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

MinusTwo

Jackie - I know you can't type much but thinking about your daily & hoping the healing is proceeding. Glad to see your post.

ChiSandy

So we solved the mystery of why the orthotics in my size 8B Hokas felt so good in the store but were a goat rodeo wih socks: went back to the store (this time with Abeo sports quarter socks, and bringing a pair of Bombas winter socks) and the pedorthist had me try on an 8W--still too tight getting them on, and the heel was floppy. On a hunch, he pullled out an 8.5B & D--turns out the problem wasn't width but length: in the 8Ms with orthotics & socks, the ball of my foot was too far forward. And in the 8.5 D I didn't even feel the posted arch in the orthotics--too much lateral movement. So even though I'm 7 in Vionic, Oofas, Cobb Hill or Munro wedge sandals, and 7.5 or 8 (EU 38-39 or UK 5.5 or 6) in Alegria sandals, casual (Finns), dress shoes (Clark's Cloudsteppers, Ziera, Cobb Hill or Aravon (both New Balance), or Hush Puppies pumps, anything into which I'll be fitting my orthotics and wearing with socks is 8.5. Too bad feet keep growing as ligaments relax.Only 8.5 B he had in stock in the Bondi 6 was powder blue--he could order the "Mood Indigo/Peach" in that size but I needed to wear something out of the store. We also revisited the Hoka Bondi LTR in black leather (based on an older Bondi model), and confirmed that even with winter socks the 8.5 B was a better fit than 8D. Meanwhile, wearing my old discontinued 8B Hoka Conquests with Powerstep foam orthotics and sport socks (or barefoot) is fine for around the house or short walks until I've finished the 2-wk/2-hr per day orthotic break-in period. I'll get used to powder blue--my Conquests are bright turquoise and lime green.

Alas, the size 7 Mach Ones are a no go except sockless, and for a very short time. And my gorgeous 2.5" heel Stuart Weitzman glitter-gold strappy sandals and AmyLu black patent peep-toe heels in my 7 are ancient history--unless I slip in a high-heel orthotic and pad the place where my Third Toe From Hell hits the sole...and bring my cane along. So anyone here have a good honest 7B foot, you're welcome to them. (Thank heaven I never fell for Jimmy Choos, Manolos or Louboutins).

I'm taking care of the ingrown L big toenail with Epsom salt soaks and CBD spray; and the aforementoned 3rd toe with strategically placed molefoam patches.

IllinoisLady

Our fear is even stronger when we think we are responsible for others--our children, for example. We want to spare them pain, and so we forget to listen to the Sound of Creation. No one learns from someone else's mistake. If we respect others, we must recognize that they have a right to their own dance. Their own spirits will guide them. -unattributed

Puffin2014

Carole, You can stay a little longer in MN, this next week it's supposed to get back into the 80's, maybe even hit 90.

carolehalston

I know, Puffin. Yesterday was beautiful and we're supposed to have several really nice days. It's still hot and humid in Louisiana and September is an active hurricane month, so we'll stay until the end of this month and maybe a week or two into October.

Summer in the resort is definitely over. Some weekenders have winterized their campers and won't be coming back.

How are you doing, Jackie?

IllinoisLady

There is no more searching test of the human spirit than the way it behaves when fortune is adverse and it has to pass through a prolonged period of disappointing failures. Then comes the real proof of the person. Achievement, if one has the ability, is a joy; but to take hard knocks and come up smiling, to have your mainsail blown away and then rig a sheet on the bowsprit and sail on—this is perhaps the deepest test of character. -Harry Emerson Fosdick

IllinoisLady

morning all. yesterday seemed like a long day, while today will be as well. cousin drove us to Marion v.a. to get x-ray and report to take with us today to Evanston, Indiana for re-check with trauma doc on if my arm is healing well on it's own. hope, hope, and more hope. I'm into no surgery very much. driver will come pick us up for the 2/1/2 hour each way trip.

in the meantime we are doing some animal care ( I'm doing mainly supervisory duties ) and only have to go one mote time this afternoon to finish first job which is the shortest, but also much more to it. supervising dh has been a bit challenging, but shortness of the job has made it all-right. other job, just checking in on my three little friends at doc's house for the 6 days they are gone. much easier for sure.

have appt. with pcp on Wednesday so lots first of the week that should settle well and we can do a little catch up once through our 'dates'.

I feel I'm doing o-kay. less over-all pain. I can cough and sneeze w/o the same distress simple movements were causing so I think progress is ( I so hope and pray ) being made on the healing side. I will let you all know when I do.

carolehalston

As always, your good attitude is a factor in your recovery, Jackie. Sound like the verdict is "so far, so good." Please do keep us up to date.

Same request to others dealing with their health challenges. On this thread complaining is allowed.

I was not expecting rain today but heard a patter of raindrops in the early hours this morning. Now it's overcast. Nothing on my schedule today but I have some jobs I can do inside, mainly clearing out cabinets and removing unused items. I need to find a Good Will or other organization that will accept donated items.

