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

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  • Wren44
    Wren44 Member Posts: 8,585
    edited March 2016

    Jackie, A cat volunteer on vacation in Malta sent this photo. He said there are many in various neighborhoods.

    image

  • Smaarty
    Smaarty Member Posts: 2,951
    edited March 2016

    wren, post a pic when you get it up. I'm sure Chevy can find one in her alley🤗


  • Chevyboy
    Chevyboy Member Posts: 10,786
    edited March 2016

    I know, right? I went over to feed the Chicken neighbors chickens and "Edith" this morning... I'll take their little cat another blanket tomorrow... I MADE her that bed in that plastic crate, but they only have like a toilet seat cover for her, with the "heat mat" underneath! I plugged in the heat-mat for her, and took her dry & canned food.... I wish Edith would come over to our house! I would feed her all the time! And even let her in! But she must not know any better... She just stays there from habit I think..... The neighbor's are in California.... coming home "SOMEtime" next week. It's a wonder they didn't leave the little girls and Lilly, their dog, home with the Chickens & Cat!

    The Chickens got Cantalope rinds & seeds and Pineapple core & rind... And DH is making sure the family squirrels are fed.... EVERYbody is hungry! And happy!

  • ChiSandy
    ChiSandy Member Posts: 12,133
    edited March 2016

    Hugs and prayers to you: Sandra, Chevy, Puffin and Linda. Those panic attacks can feel worse than some actual heart attacks. Glad that Ryan is in a safe place for now (BTW, Bob's on staff at Advocate Christ but he has the weekend off). Hope that Mike can turn a corner and some of those cells start to "take." Puffin, knowing how well Lew was loved by so many has to be a comfort. Linda, I second the advice to try a different generic of anastrozole (assuming your insurer refuses to cover Arimidex) to see whether a different inactive-ingredients list might prove less problematic. You can Google for the generic mfrs., and each of their webpages for the drug will have an "inactive ingredients" list. Generally, Bob says that of all the generic drugmakers, his patients seem to have the least problems across the board with Teva products--Roxane and sometimes Mylan are also more easily tolerated. If you can't handle anastrozole at all, you might want to ask for letrozole--seems women our age and of our physiques do better on letrozole and the thinner gals do better on anastrozole or exemestane. All of them theoretically work via the same mechanisms, but it's striking how sometimes the slightest molecular tweaks can make a huge difference.

    Sandra, Gordy got his MFA in Theater from Columbia College. He is a member of the pH Comedy Collective in Andersonville, a grad of i.o. (the full course plus a team), and both the Actors' Conservatory & Writers' Workshop at Second City. He's thinking of doing their Directors' Workshop as well, since he's been head-writing for, producing and directing the weekly revue "That Just Happened" as CIC Theater. I'll ask him if he knows Allison.

    Hope you've all had as good an Easter as possible--I'm about to finish repacking (after a huge late aft. tea, I can't even think about dinner) for a 5:30 alarm and a 7am departure for the airport for a 9:20 am flight to Geneva and then the coach ride to Lausanne. We lost an hour last night to DST (apparently N. America jumped the gun on the rest of the world in that regard)--and when we cross the Channel we'll enter CET and lose yet another hour. We'll miss the hotel breakfast buffet, but the Lanesborough sent us on our way with leftover scones & pastry--and I still have a plum, pear, & apple leftover from the complimentary fruit plate at the Athenaeum.

    May everyone's Monday be sunnier.

  • Wren44
    Wren44 Member Posts: 8,585
    edited March 2016

    Have a good trip. Sounds like a lot of fun.

  • sandra4611
    sandra4611 Member Posts: 2,913
    edited March 2016

    Things are better. I've talked to Ryan twice and he is reasonable and calm, looking forward to getting out of the hospital. Allison will figure out the flight situation tomorrow. I guess the worst situation is that Southwest won't let him fly and I'll have to buy a last minute ticket for both of them to get home.

    Mike is still subdued and very tired. His hair started falling out in clumps.

