Gridley

[Giulietta]

Hello Gridley,

 

I hope you are feeling fine and weather in Ecuador is good. I don't see any negative commens aboout your status - thank goodness. Every good day is a blessing and soemthing for which to be grateful (at least in my little world).  😉  I hope your beasties are also well.

 

We've  been have messy stuff where I live - warm weather - makes the ground mushy and the dogs don't like it - followed by snow/sleet/rain and cold temperatures (ice - dogs and I don't like to walk on). So icey that dogs need to be carried around to potty locations so they don't sprain something. It is that icey.

 

Frogie has been kindly and generously giving me some pointers about my WD symptoms. She referred me to you and your fellow mods with a number of my questions as her information is based on her experience.

 

At some point I will summarize these in my thread and hope for expert feedback.

 

 

Hugs,

G

 

[Gridley]

1 hour ago, Guilietta said:

weather in Ecuador is good

Thanks for dropping by, Guilietta.  The weather is pretty much constant spring here, on the Equator but 6000 feet up.  Everything grows lushly.  I'm having a good morning so I actually got out and trimmed the roses.  The dogs are beside me on the sofa.  Pretty soon they'll rouse themselves to play.  That is, sprightly Yapa will finagle sluggish Humphrey to play.

 

Gridley

 

 

 

 

[Rosetta]

Hi Gridley,

 

I love to hear about your travels and dogs. Mmmm, ceviche made by marinating fish in lime juice (with chiles I hope)! I love it.  I should make that.  Eating it with saltines (Saladitas) is the Mexican way, of course.  Here we have pico de gallo which is tomatoes, onions, Serrano chiles, cilantro, and salt mixed in with the ceviche.  Pico de Gallo is also called salsa fresca.  It’s divine with ceviche.

 

 Acojedor, hmm.  A new word for me.  Rincón acojedor.  Where I live is called Rincón del Diablo — less cozy sounding.

 

All my love, Rosetta

[Frogie]

1 hour ago, Gridley said:

That is, sprightly Yapa will finagle sluggish Humphrey to play.

Gridley:

 

I love to hear about your fur babies. Makes me smile😊

 

Take care,

 Frogie xx

[Giulietta]

On 2/13/2020 at 10:23 AM, Gridley said:

I'm having a good morning so I actually got out and trimmed the roses.  The dogs are beside me on the sofa.

 

Wonderful! I am pleased you had a good morning. I am grateful when I exprience the same so very happy when any of you do. 🙂  The roses may bloom pretty much year round? What type are they?

 

 

[Gridley]

3 minutes ago, Guilietta said:

The roses may bloom pretty much year round? What type are they?

Yes, they bloom year-round and prolifically.  So prolifically that they were up to about eight feet tall, blocking completely the kitchen picture window and almost blocking the dining room window.  Today we had to cut them back to around two feet so they'll get fresh new growth (and so we can see out the windows).  

 

I don't know the name but the blooms are dainty and pale dusky pink.  Roses are one of Ecuador's major exports but not my type but rather much bigger and brighter and, to me, more garish blooms.  

 

 

 

 

[Giulietta]

3 hours ago, Gridley said:

So prolifically that they were up to about eight feet tall, blocking completely the kitchen picture window and almost blocking the dining room window.

 

Man eating roses!!!

 

3 hours ago, Gridley said:

Roses are one of Ecuador's major exports

 

I was going to suggest you could export trimmings from yours and start a nice business!

 

 

[Giulietta]

Hello Gridley

 

Just dropping by to see how you are doing after yesterday's decrease. 🙂

 

Hugs to the beasties

 

g.

[Gridley]

12 hours ago, Giulietta said:

 

Just dropping by to see how you are doing after yesterday's decrease. 🙂

Thanks for checking in, G.  I haven't really noticed any changes. Like you, I'm on more than one drug and sometimes it's hard to discern what's causing what.  But I'm doing pretty well.

 

Beasties are fine.  Humphrey's in his usual spot on top of the coffee table.

 

I hope you're doing well.

 

Gridley

[Giulietta]

1 hour ago, Gridley said:

I haven't really noticed any changes. Like you, I'm on more than one drug and sometimes it's hard to discern what's causing what.  But I'm doing pretty well.

