Bipolar check in #39

I have a feeling that the Mirapex I started a few weeks ago is starting to work.

It's a very subtle change: I'm enjoying music more and my thoughts are more directed to the future than the past.

I'm not out of the woods yet though, still a way to go but it's a good start.

I contacted my pdoc and requested an increase in the dose. Most meds I try usually go like this...I respond but only partially. I'm hopeful that Mirapex finally gets me out of this depression I've been in.

My sister and I saw our dad yesterday. He was better than the last time we saw him, but still quite unwell. We're unsure how much he'll really recover.


Apparently my siblings got my dad to agree to let them look at his mail. We went yesterday and paid his property taxes. My sister has some level of power of attorney to do so with his checks. I told my sister that I was greatly surprised to find hundreds of thousands of dollars missing from his account. He should not have had to use any of that given the stock market, his pension, and Social Security. He hasn't had a mortgage in decades and his taxes are quite low due to a farm assessment. His cars are old and the recent one is leased. We need to know where the money went. I am certain he is being exploited financially. We hear stories of people showing up at his doorstep for money. People normally not even associated with him. We feel a couple/few people have drained him of large amounts. He calls these people "friends". We may want to take more control soon. My sister will retire at the end of January. She might take this responsibility, maybe even sooner. At least my siblings and I trust each other completely. It would be even harder if that was not true.


My dad once said that when my mom was alive they discussed putting money into a trust for my siblings and me, and that Dad would receive the income on investments plus his pension and SS, but they didn't in the end. So my dad had full control. Look what's happened! Almost 50% of the original is gone. I believe mental illness has played a part in this.

Oh goodness

I’m sure he was an easy target sadly enough. I’m so glad your able to do something about it. It’s good your sister can help sort out the mess. Is he still in ICU ?

How are YOU Holding up ?!

Well, a small achievement overnight. I slept all the way until 2ish AM, which might not sound like a lot, but for me, is quite an achievement. I really have to get this sleep thing under control because it really exacerbates my bipolar stuff. Am sure it's why I got psychotic the other day. Plus, I've been reading about insomnia in general and it is not encouraging for folks like me. The all-cause mortality rate for people who don't sleep well is way, way higher than it is for people who sleep. Most of it is not cardiac. It's cancer. And I worked for years in a field where I was up all night all the time. So, I'm already behind the eight ball. Anyway, trying to stay positive. Maybe things are getting better.

Thanks, Christina. They said they would move him as soon as a bed was available. I'm sure my brother or sister will let me know later.

I'm not doing well at all. I felt like crying several times today and had anger outbursts. It's a shame. My husband long ago designated today as my "name day". It's supposed to be a nice day for me.

still sick. thought it was getting better but its not. I feel worse than I did when this all started. going to be passing this back and forth with mom and my stepdad. that's usually how things work around here. we all give each other our colds. its cold and rainy here in the south. so its hoody weather and long pants. I got my bday presents early. I got some nice things that I actually needed. one of which was a new fitbit. mine died last week. its showing me more details about my sleep and other stuff. which is cool because I like tracking that. mentally I am still not well. I am trying though. but its hard when being sick also. my head feels like its going to explode from all this stuffiness. cough hack sniffle cough groan.

I finally got my GI follow-up scheduled. I have a feeling that should have been done at my appointment after they scheduled my procedures. Now I have to wait 6 weeks. That's longer than I had to wait for my initial appointment.

Oh well. Maybe things will heal spontaneously while I'm waiting.

Hoping, trying, intending to remain as stable as possible.

Am feeling exhausted. In pain.

Accompanied my mother to an emergent Orthopedic appt. yesterday.
She has torn BOTH rotator cuffs.

Surgical repair is not an option.

She continues to live with the hip joint infection which came from hip replacement surgery almost 2 years ago. This infection (and control thereof) has been tenuous. Specialists predict the infection will last for the rest of her life. (It's a deadly infection if not kept under control. Leads to sepsis, which has already happened once. She was very, very close to losing her life. She continues on daily antibiotics in hopes of suppressing the infection.)

