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

I was so cozy under the covers this morning that I slept until 8 am. Much later than usual. DH had the heat pump on. The outside temperature read 45 degrees and the inside temp was up to 62 degrees. Summer has been given notice that 70 degree days are in short supply.

Yesterday was our last day at the 2022 farmers market. We made one sale, a nice bowl made of sinker cypress. It was a beautiful sunny, cool day. We gave bowls to a number of fellow venders, including a young Amish man who had admired the bowls all summer.

Congrats to new grandmas and new pet owners. Keywestfan, I will be thinking about you tomorrow.

Meanwhile I hope to enjoy a leisurely day.

Chances for heroic giving are rare, yet every day there are opportunities to give a part of yourself to someone who needs it. It may be no more than a kind word or a letter written at the right time. The important thing about any gift is the amount of yourself you put into it.

Arline Boucher and John Teha

Thanks for all the good wishes for our new furbaby. Karen, her name is Regan. She is just 2 years old, is predominantly a liver and white Dal (our preference since she is #5 over 46 years) with a few very dark chocolate spots on her back. She is very sweet, prefers me over DH but we are working on getting her to warm up to him (string cheese works miracles), house trained and while we have a crate for overnight, during the day it is open door if she feels she needs to escape. Currently she is on her other dog bed with the pink gorilla stuffed toy I gave her. Not sure if she knows what to do with it though. Confined to kitchen area for the present. While she has met and barked at the one cat, the other 2 cats have been confined to basement while kitchen cabinets are being refinished. They were raised with our other dog so they have canine experience. Smudge will set boundaries and Tawny will probably flee until she feels comfortable. Both used to lie with my other dog so it is just an adjustment for all. I have had more dog kisses in the past 2 days so I think she will be happy here. Her tail though is like a whip and she is constantly wagging it. Just don't want to be in range of it.

KeyWest: good luck with surgery and recovery. I found that while I was anxious while awaiting surgery, the day of surgery I was surprisingly calm. So I wish you calmness tomorrow.

Mary: I admire how much canning you have done with produce from your garden. Your stories about Tippy make me happy because of the bond you have with him.

Cindy: Now that I am getting to address those household projects (planned pre-tree strike but placed on hold), I have a different attitude because they are causing less chaos than I endured during the restoration. Don't envy you with your painting projects but know that the end result will be pleasing.

Temporary chaos is doable but nearly 3 years worth was agony. I still have a number of things that need to be rehomed within the house or donated and will tackle that now we are home. Still want to get granite countertops in kitchen refinished. After 20 plus years they need to be polished and sealed. The cabinets look brand new and this contractor is also detail oriented. He needs to return to do the kick plates and to double check the cabinets for any misses. I have definitely lucked out with the contractors I found to refinish my floors, to reconstruct the patio and do the front steps and walkway and now this project. I hope this continues because I have some wood furniture I want refinished and the patio furniture is to be painted as well. All had been on pause for the last 3 years and some are the worse for the delay.

It is raining here today which is much needed after a very dry summer. I have a gardening project to do before the true fall hits involving planting some azaleas and daffodil bulbs in the area near the creek. I have the topsoil and peat moss ready to remediate the soil. Hope to get a start this week.

Happy Sunday to all.

Good thing I got my new booster when I did--Bob tried to walk (slog?) into Walgreens today for his Pfizer--but they are not doing walk-ins, and they are backed up for weeks for appointments. Word gets around, and demand for this new one is skyrocketing despite the naysayers. He will see which of his hospitals will give it to him, but is considering waiting till Nov., which'd be 6 mos. since his second regular booster in May. Some epidemiologists are saying to wait that long after either the most recent shot or a BA.4/5 infection because the antibodies can last that long. But we both had Omicron "Classic," so our hybrid immunity is only for BA.1 and the original. Our HK had BA.5 3 weeks ago, so she's gonna wait. Other epidemiologists say that if you're over 60 (some even say 50), get it ASAP. We're both waiting till Oct. for the flu shots, though--especially since they can only use the L arm due to lifelong LE risk (even though I had "only" 4 nodes out--only 2 of them sentinels--the consensus is that the risk never goes away; my BC surgeon & her partner presented a paper at SABCC advocating that for postmenopausal patients with Stage IA and Grade 1 or 2 tumors, SNLBs might pose more of a risk than benefits, especially if they'll be getting radiation anyway).

Anyway, this new booster hit me a bit harder than my second original-series shot & first booster. Probably because it was a full-size Moderna dose (second booster was the half-dose), and my body had never before "seen" BA.4 or.5 so my immune system immediately began cranking out antibodies for a doozy of an immune response. I know it's the shot & not COVID, because I have no upper respiratory effects whatsoever--no congestion, runny nose, postnasal drip or cough. I usually take Tylenol at bedtime anyway so I didn't run a real fever. But during the night I dreamt about aching--and when I awoke at 8:30 I was in a world of hurt: legs, thighs, both arms, top of my head. Took my temp: 98.1, which sounds ok but at that time of day I'm usually in the high 95s-low 96s. Bob said to take another couple of Tylenol, so I did and rolled back over.