    Linda, while my daughter Allison is in Chicago, I am in San Antonio, Texas. I do get up that way several times a year. (Was just there for 10 days at Christmas.) We'll have to get together next time. It may not be this year...don't know when Mike will be able to be left alone and he won't be allowed to travel for at least a year.


  • IllinoisLady
    IllinoisLady Member Posts: 29,082
    edited March 2016

    Anne, what a great on the eve of Easter gift. Big congrats to Mom and Grandmom and family. She is adorable and has a beautiful name as well.

    Smaarty, of course you are old enough o be here. You know Chevy and she just says right out she's older than dirt --- so no problem, eh !!!

    Wren -- (((((( Cat Feeding Station --Cat Cafe )))))). Been several days to my one feeding area here down a wooded path. My cat has been missing for a bit, but force of habit propelled me to pull up today and there Mr. Gray was. Not sure where he has been, and he is not as buff as he was, but still looking mighty fine. It is hard ( maybe that is a good thing ) for me to give up, but I was beginning to wonder if I was making futile attempts. I'd have likely kept it up for at least two more weeks.

    It was warm most of the day, but a while ago it started to rain. It will cool drastically now, but I think will re-warm fairly quick once the moisture moves out well.

    Hope you all had a delightful day.

    Jackie

  • Joan811
    Joan811 Member Posts: 2,672
    edited March 2016

    Anne, Alexandria Rose is a beautiful child....a perfect 10! So happy for you and all your family.

    Puffin, I thought of you on Good Friday as you would be joining with family and friends and facing together the reality of losing your dear Lew. Your notes here are precious memories packed with love, strength and courage. I pray you will find the strength to continue on your life's course as Lew would want you to.

    Sandra, you and Mike have been through so much. I hope and pray that Mike will have a positive report soon. The stress of your son's crash is very difficult to deal with when you are already under so much stress. You are another who shows love and courage in your words. Just know you are not alone and can find someone here most any time.

    ChiSandy, safe travels.

    I hope that this Easter time has brought peace.

    Joan














  • IllinoisLady
    IllinoisLady Member Posts: 29,082
    edited March 2016

    You become spiritually rich when you discover the riches of the kingdom within: when you have a consciousness of the oneness of all life; when you experience kinship with nature; when you are open to the buoyant spiritual lift of being in tune with the Infinite; when you know the power of meditation and prayer. -Wilferd A. Peterson

  • termite
    termite Member Posts: 241
    edited March 2016

    Puffin and Sandra, prayers and hugs being sent your way.

    Carole, so sorry to hear about your mom. hopefully, they will be able to place her in a center near you.

    I sent a message yesterday but it did not go through. I hope everyone had a nice Easter day.

    We went to our ds and dil house for Easter dinner. Her family and our family were there. We all get along pretty good. Saw all my sons and grandchildren except the ones living in Philadelphia.  It will be the last get together for a while since DH and I will be leaving next week for Florida. Our house is done and the walk through and closing has been scheduled. Feelings are mixed but I know we will see them all often.

    Hope everyone has a great week!


  • IllinoisLady
    IllinoisLady Member Posts: 29,082
    edited March 2016

    Termite, even having those mixed feelings, how exciting to see this day come. I've always looked at "new beginnings" as a great adventure. While there is always a little bit of 'remorse' for changes and you sometimes get in a "what am I doing here" mood for a bit, the feelings of discomfort and strangeness passes and the adventure continues. You will be busy for a time and one of the things Dh and I enjoyed doing after we got settled into our first home here in 1997 was that we'd get in the car, choose a direction, and then just start driving.

    We'd go till we came to a town and we would 'find' the main street there and go up and down it, stopping anywhere along the road that looked interesting. We'd find a place to eat, and when we got tired, we just head back home. Next time we had a day or even a bit of morning and afternoon together we'd jump in the car and pick out a different direction and explore till we were tired, then come back home. It is a nice relaxed way to find out what surrounds you.

    It has been a wonderful afternoon here. I have to get in the other room and try to get a couple of loads of laundry done. See you all later.

