Not that anyone is asking

[Murrmurr]

I also wonder how he got your phone number?

Meesh says he probably called his brother in Japan. I think that's the only way he could have gotten it unless it was in some old box of letters or something.

What a story Frank!

I just looked up bi-polar disorder to see if there are any external causes. There are: "bipolar disorder can have external causes, including environmental stressors, childhood trauma, and substance abuse, which may trigger or worsen symptoms."

Either that wasn't known back in the 80s or I didn't pay attention that day.

I think he's dangerous. I hope I can get ahold of somebody near him.

Great to see you...x

 

[Pepper]

I love you Frank. That needed to be said.

 

[Pinky]

I love you Frank. That needed to be said.

Ditto

 

[Jules]

Frank, you said he was in IT. He’d know how to find your phone number. Maybe you could use one of those sites yourself to search for his brother and then use an app to call him.

Do you know any super smart IT folks that could help you. Good luck.

 

[Murrmurr]

Frank, you said he was in IT. He’d know how to find your phone number. Maybe you could use one of those sites yourself to search for his brother and then use an app to call him.

Good point.

Yeah, he worked for Intel for over a decade, then left to work for a software development company where he earned about $20K annual less but they promised rapid growth and a paycheck to match. That didn't happen, and Intel wouldn't take him back. I'm guessing that's when his downward spiral started.

I knew nothing about Jay getting into drugs. That blew my mind 100%. His father (my younger brother) struggled with addiction, and the crash that killed him was all about drugs. My bro was high, the driver was high, and they were on their way to get more drugs when they made a sharp, sudden lane-change toward a freeway exit-ramp they missed because they were high, and the car rolled onto the passenger-side where my brother sat, caught air and kept rolling.

The coroner said bro's window was down, and he probably died immediately when his head impacted the asphalt. His arm and half his face were sheered off. He was identified by a tattoo on his dismembered arm...a tattoo of the Lowenbrau brewery logo, a lion with 2 tails. The police dept published a photo of it in the local paper with a caption, "do you know this man?"

My dad saw it. He started screaming the most agonized "No! No! No!" I've ever heard while pounding a hole in the dining room wall.

Sorry about being graphic, but bro's kids were there that day, too. Point is, you'd think they'd totally avoid any kind of drugs for the rest of their lives after all that trauma. Jay started using just about all of them just about all at once, and in large quantities. And at about age 30. Just blows my mind.

Do you know any super smart IT folks that could help you. Good luck.

My son's wife is exceptionally savvy. I'll ask her. Thanks.

 

[Murrmurr]

Today I walked unaided a total of 0.50 miles (2,640 feet) to make 2 round-trips to our neighborhood grocery store. I kind of stumbled twice during the first trip, and weaved a few times during the second, but I didn't fall, didn't step in the gutter, and didn't even pause.

0.50 miles doesn't sound like much, but several months ago I had to hold onto things just to get from my recliner to the back door 5 feet away, so it's a massive improvement.

 

[Murrmurr]

(re: stupidly long post #2,174)

Last night I got a call from Jay's older brother, John. He lives in Okinawa. He said "I heard Jay called you. What did he say?"

I'm glad he called. I didn't have his number. Now I do. John's well aware of Jay's mental problems and his wacky delusions, and he confirmed my suspicion that Jay is volatile. "A walking time-bomb" he said, so we're totally on the same page and he's very worried and doesn't know what to do.

I suggested he contact Jay's PO. I tried to find out who it is but I couldn't find an arrest record or the name of the prison where Jay served time. John said he knows, and he definitely thought talking to the PO was a good idea. I told him to ask the PO if Jay is currently under the care of a psychiatrist or mental facility staff, and if not, to request he be assigned to one or the other. And I told him to keep following up to make sure he's getting treatment and being monitored. And if Jay hasn't even been assessed and diagnosed yet, that definitely has to happen ASAP.

I also told him Jay can call me anytime he wants, or anytime he can (he keeps losing his phone, apparently) just to talk or rant, and I'll do my best to keep him as calm and positive as possible.

John asked me, "Did he tell you he's the Messiah?" and I said Yeah. And John said he told Jay to stop talking crazy because no, he isn't, and to stop calling him and leave him alone. I explained that Jay really believes what he says so you can't reason with him but you shouldn't appease him either, and you def shouldn't tell him he's crazy. I told him if Jay keeps calling, don't be confrontational or insulting, stay neutral and calm, and just let him talk.

He'll try, he said. "If I can't do it, I'll tell him I have to go; I have things to do. I'll tell him to call you."

Anyway, John is going to try to find out who Jay's PO is, and give him or her a call.

 

[Murrmurr]

My son drove me to the pain clinic for a caudal epidural injection on the 1st. I’ve had a lot of out-patient procedures there over the past decade, and this was the first time the reason for a driver was clear; I felt spaced-out and unsteady afterward.

Caudal refers to the space at the base of your spinal canal that’s protected by your tailbone. You have to lie nice and still while it feels like some psychopath is shoving a large rectangular cinder block up your little round wazoo, and they don’t wait for you to unclench.

Anyway, I was told it might take a few days for the medication to settle in and take effect, but the very next day, I was sure it hit the target because I felt great! I had almost no pain all day, barely needed my Rx meds, walked upright with a steady gait, and I was full of steam.

I was stoked over the possibility I could feel that way for the next 3 to 6 months, but it only lasted that one day. And I paid for all the extra activity and enthusiasm the next day.

A little over 2 weeks on, I’m still feeling light-headed and a bit foggy all the time. Since the medication is directed at your central nervous system, I’m sure this is a side-effect, and I’m fairly confident it’s temporary. It should wear off when the medication does – in 3 to 6 months on average.

I’m walking unaided 95% of the time. I walk like someone who’s just tossed back a couple shots of cheap whiskey, but it’s still nice. Overall, I’d say the caudal reduced my pain by about 20%. Just my opinion, but I’m sure I’d have gotten much better results if they’d have done the injection higher up.

I don’t know why it was a caudal. I should have asked beforehand, like "How is a caudal going to help at the L4/5 level?" Well actually, I shouldn’t have had to ask; it should have been explained during the pre-op consult. Because the answer is, It isn’t. A caudal isn’t going to have any significant effect at the L4/5 level. So, I assume Dr G decided my main issue is sciatica.

It isn’t.

Seems the older I get, the less my doctors want me asking questions. Which is crazy, because the older you get, the more you know your own body. I know the main issue is in my lumbar spine. Specifically, a redundant nerve root at L4/L5. The root of all Evil.