Feeling overwhelmed

[Mac37]

Hi, everyone. I seem to be wrestling with a lot lately - little things can add up. Dry eyes, worsening neuropathy in my hands and brain fog. After 30 years poz, I guess this can happen. 

Are there a lot of us? Do others find this happening or is this maybe just a bad stretch? Over the years, I have faced reactions to the meds - diarrhea, fatigue, even lactic acidosis and toxic mega colon which meant a total colectomy and six years with an ileostomy bag.  I’ve always seemed to pull out of it and continue on. Now it seems to be catching up with me, though.

I’d love to know if other long timers are struggling with similar things

Thanks,
Scott

[Tonny2]

        ojo.          Hi Scott, I’m sorry you are feeling this way, I’ve been living with hiv/aids for 34 years, although, for eight years I didn’t know I was positive, until I was dying of pcp in 1994. I’m dealing with neuropathy, i’m legally blind, my right eye is blind and i get so much pain, so bad that I’m thinking in getting it removed. Besides all my health issues, there are still other issues sin life that are more of a burden for me, but, I’ve always tried to be positive about life, I always think that somewhere there are people in worse situation than mine and most importantly, I said to myself that I’m still breathing and enjoying my family, friends and life itself...so, don’t give up, it’s ok to feel overwhelmed once in a while, but it could have been worse, not being around anymore...strength my friend...hugs

[Mac37]

Thanks, Tonny. We all had friends from the early days who aren’t here with us any more, that’s for sure. Who would’ve thought we’d still be here 30 years later! I certainly never did.

Sometimes it just gets to be a lot. Thanks for the reminder to stay positive.

Hugs

[OneTampa]

Understand.  Am over 35 years Positive and also shut the door in the face of the "Death Notice Server".  A few medical and mental challenges but still kicking.

It appears some of us have a very strong Survival Skill.

Best to All,

OT

[StupeLupe]

Thats a tough one, all the chemicals for the brain are produced in the colon from fermentable fiber, when i had brain fog I saw a hiv specialist shrink and he prescribed low dose ritalin and that helped, but the thing that really cleared the fog was nicotine, my mom had alzhiemers and cutting edge treatment is nicotine patch, but that would make her puke her guts out so I started 2 marlboro red short cigarettes a week with her and that bought her 8 months of independence and my brain fog vanished, you need to get continuous glucose monitor and test sugar spikes with white flour aka bread pasta muffin etc rice, potato, corn, and anything that spikes over 150 has to be cut from your diet

[Tonny2]

              ojo.            Hello everyone!… I also have those kind of feelings, feeling overwhelmed specially now, if you have read my thread, my mother has been the pillar since my diagnosis in 1994 and she Is still with me after 29 years, obviously now she will be90 years old in June
And now, have to take care of her and sometimes  is a little bit difficult with me being legally blind. The other day she fell down and I came downstairs to check on her and I almost step on her because I didn’t see her on the floor. That makes me feel frustrated, but we have to do what we have to do, we just keep fighting together taking care of each other.
Now that we are positive, we got to be more positive because we are not only dealing with a chronic condition but also, we are getting older and, if we want to keep living some more years, we have to keep fighting… I read a lot about the stoicism philosophy, and I think it has helped me to keep going strong, even with my  disabilities. Like yesterday, my mother needed a medication and there was nobody to help me taking me to the pharmacy, which is around 12 blicks from my house so, I went with my dog to get my mother‘s medication to the pharmacy, it was an adventure But I made it back safe and sound.… It’s OK to feel overwhelmed once in a while, but I think that we need to keep fighting because it we did it back in the day when there was no hope for us, now, for those who didn’t have the chance to be around, I think that we owe them to keep going… Humble opinion… Virtual hugs for every Friday

[Grasshopper]

WOW....you did WHAT ??......walked 12 blocks rondtrip  ...wow.....just WOW.....from me an applause and deep bow for what you've managed to do.

[Tonny2]

               ojo.             @grasshopper, yes, 12 blocks each way , when you  are almost blind, one eye with only tunnel vision and seeing everything blurry and foggy, bad cornea, and walking on uneven sidewalks, crossing busy streets, dealing with dogs, it was an adventure, thankfully when I got into the pharmacy, where I couldn’t see anyrhing but the
De Pharmacy’s employees helped me get my mom’s meds…I guess I have to keep going places so I can’t start losing my fears…I walk my dogs, well, now just one dog, around the block several times a day, although I know the route pretty good, uneven sidewalks, where to dock down because of tree’s branches, wrc., etc., you know how bad somebody has it and did you put yourself in his/her shoes… thanks for replying… Hearts.



Ps Forgive my typos

[Tonny2]

               ojo.          @ grasshopper. By the way, I was carrying my blind eye in a glass jar as you suggested on previous post. (I got my blind eye removed on march 19) and sadly, I’m still having the same pay. I used to have before the surgery…. it is what it is. Life goes on…hugs

[Grasshopper]

My aunt was warned by her surgeon about the possible phantom pain if her blind eye were to be removed. She still has the eye in, causing continuous infections in her tear ducts. She is also very vain ...at the age of 70....and worries about her appearance if the eye were to be removed. She eventually lost sight in both eyes, but only one is problematic. I am not the one walking in her shoes, so I have decided not to bring up the issue anymore and just listen. Next Friday I'll be crossing the Atlantic again and will see her soon.
Hang in there....if life gives you lemons make lemonade