Feeling really good today!

So, with my new medication, Lamictal, I've been pretty much crashing at night right after I take it. So I've been sleeping really well, a very deep sleep. Before I started taking it, I would be up til all hours of the night and sleep in until 12:30 or 1pm the next day to make up for it. Psychiatrist said that is part of me being manic. Anyway, I've been getting to sleep kind of late still, but usually before midnight and I've been getting up earlier in the morning because I'm actually rested. I know it's still late for most of you who work, but it's early for me. And I feel good when I get up. And, I have more hours in the day, so I'm more productive.

I wish I could be productive today, but my car has a flat tire *sigh* I just got four brand new tires put on her the beginning of February! It was part of the overhaul that we did on her after getting the insurance check from me totalling the Explorer. OMgosh, talk about guilt - I still have it about that accident. My mom and stepdad were so incredibly selfless to give J and I the Explorer - seriously, they *gave* it to us, didn't sell it to us - we had it almost a year when I totalled it. Which I really think is fishy to begin with , because after the accident (I rear-ended someone on the freeway because I was looking down to grab my bottle of water - it was when we were moving) the truck was completely drivable - there were no leaks from the engine or transmission or radiator or anything. The bumper was pushed down and the whole front of the truck was cracked - but drivable! *sigh* Well, we got more than expected for it, so we got my car (the Rav 4) fixed and put the rest away for a down payment on a car for Jeremy later this year. Being this close to his work, one car is okay for us right now.

Oh! Yesterday eBay had a listing sale; normally it costs anywhere from $0.35-$1.00 to post a listing (depending how much you are selling the item for) but it was only $0.15 per listing yesterday! I think I ended up doing 150 listings. Took ALL DAY. But worth it, I hope. I'll find out on Tuesday - they are 7 day auctions. Check me out on eBay and bid on an item you like!

Michele's Treasures on eBay

Don't forget to tell your friends about me too! I also have mail order catalogs, if you want one, email your address to me at micheles_treasures@earthlink.net.

For now, I go. I am going camping next month in Yosemite with a friend, and I need to create a packing list of clothes, toiletries, etc... I'm really looking forward to that!

Sorry I've been MIA...

I've had a rough couple of weeks. As most of you know, I am currently on Social Security for my Bipolar Disorder. Well, I had my first appointment with my new psychiatrist last week on Thursday here in Orange County. It was really rough. It took about 1.5 hours. We talked about my past, which included my hospitalizations early on and the management of my disorder over the years. He was astonished that I was only on two particular medications. Apparently, I have the more severe type of Bipolar, which is Bipolar I - as opposed to Bipolar II, which is marked with more depressive episodes than manic. So we decided together to pursue a more aggressive form of treatment, and he put me on Lamictal; a stronger medicine to control extreme mood swings. I think the objective is to get me solely on the Lamictal and off the Seroquel, because of the side effects of Seroquel. Not to say that Lamictal does not have its own side effects; one of them being a deadly rash. Yeah. Okay. But, if it manages my illness better, then I'll take it.

Weight loss wise, I've been at a standstill the last couple of weeks, and I know exactly why. I am not getting enough protein/calories/fluids in. I'm trying so hard to work this tool I have been given, but it sure is tough! Tomorrow is another day, at least that is what I keep telling myself.

Having the last couple of weeks being so rough, I haven't been cooking much. So no new recipes to review or point you too. I hope that as my medications stabilize, I will stabilize and be more productive.

For now, I've spent some time on eBay listing different things from my catalogs, and Jeremy has been helping me to put labels on them to get them ready for mailing. Okay, not helping - he's pretty much the label king! He can get them on straight, and me, well I don't even try anymore! But I did get my merchant account set up so I can take Visa, Mastercard and American Express as well as PayPal. So, if you want a catalog, send me a message with your address to micheles_treasures@earthlink.net and I'll get our Spring Catalog right out to you. You can also check me out on eBay: http://members.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewUserPage&userid=micheles_treasures. I look forward to hearing from you!

Later, everyone.

Feeling better!

And most of it is due to the care of my loving husband, Jeremy; who took the weekend to make sure I was full of protein, liquids and pain medicine. Ah, what a man.

Not much to write about tonight, but tomorrow look for a glorious review of eggface's Blueberry Protein Muffins. The electric oven shall not win!

