Columbus | Sunday, September 24, 2000 - 09:49 pm  Gee, I am really surprised that this thread on Josh being depressed turned into a tell all thread I had breast cancer 6 years ago and could not face it. I had a mastectomy and then chemo. My psych- iatrist put me on Elavil and I didn't get sick once on Chemo. Since then I have been on Celexa in the morning and Sinequan in the evening and I am a new person. It has been extremely costly because my insurance will only pay 50% for my doc, but I do get my Rx's for only $18.00 but I have to see my doc once a month and it is $65.00 for Rx maintenance and $100.00 every 3 months. They do not pay for the psychologist which is $80.00 every 2 weeks. It's very strange that they will pay for everything else and not mental health. People who need by-pass get the whole bill picked up by their insurance and they caused this themselves by their eating habits and smoking. We didn't cause our depression and yet we are the ones that have to suffer. I pay over $3,000.00 a year for my BC & BS and after the deductibles it is still a lot. Katie, I feel for you and wish that I could help in some way. I could never hold down a job now. But, look at it this way, we do forget about our problems for a little while watching BB and participating in this site. |
Katie | Sunday, September 24, 2000 - 10:00 pm  Columbus Thanks, I am afraid my house is gone. I don't think I have a chance of getting enough money to save it. It is a shame that people who have medicial problems lose everything because of it. It is so depressing. Watching BB and this board help and that is just what I have been doing all summer. It will end in a few days and I will have to face life. It won't be easy. The guys lifting are making me smile |
Jade888 | Sunday, September 24, 2000 - 10:06 pm  Now you will all understand about why I sue states and HMO's for not providing equal access to care for those with mental illness. |
Katie | Sunday, September 24, 2000 - 10:18 pm  What is strange is that it is just a certain section of this county that doesn't have private insurance. |
Jade888 | Sunday, September 24, 2000 - 10:28 pm  Well...Washington does not work with Medicaid and have an 1115 Waiver I do not think. If you beieve that Gore and the rest of his clan will give you and all Americans health insurance...remember 8 years ago with Hillary and her shinanigans. What gets me is that they have never told the American people that Hillary spend over 50,000,000.00 just putting together her advisory panel. FOr heaven sakes...I could have built a hospital and run it for more than three years with that money. Don't let them fool you they will never get with the real Americans who are struggling in our country. |
Fenixtx | Sunday, September 24, 2000 - 10:33 pm  I thought this thread was about josh. |
Zelda | Sunday, September 24, 2000 - 10:35 pm  I don't want to make this political but I lost my Insurance while Bush was in office. It wasn't until Clinton that the patient was protected from Insurance co. from canceling from claims. I know I have more faith in the Democrats to give the nation a plan than the Rep. to leave it to the states. JMO (and I am living it) |
Really | Sunday, September 24, 2000 - 10:52 pm  OK, I didn't read all the above posts but to address the title...this is mho... Having lost his mom early (especially if he was close) will undoubtedly leave part of him in what seems like a perpetual state of sadness while the other part of him goes on to live a happy life or at least try to. At least through the 20's. I can say this cause I lost my mom to cancer when I was 17. And my 20's were tough emotionally because of that. Now that I'm in my mid-30's, have a loving spouse and inlaws, & a new baby that fill that void for me. Well, I guess I should find a better word than perpetual, cuz the sadness dwindels ... at least for me it did - just occasional now - that feeling of missing your family kind of feeling. So that's what I think based on my opinion and experience. |
Kearie | Sunday, September 24, 2000 - 11:40 pm  I'm game if the house has 24/7 health care, we get paid $350 a week to be there and we get free therapy drugs---and like you said---no shower or bathroom cams. Jade--My husband makes over $30k a year. Too much to qualify for any state or federal medical help. I can be on medicare but that would cost an extra $50 a month...and still only pays 50% of medical bills. County medical health....egads. I wouldn't call that therapy when they say...."this is how is ill you are that gives you 3 individual therapy sessions and 2 group sessions. And you will have to see OUR Dr. when we can get you in." Sorry but serious mental illness isn't fixed in 5 sessions of therapy. Columbus---you're scaring me. How does one face that first mammogram? My mother had to have a double mastectomy in her late 30's due to cancer. My Dr. has been telling me to get one for the last 3 years. I'm in my mid 30's now, and so scared. (Perhpas stupidly playing with fire is a good way to put it). And then the cost of all that. I'm glad you are doing much better physically and emotionally. I'm still paying for an MRI the the emergancy room said I had to have. Medicare covered the emergency room, but not the MRI. No wonder we get so depressed. Katie--move to the east side of the state. We can be special buddies. :-0 lol Wish I could help ya out to, but am always willing to lend an ear or a shoulder. |
Kearie | Sunday, September 24, 2000 - 11:45 pm  Josh's mom died when he was 14 I believe. I'm certain it effected him deeply and still does slightly. But I find it difficult to believe that it is that that causes his melancholy. I tend to believe it is more that his high IQ seperates him so much from the norm, that he is as different from us as a person with a low IQ. It just isn't is visable. I don't know tho...you did offer great food for thot. Thanks |
