Day: 02/03/2015

New Mexicans don’t care about each other

While living in Houston, I never really reached out to anyone else for help. I’ve always taken pride in what little independence I have, and asking for help doesn’t come easy for me.

But moving to a new city and state has required me to swallow my pride, reaching out and asking for help from, well, a number of people here in New Mexico. And almost every time, I’ve had my reaching hand slapped away — which makes it even harder to ask for help the next time.

I understand that everyone has their own problems and is busy with their own lives. People who aren’t disabled live in a world that I don’t belong to. But the apathy is really thick in this city, from all the trash and litter (much of it empty liquor bottles), to the proliferation of graffiti and gang tags that no one seems to care about.

Unfortunately, it appears that this atmosphere is contagious…

As I sit here without anything or anyone to help me manage the pain, depression, anger, and now apathy, I am unable to think of anyone I can reach out to for help. I confess that I am unable to stop the thoughts of suicide that keep running through my mind.

I also confess that one of the reasons I chose this state’s Medical Cannabis Program is because New Mexico is one of the few right-to-die states. I want the right to die, even without a doctor’s opinion of how long I have to live. After almost 30 years of constant pain, I think I deserve the right to decide when I’ve had enough.

I want to be free.

12/22/2014, Understanding Insulin Sticker-Shock

http://insulinnation.com/treatment2/medicine-drugs/understanding-insulin-sticker-shock/

Many diabetes industry watchers have long held the belief that insulin-producing drug companies are driving up insulin prices simply because they can. That may be an oversimplification, but there is some truth that drug companies are using price increases on everyday drugs like high blood pressure medication and insulin to counter a drop in overall drug sales. Pharma executives admitted this as far back as 2011 during a Reuters Health Summit…

http://www.staffordpharmacy.com/pharmacy/rx-pad/rx-center/do-i-need-a-prescription-for-insulin/

In Alberta, insulin can be sold to a patient without a prescription…

http://www.isletsofhope.com/diabetes/state-law/state-prescription-laws.html

State Laws – Do I need a prescription for Syringes and insulin?

The Science Behind Why You Say ‘Ow’ When You’re In Pain

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/02/03/why-you-say-ouch-pain_n_6594170.html

New research from the National University of Singapore suggests that vocalizing may interfere with pain signals traveling to the brain, distracting you from the uncomfortable sensations you’re feeling…

Under comments:

Jeanne Karaffa said:  Swearing helps too

https://painkills2.wordpress.com/2014/11/20/11-suggestions-for-managing-pain/

11 Suggestions for Managing Pain

9. Grunt. Sometimes, when we’re doing something that takes extra effort, we make a noise (or grunt). A little verbal exhalation, to express the pain within the physical effort. It’s a type of release that you will be able to hear in your subconscious — just a little acknowledgement (like a note to yourself) that you’re still fighting the pain. You are making the effort, and that’s a good thing.

Michael Moore Talks to VICE About ‘American Sniper,’ the End of Sarah Palin, and PTSD

http://www.vice.com/read/exclusive-interview-michael-moore-on-american-sniper-sarah-palin-and-ptsd-261

I certainly wrote what I wrote because that weekend there was a lot of talk about snipers because of the movie, but also because it was Martin Luther King weekend and I just found it uncomfortable that something called American Sniper, a film about a sniper, would be released on the weekend where we’re honoring a great American who was killed by a sniper…

Pajamas

https://susannemain.wordpress.com/2014/12/09/a-child-in-pain-3/

A child in pain, 3

Perhaps you may assume that on days when everything is an enormous struggle, I would choose to stay in pyjamas when home all day. However, I don’t…

Last year, an ex-friend of mine visited, and one time he said, so, you get to wear pajamas every day, huh?  The lives of disabled people look so easy from the outside…

It’s been a very long time since I purchased pajamas.  Why buy extra clothes just to sleep in? However, all of my clothes are at least one or two sizes too big for me.  Clothes with elastic are uncomfortable, but one has to keep their pants up, right?  And don’t get me started on how restricting and painful it is to wear a bra.  But…

The point made to patients is to keep some routine and day/night distinction.

This chronic pain patient makes a good point. 🙂