Listening to the Voices in my Head

A pinch of this, a shake of that. The recipe for the Chemical Experiment that is my life

Dr F, after questioning and discussion, has changed my prescriptions and dosage.  She commended me about my ‘self-weaning’ from 6 lorazepam a day (two tablets, 3 times a day) to three tablets a day, to two.  She asked me to continue reduction by .5 (IOWs cut pills in half, and have one and a half tablets a day.  Then one cut in half per day. She did tell me if I start having the dystonic seizures at any reduction, increase dosage to previous reduction.

So, along with the above, I take Lyrica and duloxetine for nerve pain, Naproxen for acute arthritis pain, Metformin for hypothyroid related issues, Thyroxine and Tertroxin for thyroid function.

The new chemical in the mix: Prazosin.

Prazosin is prescribed "off label" to treat the severe nightmares and other sleep disturbances related to PTSD, meaning that it has not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for that use. But doctors can legally prescribe any treatment they deem appropriate for a patient's condition. Prazosin is the most thoroughly studied drug in regard to PTSD and sleep among the class of medications known as alpha-1 blockers. In addition to preventing nightmares and insomnia, it can help improve overall symptoms, such as flashbacks, startle response, and irritability or anger, and it can be taken with an antidepressant.

I am hoping that the changes will improve things. Note I didn’t type “fix things” or make it all better?  I want an improvement.

Stay tuned!

Let's see what happens, shall we?

Although wearing the leg/knee brace does make it easier to get around, sort of, the muscles in the leg get weak, as the brace is doing all the work.

Today, I went for short sortie into the local mall, using just my cane.  I meandered in one of the stores, picking up a few things, for about 20 minutes. I will admit, I was ready to collapse into a chair when we got back. Left leg isn't too sore, but feels very weak.

Oh yeah, I get to do it again tomorrow! Might end  up using the cuff crutches, as tomorrow's usual routine include more than a hour worth of walking.

Rest of my left side still stiff and sore from the fall I took a few days ago.

Yup... gravity does work. Even in the southern hemisphere.

I was getting ready for bed. While removing leggings, I lost balance and started to fall. I put right hand on too soft of a bed (at least it slowed my downward momentum) and I landed on my (wait for it) left knee, elbow and shoulder.

I swear, everything from my eyebrows down hurts. I am in category "Bruised, not broken"

I really need a bathtub or a hot tub. But that isn't going of happen.

Where to start

Just when I thought it was safe to go into the water...  I woke up one morning with zero nerve pain. I had two glorious days of being able to walk as close to normal as normal can be.   Then, the cold, rainy, damp weather arrived. Now, I don't have nerve pain, but I do have arthritis. My knee sounds like broken glass and Rice Krispies grinding together.  Can we say ow?  I hate taking that first step after walking up in the morning. It's a gamble on how much it's going to hurt.  Let's just say results may vary.  I use a cane walking around, and that fekking knee brace if I'm going out and about to stop side to side movement.

We adopted to former stray kittens from Perth Rescue Angels. They had been dumped off behind a senior living center, and bless them, they made sure the little mites were fed, but they didn't have human socialization. They stayed 3 months with a foster carers, Jodi and David. With lots of patients, and creamy treats, they knocked most of the rough edges from the little moggies, Drax and Groot.  We've had them for 5 months, and they are becoming two of the most loveydovey furbabies.

Drax on the left, Groo-bear on the right.

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Onward

 Wing and I celebrated our 21st wedding anniversary.  Pretty good since someone he introduced me to said it wouldn't last a year. Technically they were right. It was a year and 20.  On an aside, they've been divorced a few years now.

Loki gave us a scare. Turn out he is asthmatic, a seasonal asthmatic. And like me, he uses an inhaler. But unlike me, we have to hold a small mask over his muzzle until he takes 10 breaths.  Have to say, he fought us about it, but no more bronchial coughing. Vets have all said for a 14 going on 15 yr old cat, he is in amazing condition. Ears, eyes, teeth, lungs, heart, body condition of a 10 yr old cat.

I'm still seeing a counselor. Oh yeah, 'Holiday Season' coming up. oh yay.