Friday June 20th Weekend Check-In Thread
 

Since we didn't have one yet I figured I'd go ahead and make it again. Hope everyone's gearing up for a good weekend. We have a four hour round trip tomorrow on top of the reception and memorial service. I hope it goes well, I am worried about how Jackie is going to act, I will probably have to miss the service and take the lil guy in a room and sit there in the church during the service unless by some chance he'll sit quietly and listen. Chances of that are slim to none in my mind but as this was Jack's grandfather it's important he be there and listening, I don't mind helping to make that happen. :)

I went to a thrift store today to get some shoes and they had the perfect low heeled pair sitting out front in their Friday Freebie box! I was tickeled pink! well the shows are dark navy blue, almost black and I feel good about that, Jackie has hemmed pants now (since I finished hemming them about 20 minutes ago) and both of their dress shirts are pressed. I hope I can sleep good tonight, been using the cpap and sleeping much better. Wish us luck tomorrow on getting through the ordeal, I hope we get home by nine, the service is at 2 pm and who knows how long it will be. :)

Shoes!
 

I love getting new shoes!
But I haven't needed to buy any in years because I wear Birkenstocks and they last forever.

If I have to go somewhere where I need dressy shoes, I stay home. lol


I hope you have a good safe uneventful trip.
These family funerals can be hard. But sometimes it feels important to be together for these events too.

That's great about the Cpap and sleeping.

Mari

My weekend started on a so-so note.


I'm home alone this weekend and as much as I enjoy having the house to myself most of the time.... I don't know that this is a good time to be alone.


Guess I'll just hold my breath and do the best I can.


I hope everyone has a good weekend.

:Crowded:<-----this is how I feel and I'm the only one here.

Abbie

It is great to be sleeping better too. Just had to share that too. :)

THere are folks here you can chat with if you feel like it.
I will also check in with you abbie.....
Do you have a garden to work in?
What hobbies do you have?
Any pets?
I am sorry do you have a hubby and kiddos?
they are away this weekend?
bizi

No garden... I can't handle being in the sun too long.

My hobbies were of the active type---rollerblading, running, martial arts.... I haven't found any new ones that I can really do--my hands cramp up to a fist quite often.

No pets.... not allowed to have any while I'm living here.

Not married and have no kids.

I live at my parents since I am unable to work and they are gone for the weekend.... Normally I love it when they are gone.

My last real life friend decided she can't handle what I am going through...she said she's tired and just can't be there for me any longer.

My therapist wants me to journal my feelings...but when I try... I can't stop crying. So I have about a fourth of a page written and stopped.

I've learned this week that it truly is a lonely world when you really are alone.

Abbie

Dear Abbie,
I am sorry...journaling can do that to you.
Crying can be very cathartic...they say...I don't cry much myself....Maybe I should try to do that.
May I ask why your hands make fists?
ARe you able to go for walks?
or join a gym for therapy and to meet people...not be so isolated.
any neighbors who could use a dog walker?
Have you ever heard of pet sitters/walkers.
WE use a gal who works down the street from us as a groomer. She checks in on our cats while we are on vacation. She comes 3 times a week.
anyway.
Thinking of you sweetie....
(((((HUGS))))
bizi

Bizi,
I have full body Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy. With daily pain levels in the 9-10 range.

My hands cramp up due to the RSD... I'm not exactly sure what causes it to happen. I have numerous muscle spasms and major muscle cramps daily.

I unfortunately can not walk very far either.... each step feels as though I am walking across sharp pieces of glass that have been lit on fire. Actually that is how my whole body feels when touched by clothing, a gentle breeze, the touch from someone else, rain drops, showers,... anything that touches my body in any way.

I don't go to the mall or shopping as I am dreadfully fearful of being bumped. Panic attacks also make getting out impossible frequently.

Well... that's a little 'bout me in a nutshell....
I've probably shared more than I should have.... I'm sorry.

Abbie

I'm here. I'm on two new medications. I feel a little different. It doesn't feel all that good. My concentration is broken,at times. I was trying to talk to some people today,and I could not remember what I wanted to say. I was disoriented. Blah. It might be a adjustment period. If not,I can take something else. Abilify is to expensive anyway. Is anyone else trying Abilify? Brokenfriend

oh abbie,
I am glad that you did share.
I did not know how you suffered with this.
Pain scales in the 9-10 is jsut awful control.
I wish you had better relief.
thank you for sharing.
ARe warm baths helpful at all?
((((HUGS))))
bizi

hi broken friend,
I jsut saw your note....what new meds? you said abilify too.

I never tried abilify before so I don't have experience with that one.
They say it takes a while to get into our systems so we have to be patient.
do you have prescription coverage?
Lithium is the original mood stabilizer...they are using a lot of lamictal as a mood stabilizer...I take this and like it a lot.
I wish you some wellness.
WE watched the daniel day lewis movie, there will be blood....it was very good, he was terrific. 3 hours long....I should be very tired since I did not sleep last night....am yawning so that is a good sign.
bizi

Hello Bizi. I don't have insurance. I'm taking the doctors samples,to see if it helps. The other new medicine that I'm taking is Kolonipin. Brokenfriend

Dear Abasaki,
Do you have good drs who help you with the pain and other issues?
Maybe while you have lots of space you can find something to appreciate that you don't usually have a chance to do.
If you can't go for walks can you sit out side when the sun is low and the weather is good? Is there something you like?