 

We just roll with the punches...  🙂

 

Angus was napping on my bed (or his bed?) after eating breakfast and has now wandered into the kitchen where is mooching for food.

 

I'm going OK.  😉

 

[sunnysideup69]

Hey Gridley, just thought I'd drop by and say hello. I too love reading about your dogs  I see you've made a reduction? Hope that's going well, love from Sunny.

[Gridley]

1 hour ago, sunnysideup69 said:

I too love reading about your dogs  I see you've made a reduction? Hope that's going well, love from Sunny.

Thanks for dropping by, Sunny.  No change in symptoms from the drop, still plugging away.

 

Today is Sunday, the dogs' day to go down to the village in the car.  In just a few minutes they will start accelerating into high alert, bring and whirling around and generally going wild.  I delay putting on my shoes as then they know the time is nigh.

Then there's nothing but to go ahead and put them in the car even if we're nowhere near leaving  Humphrey has a hand-crafted custom made wooden bench that fits behind the passenger seat so he can stand there and put his head out the window.  Born to be wild!

 

 

 

[Frogie]

11 minutes ago, Gridley said:

Thanks for dropping by, Sunny.  No change in symptoms from the drop, still plugging away.

 

Today is Sunday, the dogs' day to go down to the village in the car.  In just a few minutes they will start accelerating into high alert, bring and whirling around and generally going wild.  I delay putting on my shoes as then they know the time is nigh.

Then there's nothing but to go ahead and put them in the car even if we're nowhere near leaving  Humphrey has a hand-crafted custom made wooden bench that fits behind the passenger seat so he can stand there and put his head out the window.  Born to be wild!

 

 

 

@Gridley

 

It is so awesome to hear about your dogs and their adventures. I loved it the other day when you said Humphrey was sleeping on the coffee table. That gave me such a chuckle.

 

They are ready for their Sunday drive. Isn't it funny how dogs know? Delilah is learning a thing or two. I don't know if that is good or bad lol...

 

Enjoy your Sunday!

 

Take care,

Frogie xx

[Giulietta]

4 hours ago, Gridley said:

In just a few minutes they will start accelerating into high alert, bring and whirling around and generally going wild.  I delay putting on my shoes as then they know the time is nigh.

 

And I am sure they have astutely predicted a journey is in the offing before your hands touch the shoes. 😉  It seems like they are smarter than we are (sometimes 😉 ).

 

Angus is napping on a sunny spot on the floor now after a busy day yesterday when family was visiting. The additional activity tires out a 14 year old introverted little beast (not to mention me!).

 

4 hours ago, Frogie said:

sleeping on the coffee table.

 

Did the coffee table have foam padding on it?  It must be a pretty large piece of furniture. 

 

6 hours ago, sunnysideup69 said:

love reading about your dogs

 

They are good companions.

 

Hugs to all,

 

G.

[Gridley]

Just now, Giulietta said:

 

Did the coffee table have foam padding on it?  It must be a pretty large piece of furniture. 

No foam, just wood.  He loves being above the fray, probably a holdover from his days on the street.  I just finished feeding him, an arduous task in the rainy season since he's terrified of thunder.  I sit by him and make encouraging sounds.  Sometimes I resort to child psychology, telling him his bowl is actually Yapa's bowl to see if that might work.

 

Angus sounds like a sweet boy, a Westie, right?  How's his eyesight and hearing?

[Giulietta]

4 minutes ago, Gridley said:

He loves being above the fray,

 

If he owned a car it would probably be an sport utility vehicle or truck. 😉

 

5 minutes ago, Gridley said:

since he's terrified of thunder.  I sit by him and make encouraging sounds.  Sometimes I resort to child psychology, telling him his bowl is actually Yapa's bowl to see if that might work.

 

Poor thing. Angus (and a previous dog) is terrified of thunder. He hears low frequencies better - as do humans losing their hearing. I calm him in much the same way you do. He tries to be a big boy and lay down - but every loud crack brings him to action.  I think our 4 legged children may be smarter than a lot (not all!) than the two legged kind whwen it comees to food. They really can't be tricked into eating theirs if their den mate has the same thing...

 

9 minutes ago, Gridley said:

How's his eyesight and hearing?

