Writing, Shipbuilding, and Fibromyalgia

That's a quote from Michael J. Fox discussing his outlook on Parkinson.

Probably not very. I think of people like Pat who struggles to get from her car to her desk. However, while her physical activities have been bound by her illnesses her mental outlook hasn't. That's why I admire her. So when I feel overwhelmed by my pain, I think about her. I can walk, drive, paint, clean, weld (badly), write, knit, cook, exercise and all the other things I do everday without a struggle. So, I don't think I'm sick. I just hurt sometimes.

I'm trying to eliminate my dependence on a sleep aid. So, I've increased my dosage of Lyrica at night. Last night I didn't have any trouble getting to sleep. I used 3 mg of melatonin. However, I started waking up around 3a, about 8 hours after my last dose.

After reading more about Lyrica, it is suggested that the max dosage for fibro is 450 mg. Higher dosages than that don't any greater effect. Also,when I take over 100 mg I'll be asleep in about an hour for about 2 hours. So higher dosages in the day are inconvenient.

With that in mind I'm going to try this:

50 mg at 8a
50 mg at 2p
200 mg at 8p

If I start to have a lot of pain during the day, I can increase my daytime dosages to 100 mg.

We'll see! :)

Doug has been explaining to me how a CNC machine and its software works. This is really cool! You can take a photo, place it in an application called ArtCam which creates a 3D image of it that you can then manipulate into the image you want. Then it plots the machine's cut lines and saves it in a file that the machine can use.

It sounds easy but there's lots to learn about the software. But in the end it will let us cut out parts for the sailboat or custom parts for other people.

Friday, February 6, 2009

Found out that one of the reported side effects of Ambien is true - it can cause vivid nightmares.

I don't have nightmare. I might have a bad dream but nothing like what this was. What was really disturbing was that I knew I was having a nightmare and I knew it was probably caused by the Ambien but I couldn't wake myself up. I remember that somehow Aden was in danger but I couldn't help him and the same theme was repeated a number of times but in a different setting. That totally sucked!

So, I'm switching to Lunesta. I hope to be able to increase my Lyrica dosage at night to the point where it makes me drowsy enough so I don't need any sleep aid.

Status of submarine: With the cold weather, we've been working on projects inside the shop. Doug's been working on the CNC machine, Kay's been sewing covers, and Rand spent a day learning to use the plasma cutter and welder. I know her creations will continue to improve and we are all looking forward to see her artistic abilities displayed on our walls.

Status of sailboat: Still got the steel laying outside. With Carl's help, he and dad got the school bus bed plates laid down. Then Dad welded the left over beams into a work table to cut or weld on. It's nice - ask Randi, she's the first to use it.

Carpet Garden - All the pieces have been laid out

School bus salvaging operation - Complete! Salvaged seat covers, foam pads, metal sheets from the sides and top of the bus, deck flooring, wiper blade motors, rear-end transmission, brakes, axle, differential, mirrors, lights, and the front grill (for Carl). We sold the rest. And now the pad is empty! Wonder what the neighbors thought?

InfidelStrong.com - Randi is working on the web site on a daily basis. She's learning to more about it. However, sometimes it feels she takes one step forward and then two steps back. But she's getting better. I know creating websites are a pain in the ass. I did it once and not doing it again.

Aden: Nah, nanahnana, NAINAINAI! Ack! Ack! Ackackack! NSA is attempting to translate. We however, feel that has already been accomplished. All you need to do is watch "Mars Attack!" and you'll get it.

The Dogs: They are defining and redifining their roles and the pack's heirarchy. The big question is who is the biggest weenie - George or Tony?

Andie the Cat: Now referred to as Shadow Cat.

More to come later