Can we have a forum for "older" people with bc?
Comments
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I hope Chevy is feeling better. My sinus congestion has eased, I'm thankful to say.
Rita must be home by now and adjusting to IL spring weather.
Hope everyone has a good Friday.
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Good morning,
The sun is out and I think we are on our way to a pretty nice day. Temps should be fine and (hoping) I think rain is not in the forecast here for a bit now. I'm ready for nice for sure.
Dh was a little surprised by the hail I put in the freezer for him. I'm not at all good at "size" descriptions but most of the time our hail is not much bigger than sleet so these were a lot bigger. Maybe about the size of a pencil eraser doubled. How is that for descriptive ? I'm just not too good that way. Anyway, there wasn't any where he worked --- but he works 20 miles south of here, so not surprising.
Just a lot of work around the house planned today. I've not been good at accomplishing my chores as of late so need to get on the ball and catch up. It is after all spring cleaning time --- though I don't pay super attention to that since we need to do that type most of the time here. What I do need to do is figure out more that should leave here --- that part of the spring cleaning.
Be well everyone. I'll be checking in a bit later.
Blessings,
Jackie
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MOrning ladies! Supposed to be in the 70's here today, though with some rain. The weekend is supposed to offer some snow! The Forsythias may have snow on them. Had my mammo , fine, nothing new. So I happily go to the parking lot to go home, back out and as I turn the guy in back of me backs in to my car! So much for a good day, $2400 damages. Our Senior Players group is performing for a senior living complex , this afternoon. Have a good April Fools Day!
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Hi gals! Oh NO Bonnets! That happened to me TWICE! Once at Starbucks, on my way out.... Oh wait! TWICE! On different days, both at the same STARBUCKS! The parking lot is so narrow! Now, I don't park close to any cars.... And I usually have DH looking out on one side, and me looking out the other....
Those parking lots are for playing Bumper-Cars! Especially with lanes with cars coming & going both ways! We should be allowed to use paint-ball guns.... Let them idiots HAVE it.
I picked up 2 more Inhaler samples from the Doctor's office... I'll use the Nebulizer for about another week... (that helps the wheezing, but makes you shaky and tired).....
Then went to buy some orange juice, etc. Everything tastes the same.... At least I feel better... just cranky, and sleepy.
I'm not thinking straight... just re-arrange this post so it makes sense....
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Allison and Ryan made it home last evening. Up until the last minute I was afraid something would happen that would keep him in the Chicago psych hospital or he would have another meltdown at the airport. My relief in learning that they had landed was quickly dashed when Ryan started shouting and threatening Allison. He cannot see that his own behavior landed him in the hospital and instead, blames Allison. I was actually afraid of him on the ride home. He was shouting at the top of his lungs. More abusive phone calls came last night and it was obvious he was drinking again. He saw his primary care doctor this afternoon and has made it clear he will not consider being admitted to a local rehab facility. I have no idea how all this is going to work out.
After 22 days, Mike's daily lab tests are trending upwards which shows that the bone marrow transplant is definitely working. The numbers made a slight jump earlier this week but then dropped back down the next day so hopes were dashed. Today's lab results were unmistakable. The doctor assured us that the wait is over. The average time for this to happen is 14 days after transplant so you can imagine how frightened I was. He's certainly not out of the woods - the next 100 days are critical. He has less of an immune system than a newborn baby and a minor infection can kill him. I'm again reminded of my grandmother who told me I shouldn't go "borrowin' trouble" so rather than thinking of what can go wrong, I'm concentrating on good lab tests. All his hair is gone now. I had not seen him clean shaven since he retired in '92. Bless him, he looks so fragile, tired, sick, and so much older. What a difference from 2 years ago.
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If seeds in the black earth can turn into such beautiful roses, what
might not the heart of a human become in its long journey toward the stars?G.K. Chesterton
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Good Moring,
Sandra, so glad for the update. So glad to hear that the new stem cells are ready to go to bat for Mike. Yes, he does look worn around the edges, but actually just more like many of us when we lost our hair, eyebrows etc. during chemo treatments. Un-like Mike, we had scarves, wigs, make up and dangling earrings to take care of the deficits that we were handed during our chemo txs. He is on his way to becoming a new man --- so I guess like you it is in the potential that will be reached as all try to stay focused on the end result, rather than the faltering areas that tend to look weak and not well formed yet. So, prayers and healing energies still being sent for the best of outcomes.
Glad that your kids are there but sorry that Ryan cannot see the 'light'. Surely at some point he will GET that he is letting himself down, but I know it is a hit and miss in that department. He seems rather firmly entrenched right now, but prayers for him as well that something will jar him to his senses. It is difficult on everyone and he has little opportunity, if any right now to see that he is creating such discord in what should be a calm, positive as possible time and place.
The sun is out again today, though it is fairly cool. At least no rain seems near and that is good for here. I went to my cousin's yesterday afternoon. Oh my !!!! I had something to eat and then in a bit my cousin came in from a trip to the garage for some plastic ware so I could take some food home to Dh, saying that the people moving out directly across must have torched the house as they were leaving. Had seen some 'smoke' out the kitchen window but thought it just a 'small' trash or old leaves fire.
The house across the road -- right next door to this one --- was the one I was raised in and was torn down two or three yrs. after I returned home here. It has been a rental for over 30 yrs. I think by then so I did not have the attachment I might have had --- and was in fact, due to the condition of it basically glad when it was demolished. Thought it not fair to the people living next to it. But Annie's house yesterday really bothered me. Grew up with them and had visited through my yrs. home with Annie and family. She passed away a couple yrs. ago and the house was sold to dare I say it --- a really trashy bunch. They talked filthy and so did the smallest of their children and the police were always it seemed 'over' there. I really do think it quite possible that as they left out yesterday with the last load from the house that they could have 'done' something that caused a blaze.
Happy that my cousins ( Mary who I spend a lot of time with ) and her Dh who is a Viet Nam veteran -- and who keep up their home and property in almost perfect order can have some peace now. The neighbors were often un-kind because the hubby would complain about the bad language and the filth and mess in the yard that his company had to be subjected to. Got to where M and Dh didn't want to invite people over for fear of how things might be. Well, that will be over now -- the house is a total loss -- the whole back side is a goner, burned completely out.
Hope you will have a good Sat. As always thinking of each and every one of you as I sit here.
Blessings,
Jackie
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Hello gals!
We are home! It is cool and windy here today but the bright yellow daffodils in my yard greeted me, as did the blooming tulip trees. I spent the entire morning unpacking and then went to the grocery store to stock the refrigerator again. I'm taking a quick break and then need to gather up all my income tax material so I can get it organized and ready to take this next week. I probably could save some money if I went the Turbo Tax route but I'm afraid I'd miss something and I don't want to get audited. That's never happened to me but I have heard horror stories of others who have had to go through that process. I always worried about it when I had my business and I have just kept the same tax preparation man since then.
The cats seemed excited to be home but I bet they will miss their daily trips outside on the screened-in lanai! They traveled very well!
Sandra, I'm glad to hear that Mike is improving. We'll just keep our fingers crossed that no infections pop up now! I am so sorry to hear about your son's problems. They affect your entire family and you can't really do much to help if he doesn't want to help himself or doesn't think that he needs any help.
Joan, I will share the salad recipes as soon as I have my taxes done. They are very easy to make and my family loves them.
Chevy...just read your post about the ham and beans and noodles. I love ham and beans but have never had them with noodles. Do you eat the noodles on the side or are they mixed into the ham and beans? It sounds interesting!
Oh Bonnets....you sure didn't need that fender-bender accident. It always such a pain when you have to fool with getting a car fixed. It took them forever to fix my car when I hit that black ice last year and spun into the ditch. However, they did a great job and it drives just like nothing ever happened to it.
