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Off Topic Forums => Off Topic Forum => Topic started by: Miss Philicia on March 17, 2012, 06:42:20 am

Title: oh, that fabulous insomnia
Post by: Miss Philicia on March 17, 2012, 06:42:20 am
So it's now 5:55 AM and I'm still not asleep :( Such glory! I think I napped for a couple of hours around 10 PM. Must have been the large piece of layered chocolate cake I ate at midnight -- my it was good, picked it up at Metropolitan Bakery (http://www.metropolitanbakery.com/index.php) this afternoon as I was running around assembling documentation to my M.A.W.D (Medical Assistance for Workers with Disabilities, via the State Dept. of Public Health) which covers the 20% that Medicare doesn't pay. They force me to fill out renewal forms every fucking six months. It's labor intensive as it involves so many forms and, of course, I don't have a copier at home so I have to assemble everything and traipse up to a print shop downtown.

And to top it off, it's finally time to apply for a Pennsylvania driver's license. You're supposed to get one no later than after moving here for 2 months, and i've now lived here for 7 months and 4 months :( LOL... so I've had to be inventive and get my landlord to draft a lease saying I just moved here on 1 February. I have to endure the DMV on Monday with yet more forms, but I think there's no way for them to know I've lived here that long. My New York State drivers license expired six weeks ago. Though it's not like I drive since I don't even own a car, nor have I now for 24 years.

Sunrise is at 7:08 AM -- should I stay up another hour and watch the sun come up, and possibly brew a large pot of coffee. I suppose I can sleep during the afternoon.

PS: I'm watching non-stop Hitler/Nazi documentaries because that's all that is on TV at this hour.

PPS: I've now making 40 oz. of top shelf El Gavilan Ecuadorian organic coffee
Title: Re: oh, that fabulous insomnia
Post by: Growler on March 17, 2012, 07:07:20 am
40 oz of coffee?!!..what are you going to do with that much coffee, give yourself an enema? No wonder you're not sleeping...time to switch to decaf sweetie.

GROWLER
Title: Re: oh, that fabulous insomnia
Post by: Miss Philicia on March 17, 2012, 08:49:10 am
Well, that's four (quite large) servings/cups -- I normally consume three cups of coffee each day, or 30 ounces.

I've also now scrubbed all wooden furniture with lemon oil, cleaned the kitchen fully, and am now disinfecting the toilet.

For your pleasure, I present a photo of today's sunrise, which wasn't all that spectacular though you can see a sliver of the moon up in the sky -- this view is looking east towards New Jersey.

(http://i1007.photobucket.com/albums/af197/bedstuy65/P1030403.jpg)
Title: Re: oh, that fabulous insomnia
Post by: emeraldize on March 17, 2012, 09:28:25 am
For some reason, whether it's someone I knew who moved to PA or something else, I really don't think the DMV plays hardball with the licensure within two months of a move. Before you get a falsely dated lease, did you call the DMV to ask anonymously?
Title: Re: oh, that fabulous insomnia
Post by: Miss Philicia on March 17, 2012, 09:45:44 am
For some reason, whether it's someone I knew who moved to PA or something else, I really don't think the DMV plays hardball with the licensure within two months of a move. Before you get a falsely dated lease, did you call the DMV to ask anonymously?

I'm not sure what you mean -- are you implying they don't really bother looking at all of my documentation or do you mean they will play hardball. I mean how can they tell that I've lived here that long? My new lease is dated 2/1/12 (and it's not fake -- my landlord raised my rent a few months ago so I had him make a new lease and date for that date) and my utility bill is for this current month. Otherwise I think it's just showing them my passport and/or birth certificate (I have both) and then surrendering my old, expired NYC license (which is OK as long as it's not been expired six months)

Extra credit -- a pictar of my morning pills while I'm listening to "Winter Garden" by Eraldo Bernocchi, Harold Budd, and Robin Guthrie

(http://i1007.photobucket.com/albums/af197/bedstuy65/2012-03-17093909.jpg)
Title: Re: oh, that fabulous insomnia
Post by: Buckmark on March 17, 2012, 10:08:10 am
Your pills look like a bowl of Lucky Charms breakfast cereal.  Where's the milk?  I see a fish oil pill.  And I suspect the blue one is Truvada.  I'm not sure about the others.  Which one is the klonnie?

Sorry to hear you are having insomnia troubles -- there are few things as frustrating.
Title: Re: oh, that fabulous insomnia
Post by: Rev. Moon on March 17, 2012, 10:12:28 am
The three pills near the middle look like that might have a chocolatey taste (Oreo, perhaps?).

