INSOMNIACS place to talk in the wee hours

Anonymous

Nettie, thanks for the laughs! Had to share the Elmo one on my FB. Sometimes just looking for funnies and posting them makes me change my mood to happy. Like Hi1 said, just do it. The stress it's putting on you must be horrible. 

Smaarty, reading what you wrote about the downsizing brought back memories of last year. Mom put up such a stink if she knew I was discarding even one thing (even if it had huge tears in it). Would play the game that when she went to the bathroom (which she did frequently and for long periods of time), I'd grab clothes from her closet by the arm-ful and stash in the guest room where she seldom went. Then, when she busy watching tv or napping, I'd go thru the items - trash, give-away or keep. My mom literally had hundreds of tops she collected for the past 20 years (and gotten from friends and family as well as Dad and I taking her shopping). I could hold tops up to me and "measure" to determine quickly if they may fit. Now, she's about a 12/14 but had clothes up to 5X (she was never that big). When she couldn't see me, I'd put the large bags of clothes in Dad's car's trunk or back seat and the next day we would deposit to charity. Also wouldn't let her see me put the really ratty stuff in the trash. She's at the point now where she wants to save old used kleenex, like that's going to happen!

For Sassy:

Nettie1964

Dang I am a whiny one today!!  Can't seem to get past the hump!!  And it is hump day!  And I do have massage therapy later today...Hoping it doesn't hurt to bad, but usually that is not the case! 

On a happy note, I am having dinner with a cousin who is in from Colorado, she's military and will be leaving in September to be stationed in Hawaii (poor girl)!  But we don't get to visit often, so this is a treasured time!!

Anonymous

Hi1, SAB is better than SOB!

Nettie, let's hope the massage HELPS instead of HURTS. Try to relax (I know, easier said than done at times). Enjoy your dinner out

Anonymous

Some say this works: 

I'm a bit skeptical - this probably comes from someone who hasn't had cancer!

ziggypop

Hello Owlettes! Hi sassypants my sweet little radioactive friend! I have been missing all of you and since they let chevy and me out of the doghouse, I've been really LONELY. I was getting used to having the chevster as a roomie, even though she did break my finger flying around on that pole of hers. I did finally break down and go to the er - they know me by name now, they all just look at me and roll their eyes. 

I can't catch up here with everything sounds like many are having probs with husbands who don't know how to behave properly and family with dementia. Oh lord can I relate to the second as I live with my mom who has what is luckily mostly a happy dementia. Nobody should ever feel bad about how they have to go about getting rid of stuff - if you can find a way to do it that they are not getting sad or upset, that's great. My mother fills bottle and jars (anything with a lid) with water "in case the electricity goes out." There were about 60 gallon jugs all around the house when I moved back here. Now I generally empty about 10 to 15 per week. Sometimes she forgets to fill them and I get a break, but it's always something. If the catfood gets wet, she'll try to dry it in the microwave & burn it & then dump it back in with the other cat food & then the kitty won't eat any of it. For awhile she saved lint from the dryer because she heard that "people can make paper from it." But she's mostly happy and I figure that's really all that matters - I took care of my great aunt for a couple years and she had really bad spells when she thought we were stealing her dishtowels (which she snuck upstairs and put in her dresser drawers every night). Part of life I guess, but the people I have taken care of have all been people who I love dearly - can't imagine doing it for someone I never liked particularly in the first place. Those of you who do that or have done deserve sainthood.. really. 

Nettie, make sure to keep that appointment.. it's always better to know what it is, and no point to be in pain everyday when there is possibly a solution for it. 

Luvmygoats.. you asked me awhile ago about seeds. If they are wildflower seeds, you are supposed to clear a bed for them, but seeds are inexpensive and since you don't like to dig up the weeds and grass and all, which can be a real pain, maybe just mow or weed whack (or don't even do that), toss them out there & water the area every day for a week at least. You'll probably get somethings up. At the end of the season. you could consider mowing everything back, pouring boiling H2O over the area and covering it with plastic for the winter - that should give you a pretty clear area for next spring.

FBB - I was thinking just the other day that you would think they'd do reconstruction on gurneys that can be raised up so that they can see what's what. I don't get though why it helps to have your hands in your underpants. But, I am happy to here that you're out doing things because you need to be in shape for our ledge dancing escapade. 

I don't know about posting pictures that say "Happy hump day" - chevy will take it the wrong way for sure and I hear Vinnie's busy right now (actually I think that chevy just tuckered him out entirely). That poor ol' biddybat will be all frustrated and just not know what to do. And then she'll start telling cami some story cami won't understand 'cause it doesn't make any sense and cami just had tests and such so we need to be nice to her for awhile. 

