And working on thinking positive for the rest of the things we want to see happening in the coming years. Kid is now 35 pounds lighter, I lost 20, and we're committed to the lifestyle changes we've made to get here. I am working out every other day for 10 minutes and I feel much better, I am going to get OFF Abilify my fasting blood sugar was 100 and that's too high for my liking. We're going to do an a1c blood test in 3 months, so we'll see. I hope to be weaning off this med by then so we'll see how my appt with pdoc goes tomorrow.

I am still having the most god awful gut wrenching anxiety right now, but it's getting better. I am probably going to wean off the pain meds too, I worry about long term affects on the liver and kidneys, so we'll see if I can make the jump to being low pain, and off pain meds. I think my neck has healed a lot over time, I am planning on taking it as it comes. You can't worry too much about tomorrow today/tonight, you know? It will happen no matter what, it's what we make tomorrow into that matters. And lifestyle changes are how we can improve our health.

Hope you're all doing well, I made a pillsbury splenda cake (for lil man's bday) with splenda icing and it was AWESOME. Plan on doing another one, for Christmastime. I highly recommend them, it was great. My mother came over and tried a piece, only she's not doing so well, she's not feeling right and I am so scared she's not gonna make it another season. She still smokes and her health isn't the best as it is. It's going to be hard to let go of her, I am doing all I can to mentally prepare for the loss, while still enjoying being with her for now in the present. So that's how things are right now.

HI PAMMIE!
so good to hear from you!
great news on the continued dieting efforts paying off.
good for you for sticking to exercising..I have been very bad and not doing that.
I am sorry that you are having such bad anxiety...are you sure you want to go off your pain meds now? I would think that would add to your anxiety.
I don't know...just wondering.
thank you for checking in, always good to see a post from you!
((((((HUGS)))))
bizi

It depends, I may not be able to go all the way down to zero pain meds, but I can at least step down from my current level. I think they actually can cause anxiety believe it or not. It's good to see you bizi, hope things are well, I lurk and check in when I have time.

Dear Pam

great to hear from you!!! and all the good news!! i am totally FOR getting off whatever meds you can, or reducing to the minimum effective dosages... totally understand the concern for longterm effects too.

my only concern would be not to do it all at once unless there is a compensatory effect that calls for changing two in unison. reducing meds can be stressful even if you feel positive about it. and stress increases pain so do take it slow, and even take a pause if need be, plateau for a while.

i hope you will be ok without the abilify. is there a plan B? have you ever tried Geodon? it doesn't seem to carry nearly the same risk of metabolic syndrome seen with the other atypicals.

congratulations on the weight loss and fitness program. i have been hopeless in those efforts. should i say what efforts, i've been a mess for the most part and just when i thought i was getting better, i "flipped"if you know what i mean.
anyway i know how hard that is. keep up the good work.

i hope your mom surprises you and sticks around a good while longer.

((((hugs)))) take care and keep us posted

waves

Dear Pam,

It is great to hear from you.

M

Oh Pam it was so good to see your post. I am sorry about the blood sugar, but it sounds terrific that you lost the weight. I wish I would quit finding what others are losing.
Super big hugs to your,
di

Pam
Sounds so good. I too would just caution not to change things to fast.

Donna

Well I am happy to report that kiddo got his drum set! It's a killer 5 piece set up, we picked it up off craigslist. Paid $100, or 1/3 of the retail price. HE loves it!!! I have to be in there with him or he won't sit and play. My job is to record him so he can watch it later. He's had it since Friday and played it like 3 times now.

It's so awesome, I just hope our neighbors don't mind. He got on it at 7:50 am this morning, I am going to go over there today at some point, I have to ask them something for the neighbor who used to live there, long story. Point being I have to go over and introduce myself to them anyway so I will make a point of mentioning the drum set which is SO theraputic for him it's NOT even funny. I am glad it's here now.

I hope they don't mind it. He won't play it for long stretches, so far 15 minutes is his limit. Self-imposed limit too. He's showing a self-esteem boost from owning his own set of drums. He's really going to enjoy using them.

that is so cool Pammie.

you might ask the neighbours about hours too.

i know someone playing drums at 8 am even for a short stint would be infuriating to me. when i lived in florida i had to be at work at 10 which means i could get away with waking up at 9.30-9.45. i lived 3 mins from work.

but for some jobs people will be out of the house by 8 and awake long before then so they would not notice let alone care except for weekends.

waves

I am happy for you guys pammie. so happy that is working out for him...I am sure the neighbors will appreciate you going over there to explain.
good idea!
bizi