Ccc | Sunday, September 24, 2000 - 11:48 pm  Jade , from what I've heard, Hawaii is the exception to the rule as far as health care is concerned. The rest of the country just doesn't have it nearly as good. State programs are pathetic. There isn't a private insurer that will take my husband (even Blue Cross) because he has a disorder that includes fatigue. That's a new addition to most company's application forms. We're stuck with an old policy that has gotten so expensive, we are now paying almost 200/mo for a 5k ded policy, no presc coverage. We waited too long before looking into social security for him - so that's out. When we got sick, we spent our savings for "experimental treatments and tests" - 25K in 2 yrs. We almost waited too long to apply for me, so although I was accepted, since I had been unemployed for 2 yrs, they rated my very low. We spend almost the entire ss payment for our medicines. If it weren't for our parents using their savings to help us - we would have no place to live. We are in our 40's, parents in their 70's. Not sure what's going to happen. But I don't think either the democrats or republicans are the answer. Neither do what they say they will. The medical horror stories mainland are rampant. Most of us lose everything. You don't qualify for assistance until you have absolutely nothing left. Wish you lived here - I could use a competant neurologist, and we could all use your advocacy. |
Really | Sunday, September 24, 2000 - 11:52 pm  OH yeah Kearie! I keep forgetting about his high IQ - that is alot of pressure I suppose, OMG - I can't stop smiling now, cuz I keep invisioning that convo. by the pool when he was crying and talking about that. |
Kearie | Sunday, September 24, 2000 - 11:54 pm  Kudos to your post Ccc. We definately need a good advocate. If I wasn't such a chicken poop and knew what to do...I would work towards advocacy. But how???? |
Katie | Sunday, September 24, 2000 - 11:54 pm  I tend to believe it is more that his high IQ seperates him so much from the norm, that he is as different from us Did I misunderstand you? Did you say we were normal? I thought you were special and I am as a person with a low IQ |
Kearie | Monday, September 25, 2000 - 12:04 am  lol Katie....I am special, but my IQ is supposedly within the normal range. (((Katie))) My cousin was so weird growing up. When he was 7 years old he wanted encyclopedia's for Christmas. He got great pleasure from reading them from cover to cover. He could also do any multiplication problem you put in front of him, in his head. He was building engines and and robotic stuff by the age of ten. (Miniture engines) At the age of 14 he got to go to a special summer camp for kids between the ages of 15 and 18---at NASA. Now at the ripe old age of 28, he is a father and a Dr. he has Doctorate degrees in both physics and chemistry. He is not normal!!! He was totally annoying as a cousin...hyperactive and a busybody that would go 100 mph and never stop. He had to take injections as a kid to slow him down, yet he wasn't ADHD. High IQ can totally effect a person in many ways...social development, emotional development. It isn't easy. |
Katie | Monday, September 25, 2000 - 12:16 am  ((Kearie)) Thanks for clearing that up. I didn't think you were admitting you were normal but I wanted to check. Josh to me seems lost. It is funny how different he is when he has been drinking. (Sorry I got distracted there.) lol He just seems so troubled to me. I would love to just sit and talk with him. I don't think I would be able to understand him though but I think he needs a friend. I just don't know who or what kind of person but I think he needs someone. |
Ccc | Monday, September 25, 2000 - 12:25 am  Kearie - thanks. How?? I have no clue. I live in perpetual brain fog. And not from any medicines. Hell, posting here is a challenge!! LOL |
Kearie | Monday, September 25, 2000 - 12:29 am  Ummm....he needs Brittany. I think all of us have our escape from the painful realities of life. For Josh it may be drinking. I think drinking allows him to drop his guard and show his extremely sensative side. He needs a friend that he can do this with, without being drunk. My guess is he needs a strong female. Someone with "good values" that stands by them. Someone who isn't afraid to make decisions or the first move. (I can visualize him with a weaker person---Where do you want to eat? I don't care. How bout you? I really don't care...do you feel like burgers or pizza? Hon, it really doesn't matter. Well it doesn't matter to me........1/2 hour later.....pizza is fine with me if it's fine with you. Are you sure? Well, is it what you want? ...and so on and so forth) I think he needs someone who can relate in a very personal way. He needs someone fun but intellectually stimulating. I think he also needs someone whom he can be physically close to. Katie...do you fit the bill? :-) |
Katie | Monday, September 25, 2000 - 12:33 am  No I am afraid I am too passive. We would starve to death! I like making friends. I think the more the better. I believer I can learn something from every one I come in contact with. |
Kearie | Monday, September 25, 2000 - 12:48 am  LOL---don't be starving to death. I like making friends also, but out in the real world, I'm way to passive and it takes me FOREVER to meet new people. Most people think I'm really 'stuck-up' when they first meet me. Couldn't be further from the truth. You sound so sweet. |
Jade888 | Monday, September 25, 2000 - 11:13 am  Ccc: Sorry to hear about your problems. Medical Insurance has become a rapidly growing problem across the country and yes I have had to fight for many patietns. DO you have any mental health associations in your area? Have you asked your Doc's to put you in an indigent program for meds? Why are your DOc's not helpng you? COmmunity mental health is is that bad? I have sent your quesion to a lobbyist in Washington State and have asked him to research these matters. Will get back to you. |
Kearie | Monday, September 25, 2000 - 12:56 pm  Thanks Jade Any cahnce you could email me fantasia4me@aol.com |
Watchers | Monday, September 25, 2000 - 01:01 pm  I thought Josh's mother died about 6 months ago? (This was at one time a thread on Josh, right?) |
Kearie | Monday, September 25, 2000 - 01:05 pm  This thread began about what criteria we use to vote out people or what criteria we use as to determine who we like. I thot he was 14 when she died...but I very well could be wrong. |
Kearie | Monday, September 25, 2000 - 01:07 pm  I'm brain dead.....yes it was about Josh...what was I thinking? |