Moving in slow motion.

I understand what you're going through and know how frustrating it can be. I've been stuck in a lyme bubble for years and am desperately trying to find my way out. lol

I think it's great that you're working and using your talents. I'm sure your clients are happy with the final product and that's what matters most. Just think how far ahead you will be of the others when you do manage to get out of the bubble.

Hang in there and trust that it will get better.

Veromia, yes, it takes me hours longer to complete any task than it does others. Fortunately, I work alongside other old ladies, and one is slower than I. But as far as normal day to day things -- I am out of time and energy every day. I live in a (large) one bedroom apt. Not only can I not clean it in one day, I can't clean it in a week. I constantly feel overwhelmed by daily life because it's gotten to the point I can't take care of daily business or chores besides my job and my dogs. And it's getting difficult w/ the dogs, tho I still walk/hike w/ them. We just can't do it for long and I'm having trouble and a lot of pain doing it. As for my dogs, I will keep taking them, even if I have to go in a wheelchair!

Veromia, I was going to start a new topic on this, but since you asked: Amitriptyline, generic of Elavil, an antidepressant. This is not a pain killer, but is often prescribed for chronic pain. As in depression, it does something to your nerve communications or something like that to decrease pain. The plus side is that it helps you sleep and have a more normal sleep w/o a 'hangover', like sleeping pills. For the first couple of weeks, it does make you tired and groggy feeling. But when it's built up in your system, that part goes away. My mother takes an extremely low dose, 10mg and she loves the way she sleeps.

I cannot say that it has actually relieved my pain, but when I went to my psych, complaining about worsening depression and a lot of body pain, he upped my dose, and my general aches and body pain (as opposed to my unrelieved back and neck pain) did improve a little. I feel like I don't get those episodes of burning, aching, bruised feeling pains as often as I was.

Both Hydrocodone and viocen are have codeine. I love codeine, but my tolerence builds up way too fast. I don't feel the codeine mixes are good for most people w/ chronic pain, because it's a narcotic, so addiction and tolerance eventually happens. I firmly believe that is why some people die of overdoses, and not because of suicide. But because they need more and more to feel anything and then all of a sudden, the dose is fatal.

There is a non-narcotic synthetic codeine med that is not addictive. A guy gave me some, several years ago, but I cannot remember the name of it to save my life! Maybe you could ask your pharmacist?

I have a pit mix, Mocha --- sweetest little baby there ever was, but HIGH energy!! And Roo, I call her half coyote, half kangaroo -- she is a rare and wild dog! They are both 60 lbs. Our off leash park is 52 acres of undeveloped land, with many nice hiking trails thru the woods. There is a canine only beach where Mocha swims lap after lap, and Roo enjoys just runing around intimidating large males when she can get away w/ it. We are so lucky to have this. I like to get them out as many days per week, into the world to run leash free in what would have been their natural environment -- Mother Nature. They enjoy the socialization w/ new people and old friends as much as meeting other dogs. Sorry, way OT. I am just dedicated to giving them the best life I possibly can. There's plenty of old cripples w/ canes and walking sticks in there (and I usually have a walking stick to put weight on), so I hope I can manage this at least until they are aging. I am single, so I'm all they've got, so I MUST do this!

Oh, Weimeraners, yep, they need some runnin!