Jeanne, my shoulder hurts constantly, sometimes more than other times.  I have no idea what has caused the discoloration.  I talked to the on-call triage nurse and she advised me to see my regular doctor.  Being Saturday, no one is in his office, but I have a request in MyHealth for an appointment.  I expect to hear from my doctor Monday sometime.

Mary Ann

I know WHY some of us cannot eat grapefruit, but not the scientific details.  My doctors AND the pages and pages of literature the pharmacy gives with every refill these days (bet you don't read these, but you SHOULD!) tell me it is because there is something in grapefruit, but not any other food, that enhances some medications.  Gives you the effect of half again as much, or more, of the med.  And this is dangerous.  Obviously so.
But as to what the ingredient or ingredients in grapefruit ARE that have this affect on thyroid and some other meds, and what the chemical reaction is that takes place, color me a dummy.  I'll just take their word for it; especially as they seem so certain of their facts.  If you would simply love to hear all the details, ask your pharmacist next time you go in!

MaryPage, I am always careful to read those sheets. They can be a little scary sometimes with the list of known and possible side effects, though. I didn't know grapefruit affects the thyroid. All I know is that you don't take statins with grapefruit.

Mary Ann, sorry to hear about your shoulder. Hope it gets better soon. Also, my sister recently had a similar nosebleed problem.

My spinal arthritis seems to have taken a turn for the worse this spring/summer. Doc told me it is time to stop doing any heavy lifting or moving heavy furniture around. I have no idea what I did to set it off this time. I may have to give up my volunteer work at the library because all that bending and stooping doesn't help.

Hi everyone.  It looks like today will be a repeat of yesterday and the last several days as it is going to probably get to the century mark temperature wise.  I had my first South Carolina peach of the season this morning and it was so good and juicy I had to stand over the kitchen sink to eat it.  I also had a big dish of watermelon and the nutrition bar and nutrition drink for breakfast so I am ready for the day.  I will be going to Sunday School and Church alone as Pat isn't yet up to going and sitting on those hard chairs in Sunday School and the pew in Church. However, she is beginning to feel better so maybe in a few more days she will be OK.  Nothing else planned for today. 

Joan, it has been years now since I ate a grapefruit or had grapefruit juice, both of which I really liked. 

Hal, I saw that same article and mentioned it to Pat. 

MaryPage, Pat likes the Hallmark movie channel and the other Hallmark channel and it seems most of those movies fit what you like.  I see you belong to the no grapefruit club also, which is not a desirable membership. 

JeanneP, I think for some medicines grapefruit increases or wipes out  the effect of the medication. I see MaryPage has already written of this matter.  You were kind of a scamp with the use of your nosebleeds.  Glad they are no longer a problem for you.  I can't remember the last time I had a nosebleed.

Mary Ann, when you saw your doctor last did he do any deep probing of your shoulder that could have resulted in the blood vessels rupturing.  I do hope it isn't any too serious.  Hope you get a doctor's appointment without a long wait.     

MarsGal, the statins are probably why I can't have the grapefruit.  So sorry that your spinal arthritis is worse.  I hope you follow your doctor's orders.  The stooping and bending certainly couldn't be helping the situation. 

Larry, the doctor did nothing around my shoulder.  I think he saw some of the color at the neck of my top.  I have some sores on the shoulder and I thought he was seeing those, so said I had several of them.  That may be why he didn't mention anything further.  Now that I have seen the discoloration, I think it is strange.  But I will have an appointment Monday or Tuesday; I know my doctor!

I am not going to church this morning so Dot will go alone.  This afternoon the family will gather at The Score (sports bar) where we will honor Tom and James, both of whom have birthdays this week.  Father and son.  The Score is where we ate a couple of weeks ago and enjoyed it so much.  It  looks to be a nice day so we can eat out on the beach.

Mary Ann

From the Mayo Clinic;

"Yes. Grapefruit and certain other citrus fruits, such as Seville oranges, can interfere with several kinds of prescription medications.

