Gratitude Discussion Group

I have a lot to be grateful for. Three months into a pretty bad withdrawal from Effexor and constantly feeling sorry for myself, unable to see the end of it. I keep reminding myself this is temporary and that there are FAR worse things to experience!! But I think that the fact that effexor affects the brain exacerbates the dark ruminations. Today the dr called with the news I have a UTI, so I started the antibiotic bactrim. Holy cow. I've never itched this badly since I was on a morphine drip post hysterectomy. And the gastric distress, muscle pain, weird feelings....it honestly made me want to be experiencing "only" the withdrawals symptoms! It's all relative. Actually it got so bad that I decided to take the prozac which is supposed to help the withdrawal (supposedly and God willing, one dose can have a positive effect). I had been resisting it but maybe this was the path I needed to take. In any case, no more bactrim for me. And an attitude of gratitude tonight.

@gingerw Thanks so much. I have another BCG treatment Wednesday morning. I am thankful the nurse is doing these and her humor and knowledge have helped so much. There are kind and respectful people and I was due for one!!! I have been through a lot of ka-ka with medical professionals lately. If I were a rude and disrespectful I could understand the attitudes. Maybe this is what it takes in a stressed out world. Not my style. I am learning to be more assertive and this I have learned from others here. Have also learned on my end I at times need to stand my ground. I can do so appropriately even though there are times my letter opener tongue wants to lose itself.
@becsbuddy It was reassuring to work with an RN. I have nearly always been treated well with nurses. It is the doctors and the CMA's. I also have a wonderful pain specialist and going to schedule a rhizotomy in the near future for the cervical pain. He usually sedates for this. He said he can do so under a local as I did well with the numbing agent injections. A relief as the hospital has a new rule and I did not want to spend another night in the hospital-Aargh, the whole idea of out patient surgery!! If a patient receives sedation there must be someone waiting in the waiting room to sign the patient out stating said patient will not be left alone for 24 hours. Evidently the hospital was sued over a situation(s) involving such a matter. I had a transport service for transportation. They refused to do the surgery if I did not agree to stay overnight. I found this out in pre-op. A new ruling. Nothing like a slumber party in the hospital. At least I kept my humor and had the staff in stitches!!!
@hopeful33250 @merpreb and debbraw Always good to hear from you too. Time to stop before I become too syrupy. I have dined well.

Well, grateful the side effects have subsided some for now from the 2nd BCG treatment. More later.

Today I am grateful. For the people here, who show such care and concern for each other, who want to help ease the strife of daily living. Waiting this weekend to get the scan results on Mon afternoon. For my medical team, current and future, who hold my health in their hands. For Mother Nature, who is running a large wildfire not too far from our new house, in her wisdom to know I just couldn't bear moving up there then having to evacuate right away!
Ginger

My thought as to how to make yours and others day WONDERFUL! I was given a lesson many years ago by my Mentor at that time. It has stuck with me for decades.
I was with my grandson shopping at Dicks Sporting Goods. When we went to check out I looked at the persons name tag and it read Kathy. As she closed the sale on the register I said "Thank You Kathy!. It made her light up and she Thanked me for recognising her by name. When we walked out to our car my Grandson asked me why I did it? I said because all of us liked to be recoginsed! We all want a little smile and to be recognised as an individual who has a name, not just as a person in passing!
I try everytime I am helped by someone in a store, or in an airport or anywhere with a name badge to recognise them and Thank them for helping me.
Go out and try if and see how you can BRIGHTEN someones day? You'll be surprised at how they react! They may then pass along the Happiness to others. It will also make you Happier!
Thank You all for the Love and Understanding to give to all of us!
Sundance (RB)

@sundance6 My husband and I are both of similar minds when it comes to recognizing people. When you are working it’s good to show appreciation to everyone, down to the custodians. That’s true as a patient in a hospital too. I always expressed gratitude to the cleaning people and to the people who brought my meals. Of course to the nurses too.

I also often will notice something on a person and compliment them, just out of the blue! I can see their appreciation and surprise for that.
JK