Parkinson's: Tiny Miracles

 

A Journey into Parkinson's with Nancy Mellon

Coordinated by my dear friend, Corrine Bayraktaroglu

Tiny Miracles

Today was made of sunshine, so many good things have happened in the last week.

•       First: I am sleeping most nights!  It is due to a low dose of a tiny pill for anxiety called Mirtazapine . It often is used for insomnia.  I talked to my wonderful Nurse Practitioner on Thursday.  She beamed, when I told her I was sleeping.   Then I asked, “ how long will I need to be on it.? She thought 6 months.  Then we can stop it and see how I do without it.

•       I met a new friend, through my PD singing class. He is British, but has lived in Gaucin, Andalucia, in Spain with his wife for the last 25 years. They love music, playing musical instruments, singing, art, reading and writing books and taking long walks. All stuff I find fascinating. (Well maybe not the “long'' part of taking long walks.)

•       I found a childhood  friend by searching on the internet for her. I found many interviews and galleries that featured her distinctive art and a quiet website with an understated bio that knocked my socks off. She has become an amazing artist and activist. All things I deeply care about!  She is so cool!

•        I was bummed by one thing. I told you in my last post that, I was going to sign up with a CBT therapist to conquer my worrydom.  Three times over the last 6 months, I have called the local Counseling service, to see if they had an opening with a CBT therapist.  Each time, they said they were sorry but at the moment, they didn't have anyone who was  taking on more clients. Last week, Steven had looked up recommendations for online counseling services. He handed me a whole packet of information, that I  promptly read. I had even decided on which one of them to try.

•       When I went online “GRRRRR..” The one I had picked,  had more than doubled their prices!  The site was confusing.  I felt, I had to read the bios of all the therapists. Which  therapist would be right for me?  What  really got my knickers in a twist (thank you Corrine, for that expression, I love it.)  was that none of the sites accepted  insurance. Plus, when we called, at a different site, to ask  about a CBT therapist, they sent me 3 names of people who were not CBT therapists.

Monday, I decided to try the local  place again.

•       A warm and friendly voice answered the phone,

•       I said, “I am Nancy Mellon. Do you have a CBT therapist that is taking new clients?”

•       “Yes we do.” she answered.

•       YES!

•       We went on to talk about what I wanted to work on.

•       Then she asked if I would be willing to do telehealth sessions.

•       YES!

•       After asking for some insurance information, she said she would contact my insurance to find out what they covered and what my copay would be and contact the therapist to find out about dates for a first meeting.  She gave me the name of the therapist and said I could go on their website to read about her.

 She'd get back to me within the hour.

YES!

•       Within the hour, she called me back.  Medicare said they would pay for it. and my secondary insurance said they would pick up the co pay. It wouldn't cost me anything. SCORE!!

  (I am not fond of insurance-we have paid out so much to insurances, for so many years. I want to do a happy dance and crow when one of them pays for something I need!

 

•       After my last post about being Brazen, Steven sent me a link to a website called Date Brazen . Lily Womble, is a dating coach, (I didn't know they existed!) a former top matchmaker, a feminist, a Southern New Yorker. 

She had a wonderful definition for the word Brazen.

I want to give it as a gift to all women.

 Brazen: A woman standing in her power, asking for what she needs and wants, not accepting less, showing up with her whole self, knowing she is worthy of extraordinary.