01 - Living My New Norm After Surviving Breast Cancer
Walking is something many of us do without thinking, how walking can promote and even lower our risk of breast cancer so, get out there and walk and take of advantage of walking and the health benefits it offers.
01 - Living My New Norm After Surviving Breast Cancer
Living and Coping With Chronic Pain
What happens when the pain you thought was left in the past suddenly resurfaces, altering every aspect of your life? Meet my dear friend, Ayieta, who courageously shares her journey with chronic pain following scoliosis surgery in 1981. Together, we explore the long-term effects of the Harrington rod and spinal fusion that remained silent for decades until 2009, when they began to disrupt her active lifestyle. This episode sheds light on how chronic pain can unexpectedly shape one's life, demanding resilience and adaptability in ways that challenge both body and spirit.
You'll learn about the coping strategies we've both found essential in facing chronic pain, from the unwavering support of faith, family, and friendships to the delicate balance between conventional medicines and alternative treatments. My personal journey from a former disability claims examiner to someone living with chronic pain adds another layer to the conversation, as we unpack the emotional toll and everyday hurdles like household chores and weight gain. Our open discussion offers insights on navigating the complexities of pain management and the ongoing search for approaches that favor safety and functionality.
In a lighter twist, we dive into the unexpected ways weight loss has intersected with chronic pain management and how sports such as following the Georgia Bulldogs and the New York Knicks provide a sense of community and relief. It's a journey of cautious optimism, where weight loss and regular medical support offer glimpses of hope amidst ongoing challenges. Experience the blend of personal narratives and shared experiences, highlighting the power of community and the small victories that make each day a triumph.
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Hi, my name is Sherry and welcome to my podcast Silver T, and this podcast is about living with chronic pain, and in some of my other videos I talked about how I live with chronic pain and I wanted to know from some of you, from some of my audience here, how do you manage your chronic pain. And I have a special guest, one of my very dear friends. Her name is aieta and she lives with chronic pain and we're going to ask her a couple questions, maybe they can be useful to you, and how to manage your pain or, if you've been through this experience, what are you doing? So, again, I ask you to please leave your comments below. So, aieta, thank you for coming to the show and I gotta please say hi to the audience here hello, everybody hello so I had a.
Speaker 1:I want to ask you, like what is the root of your pain? I mean, we're going to start with that so we can lead into other things. Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2:I think that's very important to where the pain comes from. It actually started stemmed all from. I'm a post-scoliosis surgery patient. I had surgery back in July of 1981. I actually remember the exact date, july 2nd of 1981. And I had a wonderful surgeon. I was 13 years old but I remember I had a wonderful surgeon, very kind man named Dr Stanley Hoppenfeld, and he used back then.
Speaker 2:The way they did the surgery was they used what they call a Harrington rod. They stopped using that rod back in the late 80s and my surgery was in 81, because they were realizing there were problems long time, uh, problems that the patient can suffer with a Harrington rod. So that's why they stopped using it. But I already had the surgery since it was done in 81 and they also completely fused my spine from the top of the spine all the way down to like L5 S1. So there's no movement at all with that most of my spine.
Speaker 2:So because over the years, since every move I make is only from below the L5 S1 level, every move I make Is causing Trauma. Yes, it's putting a lot of the rod itself puts a lot of pressure on the spine and then Having total spinal fusion when every move Somebody that didn't have back surgery. Every move they make is supported by their entire spine, whereas every move I make is supported by their entire spine, whereas every move I make is only supported by the very bottom of my spine, causing all the pain to surface in my lower back area now, ariana, when you said you had the surgery, they finished your spine, so did they?
Speaker 1:did they fuse it like during the surgery, or did this kind of fuse over time?
Speaker 2:No, they fused it at that time during the surgery. In fact, dr Hoppenfeld told my parents and I that during the surgery he will wake me up out of that anesthesia to ask me to move my legs Because you can become paralyzed from this surgery. So he has to let. He had to let my parents and I know that I remember. I remember that I don't remember waking up because what was weird was it was once it took me, like they said it took.
Speaker 2:The nurses said it took me about two days to come out of the anesthesia because the surgery was very long. My mom said it was like six, seven hour surgery. So, um, and my, my poor mother was so scared and nervous. She told me waiting and um, and so I asked dr hopfeld. I remember I asked him did you wake me up? Because I don't remember that. Did you wake me up to see if I could move my legs? And I remember he said yes, I did. I woke you up and you were my wonderful little girl and you moved your legs perfectly. That's what he said. I remember everything.
