Bipolar check-in #43

Oh lord. That spasms thing I have with my throat hit tonight at the church supper then again in the car almost home. Just now again. God I hate this. I was doing so well. I think part of it is that yesterday I didn't eat until almost eight. Usually I eat between 5-6 pm. So that kept me up all night and one thing I've noticed is that the spasms seem more likely when I've not slept. I do have a follow up with my doctor coming up. But he's stumped cause the scope showed nothing that could be causing it. My doc said to take the meds twice a day but I'm always forgetting the before supper one.

Mum was the reason we ate so late yesterday. We were at urgent care for her from 5 till after 7. We were at ER on Sunday cause her back and under the ribs hurt so bad she thought maybe is was her heart. But that might have been the start of her bladder infection. And last night she had a painful leg. She's convinced that it's from the antibiotic but I think it's seperate. So she's quit her antibiotics. Ever since her birthday it's been one thing after another. She's not enjoying 92. I think my grandpa was 92 when he passed but I don't want to bring it up by asking.

Ninety-two! That's a ripe old age. My mom is 73 at the end of March and in August my dad will turn 73 too. I can only hope they live comfortably to 92. But I don't see it for my dad- he's in bad shape physically- heart issues, alcholism for a start...

I cleaned up a bit in my house, but definitely don't have your passion for that task, Christina. My problem is that I clean up, then start baking and cooking which messes it up again. I imagine you clean up immediately during/after your cooking.

Your meatballs sound yummy!

Speaking of cleaning, I have the dishes done, except the bowl and pan that N3 used yesterday to make brownies. He can clean those. (I did put water in the bowl- stuck on cake batter is a devil to unstick!) I usually clean up right after I make a meal. But I agree - whenever I make tacos, I feel like I mess the whole kitchen up! Lettuce, tomato to cut up then sour cream and cheese and meat and flavoring packet for the meat, etc., etc.! But they taste so good.

Just a question .... you don’t have to answer ... if your unable to work are you on disability ? If you are on disability then you are given medical insurance. Just wondering us all.

Well antibiotics can cause BC to be virtually useless so it’s good you use other protection.

For me if I combine any dairy products with citrus I will throw up, my stomach hates that combo.

Maybe jot down what you ate that day if you get sick again.

Thanks. Yes, the stress of starting university is affecting me as I don’t feel physically up to it. Going to push on for now I’m hope things improve. I love uni otherwise.

I’m so glad that you see Pdoc tomorrow!!! Yes use samples while you apply for financial assistance for meds. I did that once for a psoriasis Med that was thousands of dollars monthly .. crazy.

What can you do between now and then to stay safe?!!

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Vraylar has been awesome for me. I was on Abilify for 14 months and it was tumultuous the entire time. I hope you get the financial assistance.

Ahhhjh that spasm ... I hate when it’s impossible to find a reason. Could you maybe set that bottle of pills on the table so when you sit down to eat you will see it?

Sorry about your mom yes it does seem to be one thing after another, I know it is here in my house.

Maybe the leg pain will stop and she will get back on antibiotics and finish them ? Does she have a low grade fever ? Bladder infections in elderly people can make them appear to lose there minds.

Has she ever had trouble with blood clots before ? Lots of elderly people who aren’t very active can get them.

Ok meanwhile .... how are taking care of yourself ? How’s your sleep ?

Yeah I do clean up as I go when cooking , that does make a difference.

My mother was very strict about never leaving a dish in the sink. One night she woke my brother and I up as she has gone to get a drink of water and there was a cup in the sink , so yeah ingrained in me.

So alot of my cleaning most people would consider way excessive.

To be honest ... I bring groceries home and as I take thing out of the bags I wipe down cans or boxes of food etc with Clorox wipes , my husband and I both have to be very becareful about getting sick. I have no idea if the person stocking shelves is a snot nosed kid or a person that has a terrible boss that demands they come to work sick or not, or people simply can’t afford to miss a days pay.

I’m jealous of your baking skills ... I am a great cook but I literally can’t bake for shyt. I gave up trying years ago. I have zero interest lol

Keep posting your pics I love see the goodies

No other symptoms of a blood clot. Personally I think a lot of the body pain is from her 92nd birthday. Her younger brother and his wife stopped by to chat and they did a lot of remembering and exchanges of medical stuff.

Plus we had our Mamograms today! Fun times.

Last night was shyt on sleep. Since the spasm lead to me vomiting the night pills on an empty stomach should lead to dreamland tonight. I'm giving it another hour before I try to take the pills. I just hope I can remember the dreams. I so miss them. You should be dreaming of cute doctors with all the ER you've been watching!!

Yes her birthday and all that talk can certainly be truly physically painful

Ohhhhh Mammo’s are just fantastic

My stomach is so touchy , years of anorexia etc.. I can’t take any pills on an empty stomach , put I do fine if I take a teaspoon of peanut butter, it gives the pills and my stomach something to chew on basically so I don’t get that acid reflux or vomit.

Maybe you could try it ?

