Im 42 and until 3 yrs ago I had never been
able to work. I was lucky that my husband
had a great job and it wasn't needed. We
finally found the right cocktail of drugs
that was working for me and I felt free.
I was leading a normal life most of the
time. My son started college and we went
in debt up to our butts. Now I have to
work. I take cymbalta, wellbutrin,
lamital.geodon and trazadone. I've been
taking them for about 4 yrs. Just like all
the rest I can feel them starting not to
work as good. I'm on the max doses of most
of them. I was so bad at work the other
night that my manager told me to go home.
I scared a couple of the girls I work
with. They all know I'm bipolar. (My Dr.
thought it was a good idea to let them
know.) I was getting angery over little
things and talking to myself.
( actually I was talking to the voices I
was hearing but that they dont need to
know). I haven't had the voices in a few
years. It started like hearing a radio in
the distance usually when I was in bed
ready to go to sleep. Then It was hearing
my name called out. Now they talk to me.
Nothing violent just talk. for ex. a
customer came up to me the other day and
my voice told me she looked like a $#@%$.
I laughed and the customer just looked at
me weird. When I told my Dr. about it he
said he never heard of a voice talking to
someone like that. back to my real
problem. I dont know how much longer I can
work, but I cant afford not too. I have
thought about disability but I was told
you cant work for a year before you can
get it. What about insurance. My copays
take half of what I make each month.
Anybody out their got any ideas. The only
thing I can think of is running. Leaving
everything. Moving in with my mom and
hiding for awhile. I use to do this quite
often. I feeling like im falling backwards
and cant stop myself.
|
MandMs
Extremely EHEALTHy
Joined: 26 Jan 2007 Posts: 2277 Location: Strumica, Macedonia
Thanks: 46
Thanked:11
Posted: 10-25-07 01:29am
Do you think running and leaving
everything will solve the problems
(although everyone feels like that
sometimes)?
Did you talk with your doctor about
changing the drugs with some new and
different?
How often you are visiting your doctor and
has he evaluate your currant mental
situation?
|
Birch
Supporter
Joined: 07 Nov 2005 Posts: 4038 Location: Bliss,
Thanks: 142
Thanked:13
Re: Working With Bipolar Posted: 10-25-07 13:20pm
kathy5691
wrote:
Im 42 and until 3 yrs ago I
had never been able to work. I was lucky
that my husband had a great job and it
wasn't needed. We finally found the right
cocktail of drugs that was working for me
and I felt free. I was leading a normal
life most of the time. My son started
college and we went in debt up to our
butts. Now I have to work. I take
cymbalta, wellbutrin, lamital.geodon and
trazadone. I've been taking them for about
4 yrs. Just like all the rest I can feel
them starting not to work as good. I'm on
the max doses of most of them. I was so
bad at work the other night that my
manager told me to go home. I scared a
couple of the girls I work with. They all
know I'm bipolar. (My Dr. thought it was a
good idea to let them know.) I was getting
angery over little things and talking to
myself.
( actually I was talking to the voices I
was hearing but that they dont need to
know). I haven't had the voices in a few
years. It started like hearing a radio in
the distance usually when I was in bed
ready to go to sleep. Then It was hearing
my name called out. Now they talk to me.
Nothing violent just talk. for ex. a
customer came up to me the other day and
my voice told me she looked like a $#@%$.
I laughed and the customer just looked at
me weird. When I told my Dr. about it he
said he never heard of a voice talking to
someone like that. back to my real
problem. I dont know how much longer I can
work, but I cant afford not too. I have
thought about disability but I was told
you cant work for a year before you can
get it. What about insurance. My copays
take half of what I make each month.
Anybody out their got any ideas. The only
thing I can think of is running. Leaving
everything. Moving in with my mom and
hiding for awhile. I use to do this quite
often. I feeling like im falling backwards
and cant stop
myself.
I would contact the local NAMI chapter in
your area and see if they can help guide
you towards services.
NAMI is The National Alliance on Mental
Illness. They are nonprofit and offer a
great support network. Here is a link to
search for a chapter in your area (if you
are in the US):
I know many families and consumers who
have been greatly helped by them.
|
daffodil67
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 02 Nov 2007 Posts: 54 Location: , midsouth, usa (think presidential pair)
Disability Posted: 11-02-07 07:13am
It is not true that you have to not work
for a year to get disabilty. The problem
is that it can sometimes TAKE that long or
longer to get through the process. I
would also question your doctor about the
voices talkign to you...is this someone
you have seen for a while and trust?
Because I personally think that if you
hear a voice that does not come from a
physical person, it is a bad sign, and
your doctor should heed it. You could get
very sick very fast. Voices are a sign of
psychosis, and it can make you very sick.
THis is the Social Security web page that
tells everythign you need to know about
getting on disability. I'm sorry I cna't
help more. It might be worth your while
to get a lawyer from the start, as it
greatly increases your chances of ending
up with disability benefits. Many people
have to apply more than once to get
it...age can be a factor. The older you
are, the more likely they are to give it,
but I also knwo people who got it the
first try who were pretty young (in their
twenties.)
Good Luck
|
daffodil67
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 02 Nov 2007 Posts: 54 Location: , midsouth, usa (think presidential pair)
Lawyers Posted: 11-02-07 07:16am
Lawyers who help people get on disabilty
are allowed to take 25% of your back-pay
as payment for their services. BUT,
oftentimes you will get your benefits much
quicker than if you go through the process
alone.
Some people jsut apply and get it (or
don't and then apply again and get it or
use a lawyer), others feel they need to
make sure they get it and use a lawyer.
|
MandMs
Extremely EHEALTHy
Joined: 26 Jan 2007 Posts: 2277 Location: Strumica, Macedonia
Thanks: 46
Thanked:11
Posted: 11-05-07 05:33am
When I told my Dr. about it he said he
never heard of a voice talking to someone
like that. (quote)
I think you should change your doctor or
ask for a new drug therapy.
The voices you were hearing, things you
were seeing or sensing the presence of
things not actually there, are called
hallucinations and are common symptoms of
psychosis. Sometimes, severe episodes of
mania or depression can include psychotic
symptoms and psychotic symptoms in bipolar
disorder tend to reflect the extreme mood
state at the time.
People with bipolar disorder who have
these symptoms are sometimes incorrectly
diagnosed as having schizophrenia and the
only thing they need at that moment is
their therapy to be reconsider.
