Staying/Getting/Doing Well – Moving goalposts or fixed target?

[Paw Prints]

Hi, this is my first post, though I have been reading the forums for some weeks. I’m probably expressing myself badly when I say that I have found reading about other people’s journeys reassuring. Finding a community of people who “get it” even when they have a wide variety of experiences and lives lived is not something I thought I would ever find.

Though people talk about getting well & there is a section Staying Well, I’m curious as to what this actually means to other people and how they manage their expectations. I noticed some people refer to being well as ‘being like themselves before they got ill’, whilst others don’t express an exact aim.

My idea of being well has changed over the years. I was first diagnosed as an 8 year old child back in the late sixties. The doctors told Mum that the voices in my head & the sudden crying bouts were because I suffered from ‘nerves’ & I was given meds to calm me. Of course such things were not discussed back then & I was told not to talk about it to anyone, not my school friends nor siblings, just Mum. For decades after my idea of being well simply meant being able to hide my illness from others.

A number of events in my life caused my illness to worsen, until some years ago I became so ill I needed to be hospitalised for my own safety. This lead to my current diagnosis of Major Depression, Anxiety & PTSD. I’m no longer in that dark place, but each day is still a battle (though I can now believe in a future). For now only my siblings & one friend know about my illness, though some things they still don’t know.
So, what does ‘being well’ mean to me, it is ever moving goalposts. If you had asked me 5 years ago would I be as well as I am now I would have thought it impossible as I couldn’t envision a future. If you had asked me last week (during one of my down periods) I would have said my progress was all an illusion & I was fooling myself that things can get better.
For now my idea of being well is being able to believe that things can change for the better, that I will one day be able to manage the everyday things like housework, caring for myself & caring for my dog & maybe, just maybe I will even be able to enjoy myself.

Paw Prints
**I took the tip to give myself time to write my post by writing on a word doc & then paste it.

[Katyonthehamsterwheel]

Hi Paws

Sorry to have not been here, caught up in my own pet dilemmas. That would be very upsetting I imagine, seeing Woofa struggle. I wonder if something calming might help on these occasions? Maybe medical marijuana? Or I saw Dr Chris (that Bondi vet guy) has recently brought out some calming chews. Maybe something to consider/discuss with vet?

Having previously worked in aged care, I think the most distressing part of dementia is the anxiety that comes with the confusion. My last doggy got it too, and similarly to what Hannah said, would get stuck in corners.

As for stray nuggets, Stormy has always been incontinent because of her spine. You get used to them turning up in random places! We do love our lovely side kicks, don’t we? ♥️

Hugs to you, and ear scratches to his handsomeness x

[Paw Prints]

Hello Katy, Grandy, Hanna, wave to everyone,

I've had old dogs in the past who developed age related issues so I am used to helping my furs deal with them... What spooked me this time was the sudden drastic deterioration... I was actually worried that he may have been having a stroke... thankfully there is no sign of it having affected him long term...

I've stopped the anti inflam meds & will be ringing the vet tomorrow...he didn't have any side effects when he was on them briefly a couple of months ago, but he has now.

The flooding is awful... I can't imagine how the folk affected will manage given it is over such a large area & there won't be enough tradespeople to enable rebuilding in any sort of reasonable time... people affected by the fires are still waiting... I do think it is time that some hard decisions are made & some towns that regularly flood need to be relocated to higher ground & no building permitted on the flood plains... that lower ground should be turned into parks & sports areas... with swales to help slow flood water... it would be cheaper long term to make these changes & would help reduce flooding further down stream... it has been done in other countries so it is possible to do.

Something more cheery... I've had a fairy wren doing acrobatics for the last couple of hours as it flits around on the flyscreen on my lounge window feasting on the trapped bugs etc... they are lovely mischievous little birds.

Hugs

Paws

[Hanna3]

Hi Paws,

I wrote a reply to you and then the computer crashed.. I wonder if the medication caused the sudden episode with Woofa - good idea to see how he goes without it and check with the vet. That must have been distressing for you if it was that bad and sudden. Let us know what the vet has to say. I hope he is OK tonight...

I have heard Lismore is destroyed, and Ballina looks terrible, worse to come tonight apparently. I don't know what they will do about rebuilding these towns, it's sad for all the people. One young girl the media spoke to had lost her father a year ago and now her home was gone. I felt so sorry for her mother, but she did not appear on camera. The weather here has been muggy and oppressive, I'm not sure what we are in for tomorrow... not anything like what Queensland and the NSW coast has had...

