Drugs and Addictions.

by Veronica on July 9, 2010

in Blogging, Ehlers Danlos Syndrome

Drugs:

I’m beginning to feel a bit like a Pharmacy, as I juggle drugs and fill prescriptions and dole out medication to myself. It’s an interesting place to find yourself at 21, unlike my peers, I don’t have a recreational drug habit, just a I’m-slightly-broken type drug habit.

Nathan wonders what damage I’m doing to my body by taking them. I wonder what damage I’d be likely to do to my body was I not taking them. We end in a stalemate.

I saw the doctor again today, and left with a new anti-depressant, something that has the benefit of being even better for neuropathic pain and anxiety. I’m grateful for this, the Endep is fantastic, but if the new drug, Cymbalta, is even more fantastic than the Endep, well then, I’ll take that thankyouverymuch.

I shall report back with how I’m feeling in a week or so.

Addictions:

Books. My standard addictions. Plus chocolate, but I can’t link you up with the chocolate I love. Hehe.

(all links are affiliate links, but I’ve searched for the cheapest copy of the book, plus it’s free shipping. I earn a few pence if you buy something through these links)

I just finished reading The Time Travellers Wife, which is a brilliant book. Absolutely fantastic. If you haven’t read it, you should, I recommend it entirely.

Other books I recommend entirely are the books from Alice Sebold – The Lovely Bones, Lucky, and The Almost Moon, all of which will take your breath away with their brilliant writing.

I’ve just started The Invisible Road, by Elizabeth Knox (which is 2 books in one, Dreamhunter and Dreamquake), the book that the lovely Stephen Estcourt mailed to me.

On my current to read list are

Riders and Rivals by Jilly Cooper – total junk food for the brain. I’m looking forward to it.

One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez – I’ve heard good things.

Amy and I are reading Alice in Wonderland, it’s a little old for her, but she’s enjoying snuggling while we try and get through a chapter a day (a chapter is around 5 pages, so not too bad.)

Schindlers List by Thomas Keneally

My Invented Country by Isabel Allende

And for cooking and food books, I’ve just read Heston Blumenthals Total Perfection and enjoyed it immensely as well as Margaret Fultons Encyclopaedia of Food and Cookery.

So that’s me.

What are you reading at the moment?

And if you’re not reading books, what blogs are making you laugh/cry/wonder? Leave a link, I’m always after new blogs to follow.

tiff July 9, 2010 at 9:13 pm

Here’s to new medicines and feeling better, chocolate and wonderful books to read.

Kim (frogponsrock) July 9, 2010 at 9:18 pm

At the moment I only have two novels on the go, The Red Tent by Anita Diamant and Tony and Susan by Austin Wright. I am also working my way through Nikon D90 for dummies and one of the lark series of ceramic books, 5oo plates and chargers. . I am glad you enjoyed the time travellers wife, I thought it was a fantastic story.

Tanya July 9, 2010 at 9:21 pm

I love how you are reading to Amy, reading to Emily is the highlight of my day.

I’m currently re-reading ‘Thor’ by Wayne Smith. Loved it when I was 12 even though it’s clearly M rated, and then mum and dad found the movie so loved watching it as well.

This is the first book I’ve read since I was 10 weeks pregnant (October 2008!!!!!)

Veronica July 9, 2010 at 9:27 pm

Tiff, indeed! I’ve emailed you too, btw.

Mum – Are you liking The Red Tent? I thought it was fantastic.

Tanya – It’s only recently that Amy has ‘let’ me read to her, so I’m enjoying it at well.

Fiona July 9, 2010 at 9:42 pm

Unfortunately not reading for pleasure books wise atm.

Blogs wise, I’m mostly reading foodie blogs, such as http://www.onefrugalfoodie.com/

Jayne July 9, 2010 at 10:02 pm

Glad to hear some of them are working for you 🙂

Shae July 9, 2010 at 10:46 pm

The Lovely Bones is my favorite book!
Have been interested in The Time Travellers Wife…Might have to give it a go with such a glowing recommendation.
I’m reading “Women Who Run With The Wolves” at the moment. It’s great!

Barbara July 9, 2010 at 11:02 pm

Ha! I have a huge stack of books waiting to be read and no time to read them due to what my sister is calling my “yes tourettes”.

I have read all the Alice Sebold books, they are amazing. I would recommend Maggie O’Farrell to feed your book addiction.

I’ve got my fingers crossed for your new drugs – I hope they do the job.

Marie July 9, 2010 at 11:16 pm

An author to read: Mary Ann MacDonald. She wrote “The Way the Crow Flies” and… something else more recently. It was very good, despite the fact that I can’t remember the title. Depressing, both, but phenomenally done. If you like Sebold, you’ll like her.

sharon July 9, 2010 at 11:34 pm

Snap Veronica! It’s pharmacy central here too. Except one of mine is causing real physical damage and I need to consider stopping it before the 5 year course is over.

amandab July 9, 2010 at 11:57 pm

Husband and I had an agreement once, I would read “One Hundred Years of Solitude” and he would read “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone”. Not exactly a fair trade if you ask me, but it was what we were reading and enjoying at the time.

HE is yet to read Harry Potter, and unless he was to read it with Princess I doubt he every will.

I read “One Hundred Years …” and I hated it. We thought it’s because I didn’t like magic realism, just as I don’t like surrealism or discordant music, but no, I have since found that I do like magic realism (Haruki Murakami is one of my favourite all time writers), I just don’t like Gabriel Garcia Marquez. But don’t let me put you off, husband adored it.