    Jackie

  • Puffin2014
    Puffin2014 Member Posts: 961
    edited March 2016

    I went birding with a friend this morning to a wetland area west of here, found a couple huge flocks of Snow Geese, some Trumpeter and Tundra Swans, and lots of ducks. Nice sunny morning, felt good to get some fresh air.

    Sandra, you and Mike are in my prayers.

  • lindab142
    lindab142 Member Posts: 105
    edited March 2016

    Anne, congrats on the addition to your family. A baby is so precious. Glad your daughter brought her over.

    Sandra - thanks for clarifying you're in TX.

    I talked to my psychiatrist today about the AI and after finding out what I went through with the first one, he really doesn't want me to try another. (And, I agree - my mental health and sleep are important for my life).

    I'll have to do more research on natural estrogen blockers and cancer fighting foods. My dh bought blueberry pie, heated it up and put ice cream on it, insisting I eat blueberries, cancer fighting food. I love him so much. (Not blueberries, though).

    Happy recovery to everyone,

    Linda

  • Wren44
    Wren44 Member Posts: 8,585
    edited March 2016

    Linda, You might ask your psychiatrist if he knows anything about Tamoxifen and psych meds. It works totally differently, so it's worth looking into. That said, a stage 1A might be fine without an AI. Not worth a manic episode, for sure.

  • IllinoisLady
    IllinoisLady Member Posts: 29,082
    edited March 2016

    The posture we take while performing our tasks today,
    and the attitude we project toward those who cross our
    path, will emphatically influence what the day brings.
    No one else can decide for any of us what we'll feel or
    think about the day. We have the power to be as
    content or as discontent as we make up our minds to be.

    unattributed

  • ritajean
    ritajean Member Posts: 4,223
    edited March 2016

    Oh Anne...what a lovely little girl to spoil! She is just beautiful and so very alert!

    Sandra, it's hard to imagine all the stress that you've been going through. It's no wonder your body let you know that things were not right. So glad you're feeling better and looking ahead again. My thoughts will remain with you and your family and hopefully Mike will show some improvment with each passing day.

    Puffin, All the flowers, cards, and memorials certainly poured out lots of love to you and your family. They also speak very highly of your husband's character and life choices. Take your time writing the "Thank You notes" as those who gave did so because they cared and wanted to remember him in some way. I am glad that you are getting out of the house a little at a time. I would have loved "birding" with you. I love nature and taught science for 33 years.

    Jackie, I am glad that Mr. Gray showed back up! How old would you guess him to be? He's one tough cat!

    My son and family left today. They came down for Easter and we packed a lot into the few days they were here! My Easter dinner came out just fine and we ate at the patio table on the lanai. I ended up baking a ham, making sweet potatoes, mac and cheese, hot rolls, a fruit salad, watergate salad and another peach fluff salad, peas and corn....very simple due to my limited baking dishes! I ordered an ice cream cake from DQ for Evan's 7th birthday, so that was our dessert. Today I have spent the day doing laundry and starting to pack.

    We are going to play our last round of golf tomorrow and then pull out early on Thurday morning. We have reservations in Prattville, Alabama for Thursday night so we'll have a full day of driving and will finish the trip on Friday. I have really enjoyed my winter in Cape Coral but I am ready to get back to my Illinois home.

    So termite, you will be heading this way and I'll be heading back north. I know you will like your new home. Sometimes it's hard to make changes but it's also rather exciting! You'll have new places to explore, and new home to decorate, and new friends to enter your life! Best of luck to you!

    Well, I need to pack up a few more things so I'd better get off of here. I hope everyone had a great Easter!

    Rita









  • Puffin2014
    Puffin2014 Member Posts: 961
    edited March 2016

    I invited a friend over yesterday, had a nice salad for lunch, and then we tackled the thank you cards. She addressed the envelopes and put the return label on and I wrote the note inside and put the stamp on. We worked for 2 hours, made a good dent in the pile, I worked for about 3 hours last night, hope I can finish this morning. I still have to thank the people who sent floral arrangements (so that's 18 cards) and the people who brought food and did errands for me.

