They do prescribe albuterol for respiratory infections, so it's not necessarily asthma. If the vileness you're coughing up is thick and greenish, you need an antibiotic. Also, try steam to help break up the crap in your lungs. I hope you get better soon.

My BFF's brother died today, after two months of "any day now." He has three children, 22, 18 and 13, and their mother is batshit crazy and (thankfully) left town a couple of years ago. Some "please may the crazy ex not show up" ~ma and some kind thoughts towards a woman who never intended to have children, but who ended up with her brother's, would be appreciated, along with a round of "Fuck cancer."

Oh hell, Ginger. Fuck cancer, indeed. And much ~ma to your friend and may the craxy ass ex not show up.

I left my bedroom door open last night and every time i woke up during the night (which is normal) Nico (cat) was tucked under the duvet, above the sheet, curled up against me. It was awesome. Now i'm camped on the sofa and Mal (other cat) is curled up against the side of my leg making soft little dream-sounds. I might just keep them both.

~ma and Fuck Cancer ginger's way.

Also, I'd urge prostate cancer screening as early as your doctor recommends to all the Buffista men and the men Buffistas love.

Oh Ginger, all the ~ma of numerous kinds to your friend and her brother's kids. And may the crazy ex stay far, far away. Fuck cancer indeed.

So glad you found some relief, JZ.

Ginger, strength and peace to your friend and the poor kids. Fuck cancer.

JZ, albuterol is your friend. At least it's MY friend. I like that "breathing" thing. Coughing up vileness sounds more like bronchitis than asthma to me. If it's a funky colored vile, it's an infection in there somewhere. Antibiotics would be called for.

I'm stuck in a depression spiral. This hasn't happened and lasted this long for quite a while. I don't even have a clue what triggered it. But I can't seem to pull out of it. I haven't changed my meds, work is actually going a little better, nothing's *happened*, so why am I sleeping most of the time and staring blankly into space the rest of the time? it's not PMS-related, I know when to look out for that and it goes away when the hormones settle, so it's not that. I start getting scared when I get like this, afraid it's not going to get better. I know what I should be doing, I just can't seem to make myself get up and do it. I'm really tired of this. I'm taking the max amount of Welbutrin allowed, no other antidepressant has ever worked, I've been checked out top to toe and there seems to be nothing wrong with me like low thyroid or anything. I don't know what else to do. I've gained so much weight in the last few years, it's horrifying to me, I didn't change my eating or exercise habits but I've gained like 50 pounds. I thought Welbutrin was supposed to make you lose weight. And not supposed to fuck with your sex drive, but I barely have that anymore either. Like I'd be having sex anyway. Damn. What do I do here? This is intolerable.

asthma -- but it is not necessarily chronic.

RIght -- it could be infection-related or post-infectious asthma.

What do I do here? This is intolerable.

Oh, Zenkitty. That sucks so hard. Have you tried adding anything to the Wellbutrin? Sometimes that works.

Steph, I added Deplin last fall, and that worked really well - I felt much better. Until just recently. I guess, objectively, it's only been a week or two, but it's hard not panic. Usually for me this kind of mental retreat is triggered by my not wanting to deal with something unpleasant. Maybe I'm just suffering from a massive case of cabin fever. Maybe I'll go take a long drive in the mountains tomorrow if it's sunny at all. That might help. Fuck, I really don't want to add more drugs. It's never helped before - except for the Deplin, which technically is a vitamin - and I don't think I've got the emotional strength right now for another round of Russian roulette with brain drugs.

Zen, I think getting out of the house is key. Actually, I was going to suggest a gym, or making a firm commitment to walking, either in your neighborhood, or drive to a good place to walk (and yes, I know how silly that sounds). Exercize will get things moving, and oxygenating your brain alone can be energizing and lift your mood.

And from experience, if I'm whinging over sore muscles and strained joints, I don't notice the mental pain as much.