There must be something in the air; my insomnia did a number on me last night.  I finally fell asleep at 4:30 and was wide awake before 8:00.  I'm gonna be in a crabby mood all day.
Title: Re: oh, that fabulous insomnia
Post by: Miss Philicia on March 17, 2012, 10:22:47 am
Your pills look like a bowl of Lucky Charms breakfast cereal.  Where's the milk?  I see a fish oil pill.  And I suspect the blue one is Truvada.  I'm not sure about the others.  Which one is the klonnie?

Sorry to hear you are having insomnia troubles -- there are few things as frustrating.


THERE IS NO KLONNIE!!! -- I got that refill last Tuesday and did all 60 mg by Thursday, 20mg/day gives you a sublime high :) I am mostly functional now, except for no sleep last night. The pills are: Prezista w/Norvir booster, Isentress, Truvada, Diovan (for blood pressure), one fish oil tablet, 3 pancreatic enzyme (Creon) pills, 3 loperamide and 2 Jarro-Dophilus pro-biotics (since I was just on a 5-day course of anti-biotics after my septoplasy/turbonectomy surgery 2 weeks ago. Gotta clear up my small intestines!
Title: Re: oh, that fabulous insomnia
Post by: Andy Velez on March 17, 2012, 10:29:58 am
Nice cheery bowl, Ms. P.

Hope you're zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzing out by now.
Title: Re: oh, that fabulous insomnia
Post by: Jeff G on March 17, 2012, 10:40:43 am
Insomnia sucks . I have about 3 days a week when I cant sleep or wake up in the middle of the night . I used to get stressed out over it but since I'm not working now I just sleep when I can . It still interferes if I make plans to do something and find myself to tired to enjoy it .
Title: Re: oh, that fabulous insomnia
Post by: Miss Philicia on March 17, 2012, 10:49:01 am
This should really be in the Nutrition: Wumpette Style but here goes:

(http://i1007.photobucket.com/albums/af197/bedstuy65/2012-03-17104345.jpg)

2 fried eggs, sunny side up (Lancaster County farm fresh, naturally), seared country ham with sauteed mushrooms with truffle oil, whole grain toast with fig jam, and a bowl of sigi's Icelandic Skyr, pomegranate & passion fruit flavor.

I don't know if I can actually eat all of this -- you know how I eat like a bird so that I fit in my 29" Diors.
Title: Re: oh, that fabulous insomnia
Post by: Miss Philicia on March 17, 2012, 10:51:46 am
Insomnia sucks . I have about 3 days a week when I cant sleep or wake up in the middle of the night . I used to get stressed out over it but since I'm not working now I just sleep when I can . It still interferes if I make plans to do something and find myself to tired to enjoy it .

I think I'm going to insist to my doctor that he give me a prescription for Ambien XR next visit with him -- the insomnia is definitely getting worse.

I BLAME THE MEDS but seriously it is a known side effect of Isentress.

Currently listening to Winter Garden (http://www.amazon.com/Winter-Garden-Bernocchi/dp/B0062NAR5W/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1331995964&sr=1-1) by Eraldo Bernocchi, Harold Budd, and Robin Guthrie
Title: Re: oh, that fabulous insomnia
Post by: denb45 on March 17, 2012, 10:56:14 am
Trazodone (traz' oh done) works wonders ,  Trazodone is in a class of medications called serotonin modulators. It works by increasing the amount of serotonin, a natural substance in the brain that helps maintain mental balance...

My ID Doctor says it's NOT habit forming and is way better than any benzo as it's not a narcotic

It gives me a raging hard-on all night long, but puts me to sleep very fast  ;)
Title: Re: oh, that fabulous insomnia
Post by: Jeff G on March 17, 2012, 10:57:05 am
I think I'm going to insist to my doctor that he give me a prescription for Ambien XR next visit with him -- the insomnia is definitely getting worse.

I BLAME THE MEDS but seriously it is a known side effect of Isentress.

