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

Wren44

This is hilarious! Snow days in Oregon.

https://www.king5.com/article/life/sounds-of-snow-days-oregon-principals-hilarious-parody-announces-school-closure/281-b3c36931-07a1-45f0-92c0-9b1b6f48501e

Joan811

Good morning,
I am checking in after another rather long absence.
I am amazed at how many pages have been filled here! I will have to read through them a little at a time.
For now I just want to say hello and that I am doing very well.
Thanks again for all the good wishes.
I have 3 weeks left of chemo and now I know I am going to make it through the 18 weeks straight.
I don't get recovery time in between, so it kind of accumulates. For the most part, I am feeling well and keeping active. I get out and drive to meet friends a few days a week.
My immune system is very compromised and I sometimes need Neupogen shots to boost it...they always work.
I visited my office last Friday to meet some ladies for breakfast. it was my first time back in six months. I enjoyed seeing everyone and even stayed to clean up my office which was in disarray. As usual, the guys are tearing my work space apart and throwing everything away. I let it bother me and felt physically ill for a few days. It is still bothering me; but I will directly ask what they are planning and adapt. A young colleague is the new chair, who operates with "stealth" and no transparency.
I have to let it go...as I have more important things to think about.
I decided to return to work for 6 to 8 weeks this spring. The academic year ends June 15th. I want to finish up the projects I was working on and leave on my terms.
I will either retire this summer or in January. I will see how I feel when I return. Time is precious.
It has been too quiet and lonely at home with DH working. I do enjoy my work. But I do not want to be stressed.

I do wish everyone well here, as I know there are trials in our lives that are related to BC and otherwise.
I have learned a lot being home and having to let go of so many things. I have learned not to plan too far ahead or look too far down the road. I focus on today's tasks and joys, and find contentment.

Thanks to all who make this such an interesting and welcoming place to visit!
Thanks, Jackie, for your daily quotes ... so many of them, as you say, just happen to "fit" the day!
Love and hugs,

Joan811

IllinoisLady

If seeds in the black earth can turn into such beautiful roses, what might not the heart of the human become in its long journey toward the stars?

Gilbert Keith Chesterton

IllinoisLady

Oh Joan, it is wonderful hearing from you. I meant so often to sit down and send something to you and yet, each day seemed to have new challenges and when I would think about writing something the 'good inspiration' seemed lackluster. Was it a lot of items piling up on the plate at super inopportune times. Maybe sometimes there are things we aren't meant to know. I felt it was a clue and yet I should have at least expressed that much.

I have used today's quote before. One I especially love because I have a belief that we are all on a very long journey. I also think about that song yrs. ago by the Hollies," He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother". We get to take this journey with those we care about and who care about us. So, I am reminded that caring about people in this world, those we know, but those we have never met, is so vey important.

More later but wishing all of you a gorgeous and wonderful day with blessings to all from the universe.

keywestfan

YES . I was just diagnosed 2/14/19 with IDC. I am 85. Lumpectomy will be 3/14/19- no rad, no chemo, arimidex for 5 years.

HikingLady

jrdkk3302 I send you warm wishes. Your treatment plan sounds reasonable and 'do-able.' Take good care, and be sure to rest a lot as you recover from that surgery.

Wren44

jdrkk, Welcome to the older women thead. Your treatment sounds like mine. No chemo, no rads, Arimidex for 5 years. I didn't have any bad side effects and I wish the same for you. I opted for a mastectomy after they discovered a second tumor that hadn't showed on the mammo and I was worried there might be others. Be sure to rest a lot after surgery and accept help if offered.

Hiking Lady, I was wondering if you were snowed in. DS lives in Hood River and the boys are out of school again. Poor DIL is threatening to pull her hair out and I don't blame her a bit. I think they will be in school forever in the summer. Seattle schools last day is June 27.

HikingLady

Wren44 Good advice for jrdkk3302 --it's always so hard to get the rest we need to recover from surgery. Stay put and accept help, for sure.

Where are you in WA? I'm in Portland, but I have two sisters in Hood River. Lots of snow in that valley, almost none here in Portland. I am a recently-retired teacher. It's always a balance, trying to be sure that kids are safe on the bad driving days on the buses, versus having school last until late June! My friend from OH and my relatives on the east coast laugh at how we are NOT good at dealing with snow in Portland! We just don't have enough plows and also not enough experience dealing with it. So, the whole city shuts down! I got to my city pool for swim exercise today, and most of the snow in my neighborhood melted by 11 a.m.

keywestfan

Thank you both of you. I am encouraged, not as panicked. Changed my username to keywestfan, but it keeps coming up jdkk3302.

