1. < Just Want to Talk
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Let’s Go Walking! Join me for a virtual walking support group

Posted by Becky, Volunteer Mentor @becsbuddy, Feb 19, 2020

Many of you living with cancer or an autoimmune disease, like me, deal with daily fatigue. You know that exercise is so important to your health, but it’s so hard. There’s always an excuse: it’s too cold or hot, it’s going to rain or it’s raining, or it’s snowy and icy, or I just don’t want to. I, too, have all these excuses, but I have a new rescue dog who wants to go out and who doesn’t care about my excuses! And I’ve got traction devices for my boots.Now I just need a walking group who will keep me accountable. People who say, ‘let’s go for a walk.'

And I thought: What about my virtual friends on MayoClinicConnect?

Mayo Clinic has an easy 12-week walking program to get us started! Here’s the link:
- Get walking with this 12-week walking schedule https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/get-walking-with-this-12-week-walking-schedule/

So let’s form a virtual walking group. We can agree to walk every day and encourage each other through Connect. We can walk outdoors, in a mall, or in the red center, or in the hallways of our apartment building.

Who’s in? Who’s going to join me?

Come on, Let’s Go Walking!

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Just Want to Talk Support Group.

mayofeb2020 | @mayofeb2020 | Aug 13, 2020
In reply to @wisco50 "As a retired RN, I agree, you need to find out why your leg is swelling...." + (show)
@wisco50

As a retired RN, I agree, you need to find out why your leg is swelling. Doesn’t sound good and as you know, NOT normal. Why would a rheumatologist put you on such meds for RA? I don’t get it. As a female patient who was essentially written off as “it’s all in your head”, how angry that makes me is beyond words. Yes, it was all in my head - my jaw joints to be specific! Since I got artificial joints in 2009, I’ve not had any jaw joint pain! TG I finally found a medical/dental specialist who understood and LISTENED!

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@wisco. Unfortunately female patients are always thought of as hypochondriac by male doctors. I see the same attitude with my very young cardiologist. Unfortunately being on Medicare, the list of doctors accepting my plan is a short one. The GP I have now learned that if I have a list of questions that need answer, I'm going to be in the room until he answers them. He's pretty good in giving me referrals but I think lately he's probably contemplating retirement so I'll have to ask around to find another doctor.

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Mentor
Becky, Volunteer Mentor | @becsbuddy | Aug 13, 2020
In reply to @susandenise "Thank you! I hurt. My husband works out if town 7a-7p mon-sat., so it’s me alone..." + (show)
@susandenise

Thank you! I hurt. My husband works out if town 7a-7p mon-sat., so it’s me alone Innagony. I do appreciate your comments . Sometimes I feel it’s all in vain. I have been to 4 doctors already. The last one, the second RA I’ve seen finally figured it out since all the others said it’s “
In my head”, put me on benzodiazepines and sedatives. I was dismayed and mad! I’m a nurse ( was) so I cried and cried. Anyway.. woe is me....
I do have to find out what the lower left leg swelling is.. I’m guessing my heart has just had enough and the RA is affecting it also. Funtimes!! IM SICK OF IT ALL...

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@susandenise I got the same “it’s all in your head” treatment! Oh how I despise it! So, now, I only see woman doctors—what a difference! Please find a female doctor!!
You said that your husband works out of town 6 days a week. Is he home at night? Does he know what your going through? Is the farm work too much?

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Becky, Volunteer Mentor | @becsbuddy | Aug 13, 2020

Who has been for a nice/pretty/energetic walk today? I walked wherever the dog let me go, only did 1 mile. I feel older than I am! Minnesota sounds beautiful but 14 months of winter! Aaaggghhhh. Colorado is so full of hiking/biking/walking trails that you have to be an outside person to survive here. I love it, though, the sun always shines!

