Couch 244: Great Expectations

Trigger for women's health stuff

Not trying to be a sarky , but it only took him 5 years. You should send him an invoice and charge him for having to teach him this course!

Well done Artie bean and for telling your dentist you were in pain instead of trying to push through the pain.

Time to start a blog too! This is fab work.

"Knitting with Art. "
"The knit project"

I want a cheque in the post sent to Seattle, when you become a star.

Snark away! I've thought before that he should pay me for the continuing education. As I'm benefiting his current and future clients, too, by teaching him about these things..

Maybe a blog on both crocheting and writing!

Ugh, I hope it ends soon. Are any of the things the doctor prescribed helping?


I also would not recommend perimenopause to anyone! Besides cycle changes, it's also affected my sleep, plus I think it's affecting my moods (without the predictability of PMS). I've read a list with around 25 potential perimenopause symptoms on it, and so many matched what I've experienced (though of course they may not all be solely attributable to hormonal fluctuations).

Thanks, Artie! It was helpful yesterday in some of what we were discussing. He just seemed more at ease with the idea of it, too. I imagine it helps that he's understanding that it's not all about *him* personally, but in part his role.

We also talked more about how unusual the therapeutic relationship is. Where he gives me emotional support, but I'm not really supposed to/expected to give that back to him (as I would in a friendship or marriage/partnership), just money. I mentioned something about a waiter, and he said that's actually a good comparison--that I wouldn't be expected to serve a waiter food in exchange for them serving me.

Today is his birthday, and I did *not* mention anything about it this time! He seemed weird when I mentioned it last year (my session was on his actual birthday), so I just let it go this time. (Now he's probably thinking, "Gees, LT forgot my birthday.")

I hope you can find some relief soon NP.

I got my hair cut this morning, same as 3 months ago. Thank you for the inspiration, una. It feels so much better, I waited too long it was out of control!

ooh and I see that the 'tarot for writers' book i ordered is out for delivery, looking forward to diving into that. I've been doing some writing today on a subject that L suggested. I wish I could talk the same way I can write. I was apparently born without the gene that allows one to organize their thoughts when speaking - more than half the time I can't even remember them at all, and I can't very well organize what I can't remember. ha. and even more comes up when I'm writing because it's right there in my face, when I re-read it, more invariably comes up. L suggested yesterday that I print out all the stuff I'm writing for the 'write your way home' course and save it in a physical binder, to make it more 'real' and not just out in a cloud somewhere like it is on the computer only. I think that's a good idea so I'm gonna do it.

So far so good with the permanent crown...

I am loving mine more every day! It was really falling in my face too much. And the back looks sooo good, even the front is starting to look better! I plucked my eyebrows for the first time since my eye surgery, they look awesome too. I might even shave my mustache. Thats the good thing about old age - little changes make such a great difference!

Glad to hear!

Is now a good time to tell you that when i had my last root canal done, i hope they are not wondering why i havent gone back!!!

I had already decided if they changed their mind and it needed a root canal, I was going to go up to Mesa where they do sedation dentistry. I refuse to be conscious for one of those rascals.

Seems like a while since I checked in, but really only a week.

So this past week grades were due, I had three Commencement ceremonies, I was on a search committee that did three days’ worth of first-round interviews @75 minutes each, and I moved into my house. Now unpacking. I’m at the stage where it’s like, “ooh, let’s see what’s in this box. Surprise!”

Next week, continue unpacking, start summer ASL class, pick up new hearing aids (I’ve dropped into the severe/profound range, down from moderate/severe just last year, and won’t my employer love that). And have to start various summer projects.

has anyone filed for social security disability? i applied tonight. It took like an hour and a half. If you haven’t followed all my drama-here is the short(ish) version. I started to have soreness in my feet in Nov, but it wasn’t until the beginning of January that they really started hurting. Jan through all of Feb was hell. I am on my feet all day, and the pain increased in severity and length of time to where they hurt 24/7. I saw podiatrists, an orthopedic surgeon and my GP. All but one podiatrist diagnosed me with plantar fasciitis.

