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

I need to make a correction. The Louisiana budget passed the House and is in the Senate now. The state cannot operate with a budget deficit, according to the constitution, which must be a faulty document since at every state election there are constitutional amendments. The whole printed document must weigh many pounds!

Good morning and I hope it is really good for everyone. We are having some very light rain. So light in fact that Dh is putting straw down over some freshly seeded spots in our lawn. I spent the day yesterday doing a final clean-up of the area. A lot of hard work, but towards the end the neighbors son and a couple of his friends came over to help me. Our neighbors are doing something right I think. The young man in question ( I've seen this on a number of occasions ) tells me that he does not want to be paid and would not even take an Orange soda. Nor his friends. The young man told me to go on in the house and put my feet up.

I didn't do that of course, as not only did they need to know what was most important to me, but I wanted to assure myself that none of them would get hurt while I lolly-gagged inside. Now I have far less to do outside --- just some on this side which I think won't need to be seeded. So, I am ( they have no idea ) so grateful for these young men. Walking up and down our hilly yard is quite wearing ( even the young men got a bit tired ) and I had spent most of the day out there save for running to town to pick up the straw which Dh had forgotten.

Not much planned for today. Have to say --- I slept like a log -- only getting up my normal couple of times to use the bathroom. Frankly, I don't remember much about that other than I found my way there and back.

I've lived in Chicago for 40 years, having grown up in Brooklyn and then moved to Seattle for 7 years. For the first 27 years of my life, I had access to evergreens and salt water beaches. I was delighted to see the waves on Lake Michigan, which was vast enough I could not see its opposite shore and was sometimes even blue. But two things seemed odd--I couldn't quite put my finger on it. Then I realized that the waves didn't smell like saltwater--in fact, they didn't smell like anything (except during the annual August alewife die-off). And come winter, I also realized almost all the trees were bare--Chicago is both too far south and north to have native evergreens (I think the geo-ecological term is "deciduous climax-forest" zone). I found myself driving around in search of evergreen trees planted on people's lawns. I cherish the arborvitae in front of my house--it looks sort of like a cedar, and is green all year round.

I used to be proud of my ability to bounce right back from jet lag after a trip. But not only must I admit that it's much tougher after traveiling westward (and having tried to cram as many experiences as possible after less than a week), I'm also not as young as I used to be--though I'm still comparatively healthy, just out of shape. The conventional wisdom of one day of adjustment per time zone crossed--at which I always scoffed--is beginning to get truer as I get older. I did get a lot of rest since coming home late Fri. night (had been up 27 hrs. straight!), and finally trusted myself behind the wheel again for a couple of errands today.

I am gonna teetotal as much as I can this week, both to give my liver a rest and cut some calories. Finally found the right Alitalia lounge (from which I made my previous post), which required another elevator ride (by then, I'd gotten in 8000 of my daily 10000-step quota). It was so posh (the restroom stalls had showers) that it made the Delta Sky Lounge at O'Hare look like a Waffle House. Ordered a wheelchair for the rest of the trip to the plane. Good thing I got it--had to go back up a level, and the "gate" was yet another passport-control station, followed by a trip back downstairs and on to a bus across the tarmac to a lift-truck. It was already 80F by then, and that un-air-conditioned truck didn't leave for the plane till it was chock-full. (I nodded off twice, dropping my boarding pass/claim checks in the process). They let me board first, as I was in business class at the front of the plane--and I got the stink-eye from the other elderly lift-truck inmates who were in Economy.

Well, it was like being led from a prison bus into a luxury RV. The plane was a Boeing 77. Alitalia's Premium Economy, while down a peg from what it was in 2015, had still been a considerable step above steerage on the way from JFK. And I'd recalled Iberia's business class as fairly posh (much nicer than British or AA's). But Alitalia's new business class was amazing. Turns out they eliminated First Class and turned business class into "Magnifica." There were cubbyholes and hooks everywhere for my shoes, carry-ons (except my rollaboard, which had to go into the ridiculously spacious bin) & jacket. The pillow was feather & down. The blanket was a comforter. There was a bolster for my back. There were noise-cancelling headphones and both USB ports and an AC outlet (dual-voltage). And the seat belt had a built-in air bag. Not just that--the whole flight I never got any grief for walking around, and there was never a line for the toilet.

