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

ritajean

Well, the sun is still shining here in central Illinois and the temperatures are way above normal for this time of year. This ol' gal is not complaining one bit! I love it, but know that's probably about to make a drastic change! :-)

The election is over! I am so glad. I was tired of the jabs and negativity that accompanied the campaigning. I pray that the victor will lead our country with some dignity and find the knowledge to help heal our nation, a task that either candidate would have been faced with upon victory.

For you book readers, I have discovered a new author that I just love....Linwood Barclay. He writes very good mystery books that I have difficulty putting down. It was way too late last night when I finally turned off the light and put down my book!

I hope that everyone is doing well today and that each of you have a great weekend. I am off to search for Cubs World Series Champion tee-shirts as I'm buying one for all the good Cubs fans in my family for Christmas. \

Rita

ChiSandy

We here in Chicago are shell-shocked, and perhaps nowhere near as confident that our new leader will lead with dignity, compassion, discipline and competence. People wanted “change” so badly that they didn’t stop and think about what that “change” should include, nor did anyone ask the candidates exactly how they would accomplish “change” (not to mention the specifics of the “change” they promised). And even more people failed to realize that “none of the above” can never win—that we were hiring the leader of the free world--not buying a car, answering an opinion survey, or awarding a trophy or a recording contract. Hope your prayers are strong enough, since we will need them for a long time.

I’m in the Chicago Bar Assn.’s “Bar Show,” an annual satirical topical musical revue—and just as we were all nearly “off-book” because we open in less than 4 weeks, the writers have had to totally rewrite and re-cast half the show, with an ending that won’t depress most of the audience. It’s hard to find anything funny about what just happened. Sarcastic, angry….but not funny.

At least I learned that my left eye is healing so well from cataract surgery that I can be refracted next week instead of the week after—so I can get my new glasses (still need some reading correction in the R and distance correction in the L) sooner rather than later. I don’t mind wearing glasses—they’ve been part of my image since third grade, and the frames hide the under-eye bags. And I finally got the go-ahead to resume wearing eye makeup.

It got much cooler up here along the n. lakefront—will probably have to cover the remaining few tomatoes still on the vine or give up and pick them while still small, green and hard. Will have to dig up and re-pot the herbs so they can stay indoors till spring (maybe the basil can be trimmed and grow in water). No rain, though, for at least a week.

carolehalston

I wore a long-sleeved shirt and cropped pants today to play golf and was comfortable. It stayed overcast which suited me. I hope we get a stretch of fall weather and it doesn't switch back to summer for many months.

Rita, I made a note of that author's name. I'm always on the lookout for good mystery writers.

With conservatives in power in all branches of government, I worry about preservation of our wonderful national parks. I wouldn't like to see condos at the Grand Canyon. These sites are a treasure and materialistic politicians look upon the world with dollar signs in their eyes. I also worry about destroying this wonderful earth that is in the care of mankind. It baffles me that people can choose not to believe science.

I guess I will be supporting the Wilderness Society and some other defenders of nature.

Hope everyone enjoyed today

keepthefaith

I don't think I will ever stop worrying about something as long as he is in office. I am truly scared for our country and all that it stands for. Hopefully, the Dems will get out and vote in 2 yrs when we need it more than ever. Poke me with a fork, I am so done!:(

Going to try to get out this week-end and enjoy this wonderful weather:)

Anneb1149

Hi all,

I just wanted to let you know I am still around. It's been one hell of a week here, and I leave for SC next Sat. Before I get to the disasters, my sister has been home for the week. She finally got to a Dr today, but was only able to see the PA that she seemed to like. They prescribed an inhaler for her that is over $100 that she doesn't have. I gave her some info about a NY program Bonnetts had told me about for low income seniors. It is income based and since she qualified for subsidied housing for seniors, I think she might qualify. If not or if it takes a while, I told her I would pay for her medicine. They gave her the oKay to drive again, and her grandson's were with her, so the seven year old asked he Dr if Mimi was well enough to do sleepovers yet. (He spent most Fri nights at her house). The Dr said that if Mimi felt well enough, yes, Mimi could do a sleepover. I'm not sure who was happier, Ryan or Mimi.

