TERESA: What brought you to Mayo Clinic Connect?
@pb50: I suspect I sought out Mayo Clinic Connect for the same reason many do — out of fear and panic during a health crisis. For me that was when I learned the nodule my doctor and I had watched grow slowly for four years was found to be malignant.
TERESA: What motivates you to take part in Mayo Clinic Connect?
@pb50: The community is a tremendous source of knowledge and emotional support between people who share a common experience.
TERESA: What about Mayo Clinic Connect makes you feel comfortable to share and to be open with the community?
@pb50: I recall exactly the emotion I was dealing with during diagnosis and treatment. So, if I can help someone take a breath and approach the next steps with acquired knowledge and comfort from the community, I will. Perhaps I have helped someone gain confidence they can use to face health adversity successfully.
TERESA: What support groups do you participate in?
@pb50: I take part in many of the support groups on Mayo Clinic Connect. You’ll usually find me in these groups and more.
TERESA: What surprised you the most about Mayo Clinic Connect?
@pb50: I have been surprised at the kindness, civility and the desire to impart personal experiences. So many online communities have some degree of hostility for one reason or another, and gratefully none of that negative energy is here. Maybe the occasional outburst borne out of frustration, but even that is rare.
TERESA: What energizes you, or how do you find balance in your life?
@pb50: I am a learner and I am constantly pursuing who, what, how, and why. I am retired now, so compared to long hours working, I don’t struggle much with balance any longer. I am active in my church, focusing right now on food insecurity in our community. I also talk frequently with my children and my grands who are spread out from the west coast to the east coast.
TERESA: Tell us about your favorite pastime or activity.
@pb50: Reading, spending time with my family, learning more about some of my ongoing concerns as I age, such as cognitive decline.I’m looking into whether the cognitive decline is age-based or some form of evolving impairment. So right now I am reading research and learning how I can best arm myself for the fight with diet, exercise, and trying to form new neural pathways in my brain by using practice tests for pattern recognition, logic and reasoning.
TERESA: Do you have a favorite quote, life motto or personal mantra?
@pb50: LOL. I am a former Marine. My motto is “If you aren’t the lead dog, the view never changes.”
TERESA: What food can you simply not resist?
@pb50: Ugh. Sweets are my kryptonite.
TERESA: What do you love about where you live or vacation?
@pb50: After years of moving every couple of years for my job, I am loving being close to some of my family!
TERESA: Puppies or kittens?
@pb50: Kittens.
Member Spotlights feature interviews with fellow Mayo Clinic Connect members. Learn more about members you’ve connected with and some you haven’t met yet. Nominate a member you think should share the spotlight.
Great bio. Thank you for your service too.
After a career with regular moving, you'd have to have the skill of adapting. Seems like you're a very engaged member of your community. They're lucky to have you.
I really liked your reference re 'who, what, how, and why. One of my faves was put as 'who, what, where, when, how & why'? It was referred to as the 5 W's plus How? When you have some of each, a well rounded
story can result. Yaye...
Lol. Thanks for your input here. I hope the meds you need will help you & I hope you always keep this great attitude that's clearly on display Here. Way to be you..!!
Tra la for now. 💜
Prednisone is a wonder drug but many people are scared of it. I have been on prednisone since I was 16. I am now 74. I have been on 5 milligrams for many years. I have no side effects on that dose. I had a liver transplant when I was 35. I am now 38 years post transplant. I have been very blessed in my transplant journey.
I taught Women Studies.
DON'T BIT YOUR LIP.
Say something, or folk will never learn.
There are more women in law school, & Vet. Med also.
Medical school? I don't know.
Go, girl....!!
I admire what you do.
Patients asked me that question more than anyone else. I told the stroke patients that doctors can't get them on their feet like I could. That was before PMR was diagnosed when I had a hard time getting up on my own feet.
I liked the neurosurgery/neurology realm the most. Some cardiac electrophysiology (EP) studies amazed me but that was too much electricity for me.
I have had some electrical problems myself with trigeminal neuralgia, peripheral neuralgia and spinal stenosis. EMGs and nerve condition studies are brutal if you ask me. I was clueless about those studies and I told many patients they weren't so bad before I ever experienced one myself.
Maybe the electronics in the military influenced me more than I realized.
You need to visit the PMR forum more often after this Spotlight is finished.
I think women outnumber men in med school now.
I will drop in!
@pb50, I'm happy to have you as part of our lung cancer group! Thanks for your contribution to making Mayo Connect a welcoming and informed space.
Thanks. You were so very important to me in the early days of my diagnosis. I am now on annual imaging after four semi-annual ones. But I don't think I can ever confidently say “boy I’m glad that’s behind me”. I can only pray it is.
I hope YOU are well!!
Glad yo hear it.
We need both.
K
Thank you!