Checking In: Let us know how you're doing

[Bluebird15]

Hi @nik,
How nice of you to check up.
Thank you for this..
Things with my brother have been 'in between' I guess.
We caught up with the family about a week and a half ago. Started off quite well, but he started to feel pain in his bad back and hip and it went down hill from there. Pretty non communicative for rest of the day which was pretty disappointing- however - still have to remind myself that prior to that happening- we'd had a good morning and phone convo the night before.
Unfortunately, though, we seem to be going through a phase of less phone contact - actually very little contact at all. This is despite my efforts to try and call him from time to time.
I will get the odd message or funny screen shot every now and then, so I cling to them as a sort of reassurance he is doing 'ok' for that day..and it seems to be a day by day thing . Still coming to terms with this change..

Anyway,
I hope the rest of the community is doing ok too.
Sending warmest wish to you all. It's so nice to know you're here.
Thanks @nik
BB

[Lucky2015]

Hi @CherryBomb ,

Its been a while but thought I would jump on. Good news in the main. So a recap ...

My wife was diagnosed with Biopolar II a while back now.

The great news is that she has really taken a proactive approach to her mental health. So she regularly sees her psychiatrist. She has been on stead medication for a while.

Recently she felt that the edge was coming off her medication, cognitively she wasn't as sharp on stuff. So in consult with her Psych they had taken her off that class of medication. Took about 4 weeks to get it out of her system, and during the 2 weeks she was off her mood was good.

Then ... drumroll please ... she went to the library with my daughter, and was browsing and found a book on Adult ADHD. She started to read it and came home with an OMG epiphany. "I think I have this".

Her psych sent her for an evaulation which I attended. She had her history of every single school report card she ever had as objective evidence. They said it was a text book case.

Put her on one class of drug which would take 5 weeks to have an effect. It was really ugly. And it didn't work.

For me it brought up alot of stuff, triggering memories and feelings of when she was in some of her low points. When you find your wife sitting in your inbuilt cupboard sitting on the floor sobbing it has a tendency to take you back there really fast.

BUT the good news is, they ditched that one, put her on another one, and she says it is night and day. She is feeling more organised than ever. Her mood is great. And all that just 1 hour after taking the medication! I keep telling her it is like that movie "Limitless", she should be the first woman president within a year now . I keep calling her Mrs President to emphasize the point. Not to apply any pressure

We still need to find out what happens with the mood disorder drugs now. We have an appointment booked next month.

The good news is that this is all done with open discussion, and trust. I am relieved that she is in control of managing this. It makes my job supporting her so much easier.

Thanks to the doctors, thanks to the pharmacy companies, thanks to you guys for supporting people here when mental illness throws a curve ball at us. You guys do a great job.

Anyway, there it is, the update from me.

[Faith-and-Hope]

So pleased for you all @Lucky2015 ...., ❣

[Shaz51]

Hello  @GivingMick @Itwillbeok @mountain @Daisy @Harry @BananaHammock @Annabelle @BeHappy @coffeegirl @artee 

Hello @Lucky2015, @Bluebird15, @Former-Member how are you today xx

hello @MadameMeow, I have been thinking of you today , hope everything is ok

@Faith-and-Hope, @CherryBomb, @NikNik, @Zahlia

[Zahlia]

Hi @Shaz51 🙂

Lovely to hear from you! 

[Shaz51]

How are you today @Zahlia, is it cool and sunny down your way

[Zahlia]

@Shaz51 I'm pretty good today 🙂 very busy time of year for me work wise, but I'll get through it. 
How is your day going?

It is an absolutely B E A U T I F U L day today, sun is out, blue skies. Just how I like it

[Shaz51]

has been a very very  busy week @Zahlia

and as we are self employed because of hubby`s MI, we had the day off from work today

ha ha BUT , after a sleep in I did some of my  gardening this morning , while hubby cleaned a couple of our walls and windows

and then it rained , so we are having the afternoon off

[Former-Member]

Hello @Shaz51
Good to see you are still around here. I have had a hectic 12 months. Been trying with varying degrees of success to step back being a carer.
I love spending time in my garden. Helps to keep me happy 😊

[quietscreams]

I have not been on here for so long but I thought I'd give an update.
Today is my daughter's 21st birthday. There have been many times that I didn't think she would make it to this special day.
There has been many bumps in the road with many hospital stays. It's been overwhelming and exhausting but I see the light at the end of the tunnel.
She is letting people in. She lets me in now. She no longer fights me and blocks me but embraces me. We are able to talk about her issues. We know more of what has happened in her life.
She is now able to see beauty in people and is inspirational to many.
She has a way to go but has come so far. She has started to be "herself " again and is more "her" than not "her".
I want you all to know this to keep hoping and to have faith as I know there are times when you feel there is no hope.
We will continue the path of treatment she is on and be there for her with ever step.
My message is to never give up. Wishing everyone the best of luck.