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JANUARY 2022 Chitchat

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    Yes, caprese sandwiches or even caprese pasta salad is really delicious. I'm really looking forward to our community hydroponic veggie garden, I can be more flexible when I have easy access to tomatoes, lettuce and possibly herbs.

    I agree, covid is almost ubiquitous, so, if you don't want to have a bad outcome or take any risks, we really must vaccinate everyone as quickly as possible and ensure everyone is wearing proper masks. The next variant may be even more lethal and transmissible, and hospitals may be completely unable to keep up, especially with all the young children or those unable to be vaccinated. It may well be on the order of ebola in lethality, and we will have ghost town with a few hazmat clad workers trying to keep order and working to get the basics to people.

    Sunshine, I'm thinking of you. renee too. Jendi, Dar, sending my good wishes to you both as well. ANN too. Virginia, I hope you continue to improve! Have a good week, everyone!
    Please Note that my posts may have been arbitrarily altered by a Moderator and may not reflect my original content.

    Per Mike Weins: "...the admin/mod team doesn't have to provide a forewarning/warning/mention about altering a members post. It doesn't matter if they fix a link, remove a link, fix a typo, or whatever...."

    Comment


      I've been taking an OTC sleep aide for years. I take it 10 minutes before bedtime. I drift off and dream like crazy. They are mostly pleasant dreams, even if I watch paranormal movies before bedtime, and I do quite often, it never affects my dreams. I think nightmares are a childhood thing.
      "Given the millions of billions of Earth-like planets, life elsewhere in the Universe without a doubt, does exist."

      Albert Einstein

      Comment


        So that's where you've been lately. Under the spell of your OTC sleep aid.

        Years ago I took a drug called Librium sometimes as a sleep aid. I don't think anyone has ever heard of it any more but it was a popular tranquilizer, a prescription drug. I never noticed that it had any effect on dreams. It just allowed me to go to sleep.
        SPMS diagnosed 1980. Avonex 2001-2004. Copaxone 2006-2009. Glatopa (glatiramer acetate = Copaxone) since December 2020.

        Comment


          Agate. if Librium, or whatever it is keeps you asleep Suze-Q and I might want a little of it.

          Nice to see Howie come out of hibernation for a moment or two. I am glad he has good dreams during his hibernation state. Now, I want to go into hibernation for 8 hours.

          I went to the hairdresser today. Not satisfied with my hair, but what's new there. I went to the pharmacy before going there and got a few things that I knew I needed. After the hairdresser I went to the grocery store and got a few groceries. It is hard to know where to start when your refrigerator and freezer are still pretty much empty. I did manage to come out with 8 bags (No Ann, it really was 8 not 18). I picked up some lettuce, cherry tomatoes, and mozzarella cheese pearls along with some basil and fresh extra virgin olive oil. This was me thinking of Suze-Q. I just kind of got what I knew I needed and got out.

          Rose, maybe the one RN that came one time that I liked is my case manager. If so I didn't know it. I think, unless I get a call, that PT will only come one time this week and that will be tomorrow. Now that I know they are leaving very soon I am not really all that anxious to have them at all. It kind of upsets me because I can see and tell that I am not back where I was before all this started back in November. Maybe I never will be, but I would like a better try at it.

          Do any of you remember when there was quite a discussion about estrogens helping people with MS? I remember Cherie saying that she even attended a meeting out on the West Coast where it was discussed. Some research was done in Europe and they found that estrogen helped with MS. So, anyway I have been on Premarin since either the late 70s or very early 80s. I was put on 1.25mg after having surgery. Many years later a PCP cut me back to .625. It was some months after that when I began to have problems that sent me to a Neurologist. Now, my new PCP has taken me off completely. I tried to tell her about the possibility of Premarin helping me, but she wouldn't even listen. Why? Because the MALE Doctor who never discussed my medication in the hospital took me off of it and she will not go against the hospital Doctor. He doesn't know me and has never had a conversation with me. Why have a PCP if they are afraid of other doctors.. She told me to get my Neurologist to write a prescription for it. I told her that he agreed with me being on it, but he doesn't even know how to prescribe it. I told her he was a Neurologist!

