I am sorry that you are struggling with the fatigue.... :(

yes journaling is a great idea, it has worked for you before.:)
bizi

You're right Bizi. The journaling helped BIG TIME when I went through that long awful hypo/manic episode. When I missed documenting a couple of days on Word, I pulled info from my posts here.

I'm going to devote some serious time to finding a really good pill splitter online today. I have 2 and they both split my klonopin like butter, but neither of them can cut the 100s or 400s of seroquel cleanly or evenly because of the coating. I need a guillotine.

I wasn't anymore alert or energetic yesterday morning. I had to take another 1/2mg of klonopin at 10:30am and it didn't seem to make matters worse, but the seroquel study is going to be tainted because I'm probably going to be taking more klonopin daily now.
So far I'm not symptomatic since changing the timing of the seroquel doses.

I find out what drunk.org's "treatment plan" is for me on Monday. I was doing a pretty damned good job of not obsessing over this for a while, but now my anxiety level is really starting to rise. I have absolutely no idea what to expect, so I'm expecting what I think is the worst, but what if what I think is the worst isn't as bad as what I'm actually going to end up with? I'm much more anxious about this appointment than I was about the actual substance abuse evaluation because I'm getting the verdict.

The substance abuse counseling is court ordered. I have to complete it within a certain time frame (whether I choose to put off getting my license back or not), or I'll be in contempt of court.

Today I'm going to call and schedule an appointment with that counselor I found. I don't want to have to wait a long time before I can get started working on whatever the counseling requirements are. I hope I can get morning appointments when I'm at my best.
The counselor will do her own intake. I worry that she will recommend even more counseling than drunk.org.

[QUOTE=OhKay;1195991]You're right Bizi. The journaling helped BIG TIME when I went through that long awful hypo/manic episode. When I missed documenting a couple of days on Word, I pulled info from my posts here.

I'm going to devote some serious time to finding a really good pill splitter online today. I have 2 and they both split my klonopin like butter, but neither of them can cut the 100s or 400s of seroquel cleanly or evenly because of the coating. I need a guillotine.

Kay, Good luck finding a great pill splitter. I know exactly what your talking about.
Donna

When you meet the counselor you could ask her/him about confidentionality . .
. . esp regarding the report that goes to the court. Also ask about how many
patients they have worked with from the court.

You can ask more questions too --- some things that would make sense to you
to want to know about --- like maybe asking about how the counselor
feels about folks who drive while intoxicated. Or other issues that matter to you that are not directly related to alcohol.

The answers will guide what you choose to talk about.

M

Hi, Kay,

Regarding journaling:

There are apps for that if you like using a device besides the computer.


I find that images like emojis could work even in an MS Word document.

:-) , :-/ , :-(

One could simplify with three or four images and a few other
identifiers of what is happening (symptoms, side effects, meds, mood, . . .)
(. . . Just some thoughts after a four-hour nap this afternoon)

M

I obviously clicked on something yesterday that got me and my computer in trouble. Safari is frozen with a virus warning message with a sketchy # to call. I tried to download Norton, but my system is 10.7OSX and the new version only supports 10.9OSX. But via chat a rep is trying to ID the issue and I can get the older version of Norton... Hopefully after she can remotely fix the issue.

VERY frustrating!!!

Meanwhile Buddy won't stop climbing all over my lap.

I hope this works out...

I already have an issue with Firefox because their new update has been leading to crashes.

so sorry kay.
I hate computer issues. Jeff is the go to guy in the family.
He is really good researching fixes etc.
I am not techno savy.
bizi

The rep from Norton was able to remotely fix the issue with Safari for me and she download the older version of the anti-virus software, so I'm all set.

I bought two inexpensive, but highly rated pill-cutters yesterday. Together they put me out about $12. I don't have high hopes, but I'm going to give them a try before I shell out $30 for the next best thing. I'll let you know how they work out.

Mari, I could simplify things by just using those emoticons on the calendar in my cell phone… that would be pretty easy. I'll need to document if I took a nap, when I did, and how long it lasted too.

As far as the substance abuse counseling: the license the state requires makes these counselors qualified to work with people who are convicted of DUI. I can expect no confidentiality, and anything I say can become part of my case file. The counselor can also use anything I say as a basis for recommending more counseling if she thinks I need it, and I'd be required to complete it.
They don't just ask about your relationship with alcohol and drugs in these sessions. They ask questions ask about your past and day to day life.
.
I am only disclosing Bipolar Disorder and GAD. I will not be mentioning OCD, intrusive thoughts, or PTSD. If asked, she may speak to my therapist and pdoc but the disclosure will be limited to my general stability, participation in care, and compliance. Period. I will not be signing off on anything else. If pushed, I will not sign off on anything.

I thought my follow-up with drunk.org was on Monday, but the 3rd falls on a Weds. so I'll have more time to sweat it out.
I made an appointment for my first counseling session yesterday. It's on the 11th. I was able to speak to my counselor directly. She seems very nice. She is also a licensed therapist. At least she will understand what I'm talking about when I mention BP symptoms. I know she has worked with several of drunk.org's clients because they recommended her to me, so she has worked with clients in the court system before.

sounds like a plan.
((((HUGS))))
bizi

I forgot to make copies of the letters pdoc and tdoc wrote for me to give to drunk.org, but was able to get them when I saw pdoc. I'll bring the letters to the counselor when I see her on the 11th. This time I made copies.

I think putting myself on a regular schedule will help me manage things better, and hopefully help me adapt. I've been toying with the idea of setting a nap time. I'm going to work on it. Of course I'll have to contend with appointments that will throw everything off, and my husband often puts the food shopping off for days so I can't really set that event in stone.