My mother lives with me.
I do not yet know what all of this means. Putting one foot in front of the other.

Love to All

I hope you get better with each passing day.

How are you doing?
How is Charlie?

Much Love and Healing!

Thank you! I certainly hope this just goes away. By the time I see the GI again it will be over 5 months. My own fault for not being assertive about scheduling a post-procedure appointment when I scheduled the procedures.

I'm just tired. Between having had a cold and the procedure/anesthesia last week I just can't seem to bounce back yet. But it will happen. My cold is already getting better so hopefully the rest will improve soon. I was up sick much of the night last night so I am tired from that too today. But now I'll get some "free" days from taking a lot of immodium.

Charlie is doing really well right now. He's been off steroids for several days and antibiotics a week and his latest wound is nearly healed. It just needs the scab to come off. He seems to be feeling good and is even chasing his sister around the house. He's so big it sounds like a stampede but I'm glad he feels well enough to run and play. They're also taking turns "owning" an empty box their food came in. They'll be sad when it disappears into the recycling in a day or two.

I'm sorry you're feeling so tired and that your mom got tough news. Is she going to have PT for her rotator cuffs? I know it can help sometimes and sometimes makes a big difference. Does she use a walker for her hip? That certainly wouldn't help the shoulders.

I hope you've gotten some rest, both physically and mentally.

Bless your heart! You’ve been through so much. Bless your mom’s heart! I hope she isn’t in too much pain from the rotator cuffs and the infection. You’ve been doing an incredible job putting one foot in front of the other.

Sending hugs, prayers and supportive vibes.

Ugh. Got maybe 5 hours of sleep. See the doc at 7:45 tomorrow morning. Right in the middle of my sleeping hours.

I finally got my GI follow-up scheduled. I have a feeling that should have been done at my appointment after they scheduled my procedures. Now I have to wait 6 weeks. That's longer than I had to wait for my initial appointment.


Oh well. Maybe things will heal spontaneously while I'm waiting.

You so need more sleep time ... is this a Doctor that can possibly help you with sleep ???

Could they possibly have a cancellation list?? Good grief a 6 week wait

Only got the one doc, he's a PCP, an internist. There is no pdoc available here, there's one for a three county area and he's beyond booked. They're trying to hire a second one but have had no luck.my PCP is very nice and he does listen. According to the newspapers mental health care is extremely limited in this area. They are building a critical care mental health unit but they are building it in the city to cover 5 counties and it will have only 12 beds, should be open sometime 2021. There's a mental health hospital in Rochester 45 minutes away and one in a town about 30 minutes away but they are always at capacity all the time. The police routinely take people out of state for care.


My PCP consulted with the pdoc when I first moved here and agreed to keep my meds the same. Even the double dose of Ambien that made him nervous cause the pdoc said bipolar's need their sleep. But it's beyond time for an adjustment.

I need to call back and ask this. I meant to but they had so many questions I got overwhelmed and forgot. It's like my doctor only works a few days/week. I think that is really it; he does scopes 4 days/week in the mornings so he has less patient time, just like all the GI staff probably. So it's hard to get in. It's still frustrating. But it could be worse; it could be months or I could not have insurance or access to medical care at all. I just have to keep remembering that.

Only got the one doc, he's a PCP, an internist. There is no pdoc available here, there's one for a three county area and he's beyond booked. They're trying to hire a second one but have had no luck.my PCP is very nice and he does listen. According to the newspapers mental health care is extremely limited in this area. They are building a critical care mental health unit but they are building it in the city to cover 5 counties and it will have only 12 beds, should be open sometime 2021. There's a mental health hospital in Rochester 45 minutes away and one in a town about 30 minutes away but they are always at capacity all the time. The police routinely take people out of state for care.

My PCP consulted with the pdoc when I first moved here and agreed to keep my meds the same. Even the double dose of Ambien that made him nervous cause the pdoc said bipolar's need their sleep. But it's beyond time for an adjustment.