will be here soon. We are only doing smaller things, but all is needed.

Hope you will all have a fine Monday.

Anneb1149

Hi everyone, hope you all enjoyed your 4th.

My son called early yesterday to say he and his family were heading to the beach for a little while, then they would be at my house for the rest of the day. I was thrilled because his wife and daughters got into town last weekend, and at that point I hadn’t seen the 5 yr old at all, and had to go to Walmart to see the 2 yr old for about 20 min. I told him that my daughter and I had some shopping to do, but we would surely be back before them. We were finishing up at the grocery store when he called for the garage door code. Traffic was so bad heading towards the beach that they gave up and came here. We don’t have a pool, but our neighbors do. They are currently at my oldest daughter’s in Atlanta. So we texted them and with their permission went over to swim for awhile.

We hadn’t been in the water 10 minutes when the bad weather horn blasted. I have lived in this house for 40 years, and never knew the HS right behind us had a weather horn. As director of a camp, my son has several weather apps on his phone, and a lot of experience making decisions about weather situations. We (him, his 2 daughters and I) were in the pool for about 20 minutes before he decided we needed to get out. Of course, it never rained. But his little one got a nap! Then we went back over. The four of us had a great time. Neither child wanted to leave after dinner.

I seem to have hit a major plateau as far as my weight loss. I am hovering between 27-30 lbs lost, but can’t seem to break through. It is very frustrating. It’s been like this for about two weeks, and even following the eating plan doesn’t seem to help. But, I am doing really well with my walking. It is way too hot to walk outside right now, so I had started walking at the mall with my brother. But he left for a while. Because my son’s family is here, he’s been staying with them at her mother’s house, so he isn’t here to take my grandson to camp in the morning. Rather than have my daughter change her hours, I’ve been getting up at 8 and dropping him off. The best part (I really don’t like getting up with an alarm any more) is that the mall is right across the street from the park where the camp is. So I drop Doug off and go straight to the mall to walk. I know exactly how to walk two miles. Walking two miles is amazing for me- a few months ago! I couldn’t walk 1/4 of a mile without struggling. Yesterday, when my son called for the garage code, he asked me if I could run into the Dollar store for him. Before, that would have meant waiting for my daughter to finish at the grocery store so she could drive me to the Dollar store. And most likely, She would have been the one to run in. Instead, I left her shopping and I walked to the Dollar store and back. It wasn’t far, but far beyond my ability just a few months ago.

I am in South Florida, so there really isn’t much change in the weather- it’s hot, it’s humid and thunderstorms can happen frequently. The only good thing is that however much water gets dumped on us, everything is dry within a half hour of the rain stopping. And- it can be rainy at my house, but not at the store a mile away. That’s not so good, because if I wait for the rain to stop here, it could be pouring at the store by the time I get there.

Anne

IllinoisLady

Anne, it might take quite a whole lot of patience on that diet plateau, but just keep at it. Some little change as well in your routines -- maybe adding in a tiny bit of extra walking every other day would help. I always had this problem after losing 30 to 33 lbs. I think little changes could make a difference but it will just take time.

I'm sort of losing the same few lbs. that sneak back on when I change my routine which mainly means I'm not doing as much for a few days. We have a rec center where we can walk and also a mall or two -- but sometimes I've too much to do to even go there.

We have such a high water table here that we have to have lots of heat for quite some time before we really feel good and dry. Suits me most of the time since I like to see the woods green and bushy.

Glad to hear that you have been successful with your walking program. I think I read somewhere that for Srs. it is the best overall exercise you can do. Also something that I think has made a difference for some people is exercising for very short periods three times a day. Just glad you have this working well for you.

ChiSandy

Cooled off to 80 this eve. after a couple of thundershowers. (Don't have to water the plants)! But the oppressive heat & humidity are--acc. to my PCP--a major allergy & asthma trigger because of the thermal inversion over the city, trapping both pollutants & allergens. So in preparation for my surgery (which will be done under a general), we're going full-court-press on my asthma: prescription steroid nose & inhalant sprays, prednisone for the next few days, and using my inhaler 4X/day, up to 16 sprays. EKG is perfect. Awaiting results of blood count & glucose.

Wren44

Anne, Congratulations. It's a real accomplishment to increase your ability to walk. I don't know what kind of eating plan you're following, but cutting a few extra carbs seems to help me. I think it's natural to hit a plateau while your body is adjusting. Hope it doesn't last too long.

Good idea Sandy. Make sure you can breathe when you go in. Temperature inversions do trap everything.

