Hi Sue,
I've spent the past month "playing" with depression medications.  I've developed a tremor in my hands and my counselor thought it might be due to the medication I was taking (Cymbalta).  My insurance company won't approve an MRI or CT scan to rule out Parkinson's Disease, so I'm on my own.  I found a month's supply of another drug I took last year and decided to switch back to it.  I was feeling pretty good, but the tremor didn't go away.  When I asked my doctor for a new prescription for it, it got lost in the shuffle and I found myself back on the Cymbalta for two weeks - and thoroughly depressed.  The new prescription was filled and I'm just getting back to normal.  I've decided the tremor is of the "essential tremor" sort.  Nothing can be done about it.  Luckily, it affects my left hand more than my right.  I'm right-handed.

I'm sorry to hear about your heart problems, but if your pacemaker works as well as my partner's, you'll be in good shape.  It's good to hear that you found a local group to drive you around.  Will your back get better or is the nerve damage permanent?  I was diagnosed with spinal stenosis years ago and now have low back pain.  But that's as far as it's gotten and I hope I'm one of the lucky ones who isn't bothered by it further.

My tomato plants are still living!  (That's all I planted.)  I water them every other day and one of them even has a few blossoms.  It seems that we're getting rain daily which helps with the watering.  It's been very hot and humid here the past few days and I hope they survive the hot weather.  July and August do tend to be hot and humid so I'll have to be careful to water my plants daily.  Such work for a few tomatoes!!

Take care.
Nancy

Hi Nancy,  I am so glad to hear from you, but sorry about the depression and the tremor.  My depression is pretty much limited to the dark days of late fall and winter, but I know how awful it can be.  Working outside even for a short time helps me.  I'm glad the new meds have helped and you're getting back to normal except for the tremor.

My tomato plants are trying to live and might get a tomato or two by October!  I planted bush beans about 3 weeks ago and the plants are tall, but need to leaf out more.  I'm hoping for some beans in late August or September.  We've had a lot of rain and I think these beans need some sunshine and soil that is not soaked.  This is a very unusual summer for central Alabama.  We are usually in drought by this time but here it is July and we're still having rain every week, sometimes 2 or 3 times.

I'm glad the new prescription helped with the depression--and also hope that you can get outside in the sunshine as often as possible.  I've found that helps me when depressed.

How is your partner feeling?  I think the last time I heard from you he was not doing well.

Write again soon,
Sue

Depression creates a rough go because it can't be seen.  I've been fighting it for years.  It is hot and humid here so I have been staying inside with the AC going.

Hi GinnyAnn.  I think I've mentioned this to you before, but I also have occasional bouts of depression--most often in winter when the weather is dark and dreary.  During the spring, summer, and fall with sunny days, I am OK.  Some people get special lamps to use inside when they're not getting enough sunshine.  You might look it up online and see if something like that might help.

Hugs!
Sue

Hi Sue & Ginny Ann,
The weather here in upstate New York has been hot and humid for weeks now.  We turn our AC on in the morning and it stays on until my partner goes to bed.  Kind of like the winter, except it's too hot and humid to go outside.

My new med, Trintellix, is still working.  I'm taking 30 mg of Cymbalta with it just for a kicker.  On a scale of 1 to 10, my depression is about at a four.  I have a bit more energy in the morning, but it's all gone by afternoon.  That may be the fibromyalgia talking.  I also get up two to three times a night to go to the bathroom, so I'm not getting lots of sound sleep.  I also use a CPAP machine which sometimes wakes me up.  So, I take afternoon naps every day.  My partner tells me my fatigue is because I'm "old".  Could be.

My tomato plants are still alive and have blossoms everywhere.  We have one plant of cherry tomatoes and one plant of regular tomatoes.  I don't need to water them as much because we get a thunderstorm usually every other day.  I don't know what I'm going to do with all of the tomatoes when they're full grown.  Start coming up with recipes for salsa, spaghetti sauce, etc.

Nancy

Hi Nancy, I'm glad to see you here today--I've missed your posts.  I'm sorry about you having to get up at night for the bathroom.  That really does a number on your sleep habits.  I try to stay up until 11:30 at least and make a couple of trips to empty my bladder between 9:00 and 11:30 p.m.  I can usually sleep then until 7:30 or 8:00 a.m.  I also restrict fluids after 8:00 p.m.  This also helps with the middle of the night potty stops.  I'm also glad to hear your new meds are helping. 

Take care and let us know how many tomatoes you get and what you'll do with them!

Sue
P.S.
My garden is slowly plodding along.  I have some blooms on my bush beans and might get some by the end of September or mid-October.  I was late in getting anything planted.  I have 2 tomato plants in that bed that are not giving any evidence of blooms.  I was just too late in getting to the garden center and getting veggie plants.  The flowers I bought at the same place (zinnias) are doing well now.

Deilia.  Now I was taking a mild BP that had Hydrochlorothiazide 12.5 in it. It had me getting up a few times also. Went a lot during the day. I do drink a lot of water. Was getting a little dizzy getting up in the morning. Doctor . Took me off it the other day to see what happens for a week.  Watch that I don't retain water and feet swell. So far O.K.  This 90 deg weather not helping otherwise. Been 7 weeks with hardly a break.

Hi Jeanne & Sue,
Seems like I've settled into a routine of doing just what needs to be done.  The meds I'm taking are not helping as much as I had hoped.  My fibromyalgia doesn't allow me to do much more than I'm able, which isn't much.  I feed my birds and squirrels every day and water my tomatoes when they need it.  This summer has been a rainy one and they're doing very well.  I counted six strands of cherry tomatoes ready to ripen.  The tomatoes on the other plant aren't doing as well.  We have three tomatoes growing on it, but they're no bigger than a cherry tomato.

My partner is going to have his pacemaker replaced Friday.  The battery is running low.  It will be a half day procedure.  His old one lasted four years.  He has diabetes, atrial fibrillation and is fifty pounds overweight.  His blood pressure is regulated by medication.  He gets out of breath easily and can't walk very far.  And he's nine years older than I am.  That puts a big limit on what I can do.  If I want to do something, I have to do it alone.

I'm still going to the bathroom quite a bit.  Did I tell you I had a stimulator implanted last October to help regulate my urinating.  It doesn't seem to be helping much.  The last two nights I've had to get up twice in the night, which isn't too bad.   During the day, I go more just to make sure I'm not caught somewhere without a bathroom nearby.  I try to stop drinking liquids after 6:00 p.m.  And am in bed by 9:00 p.m.

Jeanne, you must live in the south - we've had 90 degree weather mixed with 80 degree weather.  We have an air conditioner in our den and it's on most of the time.

I've rambled on long enough.  Looking forward to hearing back from you.

Nancy

Hi Nancy and Jeanne--and whoever else might be looking in.  I'm feeling happy this morning as I've just been to the beauty shop for a greatly needed haircut.  That just gave me a big lift--I hate to have messy hair.  I keep my hair pretty short in the late spring through summer and it had become pretty shaggy as I had too much going on last week.  I'll let it start growing longer by the end of October and just get a bit trimmed off each month until the end of March or early April, depending on the weather.

Nancy, I'd like to know why your partner is having to replace his pace maker replaced in 4 years.  I just had one (my first) put in about a month ago and was told it should last for 7-9 years.  I'm 80 now so I'd be in my early 90's then if I last that long.  Other than the gimpy leg and the pace maker, I'm in really good health for my age.  I am keeping my fingers crossed for your partner and his upcoming surgery.

Tomorrow is my twice monthly bridge day.  We are meeting at "Chicken Salad Chick" for lunch and will play bridge there after we eat.  The hostess lives up at the lake year round now and that's a 25 mile drive for most of us, so she frequently has us meet at this restaurant for a no-host lunch.  I enjoy the chicken salad and also home made pimento cheese, so will get a small scoop of the chicken salad and a half sandwich of pimento cheese.  I'll decide on dessert when I see what they have tomorrow.

Nancy, we've had a lot of rain, so I haven't watered my bush beans or tomatoes very often.  The beans are doing OK despite me being late to get them planted.  The tomatoes "MIGHT" get a couple of tomatoes by late September or October!

I hope to hear from you again soon.
Sue

Hi Sue,
I'm just getting back onto Seniors & Friends after my computer crashed on me last week.  For a while, I couldn't figure out my ID and password to get on.  But I'm back.  It's been quite a week.  Luckily, I had done a backup of my data that morning, so the only thing I lost was my second email program along with old email messages and contacts.  I also use Yahoo and none of that was lost, so I still have most of my contacts.  I guess as I go along, I'll figure out what other things I lost.

The medication I'm taking isn't doing what I expected.  I'm not enjoying life any more than I did before I started taking it.  My life isn't anything to cheer about so I guess that's why I'm still slightly depressed.  My son and his family, who have been in the area for the past twelve years, may be moving to Virginia.  That will leave me with no family near me.  I don't like that at all.  I had hoped he and his family would stick around and see me into my older years.

My partner is having a birthday next week and will turn 82.  Although he's in okay shape, I dread the day when he won't be around.   I don't know why his first pacemaker didn't last seven years, but the new one went in well and is guaranteed for seven years.  He just got his driver's license which is good for eight more years.  Maybe someone is trying to tell me something.  Like he's going to be around for a while.

My daughter wants me to come to Arkansas for Christmas and I have a paid ticket that I need to use by March, 2018, but I'm afraid to leave Gene and my dog alone for a week.  Besides, I've become afraid to fly.  I guess that sums up my life these days - afraid.

My two tomato plants are giving us scads of tomatoes.  I've been giving them away as fast as the turn red.  I don't think I'll plant anything next year.  I like being able to eat what I grow, but this is ridiculous. 

My book club met last Saturday and I didn't like the book we chose.  So I didn't finish it.  But I do love to read.   I'm currently reading Debbie Macomber's Rose Harbor series.  It has five books in it and I'm on book four.  I'm also reading "A Man Called Ove", but am not sure if I'm going to finish it.  It's a strange book about a strange old man.

I guess that's it from upstate New York.  Talk at ya again soon.
Nancy

Hi Nancy.  I'm so glad to hear from you.  I haven't been on the computer much recently because of meetings, doctor appointments, and bridge clubs so I haven't been checking all my forums.

I have a pacemaker now and the doctors tell me it should last 7 or 8 years.  So far it's working well for me.  I'm walking outside daily for at least 25-30 minutes and taking care of my house, although I do have a cleaning crew that comes in every 2 weeks to change my sheets and do heavy cleaning.  I try to keep things picked up and neat most of the time.  I'll be close to 90 when I am to get the new pace maker.  I was 80 in March.

My book club is connected with Auburn University and meets on the second Monday of each month.  We'll meet next week to get our book list for the upcoming year.  We read "A Man Called Ove" this past year.  Some of it was not great, but I managed to read it all and finally enjoyed it.  I like Debbie Macomber books, too, but they are never chosen for book club selections.  I went to one of the committee meetings when I first moved here, but they took so long and disagreed so much, I just left the meeting.  For the most part, the books are pretty interesting and make for good discussions.  We only meet for one hour once a month, Sept-July, so it's not difficult to get to the meeting and I mostly enjoy the discussions even if I didn't enjoy the book.

I've walked down to the nearby shopping center for a haircut this morning and then back up one of the hills to the library to choose books to take home.  After the library and a load of books, I had to walk up hill so sat down on a corner to rest.  A man stopped to ask if I were OK.  Of course I told him yes and that I was just resting, but it was nice of him to ask.  Alabamians are generally polite and helpful, especially to those they consider "senior citizens".  I don't like to think of myself as "senior" but I guess I'm getting there!

I hope your fall season brings lots of sunny days.  That usually helps me out of depression.  The days I hate are the ones in late December and January when it is rainy and cloudy a lot.  If the sun is out and I can get outside, I feel a lot better.

Thanks for being my friend.
Sue

I kept going to the ER for pain relief and just kept finding Myself back with no help.

One morning they had difficulty waking me,  Nurse was there all excited.  I had to call 911 as she did nothing.  ER said see your doctor and they were going to send me back.  I said the wrong thing., "I won't go back, I'll kill myself first.  Wound up in the looney bin for 2 weeks.

Got a letter giving me 14 days to move out.  My son locate a much nicer place with better
medical care.  At 96, there is no hope for betting better.  All residents a just waiting for the boneyard.  I am looking forward to my 97th birthday in May.

I stay happy with Dove chocolate, think I will have another happy pill.

Ray. Glad to see your Post. Forgive me saying it but for some reason I thought you had died. So happy now to hear you are living in a place you care for. I know your son looks out for you. Looking forward to your 97 Birthday. Means you are still enjoying your days. Just stick getting your Dr. Checkups not be like the ones sitting around thinking about its time to just go. That is what is wrong with a lot of these places.

Good morning, Ray.  I'm glad you're hanging in there!  And that you've found a better place to live.  I'm not able to drive now as I fell off a ladder and injured my back 2 years ago, but I am able to walk in my neighborhood and cook for myself as well as do my laundry.  I know that someday I'll have to move into a facility, but I'm trying to avoid it. 

Your son sounds like a real help and having Dove chocolate around is a really great idea!

Sue

Ray, I'm glad your son found you a better place to live.  It's so important to be happy with where you are.  Especially at our age.

My partner just came home from a 9-day stay at the hospital.  I called an ambulance because he couldn't get out of bed due to bad back pain.  While he was there, they found that he is losing blood somewhere in his body.  He needed four units of blood.  A stool sample showed no blood, yet his stools are very black.  His doctor will be scheduling a colonoscopy soon. 

I'm doing better.  A doctor prescribed Wellbutrin in addition to the Trintellix and Abilify I'm taking.  That combination has done the trick.  I'm feeling more energetic and less depressed.

Hi Sue and Jeanne.  Good hearing from you.

Nancy

Good morning, Nancy.  I'm glad to see your post, but so sorry to hear about your partner's problems.  I hope the colonoscopy reveals the problem and he gets much needed treatment.  It's very tough to have a partner ill--my husband just wouldn't go to the doctor for annual check ups (our family doctor was his close friend, too--so he sent test packets home with me for Bob to use--which he didn't and finally became very ill, had to have emergency surgery, and start chemo therapy.  He managed to live another 3 years, but the cancer returned and he died at age 44).  Men just don't seem to want to admit to illness, IMO!

I'm glad you're feeling better and that the new meds are helping you.  Hopefully spring weather will also bring you joy--just being outside in nice weather always helps me. 

Thoughts and prayers for you and your partner, especially for the colonoscopy.

Sue

Sue. I didn't realize that your husband passed at age 44. I thought he had retired from the Service. Now if still in I thought as officers they had to have medicals all up todate. specially if they flew planes.
So you have been on your own for almost as many years as I have. Your boys must have still been at home.

Jeanne, he had been retired for almost 20 years when he died.  We had bought a farm in Alabama and I continued to teach school--and he kept himself busy with volunteer work at the library and our church as well as a part time position at our bank.  He retired from the navy in 1978--I think that's the year, but it might have been '79.  His father died after he did and I became the care taker of his mother.  She had moved to an assisted living, but after Bob died I had to move her to a full time care facility not far from our farm.  She was 89 when she died.

Now I'm on my own, except my sons, especially Tim who lives near me, check on me at least once a week and sometimes more.  Jon and family live in the New Orleans area and Bill and his family live in Illinois, near St. Louis, Missouri.  Jon and Bill call me on the phone and Tim comes by on Monday (he just left) to check on me.  He'll be back on Thursday to take me to lunch and grocery shopping.  Jon's wife, Stacie, is coming on Friday to take me to Savannah for Easter weekend.  Bill is coming for a week end in May when his U. is out until Summer School starts.  My kids are VERY good to me!

Sue

Sue. I wonder if you have some of your facts mixed up.  I also think you've said your memory fails you at times.  You wrote that Bob died at 44 and had been retired almost 20  years when he died.  That would put him about 24 when he retired.  Is that right?

You're fortunate that your sons check on you regularly.  I feel very fortunate to have Tom living with me and being such a great help.