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5 replies
mayofeb2020 | @mayofeb2020 | Aug 13, 2020
In reply to @becsbuddy "Who has been for a nice/pretty/energetic walk today? I walked wherever the dog let me go,..." + (show)
@becsbuddy

Who has been for a nice/pretty/energetic walk today? I walked wherever the dog let me go, only did 1 mile. I feel older than I am! Minnesota sounds beautiful but 14 months of winter! Aaaggghhhh. Colorado is so full of hiking/biking/walking trails that you have to be an outside person to survive here. I love it, though, the sun always shines!

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@becsbuddy I have been walking everyday although my back and leg pain is getting worse. It's going to be in the 90s for the rest of the week so I have to walk earlier in the morning.

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Leonard | @jakedduck1 | Aug 13, 2020
In reply to @becsbuddy "Who has been for a nice/pretty/energetic walk today? I walked wherever the dog let me go,..." + (show)
@becsbuddy

Who has been for a nice/pretty/energetic walk today? I walked wherever the dog let me go, only did 1 mile. I feel older than I am! Minnesota sounds beautiful but 14 months of winter! Aaaggghhhh. Colorado is so full of hiking/biking/walking trails that you have to be an outside person to survive here. I love it, though, the sun always shines!

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@becsbuddy
Good afternoon,
If taking out the garbage counts, I did.
Jake

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susandenise | @susandenise | Aug 13, 2020
In reply to @becsbuddy "@susandenise I got the same “it’s all in your head” treatment! Oh how I despise it!..." + (show)
@becsbuddy

@susandenise I got the same “it’s all in your head” treatment! Oh how I despise it! So, now, I only see woman doctors—what a difference! Please find a female doctor!!
You said that your husband works out of town 6 days a week. Is he home at night? Does he know what your going through? Is the farm work too much?

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He desensitized to think it’s too much on days when I’m crying and can hardly get put off bed. He gets upset with me because I can’t drive so on his only day off he’ll do the store etc. I’ve asked for a helper but... you know .. men. Farm life is very hard but Hod helps me.

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2 replies
fiesty76 | @fiesty76 | Aug 13, 2020
In reply to @becsbuddy "Who has been for a nice/pretty/energetic walk today? I walked wherever the dog let me go,..." + (show)
@becsbuddy

Who has been for a nice/pretty/energetic walk today? I walked wherever the dog let me go, only did 1 mile. I feel older than I am! Minnesota sounds beautiful but 14 months of winter! Aaaggghhhh. Colorado is so full of hiking/biking/walking trails that you have to be an outside person to survive here. I love it, though, the sun always shines!

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@becsbuddy, I did take a short walk very early but we are back in the 100+ degrees for several days...really zaps all inclination to be out for anything after mid-morning. Everything is relative, right? vbg Duluth was by far the most severely and longest cold weather area I've lived in but my daughter's first winter in Boulder, CO has had her singing high praise of its being a much shorter and milder winter than those in Evanston, IL. I loved living in the Denver area for that first year of teaching and your state like MN has many beautiful areas to explore and enjoy. I was impressed by both Evanston and Boulder for the lack of wind on my visits...here it is a frequent detractor. Also being a sunshine gal, I welcome west TX for our mostly sunny days as well. Of course we pet owners know that they rule the roosts and Precious never listens to what I say but have you considered having a private talk with your 4 legger about some of your preferences for walks???? Might make you feel younger if you can wheedle some cooperation??? Smiles

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ellens | @ellens | Aug 13, 2020
In reply to @susandenise "I drink lots of coffee and fight my way through the day. I work laboriously from..." + (show)
@susandenise

