Bipolar check-in #68

Just saying hi. so, HI!

I saw the doctor today. He immediatly agreed to do a food allergy and celiacs disease blood test. I didn't think it would be so easy. He just asked a few questions about what was bothering me and what happened when I ate them. I told him it was eggs and nuts. He was super nice and understanding. The lab test didn't have to be a fasting one. So I got it done right after the appointment. They took 3 or 4 huge tubes of blood the lady asked if I was ok at one point. I don't think I've ever seen tubes that big before. After that I brought my gender paperwork to my endocronlogist. I dropped it off with the nurse and then waited in the waiting room for 10 minutes so he could sign it and then the nurse brought it to us.

I'm going to the SS office in the morning to get the name and gender stuff changed with them. The appointment itself shouldn't take too long but I may have to wait a couple hours to see someone. My therapist sent me a very reassuring email this morning about some fears I had regarding SS and changing my name and gender with them.

Then I see her on Wednesday and then I go on my trip on Thursday to see my pdoc, then next week probably I'll go to the DMV to get a new ID.

But yeah today went well and I slept super good last night despite being in so much pain and I guess I just avoid cesar dressing too now.

I took some pictures of myself this morning and I don't look anoreixic skinny, but I do look very thin. I was slightly alarmed at how I looked. I have not lost any weight according to my scale or my doctors scale. So I think its just weight redistrubtion because of the shots I am on. But I am maintaining my weight now and am not losing anymore.

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Originally Posted by MuddyBoots 'One Adam says to another "I lost an erection" "Dude, we're not Adams, we're atoms and you lost an ELECTRON!" "Oh, sheeet, I've been telling everyone that all day." ' Now you got me giggling

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Remember @JaneRedux that is was you, not I, who has disclosed that you live in Canada. Thank you.

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Originally Posted by GoGo2 Have you had a blood test to confirm / not confirm if you have Hypothyroidism? Since your hair is coming back, it is probably not hypothyroidism. Hypothyroidism makes one very tired and one looses hair among other. In case you need some information about it: Hypothyroidism - Symptoms and causes - Mayo Clinic Best wishes!

To my surprise, I've learned that a vitamin D deficiency can cause hair loss.

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Originally Posted by GoGo2 Hi, just in to say "HI". I am still struggling. I think it is physical tiredness, because I don't feel especially sad. I have several physical diseases, problems with my hypothyroid gland among other. My GP has lowered my Hyperthyroid medication a couple of months ago. I am looking forward to every day in the hope that I shall be able to go on with my life after the moving and after Covid. But every day I struggle with my energy. Tomorrow I will have the fourth shot (against covid). I wish all of you a good day!

I am so sorry that you're still struggling. Do you think your GP made an error by lowering your dose? Also, do you think it's possible that your energy remains low because of having had covid?

Your doctors impress me @Mountaindewed. They really take care of you.

Since you have a new gender and a new name will you be assigned a different ss number?

@JaneRedux it did honestly bother me a lot when you talked about dressing up as a man. Trans men arent "dressing up" and we certainly arent cross dressers. That is downright a transphobic comment although I know you didn't mean it that way. Its also not cool to pretend to be Jewish either or any other race or religion. I am half Jewish and most of my dads extended family died in the Holocaust. I know you think its just lighthearted fun, but it honestly just seems like you are making a mockery of things and someday you may run into the wrong people who really don't appreciate it. Just think more clearly about things.

Weather report from the Sacramento Valley, because I know you all can't wait to hear it! We had a bearable week-end, around 90 degrees. The earlier part of this week will be the same - but then come the 100-plus degrees again. Ugggghhhh. I had high hopes that the darn 100's were over for this year. Ha. No way.

Okay, I slept well and awoke feeling the best I've felt in a month. Achy, quite fatigued, but no other outstanding symptoms. Perhaps I can get back on my skates tomorrow. I am missing skating so much, but my legs are just too shaky to handle safe skating.

I don't think so but I'm not sure. I just know I'll be getting a brand new ID.

Yeah I never had this type of medical care in my old state. It took awhile for the mental health side of things to get under control though. That for sure is not like it was where I used to live.

