Truds, hoping the surgery goes well, and you have short recovery time!

Tep, I've had oral cold sores since I was a kid (grandma, mom, sis all susceptible -- dad's never had a one, god dammit) and I managed to self-infect myself and pass from oral to genital (this CAN happen, ladies and gents, so make sure you don't touch your cold sore and then, er, touch anything without washing your hands well.)

(It was either self-infected or dormant for three years during a 5 year dry -- DRY, peeps, I had only kissed two people in 5 DAMN YEARS -- spell, and the doc said self-passing can fo sho happen, so learn from me!)

And this is anecdata, but while I pop up a cold sore on my lip or nose about 3 or 4 times a year, the other pops up MAYBE once or twice every couple of years. However, I have to say that the pain leading to the doctor visist and the swab when I was initially diagnosed was more exquisitely painful than my sole kidney infection, but since then, the few eps I have had have been minor and only annoying.

IOW, this is supremely livable.

ION, can I pick the hivemind? I have been dealing with tons of work-related stress, and just went to the doc after having a nice little depresso episode the last couple of weeks, and some lovely anxiety-related issues, including a panic attack. She gave me a 30 day script for Xanax, which I've never used, and Cymbalta, which I don't know if I CAN use, as when I tried to fill it at the pharm, it was CRAZY $$$, and I was all HOLY SHIT I CAN'T AFFORD THAT.

$140.

So, anyone used Cymbalta? I've been taking Citalopram for 8 years; is Cymbalta really WORTH it?

However, I took my first dose of Xanax about 45 minutes ago, and I am actually able to talk about this for the first time in a couple of weeks, so THAT is hopeful. Maybe I can go to work tomorrow without flipping out like a mammal at 6 in the morning. UGH.

I tried Cymbalta and it was a failure for me. I take Citalopram and it works pretty well.

ION, I'm out of work again. I was supposed to have steady work starting tomorrow, but it fell through, so I'm in a holding pattern again.

My budget cannot afford any more of this.

Thesis critique on Saturday

Omnis, I'll actually be there for this. Go figure.

I have to say that the pain leading to the doctor visist and the swab when I was initially diagnosed was more exquisitely painful than my sole kidney infection,

Yeah, the pain is...not great. Compared to my back pain pre-surgery, though, and my cracked tooth, this is nothing.

but since then, the few eps I have had have been minor and only annoying.

IOW, this is supremely livable.

That's what the doc told me. I'm not terribly worried; I just want to take the drugs and get it the hell gone. Since Tim and I are monogamous and I got it *from* him, he's already got antibodies, so it's not like I can give it to him. (Also, too painful right now to have PIV sex -- or, actually, any kind [woo] -- and we're so paranoid that despite my IUD he still uses condoms for PIV sex, so he shouldn't get any genital symptoms from getting it on with me.)

I have NEVER been so happy to say "We're monogamous" in my LIFE. Not from a moral standpoint, but because I *know* where and who it came from. I also know it's not any other STI, because we're clean otherwise.

Betcha didn't think you'd (the general "you," not just Erin) get all this AWESOME information about my private life (and, well, my private parts) today, huh?

Bookmark these posts for when I run for president.

So, anyone used Cymbalta? I've been taking Citalopram for 8 years; is Cymbalta really WORTH it?

Are there other ADs you haven't tried yet? Wellbutrin is available as generic and is awesome. (I have not taken Cymbalta -- I don't think -- so I have no input on it. [Wow, I can't believe there's a current-generation AD I *haven't* taken.])

Wellbutrin is available as generic and is awesome.

My experience was that the generic didn't work at all, however. So if anyone takes the generic and finds it not helping, it's worth switching to the Real Thing if you can. Wellbutrin did me more good than any other AD I ever tried.

I haven't really tried anything other than Citalopram, and I've been on it 8 years. I think I will call my doc tomorrow and ask if if maybe I could just try uppping my dosage of Citalopram, or trying something else -- even with my (shitty) health insurance, I cannot afford it. I can barely afford my HRT patch, but the generic Ambien and the Citalopram only come to $40 a month, and that's doable.

Man, our new insurance bites ass. And we have a $1500 deductible, which is INSANE.

As long as we're talking girly bits, can I get any words of advice for preparing for an IUD (Mirena) insertion? My appointment is on Thursday and I'd love to know what kind of discomfort I can expect during & after the procedure.

I did know about the cold sores thing, but I also watch out for just mouth transmission because he's a trumpeter, so it really matters if he's got any kind of infection near his mouth.

The gall bladder thing is weird.

In fact, I've concluded that pretty much everything relating to menstruation is weird. Like, right now I've got the hip pain twingey bit thing that usually happens with my period, that I learned here to associate. Except I'm not on my period right now, I'm ovulating, which I learned here to recognize. So that's weird, right?

I dunno. Joints is weird.

can I get any words of advice for preparing for an IUD (Mirena) insertion?

Mine hurt a lot, *but* -- I've never had kids; I think that's a factor in ease of insertion. Also, I have a low pain threshold. I mean REALLY. I know several women for whom it was no big deal.

My best advice is to take ibuprofen (or your OTC pain reliever of choice) 30-60 minutes before your appointment.

My response to all this: ouch, sympathy.

Also - intelligent design, my ass.