Well, I need to get moving! Everyone have a great weekend!
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Love the one liners Chevy - my life in a nut shell
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Sandra, what good news to read that Mike's labs are finally improving! So sorry about the issues with Ryan
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Sandra, glad to hear Mike's numbers are going up Sending prayers your way.
Ritajean, glad to hear you are home safe and had a good time in Florida.
Bonnets, sorry to hear about your fender bender.
Chevy, hope you are feeling better. Those asthma attacks really take a lot out of a person. We have 2 sons and a gd with asthma.
Easter was to be our last get together with all our sons and their families but since we are not leaving until Sunday one of DS asked if we wanted to do dinner tonight. Two other DS heard and stated their families wwould come also. It was fun but I just kept thinking we will see them again soon just like any other time just so their would be no tears.
We have had rain, hail, snow, high winds and sunshine today. It sure was a strange day
Hope everyone is having a good weekend.
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You can't live a perfect day without doing something
for someone who will never be able to repay you.
- John Wooden -
Good morning,
It is coolish but gorgeous outside. I think going up to the 70's today. I can't wait. Don't know what I'll get done, but could work outside later. Some wind might come up, but over-all we should be fine and have a great day.
Thinking about having Dh help me sort through the back of the garage so I might start parking my car there. It is a four car garage --- so it sure would be nice to have enough space to put at least MY car in there. When we first moved here the cars were in the garage all the time. Sigh !!!! Some changes that happen aren't obviously for the best. But with a nearly new car now, I need to go back to standardly parking in the garage. We originally set things up so that you would enter the garage from the back and be able to exit from the front or vice-versa. One of these days we might actually be able to re-create the original plan.
Hope you are all going to have a fantastic, wonderful day. Termite, I've been trying to wish some one our mid/southern Illinois sun up to Chicago. Hope it can arrive soon.
Blessings,
Jackie
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Anne, Alexandria Rose is a sweetie pie!!
Sandra, pleased that Mike is improving!
*Good Morning**Hugs*
The following photo from Facebook was recently taken in the North Country.
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Beautiful flowers Teka.
Jackie
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Jackie- we have a regular 2 car garage and parking in it is the only privilege I have demanded for myself for the past 37 years. I figured if I had to be in and out of it several times a day- taking kids to and from school, grocery shopping, going to doctors and sports, my car was not going to be sitting in the hot Floriday sun all day. Sometimes I could barely get to or in it there was so much junk in the garage, but that was always a short term problem. We have no basement or attic so the garage was and still is our storage area.
More later, Anne
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Good afternoon ladies,
Sandra, I'm so happy that you have gotten good news on Mikes tests!
Today its 31 outside after 78 on Friday. Hope the blooms on the Forsythia, Magnolias and Daffodils survive the weather. Supposed to get more snow tomorrow. We got 2 inches, the most we have had all season. Crazy!
Our only garage is out back and is a barn for my DH equipment, mower, tractor etc. The cars are outside near the house. I do m iss having a garage . We had a single under our other house. I notice , when I visit the family in TX, since they have no basement , all the cars are in the drive and stuff is in the garage. Think down there you need an extra room for storage, that we do in the basement. All our storage is in the basement, as we have no usable attic, since DH thought we wud rush the house building by having roof trusses. Well being a log house, the measurement is different, and they measured for a standard house. Trusses didnt fit and had to be remade, delaying the build, and I miss my storage in the attic. have a good day, Jean
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Hi gals.... A little less congested.... went to pick up a generic for Claritin D. That should help BOTH of us, especially at night, when we feel and hear things "rattle" etc.... We DO take Mucinex, and are both feeling better, but still a ways to go.... I can TASTE things now!
Still doing treatments, but Asthma is better also.