 

He is and a little sweetie. He has cataracts but seems to see OK. His hearing is better on some days. At dinner time I may have to find him and let him know it's dinner time. He doesn't often hear being called. He had a flare up of colitis this week and I am trying to get extra metroonidazole so I don't have to go to thevet everytime he has a flare up. I would like to treat, see how he does, if he doesn't improve - then do diagnostics.  Vets just want to make money. I understand about being in busiess and earning a profit to do so, pay staff, etc. - but some of this is extortion....

 

Have to get to a number of things. Glad you are doing OK with your decrease.

 

Hugs,

G.

[Rosetta]

I’m glad you are doing well with the recent reduction, Gridley.

Rosetta

[Gridley]

57 minutes ago, Rosetta said:

I’m glad you are doing well with the recent reduction, Gridley.

Thanks, Rosetta.  All's going well, pretty standard WDnormal.  I'm getting down there, just a little powder.

 

I hope you're continuing to do well. You really rounded a bend after Spain.

[Gridley]

We have to go to the big city for a doctor's appointment (very routine) and some good meals. I'll be offline from tomorrow around 9am until late Saturday afternoon.

[Frogie]

36 minutes ago, Gridley said:

We have to go to the big city for a doctor's appointment (very routine) and some good meals. I'll be offline from tomorrow around 9am until late Saturday afternoon.

Have a good time and be safe!

[Giulietta]

54 minutes ago, Gridley said:

some good meals

 

Looking on the bright side as usual. I will look forward to your report about the delicious food, different ambience, etc.

 

Hope the weather is good for the trip. Good luck with the procedure!

[Gridley]

56 minutes ago, Frogie said:

Have a good time and be safe!

Thanks, Frogie!

[Gridley]

36 minutes ago, Giulietta said:

I will look forward to your report

Thanks, G.  I'll let you know.  I used to love Cuenca when we lived there but here is safer.

[Giulietta]

13 minutes ago, Gridley said:

I used to love Cuenca when we lived there but here is safer.

 

Has Cuenca become a dangerous place or you feel better living in your village?

 

I don't know Ecuador at all

[Gridley]

12 minutes ago, Giulietta said:

Has Cuenca become a dangerous place or you feel better living in your village?

 

Not really dangerous but it's a big city and there's no one we can depend on there.  In a village of 5,000,  there's more cohesion, kind of like the way it used to be in the U.S.a hundred years ago.  There's more crime in Cuenca.  It's loud, the air is bad, more stressful.  But a beautiful city.  Here the air is great, the water comes from a pristine national park, neighbors help you out.  But it can be a tad boring, though boring in WD is not such a bad thing.

 

The Ecuadorians are a very sweet people.  In my ten years here I've not encountered an iota of anti-gringo sentiment.  There probably is some, but I've not seen it.

[Giulietta]

 

47 minutes ago, Gridley said:

, neighbors help you out.  But it can be a tad boring, though boring in WD is not such a bad thing.

 

I think stimulation and other people are helpful - even though we might prefer to keep to ourselves. I think they force you to focus outwards and take your mind off yourself and your worries (ruminate?). That is what I perceive about myself - even though I find a little socializing goes a long way. I do think this is natural for introverted types.

 

Routine is important for me - and for most people I think even if not in WD?  Slow days to recoup energy and focus are a good thing.

 

Have a good night's sleep and enjoy the trip. 😉

 

 

 

 

[sunnysideup69]

Hope your trip to the big city has gone well  

[Gridley]

I just learned from my pharmacist, who's been trying to get me more Ativan, that there is a shortage in Ecuador.  The last time this happened, it lasted several months.  There's no way to know how long it will last this time.  According to drugs.com shortages, there's also a shortage of Lorazepam in the U.S., the only benzo I saw on the list.

 

Fortunately, I have 8 months supply of Ativan at my current dose.   I can't take the chance of using it up while I finish my Lexapro taper (currently at 0.7mgai and too high to jump off) in the hope the shortage will end in Ecuador.  So my plan is to halt the Lexapro taper after I've finished this 4-week cycle (I'm on week 2), then switch to a 10% taper of Ativan while holding at 0.7 Lexapro.  

 

As I get lower in Ativan dosage, my supply will last somewhat longer than the 8 months at current dose, though not, I suspect, enough for an ideal taper.  But this course seems to make the best of a bad situation.  And there's alway the chance that Ecuador's supply will return.  If so, I can continue the Ativan taper as slowly as I want or hold on the Ativan taper and resume getting off the Lexapro.  