    Lesson I've learned: if you're putting money into your card, put an address label inside the card with the amount of money written on it, it saves the recipient a lot of time. I have 5 cards I'm taking to the library this morning to see if I can find them in the city directory, they're not in the phone book, assume they have cell phones. Also, one card was just signed Stacy and Shelly and had $40 in it, don't have a clue who they are.

    Went in yesterday to have my chest CT (I've been getting short of breath the last 6-8 weeks). Turns out the technician who did my scan also did Lew's head scan after the accident. Returning to the same hospital led to a massive sobbing meltdown, poor girl thought she'd done a bad job starting my IV and I had to explain. She said, oh yes, I remember him. Not surprising, don't imagine they get too many people falling off a roof on their head in one month.
  • IllinoisLady
    IllinoisLady Member Posts: 29,082
    edited March 2016

    I remember the morning that I first asked the meaning of the
    word "love. . . ."
    Miss Sullivan put her arm gently round me and spelled into
    my hand, "I love Helen."
    "What is love?" I asked. . . .
    "Love is something like the clouds that were in the sky before
    the sun came out," she replied. . . . "You cannot touch the clouds,
    you know; but you feel the rain and know how glad the flowers
    and the thirsty earth are to have it after a hot day. You cannot
    touch love either; but you feel the sweetness that it pours into
    everything. Without love you would not be happy or want to play."
    The beautiful truth burst upon my mind--I felt that these were
    invisible lines stretched between my spirit and the spirits of others.

    Helen Keller

  • IllinoisLady
    IllinoisLady Member Posts: 29,082
    edited March 2016

    Puff, I am not surprised that you were/are working hard on those thank you cards. It is one of the things that help us through the chapters of dealing with loss. Helps us manage our direction once our world has changed in a drastic fashion.

    Hope your CT scan shows if anything, something easy to determine and fix for you. I think you ran into one of those "firsts" that tend to come when we lose someone. Learning how to be one when you were two is just downright difficult. We are sturdy, but each new thing ( loss ) of health, or a death, or whatever the situation occurs, puts us through paces until we get more mentally and emotionally adjusted.

    Rita, I am thinking about you and so glad you will be returning home to your woods and wonderful home there. I hope you have a GOOD and safe trip home. Cloudy today --- ??? maybe some rain tomorrow, not sure since the weather patterns right now all seem much worse to the south of us.

    A few odds and ends to do today but otherwise I'm glad to be off today. I always love going to work and am so looking forward to the 100th. birthday part on the 9th. of April. Concerned though how my patient as of late sleeps so much and struggles so much. Sometimes I wonder if she has PUT so much energy into getting to a hundred that she has worn herself. All the while I've been with her, her favorite thing to say is that she is almost a hundred. Of course, bless her little heart --- it has also been an excuse for when she didn't want to do something she should -- like her exercises. Anyway -- I'm just hoping that I'm being overly critical about what I feel I may be seeing. Time will tell.

    Hoping you all have a good day.

    Jackie

  • IllinoisLady
    IllinoisLady Member Posts: 29,082
    edited March 2016

    Forgot to add something in my earlier post, so made this new one as it will be easier to "see" I think. Chevy is a bit under the weather so in case she doesn't come today --- don't worry that she won't be back. Here's hoping she gets right as rain as soon as possible.

    Jackie

  • Anneb1149
    Anneb1149 Member Posts: 960
    edited March 2016

    Good morning all

    Puffin- I think you are doing great getting thank you cards out so soon. Honestly, I don't remember doing that at all. I'll have to check with my kids and see. Re the two people you aren't sure you know - maybe ask someone who worked with Lew, or at your church or any plaCe you two used to go to on a regular basis, like a favorite restaurant?

    {{{{Sandra}}}} you are in my thoughts. Please make time to do something (anything) that doesn't involve Mike and his illness. You really have to make an effort to remind yourself that your world is bigger than the hospital and Mike's illness. I know how hard and strange that is, but it will take you away from Mike and his issues. You will go bAck to Mike, feeling just a little more relaxed than when you left.

