yeah!!! congratulations!
8 months and one week to be precise!:D
You are doing so well.
bizi
Sorry about your hubby's back, men can be so stubborn....

congratulations and so sorry about your husband
bobby

My husband's so funny… I could never get him to use the heating pad before and now he's so attached to it. He's already killed one. He didn't use it at all yesterday, a good sign his back is feeling better for the time being.

I've been feeling a little sedated in the morning and I've been double checking that I haven't been taking my nighttime pills by accident again. I thought it was the allegra, but I stopped that and I realized yesterday it has to be the increase in amantadine. Drowsiness is a side effect. I did experience that for a day or two when I started taking 50mg, but I've been taking 100mg since Tuesday and it's still happening… I'm going for the opposite effect. I have no idea how long I should let this go on… I don't know how long it's going to take my body to get used to the sedative effect of this med, never mind how long it will take for it to give me energy- if it ever will. I see my pdoc today and will ask for her input.

I only bought a box of 5 pills of Allegra because I planned on only taking them until my cough cleared up. Well, it cleared up but came back when I stopped taking it. So, I guess that's another pill I'm stuck taking lol. I'm on a lot of scripts, thank God I have good insurance, but the OTC stuff is SO expensive! Because of brand preference, I buy my B12 and D3 online already and I think I'm going to see if I can save money getting some of this OTC **** online, too. It really adds up.

This medication causes drowsiness but is supposed to give you energy at the same time?:confused:
bizi

The allergy meds all zap my energy and make me tired.

Donna :hug::grouphug:

Amantadine can cause drowsiness. The effect wore off fast for me when I started taking the 50mg dose. It takes time for it to help anyone with MS fatigue (sometimes months), and I didn't notice any difference for a couple of weeks when I first started taking it, but a week is a long time for the sedative effect to last… I feel drugged for a little while… and I already face such a huge problem with fatigue and don't need that.

I usually wake up at 6am, but don't take my pills until 8 because of the rare occasion when I wake up later. My pdoc suggested I take my pills earlier and try taking the amantadine a couple of hours after that because combining it with seroquel could be causing the sedative effect. If that doesn't work, I'll go back to taking 50mg in the am, and try taking the bigger 100mg in the afternoon when I really need it and it's less likely to be influenced by other meds.

I had zero mental health complaints for my pdoc at our appointment yesterday :) I'm feeling very good :) And I don't have to see her for another six weeks :)
She was upset that nobody from the office got back to me when I called to ask what to do when I took my nighttime meds by accident, and said if something like that ever happens again to go straight to paging the on-call doctor.

We just lit the last candle I made so it's about time for me to make more. I might order more supplies so I can vary them or make a bigger batch so I probably won't get to making any candles until next week, but I'm looking forward to it :)

Thanks kay. This sounds like a good plan, I like your doctor.:)
bizi

I absolutely LOVE my pdoc! I really don't know where I would be if she wasn't such a great pdoc, and having such a good, close relationship with her has really made all the difference in my case.

I only took 50mg of amantadine in the am yesterday. I wasn't in the mood to feel like a zombie. I can't keep doing that though. I can't give it a fair trial if I keep skipping it because I'll never get used to that sedative effect that way. I took 100mg in the afternoon though and tolerated it well. I didn't take a nap I didn't fall to pieces.

Last time I made candles, I had trouble with how the tops cooled, so I had to melt more wax (with scent and dye) and pour it over the tops after they cooled so they looked pretty. It was a pain in the ***. Yesterday, I ordered a new wax that's not supposed to require topping off like that. I also ordered a new variety of sandalwood fragrance that I hope my husband will like better, and some dye so my candles will be pink instead of blue this time. They ship so fast! Everything will be here by tomorrow. Unfortunately, the shipping is expensive because of weight.
Both times I've made candles I've done it by myself, but I wonder if it's something my husband would like to do with me this weekend? I don't know if he's cut out for it though… it's slow work and hes' pretty impatient.

You could casually ask him....
He may be up to it, never know until you ask and maybe suggest or give him an out like maybe next time? So he can think about it.
bizi

Another thought ask him. If he wants to help, and then needs to not help
anymore. That would be okay right. Or maybe if a specific part is
harder, or heavier then he helps with that.

Donna :hug::grouphug:

I asked him yesterday if he would be interested in making the candles with me, but he turned me down and said it was my thing… no interest at all. It's okay though. I do spend A LOT of time alone and it is a good way to pass the time. And it is probably for the best. I have OCD and like a lot of things "just so," so I doubt it's the kind of thing I could play nice with others anyway.

