Hello ~ I am a newbie here and just diagnosed with BPII at age 68. Although I always think I was BiPolar, just no one would diagnose me.

Mostly I am Hypomanic and deal with Major Depressive Disorder.

Currently facing bankruptcy due to all my spending habits, more especially while on Zyprexa. I kept telling my psych doc that I was over spending but he did nothing about this and told me to stay on Zyprexa. Now I am paying the consequences.

Now with a new psych doc and he is the one who levied me the dx of BPII.

New psych doc is trying to put me on the newer class of medications, unfortunately they are all Tier IV or Tier V with my insurance and that would also throw me into the Medicare Donut Hole in two months. So, he's trying samples on me for now. Currently on Rexulti which he said is the purest of the anti-psychotics. After 5 days on this medication I developed confusion, rigid muscles, aggression, more depression and more mixed states, so he told me to go off. Seeing him next week and we are out of options as I have tried all medication known to man at this point and I am not in a state that will allow pot.

So, I spend a great deal of my day and night dealing with the mood swings. It takes alot of energy and I isolate and keep myself away from everyone.

I am now coming out of a depressive episode where I can finally show some interest in living and getting things done.

Next Wednesday I go to bankruptcy court and not being on any medication to keep me stable is worrisome. It's a 50 mile commute one way on my paratransit. Wish I could afford Uber both ways.

Thank you for listening and nice to finally be someplace that understands.

Blue

you have come to a safe place. It sounds as if your new psychiatrist is okay.
can you get a social worker from a nonprofit organization who might be able to tell what possible resources are available for you You know there are drug programs available to you if your income qualifies you. I wasn't diagnosed for bipolar II until my late fifties. I have been depressed most of my life. Right now I have been spending too much money and am scared. My antidepressant is Aplenzin. A lot of bad things have been happening to me lately so at first I thought the drug stopped working. Now I think it is all the sh@t that
has been happening.
tell us more
bobby
RxAssist - Patient Assistance Programs

Hi,

So sorry for what you are going through.
'Glad to hear that you are off the Rexulti.


I can see how the the thought of that 100 mile ride for court could
feel overwhelming. Do you have anyone traveling with you? An aid or
a volunteer? Maybe contact the transport people to ask for assistance.

With an appropriate diagnosis and a pdoc that has a good sense of how to
help you, things can get better.


M

Hello Mari ~ Thank you for your appreciated response. I have no one available to take me nor go with me. My neighbor had planned on accompanying me to court. We have been planning this for the last two months. Had I known she was going to cancel, I would have saved enough money to take an UBER. Now I have to be forced to take my paratransit system which will be terrifying. Being off of all stabilizing medications and having Agoraphobia/panic/anxiety and BPII is going to be a very tough ride there.

She texted me yesterday saying she would not go and would not be a part "of my bankruptcy experience", which I felt was a slap across my face. Lately, I have come to believe she has started drinking again, which could be part of why she will not take me.

I have no one else I can ask to go with me, I have to do this all alone and I'm scared.

Please excuse me, but I am new here and do not know how to appropriately send messages. I keep being asked for a title when I am replying.

Blue

Hi Bobby ~ It seems we have something in common, being diagnosed later on in life. I'm 68. Wishing I was able to be helped much sooner than now.

Thank you for your link to the RX Programs. I checked them out and all of them won't allow someone on Medicare to participate.

Blue

RxAssist - Patient Assistance Program Eligibility Criteria and Medicare Part D some do accept medicare. I goofed I was diagnosed in my sixties too.
rats about your friend. you might find an agency that will accompany you. In Manhattan for instance there is dorot where I can get an escort to take to the doctors etc.
I don't even know when the diagnosis for bipolar II came in existence. saw a psychiatrist for the school term in college and he didn't have a clue
bobby
could you call some churches to see if they have volunteers?

Hi Blue Moon & welcome!

I'm so sorry that you have been struggling for so many years without the proper diagnosis, and therefore, without the proper treatment...
And I'm sorry that having your symptoms go unchecked have driven you into bankruptcy. I wish that someone had opened their eyes to what was going on much earlier... they certainly had enough time

My brother told me that my father was recently diagnosed as BP. He's 74 now. But I've known that he was since my early teens. He will not take medication.

I wish that your friend could take you to your hearing, and be there to support you, but it sounds like she has problems of her own. Please explain to the judge right away that you have mental health problems and are unmedicated because you had to go off your meds due to severe side effects. Hopefully, he/she will be gentle with you. Do you take any medication(s) for your anxiety?

Since you are newly diagnosed with BP, I doubt that you have gone through all the mood stabilizers out there already because there are A LOT, including many that are inexpensive or much more affordable. Some of them work a lot better for some people, like me. Your psychiatrist can get creative if you put your foot down and refuse to take the new expensive medications. It is not realistic to expect her to keep giving you samples forever, and those meds are just unaffordable for most people unless they have excellent insurance or financial assistance, which I would look into. Just because a medication isn't new, that doesn't mean it's not effective.

Unfortunately, you may have to kiss a few frogs before you find the med that works best for you. I'm so sorry that you had such severe side effects from Rexulti- that sounds just awful

When do you see your psych doctor again? It sounds like you are suffering right now (((HUGS)))

Again, welcome! I look forward to getting to know you better

Good morning.

What is your main concern about the long drive? Is it anxiety?

I'm sorry but I do not remember the other post. --- Do you have
medication at the moment that is somewhat helpful for the long
ride?


I agree with Kay that you need to let the judge know immediately about your current diagnosis.

If you have a document or pill or something with your pdoc's name on it like a pill bottle.



That makes sense to me although I do not know much about judges.

M

Hi, BlueMoon1950,


That sucks about your friend pulling out of the trip and somehow
sort of blaming you.


The "title box" might be optional. Most of us do not title our posts.
The only time we need a title is for the initial post in a new thread.
That's my understanding anyway.
Otherwise, use a title like this: "Hi."



M

Hi, Blue Moon

I'm Donna and while I honestly have no ideas on the transit issues.

I do wonder what other drugs you might have tried. I know that
each situation is different and in the case of my son he has
been on a few but depakote, lituim and abilify work And they
are all on Medicare and Indiana Medicaid.

He also has some anxiety medication. Which is something
when he gets anxious he takes.

Donna