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

Should be a nice day today. All week, in fact. I hope so. Quiet out -- doesn't look like a leaf moving anywhere on the trees. Nothing special planned today. Just some indoor exercises mainly. I could do some walking outside if the weather is as nice as I think it might be. Time to put some mileage on my pedometer.

I may go ahead and reset it to a.m. rather than p.m. as I forget to record after 12:30 p.m. There are ways of checking but like everything for me that has some sort of electronic component, I'm not sure how to access it. I'm sure it is likely easy -- but I've not taken the time to read up on it. Maybe I should.

Hope you all have a really nice day.

I know from experience that fresh green beans act as a diuretic. I never noticed that effect from mushrooms.

I'm very grateful for a few days of cool temperatures with the door and windows open to the fresh air. Call it climate change or different weather, this summer has been unlike the nine previous summers. We've had more storms with colliding hot and cool weather systems, some of the storms violent and destructive.

My personal opinion is that climate change is occurring and the economic toll will (I hope) cause our political and business leaders to support changes in an effort to save our planet. Already in my home state of Louisiana,, it is getting more and more difficult to get home insurance. Many insurers have gone bankrupt or just pulled out.

My plan for today is to go to the gym and make a few stops afterwards. Wishing everyone a good day.

Over the years I have come to believe that life is full of unchosen circumstances, that being human has to do with the evolution of our individual consciousness and with it, responsibilities for choice. Pain and joy both come with life.I believe that how we respond to what happens to us and around us shapeswho we become and has to do with the psyche or the soul's growth.

Jean Shinoda Bolen

We did an early morning walk, trying to beat the heat. I had PT earlier today. Trying to finish up. I have no PT next week for my shoulder, do an re-eval the week after and then see the orthopedic doctor. Shoulder is moving better with some pain. Hopefully I won’t need any more PT this year as I’m over the Medicare limit.

Enjoy your Wednesday

Fingers crossed, Puffin, that the tumor will be confirmed benign.

PT for my hip/sciatica/back seems like, to quote The Boss, "one step up and two steps back." Had to take a Celebrex this morning, plus daytime CBD. And just when I'd thought my R tibial focal dystonia was in the rear-view mirror, four hours into my sleep this a.m. it woke me up. Starts with a dull ache and rapidly progresses to sharp spasming--can see the muscle ripple over my orthopedic hardware, my ankle dorsiflexes and I can't point the foot even if I try to manipulate it with my hand. My toes splay too (not my preferred way to correct a hammer toe), with the big one pointing upward and the usually flat sole having a very high arch. I had to massage loads of TheraWorx foam all over my lower leg & foot. Today it lasted half an hour, couldn't walk it off, the pain went up into my knee. Bob saw it and took pictures; he suggested I shouldn't fart around with my primary or my current Skokie walk-in clinic ortho (who is board certified only in family practice and sports medicine), but see a neurologist. Good news is I found one in the N. Shore system who specializes in neuromuscular issues and radiculopathies and is a clinical assistant prof. at UC med school. Bad news is I can't see her till Sept--and hers was the earliest appt. I could get. Talked to my PT today, who said she's the top subspecialty neuro in the system, so I'll have to hang in there for the next 2-1/2 months. Meanwhile, gonna double up on both my bedtime magnesium and Baclofen.

The kids left for Montana today for Leslie's uncle's memorial service (he died of a heart attack a few months before the wedding) and 4th of July vacation. I was worried their flight might be one of the canceled or delayed ones--but they replied to my text with a pic of them relaxing on the deck of their lakeside cabin. Meanwhile, today was my HK's last day till July 11: her family is driving in tomorrow from AL & TN, and she will be first hosting them for the holiday and then recovering from hosting them (not to mention all the while caring for her DH who gets dialysis 3x/wk). Her back is almost as bad as mine. So I am on my own for kitty care (they have a demanding wet-food schedule and I have to ride herd on Happy's digestive issues, as well as glove & mask up daily to scoop the poops--thank heaven for the Litter Genie). They both desperately need nail trims. But without my HK I can't wrangle them into their carriers, so their appts (Happy is due for shots & liver function tests too) will have to wait till she gets back.

We couldn't test-drive a Toyota Rav4 Hybrid on Sat.--Bob decided to work and of course he got stuck with new patients. We're now also looking at Venza & Highlander Hybrids, as well as tentatively test a Hyndai Tucson Hybrid down in the S. Loop on Friday...if Bob keeps his promise to knock off work early. (Yeah, right). Of course, this will be a Hospital Hell Weekend. Has to be a hybrid because he wants optimal gas mileage without having to rewire the garage for a charger; but also has to be an AWD SUV so it can go in snow and have high enough ground clearance to not get stuck on the center "ice hump" in snowy alleys. (I love my Outback but the seat is uncomfortable for him and 24mpg isn't good enough for him). And when he retires and my car croaks, it'll be our only (and likely last) vehicle. He's even willing to look at a Lexus...hybrid SUV of course. (This from the guy who drives modest cars and dresses inexpensively because he doesn't want to "rub" his blue-collar "patients' noses in it").

I have no PT scheduled next week. I'll do home exercises, an reevaluation the following week and see the orthopedic doctor. It'll be nice to have a normal week. I've had PT since the beginning of the year with a short break for my exchange surgery.

Did ourwalk before breakfast. It's another hot day. Glad to be inside the rest of the day. I had a GYN appointment earlier and had a punch biopsy. It'll be good to take it easy today.

Enjoy your day.

Everybody really knows what to do to have his or her life filled with joy. What is it?

