Alpine...praise God for your successful surgery...prayers for fast healing and only good reports..Sharon..glad you are doing well also..it's good for men to do our jobs..in my opinion...might appreciate us more....my husband was awesome in helping ..the many times I needed him..he was there for me..Jane we are back to summer here in Texas...until the next cold front..we have to get one from Canada to cool off much...Hi Sue..Mary...I haven't seen Jeanne or Ginny posting..hope they are ok...Hi to any I missed..time to get ready for church...Darlene

Alpiner, your hubby & John would enjoy sharing notes.  John said he was so glad he wasn't born a woman! Last night he fixed meat loaf and baked potatoes. I had made several meat loaves and frozen them. How hard could that be?  For him, very difficult.  He just doesn't listen to directions the first time through and so has to come back and ask me things a dozen times. And if something isn't where I said it should be, he tells me we don't have it instead of looking somemore!  I thought the BBQ sauce that I put on the top of the meatloaf was in the door shelves with other condiments. It turned out it was on one of the regular shelves clear at the back, but it took him a half hour to find it.  It really is normally easier for me to cook than to get him to do it.  Now there is no choice.

Hi Darlene. I agree that it is good for our hubbys to help, but mine is definitely not cut out to do that.
Enjoy church. I'm missing it.  I've had so many cards and calls from church & SS members.

John went to church this morning and I'm waiting to take my shower till he gets home. I'm afraid to take it without him here.  I did sleep pretty well last night and till 8:30 this AM.  Unfortunately, I am developing some hives or something and worrying that it is an allergy to the oxycontin/percocet I've been taking.  Without those, I just can't get by at night. I survive the day on Tramadol, but not at night.

Mary, several people we have mentioned Nurse Rachett to haven't had a clue--especially the younger ones.

I have all these goodies here and with the exception of the French chocolate, none of it really even attracts me.  I' ve gotten my weight down to the lowest in quite a while, but I know if I start eating real meals, etc, after I get well, that it will go up again.  They keep telling me to eat protein for healing, so I'm trying to do that.  I also am very concerned about my bone density.  The Dr was very concerned with the porosity of the bone in my knee.  I take Evista + 1200 IU Calcium + 2000 IU Vit D.  I am lactose intolerant, so my yogurt and occasional cheese are my only dairy products.  Is anyone on Pro Lia long term?  I took it for about a year and a half and was scared by the list of side effects and requested Evista. Any input from you guys?  Sharon

Sharon and Alpiner....good for husbands to get to realize what you do all the time that they just don't notice or take for granted.  I'm fortunate in that Ray and I were both single for so many years that we each had to do our own "everything"...and he loves to cook.  He's also helps me by vacuuming which is much appreciated.  ''

Sharon...I know you'll let the doc know about the hives or rash...they surely have something else you can try to get through the night.


Sue....WAR EAGLE!! What a game!  I thought maybe Miss State would get Alabama....but missed at the end.  I'm sure AL will be #1 this week again.

It's a cold, wet Sunday here.  The Masons/Shriners have their pancake breakfast this morning and Ray's working there 10-1, so I went up a little after 10.  The various church crowds hadn't arrived yet, so they had more volunteers than customers.  I hope it's improved. 

I read the morning paper and all the news was so depressing I gave up on it.  I think I'll go out to the Family room and finish a baby hat and maybe do some reading until football starts.

John didn't help in the kitchen or laundry, unless given a specific job and instructions.  But then I didn't do any yard work or home maintenance.  However, after he retired, he took over the vacuuming (until I got someone to do the cleaning) and always defrosted the upright freezer (it was old and not self-defrosting).  The division of labor worked for us. 

HOORAY FOR AUBURN!!!

Margaret has gone to the Lady Vols basketball game this afternoon (it's that time of year again).  She's going to come through here on her way home and we'll go out to dinner.  Nothing else exciting going on.

Hope everybody has a good week upcoming!

After John got home from church, I took my shower and got into a fresh gown & robe. I also did my bed exercises and read the paper, then some yogurt for lunch, and then 2 hourss on the machine.  John is back at church for a finance meeting. By the time he gets home, it will be time for me to get back on the machine till supper.  While on the machine, I read a copy of Vogue magazine that Mel had included in her box to me.  That has to be the most worthless magazine printed. The fashions are mostly grotesque and only a couple articles worth reading. Mostly ads for things I can't afford & don't want.  Have no idea why she sent it.