Speaker 2:Wow, that's amazing yeah, I was scared when he told me that he was gonna wake me up during. My parents were scared too, you know, because you can become paralyzed dealing with the spine, so it can, of course, it could cause you to be paralyzed so there was no guarantee that you were going to walk exactly yes now.
Speaker 1:You've been living with this chronic pain for how many years now?
Speaker 2:well, let me say this you've been okay.
Speaker 1:So you had the surgery, but how long have you been living with the chronic pain? Because I remember when I met you, you were a very active person. Yes, 20, what was it? 2017?
Speaker 2:no, it was actually uh. No, it was in the beginning, like 2009, because I moved into 2009 and that's when I started having the pain. I actually started having the pain when I was living in atlanta, georgia. Okay, because I left atlanta georgia in march, like towards the end of march 2009, but in 2000, like the beginning of 2009, I started experiencing low back pain, like zero pain. From 81 all the way till 2009, zero pain.
Speaker 2:I was able to live my life and everything you know work, be at the gym, being active, having social life, all of that, yeah, and then when I started experiencing like these twinge twinge type of pain in my lower back, I attributed it to I was sitting, I was working 12 hour days in atlanta, so I just attributed it to that. You thought that's what it was, all that sitting. Yeah, I thought it was all that sitting. Yes, because I wasn't the only one complaining about low back hurting, so we were would stretch in our cubicle, so. But the pain got worse when I came back to Pennsylvania in March and then I had to see um oh no, I remember I was doing my step aerobics class.
Speaker 1:Ah, you see, that's what I mean. You were at, you were out there, yes.
Speaker 2:I came back to Pennsylvania and I went back to and then all of a sudden and I don't stop, 60 minutes straight high cardio, I don't stop All of a sudden I felt the sharpest pain in my lower back. I got scared, I was, and even my instructor, cause he knows I don't stop. My instructor said are you okay? I said I don't know. I don't know. I got scared. I thought my rod came loose. That's what I, that's the first thing I thought of, because I never experienced that sharp of a pain. But I didn't go to the emergency room until two days later and I could barely walk. I could barely walk. At that point. I was terrified that my rod came loose. How long has that been now since that whole? That was in April. That was sometime in April of 2009. Oh, so we almost Gone on like 15 years. 15 years, wow.
Speaker 1:So, so I mean. So how has I mean, how has it affected your daily life? Now, because I know, like I said, when I met you, you were active. You were always going, and it seemed like it has really impacted what you do every day. So did you? Like did you start slowing down on things?
Speaker 2:yes, everything came to a halt. That's everything like my whole life changed before my eyes. Everything came to a halt. I could no longer do my step aerobics. I couldn't even be at the gym anymore Because it was. The pain was so bad, it literally affected you doing the most simplest Task of daily living, like taking a shower, brushing your teeth, doing dishes, and I never Experienced that.
Speaker 2:And I never experienced that, yes, and I never experienced that. Yes, yes, we don't realize that we're taking advantage because it's just something you do every day, and so I. You know I was. Of course, you know you get feeling depressed. It's like you can't do what you used to do anymore, like everything has changed. I had to be under pain management doctors.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and that's not good. So I'm glad you said you were depressed. So what strategies did you use to help you cope with this emotional and psychological impact from this client?
Speaker 2:I'm not going to lie. It was very difficult. It brought me to a very dark place. It brought me to a very I'm not gonna lie, it brought me to a very dark place. I did disability claims. I'm a disability claims examiner by my career. That was what I did, and I would speak to claimants that were in chronic pain and they would tell me. They would cry on the phone to me. They would be so down, you know they had a full life and then chronic pain came and it just changes your life, just like that. Yeah, and and my heart would go. I felt compassion, my heart would break for these people. I couldn't even imagine what they were going through. And now I was living it. And now I was living it. And if it wasn't for God and Jesus and praying, there was no way I would have gotten through it. There was no way, there was absolutely no way I would have gotten through it. It's because of God and Jesus and praying.
Speaker 1:And I believe having that family support.
Speaker 2:Oh, it's very important.
