Various

[elainegrey]

Another early morning migraine for Christine. We hope today will be the last roofing day. Existential questioning ran through my mind and i think also through Christine's.

She's been referred to an endocrinologist and resents it, framing it as the primary care provider not wanting to deal with that part of her care. I would LOVE to see an endocrinologist and ask, Why does prednisone make me feel well and can we make me feel that way all the time? Anyhow, the whole negative frame encompasses the location of the clinic, so i told her to pay attention to the trees near the clinic. She sent a photo of a lovely oak.

- -==0p== - -

Mostly today had a thread of depression running through it. I took off work early and spent time connecting with Christine, discussing doctors and our frustrations, how hard the past year was, and dealt with the roofers. It is mostly done.

I can't quite answer the question of what I would do differently. Maybe a better lunch would have helped me feel better in the latter afternoon.

I am thankful for my colleague K T. And thankful that my dad connected me with these good roofers who have made our home safer and more secure

I am delighted with my two big yellow bell peppers. With all the volunteer tomatoes. I will figure out a good way to get some lettuces and brassicas going for the fall in the greenhouse. I was delighted by the bright blue skies midday, the moonlight before dawn, the tiny little cricket frogs.

Comments

[cmcmck]

Enough for tomato chutney?

[elainegrey]

I'll need to pick all the remaining green tomatoes this weekend. I may try the chutney recipe - do you think it would freeze well? I haven't learned to can yet, and doing the work and letting the mold at it sounds very sad.

[annie_r]

I think PCPs these days refer to specialists for anything even slightly out of the ordinary. The brief appointments that they have scheduled just do not allow for one doctor to really delve into everything.

Prednisone does have psychological effects (is that what you are referring to, or the absence of symptoms that it's prescribed for?), but long term use, I'm sure you are aware of the nastier side effects, unfortunately.

[warriorsavant]

Ditto what she said about prednisone. Near-miraculous in the short term, but the ultimate double-edged sword beyond the short term.

[elainegrey]

I haven't known that many people to find the cognitive and emotional effects pleasant: for me the mental effects were heavenly and the reactions disappeared quickly. Someone once suggested that perhaps the positive mental effects were indicative of something i was missing (other than prednisone). I just don't have the energy to persue that self care possibility at the moment.

[warriorsavant]

Prednisone effects many - probably all - the systems, organs, and tissues of the body. It is possible to be “prednisone deficient” (one would properly call it cortisol), sometimes known as Addison’s Disease. At least in the short run, it is a mood elevator, but can also “elevate” to the point of near psychosis. It’s usually more that as patient’s come off the prednisone, they “crash” emotionally (like coming down off any high). Usually, both the up and the down are mild, the up being so mild they don’t think about it until the down hits. I usually warm ppl they’ll probably feel rather “blue” as they come off it; generally if they are aware it is happening, it doesn’t bother them as much.