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

IllinoisLady

Rainy yesterday, but just cloudy so far today. We in the 'don't quite know' no matter what the weather report says period. We have those kinds of times here. It will be cooler. I can appreciate that though later on we might feel some humidity. After being back home so long we don't feel the humidity as quickly or as intensely as some do. I do think that is party due to age as well.

Nothing big planned today -- just mainly the usual things. Making small progress but at least on-going on our home projects. It is slow going for now but hopefully will pick up a bit when we get some of the large things out of the way.

I hope you all have a fantastic day.

CindyNY

I haven't felt well for a couple of days, not covid though. I had stomach pain that started Saturday evening, that still had me off thru yesterday. I'm blaming 30+ smoked almonds, that were delicious, but rough to digest for me. Sunday was a wasted day, I was in the bathroom more than not, and even went back to bed. Afraid to eat, but hungry, I was on BRAT.

I was still semi functional Monday, got out the hedge trimmer to knock stuff back. Tuesday I replaced our front door deadbolt. Our old one, from never using it had seized. In this old house we enter & exit the back door - it's where the car is parked. Anyway, I think I'm back to normal today. Plus I get my hair cut at 1, so normal it better be.

Betrayal - that little bird is just the brightness a day needs. So sweet to see the changes.

Pibgpong1953- hoping your sister gets good news and can retire the walker.

It's raining here, the fall weather is moving in earlier than I recall. It was just such gosh awful heat in July, I was hoping for (what we call in upstate NY) an Indian summer - some warm to hot temps in September. I don't see it happening.

The weekend looks ok, pool day possible on Sunday - it's not heated so these 50 degree nights have cooled it 8 degrees so far. I didn't get in yesterday, but my grand niece (11) was in and loving it. Youth!

Hope you're all doing well, healing, and happy too.

petite1

Lovemyyorkies, my mom was 98 when I started down the BC journey. She stayed in her home with caregivers. She had one she really liked. They would go on adventures, lunches and shopping. She was extremely independent, alert and oriented until her recent passing just shy of her 99th birthday.

MCBaker

Just got back home from walking the dog. Story: My PT recommended I get a belt to attach dog's leash to, so I did. Too much to manage hiking poles and leash. So a month ago I saw a leash and belt combination ad on my Facebook feed. That looked good, so I ordered it. I got an order confirmation with a CN prefix on the tracking number. I said ut-oh, this is a con. So after waiting, I ordered one from Amazon. I got both in a few days. The Amazon one has super-strong elastic on the leash, and I have trained my dog to not tug on the leash. The other one has just enough so that he won't get tangled up in the leash. The Amazon one has blue on the leash to match his harness. The Facebook one had a an open d-ring for attaching the leash, and the Amazon one has a welded ring for the leash. The Amazon has a collapsible bowl, but he would be just as happy to drink out of my hand. The Facebook one was almost twice the price.

The Amazon one, minus the ring, is in a pile of items to go to our local shelter. Someone will enjoy it for their running partner. I have more appreciation for ads on the Facebook feed.

Three teeth to be pulled today.

kathindc

Cindy, whew for a moment I thought you were going to say you have covid. Thank goodness it’s not. One of my DDs has a stomach issue that flares periodically where nothing stays up or down. About five weeks ago she thought it was rearing it’s ugly head. Went to her doctor where she had to give a stool sample and blood and they gave her an antibiotic. She went back a week later for results and had mentioned that in the meantime she thought she was getting a cold. With that added symptom, they did the swab, aka the brain probe as she and I call it, and it came back positive. She has been extremely tired. Went back Monday for a retest and another one is scheduled in two weeks plus blood work. She is still trying to figure out where she caught it as she wears her mask, social distances uses hand sanitizer and washes her hands. Saying prayers and keeping fingers crossed for negative results. Be careful ladies, covid seems to strike in many ways.

Lovemyyorkies

petite1 Sorry for the loss of your mother. He is also enjoying his caregivers. I'm looking forward to seeing him next week.

IllinoisLady thanks for the info. I’ll just-take it one day at a time.

God is Great All the tim

ChiSandy

Yorkies, did they give you a Neulasta On-Pro timed auto-injector patch (will kick in tomorrow) so you don't have to come back for a shot? (Neulasta or generic neupogen is an immune-booster to help prevent infection). Be very careful in Hoosierland: IN is about to be added to Chicago's "no-no" list of states that will require a 2-week quarantine upon return to the city. They "reopened" too soon and too fully, and are reaping the consequences.

Cowgirl13

CindyNY, not to worry about Indian Summer not arriving. Indian Summer arrives after the first rain (at least here on the west coast). Usually happens sometime in September or early October. I love it. It's the best time of the year here in SF. And we don't have wind!