          When I was attending an in- person support group we had a RN who use to come around quite often. She and I were the same age. She was doing very, very well. She was on estrogen and said she hoped they never took her off of it. I talked to her several years later and she again said the same thing. I am tired of doctors and now I have to start in with a new one, the Cardiologist.

          Okay, my rant for the day. I will go wash my face and get ready for bed.
          Last edited by Virginia; 01-24-2022, 05:29 PM.
          Virginia

          Comment


            yuuuummm, something magical about the combination of tomatoes, fresh cheese, basil and a drizzle of olive oil and balsamic vinegar. I think the Italians were onto something in its simplicity yet perfection! Makes a perfect margarita pizza on a pita too, or just on its own, layered on top of each other. That's how I had it for decades until I recently discovered it could be made into a sandwich or a pasta salad.

            Sounds like you had a very pre-illness kinda day!

            Yes, estrogens are still under research in MS. I can't believe your pcp would prefer a hospital doctor over your standard of care for decades. Heck, I've had my pcp agree to rx a statin for mildly elevated cholesterol because of its effects on MS when I could have implemented dietary changes as a first approach (and did). It's a balancing act for hormones between benefits versus risks though, but science is not decided on this issue at all. My doctor agreed to rx hormones for me for osteopenia until I could meet with the specialist, and that was simply on my request because of estrogen's purported impact on MS. Mind you, that was only short term. But, I wanted on the hormones for all the other reasons besides osteopenia, just to see how I felt. Some doctors do have very strong opinions about estrogen, sounds like your dr. is one of them, unfortunately.

            Howie, I had a nightmare just a couple nights ago. I'm surprised you haven't developed a tolerance to your OTC sleep med. My problem isn't falling asleep, it's staying asleep, no matter what I take. Got any suggestions about that?

            Rose, almost a mile yesterday, and back doing my other exercises along with it. Need to keep my head in the game and not allow myself to slack off. January isn't even over yet, lol.
            Please Note that my posts may have been arbitrarily altered by a Moderator and may not reflect my original content.

            Per Mike Weins: "...the admin/mod team doesn't have to provide a forewarning/warning/mention about altering a members post. It doesn't matter if they fix a link, remove a link, fix a typo, or whatever...."

            Comment


              SuzE-Q, all OTC sleep aids contain the same main ingredient, Diphenhydramine. I would ask your doctor about it. A good night's sleep is very important.
              "Given the millions of billions of Earth-like planets, life elsewhere in the Universe without a doubt, does exist."

              Albert Einstein

              Comment


                ((((((Hugs to All)))))) ~

                Virginia ~

                Wow! You drove, got your hair done and shopped! That is pretty amazing! Considering all that you've been through, that seems like a huge improvement.

                I am surprised that your home health visitors don't give you paper work to put into a folder. Even if you don't know who is your case manager, I'm guessing you have one for organizational reasons.

                Your cardiologist may be the most important doctor on your team. I hope your cardiologist is kind, patient, and compassionate.

                As my grandmother and aunt were both on estrogen for nearly 30 years in the 1970s, and they both got breast cancer, which metastasized, I was afraid to take estrogen. I managed through menopause eating soy and using wild yam cream (estrogen and progesterone).

                Of course, I don't know anything about estrogen and MS. You have been on it for so long that your body may react adversely to stopping it. This is a potential question to ask your cardiologist.

                agate ~

                I was prescribed Librium to help me cope with my stressful life, when I was young juggling a thousand things at once. I think it was supposed to calm me. Instead, it put me in a stupor. One afternoon, I was crossing the main street, when a friend happened to walk up next to me. I was waiting for the signal. I didn't see her, and I started walking across the street before the light changed. My friend ran toward me and pulled me back to the sidewalk.

                She then took me to a coffee shop and asked me what was wrong with me. She asked if I was on drugs. So, I showed her my prescription bottle of Librium. She excused herself, went to the shop's bathroom, flushed the pills down the toilet, and handed me the empty bottle. "Your boys need you. And you don't need this."

                That was my "wake up call" (pun intended). She was absolutely right. I couldn't take a sleep or anxiety medication, because I had to be available 24/7 for my boys. So, I discovered meditation and breathing, which have helped me all of my life through everything.

                Librium is still on the market.

                Howie & SuzE-Q ~

                This is what you're taking for sleep, Howie ~

                Only registered and activated users can see links., Click Here To Register...