I am actually having so many fantastic dreams ... almost all those Doctors on ER are absolutely gorgeous... ahhhhh

Hi Christina. I think you are one end of the extreme in terms of cleaning/sanitation, but you seem not to mind. If that gives you relief and not distress, then I see that as a good thing. If the coronavirus (or similar) ever does get out of hand in the US, I imagine your measures will be of great benefit for you and your hubby.

I don't have a photo, but I baked a strawberry almond cake from a recipe at Strawberry Almond Cake - Daisy Brand I confess I went slightly overboard "lightening" it. I think using Swerve sugar substitute was fine, but I clearly used too much whole wheat pastry flour. My cake tastes a little too "whole wheat" for my taste. The recipe calls for all-purpose. I've made it in the past with all-purpose flour with much better results.

I'm a pretty good baker, but an even better cook. I seem to have a natural talent for cooking. Oddly, I get more enjoyment out of baking than cooking, despite my cooking talent. I think because I have such a sweet tooth.

Finally back to stable

Friendly hugs to all

That's really great to hear Spikes. Enjoy it!

Hubby and I had a yummy lunch at a nice Italian Trattoria down the street from his eye appointment office. I was not in the mood for our usual Wawa hoagie. The office is extremely crowded this time.

Hubby will surely get the eye injection, so will likely stay home tomorrow. I feel bad that I am unable to drive him home, but the trip to/from Philly is just too stressful of a drive for me.

So I have a question. I’ve been feeling better and haven’t picked up my prescription for low dose lithium (mainly because it’s several miles away in another state where I get my meds filled). The lithium was added for SAD. I’ve been without it for several days now and I feel fine. I’m thinking of not taking it. Am I being foolish? I don’t want to hit a brick wall but if I don’t need it anymore... I see my NP March 9th.

Warm regards to all and hugs to those that are struggling.

Were you getting your lithium blood levels checked? Are you saying that its close to Spring so you might not need meds for SAD now? I'd discuss this with your pdoc, but its good that you feel okay. I'd watch it- I wouldn't start it up again without talking to your pdoc about it; it might be tricky.

I see pdoc tomorrow afternoon. Remind me what I said I was going to talk about? I'm glad the snow has stopped, but the wind is fierce. Not exactly bone-chilling cold like its 2 degrees, but the wind on top of regular cold (24) isn't too nice.

Edit: I just checked the weather app on my phone and the "RealFeel" is 6! So that makes sense.

All schools in the immediate area are closed. Not that it affects me any more, but this is the second day in a row that they've been closed because of the roads.

I only had one blood level check. Since it’s close to Spring I don’t think I need it. You have a good point. I’ll call her today and tell her what I’ve done. Thank you for your input.

I know of an older lady with BP I. She is well known for stopping her meds when she feels better. Her mania has helped make her homeless SEVEN times in her life. Seven! Recently she was arrested and ended up in front of a judge. The judge had her committed to a psych hospital until the doctors determine she can be released. This lasted for over a month. The judge assigned a psychiatrist to her. She was instructed to keep her appointment, continue to take her prescribed meds, and not leave the county without an approval from her court appointed pdoc. Guess what she did one week later? She ditched her meds. She told me that she was cured. Does this sound familiar to anyone? I had to leave her. She has just too much baggage. I have enough chaos in ny life. I just do not need the drama.

As far as I am concerned, I am doing OK. Ever since I started my new job, I have been having a low grade depression. My house is getting really messy. I have somehow lost a couple of my meds, I have been distracted in my focus on anything, My pdoc thinks I have ADD, I will see what the future will bring me.

BTW when that lady is manic, she moves in complete strangers, and call them her boyfriend. Sometimes they are homeless people. After I left, this is what she did. His name is Phillipe.

Its familiar in that I've heard others like it, yes. When she is "cured" she should be able to reflect on the arrests and homelessness. Or is this just a pattern that she can't seem to get out of?

My house is messy and I'm not depressed. How did you lose your meds? You should see if a pharmacy near you does "blister packs" or "bubble packs" as they're called. That way you have your morning, afternoon, evening, and night time doses all packed nicely in plastic "bubbles" and all you have to do is rip one off the sheet and open it and take the pills! If you can't find anyone who does blister packs, then you could buy one of the Sunday to Saturday pill organizers and once a week fill it. That way you only have to deal with your pills once a week instead of getting pills out of every bottle every day.

I don't know what to say about her moving people in except my apartment complex will not let you have people sleep over for more than two weeks I think it is. Otherwise, they have to be on the lease.

This is a good idea of yours. I do not know how I lost my meds. I have not figured that one out yet.

No, I did not go back on the Rexulti.

I wish I could make Thai food, but I suck at that. I tried to make pad gra pow (sometimes spelled pad kra paw?) and it turned out horrible! It stank up my kitchen and was awful! My dad asked who died in there. lol.

I did buy a lot of stuff at the grocery store today to make, though. Small things and big things. I did a bit of "doomsday" shopping where I bought a shitload of nonperishables before everyone else bought them out. Coronavirus is already here, and I bet plenty of people are undiagnosed at this point (since you don't show symptoms right away). It's only a matter of time before people start showing symptoms and then there's a mad rush to the grocery store to get whatever little food is left!! I say give it 1-2 weeks before grocery store shelves are bare.