Mary, glad Margaret will be through to take you to dinner.  I will say that John has always helped clean up after dinner. I do put away leftovers and load the dishwasher, but he does everything else. It's my least liked job.  Otherwise, he has always done the outside stuff except for flowers which have always been my purvey.

Jane, I will talk to the PT or HHS gals tomorrow about the hives and see what they think. They could be a spider bite or other insect bites though I haven't seen any.  Enjoy your quiet afternoon.  Have you read,THE NIGHTINGALE, by Kristin Hannah?  That is one of the books Lori sent me, so think I will start it in a bit. It's in a larger, darker font than the other one she sent me, so maybe I can get into this one.  Cold and damp here too.

Sue, glad Auburn won.  Sharon

I will be going to music practice tomorrow, after all, The pastor is going to pick me up and bring me home. Our pastor is 84 but he sure doesn't let any grass grown under his feet. He is the go-to guy for funerals around here for anyone who doesn't have their own pastor.

Yesterday Keith's college roommate and good friend contacted us that he and his wife were traveling up the coast on their way back to their home north of us from their Arizona home. They planned to stay locally at the Red Lion for the night and would we meet them there for dinner at 7 pm.  I drove to and from very carefully on a different route than I normally drive. I decided it would be safer driving down the highway than on the blvd that has very few lights and is winding on the side of a hill. I did fine, but I will never be driving the upper road in the dark. the food was fantastic, I had a pasta dish with a creamy Asian sauce containing chicken and shitake mushrooms.  Yummy!!!

Sharon....you're doing great on your PT!

Mary....going out with Margaret sounds great.

Sue must still be celebrating Auburn's win.   

Marilyn....good for your Pastor to get you to music practice.  It sounds as if dinner out was a nice change for you from the usual Mexican place K likes.

Jeanne....and GinnyAnn....are you both OK?

Darlene....looking forward to some warm TX sunshine.

Joy....hope all is going well for you. 

Alpiner....are you having any pain?

Jane

Alpiner....are you having any pain?   No pain unless it nearing the time to take the pain pill . I'm on Tramadol . When I had the knee pain I was surprised the Tramadol didn't relieve it but ibuprofen did .

Marilyn, so glad the pastor stepped up to getting you to music practice. It's amazing how well some people can do at that age.  The retired pastor who teaches our SS is similar. He came to the hospital before my surgery even though our regular pastor came a little later.  Your meal sounds scrumptious.  Tell me again what your vision problem is. I've heard so much a long that line that I confuse who has what.  I don't have a diagnosed night vision problem but the glare and the skewed perception confuses me, so I hardly ever drive at night. I just don't feel safe.

Alpiner, I'm glad the Tramadol is helping you.  When you take ibuprofen, be sure to take it with food. Otherwise, you can cause an ulcer.  It is a wonder drug in keeping down my general pain though. Right now I can't take it because they put me on blood thinners for a month to prevent a clot. I'll be so glad to get off of that.

Jane, it sounds like you should be ready for TX sun after the cold weather you're having.

I agree that it's been too long since we heard from Jeanne & Ginny & Sue.  Check in girls.

I slept fairly well last night.  I have begun to think those spots were bug bites rather than hives. Cortisone 10 helped them a lot better than antihistamine spray.  Had more this AM.  My knee seems really tight this morning. I just finished the bed exercises and am waiting for the PT gal at 11:00. Then I will have her help me on the machine, bring in my lunch tray and put Bunny's food down for her. John has everything fixed.  I had the machine up to 115 last night. It only goes to 120. I may have to do an hour at 115 before I turn it up to 120.  The machine really isn't painful, it is just a pain getting into it and ready to go.

Jane, John watched the IU game last night and just shook his head. It's a new coach and apparently, not a good one, so the season looks sad.  Sharon

Good morning, Buddies.  I was busy all day trying to read a book we'll discuss today at Book Club.  It's about a small town Oklahoma women's basketball team which was really good and got into the national finals against a team featuring Babe Harris Dedrickson (sp?).  She was an extraordinary athlete and very good at basketball.  You may remember her as an excellent female golfer.  According to the author, she was snobby and overbearing--but the author was a descendant of one of the Oklahoma players, so it might have been a little prejudiced.  However, it was an excellent portrayal of early female teams in the AAU which later became the AAUW.  The small town Oklahoma team won the tournament!