    Baby Alex is doing well. Her siblings were so much fun to watch the first day she was home. Kayden (7) just had a glow on his face he whole time he held her, and while he was holding her, one of Victoria!s friends said something that included the word "darn". His head flew up and he said not to use bad words near his baby. They replied of course that darn isn't a bad word. He said it was bad enough and not to say that near his little sister. Victoria (10) is more aware of and fascinated by Alex's expressions and movements. So all is well with the kids. I am very concerned about Jamie though. They let her out of the hospital at 5pm Sat Afternoon. She was out grocery shopping ( with Alex) at 9 that night. Sun, she came here for a few hrs- which is fine - her kids would rather be here anyway, and we can help with her and the baby, but then they went to dinner at her husband's father house. They only go there on holidays. But Mon morning, it was back to normal, driving the kids to school, shopping, running errands, going to a dermatologist, etc. She called and asked me to pick the kids up from school and she got here about an hour later, admitting she had done too much and was bleeding and cramping. Even then, I couldn't get her to sit with her feet up and let us take care of both her and the baby. Yesterday, I didn't see her at all. It's kind of like she is trying to prove that she isn't going to let this baby to change her life. And she gets no rest at home either. Her husband might play with the older kids for a few minutes here and there and maybe eat dinner with them, but he is quite clear that he doesn't "do" babies. In fact , he doesn't like them until they are old enough to play with him. Jamie had had to get up and get the kids to school every on time every morning. The good news is my oldest DD is flying in mid-day tomorrow for the weekend. She has a very close bond with Jamie aNd has already told Jamie that the 2 older kids will be staying here with her the whole time, that she will take them to school and pick them up Fri and Mon. She is hoping to convince Jamie to stay here with the baby as well, so she can help her during the night.

    Anne

  • carolehalston
    carolehalston Member Posts: 6,887
    edited March 2016

    Anne, I love the story of the little brother protecting his infant sister from bad language. How sweet that is.

    Puffin, Lew must have been very well liked and respected as well as loved, judging from the response to his death. I know that's no real consolation but to a small extent, it must make you feel good on his behalf.

    My mother is progressing in the skilled nursing/rehab facility. The therapists are working her a little harder than I like but their efforts, and my mother's, are paying off. Jackie, I wish she had you to look after her at home.

    Thinking of Chevy. Hope you feel better very soon.

  • Chevyboy
    Chevyboy Member Posts: 10,786
    edited March 2016

    Thanks Carole.... It's just Asthma, but I have everything possible from the other times I have had it.... Just so tired... I take a nap about every 2 hours... I have to put my face on, because DBIL is stopping by, and I just CAN'T look like THIS!

    I have a pot of home-cooked beans with Ham and noodles...

    Thanks little Jackie...! We watch out for each other... I was supposed to go to lunch with my friend tomorrow, but I emailed and told her I was "fading fast".... Ha! So"Louise" will just wait for me, "Thelma", to go next week, with my Daughter and her....... Then I'll feel like eating something.....

    Toodle!

  • ritajean
    ritajean Member Posts: 4,223
    edited March 2016

    Puffin, you are doing fantastic on those Thank You cards!

    Carole, so glad to hear that Mom is progressing well. It sounds like she has lots of determination and desire.

    Jackie, we will be going by your "turn-off" on the interstate on Friday! Hope that weather holds out for us as it makes travel so much easier. I will wave at you as we go by.

    Chevy...glad you have the thngs you need to counteract the asthma. Hang in there. That can really wear you down!

    Well, we will be pulling out tomorrow morning bright and early. I probably won't post again until we get home. Everyone take care and I'll catch up with you soon.

  • IllinoisLady
    IllinoisLady Member Posts: 29,082
    edited March 2016

    Something I just saw and thought it sounded not only good but really, really easy.