Jackie, you should maybe get DH to help you take out "stuff" you don't want or need in the garage. I had to make sure that my little "new" car would fit in our older garage, AND be able to pull the garage door down! I "measured" every car I was interested in.... I could do that online.... So many people now, buy newer cars, in this older neighborhood, and their cars will not fit IN...! YOU HAVE A 4 CAR GARAGE AND CAN'T USE IT??? Ha! You know you can make it work.
You could tell your DH that you are piling stuff up in 1/2 of the garage, that you don't want. Then he can either call someone to come get it all, or you will have to donate, or in other words, get rid of it. It reminds me of Pickers.... in Iowa! Those 2 guys pick through peoples old barns, houses, etc. to find "treasure" to sell.... I can't beLIEVE what some people SAVE! They have no use for it, but just have a hard time getting RID of it, until their families TELL them it's time to get rid of some of this cr+p you have collected all of your lives.... Ha!
We can just set out "stuff" we don't want, in the back alley, and someone will come and TAKE it! Sometimes they come with a Pick-up, and then take it to sell at the flea-markets.
Also, in this city, there are several listings like "2 men and a truck" where they will gladly come to take donated stuff! Maybe your friends/neighbors would know?
Okay.... gotta go finish the Living-room.... changed the sofa and recliner around.... now cleaning everything else....
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We rented a house that had a carport. It worked pretty well. Kept moisture off at night so didn't need to scrape in the morning. Gave some protection from the sun.
My Dad built storage shelves hanging from the attic in the garage. And he hung a string at the point he wanted the hood ornament. When he touched that, the car was parked correctly.
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We are believers in the advantages of parking vehicles under cover. The sun is very destructive. We have a two-car carport and it is kept clear for my car and dh's truck. We do have an attic and outbuildings. I am of the mind that people wouldn't keep so much unneeded "stuff" if they didn't have room for it.
This morning I started working on the yard. I got the two front flowerbeds weeded and one mulched with pine straw. I would have gotten the other one done but was interrupted when dh got the big lawn mower stuck in a spot that he darned well knows is low. We tried to get it out of the muck using a come-a-long and rope tied to a tree but weren't successful. The neighbors came home from church and he changed clothes and drove his tractor over and pulled the lawn mower onto dry turf. DH continued mowing until the lawn mower developed a problem that caused it to heat up and smell like burning. DH thinks a bearing is bad. He'll order one and fix the mower. Rosanna Dana was right. It's always something.
This afternoon I plan to finish up my nephew's federal return. His live-in girl friend was employed for only two months last year so he'll be able to claim her as a dependent. Otherwise he was going to have to pay some extra instead of getting a refund, which he was depending on to pay toward a better vehicle for driving to work.
Happy Sunday to all.
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I grew up in Florida where we didn't have basements or attics. The same is true here in Texas. We do have a small space over part of the 2 car garage but it's hard to get up into. Haven't been up there in years. Also haven't parked a car in the garage in about 30 years. Garages are for "stuff" you don't want in your house but need to keep sort of close. (Plus all sorts of junk you have no idea how it got there.) Fortunately we don't have to deal with snow so most everyone parks in their driveways.
Mike came home yesterday afternoon. It was a surprise...we though he would be there at least through the weekend, but his doctor said his lab numbers were still going up so why wait? Today I didn't have to drive to the hospital. How strange! I made 33 trips. I have to take him back Monday at 8 a.m. for lab tests and probably he will stay for blood transfusion, platelet transfusion, or whatever else is too low. We will be going back and forth like that most days for the next week or two, then hope to spread it out until it's only once a week. Things with my son are still bad. There is some concern that he might hurt Allison, whom he blames for everything, since he is heading into a psychotic break again and is, of course, still drinking. He has bragged about how he could come in the middle of the night and warned that he will kick the door in if we change the locks. Mike has, unfortunately, gotten into the middle of it. He often can talk to Ryan. I hope it works this time.
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Excellent News!!
