How are you feeling?

[Faith No More]

The odd thing was that I couldn't really feel anything directly. I was somehow removed from it all and numb. In some ways it's like I never came back, I just moved on.

I can understand this. A friend of mine took his life ten years ago, and it devastated me. I eventually started to cope with it when another good friend of mine passed away. Again, I was devastated, and my brain seemed to unconsciously realize that if I get so emotionally attached to things in life that can disappear at any time, it would kill me. Ever since then, I have felt that the emotional connection I used to feel towards others is muted, even going as far that I no longer feel the same extreme level of empathy I used to feel towards others. It's not that I don't care about others anymore, it's just that I used to have a level of empathy that seemed to be unnatural, and now I've leveled off more to a point that seems to be consistent with those around me.

[Jackalope]

I'm so sorry, CD.

Thanks, summer. I wish I had the courage to say how I really feel. Good thing I have therapy in a couple of hours.

[frankiej]

My illness last year resulted in a disabling neurological condition. I saw a specialist yesterday, and although we are going to pursue all available options, he was very frank and told me that I should not expect to recover. In short, what this means is that the chronic pain I've experienced for the past 11 months will likely stay with me for the rest of my life.

There was more, none of it particularly encouraging, but that's the gist of it.

I'm sorry to hear that, man. I'm sending a very manly e-hug your way right now!

[Whateverist]

Shit. What did you hear?

My illness last year resulted in a disabling neurological condition. I saw a specialist yesterday, and although we are going to pursue all available options, he was very frank and told me that I should not expect to recover. In short, what this means is that the chronic pain I've experienced for the past 11 months will likely stay with me for the rest of my life.

There was more, none of it particularly encouraging, but that's the gist of it.

Also sorry to hear that. My wife is dealing with a condition known as pure autonomic failure, a condition related to parkinsons disease but fortunately not quite so bad. She also has a lot of pain she deals with many places as well as the need to control her blood pressure. Hers will shoot up when she sits or lies down but drop dangerously when she stands up .. the opposite of ideal. She'll always have to treat these symptoms.

There seems to be a lot of breakthroughs where pain is concerned. Have you tried much yet? If you'd like to compare notes, we could PM about it and I can ask her what else she has heard of. She researches her condition a lot and attends medical conferences. (She would be a world class hypochondriac if she weren't actually ill.)