Don't take these interactions lightly. Some can cause potentially dangerous health problems. If you take prescription medication, ask your doctor or pharmacist whether your medication interacts with grapefruit or other citrus products.

You may need to eliminate grapefruit products from your diet. Simply taking your medication and grapefruit product at different times doesn't stop the interaction. Alternately, you can ask your doctor if there's a comparable medication you can take that doesn't interact with grapefruit.

Problems arise because chemicals in the fruit can interfere with the enzymes that break down (metabolize) the medication in your digestive system. As a result, the medication may stay in your body for too short or too long a time. A medication that's broken down too quickly won't have time to work. On the other hand, a medication that stays in the body too long may build up to potentially dangerous levels.

The list of medications that can interact with grapefruit includes commonly prescribed medicines that:

Fight infection
Reduce cholesterol
Treat high blood pressure
Treat heart problems
Prevent organ rejection in transplant recipients
Another potential problem is that some products may contain grapefruit but don't say so in the name or on the ingredients list. For example, numerous citrus-flavored soft drinks have been identified as possibly containing grapefruit juice or grapefruit extract.

Play it safe with prescription drugs. Always ask your doctor or pharmacist when you get a new prescription if it interacts with any foods or other medicines. If the answer is yes, ask whether you need to eliminate that food from your diet.

With

Katherine Zeratsky, R.D., L.D."

Good Morning from a cloudy day with a clammy feel to it. We are under alert this afternoon and evening for a series of brief but violent series of thunderstorms with large quarter size pieces of hail. Since we have had hail perhaps three times that I'm aware of in my sixty plus years here, I'm a bit skeptical. But I would have said that about ice storms and we've had three in winters since 2005. We haven't had the snow either, just black ice.

I wasn't aware of grapefruit or portions of it added to so many foods, although that may explain the news that repeated sodas, especially diet sodas has a tendency to cause strokes in people over sixty.

I have had nose bleeds if the air is too dry. Evidently my skin is parched, and it can cause that and other issues. Once I ended up being sent to the hospital, and this "medical" person came out swathed in thick material and gave me a sense of being somehow unclean, or poisonous. He had to tie off a small nasal capillary, but his attitude was such that I made a formal complaint.

I read so much that sometimes I think that I'm physically addicted. I hadn't heard about the types of plots before now, but anyone who has read awhile or of a type such as mysteries would have noticed plot similarities but may not have known the reasons why.

I spent some time away playing dinner and cards yesterday with friends, that when I came home, Farrah was alternately friendly but skittish. This morning she is back to friendly. You never know what is going on with her.

MaryAnn. Now when your shoulder not hurting is it still Pink looking. Usually skin does show colour when inflamed. I just have two place. My thumbs and on knee due to accidents. When they start to hurt they get almost red. I do pretty good with just taking a Advil. They may tell you when you see the Dr. that it is your shoulder inflamed. Has he ever given you a shot it it?

Five of us gathered at the Score this afternoon for Tom's and James' s birthdays.  Because of my shoulder pain, I expected to get a sandwich that I could cut in half and eat by hand but I ended up with fish and chips and cole slaw, all of which was delicious.  I brought home one piece of fish which was huge and very hot when I went to eat it.  We will go there again Wednesday and, who knows, I might order that again.

My bloody nose behaved itself.  I try to not blow any more than usual, but sometimes it is necessary.  My shoulder hurts a bit, but there is nothing I can do about it.  I do expect to hear from my doctor's office in the morning and I'll keep you posted.

At 8 pm our temperature is 80 degrees and I am running the a/c.

Mary Ann

Hi everyone.  Today will be another 100 degree day.  We had quite a bit of thunder last evening but no rain so I had to turn on the sprinklers for early this morning.  Today will be a full day for me as I have three medical tests starting at 11:30 and the last one at 2 pm.  At least they are all in the same location, which is less than 20 minutes from our home.  I will have a Carotid Duplex Scan, the an Echocardiogram  and finally a Cardiac PET Scan.  I can't have anything to eat this morning nor take my normal medications until after the tests.  Pat had planned to so with me but I told her yesterday I didn't want her to go as she still isn't over the pains in her thigh and shoulder.  No reason for her to sit in uncomfortable chairs for three hours or more. 

