I just need to pull up this old 40+ year old shag carpeting and get busy working on the wood floors, beneath it. The more I vacuum the carpet, the more the old padding underneath breaks down - it's a vicious circle.

I am having a really rough time with the holidays. I miss my sister like crazy and still cry more days than not. And, of course, I also miss my Mom and Aunt, and all of those special holiday foods that they used to make. I don't anticipate this getting any easier until I get past the one year anniversaries of Mom and Chris' deaths, coming up in January and February. Then again in September, for my Aunt. I can't wait to see the end of 2015. It's been a gawd awful year, for me.

We have dogs that like to pee indoors. Last year I ripped the carpet from the stair landing and painted it. In truth, the whole stairs and upper hallway needed to get done. I just wanted to see what the project would involve, so I just did the landing (including 1 stair). Not awful, but gave me an insight to the whole project.

My wife got frustrated and rippped up the stair and hallway. Those have yet to be resolved. I fully endorse paying the right person with the right tools a couple of hundred bucks. I ain't doin' it.

we are using more sanitizer and avoiding crowds.

Not sure about the sneezing, if it continues then persist with your docs until you have an answer.

cropped up in the middle of my trying to compose a post and wouldn't stop. Was pissing me off.

As a rule, I don't sneeze, but when I do, it's usually strong. My wife on the other hand has these teeny little sneezes and is usually good for three in a row, occasionally four, never a single one. Weird

Don't know if it's from the Anastrozole (I still think this should be the name for some Italian dish) or the weather change. I suppose from the latter. Go for another scan the first of January. So far have not gotten any of the colds going around.

I have colon cancer with mets to lungs, so I was on a different set of med regimens. Don't know about your aches and pains - were they typically a problem as the weather changes? Hopefully they'll clear up. I don't have them myself (have a neuropathy) which is good, because I don't think I can metabolize Ibuprofin very well. Hope you do well in January. Did your oncologist let you get a flu shot yet?

I have breast cancer with mets on lungs, liver and bones. Yes, I have had my flu shot for the year, thanks.

If it's spread to your bones, that might well account for it. Apart from a brief stint as a pre-med student, I am not remotely close to a doctor, so ymmv, etc. My understanding is that bones can vary in how they hurt; sorry to hear you have to deal with that, regardless of how many pain meds they give you (too many and, no, it doesn't hurt, but you can't do anything, and hopefully you haven't built up a tolerance yet).

I don't know if my reply was politically correct or not. I'm in a weird-ass mood today.

- Tab

The pill I take has a side effect of causing painful joints, that's why I blamed it.

Currently in the hospital having a blood transfusion. As it's only been two weeks I'm thinking this means that my bone marrow is no longer producing red blood cells. I've been having transfusions regularly since I got overdosed by chemo in Feb., which also caused a massive neurophy in my legs and feet and hands. That's why I'm bedridden...
I have some good days and am enjoying being wheeled outside most days. Some days the fevers are so high that staying in bed is all I can do.
But it sure is bizarre going from being a busy, active, event producer to this life which requires 24/7 care (not covered by insurance). Because I'm in hospice, there's no way of knowing where my cancer hiding or what those little lymph nodes are doing.
Doing my best to take it one day at a time.

Tab-I'm sorry to hear you have no insurance. This is not good news- hopefully it's temporary? PM me if you feel like talking...

more boring that chemo, at least chemo you might have drugs to sleep. However not on an ongoing basis like you - you must be wiped. I remember I had it on a couple of occasions after blood loss and I was wiped - and you've been doing this for nearly a year? Wow. Kudos to you for even having the energy to talk to us.

My insurance we'll straighten out. I'm not working, hence no work insurance. I have medicare part A but not part B because of a screwup which I need to go to the SS office this week and try to straighten out. Not as good as what I had but better than nothing, I think. I haven't tried to use it yet. I've been paying out of pocket so far.

know when the insurance gets fixed.

7 years free is great! What was your original diagnosis (if you don't mind sharing)?

I'm not c-free but at least I'm still around. I will be at the insurance office on Tuesday to resolve it, at least until I get reimployed, which, actually, I'm anxious to do, although commutes aren't high on my tolerance list any more.

can wipe out your teeth, salvia glans, taste buds, thyroid, and sometimes the bones of your jaws. I was very lucky and only had to live without taste for about a year. Also just one small hole in my jaw bone.

Hadn't heard of that kind, doesn't sound like fun, but you're running 7 years free now? Wow.

(gives me some hope)

- t