Speaker 1:And good friends being in your life will help support you. Yes, it's so important To have that support. It's very important. Yes, good friends being in your life to help support you.
Speaker 2:Yes, it's so important to have that support. It's so important.
Speaker 1:Now Ayed, you were very, very thin when I first met you, so because you were I don't know about very thin you were were my neighbor but I used to see you outside. You would be walking around a complex with your friends they would come by it was so funny, but you were then. So it, over time, when you, when you slowed down and depression, gained weight, you also gained weight too as well, right, oh?
Speaker 2:yes, easily, and I never thought I could reach the weight that I reached my weight. I was over 200, at one point, even a little over 200. And I was shocked. I said is this scale correct? Like I was always 135. Like 135, 140, you know, and it was so. It was mind-boggling that I hit the scale that you want to, because when you, when you feel down like that, what do you turn to? You turn to food.
Speaker 1:Yeah, to come for you. Yeah, stress eating so much of that.
Speaker 2:Chips, pringles, everything candy like just it would cheer me up. Everything candy like just it would cheer me up. But it was like your friend. Yeah, it comforted me, it made me feel happy, but the bad part is the pounds went up. Yes, they did, they did which makes the pain worse, which is not healthy.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I have probably pain, so I I don't understand where you're coming from because I I don't like to do too much. You're in so much pain.
Speaker 2:And.
Speaker 1:I slow down a lot.
Speaker 2:I was out there.
Speaker 1:Like I'm a person and I said this in my video, my podcast, when I did it with Stephen how I would be in 20 things at one time and I would be managing all of them. But as the pain came. I just slowed down. Doing all that stuff I was doing. I would have to jump in and finish it up, or he'll just do whatever with it Because I was like I'm done.
Speaker 2:I can't even move. It's unbelievable how like chronic pain can literally like stop you in your tracks doing the most simplest of things very sweeping.
Speaker 1:Wait, okay, let's talk about how does it. That's how it affects us. We can't even, uh, quality of life or our normal routines are now affected.
Speaker 2:Sweeping the floor yeah, when I vacuum, when I back, I have carpeting, I water on carpeting and I have to vacuum. Yeah, I never, like I never thought vacuuming could be so difficult, like because I used to vacuum my whole life and it's you know. Now it's literally considered a cardio workout for me. I'll be vacuuming and I literally have to break it down. You've been to my apartment. It's big, so I literally I'm trying to vacuum the living room and the dining room and the other two and I literally have to break it down. You've been to my apartment.
Speaker 2:It's big, so I literally I'm trying to vacuum the living room and the dining room and the other two bedrooms there, like all in one day, and I realized I can't do it. The pain got so bad I couldn't even put my body erect like straight, straight up. I have to, like I'm bent over and I have to do it really really slow. So do it really really slow? So I realized when you have chronic pain, you you know what you can and can't do and I know that I can only vacuum one room at a time and that's okay, and that's okay, at least they get done.
Speaker 1:I think it's okay too. There's a smaller task to conquer them, to complete them. They're out the way and today.
Speaker 2:Those are accomplishments yeah and you'll get it. You'll get it done. Just do it what you'll learn to live with what your restrictions and limitations are on a daily basis yeah, yes, I agree with you, so.
Speaker 1:So I mean, what advice would you give to those who are struggling with chronic pain and dealing with medication and the side effects of medication, because medication kind of turns into what we use now just to give us a quality of life, we have to take medicine. So and I try, I know for me I try to mix it between natural and big pharma. So I usually try to try natural herbs or drink teas that help with pain, so do you have anything that you would like to add?
Speaker 2:Well, unfortunately, I haven't tried anything natural. Yeah, but I am on a lot of medications since 2009. And I honestly you know, know I was just telling my friend today I honestly can't stand being on medications anymore. I really hate taking all you know, I'm 56 years old. I've been on these meds for 15 years. They've increased the number of milligrams, so I'm on much stronger milligrams now, much higher and and much stronger muscle relaxers now, pain medications and you know, I know all these medicines affect our organs. Of course it does, and that that concerns me. That worries me. That worries me a lot.
Speaker 2:I tried the medical marijuana. I did. I tried it. I got, I just got certified the end of March and I figured that would help because I heard a lot of positive things about it and it's not harsh on your organs like the medications. But I tried it. I tried different things and, um of the medical marijuana, it did not help me. Unfortunately, it does not help me with my pain at all. I was very disappointed Because I wanted to find something more natural and hopefully get off my pain meds, you know.
