thread for middle age to older Christian women.

Praying for all here who need prayers. Nancy, so sorry to hear about your back pain and also the upsetting news about your Mom’s neighborhood. I can certainly understand your apprehension about it all. Happy day after your birthday, hope you enjoyed both concerts and your back pain is getting better.

Lita, you are always in my prayers, you are an inspiration to me when I’m feeling bad. Glad you can get a break from chemo and will pray that it helps.

HersheyKiss, so sorry you are dealing with all that stress you have at work. Prayers that it will lessen, we all know how bad stress is for our health.

Ladies, I could use some prayers for healing. My bursitis is very slowly getting better but my GI issues are really bothering me and I know I need to see the GI DR. But I keep putting it off. I’m having a hard time making that appointment. Of course none of this helps my anxiety and depression. I really need to trust that all will be well and just get on with it.

Love and prayers for all,

Faith (in the future)

Praying for Victoria, Hershey, Lita, Faith, Ellen, Chris, Joanne, Nancy, GumDoctor, and all of you not mentioned.

Praying for the victims in Dayton & El Paso too. (We used to live just 45 minutes from Dayton - and now are 3 hours from El Paso)

Amen, Chris!

I hate to even mention it but really feel terrible and the fatigue is even worse. There are new symptoms I won't go into also, but James' fevers are back again. He is (WE are) discouraged and I need to be able to care for him, and do the chores for both of us now even as I feel worse myself. I am not pursuing my new "stuff" with my doctor until we can get James straightened up as I just don't have time or energy to go through diagnostic testing etc right now. If/when we can get him better - then I surely will. I just need some supernatural strength and easing of symptoms right now to get through this time and do what I need to do. Obviously finishing the house getting ready to show it is on hold indefinitely.

Nothing that happens to us is beyond God's control and power. He wants us to come to Him in prayer with every care and need. So we continue to lift each other up to Him in faith that He is already at work on our petitions for which we praise His Great Name. We are His children, the sheep of His pasture. We are our Beloved's and He is ours. Hallelujah! His grace is sufficient.

Love,

Ade

Thank you all for your prayers and suggestions. My back pain after using the ole tennis ball trick on trigger points and lots of stretching is helping. I am also relieved that they caught the shooter in our neighborhood here. Unfortunately this is not an isolated incident. This lady and her kids were in the car as she pleaded with the shooter to stop. He went from his automatic rifle to a handgun and continued to shoot at her house. Why????????????? Don't know.

I know there are great needs here. I am supposed to be taking a break from the forum but I have come back from visiting my Mom and am home for the night with some time.

Lita, I used to used use Voltaren when my podiatrist tried me out on all different pain meds when I realized I cannot tolerate any of them. I am not sure if there was a generic at the time I used it which was many years ago. I may have to look into that. Glad you are able to take a break from chemo and I hope that helps you greatly.

Hershey, I will pray for you as you endure what looks to be a long ways away from retirement. I had a difficult last ten years of my career but I don't want to go into it on a public forum but let's just say that the Lord brought me through and allowed me to work in a very difficult situation because he wanted me to become stronger which is what happened. One of the ladies in my church that I admire so much said that sometimes there are people around us God calls us to love. She said is like hugging a porcupine.

Faith, I can relate to so much of what you are saying. I have cried out to the Lord in the recent past just saying I am sick and tired of being sick and tired. I pray that He will lead you beside green pastures and and restore your soul. (Ps. 23)

Ade, I hate it that you are dealing with issues and waiting for James in his. I am so sorry to hear that his fever has returned. The Lord does everything in His timing and I will just say that all of this delay in the housing situation may be all according to His plan even though it sure doesn't seem like this stuff should be happening now. Lifting both of you up for healing, restoration of health and strength.

Chris, I will say a big Amen to your post. In the blinking of an eye we will be with Jesus where the madness of this world will be long forgotten. Some days it can't seem to come fast enough.

Praying for the victims of these senseless shootings and for the families who have lost loved ones. Praying for healing in these two communities knowing that this world cries out for Jesus. They just haven't realized it yet. That part is up to us.

Love,

Nancy

I go Thursday for results of my followup thyroid sonogram to check on the nodule there. Please pray it has either shrunk remained the same or dissappeared. I am a bit tired after sweving at VBS last week. It was awesome. Thank you, Jean. I do pray for the needs here as I read most every day.

My lumpectomy surgery is finally scheduled. It will be August 27th. I would like to ask y'all another question...you are SO helpful! When I met with the surgeon on Monday, she said she will be removing ALL lymph nodes in my breast/under arm area. Yet she said it looks like only one axillary mode is cancerous. I asked why all nodes had to be removed then, and she just said, "That's what I do.". She's one of those intimidating surgeons who is strictly business and doesn't show much compassion, so I let it drop. Does her approach sound reasonable? I read that removing all lymph nodes heightens lymphedema risks, so I'm really concerned. I got to thinking that, perhaps, since I'm not having chemo due to my low oncotype number, maybe she wants to remove all nodes as a precaution?

Also, she said that, even with removing the main mass and all lymph nodes, she won't prescribe any pain med other than Ultram (Tramadol), but no narcotic pain med, and no NSAID due to increased bleeding risk. That just seems wrong to me! For those of you who had a lumpectomy, were you prescribed Percocet or some similar narcotic for pain?

Thank you in advance for any insight you can give me!

Victoria (I actually go by Tori)

Tori, definitely a second opinion is in order. Lymphedema is for life, and removal of more lymph nodes is a known risk factor. Unless there is some specific reason for that drastic a step in your individual case, it's a risk you don't want. If she can't verbalize her reasons then find someone else who can.

