hey it couldn't get any worse....

thanks,
lvoe and hugs,
Victoria

If you can tolerate the Zanaflex, I'd definitely say to try it if and when there's a next time- although hopefully there won't be. Or rather, try it if you know you're going to be home and able to "drool". I guess it goes to prove that all medications effect us all differently. I've been taking 2mg. during the day for years and it doesn't bother me at all- I'm able to drive, function,etc. but I also don't take it on an empty stomach because it probably would make me drowsy. I take 8 mg. at bedtime.

Do you think we all may just have some common elements going on here?? I have cervical probelms starting at C3 right down to the Thoracics, RSD Migraines. My Neurologist has me on 100mg of Topomax BID... sound like time maybe for a questioneer/Survey on how many, the area severity, longevity onset etc

HI All
Just wanted to say sorry for my really down posting the other day. I am a little better. I was having a tough time and just did not seem to be able to do anything right for anyone at home and the little fellow was playing up.

Sorry friends

Hx

OK, i assume you are referring to your post on the august check-in thread, is that right? i was going to thank you for that one, it resonated with me so much!!! that feeling of being fed up and i can't do anything right... god damn, i know it so well, Hx. in fact, i just went through something like that with my DD. oh! how i can relate!

so don't you dare apologize for anything. mark told me himself, in fact, that's exactly the purpose he had in mind when he started this thread way back when. we ALL need to vent every now and again. actually i think it is very important to let off steam, and to be able to do so among safe and supportive people is KEY.

the thing is, Hx, we all have so much to deal with (and you especially, it seems to me... it's why so many of us look up to you - i wonder if you even know how much?!?!), it doesn't take MUCH when a life situation arises for us to come to a boil. well, speaking for myself, that is. i am at the very least shall we say, "fully whelmed" at all times! so i am very easily overwhelmed when the slightest little bit of turmoil starts to broil.

this latest fallout with my daughter she says was "no big deal" to her . well, ya could've fooled me, Hx!!! my perception of it was so TOTALLY different. and i was a shivering wreck over it, all weekend !!! (isn't that the term you teabags use? - we say "nervous wreck" over here...).

and yes, needless to say i allowed all the drama to drive my pain levels sky high(er). then, i beat myself up for doing that on top of everything else...

the whole "self-flagellation without mercy" thing, the last fortress of the TOS'er!!!

so please don't feel like you owe anybody an apology. we're mighty, we can take it! (JK! what i mean is, we get it Hx... you are among friends. we understand. and it was NOT even a negative entry to begin with! you so crazy!!!) your post contained its usual uplifting message about tomorrow being better than today, like always. you are an absolute ray of light on here. i don't know how you are able to walk through what you have to bear with the humor, grace and wherewithal that you do sometimes and i always, always look forward to seeing your posts.

hey, i'm wondering if some of your meds might not be contributing to the nausea (as well as the pain itself). are your docs looking into that aspect? i saw that victoria threw up some good links for you the other day; might not be a bad idea to seek the consult of a fresh pair of eyes on the whole shebang. just a thought. i have them occasionally. very, very rarely, Hx, but nevertheless! there you go. or a good pharmacist might be able to shed some light. light is good!!!



alison
"Be Brave"

hey you know, i got told yesterday by two different people that "we aren't being negative today, now...you must have meant to say [insert positive version of my negative statement here]." And for sure, I was out trying to help myself, but frankly it is SOOOOO easy to get overwhelmed by this stupid maze of chiros, PT's, neuros, surgeons, etc etc etc.

i was pretty down on myself, it was a nice reminder that i don't really need to be.

truthfully, i think i have been trying too hard to keep the pain meds lower- and was havinga bit of a flare at the same time. Yesterday i took all my allotted breakthroughs on top of my slow release stuff- i was amazed at how much better i felt. I guess i didn't realize i had been hurting that bad... I think I (we all) need to do that every once in a while- I mean, it is good to keep a beat on your pain so you feel it some, and don't overdo. It is a such a fine line where your psyche just gets dragged down, though. Sometimes it is a good thing to have a day where you just decide you are going to knock it out entirely for a little while (within the bounds of your prescribed meds, of course). I feel REMARKABLY better after doing that yesterday, and i can deal with being back to the low level much much better today because of it.

Alison- of COURSE you take these things harder on you than your DD...that is once again the nature of kid-mom relationship. you are there to be the constant love, allowed to be abused a bit because you are safe. Take it as a complement, my dear, that she is comfortable enough with you to bite your head off once in a while. People she is worried about her relationship with do NOT get that treatment you know....it is a PRIVILEGE, dammit!!!! (too bad they didn't tell you how fun this was going to be beforehand.....right???)

so there is my cheery thought for today- be good to yourself and love yourself. Treat yourself well- meaning, do what is good for you even if it is hard, and be kind about whatever you can't do because it is all OK...you can only do whatever your capable of and sometimes it is precious little.

I just want to say thank you to all for all your advice. It may be specified to someone else but applies to what I am going through. I enjoyed the old site but I don't believe it was the same. I may be wrong, it has been so long since I had been on. As we all know, it is tough to live your "normal" life and deal with what we deal with. My kids are bombarding me with school shopping issues. I hate to shop. My husband doesn't believe me. He thinks all women love to shop It is a pain. I started a trend years ago that I take each child alone to the mall, buy their school clothes and take them to the restaurant of their choice:Was a great idea with 2 kids, now have 4 Luckily the little one doesn't know this yet but usually has to come with me with the others. Very time consuming and expensive.

You all seem to have such a great relationship together and I appreciate being let in. Thanks, Linda

Linda- you are so often on here sharing your own good attitude and it is equally appreciated. We are happy to have you

today I got a cortisone shot on my operative side, with the hope that it will give my left C8 nerve the kick in the pants that it needs to realize that the RIB IS GONE and it doesn't need to stay so flared anymore!!!!!!

Dr J says this is a pretty common thing, but I hadn't heard anyone talk about it before...I'll let you all know in a few days if it works.

xoxo and goodnight to you all...off to beddie bye for me.

Johanna

Sometimes I feel I post too much but it is so nice to "talk" with people who understand.

MarkHaven't heard from you lately. I hope you are doing ok and Goober is leaving.

Today I.... had friends who I grew up with for lunch. I don't do stuff like this often because, as you know, it's hard. When my mother was pregnant with me, our house was being built in a new neighborhood. My mom went to check out contruction and a neighbor came out to tell her that President Kennedy had been shot. They have been best friends since, and her daughter has been mine. We all had lunch today which we do 2 times a year since all kids are grown and moved. But it was fun. Watching my kids and hers playing and reminiscing of all the stuff we did years ago.

Today I... will probably through something at my 15 year old son because he is driving me crazy!!! I grew up with sisters and don't know what to do with him. My husband thinks its funny! I have already had to repair walls from him, re-paint rooms, and trying to keep my sanity. Sending him to Catholic School next year. PRAY for me that it helps! Linda

I'm pretty sure that my mom wanted to get rid of me when I was 15.... to say we didn't get along would be a gross understatement. the tough thing is, I'm not sure what can be done about it! I'm sorry though