Thursday, May 31, 2012
pattieinmass
  • pattieinmass
    is Pattie
  • Location: Fort Pierce, FL, United States
  • Gender: Female
  • Birthday: September 27, 1954
  • Bio: retired office manager living with fiancee with bipolar
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HEALTH INTERESTS:

Bipolar disorder,  treatments,  supporting,  med side effects,  healthy eating,  coping skills,  drug abuse/recovery

DRUGS I AM TAKING:

I am a supporter

ABOUT ME:

I met Dan my fiancee 5 years ago. We have been engaged the last 3 and live together. He told me when our relationship was developing he was manic depressive and I was ok with that and knew a little about it b/c some friends of mine have it also. Year 2 into our relationship Dan had 3 terrible episodes in 3 months that led to 3 hospitalizations, taking leave from his job of 27years and subsequent early retirement @47 due to his illness. Dan and I both are in recovery for substance abuse, me with almost 8 years clean and Dan 1.5 because of repeated relapses. I love Dan with all my heart and continue to support him and be by his side no matter what comes our way. The hardest I'll admit is when he goes off his meds and picks up the bottle of vodka. Those times are the most difficult and honestly I don't know if I could make it thru another alcolholic relapse with him. Being an addict myself I know how hard it is to stay clean but being dual diagnosed is much harder but doable I've been told. His alcoholic relapses are devestating in all aspects of our lives more so than his episodes which he can control with proper medication. When he picks up that drink there's no saying if he'll make it back again, he disappears, generally gets arrested, is a discusting falling down in the gutter drunk like I was. A danger to himself and society because he makes the choice to drive. I don't like to think about it happening again but it is a reality as it could be with meif I made the choice to use. But I honestly don't think I could stay and support another drunken relapse. I read everything on bipolar I can get my hands on, belong to support groups, attend all Dan's dr. appts. including his primary b/c he has liver, kidney, and chloestrol problems because of the meds, prepare healthy foods, just try and be the best person I can be to the man I adore and plan to spend the rest of my life with. Being together for these 5 years has taught me and shown me what is going on and what I can expect if an episode happens. Thank God for the last year his Dr. has him a the right cocktail that has allowed him to have a quality of life he hadn't been having and I am proud to be by his side. He's a wonderful man who at times is so tortured, but as long as he takes his meds, doesn't use substances and works his program of recovery, our life together is wonderful. We each have children from our previous marriages and just recently built a new home. We love to garden, read, especially love the beach, cook, movies, music, quiet times, our pets we adore, and just being able to be who we are, to accept each other without judgement, with respect and love unconditionally. Is it easy? Not all the times but nobody's life is easy all the time. We are a team and work together for our common good.

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ROLES:

Caregiver in Bipolar

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