Now for my week - first, my car wouldn't turn on. It just click-clicked. Thank goodness Tracy works at a construction machinery place. She took it to work the next day. It came home with a new battery and no less than 5 mechanics checked it out, so that was that.

Next was the cable TV. It has been having trouble since before I went to my sister's. Basically, we have 2 DVRs and each one is connected to one of the main TVs in the living room and family room. We had a bit of a storm surge for a few seconds one day, and the TVs have been a mess since then. Sometimes the TVs work, sometimes they don't. My DVR only works in my bedroom, but my live TV doesn't. Both the living room and family room get Tracy's DVR, but again the TVs only work sometimes. We finally decided we were going to bite the bullet and pay for them to rewire the whole house. The guy came out Wed night, and said there would not be any charge for the rewiring because we are their customers. Even better, after he checked the wiring, they don't have to change any of it, we just have to update the equipment. They will be here Wed to do it.

Then, the washing machine died. Someone came out, looked at it and mumbled something about it being replaced under warranty cause there were several key components that needed to be replaced. Tracy has spent hours on the phone trying to get it taken care of. Today, someone at Whirlpool told her it most likely was going to be replaced, but that that could take weeks. We went and bought a new one today and they will reimburse her when the decision is made. That is being delivered on Mon.

Next, we got upgrades on our phones last Sat. Mine kept locking up, so we had to take that back today.

And last, but not least, the freezer stopped freezing. I called the guy who replaced the compressor in May, but he is in Columbia, South America, and his company can not make any decisions without him. The receptionist thought she was being helpful when she said he usually emails them every other day or so. I asked if someone could come out and tell us what was wrong, so we could decide if we wanted to fix it or replace it. Apparently that cannot be done without his permission. This leaves us in a real pickle. I don't want to replace it if it is a simple repair, or under warranty, but I am heading to SC next Sat and won't be back till mid-Dec.

All of that happened this week. Yesterday I had a routine Dr appt, and when I got out, I called Tracy to see if she wanted me to pick something up for lunch. She had taken the day off, thinking that the washing machine and fridge people would be here taking care of business. When I asked her about lunch, she burst into tears. She is overwhelmed with everything going wrong at one time. I understand her frustration, but all I can think is that all these problems are solvable and they repairable or replaceable. After losing my brother in Aug, and coming real close to losing my sister a few weeks ago, I just can't get upset over "things."

Hope everyone has a good weekend

Anne

bonnets

Anne, Don't know what your family wud do without your support! Never seems to end!

Been coughing for the past 2 or 3 weeks, think it is post nasal/allergy with the tickle, as been sneezing more than usual too. See allergist MOn. and primary Tues. Wud like to have a chest film though, with a history of BC!

Long distance hugs, friend! Jean

IllinoisLady

Anne, the world is still running because of you. It is a wonderful outlook you have though. It will all fall together, even if it falls apart first.

Bonnets, I'm just starting to think after about two and a half months I may be able to quit taking my allergy ( Spring & Fall ) meds. Thankfully they are not expensive, but it gets so tiresome, as do the allergy reactions themselves. I may try not taking it tonight and see what happens -- though I'd probably need a bit more time to figure it out.

Otherwise all is well.

Jackie

Wren44

I have the endless cough too. Seeing my PCP on Monday for her to take a listen. In the meantime I'm doubling my inhaler at her request. I'm trying to drink lots of water to loosen things up, but the main result is needing to get up 3-4 times a night. It always takes some time to get back to sleep. Our bathroom is down a flight of stairs with a light, so it tends to really wake me up.

ChiSandy

It’s been such an unusually warm autumn that the molds have been able to grow long past the point at which in any normal year frost would have killed the spores. Pollens hung around longer too. But here in Chicago, amazingly, there’s only one source for pollen & mold counts: an octogenarian allergist at Gottlieb Hospital in Melrose Park, Dr. Joseph Leija, who early every M-F morning during allergy season goes up to the roof of the hospital, collects the slides that have been out for 24 hrs., and counts the pollen & mold spores (for molds, he has to use sampling & extrapolation based on aggregate “blob” size). He then reports them on the hospitals website, to which ABC 7 News has a link in its weather reports. Problem is, in any normal year the allergy season runs from Mar. 15-Oct. 15, after which time he apparently hibernates (or at his age, probably “snowbirds” in FL or AZ). But it’s still going on, yet nobody seems to be measuring the allergens.

