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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 17 of 17. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by judy1 on April 18, 2002, at 18:31:29
or what's going on in your life- I looked at admin and wow there's a lot of action about this board than what's actually on it. I cracked up- Judy
Posted by Shar on April 18, 2002, at 22:33:34
In reply to Shar- you never did share your cocktail :-), posted by judy1 on April 18, 2002, at 18:31:29
I know, it's ironic that there is a tornado of activity on Admin and over here it's just a light shower.....
It is a sad story about my cocktail. Since I lost my job and insurance (almost 2 years ago) I've been less and less able to afford meds. I did the patient assistance programs run by the insurance companies, but they were time limited. And also a HUGE hassle. For Wellbutrin, my pdoc had to fill out forms, and then I had to get an ADVOCATE fill out forms for my info--I wasn't allowed to do it myself, so I asked my therapist to and she did it but I felt like I was always bugging people.
Anyhow, I now take Wellbutrin 300 mg per day, Effexor supposed to be 300 mg per day, but I take half a dose to save $$, and klonopin 1 mg at night. My pdoc tried me on nortriptyline, but it made me REALLY nauseated--the first AD to do that. So, I'm sort of limping along.
For a while I was on Risperdal--an antipsychotic given at lo dose for treatment resistant depression--and it was very good, but I started getting some Tardive symptoms (jerkiness mainly) and the doc said we better stop it. Sigh.
My life--ick, I hate to talk about it, you know? I'm still not employed at a good job. I work part time at a department store. My first retail job and it has been an education I'll tell ya! I have learned a lot about why customer service is not very good anymore. Mainly very low wages, no incentives (real ones) for employees, expecting way too much from employees for the pay they get, and not training them. They just push to make sales no matter what, everything else can be ignored (well, maybe not 100% ignored).
My dogs (the good part of my life) are ok. My black lab has Addison's disease, but has recovered now she is on meds. It is a chronic condition. My Collie is just an angel. He is the most gentle and loving dog anywhere. I took my niece's dog when she moved away and couldn't take him. He looks like a big fat fuzzy teddy bear (he can walk under both my other dogs, he is little), and is psychotic. He was really abused by someone. So, I am working to get him to trust us. He does fine with the other dogs, it's humans he is wary of.
I like this board. I'm glad you're here.
Shar
> or what's going on in your life- I looked at admin and wow there's a lot of action about this board than what's actually on it. I cracked up- Judy
Posted by judy1 on April 19, 2002, at 12:30:41
In reply to Re: Shar- you never did share your cocktail :-) » judy1, posted by Shar on April 18, 2002, at 22:33:34
That's right! Your dogs are your babies- I think that's wonderful that you took your niece's in. I always wanted to volunteer at a shelter, I have a horse, 2 dogs, a very LOUD parrot and a cat oh and a fish. Anyway, I have all these advanced degrees and I'm on disability and really admire that you push with your meds. Risperdal did that to me too. Are you on disability? You sound so unhappy at work. Take care, Judy
Posted by shar on April 20, 2002, at 0:08:13
In reply to Shar- you never did share your cocktail :-), posted by judy1 on April 18, 2002, at 18:31:29
Is being on disability related to your diagnosis? How did they decide that disability should be given to you? And, I'm curious about your degrees--I have advanced ones, too, and can't find anyone to hire me into a real job. Maybe they're afraid my attitude will be contagious.......8-)
Shar
Posted by medlib on April 20, 2002, at 1:53:38
In reply to Re: Shar- you never did share your cocktail :-) » judy1, posted by Shar on April 18, 2002, at 22:33:34
Hi Shar--
I've taken Effexor XR for 2+ yrs. and started Well SR a couple of months ago. I haven't been stable enough to work since I've been on PB, so I have no med ins., either. I get E. through Wyeth's pt. asst. program; it's a "walk in the park" compared to Glaxo-Wellcome (my pdoc says that they're the worst of a greedy group). Wyeth will deal only w. docs; they must call to request a form. Once you jump through their hoops, they send a 3 month supply directly to pdoc's office. I'm on the last of the tray of Well. samples pdoc gave me; sure hope he has some more--I'm not sure I can make it through the G-W obstacle course.
Do you take anything else now besides the E. and Well.? I'm holding out a glimmer of hope for Abilitat (aripiprazole), a new AP currently wending its way through the FDA obstacle course. With luck, it might get approval by the end of this year/early next. Stahl is high on it, and it's supposed to have a *much* lower incidence of EPS. Have you tried other APs besides Risperdal, like Zyprexa, Geodon, etc.? I don't think I'll ever get over my Geodon miracle/disaster.
