For Older People with Sense

barbe1958

I always warn the tech about my vein so they are extra diligent. Some will warm the area with a warm towel, some use butterfly needles and some just go for it. I do find the techs in the CT and MRI area particularly good at what they do. 

SoCalLisa

I always request a butterfly for a blood draw

I didn't know that they were also for infusions. I will keep that in my data bank.

Wren44

I had an MRI tech stab me in the upper forearm and get the vein on the first try. I didn't even know I had a vein there. It hurt, but much can be forgiven if they get it on the first try. I always lie and say they're easy to hit because the real story would just make them nervous.

QCA

Very crafty, Wren!  Probably gives them some confidence too.

Chrissy, I hope your visit with your specialist went well and you'll soon find a solution.   Thinking of you.

Leah, I'm concerned about happenings where you are and pray that you and your family are safe.

Kathy

chrissyb

Hi girls, I'm home and had a good sleep.  My visit with the specialist went well and after I let off about the CT story we got to look at the CT films and report.  The upshot is there is no cancer spread ( that's good) but my whole right lung is affected by an infection so that explains my shortness of breath and the sweats, fevers and crapiness.  So with a prescription for anti B's with repeat in my hand and words that he doesn't want to see me for another six months, I headed for the door, the car and headed home.  

I felt okay when I got home, a little fragile but okay until I got on the boards and found that my friend Karen (Kazzie61)  died yesterday lunch time........I think I was just about ready to deck someone, the only thing that stopped me was firstly I have no strength so my decking would be like swatting a mosquito and secondly there was no one around that annoyed me enough to want to deck........problem solved so I went to bed.

I am a little more myself this morning after a good night sleep and a couple of doses of the anti Bs.  Can't say I'm ready to run a marathon or anything but the first wobbly steps have been made.  I'm calmer over Karens passing although I know I will grieve her loss for a while yet I am accepting it as we knew it has been coming for the last six months and each day for her since then has been a gift.

I will stay in touch with my GP over the infection and I need to get the results of some bloods so I will call him Monday, get those and give him a report on how I'm feeling.  It's just time so I'll be sort of good as being perfectly good is just not me......lol......but I will try my best and hope my energy begins to return soon and with the energy perhaps the knee will be a little less sore so I can begin to get back to my living!

Love n hugs girls, you do my heart good to see you here.    Chrissy

barbe1958

Chrissy, thank God you had a scan to show the infection or it might have been ignored! Being less mobile with  your knee surgery may have either started it or exacerbated it and the result could have been so much worse!! I'm sure you will feel much better in a couple of days - hugs to you!

carolehalston

Chrissy, the bigger news is wonderful!  No spread of cancer.  You'll beat the lung infection.  So sorry about your friend. 

Lisa, where were you and your camera when I really needed you?  DH and I were sitting at anchor out on the lake today, when a gorgeous loon floated up REALLY close.  I could see the red eye on the side facing me.  When the loon dived down and surfaced moments later, I saw a tiny fish in the beak. 

Later at a 2nd anchorage, a large eagle flew overhead quite low.  We could see his white head and white tail feathers.

When we returned to the campground, I went for an exercise walk and saw a pretty deer cross the road, stop and look at me before bounding into the woods.

It has been a great day for enjoying nature.  And I don't have any pictures!!

SoCalLisa

Wow, but you saw them..and that is the real thing...

chrissyb

Barbe you are right, as much as I hate CTs I'm glad it was done and showed the infection.  You are also right the the inactivity from the knee replacement could indeed be part of the problem but hopefully  by the time the anti bs are done the knee will be even better and I can get back to the pool for exercise and easy movement as I build up strength.

Carole, yes I'm very happy that there is no spread......it's always good when things like that stay boringly the same........lol.  Wow!  All that wonderful wildlife and so close!  It's those sorts of things that told me to always have a camera with me as this moment tend to only come once.  The good thing is, you saw them, as Lisa said and there will always be other moments to capture.