Speaker 1:And those pain meds. They make you dizzy. I think, you had a couple of Times when the medicine was so strong.
Speaker 2:I felt, yeah, the muscle relaxers, because the muscle relaxers I'm supposed to take three times a day, um, but I didn't like the feeling of being so sleepy all day long. I'm on disability and I may be home, but I don't like feeling that way because I have chores to do, I may have to go out and drive and that's not safe. So so I take the one muscle relaxer in the morning and two at night, since I'm going to bed. It'll help me sleep. But if I don't get in the bed within 60 minutes after taking it, you know you fall asleep standing up and then you drop. Thank God I've never hurt myself. Thank God that's never happened.
Speaker 1:But you know to get in the bed yeah, get in the bed.
Speaker 2:Often takes your meds. Get in the bed. That's what you have to do.
Speaker 1:I like, I like that you were saying that you don't. And I'm the same way. I don't like taking the medicine all like they prescribe it, because I, I work and I I, yeah, you want it, yeah, I don't know and I have to be alert.
Speaker 2:I'm issuing checks and money to this people. I have to make sure I'm issuing the correct amount. Yeah, so you have to be alert. I thank God I wasn't on any of these meds when I was working, you know, thank God, because, because you have to be, I always tell you that, sheri, like you have to be awake. You work full time. There's no way like how can you do it with taking medication? You can't.
Speaker 1:You can't. It has to be difficult and I had situations where I said you know what lunchtime is here? I'm going to go lay down for lunch, yeah, and that sometimes Helps me Like in the afternoon I will wake up. But I've been drinking teas and one of my podcasts I talk about how I use the teas For medicinal purposes.
Speaker 2:Yes.
Speaker 1:All this medication. Like I said, I don't take it the way. I take less than what they're asking me to take.
Speaker 2:That's what I do. I don't like that feeling. I don't take it the way I. I take less than what they're asking me to take. That's what I. That's what I do. Yeah, I don't like that feeling. I don't like it either like yeah, I don't have any control over myself, so I don't exactly. Yeah, I don't like it either so let me um.
Speaker 1:So there are some common misconceptions about chronic pain and I wanted to actually talk about something because this is my experience and I wanted if you experienced some of, because this is my experience and I wonder if you experienced some of these things because I know how you eat and you still lose weight, because now you're on a, you're on a little weight loss journey here without trying, but I'm losing weight without every time I go to the doctor.
Speaker 2:I lost more weight I lost. My friend just asked me the other day did you lose more weight? You said I look thinner and I said what I do, I was.
Speaker 1:So I've lost literally 30 pounds in two years without dieting that that's amazing, because I gained about 30 pounds and I tried.
Speaker 2:I don't know how I'm not going to I don't know how if I'm happy, but I'm nervous too. I hope nothing else is going on.
Speaker 1:Me too, me too, that's what I was worried about.
Speaker 2:But my doctor does blood work on me like every few months, so if they saw something, they would tell me. Yes, they would tell you.
Speaker 1:They look at all that. They look at all these and see. One time I went to the emergency room and the doctor said that they look for certain things that tell them if there's an infection in the body.
Speaker 2:Mm-hmm.
Speaker 1:Because of certain hormones that are high and they're not supposed to be. Yeah, so, yeah. So while your doctor's doing blood work, he's probably looking for all of that Exactly. So what's your weight loss? Now? I noticed this so exactly. So what's your weight loss? Now? I noticed this. What's your weight loss? Do you feel that it helps you with your pain? Do you notice a little bit of alleviation of the pain when you lose a little weight?
Speaker 2:absolutely, I've noticed it, I really have, because you know how I noticed it. I noticed that I lost 30 pounds in about two years and I can actually bend and wipe the floor because I wipe my bathroom floor every day. I wipe it and I bend and I wasn't able to do that before. I could not, like I could do it for like two seconds, three seconds, and it would hurt so bad. And I just like wiping my floor down because hair and stuff, you know, get my hair gets everywhere. So I just like wiping my floor down because hair and stuff, you know, get my hair gets everywhere. So I just like wiping it down every day and I can reach behind the toilet. Now you know how hard it is to reach behind the toilet.