Btw, how's your therapy group going? I remember that you had some major reservations going in; how do you feel about your choice now?
I sure hope that this board "flies"--getting it approved was only slightly easier than the drug co.s "needy meds" programs.
Fingers crossed---medlib
Posted by Phil on April 20, 2002, at 15:38:35
In reply to Re: Shar- you never did share your cocktail :-) » Shar, posted by medlib on April 20, 2002, at 1:53:38
Posted by judy1 on April 20, 2002, at 18:09:02
In reply to Judy--curious about disability, posted by shar on April 20, 2002, at 0:08:13
Hi Shar,
I have a Ph no D (too wacked to write it) and an MS in Immunology and worked as a scientist for about 10 years until I got really bad and announced in a management meeting at the biotech company where I worked that everyone there was nuts (not me of course) and walked out. Well landed up in hospital for about a week (1998 or9?), husband called an attorney and 3-4 months later- boom disability- bipolar and panic and I think car accident stuff- head injury, etc. I just got reviewed and they (SSDI) approved- just called my pdoc and a bunch of papers. I really recommend attorneys, I think it was Allsup, sap, something because they do all the paperwork and know what they're doing and get approved first time around like 90%. You really should look into it if you have a good work history look at all the money you poured into social security and what are the odds you'll ever see it? Take care, Judy
Posted by shar on April 21, 2002, at 2:06:58
In reply to Re: Shar- you never did share your cocktail :-) » Shar, posted by medlib on April 20, 2002, at 1:53:38
Hi, Medlib!
>I'm not sure I can make it through the G-W obstacle course.Yep, I got pt. assistance from GW--a royal pain. Effexor was ok. Risperdal was gravy. Because of my $$ situation, and being burned out on pt. "assistance" stuff, I'm staying on what I have now. In the future, if I get insurance, I want to try another AP. Maybe Zyprexa, I've heard good stuff about that.
I heard Geodon may not be so good for people over 40.
>
> I'm holding out a glimmer of hope for Abilitat (aripiprazole), and it's supposed to have a *much* lower incidence of EPS.That makes it very appealing for me, the EPS with Risp. shook me up quite a bit. I heard for some people it gets even worse after quitting the med, but that was for people on much higher doses.
> Btw, how's your therapy group going? I remember that you had some major reservations going in; how do you feel about your choice now?
Thanks for asking. I fought with my therapist for about a month over the no-suicide-for-one-year contract she wanted me to have with her to go into group. I was so furious with her. I agreed to the contract the Sunday before the group started (it started the next day on Monday). I was still really angry for about the first 3 groups, and we argued in group. Then, as I started getting more into the interactions and work going on around me, I became less angry (plus my T and I had private sessions to work out the situation). Now I am very glad to be in the group, but still do not like the contract.
>
> I sure hope that this board "flies"--getting it approved was only slightly easier than the drug co.s "needy meds" programs.lol--yes, we sure did dialogue over this board a lot! I hope it flies also.
Shar
>
> Fingers crossed---medlib
Posted by tina on April 23, 2002, at 8:44:17
In reply to Re: Shar- you never did share your cocktail :-) » judy1, posted by Shar on April 18, 2002, at 22:33:34
> My life--ick, I hate to talk about it, you know? I'm still not employed at a good job. I work part time at a department store. My first retail job and it has been an education I'll tell ya! I have learned a lot about why customer service is not very good anymore. Mainly very low wages, no incentives (real ones) for employees, expecting way too much from employees for the pay they get, and not training them. They just push to make sales no matter what, everything else can be ignored (well, maybe not 100% ignored).
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>And I'VE been doing it for 12 years now. Can I kill myself now?? Talk about yuck! I know exactly what you mean.
T
Posted by medlib on April 23, 2002, at 15:58:03
In reply to Re: Hi medlib (nm), posted by Phil on April 20, 2002, at 15:38:35
Hi Phil--
Good to see both you and your sense of humor back; a little levity would be a most welcome relief from the birth traumas this board is undergoing.
Okay, I'll bite; what *is* the difference between north and south Austin, and where's the dividing line? Both my kids started out at UT Austin (too big), though both graduated elsewhere. (My daughter single-handedly supported Sixth St. for a couple of years.) Must be a family tradition; I spent my first 2 college years at Rice (too small) before dropping out to get married. Which shows that no matter how big a mistake you make, it's always possible to follow it with an even bigger one.
When you, Shar and the other Austinites feel oppressed by the heat this summer, you can join me in north Texas Lite, experience our metroplex version and count your blessings. I think only Wichita Falls is hotter; even the Cowboys bailed from there--Gatorade by the tankerful got too expensive, I guess.
