Flying solo

*Robin*

..And - breathe.

DGD has been waved off, clutching about three months' supply of chocolate. She had a great holiday; saw lots of family and friends at no less than five parties during her visit (hope she doesn't expect the same frequency of treats every time she's here! :rotfl:).
Friend and DS3 have gone for a walk, and dinner's in the oven.

My electricity bill just arrived - on Easter Sunday, yes (delivered via a slightly roundabout route, lol). It's almost exactly half last month's bill which is amazing - the difference caused by using the little oven when am only cooking for myself.

So tomorrow is medical day, for Friend and CD. Can't say DS3 and I are looking forward to it, and goodness knows what will happen afterwards. It's going to be a spendy day, no doubt.
Poor DS3 hasn't had much of an Easter break; he's been an absolute star - am so proud of him! :A

mcculloch29

I've just realised I read all your postings whilst holding my own breath, Robin. What a saga.... I have a friend who is mildly bi-polar, but nothing on the same level as yours. TG x 1000 the dogs were OK.
A family friend has a place in Murcia, she lost a rescued fighting dog, Dunas, to poison some years ago. He fought a long fight to his last breath, bless him.

grannyx2

What a pity your time with DGD was cut short but it sounds like she and you enjoyed the time together. Hope all goes well today at medics with both CD and DF

Good news re electric bill

Hope kittens have survived the night without too much stalking by CD, although if she's been stalking them she must be feeling better

Granny x

*Robin*

mcculloch29 wrote: »

I've just realised I read all your postings whilst holding my own breath, Robin. What a saga.... I have a friend who is mildly bi-polar, but nothing on the same level as yours. TG x 1000 the dogs were OK.
A family friend has a place in Murcia, she lost a rescued fighting dog, Dunas, to poison some years ago. He fought a long fight to his last breath, bless him.

Hello Mcculloch, thanks for de-lurking!
There are plenty of folk with MH problems, I should think most of us have been touched by someone in difficulties over the years.

Murcia is lovely, not too far from where I am - the campesinos have a similar attitude, alas. So I am sorry to hear your friend lost her dog to poison, but not surprised. Thankfully fewer people use it these days - even a decade ago it was so common for dogs to pick up poison that I kept the antidote at home!

grannyx2 wrote:

What a pity your time with DGD was cut short but it sounds like she and you enjoyed the time together.

Well I must admit that DGD actually had much more fun last week than if she'd spent every day with me; can't begrudge that can I?

grannyx2 wrote:

Hope all goes well today at medics with both CD and DF

I chickened out of going to town - must have hugged too many people during the last few days, as all the glands in my neck are swollen and sore today. DS1 stepped in; he and DS3 took DF to the clinic.

grannyx2 wrote:

Hope kittens have survived the night without too much stalking by CD, although if she's been stalking them she must be feeling better

..You are right on both counts, Granny.

Before first light this morning, DF burst in - very agitated - holding two more bedraggled, freezing kittens. They had survived CD's snuffling and overnight rain, as well as not having been fed for goodness knows how long.
..Must be strong kittens; they deserve a chance. Now in a box under a lamp, after being fed using a syringe.
Daft Dogs are very interested which means I'm having to make them follow me everywhere (can't put the kittens out of their reach - tonight this is going to be a problem).

DS3 just 'phoned. Doctor gave DF the option of an inpatient stay or return 'home' with a bagful of medication. Guess what he chose?


Sent E.Vet a message to say CD is still not right, but not deathly ill either; will take her in when possible - and meanwhile has he got any kitten-milk? (Am hoping he will be able to take the kittens until they are big enough to re-home safely - otherwise between watching DF and ensuring that Daft Dogs don't eat Kittens, I'll not have any time to think or sleep!).

This is an appropriate accompaniment to my life today:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vWwgrjjIMXA
Followed by:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LODkVkpaVQA


The house is a tip. Better do something about it before DS1 and DF return..

missrlr

Oh blimey I have read this with held breath, really hoping CD doesn't do anything disastrous with kittens, and DF keeps taking Meds. Not too sure what more I can say other than I am thinking of you.

Hope CD is ok and it's just a bit of a not poison related poorliness

dorothy52

Blimey, Robin, your life is never dull is it? We are all very concerned about CD, hope it's something that DV can remedy. I hope you feel better soon, a bit of R and R methinks should do the trick

grannyx2

Hope you feel better soon and that life at yours doesn't get any more exciting! Sounds like you could do with a rest x Hipe DF and CD are soon feeling more themselves with all the loving care you are showing them

Also hope kittens don't multiply again tonight and are not keeping you awake either with fear for their safety

Granny x

*Robin*

Hello Diary and Dear MSE Friends, :hello:

grannyx2 wrote: »

Hope kittens don't multiply again tonight and are not keeping you awake either with fear for their safety

Thankfully no more kittens have appeared - these two are noisy enough! DS1 showed me how to lock the bathroom from the outside, so they spent a few hours in there with a very Heath Robinson arrangement to keep them safe and warm, while I slept.