IllinoisLady

ChiSandy

Good grief--my (in)Humana Part D plan refused to pay for even generic Nasonex! Those cheap b*****ds say there's an OTC equivalent, same reasoning as to why they wouldn't cover Lidoderm patches. Well, if the OTC stuff worked, I wouldn't need the damn prescription! CVS charged me $189! I just printed out a GoodRx coupon to get it at Wal-Mart for $75--but to use it I will have to convince CVS to take it back (and refund my $189) and have my doc either mail or e-mail me a new prescription for me to take to the nearest Wal-Mart--which I think is in Lincolnwood. And CVS claims they never got the call-in prescription for the Vitussin cough syrup--so I will have to waste one of my Tylenol#3s (which I've been saving until my surgery, in case I run out of the 20 Norco that were prescribed for me) if I have a coughing fit keep me awake tonight. I'm fast losing patience with this CVS--lines are long, they don't have stuff ready when they promised (whether my doc calls it in or I refill it online). They have one pharmacist, the rest are techs. I'm tempted to transfer all our prescriptions to the Walgreen's nearby...except their lines are even longer.

carolehalston

Anne, how wonderful that you are able to walk two miles now! I know you're feeling proud of yourself for the weight loss and improvement in your physical wellness. As you probably know, it's normal to reach plateaus when you're losing weight. Maybe it's the body's way of adjusting to the change.

I'm off to the gym this morning. I have slipped lately with my weight loss efforts and am feeling a bit down on myself. My mental state is much better when I feel in control.

I just wrote and deleted a couple of paragraphs because the content was whiny and complaining! This has been a boring week with no organized golf because of the holidays. The golf course management wants to make as much money as possible off non-members paying big greens fees. Darn, I'm whining and complaining! Exercise at the gym will be a good outlet for discontent.

Happy Friday to all.

IllinoisLady

The unhappiness we experience is not so much a result of the difficulties encountered along our journey as it is of our misperception of how life instructs us. We may see a failed relationship as an indictment of our self-worth when it is really a lesson in using better judgment, in valuing ourselves more, in expressing greater appreciation for our partner--lessons to prepare us for a more loving and fulfilling union. If we are passed over for a much-anticipated promotion, it may be just the push we need to get more training or to venture out on our own as an entrepreneur. As we rise to meet the challenges that are a natural part of living, we awaken to our many undiscovered gifts, to our inner power and our purpose.

Susan L. Taylor

IllinoisLady

Discontent, whining and complaining is what we sometimes need to figure out the rut. Carole, it truly sounds as if you have identified your rut and can move out of it on whatever schedule feels right to you. I'm still working on my ruts. I'm thinking I will do better when the coolness which is due here shows up w/o all the humidity. So no rain today I don't think but it won't get as hot so it is said.

My neighbors two dogs escaped yesterday but found them in my yard ( a momma and her puppy ) and walked them back home last night -- in my pj.'s. I'm not thrilled, but couldn't take the time to get dressed. This is one of the benefits of living in the wooded and countrified setting that we do. Also it was fairly dark so wasn't that bad. Still when you do something you are not real used too --- it still feels like high noon. Just glad mom and puppy got back home.

Sandy, sounds like health plans and pharmacies are coming up with more excuses not to pay. I hope your issues get settled down. I think when you won't even pay for generics your pushing the line out pretty far.

Hope you are all going to have a fine day. Hope it is cooler for all. Sounded like it could be -- just the timetable for each area.

ChiSandy

GoodRx really comes in handy--Bob's been paying a $66/mo. Part D copay for generic lisinopril at CVS. His patients told him that with a GoodRx coupon they get it for $9 at Walgreen's. When it's time to fill Symbicort (started an unopened one Gordy left behind--he has a free co-pay card), I will definitely use GoodRx: $47 vs. $389 for part D copay alone (both at CVS)!

IllinoisLady

If You Want To Be TRUSTED, Be HONEST.
If You Want To Be HONEST , Be TRUE.
If You Want To Be TRUE , BE YOURSELF.

Rishika Jane

IllinoisLady

Just wow !! Windows open and cool air coming in. It will warm up today in low 80's so won't be bad and the humidity is way down. All good news here. I can do some things outside ( like maybe wash my car ) if I decide. It sure could use it. We had been having rain often enough that I was able during the heat spell to let that take care of it. You don't get the good details but at least it would keep me from looking like I was 4-wheeling in mud.

Sandy it seems we can get around so much if we just find out how. Having Bob and the Good RX sounds like it will take care of things for now. Then again, it does sound like you have to have a variety of fixes on hand and not sure everyone could accomplish that one. I have little room to talk myself since everything I use comes thru the V.A. They must have negotiated a deal with ??? someone as we are getting things we could actually get for a little less, at that lesser price. Use to know to the penny what my pharmacy bill would be, but it is way less now. It wasn't bad before, but previously I asked to 'change' some of my prescriptions ( given in paper script to me ) that I knew would be less and they said no. Apparently they were working on things then. Here is my whine for now --- would have been nice if they would have said that.

Hope every one ( the weather report for other areas sounded very nice ) is having great weather and you can get out and do whatever appeals during this nice stretch of cooler weather.

ChiSandy

Wow here too--70s, dry, sunny. Med-low pollen count, which means I'm not comfy but not miserable either. (Got the ACs going, per doc's orders, but set at 75).

