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

Taco1946

Wren - it's so hard to see our loved ones "fade away." Thinking of you.

ChiSandy

Saw the ENT today (finally, after three postponements). She confirmed that there is nothing wrong with my ears per se, my blood pressure, nor my carotid artery; but that because I have some mild-to-moderate high-frequency hearing loss on the same side as the pulsatile tinnitus, the cause could be sensorineural. So I have to get an MRI of my brain to see if there's anything impinging on my auditory nerve (it seems to get worse when I'm lying down). In 2004 I had a brain MRI to determine the cause of a weird pitch-hearing discrepancy, and it showed no AVMs (arteriovenous malformations, whic are congenital, so they don't come out of nowhere over the course of time). If the MRI turns out normal, then the next step is to see a neuro-ophthalmologist, who can peer past my optic nerve to check for excess or leaking cerebrospinal fluid. If that comes up negative too, then ear training and possibly a sleep study (to determine if I'm unknowingly grinding my teeth despite wearing a retainer) is the last resort. But I doubt bruxism is the issue, because sometimes if I'm sitting up very late I can hear and feel the "rrhn-rhhn-rhhhn." It hasn't been too bad lately, because I've added CBN to my bedtime CBD and Xanax. (She is on board with that).

CindyNY

Sandy - glad it's not your carotid. My dad could hear his before being diagnosed.

Mary - leave it to me to think you were somehow making leather after reading a newspaper article. I hope I gave you a good laugh!

Low BP - both you ladies, Petite & Mary, I hope they figure out the cause. My mother, her sisters, me and my sister all run on the low side but not as low as you've been reporting.

I don't know if I've already reported that we took the pool down on Saturday. Its sad looking out there. Tonight I moved planters off the deck rail and put them next to the screen house. We also put a bag of quickcrete into the "skunk" hole where the pool washed them out.

My wrist/hand bandage is filthy dirty, I use it probably more than I should have. And with it hitting 95 today, 92 yesterday - I'm sure it stinks! Tomorrow at 1:30 it comes off & stitches come out. By 3:00 I'll be in a friends pool getting that hand & wrist wet, its been a long hot 2 weeks.

Enjoy Tuesday ladies!

petite1

MC, great! Enjoy the pool exercise.

I have labs scheduled for Weds. morning and follow up July 2. Hopefully my low BP will be resolved, along with my weight gain. The Derm says my breast rash is Grover's disease, aka, heat rash. She prescribed Triamcinolone cream twice a day. There was much improvement over night with the first application. Today I will drop off the new eye glass prescription and pick out frames. I will head to the gym, but over did yesterday and will have to take it easy.

Everyone stay safe.

IllinoisLady

Having eyes, but not seeing beauty; having ears, but not hearing music; having minds, but not perceiving truth; having hearts that are never moved and therefore never set on fire. These are the things to fear, said the headmaster.

- Tetsuko Kuroyanagi -

IllinoisLady

Late today as we had to go to Marion so the morning was very busy. I was able to get someone to do my Sandoval cats this afternoon so I can work on this computer and a couple of other things w/o having a stop in the middle. Nothing earth-shaking. Time for my toe nails to be cut and Dh needed some help with his glasses. He needs 2 pr. One to read with and another pr. for distance. It has taken at least three prescription changes and numerous trips to the eye clinic to find it out. Sigh !!!

ChiSandy

So I called NorthShore Radiology today and found out I need not just one brain MRI but three MR scans: MRV (veins) with contrast Wed. 7/1, and back to back MRA (arterial, non-contrast) and MRI (contrast) 7/3, all in the evening. The MRI will be looking for anything impinging on my auditory nerve, as well as whether my Eustachian tubes are "patulous" (open when they should be closed). The ENT said that if the pulsatile tinnitus and high-frequency hearing loss were bilateral, they'd do just a head CT. But especially with the pulsatile tinnitus being in sync with my actual heartbeat, and the hearing loss being only in the L ear (my R is still sharp enough that the audiologist said the only thing I couldn't hear was the infamous "mosquito tone" that only the youngsters can hear), she thinks there may be something squeezing the nerve. Only hope it's not a neoplasm (gulp!). If there aren't any AVMs, aneyrysms, tumors or CSF leaks, I will just learn to live with it.

Toenails are still okay, though my "talons" are getting long enough to be in danger of lifting. But I have a mani (soak-off, new set) coming up on Thurs. The sheer pale pink makes the outgrowth not very obvious, so I think I will stick with this shade..

