Sharing my life with Ms Sophie (Bipolar II)

Yahoo @Sophie1

Thanks @Former-Member 🙏 my prayers have been answered and I'm so thankful for more time with my Dad.

having lost my step father abruptly with no goodbyes in a tragic accident three years ago it is not lost on me the value of time with loved ones. These tests had triggered my grief for him again and I am totally exhausted

Thankyou for sharing this journey for last few weeks

now I can rest for a bit until next time and I know it will come but I'm happy to have a reprieve

How are you going @Sophie1

Hi @Former-Member @outlander @Faith-and-Hope @Shaz51 @Determined @Smc

🥳 happy new year !!!

we had a quiet one with MsS sister staying with her husband and 2 kids from interstate

I'm enjoying the time with family and hoping the recent covid breakouts are managed tightly and resolve with least damage to health , life and economy ..

im back working in between hosting guests as MsS is unwell with migraines and depression lingering still .. I'm trying to self care where I need to to ensure I can do what I need to for work and family and MsS ... a fine balance at the moment

Checking in @Sophie1

Hi @Former-Member

Thankyou for checking in - I have been a little stressed lately navigating the challenge of my new job, MsS not being well with migraines abs depression bad right now (lots of sleeping and tears and no help in the house again), and my own well-being.

I am making big effort to be accountable for my own well-being - walking every day and swimming once a week at least .. both of which help my hip and my well-being lots. I have some new accountability mechanisms in place - a Fitbit and a an online friend who has the same fitness and healthy eating goals - she has been a huge motivator and support .. we have really helped each other keep going.

I can't see a path right now for MsS until we see a few more specialists who aren't available until feb - so we are in an in between hang in there stage ... something we are used to of course and I just try to keep spirits up and tempt her to join walks and eat healthy when I can

I am resenting doing the lion share of housework less than I used to - however that comes and goes in waves so I'm enjoying my happy place while it lasts lol

how is MrD going with ability to help you out around the place or do you do everything at moment due to his illness ?

Having encouragement and accountability makes so much difference @Sophie1. Great you are getting in that self care.

Mr Darcy still has his morning routine which involves getting up before me, doing his thing before getting coffee/brekky organised and when he is ready for me I get up . He still does the dishes and likes to go on a daily walk up to the shops to do a grocery run, he is now walking to shops perhaps half the time, no longer comes dog walking and he rarely cooks tea now. He is keen to do what he can but he is getting slower and breakfast is getting later as is lunch and tea. I try and get in ahead of him to make lunch, particularly if toasted cheese or crumpets are on menu as they are cold by the time he serves up if he makes them as he ensures everything in kitchen is tidied up and spends a lot of time checking grill is off or toaster is put away right. I do the rest of the housework (not very well). I am doing all the driving at present (which I don't really enjoy) due to him being given heavy duty pain meds.

Hi @Former-Member

I saw your recent posts in the MH Cancer thread and hope that the meds are settling for MrD and providing some relief

I have some promising news - MsS finally saw the migraine specialist this week and he was amazing ... actually offered us informed options rather than the usual 'oh your psychiatric meds are such that really all you can do is yoga as all other options have interactions' .. I was super impressed how much he understood the psych drugs and was able to advise within that context our best options

it's a start - no cure of course - but given we are at 25 days out of every month with a migraine or headache we are pleased with options to even decrease intensity or frequency in any way we can

the chronic migraine situation for last few years has worn us both down considerably - so we are consciously finding ways to connect woth the few hours a day she is awake and able to cope .. we are now eating dinner at the table instead of tv and making effort to enjoy eating a meal and talking .. this time and the coffee in the morning are the only times she is really awake and I'm not working so we take advantage of them now

anyway I'm rambling but just wanted to say thinking of you and sending hugs 🤗 and strength that you keep putting one foot in front of another xxxxx

Hope something can be sorted @Sophie1 and relief can be obtained, ongoing pain = 😵😵😵.

How are things going with you @Sophie1