Mary Ann

You're right, Mary Ann.  He retired in 1978 and died in 2002.  He was born in 1936, so he must have been 66--I keep remembering him as a very vigorous 44!  So until 2000 when he had his first bout of cancer and then the recurrence, he was in pretty good health.  My long term memory is great--especially childhood, college, early years of marriage, raising our sons.  However, I don't remember appointments, bridge dates, etc., unless I (or son Tim) writes them on my calendar--which I do remember to check every day.  I had a bad fall from the roof of my house 3 years ago and my memory has gone down hill ever since!  Bob and I graduated from college in June, 1958 and were married the next day.

Getting older is the PITS!  I'm 81 now and expect to live into my late 90's due to my family's longevity.

Sue

Sue, I remember your telling of a fall but I didn't remember what kind of a fall.  You're right, getting older is the PITS.  I am 93 and have more ailments than I've ever had in my life and they all started around 80.  Physically I am in relatively good health and no one would suspect I have the ailments I do, but I manage to tell people about them anyway!  Ha!

I knew your arithmetic was wrong and knew also that if I didn't mention it, someone else would have.  I'm happy your three sons keep such good track of you even if a couple are not close by.  My nephew, Tom, now lives with me as I know I can't live alone any more.  If it were not for him, I'd be in a retirement home at best, maybe not even alive. 

I hope you do live to your late 90s and without any more setbacks.  (Must be our West Virginia heritage.)

Mary Ann

( He managed to live another 3 years, but the cancer returned and he died at age 44).

Yes Sue. I went back to check also as I thought hard to retire 20 years prior.  But not all understood. But he must have retired at 54 and then worked part time as such and then passed in 8002. I just thought that he had just been gone 16 years.  Isn't it funny how we can remember everything from back year. Its almost like after we retire our memories stored until about 70 and then we just don't file as much up there after that.
We joke now about forgetting where we left keys. What we had for lunch. What we wore already this week.. Things that are not really to important and . Now with me books and films are bad. I can see or read one and withing a short time forget who wrote it. Minute after I get into either the film or the book it comes back to me. Number I am good on. Can be 14  long like my Library card or other things like bank account etc.  But my 4 little password I have to look up. I just don't worry about it.
Hope you have fun in Savanna. Nice weather. You will get lots of walking in.

Good morning, Every Buddy.  I am dressed, packed, and ready to go.  Stacie called a bit ago.  She and Alex are on the road and are predicting another 3 hours before they get here, but I think it will be later than that.  I won't be home until late Monday afternoon or perhaps Tuesday.  Alex needs to be back at Birmingham Southern U. on Monday to check into the dorm.  It's nice and sunny here today and a bit of rain is predicted in Savannah this morning, but expected to be sunny all weekend.

Have a nice weekend--and I hope you have nice weather with no late snow storms if you live up North!
Sue

PLEASE READ:



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Food for thought;

"Next month, the World Journal of Psychiatry will publish “Antidepressant Foods: An Evidence-based Nutrient Profiling System for Depression,” by Dr. Drew Ramsey, assistant clinical professor of psychiatry at Columbia University, and Dr. Laura LaChance of the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto. It includes a nutrient-profile scale, which identifies the most nutrient-dense foods in relation to “the prevention and treatment of depressive disorders.” The paper names 12 nutrients key to managing depression and anxiety: folate (vitamin B9), iron, long-chain omega-3 fatty acids, magnesium, potassium, selenium, thiamine (vitamin B1), vitamin A, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, vitamin C and zinc. The foods richest in these include bivalves such as clams, mussels and oysters; leafy greens such as kale and spinach; wild salmon; organ meats; nuts; beans and seeds."

https://www.wsj.com/articles/feed-your-head-foods-that-target-depression-and-anxiety-1532629120?mod=djmc_pkt_email_092617&tier_1=21603911&tier_2=dcm&tier_3=21603911&tier_4=0&tier_5=4508749

Thanks, Angelface.  That should be helpful to people.

I take most of those nutrients in pill form.  I still need my anti-depressants to keep me calm and neutral.  Maybe if I ate the foods mentioned, it would help me more.  Thanks for the information.

Nancy

Good morning, Nancy.  I am glad that you are doing OK and that the anti-depressants are helping.  It's good to see your post here this morning.

Sue

Doesn't this Covid Virus and it's associated "regulations" depress anyone?  It does me, along with some other current events.