                Cautions:

                • tell your doctor if you have or have ever had asthma, emphysema, chronic bronchitis, or other types of lung disease; glaucoma (a condition in which increased pressure in the eye can lead to gradual loss of vision); ulcers; difficulty urinating (due to an enlarged prostate gland); heart disease; high blood pressure; seizures; or an overactive thyroid gland.If you will be using the liquid, tell your doctor if you have been told to follow a low-sodium diet.
                • you should know that generally diphenhydramine should not be used in older adults, except to manage serious allergic reactions, because it is not as safe or effective as other medication(s) to treat your condition. If you are 65 years of age or older, talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of taking this medication.
                I have seen what pharmaceuticals have done to my loved ones, and I've been able to avoid them thus far with natural options. All of my friends over 65 talk about how difficult it is to get a good solid night's sleep. Many of us wake up after a few hours to go to the bathroom. Others have trouble turning off their minds to relax and get to sleep. Some may have undiagnosed sleep apnea. This seems to be typical with aging. It is annoying and frustrating. It is important for us to consider how we manage our sleep so that it is safe for us.

                Be well, stay safe, and sweet dreams to all ~

                Love & Light,

                ❤️❤️❤️❤️

                Rose
                Mom to Jon, 49, & Michael, 32, born with an undiagnosed progressive neuromuscular disease. Angel Michael received his wings in 2003. Angel Jon received his wings in 2019. In 2020, Jim, their Dad, joined them.

                Comment


                • SuzE-Q
                  SuzE-Q commented
                  Editing a comment
                  Thanks, Rose, we've had lots of discussions here about the pros and cons of anticholinergic meds. Many of ours are in the same class, they relax the smooth muscle, so many are given to us for bladder control. You've added additional info about that particular one, thank you. I know my respiratory therapist does not like it for treating allergies unless absolutely necessary, if that is benadryl.

                • Earth Mother 2 Angels
                  Earth Mother 2 Angels commented
                  Editing a comment
                  ((((((SuzE-Q)))))) ~

                  Yes, Benadryl is one of the brand names of this medication. CBD and CBN can be helpful with sleep issues. I feel that it is a safer option than Benadryl or other medications based upon this drug. I feel that it is wise to know everything about a medication before taking it. That is why I provided the link for this one.

                • SuzE-Q
                  SuzE-Q commented
                  Editing a comment
                  Thanks, Rose, I will take another look at the CBD and CBN info again. I looked into it closely a while ago, but not for sleep issues. Time I reviewed Sunshine's comprehensive info again.

                Rose, I asked my physical therapist yesterday about my case manager and she looked it up and told me it was Robert, who was the first person to come to see me the day I came home. Deanna and I said goodbye yesterday. She has been the PT that I have worked with the most . I have one more visit next week with Nicole who is a PT and that's it. I was supposed to have a visit with the lady that comes in place of the nurse today, but after I got up and got dressed she called this morning and cancelled. Now I have to get up in the morning and do it again. So this is my last two visits tomorrow and one next week

                I went for a short walk in the neighborhood yesterday with my PT. Fresh air seems good, but I have been cautioned not to do it by myself.

                Agate, Eric knew I was planning to.drive Monday so he called yesterday and asked how many people I hit. I told him it was no problem I only hit 3 or 4.
                Virginia

                Comment


                • SuzE-Q
                  SuzE-Q commented
                  Editing a comment
                  LOL, well, you must be feeling improved, your sense of humor is in fine form!

                • Earth Mother 2 Angels
                  Earth Mother 2 Angels commented
                  Editing a comment
                  ((((((Virginia)))))) ~

                  I'm happy to hear that you have a Case Manager. You should have been given a card with the name and phone number of Robert, should you have had any issues with your care.

                  Did you tell Deanna that you drove and did all that you did that day? You were outside quite a bit then. If you can do that, I don't understand why she cautioned you not to take a walk outside by yourself.

                  Soon, you won't have all of these appointments, and people coming and going. I'm sure that will be a relief for you.

                  I hope that Eric is feeling better now.

                Hi Howie, that ingredient does not help me in staying asleep, plus we all must be aware that anticholinergics are suspected to play a part in increasing the risk for dementia. That drug, bladder meds, muscle relaxers, etc., lots of kinds of meds are in that same group.