DF was almost comatose when DS1 delivered him yesterday evening. They had had to wait for some of the new medications as only one was immediately available. Unfortunately it was the sleeping pill that should only be taken last thing at night, but DS1 had to give him one of those during the afternoon while they were waiting; DF became agitated and DS1 was worried he might run into the traffic or do something else catastrophic which one 'carer' alone couldn't prevent.
Not ideal.

All the El Divos have now returned to their own lives - DS1 will come to my aid if needed but he's half an hour away (he's the closest).

DF woke up at midnight in a foul mood; for a while I wondered whether I'd be able to cope but we managed to cook a late dinner together and he took his other new meds without making too much fuss. I couldn't give him another sleeping pill as they are very strong; more than one in 24 hour hours could be dangerous (which is why he can't live by himself at the moment, given that at times he thinks his best plan is to take all the pills at once to speed up his recovery! ).

As he'd not had the sleeping pill last night DF was up very early, but my foresight provided him with snacks and juice - so I wasn't woken before dawn again.
In fact the meds are already kicking in; a casual acquaintance wouldn't realise DF is struggling as his conversation is reasonably normal today (last night he kept telling me he is God! :eek:).
This is a huge relief as his Boss 'phoned; DF is working on a project which nobody else can do.. If they don't make the delivery date it could finish the company. Boss was so worried that he offered to drive 50 miles to collect DF, take him to work so he can extract the results he's already got, and then Boss will bring DF and the rest of the stuff back here so that DF can complete the project from 'home' this week.

:think: Last night DF couldn't care less about his life, his home, his work - wanted to give up his flat and go to stay at PC's cottage which he said would be a good place for God to live incognito.
This morning he was clear-headed enough to share his Boss' concern about the project, so I agreed it was a good idea to collect his work - the sooner DF gets back into as much of his own life as possible, the better.

DS3 isn't far away from DF's workplace, so he's going to call in and have a quiet word with Boss while delivering some stuff that he's collecting from DF's flat - the Nest does not keep spare clothes for someone of DF's size in stock. :rotfl:
DF has taken his next batch of meds with him, just in case they don't get back here in time - will 'phone to remind him when he should take them. Luckily there's a bit of leeway in the timing so it should be all right even if he decides to take the pills early.

Is there anything else I should have done to help deflect a disaster for DF?
It's hard to avoid being controlling, which is awful but necessary at the moment. At least DF knows that we all have his best interests at heart - if he wasn't co-operative we couldn't help him no matter how much we care.


Meanwhile, Kittens are becoming characters; suppose it was predictable that I'd get fond of them, the longer they're here. Daft Dogs are being very good indeed, and now of course Kittens are covered in my scent because I've been feeding them, so there is less chance Dear Daft Dogs will regard them as prey.

My paranoia about the banking crisis has had an unfortunate effect; keeping funds at home isn't so clever - am leaking money at the moment, even without leaving the house.
Food stocks have also taken a hammering this past week with all the folk coming to visit.

CD is still off her grub. She's very quiet too. Am wondering whether to return to E.Vet with her while DF is otherwise occupied?
:think:

dorothy52 wrote:

Blimey, Robin, your life is never dull is it? We are all very concerned about CD, hope it's something that DV can remedy. I hope you feel better soon, a bit of R and R methinks should do the trick

Dull? No it's not, is it Dot. Hardly the quiet contemplative life I thought I was living. Am worried about CD as well - suspect the kittens' continuing survival is down to CD feeling very off-form.

..Let's see if she'll provide the sample E.Vet wants [sorry if tmi] in time to get into town and back before DF returns? :cool:


Have hesitated long, before clicking on "Submit Reply" today; sharing details that perhaps ought to be kept private, as they concern others who are not aware of their appearance in this diary.
But on balance, if reading my account is helpful to anyone else who has a close friend or family member struggling with a mental health issue, then it is worth posting.
Have more to say on this subject, and probably will, later on. But for now am heading out into afternoon sunshine with Daft Dogs.

missrlr

Thanks for posting. this is a topic that has hit me hard in the past few days so just knowing someone else out there is having the same what if and how and where and so on conversations re MH and people close does help me. Selfish I know but vey true at the moment.

Sorry CD is not quite right. Also suffering with this and Doglet too at present.

For what it's worth I do believe you and your family have done everything possible at present, and you can do no more than a watching brief. So fantastic other of people who are so lovely to others even in adverse circumstances.

Leaking money, I can only suggest a big tin with a lock on it and giving it to CD to guard! 3 woofs and a grr for dog food money otherwise not to be spent!

grannyx2

I think you made the right choice about posting, after all DF is not identifiable in that post and as you say it may just help someone else cope. I had to deal with a similar problem with young female DF a few years ago and it was very hard to know what was right. She's recovered now thankfully and appreciates the things I did for her but it was awful at the time. Sadly her DM did nothing to help and I feared for her safety and had many a sleepless night. It certainly sounds to me like you are doing things the best way you can and what more can anyone ask

I hope CD gets well soon and look forward to a chatty waggy update about how she feels about the intruders

Take care of you as well my dear friend

Granny x