All of you who are feeling bad or have chit going on, I hope it's better soon, try to treat yourself to something specially nice, even if it's just a little something. 

Okay. time to go empty water bottles or something.. 

Happy day! 

Chevyboy

Lilshit!  YOU are a Saint!  Honest.....  I remember my Grandma was so upset onetime, because she told me "all those women" at the assisted living were stealing her lip-sticks! "  I looked all over for them, but no lipsticks...  So I brought her a bunch more of mine....  

Finally, when I had to take her little red velvet Christmas tree back home, I found all her little lipsticks, stuck in between the red ruffles.... hiding them from "those women."  I didn't say a word about them...  I didn't want her to think she had forgotten.   I would have done ANYthing for her.... at that time...  just breaks your heart.... I used to cry all the way to work, when I would leave her....   She just didn't know anything.... and was afraid of everything.  I'm glad you have your Mom Ziggy....  You are a sweetheart!

YOU went to emergency?  Why?  Did your finger fall off somewhere?  And you picked it up in a dust-pan, and took it with you?    No wonder they shook their collective little heads!  So NOW take a picture! 

Yes... Vinnie called, and said he was just too tired  to carry on with this old little biddy-bat!  Ha, ha!    I KNOW he'll be back though...  Man I was WORRIED when he went sailin' head first out of that hay-loft!    He'll  never be the same...  He's probably still recovering somewhere....  and that CAMMI said she was ALWAYS available!  That brat!  Men are soooooooo easy! 

I KNOW what "hump-day" is....  little tartlet!    Yes, every Wednesday....  that's as good a day as any to......  oh wait....  never mind.

FierceBluebird

so happy to see sas is back and ziggy and Chevy are up to their old tricks again. Not "tricks" - shenanigans.

Holeinone, we haven't gone anywhere other than doctor visits, emergency rooms and hospitals for so long I forget what it's like to relax. Just saw my hospital bill for 3 days in a shared room, $97,000. That's just the hospital portion, not surgery. Medical costs are depressing and scary. 

I'm kind of in a bad place mentally waiting for more tests on Friday and a treatment plan. Wish this dang pneumonia would clear up. It's hard to be positive when you don't feel well.

Chevyboy

F-BB.... sorry kiddo!  Wish I could make things better for you!  Man, I'm afraid to see the hospital bill for when I was in there in February!  Didn't get one yet...  Our Insurance pays some, but no idea how much....  I was only in Thursday through Sunday.... but had the surgery, plus all the other stuff!    

sas-schatzi

Maddy such a sweet thought Thank You.

Thanks to everyone, this haven is like "Cheers" The old sitcom. 

FBB so sorry didn't catch that you had pneumonia. Don't need other bothersome things with everything going on. Phooey. Just caught your phrase in your bio line. It's beautiful. Just beautiful. There's a wonderful wild life refuge that I go to. My mind went right there with your description. Thank You

The doc is going to do a meter read FRI AM. Not sure if it will change anything, may try to not eat real food or take my thyroid med till then. Fairly sure all the absorption the left over thyroid tissue is going to do is done. He told me I could eat and drug on Thursday, but Endocrine says 7 days for each. Tough when info conflicts. 

I screwed up the instructions on PILL day. I was to drink one glass of water per hour for 8 hours. Had a sleep attack for 3 1/2 hours, plus the hour involved in driving and settling in. So, my water intake was off. That was to help get it absorbed, but had at least 2 glasses before sleep attack. Then did well after that. 

I sooooooo want some bread and butter, and chocolate, and ice cream. All these fruits and vegetables are going to kill me. There is all this healthy food in the house b/c of the low iodine requirement. I look at it and think "There's nothing here to EAT".

Ziggy and Maddy and Chevy, same here multiple people in my family have had dementia. Very heavy on in my dads generation which interestingly enough is the group that was very heavy with cancer. 7:9 with cancer, 7:9 with dementia. 10th excluded died young in accident. Interestingly, all that had cancer had/have dementia. BUT what's great on my generation, none of the first cousins are showing dementia. There's a bunch in there 70's now --the first part of the bell curve---43 first cousins on that side. By now dementia had shown it's grip on all that became demented. So, there may be hope

When I made the cancer tree to convince MO about prohy BMX. I circled all that had dementia or were evidencing  pre-dementia at time of death. It was "OH Chit". 

sas-schatzi

Chit Chit Chit........All the frigging study and the very piece I need to read I find today, two days after the PILL. Chit Chit Chit. Now it's in and I can't get it out. Not saying I wouldn't have done it. But finally found a piece that didn't follow the party line. So, I could have asked these questions before the PILL. 

