1908 replies to this topic

[Carleeta]

Ha ha ha...oh your sweet Pumpkin wanted to one with you....Hysterically laughing thinking about pumpkin with a class on her head...too funny...great positive! Actually a fantastic positive.

[FiveNotions]

Well, I'm about to attempt another positive for the day ... making the hour trip by subway/bus out to see my friend in the nursing home. It's been a month ... haven't seen him since I started working 2 days a week ... have just been too exhausted (body aches and pains and mental fog) to do so on non-working days. I'm feeling that way today, as well, but am going to give it a go anyway ...

 

And, a definite plus about doing this is that it will get me away from my new African neighbors, who are currently playing African traditional music top volume out of their open windows... the "surround sound" effect in my corner of the building is mind-blowing ...

[TryinginFL]

FN

 

Your "surround sound" would drive me nuts!

 

Good for you - going to see your friend in the nursing home.  I realize that you haven't mentioned that lately - I can understand your feelings now that you are working with your grad student.  It's amazing how it takes so little to exhaust us these days - I don't remember this feeling while I was on the crap. 

 

I worry about this 8 week gig you're going to take on - will you be able to handle this physically?

 

My prayers for you,

 

Liz 

[Carleeta]

Well, I'm about to attempt another positive for the day ... making the hour trip by subway/bus out to see my friend in the nursing home. It's been a month ... haven't seen him since I started working 2 days a week ... have just been too exhausted (body aches and pains and mental fog) to do so on non-working days. I'm feeling that way today, as well, but am going to give it a go anyway ...
 
And, a definite plus about doing this is that it will get me away from my new African neighbors, who are currently playing African traditional music top volume out of their open windows... the "surround sound" effect in my corner of the building is mind-blowing ...

Miss FiveNotions, yipeeeeee, you are getting out to see your friend today, even with an hour ride. Yipeeeeee, positive! Can you let your landlord know the music is too loud? Could you nicely let them know how their music vibrates to your apartment? Could you leave a typed note on their door asking them to keep their volume at a level where it doesn't interfer with their neighbors? Complain if you need to. You have the same rights to be comfortable in your home as they do.........

[Carleeta]

Today was a very long day. Needed to be at the lab at 8am... more lectures... I'm pooped...lol lol...was up way too early. Although positively productive......

[Carleeta]

Well its positively that time again...I'm off to rest it up for the evening. .

Have a great evening everyone. ...

[Carleeta]

8:08 pm....just arrived home....Went out to dinner with my niece. It's a great time spent with family and time to get away from home an work for both of us....lol lol. Had a delicious dinner with a cup of decaf expresso with a slice of lemon. Met the manager and was all for fixing him up with my youngest niece...lol lol. He was very interested in her..yipeeeeee. Im quite the little match maker. He is definitely her opposite. Ths should work well...lol

[Carleeta]

Did positively feel a bit better today....submitted my chart to the lab today. Had more lectures on protective lab coats, shields, gloves, and etc. One special lecture was with other departments of the hospital and all protocols, as well as entering different parts of the hospitals. Our phlebotomists (ones who draw blood from patients) and our carriers (ones who drive specimens to our lab from other hospitals, clinics, and doctor's offices) have to protection themselves and others when arriving at the lab and before they leave. Many hospitals around the country have been stepping their protocols up as high as they can. The nurses are positively doing a great job of speaking out!

[brzghoff]

Did positively feel a bit better today....submitted my chart to the lab today. Had more lectures on protective lab coats, shields, gloves, and etc. One special lecture was with other departments of the hospital and all protocols, as well as entering different parts of the hospitals. Our phlebotomists (ones who draw blood from patients) and our carriers (ones who drive specimens to our lab from other hospitals, clinics, and doctor's offices) have to protection themselves and others when arriving at the lab and before they leave. Many hospitals around the country have been stepping their protocols up as high as they can. The nurses are positively doing a great job of speaking out!

 

 

so does this mean that protocols for handling blood and other body fluids are getting tighter in general, or just when you are testing for ebola or handling specimens known to be infected? 

