Help Chronic Pain

Question:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -[[ This message was both posted and mailed: see   the "To," "Cc," and "Newsgroups" headers for details. ]] Albert, I am glad you are feeling better. Please call me when you feel up to it. Hugs, Ralph Thanks so much for your support during this difficult period.  I hope that you are doing as well as possible, and of course know that the favor will always be returned:  two ears, no waiting : – } Sorry to sound so helpless, but I’ve lost your number.  Would you mind sending it to me again via email, please? Looking forward to hearing from you soon.

Look for an E-mail coming soon to your In-box, probably sunday morning. Hugs, Ralph

Response:

How did they "mess up" your finances?  My grandma used to live with me. Once, once, she came upstairs and looked at my finances.  She was so freaked out that I owed $5000 on two credit cards that she wrote checks and paid them off right then.  Thank you, God! I am hoping that this is what happened to you. — HyperBum

         HyperBum, If only what happened to you happened to me!  First off, an appology for my not answering your post sooner.  I’m sorry, but sometimes the chronic pain can rule my life for brief periods of time. What my family actually did was this: after getting my father’s bills (he is in a nursing home permanently) & my bills together, they proceeded to take them out of all of the envelopes and mix dis-similar bills together.  I always sort while still in the envelope when my depression gets in the way of bill-paying.  That way, you have all the phone bills together, the utility bills together, etc.  The way that my family did it will require weeks to fix, sadly.          Albert, taking baby steps in the right direction (for once!) —       Tis Easier to go thru the eye of a needle, than the knee of an idol

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – (posted and emailed) Hello Albert- I’m so glad things are better for you!  I’m also glad that we were able to help you do things differently this time. Keep in mind that it often takes a couple of years to find the right medication combination–although you could luck out. I suggest you go to the archives and read some of Phinny’s earlier journals (if he archived them).  He had boundary issues with his family also and he found ways to deal with them.  He did rely heavily on therapy to help him–so I hope you have a therapist. Nancy

Thank you so much for the warnings & suggestions.  I am often guilty of seeing just a patch of blue sky, and believing that the rain will stop, the clouds will part, and the sun will come out : – }  As I mentioned to Colleen in this thread, I have three therapists: My out-of-hospital psychiatrist who only sees patients in the office. My in-hospital psychiatrist who only sees patients in the hospital. Finally, my talk-therapist who only sees patients in the office. This now brings the total number of docotors to SEVEN (YIKES!  If I see Brad Pitt or Morgan Freeman, I am really in deep dooty : – }  That means I only need 3 more docs to have a complete set, & I will be entered in the AMA’s/APA’s free trip to Jamaica raffle.          With Love, Caring, & Peace,                   Albert, amazed at the deafening silence —       Tis Easier to go thru the eye of a needle, than the knee of an idol

Response:

[[ This message was both posted and mailed: see    the "To," "Cc," and "Newsgroups" headers for details. ]] I am so glad you sought out help.  Deal with yourself first before dealing with family.  The stronger you become both physically and mentally the easier it will become to cope. Do you have a talk therapist?  He/she can help with the psycho/social aspects of this illness. Take care, c

Perhaps America is an odd place, for I actually have 3 therapists: My out-of-hospital psychiatrist who only sees patients in the office. My in-hospital psychiatrist who only sees patients in the hospital. Finally, my talk-therapist who only sees patients in the office. I am am working towards what you describe, becoming both pysically & mentally stronger. Now that I have lost my female significant other, the silence in my home is deafening.  I hope to begin work on that aspect this week as I see pscyhiatrist, psychologist, and neurologist.  And this is a slow week : – }  I have actually had weeks where I’ve seen all six of the docs that help me continue fighting.          Albert, learning how to take baby-steps in the right direction —       Tis Easier to go thru the eye of a needle, than the knee of an idol

Response:

Albert, I am sorry that your family screwed up your billing method.  Sometimes people do more harm than good when they think they are being helpful. I wish you luck getting things straightened out. — HyperBum

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – How did they "mess up" your finances?  My grandma used to live with me. Once, once, she came upstairs and looked at my finances.  She was so freaked out that I owed $5000 on two credit cards that she wrote checks and paid them off right then.  Thank you, God! I am hoping that this is what happened to you. — HyperBum          HyperBum, If only what happened to you happened to me!  First off, an appology for my not answering your post sooner.  I’m sorry, but sometimes the chronic pain can rule my life for brief periods of time. What my family actually did was this: after getting my father’s bills (he is in a nursing home permanently) & my bills together, they proceeded to take them out of all of the envelopes and mix dis-similar bills together.  I always sort while still in the envelope when my depression gets in the way of bill-paying.  That way, you have all the phone bills together, the utility bills together, etc.  The way that my family did it will require weeks to fix, sadly.          Albert, taking baby steps in the right direction (for once!) —       Tis Easier to go thru the eye of a needle, than the knee of an idol

Response:

