Low pain levels are good. Zero would be even better, but I'll take what I can get.

That is awesome, Typo Boy. I'm so glad to hear that you are feeling better and able to do more. The sudden absence of chronic pain is truly a wonder.

What's the difference between being depressed and feeling sorry for yourself?

When I'm depressed, I vacillate between feeling sorry for myself and hating myself for being such a wuss. Sometimes I multitask and do both at the same time. That's usually all I can do when I'm depressed, is those two things. Oh, and numb out. So make it three.

I'm not even kidding when I say that focusing on compassion for myself (not the same as self-pity) is making a huge difference in my life.

Depression makes the sorry for yourself nine times worse.

Bonny, try the cardboard. If it's as effective as I think it will be, then get the blackout curtains in time for summer.

It is amazing how much more energy I have with less pain.

Chronic pain is horrible and often fairly misunderstood. I am glad you are getting effective treatment now.

Zenkitty,

can you take a mini-vacation or a day off from work?

The problem I have with sleep masks is that I wake up better with the sunrise and daylight....so if I have total darkness, I can't do that! Ideally I guess I'd wear a sleep mask and take it off around 6AM or whatever...

Doesn't help, le n. I just spend the time watching television (not what I need) and when I go back nothing's changed. I don't need rest as much as I need energy or motivation or something.

but that's what I mean: can you take a day off and go visit a friend or something.

when I go back nothing's changed

I know that feeling. Sometimes I think a vacation is one of the worst things, because you go off and have fun in some pleasant location then you have to come back to the real world. There was a cruise line a while back that had an advertisement where a couple was going through their daily routine and bemoaning how wonderful it was on the ship. I did not see that as an encouragement.

Yay pain under 3! I rate pain meds less by how they directly affect my pain levels, but by how long I can sleep without waking up from the pain and then how I feel the next day. So enlightening to get to a milestone and think "Wow, I totally couldn't have gotten near that yesterday. Go me!" And huzzah for modern pharmaceuticals.

IOmeN, a few hours with a good friend helped miles and I feel a little silly over being so peevish. I have a sore spot 10 miles wide over feelings of exclusion and that misfired in a painfully ironic way.

A friend from high school just posted this on FB.

GOD CREATED MARRIAGE...it was meant to be between a man & woman! If gay people want to get married, WHY do they need to do it the same way if they don't BELIEVE the same way as Christians do? Is it to prove a point that they can get married too, or is it just for the benefits???? I'm confused.

Where to even begin.