Bob's Kindle Fire bit the dust--he thought it was a defective charger, so he ordered a new charger. Nope--as Star Trek's Bones McCoy used to say to Capt. Kirk, "it's dead, Jim." Fortunately, I ordered him a new and improved one, which should arrive this week. Meanwhile, he can read his library on his laptop or phone.

Wren44

Has anyone else noticed that it won't open a thread until you've watched that entire moving commercial above the threads? It's becoming very annoying. I don't like seeing the same long piece every time I try to look at the site.

IllinoisLady

I went and looked just now and you are right Wren. I complained on another thread that maybe we had so much in the thread that is had slowed down. While I think that was true, and it did help to re-start the thread over, this here is something else. I hope it is a temporary thing.

ChiSandy

Well, it takes money to host and maintain a quality website, especially one as large and comprehensive as this one. Contributions alone won't cut it, alas. Ad revenue is the key, even if viewers don't "click through." A scrolling banner is a small price to pay for access. Besides, I only look at the blue progress bar in the url window anyway.

petite1

Good morning, Ladies. I picked out 2 pairs of glasses at Opti-Mart. They only let 2 or 3 people in at a time. Everyone wears a mask and the Tech hands you frames and cleans them before putting them back. I prefer to wander around and look at them myself, but it is the way it is. LOL This morning the roofers arrived at 7:00 am to start the roof. My little Louie cat is terrified. Miss Felix is sleeping through the noise. My wonderful cleaning lady is coming today and I have labs. I hope to get some gym time worked in this afternoon.

IllinoisLady

We share with all life the capacity for feeling, the experience of having a body, mind, and heart in continual interface with countless other bodies, minds, and hearts. Our capacity to feel deeply means we share with all life the possibility of experiencing delight, joy, trust, and intimacy, just as we share in the capacity to experience pain, sorrow, grief, and fear. Living within a physical body, we all share the experience of aging, frailty, illness, and death, just as we share the precious times of strength, health, safety, and vitality. Through our minds we share the capacity to experience confusion, agitation, and complexity, just as we share the possibilities of serenity, clarity, and balance. An understanding of this profound interconnectedness of all life is at the root of the compassionate heart dedicated to alleviating suffering without reservation or exception. -Christina Feldman

IllinoisLady

I would not like not being able to take my time, study the frames and even put some of them on, but we are living in such a different time right now. I'm thankful that there is a willingness to try and help us combat the illness issues of covid, but after so many long yrs. of doing things a certain way it is a bit of an insult to the system. We just have to try and go with the flow.

Same thing too I suppose about the ads. We have to change some of our thinking because what was is not there now. Maybe that will change -- I sure hope so. I do hope that a vaccine of some kind can be found and that even if it is two or three yrs. away we might be able to do some things as we did before and re-invigorate some of what was normal. We can't get it all back I'm sure.

Going to be another nice day here with way less humidity. I'm going to love that part. Back to my normal today after making the run to Marion yesterday.

Hope you are all well and will have a good day.

CindyNY

We had rain overnight and the temp dropped, as well as the humidity. 67 now and gloomy, but I'll take it! We were breaking records, 4 days over 90, even hit 95. It was too much.

Wrist bandage gone, stitches removed. I could see a gash and got light headed! Between the heat of the day, wearing my mask, I was feeling faint - felt like a major hot flash, and I had to lay down. Finished up w 3 new suri strips, and I was good to go. Thumb is numb, and has shooting pains, very similar to the ZAPS after BC surgery. Surgeon says lots of nerves there and they expand the incision, it will improve. I see him again on 7/7.

Also saw my foot guy, he's a C-PED. I had bunion surgery on right foot in 2004 & again in 2005 because it didn't heal properly in a walking boot. Long story short, I'm in fear of my big toe crossing over the next toe! He gave me silicone toe seperater and a night toe brace. I slept w it last night, wasn't too bad. I have my leg in & out of bedding multiple times a night. With the brace it isn't a smooth in & out, but I'll get used to it. It was a busy day. And I did get that swim in!

I think temps are supposed to go back to mid 80's. I've got windows open enjoying the cool breeze, but will keep an eye on the temp. Enjoy the day!

Wren44

Cindy, I have a friend who elected to have the 2nd toe removed to eliminate the crossover. Her doctor said 6 weeks in a boot for bunion surgery or 3 in a boot for toe removal. She showed me and it's not really noticeable. I have the silicone toe spreader during the day, but nothing at night. I have a pair of Keene water sandals (very popular here) and discovered the silicone thingy will stay in place with those.

