Show Posts

This section allows you to view all posts made by this member. Note that you can only see posts made in areas you currently have access to.


Messages - Rich

Pages: 1 [2] 3
16
General Discussion / Re: Happy Easter!
« on: April 04, 2015, 09:57:19 pm »
Happy Easter from me 'n' Soozan!  I ate a 100g Lindt Dark Chocolate bunny after dinner!

Rich

17
General Discussion / Re: what is normal
« on: February 28, 2015, 11:33:44 pm »
Paul, you are the nicest crazy I know!  (After Soozan, of course --- phew, that was a close one!)  :-)

It was the Fall of 2006 when I joined the forum...9 years ago this fall!  I'll never forget the first time that many of us got together at the Old Spaghetti Factory on the Esplanade in downtown T.O. --- it was so nice to see some of the forum members in person!  When this depressive winter ends we need to plan another get2gether!

Rich

18
General Discussion / Re: what is normal
« on: February 25, 2015, 10:00:23 pm »
Hi Dragonfly, I'm bipolar II as well.  I think that those of us on medication (possibly with therapy as well) are clearly more sane than the unmedicated masses!  Those mood stabilizers keep us more even than most people, that's for sure!

Rich

19
General Discussion / Re: My son is going to see a mediator
« on: February 08, 2015, 02:54:32 pm »
Hi Dragonfly,
a mediator is someone you goto when the divorce will be a smooth one.  You and your-soon-to-be-ex (STBX) have agreed to dissolve the marriage without conflict.  These mediated discussions will ideally lead to "binding arbitration", where each party has to follow the decisions that are made.  This will be much cheaper than lawyers and court costs.

I hope this helps!

Rich

20
General Discussion / What did you do today?
« on: January 27, 2015, 07:52:24 pm »
- I got up at 4:55 a.m. as per normal
- Gave Soozan her morning pills
- Took the dog out
- Kicked-off the coffee maker
- Shower and shaved
- Got dressed
- Woke up Soozan
- Had breakfast with Soozan (bran muffins x 2, black coffee)
- Took my morning pills
- Got driven to the subway station by Soozan
- Got to work by 7:05 a.m.
- Logged onto my laptop
- Made herbal tea (lemon and ginger - no caffeine)
- Reviewed my financial situation
- Started working by 7:20 a.m.
- Worked hard and took a quarter of a 0.5 clonazepam and one Tylenol with codeine at 11:10 a.m.
- Went to a Chinese food restaurant with my friends ($10 each) - had BBQ pork + roast pork on rice with bok choy
- Took my lunch time pills and reminded Soozan to do the same
- Worked hard and took another quarter of a 0.5 clonazepam and two Tylenol with codeine at 2:30 p.m.
- Left work at 3:55 p.m. as per normal
- Got home earlier than normal (4:55 p.m.)
- Had sandwiches for dinner for a change (Soozan usually cooks delicious hot meals)
- I took my dinner pills
- Soozan took me to our local Second Cup for mocha lattes after dinner
- We talked about our plans for the future (i.e. no more kids, no more elder care, maybe retire one day...)
- I did some administrivia and we both did some surfing
- It's 7:53 p.m. now...

Rich

21
General Discussion / Re: Introductions
« on: January 25, 2015, 07:17:53 pm »
Hi!

I wish I wrote as well as Soozan (my wife!), but she has the unfair advantage of being artsy, whereas I am a hard-core computer nerd (i.e.  I "code" more than I "write"!).  I was diagnosed with Bipolar II illness in 2006, and that was the year that I joined the MDAO forum.  Up until I received the diagnosis, I was only considered by people to be "weird" or "eccentric" or "strange"...but after the diagnosis, people 'promoted' me (?!?) to crazy, insane, whacko, etc.  I still find it all very funny, since I was on meds and stable when the labels changed.

For many years after the diagnosis, my life became harder.  But then I met Soozan!  Maybe two 'crazies' don't make a 'sane' person, but my life has improved dramatically since first meeting her.  She is truly the love of my life!  And can you imagine how nice it is not to be judged for having a mental illness???  Or having to explain it???  This was such an added bonus!  Being together is paradise!

Well, like most people, we try to be the best people that we can, and to enjoy life to the fullest!  During the summer you can find us in the pool.  During the summer, spring and fall we like to take walks.  We like to see movies if there are any good ones playing (we just saw "The Wedding Ringer" - it was funny!).  Doing the "food ride" is one of our favourite things to do, but we try to show restraint.  ;-)  We like 'real' food, not that rich-people pretentious crap.  I don't care if we only spend $10 --- good food is good food!  :-)  During the winter months, we try to get away for a night here and there in a hotel...but it must have a hot tub!  We also like to get lattes at Second Cup on cheapie Tuesday's.  Yes, we are thrifty, but we still have fun!

Okay, we still have our challenges, such as elder-care, the expense of putting two kids thru their post-secondary education, and the odd stress-induced mood swing or bout of anxiety.  But I must tell you that Soozan has turned my life around to the point that I feel 'normal' or at least our version of it!  ;-)  The people at work have noticed it too!

Rich

22
General Discussion / Re: Check In
« on: January 01, 2015, 01:22:33 pm »
Happy New Year, LuckyLou!

You're near the bottom of the October to March hell that happens every year, especially to those of us with Bipolar Illness.  Everything will start to improve in April.  But in the meantime, it is imperative that you avoid making any big, life-changing decisions!  Just keep your head down at work and put a fake smile on your face and wait it out...this works or me!

