Yike, Ray!!! Sorry that happened and hope it clears up for you soon!

My old boss used to do nasal irrigation and swore by it. I always called the solution she used "Nose Juice." I irritated her a lot I think.

Personally, I am doing better. Not great, but better. I am at least not completely immobilized at this point, which I have been for weeks. It's still bad, but I'm sorta functional.

People, please take care of yourselves. Eat properly, try to take your meds appropriately, get some exercize and try to get good sleep. I know, tall order. We are getting ready to go into the holidays which SUCK for some (most). So, please post when you need to and don't worry about overposting, sounding crazy or whatever. This is the safe place to be who you are.

I like awesomatron as well! But, wouldn't that be sort of like a Stepford Wife?

As for me, at least life isn't dull. My most beloved is BiPolar, but was misdiagnosed a few years ago as having depression and anxiety. What is classifies as "irritable" for most during a manic episode expresses itself as extreme anxiety in him.

After dealing with what he has known was a wrong Dx for the past two years, he is finally being proactive about getting his Dx and meds straightened out. (He hasn't seen anyone in all that time!) What's more, the meds he's on for depression and anxiety CAUSE mood destabilization and anxiety in those who are BiPolar. Great, huh?

It helps us both so much to be able to understand that much of what goes on with him is due to the illness and isn't the way life really is. It gives a lot of perspective. And it is a tremendous relief for him to have someone (me) who will hold on tight and ride it out with him. For myself, it actually makes things easier on my own front, being able to be the "strong one" for someone else, to be able to fill a need for one I love so much. It helps me to feel that I might serve some purpose on this earth, after all.

this is such a great tribe! thanks ALL!
i stopped doing the xmas thing about 6 years ago. no gifts, no cards, no shopping. too stressful. people around me have adjusted and no relationships have suffered that i know of.
still i feel like i'm not living up to what i "should" be doing. that's a downer. but i emphaisze what I like about this time of year: Christmas carols, god symbolized as an infant, apple, pumpkin, mince and pecan pie, turkey, turkey dressing/stuffing, cranberry sauce, colorful lights, miniature train sets, little kids awe and wonderment, old holiday film classics, driving my friends nuts by singing the full version of "Must Be Santa" (sort of like "The Days of Christmas", just goes on and on), minted hot chocolate, traditional Italian cookies, potluck parties and whatever else I can latch on to in a positive light.
I'm only too well aware of all the things I HATE about the holidays so won't even go there.
Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, when the frenzied shopping officially begins, is also designated as "spend nothing day" (or something like that) where those of us so inclined make a concerted effort to not part with even one penny for the 24 hours.
I always enjoy reminding my "caught up in the status quo" friends of this tradition.

Tomorrow I'm going to try to see a doc at Kaiser as I've had a very sharp pain in one of my man parts for a couple of weeks now when I roll over in bed or stand from a sitting position. Maybe a hernia? We'll see.
For all of you under the weather I send you my best healing thoughts.