Speaker 1:I can't believe people we don't realize that I didn't know how hard it was, but yes, it is really hard to reach behind the toilet to clean, to clean behind, and dust accumulates there.
Speaker 2:So I like to wipe it down. So now I can wipe it down without excruciating pain. I have pain but it's not excruciating. And so with the 30-pound weight loss now, I mean I still have chronic pain. I still have chronic pain. Of course that's unfortunate, but I'm able to do more. Yeah, I feel like I can move better with, you know, with the weight loss, because having more weight on our body I mean it's not a good thing. It puts pressure on our joints. It's really bad. I've seen it a billion times on disability claims. Even the smallest amount, yeah, it affects our knees, our back, our hips. You know, even for somebody that never had any surgery, that's just normal it's going to affect your joints, your joints exactly.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:But when you lose the weight, you can do more. Exactly, and that was the common misconception. They think oh, I lose weight before, it's not going to help me with my pain, but it does.
Speaker 2:It really does and the doctors encourage you. The doctors encourage you to lose the weight.
Speaker 1:And be active.
Speaker 2:Yes, and all I want to do is be able to walk Something so simple as walking Exactly. I wouldn't be able to do that, and I could walk if I have my shopping cart with me, if I have a shopping cart.
Speaker 1:You could walk down the sidewalk.
Speaker 2:Support. Yeah, it helps support when I walk the shopping cart and then when my pain like flares up in my legs, I can like stretch, stop the cart and stretch. You know, using the cart as support I can do that. But walking like just by myself, yeah, unfortunately, even with the weight loss, I cannot do it because my legs go numb and it's so painful because so I just I did it.
Speaker 2:Pressure from the fused? Yeah, they in fact. When I saw my pain doctor just on the September 18th, I said to him, doc, like this pain just is, this is 2009. It's just gotten so much worse over the years. And he said, unfortunately, with being a post-coliosis patient, post-coliosis surgery, the rod same thing I've heard before the rod putting pressure on my spine, 24, 7 uh total spinal fusion. And he said I have a lot of severe narrowing which is from the spinal stenosis.
Speaker 2:So even when I go for my procedures, my pain management procedures, epidural burning of the nerves yeah, it takes them a little longer because of the severe narrowing in my spinal canal from the, it's all putting I have bones first to all of that Just bulging. So all of that combined, he said, is putting pressure on my nerves, pressing on my nerves, causing the pain to shoot from my lower back to my right, my hip, down my leg. Yeah, unfortunately. But he said, as long as we keep doing the pain management. And I said I said, listen, I haven't had my epidural since my right side epidural done for eight months.
Speaker 2:He said you cannot go eight months again, you cannot. So but that's them trying to fit me in for appointments. You know what I mean. It's not like I'd say yeah. It's not like I say I want to go eight months. Yeah, exactly. So it's supposed to be done every three to four months. Yeah, so I'm already like two months behind. Like you know, two procedures behind schedule, and I still got to get my left side done too. Yeah, so I'm going October 7th.
Speaker 1:I'm playing games sometimes.
Speaker 2:I know they're saying you cannot go eight months again. I'm like it's not like I said, I want to go this long.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it's not my choice.
Speaker 2:It's when you guys fit me in. You know what I mean Exactly.
Speaker 2:But if I stay, if I can stay on top of it, like it cares but you know yeah, and if I can get my procedures done regularly, like they're supposed to, I believe my pain will decrease and I'll be able to live a better quality of life, because that's what pain patients want are to live a better quality of life, because that's all pain patients want are to live a better quality of life. I got my hand up. I used to see that all the time on disability claims. That's all they want. They're not asking for much.
Speaker 2:Just to go for a walk yes, I would love to be able to walk without a shopping cart.
Speaker 1:Exactly, speaking of a shopping cart, mom does not like shopping. I mean, I mean not the shopping cart she doesn't like to get in, the little little cart those scooters, oh I'll be in a scooter, I think we need a driver's license for that.
Speaker 2:I don't know if I could. I probably crash into everything.
Speaker 1:I don't know well, you can back up, do your k-turn in an hour, you know you're my sister.
Speaker 2:Can I reverse my car? I mean seriously. You witnessed you and your mom witnessed it first and still.