 

 

[Gridley]

On 3/7/2020 at 6:39 AM, sunnysideup69 said:

Hope your trip to the big city has gone well  

We had a good time.  The drive is a little wearing, 5 hours of winding road, but I like Cuenca, where we used to iive and it's fun to be in a city.  We had two very good meals, including ceviche (seafood cooked only by being soaked in lemon) and corvina (sea bass) and shrimp al ajillo with a sauce of about 10 cloves of raw garlic, which I love.

 

I sleep better in my own bed, especially with the dogs snoring and padding about.

[Frogie]

26 minutes ago, Gridley said:

I just learned from my pharmacist, who's been trying to get me more Ativan, that there is a shortage in Ecuador.

@Gridley

I hope you’re able to obtain more Ativan. 

24 minutes ago, Gridley said:

ceviche (seafood cooked only by being soaked in lemon)

This sounds very interesting. Not cooked at all, just “brined” in lemon? And does sea bass taste fishy? We know we need to eat fish, but neither of us like it.

 

25 minutes ago, Gridley said:

I sleep better in my own bed, especially with the dogs snoring and padding about.

I sleep better in my own bed also. I bet the babies were very glad to see you. Give them hugs from me🤗 I’m glad you had a nice trip though.

 

Take care,

 Frogie xx

[sunnysideup69]

8 hours ago, Gridley said:

We had a good time.  The drive is a little wearing, 5 hours of winding road, but I like Cuenca, where we used to iive and it's fun to be in a city.  We had two very good meals, including ceviche (seafood cooked only by being soaked in lemon) and corvina (sea bass) and shrimp al ajillo with a sauce of about 10 cloves of raw garlic, which I love.

 

I sleep better in my own bed, especially with the dogs snoring and padding about.

 

Oh my gosh, that sounds delicious! I love seafood. Totally agree about sleeping better in own bed, by the way...when I had a cat, the most comforting thing was her curling up at my feet. 

[Gridley]

19 hours ago, Frogie said:

And does sea bass taste fishy?

 

It is very un-fishy, really not any taste except for whatever sauce you use. Tender and white.

 

I hope you're doing well.

 

Thanks for the good wishes about Ativan.  I'll be starting my taper in a couple of weeks, not exactly the way I'd planned but there's no way around it unless Ecuador gets a supply.

[Frogie]

4 hours ago, Gridley said:

 

It is very un-fishy, really not any taste except for whatever sauce you use. Tender and white.

 

I hope you're doing well.

 

Thanks for the good wishes about Ativan.  I'll be starting my taper in a couple of weeks, not exactly the way I'd planned but there's no way around it unless Ecuador gets a supply.

Maybe we can try that fish. I’ll cook it in a lot of garlic, 😋 yummy.

 

I’m doing ok. Pinched a nerve in my shoulder so I’m on the 3rd day of a very low dosage steroid because of my tapering. But it’s running down my arm. Not pinching today though, so I think I’m on the uphill with healing. It’s a pediatric dose lol.. the dr was that careful.

 

 I’m sorry to hear about the shortage of Ativan. You were doing so well with the Lexapro. Hopefully they will get a supply and you can hold off and continue with the Lexapro.

 

Fingers crossed for you 🤞🏻
 

Take care,

 Frogie xx

[Terry]

On 3/8/2020 at 3:51 PM, Gridley said:

Fortunately, I have 8 months supply of Ativan at my current dose.

Wow, I'm amazed that you are able to get that large an amount!  My doc will only give me refills one month at a time.  Regulations there must be different than here in the US.

[Gridley]

23 minutes ago, Terry said:

Regulations there must be different than here in the US.

Yes, things are much more casual down here.

[Rosetta]

Hi, Gridley,

 

Ooh, Ecuador has run out of Ativan.  I’m glad you were prepared!  Way to go, you.  I’m sorry that it may changes your plans, but there will probably be more available in the next 8 months.

 

Yes, I have seen a lot of improvement.  The past 3-4 weeks have been pretty rough, but I’ve been more or less pain free for three days now.  Whew!  I was able to exercise yesterday, and was able to do some organizing the last two days.  I was beginning to get down.  So, this is a relief.  

 

I hope you have a good night.

 

Rosetta