Wren44

Hiking Lady, I'm in Seattle in the Ballard neighborhood. Flat as a pancake and close enough to the water that we often miss a light snow. Ours was on the ground for 3-4 days last time.

Puffin2014

I'm back from my trip to Texas and am caught up on everything so thought I'd check in. It rained the day I arrived and the day I left, but in between the temps were in the 80's and 90's. It had warmed up to -15 the day I left so it was a 100 degree temp change for me. Despite slathering on the sunscreen my neck still got sunburned.This winter has been brutal in ND so it was great to escape for awhile.

The birding tour was awesome, I saw 150 species of birds, and saw 3 species I've never seen before. One bird was from Mexico and is the only known bird in the US right now, a Crimson Collared Grosbeak.

I spent 4 days after the tour visiting a college friend who is wintering in Texas.

My plane out of McAllen was delayed an hour because of the weather in Dallas. So I arrived in Dallas with 15" to reach my next flight on a different concourse. As I got off the shuttle I heard the overhead page Final Boarding Call for Fargo. I'm too old to be running in an airport with a heavy backpack on. I made it, sat down and buckled my seatbelt and they shut the door behind me. Of course my checked suitcase didn't make the flight, they delivered it the next day, with the whole side zippered pocket ripped away. I was surprised when I took it back to the airport they exchanged it for a brand new suitcase, same size, a bit different style.

Fargo has now broken a 40 year record for snow in February. My sewer vent pipe on the roof is blocked with snow, I've had to go out several times and shovel the snow away from the natural gas meter on the back of my house. My snow removal company damaged my garage door while I was gone. The manager insisted the crew has been instructed to use plastic shovels by the garage doors so they didn't damage the door. I told her I've watched her crew from my kitchen window for 1 1/2 years drive the truck with the plow in front right up to my garage door and pull the snow backwards out into the street, that my garage door was fine when I left Sat morning, they cleaned up after Monday's storm and the person who was checking my house found the door damaged on Wednesday, who did they think damaged my door when I wasn't even home. They finally agreed to replace my garage door.

I'm so ready for the end of winter, more snow expected Friday, -18 degrees predicted for the weekend and by now we should be having temps in the 20's above zero. Our city plow crews are running 24/7 and can't keep up. So I started another jigsaw puzzle today.

Joan811

Jackie and others here, thanks for the good wishes. It is just heartwarming to know you are here each day!
Welcome to those who are new here. It is a good place to be.
Joan

pingpong1953

Beautiful frosty trees on a partly sunny morning.

pingpong1953

Puffin, we had to have the piles of snow next to our driveway removed because we simply have no place to put anything new. The front loader lifted the end of the fence and the stone planter and we can't get it fixed until spring and the thaw, whenever that will be. So now the front of the house looks horrible. It's been so cold all winter that nothing is thawing. As much as I love winter, this one's been a bit much.

IllinoisLady

We are all capable of living lives characterized by great joy. Within each of us is an amazing human spirit that is strong enough to overcome pain and disappointment. And no matter what our current situation happens to be, or what beliefs we may currently harbor about ourselves, we can tap into that inner strength and wisdom and move forward to create more joy.

Salle Merrill Redfield

IllinoisLady

keywestfan, welcome to you. So glad you are here. These ladies give wonderful advice and I have little to add. I found the lumpectomy to be easy and tolerable, but I was 61 at the time which I know would have made a difference. Still, I think it certainly sounds like you can expect good results and basically only have to concern yourself with some healing afterwards. We are in your corner here and hoping for the very best for you.

