10/29/12. Safe Cruise. All Well. Pr

It has been impossible to blog..A problem with this site.mmImam only able to email. A few words.  I cannot complete a sentence at times.  Imam lucky when the send button works. New are more than safe.  We went 900 miles north I'd Quebec tomHalifax to get out of the path of the storm.  We get new weather updates daily..and changes in our directions.  They are very cautious.  They plan to get to Boston on Wednesday..if weather permits.  We are not in any danger and our enjoying our cruise..If you do not hear from us it is only technical..we are not in harms way..Hugs,Phyllis 05/06/1933.   Www.women70andover.com.    

10/25/12. Quebec. Beautiful. pr

The fall colors are startlingly brilliant.  Many shades of yellow leaves remain on the trees.  We are staying in a charming bed and breakfast.  Each bedroom with its own bath is named after one of the impression artists.  We have the  Vincent room.  Our breakfast was surely for Kings and Queens, with fresh orange juice  and a dish of sliced bananas, with toasted almonds and raisins.  Our eggs were perfect, with fresh watermelon and grapes.  Wonderful cheeses on the table.  Some kind of pumpkin bread, that was more like a Christmas bread with nuts.  There is much to see as fall has covered the gentle brick garden out the back window.  The remnants of the summer remain.  The sun is out and looks very inviting for our walk to explore the neighborhood.  How gentle everything is.  Very calm! Just what we needed.Hugs,Phyllis 05/06/1933.  Www.women70andover.com

10/23/12. Cancer Heart Surgery. pr

You got this far?  Go for it travel.  Take your ailments with you!  Do not be scared!  This whole process of severe illnesses have their down sides.  Yes!  They are difficult.  Not easy!  Every thing I have done in my life has been hard and rewarding.  You are given a tiny window of all clear..take it.  hugs,Phyllis 05/06/1933. www.women70andover.com   Alert! Sometimes this blog software has issues..can not ck spelling, sometimes it will not go into a write mode...oh well!

10/22/12. Great Chicago Weather! pr

Chicago is beautiful.  Alot of red Fall leaves.  We have done a lot of walking.  We went to the yacht basin, saw a lot of  sail boats.  How lucky we are to have such good weather.  I had much difficulty trying to blog.  Was not able to get this blog software to work. Hugs,Phyllis 05/06/1933. Www.women70andover.com

10/21/12. Aging Travel Skill. ? pr

All is well when the drama ends.  The flying went well.  The visiting went well.  On the other hand this tiny hotel room ain't home!  Our meds are not in the same place.  This is where the eggs hit the fan.  In the middle  of the night  the  horror of leg cramps hit me.  If you have ever had the uninvited pain of leg cramps you will never forget them!  The heating pad Bill was going to unplug was left at home.  What else did we forget?  Who knows?  Time will tell. Are we having fun yet? Hugs,Phyllis 05/06/1933.  If you notice a blip..an error, something not finished in my writings..reasons..no time to correct..the plane had to land..Bill fell over a suitcase, I was in the shower and there was not a towel.  Hit the send button.  Www.women70andover.com

10/20/12. In The Air. !pr

Surprises never end!   Bill and I flew the coop!,,We will soon land. in Chicago!      On the first part of our 3 week trip...ending or starting in Quebec...with a 16 dat cruise down the east coat of the US...ending in Tampa...where we rent a and drive to Daytona b...Hugs, Phyllis....landing

10/19/12 Gee! I Am Better! pr

How nice it isto feel better!  It feels like a weight is taken off my shoulders!  In reality an orange is taken out of my mouth.  My cheek continues to be gently swollen, oh well! Hugs, Phyllis 05/06/1933 www.women70andover.com

10/18/12 Today the DENTAL SURGEON! pr

I get my stint out of my salivary gland today, with the hope the salivary gland will learn to behave! Hugs,phyllis 05/06/1933  www.women70andover.com   

