The Godfather of Psychiatry

My pdoc is, indeed, the Godfather of Psychiatry in the Chicago area. He’s managed to pull some strings to find a bed for me at his hospital, even though we don’t have insurance. In the past, he and I agreed that if I had to be inpatient, I’d go to the Death Star Hospital (where he has some admitting privileges) because his own is too much like Cuckoo’s Nest, but not nearly as bad as the state hospitals.

No, I’m not being hospitalized–only if I need to be once I start taking the EMSAM on Monday. It would be for observation, not because I’m a danger to myself or others. I mean, this is a new medication, not just for me but in general. I’m a bit scared to be on it because even though at low doses it doesn’t have the usual dietary restrictions, you still can’t take OTC decongestants, drink tap beer, and all sorts of other stuff that I probably don’t consume anyway, except for Benadryl. The pdoc said I should be scared. Great. Sounds a little like Yoda to me, except that Luke said he wasn’t afraid and Yoda said he would be. OK, now I’m mixing up my movie metaphors.

Some readers have expressed a concern that my pdoc’s office might run out of samples, but I’ve been assured that they have tons and tons of this stuff. Besides, the job interviews have been coming in for Brian, we finally got our COBRA papers, and a family member has offered to help pay for that if necessary (yes, it’ll probably be necessary).

My mood has lifted some, but my energy is still absolutely zapped. I don’t know how I made it to, let alone through, my game last night, which was very exciting, but I’ll leave that as a cliffhanger. It’ll force me to blog again as soon as the pictures are developed.

All I want to do is go back to bed, but I’m forcing myself to get in the shower as soon as I hit “Publish.” Then we’re going to Borders to get The Human Stain by Philip Roth, which is Februrary’s book/movie of the month for the Book/Movie Club, and I’m determined to finally make it to a meeting. Tonight we’re going to play SW RPG with our gaming group, which we haven’t in months, and tomorrow afternoon we’re checking out the first meeting of a local Peer-Support Group for people with mood disorders.

“Cause I ain’t goin out like a spineless jellyfish
Some say life is a bitch
Ask that punk who dug his own ditch”
–Cypress Hill, “Hand on the Pump”
copyright 1991