Next I knew it was noon; he'd turned the bedroom light on to watch the Bears game (they won, but "ugly"). He informed me that he had tried to bring back brunch but the nearby restaurant was flooded and so was the street a few houses west of us. My watch buzzed a "flash flood warning," because 2-4" of rain had fallen between 5-8am. Went to the basement but stopped at the landing: the floor looked like tiger-stripes, one litter box had floated off its mat (also streaked with brown gunk) and it was still too icky down there to throw on boots to see how far away the other had floated. The freshly-emptied Litter Genie was turned over on to its side. My cats had the sense not to go down there. We always keep some disposable litter pans & a bag of litter crystals upstairs for just such occasions. Called my HK over on the other side of town--her basement took on a bit of water but it was clear and she was able to push it to the floor drain. Ours, unfortunately, is sewer back-up. We'll have to attack it together tomorrow with mops, bleach & buckets. No sense in calling a remediation service or trying to clean up now because it's raining again. We can't get to the basement fridge/freezer, of course; and Bob was going to forage for dinner at Whole Foods but I'd be surprised if they, too, aren't flooded (our temple is). I heated up a can of pea soup for him and toasted a couple slabs of sourdough. I have no appetite--forcing myself to have my coffee & water. Not sure if it's panic, or the vax's side effects, or both.

Thank goodness for no tornado warning! We'd be stuck up here taking our chances. Home ownership--it's always something, isn't it? We will order out for dinner tonight and be very, very patient about delayed delivery (or eat tomatoes & sardines).

Sandy the national news showed the flooding in Chicago. I hope you’re able to get your basement cleaned out.

My booster was scheduled for today at 3:30, but I cancelled. I don’t feel good, took a 2 hour nap. Not fully conked out but resting. I’ve rescheduled for the booster on Friday. Tomorrow I may go to urgent care, I’m trying not to focus on sinus issues but my teeth are starting to ache.

I have sometimes been wildly, despairingly, acutely miserable, racked with sorrow, but through it all I still know that just to be alive is a grand thing.

Agatha Christie

Keywest- hoping everything went smoothly.

Sandy the cost of the flood control system is exorbitant! Any way to update the old one without fully replacing it? I had never heard of a check valve until today, in my pool filter. The longer we stay is this old house, the more I think I should have moved years ago.

Front bedroom is fully painted! Except the ceiling keeps bubbling up in spots, if chipped off sone ungodly color shows up, a green /blue/old color). Painter is going over it with a texturized paint. This is adding to his work and timeline but the room looks nice & clean and we’re happy with it. Onward!

chisandy: Sorry to read about your basement water issues but the cost of restoration after flooding would far exceed the cost of the suggested remediation system. Plus insurance will not always cover replacement if they will it an act of God. We have a water mitigation system tied into our gutters and downspouts but it was disabled when the restoration company in all its infinite wisdom removed the gutters, and downspouts. They then delayed the reinstallation of the gutters and downspouts just in time for Isaias to hit and totally flood our basement. Initially there were 3 spots were the flooring needed to be replaced and we had sufficient flooring to effect the repairs. This insult meant there was now wall damage and the total floor had to be replaced at great effort and cost. Just had a heated discussion with the project manager who blamed the damage on the failure of our sump pump and not his poor decision. The flooding did not occur where the sump pump was available due to sloping of the floor. He flouted how expensive the flooring was and I reminded him that what I had originally recommended as a replacement in March was not available when he finally got around to ordering it in July. This floor was though, due to manufacturing and supply chain issues, it was available in Dallas and in limited quantities. So I suggested he get on the stick and make sure he secured enough to do our floor. I refuse to let him bully me about the poor decisions they made about coordination of repairs in my home. I told him that we had no issues with the quality of the work, just their coordination and response time. He wanted to blame everything on Covid but I reminded him that it took 3 months for them to get the structural engineer here. He always has an answer (mostly incorrect) and I have a paper trail to support me. I cannot wait for them to finish and I would not recommend them to anyone I know.

Good luck with finding someone to do the work. Getting it done before there is an issue is easier than when it is an urgent issue and surprisingly less costly.

Regan got her initial vaccines yesterday and was surprisingly okay with a male vet and tech. She goes back for next series of shots in a month and will be spayed on 10/31. All the staff knew and loved our old Dal and were happy that we were able to find Regan as well as rescue her. Still making an adjustment with DH but he is working on establishing a relationship. Baby steps is the way and lots of treats. Have a good day.

The best remedy for those who are afraid, lonely, or unhappy is to go outside, somewhere where they can be quite alone with the heavens, nature, and God. Because only then does one feel that all is as it should be and that God wishes to see people happy, amidst the simple beauty of nature. As long as this exists, and it certainly always will, I know that there will always be comfort for every sorrow, whatever the circumstances may be.

-Anne Frank

Betrayal, Regan is beautiful. Love her soulful eyes and the one, lone dot perfectly centered on her left foot. I hope she settles in quickly.