I knew about the breast(BMX), ovarian(out), leukemia, stomach cancer risks. 

But this contract that I found raises a whole lot of other questions. Not seen elsewhere.

It was on a forum similar to this. 

Positive it gives me a whole lot of questions to ask re: what tests should be monitored from here on out. Already know that endocrin is only monitoring TSH. Whole bunch more should be monitored. In fact the three I asked for in Jan that got the ball rolling are three of them and then a few more.

Use of active drug and pre drug together IS appropriate.  

He's starting me way low.

No question I shouldn't be around folks longer than the plan. No question, I shouldn't be Near DBF longer than the present plan.

Can't just link it, but if anyone wants to read it let me know. I'm going to put it in my storage thread. I'll PM it. 

Spookiesmom

Sas you're back!!!!! Yea!!!!!!

Phyllo traveler. Please check in!

vinniemyers

sorry gals .... been away on my anniversary... nice couple days off now its back to the grind... trying to get some sleep before tomorrow. Hope you all are well and getting rest .... I will check back tomorrow.... night... V

Holeinone

the Vinester checks in...whoohoo....Chevy, don't be jealous....there is a time for everything...

I just bought 2 tickets to see Wicked, in the "big" city of Boise, Idaho for Sunday. Gotta love kids. DD says what are you doing this weekend ? I say, ah....nothing. Her exciting plans with a big group got cancelled. The girl that was organizing it, mom, was dx with bc this week. I have been on the phone with her 3 times. 

The spontanatity of youth...she suggests we do something...like get tickets to this Broadway Show. Now I am excited...I saw the "Book of Mormon" in Seattle in Jan of 2013.   It was very good. Never thought I would be going to Wicked this weekend...

sas-schatzi

Hey GG yes I like SAB , better than SOB. Whenever someone tells me their new babies & GK's names, I always do the initials thing. Worked with a gals whose initials were BM. Yuck. My college roommate married a guy named Clapp. He legally changed it to CAP as soon as his son was born. Readers Digest used to do a thing once a year on names. They were usually awful.

Spookie, I gifted more glass this weekend, LOL buy it and give it away. But I keep some for myself to be sure eh!

Still studying, Europe, England and USA  all agree that  they don't agree on how to treat my thyroid cancer or even get it diagnosed right.  

Also, there is no consensus on how to work with it after the PILL is taken, the variations are all over the place as to in home management. Somethings agree, but at this point it should be carte blanche a-z agreement of how things are done.

Hope this isn't TMI or grosses you out, but I think this is a glaring hole in post self care management.

They all agree that the toilet should be flushed with each voiding 2-3 times b/c the highest concentration of the radioactive stuff is eliminated in the urine. That the hands be washed and the sink be rinsed after each hand washing. 

Well if that be true, it seems logical to me that the bottom be washed rinsed with each voiding to get the radioactive stuff off the bottom. Not a single patient instruction source recommends it (one scientific article did mention it, that the genitourinary area could be contaminated.i.e show higher levels of geiger counter response), and I've read a several dozen protocols and articles.  The recommendation is one to two showers a day. Well, I'm using a 20 oz spray bottle to rinse and gloves, AND BOUNTY to dry. Lots more work. Sheesh, all the water drinking sure produces allot of urine.

There's also no recommendation on washing rinse/ flushing the skin when tears roll on the skin. With all the extra water drinking, the tears were rolling.

Now today(WED.)drying up which is considered bad. Tear duct blockage can, frequently, end up to be be a long term complication. Not a single protocol recommends anything for that.  So now, everytime I get through the voiding ritual, I'm putting a drop a plain visine in each eye. Rationale may sound crazy, but every protocol says to suck on lemon drops to keep the salivary glands flowing b/c it's a standard  for them to get clogged too. 

Well if that be true, than making sure the tear ducts remain flowing seems logical. Actually, should cry to make sure that they keep flowing, but can't make that happen. 

They all agree the paper that is used to wipe the skin dry needs to be put down the toilet or in a special disposal bag. But no mention of flushing the facial skin when the tears were rolling.

Also, washing the reading glasses several times a day when the tears were flowing cuz the tears were getting the glasses wet which kept the skin wet with tears that are radioactive. They will be thrown away tomorrow. Dollar store glasses.

Nose blowing all agree that tissue needs to be disposed of the same way as for tears, but none recommend washing hands after either.