Currently listening to Winter Garden (http://www.amazon.com/Winter-Garden-Bernocchi/dp/B0062NAR5W/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1331995964&sr=1-1) by Eraldo Bernocchi, Harold Budd, and Robin Guthrie

I blame Atripla ... My docs refuse to change my HIV meds so yeah , next doc visit I will insist on something to help me sleep also . 
Title: Re: oh, that fabulous insomnia
Post by: Jeff G on March 17, 2012, 11:00:38 am
Trazodone

I used to take Trazodone but it got to where I couldnt sleep or would still wake up and if that happened I would be extremly disorientated and agitated ,  far worse than insomnia .
Title: Re: oh, that fabulous insomnia
Post by: Gary S on March 17, 2012, 11:06:47 am
I never had insomnia issues until I started on Isentress. Just one of the lucky 3-4% I guess
Title: Re: oh, that fabulous insomnia
Post by: emeraldize on March 17, 2012, 11:14:56 am
I'm not sure what you mean -- are you implying they don't really bother looking at all of my documentation or do you mean they will play hardball. I mean how can they tell that I've lived here that long? My new lease is dated 2/1/12 (and it's not fake -- my landlord raised my rent a few months ago so I had him make a new lease and date for that date) and my utility bill is for this current month. Otherwise I think it's just showing them my passport and/or birth certificate (I have both) and then surrendering my old, expired NYC license (which is OK as long as it's not been expired six months)

Hi -- This is what I meant --"are you implying they don't really bother looking at all of my documentation" that's why I said I recall they don't play hardball AND the documentation they require is sufficient. You noted in your first post that you "got inventive" which I why I commented on not needing to falsify a new start date on the lease. The DMV deals with so much crap they're not going to be trying to verify how long you've lived in PA. Plus, the fact that you don't drive means you can tell them you don't even have a car (I'm assuming that's so.)  I found this post funny because I always thought you lived in PA!! Em
Title: Re: oh, that fabulous insomnia
Post by: denb45 on March 17, 2012, 11:15:41 am
I never had insomnia issues until I started on Isentress. Just one of the lucky 3-4% I guess

I never had  insomnia issues the Trazodone was subscribed as a replacement for the benzo's
 I was on for 8 yrs. for my Post Traumatic Stress Disorder - PTSD
Title: Re: oh, that fabulous insomnia
Post by: Miss Philicia on March 17, 2012, 11:26:36 am
Trazodone (traz' oh done) works wonders ,  Trazodone is in a class of medications called serotonin modulators. It works by increasing the amount of serotonin, a natural substance in the brain that helps maintain mental balance...

My ID Doctor says it's NOT habit forming and is way better than any benzo as it's not a narcotic

It gives me a raging hard-on all night long, but puts me to sleep very fast  ;)

Do you have any high blood pressure? That med isn't recommended if you do.

edit and linky (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0000530/): Trazodone may cause painful, long lasting erections in males. In some cases emergency and/or surgical treatment has been required and, in some of these cases, permanent damage has occurred. Talk to your doctor about the risk of taking trazodone.
Title: Re: oh, that fabulous insomnia
Post by: Miss Philicia on March 17, 2012, 11:29:05 am
Hi -- This is what I meant --"are you implying they don't really bother looking at all of my documentation" that's why I said I recall they don't play hardball AND the documentation they require is sufficient. You noted in your first post that you "got inventive" which I why I commented on not needing to falsify a new start date on the lease. The DMV deals with so much crap they're not going to be trying to verify how long you've lived in PA. Plus, the fact that you don't drive means you can tell them you don't even have a car (I'm assuming that's so.)  I found this post funny because I always thought you lived in PA!! Em

Cool, hopefully it won't be such a hassle -- and you can imagine PennDot in downtown Philly. Maybe going on Monday afternoon won't be too crowded.
Title: Re: oh, that fabulous insomnia
Post by: Growler on March 17, 2012, 11:38:06 am
Damn I think your insomnia is contagious....it's 2:30am and I'm still trying to get to sleep. Of course it wouldn't have anything to do with the fact that yesterday was St Patricks day and now every guy with a skin full of Guiness is using the bush next to me as his personal piss trough!
Sigh, time to move.

GROWLER
PS can I have one of the orange pills,  they look pretty
Title: Re: oh, that fabulous insomnia
Post by: Jeff G on March 17, 2012, 11:38:22 am
Miss P .... When I moved to California I only had a very limited time to get me license . The thing was to only tell them that I moved there within that window period , it worked fine and they didn't check . Hopefully like Em . said you will be fine . 
Title: Re: oh, that fabulous insomnia
Post by: denb45 on March 17, 2012, 11:44:18 am
Do you have any high blood pressure? That med isn't recommended if you do.

edit and linky (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0000530/): Trazodone may cause painful, long lasting erections in males. In some cases emergency and/or surgical treatment has been required and, in some of these cases, permanent damage has occurred. Talk to your doctor about the risk of taking trazodone.

