Bipolar Check-in #72

Hubby and I have been so extremely busy lately that it's taken a toll on us. Luckily today brings a little break. We wanted to sleep in, but the realtor for the seller of the property we're buying had to come this morning to have us sign a new contract. We've had to extend and extend and extend because of annoying bureaucratic issues that slow the final transfer.

In early/mid December and since returning home this month, I've had blood taken a total of five times. I had it taken twice this week alone. This week I also had two abdominal ultrasounds, a CT scan, an EKG, a two hour glucose tolerance test, a full physical examination, and urine samples taken. I thought it would end for a while, but I have to do the blood and urine thing again in two weeks and then again in two months. In early February, I finally see my new psychiatrist in the area after a whopping four months not seeing a pdoc The longest span since before my first psych hospitalization about 18 years ago. Enough already!

Tomorrow I go to hopefully get my new Czech long-term resident card. Next week I go to the US embassy to get a new passport. Everything is close to expiration at the same time. If I don't get the former soon, I'd not be allowed to stay in CZ much longer. If I didn't get the latter, the only country I'd be allowed to visit outside of Europe beyond five months is the US, but then I'd not be able to return to any country beyond the US.

Hello all! I’m doing fairly well these days. Some days I get the winter doldrums but mostly I’m fine.

I’m getting ready this morning for bible study, lunch with sister, 2 doctor’s appointments and a grief support class. That is how my days have been running. Busy, busy, busy.

I think I mentioned I’m preparing to leave for a week to take mom up north to see her sisters. We’re having that big family reunion in July but she wants to go now so we go. Fortunately, we travel through my daughter’s town so we’ll stop off for lunch going and coming.

I’m meeting daughter this Sunday at the Cracker Barrel halfway. I’m taking her a caramel crunch cake from Publix. Best cake ever so I want her to try it. I have an event that night so I’ll have to visit and get home.

Mom lost my driver’s license while she was out the other day. I applied for a duplicate then got a very nice note in the mail along with my original returning it to me. Someone found it. Goodness still exists.

I hope everyone has a peaceful day. Much love

Why is this the first I’m hearing of this new wonder drug Lybalvi?,

When it rains, it pours. My sister died 1/4/20 my brother was murdered 7/24/20 my wife died 11/18/21 and I just found out this morning that one of my best friends committed suicide on Monday. This sucks I mean, how much more can I take until I break. I'm starting to lose it, but I have to keep it together for my kids. Thanks for letting me vent

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So more med changes for h. Immediate switched my husband from lamictal to abilify. He's on to much meds to flip him to mania and the PCP was like I can't leave you like that.

Short update: surgery went week and I am going to attempt to return to work on Monday.

However on Sunday I found out through urgent care I had strep throat and yesterday after RS brought me home I forced him to do a home Covid test since he was sick and it was positive.

So I can’t use my hand and he can’t come close w/o a mask on to help me. Should be a fun week!

Hugs to all!

I go every day to see mum. Today I made a huge loop to the gas station to fill up as it’s really a nice temperature, 32F. That warm for us. Got .39 cents of per gallon in so saved almost $2. I didn’t need a fill up, but in winter I like to keep the tank full. Especially if it’s a warm day. Nothing worse than standing at a gas pump in below freezing temperatures.

Then over to the library to return mum’s books. I took her a large print reader’s digest book. That’s ours so it doesn’t matter if it gets lost or misplaced. So all the library books are back except the one I’m reading. Got three on request . Hopefully they all won’t come at the same time.

Took mum a muffin to eat with her afternoon coffee.

I’m a bit miffed as they dressed her in the same clothes as she’s had for 3 days now. She has clean clothes in the closet. I told her to tell them to put these in the hamper tonight. I’ll wash her clothes. Geez! That’s terrible. The pt lady came while I was there, she’s nice.

Just back from shopping at an electronics store with a friend. This person frequently feigns poverty and would I buy him Starbucks. He frequently has a lot of cash in his wallet but when questioned he gets all defensive and once he got angry about it decided to lecture me saying that I didn’t know what that money was for!

Well! Today we went to an electronics store so he could get some over-the-ears Bluetooth headphones. After tax they were over $400. Bose brand. He said something about having to rob Peter to pay Paul with his bills but he really wants and “needs” them. He paid with his debit card as he was not approved immediately for the store’s credit card. This is the man that frequently complains about how much he owes the IRS and how much he “bleeds” when they take their automatic payment each month. (He came into some money some years ago and never paid taxes on it.). And now he said something recently about getting that same amount recently- about $250k. A total of half a million. I assume he plans on paying the taxes on it this time. In fact, he could pay off the IRS with the second part of the money.

