Jme, I'm sorry you're having to deal with such hefty medical bills at 21. I'm 31 now, mine didn't start until 2008. Most hospitals will allow you to pay very small amounts (ie/ $5-10 a mo.). Here in Mass. privately practicing docs can refuse to see you unless you pay off all or most of your balance.

Ginnie, I'm sorry for your financial problems, too. Mortgage companies are supposed to work with consumers, but I had no luck. I was unable to work and had to wait for disability for a year. I jumped through hoops to no avail and we were forced into a short sale in 2010. We had a 2 story condo and it wasn't really safe for me anyway- I kept on falling up/down the stairs. We're in a 1st story apt. now.

I am pretty isolated. Once I started to decline, my friends started to drop off one by one... funny because most of them were nurses, nursing students, and CNAs. I think it's partially because people don't want to be reminded that they're also vulnerable.
Over the last 6 months (at LEAST) my best and really only close friend left has started to push away. She's a nurse and told me a couple of months ago that she spoke to her councilor about me... and the councilor said that my friend needed to stop trying to fix me and maybe I just needed someone to listen. I listen to her PLENTY.
I guess that didn't help because I sent her multiple texts and left a couple of messages over 2 months that have gone unanswered. I've brought up the drifting apart thing before and she always tells me how busy she is, but always has all these stories about all the things she's been doing outside of work. I called her on her birthday and left a message, and she called me back the following day. She talked for 15 minutes uninterrupted.
I broke off her topic. She denied getting ANY of my texts or messages and blamed her phone. She asked me how I was feeling and I told her that I didn't feel comfortable sharing any of that with her, since she obviously can't handle it. I told her that she has drifted away, etc. Had it actually been her birthday, I never would have gotten into any of this. I never raised my voice- I only do that when I'm manic.
When I was in high school and my mother was dying, most of my friends abandoned me. After she died, it was, "I'm so sorry about your mother. Do you want to do X on Friday?" Well, this time around, the MS isn't going away- it's just going to get worse. The BP won't vanish either.
I love her and I may understand why, but this relationship has only been causing me pain. I'm tired of crying over this. In my experience, she will only drift further. I really just want to tell her to F* off and maybe call me when she can accept me as I am. That way, I can take control... you're not ditching me- I'm ditching you.

My husband has been drinking a LOT. The 1st time we had a talk, he cut back. Then after a short period, he ramped up again. Larger quantities, more days of the week. I mentioned it again on Thursday and he got VERY angry, but only had a few on Saturday. Sunday he finished the small bottle of vodka I keep for an occasional bloody mary. But nothing since (fingers crossed).
I get into our lack of sex life another time.
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Waves, The pdoc offered up the low-dose zoloft or an increase in the lamictal. I let her choose. She was concerned because I already have a lot of mood stabilizers on board. I'd balk at anything other than a low dose.
This depressive episode is rare and going on 3 months. I tend towards mania- lots of mania. I'd rather be depressed than manic, but both have obvious draw backs.

As far as the spells are concerned, I was doing alright until this morning. I was smart enough not to get into the shower until the evening when I was feeling better. I see my PCP Friday morning.

I'm still not settled on the hip MRI. I'm in pain, but it's not severe. I'm going to let my PCP make the call since I'm notorious for my inability to make decisions. He'll probably have me go tho.

I am wearing my new glasses. It's an adjustment- little headache because they're stronger, getting used to the new look, etc.

Thank you to everyone again for your support,
Kay