In the mean time, a book recommendation: "Alex and Me" by Irene Pepperberg. A great read on the scientific study of the linguistic capability of an African Grey Parrot, "Alex" and the bond that ensues.

So yeah, short post tonight. But look for more tomorrow!

Does it get better?

It seems as though my funk is continuing through the weekend.  Right now it's about 12:20 am, and while I should be asleep next to my wonderful husband, I am awake and browsing the internet.  I don't really have anything on my mind, per se... I'm pretty much a blank slate.  I am disheartened that I am having such a hard time getting my protein in.  I'm trying to do it with just food, because my stomach had been adversely affected by fluids lately, and I'm not getting anywhere near my goal.  I need the protein drinks.  I am going to try and start them again tomorrow.  And my vitamins.  I think part of my emotional funk is the fact that physically, I am just exhausted.  And I know the reason is because I am working on hardly any nutrients.  When I had the surgery, even before, I made a pact with myself and with Jeremy that "I would follow the doctors protocol to a "T" because I did not want to get sick".  It's proving to be harder than I ever imagined.  And it's not the restriction of food - fact is, I really don't feel hungry most the time, so hours and hours pass without me eating or drinking anything.  Now, I'm home during the day, so it should be easy to set my pill pager (when it beeps, I take pills - well, I'm supposed to) and make the effort to just eat.  But it's not as easy as it sounds.

But, tomorrow is another day - so it is another chance to start over.  At almost 6 weeks out I am down almost 30 pounds.  That's about 5 pounds a week, and I am NOT complaining.  It feels really good.  I just want to make sure I stay healthy, because in the end that's the reason why I had the surgery to begin with.

And, I think my psych meds need to be adjusted.  I've been off kilter lately.  I don't know if I'm not absorbing as much of it, so I need to get a higher dose, or what.  Being a bipolar gastric bypass patient definitely has its challenges, that's for certain.  I just had a very bad start when I found out I was bipolar; three hospital stays in a little less than 3 months for about a week each time.  I don't want to go back to that.  I've been stable for a little over three years now, with only minor snafus here or there when my medication needed to be changed.

Well, I should try and get some rest.  And get some of my pills down.  Wish me luck.  Talk to everyone soon, and I promise - these posts will get better as I do!  I still have lots of delish recipes to try out from eggface's blog:  TheWorldAccordingtoEggface.  But for now, g'nite.

Not feeling it lately...

So the last few days I've been in a funk. Not wanting to do much, really. Especially not write about being in a funk. Part of what is going on is it's that lovely time of the month. Oh yes. This bothers me some - before Labor Day last year I had not had a period in a little over 3 years due to some medication I was on for my bipolar. Well, May of last year my psych doctor changed up my meds and took me off the 2 major ones that 1. contributed to my weight gain; and 2. contributed to my elevated blood sugars, causing me to develop Type 2 diabetes. The good news, is that I started to loose a little weight, not really noticable, but some. I didn't start my downcycle of losing more weight until July when I had my gallbladder surgery. But I digress.

I am in pain. Cramping from it being, well that time; and my stomach still is sore from surgery. I have little to no energy - and all I want to do is lie in bed and sleep/watch tv/doze. I force myself to get up and get dressed everyday, because - well it's just not good to lay around in your PJ's for a week! And I feel better once I am up and moving around. And after I've taken my Tylenol. There have been a few things that I needed to take care of this week, and so far I've accomplished all of them. Today I am going to the Ocean Institute in Dana Point to finish up my Orientation to volunteer at the tide pools. I'm looking forward to that, but at the same time... ugh... I have to drive *all the way down to Dana Point* (which is like, 15 minutes). J and I got spoiled pretty easily with being so close to Dana Point, that he mentioned the other day that it takes him *forever* to get to work - 15-20 minutes when he drives. ?!? But you know, today I am seeing his point.

But, we did some pretty cool stuff this past weekend. Saturday we went down to San Diego to the Birch Aquarium at Scripps. It was a really neat little aquarium. I wasn't feeling well towards the end of the visit, so I sat on a bench and played with my phone while J finished up in the tropical fish exhibits. But here are a couple of pictures that J took:

We love the sea horses and leafy sea dragons. It's very calming to go to an aquarium. Especially when you sit and watch the jelly fish. They are mesmerizing.

Well, I think I'm done for today. I need to get some lunch, although my stomach is not happy right now, I do not have any idea what will sit right - I guess I get to figure it out? Anyway, have a good day, everyone!