Hi - I'm new here

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-05-2003
Hi - I'm new here
10
Tue, 04-04-2006 - 1:24pm

Hi. I just found this board a few days ago, and thought I'd introduce myself.

I'm Amy, I'm 31 and I've had bipolar since I was a kid. I got dx'd when I was 12, and after a really crappy few years in and out of treatment centers, I started doing better.

I was finally getting my life on track when I was 26, but then things just went off the track - big time.

I got pregnant unexpectedly (I'm not married, and I'd actually broken up with the guy before I found out I was pregnant. He's not a part of our lives at this point.) and wound up losing my apartment and having to move back home with my mother.

For the past 4 years, I've been living with Mom and being a stay at home Mom to my little girl, Ellie. She has some health/disability issues (unrelated to my taking meds, as I figured out I was pg about two weeks after having sex so immediately went off my meds before they could do damage), so that's pretty much taken up my life.

I joke that I haven't had time to have a mood swing in the last four years, lol.

Anyway, Ellie is doing alot better now, and I have some time to focus on myself and my health for a change. I also have diabetes, so it's alot to focus on.

I've been having some mood issues again lately, and since I've gotten alot of support from people at the hypotonia board here in the past, I thought I'd look for a bipolar board for myself, so here I am.

I'm getting ready to go back to college in the Fall (hopefully; I keep not driving over there to apply even though I've filled out the financial aid paperwork), and I know it's going to be hard, so hopefully I can get some advice and support here.

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-06-2005
Tue, 04-04-2006 - 1:45pm

Hi Amy and Welcome, its nice to meet you !!!!!


I think you will have alot to offer here, and the women are great !!!


now get in the car and drive to school !

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God could not be everywhere, so

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Tue, 04-04-2006 - 7:30pm

Welcome to the board! Thanks for posting to me and giving such great advice already...you have no idea how much help that can be. (Well, I guess you might, if you've been on message boards already, lol!).

Wow, you (and your daughter) have been through a lot in the last few years...I really admire you for the strength you must have for having taken care full-time of a child with health issues...I'm only a few years younger than you (25) and I can only imagine.

Good for you for deciding to take some time to take care of yourself too...I'm betting you'll find this board to be a great resource. I know the idea of going back to college could be a little intimidating after being away for a while...is that why you think you've been putting off driving over there?

Nice to "meet" you...welcome again,

Rose

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-05-2003
Tue, 04-04-2006 - 9:35pm

Thanks!

Yea, I think I'm finding other "important" things to do so I can have an excuse for not going over there. Last time I was in college, back when I WAS 18, I wound up in the hospital b/c work and school was too much.

I know it was my own fault for working 40 hours a week and going to school full time; I should have known better, but I wanted so much to do it "right", whatever the heck that means.

But now I'm scared. Add to that the fact that my mom's encouragment consists of going over every worst case scenario and what if with me so I can "plan" for it, and it's no wonder I'm reticent.

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-08-2003
Thu, 04-06-2006 - 5:07pm
Your user name was looking so familiar to me when I responded to your post about dealing with real stress. Then I scanned back a few days to refresh myself as to what your story was, and I saw this post. I used to be a regular on the Hypotonia Board for years! My name is Maureen, my son is Patrick, and he has SMA II. Remember us???? I'm not "glad" to see you here on the BP board, but I'm glad to have a chance to get re-acquainted. Again, reach out to me anytime. Love, Maureen (mom to Kelly, 12, Patrick, 8 with SMA II, and ~i~ Matthew with SMA I - remember me now??????)

mo 7-18-10

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-05-2003
Thu, 04-06-2006 - 5:55pm

OMG! Of COURSE I remember you! I was actually thinking about Patrick the other day for some reason. How is he doing?

Have you read the hypotonia board lately? Oi vey.

Avatar for chilaili
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Thu, 04-06-2006 - 6:06pm

Going back to school after a long break is always a little intimidating. I did it in 2003 and I was working full-time too so I completely understand. Funny thing, I was all set to send in my application the previous Summer but chickened out at the last minute. I think I just wasn't ready. Then a few months later I KNEW it was the moment to do it so I grabbed the envelope, ran to the nearest mailbox and dropped it in. Such a feeling of relief, accomplishment, excitement and sheer bloody terror :). Anyway, I stuck it out the whole 2.5 years and graduated last May. Believe me, it was worth every moment of anguish, frustration, and exhaustion. For one thing, I was doing something I really enjoyed and for another, I met and made some excellent friends there. So when you're ready, go do it! I doubt you'll regret it.

What are you thinking of studying?

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-05-2003
Thu, 04-06-2006 - 6:30pm

Accounting, specifically forensic accounting/Sarbannes-Oxley stuff.

I want to be the person that goes into companies' records and makes them compliant and finds all the mistakes.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Fri, 04-07-2006 - 8:41am

Hi Amy and Welcome! You go girl! You get those college papers over to where they need to be!!! You can do this, for all of us who want to but dont!

:)

I'm Keli. I'm 35 and I have a 15 y/o ds who is making me nuts. More nuts.

My BP has been off the charts crazy for a long while now, but finally is getting much better, due to learning that I DO NOT HAVE TO BE OVERMEDICATED! Wow. What an epiphany. My pdocs have a tendency to overmedicate me. I finally took charge. Decided to only take very small doses of the meds they wanted me on, that made me very sick, very lethargic, zombie like (can you relate?). And lo and behold, I feel wonderful!

I work full time as a budget manager (accounting) for the State of Florida. I've been with them for 18 years.

I'm glad you're here. We're a very close board and we help each other through SO MUCH.

Hugs,

Keli

Avatar for chilaili
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Fri, 04-07-2006 - 10:07am
Hey, that sounds fascinating. I can barely add up my weekly spending let alone somebody else's.
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-02-2003
Fri, 04-07-2006 - 3:22pm

Welcome Amy, I'm glad you found us!