No, I don't have high blood pressure or heart disease, I eat right & work out and I'm height & weight proportioned , It was high about 13 to 15 yrs ago, but now we have better AVRs the early PI's were the culprit back then  ;)
Title: Re: oh, that fabulous insomnia
Post by: OneTampa on March 17, 2012, 11:52:15 am
I guess this is not the time so say I slept quite well last night.

Ooooh!  I just felt a chill from what I believe is a frigid fierce top side eye stare from Ms. P!

Seriously, Ms. P. I hope you get your 40,000 restful winks next round by midnight and past.
Title: Re: oh, that fabulous insomnia
Post by: WillyWump on March 17, 2012, 12:57:22 pm
I too had a bit of insomnia last night. I woke up around 2am and couldnt get back to sleep so I turned on TV and watched a show about Aliens contacting us.

I cannot sleep without pills. I use Trazadone which is great to put me to sleep but often it wears off a few hours later and I wake up too early.



I've also now scrubbed all wooden furniture with lemon oil, cleaned the kitchen fully, and am now disinfecting the toilet.

I dated a guy who had horrible bouts of insomnia and would get up and start cleaning int he middle of the night. Even going as far as swiffering the bedroom with a flashlight and tucking the sheets in on the bed that I was sleeping in. Many a night I would wake up smelling Pine Sol and knew he was cleaning again.

This should really be in the Nutrition: Wumpette Style but here goes:

(http://i1007.photobucket.com/albums/af197/bedstuy65/2012-03-17104345.jpg)



This looks scrumptious. You only need some fresh fruit and it would be perfect.
Title: Re: oh, that fabulous insomnia
Post by: Miss Philicia on March 17, 2012, 01:42:13 pm
Miss P .... When I moved to California I only had a very limited time to get me license . The thing was to only tell them that I moved there within that window period , it worked fine and they didn't check . Hopefully like Em . said you will be fine . 

I told you folks -- my landlord made me a lease that clearly states I moved into this apartment on Feb. 1, so I'm in the clear with their 2 month rule. What is so stupid about this rule is that they also want a utility bill proving the address, but I had to wait another month for that or it would look like I'd been billed for electricity in January, before the new lease took effect.

It's all really a dumb rule. I swear I don't recall it being so hard when I moved to NYC but then again that was over 20 years ago.

I'm not worried at all -- I think I have everything covered.

Oh, and get this -- in Pennsylvania you have to renew your license every four years and the fee is $29.50. So absurd -- in NYC you renewed once a decade for about the same price.

And what's also caused my stress to go way, way up is that I'm also at my 6-month renewal for my Medical Assistance crap, which I mentioned earlier. They mail the forms out post dated on March 2, but I didn't get until the 8th because I was stuck up in my apartment due to that surgery. The forms have to be in their possession on the 19th -- not postmarked, but in their greedy hands. And it's like a 6 page form to fill out, plus like seven pieces of documentation which I had to gather together and take somewhere and have them scanned.

They really need to make this process easier -- can you imagine if I had to do it directly after foot surgery or something?
Title: Re: oh, that fabulous insomnia
Post by: denb45 on March 17, 2012, 02:11:49 pm
So  why do you need a drivers license? you don't drive or operate any motor vehicle, you don't even own one, and you stated in previous threads that you have ample public transportation (witch seems to be very good where you live)...I'm I missing something here, why can't you just get a Penn State DMV ID Card?

 When I 1st moved to New Mexico, they just looked @ my California drivers license ( too see if it was still valid)
and issued me a NM drivers license right there on-the-spot, after they took my ugly mug pictar ,

 it cost 12 bucks for 4 yrs. and it's up fro renewal this DEC 2012, hope I pass the eye-test for it this NOV  ::)
Title: Re: oh, that fabulous insomnia
Post by: Miss Philicia on March 17, 2012, 02:42:52 pm
I think maybe I need one of these (http://www.thecompanystore.com/Body-Pillow/PK78x,default,pd.html?start=4&cgid=pillows-inserts) -- and also this (http://www.amazon.com/Revolutionary-Patented-SLEEP-MASTER-Sleep/dp/B0015NZ6FK/ref=pd_sim_hpc_1).
Title: Re: oh, that fabulous insomnia
Post by: thunter34 on March 17, 2012, 08:53:20 pm
They force me to fill out renewal forms every fucking six months. It's labor intensive as it involves so many forms and, of course, I don't have a copier at home so I have to assemble everything and traipse up to a print shop downtown.