Wren44

It started raining here immediately after I retrieved the newspaper from the driveway. Talk about good timing. Our current paper delivery person pulls up by our driveway and throws it on the sidewalk or barely into the house side on the driveway. He/She can forget a tip this Christmas. All our other delivery people have left it on the porch or nearby. At least now I've switch to a warmer and longer robe so less revealing when I retrieve it.

Our high today is 61 but it's supposed to warm up to 68 by Saturday. I'm packing away my summer sandals. I don't think it's going to be warm enough for them in the future.

Puffin2014

This appeared last month on the back of my thigh, every health care provider I saw looked at it and said "that's really weird". The dermatologist did a biopsy. I got the results back today: Schamberg disease, or pigment purpuric dermatoses

It is caused by leaky blood vessels near the surface of the skin which allow red blood cells to slip through into the skin. As the red blood cells fall apart & release their iron, the rusty colored rash results. The cause is unknown, there is no cure, the skin remains discolored. It is a cosmetic issue but not life threatening.

Wren44

Very strange. I've never heard of it. Glad it's nothing you'll need to worry about.

IllinoisLady

It seems, oddly enough, that it's people with a strong faith who are best able to live in the present moment. Enjoyment of the present, care for the quality of life: these are a kind of reverence, a kind of faith in life itself. The present is valuable, this faith tells us: it is all we have.

Karen Casey

IllinoisLady

puffin, I've never heard of it either. glad it is basically only cosmetic.

trip to Indiana went fine. get to continue on with healing on my own which is good news to me. back in three weeks for another x-ray and check-up. says if all is well -- some range of motion exercises. that would be good.

no rain here yet, but some may end up in the forecast soon. very dry and dusty here so despite the arm aches I'm ready.

carolehalston

Positive news, Puffin and Jackie.

We had more rain during the night, even a little thunder. The ground is saturated and the creek is high.

IllinoisLady

Don't expect perfection and things to go the way you want them to when it comes to people, business, your prospects, and your social life. When things don't go according to your desires, when the weather of life is foul, be creative and consider what may be the higher reasons why this is happening and why you must adjust. Perhaps it's to gain forbearance, patience, inner strength, flexibility, or the ability to withhold criticism while serving as a loving model. -Michael Goddart

IllinoisLady

You are goodness and mercy and compassion and understanding. You are peace and joy and light. You are forgiveness and patience, strength and courage, a helper in time of need, a comforter in time of sorrow, a healer in time of injury, a teacher in time of confusion. You are the deepest wisdom and the highest truth; the greatest peace and the grandest love. You are these things. And in moments of your life you have known yourself as these things. Choose now to know yourself as these things always.

Neale Donald Walsch

IllinoisLady

90 today but rain for the week-end. Cooler temps. Hope the humidity settles a bit. Has been in the 90's most days whether or no. Most of the issues un-covered with the CT scan for my arm are in the watchable stage at present. One consult (lung nodule ) but I think it may fall in the same category. Once my arm is going better -- we go back to before arm injury which was colonoscopy to finish out my yearly check-up. Looking forward to cooler days.

Betrayal

Glad you are on the mend and able to post again, Jackie. You were missed.

IllinoisLady

We need to find the "middle way" in our own lives. It is the art of finding balance. Reflecting upon our lives, we soon discover what serves us well--nurturing calmness, ease, and simplicity. We also discover what it is that leads to entanglement, confusion, distress, and anxiety. Wisdom is being able to discern the difference, then knowing what we need to nurture and what we need to learn to let go. -Christina Feldman

carolehalston

Yesterday was muggy with a high that was close to 80 degrees. We slept with a/c on, a rarity. We've already had rain this morning and it's still humid. What a variety of weather in September!

No plans for today.

IllinoisLady

"Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that."

-- Martin Luther King Jr.

IllinoisLady

Expected rain though none has yet arrived. We are hot and dusty. Now able to type normally though it is not nearly as easy as it was. My fingers need the exercise. I can 'feel' the lack of daily usage. Sure will be glad to move on with life as soon as possible with being able to re-use my arm.

Hope you are all going to have a good day.

Nattren

I agree a lot of the stuff that applies to younger women dont really apply to those older than 60

Moderators

Dear Nattren,

Welcome to the BCO community. Let us know more about you and how we can offer support and information here on the boards.

The Mods

ChiSandy

Welcome, Nattren!

Jackie, glad to hear you're continuing to heal non-interventionallly. At some point, will they recommend you start OT?

Thurs. I had the first focus group for which I qualified in over a decade: it was way up in Buffalo Grove, about what we wanted for our next fridge's icemaker. We got 6 types of ice--plus water--to try, rate & discuss. I was nicely hydrated, and got some "mad money" to boot. I was able to wear an Eileen Fisher hemp/cotton knit dress I'd worn only once before: spring 2015, with shapewear. This time it was loose--with regular undies. Oh--size L (not 1X or even XL)!