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Originally Posted by Mountaindewed @JaneRedux it did honestly bother me a lot when you talked about dressing up as a man. Trans men arent "dressing up" and we certainly arent cross dressers. That is downright a transphobic comment although I know you didn't mean it that way. Its also not cool to pretend to be Jewish either or any other race or religion. I am half Jewish and most of my dads extended family died in the Holocaust. I know you think its just lighthearted fun, but it honestly just seems like you are making a mockery of things and someday you may run into the wrong people who really don't appreciate it. Just think more clearly about things.

I appreciate how well you have expressed a reality that needs to be heard.

I feel i've been misinterpreting the purpose of this forum. I'm coming down from a euphoric mania and am struggling with rapid-cycling. This morning my mood was soaring. When i feel so good, i just want to have fun and i am so lonely i try and have it here on the forum. But that's not appropriate as this is a bipolar support forum and i need to limit my communication here to giving and getting support re bipolar. I have my drop-in for fun and my neighbors and will try to participate more purposefully here on the forum from now on. When i feel so gregarious i have a lot of trouble remembering that not everyone is my friend and that some people are peers in the recovery movement, just as others are business associates and i need to use different ways of relating appropriate to the circumstances.

I'm really trying to understand your post @JaneRedux. I'm not sure I'm "getting" it, though. I'm genuinely sorry if I'm misinterpreting it.

With that said, 2 thoughts come to my mind.

One is that using a mood disorder to excuse certain behaviors is (to me, anyway) not acceptable. It's not at all cool to me when someone says, "I was drunk/high when I..." did (whatever), because that can get into dangerous territory. I feel the same way about mood changes, even if they are the result of a mental illness.

My other thought is that it's true that we have to maintain a degree of restraint (boundaries) on this forum, since the forum's purpose is to give and receive support. As I understand it, it's okay to discuss what's on our mind or in our thoughts, but not if doing so hurts or insults someone else.

These are just my thoughts. Others may have different ideas.

Waiting on my ramen to cool. I was able to get all of the ingredients to make proper (if basic) Japanese ramen! Noodles, ginger, garlic, soy, chicken (and chicken broth). Can't wait to taste test!

Unfortunately, I ran into another hiccup in this year of hiccups! The starter on my car is acting up. I still needed to get gas. By the grace of... somebody up there, I was able to get home and give my dad a call. His network of people includes a lot of mechanics. A lot of very good mechanics! My dad, myself and the mechanic are supposed to powwow in the morning and figure out a solution. Hope it's not too much fuss. I have enough of that!

On the good news front, I was able to meet my friend for lunch for the first time since his near death experience. Basic story: double pneumonia, sepsis, kidneys, 5 day induced coma. A lot to take in, on his end definitely and a bit on mine. We chatted, caught up, talked politics and religion and current events as we do. It was nice.

On the fun news front, I got a telegram from one A. Lincoln to "My Dear Little Miss" Grace Bedell, an 11 year old who asked the soon to be president about his family, kids and suggested he grow facial hair to look more distinguished. Apparently Lincoln took her advice! To clarify, I won a subscription to a historical letter service where they send stuff like that every week. The history buff in me swoons!

I think my ramen might be ready!

The ramen sounds wonderful @Aurelius710!

Uggghh about your starter. It's terrific, though, that you may have a mechanic in your dad's circle.

I'm a huge history buff. Your subscription service sounds fabulous! What types of history are you especially interested in?

I'm pretty sure I'll be making more homemade ramen. Amazing comfort food! Like chicken noodle soup with a lite spice and soy sauce taste!

As far as history goes, I'm all over the place. Ancient Rome, especially towards the end when the Goths and the Huns were at the gates. The Goths have an amazing story, starting out with nothing and ending up in Rome itself. They crossed into Roman territory and were used and abused by the garrisons, to a horrific extent, and when the leaders loudly objected, the garrisons murdered them all, with the exception of one, Fritigern. He led the Goths in a war that ended with the death of the Eastern Emperor Valens in battle and, through his successor the sack of Rome in the West.

I guess you can say I like a story, one where I can follow the threads and find causes and can make good guesses as to who people are. I like to understand the "heart" of the place I'm studying and/or visiting.

I also like Russian history and Modern Mideast history (WWI on). It's part of what I studied in college, and had a chance to see and I would love a chance to see them again.

