INSOMNIACS place to talk in the wee hours

http://news.ubc.ca/2015/04/27/chemo-brain-is-real-say-ubc-researchers/

We all already knew this was an issue, but now some science is finally happening.

Chevy- so sorry about your friend. The fact that you made her laugh right now is not only a sign of improvement for her, but also of your wonderful friendship.

Patty- good to see you are feeling better.

Blondie- love you lady. Glad that you will have a team to support you now. I volunteer for hospice, and see quite a few patients end up leaving because they start doing better, and don't need us for a while longer. They just need some support. Sending good juju your way.

Ms. Chevy, changes from our comfort zone are never easy to take. When sickness strikes, it does knock us out of our "every thing is ok' sense. I hope Ms. Carol is getting the Speech, Occupational, and Physical Therapy she needs to help her recover. Rose is right about the patients who regain the most are the ones who get good rehab care and a good support system. Your love for her will help contribute to the healing.  We all know you can lift her spirit with your wicked sense of humor, so I agree with Ms. Spookie's advice about continuing to be the loving friend you are to her.

Rose, thank your for the correction.  For some reason I thought your two younger daughters were adopted. Your middle daughter understands what sacrificial love is. Good for her. I can only hope the same for my two girls.

Jazzy, does it feel good to purge?  The longer we live in a house the more we accumulate. My goal is to live like a minimalist, but have 3 (my husband and 2 daughters) in my home who like to save everything...I am outnumbered LOL. Love the pink prickly pear.

Mag, happy you have a new PCP who listens. It is very important to have a good relationship with our doctors. A friend of mine has severe rheumatoid arthritis and in constant pain without her Norco 10.  Her new PCP cut her pain med back by 60/month with no justification. I believe her only reason is since Norco is now schedule II, and with the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program in placed the last few years, her new doctor is concern about the quantity (240/mon) my friend is getting. How could a health provider do that without adding another pain med to control the pain?  She is more concern about her reputation then the comfort of a patient with chronic pain. To me it's negligence.

Ms. Blondie, I hope you will get the help you need and that you will be comfortable.

Mel, my older daughter is a Junior in high school too.  She is taking her SAT in a few weeks and is cramming for the AP  Chemistry  and  AP Language which will take place next week.  Is this the same daughter who got yeast infection in the mouth?  Mine has been complaining of stomach problems . I think it's stress. I feel for our kids. Competition is fierce today.

Crazy day for me today. Older daughter has HS swim championship and younger one has piano recital. Got to run. Sorry in advance for the typo.

Patty, thanks. I love it. My grandmother was in hospice care, and I saw how their care helped her. It is the reason I got my massage therapy license, and that is what I have done most (over 10 years now). BC and the LE have prevented me from being active int hat respect, but I still do food deliveries and other things while I work to rebuild my strength. Most of my patients have never had a massage in their lives, and for me, there is nothing more rewarding than (hopefully) making them feel relaxed, ease some pain, and let them know that someone cares.

Blondie- really explore all the services available to you through your hospice! We have volunteers that do hair, nails, massage, all kinds of things!

thanks! it is me and a friends baby. We were both wearing Silence of the Lambs tee's and needed to get a photo together!

here it is bigger- he has the cutest fat knees!! it was hard not to gobble him up!

JWoo- love the new avatar. WHose the cutie on your lap? Very cool you do hospice volunteering. I did that too for a bit 2008. I stopped when I hadtoo much going on with my own kids health issues etc. I remembered our hospice said no one taking narcotics/ pain meds can volunteer, they must have had issues with it. I thought that was odd since lots of cancer patients take pain meds, and I saw lots of former cancer patients volunteer - maybe none stage 4, don't know. But there was drug testing and all when I started, but back then I didn't take anything so I got tested and volunteered. I never understood what the issue was because in the capacity I volunteered you never saw anyones meds. Since it's been a five years, if I went back I would have to be retested and the pain meds I take would disqualify me.

I thought hospice was pretty amazing the amount of services available - counseling, art therapy for kids of patients/ siblings, grief counseling, spiritual counseling, nutrition support, pain management, social support, ADL support, cleaning, respite, --- the list was long. They even had a separate building with beds for folks who for whatever reason didn't want to die in their homes but wanted support outside of a hospital, beautiful building and rooms. They also had some volunteers who made really interesting "life books", videos and scrapbooks of the patients for their families. Very interesting the life books of folks, moving and beautiful, wonderful gift to leave behind for future generations.

Morning gals........ Blondie, I'm glad it is home hospice! and these gals know a lot more about it than I do!

