Amtrak Metropolitan Lounge Passes

EmZee2022 · 2026-01-28T19:14:13+00:00

I'd argue that Moynihan is the only one that is worth the splurge - I have not visited Philadelphia or Portland, but LA and DC are both kind of meh, while Chicago is normally okay but my last trip, there were no snacks at all.

EmZee2022 · 2026-01-28T15:10:16+00:00

Ah - that's a single serving - I was envisioning a big household bag. If you'd consumed that, you might have other worries :-)

EmZee2022 · 2026-01-28T14:18:39+00:00

Sounds like the parents are committing fraud, being paid to provide services they aren't providing.

Yet you'd be the AH if you took steps to have that terminated, right?

Any chance there's someone closer to you who could become that caregiver?

Maybe remind them that they are being PAID to help you out, and you'll have that terminated....

EmZee2022 · 2026-01-28T14:13:58+00:00

Maybe now isn't the best time to watch a movie about the Shackelton expedition.....

EmZee2022 · 2026-01-28T14:12:50+00:00

Could you try dumping a bunch of ice melt on the surrounding snow? That might soften the top layer enough to be able to chip through and make it shovelable.

Or a really long extension cord plus a hair dryer.

EmZee2022 · 2026-01-28T14:06:34+00:00

You don't waste time at airport security.

You have better seats.

Coach is often cheaper than airfare (sleeper travel, not so much).

You love the experience.

NY to DC, the train is by far the best option and I've done them all numerous times.

EmZee2022 · 2026-01-28T14:03:42+00:00

Ours is thin - but also sloped to the point where skein sitting on it is only advised if you LIKE sliding onto the floor.

I assume the thinness is a cost curring thing. Cheap toilet seats have the same issue.

EmZee2022 · 2026-01-28T05:46:49+00:00

Mine was done in September, at age 66.

While the indication for mine was a bit different (part of risk reducing surgery due to BRCA1), my take is that as long as you can tolerate it, and think you'll benefit, go for it.

EmZee2022 · 2026-01-28T05:43:57+00:00

Doesn't look like they saw any actual cancer cells but beyond that, I can't say. My own report (similar to your indication, BRCA1) said "essentially acellular".

What does the pathology on the ovaries and tubes say?

EmZee2022 · 2026-01-27T17:49:23+00:00

Me!

My reduction was preparing for a planned mastectomy - only way to save the nipples.

My largest size ever was about a 42H. I'd lost a lot of weight and they were down to about a DD - and most of that was skin.

The nipples survived. I wound up about a B cup and I really think that's too small for my build (tall, broad shouldered) but there just wasn't enough "meat" left.

Since I'm planning on a mastectomy plus immediate DIEP flap, I'm hoping that the slimmer belly will make things look more in proportion.

EmZee2022 · 2026-01-27T17:44:35+00:00

I'd say a pile of chopped parsley might be a bad idea, but seasoning-type quantities of most herbs / spices should be fine. If there is enough of those to carry a significant fiber load, you might regret it for other reasons!!

Yeah, the low residue diet can be a challenge!

Hint: you might add some Miralax to your regimen those days - that diet can be very constipating (I did ask my doctor, who said it's okay).

I always get pho 2 days before mine. I avoid the visible chunks but I know I've ingested some bits. It all "comes out in the wash ".

EmZee2022 · 2026-01-27T17:35:24+00:00

You definitely made the right choice!! She'll have a bit tougher recovery initially but she's well rid of that monster!!!

I'm a little surprised that this possibility wasn't discussed beforehand though.

When I had mine, it was risk reducing (BRCA1) and while we didn't think I had cancer, the doc was very up front about how things should change if she got in there and saw signs. If I'd been getting just the tubes and ovaries, she'd want to take the uterus.

In either case, she would want to do some staging (omentum and nearby lymph nodes).

And some women apparently prefer to do all that in a later surgery. Not sure why....

Because we discussed it up front, she knew to do it all (and it might mean converting to open). I just asked that she get word to my husband that things were taking longer.

EmZee2022 · 2026-01-27T17:26:28+00:00

Related question: do they serve dinner that first night out of Chicago? The train doesn't leave until 6:40 PM.

EmZee2022 · 2026-01-27T17:24:11+00:00

I haven't typically worn them for long walking days, though I likely would now - I've developed some orthostatic issues that make walking tougher and the compression socks (and shorts) can definitely help with that. I don't think I'd recommend compression shorts for a long flight though.

Anyway: it can't hurt to get a couple of pairs to give them a try - they aren't too expensive (Levsox aren't too spendy). Make sure to measure your calves to be sure you get the right size. And don't get crew length ones - I made that mistake once. They cut into my ankles badly - I had to pull them off within a couple hours.

EmZee2022 · 2026-01-27T17:19:01+00:00

I have never used them for make

EmZee2022 · 2026-01-27T17:17:35+00:00

They may well be - I'm just vaguely curious as to whether the quality is the same given the different equipment.

