Now, I can hold a note for a long time...actually I can hold a note forever. But eventually that's just noise. It's the change we're listening for. The note coming after, and the one after that. That's what makes it music.

Host ,'Why We Fight'


If the Apocalypse Comes, Beep Me

Birth, death, illness, new job, vacation...if it's happening to you and you want us to know about it, post it here. These threads are intended for announcements only. Want to offer sympathy or congratulations, or talk about anything? Take it to Natter. Any natter here will be deleted.


erikaj - Jan 05, 2023 2:12:27 pm PST #5619 of 5654
If Scooby Doo taught me anything, it's that the only thing to fear is real-estate developers.Lisa Simpson

Mom's finally seeing a podiatrist tomorrow. Hope he can help, and that we could get our groove back.


Susan W. - Jan 15, 2023 11:10:34 am PST #5620 of 5654
Good Trouble and Righteous Fights

I'm scheduled for breast reduction surgery tomorrow, in hopes of mitigating my chronic upper back, neck, and shoulder pain. It should be pretty routine, as surgeries go, though I'm still feeling a bit nervous, since that still means going under anesthesia and all.


Susan W. - Jan 18, 2023 5:49:34 pm PST #5621 of 5654
Good Trouble and Righteous Fights

Surgery went smoothly, and I've been home since a bit before noon yesterday. Mostly I'm very tired and very sore, though the pain med rotation is keeping it manageable.


EpicTangent - Feb 23, 2023 11:19:13 am PST #5622 of 5654
Why isn't everyone pelting me with JOY, dammit? - Zenkitty

I think I'm overdue for a check in, so: my day-to-day continues about the same - kinda sore, really tired most of the time. I had a cystoscopy (scope of the bladder) last week because the gyn oncologist was concerned that the bladder might have been compromised due to proximity to the uterus/vagina/et al. Finally some good news - no sign of cancer in the bladder! I have another colonoscopy scheduled next Friday (3/3), and that will hopefully be the last test before the surgery. They assure me that they've been working on scheduling the surgery all along (5 weeks now), it's just tricky because I'm up to 3 different surgeons now (gastro-intestinal oncologist, gynecological oncologist, plastic surgeon).

So, unless something miraculous happens between now & the surgery, most of my colon, rectum, etc., is going and my ostomy becomes permanent. Hysterectomy (incl ovaries, etc.), plus (poss TMI) some of the vaginal wall that has been compromised (one of the plastic surgeon's jobs is determining how much to rebuild - or not) Plus, they want to take out the track that my surgical drain has been sitting in all this time (for fear that the material traveling through it was cancerous and they don't want to risk "cancer seeding", and the plastic surgeon will also have to re-build/re-create that area.

So I anticipate a tougher recovery than the first surgery, but they still think they can get all of the cancer, so there's light at the end of this (long, shitty) tunnel.


EpicTangent - Mar 08, 2023 3:39:12 pm PST #5623 of 5654
Why isn't everyone pelting me with JOY, dammit? - Zenkitty

OMG, finally, a date for surgery! Friday, March 31!


msbelle - Mar 31, 2023 11:01:37 am PDT #5624 of 5654
I remember the crazy days. 500 posts an hour. Nubmer! Natgbsb

Epic Update - the doctors say the first stage of the operation went well and she’s doing great so far. I'll let you know more as I hear it!


msbelle - Mar 31, 2023 8:06:33 pm PDT #5625 of 5654
I remember the crazy days. 500 posts an hour. Nubmer! Natgbsb

Late epic update- second stage of surgery also went well.


msbelle - Apr 01, 2023 12:15:45 am PDT #5626 of 5654
I remember the crazy days. 500 posts an hour. Nubmer! Natgbsb

Epic is out of surgery. All went well. We’ll know more tomorrow.


msbelle - Apr 01, 2023 7:05:20 pm PDT #5627 of 5654
I remember the crazy days. 500 posts an hour. Nubmer! Natgbsb

Epic is doing well and they plan to move her to regular room tomorrow.


Matt the Bruins fan - Apr 07, 2023 8:12:57 am PDT #5628 of 5654
"You should never say bad things about the dead, only good… Joan Crawford is dead. Good.” —Bette Davis

I've been silent much of this week because of a scary incident: Mom had a transient ischemic attack (mini stroke) Tuesday that caused her to have trouble forming words. We spent most of Tuesday afternoon in the ER, before switching to a patient room for observation and further tests until Wednesday evening. Thankfully it occurred while she was at her regular appointment with her PCP, and he got her checked in to the ER with a minimum of red tape. The attack seems to have resolved quickly with no lasting effects, and she feels fine now.

Any health~ma you can send her way for avoiding further or worse attacks would be greatly appreciated.