Maybe when you can't journal too much you can draw pictures or write a poem or words from a song. -- just some ideas.
Your fourth of a page sounds like you made a good effort.

Dear Brokenfriend,
The Klonopin can mess up your memory a little, but I think you prob have a small dose. I know that being anxious and depressed can mess up memory too.
Pamster takes Abilify. She is on a trip today.

Dear Bizi,
What's up for your weekend?


Mari

My Psychiatrist has helped me over 20 years. Before him I had another one. Before that one I had another one. This goes back to the early 70's. My current psychiatrist helps me a little.

I now have a Nurse Practitioner helping me also.

I don't get any real therapy right now,and moving close to my sister was good at first,but recently it's been a emotionally poisonous experience.

I'm a much better person then what she's made me sound like. I forgive her. It's probably her MS. I have to make sure that I don't identify with what she makes me sound like.

After all these years,and all the progress,my sister is smothering the results of this help,in a few years,and she doesn't even really know it. It must be the MS,and I forgive her.

I need to pull myself up,get on the right medicine,and re-evaluate my circumstances. I've been through to much to feel of no value suddenly. I know that when I put my mind to it,I can achieve interesting things. Brokenfriend

Good plan Brokenfriend.

Abby pain levels of 9 and 10 are very hard to deal with all the time. I hope they come up with some kind of medicine that can help you. I know exactly how it feels. I have been dealing with that too.

I'm getting ready to have another neck surgery on july 2nd, and we will see if that helps at all. But it also is interesting he put me on neurotin and imitrex to try and elevate some of the pain in the head and some of the overall pain in the muscles and things. I'm really hoping that if the neurotin turns out to
work I can continue on it, it seems to be showing a promising so far, and its not been long yet. So I'm very pleased.

I am really not sure what to expected from the surgery coming up but I'll try anything to get over some of this pain in the daily life of mine.

Hoping all are having a good weekend.

Donna

Hi Dmom: I am sorry to hear you are dealing with such pain and also have an upcoming surgery. I truly wish you the best possible outcome and you have no pain after.... at the very least a much much reduced pain level.

As for me... not much they can do for my pain levels with medicine. We have tried every possible pain killer out there... I believe. I've had major adverse allergic reactions to every one that we've tried. They have my charts marked in the brightest of colors... NO OPIATES or NARCOTIC PAIN KILLERS.

I do see a Chiropractor/Acupunturist as often as I need to.... These drop my pain levels sometimes to 5-6 level but this doesn't last more than a couple of hours when it drops that far. Mostly it drops to about an 8 and last for about 4 to 6 hours. I'm thankful for any pain relief that I do get.

Hi BROKENFRIEND: I wish I had words to help... I just want you to know that I do read your posts and I care... and send you gentle hugs. :hug:

Hi MARI: I do sometimes sit on the deck when the sun isn't blazing down. I was able to write about a page and a half in my journal today. I also took a little drive to listen to the radio and I looked at the beautiful storm clouds that were passing high overhead. I wished I had a camera they were truly amazing.

Hi BIZI: I do enjoy a warm bath... but I have to remember to check the temp of the water before stepping in... I have burnt myself numerous times as I am no longer able to say if something is too hot... I just feel pain... Hot feels the same as Ice to me...painful.

I hope everyone's weekend is going well... mine is going pretty ok.
:hug:
Abbie

We had a very nice day today.
Spontanious too!
I slept like a log last night too long...up at noon.
Took a 2 hour drive out of town to a small town called st.francisville. North of baton rouge. Beautiful homes along the river which seemed more like a lake
Had to take a car ferry to get across.
Stopped at a bed and breakfast to have a beer and sat in their court yard, it was so pleasant....
Old historical homes plantations and antique shops.
Had a fabulous meal at a place called club south of the border jsut before mississippi. Wonderful mahi mahi with lump crab, asparagus, cheesy potatoes augratin, mustard greens.
fantastic meal....very fattening...my gall bladder is giving me fits now.
We took a "haunted" tour of the Myrtles which is a plantation home.
What fun! Loved hearing the ghost stories...Oprah did a segment about the place.
WE will be coming back this way again as we are excited about going to Clark Creek Natural area in mississippi, tunica falls. hiking bird watching and water falls...sounds like a great time....maybe we will make that trip in the fall.
well I had better sign off.it is getting late.
bizi

Just wanted to buzz in to check in....

I made it through the weekend ok....

I managed to read a good book.... Sunday's at Tiffany's by James Patterson.

I am also on page 10 of my Journal.... I've decided to do it on my computer as typing is often easier on my fingers than using pen and paper. It's going ok so far.... I've been working through the tears and writing what I am feeling as I am crying. I have found that the tears pass and writing down my thoughts become a little easier if I write this way.

Hope everyone has a good week....
Talk to you all soon,
:hug: for all!
Abbie

Dear abbie,
thinking of you....glad that you are finding a good way to get some of your feelings down, computer is much easier for me as well.
Tears are good...glad that you read a good book.
thanks for checking in.
((((HUGS)))) gentle ones:o
bizi