askye, I'm sorry, but definitely get on one of those waiting lists as soon as possible. Also someone should tell your psychiatrist that for some people taking benadryl on a regular basis increases their depression.

So, my sister and her hubs have been fostering a 17 year old. Which is cool, and I figured would be interesting at Christmas, getting to meet her and all, she's apparently awesome. Bought her presents already. But kinda figured she's old enough that it wouldn't change things THAT much, y'know? We can take her wherever we were going to go or to see whatever we were going to see (like shopping or movies). ...but now she found out she's getting a 3 year old tomorrow. Which is totally going to change things. And I'm excited for her (they could potentially adopt the kid) but also a little freaked out that Christmas is going to be SO different--you definitely can't do the same stuff with a 3 year old!! So I'm guessing a lot less shopping, and a lot less sister-time, and probably no to our sister-tradition of going to the movies (2 or 3 of them) on Christmas Day (we'd already been discussing which ones to go to). Which makes me sad. And I feel guilty about that.

I'll call my GP and see if they would be willing to prescribe Ambien.

Would your GP be willing to prescribe the meds your shrink prescribes (or doesn't prescribe, as the case may be)? When I had a bad experience with a shrink and mentioned it to my primary-care doctor, he said he would prescribe my antidepressant for me, and that's what we did from that point on.

The cancer is responding to the chemo! It's shrinking! Go, chemo, go!

Fuck yeah! Yay, Ginger!

Steph the GP is okay doing refills but has admitted she doesn't know how to interpert the blood tests for the Lithium levels and doesn't feel comfortable doing long term prescribing.

I'm not sure how she feels about the klonopin but if this Benadryl experiment doesn't work then I'll call the GP and ask for an appointment to discuss my options.

Her office has previously tried to help me find a psychiatrist who was taking patients but had come up empty handed.

It kind of sucks to be in Chittenden Co and need mental health support, there are therapists but not a lot of psychaitrists and my health insurance isn't very common so that's also an issue.

so I'm talking to the eye doctor tomorrow about rescheduling the cataract surgery. And I'm really missing having Hubby to hold my hand. I'm not going to ask anyone to go with me tomorrow, I'll feel like I'm imposing enough when I ask for company for the surgery itself.

I don't want to, but I have to. It's my eyes, I won't risk them. But I am so pissed at the universe that I don't have him to take care of me.

I'm sorry, Connie. It really does suck. Do remember that when people offer to go places with you or do things for/with you, they usually mean it and are happy to feel helpful.

Connie, that sucks.

Great news, Ginger!!!! Yay!!!!

Thanks for all the rejoicing. I was feeling kind of discouraged, because my red blood count is still down, and I'm still getting transfusions.

I seem doomed to work my way through all the known side effects of the everolimus/exemestane combo. My feet started swelling painfully a few weeks ago, which was one reason they went ahead and did the PET scan. Swollen feet is a known side effect, but there was the possibility that the swelling could be from cancer spreading to an organ.

The neuropathy in my feet is getting painful enough that it's making my insomnia (known side effect) much worse. They suggested Lyrica, the drug we known and loathe from the fibromyalgia commercials ("I found out that muscles are attached to nerves....") a month or so ago. It wasn't that bad then, but I think I'll ask about it tomorrow. Its known side effects include life-threatening allergic reactions, suicidal thoughts, even more insomnia (or sleepiness) and possibly more swelling. So far, I've escaped the rain of toads.

Anyway, it's been rather dreary, so I hope today's news means there's a chance I could get my life back for a while at least.

I hope y'all know that you're my rock in all this.

This is pretty fucking amazing, Ginger.

Here's to your next medication's side effect being something along the lines of "indigestion may feel like an orgasm" or "strangers may walk and give you flowers."