Doc recommended toothbrush be thrown away after three days. No protocol mentioned it or article. So, I'm changing it every day. It's got radioactive stuff on it, again seems logical and they're cheap.

Need to put this some place  LOL. At least I've got it written down. I can send it to the NRC nuclear regulatory commission and let them do a study on it. It'd be a great research project if someone knows anyone in nuclear medicine school. 

Not sure how many people would want there bottoms metered with every voiding. That's a picture isn't it,  ROTFLOL.

camillegal

Hello Everyone

And Vinnie's back--so glad u had a wonderful time.

Sas u doing all right? It all sounds complicated to me.

Hole I think u'r perfect to see wicked.

I fell asleep so early tonite, so right now I'm up --Being out all day andI did some work tonite, so I was tired to early--I hate that. So I thought I'd check in.

sas-schatzi

Cami, I dunno, shoulda been simple, but when it didn't seem right, I went looking for something that verified or discounted my thinking and couldn't find anything except the one scientific article that identified genitourinary contamination, but didn't follow through to the next step of what to do to manage it. 

Hole in one yahoo sounds like fun. Like I said before you are surrounded by fun people YAY

camillegal

Sas we bumped into each other---OMG all the stuff u have to watch and do. It's a lot to keep track of--no wonder why u can't be around people--how long does this go on? I know my Brother told me he had to do it for 7 days, but he just says things so no one bothers him and the following week he went to the Dr. and I happened to be in the hospital with some contagious diseas and the goof walk in my room and I told him he was crazy and he stayed for a while, But my brother is goofy that way And he said he was done and fine. But I don't know how they could tell??? and he never explained chit to any of us. Like when he had heart surgery my sister and I didn't even know until it was done. And whenever I've had surgery he never says anything and I find out later he comes and as soon as they say I woke up he leaves--he never sees me. And my sister tells me after and he tells them don't tell Camille I was here, cuz she'll worry that I was scared for her. Jeez we sure don't have communication with each other do we. It's much more complicated than I ever thought---Do u feel OK or do u have strange SE's? Or is that later?--I feel so bad for u to take care of so much alone. I mean we're here but not much actualy help--can u wear thos latex gloves for doing things? Would that help?

JWoo

Sas- so glad you are back and feeling not totally horrid! 

about your back end,  if you have the means, get yourself a Bondell toilet seat/bidet STAT! They seem ridiculously priced, until you own one. 

My DBF talked about it for years, and he finally used my surgery as an excuse to buy one. They are pricy, but, really awesome when you are having any issues with your digestion, after surgery, or if you just throw your back out. I lived in Spain as a child, so bidets are not completely foreign to me but it did take a bit to get used to again. Now I am sad when I have to use other toilets.

brb to catch up on everything. 

camillegal

Jwow I think that's a great idea for all of us, That would be luxery for me but needed.

sas-schatzi

Jwoo, I have a regular bidet, but it would splatter too much LOL. The spray bottle in this situation is actually more controllable b/c I can control the direction and force. With the spray bottle there's no splatter. But thanks for the thought One of the funniest things in the world is learning how to use a bidet. You get it at least once in the face, and once having it hit the ceiling when you turn the knobs the wrong way

Cami, I am doing way more work than required, but it just seems logical. Until I can find a source that says it isn't, then I'll do it this way. Not sure when I'll stop. There is radioactivity until july 25th 2014. They actually calculate it. The whole body scan is May 1st. I may do it this way at least till then. That puts it at the maximum recommended for many protocol things. 

The variations range from 2-23 days on the different protocols from different sources. To me that's not acceptable. The NRC should have this down to a science without variations. 

One thing I did learn tonight is I could get into a hypothyroid crisis in about another week b/c they miscalculated the cytomel I was given,  and I didn't catch it until I was supposed to stop it, by then I was off it a week or so.  So, based on that I'm restarting the levothyroxine tomorrow per the RO's direction @ around 1pm. That makes it the full three days 72 hours. 

Your brother sounds a bit funny, "Don't tell her I was here she may think I was worried"  Right the way you yak with your sister(s).  Keep a secret from each other LOL, I don't think so. Plus, you get to gossip about him, just like you did when you were kids

Alyson

For SAS

camillegal

U should be sleepin g Sas or are u just awake like u do sometimes--or is this a SE?  OH I never thought of a spray bottle ever, That;s a great idea. Thanks Sas. U always come up with something that helps.

sas-schatzi

Oh Alyson, Thanks EYE needed that

Cami, Wish I could take credit for it, but for decades they've been used in hospitals. The are commonly named PERI Bottles. The space between the vagina and the anus is called the perineum. They were/are used for women post delivery mostly on the episioptomy which can involve the perineum, hence abbreviation PERI bottle.

