Monday, June 4, 2012

Does A Pill A Day Keep The White Coats Away?

As all my devoted readers must know, I have been in something of a slump lately.

I wouldn't  bet on it, but I think my melancholia began early this year when I received notice from my supplemental RX insurance that the anti-depressant I had been taking for the past several years would no longer  be covered and, if I wanted to be stubborn and keep taking it, each pill would cost me in the neighborhood of  $6.10.  Needless to say the very idea of having to pay over six dollars for a pill to un-depress me immediately depressed the hell out of me and I rushed to fling open the nearest window and scream, "Like hell I will"  or "no,, I will not! or  some such useless, wimpy protest.

After doing some research I found that the old anti-depressant I had been taking prior to this one only cost pennies per pill and, as I recalled, it had  been perfectly satisfactory until my Psychiatrist had suggested changing to this newer, supposedly improved one.   I really had not noticed any improvement in my condition one way or t'other ......hell when one tends to get depressed one gets used to  being up one day and down the next......but I had  been taking the new one obediently until this monstrous notification  arrived.

  Whereupon I decided that  bankruptcy caused  by excessive drug charges would definitely be more depressing than any change of medication.  (I no longer see the Psychiatrist, by the way,  since I deduced that he was enjoying my company and witty conversation during our sessions much more than I was benefiting from them and paying those rates to amuse HIM made no sense whatever, even to a crazy person like myself.)   I consulted my Internist and we decided to try the old medication and see how I did.   A few weeks, then a few months passed and I did not notice any ill effects so I figured I had gotten away with it.......now, I am not so sure........  however, I refuse to believe that a $6 pill will improve me enough to make it all worthwhile so I will continue to search for some other cure for this melancholy state.   Meanwhile both you and I will have to put up with this morose,uninspired and downright  boring  individual who seems to be occupying my body lately.  

Fortunately, it is  a rather mild melancholy, except when exacerbated by idiotic remarks from so-called friends.  Today, for instance, I had lunch with an old friend who has irritated me often when I happen to mention my increasing difficulty in seeing due to my macular degeneration.  I swear that if one more time she says says offhandedly, " But why can't they just give you better glasses?" I will be driven into a frenzy causing me to disembowel her with a butter knife......today was very close......instead I held my tongue and ended up with wretched indigestion because my poor system could not possibly digest even the simplest lunch along with all that restrained bile.  Either I will have to stop having lunch with her or someone will have to systematically rid the San Fernando Valley of butter knives.  (Actually, I think someone has already started on that project because one can be hard pressed to even see a hint of a butter knife anymore......,can't one?  Come to think of it.....why in the hell were butter knives even invented??????  What an idiotic waste of materials, effort, table and drawer space.  If anyone has a copy of Mrs. Beaton's, the answer is probably in  there.  In fact, if any one of you reading this  DOES have a copy I think I may have to offer some kind of reward......I personally have never seen a copy though I have heard of them and, like fairies or unicorns, do believe they may exist.....


Omigawd........I have totally lost control and am rambling wildly, aren't I?  Yes, I am......don't try to save my feelings by denying it.....


Thanks for staying with me this far.........I do prize loyalty highly. 

And, who knows.....perhaps tomorrow my melancholia will depart.......let us all hope that something  better will  be left in its place.


Luv ya' all.,







22 comments:

  1. I think butterknives are becoming extinct. Perhaps you could do the disembowlement with a spoon. It might cheer you up a bit.

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  2. I don't trust most doctors. So many receive benefits from pharmaceutical corps. Don't you think everyone has ups & downs? Thought that was part of being human. What do I know? *crickets*

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  3. I have a friend like yours. After 30 minutes on the phone with her, I'm suicidal. I used to take antidepressants. One day, I asked myself, "Wonder what will happen if I just stop taking this expensive little pill?" So I did. And you know what happened? Nothing. Not one single thing. This was a year ago, and I think I can safely say the pills are out of my system by now. The only difference I can see is now I'm pissed off that I took them for s many years.

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  4. Ah, Lo. The Black Dog. She is legion. I'm so sorry.

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  5. Not trying to cheer you up. My worst script is three dollars a day. But six? Hell, you might as well be smoking.

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  6. Some people are so insensitive. I'm really sorry you're feeling down.

    I have two copies of Mrs Beeton, one was my mother's and one my mother-in-law's. I mostly use them for instructions on napkin folding, the best way I know for keeping children entertained in a restaurant while waiting for their feed.

    I shall go and research butter knives.

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    1. Hmm, no she doesn't mention butter knives. She does recommend a cucumber slicer though. Wouldn't that be a *knife*?

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  7. No Mrs. Beeton, but i do have a Miss Manners back home. Not the same.

    Please rant as often as you want, your ramblings are more coherent and entertaining than much of what is supposed to pass as entertaining these days, and keeps my mind working better, too.

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  8. Like messymimi, I enjoy what you call your "rantings," so much. You always make me smile,,laugh out loud sometimes, and that has to be good for any one's morale. I have down days too, but a great blog by Lo does wonders for me. Love you

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  9. Check out amino acid therapy (GABA) or a supplement called Relaquil. Replaced antidepressants for me years ago.

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  10. Hi LO! $6.00 a pill is outrageous. It doesn't sound like they work anyways. Sunshine and a few oldies tunes always cheer me up:)

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  11. Checking in for a Lo update. I stand firm that a good dose of Mark &/or Magic would spark you. Just thinking of you kind neighbor to the south.

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  12. Hang on. it passes. Meanwhile...get a very large sheet of paper, draw the worst possible things imaginable....and then tear it up into thousands of pieces...or empty it out the window and shut the curtains.

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  13. Hope you are soon feeling better dear Lo. Having dealt with depression both severe and mild, I know it's no fun. Remember to breathe tho, especially when considering slaying someone with a butter knife! I think I have one of those btw - in case you need it.
    XOXOXO

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  14. You HAVE lost a bit of control, my friend, and it's both touching and amusing (at least insofar as the thoughts on butter knives are concerned).

    If I were closer, I would stop in, maybe bring some banana bread (SOMEone has to use those butter knives).

    You are dear to me. I'm hoping this lifts soon...

    Pearl

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  15. You must be a saint to put up with a friend who can spoil your digestion to such an extent Lo. $6 dollars a pill seems outrageous to me, I hope the one you've gone back to starts to help more soon.

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  16. The answer to the question is yes, no, maybe so, certainly; I'm not sure. It really depends on who's making the car payments and needs the money more -- you, or the doctor... When you can find your way, come visit! HUGS!

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  17. I think your sense of humor is going to outlast the depression. Hang in there,Lo!

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  18. As we age I think our biochemistry fails us in various ways. Depression is one of those ways. My shrink says get out in the sunlight at least a few minutes a day; my eye doctor says protect my eyes from the sun because I'm a candidate for macular degeneration. The older we get, the more limited our choices seem to be. I hope you can find an affordable pill that cheers you up, and that you hang on to your sight for a long time to come.

    Your friend sounds like a woman I know who just could not be kind or sensitive, and never tried. I don't see her anymore. I feel better just saying that!

    Lo, you are a spirited and engaging woman, and like your other readers I feel privileged to know and read you. Hang in there.

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  20. I am appreciative of lost control and wild rambling.

    My wife is bipolar which means she takes expensive pills which is covered pretty much by my employer insurance. When she reaches 65 she is eligible for Medicare (indeed, that is why I am working until she is 65). I fear their reaction to this new expense on their rolls.

    I'm with you on butter knives!

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