Wow - quite a story. i am glad you found a doctor who listened to you.
(i was kinda joking about the all in my head thing - in the sense that i really do have a chemical imbalance - or something - that causes the depression...)
but, in a similar vein, i have to say that i am thrilled that i had my tonsils out 2½ years ago - i'd wanted them out since i was about 14, i'd get strep or tonsillitis about 2 times a year (and i used to sing, but that ended) and i had lots of other throat problems too. Doctors always said, o that isn't necessary, we don't do tonsillectomies much now.
Finally, here in CT, it was SO bad - my throat was thick and yucky so much of the time, sometimes i wouldn't eat "hard" food for days. i saw a doctor who said, absolutely, but you will feel REALLY bad for a few weeks. Had the surgery - and, O YEAH i felt bad for a while, but i haven't had strep or tonsillitis since, and i don't have to suck on cough drops to go to sleep at night.
a happy ending!
desperately seeking encouragement...
yes that is a good ending ... glad that worked out for you.. amazing how we have to fight doctors sometimes
Cat, I didn't read anything bad about Dave's comment until you replied! I thought he was being nice by saying it was real - not "in her head".
That is what I thought, too - but I had to tease Dave. And I just like typing !s. Since Kassia isn't around much these days - I've put myself in charge of the over use of !s. (Someone has to do it!) :)
Yes, where is Kass these days?!!!!!!!!!!!! Hope her arm is okay!!!!!!!
i'll be leaving soon - hope to check in a few times over the next week.
thanks everybody for your encouragement and for sharing your stories!
amy
*
Have a great trip Amy, and be good to yourself!
Have a great time!
Hi Everyone!!!! I am still alive!!!!! Victor my arm is better! Thanks for asking! the past 2 snowstorms I took it easy. And yesterday my sister Christina gave me a present... she got someone to plow the driveway for me... (well I think she really wanted to go out of the house! )but in the end it really benefited me... I am grateful!
I am glad I read the entire thread... you guys are remarkable people... I feel encouraged!
Cat you are are doing a great job being in "charge" ~ love all the !!!!!!!!
Amy have a good time! I think changing the scenario usually helps??? any good books to read?
I have been looking at pictures of my garden and specially the roses... oh that's enough to encourage me and make me want spring! it will come again... and I will get to see you guys again... and that is what I am looking foward these days!!!!
when are we having our RU this year????
Amy after being in MA for 20+ years, I feel at home. It took a while! and sometimes I think I don't know some of my neigbors because I don't make the effort... A few of them are not open I realize that, and one of them loves to tell me what to do... :( I just ignore... lol... but some of them I give them tomatoes and always talk to him and his lovely wife... they are great people! I have been very fortunate because I have good friends in my church... and we do life together...
sometimes is hard for me because I am single and several of my friends are married... but I try to have single friends too so we do stuff together and I don't feel like there is something "wrong" with me! I push away anyone that keeps asking me "why don't you have a boyfriend???" when are you going to find a man!!!!" I laugh and tell people I don't have time... God, family, gardening and school is all I can take!
Amy I am glad you are open and you found DG... this is by far the best place I found... and I can't think of not having you guys in my life!
Ok, I have ordered more roses... If I start a rose thread would you guys post too????
Do we have to talk about roses on the thread?
NO we can talk about anything... I will post pic of roses you can post pic of cats and anything else pretty!!!
Well then, Kassia, go for it!
ok, I will start when I get home tonight!!!! I al fooling around at work!!!! so boring!!!
I'm with you Kass - I have no time for a man either!
SURE Victor, thats what ya say.. no time... but let a pretty WOMAN cross your path!!?? hehe
Pat
That's a 'cross' I must bear.
Edited to clear ambiguity!
This message was edited Jan 15, 2008 10:13 PM
You poor thing!
Pity party! Pity party! I'll bring the chips!
I'll bring the whine
I should have said 'bare'.
Victor, you are the king of puns!
GGGGRRRRRRR
Uh oh - did I upset Allison? Sorry!
I love puns...lol.... I have a book of puns... when I am sad I try to read it... and it works for me...
When I need a pick-me-up, I have a book of buns...
Hot cross?
Not picky.