Mary Ann, it sounds like you all have found a really good place to eat and to celebrate the birthdays. 

Patricia, thanks for the information on the grapefruit problems with medications. Hope the severe thunderstorms didn't materialize.  Nice you could have some fun with a dinner and cards.

Larry, I feel for you in this heat of yours.  We had it last month and suffered through it.  We have been in the low 80's  so far this month and that is just fine with me.    Take care and drink fluids.

Good Morning Everyone from the
still coolish,  sunny,  rocky coast of Maine. 

But...
As of tomorrow,  the long hot part of Summer
should be coming,  with temps up into
the 80's and a wee bit more humid.   But not
terribly so.    I can see that my AC
will be running for the next couple of
weeks.   

I can't complain (even though I would like to)
because we have had very nice weather here
for many, many weeks.   

I am really looking forward to the day when
I "should really put on some weight"...   (ha!)

But something tells me that is going to be
a long time coming.    No matter what,
I will be closely paying attention to weight
issues from now on in order to someday
reach my goal weight. 

Larry,  I too have been wondering about
your very  high temperatures.    I don't recall
that you had them so high,  in years gone
by.     Hopefully this is just a fluke and
things will get back to normal  (unless this is
normal for SC,  soon)
Have a good day,  Everyone! 

Sandy

Good morning, from nice cool Long Island. Gentel East wind, and very low humidity.
By the middle of the week, suppose to be in the high 80's
larry, I can remember when we lived in Charleston, they would fry and egg, in front of the post office on Broad St to prove how hot it was.  I have mention this before I know.  But then no one had A/C, just very large fans.  This was 1940

Hi again, Larry  I keep meaning to tell you, that is my Greg Norman hat I have on, that I bought at the USopen, when he was playing.   Of course he was my favorite.

Good morning from a very misty Interior. We had a quick rain squall yesterday afternoon but no thunder, lightning or hail. Just more of that steady, rain. Sunny, warm days have rarely been seen here and not for the past several months.

I hope everyone's aches and pains are better today. I know I have been very stiff and sore due to the weather, barometric pressure and damp. I have even been awakened by it in the night. Larry, I am hoping for good results on your tests and Maryann, that the doctors get back to you quickly and with some relief for your shoulder!

Lately, Farrah has changed. She used to get all excited at the rattle of her treat bag. Today, out of nowhere she went over to the yoga mat and announced WIN!, her word for treats, not to be confused with WIN, WIN her words for FEED ME in the mornings. When I return after being gone for an amount of time, she automatically goes to her treat place, the yoga mat.

Hi everyone on another soon to be 100 degree day here in South Carolina.  It has been a very busy morning after waking at 1:30 am and not being able to go to sleep.  I continued to rest in bed until 5:30 then got up and shaved and showed and then laid back down and read my email and the message boards on my iPhone.  I got up and did my normal morning chores plus a couple of others.  I just got back from a quick trip to Walmart to pick up more medicine for Pat that wasn't ready when I picked up some yesterday for her. 

My medical tests went well.  The Echo and ultra sound tests were done back to back and I didn't even have to move other that what was required for the test.  Then I had to wait may 45 minutes or so for the PET scan of my heart, which took about 45 minutes.  The worst of the test was having to keep my arms above my head for 30 minutes and my right arm went to sleep and I had to ask the tech to help me lower it.  It will be a couple of weeks before I will hear the results of the tests when I again see the Cardiologist. 

After I finished the tests I went about a mile further up the road to Shane's BBQ and had good meal.  I also brought home a pulled pork plate for Pat's evening meal.  Since it was after 3 pm when I ate I certainly didn't want any supper. 

