Up Way Too Early!
This has not been a good winter for Bears. Much too short and much too mild. We were coming out of hibernation in mid-March — as much as two months early! (While some are still in the dead of winter, like the Black Bears in the eastern part of Canada, I believe they are the exceptions.)I have no idea what this event might mean for food production this year, but I'm watching for signs. Meantime, as in many springs, I've been reduced to eating grass. Fortunately, the supply isn't too bad. (Despite what you may have heard, we Bears actually eat anything and everything, depending on what we find. We may prefer meat, but nuts, honey, and grass are all fine, if that's all we have around us.)
Doing Drugs
A while ago, when I first crawled out, a friend asked how I was doing. And, well, the best I can say is that I'm still here.Most of your know I have two chronic problems: depression and pain.
Depression
There is really good news here. I am doing much better! Thanks, God, and friends who have stood by me!The human side of me has found a really interesting book called Learned Optimism: How to Change Your Mind and Your Life. It has been written by psychologist named Martin Seligman, and it leads to a real breakthrough.
I've had no change in my drug regimen, but I may be able to decrease one of them. Perhaps sooner than later.
Pain
The not-so-good part of the story is my continuing experience with chronic pain. It is showing up in different ways; ways I had not expected. So, I'm living with something called Hydromorphone; it is a new challenge. "Steady as she goes."Thanks for all your visits; I hope to be back next week.
Blessings and Bear hugs, everyone!
Today's Weather Report
It is 10°C in the land of the Bear (but it only feels like about 7°C). But 10 C is one of those "benchmark" numbers to hold for mental reference; 10C is 50°F.
Tomorrow, the day will start at about the freezing point, before rising to 17C (in the mid-60s F) under mostly sunny skies.
Oh Bear I'm glad you are still around. I'm sorry for your pain. I've haven't read a blog in a long time and it's sad to see that so many that I used to read have now gone away. I wonder and worry about them. I'm glad you're still growling!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Suzie. I'm glad to be here. I just wish your son and granddaughter were in better spaces.
DeleteBlessings and Bear hugs to all of you.
So glad to see your name!
ReplyDelete"Oh my name it is nothin’ My age it means less."
Delete~ Bob Dylan, "God on Our Side."
Blessings and Bear Hugs, Butterfly Writer.
The first step in dealing with the crappy things in life is to be up and about. It sounds like you are there. Just keep taking small steps and hopefully you will find yourself in some sunshine.
ReplyDeleteI'm living life one step at a time, which I think is a good plan for a more senior Bear. As for the sunshine, it showed up all by itself — I didn't have to do anything, and it just appeared. God is good.
DeleteBlessings and Bear hugs, m'lady!
I am so glad to hear from you, now that spring is here! I hope you will continue to peer out from your cave now and then and let me know you are still on this side of the grass! :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks, DJan!
DeleteI am hoping that your spring re-appearance on April 1 does not mean that you are joking with us! It's truly good to see you post, and, as always, I'm hoping that another report will appear very soon.
ReplyDeletexo
I had not thought of that, Frances. Sometimes one does not pay enough attention to the details of ordinary life.
DeleteGreat to hear form you.
I've missed you, Bear!!
ReplyDeleteMissed you too, Fishducky. I'll be around for most of the summer and fall, I expect.
DeleteBlessings and Bear hugs.
Hello there dear Bear! I've read several of Seligman's books and have found them to be quite helpful ~~ keep moving forward, we care tons about you.
ReplyDeleteWelcome back from your hibernation! My dad made me read the Power of Positive Thinking when I was a teenager getting down; it's helped me ever since.
ReplyDeleteWelcome back and so good to see a post from you. I haven't heard of Seligman's book, I will have to find it. Keep fighting the good fight- I have missed reading your posts.
ReplyDeleteSo glad to see you emerge from your den, R-bear - welcome back! The Seligman book sounds very interesting - will look it up.
ReplyDeletePleased to see you back and the other good news is that the weather must be getting warmer! I am sure that the sunshine will do you a power of good.