10/17/12 You Explain It? pf

You explain it, I cannot!  My Salivary Gland and stones!  I have had two mouth surgeries within seven days.  They include taking out the stones, leaving me with many stitches.  Then the gland got blocked up.  Went back to the surgeon and he opened the gland and put a stint in that is as long as your index finger.  This will let the gland be open and  free the saliva. In the meantime my cheek has been the size of an orange.  Cheers!  To the skill of my oral surgeon......No Pain.  Now how does he do it?  You explain it, I cannot! Hugs, phyllis 05/06/1933     www.women70andover.com 

10/15/12. More Surgery This Morning. Pr

The salivary gland was infected which caused the saliva to back up, which causes an infection and swelling of the cheek to look like an orange.  The surgeon cut it open and put a long stent in it for drainage.  I had 5 shots of novicane and a shot to try and ge the swelling down.  Also more antiboatics.Hugs,Phyllis 05/06/1933. www.women70andover.com

10/14/12 What's Up Doc? pr

The more I dig about the salivary gland and it’s complications the more I fit the pattern. such as  dryness of the mouth.  This may be the effects of  medications.   The dental surgeon did surgery and got the stones and  sledge out just two days ago.  I hope to get in to see this surgeon tomorrow.  I do have an appointment with him on Tuesday.  I had hoped I could speed up the healing process, as it looks like mumps on one side of my face. The antibiotics are not making the swelling go down. Look out for yourselves out there.  What a learning experience? Who needs it?  Hugs, phyllis 05/06/1933    www.women70andover.com

10/13/12 I Am In A Fishbowl !

I am sitting in the bottom of a fishbowl!  That is what I would like to do!  I am trying everything to get the swelling of my left cheek down.  Right now, it looks like I have a large orange stuffed into that cheek.  The problem continues with the salivary gland.  I will be sitting on the dentist's doorstep on Monday morning.  Then I will run to my endocrinologist with the hope, he will shed some light on how to get the swelling down.  At this moment it does not hurt.  It does have some stitches in the area inside the mouth where he opened this bubble gum size ball, that held the salivary stones.  What a mess!  If you have any answers, let go of them and send them to: phyllisreh@aol.com   Hugs, don't squeeze my face!phyllis 05/06/1933  www.women70andover.com

10/12/12 Next Ilness You Do Not Think Of? pr

A few blogs back I mentioned I found a ball the size of a dime in my mouth, just under the salivary gland in the upper side of my cheek.  I was sent to a dental surgeon and he gave me some antibiotics.  He tried to squeeze it out and that is when he told me it was Salivary stones, and told me to take the antibiotics and perhaps it would get smaller and go away.  The five weeks was up yesterday.  I went back to him and he said he would have to do surgery, right then and get it out.  He did.  He showed me tiny stones and debree.  He stitched me up and I ran to the pharmacy to get the pain pills and went to bed with the covers over me.  The definition below describes it clear.  Anyone can get this: be aware!
Salivary stones form when chemicals in the saliva deposit. They mostly contain calcium. The exact cause is not known. But factors contributing to decreased saliva production and/or thickened saliva may be risk factors for salivary stones. These factors include: dehydration, poor eating, and use of certain medications, such as antihistamines, blood pressure drugs, psychiatric drugs, and bladder control drugs. Trauma to the salivary glands may also increase risk for salivary stones.
The stones cause no symptoms as they form, but if they reach a size that blocks the duct, saliva backs up into the gland causing pain and swelling. The pain, which is usually felt in a single gland, may be intermittent and get progressively worse. Inflammation and infection within the affected gland may follow.Hugs, phyllis 05/06/1933     www.women70andover.com

10/11/12 Time and Patience pr

The best thing about radiation treatments is when they are over.  You think the red rawness and hurt will never be comfortable and ever heal?  Time and patience are the healers needed at a time like this.