I am expecting to have a quiet remainder of the day working this morning on projects in my office, then taking the afternoon and evening just resting and relaxing. 

Joan, I try not to be out in the hot afternoon to the extent I can avoid it.  Glad I am a morning person as I can get out and do things before it gets too hot.  If the car didn't get so hot while we are shopping for in church the heat really wouldn't bother me very much.  Fortunately, both cars cool down fairly quickly.  I also put shades in the front window and that help keeping the steering wheel from getting too hot. 

Sandy, I am with you in not having a problem with needing to put on weight.  A few years ago I lost 50 or 60 pounds and people were asking my wife if I was suffering cancer.  I don't intend to ever get down that low again but could stand to lose 20 pounds.  I have lost 7 pounds on cutting down on what I eat and not having desserts, which is really tough for me.  I suppose there have been other years with these high temperatures here and it is usually 4 or 5 degrees here than where we lived in Georgia as that elevation was almost a thousand feet higher than we have plus we live about 50 miles further South than the Altanta area.

deAngel, with A/C I guess we have little room to complain about the heat.  I do feel for those having to work outside, like the builder and his assistant digging the foundation for the new house across the street.  The builder does a lot of manual work himself on his houses but also uses a lot of subcontractors for the actual construction.  I like you Greg Normal hat.  He did seem always to be a class guy. 

Patricia, Farrah is just continuing her conditioning of you to meet your demands. 

Larry, I also like that she's easily entertained by herself. Her favorite toy is a paper bag from the market. She or I will slide one or two toys in the bag and then she will run in and pull them out to toss in the air while growling. After tossing them about, she then places them back in the bag for playing at a later date. She's very efficient that way.....

Absolutely!  When cats get a new home and servant, they have to spend much time and effort to train the new caretaker in the way they like things done!  Poor Farrah must be plumb worn out with teaching Patricia!  Apparently she is pretty pleased with her, though, and that's a Good sign!  He! He!

MaryPage, 

:)Just six quick Farrah photos...

http://www.seniorsandfriends.org/index.php?topic=11.msg34097#msg34097

Not to bad here in Illinois. Was listening to the President on TV. Then fell asleep.  There was a police women to his right as he was talk and she kept nodding of. Think she made me sleep.
When I first turned it on everyone was laughing. Didnt know why. The Chief of Police talking. Obama very good at making those talks.

Seems like our County fair is getting close also. Last 3 years it has rained for 3 days.
They were saying that would not be a show of animals and such this year only on the day prior to the fair starting. Don't know if it is the State Fair or County.  I stopped going to both. Seems to be nothing but Food Trucks and Tee Shirts at our County one. Not like fairs use to be. The best for cooking, sewing. animals with the kids. Horse shows.  The big draw seems to be Drag Racing now.

I am waiting to hear if Mrs. May will be the new Prime Minister of England tomorrow. Looks good for her. That will be something if we get Mrs. Clinton for President. Mrs May for PM and already they have a female leader in Germany. So 3 main Countries. Women leaders. I was thinking that one in India also.  Be very interesting. Now if only Russia could get one. Who knows. Maybe on day women will be ruling things. Worked out pretty good in Roman Days.

I haven't read any posts since Monday morning because since Monday noon, I spent much of the day first in Urgent Care, then in Emergency Care in Blodgett Memorial Hospital because of my non-stop nose bleeds.  They finally packed my nose (ouch) and after several tests, they let me come home about 2:30 am this morning (Tuesday).  The packing will remain until Thursday when my regular doctor will remove it.  I have been in bed much of the time since I got home and I'm headed there now.

Mary Ann

Maryann, I had been worried and checked your posts and saw you hadn't posted. I was, however, thinking of your shoulder.

Regardless, I hope what they did works well, and your visit to your doctor on Thursday is successful, and you will be back with us again! Take care, and we miss you!

Mary Ann
So sorry that you ended up in hospital and hope you will have a good visit with your own Doctor.