We hit 90 Fri. Trip to Madison, WI for my gig took 3.5 hrs. (normally 2.5) due to two traffic jams: first was outside Schaumburg due to some young guy who drove his huge SUV into Woodfield Mall (no, it's not an outdoor mall), through Sears, knocking over every kiosk in his path, hitting Forever 21, H&M, and Vans--caroming like a pinball and even backing up after hitting a store and crossing over to the other side of the aisle. Two off-duty cops out shopping pulled him out of the car after he crashed into a pilllar, tied him to a chair and held him till local police could take him into custody. (No motive, no ties to terrorism--but his parents said he was "on medication" for an unspecified "medical condition"). Then there was a 5-vehicle pileup at Stoughton (7 mi. s. of my exit for Madison) that had us at a standstill for half an hour. But the gig went well, and the small crowd tipped generously.

Last night was the first hospital gala of the season (not black-tie, whew) at the Chi. Yacht Club. Was able to (mostly) stick to my diet--for dessert, I ate the apple slices off the tart, leaving the crust, custard & whipped cream; the apple (my first in months) tasted delightfully decadent to me. And I was able to fit into a size 16 (no "W") cocktail dress I hadn't been able to wear since 2001 for our 30th anniv. party. And some heels (albeit low & orthopedic, with toe pad & dress orthotics) I hadn't worn since 2012. Pantyhose too (first time since 2010), though I nearly threw out my back & hips donning them--had to use my compression-donning gloves to pull them up w/o poking a hole or snagging them. I remembered instantly why I hate pantyhose and had avoided wearing any clothes requiring them. (And I waited to get home before using the restroom, lest I be unable to pull them back up). So I ordered a slew of thigh-highs.

My (formerly) exquisitely-painful ingrown toenail (which I had to have a podiatrist treat, rather than waiting for my next pedicure) has healed, so I was able to re-paint it again and wear sandals--though I still should wear my custom orthotics in my Hokas at least 2 hrs. every other day or oftener. My free offer of size 7 Hoka Mach Ones, Stuart Weitzman strappy glitter sandals, Cobb Hill Mary Jane black leather 2-1/2" stack heels (W), and 7.5 Amylu black patent peep-toe pumps still stands. (They've all been worn just once--except the Cobb Hills, which I'd never worn outside the house). Speak now before they go up on Poshmark (for which I'll charge). Also have 2 pr. of size 8B Adidas trainers (one ea. pink & blue stripes) that hit my bunionette in the wrong place--no insoles, but you can insert your own. Same offer applies.

IllinoisLady

Yay Sandy -- getting into clothes that have graced the closet for a long time getting a chance to shine. Glad the toes are better. I will at some point graduate into rehab/occupational therapy, but just don't know when for sure.

Waiting for rain to hopefully come tonight. Had a fair wind throughout the day so it just may come. Appt. at Marion tomorrow.

Jo6202

Way to go ChiSandy, I was thrilled last summer when I was able to wear a size 16 dress to my niece's wedding. When I got to the pre-wedding cocktail get together, my goddaughter (from Chicago) told me that I was out of style. Nobody wears nylons she said, so off to the ladies room to dispose of them. Hated the feeling of my toes sticking to the bottom of my shoes. I checked out all the ladies and sure enough no nylons

cassiecanada

Hey chi sandy-

just curious- i am same age/stats as you

but was offered tamoxifin or femara-

i chose tamoxifin vs femara- despite the more

common recommendation of femara-

were you offered either ?

i have osteopaenia which is a dealbreaker

on the femara - so on tamoxifin i am

all a-ok ( from the visible/noticeable at least)

- no clue about the hidden side effects

that could be lurking about sight unseen

etc

keywestfan

Well, it’s terror again for this 85 year old. I know all of us with a BC diagnosis are frightened. I think my terror comes from PTSD after 1969 misdiagnosed for 2 years Ca of Cervix which spread. Because I had ovaries removed at 35, I thought it was protective against BC and was thrown back into terror when I found a lump in Jan of this year. Then terror at lumpectomy, re excision, total terror of radiation and anastrozole,which, though, it’s an early few months.I’m doing well on. In between the terrors I appreciate everyday life, taking classes, a lot of walking, movies, music, much reading, 65 elliptical minutes each morn

keywestfan

(cont)morning. But, terror is back for me with my first diagnostic mammogram, since surgery, tomorrow and then appointment with the very easy on the eyes, BS. What’s crazy about this is I’m worried not about right breast with the Ca, but the left breast. No lump, but it was zaps and zingers and sore nipple in left that made me examine right breast to see if it felt the same and that’s when I discovered the palpable mass. Was supposed to have bilateral diagnostic in Feb, but only right was done. Still have some zingers and zaps in supposedly healthy left. Synchronous bilateral breast cancer is, I believe, only 1.3%, but terror. So, please, excuse this obsessive length and be in my pocket tomorrow.

Jud