They are silent and are at work every minute in your body.  We must be gentle with ourselves.  We want to rush it all.  I surely do!  It does not happen like that.  I am healing and more comfortable for sure!  Hugs,phyllis 10/11/1933    www.women70andover.com

10/10/12 Mama Cass? pt

If Mama Cass could see me now! To live in an age where you can wake up in the middle of the night with the sweats from your cancer meds and get. On your Ipad3 and write your thoughts down and then be able, to almost silently print them from your air printer from the other room is amazing to an Eighty year old woman! This is when you are thrilled you have the gift of a functioning brain to be able to catch a thimble full of new technology. It takes the ouch out of cancer. I have been able to find out more about my. Lobular Cancer of the Breast. Most of all it has aided me in the coping mechanisms of this disease maximized with the effects of my eighty-four year old husband's Open Heart surgery. Logically, I am amazed I am coping! What a position to be in! I really do not tell you to aim for this situation! It must be the hour to be so silly? No! It is the Ameridex 1 mg that has me awake! I am lucky I slept from nine p.m. Till one a.m. Hugs,phyllis 05/06/1933. www.women70andover.com

10/9/12 Never Stop Learnin More! pr

Goodness!  After going to the Cancer Breast Symposium, I learned so much!  What did I learn?  First, you cannot compare yourself to anyone.  We all tend to do that!  We are so unique and so beautiful in so many different ways.  Just because I had breast cancer, my experiences are so different from yours.  On the other hand, it is good to be around someone else that has gone through this experience, as you do know the language of the surgery.  You do have that in common.  I felt very comfortable sharing my story with those I meet and listening to their stories.  This is such an important healing component.  Listening to the doctors giving their talks on the surgery on the radiation, on the reconstruction of the breast for those that choose that option.  What we do have in common to a tee is the time consuming time from start to finish of each treatment.  Sharing is such an important part of life.  It is like sharing a bag of Hersey’s Kisses, or sharing photos of your recent camera venture.  What would life be if we did not share?  Dull, boring, without sunshine, without smiles! Hugs,phyllis05/06/1933  www.women70andover.com  

10/8/12 Friends and Your Health pr

There is nothing like smoozing over dinner with good friends you have not seen for awhile.  It is just one of the best medicines out there.  Let us call it over the counter friends!  It surely took me away from the radiation treatments.  It was like a summer breeze..Gee!  I have missed that so much.  Whoever your friends are, cherish them like fine wines, or better yet, thick homemade vanilla ice cream!  We all want more of a good thing.  Hugs good friends! phyllis 05/06/1933 www.women70andover.com

10/7/12 Cans of Food and Excercise pr

Use a  dining room strong backed chair, to start: with feet flat on the floor. Two one pound cans of food, for each hand.  Slowly lift arms straight out from your sides.  Stop at shoulder height.  Hold for one second.  Lowerone arm at a time s l o w l y ,  you are able to do more with the cans of food in your cupboard than eat!   Start with two times and each day one up by two’s until you find a comfort zone of perhaps ten times.  This is a very good exercise for lifting bags of grocery out of the car and for lifting grandchildren!  Our muscles turn to mush quickly!  I must work on my arms many times during the day! Hugs, phyllis 05/06/1933     www.women70andover.com

10/06/12 Better and Easier? pr

Healing is getting better and easier.  The radiation remnants are fading slowly and minutely.  I continue to have tape on the NoBoob area.  Why? You might ask.  It is so invisible and in an area I cannot see.  Three different doctors have taken tape off, but not completely.  When I take a shower and put soap in the area of the tape I can feel it and am it feels rough, as if sand is on the skin, which makes it feel uncomfortable.  Everyday I put heavy Aquaphor on the area and try and work some of the tape off. Sounds so simple! " Just pull the darn stuff off, Phyllis!"  It
ain't that easy! Hugs,phyllis 05/06/1933   www.women70andover.com

10/5/12 Dealing With Illnesses? pr

There are two ways to go?  Deal with whatever it is now, with no delay, or use all your positive energy to waste time and deal with it latter.  Our positive  energy gets used up quickly, which makes it difficult to get energized as

rapidly again.  I have not learned what gives me energy.  If I had to come up

with an answer, I would say small amounts of food about five times a day. 

Walking daily.  For me walking is like erasing clutter from my mind.  Being out

with nature by myself is like some people doing yoga.  When I get back home, I am

full of creative thoughts that I quickly put into motion. Twenty years ago I

would have easily thought eighty years old? That is surely time for a rocking

chair, not in motion, as I am daily.  How I got Cancer, I do not know?  I wish I

could tell you, so you would not get it.  I would really feel good about that. 