Speaker 1:Hi, I hope you are enjoying the podcast so far and the way you can help my podcast is by hitting that subscribe button below and you'll be notified when I release new and exciting podcasts. Thank you and enjoy the rest of the podcast. Even poor steven. Steven, can I back up? You got like a whole. Not, steven, can I back up your car? You got like a whole another car you can back up. That's not even there. You sure she got a gyro glider for me.
Speaker 1:I don't know, maybe you don't believe that don't belong in that scooter. I might have to say I've never used that scooter.
Speaker 2:I know it's not allowed in the scooter.
Speaker 1:Have you ever used that scooter? I did, I do. Sometimes my pain is so bad I'll get in one. Is it difficult to drive? It's not. You just don't go too fast.
Speaker 2:So I'll be zooming in does it give you directions on it? Yeah, it does.
Speaker 1:It shows you how to put which one to push it go forward, which one to push the back up, and it's easy to maneuver sometimes I really do, I'll admit.
Speaker 2:My girlfriend told me, probably two years ago, because she uses, she suffers with chronic pain too. She lives in Philadelphia, she uses the scooter. She's a few years older than us and she said Ayana, there's nothing to be ashamed of using the scooter. I told her these are bad students.
Speaker 1:But people, that's what they're there for. There's nothing wrong with the scooter, because I'm going to tell you, people are so willing to help you when you're in that scooter.
Speaker 2:I've worked people in a scooter. I've seen them. Do you need something on the top shelf? Do you need something?
Speaker 1:for them. That's what I'm saying. That's what I get whenever I'm in the scooter. People are so like we think there's not a lot of nice people in the world today, but there are. They're there, they're running and they're trying to help you with whatever. You're trying to reach this and reach that. Or sometimes, if a person is behind me in a scooter, I try to help put this stuff on a conveyor belt.
Speaker 2:So, yeah, yeah, and speaking of nice people, I remember I was in Walmart here in Utica one day, in Walmart here in Utica one day I think I told you this a few years ago and my leg flared up in severe pain that I could barely get out of Walmart and I had to like drag my right leg. By the time I got outside the Walmart, I was completely in tears and a lady came over to me. She said, oh no, are you okay? And a lady came over to me. She said, oh no, are you okay? And a gentleman came up to me. Not only did they stay with me until my pain eased up, they offered to drive to get my car and bring it over to me so I didn't have to walk over there like they were so terrible in the world.
Speaker 2:Yeah, they were so caring and that gave me hope. I couldn't thank them enough for that and that really gave me hope that, wow, there were still nice, genuine people out here, despite everything going on, especially in this country. They were strangers, they were strangers and they stayed with me Until my pain alleviated. They didn't have to do that. I was really touched by that. I'll never forget that there's still good people out there there really are. We're one of them.
Speaker 1:We see these people.
Speaker 2:If I saw somebody crying, I want to help them. That's what humans should do. Yeah, I'll go over and see if there's anything I can do to help you.
Speaker 1:Yes, get you anything.
Speaker 2:Yes.
Speaker 1:Yeah. So let me ask this you always, most of the time, I have taught you not great moves, but some people think that attitude doesn't affect your pain. But I disagree with that. A positive mindset and coping, coping strategies can significantly impact how you experience and manage. Definitely, definitely I agree.
Speaker 2:I, I, I 100 agree with you. I 100 agree with you because if you're like we're human, we're human. So you know of course we're going to get down about our pain, of course you know we're human. But you know we have to try our best To lift ourselves up and just try to be thankful For the things that we still can do. Like I thank God that I can still walk, I thank God that I can still walk, I thank God that I can still be independent and dry, you know, like just the little things. Like we have to find the positive in the pain, because if we don't, it can bring us to a very tragic place, you know. So we have to find the positive.
Speaker 1:So attitude, definitely, most definitely I agree, you go into that dark place. You can run when people talk to you. Yeah, that mindset is not just being mean and. I see a lot of people Because when I went through the whole process of cancer right so I had surgery I was going through chemo and a lot of people that live in this apartment were saying Sherry, you don't have the attitude that a lot of people have, that's going through, that you're so positive and upbeat and you feel so good and you just don't have that attitude and I was.
Speaker 1:I was thankful, like you said, I am because I'm able to walk and smile and yeah, it's all. It's all family and it's all god.
