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Hi everyone, I need cataract surgery in my good eye (I'm mostly blind in my left eye due to macular scarring probably from when I had chronic lyme). Living in Vermont there is only 1 surgeon that is close by and he doesn't want to risk the surgery right now (he said to wait another year which was 6 months ago).

I am having vision problems in my good eye and would like to travel to a highly reputable surgeon (New York) but due to caregiving I can't travel.

If I hire someone to stay with my Mom she would be very nervous not to mention the money it would cost as seeing a surgeon would be more then one visit.

That's on my mind....
Jenna
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cwillie- maybe you're right. I didn't think of it from that perspective.
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I'm not sure that's news Polarbear, they've been telling us some version of that from the beginning, as is stressing that the priority needs to be in vaccinating higher risk adults. We need to keep in mind that the WHO is an international body and that in much of the world they are still scrambling to obtain vaccines, if anything I see this as a subtle chastisement of the fortunate nations for prioritizing their children over those at risk in other countries.
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Polar,

I packed up over 20 bags of stuff out of my bedroom closet! Geeeeez! Why did I keep all of that?

My hall closet has tons of gift wrap, gift boxes, gift bags, to and from cards, ribbon, my kids old crayons, watercolors, games and playing cards. I give gift cards now so I am not going to use that stuff!!

It’s crazy to keep everything like that. I have stuff that I totally forgot about! LOL
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NHWM - how are you doing with the house cleaning and staging?
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Another bit of COVID vaccine news - I'm not doing this to be controversial. I'm doing it in the spirit of sharing information.

The World Health Organization (WHO) just posted on its website the following.

“Children and adolescents tend to have milder disease compared to adults, so unless they are part of a group at higher risk of severe COVID-19, it is less urgent to vaccinate them than older people, those with chronic health conditions and health workers,”

The Pfizer/BionTech vaccine was approved by WHO’s Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE) for people aged 12 years and older.

“More evidence is needed on the use of the different COVID-19 vaccines in children to be able to make general recommendations on vaccinating children against COVID-19,” the website states.
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EB: Aww - that's both sweet and cute!😀
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I was getting my mother dressed this morning and she asked for her bra. She has not worn one for about ten years. Six months ago she asked for her girdle LOL.
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Glad,

When things are confusing, most people feel at their worst. I hope you find clarity in this situation soon. In time, things will improve. It can be unnerving to process all of the information you’re being told by your doctor. Bit by bit it will become clearer to you, and you will start to see a path to follow.

I have always found transitional times to be the most difficult. It feels like we are hanging in limbo until a plan is in place. Once a plan is underway, things will begin to move along and you will start to feel productive in working towards having these medical issues behind you.

Wishing you peace during this difficult period in your life. Don’t lose hope. So many advances have been made in medicine. I am in awe of the strides that have been made during our lifetime.
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A friend who beat breast cancer was made of good Viking stock, she is cancer-free over 10 years now. She has a good support of friends she made during her treatment to this day.

There are groups of supportive people. One is called Circle of Hope. Maybe look these up?

Finding a teaching hospital may help, because you can get a room while undergoing treatment-maybe even take your cat. I am thinking of the Mayo Clinic.
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The LCIS doc told me was not actually cancer. The IS is "in situ" so ha s not spread. LC is lobular carcinoma.

The DCIS is ductal carcinoma in situ. Cancer in the milk ducts but has not spread, become invasive.

All very confusing as I am very much learning from this experience. I have never know anyone to go through this.

I appreciate all of you!
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Glad (((((hugs))))) you have a great attitude. I have had two friends with precancer. Both chose mastectomies and one did reconstruction.. In the first case there was a high incidence of laterality so she had a second mastectomy and reconstruction with it too. It went very well for both. One said to me. "I am not letting this define me." and she didn't. Sounds like you are on a good treatment path. Keep us updated. Yiu are a warrior woman indeed!!!

barb - good luck with the car

ali a visit to your doc with your list of ailments and a full check up can't hurt. For me the only drug that helps the muscle pain is methocarbamol. Thiamine is an essential cofactor for several enzymes involved in brain cell metabolism (internet) In a survey of people with CFS it helped 2/3 of them. (Health Rising)
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Glad, I was shocked to read your news but see you are already weighing up your attack approaches & choosing your weapons - like the warrior woman you are.
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Glad, well nothing too fun in a crazy roommate (filing PPOs and evictions, holy wow -- I'm happy that ended decently) and a very sick cat. But that's all over. Time to watch some comedies and remember my sense of humor before I turn into a grump. 😌

There were some funny moments from roommate before it got nutty. After she called the police and reported that I assaulted her, I didn't find anything funny anymore. But I had some laughs with coworkers along the way and afterwards about some of the things she did and how zany it all was. My coworkers are really good for me and keeping a sense of humor, and I have a gf in St Louis that I text daily and we bring out the best (worst? lol) in each other's cutting humor about silly things and life's irritations. Jokes abound when you both work in service industry and deal with customers and coworkers all day. It's our little version of The Office for us.

