My doctor said that many ADs doubled the impact of booze, and to hold off on drinking until I knew how the meds alone affected me.

This is true for me. I have to be very careful with alcohol these days, although I do have a glass or two of wine of an evening and it appears not to destroy my brain entirely. Just a little bit.

Wishing you much help from the meds, Andi. Thinking of you.

Didn't want to say this yesterday because other people's situations were more important, but I had a convergence of events yesterday that led to a Very Bad Day. I need ~ma for the government agreeing to provide me a support worker so that I can teach this semester. If they don't, I have to give up my job, and it will likely be the end of my only-just-spluttering-back-into-life career. The govt agency that gives on-the-job support to disabled people is, like everything else, being cut back on a serious scale - they used to give me masses of help, and now they're saying I'm not eligible for any. They're actually currently suggesting that I use a student from my class, unpaid, to do everything that I need support with in lectures. Need them to change their minds, pronto, as I start teaching in two weeks. A bit of a miracle would be good here. (Had a sobbing temper tantrum in the direction of The Girl yesterday, about how this disability stuff is a never-ending battle with stupid people who don't think I deserve to live in society, but I'm feeling a bit less self-pitying today. Which is good.)

Lots of ~ma, Seska.

TJ's Brie en Croute

Mmm. Brie is one of the very few non-vegan foods that I really miss.

Andi, great to read from you.

Seska - oof, I'm sorry. So much ~ma for you and the girl.

As for me, I know I should really update you all on the past month. Briefly: The positive - Hollaback Israel is doing awesomeness. The negative - I wouldn't call Israel a democracy anymore. This country has fucked badly, and I can't see how it can make things right in the foreseeable future. Not sure where it puts me.

Oh, Seska, I do think your situation is very important. And it really sucks. I've sent out the best ~ma I could muster, to clear a way for you to get the assistance you need in the classroom. If all else fails maybe the hivemind here can help you brainstorm a way to make volunteer help more likely/palatable/practical.

Oatmeal.

Shir, I'm glad that Hollaback Israel is going so well. I'm so proud of you - it makes me feel like I'm cool just because I know you. But I'm sorry to hear your country is moving away from democracy and justice.

Satsuma.

Going for a trifecta.

Sammie slept at the head of the bed last night. She usually sleeps either at the foot of the bed or next to my knees. I also had at least seven hours of sleep last night, unaided by herbal supplements or Benedryl or the Ambien they gave me at the hospital. I can't remember the last time that happened. That kind of confirms the opinion I told the psychiatrist there - that I knew of people who have to take Ambien (or other stuff) pretty much every night, and that I know people who have been instructed to take whatever med for three nights in a row each month to reset their sleep pattern - and the later seemed more like what I need.

Oh good, Andi. I`m glad to hear it.

Andi, that's the way it works for me, too. All I need is a couple of days to get the sleep cycle back into the groove and my body/mind takes over for me. The caveat is that sometimes I have to do that 2-3 times a month when things are bad, but normally can go 6 months or longer without needing to when things are good.

Seska, much, much~ma that your government gets its head out of its ass on the disability issue.

Hey, Andi, I'm glad you are feeling better. I've been there, done that, and it's pretty awful.

I know people who have been instructed to take whatever med for three nights in a row each month to reset their sleep pattern - and the later seemed more like what I need.

This is what I do. When my sleep patterns start going kerfluey, I take zopiclone (same class of drug as Ambien) for three or four days in a row. Sorts me out for a few weeks at least. I'm glad to hear the meds are starting to help, Andi. Wishing you lots of continuing feel-better~ma. Thanks for your support with my situation, too. You is star.

Shir, ongoing good wishes for Hollaback Israel. It's great to hear that it's going well.