I drink lots of coffee and fight my way through the day. I work laboriously from 3:30 am until 9-10 pm. It’s tough. I cry. I pray. Today is super hot.. mid 90’s full sun so the heat makes it harder. I also am an animal rescue of 26 cats and dogs. I run a household with children also and cook and clean inside and out diligently for cleanliness reasons and overall health reasons . I have a swollen lower leg down to my toes which as of right now look like sausages and my ankle is throbbing. We are a self sufficient farm so weeding, pruning , mowing...gardening all hurts my hands and wrists. I feel like I’m being ripped apart seam by Seam. My doc has me on klonopin and vistaril as I am bipolar mixed with schizophrenia ..no RA drugs though?! She feels it’s all in my head. I also have osteoarthritis in my spine plus I’m beating oral cancer on top of all of this. I left my career as a nurse for my husband and his farm life so I became a veterinarian nurse and care for my animals also. I’m beat, whipped! I cannot to lay my head down but then the pain comes on full force and it hurts to lay on my bones. It’s only God that gets me through and that’s the truth . No RA doc or my primary have it will ever prescribe me with the correct drugs and my organs will all eventually be affected and I will die. You have inspired me to walk one if my dogs for a short distance because I do take many short breaks and drink lots of weather them I eat a full veggie meal with a slight 4 oz. of protein on the side. The water weight gain has added 12 pounds to my 101 I used to be a week ago. Yes, my “ disease“ is progressing rapidly .

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I don't know how you manage to do all those chores! They would tire anybody out. Have you ever seen a psychiatrist, in light of the drugs you are taking? I have a psychiatrist and take Elavil (a tricyclic) for OCD. I'm quite sure that the drug, which is calming and which I take every night, is helpful for the pain. I am also given a benzo to take if I get stuck in the middle of the night and can't sleep. I don't take it regularly and keep a record so if I find I've taken it for 2 weeks straight, I make myself take a holiday since it is addictive. Usually that's not necessary since I have nights when I sleep straight through. I am familiar with klonopin but know nothing about vistaril. Are you taking something for the oral cancer on top of all the rest? I'm taking daily vitamin K2 plus 2000 IU of D for bones. Daily yogurt is also supposed to help bones. I'm 75 and light boned. I hope that works but I need to get a DEXA scan soon to find out.
BEST OF LUCK and keep in touch. Hot weather really sucks, doesn't it?

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2 replies
ellens | @ellens | Aug 13, 2020
In reply to @fiesty76 "@migizii, I couldn't have been a poster girl for Duluth either for the very same reason..." + (show)
@fiesty76

@migizii, I couldn't have been a poster girl for Duluth either for the very same reason as yours! Just the thought of those hundreds of inches of Duluth's accumulated annual snow has me gravitating toward the thermostat and we are having another run of 100 + temps here again. I used to say that I'd be one of those little old ladies dressed like an Eskimo with the heater up to 90 degrees in winter. Yep, I'm now that gal and run to raise the thermostat at the first hint of "cold on the way".

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I have to say I am kind of a poster person for Duluth! When the temperature goes above 75 I start to whine and, thank goodness, we haven't had 90 degrees here this summer. Temps in the 80s are enough to make me groan. Duluth is the city that will be least affected by climate change because of the Big Lake. I am an elder female and I shovel my own walks and begrudge that less than mowing. Maybe it's due to all the Scandinavian in me. I would be miserable in the SW.

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ellens | @ellens | Aug 13, 2020
In reply to @fiesty76 "@ellens,@wisco50,@sueinmn, It was great fun to reminisce about our time in Duluth and explorations which opened..." + (show)
@fiesty76

@ellens,@wisco50,@sueinmn, It was great fun to reminisce about our time in Duluth and explorations which opened a whole new world to me as a young adult. I do have to confess that the annual 14 months (lol) of severe winter and snow with what I remember of what seemed like only 3-4 weeks, of glorious summer-fall were enough to last me a lifetime. very big grin (vbg) P.S. Sometimes there is an advantage to those 3 am treks to the bathroom! Remembered this morning that the pies I made were Rhubarb. Thank goodness, that along with the walleyes that you recalled would have niggled at my poor brain for days. Today is another walking day for me and I think I'll try to estimate how many of those fantastic tiny strawberries it might have taken to produce one pint-quart of preserves! Best to all.

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Now, don't fall down in a faint, but I prefer winter over summer. I am much more comfortable in cold weather. Actually, my favorite times are fall and spring--nothing too extreme. If we could have more light in winter that would be wonderful. There's talk about staying on Daylight Saving Time. I'm all for it! Just one thing against winter is that the lake is frozen and for a couple of months we don't get ships.

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