Here's to you and a fantastic set, whether you refurbish or go with new. ❤️️
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Barb, are you trying to trade-in your car at the dealership? Now that you know it's worth something you can consider selling it on Nextdoor or craigslist.org -- you'll always sell it for a way higher price. Don't go by the KBB value, look around the state at what same or similar is selling for. The dealer can't give you top dollar because they have to turn around and sell it at a profit. Post it online for sale. If you get a lot of replies you know you underpriced it. Pull the ad. Wait a week and repost it at a market-based price. KBB doesn't take into consideration supply/demand or any other peripheral economic conditions. I sold my mom's Forester for $5k more than the KBB. When one person complained I had to actually inform them of the law of supply and demand. There were no other Foresters within several states and hers had low mileage and in excellent condition. You can do the money hand-off during a weekday inside your bank. Whatever you wind up doing, I hope it goes smoothly!
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Ali, gotta keep your sense of humor with everything in life, or you will lose it! Is there anything that you can find humor in with the difficulties you have been having lately?

And they will look better than they ever had!
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Glad, I'm terrible for this, but I was laughing at "they would probably look better than they ever have." There could be a couple of pros of mastectomy: you know you get all the LCIS and get some really lovely ta-tas! 😂 I'm sure they're lovely already but if you're not opposed to a nice aftermarket add-on kit, that's a plus.

I hope you have a little time to find out all the options and weigh them. Godspeed as you're sorting this out and making your choices. 💕
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Crappy weather here in New Orleans, but not severe. Potential tropical cyclone but not a true storm, so it doesn’t seem to be a huge issue. Just a typical warm up for our hurricane season here. As of now, it looks like Mississippi may get dumped on though with gusts of wind and rain.

It’s not an evacuation type of situation like we have for strong hurricane force winds with flooding and so on.
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Go after them, Barb! We’re behind you.
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Am trying to buy a new car; for the first time in my life, buying a car BEFORE the old one blows up, gets totally or in some way is in DESPERATE need of replacement.

Trying to negotiate among dealerships, because right now, the whole Costco "get a set price" thing isn't working because of the chip shortage. My 2012 car is suddenly worth a fortune, so I thought that this might be a good time to do a deal.

Alas, at the last moment, the "stealership" (as we call them on Bogleheads.org) told me that they had the wrong zip code for taxes. In point of fact, I included the zip for taxes in EVERY SINGLE EMAIL I sent them.

Have a complaint in to BBB and sent an email to my legal service account through my union.

Disappointed, but I'm not getting mad. Will try hard to get them called to the carpet for fraudulant practices.
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Hugs, Glad. I'm happy that you sound so confident about planning the way forward, and of course we'll all be rooting for you.

Um. You are allowed a little private whine if you ever do feel like it, you know!
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Glad, I went on some of those forums that you mentioned when I was waiting for my biopsy results and I admit I found some of these people to be overly dramatic as well. Yes, it is scary and since my mom had breast cancer (which she survived) and my dad died of cancer I was a little extra worried but no point in being overly theatrical about it. All's well that ended well.

But you sound like you have the right attitude to get through this.
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Glad, thank you for sharing what is obviously not good news. I've not walked in those shoes but pray that "...the�peace�of God, which�transcends all understanding, will guard your heart..." (Philippians 4:7)
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Thank you all. Carol I will check with my doc on the treatment you mentioned. Doc had said something about more intense radiation and was going to check to see if I would be a candidate for that. Not that I am concerned about being whacked, they would probably look better than they ever have.😦

And I do have cancer insurance which looks as if it will make up for all of my out of pocket expenses, travel and lodging if I go that route.

GA I will check on Gilda's club. I have found breast cancer.org that has discussion similar to AC. I have checked it a few times and there are some there that are scared to death and emotional which I don't find at all helpful. Sometimes I get impatient with the whiners here too. Just getting old I guess and not as patient as I once was.
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Glad, big (((((hugs))))) for a complete cure and a thoughtful surgeon with good ideas.
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Chris: Thank you so much.
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Golden: I appreciate your prayers for my cousin. Thank you.
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Barb: Thank you very much.
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Glad: So sorry to hear of your diagnosis. Sending big hugs and prayers to you.
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Glad, sorry to hear about your diagnosis. Thinking of you and sending a prayer and a big hug.
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