One of the women in the park has persuaded the council here to light up a major building in the colours of the Ukraine flag, she has Ukrainean background so it will please her.. I notice the Sydney Opera House was lit up in the colours last night, I think it's nice as a show of solidarity.

We had a nice day here today, there was a pleasant breeze and Sam had a nice play with the other dogs this afternoon. I have had a nice chat with an old friend on the coast, not my old coastal town, she and her husband retired elsewhere - it's good to talk with old friends, we go back a long way.

Do let us know how Woofa goes with the vet, and how he is tonight. I hope he is improved off the meds.. how is the weather where you are Paws? How are you feeling these days, are you reading anything? Any news of that neighbour of yours who seemed nice and was mowing the lawn?

Hugs to you and Woofa, keep well!!! oxoxoxoxox

[Paw Prints]

Hello Hanna, Grandy, Katy, wave to everyone,

The vet has recommended that I stop Woofa's med for 4 more days then if everything settles we can try starting again... it has helped with his arthritis so fingers crossed...

Very humid here the last few days... we very briefly caught the edge of a thunderstorm last night... only a spatter of rain... today it's hot as well as humid... the humidity knocks me.

Woofa & I have been in front of the fan... I just put the cooling on as he is panting... I have to try to find the oomph to go & get milk later...

Thankfully my mood has improved... the tears have stopped mostly...

Hugs

Paws

[Ggrand]

Hello Dear Paws, Hanna, Katy and everyone...🤗..

I really hope that Woofa becomes his beautiful and best self soon...it’s always so upsetting and our heart breaks for our precious pets....fingers crossed and prayers that he will improve...

So much rain falling everywhere..I feel so sad for those effected by the floods....my heart goes out to them...

We so much need rain out in the central west...I have so much thunder here and lightning for the past hour with just a few little sprinkles of rain....It’s a shame the areas that need it hasn’t been getting any...

Same here with the hot humid weather...I think Mother Nature has forgotten it’s now officially Autumn....

Hope your day is good lovely Paws and both you and Woofs has a good day...

Lots of puppy hugs and human hugs..

Grandy..

[Hanna3]

That's good news Paws! Hopefully it will settle down. No rain here although it feels like it wants to - I keep expecting a storm to roll in and then the cloud all disappears again.. we do need rain.. it's muggy.. friends in Sydney told me it's been raining hard for day after day there and everything is sodden and they are fed up with it.. it's wierd.

I'm glad you are feeling a bit better. Give Woofa a hug for us here! oxoxoxoxox

[Hanna3]

Hi Paws

How is Woofa today? I hope he was improved last night.

Little Sam has a pancreatitis flare, I dashed to the vet with him to get a tablet down his throat and he's sleeping, I hope he will be OK.

Very warm, no rain here, this evening much cooler and first time it's felt Autumn.

Went to the dentist. So busy day with dentist and sick dog. Maybe Sam went out in sympathy with Paws!

Hugs 🐶🤗

[Ggrand]

Hello Dear Hanna, Paws, Katy and everyone...🤗..

I do hope that your not to sore after going to the dentist...I need to go to one but keep putting it off...I think you are very brave going to the dentist..,.They scare me..

Poor little Sam..I do hope the medication works for him and he starts to feel better soon....My youngest dil get pancreatitis every now and then...I was with her many years ago when it flared up and she looked so sick and in a lot of pain...I’m thinking it’s the same sort of pain that little Sam would be struggling with,,,,my heart goes out to him..,.

We have had loud thunder, bright lightening but not much rain...just a few minutes of sprinkles, both my children are are experiencing heavy rain...my eldest is on flood watch, with the water slowly seeping into his house....

I hope you’re doing okay and resting up after what sounds like a big and tiring day..

Hugs to you all and puppy hugs to our fur babies..

Grandy..

[Paw Prints]

Hello Hanna, Grandy, wave to all

Oh Hanna you are brave... dentists scare me silly... I have to be in excruciating pain over days before I will go... & then having poor little Sam getting ill on top... you have had a rough day... I hope Sam is feeling brighter this evening... & your mouth isn't too sore... it sounds like you both need an early night.

Grandy it must be worrying having your eldest in the flood area... I really hope he is spared from getting water through his house...

Hot & humid today... Woofa has been hogging the cooling... it keeps clouding over with dark storm clouds then they just vanish & we're back to blue sky...

Hugs

Paws

[Paw Prints]

My elderly relative has passed