I hope today turns out better than it started… I woke up to find my darling husband left me with a clogged toilet and one of my precious cats left me with a huge pile of puke in the living room…
The plan is to stay at home and wait for my candle supplies to arrive. Hopefully I can't get into too much trouble doing that.

I would not like those 2 things to attend to, in the morning no less!
I hope your candles arrive today.:)
((((HUGS))))
bizi

Yesterday turned out okay with one exception… when I woke up from my nap and was getting out of bed, I put one foot on the floor directly in another pile of cat puke. lol. Gross. lol.

I called drunk.org yesterday to check on the status of my case. The girl I spoke to said my file was on the list for completion, so if I call back on Monday they will probably be able to tell me it's done. However, she also said my case manager (who doesn't work Fridays) had a long list of files to complete. So, we'll see…
Even the prospect that it might be completed Monday is exciting though. It means I'm close to getting my license back. Drunk.org will fax my completion report to the NH DMV when it's done, so I'll be able to request that letter I need to take to the MA DMV the same day they do that and then the ball will start rolling.

I have GI problems that have been ongoing, but have been worsening lately. It's nothing serious. I was going to go to the club today, but I'm not feeling well. I have an old follow-up appointment with my PCP scheduled for next week that I was going to cancel, but I guess I'm going to have to keep it. Another ****ing appointment, probably a referral to another ****ing doctor…

hope you feel better soon and all the paper work happens faster than fast

bobby

nothing worse than stepping into cat vomit....
been there done that.
Man I hope your paper work gets completely timely for your sake.
all of the stress may be contributing to your gi issues. hope you get some answers or relief soon.
bizi
((((HUGS))))
bizi

The GI issues are from all the meds. All the doctors are going to do is throw more meds at it. I felt terrible yesterday, but I woke up feeling okay today.

It was 72 degrees yesterday, and we may get snow tonight. We will get some snow Sunday and Monday… crazy.

it is so awful to feel awful. glad you are feeling better. take care
bobby

My stomach feels fine today :)
The appointment with my PCP is scheduled for Thursday. I hope I continue to feel better on the meds I'm already on so I can avoid having to go to it.

I went back to taking 50mg of amantadine in the morning. I was not adjusting to the 100mg dose. I am taking the 100mgin the afternoon and it's not sedating, but the jury's still out on whether or not it's actually helping with the fatigue.

Friday was 72 degrees. When it woke up this morning it was 31 and snowing. I was planning on going to the club tomorrow, but we're expecting another 3-5". It will be a good day to make candles.

that is crazy kay!
it's April for crying out loud!
bizi

It got sunny yesterday and started melting the snow. It was a nice day aside from the 20-25 mph winds and 40-45 mph gusts…
We went out to run errands and when when we got home, the wind blew my car door open into the car next to us when I was trying to get out. I feel just terrible :(
I left a note with my phone number and apartment number asking the person to call me, but they seldom move their car, so I may call the leasing office and ask them to call the owner to notify them.
There is a light whitish mark on their drivers side door, but there is no dent. The damage is minimal and there's a 99% chance it just needs to be buffed out, but I did still damage their car. I took pictures. It's better to be safe than sorry.

I hope the owner will agree to let us pay cash for the repairs. Our insurance is already going to go through the roof once I start driving again because of my DUI, so going through insurance is the worst case scenario. If they give us an estimate, I will pay them in cash the next day (same day if it's early enough) as long as they sign as receipt saying we payed for the repairs in full. I don't even really care if it's a written estimate or not as long as it's fairly reasonable.

My husband was already in a bad mood yesterday. He didn't lose his temper, but he was not a happy camper. He said it's just another day "living here." In other words, it's just another day living with me… and I'm nothing but trouble. I feel horrible.

Depending on how expensive these repairs are, I may have to delay getting my license back by a month or more. After the NH DMV sends me the letter and I take it to the MA DMV, I only have 30 days go to get insurance and I will have to put down 20% of the cost of the policy at that time and it will be a lot of money. I don't know when we'll be able to afford it if the repairs are expensive.

