Wow! Has it been that long?

Goodness! I didn't realize that I hadn't posted anything here since August until today. This fall was a really awful time for me, health wise. I started having problems with my balance and found myself on the ground numerous times. Also started noticing twitching in my hands and even in my legs when I was sitting. All really nasty symptoms. At first I thought it was a medicine I was on, and so my med was changed. The first med change was to a med that caused me to have swelling in my hands, legs, feet, etc. Ended up in the ER, and of course was changed to another med. This med didn't work and made my head so fuzzy I couldn't even manage to follow a simple knitting pattern. That obviously could not continue. About that time I saw a Neurologist, and he said the balance problem wasn't caused by the meds. (Yeah!) I took that info back to the other Dr. and was started back on the med I was originally on at my request. I've been back on it for several weeks now and am happy to say I can knit again. Such a relief! So now I'm busy trying to catch up on all the projects I've been wanting to work on/finish, and I'm slowly getting there.

Trying a New Direction

Life can be (and often is) pretty miserable when you have not only chronic pain, but also Rheumatoid Arthritis. When you add the joys of bipolar and depression, it gets close to unbearable. I've been struggling along, trying just to survive, and honestly I'm pretty sick of it. So I'm making an effort to change some things in my life. I can't change my diagnosis and what they, to say nothing of the side effects of the numerous meds I take. But I can make an effort to change some of my responses to my bipolar. So instead of constantly hiding in my house in my old, pink fuzzy robe, I've volunteered to help at a place in my town called "That Place on Market". It's a non-profit shop that makes and sells or gives away hand made items that are sewn, knitted or crocheted. They also have lots of fabric, yarns and supplies for other needle crafts that are for sale. I'm still amazed by the lovely little dresses, hats, mittens, etc that's in the shop, just beautiful! There's always something to do, for the last couple times I've been there I've been organizing the yarn. I can assure you there is a wide variety of yarns to be had! This is the address for the shop if you are interested. The website is still being developed, but the basic info is there. http://www.merchantcircle.com/business/That.Place.On.Market.740-599-7768 Just getting out and seeing real people has already helped my mood. I'm still having some very bad days, the the RA has been especially recently. At least while I'm volunteering it helps me to ignore some of the pain. Amazing what the mind can do if you let it!