Posted by Reggie BoStar on November 25, 2007, at 1:12:55
In reply to Re: Tired of T and having to make myself clear..... » twinleaf, posted by Phillipa on November 24, 2007, at 23:42:09
This seems to be the time to year to be sinking into misery. I'm doing the same at this end. I wind up sleeping in 30+ hour marathons, then staying awake for about 12, then repeating the sleep cycle.
During that 12 hrs of being awake I am "manic", which for me is having a slightly elevated mood (the pdoc suggests that I have some traits of BP II). I spend too much money, fortunately on cheap stuff but too much for me.
My therapists sees me once a week when I'm in trouble, then backs off to once every two weeks. She's been doing that pretty consistently for some time now.
However, she specializes in a combination of psychological and substance abuse counseling. Her reasons for making that shcedule may be slightly different for someone who is not an addict of some kind.
At the moment, though, it seems like once a week isn't enough either. Fortunately one of my former therapists started a group session that meets every monday. I go to that as well. Of course I'm not the focus in the group, but at least I get some coverage and exposure to other folks who are going through the same.
My pdoc sees me once a month. This is the problem with schedules I have because my bouts of total exhaustion and sleep have caused me to miss two appointments this year. When that happens, I have to wait another month to see him again. In his case he's heavily overbooked.
I'm supposed to see him in two weeks. I'm running out of options for meds because I've tried everything under the sun for the last 10 years. That leaves ECT, which I've already done once.
For some reason I'm spooked about a second pass. I didn't have any memory issues the first time around (at least none that I remember !!!). But lately I've been hearing from more and more ECT patients who acknowledge losing some long term memory permanently.
Without exception they've all said the loss of those few memories was worth the gains they experienced.
That's the rub. I have a few good memories from my childhood. Not many, to be be sure. But the ones I do have are precious.
If I lose those memories, I won't have any good memories at all from my childhood.
Obviously though I can't keep going the way I'm going. One look around and I can see the effects of what a total waste product I am.
Phillipa, I am also on Medicare. I frequently wind up seeing two counselors a week because of that group. I'm sure I average more than 4 visits per month for the same reason. So far, Medicare AND my supplemental coverage is picking up the tab.
Unfortunately I can't tell which plan pays what amount from these confusing statements they send me. When this was all explained to me another lifetime ago, I was told that Medicare would always pay the bulk of therapeutic costs.
If there's a yearly max I haven't hit it yet. If there's a lifetime max... I can't believe there would be a lifetime max for Medicare.
Who knows. Nice to see your messages again, Phillipa
Reggie BoStar
poster:Reggie BoStar
thread:796850
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20071120/msgs/796913.html