I have been diag with Oseoarthritis and it is very painful every day. It seems to take over most of the things I enjoy doing I slept until 1 pm today and Im was up last night until 3 am. I was in some pain and I just couldnt sleep. I am in a VA MISA Program and I have a Case Manager there who helps me and I she usally comes and vists once a week at my apartment and we discuss my progress and what I need to work on this has gotten in my way of things which I enjoy doing I was volenteering last year at 2 different places a Womens Abused Thrift Store, I have Abuse Issues myself I was abused by my exwife for over 6 years. and I was volenteering at the Salvation Army Thrift Store I can now lift anything over 10 lbs and this restricts most [places from using me as a volneter there and I do take sezire medication and I am on Pain meds Perocet and Methadone. I dont even have a social life anymore the only place I go to are AA meetings, A NAMI group once a month and A Brain Injury Support Group once amonth which I am just starting to go to tomorrow night They are having a christmas diner at 6:15 pm there and I want to go and meet other people thier, I had Brain Tumor Surgery in june 2003 and I am 100% disabled and I am not able to work agian. I dont go any where else but I would like to start dating again I am on MySpace looking for a date but no luck yet. I would like to start dating again i have afemale roommate Melissa and she is dating now. We are Best Friends and very close. But I kind of feel funny when they are together over here, I quess I just wish I had someomne to date and I should not fuss about him being here all the time I like hikm and I dont have a problem with him coming over I quess I just miss spending time with her, I dont have any other friends and I need to meet someone a lady to hang out with, I have Male abuse issues I was raped by 3 males and when I was growing up and even as late as last year my dad was Asusing me he didnt know how to deal with my mental illness and I was not on the right medication so his solution was to ythrow mw out of the house and get a restraining order when I came back hew had me locked up snd I spent over 30 days in the county jail for trying to go to the house there and take a shower and getb something to eat. I was scared and homless in atlanta my myself and I didnt know anyone there I was in florida for the lastb 15 years and was married after that the alvation army put me on a bus from a mental Health state hospital in north georgia they said I doidnt need to be here and sked me where i wanted to go and I saidn St Petersburg FL and thats how I got back here, And got help through the VA and got into the MISA program here, Got my disability and moved evently intpo this apartment. I am just trying to keep growing I have 2 years Sober and I want to improve my life and not be alone so much of the time. I try and get out but the pain is almost unbearablew and I have to return home and take my pain medication. I would like to hear from other people who have been through this and how they resolved thier issues I talked with my case manager and she said there isnt just one easy awnser for this and I just hve to do what I am able to do and try and not worry about the medical issues all the time. But it is difficult when the pain is alway present and doesnt go away. Thanks Frank Duffey

Hi Frank.
Welcome. I too have bipolar disorder and chronic pain issues. And your case manager is right, there is no easy answer. We just do the best we can with what we have.
You have found a home with us and you can talk about anything here. To let you know there is a bipolar board on this site as well and we are very active and friendly if you would like to stop by.
Again welcome and feel free to post anytime!