[[ This message was both posted and mailed: see    the "To," "Cc," and "Newsgroups" headers for details. ]] Albert, I am glad you are feeling better. Please call me when you feel up to it. Hugs, Ralph

Thanks so much for your support during this difficult period.  I hope that you are doing as well as possible, and of course know that the favor will always be returned:  two ears, no waiting : – } Sorry to sound so helpless, but I’ve lost your number.  Would you mind sending it to me again via email, please? Looking forward to hearing from you soon.          Albert, finally beginning to learn how to take baby-steps —       Tis Easier to go thru the eye of a needle, than the knee of an idol

Response:

[[ This message was both posted and mailed: see    the "To," "Cc," and "Newsgroups" headers for details. ]]     Good to hear your doing better Albert.  Stop thinking about anyone judging you or thinking you are a fool.  We’re all in great pain here from time to time and only a fool would judge or think otherwise.  Care for yourself and know that others do also across the ether. Allain

Haviing the low self-esteem that I do (constantly teasing my talk-therapist that I can play hand-ball with snails on occasion : ) it is very easy for me to forget that I am not the only person who cares about others.  There are actually people (like you) across the ether who care also.  The fact that I can even admit to this aspect of my life reminds me that I am slowly beginning to change. —     Albert, finally learning to take baby-steps in the right direction Tis Easier to go thru the eye of a needle, than the knee of an idol

Response:

How did they "mess up" your finances?  My grandma used to live with me. Once, once, she came upstairs and looked at my finances.  She was so freaked out that I owed $5000 on two credit cards that she wrote checks and paid them off right then.  Thank you, God! I am hoping that this is what happened to you. — HyperBum

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –             Dear Group, I finally discovered last Sunday that my family had done more than just feed & water my 8 year old Tuxedo tomcat.  They had also used my keys to get into my personal finances & to mess them up!

Response:

(posted and emailed) Hello Albert- I’m so glad things are better for you!  I’m also glad that we were able to help you do things differently this time. Keep in mind that it often takes a couple of years to find the right medication combination–although you could luck out. I suggest you go to the archives and read some of Phinny’s earlier journals (if he archived them).  He had boundary issues with his family also and he found ways to deal with them.  He did rely heavily on therapy to help him–so I hope you have a therapist. Nancy permanently into the ether: – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –            Dear Group, I finally discovered last Sunday that my family had done more than just feed & water my 8 year old Tuxedo tomcat.  They had also used my keys to get into my personal finances & to mess them up! I am certainly no Lord of Organization (vbg) when I am on the low end of the swing, but I was just NOT prepared for this kind of behind-the- back activity.  They could have called me in the hospital & asked if it really was all that important.  However, they chose not to. I was so upset that I felt lost, that I had run out of people that I could trust, and life had no purpose. BUT, something very odd happened:  I had been receiving such support from newsgroup members that the idea of entering the psych ward thru ICU or CICU did NOT even cross my mind.  I did, however, have doubts that Exffexor alone would help my current depression, and called someone to take me to admitting. Instead of just being considered a simple case of unipolar depression, I have now been officially diagnosed as also having bi-polar disorder, and it is no longer a game of trying to find a needle in a haystack : -}  I have been put on Zyprexxa, and feel about 10,000 times better than I did last Sunday when I admitted myself to the psych unit.  I have also finally come to the realization that my family does NOT always have my best interests at heart, and they must now be dealt with using caution at all times.  A sad state of affairs, true, but at least NOW I know where I stand. I would like to end this first day out of the pysch unit by sharing with all of you the words that helped me make a very difficult decision: God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, The courage to change the things I can, And the wisdom to know the difference. God bless you all for simply being here.  You have helped me avoid what would have been the 3rd suicide attempt in 3 months, something that even I am embarassed to now contemplate.  I may seem like a fool to some of you, I will never be able to change that. But I will always be grateful to Nancy and the rest of the group that have answered my posts and helped give me the strength, for the FIRST time in my entire 50 years, to enter the psych unit vertically, not thru the ambulance bay of the ER.         With Love, Caring, & Peace,               Albert, taking baby-steps in the right direction

Response:

I am so glad you sought out help.  Deal with yourself first before dealing with family.  The stronger you become both physically and mentally the easier it will become to cope. Do you have a talk therapist?  He/she can help with the psycho/social aspects of this illness. Take care, c

