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correcto mundo, waysider

The woman I'm thinking of, she loved me all up but I'm so down today

You piqued my curiosity. A Hoyer lift is a mechanical patient transfer device that uses a fabric sling to safely lift and move individuals with limited mobility from one surface to another, such as a bed to a wheelchair or toilet. It eliminates the need for caregivers to perform manual lifting, which reduces the risk of injuries for both the patient and the caregiver. The lift operates using a hydraulic or electric-powered mechanism to gently raise and lower the patient, providing secure support during the transfer process George

Gabrielle appears. Again, not likely to have much impact on the US. The disturbance behind Gabrielle seems to have a more southerly trajectory, however. George

A bit off topic: You'd be amazed at how many facilities (hospitals included) don't even have a Hoyer lift. It's like going to a tire store and finding they don't have a lift rack.

Well, the problem isn't necessarily MY insurance but the total insurance of the oncologist's patients to make getting the equipment cost-effective. George

WOW sorry your insurance plan didn't cover it. Did some checking and medicare advantage covers it but depending on what medicare advantage plan you've got, there likely are co-insurance and deductibles to pay. Medigap usually covers everything Medicare doesn't, but in NY that costs about an extra $350 a month with AARP. What I do is wait until I've got a procedure or two, and office visits; then try to schedule as much as I can in one month, then use Medigap during that one month of procedures and Drs visits. Doing in that way it's well worth the extra expense for me....

More Autumn Leaves

Funny you should ask. Apparently, anesthesia is not covered by insurance for the biopsy or the pre-treatment procedure. The oncologist, who performed the latter procedure, said he considered nitrous oxide, but it would cost the patient $300, and he'd pretty much need all of his patients to opt for it to make it cost effective for him to get the setup. I told him I would have quite happily opted for it. He said that they ALL say that, AFTER the procedure. Both the biopsy and the second procedure involve inserting a probe which, among other things, contains a lidocaine injection which is supposed to numb the prostate. Spoiler alert: IT DOESN'T HELP. I've met a number of people who have undergone the radiation treatment and experienced no ill effects (including, interestingly, my oncologist), so I'm hoping the worst is over. George

Coming to NY soon...

Thx George. Am surprised they didn't offer to put you to sleep during it? I think it is available... similar to a colonoscopy or something?

Annual bloodwork. My PSA levels had been slowly rising over the last couple of years. When it got to about 5, I had a biopsy done. (NOT pleasant.) The results showed areas of cancer cells. Further tests showed no metastasis, but my urologist and oncologist started me on the testosterone blocker. I had another procedure a little over a week ago (no need to go into detail here) to prep me for the radiation. It will be five short (~15 min) sessions a week for six weeks. Staying on the T-blocker will allow the remaining cancer cells to die off. George

Of course. George

Younger Girl----Lovin' Spoonful

Sorry to hear this news George ... will pray for a complete recovery. Am curious how did you find out about it?

I remember her eyes, soft dark and brown Said she'd never been in trouble even in town

Hollywood Squares

Thanks. Prostate cancer is one of the most curable, so the odds are on my side. George

Best wishes George for beating this cancer.

When I was in cancer treatment 27 years ago I used the Atkins Diet during treatment, for whatever that's worth. I do know cancer is fueled by glucose, and not oxygen, and starving cancer out makes sense. I would also look at the various foods that are anti-angiogenesis like strawberries and pearl Jasmin tea, earl grey tea, also taking Turkey Tail mushroom mycelium.

A few months ago, I was diagnosed with prostate cancer. (Early stage, no metastasis.) My boss pointed out that the radioactive tracer FDG (fluorodeoxyglucose) is used to detect cancer cells because glucose derivatives are consumed more rapidly by cancer cells than by healthy cells. He suggested a low-sugar diet. My GP suggested teh same thing, but to lower my triglycerides and A1C. When I asked my radiation oncologist about it, he said that some cancers might have a positive response to a low-carb diet, it doesn't really apply to prostate cancer. He pointed out that, just like other cells, when glucose is unavailable cancer cells will eat whatever nutrients ARE around. I will be undergoing radiation treatments shortly, and, ironically, in order to avoid gas production which could interfere with the targeting, I'm now essentially on a high-carb, low-fiber diet. Mashed potatoes, pancakes, and oatmeal are fine, salads and uncooked vegetables are not. Also, because the radiation may affect my urethra, acids and spicy items are no-nos (so no orange juice or coffee in the morning). About the only things that are both low-carb and low-gas are grilled meats and fish. One thing that really DOES promote prostate cancer, unfortunately, is testosterone, so I've been on a testosterone blocker for a couple of months now. My PSA has dropped to 1.1, which indicates that the cancer isn't growing. The bad news is that I'll have to remain on the blocker for up to two years after the radiation treatments. The good news is that my oncologist is quite sanguine about my chances for eliminating the cancer. George