    NO WORK CHICKEN

    4 chicken breasts, 1/2 cup honey, 1/2 cup Dijon mustard, 1 TBSP. curry powder, 2 TBSP soy sauce

    Grease dish well. Place chicken in pan. Mix together honey, mustard, curry powder and soy sauce well; then bake @ 350 for 1 hour.

  • Joan811
    Joan811 Member Posts: 2,672
    edited March 2016

    Ritajean, I wish you safe travels as you head back home. It sounds like you will have great memories! Your Easter salads sound so interesting....care to share?

    Puffin, you are doing well to surround yourself with nature and good friendship. It is sad that being at the medical facility triggered your tearful meldown....but every tear shed is part of your grief process. One day at a time...grief doesn't come with instructions.

    Termite, wishing you peace and happiness in your new adventure.

    Carole, I'm glad to hear your mother is progressing. I hope her recovery exceeds expectations.

    Chevy, feel better soon.

  • IllinoisLady
    IllinoisLady Member Posts: 29,082
    edited March 2016

    If you want to turn your life around, try thankfulness. It will change your life mightily.
    --Gerald Good

  • carolehalston
    carolehalston Member Posts: 6,887
    edited March 2016

    I talked to a woman acquaintance at the gym this morning whose face was a pattern of purple bruises with swollen features. She'd tripped on a root when carrying a basin of frozen food out into her yard with the intention of leaving the food for raccoons. Her face struck the basin on the ground and the frozen food. She expressed how thankful she was that she hadn't broken her teeth nor had her glasses damaged her eyes. Your quote made me think of her, Jackie.

    So far the forecast heavy rain has gone elsewhere. There was bad weather north of us this morning. Now the heavy rain is supposed to come tomorrow.

    I just did my nephew's tax returns for federal and state using Turbo Tax. His mother was hoping he'd get a good refund to pay toward a vehicle that he badly needs for transportation to work. Instead he owes the feds and gets a little more from the state so it's almost a wash.

    My sinus congestion is improving, thank goodness. I have been rinsing my sinus passages and taking a lot of Vitamin C. Maybe that helped.

    Wishing everyone a good Thursday.

  • IllinoisLady
    IllinoisLady Member Posts: 29,082
    edited March 2016

    Oh my, talk about weather. Interestingly we have had a lot of sun today, but it rained all night. Then in the last hour or so we have had two downpours with the second one being rather major. Afterward, we had a lot of hail. Not sure but it all may and I emphasize the MAY back off now. This being Spring I think we are still in a fairly un-predictable period.

    Thankfully I had just gotten home from getting a perm. Had to wear my rain hat out of the shop for the first pour down, which pretty much crushed the" do " but at least I am back with curls instead of pretty close to straight hair. I ran out to the deck and retrieved about four of the hail stones --- they were not huge, but bigger than I expected to see. We usually see just little ones so wanted Dh to see them. Don't know if Mt. Vernon got any at all -- so he may be very surprised when he gets home and sees them.

    Off till Saturday late afternoon/night. That is nice.

    Carole, I wish I could come and take care of your Mom for you too. Sometimes it is a struggle but mainly a delight for me. The times I don't care for much are the times anyone would not like. When the people are sick or un-comfortable with pain or no appetite, or experiencing heavy bouts of loss of energy. Otherwise, I just think they have been around ( in some cases a whole lot ) longer than me and will be able to teach me something I don't know or just give me another way of looking at something that hadn't occurred to me.

    Sun is back out again -- my, my what an afternoon it has been.

    Blessings,

    Jackie

    P.S. Forgot that I wanted to wave hi to Joan. Hope you are enjoying a nice Spring too.

  • IllinoisLady
    IllinoisLady Member Posts: 29,082
    edited April 2016

    The best way I have found to follow my true desires is to pay attention to my intuitive sense. We all have great wisdom within us, a part of us that knows exactly what we need at every moment. We are born with this intuitive sense, but most of us are quickly taught to distrust and ignore it. We have to relearn something that should come naturally. Fortunately, it's not too difficult; it just takes some practice. -Shakti Gawain

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