Love n hugs all!     Chrissy

SoCalLisa

Gee Chrissy, when it rains it pours..at least they found out the cause of the problem and are doing something about it!

I took a lovely walk by the beaches today..first on the bay side of Coronado then on the Ocean side..and Chrissy, I went in

to our favorite spot for pies...

one of the giant car carriers leaving port.

and that point of land is where we went to see the view

of San Diego past the National Cemetery...

3jaysmom

Chrissy: i'm glad they found the reson you've been feeling crappy. I, myself, have (again) fighting off a bacterial infection, systemic at this point. Yes, the anti bs will help the knee healing, and noone will get murdered here, as a result of them here!

 I'm so sorry you lost Kazzie, it's alwyas a shock, even when its' "expected" iI know i haven't overcome the loss of Marybe, and Isabella, even though its' been awhile.

 I'm praying for you dear girl.. remember to treat yourself well right now, and go easy. thinking and praying for you.

We both to 'overdo" and I know for me, if I'm upset, its' worse.

  Happy Birthday to Dh and Happy anniversary to you both

  Hugz, 3jays

lilyrose53

Chrissy,  So glad you got some good news on your CT.  But take care with that lung infection!  

Wren,  they always use butterfly needles on me.  My first round of chemo messed up the good vein in my left arm and I developed phlebitis.  All my other veins are very small and difficult to access.

Today was round #7 of Taxol.  Only 5 more to go.  Saw my MO today.  He is concerned that I am developing neuropathy.  My feet are starting to feel numb quite a bit.  Sigh.  Another lovely gift from cancer.  Steroids have kicked in so I will be up most of the night.  But I will use my time to catch up on reading the boards.

Wishing you all well.  Hugs,  lilyrose

barbe1958

Carole, I agree with Lisa that it's better to see something yourself and hold that vision in your memory than to see it only on paper in a photo. Always nice to get both, but it's your memory now and no one can take that picture away. Sometimes I get too wrapped up in trying to "get the shot" instead of enjoying the moment. I've put my camera down for the past year to stop and smell the roses instead of shooting them.

carolehalston

"Favorite pie place..."  Sounds good!

macatacmv

Hi! I've been busy,so just getting around to checking in. I feel like it is summer and I am on vacation. Lol I've been waiting for this feeling for a while. DD is off crutches and headed off to CO for a few days to see her doc also and PT person there. I finally got my wonderful bed moved over here and I've been enjoying that. My DD brought the little girls she babysits for over yesterday. DS and I had just come home from a funeral, so it was great to see life at that stage (7 & 5) with all the questions and "bumpy" the periwinkle living in the little pail. I made sandwiches for everyone and then we finished off the birthday cake. Those are the moments that make me purr.

Chrissy, thank God there is no spread, but take care of the nasty infection. 

Carole, I was walking the dog in the woods yesterday and a beautiful deer came bounding by, the dog gave a half hearted chase. I didn't have time to even think of taking a picture. Isn't it nice we live in beautiful places.

Lily, oh I feel for you! All I can really say is this time shall pass.

I went to my doc and she doesn't want to change any of my meds. In fact she gave me another script for a sleeping aid. Gave me the speech about how I have an anxiety disorder and there will be times I need more help. I kept saying but you told me when I lost all this weight I was gonna feel better. I think she just wanted me outta her office. I have to admit that I feel better getting more sleep. But that is not going to take care of all this inflammation. So on to yet another doc, specializing in pain and chronic Lyme.  

Thinking and praying for Leah.

Shout outs to 3jays and Barbe, Kathy, Lisa and wren!

Alyson

Great to see everyone here. Pleased for Chrissy that it's just an infection but you look after yourself girl.

3jays wonderful to see you. Big hugs. 

Mac hope you are feeling better. Hate it when doctors rush you. Pain is so draining. 

Carole love the story of what you saw. Sometimes it ia just wonderful to have the memories. Wasn't able to hey a photo of the birds at my friends place but it brings a smile when I think about them all. 