Quit hating people; start loving them. Quit being mad at people; start liking them.
Quit doing wrong; quit being filled with fear. Quit thinking about yourself
and go out and do something for other people. Everybody knows what
you have to do to be happy. But the wisdom of the test lies in the final words:
"If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them."

Norman Vincent Peale

Thank you for all the birthday wishes. And Sandy, I hope your anniversary was pleasant.

I’ve been in PT a few weeks now for the hamstring. He does a deep tissue massage on the tendon insertion site. It’s extremely painful to where I know I flinch away from the pain, I once broke out in a sweat from the pain. But he tells me it will be worth it in the end. It better be! I have some at home work to do, usually see him 2x but next week it’s once. I’ll have to keep up the at home stuff or I’ll be behind.

I had the house soft power washed on Wednesday. Well worth the expense. I have a metal awning over the back porch doors that’s now CLEAN. Last year I noticed it looked a mess, so I googled how to clean it. Various methods but most were chemicals in a bucket, with a stiff bristle brush, while I’m up on a ladder - which I never did. Power wash has the gutter edges all back to clean white, road grime gone from the peaks, and windows all clean too. He used a diluted bleach solution with Dawn dish detergent, so it all smelled clean too.

Everyone seems to have some struggles, with either PT or medical issues. Sandy I hope you can hold out until September. Mary, your tumor, hoping for benign, still requiring surgery to get it out. I can’t remember all the other ladies, I had to read 2 plus pages to catch up, but my thoughts are with you - as we always said, I’m in your pocket.

Our warmth ( ahem, rather toasty ) has returned pretty much. Last week was really very nice so I won't complain too much. It is typical to have heat this time of yr.

Nothing special planned. I was lazy yesterday and did almost nothing so I do expect a lot more of myself today. There is always not only regular things, but always something to catch up with. I've been doing somewhat regular closet clean-outs since I weigh so much less now -- nothing fits too well. Well, most of the shirts are okay, bit it is more pants, dresses etc. So, I could relieve closet conrtents even more if I run out of things to do.

Hope you all have a good day.

My toes have been hurting a lot lately. Today I am wearing a pair of 9 1/2 that I usually wear with my ankle brace. Really quite comfortable. I was a bit loopy yesterday with the lidocaine that came with the injection. Then last night I had massive difficulty sleeping. It is much better today, and I got a good nap in.

Tippy and I took a bike ride on a city trail, and it was quite pleasant. The creek where water exits from the lake was quite scummy and gross-looking. Fisher-folk were not happy.

We passed quite close by a man walking a GS. He was talking with another person, and I gave Tippy a lot of reassurance, and he only barked once.

I got some picture-wire, some zip-ties and some superglue and fixed our umbrella-type clothesline. Maintenance guy had checked the price on a new one and told us two weeks ago that he was going to fix it with some wire. Nothing happened. Typical. They are squirreling away $$$$$$$$$$$$ to fix one building that is very run-down.

When you honor your most authentic self--your Spirit--you are
allowing your Light to shine and touch the world. Living
authentically, in its simplest terms, is living your Truth, the
truth in your heart and soul. It's allowing yourself to be guided
by Divine Truth and Wisdom, each and every day, and doing
your Highest, most authentic work in the world.
It's joyfully creating and living your Highest purpose!

Valerie Rickel

Today is beautiful. Sunny and cool with no wind. A perfect day for the holiday farmers market. Sadly, we aren't there. DH tested positive for Covid yesterday. He was going to the clinic in town to get meds for his cough and congestion. At my insistence, he took a home test and the strip almost immediately registered positive. My strip was negative.

He was not re-tested at the clinic but given a prescription for Pavlovid. He doesn't seem to feel any worse than he would feel with a bad cold and he isn't running fever.

My sister in law in Louisiana has the same symptoms and tested positive with a home test. She went to a walk-in clinic and was told to go home and rest, drink liquids and take tylenol.

If (probably when) I test positive, if I don't feel really bad and have fever, I will follow the advice given to sister in law. I have had all the vaccination shots offered.

Happy Fourth to everyone.

Carole, not the news you want over a holiday weekend. Good he got in to the doctor. Fingers crossed his stays mild and that you don’t get it.

We were in the 80’s today. I ran around to do some errands. I stopped to get a free car wash sent to me by a local company. I asked to add on the interior because I had dirt on the floor in back from plants. The kid said an extra $5; I was charged $32. Only knew because credit card company asked me if I wanted to redeem points of 3,200 = $32. I thought maybe they forgot the free part. I asked at the counter and SURPRISE an interior is an add on of $30 plus tax. I must be living in the Twilight Zone! I told him I’d never have paid $32 to get that dirt vacuumed, I’d have done it myself. Manager gave me a full refund, saying some people come in weekly for it and don’t blink an eye at the cost. I said: not me. So my car does look fantastic. But $56+ for an interior and exterior clean is way too much. In FL we wash it in the driveway and pull out the shop vac to vacuum it.

On another crazy part of the day, upstate NY is Grandma Brown's baked beans territory. I’ve got a party next Saturday for a gf MIL turning 90. I’m supposed to make the beans. Turns out Grandma Brown’s has stopped production and not sure they’ll resume. Total disappointment on not having them. I think we’re going to try B&M baked beans, hoping it’s most similar - dryer and thick, not watery (too much liquid).

My rant is done. Haha, car wash and beans- means I have no real problems. Hoping your Sunday is peaceful and without storms.

Should be a nice day today, but likely humid. We had our rain yesterday. Might have had some through the night but I can't tell. It wouldn't have been much. Nothing much planned for today. I think a chicken and noodles day.

Hope you all have a great Sunday.