Pretty ticked off. Drove to Wally World to pick up my generic Nasonex--and they never received the script. Bought a bunch of ugly caftan tops (not very flattering but easy to put on with one arm in a cast & the other in a brace). Could've gotten away with 1X, but bought 2X--can always belt them or clip them in back; and since I'm on prednisone for the next couple of weeks I will probably pack on a few pounds despite watching my diet & walking more. Also bought a few very large Danskin front-zip bras, but will need to return them because I can't get the zipper started--I lack the hand strength & dexterity, and the dang things are like slingshots, even hitting me in the eye once. Got some Hanes step-in/pullover "comfort" bras, but the straps roll up and bind and I can't pull them on & off with only one hand. So it'll be back to having help fastening bras in the back (or doubling up on extenders), and hauling out my old front-hook sleep bras from my post-rads year. Those caftans will come in handy because they are so large you can't tell what the hell is under them. Still waiting to hear if Walmart got the scrip my doc re-sent this morning, but will have to go out there to return the bras anyway.

So I went back to CVS and tried to return the generic Nasonex they sold me for $189. They said that once it's been packaged, a prescription can't normally be returned even if unopened. But they found a GoodRx for $164, so they let me "return" it and they relabeled it and sold it for the lower price. The savings came to more than the other two scripts I picked up, combined. But for the refills, I'm going back to (ugh) Walmart.

Also got some new Warby Parkers (amber version of the teal ones) in the mail, but need to have them adjusted so they sit evenly and don't smush against my R temple. Walmart's optician refused to adjust them (Warby says they'll reimburse for any outside adjustments) because she was likely to break them. So down to Lincoln Park I go today (braving the Saturday shopper traffic and parking difficulty) to get them adjusted. Will call Walmart first--if the script is not ready, I'll Uber or Lyft to Warby instead, and take the train (have to change lines, but same platform & it's nice outside) and walk home from the station. From Walmart to Warby is over an hour's drive!

IllinoisLady

He who experiences the unity of life
sees his own Self in all beings,
and all beings in his own Self.
- The Buddha

IllinoisLady

Pretty here today too, but we don't have the breezes we had yesterday that really kept the house cool. The a/c did come on in the later early evening hours so we closed up the house. I made my trip to Goodwill yesterday so won't likely bother today. There were not too many people there yesterday -- maybe they were all out enjoying the delightful weather.

Boy Sandy -- you don't catch a lot of breaks lately. I learned some time back ( after a stroke actually ) to put bras on by hooking them from the front, then sliding them around to the back and putting my arms through the straps. Second nature to me now and I have doubts I could do it the 'old' way anymore. Sure hope Wally's World gets your script and gets it filled. I am an almost constant customer of the Walmart here. At least it is now a Supercenter which they may as well be so I can keep my taxes in town. They had already disturbed the shopping balance long before. Many people here will not set foot in the store but some have little choice. You have to go where you can find price reductions. Many of the things I buy are more at the " Dollar " stores so people have to watch for bargains that really aren't. I do shop at the 'Dollar' stores but carefully and avoid certain things automatically. Seldom are pet items or food less then Walmart.

Hope your weather is staying nice up North too -- so you can do some of the extra walking maybe in hopes of minimizing the prednisone effects.

The good news today is that four of the Thailand boys have been rescued from the cave and the process will restart I think tomorrow. I'm hoping and praying for them. Glad there are lots of Dr.'s, both at the caves and the hospital to see to them What an awful thing to have to endure.

Hoping everyone has a good Sunday.

ChiSandy

Tried hooking my bra in front and pulling it around. Not gonna work, because my gut is just too damn big for my R arm to reach around--can't even do it two-handed. Ditto trying to pull on overhead or step into. Might have to duct-tape the left-side of the front-closing ones in place so I can use my R hand to work the clasps & hooks. And going braless outside the house is not an option, because the girls are huge & lopsided. I followed some advice on the "drinking" thread and messaged the nearest office of Visiting Angels. I know I'll have to go out of pocket for them--will need dressing & bathing help in the evenings during the week and morning & evening on weekends, because Bob works late nights & weekends and doesn't know how to do stuff like fasten bras. I did order a combination hairdryer/styling brush, so I can hold it in my R hand (after using my regular hairdryer first to get most of the moisture out). I can prop up things like brushes & tubes of makeup in order to take the caps off--which I've loosened. I have waterproof cast protectors for showering, but could definitely use help stepping in & out of the tub w/o injuring myself or God forbid, falling. Worst comes to worst, if I can get out of the house via Uber I can get my hair blown-dry & flatironed once, maybe twice a week by my stylist who knows to use the right products to keep from stripping out the keratin treatment. I can order online from GrubHub one-handed. But someone's gotta fasten that bra, pull up my pants, and open those cat food cans, milk bottles, jars, pill bottles (I loosened all the caps), etc.