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Oh Sandra, things can sure change fast, huh !!! I hope Mike feels lots and lots of comfort being in his OWN home. Hope it all goes very smooth sailing now. Worrisome that Ryan is still being challenging and I sure hope he will not do anything foolish. He is the hold-out right now but maybe having Mike home and able to talk to him will have a soothing positive effect.
It will be good to alter your daily journeys to the hospital even though you will go for labs and infusions but now it is a matter of working on the finish line which is wellness and being able to live outside of isolation and clean rooms. Wishing you both and Allison some peace and comfort and a little less stress. Wishing for Ryan a big break away from his self medicating so that he might have some rest and healing for a while.
Lots of love and positive healing energies.
Jackie
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Oh good news Sandra! Things are looking up after all!
As far as your Son.... that would really have me scared, thinking that he might hurt your Daughter! I would be terrified. Doesn't seem to be any consequences for him, making all those threats.
Is there some resource you could call, starting with the local non-emergency police department, asking them what options you have.... or what agencies could help you? It's like something has to happen before anyone gets help. He is out of control, fueled by the drinking, and when he gets over the top, I would not want to be any where around him.... especially with Mike...
Is there any way a Doctor could step in, and help your Son live in a mandated rehab center? And not be able to leave when he wants out? I'm saying prayers for the help your family needs.
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Sandra, excellent news about Mike's progress. Your son needs to be prevented somehow from hurting anyone, including his sister. As Chevy said, he seems to have no consequences for his behavior. I hope that in some way Mike's being involved will be good, not bad, for Mike's recovery.
My day is planned as follows: yard work in the morning, nursing home in the afternoon. My sister Michelle and I take turns going to the nursing home.
A good Monday to all.
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Acceptance confers great freedom. It's a recognition of reality, and once you've achieved that grounding, it's moving forward. Embrace acceptance as another mode of love in action, one that releases your negative attachment to people and frees you to progress in even more challenging virtues that foster spirituality without judgment.
Michael Goddart
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Great news Sandra!!
Anne
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Humility does not mean false modesty. Humility does not mean taking a back seat. When you take a back seat consciously and deliberately in order to show others how humble you are, you are not being humble at all. False humility is what slaves show to their masters. Slaves know that if they do not obey their masters blindly, if they do not show this kind of outer humility, the master will punish them. True humility is something totally different; it is the feeling of oneness. Humility means giving joy to others. Here on earth we want to get joy. But how do we get joy? Real joy we get from self-giving, not by possessing or by showing our own supremacy. When we allow others to get joy, then we feel that our joy is more complete, more perfect, more divine. By making others feel that they are either equally important or more important, we show our
true humility.
Sri Chinmoy -
Good Morning Ladies......I am one of the older ladies being diagnosed w/ bc in 2010. I have a question for those of you that are on Tamoxifen. I am in my sixth year and now I am losing my hair again. It is sufficient amounts.......everytime I run the sweeper I have to clean the beater bar & get a small handful of MY hair. Does anyone take something extra as in herbs or vitamins like Evening Primrose Oil without the estrogen or Saw Palmetto ? I am so upset that by the time I finish the ten year stint I will be bald. Any suggestions or input would be greatly appreciated.
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Hi NormaJ.... I took Tamoxifen for only 1 1/2 years.... and I DID notice my hair thinning.... but the reason I quit taking it, was because I had a small "infarct" in my brain-stem, near the 8th cranial nerve.... In other words I lost most of my hearing.
I quit Tamoxifen, after I researched, and found it WAS listed as one of the SE's... stroke. As well as Cataracts, etc..... I would have kept taking it, but losing my hearing was just too much.... I'm going on 6 years now! Talk to your Onco.... Not that that will know anything, because mine sure couldn't help... but everyone is different.
Sometimes you just have to figure out what is best for YOU.... Are the SE's worth it? I read about taking all the supplements, vitamins, etc.... but my hair is STILL thin.... just not thinning anymore, like it was... But like I said.... I don't take anything anymore......
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