CZJ buns, no doubt.
some whine with that cheese?
here we are in sunny CA.
in keeping with the turn this thread has taken, does anyone else think it is odd that there is a chain of "gentlemen's clubs" here called the Spearmint Rhino? i know i'm not the target audience, but..?
anyhow - off on a tour, and hopefully to find some good mexican food...
bye!
Have fun!
Just found the thread - Amy, I'm with you on the "winter blahs" being tough to handle on top of depression. I think those of us with Seasonal Affective Disorder who are also gardeners may have it doubly difficult. Mostly though, I wanted to let you know that my Mom had blepharatis and she found that standing in the shower and letting the hot water run on her face in the morning really helped her quite a bit. She also found that it ended up being and "off and on" type of thing for her, sometimes it would bother her (and always when her allergies kicked up) and sometimes she forgot she even had it.
I too had to give up contacts - when I started working more with computers. Someone did a study that showed people don't blink as regularly as they should when they are on a computer - go figure...and my eyes were just too dry. So, I just try to make sure they're big enough to fit my bifocal needs!
And for those days when it gets hard, reach out to Dave's Garden - as you've found, the people here are truly special. There are many times they've helped me, and not even realized it until I sent them a dmail or thanked them on a post. This is the most unique online community I've found, and I'm into "experiencing" my 50's, having successfully experienced my 30's and 40's :)
Have fun in California - they should have some great sunshine for you!!
Victor... bear... GGGRRRR.... no not upset.. TRYING to make a joke that failed
:)
have fun Amy... hope you are soaking in some of those warm rays for the rest of us freezing
Have fun Amy. If you understand the "Spearmint" part, please let me know.
Are these gents "minty fresh"?
Better than just plain old "fresh"!
Hi Amy,
Just wanted to let you know that when you run out of that expensive prescription eyelid wash there is a very inexpensive alternative. I used to work for a very well known eye surgeon in our area and his Rx for a wash was a warm washcloth suds up with plain old Johnson's Baby Shampoo. Remember the ad? "No more tears." Seemed to help a lot of people.
Don't ever let anyone let you think that a medical condition is "all in your head". I have worked in the medical field for 23 years. I have had migraines since I was 17 but the headaches were getting worse, to the point where I was not functional many days. My family physician kept dismissing me. I kept insisting something was different. His response was that my hair was too long! What, all of a sudden my neck has gotten so spindly that it can't support my hair? I've always had long hair. Finally, I went to my GYN doctor, he believed me and referred me to a neurologist. Following the headache diary the neurologist gave me, I was having 28 migraines a month! He believed me instantly and with epilepsy medication the headaches are much more under control.
Of course then the eye doctor found out that both of my corneas are degenerating. No way to treat that except for transplants after you pretty much go blind. Not good when you have a 6-year-old to take care of... I know how easy it is to get down-hearted, but I choose to live my life to the fullest and enjoy every moment that I can (and savor every beautiful bloom while I can see it). Know that you are in control of your life and not every doctor is always right. A second opinion never hurts. I too am a firm believer of that saying "that which doesn't break me makes me stronger." It always seems that when I start getting down and feeling like my plate is way too full, I am always shown someone who has a bigger, fuller plate to make mine seem insignificant. So chin up and know that we are all thinking about you.
Have you ever thought of volunteering somewhere? Last year I took care of my terminally ill mother and the people that I met associated with the organization that helped me get through it (hospice) where the nicest people you would ever want to meet and always looking for help. We are always looking for volunteers in the hospital. Doesn't always have to be direct contact with patients. There is lots of behind the scene work too. If you go to places where there are caring good open-hearted people, chances are you'll find nice people who are open to friendship.
Valarie
Amy - My father was also told to use a baby shampoo wash for his eyes. I forgot exactly what his problem was but his eyes were a mess and the wash seemed to relieve the irritation. I think he had infections and maybe even surgery of some sort. I had to help him with his eye drops and wash his eyes. Sorry I can't remember exactly what the diagnosis was but I would definitely check with the doctor about the cheaper baby shampoo alternative unless you have a good prescription plan. Eleanor
Valarie wow... I couldn't even imagine the migraines all the time... can't function ... must have been rough... I wish the best for your vision
Allison
Thank you Allison.
Valarie, my best wishes too.
Dave