I have recently been put on the medication Methadone and hope this will reduce my pain level, and I also am still taking Perocet as a break though pain medication I have to use it because the methadone levels have not increased yet and it will require at least 2 weeks the doctor said to feel the effects of the medication ao9 In will does they say. Today I drove to the grocery store and I know I am not supposed to drive but I have things which I am supposed to do when I felt funny in the dollar store I knew it was time for me to get my but in the car and go home and either sit down on the computer and chill out no more driving for me I did this for 2 days just to see how I would do and I will defiantly follow the doctors advice now I have no business driving if I am as dizzy or unbalanced as I was today I had some problems in the grocery making basic decisions' but I had a list and stayed under 55 dollars at Save a Lot which I don't even go to usually I go to Winn Dixe so I was not familiar with where all the things were located. I would consider this a new post and I will repost it as new both here and on my page at http://www.myspace.com/frankduff As I write this on the pain scale of 1 to 10 my pain is at 8. I cant do any thing but sit here online and listen to the radio I moved the laptop over to the sofa I couldnt sit in the chair as most of my pain is in my hip joint and I have been treated by the VA Pain Clinic here they have done an injection of my back in the lower area and that has helped a lot but the hip remains a critical problem. So I guess my main question would be how do manage to maintain your life as normal as you can being single, what can I do to relive the pressure of not being able to get out as often. I'm not dating anyone right now but I would like to. When I think having that kind of loving support in my life would be a plus in my dealing with my conditions and I am dealing with more than just The Osteoarthritis, I have had brain tumor surgery that has impacted how I deal with people in a social situation and in some cases I am having to lean things all over again I don't even know how to ask a women out or when to kiss her or not kiss her, It all is still very confusing to me and I have to be home here or I would not be getting any help or feedback from anyone. Last night I read some information online that explained a lot that I want to go over with my case manager at the VA today when she comes by she doesn't have much time during the holidays but I think its very important that I try and begin to understand what happened to my brain because of the tumor and the effects that I am dealing with both emotionally and sexually that I do not understand what has happened to me or my body and it makes me frightened anyone would be?

The web site is http://www.northeastcenter.com/links_brain_injury_sexuality.html I am 49 and I discussed a hip replacement with the doctor at the VA I don't know as of yet what the final answer is but I did ask, that's all I can do I don't have any family here they live out of state and are having there own problems dealing with my Aunt who has Altimmers. So they call me for support, I do have a best friend who i am grateful for she is busy with her own life but I know she cares. And That's about it as far as a support system that I have and the VA My case manager Karen Israel. I do attend AA meetings and I will have 2 years in recovery Sober on 12/31/07, New Years Eve what an awesome time for a recovery party! and I know they will be having a dance I will defiantly try and dance I don't know how long I can but I don't care as long as I have fun. Some people in AA say you cant take methadone and still attend meetings but I haven't had a problem with that yet I don't abuse the medications and Pills where never my problem I haven't done any street drugs for 20 years. My main problem was Booze and I don't want to ever go back to where I was 2 years ago I was homeless off and on and in Jail for trespassing because I didn't have my Bi Polar medication and when I got out I lived in a shelter until I got into VOA housing I have an incident there I was assaulted by my male roommate my doctor at the VA wants me to go to PSTD counseling and group to deal with all the things I went through I was also abused by my ex wife, Sexually, Mentally, Physically, and Verbally she also abused her dad before he passed away, when he went in the nursing home she told me she didn't need me anymore I was married for 14 years. So I guess I have abandonment fears also. I have done a lot of work with my Va Case Manager Karen Israel, she has been great and I'm very grateful for her help. I still have a long way to go But I'm grateful that I have a nice safe place to live and a car and that I am still able to do some things On my own I will update this as I have done today.