Puffin, glad you will get your garage door replaced. Always interesting to be told how something is 'done' when you see something else entirely going on for a long time. I can see though that those people responsible would have reluctance to get out of a 'probably' warm snow plow truck and take shovels to individual garage doors. Hopefully they can 'learn' new tricks after this. So glad it was a good trip and even I felt a jolt ( and I'm not much of a bird watcher at all ) of pleasure at your getting to see the Crimson Collarred Grosbeak as well as the other new birds. Makes it all worthwhile.

ping-pong, all that snow is so pretty, but also amazing to see what I think is your deck. Maybe it is a fence around your property. Anyway, it is sooo much and I do hope your spring will come and not leave you in the cold for too long. As we mainly had raid this year ( couple of snows but certainly not even close to yours ) I can't complain but I do like a good snow. We are out in the woods so it tends to stay pristine a long longer than those who live in town. They have of late ( last couple of yrs. ) worked harder to clean more roads and since we bought our property from the city even clean our little lane. I never minded ( though it was mighty tricky a time or two ) getting out of an un-plowed lane. We both had four wheel-drive vehicles so always made it out.

A little overnight sleet last night. It stopped early a.m. so hoping later to go out with no issues. It won't sleet anymore, but we could get light snow. Just have to wait and see.

Anyway, while I'm tired of rain, sleet, and cold, Spring is wanting to break out I think. May be some wistful feelings on my part, but we do often get a day or two of really nice warmth this time of yr. so it shouldn't be long.

I hope you all have a great day today. Its just a good time to have one.

keywestfan

Thank you so much I am so glad I found all of you

pingpong1953

Illinoislady, that's the fence around our yard, which, as you can see, is almost full of snow. I live in a rather remote area and the snow (except the stuff near the roads) stays nice and white for a long time. I like winter, but this one has been a wee bit more than I enjoy!

Anneb1149

Hi all

Joan811, so good to hear from you. And it’s sounds like you have some changes coming. I thought myself indispensable at my job, but after retirement, I realized I was not. At first, I continued to work in the same place as a “permanent” part timer, for 2-3 years. I loved that because I set my own days and hours and got paid for the hours I worked. But as my DH’s health deteriorated, working, even with the flexibility I had, I had to leave all working, although I did go back to visit on a pretty regular basis.

I enjoyed the conversation regarding rebellion. My sister and I are only 17 months apart, so should have kind of rebelled at the same time, except she never rebelled. I was the rebel, and looking back, my rebellion was very small, it just seemed more because of her non-rebellion. One of my major rebellions was to wear jeans, and white lipstick. Wow, I was breaking rules right and left. I also was a Beatlemaniac. And when suggestions were made by our friends, like to go somewhere like the beach, my sister’s answer was that we would never be allowed. I, on the other hand, thought it was worth a try, would actually asked my parents, and depending on what I was asking, and who else was going, the majority of the time, we were allowed to go. I only skipped school once, and even that was pre-approved by my parent. I was a senior in HS, and my best friend and my best friend and I went to the St Patrick’s Day parade in Manhattan. We lived in the Bronx. To update on wearing jeans, my sister got her first pair maybe 10 years ago, and even then, they had to be elastic-waisted. She never ate fast food, but again, she finally at some point began eating Burger King but only if absolutely necessary.

I think I told you that we had to get the master shower replaced. Somehow, my daughter said I needed to pay for the shower ( which my insurance covered) and she offered to finance enough to redo both bathrooms. The new shower I’d really nice, and today, our handyman is painting both bathrooms- he installed exhaust fans in both bathrooms, and today he will be installing new medicine cabinets and lighting. Just waiting to hear when the vanities will be ready. And, of course, we bought new towels, toothbrush holders and soap dishes, etc.

My brother won’t be back for another 2-3 weeks. He had not planned on being gone this long but the flu threw everything off schedule. He had the growth on his back removed last week, but when he tried to reschedule his hernia repair they said due to so many cancellations, plus staff being out sick, the first appt available for the consultation with the the surgery was Mar 28. Mind you, he had the consultation when he originally got to NC, but technically that is more than 30 days ago. He called me that day and said if they couldn’t do any better, he was going to come here, and go back at the end of Mar. He said he is so tired of the nasty weather and bored in general, and he is losing his mind. All three of his children and his one granddaughter are there, but they are all working full time and Ali is in school all all day. Luckily, when he called them again this past Mon, they were able to schedule the consultation and pre- operative stuff next Thurs and the surgery is next Fri. We are both very happy that the end is in sight.

Hope you all have some nice weather for a while,

Anne

Wren44

PingPong, That is certainly enough snow for a couple of years. What are your summers like? Does it get warm? Can the lake be used for swimming in the summer? I was used to swimming in the gulf when we lived in Texas. None of the water up here is warm enough to suit me.