This whole thing has me so worked up. I really ****ed up bad. I feel just awful. I'm not looking forward to this phone call. It's 7am and I've already taken a full mg of klonopin… very unusual for me lately. Things were going really well, but the funny thing about anxiety is it only takes one thing to make everything else look like a ****ing catastrophe.

oh kay, It sounds like minimal damage sweetie. Like you said it might just take a buffing out. I had that done to my whole car one year because of small superficial scratches, cost $100. about 2 years ago, backing up I hit my friends car and put a bunch of my red paint on his car. when it was said and done his car was fine the guy hand buffed it out and no permant damage to his car, it scraped paint off of my bumper but he touched it up with paint it took a total of 10 minutes and he charged me $40.
Please don't feel badly it was an act of nature, not your fault.
(((((HUGS)))))
bizi

a feebly i am sorry. maybe it won't go that bad.
bobby

Thank you Bizi :hug: I hope it's not a costly repair. I hope this lady doesn't try to screw me over because I don't want to go through insurance. I hope she agrees to let us pay her directly!!!

We got 5" of snow yesterday so there's no way my note survived. I decided it was a good idea to call the apartment leasing office yesterday and have them contact the vehicle's owner for me. I hope they followed through. She may not have noticed the damage right away on her own, and my husband thinks the snow may have washed away the white spot, but I doubt it. I didn't get a call yesterday. I figured I'd get a call right away. I want to get it over with… not that I'm looking forward to it. 1mg klonopin… considering another 1/2.

My husband cleaned most of the snow off the car before he left for work this morning, but I'll have to move it for the plow when it comes. I don't like the idea of doing it in case the subject of me not having a license somehow comes up because of my accident with the car door. The saw a woman clean off and move the car I hit earlier this morning.

Drunk.org completed my file. That ordeal is finally over with!!! :)
I'm going to call the NH DMV and ask them to send me the letter I need to take to the MA DMV so I can get insurance. I may sit on it and wait to request my driving record (which is time sensitive) until I know how much my little accident cost me.

I made 3 candles yesterday. Making them was just what I needed to do to relax. I did more research this time before making them. I can't be entirely sure until I actually burn one, but I'm pretty certain this is my best batch yet!!! I didn't face any challenges. The new wax really is a one pour wax. They cooled perfectly without having to top them off. They're a pretty shade of pink this time and they hold so much fragrance they smell heavily of sandalwood without being burned just like a Yankee Candle. They were fun to make, and when they come out so well it's very rewarding :):):)

No club for me today because I had to be here to move the car so it won't be towed. I will be shooting for tomorrow I guess unless something else comes up.

so happy about your candles being perfect!

bizi

Glad to hear that you are enjoying the candles.
Making handcrafts has important rewards.

M

I still haven't heard from the owner of that car and it has me concerned that the leasing office never notified her and I don't know if I should make another attempt to contact her. My husband said I should just drop it even though he thinks there's a possibility the office never called her.
He doesn't want to hear anything about it. He has no understanding or patience for my anxiety disorder. I'm so worried about this and fixated on it. I was handling my anxiety so well…
She parked her car next to ours again, so it will be easier to to try to get a look at it at to see if the damage is still there. I will give it a couple more days, but if the damage is still there, I will have to leave another note because my conscience won't allow me to drop the issue no matter what my husband says.


I've decided the damage will not break the bank (thank you Bizi) and no matter how concerned I am about the above issue, I'm not going to let it interfere with my quest to get my license back. Yesterday I requested the stuff I need. I will be ready to go to the MA DMV and get the auto insurance out of the way as soon as I receive my driving record in the mail.
Last night there was a spat over how I'm going to get to the MA DMV because the cab fare to the nearest branch with a hearings office is $50 one way. I don't want to get into it, but my husband can be an inflexible pain in the ***. I will be happy when I'm less dependent on him and can spread my wings a little.

I'm going to the club today. It will be good to get out. I'm skipping the morning meeting. I've been to one already and I'm certain I'm not missing out on anything. Buddy has been snuggled on my lap purring his little fanny off for over half and hour and that's not exactly helping to motivate me to get in the shower… very relaxing.

I grew some stones and went outside to check out her car. The spot is gone unless it's covered by salt, but that doesn't appear to be the case. I wonder if the mark was made by salt from my car? Apparently my husband was right and the snow did the job. Cheapest car accident I've ever heard of. From what I can tell, case closed. :):):)

oh kay so happy to hear this! Glad that you are going tothe club. I wish there was that sort of club in my city.
bizi

That's a relief about the car!

M

There are similar clubs all over the world. I can ask the director, Elaine, if there is one in Lafayette. I will also ask her where they are in NY in case Bobby is interested.