Betrayal, Regan is sweet! My dal, black & white male, has been gone many many years.

Sandy, I hope you can get the work done and avoid any further water damage going forward.

Our painter has started the second bedroom. He works a full time custodial job at a school and all his talents are used for side jobs as a handyman. He believes he’ll be done by Friday, which includes our living room ceiling too. I just want it over with. Betrayal how you lasted all those months is beyond me!

Petite - I’ve never had the wherewithal to be a landlord. I wish you luck selling the place. Houses around us in Fort Myers have doubled in value and the market doesn’t have many available right now. Good luck at your upcoming appointments.

Regan is a beauty. I'm jealous, but It always so pleases me when good dogs find GOOD homes. She looks pretty comfy in her new digs. Hugs. to all.

I have to admit -- being a grand parent/great grandparent is marvelous. Right now there are no babies, but I have a step great grandson and he has his first two teeth. He is a rather big boy so I don't hold him too much since he is a handful, but I love talking to him. He can turn on the charm at 6 mos. aplenty.

Long day today, and longer day tomorrow. It is prep day for colonoscopy tomorrow for procedure on Wed. morning. I will be pateint # 1 for which I'm sure I'll be grateful. Will be time to come home and dig in as I know I'll be hungry. No food tomorrow ( I'm loading up a bit tonight ) and only the wonderful prep to drink all day. No fun to be low-salt and also water restricted so I think I'll just power through with the prep and call it even. Should be back home Wed morning within a couple hours to rest and eat, eat and rest or whatever.

The total for the 2 phases of the flood control system (phase 1 is outdoor--digging, installing pumps, valves, tank, joining new sewer line to city sewer; phase 2 is demolition & excavation of the front 16 sq. ft. of basement concrete floor, new interior sewer lines, new improved check valve, cleanup) is $19K. That doesn't include temporary removal of everything in that 16 sq. ft. and relocating it to an exterior storage unit, nor the new landscaping. A lot of homes with supposedly state-of-the-art flood control systems still got flooded anyway on Sunday becaus the rain was so torrential and fast that the city's flow-restriction system was inadequate to keep water out of people's basements. Here in Chicago, this kind of stuff usually doesn't happen except along the river. If it's not going to be foolproof, maybe we can just get away with a new check valve, since when this one was installed there was no demolition involved.

Saw the neurologist today and am glad I didn't cancel. Turns out what the orthopod & physiatrist assumed was L3-5 stenosis is really S-I joint dysfunction & deterioration, irritating & inflaming the sciatic nerve, No herniations in the lumbar spine sufficient to cause pain. She said that the kind of back oain I get--along the waist--is classic sacroiliac, not lumbar. The nerves passing through the S-I joint are inflamed, causing my piriformis muscles to have exquisitely painful trigger points. And all of this is due not so much to arthritis but to the scoliosis first diagnosed in my early teens. She is shocked nobody ever suggested treating it, and that since my 30s no doctors have considered my back attacks as connected to it. She also said that I had the wrong kind of PT--i need neuro, not ortho, PT. If it helps, then she wants me to start one-on-one Pilates; if it doesn't, then I'll need shots in my piriformis (both sides of my butt) and an EMG for further diagnosis. Oh, and she's sure those horrid tibial cramps are due not to the bones' surgical jardware irritating muscle fascia, but nerve root irritation connected to the S-I joint dysfunction caused by scoliosis. (And here I was considering canceling the appt. because I feared she'd think "oh no, not another hypochondriac").

Sandy - glad you got some answers regarding your back and some possible ideas to help. Good luck with the house work - sounds like quite a lot of work.

My brother is slowly, albeit very slowly moving in the right direction. They anticipate another week in the hospital. Hope so as his birthday is on the 23rd and it would be nice to be home for it even if he is still recovering, but as we all know nothing beats sleeping in our own bed. Still in isolation and no visitors. Yesterday he was allowed to sit in a chair and brush his teeth. I'm sure the whole road to recovery will be a few months. Still quite worried about him.

Petite - good luck with the house fixing and sale.I guess, I didn't realize or remember you had rental properties. Are they all near you?

Trying to figure out when to get the Covid vacinne and the flu shot and if I want to do them at the same time. My lifetime risk of LE is 30%. I've been. having blood draws in the BC side but no BP. Just not sure I want to have two sore arms or not know if I have a side effect what is from what.

Have a great Wednesday

Illinois - good luck with the colonoscopy. Hope all goes well.

Thinking of you Keywestfan. Hope all is well

Mcbaker - hope your daughters appendectomy recovery goes smoothly. Glad you're able to get out and walk Tippy. Sorry you lost your documents. Hope you're able to recover them.

Chisandy - you've got lots going on with your basement repairs and 1:1 Pilates. Hope the Pilates gives you pain relief.

Sitting in a nice warm room doing the breath test. Had to drink glucose water (yuck), but it's much easier than colonoscopy prep! A nurse comes and takes a breath sample every 15 minutes. I'll be here 2 hours. At least I have internet connection.

Have a safe and healthy day.