Puffin, I can just imagine how nice your Texas trip was in contrast to the snow at home. And congratulations on seeing the rare bird. That is always very special. My uncle used to winter in Mission, which is very close to McAllen. He had lots of photos of sunshine and short sleeves.

Anne, I hope you enjoy your new bathrooms. If we stay here, that's something we should do.

pingpong1953

Wren, the past couple of summers have been very hot and humid - 80's and 90's for weeks straight. I hope this harsh winter means we're going to have a reasonable summer. There are a few small lakes here and people start swimming in them the end of May (the first holiday in the summer.) I'm just north of Lake Huron, and I don't know how warm it gets in the summer and if anyone swims in it.

BatyaD

Sorry I've been gone a few days. I had a cranky week---two weeks between the radiologist putting treatment off because I wasn't healed enough and the oncologist being on vacation (better before my treatment than after it starts!). But I was having mini-panic attacks with nothing at all scheduled treatment wise. (I admit, I lurked in here a bit, but didn't have the energy to write anything.)

Yesterday I saw the radiation dr again and it's a no-go on the shorter treatment. Of course, why should anything be easier? (yup, still a little cranky). But I saw my nurse navigator and she contacted my surgeon (who was great) and today his nurse called to schedule my port placement, pending tomorrow's oncologist appointment. I'm not leaving her office without an actual schedule of coming events...I might bring a pillow and blanket. I need this stuff to start!!! (lumpectomy 1/23 and nothing since) I look forward to the end of chemo but that will never come if it doesn't get started. I'm hoping she can start me on IV treatments and then switch tot he port once it's in and healed up. I can't wait another month before treatment. They're the ones telling me this is aggressive.

Otherwise, my life is on hold. I'm starting to put some help in place, and cleaned out my fridge/freezer/cupboard so I can shop and prep food in case I don't feel like it once chemo starts. And I'm trying to clean up the house, maybe get a professional to do the kitchen and bathroom and really scrub them, as those are the places germs might show up. I'm a bead and clay artist, so the rest of my house is really a studio and no one else can clean all that stuff! Bedroom's just dust-and-vacuum so I can do that.

I want something of a life back but that can't happen till chemo starts and I see how well I make it through that.

Love all the support in here!!

HikingLady

BatyaD I can completely empathize on the WAITING to get through all this. Do you feel comfortable with altering your settings so that you share your diagnosis and treatment information publicly on this forum?

I am out the other side of that tunnel you are worried about. You can do it. Just take it one thing at a time.

Radiation: My skin healed up just fine after it was finished. The worst part was being really TIRED, near the end, and continuing for another few weeks. I just needed a lot more sleep. No other challenges except Skin and Tired.

Chemo: Day by day, I faced each side effect, and focused on the moment. There were resources that helped me through it. My own research, this forum, and the nurse navigators at my onco. clinic. There were functional times and parts of days and entire days and often a few of them in a row when I could do Normal Life, so it wasn't 24/7 coping with the challenges.

Port: My Portacath was functional and ready to be used immediately once it was installed. There was no waiting and healing to use it. Of course, there are two incisions, but the actual port section is under intact skin, so it's ready to be used right away. It helped me to Google-search images and information about that device, so I understood where it would be and how it would be set in and then used. It was really nice not to have arm-pokes through my chemo treatment time, and they used the same port for blood draws. The insertion was a day surgery, took a few hours counting checking in and waking up, and it was very comfortable and no big deal to recover from. After awhile, I got used to the feel of it, and it didn't bother me. It was in me for 6 months.

Nutritional support/extra protein: Both chemo and radiation kill cells. Our bodies need protein to do cell repair; same is true after surgery. My oncologist recommended 80-100 g of protein daily throughout my recent chemo, and through my friend's radiation, and same suggestion from my other friend's surgeon after her surgery. My MO's office sent me to a particular Naturopath who specializes in knowing nutritional research that supports cancer treatment. There were a few supplements that supposedly helped with neuropathy, and I don't know the research basis for that one. Ask your MO for guidance, but extra protein is a logical and commonly recommended idea. For me, that meant making some smoothies w/ yogurt and fruit + protein powder, eating meat 1 or 2 times a day, snacking on nuts and cheese, etc., and just working in a lot of protein every day. I put a chart on the wall reminding me of how many grams in one egg, in 12 almonds, in 1 c of cottage cheese,

Anneb1149

Can’tbelieve I'm here for the second time today

Jackie- do you know what is happening with Carole? I've checked back a little but it's been a while since she posted. Hoping everything is okay with her.