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –             Dear Group, I finally discovered last Sunday that my family had done more than just feed & water my 8 year old Tuxedo tomcat.  They had also used my keys to get into my personal finances & to mess them up! I am certainly no Lord of Organization (vbg) when I am on the low end of the swing, but I was just NOT prepared for this kind of behind-the- back activity.  They could have called me in the hospital & asked if it really was all that important.  However, they chose not to. I was so upset that I felt lost, that I had run out of people that I could trust, and life had no purpose. BUT, something very odd happened:  I had been receiving such support from newsgroup members that the idea of entering the psych ward thru ICU or CICU did NOT even cross my mind.  I did, however, have doubts that Exffexor alone would help my current depression, and called someone to take me to admitting. Instead of just being considered a simple case of unipolar depression, I have now been officially diagnosed as also having bi-polar disorder, and it is no longer a game of trying to find a needle in a haystack : -}  I have been put on Zyprexxa, and feel about 10,000 times better than I did last Sunday when I admitted myself to the psych unit.  I have also finally come to the realization that my family does NOT always have my best interests at heart, and they must now be dealt with using caution at all times.  A sad state of affairs, true, but at least NOW I know where I stand. I would like to end this first day out of the pysch unit by sharing with all of you the words that helped me make a very difficult decision: God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, The courage to change the things I can, And the wisdom to know the difference. God bless you all for simply being here.  You have helped me avoid what would have been the 3rd suicide attempt in 3 months, something that even I am embarassed to now contemplate.  I may seem like a fool to some of you, I will never be able to change that. But I will always be grateful to Nancy and the rest of the group that have answered my posts and helped give me the strength, for the FIRST time in my entire 50 years, to enter the psych unit vertically, not thru the ambulance bay of the ER.          With Love, Caring, & Peace,                Albert, taking baby-steps in the right direction —       Tis Easier to go thru the eye of a needle, than the knee of an idol

Response:

            Dear Group, I finally discovered last Sunday that my family had done more than just feed & water my 8 year old Tuxedo tomcat.  They had also used my keys to get into my personal finances & to mess them up! I am certainly no Lord of Organization (vbg) when I am on the low end of the swing, but I was just NOT prepared for this kind of behind-the- back activity.  They could have called me in the hospital & asked if it really was all that important.  However, they chose not to. I was so upset that I felt lost, that I had run out of people that I could trust, and life had no purpose. BUT, something very odd happened:  I had been receiving such support from newsgroup members that the idea of entering the psych ward thru ICU or CICU did NOT even cross my mind.  I did, however, have doubts that Exffexor alone would help my current depression, and called someone to take me to admitting. Instead of just being considered a simple case of unipolar depression, I have now been officially diagnosed as also having bi-polar disorder, and it is no longer a game of trying to find a needle in a haystack : -}  I have been put on Zyprexxa, and feel about 10,000 times better than I did last Sunday when I admitted myself to the psych unit.  I have also finally come to the realization that my family does NOT always have my best interests at heart, and they must now be dealt with using caution at all times.  A sad state of affairs, true, but at least NOW I know where I stand. I would like to end this first day out of the pysch unit by sharing with all of you the words that helped me make a very difficult decision: God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, The courage to change the things I can, And the wisdom to know the difference. God bless you all for simply being here.  You have helped me avoid what would have been the 3rd suicide attempt in 3 months, something that even I am embarassed to now contemplate.  I may seem like a fool to some of you, I will never be able to change that. But I will always be grateful to Nancy and the rest of the group that have answered my posts and helped give me the strength, for the FIRST time in my entire 50 years, to enter the psych unit vertically, not thru the ambulance bay of the ER.          With Love, Caring, & Peace,                Albert, taking baby-steps in the right direction —       Tis Easier to go thru the eye of a needle, than the knee of an idol

Response:

Albert, I am glad you are feeling better. Please call me when you feel up to it. Hugs, Ralph – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –            Dear Group, I finally discovered last Sunday that my family had done more than just feed & water my 8 year old Tuxedo tomcat.  They had also used my keys to get into my personal finances & to mess them up! I am certainly no Lord of Organization (vbg) when I am on the low end of the swing, but I was just NOT prepared for this kind of behind-the- back activity.  They could have called me in the hospital & asked if it really was all that important.  However, they chose not to. I was so upset that I felt lost, that I had run out of people that I could trust, and life had no purpose. BUT, something very odd happened:  I had been receiving such support from newsgroup members that the idea of entering the psych ward thru ICU or CICU did NOT even cross my mind.  I did, however, have doubts that Exffexor alone would help my current depression, and called someone to take me to admitting. Instead of just being considered a simple case of unipolar depression, I have now been officially diagnosed as also having bi-polar disorder, and it is no longer a game of trying to find a needle in a haystack : -}  I have been put on Zyprexxa, and feel about 10,000 times better than I did last Sunday when I admitted myself to the psych unit.  I have also finally come to the realization that my family does NOT always have my best interests at heart, and they must now be dealt with using caution at all times.  A sad state of affairs, true, but at least NOW I know where I stand. I would like to end this first day out of the pysch unit by sharing with all of you the words that helped me make a very difficult decision: God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, The courage to change the things I can, And the wisdom to know the difference. God bless you all for simply being here.  You have helped me avoid what would have been the 3rd suicide attempt in 3 months, something that even I am embarassed to now contemplate.  I may seem like a fool to some of you, I will never be able to change that. But I will always be grateful to Nancy and the rest of the group that have answered my posts and helped give me the strength, for the FIRST time in my entire 50 years, to enter the psych unit vertically, not thru the ambulance bay of the ER.         With Love, Caring, & Peace,               Albert, taking baby-steps in the right direction

Response: