A Couple of Good Things or What a Difference a Year Makes

[jmjm530]

Well, a little over a year but who's counting anymore...

Spent the last couple of days working like a dog on a house renovation I started around 18 months ago but stopped 17 months ago due to treatment induced fatigue.

Can't say I enjoyed the grunt work but what I did enjoy was that I could actually do it. Sometimes it takes an illness to make us realize how important our health really is and that's a good thing.

Earlier today made a trip to the local pharmacy to pick up some cleaning supplies. Lady at the counter says "Jim, where have you been"? She knows me by my first name, and why shouldn't she. Probably saw more of me during treatment than her own family.

I said, "haven't been around much lately." She says pointing to the Rx area, "I haven't seen you in for a prescription for a real long time."

I said, "I haven't HAD but one prescription for a real long time and that's a good thing."

She said, no doubt reflecting on the volume of Rx's I used to fill in a week, "Yes, I guess that is a good thing, and by the way you're looking good."

Sort of reminded me how I looked and felt on treatment and how thankful I am for the change. In fact, just met my $100 Rx deductible for 2007 the other day. I guess that means the insurance company will make money on me this year. And that's a good thing.

Hope everyone is doing as well as they can.

-- Jim

[worry06]

When I read you thread, I had the same feeling as I watched a good movies/book that have a good ending and feel sastify.

[andiamo]

glad to hear things are going back towards normal for you.  Your posts are much appreciated by me.

I hope to follow in your footsteps.

[FL_Gal]

It's good to hear that there is life after treatment!  I hope you'll still stick around the forums..

[Myown]

Thanks guys and gals. Good to see you all.

[l-horn]

Glad to see you're doing ok. Hey don't sweat it. I could fill a voluminous leather bound edition of, 'Things I Wish I Hadn't Said and Done'. Since being on the tx and being sober I have spent several guilt ridden sleepless nights and that's a GOOD thing. I think over the years I've attacked about every group of people on the planet, including my own family, often in person. Were it not that I'm a pretty big dude, I'm sure many as/s kickings would have ensued over the years. I used to think I was quite cool and funny. Looking back, I was just a self centered drunk and a bully.

[jmjm530]

Not ignoring you, just haven't been following the threads that closely lately. So what's this about a "pee" brain? Maybe drinking too much water?

-- Jim

[ladybug52]

Myown: Seeing you back again brought tears to my eyes. I was so surprised adn happy to hear from you. You ARE still my favorite red-head, I'm sorry we were both having a bad day on the same day. I think we are too much alike. When we're happy everyone knows it. When we're not--look out!  Tx affects our minds, there's no denying it. Whether it's the stress, meds or combination of the two, it's no picnic. Take care.
HUGS<
Bug
JIm: I think you are taking too long to answer my question about my pea brain. I think no news is bad news in this case. Either my brain is dead and you're afraid to tell me or, I never had much of a brain to miss in the first place, and you don't want to point that out.
You must answer me as soon as possible or you will lose points as knows everything Jim/Jack.
BTW, do you sometimes feel as if you have a split personality? People either are behind you all the way or critical of your sentiments. I'm with YOU  jimboy.
Now can we get back to my problems about me????
Bug
Child...Jim is ignoring me. Will you speak to him?
Hugs to all...
Bug

[jmjm530]

Good to hear from you. I was pretty isolated from friends, family and work during treatment or I would have needed ADs to control my temper which was for me was more like a short fuse than mood swings as my mood was pretty much glum most of the time anyway :) Only four more weeks so you should be feeling better soon. In the meanwhile, try not to take anyone's head off (at least in the real world) because it takes a lot longer to put the head back on after treatment is over.

All the best,

-- Jim

[GoofyDad]

Glad to hear things are on the upswing, Not quite the Jimbo of old though - if you  left the pharmacy lady lonely and frustrated in Aisle 10. "Hey Gertrude, did I ever show you my moth collection, Rrrrrrrr......"  My refined breeding precludes me from making comments about Gertrude and sushi dinner,,,, that just wouldn't be right....

You weren't wearing that bee keeper's bonnet by chance?

Take care Jim. You've had a long haul, and I'm really glad things you're headed out of the woods....

[aiuta]

Congratulations, Jim!  I'm so glad that your life is getting more and more full.  You so deserve it.  Thank you for all the help you've given me and countless others.  All my best, Aiuta : )

[FlGuy]

A touch or normal?  That's great, but what's better is the realization of it.  "made a trip to the local pharmacy to pick up some cleaning supplies", don't know about you, but when I get cleaning supplies at a pharmacy it usually means that Doc Scope is on my calendar.

[Better-Angels]

When my husband was diagnosed, and before treatment started we went out and bought a bunch of plants and flowers for the backyard. I bought one of those hanging plant arrangements and hung it up on the patio right outside the sliding doors, so I could see it from my living room.

Greg took care of all the plants, I haven't the slightest of a green thumb. Shortly after treatment started, all those pretty plants died. I was working long hours, and Greg was virtually crippled by treatment.

I told myself I would replace that plant when Greg was better, I said to myself "when Greg blooms again, I'll get new blooms". A silly symbolic metaphor I guess. But Greg never got better, even after the first treatment he just never felt good. Then the replapse came and another year of treatment, and now another year off of treatment.

We never talked about that stupid plant. We'd look at it but neither one of us would ever comment on it. Then yesterday Greg said to me, "do you want to go to the nursery this weekend and buy some more plants, we should replace that hanging dead plant out there" and I swear I just started to cry. I think he thought I was nuts. He can't know how much emotion I attached to that ugly dead plant.

We put so many things on hold, even the most mundane things take on new meaning when you're without your health. I'm so grateful that Greg noticed that plant. Somehow I think it means our life is beginning again. I'm so happy.

I hope everyone here gets to know that feeling. It's really extraordinary.

Debbe

[wyntre9]

Welcome back.

wyn

[wyntre9]

So glad to hear you're feeling better.

Wyntre

[Myown]

Hey Jimmie, happy to hear you are feeling better.

Thanks for reaching out to me, that was nice of you, but then again, you're a nice guy so it didn't surprise me. The riba build up is getting on my last nerve and with my obvious bad attitude I didn't want to continue to be around people, so I needed to take a break from interacting with people as much as possible. Total mood swings at this point. I am on top to the world somedays and other days it wouldn't matter to me if I died in my sleep. That is not like me at all. I love life, so that disturbed me having those feelings, which still do come and go. I actually get a feeling of guilt complaining though because so many on forum are struggling to even walk across the room while on tx. My hemo is down to 10.7, yet for some reason I am still hyper. I don't get it. I'm happy I don't feel anemic,but I do wonder why. I guess possibly because of the gradual decline of the hemo. Friday is shot 20/24. Today I am going to cut the riba down to 800.. I'm glad you feel well enough to do physical labor, but I know you are a multi task type person and so I do hope that for the sake of new people coming on forum, you are able to find time to continue to contribute. See ya later Jim.

I-horn, that was very nice of you to reach out to me.
I have had limited contact with  people, (well actually contact with just one person as of late,) due to feeling like cr@p. I emailed you several times and then deleted it before I sent it. I just keep thinking that it wouldn't be good for you to hear my woes while you are tx yourself. Hearing someone complain, cry or whatever as part of a group seems to be less taxing on the emotions than if you have one on one contact cause then it seems everything falls in your lap and I didn't want to do that to you. But, you're a doll for reaching out to me.

ladybug,, are you still my buddy? Forgive me for being such a jerk. You did tell me I was your favorite redhead, will I ever win that title back again? I hope so. I think you know I love you and I always will.

To everyone else that had nice things to say I thank you all. You know I love each and everyone here. I don't exclude anyone in that statement even those who I have bunked heads with. There are alot of different personlities here but I really think that each and everyone wishes the best for one another.

I'll talk to you all later or tomorrow. I want to open a thread about my med situaton and the return. What I went through may help others down the line, so I want to tell you, but right now I have to take my mothers dog to the vet. I'll see ya later.

[GoofyDad]

funny as always....

[goldenrule]

went to church on Wed. pastor was talking about sowing seed and harvest time. JmJm you have sowed sooooo much into other peoples lives on this board. NOW IS THE TIME FOR YOUR HARVEST....
THANK YOU!!!!!

[ladybug52]

Glad to hear you're doing well. It's wonderful that you are getting a life back and the "pharmacy lady" has noticed how good you look. I'm 8 weeks post of my itty bitty tx. Kind of embaressed to ask questions about post tx symptoms but that won't stop me.
Some days I wake up and I'm organized and everything falls into place, 1, 2, 3. Others I wake up and  within a 1/2 an hour (takes me that long to get the sleep out of my eyes) I know I'm not firing on all 4 cylinders. I can't concentrate or focus and I just barely get through my day without any one wondering if I'm on drugs or brain-damaged. (They probably do wonder, but they don't comment to my face)
So, oh wise one, is this just a manifestation of my age, my ADD, or dying brain cells from dementia? Be brutally honest. I know the line about there are no dr's here, but has that ever been posted before or did you feel that way ever?
Thanks, sorry to turn your post into an all about me question but.................it always is.
Bug

[GrandmaA]

So glad to hear about your interaction with the lady in the Pharmacy and how you are feeling, and doing so many things you couldn't do on tx, etc. That's wonderful.

I have just been given EFT serious disease DVD (introduction and the one on hep. C). I will see them tomorrow after my shot when I will have plenty of time on the couch. The morning is filled with blood draw, foot doctor, acupuncture and I see the dermotologist in the afternoon. What a fun day off! The acupuncture will be good.  

[willows]

I want to be just like you when I grow up.  I know you have a lot of strong feelings about tx, some I share with you...but then the proof is in the pudding, or the renovations, isn't it.  You did a good thing, you seem like a strong person, congrats on doing the "grunt" work and finding the silver lining in it!!

Willow

[rosebud57]

isn't it nice to "retake your life" and have a renewed respect for the ability to do the things we once did without though and then came tx.

to ongoing recovery

[cathi1]

Sounds like happy ever after to me!!!

Enjoy your renovations---I always told my daughters to find a man with the bigest tool belt-----they didn't listen either!
My best,
Cathi

[l-horn]

That's great. Like you, I have quite a few renovations going on. I am repairing a fence that I tore down to replace a few months ago. Haven't gotten around to the 'replace' part of that. There's more, but it's just more of the same. My problem is that when I feel good, the last thing I want to do is work on the house. I usually want to get OUT of the house and go do something.

I can't wait to be where you're at.

[pitter]

i am glad for you ...that you have made it through...and that you are well and happy!