I went to physical therapy twice a week for 3 weeks, before insurance cut me off. The physical therapist was completely stumped that nothing she tried eased my pain. I did all the stretches and exercises recommended. Twice a day for 30 min. My pain did not diminish, maybe got worse.

Got an MRI, and the orthopedic surgeon said it wasn’t plantar fasciitis. Possible nerve damage. I have an appt in June for a nerve test.

By the end of Feb, I could not take the pain anymore.
I went out on FMLA. The plan was to come back in 3 weeks. I rested, iced, used a heating pad, kept up w the exercises. Nothing worked. I had to use all of my FMLA, and since that ended, my position as a preschool teacher was terminated bc I wasn’t free of the pain. They found another position that was mostly sitting. I lasted two shifts before the severe pain came back.

I was let go two weeks ago. I had not been paid during those 7 weeks off. My bank account couldn’t pay rent for May, much less all my bills. With the help of family and friends, I currently have enough $ for May and I think June.

The only reason why I am not in pain is because I have been off my feet completely for the past few weeks. I just tried taking short walks, and can last about 30 min before they hurt. If I tried to continue to be on my feet after that, the pain would just increase.

I filed for unemployment, though there has been issue after issue, so I have not been accepted. I need to go down to the office monday bc there is a decision.

I filed for insurance. I have medicaid, but have to wait until June 1 to pick a plan. But I still need to pick up prescriptions, so that is extra difficult.

I am losing my therapist of 8 years in a few weeks
bc she does not accept medicaid. Devastated is an understatement. I had to call the crisis line last night bc I was sobbing for 3 hours straight and a xanax didn’t help much. I have never had a panic attack until all of this happened.

So I filed for disability tonight. The biggest thing I am worried about is the fact that I don’t know how bad my condition is yet. They ask if you will be out of work for at least 12 months. I don’t know the answer to that.
They also asked if I can work currently. I said yes, because I hopefully will find some sort of job where I sit all day. Data entry, filing paperwork, etc.

I need to send them all of my medical records. I also included my therapists as a healthcare professional, bc my mental health has been severely affected.

So therapists write notes for disability?

So, this wasn’t short, sorry. I am just wondering if anyone has gone through this process. How long does it take? What other steps might there be?

I’m terrified that I will have to leave my state to move back to my home state (8.5 hour drive) to live w my dad. There are many logistics i won’t go into, but besides it being financially beneficial, I will have nothing. I love my dad, but I am not emotionally close to any family member. I have a feeling I will deteriorate, and not have the emotional support I have down here.

My life is falling apart.

I was just thinking earlier today that we hadn't heard from you in a while. I was wondering if you were okay.

I agree with NP. I’m glad you checked in. I also hope kit is ok.

Thanks--and yes, I think therapists can do notes for disability. I know No. 1 did at least one (not for me).

I'm glad you checked in, @@. Sounds like you've got more than enough to keep you busy.

So I'm excited about this tarot for writers book i got. haven't looked at it too much just yet but from what I've looked at, I think I'm going to enjoy it. It includes lots of writing prompts, how to use different tarot spreads in your writing process, games for writing groups, talks about the different symbols and archetypes and stuff on the cards, poetic inspiration, etc. That was just on a quick flip-through. I can't focus on work anymore today, I am done with all the work that was assigned to me and since there's only like 5 minutes left of my shift, I'm not asking for more. It usually takes 2-3 minutes to get more assigned anyway and by that time, I definitely wouldn't be able to finish anything new. I want to dive into one of the exercises in this book!

Artie that sounds great! My mom read tarot, and i always felt it was a great thought-starter. So one purposely for writers sounds fantastic. Tarot cover the gamut of human experience

I wonder how our old friends are doing? Granite, southie (not her real name), the horse lawyer, lola, the sheep guy, the bbq guy, the south carolina girl, rainbow - i hope her back / leg issues resolved, i felt so bad for her. And too many other good friends to mention.