I went back all the way to January 1, and could not find a post where I have talked about myself much this whole year. So, because May is my birthday month, I think I will take a little time to tell you what’s been going on with me in 2014.
In January, I went to the doctor for a checkup. Everything was fine, well at least as fine as it can get for me, except that my pain meds didn’t seem to be working as well as they had been when I first started taking them. My doctor decided to change my pain meds from hydrocodone to Percocet. She prescribed them for me to take one 10mg/375 tablet 4 times a day.
I took them as prescribed for exactly one day. The next day, I had to go to an appointment at another doctor, and while I was driving on the way home, I felt like I was floating away into the clouds. I have never been on a medication that made me afraid to drive before, and it really scared me. When I got home, I called the doctor and we discussed either cutting down the dosage or changing something so that I could be pain free while not being so high.
We decided that I would take 1/2 of a tablet 6 times a day, or every 4 hours. This is working out fine for me as far as keeping me pain free.
While I was at the first doctor appointment she also said to me “Karen, you are just too fat.” Now, I have had doctors tell me I needed to lose weight, they have said “You need to lose a few pounds” or “you need to try to lose weight”, but never has a doctor said it just like that to me. So, that day, I assessed my eating habits, and decided that maybe I did not need to eat a bowl of ice cream AND a bowl of cereal each night after dinner. I switched to eating a whole grapefruit every night, and I am proud to say that I have lost 31 pounds since January. Oh, and I also have been drinking a ton of water, at least 10 glasses a day, too.
In February, my psychiatrist (yes, I have one, but I mostly call her my shrink doctor or my crazy doctor), changed the dosage of my Cymbalta from 30 mg a day to 60 mg a day. When this is combined with my pain meds, it makes me sleep. A lot. I spend a good part of every day sleeping in my recliner. That is why some days you do not see a new post from me. This change has helped me a lot. I had been crying some days just for nothing, and having little private pity parties for myself, but since I am taking more of the anti-depressant I don’t have those things happen any more. I also have not had the thoughts about taking the whole bottle of pain medication at one time just so I could be pain free for day. (Which I was thinking about quite often before). So, just for the record, I do feel better in my head than I did before.
March went by quite quickly for me. There was really nothing going on, except that I decided to start a raised bed garden. That has taken a bit more time that I thought it would, mostly because I am so slow doing what I do, which is sitting on the front porch steps, using a kitchen spoon to put composted cow manure from the bag into pots so I can transplant the pretty plants I bought. I do a few a day, then rest for a couple of days. If these plants produce anything in the way of a crop for harvest it will be amazing, but it is giving me something entertaining to do, and a reason to go outside for a while, both of which are good for me.
Then April seemed like it was excessively busy, with something on the calendar almost every week day. Between my doctors appointments, Fabgrandpa’s appointments, an appointment for me at the Social Security office to apply for my retirement benefits, going to see an attorney to file bankruptcy, Easter at my Mother’s, and a party for my niece who was deployed to Afghanistan, we were going somewhere all the time. Even though we have known for some time that we would have to do the bankruptcy, it was still sad and generally disheartening to do it. The day the bank came to get the RV was the worst. I had not been in the trailer at all since we moved into the house, we no longer have a truck to pull it with, and I knew we would never be going anywhere in it again. But watching it being towed away by the bank was just so final. A sad day indeed.
So there ya go. To wrap it all up, I have lost weight, surrendered the trailer to the bank, filed bankruptcy, and planted a little garden. Some good things, some bad things. I really thought that losing weight would lessen my pain, but it hasn’t. It just seems to be worse, and in some new and different places along with the old places. But life goes on, doesn’t it? How has your year been?
geogypsy2u says
Such a lot of changes in life this year. Good for you to loose the weight. Maybe you could think of the bankruptcy as a fresh start. That’s what I tried to do.
Becca says
I agree with geogypsy about thinking of the bankruptcy as a fresh start. Sometimes perspective makes all the difference. Yes it sucks that it was necessary to do it, but focus instead on a future without that debt hanging over you.
Dianna says
Life has changes all of our lives. My year hasn’t been bad, but I have one little set back. I also need to lose weight, but like you there are some challenges with that, but I am going to take encouragement from your success and try a little harder. We are moving our RV to a new park later this month. A change like that usually helps me get more in the mood to do something new. I want to thank you for being so bold and sharing your life with us. Keep up the good work.
Sandy Cain says
Yikes! This year to date has been tough all around, it seems. But I’ll throw my hat in the ring with everyone else, and agree that bankruptcy IS a fresh start – you’ve put that part of the bad behind you, now it’s time to move ahead. As far as the weight loss goes – congrats! That’s a real accomplishment! Maybe it hasn’t lessened your pain (yet!), but it surely has improved your cardiovascular health, for sure. As far my year so far goes….could be better. My old mom spent all of March in the hospital, and though she is home now, she’s not doing well. Medicare will only cover a few more Visiting Nurse and PT visits, and will not cover a wheelchair. I am the caregiver for her and my disabled brother. I have assorted physical (and emotional) problems, too – Valium, Phenobarbitol, Dilantin, Vicodin, Zoloft, Buspar, Atelolol……just for a start. But you know what? It’s bloggers like YOU that keep me going! Without my blogging friends I’d have burnt out long ago. So let’s all support each other – we’re really sisters after all, just trying to make it day by day. (((((HUGS)))))
Karen Stroud Eidson says
Sandy, you just made cry! Because I have not really been blogging all that much because I have felt just useless. But, if I can write something that keeps you going, then that is what I need to continue to do. Thank you.
Sandy Cain says
No crying allowed! We are here to make each other smile, and lift each other’s spirits.You have felt “useless”??? No way, Karen! There are some of out here hanging on by an emotional thread. PLEASE do NOT underestimate the contribution you make. We are counting on you – really! (((((HUGS)))) sweet Karen!!! From your friend, Sandy
Agbeke says
wishing you good fortune for the rest of the year,
slehan says
That puts my life in good perspective. I’ve had an uninteresting year. Do you swim? I swim 3 times a week at a warm water pool and it helps my old joints.
slehan at juno dot com