My dad always has travel guides (to places all over). He'll buy them, read them and put them on the shelf. With few exceptions, he never visited them. He said, and I'm paraphrasing, "I visited them in the book. What more do I need?" I don't get that, at all. I see those same guidebooks and think "I need to see for myself." I want to see and hear the stories. I want to find the heart and soul of the places I visit. Sometimes I don't, but many times I do. Keeps life interesting!

I had no knowledge of the history of the Goths @Aurelius710. Fascinating! Now I'll read about them.

I absolutely love to travel. Ans no...seeing a place in a book is certainly not the same as being in a place with all your senses engaged.

Well N1's surgery has been rescheduled to October. Maybe by then I'll have the courage to drive to her place and back . And maybe the construction will be gone.

N3 asked me to drive his gf to her new job on Wednesday again. I said okay but then researched how she could take the bus there. It would mean getting on the bus at 6 a.m. and to the stop near her job at 7:30 where she'd have to walk the rest of the way which might take half an hour as a guess. I have no idea what time they're going to want her to start. Plus taking the bus would be way cheaper than the gas and wear and tear on my car that I'd ask them to pay me. I sent N3 all this info in a text and he hasn't replied so I don't know if he saw it or not and if he did if he's mad at me for suggesting the bus. But I think she could do it once she gets used to it. N3 would drive her home.

We are having dinner together- me, the kids, my mom and her husband- this Saturday. I plan on taking their pictures again like I did about a year ago. I should get my cameras out and make sure I still know how to use them.

Oh yes, I understand what you've written here. If I saw you in person I would most likely recognize you as a woman in men's clothing but then again I have always been fascinated by gender. I have a good friend who's a eunuch and so is his partner. We've been writing emails to each other for almost 20 years now! He said he toyed with the idea of transitioning but figured out that he didn't so much want to be a woman as he just didn't want to be a man anymore. He reminds me lots of my grandmother when I was a kid. I've seen several photos of him and he looks soft- skin wise and his fat distribution is more like a female's but not exactly. It's a very interesting thing indeed! He wears men's clothing, too .

So yes, I can relate to your curiosity with gender and gender rolls and physical appearance.

Mum’s younger brother is turning 90 next week so his Son is throwing a party. But I still don’t have my car. The car part hasn’t come yet. So we called my daughter to ask if she could drive us. Guess what, her car is in the shop! Needs a car part and it’s on back order! But her loaner is nice and can be driven out of town, so she’s taking us to the party. It will be fun to see my cousins.

..Tapatalk

I was depressed all last week was in a good mood cause I got to spend it with my kids. I love them they are great kids. They spent like all day together Sunday doing all kinds of fun stuff. It was nice to see them get along and my daughter was smiling from ear to ear all evening. Been a long time since I saw her smile like that it was nice.
My daughter and her girlfriend broke up the other day it was a long time coming. She is upset but she is also ok with it she said she was wanting this.

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That smile of your daughter's sounds lovely! I'm glad you had some quality time with your kids, otroo.

I think my husband and I are getting a bit closer to buying the place I've written about. There are, of course, some major frustrations with the bureaucracy. I'm not sure if anyone remembers, but there's been a long hassle regarding my last name. In the US, I took the male version of my husband's last name. However, in Czech Republic, I have the female version of his last name. We were married in Czech Republic over 24 years ago, so they put the female version in their systems, yet my US passport and other US documents show the male version. By male and female version, I'm referring to the Slavic language tendency to add endings (usually "ova" or "a" in Czech Republic) to the ends of male family names for females.

Another issue we have is where we'll have the moving company take our stuff when we move. We'll be staying in an Airbnb for a few months, but hoped to store most stuff at the new property. However, it seems it will take a bit more than a month to actually officially "have the keys". Hubby said he'd ask if it is OK to store our stuff there before then. If not, we have to find a warehouse, which would cost money and mean yet another move of stuff. We may even consider asking the new owner of the house we currently live to let us store our boxed up stuff where we are now, for another month. But then that would mean we have to pay them another month's rent, meaning we'll pay double rent that month. That could be a better deal than paying the warehouse fees and two moves fees. We'll see how it all pans out.

I’m sorry things are so frustrating with your name. That’s fascinating about the male/female version. I hope the complications with your name and the storage situation get resolved smoothly and quickly.