Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Yup. I'm depressed.

Went to the doctor today. I was 15 minutes late for my appointment, but considering I've got 4 days with 10:30 am appointments and today was supposed to be 10:00 am it's not surprising.

It seems I've been suffering from dysthymia for many years.
Chronic depression, or dysthymia, is characterized by a long-term (two years or more) depressed mood. Chronic depression is less severe than major depression and typically does not disable the person. If you have dysthymia or chronic depression, you may also experience one or more episodes of major depression during your lifetime.


So what doesn this mean? It means that starting tomorrow I join the ranks of the medicated. She prescribed Celexa and wants me to see a councilor. Due to his schedule I may not see him until the new year. Hopefully I can get my head fixed.

In other news...
The pinched nerve is getting better. The pins and needles continue to decline in intensity and I have full sense of touch in my fingers again.

My family doctor has cleared me for all forms of physical activity but suggested I avoid headbutts, headstands and head banging.

Sunday, September 13, 2009

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome? Nope, but there are other problems....

My doctor scheduled me for an EMG on Sept 5. Nothing is more fun than having your hand and arm electrocuted, right? This testing lasted about 45 minutes. When the zapping stopped the specialist said it wasn't Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, it's a pinched nerve in my neck. To confirm this he took a small thing wire and inserted it into my right elbow, then the shoulder and finally the neck.

He told me it was in the C7 and that traction therapy would be my best bet and set me up with a therapist. Basically I pay someone to try and pull my head off so a nerve can go back inside the spine. He also put me in for an MRI, just to be sure it's not more sever.

Two days after I saw the specialist I get a call about therapy and I'm told I won't get in until October. JOY! at least another full month of having my arm go all pins and needles for no apparent reason. Two days later I get a call saying there's been a cancellation and asking if I'd like that spot. Sure, why not?


Last Thursday I went in. My Physiotherapist has a student with him, she from Hong Kong and isn't much bigger than my son... She was going to do the first assessment. She also tried to do some of the therapy. I know she's new at this but her touch felt more like a butterfly's wings against my skin. The he went at it. It felt like I was being hit with a hammer. My back is still sore.

On the plus side there has been a noticeable difference. I think of the pins and needles like ratio static, 0 means the radio is off, 10 is full blast. Prior to the visit it would go to ten. Now it's a 4 or 5. Hopefully with a few more visits I'll be back to my level or normal.

We've also been having some trouble with Logan. He's been stealing my cell phone and using my pay as you go time on it to access games and facebook. He's been punished for this before, talked to by both of us, yelled, grounded, privileges removed and anything else we could think of. He's completely ignored our warnings and has continued to do it. we've had grandma and various friends offer suggestion and talk to him as well with no luck.

Most recently he's had my cell for a week, Yeah, I use it a lot... He's taken it to school, showing it off and claiming it was his. Logan was warned that I'd call the police if he took it again. I argued with myself for 3 hours before I finally called them. I was sick to my stomach doing it.

In a way I was disappointed that he's only 9 because they can't arrest him but at the same time I was relieved. Constable Kenney came in on Tuesday and had a 40 minute talk with Logan. Hopefully that works.

It seems that Logan is taking my phone to try and impress this one kid in his class. We've tried to explain that this kid isn't worth having as a friend for the simple reason he's threatened to beat Logan up.

I remember being a kid and being in the same situation. No one bothered playing with that kid. Logan is overly friendly and just wants EVERYONE to be his buddy.

One of our ideas to keep him out of trouble and keep him busy was to sign him up for activities at the YMCA. Sadly all the spots were filled. So we're looking into other options.

I'm beginning to wonder if stress is the cause of the nerve pinch.....