Wren44

It's the movement in the ads that slow it down. The same thing could be printed and it wouldn't.

CindyNY

Wren44 - thank you, I'll look up those sandals. My toes don't cross over yet, so I won't entertain letting them take off a toe. That's extreme!

petite1

Good morning, Ladies. This is day 2 of the new roof process. It is noisy. I feel sorry for those guys working in the heat.

IllinoisLady

Joy is the realization of oneness, the oneness of our soul with the world, and the world-soul with the supreme love.

Rabindranath Tagore

IllinoisLady

Definitely warmer today that it has been. Not much breeze either, but I don't think humidity is there so we can do okay. Just had to refill my car with Freon, but that now freezes me again so all is well. Should hear soon about my appt. over at Barnes in St. Louis, Mo. I'm anxious to get these urinary issues handled. I had not planned ( hoped anyway ) to need to do so much doctoring this summer. Last summer with the broken arm was enough.

Still doing my job in Sandoval. It sounds like it will be a while. Provides a few needed funds and that is good for us.

I hope you are all having a gorgeous and not too hot day.

ChiSandy

Gorgeous mild sunny day today (mid-70s, mostly blue sky). Had my mani today, but salon was running behind. So I put an extra half-hour on the parking meter app and took a walk, stopping at Big Apple Foods for some raspberries, a sourdough bread, heirloom tomato, Friskies, an extra mask and an anniversary card for Bob (our 49th is Sat., but he'll be working all weekend and tomorrow will be stormy, so we celebrated outdoors at Cellars tonight with Gordy & Leslie--they and our housekeeper are our "bubble"). Ashamed to admit I did indulge in some no-no foods (calamari fritti, fish & chips--albeit sweet potato fries--and 1/8 of a huge slice of fudge cake we were comped by the chef).

IL is entering Phase 4 of reopening tomorrow, but Phase 3 is as "open" as I wanna get right now. No desire to dine inside a restaurant, go to a bar to hear music (no vocals allowed anyway), go back to the gym, etc. Outdoor dining and the very occasional grocery/pharmacy shopping (for stuff I can't get delivered), personal care or medical appt. feel risky enough. (I'm more scared of elevators, and lid-less toilets in public restrooms, than I ever dreamed possible). No way will I use public transit, rideshares, taxis or valet parking for the foreseeable future.

IllinoisLady

Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful people with great talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence, determination alone are omnipotent. -Calvin Coolidge

petite1

Good morning, Ladies. Another hot day and the roofers are still working. It is now day 3 of constant pounding. Too bad they didn't get it done while I was in Virginia. LOL This too will pass.

IllinoisLady

The temps are not so bad here but some humidity and not much for breeze. Spells ' yucky ' but since there is a/c here, in my car, and wherever I go it will be okay. petite, I don't envy the constant pounding. Hopefully, they are getting close.

So far quiet today and I have no real plans but just to take care of whatever pops up.

Hope you all have a wonderful day.

Joan811

Good afternoon -- I enjoyed reading all the adventures of the past few weeks...most of you are more active than I am.
Cindy, the pool story is unbelievable. I hope you have restored order to the property; and I hope your replacement pool arrives as expected.

Re: bunion conversation...My large toe is moving beneath my 2nd toe. I have tried the braces and silicon spacers; but they don't stay in place. I have no pain but it is getting more difficult to find shoes (and feet are not beautiful!) I don't think I'll elect surgery at this time.

ChiSandy, I hope your CT scans help solve the mystery. I have chronic (loud) tinnitus and am so used to it that I hardly notice. But I have minor hearing loss in certain ranges. When I watch a show with background music, I hear the music as loud and the dialogue as muffled. I do not have any pulsating or unbalanced tinnitus. I have not sought treatment. It definitely got worse during chemo.

I have been to the beach with friends from my job this week which was great. No politics, no virus talk! Just fun and talking about teaching online vs face to face. I do go for frequent rides along the ocean road, watching the beautiful shore birds. We go walking on beaches after 5pm and can always find a quiet beach with very few humans. The evenings are starting to get warmer so we bring chairs now. We have had some drop by visits from my kids who live in Queens NY (just outside of Manhattan). We sat on our deck a few times. They came in for a little bit...everyone is being cautious. I have been ordering most things online. DH gets the fresh food at the stores and does the pharmacy run if needed.

