my work friend with bipolar is still out on disability and I am sad
 

Hi,
A year ago, my office mate went out on disability for "anxiety and depression." He had ECT in the Spring 06. He's had a zillion med changes (bipolar meds).

I called him on New Year's Day. He sounds slightly less anxious but lousy as all get out. (A few months ago he had the kind of anxiety that caused him to pace in his own apt. Pace.) Couldn't most ANY run of the mill pdoc medicate out anxiety??????? :mad:

He sees no possibiity in returning to work. He is applying for gov disability because work is cutting him off soon. And his relationship with his SO is suffering.

I share an empty office. Ever time I go in, I see his stuff. It is weird. I miss him and feel bad that his pdocs stink so much. :(

He was on an MAOI for 25 years and more or less functioned. Then a pdoc started screwing with his meds. It took the pdoc 2 or 3 years to destroy my friend. That's how I see it and no one can make me think otherwise.

Last week, my therapist suggested a med change for me because I was crying/sobbing about my sleep problem. I said something along that lines that pigs would fly first. I don't have a return appointment with her. Work is busy now anyway.

Mari

you are so right..pdocs can really stink and cause havoc....
stick to your guns.
I have terrible sleep problems too and my doctor tried me on sleeping pills.
When they didn't work, he more or less gave up on that problem. Eventually I just crash. He allows me to adjust my own medications. Now for instance I am taking less risperdal and clonopin because I was just too inert.
I am so sorry about your office buddy. What a tragedy but there are benefits on being on disability :-)
Bobby

(((((((((((((((((((((((((((((Mari))))))))))))))))) )))))))))))))))))))))))))))



Nikko;)

Mari,

I feel for you. I too tend to just want till I can sleep as everything else hangs me over the next day. Only when I am desperarte do I take something for sleep. I also know how some pdocs can mess up a person. My last one at the clinic messed me up bad by changing my meds dosage in 1999. I'm on the same dosage but never seemd to be able to take the time to re-adjust to the old good dosage. It's hard to adjust to something so sedating. Here's to you and your friend both that things will level out.

befuddled2

Mari

I wish I could help you. I feel so bad that you and your friend are
going through this. I know how hard it is.

I have sleeping problems, for a different reason. ANd I was beginning
to think I wasn't going to sleep again.

Donna

Mari,
Most med systems for mental health care at best don;t even bandage, they experiment. No one seems to have really good answers, just guesses andtrials. every time a new med comes out it is suppoesed to be a miricle and ends up at times the heII,
I feel bad for your friend, he would be better off taking his history going into the drug store and then finding the meds on the shelf that worked best for him.
My prayers are with you both
Di

Hi,
I forget sometimes that disabiltiy can be a good thing for him.
I tell him on the phone to think of this time as a healing process.

On the phone he says that he not eating and is loosing weight.

He couldn't manage picking out his own meds at this point.

He does not accept the bipolar dx he got 30 years ago.....quit the lithium because it interferred with his gym work out and got by on the MAOI. Even though he is on bipolar meds now, he says he has depression. I guess that depression is the bit that makes him feel the worst. That and the anxiety.

I'll stay in touch and let him know that I am thinking about him and hoping he finds ways to manage his life. That is the best I can do.


mari