Barbe how is the house hunting going. 

Big hugs to every one. Must drink my cup of tea. 

barbe1958

Put on offer in on this place yesterday....countered tonight, they came down $3,000 so we went up $3,000. We are only $6,000 apart, but we told them we don't want any of their appliances or window treatments OR the cushion made for the bay window in the dining room (seen on the right side of the house). Wish us luck!! The rooms are HUGE with high ceilings... a perfect NaNa and PaPa house in "small-town" Ontario.

Alyson

Hope you get it. Will be back next year. 

barbe1958

They just countered back FIRM at $4,500 up - remember we were only $6,000 apart. So we are going to take it!!! Now all the hard stuff. Firing it off to the mortgage broker - sent her the listing and she LOVED the place!! Can't transfer our mortgage from here to there, though, so wondering how much of a penalty.... here is the mls.ca listing if anyone wants to look at our new GEM!!!!

http://beta.realtor.ca/propertyDetails.aspx?PropertyId=14038600#v=de

mostlymom

barbe - congratulations - your new house looks great!  may you have many years of joy in it.

SoCalLisa

I'm afraid I couldn't handle the stairs

But it looks like a winner

macatacmv

Barbe, what a find! Hope all the paperwork goes through smoothly. How exciting.

QCA

Lots of activity here!  I've been busy all day and then tired at night due to keeping grandkids this week.  We had two of the three today and have a day off tomorrow before both boys will spend the night on Saturday.  DS and DIL have a wedding to attend.

3 jays, it's always so good to see you here!  

Chrissy,  wonderful news that there's no spread!  Hopefully the antiB's will knock out the infection quickly and you'll be back to your recovery and getting strength back.

Lisa, love the pictures!  They make me want to go to San Diego!

Nancy, I'm sorry you're having a rough time and were brushed off by your doctor.  Sometimes they seem to have no idea (or just don't care) how much our feelings and emotions, etc, can affect us.  Do you already know a doctor who specializes in pain and chronic lyme or do you have to find one?

Lilyrose, I'm sorry you're having a bad time of it.  You've passed the halfway point now and from now on it's downhill all the way.  I so hope it gets better for you.

Carole, I too miss so many opportunities to take pictures but try to tell myself that at least I have the memory of it.  Last year, I passed a cow pasture and saw an orphaned  baby deer nursing a cow--what a picture that would have been!

Barbe, like Lisa I couldn't manage the stairs but I love the house!!  It looks like something out of a storybook!  How long do you think it'll take to actually move in?  I'm assuming you have to sell the place you're living in now but maybe that's not the case.

Must go wake up DH again for the ??th time and tell him to go to bed.  As usual, he's on the sofa!

Kathy

SoCalLisa

kathy...that sounds familiar..

Wren44

Barbe, Those rooms look enormous. And the whole place looks well kept. I hope everything goes through and you enjoy it for years and years.

barbe1958

They ARE very big rooms! Feels like a `grown-up` house. We have to sell our place first, but the closing is October 31...Halloween!!! The price just can`t be beat! If that house was in Toronto, based on quality, size, character, etc it would be a million dollar home. We feel very blessed. Now it just has to all fall into place.

SoCalLisa

I know you will enjoy it once you move in and get settled....

SoCalLisa

when do you hear for sure...?

carolehalston

Barbe, I LOVE that house!  It has so much character. 

A fawn nursing a cow.  What an unusual sight.  That would have made a great photo.  Maybe a contest winner! 

We saw two fawns yesterday.  They leapt across the road as we were returning from playing golf.  There's always a certain amount of risk when you're driving in deer country.  DH slowed down, wondering if Mama Deer would be crossing the road, too.  But we didn't see her.  I got a good look at the fawns with their white spots.  They were really cute. 

People in this area have high wire fences around their veggie gardens and around some flower beds, too.  I guess the deer--and rabbits help themselves.

SoCalLisa

I was just out in front chasing a rabbit..