When I wanted an empty bottle just happened to have saved a suave shampoo 22 oz bottle to use for another expensive shampoo that I was going to put into it, so from the second I wanted one, I had it.

I'm up all night b/c my study yesterday afternoon told me some other things. 1. that minimal absorption from the colon occurs and prolonged contact with the colon isn't good. RO said to take mag citrate today. So, I took it Wed afternoon at 4 pm. Waited till it was done doing it's magic to shower. 3. the instructions from the nuclear med sheet said wash linens and towels and clothes after 2days, but the instructions from the RO's office said bag the the linens & clothes to be stored for a week, then laundered separately. I'm going to run out of clothes. YIKES. 4. the RO's sheet says take frequent showers during the day. Nuclear med sheet  says 1 shower/day. Other sources 1-2 showers/day. 

So, I guess my substituting the PERI bottle- is somewhat vindicated. But talked with my nuclear med tech friend who disagreed with the use of gloves and peri bottle. Her rationale was that I had the raI131 in me so me getting urine on my hands didn't matter. She's been a nuclear med tech since 1970. Though she uses gloves to dispence, and if she gets any on her they have to do a major scrub. The RO's office says use gloves if urine spills. Duh had to be written by a guy. 

Sure glad you gals don't mind me talking this all through. I'll have to see what's on the Hypothyroid thread. Didn't want to go there, thought it might make me crazy. LOL, I can do that easy enough on my own. Someone started it a few weeks ago. I put it in my FAVS, but didn't even read the topic box. 

sas-schatzi

Okay last learning from yesterday. The thyroglobulin blood test. That's the one that I asked for in january that came back elevated at 52(top mormal 30) The ENT was talking surgery within 5 minutes of hearing the number. It was redrawn on sx day b/c it now is the cancer marker. The baseline is considered from sx day. Found a source yesterday that said any thryoglobulin over 70 indicated cancer. Sx day mine was 109(that was 45 days from the first draw). Tues last week it was 12. 7ug/L.  10ug/L was the benchmark for not getting RAI131. So, now I'm happy BECAUSE

The coolest thing, today at 4:30 am I realized the pain that I wasn't happy with in the neck was gone. Methinks, we killed those buggars. To have pain this far post op wasn't normal. I could poke around it enough to get it paining again. So, I'll try to keep my hands off it and see if it continues. 

YAYYAYYAYYAYYAYYAY!!!!!!!!!1

camillegal

Sas it sounds like it has started to go better now. I like that name Peri, reminds me of Perrier  water--which no one ever will have again, ever.

sas-schatzi

Cami now going to sleep . The Peri bottle does work very well. It.s cheap and would work probably pretty well with the d.;)

camillegal

Sweet dreams Sas.

Chevyboy

CAMMIIIIIIIIIIII!  Don't go!  What are YOU doing up?  Other than nothing?

Chevyboy

Geez, I've just been reading and reading about you Sass, and I'm thinkin' THAT is a lot more complicated than I'll bet you ever DREAMED! 

It's always best to research until you go nuts...  !  I'm still researching about my hip, and WHY I have to still limp!  And everytime I google something,  I find more helpful information!  The LAST was a whole like JOURNAL of this guy who broke his hip, and every step by step thing he did!  So many of my questions were answered,  and then I felt a lot better, of how I am doing!   A really Looooooong article, but worth reading to me, a few times now... 

The WORST thing was, when it was all healed up, and doing fine, he tripped on a curb, and broke the OTHER hip!   I would just scream! 

So Sass, have you googled something about other patients with this same type of treatment?    I'll just BET they aren't being as careful as you are...  It's so good that you have found all this information! 

And when are you "normal" again?  In me and Cammi's case, it would be never.  I mean we didn't even start OUT that way.

And OH?  So Mr. Vinnie dropped by?   And is "Finksburg" really a place?  You just made that up!  No, we are not all alright!  Did you see what is all wrong with Sassy?  My God, she is glowing  like those those little plastic stars, I put on my bedroom  ceiling that one time!  Remember? 

Aly, that was a great little Owl.... Ha!  Sass, you should use that as your Avatar!

Okay.... guess I'll go get all doozied-up for our trip to the Casino today...   I GUESS it's fun, but man, I would rather be working in my gardens... or doing laundry, or even shopping at WALmart!   DH just likes to "get-out-of-Dodge" sometimes, so I try and succumb to his wishes...  I succumb easily anyway....

Chevyboy