Now that you know how it will be for next October thru to March, you should start to set some money aside for some one-night getaway's during that time of year, like me 'n' Soozan do....they really help!

Rich

23
General Discussion / Re: Anybody 50+ with BPD?
« on: November 24, 2014, 08:42:25 pm »
Hi WRW1955,
welcome aboard!

Does BPD stand for "Bipolar Disorder" (which type?  I or II) or "Borderline Personality Disorder"?

I have bipolar II, and my mood is usually pretty good, although not nearly as good as when I rarely go hypomanic a bit!  :-)

To counter depression I try to go on an overnight trip or weekend trip (depending on cash flow).  It really is nice to escape all of he day-to-day problems for even a day!

Rich

24
General Discussion / Re: Introduction
« on: November 24, 2014, 08:34:57 pm »
Hi CanadianEm,
welcome aboard!  I have bipolar II and some occasional anxiety.  Don't listen to people who tell you that you should go of your meds - they are just ignorant and don't know what they are talking about.

Rich

25
General Discussion / Re: Latuda starting tomorrow
« on: November 04, 2014, 08:17:28 pm »
Hi Jenny!  ER and neonatal intensive care sound verrrrryyyy stressful.  Why not get a cushy gig working with seniors?  When my Mom was in the hospital back in May, every time I came to visit *ALL* of the nurses were on break --- *EVERY TIME* (and yes, I came at different times!).  THAT'S a great job to have!

You know that bipolar + too much stress = short-term / long-term disability

Rich

26
General Discussion / Re: winter blues
« on: November 03, 2014, 08:36:46 pm »
Hi LuckyLou!  Hi Dragonfly!  Yep, count me in on this one.  I hate winter, because yes, even on a truckload of meds, I get depressed, tired, and find it hard to get thru the daily grind (but I do).  Like Dragonfly said, the best I can do is to look forward to spring.

Having said that...here's what I do to deal with the here-and-now:

- treat myself to more chocolate and desserts (as long as you are not diabetic and can show restraint)
- go on an over-night trip (me 'n' Soozan are doing that in the next couple of weeks)
- read...it will help the time go by and take your mind off of this crappy time of year
- mall walk (I walk around a big mall everyday at lunch, while talking to Soozan)
- take weekend naps

Hope this helps!

Rich

27
General Discussion / Re: Check In
« on: October 25, 2014, 11:04:54 pm »
Hi everyone!  I'm sorry that I don't post here very often at all anymore, but quite frankly, my life is great!  Sure, I have some minor health problems, including Bipolar 2 and anxiety, as well as the usual problems with teenagers, elder-care, job and money, but overall, everything is going great!  Soozan and I get along great, and we make sure that we get our treats in, although they tend to be the naughty, high-calorie kind.  We haven't had a night away together since March, but we're going to have one in a few weeks.  It's always good to get away from all of the responsibilities that we have, even if it is just for a night.

You can see why I am reluctant to post here very often --- we have a great life, with nothing much to complain about, and I just don't want to bring any of you down by posting that very often, especially if you are facing serious challenges.  We know that we are lucky, and we hope that you will all be lucky one day too!  You will be if you continue to try to move forwards!!

Rich

28
General Discussion / Re: Med change after 12 years
« on: August 28, 2014, 07:05:46 pm »
Hi Jenny!  I remember you --- we met in person at the Old Spaghetti Factory with several of our MDAO friends!  I think that was back in 2007?  Glad you are back!  Both my wife (Soozan) and my youngest son take Abilify with good results and minimal side effects.

Rich

29
Depression and Bipolar / Re: What's in our feel better Tool Belt?
« on: August 05, 2014, 09:02:42 pm »
Hi Dragonfly,
I like e-readers better than paper-based books for the following reasons:

1)  I don't like germs, so I don't like library or used books
2)  I like my money, so I don't like to buy books that I'm only going to read once  :-)
3)  I'm not near a beach :-)
3)  I like to be able to download a book to my e-reader via the Toronto Public Library website for *FREE* and from the comfort of my own home, so then I don't have to fit in a visit to the library into my busy schedule.  All you need is:

- a library card (you will have to go in person to get one, I think?)
- an e-reader --- I've got a Kobo Arc 7 which cost about $180 incl. taxes...I like this one because I can connect it directly (and wirelessly) to my home network, as opposed to downloading and saving e-books to my PC first (from the library website), and then copying them to the e-reader via a cable...yes, I am lazy and spoiled!  (Soozan bought it for me!)
- you are right, you may not need your own internet, since yes, you may be able to use coffee shop wifi?

Hope this helps!  I'm still new to this e-reader / e-book thing!

Rich

30
Depression and Bipolar / Re: What's in our feel better Tool Belt?
« on: August 04, 2014, 09:53:10 pm »
Hi!
Here are the things in my feel better took belt:

- Reading - I bought an e-reader after a couple of months of hell (RE:  Mom in hospital;  unexpected expenses).  I just downloaded by 6th e-book from the Toronto Public Library FOR *FREE*!  I find that reading on the bus and subway keeps my mind from thinking too many thoughts.

- Sugary treats

- Naps

Rich

Pages: 1 [2] 3