Bipolar Check-in #72

So, I decided to go to the doctor after about a week of this unpleasant congestion/coughing/scratchy voice stew. It's been costing me sleep as the congestion will move just right in the night to trigger my coughing reflex and I just can't stop. The doc gave me steroids for the laryngitis part of it (To keep me speaking as much as I can, since I'm in sales.), antibiotics for any chest infection, and a prescription cough suppressant. Hopefully these will work, but if not, the doc wants to treat for pneumonia. I know this, I've been coughing and hacking for a week and all I've gotten out of the deal is a sore throat!

Almost to add insult to injury, my glasses broke too! That would have been a bad day had I not found a spare pair that I never used. Using them now, I guess!

Chest congestion aside, I've been enjoying a new series, "The Rig." It focuses on a bunch of offshore oil rig workers who find themselves cut off from the mainland due to, among other things, an otherworldly fog that surrounds the platform and starts mischief of it's own, but it more effectively triggers the fear, mistrust and paranoia of the workers stuck there. Good series so far!

Oh I so hope you do not have pneumonia aulelius! Sending healing vibes your way ✨

Oh dear aurelius! Pneumonia is a bummer. Hopefully the antibiotics will clear it up, when I had it a few year ago I had to be on a strong one but it worked.

I'm hearing on the news about people using diabetes meds to lose weight who don't have diabetes. Supply can't keep up with demand so diabetics who legit need these meds to survive are having trouble getting them. Maybe these people using them for weight loss should try putting the fork down and using some self control before taking meds away from people who could die without them. Its really irritating. I'm hoping my diabetic mom gets hers in soon. Its being "processed."

I’m sorry @HALLIEBETH87 . The crash is always the worst. Stay safe. Practice opposite action in regards to the isolation; try to get out or talk to someone at least once a day.

I am slowly improving. I’m walking at a normal pace instead of lurching like I was the past few days. Not as many intrusive thoughts. I’m handling work better today, though when I’m alone I just want to lay down. I feel like maybe I can go out tonight and get a book. I have no protein defrosted for dinner so we’ll probably go out, and there are a few restaurants in the shopping center where Barnes and noble is. So that sounds good. B&N is having a sale on hardcover books so I should be able to find something. I ordered “a man called ove” because I’m intrigued by the description and previews of the movie that’s based on the book (a man called Ollie).

The paranoid thoughts are mostly gone, just a slight misstep this morning but those are bound to happy even on medication. Since I’m improving just on 1mg of haldol I might be able to stay on that. The side effects are definitely much less noticeable on that low of a dose, hardly any really. So, it is what it is. I tried, it didn’t work, it’s a bummer but not the end of the world.

We have to figure out what to do on Sunday, CR convinced his grandma to take him to the arcade haha. So me and RS have the day to ourselves. I have to help my mom clean out my old room for a bit this weekend, not sure which day. I have to convince her to keep the plans if she tries to cancel. We need to get moving on emptying that house so she can move. The house is no longer safe.

Thanks im trying. I’m
At work

I will keep you and your mom in my prayers nammu if that's okay, I hope she recovers soon

Started a 30 day beginners photography course. I've been learning more about my Nikon DSLR. I've taken some pics that I think have turned out somewhat nice. I'm still learning. There's many more but I am only posting two so I don't take up the whole thread

A good friend of mine who is extremely talented with photography is helping me learn more about it as well. So it's nice to have her to talk to about it

I'm doing well, my mood has been stable and my anxiety is almost non existand which is so great. I've been sleeping great. Been spending time in the community room downstairs as well just to get out of my apartment some. I go down there in the mornings and afternoons to drink a coffee and do a word puzzle or read or whatever I feel like doing

I've been around just been distracted with the photography stuff. Been having a lot of fun with it. Since my mental health has improved a lot I'm able to focus on my hobbies more. My mood has been level for 2 weeks straight which I'm happy about. It's nice to not feel sui, paranoid, anxious, and dissociating, I was in a phase of that for a few months.

I hope you all are well and hugs for anyone struggling right now, I will reply more later today probably and throughout the weekend

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mountaindewed I'm hearing on the news about people using diabetes meds to lose weight who don't have diabetes. Supply can't keep up with demand so diabetics who legit need these meds to survive are having trouble getting them. Maybe these people using them for weight loss should try putting the fork down and using some self control before taking meds away from people who could die without them. Its really irritating. I'm hoping my diabetic mom gets hers in soon. Its being "processed."

Which med? Not Metformin, I'm sure, and that's the so-called "weight loss" med that I assume you're referring to?

Some GP's prescribe metformin with AP's because the AP's themselves cause weight gain having to do with the way they screw with a person's metabolism, regardless of what the person eats.

No, its Ozempic. An injection made specfically for diabetics that does cause legit weight loss. And these are rich people using it who just want a quick fix to their weight gain. Insurance doesn't approve Ozempic off label so without insurance its over $900.

I have an appointment to get a referral from my GP for a pdoc (med management) this afternoon. Took me an hour this morning to persist through the network of getting sent to the wrong department (twice), getting connected with a clinic 200 miles away, the usual red tape. But, mission was accomplished...so far.

