life is too short

Hi, it's been a couple days since I have wrote anything. First, I hope everyone has a wonderful Easter. I have bben working a lot and just trying to survive. Being a nurse has made me too stubborn. When I want treatment, i get impatience, but I am slowly changing. I started the Elavil and Neurontin for my leg pain and back and its been almost 2 months. I am tired but feel better. The Elavil makes me gasey and not hungry. I guess losing a little weight for side effects isnt so bad. I do need another antidepressant I think. I am going to find a new doctor next week. Finances arent good but we are hanging on for dear life. We have to for my two daughters. They know I hurt, but they try to make me happy and thats not hard with them. Life is too short to sit down and give up. A couple weeks ago, I was wishing I was 65 had the bills paid and had grandkids running around the house. Today, I am thinking about today and watching my girls grow up and be able to give them everything they want. Thats why I am working so much. My older daughter wants to go to church camp this summer and its not cheap. We are staying home for Easter, dont know what I will bake but we will have our Easter egg hunt.

Hi CS-
Sorry to hear you are struggling so. I too am having a hard time with finances, so I'm not sure I have much to offer you. Neurontin does often cause sleepiness, so you are not alone in feeling that way. There are prescription medications to counter that side effect, but they are costly & often not covered by insurance, so I won't suggest those at this time. Maybe you could just up your caffeine intake -- coffee, soda, chocolate, etc. & see if that helps. Also, for the depression, it is not uncommon for women who feel somewhat depressed to have low-ish B-12 levels. Definitely don't go overboard with the B-12, but you can get a low dose B-12 vitamin OTC for a pretty good price if you shop around for deals & use coupons. It does help me quite a bit. I also make sure to drink more water which my neurologist said somehow also helps counter depression a little bit.

Beyond that, I know you want to provide all the best things for your daughter. I think all mothers wish that for their children. But at the end of the day, she will benefit more from having a happier, healthier mother than from going to the best possible camp there is. She may or may not realize that right now, but I promise you in the long run that she really will recognize that you made every decision with her best interests in mind & missing camp will not even come close to making the list of things she wished she could have done. If you need more money to buy medicine or see a doctor/counselor to help you through this tough time, please don't feel like you're being a hero by foregoing those things in favor of costly recreational activities for your kids. Also, keep in mind that many church camps offer scholarships. Perhaps you can talk to the camp directors now to explain your situation and see what kinds of assistance or financing options might be available for you & your family. Sometimes there are even fundraisers (car washes or such) that the kids can participate in to help finance the camp costs.

Easter Blessings,
frances