Alpiner, hurray for Tramadol and no pain!  I hope you're going to be back to normal soon.

Jane, you're right, we're still gloating about our win over Georgia!  Now if we can just beat "Bama" in 2 weeks.  They are playing here and the last time that happened, we won on the last play of the game due to their missed field goal.  One of our speedy players was waiting under the goal post and when the ball missed he caught it and ran all the way to the other end zone for the win!  I watched the Bama game at Mississippi State on Saturday night and MSU gave them a run for their money--so maybe this will be our year.

Marilyn, hurray for your pastor who will pick you up for practice.  (just a note, though as I'm now 80, I don't think 84 is very old!)  It sounds like you and Keith had a fun evening out with his friends.  And your meal sounds yummy!

Sharon, I've not read "The Nightingale" by Kristin Hannah, but I have read several others of hers and they are usually pretty interesting.  Right now I'm reading on old Zane Grey western adventure.  Bob loved Zane Grey as did our boys when they were growing up, but when I moved, I let the estate sale people take it away.  None of the boys had space for all those books!

Mary, yesterday morning Olyne picked me up for church a bit early and she drove us down past the University first.  The cleaners were out cleaning up the toilet paper--and it was just beautiful hanging from the trees.  In a way, it's a weird tradition but it sure looked pretty and is unique to AU.  I have no idea how it started.

Hi to Darlene, GinnyAnn, Joy, and other Buddies who are missing this morning.
Sue

Sherry I have some slight Macular Degeneration in both eyes and some cataracts are forming. However about the night driving ever since that minor accident that could have been fatal two years ago I  am not comfortable driving at night.

the accident happened coming home in the rain and a very dark section of highway, Keith kept telling me I was close to the white line on the right side of the road, So I  was hugging the double yellow lines in the middle. A car coming toward me did the same thing and our mirrors hit. Mine was the top corner of the driver's mirror that got hit. They didn't even stop, I pulled over and waited a few minutes but they never came back. It could have been a head-on and I wouldn't be he here to tell you about it.

Sue....The high school kids here and in the area do the toilet paper in the trees for various players....our neighbors with 3 boys in football have had it happen numerous times. I can't imagine how many rolls they must go through. 

Alpiner...Sharon and I both have tramadol for pain and it doesn’t help me much, either, for the arthritis in my knees. 

Sharon....it sounds as if you're doing great on the machine.  Did I tell you about tramadol and tylenol together? 

https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/tramadol-and-acetaminophen-oral-route/description/drg-20062870


Ray and I are both battling muscle and joint pain with a coming weather change.  He canceled going to the hearing center. 

Marilyn....I'm sure you stay more to the right now...better there than the middle of the road...esp when K's vision / perception isn't good. 
Jane

Alpiner...hope you're feeling better today.

Sharon...you, too, on feeling less pain today.

Ray is recovered from his arthritis flareup yesterday.  I am better, too.  Today is a marathon of doc visits...two for him and one for me.

Have a good Tuesday!

jane

It's morning no longer here.  Olyne picked me up at 9:15 so that we could attend our monthly Circle meeting at Carole's home.  She had homemade Angelfood cake (in pink!), fresh fruit, and other goodies. (Presbyterian's love to eat!)  Our lesson today was based on several chapters in Hebrews--and had references in the old Testament.  Carolyn led the lesson and we had a fairly good discussion.  I enjoy this group of women from our church.

It's still chillier than I like today, but the weekend is supposed to bring a slight warm up.  I haven't walked yet, but have cleaned up after my lunch and will put on a heavy sweat shirt and get on it shortly.  I'm still reading the Zane Grey cowboy novel I checked out of the library on Saturday.  I had to put it on hold until I finished the book club selection for yesterday.  It was about early women's basketball leagues, especially the one in Oklahoma.  So I'll get back to Zane Grey after my walk and hope I finish it today.  I'd like to finish the other 4 books I checked out last Saturday before Saturday coming up!