Speaker 2:So yeah, amen, I mean it's natural we're humans it's natural to get angry. Amen, attitude, definitely, I mean it's natural. We're humans. It's natural to feel angry, it's natural to feel depressed. That's all natural Because our situation. But we must try to find some positives, focus on the things that we can do.
Speaker 1:Ayetta, Before we wrap this up, girl, I gotta ask you a question. I know you are a sports fanatic Go New York. So everybody, I wanted you to pay attention to Aiyetta's gear on her Bitmoji. She got her team on there.
Speaker 2:My ladies. We're going to the World Series. I just know it, it's been since 2009. We're going to the World Series. I just know it, it's been since 2009. We're going to the World Series, probably against the Philadelphia Phillies, and we're going to take the Philadelphia Phillies down.
Speaker 1:So during the cold seasons, Aiyetta does not talk to anybody on Saturdays and Sundays, that's right, it's football. It's all about football. I got to catch her on Monday, maybe, maybe not.
Speaker 2:Maybe not Monday. That's on post game stuff.
Speaker 1:I got to catch her on Wednesday. So what starts around winter time? So it's the football right.
Speaker 2:Football is in full swing right now. College football started the end of August. Who's your college football team?
Speaker 1:The Georgia.
Speaker 2:Bulldogs, go Bulldogs, and we're doing it in Alabama tomorrow at 7.30 pm on ABC, and that is the biggest game this weekend. They're talking about it on all my sports shows. And no go Bulldogs, All my dogs. I'm making sure I stay awake. I'm not taking my muscle relaxers till after the game.
Speaker 1:Pain be damned.
Speaker 2:I'm not missing that game, I'm not missing that game.
Speaker 1:Now, who is your professional, your NBA team?
Speaker 2:Oh, my New York Knicks, my New York. I am New York all the way. Well, except for the Georgia College team, which I root for the Georgia Kings. But other than that, I root for my New York Knicks. Basketball is actually my favorite sport. I'm a football fanatic too, but basketball was my firstball is actually my favorite sport. I'm a football fanatic too, but basketball was my first.
Speaker 1:You don't know that the way you watch the ball.
Speaker 2:Yeah, basketball was my first sport. That's why and that goes way back to the early 90s and all that and I'm a diehard Knicks fan we haven't won a championship since 1973, when I was five years old and I wasn't watching it then. So it would mean the world to me and millions of New York fans to see our New York Knicks win a championship sometime, sometime.
Speaker 1:But you're a diehard Even though they're not doing good, you're still going down with them.
Speaker 2:I'm a diehard Giants fan, even though I watch the Buffalo Bills and get excited about them because I live in upstate. New York now they watch the Buffalo Bills and get excited about them. Because I live in upstate New York now they air all the Bills games. So I got excited watching it because I just love football. Yeah, my sports, that's another thing. My sports help me tremendously.
Speaker 1:I was going to ask you that all the energy that came from you, and I just mentioned sports yeah, sports helps me through my pain.
Speaker 2:Sports helps a lot of people, yeah, with physical ailments that they're going through. Sports actually brings people together, like how politics, especially now, divide people, so much sports brings. You should see sports, it brings people together, no matter what race you are, no matter what religion you are. It brings people together and that's the way it should be. You know it should be that way. But, yes, sports is my outlet and general hospital, of course, but sports is definitely my outlet Of my truth. Yeah, I know you think that the worst actors Win it.
Speaker 1:The best actors on planet earth share oh god, doggone it we're all hospital people again, every day between two and three, do not disturb ieta okay, monday friday it could be a nuclear war going on. Hold on, stop. Don't push that button yet until after three.
Speaker 2:Hold on, watch a general hospital, but sports definitely, like you can be in a true change.
Speaker 1:You can be in a general hospital.
Speaker 2:Yes, I can be in excruciating pain and I watch my sports and I'm like, especially if my team is winning, I'm instantly. It's like what pain. Instantly it's like what pain. Yes, you forget about it for the moment because you enjoy it makes you happy.
Speaker 1:Yes, you're cheering along. No, no, who's your favorite player on the bulldogs?
Speaker 2:oh, my favorite player on the bulldogs I'm not sure yet so far as the quarterback beck. I forget his first name. I forget his first name, but it's I'm having my cedar moment right now. I forget his first name. He's an excellent QB. Maybe one day he can play for the New York Giants, because we are in desperate need of a quarterback.