                But nevertheless, it did not impact my ability to sleep through for longer than a couple hours. And if I forego a nap and try to get to bed early, being very sleep deprived, I only end up waking up midnight or one, it just changes the time I wake up, but not the amount of sleep I get. I'm just not able to fall back asleep, no matter how tired I am. Not having enough sleep exacerbates all my neurological symptoms. I'm in pain and a total mess. Very frustrating.
                Please Note that my posts may have been arbitrarily altered by a Moderator and may not reflect my original content.

                Per Mike Weins: "...the admin/mod team doesn't have to provide a forewarning/warning/mention about altering a members post. It doesn't matter if they fix a link, remove a link, fix a typo, or whatever...."

                Comment


                  SuzE-Q, very frustrating indeed. Is your doctor aware of the situation? If not, they need to know!
                  "Given the millions of billions of Earth-like planets, life elsewhere in the Universe without a doubt, does exist."

                  Albert Einstein

                  Comment


                  • SuzE-Q
                    SuzE-Q commented
                    Editing a comment
                    Yes, I went for a sleep study. The good news was I was not suffering sleep apnea or any heart related events that woke me. But, it did not identify any reason either. Once covid settles down more, I'll pursue it again.

                  Sorry I have MIA lately.

                  I had a stubborn UTI that took 3 rounds of antibiotics (2 different ones) to clear up and then I got hit with some sort of virus that I thought was covid. I had low grade fever, body aches, sore throat and fatigue followed closely with a cough. I took 2 at home covid tests several days apart that were negative then I followed up with a drive thru PCR covid test at my doctors office that was negative. Fortunately most of the symptoms except for the cough have gone but it left me with a upside down sleep schedule. I can't fall asleep before 4AM and today I slept in until 11:30AM! Ugh. I hate when that happens.

                  Because of all my health issues lately I haven't been out of the house (except for the drive thru covid test) in almost 3 weeks. We are at the end of January and I don't know where the month has gone.

                  I am still catching up on the posts for this month. I hope everyone is doing well and staying safe!

                  Comment


                  • SuzE-Q
                    SuzE-Q commented
                    Editing a comment
                    Sorry you have been sick, snuggles. It's amazing how many people are reporting such similar symptoms to covid now, although, I suppose they are often just generalized symptoms of fever, aches, fatigue and respiratory issues, so easy to confuse. Welcome to our world of nocturnal confusion. Please take good care!

                  • Earth Mother 2 Angels
                    Earth Mother 2 Angels commented
                    Editing a comment
                    ((((((Snuggles)))))) ~

                    I'm so sorry that you had a stubborn UTI and then got a mysterious respiratory virus. Sometimes UTIs can be linked to respiratory infections. Thankfully, you didn't have COVID, so perhaps you had the flu. Symptoms are similar. Any kind of infection can knock the wind out of our sails. Your fatigue is probably typical, which doesn't make it less tolerable. May you continue to improve and regain your strength.

                  Snuggles, it is so good to see you again. I am very sorry you have been so sick. Glad you didn't wait too long to seek help (like me) and end up being carted off to the hospital and rehab. I do hope you will be completely well soon. Antibiotics are sometimes hard to take. I was given two different kinds intravenously in the hospital and then put on oral when I went to rehab. There is an end in sight, but there are times when we can't see it. I am glad you were checked for COVID and a negative result was found. If you had not been checked you would have always wondered if you had it or not. It appears that the cough is taking some time to go away.

                  I am sorry about your sleep schedule too. Suze-Q and I have somewhat the same problem. Maybe we should just stay up and talk until one of us falls asleep.

                  I hope you will soon be back to one hundred percent.
                  Virginia

                  Comment


                    Rose, I skipped my exercise today which is not good, but I did drive to the nearest grocery store and picked up a few things I had forgotten. Once you wind me up and start me it is hard to stop.

                    We are possibly going to get more snow and ice this weekend. I wanted to make sure I had plenty of things that I wanted such as chocolate and a few goldfish. Actually, I did get some green bananas. They will ripen in a few days.

                    Edited to ask: Where's Agate?
                    Last edited by Virginia; 01-26-2022, 02:14 PM.
                    Virginia

                    Comment


                    • SuzE-Q
                      SuzE-Q commented
                      Editing a comment
                      Goldfish the crackers...or for a fish bowl?