We must try and be protective of ourselves and stay as healthy as we can be.  It

is not an easy task.  We are all worth it.  Hugs, Phyllis05/06/1933.

www.women70andover.com The typing is WACKO BECAUSE I moved it from my IPad3..YUK!

 

10/4/12 What is Cancer All About? pr

Cancer is all about cells silently breaking up and working on your body in some form to destroy it
I want to encourage all of you to take all the tests available to you so you may protect yourself!  I write this blog everyday with the hope, just one woman or one man, no matter what the ages are: young or old to notice everything about your bodies.  That is one of the reasons I tell you grim things of reality like my blood drains that hung from my underarms for two weeks.  The reality of having my breast taken off with its horrors of a 14 cm mass inside that was called LOBULAR CANCER.  This is a dense type, difficult to see on a mammogram.  It hides like a thief.  It can mimic the breast.  Thank heavens it can be found, in most cases after it is so large that getting it out is difficult.  I am lucky.  I want you to be lucky, go for your mammogram.  Do not be complacent.  Ask questions.  Ask to see the results of the tests.  You pay for them!  Ask! The older you get your chances of getting Cancer somewhere in your body increases.  We are not like fine wines with age, instead we are like ticking time bombs that are silent. I am too old to gloss over the truth and sugar coat my experiences that are real. Hugs,phyllis 05/06/1933

10/3/12 Red Radiation continued blog working! pr

Who knows what goes wrong with technology?  It is working and I am pleased!  I learned today we have followers as far as Russia and the Ukraine and Germany.  Of course I am pleased and never let my mind think that far off.  Thank-you all!  At this point I am stretching the muscles on my surgery side.  It is a very painful thing.  It feels like I am cutting these muscles with a scissors! I do this several times a day.  The red radiation remains like new on my NoBoob area.   It is more comfortable.  A bit.  I am now able to lay on the surgery side for a few minutes at night.  Any small progress I consider as a gift!  The swelling is going down also.  Trust me, I wish I could swoop you all up and keep me company as I go through my days. Hugs,phyllis 05/06/1933  www.women70andover.com

10/3/12 Welcome! I Am Radiation Red! pr

Something has gone wrong with the keyboard. I cannot get to the next line with success! Log in try again!

10/2/12 Extra Time? pr

Time is so valuable.  I feel free!  My radiation is over and I am beginning to feel I am no longer tethered  to the hospital.  I used this time to start a throw out and clean up of my side of the computer room.  I can see empty spaces on the floor.  I did throw out a lot of stuff.  Getting organized is only for organized people.  I am not one of them.  I admire people with clean desktops and no clutter of paper around.  You cannot buy that at Wal-Mart!  I must dash I do have an appointment with my surgeon at 2 p.m. today.  I cannot dally. Hugs, phyllis05/06/1933     www.women70andover.com

 

10/1/12 The Best Medical Free Website pr

webdoctor@ivanhoe.com

Medical Breakthroughs First to Know Bulletin for October 1, 2012
	Webdoctor webdoctor@ivanhoe.com I encourage you to have a look see at the above website.  I have found good medical help there since 2002.  It is free.  Give it a try and see for yourself. Hugs,phyllis 05/06/1933  www.women70andover.com

10/1/12 Welcome OCTOBER! pr

Goodness!  After going to the Cancer Breast Symposium, I learned so much!  What did I learn?  First, you cannot compare yourself to anyone.  We all tend to do that!  We are so unique and so beautiful in so many different ways.  Just because I had breast cancer, my experiences are so different from yours.  On the other hand, it is good to be around someone else that has gone through this experience, as you do know the language of the surgery.  You do have that in common.  I felt very comfortable sharing my story with those I meet and listening to their stories.  This is such an important healing component.  Listening to the doctors giving their talks on the surgery on the radiation, on the reconstruction of the breast for those that choose that option.  What we do have in common to a tee is the time consuming time from start to finish of each treatment.  Sharing is such an important part of life.  It is like sharing a bag of Hersey’s Kisses, or sharing photos of your recent camera venture.  What would life be if we did not share?  Dull, boring, without sunshine, without smiles! Hugs,phyllis05/06/1933  www.women70andover.com