Lovemyyorkies

ChiSandy. I’m on Taxol infusion and Kerjinta. The area I’ll be in in Indiana is not as bad as some parts. I sure am not going anywhere but the farm. Thanks for the warning. I’ll be sure to check before I g

CindyNY

MCBaker - I hope you made out ok at the dentist. Eat lightly, and take pain meds if needed.

Kathindc - I hope your daughter gets through this with a negative test coming soon. My stepson, his pregnant wife and son all had covid. They're in TX, he thinks he picked it up after running into an Aldi's where some people didn't wear masks. A gf son here in NY was tested yesterday for covid, no results yet. He has been sick 7 days.

IllinoisLady it sounds like you've made a great recovery. You're out & about like normal.

Enjoy the day tomorrow!

IllinoisLady

Come to the edge
We can't. We're afraid
We can't. We will fall. Come to the edge
And they came. And he pushed them
And they flew
- Guillaume Apollinaire

IllinoisLady

Going to be hot today and humid. Not looking forward to that but I've had more work inside lately than outside. Likely warmer all week, but not as much as today. Just have to see how it goes. I have a couple projects ( phone calls ) to get done and appts. to make. Time to think about this yrs. flu shot. Can't skip it this yr. with the covid around as it is.

I hope you are all going to have a good day. Thinking of you Carole with I bet much nicer weather where you are in MN.

petite1

Good morning, ladies. Heading to the PCP this morning.

Wren44

GS and family are coming into town this Fri-Sun to help us clear stuff out of our house. I'm really nervous about the chances of getting Covid, but also looking forward to seeing them after so long. I know that they've been really careful to avoid exposure, so it may work out. I know we can use the help to clean out some of our 35 yrs of stuff.

Di2012

Wren...are you moving?

DI

ChiSandy

Gordy & Leslie announced they'll be driving to Houston to see her family for Christmas, seeing as how we're certainly not going to host or attend any holiday parties. I know they're careful up here, but my heart sinks because the Houston area is still a hot spot and may be even worse by December. They both have risk factors (asthma for him, weight for her) that could make COVID much more serious for them should they catch it.

Wren44

Di, We're in the downsizing stage planning to put our house on the market soon. We thought we'd found the perfect house but it had sewer problems so we decided not to bid on it. Our DD lives in Shoreline, so looking to the north area to buy a new house. We've been here 35 years so we have about 10 years worth of stuff to get rid of.

Di2012

WREN,

I understand....we have now been in our brand new house for 43 years on July 3, we had one other house that was ours, in

west Kent for 6 years.....amazing how stuff collect.

Di

IllinoisLady

Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around. -Leo Buscaglia

IllinoisLady

Free will is not the liberty to do what one likes, but the power of doing whatever one sees ought to be done, even in the very face of otherwise overwhelming impulses. There lies freedom indeed.

George MacDonald

CindyNY

Wren44- I too have been in my home for 35 years. Oh so much stuff! I've talked about doing the Swedish death clean - it's where you clean out your house like you're dying and don't want to leave the "stuff" for someone else to clean out. I haven't done it, just talked about it.

Sandy, I understand your fears for Gordy & Leslie. Texas is a hot bed, but yet to be seen if it up ticks or levels off. They could always decide not to go as it draws closer.

Weather was beautiful yesterday, low 70's. Last night sleeping I'd get a hot flash and toss off the covers, then really freeze. It was in the low 50's with no humidity. Pool weather might be over; more work on the "to do" list to close it.

We're staying in NY for Christmas, as I think I've mentioned. So it seems when I'm shopping I'm into buying warm clothes. So far a Colombia sherpa hoodie, 2 Eddie Bauer fuzzy warm pull overs, jeans, socks - high ones, not my low workout ones, and I even bought a pair of winter boots. A year ago I'd be buying clearance summer clothes for FL. As we all know, life can change on a dime, so we just roll with it.

carolehalston

Jackie, it was in the high 40's when I got up this morning, closed windows and hatches and turned on the heat pump and electric heater in the main cabin. It's supposed to warm up and become a beautiful sunny day for our Labor Day celebration in the resort. We'll have a pot luck dinner at 6 pm and karaoke following the meal. There will be drinking and partying and most of the crowd will gather around a campfire until all hours of the night.

DH and I will probably go to bed at or close to our usual hour.

Medical issues for our next door neighbors have put a damper on things. Lyman, a Vietnam Vet, has lung cancer and Mary has cataracts and also an eye condition which will cause blindness if she doesn't have surgery. Viscous material in one eye has not dropped off, as normal, and is attached to the retina. They are returning to their winter home in Ocala, FL at the end of next week to find doctors and have surgical procedures and treatment. They're familiar with Fargo but do not want to be stuck in ND in winter weather. Both are heavy smokers and Lyman continues to smoke as he faces removal of a lung. I am hoping for the best for them.

