The Old Year Leaves Problems

Since we are only two days into 09, I’d like to wish all my readers a healthy, happy New Year.  May 2009 be a better year than 2008!

I’m sorry not to have gotten a blog out last week.  I am battling a few setbacks.  I’ve gone back to wearing glasses after being glasses-free since Lasik surgery almost ten years ago.  Unfortunately, Lasik is a godsend for most, but my nearsightedness was too bad.  While it did help the front of my eye, it did nothing for the elongated shape of the eyes which was causing the poor vision in the first place.  Okay…I have no problem wearing the new glasses; they’re about an inch or two thinner than what I once wore, and they are quite stylish.  HOWEVER, my eye problems have not gone away; I am developing Macular Degeneration…not age related or Diabetes related, but just plain “my eyes are too long” related.  Nothing can be done; it’s just…wait for it to happen.  There is some promising news, though.  By taking some special vitamins chock full of antioxidants, I might be able to stave off the condition for a while.

The second setback I’ve had is increased depression.  I know that depression often occurs along with dementia, and I have been taking Cymbalta to help it.  However, very little is giving me true joy right now, and I’m wanting to just stay in bed—I DO fight that, though, and I get up everyday… But I have to admit that I haven’t opened up the Christmas cards we received yet, nor did I send any.  I forced myself to get most of the Christmas gifts wrapped.  I did make a nice dinner for the family the Sunday before Christmas but had to hire help to get the last minute preparations done and food put on the table.  My doctor wants to put me on an additional depression medication but can’t do that until we get my third problem under control.

My third setback is a battle with an infection that I have been battling for over a year.  It seems I have a staph infection within my blood stream which is causing continuous productions of sores.  Now, I don’t like to talk about this, but I must.  I feel that everyone is grossed out when they look at me—which probably doesn’t help my self esteem or depression.  I have a sore on the top of each hand, one on my arm, one right on my chin, three on my leg, and several on my scalp.  I’m on like the fourth antibiotic, this time for three weeks.  My doctor thinks it may be a form of MRSA (I think that’s how you spell that antiobiotic resistant staph infection).  He didn’t want to put me on an antibiotic and more depression medication because it would be too difficult to tell what the culprit was if I had a side effect…  I’ve been on the antibiotic for almost a week and a half and my sores have not gone away…so it’s not looking good.  My doctor also thinks I may feel better and the depression may lessen if I can get the infection under control.