We miss that nice bright blue message,get well soon.

Hi everyone.  Ditto on my weather reports from the past several days.  It is hot.  My big activity today will be to go to lunch with Pat and Scott at Ruby Tuesday's.  We have a coupon for buy one entree and get the second of equal of lessor value for free.  That is too good to pass up and will save Pat cooking tonight.  Scott will probably go back home and sleep for awhile and then come out later in the evening. 

A few days ago I got a new replacement window for my office and this morning I looked up how to remove and replace it and decided to do so to save Scott doing it this evening.  I got the old window out and started to put the new window in and found it was the wrong size.  So back to the drawing board to return the new window and have them order the right size.  I don't think I will try to replace it myself again as it was too heavy.  I have the watering done in the back and the inside chores pretty well done.  Pat may want me to make a trip to the church to take some neck pillows she has sewn to be stuffed if she isn't up to going herself.  If so I can run a couple of errands I planned to do tomorrow when I go downtown.  I did get a good nights sleep last night.

Patricia, nice pictures of your Farrah and she reminds me very much of our cat that our daughter named Tiggers.  He loved to play in boxes or get into other tight spaces.  I don't remember ever giving him a paper bag to play with but can see that cats would like it. 

MaryPage, you are very right about the cat training a new caretaker.

JeanneP, it has been many years since I attended a fair and think I once attended the Illinois State Fair but not sure.  Apparently Mrs. May will become the new Prime Minister today.  I guess she will present her papers to the Queen, which I read serves as the swearing in ceremony. 

Mary Ann, sorry you have had more nose bleed problems and having that stuffing must be miserable.  I hope you have been able to pass many of the hours waiting for Thursday laying down. 

Good morning to all!

MaryAnn, so sorry to hear of your health problems.  Here is hoping all goes well for you.  Prayers being said.

Angelface, cute kitty pictures.  I enjoy your kitty stories, as well.

Larry, we go to Ruby Tuesday often, also with their coupons.  We enjoy going there.

Hi to Joan and MaryPage and all the rest of you.  (I should never have started that - memory is being shot down.   )

shirleyn

Good Morning Everyone,  from the
sunny and warm with low humidity,  rocky
coast of Maine. 

I am sorry to hear that Mary Ann is having  some
problems with nose bleeds.   That has to be
terribly frightening...    Using blood thinners
requires close monitoring,  and I am sure now
that they  will watch you Mary Ann closely to see that
this does not happen again.   

I hope that you are comfortable and get through
this tough spell without any more nosebleeds.

My thoughts are with you,
HUGS.. 
love Sandy

Oh, MARY ANN!  Come home soonest!  We cannot function properly without you.
Good Morning Miss Shirley!  Top of the morning to you!
And to you, Sandy Dapph.
My Comcast land line telephone has been out since before noon yesterday, and apparently it is a nationwide problem.  I have been forced to pry my pesky little cell phone the kids insisted on my having for emergencies (and it is on Steve's "family plan") out of my handbag and turn it on and try to remember to carry it around with me.  I can't get the danged thing to ring loud enough for me to hear it unless it is right next to me.  If I put it in the pocket of my slacks, I can feel it pulsate if it rings, but that is no help when I have my pocketless nightie on, which I do.  Takes me a while to get going in the mornings!  Gosh but I hate being deaf.  It is lovely in some ways;  that is to say, I enjoy the quiet.  Anyway, my children all know about this problem, and will email me to call THEM if anything comes up.
Well, I'd better get chugging.  Time for oatmeal and coffee.  Have a good day!

Good Morning Mom ... 
sorry to hear that you comcast has been giving
you problems. 

I bet that you can find a little pocket on a
lanyard  to hang around your neck with your
cell phone on it....  you could tuck it in
right next to your heart so you will feel
it when it rings.       You are a very creative
person,  so I know that you will figure it out. 

Have a good day.
Sandy

Mornin Shirley.