Soon as I sat down, I was handed a prosecco, a menu, and a drink list. Meals were served on a bone china (including espresso in a demitasse with saucer). The wine glasses were crystal. I could not believe I was eating airline food--it was as good as some of the restaurant meals I ate in Rome. Snuggled in after dinner for a nap--the seat-bed was the widest and softest I've ever had on a plane, and I was able to fall asleep--on my side--instantly. Awoke with about 3 hrs left, so watched Marshall (great), was served a light antipasto-and-fruit meal with yet more espresso (didn't need more alcohol), and even got to freshen up.

(Speaking of which, there was a huge difference between the Premium Economy & Magnifica amenity kits. In 2016, the former was by Frette, in a nicely roomy little zipper bag, but now replaced by a neoprene pouch with barebones stuff. The Magnifica kit was in a large padded linen-textured case, which was indicated for re-use as an iPad sleeve. The toiletries were all Bulgari, the usual comb was a folding hairbrush, there was a cover for the toothbrush, the toothpaste was a full travel-size, and even the socks & sleep mask were nicer).

We landed at JFK, but had to sit on the taxiway for an hour before we could get a gate; and was eventually met by a wheelchair attendant, who whisked me through Immigration and baggage claim. I was wordlessly waved past Customs to the bag-re-check desk, where I got my boarding pass for the Delta flight home. Uh-oh: this one didn't have the usual "TSA Pre-Check" notation on it. This time, we had to take the AirTrain to Terminal 4, where I was handed off to another wheelchair attendant. But since my flight was at the far end of the terminal, we had to take yet another bus, the "JFK Jitney," to that end.

Now, Delta is one of the world's biggest airlines. JFK is one of the world's biggest airports. O'Hare is the world's busiest airport (surpassing both Heathrow & Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson). So why is my JFK-ORD flight departing from the butt-end of the terminal (like a small-town airport tacked on as an afterthought, without even a concession or bathroom on that level), on a little regional jet so small I had to gate-check my rollaboard? The flight home wasn't bad, and my bags were among the first off the plane. Got right to the head of the taxi line...and as soon as we left the terminal area we abruptly got stuck in traffic due to a multi-car pileup just past the first exit from I-190. When we got off the expressway, everything was fine till we made the turn for the homestretch--Peterson Ave. was torn up, "cored" and bumpy. I think it added five bucks to the meter. But I finally got home, and stayed up till Bob did too. By the time I hit the sack, I'd been up for 27 hrs. straight!

Spent a lazy Saturday adjusting. Think I'm almost back to normal--went to CVS & Whole Foods, and it feels like a normal Sunday night. Back to routine tomorrow.

Welcome Cindy -- only three more left. Great words and a good feeling. Glad you found us. As noted we are a bit older and have different issues from many of the younger ladies. We can be really chatty here sometimes as we do talk about everything here -- and enjoy the company of each other. I have been here ( at this board and BC. Org for quite awhile now -- since 2007. Glad to make your acquaintance and I hope you will come often.

Jackie

Good morning to all of you and today. It rained most of the night here, but is not right now. Hope that holds for long enough for me to go feed the cats. I think it will continue on and off today and thru until tomorrow about 8 p.m. or so. Sigh !!!! The good part is that we won't be dropping temps. much. Were able to get the new grass seed covered yesterday so fingers crossed. In fact, though a ways away, this coming Sunday will be in the 70's. So glad we are at this spot. It does mean that the ( well it should be that way ) big chill mornings and evenings should be past now.

Sandy, we don't bounce so well anymore I don't think. I don't travel so I'm not as aware of THAT part, but I know I don't bounce well when I fall. Not quite sure when it became not a bounce but a very surprised huge thud. I use to just giggle a bit and jump right back up -- but oh, not now. In fact, anytime I'm horizontal for any reason I struggle to get upright again. Sigh !!! Just one of those things about age. At least we are in good company. Hope your all the way back now and rearing to go or stay or whatever you have to do.

Paying some bills is on my list for today -- but otherwise mainly quiet. Hope you all have a fantastic day and some sun to warm you I hope. Enjoy!!!

Carole, congrats on the weight loss! Even at <5'3" I'd be deliriously happy to get below 180 (which I haven't been in over 4 yrs). A week's worth of pasta, gelato, wine & Aperol spritzes didn't do my midsection any favors. I might have to start wrestling with Spanx. Ugh. Even tougher than putting on pantyhose...or my compression sleeve. I'm likely to injure myself putting Spanx on. (Interesting how they call it "shapewear" these days--in our youth they were "foundations," our moms wore (and taught us about) girdles, and our grandmas wore corsets). I figure that having to wear a bra and "control" panties is as rigorous as it gets for any occasion not requiring evening wear.