 

what is your opinion about the nurse who chose to fly even though she was told to "self monitor"? even if she wasn't contagious at the time of her flight, i was stunned to learn she'd choose to take a flight. i am gonna guess that she bought the ticket prior to even treating the ebola patient, i know that she called the CDC and some linked gave her the okay even though she had a "low grade" fever. i would think anyone who is being monitored, "self" or otherwise, would be provided guidelines if not restrictions on where they could go. i realize that if there are no symptoms you're not contagious, but for 21 days i wouldn't even go to the store, i'd ask a friend/family to pick something up for  me. i'm gonna guess that no employer wants you to come in to work if you are under "monitored" status. 

 

as for the airlines, they better not dare tell people suspected of being exposed that they can't get a full refund. that would keep people from self reporting. 

 

oops, i guess this is the positive thread, not the news thread. 

[FiveNotions]

[Bryzghoff ... if you feel like it, cross-post that over to the ebola thread ... I've got exactly the same questions, and was going to put 'em over there for our resident expert, Carleeta ...]
 
My positive for the day is that I did up a complete grocery / household products shopping list ... first time I've done that since pre-crapalta withdrawal ... and, made not one, but two, trips to the Giant ... with my little "old fart" shopping cart ... took the bus to (5 min), and lugged the cart back, walking ... 10-15 mins.... I'll pay for this tomorrow with aches and pains, but I don't have to work, so that's good.... and I just took a max dose of aleve ...
 
the first trip was groceries, and the second was household products ... and the list is only 1/3 completed ! I have a large pantry that I've always kept stocked with "the basics" ... and I've used them all up over the past 10 1/2 months (I'd even run out of salt, pepper, baking powder/soda, olive oil.... all the basics) ... .... have been buying just what I need for a week or two, barely ...time to get my pantry returned to normal ....

[brzghoff]

 

ah, the joys of grocery shopping in the city! only time i've done that is when staying with my son when he lived in brooklyn. while i spent my formative years in the DC area, it was in the suburbs of fairfax county. although safeway was close by, as a military brat, i got dragged by my mom to the ft belvoir commissary.  

 

i remember giant!  i also remember grand union, we called it grand onion

[Carleeta]

so does this mean that protocols for handling blood and other body fluids are getting tighter in general, or just when you are testing for ebola or handling specimens known to be infected? 

 

what is your opinion about the nurse who chose to fly even though she was told to "self monitor"? even if she wasn't contagious at the time of her flight, i was stunned to learn she'd choose to take a flight. i am gonna guess that she bought the ticket prior to even treating the ebola patient, i know that she called the CDC and some linked gave her the okay even though she had a "low grade" fever. i would think anyone who is being monitored, "self" or otherwise, would be provided guidelines if not restrictions on where they could go. i realize that if there are no symptoms you're not contagious, but for 21 days i wouldn't even go to the store, i'd ask a friend/family to pick something up for  me. i'm gonna guess that no employer wants you to come in to work if you are under "monitored" status. 

 

as for the airlines, they better not dare tell people suspected of being exposed that they can't get a full refund. that would keep people from self reporting. 

 

oops, i guess this is the positive thread, not the news thread. 

Yes, everyone health care worker should be instructed by the CDC guidelines for their state, and paying attention to the news.  As far as I know every single health care worker is talking about this among themselves in the medical field.  We talk among ourselves, and I double up my gloves even when walking into the lab to get paperwork... I see many health care workers at our hospital already doubling or tripling up on gloves.  Our phlebotomists definitely wearing more than one pair of gloves.  The sooner they start taking precautionary measures, it will become second nature.  

 

No that nurse should have not taken the flight. Yes, she called the CDC because she wasn't feeling well, and had a low grade fever.    Right there should have been an indication she should not have taken the flight or even think about leaving her area of quarantine.  She has now exposed more individuals in the bridal shop where she and members of her bridal party were for about 3 hours.  From the bridal shop owners to all her bridal party in Ohio.   Since she may have had this Ebola even prior to leaving for Ohio.  Much more have been exposed. 

 

No one should be flying if they have been told to monitor themselves once exposed to someone who has Ebola until they have made sure 21 days have passed and they have none of the symptoms associated with Ebola.  While they are being quarantined, they cannot be working.