IllinoisLady

The essential difference between the unhappy, neurotic type person and the happy, normal person is the difference between get and give. The unhappy person is concerned with: the world is against me, what's in it for me, what are people doing to me, and so forth. When your central theme in life is getting, you usually do get headaches. But the happy person is looking toward what he or she can do, what they can give, what they can accomplish.

Joe D. Batten and Leonard C. Hudson

Nanagirl

Hi all just wondering if any of you live in Orange County New York Looking for a good upbeat oncologist who is closer to home Found a wonderful radiologist who I'm happy with. Thanks for your help.

bonnets

We use Robert Dinsmore, at Crystal Run Healthcare in Middletown. Jean

Nanagirl

thank you

Goincrzy8

Today was great day of not thinking about Cancer. My son and DIL went on a date nite and I get to have the grandkids. They keep my mind off things.

IllinoisLady

Good for you Goincrzy. In the beginning that really is about all we think about --- even when we push it out or think we have, it is sneaky and still there lurking waiting to spring into action and get us "going" again. Now grandies around are usually strong enough to do the trick. I'd get your son to take a week-end jaunt somewhere.

Jackie

sandra4611

Hope all of you are well. I'm just checking in...haven't read the pages I missed. The stress level keeps escalating here but I'm hanging on and so is Mike. Things at the rehab "hospital" went from bad to worse. While their physical therapy and occupational therapy people were stellar, the nursing care was horrible and attending doctors barely competent. My gut told me to get him out of there quick. I signed him out AMA (against medical advice) and took him back to our military hospital ER because he was running a fever, vomiting, and very weak. That was Tuesday, Nov. 1st and he is still in the hospital. He almost didn't make it that night due to advanced dehydration which caused life threatening low blood pressure and heart issues. He had an infection which turned out to be in his gallbladder and intestines. He was in the ICU for 5 days and coded twice. He still has some lingering pneumonia. Today he is no longer critical but isn't well enough to leave the hospital. His gallbladder needs to come out but they don't think he is healthy enough to survive general anesthesia. Meanwhile a tube is helping to drain it. They finally started artificial feeding via IV since he was suffering from malnutrition. He still has nasty abdominal cramping and life threatening diarrhea.

If he recovers enough, I'll take him back to Houston to MD Anderson.

Kattysmith

Hi Gals,

*Detachment* has helped me get through this week, well...every week, honestly. I suspect that you, like me, are pretty damn shock-proof by now whether personally or politically. We stare death in the face every day and spit in its eye.

Thought some of you might appreciate these random Buddhist quotes:

"Bodhisattvas are committed to their practice, which means to sit, to get up, and to sweep the garden — the whole world, close in and far away — every day, no matter what. They have always done this, they always will. Good times, bad times, they keep on going just the same. Bodhisattvas play the long game. They have confidence in the power of goodness over time. And they know that dark times bring out the heroic in us."

"Think of what the Dalai Lama has gone through in his lifetime. He maintains daily practice, he maintains kindness for everyone, though he has lost his country and his culture at the hands of a brutal regime. Yet he doesn't hate the Chinese and finds redeeming features in them. He maintains his sense of humor. He has turned his tragedy into a teaching for the world."

"Another thing I've been thinking about is the reality of impermanence. There is nothing in this world- nothing- that lasts forever. We are lucky that impermanence is built into our system of government. The value of recognizing the reality of impermanence is that a) we cherish the people and circumstances that bring us joy and b) we know that hard times pass."

So let's play the long game and sweep our gardens today.

*I had to remind an old friend after I posted these quotes on FB that detachment didn't mean inaction or impotence...never again means never again to me, too.

I'm making a big pot of vegetable soup today.

Katty, 64, lifelong Houstonian, married to my best friend, mother of a 35 yr. old son , Meme to my 24 mo old grandson, head-wrangler to a houseful of critters, our beloved dogs and cats that rule our world, sometimes without mercy

Seedsally

Sandra good to hear from you but so sorry for the trouble you are having and good wishes for you and your beloved.

