Have I Mentioned I Love Blog Carnivals?

Another blog carnival I'm featured in!!!  Also, everyone affected by health in any way should read these fantastic links.  Love it!!

http://www.chronicbabe.com/articles/837/

xoxo (for now),
Annie

Pop Culture Wednesday

Here is the run-down of what I've been watching this week!!

Nurse Jackie:

This was a recommendation from Toni, and let's just say it may have been the best recommendation EVER.  I love it.  New favorite show.  Every single character is multi-dimensional.  You both love and hate every individual.  Serious moral issues are touched on in every episode, really making one think about healthcare and life in general.  I recommend this more than I've recommended just about anything in the past!!  Go and watch!

Zombieland:

I actually had seen this in the theatre, but watched it again yesterday while doing some painting.  It is gory for sure, but a LOT of fun.  It helps that I love all four actors.  I wouldn't put it above Shaun of the Dead, which is really the ultimate zombie comedy (in my opinion).  Plus, there is a cute little love story amidst the bloody killings.  It's an entertaining way to spend the afternoon.

Music & Lyrics:

A funny, but strange movie.  Drew Barrymore is a little too eccentric, although I must say that Hugh Grant plays a washed up pop star well.  I remember loving it back in the day, but now I'm just kind of bored.

Sunset Blvd.

This is a fantastic movie, and yet not my type all at the same time.  The acting is impeccable.  The writing is impeccable.  And yet I still found myself tired and moderately depressed, purely because narcissistic personality disorders are sad things.  This is a movie for the ages though, and I know more people who love it than hate it, so I recommend.

ALSO:

CHRONIC BABE BLOG CARNIVAL 3:
http://www.chronicbabe.com/articles/836/

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

xoxo,
Annie

Laughing At The Hospital?? You Bet!

The lovely Jenni of ChronicBabe is hosting Patients For A Moment this time around, and we are to tell of our most laugh-out-loud medical experience.

Only one thing has ever been hilarious to me while in the hospital, and that was the actions of another patient who escaped from the psych unit I was in at the time.  He relayed what had happened after being brought back by the police, completely out of his mind after swallowing a gram of hash.  His movie-like situation of trying to get away from the cops by jumping over fences and down fire escapes (with gashes on his arms to match the story) gave the rest of us at the table a good laugh, as we had become friends with him.  Of course, the nurses then told us we shouldn't laugh as we might get out of control.  Apparently laughter is no longer the best medicine haha.

However, I will say that I get pretty funny while in the hospital.  It seems to give me my best material for being a comedian.  It's entirely a defense mechanism, but I crack some pretty funny jokes to my family and the nurses.  The doctors just usually depress me.  What can I say, I want help people!!

(Images from WeHeartIt)

What has made you laugh at the hospital??

xoxo,
Annie

Oh What An Expensive Life I Lead!

So as my new savior medications start to stop working after a two week period (like every other medication I have ever taken in my entire life...), my desperation for a quick fix grows.


This is not the first time I've jumped on the bandwagon of new and promising treatments.  I have tried everything under the sun, and some of them are VERY expensive.  Like in debt far beyond your eyeballs expensive.  Like eat food out of a garbage can expensive.  Like I have no idea what to do if I can't get a job soon expensive.


I wish I could provide you all with an extensive list of what I've put into my body and onto my body in the hopes of solving my migraines, mysterious body pain, rashes, cystic acne, gastric problems, depression, and allergies, but my memory just isn't good enough to go through the last 11 years worth of trial and error.  This is a generalized run-down:

• Vitamins
• Special face washes and creams
• Acupuncture
• Reflexology
• Physiotherapy
• Naturopathic treatments
• Illegal drugs (very briefly)/alcohol
• Prescribed medications on top of other medications on top of other medications...
• Special diets
• Massage
• Psychological therapy
• Information books

I can't even speculate how much money all this has cost over the years.  If it weren't for my fantastic mother and father, I would be unable to afford my medication at all, let alone any of the experimentation.  I am so desperate for help that I will jump at any opportunity relayed to me regarding what to do or take, with the hope of making myself feel better.

Do I regret any of the things that I have tried??

Prior to starting Gabapentin 1.5 years ago, I had never really vomited.  Since that first day, I've ended up vomiting all of the time!  If I discontinue the drug, the vomiting continues.  It is like my body has been altered fundamentally.  But these are the lessons that one must learn, so I take the bad with the good, and as such...can't really regret.

I guess we just all hold on to the hope that there is one magical pill or treatment somewhere in the world that will rid us of our pain.  Maybe we'll be lucky, maybe we won't.  Only time will tell.

Tell me my fellow sufferers, what has worked for you??!

xoxo,
Annie

Things That Bug Me Mondays

• I'm still throwing up.  I mean come on!  I'm so sick of this.  Thankfully, it's a little less frequent at least.
• Not having cable.  I think it would be a great way to waste my life.  Alas, it is probably better that I don't. That way I'll want to get out and find myself a job again sooner if I can make that possible...
• My moderate lack of self-confidence these days.  I need to build it back up.
• The amount of doctor appointments I have to go to and the blood work that I have to get done.  
• Feeling like there are never enough hours in the day.  My to-do list is growing all of the time.
• How difficult it seems to be to make/keep friends as a sick adult.
• My bed frame is broken.  Glargh.
• I wish for massive amounts of Chinese take-out that I can't have.

(Images from WeHeartIt and I love Sylvia Plath and Spongebob)

Now that I have released my grumpiness I resolve to be positive for the rest of the week!!

What is getting on your lovely nerves this Monday???

xoxo,

Annie

The Horrors the Eyes Can See...

Just thought I'd throw out a few images to think about.

I hope everyone is feeling well(ish) and that the weekend is full of love, good times, and thoughtful reflection :).

xoxo,
Annie

My Brain Hurts

Since I'm sitting and laying more than I've been in a long time, I was loaned an extensive stack of Adbusters magazines from my friend Sarah.

I've been wrapped up in my own problems for such a long time now, that it's been awhile since I really thought about the issues facing us in the world today and let's just say they have been blowing my mind.

I had a really bad headache the other night and Jonathan bundled me up and took me down to Victoria Park.  We sat in the car and stared out at the full moon over the water.  It was easily one of the most beautiful sights I have ever seen, even if it had to be viewed through squinted-in-pain eyes.

It is weird to think about the universe and how small we are - how much pain and suffering is caused by humans.

Gah.

My brain.

Sometimes I think too much.

xoxo,
Annie