                      You also went for a walk plus went grocery shopping. You had some good exercise!

                      Glad you got out, Virginia, you are rebounding really well now. I'd like to attribute it to your chocolate consumption. If it could only keep me asleep for longer as well, I would have a happy life, indeed. My experiment has not resulted in positive results, but I think I should test the hypothesis a few more times before drawing any conclusions. I will stock up on more chocolate, too. :)
                      Last edited by SuzE-Q; 01-26-2022, 06:56 PM.

                    Agate has been busy dealing with a printer problem--oh, and tearing her hair out while trying Absurdle. I think I'll stick with Wordle.

                    I've been through several printers over the years. This one was my son's originally, and it's a type that was new to me (inkjet), but it was working fine for a couple of years. Now the software for it is so out of date that HP (the company that made it) is refusing to do anything to correct the problems I'm having.

                    I've been looking at replacement printers and even looking at typewriters. Everything is so high-tech now that it's just too complicated for this simple brain.

                    So I'm giving up on my printer. End of an era. I've spent many hours trying to fix these issues in the last couple of days. I'd have preferred to be here.

                    And the laundry room in this building is now closed, probably for at least a week, maybe much longer. They might consider letting us in sometimes if we zip in and out without lingering but that's still an open question. So I've been busy rethinking my laundry situation just now. I had a look at the laundry room today and it's all torn up. They're ripped out part of a wall and a ceiling but they did finally found a leak. It's a leak that's been a problem for many months, maybe a year or so, and nobody could figure out where it was coming from. By now so much time has passed that there's also mold to be corrected....
                    Last edited by agate; 01-26-2022, 04:19 PM.
                    SPMS diagnosed 1980. Avonex 2001-2004. Copaxone 2006-2009. Glatopa (glatiramer acetate = Copaxone) since December 2020.

                    Comment


                    • Earth Mother 2 Angels
                      Earth Mother 2 Angels commented
                      Editing a comment
                      ((((((agate)))))) ~

                      I hear you about printers! I attempted to print something on my old HP printer today, and once again, I got the message that there was a problem. Sometimes it tells me that there is a paper jam. There isn't.

                      The last time this happened, I tried to shut down the printer, by pressing the power button. That didn't work. So, I unplugged it from the electrical outlet. Let is sit for a while, and turned it on. It worked.

                      The same thing happened today, although there was no "paper jam" alert. It is still "shutting down," so, I'm going to have to unplug it. When I turn it back on, I will see the scolding message on the printer screen that I should not unplug the printer, unless it is shut down.

                      I try to think of these electronic devices and my appliances as I think of myself. How long have I had this? Am I as functional as I was when I purchased it? Absolutely not! Devices, appliances, people wear out.

                      I had to buy a new iPad, because my current one will not accept any SIM card (we've tried 3) or the Factory Reset. I think we got the current iPad in 2018 for Jim. So, it isn't that old. The iPad is a back up for my computer during an outage, or if I should land in the hospital someday. It's like insurance for me to stay connected to everyone. I do have the iPhone as a back up, but the iPad provides a bit larger type and is easier for me to use.

                      John will take the new iPad home to set it up for me. For this, I am so very grateful.

                      Your laundry room sounds like a disaster. I've lived through mold removal in half of my house, and it is going to take much longer than a week.

                      This seems to be negligence of maintenance by the owners/managers of your residence. A leak that lasts for a year? Why didn't they call a plumber as soon as the leak appeared? I know why I didn't, but they have no excuse.

                      What are all of the residents supposed to do about getting their laundry clean? My garage, where my laundry is located, had 12' of drywall replaced. My washer and dryer were in a pod on the driveway. The entire area was enclosed with plastic because of mold. Just be prepared, Joan. I hope I'm wrong.

                      Take some time to rest and clear your head from all of this. In Life, if it isn't one thing, it is another, and another, and another ... Stay strong!

                    Simple minded, our Agate with all her word knowledge????? I don't think so.

                    Agate, I have an inkjet printer and can't even remember how old it is. It was a Christmas present probably 12 or more years ago. It is a HP and I am afraid I am going to start having a problem getting the cartridges or it could die of rust. I have loved mine and hate that it is getting old.

                    It is so frustrating when a computer or printer acts up.
                    Virginia

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