 

As we listen to the news we see now how this has gone from Texas to Ohio.  All states right now have to be concerned. 

[Neesee]

As odd as it sounds, ( I know this isn't the norm and may change) but on week 3 of weaning myself off, I'm having pleasant dreams all week. I had  frequent horrible vivid dreams while on 60 mg.

[Carleeta]

Neesee, this is definitely a positive, great news. Thank you for sharing....

[brzghoff]

 

 

As odd as it sounds, ( I know this isn't the norm and may change) but on week 3 of weaning myself off, I'm having pleasant dreams all week. I had  frequent horrible vivid dreams while on 60 mg.

 

enjoy!

 

however, the bad dreams aren't always the norm for folks on the C and in withdrawal. on the C i had the most awesome dreams, it was like i had a double life they were so vivid and very positive. flying dreams too. almost every night they would pick up where they left off the night before. when i first quit, they went away for several weeks. then they came back, not as vivid, but still nothing negative. i am guessing what happened is that immediately after quitting i went through a big serotonin drop - but when they came back it was a reflection that my body was starting to manage my serotonin levels on its own again. hopefully that is what is happening to you! 

[FiveNotions]

Brzghoff, those amazing dreams are the only thing I actually miss about the crapalta ... that, and the fact that I could sleep forever at a time on the stuff, my dream world on crapalta was totally preferable to my awake life on it!

 

And oh my, "Grand Onion" ! That was our "big deal" grocery store in my little home town ... it replaced the "A&P" (Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company, originally) .... I'm old to remember the A&P !

 

Oh, and I've already got a positive for the day ... I must've taken the perfect "aleve overdose" ... that, plus my beloved heating pad on my hips during the night (shifted it every time I turned over, and didn't even wake myself up) ... means I'm actually able to walk, and am not disabled for the day after my shopping adventures yesterday ... wow!

 

What I need is a pair of levi's with built in "hip heaters" ...

[brzghoff]

 

oh i remember A&P they are actually still around. the original home of 8 o'clock coffee!

 

congrats on the no side effects from your adventure - its also a sign of your continued recovery! 

 

oh, and you can get heated pants… all sorts of clothing. http://gerbing.com um, you don't mind  paying $299 for pants + the cost of the heating device do you? ;-)

[FiveNotions]

Wow ... love those pants ... I wonder if Medicaid would pay for them as a "health aid" ... kinda' like crutches or a pacemaker ...

[Neesee]

having the support here, and knowing I'm not alone during this helps so much, things aren't bad for me yet, but I am taking in all the advice and tips, I love you people already!!

[FiveNotions]

Yep, this forum is a "permanent positive" for me, Neesee .... I never would have made it through cold turkey without the wonderful members here ... who've now become my dear friends ... nothing like crapalta withdrawal to bind us together, eh? (Who the hell else could possibly understand?)

[ThisBetterPass]

One positive I've noticed is with my workload. I'm a natural procrastinator but once I'm in the zone and getting stuff done, my stress level and side effects are much less.  That's what got me through today.

[Clara]

Hey you bunch of old farts! I remember the A&P also! Neesee and ThisBetterPass, I haven't met y'all yet, glad to have you on the forum! I don't post a lot any more but I am in here checking on everyone! This fall weather is gorgeous, but oh, my if the acorn and hickory nuts I'm having to get up  are any indication of our winter to come..... it's gonna be BAD!!!! Can't wait til the leaves start fallin'! Love my shade trees in our hot humid summer, but dread the leaves and nuts in the fall! Hope everyone has a great weekend! Hugs and prayers for all!

[TryinginFL]

From one"old fart" to the others here - I remember the A & P too!   And here's one for brzghoff....can you guess what we used to call Harris Teeter?

 

Seriously, love you folks on here and I, like FN, don't know what I would have done without all the support and knowledge that I gained from you.  Friendships are easily formed when all understand each other. It's hard to believe that it was the beginning of Feb. when I joined - a big THANK YOU, everyone!