I had a lovely day yesterday with a lady my age named Stephanie. She's disabled for physical and psych reasons, but is high functioning when stable like me. There was no lack of conversation because we're both very chatty, and she also smokes. We did the lunch tickets together.

I had lunch there for the first time yesterday. I got a salad and a cup of potato kale and chorizo soup for $2.25. It was excellent!

Elaine somehow convinced me to stay for the club meeting after lunch. There were about 15 people there. The initial business was very interesting. Elaine discussed relationships with two different organizations that lobby for clubs like ours to get funding and resources. That was followed with seemingly innocuous fluff. Stephanie was outspoken no matter what the subject was, and all her comments elicited responses from a woman named Rose. Things got out of hand and more people got into the fray… the situation being difficult because everyone in the room, aside from staff, was mentally ill, including me.
I barely know these people and didn't know what they were fighting about so I just felt bad for all the people who were upset. I honestly couldn't tell why some people were upset and I'm not sure they knew either. But I don't deal with conflict well and had to leave the room pretty quickly before I had an anxiety attack. I'm really surprised I was the only one. They took a break a couple of minutes later and everyone was fine except Stephanie who was very upset and left before I could talk to her one on one. I feel bad about that.

I'm going to see my PCP today about my GI issues. I don't think there's anything else he can do to help me. I really hate the thought of adding another doctor, but I think I'm at the point now that I really need to see a gastroenterologist. I can't go on like this.

man! the meeting sounded intense!
sorry you did not get to talk with stephanie too.
soup sounded very good!
bizi

thank you
bobby

I saw my PCP on Thursday. He increased one of the prescription meds and recommended adding another OTC… that makes 5 meds for my GI problems now. He ordered a whole bunch of plain X-Rays (I already had them done) that I imagine will be useless and is referring me to a gastroenterologist. My appointment isn't until May 12th, but the receptionist said that they will review the notes from my PCP and give me an earlier appointment if they think I need it. If my PCP documented everything we discussed, that's what will happen. Everything I eat makes me sick. I would stop eating, but taking the meds on an empty stomach would make me sick.

I wake up around 6am every morning without an alarm. If I stay up really late I may wake up as late as 8, but never later than that. Yesterday I slept until 1pm!!! I can't remember the last time I slept that late!!! I don't know why… I have been feeling terrible because of my GI issues, but am otherwise fine. At any rate, it didn't interfere with my sleep last night. I went to bed at 10pm and woke up this morning at 6:30 so I'm right back on track.

The letter I needed from the NH DMV got here Thursday. I'm just waiting on my driving record now. I'm sure my request is at the DMV by now, so I should have it in 7-10 business days. My husband's going to take me to the MA DMV a week after I get it. I plan on going straight to my insurance agent from there. So, I could be finished with part 1 in as early as 2 weeks! I'm very excited! :)

how much do you think nerves or anxiety are contributing to your distress or can't you tell? you have been under so much stress and must have cabin fever on top of it all.
bobby

You are right about the stress, and especially the cabin fever, Bobby. I wish this had something to do with anxiety, but unfortunately it doesn't.
It's MS and the meds, and possibly something else. My digestive system is not working right… I can't go to the bathroom, I can't bend over or burp without throwing up in my mouth, and the abdominal pain is constant despite all the meds. That's why I don't want to eat…

no joke but how about bananas? or mashed potatoes or yams
bobby

Kay,

I hope that the gastro doc can help.

DO you have a special fun outing planned for when you get driving privileges?
A way to celebrate?

M

oh kay, I am sorry you are having these awful gi symptoms. I hate throwing up....
((((HUGS)))))
bizi

I have been eating regular food, but a lot less of it. I don't know why I never thought of of changing my diet Bobby lol. My doctor didn't suggest it either. Thank you :hug: I will try eating some plain white rice for lunch today to see if it's easier on my stomach. I have cut way back on the coffee but can't eliminate it. I need it to function. But as usual, I drink lots of water all day, but even that comes back up on me.

I haven't made any plans for when I start driving again. Because I haven't driven in over a year, I'm going to be nervous at first, and will have to drive with my husband the first couple of times. I have a feeling he's going to give me a hard time about driving alone and I'm going to have to fight for my freedom.

bananas are easy to digest too.
If water is coming up then you have a serious problem.:(
tell me when You are seeing the gastro guy/gal?
just read, may 12th that is a long way away. Maybe they will see you sooner.
I am sorry that you are having these gi problems....
((((HUGS))))
bizi