Bipolar check-in #44

I had found it one of the most difficult decisions I have ever made, to stop working. I hated it!

It is important to do whatever we must in order to remain as stable as possible. You are lucky you realize this, as many do not and keep going around in circles, with relapses and more.

Hang in!

I can understand how/why your mum would feel this way, but your nephew's wife may really feel good doing this for you. Helping others can really feel good. When all of this dies down or is over, you and your mum can always doing something very nice for your nephew's wife.

It sounds like you have thought about this a lot, and compared the pros and cons. Please find some relief in finally coming to a decision.

Stepping away from the main stressors in my life was extremely hard, but it has made a very positive difference in my life, over time. Sure, there are rough aspects, but they have been fewer than they would have been. I'm sure over time you will find the right niche and you will be at peace with past decisions.

This coming Wednesday I've got an appointment scheduled for 8 a.m. at the hospital with my liver doctor. Its just a check-up. I am thinking about not going because well its a big hospital and I don't see how I could be six feet away from people in their smallish waiting room. Plus the exam rooms are small- are the doctor and I supposed to stand on either side of the room and shout? Serious question! What would you do? My liver needs tended to but I don't know if its worth it to go on Wednesday. Maybe reschedule ... but for when? That's the question too!

I've gotten sufficient sleep lately, but it's been a little irregular, all the same. Between all of the covid 19 stuff, hubby being home, not setting the alarm clock, my extra Seroquel XR, and being more physically active with projects, some days I fall asleep early and wake up in the middle of the night, stay up late and get up early, and some days I've been sleeping late. I do still have daytime energy. I think I want to show hubby that I'm really doing a lot at home, and taking care of us well during this odd period in history. I have been doing more. I think he's having a very pleasant time working from home. If it were up to him, I think he'd just continue this. Frankly, commutes around here suck. He still keeps in touch with workmates, and yet isn't interrupted by them as often as at work.

If many more people could work from home, there wouldn't be the need for all of these big office buildings and the energy they require to heat/cool/light. And many here have already mentioned the bright side of families seeing more of each other. I believe that many (adults and children a like) will look back at this period with some fondness. These positives at least help balance out the negatives, for me. Of course some issues could become harder. I'm not fooling myself about that. However, there is lots to be learned by this experience. I think it helps us get back to the core things in life, that should be valued and not taken for granted. It might make many of us push harder for positive changes, when we otherwise would have put up with the status quo.

Earlier today, I was thinking about how things have changed since I was a little girl in the 1970s, and then teen in the mid-late 1980s, university and other study in the 1990s, Y2K, and onward. Yes, there are things we miss. However, making life (and one's country) great is a forward thinking thing. Not a backward thinking pursuit.

The recent layoffs at my husband's workplace make planning for the future a bit more urgent. We need to have contingency plans in place, not just for financial survival, but to make adjustments a bit easier. This whole pandemic is a huge adjustment. How were/are we ready for it? And how were we not?

Stayed home today except to take n3 to and from work. He swears he wore gloves and washed his hands frequently. The landlord left a letter about the virus and office procedures outside our door but stuck in part of the wood paneling instead of on the doorknob as usual. It said to pay your rent on line or put it in the drop box. Problem is they usually give you a receipt when you pay and they can't do that this way. I don't think the note even said HOW to pay your rent on line. I didn't even know that was an option until today.

In other news, I've been reading a lot today. N3 is supposed to be cleaning but I don't "see" much progress from what I can hear from his room. (Lots of computer noises!) I was watching Will & Grace last night. I'll watch some later today. So far we are just humming along.

I think I'll go back to reading in my pjs... Hope all are well!

Happy Spring!


Spring 2020 in Northern Hemisphere will begin on
Thursday
, March 19

and ends on
Saturday
, June 20

All dates are in Eastern Time.

Winter is finally OVER!

Being a check-up, I think I would postpone it.

Oh--so encouraged by this, Wander!

My pdoc personally believes the risk of mania with stimulants in bp 1 patients is dramtically overblown. He just doesn't really consider it to be an issue hardly ever. FWIW.

It can be a tough decision to decide which appointments to attend and which to postpone.

I have rescheduled all non-urgent follow-up appointments.

I am not sure of the status of your liver and if you need to go, Maybe call his office to see if there is any urgent reason for attending and if not, reschedule?

It's good to be extra careful.

My sister got a call from the health department saying that she was exposed to the virus because someone in a class she teaches at the VA tested positive for it.

I’m doing alright, just extremely tired lately.

My clinic has been sending out regular e-mail up dates. If you have an appointment that's non-urgent and can wait they are rescheduling them. Mums PT has been postponed. I have an non-emergency follow appointment next month. I'm expecting a call from them to reschedule it. I'd call them and rescheduled the appointment.

posted an update in my journal if anyone is still interested. Just sharing my day. Hugs to all! <3

I have decided to call tomorrow and reschedule. This will probably take the appointment out a couple more months. I could check my messages on my portal, but the appointment is still there for wednesday on my schedule.

That sounds a little scary for your sister, Blue_Bird, but I am at least glad to learn that such communications are happening. I hope your sis doesn't contract the virus. I also hope that you, and everyone else, stay safe from it.

Wishing you some nice recuperative rest.

This can be so unsettling.

I have a sister who is very ill this week and nobody is sure of just what she has; yet, all symptoms certainly appear to be in alignment with the description given to all of us. It is entirely possible she has the flu or something else entirely.
It is the unknown that can be an unsettling factor.

I hope your sister will be okay. I hope you will be okay, too!

Well, my house smells wonderful! Attached are my favorite oatmeal raisin roasted walnut cookies that are currently cooling on some racks. Call me strange for liking them even more than chocolate chip, but we're all unique. I wish I could share one with each of you because I know that I'll eat too many. If you're all sick of my cookie pictures, you'll need to blame Christina because she once encouraged them...maybe without realizing...and perhaps now with some regret. Luv ya Christina!

They're supposed to be a little dark, because they have extra molasses in them.

Thanks Bird Dancer!

Thank you! I’m sorry your sister is sick, I hope it’s not the virus and she gets better.

Those look so yummy! But you know what my favorite cookie is? Oatmeal with chocolate chips inside! Now I want to make some. Probably all the chocolate chips are gone at the store.

They look great! I just made some peanut butter fudge today

I had a feeling someone would write that. You know, it's might easy to make such an exchange.

Yum! I love fudge and love peanut butter. The only reason I can't make that is because my husband hates peanut butter. Many Europeans do, and yet they will eat peanuts. I tell him, "Well, you chew up the peanuts into peanut butter, anyway." But he still thinks it's different. I won't make it for myself, because I'd eat it all too fast.

I remember the first Christmas I spent with my husband's family in Czech Republic, I made peanut butter blossom cookies for them. You know, the peanut butter cookies with the Hershey's kiss in the middle? None of them ate more than one, or even a bite of one. It was sad for me! Meanwhile, they were gorging on my mother-in-law's Christmas cookies.

Those were my favorite as a kid- the peanut butter blossom cookies. A whole Hershey's kiss plus peanut butter?? How could you pass that up?

I know! Anyway, I forced my then new husband to eat more of them, against his desire. It was either that, or divorce.