Well I'm scheduled to have a Stellate Ganglion Block on Tuesday morning. The injection blocks some of the nerves in the sympathetic nervous system thus calming the PTSD hyper-vigilence and general anxiety. In December last year I had one and it helped for a few months. The PTSD has been bad recently. Very physical. Lots of memories too. So, I cannot wait to get that injection. Also, I have recently begun a two-year benzo taper which makes me unable to take extra benzo's to deal with anxiety. When it is really bad I take Seroquel. That kind of punches me out of the anxiety for a while.

Today I am making chicken and vegetable soup from scratch. It takes about six hours to boil the broth. Then another two hours with fresh vegetables and chicken pieces. My flat smells of soup. It is a comforting smell. Relaxing 'Yo Le Tango' playing on the stereo. Life is good. As I have more energy than usual I have been able to do more today which is encouraging. My T thinks the injection I am having might even have a postitive effect on my physical health. I hope so. It makes sense that it might as faults in the central nervous system are implicated in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia ], and this block effects the sympathetic nervous system within it. The great news is that the procedure will only cost me $65. My health insurance covers the rest. The follow-up appointment with the specialist who performs the procedure will cost around $150 though. If it works as well as last time it is worth it.

On the 22nd August I have an appointment scheduled with a new psychiatrist. The initial consult is $240 out-of-pocket for an hour. I am hoping he will be willing to bulk-bill me so I have no gap payments. In Australia some doctors won't bulk-bill as they lose income, but some choose to have a percentage of their practice bulk-billed. I understand they deserve to be paid more than the medicare rebate fee, but my safety will be put at risk if I can't afford to see my pdoc as often as required during a crisis. I am on a Disability Pension so I have a good chance he will accept.I could've had the appointment on Tuesday, but they called me last minute and I was too tired and anxious to deal with going through my life story. Changing doctors is stressful because I have to see if I can trust them. It takes time and energy.