Marilyn, has your eye doctor said anything yet about removing the cataracts?  My ophthalmologist did mine about 10-15 years ago and I can see better than I've ever done in my life.  I've always been nearsighted and one eye still is somewhat that way, but I'm amazed at what I can see without my glasses--and my vision is no longer blurry when out at night with rings around every light that is out there!

Sharon, Alpiner, GinnyAnn, Darlene, Joy, and whoever is looking in, I hope you're all having a lovely day.

Sue

Hi Gals, my cleaning girl was here today and did a lot of extra stuff I needed done. I've also put in 2 hrs on the machine and have done the bed exercises.  I'm half asleep now.

Sue, your circle group sounds interesting.  I haven't read a Zane Grey in probably 50 yrs, but I did enjjoy them.  I would imagine you enjoyed your book club selection, though doubt I would. Just not that much into sports. I have read things about Babe Deidrickson though, but a long time ago.

Marilyn, I don't blame you at all for not driving at night after an experience like that.  So scary!  I also didn't remember you had some MD.  Both of John's sisters have it to some degree and I have a friend here who has to have monthly shot into her eye for it!!! She is only allowed to drive in Sun City.  I have the beginnings o a catarct in 1 eye at least, but another year or 2 for it to be ready to be removed.

Jane, it was really cool and damp here yesterday, so I wasn't feeling very well either. Surprisingly, Tramadol is helping my knee during the day.  I only take the opioids at night and am cutting back on those.  My machine is up to 117 today but it is really a stretch.  I'm going to try to push it up to 120 tomorrow, the max, if I can. If not, I'll take it a degree at a time.  I guess the HHN is coming tomorrow to remove the staples. I got a delivery of medical supplies to do it although she still hasn't made an appt. My Dr's appt is Thurs afternoon.  BTW, due to my use of Tramadol, I never take Tylenol.

Hi to all.  Wish our missing gals would drop in.  Sharon

Marilyn, I limit my night driving, too.  No point in doing what makes you uncomfortable - if at all possible.  My cataract removal was done before they could also correct astigmatism with the lens implants, so I still wear glasses all the time.  I don't mind - just used to them.  When John had his done a few years later, they could correct for astigmatism, so he quit wearing glasses, except for drug-store readers.  He had them stashed all over the house, just for reading.

Sharon, glad you're showing some improvement.  What do the numbers measure?  the degrees of flexion?  People don't usually know how dangerous it is to overdose on acetominophen.  I'm mostly controlling my pain with some tizanidine (a muscle relaxant) and 2 x-strength acetominophen twice a day.  But when it's bad, it's awful.  I'm glad I finally have the appointment with the spine clinic (7 December).  I fear that will mean an MRI, which will require some family assistance (since I need the meds to accomplish that).  But I guess that can get managed.

jane, glad you and Ray are doing better.  Your colder weather really does a number on the joints.  SPI is looking good!

Sue, I hope you get a good walk in.

I played duplicate last night.  For a change, my partner and I did well.  With 10 pairs and 18 boards, we came in 2nd and had a couple of high boards - all for 0.56 MP!  Nothing much else going on.

Hugs to all the Buddies!

The PT didn't measure my flex yesterday, but I'm doing 117 on the machine.  As to the Tylenol OD, etc, you forget that I'm married to a pharmacist and have a daughter and son in law who are pharmacists. They keep me in line.

Hurrah on the duplicate!!

Is your muscle relaxer like Flexeril? I have that on hand though don't take it much.  Good luck on your MRI. I do hope they can find a solution for you.  Pain is no fun.  Sharon

Sharon....I get little help from Tramadol and was surprised when the doc said to take with tylenol because it made them both more efficient in pain management.  That's what that link to the Mayo Clinic said, too. 

My appt with cancer surgeon went well...see me next year.  Ray needs to try a new cholesterol med, but otherwise things were ok.

I think we'll go out for tacos.  It's a cold, foggy, drizzly day...typical for mid Nov.

