So, first thing is that I type like 100 wpm so my posts are always WAAAAAY too long. And I can already tell that I can loosen up and have a little fun on this board compared to the other boards I am on. So please let me know if I go too far in that direction out of reaction to having to straightjacket myself elsewhere. This is most likely to happen when I am hypomanic...like tonight!
I know more about physical and mental health care than anyone should ever know who isn't a medical professional and, at this point, I am darn glad. Being an expert patient/caregiver is what I am shooting for and I am not ashamed to admit it. I also pretty much expect everyone else to be shooting for that goal too. So my replies are often peppered with links and quotes and references so folks can go back to the original info and read what I read before they draw their own conclusions and go talk to their doctors.
I don't know everything by any means, but I know a lot and I can be a sharpshooter with a search engine (hm..my figure of speech trigger seems to be stuck in gun metaphor-mode tonight which for some reason is leading me to add a dancing turkey to my post right here
guess it's the free-association: gun:turkey:thanksgiving).
I am still working on my recovery from being a research analyst
10 years ago (I managed the SSI database for the State of CA among other things). So be gentle with me when reminding me that not everyone wants all the numbers or every possible iteration of a solution. (Earlier this summer I did an analysis of the populations of 4 nursing homes my choir visits to show to the conductor during our discussion of repertoire changes. Complete with graphs. It was very interesting, really. She was speechless. And then she said "And you did this... why?" at which point I got that I was being a little Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) even for me.
)
As for my family, well we are a researcher's wet dream and nightmare all at once. My nuclear and 1st degree extended family include people living with:
- Bipolar, MDD, Borderline (BPD), Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), ODD, Psychosis, Paranoia and the ever present, dreaded ... Anxiety
- Polysubstance abuse
- Osteogenesis imperfecta - severe with advanced degeneration
- Crohn's Disease - pediatric onset
- Asthma
- Short Bowel Syndrome
- Diabetes
- Clotting disorders including my partner with a hx of multiple pumonary embolisms
- Dialysis due to kidney failure 2nd to MS
- Multiple Sclerosis in multiple family members on partner's side
- Fibromyalgia
- Arthritis
That's the basic list - I think you probably get the idea. And I'm a 20 year survivor of stage 2 breast cancer dxd at age 32.
I have been doing Special Education with one kid or another for so long now you would think I would have learned a thing or two. But mostly I've learned to give good advice after I've learned why NOT to do something a particular way.
Many thanks for welcoming me to the CD boards. I would REALLY be up all night if I were to give you the whole story and since I was already up most of last night dealing with a crisis with our oldest, out of town no less, and missed my medications I am going to be a good mommy and make myself take my medications and go to bed.
Sweet dreams to all and to all a good night!:sleepy: