Spirited and Lively Older Women Thread

Over 20 years ago a co-worker and I did an audit just up the street from Chihuly's shop.  Most items were for sale, some were marked For Display Only.  We spent a couple of wonderful lunch hours there.  I've often wished I had bought a couple of bowls--they were quit cheap compared with what they would fetch today.

I know I haven't checked in here in quite some time. It's been a busy few months. End of school year work craziness. Dad issues - although he's doing well physically, the dementia is getting worse. I had surgery to reconstruct my left thumb joint about 3 1/2 weeks ago. Healing has been slower than the right one, which was done last summer, but it's getting there.

Now, I'm about to embark on a whole new phase of my life. I'm scheduled for gastric sleeve surgery (weight loss) in less than 36 hours. With all the surgeries I've had - this will be number 7 in the last 4 years - I think this is the one, that has me the most anxious. Not necessarily the surgery, although that is kind of scary. It's more the aftermath and the changes that will follow - learning a new way of eating, sticking with it - and most anxiety provoking, the tremendous changes in my physical appearance. I'm even more anxious about the changes to my body, this surgery will bring, than I was about either of my mastectomies. Please send prayers and healing vibes for a successful surgery, a smooth recovery, and acceptance of the changes to my appearance and body image as I begin this new journey to a healthier me.

Thanks - I know I can count on my BC gals.

Lynda

Best of luck Lynda on the journey to a new you.

Sending hugs...

Hey buds. Long time no post, but I do pop in just to read now and then.

Hauntie, I hope the surgery goes off without a hitch and that you find the "after" process easier than your fears seem to indicate. I hope you take advantage of any support the hospital offers. I think any life-changing step demands support of people who have been through the same thing. All of us here will pray for you, and cheer you on, but this isn't what we know ... we know BC. Which is in no way downplaying the awesomeness of our combined healing vibes Gentle hugs sweetie.

Hi all.

I'll join Kathy in the wiped out state. Had our DGS all day, he was so sweet but its very tiring. 

Have friend coming over this evening so had better go and get the last of the dinner ready. Having corned beef tonight and it smells really good. Must get the veges on. Have made a pear upsidedown cake for dessert.

Big hugs to all.

Update on my gastric sleeve surgery. I got home from the hospital yesterday afternoon. I ended up staying an extra day due to post op headaches. My surgery went fine and I'm tolerating the liquid/soft protein diet well. I think I could tolerate more sustantial protein, but I can't do that until 2 weeks post op. I'm surprised that I'm feeling hungry. I didn't expect that this soon post op. I'm having more post op pain than I expected. The incision where the drain was reminds me that I had abdominal surgery, even though it was done laparoscopically. Surgery is working really well, so far. I gained 12 pounds!!! It's typical for this surgery. I always gain weight after surgery, probably due to all the IV fluids. My surgeon once joked with a patient, who was upset about her post op weight gain, "didn't they tell you I'm the 'weight gain surgeon'. She became absolutely hysterical. He's never made that joke again. It is kind of discouraging, but it was even more discouraging after my prophylactic MX last summer. I had a body part removed and still gained even more weight than with this surgery. I'll keep you updated on my progress.

Lynda

Lynda, that's hysterical is right!!!! hehehehehehe what an idiot that surgeon was! hehehehhee

Hang in there sweetie, when you lose the quick 15 pounds, you'll know you've dumped 12 pounds of water! Think of how heavy those water jugs are that we have to lift onto the coolers. THAT'S how heavy water is!!! 

    Say prayers and send hugs to 3jays.   Talked to her tonight and since her visit to the hospital where they were going to do IV antibiotice to try to clear up her UTI which had gone into a bladder infection and all the other places she has infections going on, forget what all she said eyes, skin, you name it , ended in disaster,  they have her taking Kelfex at home at a lot higher than regular dosage.   Anyway, she is having a really rough time of it and is talking about how she thinks this is the end of the road and that is just not her usual style......I just feel so bad for her and asked her what I could do and she said there's nothing anyone can do....but I told her I could pray.  So keep her in your thoughts, OK. 

Me too. 

Kathy

Sure will Marybe

Barbe,  So good to see you up and posting....guess they can't keep a good woman down, huh?   How are you feeling post surgery?

  I will be talking to 3jays and will pass on the messages.   I think she has so much going on that it is tough to get a handle on just which problem is the worst.....right now it's the UTI since it is raging and  causing her a lot of discomfort, but she's allergic to so many things, it's difficult to just give her a RX like they would anyone else. 

I still HURT more than I thought I would. In fact, more than after my double mast! They had to really dig to find the right vein...sigh. Thank goodness I have the big boy meds here at home! They told me I had better meds than they were going to offer me (Oxycontin only!!) so to use them (Morphine Sulphate) as needed. 

BIG prayers going up to our sweetie!!! 

Barba, thinking of you and sending prayers.  For you too, 3jays.

Hugs to you both,

Kathy

Isabella,   Sounds to me as if you have been given the royal runaround and that your case is being totally mismanaged.  You have every right to be hoppin' mad and I hope you have all of these mistakes documented somewhere and that someone is held responsible and that they get you back on the list.  This has been going on for way too long. 

When you go for your checkup Aug.7, can the onco in anyway help you straighten this out with the other doc? 

Nobody really looks forward to surgery, but when it means relief from pain and gets you back to functioning again, it is well worth it.  My neighbor had spinal surgery three weeks ago and she said even though she still isn't walking completely normal, she was just amazed at how the pain is gone....actually gone!  It had caused compression on a nerve and she no longer could feel her one foot and that is corrected now also. She had been suffering with it for a long time.  She was given the OK to drive this week and went back to work on a light schedule.

I was really pooped at work today....came home and went to bed.  I talked to the nurse at the cardiologist's office and she said to up the coreg to twice a day if my BP was not too low.  Then she told me that what is does is slow down my heart beat so that is why I am feeling tired.  Great!   I hate feeling tired, but really hope I can tolerate the stuff since I don't want the ejection fraction to go down any lower because that will be it for the Adriamycin.  Am having scans on Thursday.