DH had Mohs surgery on his ear for skin cancer yesterday. I had to wait out in the car...it took 3 hours. I drove and got bagels and coffee. I brought puzzles and crochet. He is doing OK but not following orders as he went to work today. I just found out he planned to take his boat out to a repair dock after I gave him multiple reasons why he should not. Why are men like this!

I have two or three of my daughters coming to Long Island in the next two weeks. We will spend time at the beach, I hope, and maybe dinners on my deck. Hoping for good weather.
Is anyone being affected by the dust clouds moving into the southern states? There are floods and 100+ degrees in the southeast. I keep wondering...what next?

Jackie, I am glad to hear your AC/heating system is repaired and functioning well. You will need it with July heat ahead!

keywestfan

Sandy,

You are so lucky not to be claustrophobic or generally phobic, as I am. The thought of the Evanston MRI when I had to have a brain one after my two little- no one hurt- car crashes a week and a half apart right before we moved into the Mather- though I think of it now as the “ dreaded congregate living- so terrified me that I told my wonderful internist that I couldn’t do it.He was checking for stroke, epilepsy...He said “take 2 Xanax, I have faith in you. You’ll do fine.” And I did. Same scenario occurred with my radiation terror 5.5 years later. So you don’t have any of that anxiety and your pulsatile tinnitus has been going on so long, it can’t be “gulp.”

The Mather, like Illinois, opening up, people rushing out everywhere. Nursing Unit patients in the garden with Independent Living residents. It’s so scary to me in our little rented Glencoe house far from the Madding Crowd. I still haven’t gone for mani and won’t, still haven’t gone to any store. We have had 3 people sit in our back yard, distanced, each with individual trays of Greek appetizers from Avli.

I do though have visions of sitting in a booth for 2 with Gil at Walker Brothers and in a similar booth at Max and Bennies. Won’t though- though might sit outside at Max’s in Crossroads or Hubbard Woods, Frank and Betsies.

Happy Anniversary tomorrow. 49 is my lucky number.

Gil and I married at 67- we’ll never make it. Hoping for 20.

IllinoisLady

I am so forgetful at times that I'll wish you Happy Anniversary now Keywest. I can't do MRI's either w/o pharmaceutical help. I remember laughing when asked if I was claustrophobic -- then I was rolled into the tube. I screamed and it felt like 10 mins. went by before I got out. They told me to come back the next day and they would help me. Gave me what had to be the smallest pill I'd ever seen or maybe I should say could barely see. I told Dh I didn't think something that small could do much. But I was willing to be a sport and "try" again. Breezed through and couldn't have cared or noticed less.

Have a wonderful day tomorrow.

ChiSandy

Judy, I hope you can celebrate your 20th when we do our 50th next year, kinahurra!

We drove past the Mather last Fri. night en route to the Barn--from seeing the open doors and people schmoozing out front, one would never have guessed it had been on lockdown. Hope this evening's storms didn't do any damage to your home--just now I saw some news footage of downed trees in Glencoe. We dodged a bullet--got a little bit of water (barely a puddle) in the basement around the base of the sump pump, but brought up a disposable pre-loaded litter box just in case. Can't be too careful.

Missed tonight's post-storm rainbow, but the sunset (thanks, Sahara dust cloud) was awesome.

Though I've had "conventional" tinnitus all my life (I honestly don't know what silence sounds like), the pulsatile stuff only began in January, a few weeks after that weird coughing illness (still don't know if it was pertussis, adenovirus, or one of the earliest corona cases) I had most of Dec. I had it once before, back in 2004 when I had a strange pitch-perception disturbance a neurotologist mis-diagnosed as Meniere's (even though I had neither dizziness, vertigo, nor nausea). He was so arrogant, saying, "your hearing acuity is fine; but you're just too picky about pitch." My current ENT (a mezzo-soprano in a small ensemble pre-pandemic) knows that guy and agrees that he is a jerk.

petite1

Good morning, ladies. It seemed difficult to breathe yesterday. I am not sure if it was the 96 degree heat or the dust cloud. The roofers did finish. I feel sorry for them working in this heat.

IllinoisLady

Only the wise person draws from life, and from every stage of it, its true savour, because only he or she feels the beauty, the dignity, and the value of life. The flowers of youth may fade, but the summer, the autumn, and even the winter of human existence, have their majestic grandeur, which the wise person recognizes and glorifies. -Amiel