 

I intend to stay on here as I wanted to volunteer to help people and due to the osteoarthritis in my feet, fibro and lower back and hip pain, it rules out a lot of things.  Here I can help others with my experiences and what I have learned from them.  It's a warm and fuzzy feeling!   And I can continue to heal as well...

 

Liz

[FiveNotions]

Ditto, TFL ...

[Clara]

Me three TFL and FN! As for the volunteering. I wanted to go into it big time. So far it's only 4 hours on Tuesdays at a local nonprofit that has a food pantry, clothes closet, Meals On Wheels for elderly or disabled and in house senior dining at lunch. All I do is answer phones and take in donations, but it's fulfilling! I just had to step back and reevaluate! For 38 years in the same job, it was run, run, run and that is what I THOUGHT I wanted to get back into, but after prayerful thought, God was saying no! Do what you are able and leave the rest to me is what I heard, (not audibly, of course), but it rang loud and clear! My brain is just not ready for the hustle and bustle of full time anything yet! It's a very tough row to hoe! Some days I feel just so dang useless, but I am healing and have to tell myself it's ok, you are not useless, just a work in progress!!!! It gets me through! Hugs all!

[FiveNotions]

Well, here's my humungus positive for today, for a whole year ... I just placed an order with Giant's "Peapod" delivery service ... my closest grocery, where I did my 2 trips yesterday, is a Giant ... I've never used it before, because by the time the delivery charge, gas surcharge, taxes, and tip for the delivery guy are added in, that eats up any savings on sale items ...

 

Well, yesterday I found a Peapod coupon in their "weekly deals" flyer ... free delivery and $15 off  orders of $100 or more for first time users of the service. I saw in the flyer that they've got 20 lb containers of the kitty litter I use for just $8.99 ... so, I just used the coupon, and signed up to have 13 of those containers delivered to me next Wednesday ... that, my friends, is a total of 260 pounds of kitty litter!! .....     about a year's worth of it .... no more lugging it home jug by jug ...

 

You might be wondering where I'm going to put all this in my tiny little efficiency apartment ... well, I measured, and it will all fit nicely under my bed...

[FiveNotions]

Oh, that's absolutely wonderful, Clara ... and perfect for you...  I love that you describe it as "fulfilling" .... yay!!!  

 

That's how I feel about my little part time gig for the blind grad student ... I no longer want to go back into "the career." Not just because of my health, but also because of my soul. I'm so happy living without the daily rat race and pressure ...and now that I'm seeing that I can actually make ends meet, my anxiety level is much lower ... yep,

 

and, the upcoming 40 hrs/8 weeks temp gig ... totally working from home ... I've got a training for it on Monday, after that, it's all up to me what hours / days I want to work ... and I can do it from here on my sofa, in my jammies ... did I tell you guys that it's for PBS (Public Broadcasting System)? They've hired 15 librarians to work from home, cataloging a huge collection of old movies, video tapes, interview records, etc. that they want put into their library catalog (computerized) ....

 

I'm gonna' be totally beat, most likely, but I'll have earned 4 months of rent.... then I can "coast" for a while ... I like coasting ..

[Carleeta]

And I'm another oldie to add to all what everyone said above.  Im here and not going to far myself....lol lol lol.   Don't know how we all would have made it without each other..  We are a close bunch here who really appreciate one another.  I thank you all.

 

FiveNotions that's a good idea to stock up on the kitty liter. I do understand what that's like to go to the store and lug it into the home.  You have the perfect place for it.  I wish I could do that, although I don't have too much space under my bed because there are too many legs under it....lol lol loll

[TryinginFL]

Wonderful posts, Clara and FN!  (Yep, I'm out of "likes" again!)

 

You are both doing some great stuff!  Clara, I'm so happy that you can do something that doesn't have you on your feet the whole time!

 

FN, that's the biggest order for cat litter that I have ever heard, but if it fits...

Also, sounds like a fun job - I think this is the first that you've mentioned it's for PBS!  Cool!  And yep, you will have to pace yourself for sure   

[TryinginFL]

Carleeta,

 

Sorry about the kitty litter thing - could you stash it in your car trunk?

 

Agreed  -  I sure appreciate all of you guys!!