Speaker 2:For the past four years, for the past four years. We're in desperate need of a quarterback. Put it this way the Georgia Bulldogs can beat my Giants at this point, okay, and the Giants are the pros If they play. I truly agree with that. That's how bad my Giants are. The bulldogs can beat my giants at this point, okay, and the giants are the pros if they played. I shouldn't read that that's how bad my giants are, but I still.
Speaker 2:I'm a writer dot giants fan, so it's okay. Yes, you are. This is my next, just like my nick yankees writer dot. I root for my home teams, my new york teams.
Speaker 1:Did you ever like the eagles?
Speaker 2:york teams. But did you ever like the eagles? You lived here. Oh hell, no. In fact, when I was working, when I was working and my giants won the super bowl, I walked around the office with the giant super bowl banner and I worked in philadelphia with all eagle fans. They were looking at me like done with you. They were like I'm good, I hate you guys. They were like I hate you. They were like I hate you.
Speaker 1:It was like security. Can you ask for her help?
Speaker 2:I walked around holding my Superbowl banner way up high around the office. I didn't care if I got in trouble. And I think you did, and I said don't worry, your team will win one one day. They finally did. Your team will win one one day. They finally did. They finally did get one Super Bowl. My Giants had four.
Speaker 1:Oh, oh, oh, they were going there, huh. So right now you're for each team, so let's talk about basketball. Who's your favorite player for?
Speaker 2:your Knicks, my Knicks, my Knicks, it would be.
Speaker 1:Jalen Brunson right now.
Speaker 2:Okay, jalen Brunson, brunson, yeah, brunson, my Giants it would be. Oh my God, this season it is Malik Nevers. He is a rookie and, like they said this morning On my sports show, malik has only been in the Giants 11 minutes and he's already the best player.
Speaker 1:Wow, it didn't take long. That tells me that the team Even though I don't know what's going on- my Giants are really bad.
Speaker 2:I think New York I've been saying this for the past few years New York for some reason, when it comes to sports, has this permanent black cloud over it. I don't know why, but it does.
Speaker 1:They're going to surprise you this season.
Speaker 2:But it will lift, I believe.
Speaker 1:Maybe in another four years.
Speaker 2:Yeah, my Knicks have a great team. My Knicks have a great team, my Knicks have a great team right now and they're getting ready to start basketball season in two weeks, in October, in the second week.
Speaker 1:I love this time of year because sports come back. All your favorite sports is like your football and your basketball Everything comes back to them. I don't think you just watch who wins baseball.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I root for the Yankees, though I lose to my Yankees, and we're doing great. We're doing great and I'm hoping we go to the World Series and win it. It's been since 2009. Let's go, yankees, let's go, let's go, let's go.
Speaker 1:That's why I haven't changed my bitmoji picture. Yet from my yankees uniform to the giant or to the bulls because you be doing stuff the bills the bills. When you say no, I don't know what I'm talking about, but I gotta be switching teams when one makes her upset. I'm very emotional I cannot be in your apartment while you're watching any football or basketball. I know your neighbors must think you're crazy oh my god.
Speaker 2:Thank god I have really nice neighbors. Thank god because tomorrow is a georgia bulldog alabama game at 7 30 at night.
Speaker 1:It's going to be is that tonight, tomorrow night, tomorrow night? Okay, they're home from work, so there's no problem there. Abc, abc, there you go, abc. I don't even know, I look.
Speaker 2:I'll be watching.
Speaker 1:I'll be watching something else. I don't know. I'll be watching something. You'll be Learning some more podcast stuff. You'll be hearing me.
Speaker 2:You'll be hearing me Learning from my bulldogs All the way to PA From New York. I do hear you, I do.
Speaker 1:I already hear you. So, aiyada, I'm going to thank you so, so much for coming and talking about chronic pain and talking about the misconceptions of simple things like attitude. We attract the positive If we have a better attitude. Attitude, we feel good about ourselves during that day yes, of course and weight loss is definitely a great contributor to deviating absolutely exactly your joints. So yes and we all know my podcast is about breast cancer and it's also about just helping other people, so yeah, before we go.
Speaker 1:We all know what sherry likes to say early detection is the best detection. Haven't got it done, get it done. And if you had it done. Schedule for next year so until then, ladies, please have a great cup of tea. Bye.