Sunday, March 14, 2010

Where Have I Been?

Thanks to Lacey who commented that I'd been kinda quiet on here. On what I did post, they were easy pics entries.

Seems like a lot is going on, but not much at the same time. Odd, I know.

-- I wrote earlier about passing a kidney stone in mid January and having a sinus infection at the end of that month. I noted that the kidney stone was rather small in comparison to the usual. In mid-February, I started passing a lot of blood again. After two weeks, I gave up straining my urine to catch it. I never did, and the blood has gone away.

However, I still have twangs of pain and a general feeling of malaise which could be the rest of the stone trying to come out.

-- I have decreased my Pristiq, with doctors supervision, from 100mg to 50mg. I've written before that this drug really affects me. When I was on Paxil, I could stop it and not feel the side effects for two weeks. Not so with Pristiq. If I miss a dose, I know the next day.

I have been tapering down for about a month. First 100s/50s alternating days, then 1 day 100, 2 days 50. Now I am at 50 every day. I could be going through some adjustments.

Last night I woke up with a hot flash and itchy legs. I haven't had itchy legs since I took a Percocet years ago for a kidney stone.

-- For those that don't read my Alzheimer's Moments blog, three people died in my Mom's assisted living facility in January. I didn't know them well, but you do get to be acquaintances when you visit all the time. I didn't feel sad, but it left me feeling empty.

It also reminded me anew of the plight my mother is in. It really is depressing, and then I jump to the fact that I'm likely to end up the same way, and I really get down in the dumps.

-- I've been in a bit of a creative slump. I haven't written anything on my book since the beginning of the year and the work on my photography has waned. The blog, which actually does take effort to do it right, just hasn't been speaking to me. I'm funny with creativity. If it doesn't call me, I have no motivation. But when it does, watch out...I can crank out 100 pages on the book in a two day span!

So that's my tale of woe. I hate to complain on here since it makes me sound like I'm always sick and take a lot of pills even though I'm pretty anti-medication. That's why I always try to reduce the anti-depressants when I can. I don't want to be on them if I don't need them.

To leave on a positive note, I'm planning trips to California and Utah at the moment. And I'm still threatening to visit other friends soon!

4 comments:

Jim said...

I know how you feel, I've been having health issues too and creative block for blogging too.

Gavin said...

Well, I wasn't too far off.

I was sitting here at the computer around noon and I started getting sharp pains at the end of my hoo hoo dilly (South Park for dick). That kidney stone pain.

I went in to the bathroom and got out the strainer. Lots of blood passing and a clot. I pressed the clot with some toilet tissue and found two stones. One about 1mm in diameter, the other about 2mm long but thin and sharp. The type where if you break a drinking glass, you have to wet your finger and press on it so it sticks so you can pick it up. Ouch! No wonder I've been grouchy!!!

Maybe this post caused the movement...I wish I'd written it about 2 weeks ago! :)

Mark H said...

WHEW! It hurts to just READ this story, Gavin! BUT...MOST importantly. YOU are going to Utah? Stopping in Utah? WHY? I used to live there for 10 years....I'll be very interested to know more about your trip.

Lacey said...

Didn't mean to pry. Funny/strange how we get attached to a total stranger, isn't it? And I hate it when a blogger just disappears. OMG!. Anyway, not that you asked for advice, but my experience with anti depressants is to not mess with the dosage too much, unless you're having unmanageable side effects. If you feel like it might be time to reduce the dosage, it probably means that the med is working as it should.