Wren44

Cindy, I've moved to all wool sox in the winter. They're smart wool which I can wear. Normally I'm allergic to wool but these work just fine. I wish they came in summer no shows as well.

Carole, So hard to watch other people's health problems, especially when they are addicted to something that makes them worse.

IllinoisLady

Wren and Carole:

I was thinking the same thing. The owner of the cats I am watching was something of the same thing. She had strokes in the past and while she returned to normal fairly quickly from them ( did have a couple of hospital stays ) one of those last stays ( she wouldn't admit to it ) I think she was told she should quit smoking. She did say upon coming home that time that she was going to quit. Well, she didn't. Now this last stoke has resulted in being gone away from her home since May. She was in rehab for some time that I think was extended more for the covid 19. You can have three months as long as you progress. Anyway -- the three months passed and she is now in assisted living with the idea that she might be able to graduate to home.

Of course, upside is that she could NOT smoke in the hospital she was in or the rehab facility. At Heritage she could smoke, but no way to get cigarettes. I'm hoping she doesn't befriend the smokers there who are allowed an area out by the front door. I also have wondered if her daughter maybe was pushing the assisted living which she now seems to regret. My friend can see to read and watch tv. She might need some help with small writing on bottles ( prescriptions ) but I'm not sure. I doubt she could drive right now, but her sight might improve as it has always seemed to in the past. I certainly hope ( knowing it can take a long time to rid yourself of the MENTAL addiction to smoking ) that at some point my friend can go home which is where she would like to be. She has friends that could and happily would drive her anywhere she needs to go. It would be something that would make her happy. I feel sorry for those so addicted that they continue to injure themselves. I think I heard one time that trying to quit cigarettes was worse than heroin. I know it was an extremely difficult thing for me. I haven't smoked now for 23 yrs. and those yrs. have been wonderful years. Now I'm only addicted to food, but even there I'm much better than I was.

Nice today but some humidity sneaking in. Will have to see how it goes.

Betrayal

I do hope this woman, after so many strokes, will no longer be permitted to drive unless she can pass a driving test. Her physician should notify the state of her medical state. She should rely on others for transport from here on out for the safety of others.

CindyNY

IllinoisLady- I quit smoking 35 years ago, no regrets. Coworkers, 4 of us went as a group to a hypnotist. Two of the group went back to smoking pretty soon after. An older woman and I touched it out. We were like zombies at our desks, we were lucky to have a boss that put up with us. I hope your friend has had enough of poor health to give it up.

Wren44

I was in a class when a woman said that 'quitting cigarettes was worse than quitting heroin - and yes I do know'.

It was definitely the hardest thing I ever did.

MinusTwo

And me too - harder than heroin. And harder than breast cancer twice. It's been 13 years. I still miss it about once a month. Luckily it's just a blip and not for very long. I do enjoy smelling the fresh smoke as I walk around my neighborhood.

ChiSandy

My mom smoked 3 packs a day (actually, lit 3 packs a day, letting many cigs sit smoldering in the ashtray) for 50 years. She finally went to a hypnotist; he gave her a little plastic cigarette to hold after dinner or while drinking coffee until she got used to not having a real cigarette. She, too, loved the smell of tobacco smoke, calling it "sweet-ish." She still died 20 years later of "cor pulmonale," a right-sided heart failure caused by COPD. (She likely also had lung cancer, as a CT scan discovered a 6 cm lesion she refused to have biopsied because she didn't want to treat it). She was 85, halfway to 86, when she passed. Had she not smoked, she'd likely have lived into her 90s. This Nov. would have been her 100th.

Gordy began smoking at 15 (hanging out with the other actors at summer teen improv camp). He quit when my mom died--he was 21.

I've never smoked. Having had as a teen to wash dishes with cigarette butts, and watching my mom obsess over having enough cigs on hand at all times made me vow never to start. Bob smokes a couple cigs a night (I know, I know). It was a habit he picked up during residency--he'd been an occasional pipe smoker, but at 3am one can't exactly go up to one of the nurses and ask to bum a bowlful of Borkum Riff.

IllinoisLady

Upsides to everything -- even though I lost any desire, even slight, long ago. I actually now consider smoking too expensive for me. In our little berg ( not that it matters all that much ) one pack of cigarettes are a bit over $7.00 and I think it is likely cheaper here then other areas of the country. That said -- I only found out that price a while back and it may be more now.

Happy for all you " quitters ". It was soooo difficult and I wanted to smoke for well over a yr. or more. I do recall though one day realizing that it had been about 3 months since I had WANTED to smoke -- and that is when I knew the mental addiction was over at long last. Physical only took about 2 weeks.