considering in-patient.. advice needed

So my therapist wants me to consider getting further help for me by seeing a bipolar specialist at the Mayo Clinic. At the same time.. I'm sort of losing it a bit. I started going a little hypo, started making some bad decisions.. have went a month without income... now anxiety is crushing me due these circumstances.. feeling like I could get to a dangerous mixed state. Sort of like a fuse burning. I feel like I need a break from everything. So... since my therapist (who used to work for the Mayo in Rochester) is suggesting me to go there for an initial consultation (he might not realize how badly I feel right now).. I'm wondering if I should go there and stay for a bit.. to calm down and maybe get help more suitable for me. The problem is that it would really stress my wife out .. who also doesn't know what's burning in me.. but suspects probably.. It will be difficult to deal with the kids and there seriously committing schedule of practices, recitals, etc. She is so burdened by me and my failing business. I don't know. I'm not sure what I'm asking here exactly. But needed to throw out the idea of just getting a way for bit before I make things worse.

Idk....but if your meds aren't working for you....how about talking to your pdoc?

When I got thrown inpatient....we just tried different meds until we ended up just upping our present doses.

My therapist is suggesting that I need different help... people who deal specifically with bipolar. I live in a very remote area with very limited access to doctors.

I feel like I need other people to talk to... and I feel like I need a break.

Ughh.

I should also mention that the Mayo is over 5 hours from where I live.

Have you talked with your wife about this? Maybe sit down with her, tell her what's going on, and discuss the options and possible outcomes with her. If I were her, being part of the decision would make me less stressed, like we are in this together. If you can, I would also offer to arrange help for her while you are away (if that's what you choose to do). I don't know your situation, whether this may mean leaning on some friends, family members, other parents, but anything to take some of the pressure off your wife (and you).

Well....coming from your T...I would give it a shot based on what you just wrote. I would go myself.

Have an honest talk with your wife about what's going on. I'm sure she would prefer that you get specialized help and learn how to deal with bipolar sooner rather than later. The mayo has a good facilities.

Yeah.. not enough info in my post. Not really sure what I needed other than getting it off my chest.

I would certainly discuss with wife... Just thinking things through before bringing it up.

As to helping her... Well it's a small community and I've become a recluse essentially. And our family is far away. I know she can get the helpas she is actively involved in the community. But I just hate stressing her out.

well... I think I was having a bit of a panic attack this morning.. which has been happening lately. I feel so much better after focusing on some projects around the house and taking my mind off work.

Anybody else have this anxiety/depressionish/panickish things in the morning and then have it clear up? I know that when I'm hypo I'm always way too energetic.. so I wonder if it's the negative energy from the stress I'm going through.

I know if it were my husband I'd want him to go if he had the opportunity. Even if it is hard on her you'll come back better then you have been and be more of an equal partner. So harder in the short run but better in the long run.

Anybody else have this anxiety/depressionish/panickish things in the morning and then have it clear up? I know that when I'm hypo I'm always way too energetic.. so I wonder if it's the negative energy from the stress I'm going through.[/QUOTE]

I have the exact opposite. Content/Calm/happy in the morning and anxiety/depression/panic later in the day.

I think the advice to sit down with your wife is good. If going IP is to help you recover or come to a better understanding of and management of your illness then you might want to do it. Then you can be better for you, your wife and kids.

Best wishes.

As far as I'm concerned, Mayo is _the_ place to go for bipolar treatment. I went there after years of seeing several different psychiatrists. In relatively short order they were able to go through a couple med trials, titrate me off what wasn't working, and get me into a combo that has held me stable for years. I know there are a few higher-rated facilities in the country, but Mayo is up there with the best.

Just a word of caution - if you're thinking about going inpatient, definitely only consider the "mood disorder clinic" in Generose 3W. Don't for a minute consider letting them admit you to the acute unit on Generose 2E. I'm just sayin'. A word to the wise.

Forgive me if I'm just repeating other's...but here's my response.

You need to avoid the "most dangerous" mixed state. Go for the consultation BUT ONLY IF IT'S NOT TOO MANY CALANDAR DAYS AWAY and be totally honest. Be sure to ask how long it might take for recommended changes to kick in. See if there might be some medications that can be prescribed to make you more comfortable and less anxious until they do. See if some kind of out-patient program is available and if if that sounds necessary.

But if they recommend in-patient, take that advice. I understand you're worried about many things, number one being the burden this places on your wife. But how much MORE of a burden will it be if you get SO sick your illness causes a greater burden.

Finally, please remember that it's YOUR illness that's a burden on everyone. It's not YOU that's a burden.

Keep us apprised--

Thanks a lot. At this point I'm feeling better.. but I do want to figure out why I'm really freaking out when I get up in the morning. Although.. right now I can't avoid the stressful life circumstances. No matter what.. I will be taking the advice of getting a consultation from the folks at Mayo. I know that my current doc and therapist are most worried about another mixed state which led me to the hospital last year.

As to outpatient.. I'm not sure how that would work since they are so far.. unless it would work to have an initial in-person session and then switch to video conference?? I don't know. That fact is why I was wondering if I should just go inpatient to figure it out. I've got appointments for my med check with pdoc and therapist next week... so I will bring all this up.

Thanks for all the advice everybody.

Thank you. I'm pretty sure based on what my therapist said that I would be talking with people in their mood disorder clinic.. since he seemed to suggest that his friend is one of the best for bipolar. But I doubt right now that I will go inpatient unless things start to sink fast.

Go inpatient till they kick you out. Worked for me. So did jail, too come to think about it.

The outpatient programs at Mayo typically last two weeks. Many people get a hotel room for the duration. Depending on your insurance situation, inpatient could be cheaper....but you'll get more "life skills" by going outpatient. IP is more for med management.

They won't do videoconferencing, just FYI.