Did I ever tell you what happened with my SIL's Mother? See she was living alone, and had to go to the Hospital for something... But then they thought she was doing really bad, and moved her to Hospice.... Well she just kept getting better! She was thriving, and nothing really terribly wrong with her.... So after a year, they kicked her out! Seems her Daughter's couldn't take care of her either, even though they weren't working.....

But she couldn't take care of herself, or didn't want to, so she went back to a nursing home... and then she passed away about a month later...

No-one just ever knows when we can't handle it anymore...but I thought that was a good story.....

JWow! I printed off another of your pictures, so glad to have a new one! Wish I had pictures of all you gals... for my little book...

Hi ladies- I had a fun day of play yesterday. Took my personal trainer to breakfast for a thank you/bon voyage as she wraps up a the gym. We have been working together since last Sept to get my fitness truly back since the two major surgery events in 2012. She is moving to the west coast to be near her son and our last training is next Friday. She shared some pearls of wisdom/reminders with me based on our time together to help me remember to take good care of myself!

Went to a nice dinner last night and dinner on a patio with a fellow consulting friend and we both enjoyed some healthy eats. I had the best kale ceaser salad topped with a piece of fresh grilled salmon. I love a good salad with some protein on top. YUM! Then we went to see Bill Maher at the convention center down town. I laughed for two solid hours.

Today back to work on the yard, patio and house!

Loveroflife- yes, it feels great to purge because of the things I am getting rid of really have needed to be looked at for awhile. I did some renovations in the past year with repainting and flooring, and it sort of forces this issue by making you take things out of the room and look at things you are storing in spaces that need to really be used as rooms and as not closets. Here in NM, the houses have no basements or attics, so storage in the house is limited. I have most of it in the garage (along with two cars), so I have worked to get the house stuff taken care of first. Been donating, taking things to consignment, shredding, throwing out stuff damaged or not working, etc. for months now. This last round is to go through some older storage to clear out some old boxes of professoinal paperwork, etc. I have had with me for 25 year or more and a lot of it could just GO! I had been staring at some of those boxes for awhile. Doing a big clean out is overwhelming so you just have to say "I will do 1-2 boxes a week." Just chip away at it.

Today I will do more work to consolidate what I need to keep and store. I am almost done!

Yeah, we stopped by to see my friend this morning.... She was in the Physical therapy room, getting movement and working on this bicycle type arm movement thing, connected with something like a tens-unit.... something to stimulate her nerves in her right leg and arm? They said she is a lot better, but couldn't open her right hand yet, to let it go.... But she will....

Her Son wrote and said he found her out by the water faucet.... and had been there for hours.... but I know it could have been worse.... Found out her Fiance' goes there every morning.... And her Son goes every afternoon.... So she has company..... I'm just glad I can talk to him, and ask how she is doing.... but maybe soon she can find the words to talk again.....

Going to go fool around in the yard! Have a great Sunday gals!

lbgal - wonderful news on your sisters visit.

Would love to work in the garden today, but allergy is bad. Every time I sneeze, the tissue expander pokes my armpit. Ouch! So am staying indoor and lounge around enjoying my garden from the inside.

Jwoo, adorable baby. Must be really rewarding to volunteer for hospice

Mommy, LOL regarding your mum. Family knows how to push our buttons. How is your healing coming along? You had both sides done right? My PS said that I will need a longer time for recovery with my native side(right) which will be augmented to match the reconstructive side. I am right handed so my patience will be tested.

Gorgeous Sunny day here! Had a picnic next to a running stream, DD1 played in the stream, DD3 was happily shooting hoops. We watched a new crop of young chickens and they were too cute! Young chickens love clover, didnt know that. Flowers out just gorgeous weather. Wow. Hope ya'll had a great day. Fish tacos on the grill tonight..lime and avacados, salsa..DD1 is in heaven. Hope everyone had a great day!

Rose- those fish tacos sound yummy. I will be right over.

Patty- I met a very youthful 80 year old man a few years back that I would have guessed was at 20 years younger. I asked him what he thought the secret was to longevity and staying fit and sharp as one ages? He said always have younger people in your life, be it children, grandchildren, friends kids, neices and nephews.

Sounds like you had a lovely day!

So far my recovery is going fine. Had a bit of a scare Friday when my adorable kitten decided to play "let's take my collar off and make mommy chase me around the house to put it back on me" and I walked into the bedroom door with my left side. Was very worried that something was wrong after that, but so far it doesn't seem like I did any damage.

Gotta take the comforter off the bed now that it gets too warm at night to have it on there. We even turned off the heat because overnights here will in the 40s and 50s. Maybe next weekend, we can take the cold weather curtains down and bring out the warm weather clothes.