Katty I feel the quotes you posted are so appropriate for our situations. But I understand what you mean about detachment. I often feel like I am watching this happen to someone else. I think that is a result if the shock and having so much to learn about it all. I also think it's a way we protect ourselves from the pain and heartache of it. I just hope as I go along to be able to fuse myself back together and accept my new normal

IllinoisLady

"Dignity does not consist in possessing honors,

but in deserving them."

Aristotle

IllinoisLady

Sandra, you are such a blessing to the man you married. Thank goodness you were able to AMA Mike and take him where he could get PROPER attention and help. I sure hope this starts you on a better upward path. It is so incredible --- the storms you and Mike have been weathering together. You ( not that it helps much right now ) are such a strong person. I'd have collapsed long ago from the weight you have carried. My thoughts, prayers, and hopes are with you and I hope you can feel them and find, if possible, at least a little shred of comfort and care coming from Illinois.

Blessings and love,

Jackie

carolehalston

Hugs for you and Mike, Sandra.

I'm off to the gym this morning. Later I hope to wash my Prius and vacuum the inside.

Our comfortable cool weather won't last. The heat is coming back as the week progresses.

Happy Monday.

IllinoisLady

A happy person is not a person in a
certain set of circumstances,
but rather a person with a
certain set of attitudes.
- Hugh Downs

IllinoisLady

Carole, maybe you could send a little of your heat this way. Well, the good news is the HVAC man will be here on Wednesday to begin installing the new furnace. If Murphy's Law kicks in as that seems to easy ( almost a sure thing in a way ) it will be in just in time for our warmer weather. It won't be a lot warmer, but we have been going to the earlier side of the 40's at night ---- and the house cools rapidly in the woods as this time of yr. with the sun not so strong -- the cooling cycle begins quicker which is late afternoon. Still, I hope it will help Dh not HAVE to have such a warm house --- it will also save on our heating bill although this winter we will be ok. They are though already aware that next season the fuel prices for propane will be much higher.

This yr. we are only paying $55.00 a month ( budget billing ) but have paid as much as $115.00 per month. Don't know whether to "bank" some money or not. Well, maybe in the meantime we will win the lottery and not have to worry so much about it.

Say hi to all and hugs all around for those that need them.

Jackie

IllinoisLady

We all have within us a deep sense of what we need, and what
is right and true for us. To access this we need to pay attention
to our feelings and our intuition. We need to learn to listen
deeply to ourselves and to trust what we hear. And we need
to risk acting on what we feel to be true. Even if we make
mistakes, we must do this in order to learn and grow.

Shakti Gawain

bonnets

Good morning ladies. Went to see my PCP/onc yesterday. He in formed me a CT I HAD FOR GALL BLADDER ALSO SPOTTED AN Adenexal cyst, which he said, at my post menopausal age, can indicate cancer or mets. Have to have an ultra sound . He noted this was also seen in 2013. Neither time did anyone stop and inform me of this, until now! It is small but has grown since 2013. So I am anxious , to say the least. Asking for your prayers as I wait to get results. I did ask if he will be doing a CA125, which seems to be the usual path before removal/biopsey.

Seedsally

Bonnets good morning and so sorry about your medical report. I will pray for you right now. Keep us posted.

Good morning to all the rest of you warriors. I hope we all have a good day.

I am up and about to get ready for my post op appt with my PS. It's a 2 1/2 hr drive one way but my daughter is leaving work to pick me up later. I'm sore from all the extra incisional work under my arms but doing good with the implants. They feel almost like the real thing so far.

IllinoisLady

Dreams come true; without that possibility, nature would not incite us to have them. -John Updike

IllinoisLady

Bonnets,

Thinking of you and sending prayers and lots of positive universe energies. I presume the Dr.'s concern is the finding that there has been some growth noted of this cyst. I guess I'd question --- if there was growth --- why wait till now to do a biopsy but I'm always that way. No matter what anyone says I seem to have some idea like --- why not check in '14 or '15. Sigh !!!! I definitely would want that CA-125 too.

Seedsally

Wonderful quote. One I believe. Thanks

bonnets

Yes im upset that it was noted on 1 or 2 other cts and none of my drs said anything. I know it was on ct of 1/2015! I left a msg for my PCP/onc about doing a ca125. Doing an ultra sound on the 29th. As I research I think they will do a bio or remove it! Luckily it is only 2.6-2.3 cm. Still I'm quite nervous.