Btw, I'm confident that I hate Dallas even more than you guys do--I was born here. The worst mistake I *ever* made was moving back here from LA after my divorce. I concocted some fantasy that my family would serve as additional emotional resources for my kids; since they hadn't for me, why I imagined that they would for my kids is a mystery. My last illusions of Dallas as remotely livable vanished when Molly Ivin bugged out (to follow the funny fellows at the state legislature, she said; but, I think she was just escaping the "heat"). People who can't laugh at themselves are intolerable; but then, Republicans aren't funny and don't appreciate humor--the best they can manage is an occasional smirk. At least I moved out of the park cities before the Veep moved in.
Unfortunately, now I'm stuck here. My son is here and has just presented me with my first grandchild, and my daughter lives in Houston. And the cost of housing in Texas is so much lower, I couldn't buy anywhere else. Sorry for the self-indulgent kvetching; truth is, as homebound as I am, what's outside is largely irrelevant.
The 80's in April--sheesh! IMHO, sunshine is a vastly overrated commodity; baked medlib is *not* a pretty sight.
Posted by Phil on April 23, 2002, at 18:23:26
In reply to Re: Hi Phil! » Phil, posted by medlib on April 23, 2002, at 15:58:03
Rice is not an easy school.
Oh, the Cowboys fled Austin to go to Wichita Falls. I can't stand pro. sports and especially the Cowboys. I never got over how they treated Tom Laundry. Jerry Jones..don't get me started.Molly Ivans was living in South Austin and wrote a column or two on it. It's a cool place, S. of the River. It's got the soul left that used to be the only Austin. Really cool old neighborhoods..and some scary ones.
North Austin..yuppie city(yuppie still a word-I just use asshole now.) It's growing real fast and it just looks like any city, it could be Houston
or whatever. And the attitude is the big thing. South Austin is l a i d b a c k with interesting people. North Austin just sucks. To tie this together, Jerry Jones owns a humongous apartment complex in n Austin. nuff said
The growth here has been phenomenal. Soooooo, they are chopping down the hill clountry and building very expensive subdivisions where nature at it's best used to be. Anyway, I'm rambling. Good talking to you medlib.
Posted by medlib on April 23, 2002, at 19:52:37
In reply to Re: medlib....one smart cookie, posted by Phil on April 23, 2002, at 18:23:26
Can't even remember who I used to be---medlib
Posted by tina on April 24, 2002, at 8:29:51
In reply to Re: Shar, posted by tina on April 23, 2002, at 8:44:17
Do you dislike me? You never used to answer anything I wrote on ASH and you do the same here. What's the deal? If you just don't like me, I can deal with it but I would like to know for sure and I will stop bothering you with my attempts to engage you in conversation.
No, I am not being paranoid. I am asking a valid question and would appreciate an honest answer.
thanks
tina
Posted by Shar on April 24, 2002, at 14:38:00
In reply to Re: Shar--Can I ask you a frank question?, posted by tina on April 24, 2002, at 8:29:51
Tina,
I am a big fan of frankness.I do indeed like you very much. I do not dislike you at all! If I had a problem with something you did or said, I would say so for sure.
I always see you as this highly energetic, moving, whirling dancer, touching down here and there, maybe a little hard to catch. I feel connected to you and I will pay much more attention to how I am with your posts. Ignoring you was never in my mind at all, and I'm sorry if it seemed that way. I am very glad you brought it up.
...besides, we have the sturdy bond of badness--you taught me a couple of really good bad words I hadn't even heard before! And I use them too!
Shar
PS. When you said you'd been in retail for years I just wondered how you did it. I am so tired after I work I go home and sleep (that's part time work, too). Plus, I'm covered with bruises from lugging stuff to be stocked, and lugging other stuff back to the stockroom. And, my feet hurt like hell!!!!!!! Whew!
Posted by tina on April 25, 2002, at 10:03:07
In reply to Re: Shar--Can I ask you a frank question? » tina, posted by Shar on April 24, 2002, at 14:38:00
Thanks so much for saying this. You don't know how much it means to me.
I sent an email to you at your yahoo address.
love
tina
Posted by Shar on April 25, 2002, at 12:34:13
In reply to Shar--I sent you an email » Shar, posted by tina on April 25, 2002, at 10:03:07
T -
Thank you for letting me know about the email. I don't check that addy too often and would hate for it to be a week before I responded!xoxo
Shar
Posted by tina on April 25, 2002, at 14:47:26
In reply to Re: Shar--I sent you an email » tina, posted by Shar on April 25, 2002, at 12:34:13
Thanks for responding Shar. You're very sweet to take the time.
Thanks for the smile too. I needed it.tina
This is the end of the thread.
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