BatyaD- I can really sympathize with the delay in your radiation schedule., I went for the initial visit where they take the measurements and make the mold for your head and I was told I would start the following week. I ended up waiting 6 weeks to start treatment. I had been calling them at least once a week to see what was taking so long. At one point they said the Dr was on vacation. That really upset me because had I known it was going to be 6 weeks, I would have gone home to wait. My home is Ft Laudedale, Fl, but I had been diagnosed and treated while with my oldest daughter near Atlanta.

When I finally got to my first appt, the Dr ( a very nice, compassionate person), she apologized profusely and said I was the toughest patient she had. She said she worked on my treatment every day and could not come with a program she was satisfied with. She said that one Fri, she just through everything she had done, and went away for a week and started fresh when she got back and finally figured it out. I had a couple of problems with radiation treatments- first, I was terrified. I had handled the chemo and surgery fairly well, but I was really scared. I think it probably was because for the chemo, I had one of my kids with me every time, and I could also read while I was there. Surgery, again, family was with me and then I was asleep. Radiation meant I would be all alone and couldn't read, or even have earplugs in. They had made my head mold with me looking up at the ceiling. But the Dr said that wasn't good - I had to turn my head as far to the left as possible., but they didn't remake the mold - that could get pretty uncomfortable. And instead of the 3 or 4 quick bursts everyone else was having, I got 15 blasts, each lasting for 30 seconds or more each. One day I was in position and the machine broke. I was stuck in that position for 2+ hours. My youngest grandson at the time was graduating from preschool the day I finished treatment. It was very important I was there. I asked if I could skip that last day or could we do a double treatment the day before, one early morning and one late afternoon. Her answer was no. But she did change my appointment to early morning that last day. My SIL came with me to the treatment, along with my luggage,and as soon as the final blast was done, we headed straight to the airport. I think I went tlo straight to the graduation straight from the airport when I landed. I don't remember much of it, except that at the little party they had, Kayden sat on my lap the whole time. As far as I was concerned, that made all my effort worthwhile.

Anne

BatyaD

HikingLady -- Thank you so much. Great information, as usual! (I thought I'd changed my settings to put my diagnosis in. I'll go back and try again. It's Triple Positive, Stage 1, Grade 3)

I"m looking into cold caps, but I may not be able to afford them. That makes life even more miserable. I don't care about hair/hats/wigs whatever, but I'm trying to keep my 90 year old parents from knowing about this.

HikingLady

BatyaD In the past year, the FDA approved Cold Capping for breast cancer--two companies at least-- (Dignicap and Paxman, I think), so insurance companies often now will cover it, or partially cover it. See link below. Mine was covered under Miscellaneous Medical, with my usual copay amount. Also, there's an appeal procedure with most HMO's, and my MO said he'd write a letter supporting me if I had to appeal or was turned down for reimbursement.

My cold-capping was very successful. No one could tell, looking at me, that I was going through chemo. Thinner hair still looked like a head of hair. It was nice to have that privacy, and cold capping was worth it for me.

https://www.curetoday.com/articles/fda-approves-paxman-cooling-cap-for-solid-tumors

jo6359

pingpong- what a beautiful picture. Gorgeous.

Joan811

Hi,
Night owl here. I am enjoying reading through posts but cannot seem to get back too far...

Batya, I do feel your frustration waiting for something to start. I had Dx in July (2011) and surgery 8/29 (2011). My radiation did not start until after Thanksgiving.
I did not have chemo in 2011. The rads go by quickly. I found the most exhausting part was the drive to and from the daily appointments. (30 weekdays for me)
I worked the entire time, taking an occasional Friday off. After it was completed, I took off two weeks and just caught up on sleep and rest.

I am having chemotherapy right now for another unrelated cancer. As HikingLady said, you can get the port and use it the same day. I had one infusion in my arm and got the port the next day. I had tenderness overnight but it healed before the next chemo. It is definitely easier with the port.