Currently I am trying to finish the works of Charlaine Harris. Total junk food for the brain, but after a long stint of reading Murakami it is just what my brain needs. Looking for inspiration for new reads, so I may just read “The Time Traveller’s Wife” and the Aloce Sebold books “)

Megan July 10, 2010 at 12:29 am

I’m not actually reading anything right now and although I have a huge stack of books waiting for me on my desk they are for business not for pleasure and so the continue to sit, but I not reading because I’m writing, well bit by bit I’m working on my book and since I want to finish it by sometime next summer I probably wont be reading until then. Though if I do manage to let myself pick up a books or some books it will be The Pretty Little Liars series just because I can.

Arienette July 10, 2010 at 12:43 am

It took me about week of on and off reading, but this post and the subsequent mammoth comment thread was mind-blowing for me. It deals with rape and sexual assault and some (a very small minority) of the comments can be a bit hard to swallow, but the majority of it is very good and the comment thread is fascinating and enlightening and very validating.
http://kateharding.net/2009/10/08/guest-blogger-starling-schrodinger%E2%80%99s-rapist-or-a-guy%E2%80%99s-guide-to-approaching-strange-women-without-being-maced/

Marylin July 10, 2010 at 1:14 am

At the moment the only book I’m dipping into now and then is Kaz Cooke’s Rough Guide to Pregnancy and Birth. Wishful thinking, plus she cracks me up!

nikki July 10, 2010 at 3:16 am

Cymbalta is amazing! I’ve been reading your blog for a while now.. but I dont think I’ve ever commented. But today I just had to.. I’m only 25 and have been experiencing joint pain for years, with no explaination from any doctors. All tests kept coming back normal. Finally after going to a rheumatologist, he diagnosed my pain as neuropathic and said i have Fibromyalgia. I was also suffering from anxiety and depression. He gave me a prescription for Cymbalta and so far it seems to be working. I’ve only been on it for a week but I can definitely tell a difference already.. the pain is almost gone and my mood has greatly improved. The only side effect I experienced was nausea but it only lasted for a few days. I hope it works as well for you as it is for me! 🙂

Kristin (Wanderlust) July 10, 2010 at 3:42 am

I hope the Cymbalta is helpful V. That would be wonderful. I hardly have time to read anymore. Some of my all-time favorite books: The Great Fire, The Good Earth, Life of Pi, Interpreter of Maladies.

Jim bought me An Imaginary Life by David Malouf for my bd. He’s an Australian author. I’ve read some of his other stuff. Haven’t started it yet. Will let you know what I think.

Oh, also the 2011 Writers Market. Hot off the press! Just came in the mail yesterday. 🙂

Katie Ann July 10, 2010 at 3:57 am

Last night I read “Going Too Far” by Jennifer Echols all in one sitting (staying up way way too late to do so). It’s probably the best YA romance I’ve read, and the dialogue is just amazing.

The newest blog I’ve added to my reader is Hyperbole and a Half (effing HILARIOUS, you will likely be drawn to read her entire archives if you’ve never seen it). The current post on there is great.

http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com/

amandab July 10, 2010 at 8:22 am

Kristin, David Malouf is not one of my favourites, but An Imaginary Life is deifinitely one of my favourite books. It is so beautifully written, and just flows so well. It’s only short, so it’s a really quick read as well.

We did Malouf at university, and although there are quite a few of his books on my shelves, this is the only one I came away really loving.

Don’t wait, read it! 🙂

Naturally Single Mom July 10, 2010 at 11:32 am

Hope the Cymbalta works well for you…I know that finding the perfect drug can mean the difference between being an active participant in life, and…not. If you know what I mean. 😉

As for books, I’m working on “She May Not Leave”, by Fay Weldon, at the moment, but have a couple of goodies waiting for me to pick up at the library, if I can ever get down there.

Kristin (Wanderlust) July 10, 2010 at 3:21 pm

Amanda, thanks for the feedback! I read Remembering Babylon last year and thought it was okay, but really disliked the ending, which wasn’t much of an ending, more of a petering out. He can really create a mood and has some beautiful passages, but the story itself didn’t work for me. But I’m so glad you have such encouraging things to say about Imaginary Life. Thanks!

Brenda July 10, 2010 at 3:32 pm

You are gonna love One Hundred years of Solitude!

river July 10, 2010 at 6:39 pm

Hope the new pain medication works for you. I’m thinking of going to the doctor soonish and get something a bit stronger than panadeine for my arthritis.
I’m not reading much at the moment, there’s a stack of library books on the table but they’re just sitting there.
I have read Schindlers List and The Lovely Bones, but a while ago now.

Angela July 10, 2010 at 10:36 pm

Well since you ask

I am reading Searching for Caleb by Anne Tyler. Love her & love it. Its one of hers that I hadn’t actually read yet. Prior to that I read Bill Bryson’s latest called At Home. Loved that too.

I am also reading a “big girl book” to Ruby at the moment. Charlotte’s Web. The movie was on TV a few weeks ago & she loved it so I thought we would give it a go. It is to old for her but it prompts lots of discussions and questions. She can tell me whats happened though if I ask her about the last bit we read.

I thought about getting the Margaret Fulton book that you mentioned – it’s a toss up between that and Stephanie Alexander. (No I still haven’t got that one). Decisions decisions…

Sorry but you asked : )

Veronica July 11, 2010 at 3:13 pm

Excellent suggestions, thanks guys! I’ll refer back next time I’m buying books (which by my count is when my next ad payment happens, hehe)

Veronica July 11, 2010 at 3:13 pm

Oh and Angela! Charlotte’s Web! Why haven’t I bought that one yet? I loved that book as a kid, so much.

Jenni July 13, 2010 at 6:52 am

One Hundred Years of Solitude is my favorite book ever in the whole world. It is so beautiful it makes me ache.

I’m reading Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and it’s is fantastic. Like the kind of fantastic where you actually find yourself trying to read more slowly to make it last. I’m also reading Guns, Germs, Steel. Meh.

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