Jane

 :)Hello Girls
Are any of you taking Atenolol?  I have been taking it for YEARS but no longer since
it is no longer made.  So Doc changed me to Propolol (sp) and I was astonished to
see when I received my bill from the drugstore that it is approximately 3 times more
expensive.  I'd like to know if any of you have had to change from Atenolol to
Propolol? If you are taking Atenolol it must be some the druggist had on hand for
a long time.  I phoned every drugstore in Baton Rouge and NONE had any.
Some said that it only a temporary outage, but-------?
It is for High Blood Pressjure.
Joy

I see the breast cancer dr. tomorrow morning .  I was checking my calendar & was surprised about the appt. * don't remember marking the calendar ! Sure glad I checked , probably would need to pay the copay even if I had forgot to go in .

Joy....not on that one.  I take Losartan.

Alpiner...glad you checked your calendar and will see doc to make sure everything is healing ok.

Watched basketball tonight.  Looking forward to bridge...last time until we are back from Tx.

Jane

Jane: I take Losartan and Nifedipine (Procardia XL)also for High Blood Pressure.
Joy

Good morning, Every Buddy.  It's chilly here this morning--down in the high 50's, but sunny and warming up quickly.  I did bundle up for my morning walk, though, and glad I did.  I've made my grocery list for Friday and have a load of dishes in the dishwasher and will start a pot of vegetable soup shortly. 

Not much else going on here today, so I'll start calling members of the once a month bridge club today as I'm playing bridge tomorrow and also have our first women's basketball game tomorrow at 6:00.  Tim is taking me to lunch and Kroger on Friday and I will need to buy a veggie platter as my contribution to Thanksgiving dinner.  I usually make sweet potato casserole, but Kris and Ard planned what each should bring and this is what they want me to bring.  I also need to buy 2 pairs of slipper socks which I hope I can get at Kroger.  My garden club will meet the first Friday in December at the Country Club for lunch and we all must bring the slipper socks which will be distributed to nursing homes for those needing them.

Have a good day, Buddies.
Sue

Hi Gals. Joy, I take the generic for Coreg. Mine is prescribed for cardiomyopathy, but it also lowers the BP. My suggestion is to talk to your doctor and see if there is another drug that will work for you that isn't as expensive.  Big Pharm has us all behind the 8-ball.

Jane, is Ray taking Co-Q 10?  If he is on statins, that is a must.  I have been on 200 mg CoQ10 since 97. It is good or the heart, cognition, and definitely to counteract the decrease caused by statins.

I'm still not sure what we are having for TG. We will definitely be at home.

I just finished taking a shower and washing my hair and the HHN called and is due to come soon to remove the staples and discharge me.  I start regular PT next Monday.

Hope everyone's bridge games go well.  John is off to his.  Our group has a Nov/Dec game & brunch. This year, no one could have it at home, so we're going to the Red Bowl, a nearby chinese restaurant. Not my cup of tea, but will enjoy the girls.  All for now.  Sharon

 :)Sharon: I also take 200mg. of COQ10 every day.
Joy

Hi Joy - always good to see you checking in.  I take generic Irbesartan for my high blood pressure - have never taken the other ones mentioned.  I take red yeast rise to keep my cholesterol down.  It's never been out of normal limits, but the RYR does keep it in the midnormal range (and was suggested by my doctor).

It's near 60 here today - lovely fall weather.  I've been to the Y and coffee, but I think that's all my activities for the day (except for computer and knitting, of course).

Happy Wednesday, Buddies!

  On my last eye appt/checkup..the Dr suggested to me that my vision could be improved if I had the uplift eye brow surgery...is considered a cosmetic surgery..but insurance will cover it if Dr recommends...Have any of you had that done or know anyone that has.....thx Darlene

Darlene, my oldest daughter had this type of surgery several years ago - not for cosmetic reasons, but to increase her field of vision.  She had very good results. 

Joy Keith used to take Atenolol now he is taking metoprolol

I saw the breast cancer dr. this morning , she was satisfied with the healing . Now I am to have consultations with a radiolgist & a chemotherapy dr. to see which is the next procedure .  The lympnoids were not affected & she said the area around the spot was smooth . But she wants me to make appts. with the above dr.s . I called one of the dr.s , waiting now for a call back, they are looking for a referral from the breast cancer dr.
Radiology could affect my lungs ( which are bad since I have COPD & asthma ) ,if I take a pill every day I may not be able to tolerate the side affects . If I don't have radiology in the first 12 weeks I can't have it later .
Still waiting on the phone call . If I don't get the call today I will call back tomorrow .