Gentle hugs,
Binney

I would also go for a second opinion if possible. Also I had a car accident yesterday. I rear ended another car. Been experiencing dome distracted driving lately and am scared. My car was not drivable but thank you Jesus neither I not the other driver was seriously hurt. Please pray for me to have wisdom as to whether to give up driving. Love, Jean

Thank you all for your replies! I am going to call my oncologist first thing Monday morning and express my concerns. Nancy, I need to change my profile on the lymph nodes. I have cancer in one axillary lymph node near my under arm, and a 2.5 mass in my breast. Yes, my oncotype number was 1, according to my oncologist, which the surgeon confirmed. So, according to that low number, chemo would not be beneficial, per the oncologist and surgeon. The percentage of possible cancer recurrence was listed as 9%, so I don't know what is going on. Hopefully my oncologist will answer my questions and, if I don't feel comfortable with the explanation, I will tell her I want a second opinion. Thank you all again so very much for your support, and I will update after talking to my oncologist!

Tori, my surgeon told me that axillary nodes are removed in a scoop. The pathologist enters the operating room, takes a scoop of fat, and returns to the lab to count and examine. The surgeon said it is difficult to determine in advance how many nodes are present (apparently they are very teeny, tiny structures). Getting a second opinion is never out of line. If your surgeon has a problem with that, let your fingers do the walking and find another one asap.

Jean, the decision to give up driving is such a tough one. I'm thankful that no one was seriously hurt in the accident.

Nancy, praying that the MRI on the 14th yields positive as well as definitive findings.

Chris, thank you for your prayers.

Ade, I hope you and James are feeling better. I pray that your symptoms are quickly resolving.

Wishing everyone a peaceful weekend.

I got back home last night. Road construction was challenging and added to my drive but I am doing okay. I still have quite a bit of back pain but it seems to travel from side to side. I am still doing my tennis ball sessions on trigger points which helps a great deal. My Mom's dental work is still up in the air. I am waiting to hear of another apt made and so far have heard nothing. My Mom was glad to see me each day and it was sort of like the first day I was there every day. She has convinced herself that she likes nothing but soup so this has been a nutritional challenge to her health but you can't convince her of that.

Jean, I am really sorry to hear about your car accident. Glad no one was seriously hurt. I imagine giving up driving or even considering it is very stressful. I know it would be for me. Praying for decisions that are best for you.

Ade, how goes things with you and James?

Hershey, how are you doing? Thank you for prayers for my MRI on Wed. I am going without a driver and without sedation so I am praying I can stay calm during the procedure despite the claustrophobia.

Chris, I wish my husband would buy me a new car. Oh..............I forgot. I don't have one. LOL That was quite a gift. Have fun with your new set of wheels. I am improving week by week. I have less fatigue and I am not sure what to attribute that too since I just stopped my AI recently. At any rate I am thrilled to see that improvement. It always takes me a few days to compress after returning from my Mom's so I need to see how I feel after that transition is over. I have taken some needed me time with my camera even at my Mom's so that has been a healthy thing for me.

My grocery store that has a bank inside of it was robbed yesterday. I guess there is no safe place anymore.

Lord, protect all of us as we find our way through this world that is so full of challenges. Be with those ladies that need to make important and immediate decisions. Be with those in pain and dealing with side effects of treatments. Be with those that find themselves in the middle of difficult work situations. Lord, we need thee every hour...........just as the hymn lyrics profess.

Love,

Nancy

Hershey, I feel your pain!!!!!!!!!!!! My sister and I have pretty much given up the food battle because we know we were losing. The facility says they will not make her eat something she doesn't want to so that is that. I got so frustrated with her two days before I had to come home I just wanted to scream. Her teeth are falling out because of this. When she first moved in she went through this hot dog phase so I think soup may be better. She gets the same soup for two meals a day. We do supplement with Ensure/Boost which is probably what is keeping her alive. I just have to give it to the Lord and say she is better there than living alone in her home. I think at the end of the day you have to say I have done my very best and then leave the rest to the Lord. Some days I am more successful at that than others.

Love,

Nancy

Thank you Chris. Our struggles started long before she went into this facility and we knew it might be the biggest challenge there and it has been on of them.

As you know God has given me a gift in photography which has especially recently being such a gift for my stress reliever and a way to have some me time and express myself at the same time. I took this picture today and was pleased at how it turned out. It was certainly a surprise as butterflies were not on my agenda for the day.

Love,

Nancy

Thank you all for your kind words about my accident. I have decided to rent a car with safety features like warning me when I move out of my lane or get too close to another car. I also am going to see my chemo doctor on Monday for a routine check-up and ask her if this could be caused by brain fog from the chemo. If so is there any treatment for it? I will see my primary doctor on Wednesday for a follow-up from my accident. I will also ask him. So far that's all that has been decided about whether I will continue driving. We'll see. Love, Jean

Thank you Chris and Hershey. This was one of those days where I think the Lord allowed me to be at the right place at the right time. I will enter this in the Forest Preserve contest as it was taken in one of their preserves. I think I may frame this one. When I have seen these type of butterflies in the Butterfly House they won't stand still much at all so this was a special second in time for me.

Jean, I have a fairly new car and it has all of those safety features in it. They are helpful and hopefully it will allow you to continue to drive.

Love,

Nancy

Good morning sisters!

Hi Footprints! So good to see your name, and your prayer is a blessing!

Nancy, your butterfly pic is gorgeous..only God could have placed you there at that moment

In my devotional this morning I read this from Proverbs 31 Ministries and thought of all of us BC survivors. Check out www.proverbs31ministries.com .....The Shepherd is With You by Jennifer Rothschild. Powerful encouragement!

Still reading and praying for you all...Love, Ellen.