I'll try to be relatively brief and relatively on-topic. -I'm well aware that some Christians posit Mary as a "mediatrix"- that is, a mediator between God and man, and a co-mediator with Jesus. For those of us who believe the verse that there is ONE God and ONE mediator between God and man, and that mediator is "the man Christ Jesus", this doctrine is nothing less than error. I'm aware that Pope John Paul II declared it during the Marian Year in the 1980s, when he dedicated an entire year to Mary. I liked the man, but in this he was just plain wrong. -I'm aware that the usual argument for Mary worship is that "adoration" and "worship" are two different things, that "worship" is directed at God, and "adoration" is directed at Mary, saints, etc. I consider the distinction mere sophistry. In "adoration", prayers are being directed to a person, and statues are made of them, where one prays, lights candles, and offers devotions. That's "worship" with a few cosmetic distinctions even a lawyer would have trouble making stick. If someone made a statue of Zeus, knelt before it, prayed before it, lit candles before it, and offered devotions to Zeus at it, you'd say they were "worshipping" Zeus- and you'd be correct. -It was in Vatican II in the 1950s when the doctrine of "The Assumption" was codified. The then-Pope declared that Mary never died- he said she had ascended to heaven, where she was made "queen of heaven." (His term, not mine.) Obviously, I can't buy into any of that. -I'm also aware that some people have said that Mary is related to all three members of the Trinity- as the mother of the Son, the daughter of the Father, and the spouse of the Holy Spirit. Not aware of this? Pope John Paul II said as much in L'Osservatore Romano. You can read the official English translation here: https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/library/marys-relationship-with-the-trinity-8027 If you're on board with these doctrines, we'll have to agree to disagree. I do not mind interacting with Catholics, but I'm not going to sign on to all their doctrines. I don't have to get on their case about them, either.

A dissenting point of view is on this page: https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/3051/Veneration-of-Mary.htm In the interests of polite discussion, I won't paste the contents, but they speak for themselves.

https://uscatholic.org/articles/201405/why-do-catholics-venerate-mary/ In 2005 in Chicago, a young woman was driving home from work and looked at the wall of an underpass where she saw an image of the Virgin Mary. For a short while, “Our Lady of the Underpass” became national news and a local pilgrimage site. Where some saw a miraculous image, however, others saw a mere salt stain. Although the excitement has died down, there are still those who ensure that the underpass remains adorned with candles, flowers, and a makeshift altar. There are thousands of stories like this. Some Marian shrines become permanent pilgrimage sites, such as Lourdes and Medjugorje. Others simply fade away. The veneration and adoration of Mary is as old as the church itself. The earliest record of Mary’s veneration probably comes from the Third Ecumenical Council at Ephesus in A.D. 431. There church fathers affirmed Mary as the Theotokos, or God-bearer. The title stuck, and today we refer to her as the “Mother of God.” This designation of Mary as the mother of God is really at the root of Roman Catholic veneration. Mary is the link between our broken humanity and the boundless divinity present in the triune God. Mary is redeemed, as she is human, but she is also considered to have a special and unique relationship with God, as she shares DNA with Christ. Mother Teresa once remarked, “She gave Jesus his body, and his body is what saved us.” In the many years since 431, Mary has come to occupy a powerful place in Roman Catholic spirituality. She has many faces and innumerable names, among them Our Lady of Guadalupe, She Who Ripens the Wheat, Queen of Angels, and the Light Cloud of Heavenly Rain. She is said to appear on occasion, mostly to children or others who are weak, disempowered, or on the margins of society. She is said, in some cases, to procure miracles. Some have even said that in the last days, Mary will lead the army of angels in the final battle against evil. But all of the titles and all of the miracles are considered to be a result of Mary’s close relationship with her son, Jesus. As mother of the King of Kings, she is the saint of saints. Furthermore, because the church is the body of Christ, and Mary is Christ’s mother, she is also the mother of the church. This means that in addition to having a special relationship with Jesus, Mary also has a special relationship with the church. She belongs to the church and the church belongs to her. So when we pray the rosary, or bow our heads during the creed, we are honoring our mother, and the mother of our Lord. Although she is not God, she has earned our respect and devotion.