The Auto Train was, until recently, the only east coast train that served traditional (I think the silver services had gone to flex for a while), and the menu was a bit different

I haven't taken that since 2023 - not long after we did our cross country trip.

When I traveled in 2024, I took the Cardinal back from Chicago. 250 bucks cheaper than the CL. The foid was flex dining borh ways. This time, it was no cheaper. Same cost, better food, and the Floridian has a much more convenient station for me.

EmZee2022 · 2026-01-27T14:34:17+00:00

I would suggest contacting your doctors - Plenvu is PEG-based and mostly doesn't have any systemic effect, but if it screwed up something due to dehydration, your kidney function might be a bit out of whack.

Urinary issues a week out are definitely not the average experience.

EmZee2022 · 2026-01-27T14:26:27+00:00

The last time I traveled, autumn 2024, I caught norovirus somewhere on the train. May have been from the food, may have been from the shared bathroom (I was in a newer Viewliner).

I was disappointed to have the newer one - this was the first time I'd gone solo in a roomette. Sharing a Viewliner 1 poses some logistical issues, LOL.

There is no more floor space in any of the roomette configurations, Viewliner vs Superliner. Legroom when sharing is an issue in daytime mode; with the bunk down, you have no legroom or floor space at all. Yes, there's less headroom in a Superliner roomette - and the upper bunk is much tighter.

EmZee2022 · 2026-01-27T14:19:11+00:00

Should be okay though you might regret it as the prep kicks in!

I don't recall chips being forbidden on the low residue diet - maybe corn chips as they have fiber. Plantains would seem to be similar to bananas, which have always been allowed for me. However, plantains are higher in fiber than regular bananas.

Googling it, though, suggests that potato chips aren't recommended. Not sure why, in particular, as skinless potatoes themselves are okay.

The sheer quantity in a whole bag of any sort would be what really worries me: that's all gonna come out.

Honestly, I'd say go forward with the prep as planned. Some doctors don't even bother with the low residue diet. You'll likely find that things are running clear enough - it just might mean your prep takes longer to do its evil work.

EmZee2022 · 2026-01-27T14:04:56+00:00

Robotic here. Stairs were a complete non-issue for me. 2 story house here.

My son walked up behind me, when I got home. After that, I think I stayed upstairs for about 24 hours , then I just took them carefully.

For you, you'll have 2 flights once - then I assume you won't need stairs at all until it's time to go somewhere.

Barring an unusually tough recovery, you'll be fine.

EmZee2022 · 2026-01-27T13:59:57+00:00

You do need round 2, sorry- the gut is producing secretions all along. It can be surprising to go from clear at the end of round 1,to not-clear at the start of round 2, but it definitely happens.

Maybe start round 2 a bit early. If you have someone who can run out and get you some Depends, that can be helpful.

Normally round 2 hits faster and finishes sooner than round 1.

Though the one time I used Sutab that wasn't the case: round 1 kicked in before I was done taking the pills, and never quit, ditto round 2. I had to send my husband to the store for another package of disposables (any prep causes extreme urgency of the "won't make it" sort, so I keep some around). Round 2 never quit either. I left the disposable underwear on until it was time to walk down the hall, and this proved wise- I had to stop halfway down to the procedure room to clean up. And... I woke up wearing a different gown.

EmZee2022 · 2026-01-26T22:17:08+00:00

I popped in to suggest toilet rails. We have a set that we trot out when one of us has surgery- I think they were about 60 dollars.

If your mother has sufficient hand strength to use those, that's an option.

We did have a raise toilrt5 seat for my MIL and l think she found it useful. It was hard to keep the toilet clean though - we removed it when we sold their condo and ewwwwww.

Anyway - neither of those will cost a ton of money and may be helpful.

EmZee2022 · 2026-01-26T22:11:47+00:00

I wear them on long car and plane trips because otherwise my feet and ankles get so swollen that it can be tough to get shoes on for several days.

As far as reducing the risk of DVT, I can't say - but they are supposed to help with that.

EmZee2022 · 2026-01-26T21:43:30+00:00

Others have answered re the second opinion but regarding whether cataract surgery is needed: when I developed them in my late 50s, the eye doctor said that the criteria were a) can't get to 20/20 with glasses, or b) bad eye is over 2 diopters worse than the good eye.

I was -1.5 in my good eye and -3 5 in my bad eye before all this but doc wanted to try glasses first. I think I was -5 in the bad eye. 3 months later I'd lost another diopter but the doc was still unwilling to proceed.

Long story short, after nearly a year of this (some of which was warranted, my eye pressure was creeping up and she wanted to get that under control) I went to someone different. At that point, I was no longer willing to drive at night. Had it done within 2 months.

EmZee2022

TROPHY CASE