I don't necessairly feel good today. I'm guessing its just from my intense workout yesterday and then the melatonin I took at midnight. My hands and legs feel just really weak and achy and I just feel like I'm going to pass out. I went to Target this morning and got a bunch of different kinds of coffee for the Keurig. I'm into drinking hot coffee now. I got a Snickers flavor, a double chocolate flavor, a toasted marshmallow flavor, and a few boxes of decaf. Overall I just feel blah, but mostly physically it seems. I've had a couple apples, a yogurt and some plain vanilla ice cream from Sonic. I had the last 2 pods of decaf coffee my mom had in the cupboard so now I can start a new box. I'll have fish for dinner.

I got a 5% pay increase today

A Man Called Ove is fantastic, both the book and the movie. I watched the one that had subtitles, I forget what language it was in but it was something other than English, it was great, I hope you enjoy it

I'm glad you're starting to feel better

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mountaindewed No, its Ozempic. An injection made specfically for diabetics that does cause legit weight loss. And these are rich people using it who just want a quick fix to their weight gain. Insurance doesn't approve Ozempic off label so without insurance its over $900.

Ohh, yeah. I've heard about that.

The med costs for diabetics need to come down in this nation, for one thing. It's disgusting what insulin costs.

Is Ozempic injection only? The reason I'm asking is because when Sidney (my cat) was diagnosed with diabetes the first time I bought her insulin it was $350 (of course, no insurance covers cat insulin). I was frantic over the cost. Then I learned from a feline diabetes group about an AMAZING place called Mark's Marine Pharmacy in Vancouver, Canada. It's a legit brick&mortar pharmacy, but they ship meds to the U.S. The staff is incredibly helpful.

So I ordered Sid's insulin from them at a cost of $126 (6 months worth). Md, they packed that insulin so carefully, temperature gauge, everything, and it took only 2 days to ship.

In Canada they sell insulin otc, same brand, same quality we have, but the cost is less than half of what it is here, and that's true of so many medications. The U.S.'s dirty little secret.

Quote:

Originally Posted by wildflowerchild25 .... I have to help my mom clean out my old room for a bit this weekend, not sure which day. I have to convince her to keep the plans if she tries to cancel. We need to get moving on emptying that house so she can move. The house is no longer safe.

Yes, be neutral and stick to your plan with her. I used to literally imagine that my mind was a train on a track when I dealt with my mom when she was "stuck" or being her...less than lovely self.

I'm so, so glad you're feeling better and more optimistic!

It's cute that CR got his grandma to take him to the arcade I'm sure they'll both have fun!

Yeah its injection only. Luckily my parents never had issues with their diabetes meds getting covered by insurance.

But Silicone valley is what I thought the type of people were called who used Ozempic off label the ""Silicone Valley people". I have no idea where I got that from.

Yes, Silicon Valley is the most expensive place in the US to live @Mountaindewed. It's because of the major tech whatever-they're-called being there. Meta, Facebook, Twitter, etc., etc.

It's not a place I would especially want to live. I mean, if I had that kind of money there are many places in California I would choose over Silicon Valley. But I guess most people want to live where they work. But, hey, if someone handed me the keys to a house there and the keys to a car and said, "You're now living in the Silicon Valley" I'd be there in a NY minute. Politically, it's extremely liberal, which would count for a lot to me.

Okay, I have an appointment with a psychiatrist in 5 weeks. It will be telehealth (yuck, but nearly impossible to find irl these days).

The pdoc has 4 ratings online and none of them are great, although 3 are complaints about children's psychiatry...this pdoc is hesitant to prescribe meds to kids with ADHD, which I think is cruel. So, I'm not expecting a miracle, just hoping that I can get someone with experience in prescribing meds. That he's an MD makes a difference to me. My hope is that he works with symptoms, not with a label.

In the meantime, I'll keep seeing S. (formerly known as 'med dude') until I check out the new guy, then I'll decide which one to go with - or keep looking.

What a lovely day. 63F, pleasant, sunny, clean, and a break in the rain - which will return tomorrow and Saturday.

Wow, am I ever tired.

I was able to get in to see t tomorrow after work. I don’t even know where to begin. A lot has changed in two weeks and I’m sure me affect is markably different

Good luck Beth. I lucked out with my current pdoc. Of course he has it easy. I’m currently very stable and only need my meds continued as are. He didn’t see a need to change the ambian but did wean me off and then to my current dose which is only half of what it used to be. He didn’t have a problem with it but I’m happier at the reduced dose age. I don’t see him again until March.

I don’t recall if I updated yet today. Mum is doing much better. She looked so much better when I saw her this afternoon. She has pneumonia which I don’t think she ever recovered from and a uti. she’s getting IV antibiotics and fluids. She was much more with it than she was. They are monitoring her heart but are no longer worried about that. She is on oxygen but as the infection is receding that’s getting better.

I'm so glad to read that @Nammu. Infections are so hard on the elderly. Hopefully this round of antibiotics fixes everything up.

Do you know how long they are planning to keep her?

I feel so idk dead.m feeling. Idk if I’m crashing or plateauing from feeling so amazing. Last few months are a blur really. Especially the last one. I don’t have it in me to talk to people so I’m putting myself to bed