I just got back from a day skiing! First time since breaking my hip about this time last year. It took a few green runs to get my ski legs back, but by the end of the day I was hitting the black diamonds without a prob (I did wipe out twice though, once I lost total control from going to fast and once I hit a rock :/)

Why is this the first I’m hearing of this new wonder drug Lybalvi?,

I hear you on keeping the tank full. I stopped today for some since it was 70 ! Cloudy but so warm for us this time of the year.

That’s sad they aren’t giving your Mum fresh clothes daily. Like come on people !

Here’s hoping your books come in staggered . Seems like it’s all or nothing lol !

How’s Sir ??!

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Sir has recently taken an avid interest in my food. He’s always ignored human food. But with mum he’d beg her until she would offer him something then turn up his nose and walk away. Now that she’s not here I’m not really cooking and eat in front of the TV, so he’s taking an interest. He sticks his head in whatever I’m eating, sniffs it thoroughly then sits and stares at me, as if asking how I can eat that awful stuff.

I’m so sorry you have had such enormous loss. Are you seeing a T ? Are you still in grief counseling?

Hugs hun hang in there

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I am pretty much over the URI Thankfully. Steve on the other hand is still not back to normal and coughs so hard he’s in horrible physical pain from it so very concerned for him. I feel awful that he’s sick because of me !

I called so many Doctors office today trying to find a new GP .. Good grief ! I finally just called the walk-in clinic so that our records will be available. I do worry that they will want numerous appts since it’s becoming common practice for walk in clinics to only address one “ condition” at a time. I asked the receptionist if that was policy and her reply was it depends on which provide .. ugh I hope not. We can’t afford a bunch of office visits like that. Dumb Dumb Dumb

As for the new med Rinvoq I’m on I’m still not sure about staying on it. I’m having runs of tachycardia which I’m taking medication for and it was well controlled.. now My Fitbit alerts me when it happens and that makes me jump ! I dunno. I see my Rheumatologist next month.

Was so warm today ! Storms coming through next couple days then cold snap , not looking forward to it , pain pain pain on the way.

Rambling again . *sigh*

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I’m really grateful the Mayo Clinic has a branch here. When I first moved here they wanted my records and I had to sign multiple papers to multiple providers but now all my records are in one place and I get copies though the portal of my visits. It’s nice having everything under one umbrella. Everything except dental is in one place. The only bad part was having to wait a few years for a pdoc. But fortunately I’ve been stable so the pcp could just fill my psych meds as I was on them. The minus part is anything serious gets referred to Rochester which is a pain. But so far I’ve not needed that. Mum has a few times and parking is a real nightmare. I hope you can find a GP soon.

When it rains, it pours. My sister died 1/4/20 my brother was murdered 7/24/20 my wife died 11/18/21 and I just found out this morning that one of my best friends committed suicide on Monday. This sucks I mean, how much more can I take until I break. I'm starting to lose it, but I have to keep it together for my kids. Thanks for letting me vent

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You are so lucky to have Mayo Clinic! I'm glad all of your care is centralized. It is such a hassle when it isn't. When I lived in New Jersey everything was nearby. Even in Brno, CZ things were somewhat close. Now we'll live a little more in the boondocks. Prague is about 40 to 45 mins away by car or about 1 hour by public transportation, which I will likely start taking in the future. There are few doctors in the immediate vicinity to where we'll live and almost none that speak English, unlike in Prague. And most are not taking new patients. I found one place in Prague that is walking distance from the train station that has my new GP, gynecologist, and ENT. My current others kinda need to be driven to by car.

Today we're going to get my new Czech long-term resident card. I fear my name issue will be problematic. I also need new US passport photos. I need luck that I won't look hideous in them. I'm not photogenic. My current passport's is horrible, but my current Czech ID's is surprisingly OK. Both of their photos will be replaced.

I am pretty much over the URI Thankfully. Steve on the other hand is still not back to normal and coughs so hard he’s in horrible physical pain from it so very concerned for him. I feel awful that he’s sick because of me !

I called so many Doctors office today trying to find a new GP .. Good grief ! I finally just called the walk-in clinic so that our records will be available. I do worry that they will want numerous appts since it’s becoming common practice for walk in clinics to only address one “ condition” at a time. I asked the receptionist if that was policy and her reply was it depends on which provide .. ugh I hope not. We can’t afford a bunch of office visits like that. Dumb Dumb Dumb

As for the new med Rinvoq I’m on I’m still not sure about staying on it. I’m having runs of tachycardia which I’m taking medication for and it was well controlled.. now My Fitbit alerts me when it happens and that makes me jump ! I dunno. I see my Rheumatologist next month.

Was so warm today ! Storms coming through next couple days then cold snap , not looking forward to it , pain pain pain on the way.

Rambling again . *sigh*

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