ReplyDeleteSunshine is good here, CW. Hope you are having a delightful spring, thinking about your garden and not having to work at the chemists. BTW, have you finished up your work on the cottage?
DeleteBlessings and Bear hugs!
Welcome back. May there be some berries in your near future!
ReplyDeleteIt is berry possible there will be quite a lot of fruit in my future — in fact, it is already here. You pick on your side of the bush, Reffie, and I'll pick on mine. Unless, of course, Evil Twin upsets that arrangement
DeleteBlessings and Bear hugs!
Good to see you stretching from the long sleep
ReplyDeleteGood to be up and about, Graham. Thanks.
DeleteBlessings and bear hugs!
I was thrilled to have you return to reading my blog, and, in case you missed it, I’ll mention that I did comment in response to your comment. Hydromorphone is Dilaudid, which is a serious pain killer. I take oxycodone (combined with acetaminophen, it’s called Percocet; with aspirin, Percodan), which is also better than what most people get, but maybe not quite as good as Dilaudid. If Dilaudid isnt’ enough, you might inquire about Fentanyl which, so far as I know, is as good as it gets. I had it when I broke my back, and I hardly even felt it when I closed my thumb in the bathroom door, which was a bad thing because I nearly lost the thumb, and I still can’t keep a fingernail on it.
ReplyDeleteYou suffer from depression, yet you’re bummed about having a mild winter! Jeez! Winter is the worst time for me because I find it so hard to get exercise and fulfillment from projects.
You know, Bear, I’ve always liked you, and there are no bloggers who I’m more attracted to than the ones with whom I don’t agree, and what with you being a Christian and me an atheist, we are bound to disagree.
I'm settling into my drug routine, Snow, with 4mg every six hours (more or less). That looks after the chronic back pain (and even the acute pain of having a walnut-size cyst removed from my back yesterday — yuck!). I appreciate all the info you share about living with the practical details of these medications. The doctor doesn't want to put me on something like Percocet, I think, because I have taken a lot of acetaminophen, and it is messing up my liver. Yeah, lots of things on which to keep working.
DeleteBlessings and Bear hugs!
So glad that you've resurfaced and feeling better in at least some areas. Sorry to hear that pain continues to plague you though. Sending healing hugs.
ReplyDeleteResurfaces, like a Loon. Thanks for the support and hugs!
DeleteBlessings and Bear hugs back to you!
Surprise Surprise! A good one - though the pain and discomfort isn't. I'm sorry you're waking up to it. Hang in there.
ReplyDeleteActually, it's the Monkeys or Sloths who are better at "hanging in" than Bears. But thanks for the support!
DeleteBlessings and Bear hugs!
Oh my depression a bad pain . Well it's good to blog a bit because we are all here to listen and care. Snowbrush seems to be well uo there with good info. Come back soon.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your understanding and support, Heidrun.
DeleteAnd here is a note from Snowbrush. (Out of sequence, but, well, the technology had a hiccup.)
ReplyDeletePercocet is simply oxycodone combined with acetaminophen, so you can get it without the acetaminophen (in which case, it’s not called Percocet.) As to why they combine the two, I have no earthly idea, and even pharmacists can’t tell me. You’re probably old enough to remember hearing other kids talk about getting high on Percodan, which is simply oxycodone combined with aspirin. They also combine hydrocodone with acetaminophen in which case it’s called Vicodin or Norco—among other things—but as narcotics go, hydrocodone is fairly weak (of course, you can take a high enough dose to make up for that). What you're taking is strong enough that you would have to go up to Fentanyl to beat it. I’ve had Fentanyl, and it’s really good stuff.
Why haven’t you posted of late? When a dedicated blogger is suffering as much as you are, and I don’t hear from him for two months, I worry. I’ve never felt that you’re a suicide risk, but I doubt that anyone can suffer as you do without suicide crossing his mind from time to time. If you ever want my email address, just say the word. I know you had it years ago, but it has changed since then.
Blessings and hugs to you too, my friend. I think a lot of you.
I just want to say that this is a truly intelligent and thoughtful comment from a completely wonderful person, and that he has given me a whole new life.
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