Interesting thing--I had so little time to catch my flight to Rome and so much aggravation getting to my flight back to JFK, not to mention dealing with that big honkin' splint-brace on my left hand, that I forgot both times to don compression on my right arm. Guess what happened? Nothing. (My LE doc was correct when he said he never prescribes compression for patients who had "only" 4 nodes removed).

Nature has given to each conscious being every power she possesses, and one of these abilities is this: just as Nature converts and alters every obstacle and opposition, and fits them into their predestined place, making them a part of herself, so too the rational person is able to finesse every obstacle into an opportunity, and to use it for whatever purpose it may suit. -Marcus Aurelius

I was 5'4" and am now 5'2". It doesn't seem fair that they expect me to be the same weight as someone who was always 5'2". My front didn't shrink, just my back.

Also got my Zenni computer progressives remade with single-PD, and it makes a huge difference. Bob's been complaining of eye and neck strain using the hospital desktops, so I'm going to go on Zenni with him so he can enter his Rx and pick out a pair of cheap frames. Got my Zenni spare regular glasses Saturday: frames, progressive lenses and blue-block coating ran me about $50. If they were single-vision (either readers or distance), they'd have been $7 plus $5 for the coating!

The first step in the evolution of ethics
is a sense of solidarity with other human beings.
- Albert Schweitzer

Few are the giants of the soul that actually feel
that the human race is their family circle.
- Freya Stark

Kindness is the light that dissolves
all walls between souls, families, and nations.
- Paramahansa Yogananda

Hi everyone-

Cindy, I went through pretty much exactly what you are facing. I also was HRT+ times 3. I also had 4 rounds of chemo before my double mix, then 37 radiation treatments. I was Dx in Sept of 2013. I had the chemo before the surgery, and have been told (including at my yearly checkup with my ONC in Jan) that because they did the chemo first, I will not ever have a recurrence of that type of cancer again, and my chances of having cancer of any kind is the same a someone who has never had cancer before

Since everyone is being honest about Weight issues, I was 197 when I started my “diet” in Jan. I am extremely proud to tell you, as of this morning I am 179. I was 178 for the past two weeks, but was in Lake Placid for 4 days and ate what was available. It is coming off slowly, but it is coming off. I like the basics of the plan I am on, but have problems finding new, acceptable dinners that fit. Breakfast, lunch and snacks I have pretty much figured out. The hardest part for me is losing the starch. Potatoes, rice and pasta were in every dinner I ate. I have found cauliflower rice is a good substitute for regular rice (once I realized you had to boil it, not fry it) but have found no substitutes for potatoes or noodles.

Hope everyone is having a good day

Anne

Weather here: today - sunny and 78, tomorrow - sunny and 80, Friday - cloudy and 64, Sat. - cloudy, showers 56. No hurry to get out the summer clothes. Weather forecaster said this is our normal 2nd week of July weather.

Another beauty of a day here. Lots to do. Carpenters are coming to take down the old antenna tower in back and put the crawl space door in the at the back of the house. Carpenter says it will be much easier going underneath to work on things. I'm sure that's true. Right now the other two entrance points are at the sides of our house where it is difficult to get under --- much more room in the mid-section of the house so the new door will be placed in the middle.

Going for a hair-do. Hoping to go the whole way, but Beth wasn't there when I called and one of her co-workers made the appt. Not sure if I'll find it is the whole ( cut, perm, wash and set ) thing or just a cut --- but I do need the perm. Sigh !!! So, a surprise this a.m. Otherwise. some more yard work to do, but not too bad. Hoping for good things where the fresh seed is planted but that always takes a while.

See you all later. Hope you have a beauty of a day where you are.

No suggestions, but lots of sympathy. Given how older people handled drugs differently, they may need to reduce her dose or something. Popcicles are a good way to get fluids down when nauseated. Worked for me during pregnancy. It sounds like the hospital is a good idea because they can keep her hydrated and in less pain. It would be worth a conversation with the MO (her and you) about her prognosis with and without the chemo. I don't know anything about neuroendocrine, but cancer in general is less agressive with age (I'm 77).