I am using the Paxman cold cap cooling system. Now that the machine-controlled cooling has been approved (2018), it is so much easier and effective.
I still have full coverage and my hair is shoulder length. The doctor and RNs have said they never saw anyone have this much hair using the Paxman.
But I started with very thick hair. It is thinning quickly on the top back (crown) and I am not happy about it but can easily cover it with styling or a clip.
It is very expensive but there are scholarships at Paxman up to $1,000 and it is worth applying for. I will post a photo some day.

HikingLady, I am nearing the end of chemo (3 more weeks) and sadly, I did not have an oncologist who gave me good nutritional advice. It is very hard to find a naturopathic oncologist in my area. I have just recently added protein shakes to my diet. I have had a lot of issues with my blood cell counts and immune system. Since I get chemo weekly, don't really recover between. I am doing really well; and have not been sick at all. But over time, I have lost my taste for many foods I like including meats. I look forward to recovery and better diet. A friend gave me "The Cancer Fighting Kitchen" book and it is so informative with great easy recipes. If you can recommend anything, please let me know.

Anne, thanks for the hello! And I really appreciate your input about returning to work. I have decided to return, health permitting, for 6-8 weeks this spring. My work year ends June 15th. I have to decide whether to retire this summer or go back for the fall and retire in January. My motives are to finish a few projects that were interrupted, and to save a little before I retire. My husband is still working full time, and after being home for six months alone, I think I want to work a little longer.
I am surprised, as when I became suddenly ill in my office last September, I said I would never go back to work. If I could get flex part time hours like you did, I would take it.

Pingpong, I love your snow photo...it is stunning! But I surely would not want to deal with that much snow and the long cold winter.
Puffin, it is so nice that you got to thaw out in Texas! And what a great birding trip you had. The snow and cold has been excessive...hang on for spring!

Hi Wren, hope you are doing well!

Joan

MCBaker

Batya, you are going to have to hire someone to do the vacuuming for a while, too.

Annie, that was a great effort to be with your family's activities. Even if you were not mentally all there, I know they appreciated it.

The port is a great convenience. I often got blood draws the day before chemo, and they left it in with transparent bandage holding it there. I really don't think the anesthetic ointment helped much, used it twice and forgot about it.

I have many little containers for big batches of soup, spaghetti, chili, stroganoff, etc. At one time my freezer was filled with such things. In good days, I would make up more big batches of my favorites. Make sure to make mild chili. Fennel, rosemary, and ginger are good for a sensitive stomach.

I sew and knit a lot, so I can understand the mess. But It is important to keep up with your usual activities. All the more important to have someone help with the vacuuming, especially if you have a high-quality one.

Rebellious youth are noted for their creativity, once they learn to channel their unusual perspectives.

I promised that picture, and I will do it.

My brother and I both rebelled, I settled down, but he is extremely Earth-minded. Conforming to a different culture. His trailer park is full of solar panels. He does not have a car, he has an electric bicycle. One non-conformist has an noisy motorcycle, just loves to get him angry.

I was very impatient with the time it took to get rid of the damned boob, it felt heavier every day. Part of the hold-up, I think, is getting all the evidence together for insurance authorizations.

I figured the discomfort of a cold head was not worth it. I am not vain, but I have twenty pieces of headgear. I even wear headgear at home alone.

I was getting ready to get dental work when this happened. I don't have many teeth. I immediately got a dietitian consult, and ordered a smoothie machine. They are so good, I am glad I can make only sixteen ounces at a time. If you are hormone negative, remember that tofu is a good protein source. I whirl mine with a bit of juice from the package, and freeze it in an ice cube tray. I replace one meal a day with a smoothie. Whey protein powder, tofu, yogurt, dry milk, will be adding cottage cheese. I think I have my schedule for broccoli (family mix) sprouts working smoothly, so that one tray is ended when another starts, they are even nice as a garnish on my morning egg. Ground flax seed is a source of both protein and fiber. Frozen mixed fruits, the dark ones are supposed to be better for you, but I think I will get a bag of the tropicals next time. Fresh ginger root nearly all the time.

The last time I got my hair cut, I had a barber do it. I knew he would be merciless. He told me it was time to start wearing a hat. I had stripes coming out from what was left of my whorls. It wasn't much later that my scalp got so painful I shaved it (my hair) off. Very few painful spots, and I am hoping of a full head of normal length hair by September.

IllinoisLady

The happiness of one's own heart alone
cannot satisfy the soul;
one must try to include,
as necessary to one's own happiness,
the happiness of others.
- Paramahansa Yogananda