Welcome to my world.  I've been having to renew every 6 months just to get my regular ADAP pills.
Title: Re: oh, that fabulous insomnia
Post by: Miss Philicia on March 17, 2012, 09:36:29 pm
Welcome to my world.  I've been having to renew every 6 months just to get my regular ADAP pills.

And they wonder why do many people fall out of treatment -- can you imagine being a homeless person and having to do this bullshit? Of course they stop taking meds and going to their doctors.
Title: Re: oh, that fabulous insomnia
Post by: drewm on March 17, 2012, 11:15:57 pm
Renewing every 6 months is a pain in the ass. The girl who does the certification always asks if anything has changed? I'm like, "really"? "I'm not dead." I'm not sure why the need for the six month re-certification.
Title: Re: oh, that fabulous insomnia
Post by: drewm on March 17, 2012, 11:18:33 pm
It gives me a raging hard-on all night long, but puts me to sleep very fast  ;)

Nice upside indeed!  :P
Title: Re: oh, that fabulous insomnia
Post by: thunter34 on March 18, 2012, 08:57:59 am
And they wonder why do many people fall out of treatment -- can you imagine being a homeless person and having to do this bullshit? Of course they stop taking meds and going to their doctors.

Absolutely.  I don't really think there is any "wonder" about it.  That is the unspoken endgame of it all.  It's designed to try to weed people out - especially those considered rather "useless" by society at large.  You have people who have literacy problems with the paperwork, AND you have to get to a notary somewhere to get it stamped in a few places.  Last time I did it, that was about $3 a pop times two.  $6 can mean a lot to someone with nothing or next to it...not to mention the travel hurdles to get to the nearest labor department and the notary.  Without a car, that will require bus fare as well....and a whole day of travel, easily.  Heck - just whizzing around in my car, it takes a good afternoon to get it all in...and that's me racing around in lickety split mode.

It's really horrid.  They keep requiring more and more every six months, and if you travel around all day and forget any one piece of the process, the pill supply stops totally and immediately.  Heck....just miss getting in during your designated renewal month will now get you booted and wait listed in Georgia.

Sorry to sidetrack the thread a bit with this rant, but this is one of my button spots.  It's so obvious that the intention is to have people fall out of the system, die and then no longer be a financial burden.
Title: Re: oh, that fabulous insomnia
Post by: Dachshund on March 18, 2012, 09:33:28 am
I think I'm going to insist to my doctor that he give me a prescription for Ambien XR next visit with him -- the insomnia is definitely getting worse.

I BLAME THE MEDS but seriously it is a known side effect of Isentress.

Currently listening to Winter Garden (http://www.amazon.com/Winter-Garden-Bernocchi/dp/B0062NAR5W/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1331995964&sr=1-1) by Eraldo Bernocchi, Harold Budd, and Robin Guthrie

Be careful with Ambien. I had to stop taking it because I was sleep walking and driving! One morning I woke up and when I opened the fridge I had three Budlight tall boys, opened, but full in there. I've never bought a tall boy in my life. I thought maybe someone had come over the night before and left them. When I went out to the car to go to work I found one of my house shoes wedged under the gas pedal. It reminded me of my days of getting cracked out and trying to piece together what I had done the night before. I had no clue of what I did, but I knew it involved driving. When I went to work one of the kids that lives in my hood asked me if I remembered seeing him the night before at the KwikCheck? I said no, but thought oh shit what the fuck did I do? I did ask him, please tell me I had clothes on, and he did say that I did. So obviously I'd got up, drove to the KwikCheck, bought three tall boys and made it home without killing someone or going to jail. I ain't popped an Ambien since.
Title: Re: oh, that fabulous insomnia
Post by: thunter34 on March 18, 2012, 09:49:15 am
Be careful with Ambien. I had to stop taking it because I was sleep walking and driving! One morning I woke up and when I opened the fridge I had three Budlight tall boys, opened, but full in there. I've never bought a tall boy in my life. I thought maybe someone had come over the night before and left them. When I went out to the car to go to work I found one of my house shoes wedged under the gas pedal. It reminded me of my days of getting cracked out and trying to piece together what I had done the night before. I had no clue of what I did, but I knew it involved driving. When I went to work one of the kids that lives in my hood asked me if I remembered seeing him the night before at the KwikCheck? I said no, but thought oh shit what the fuck did I do? I did ask him, please tell me I had clothes on, and he did say that I did. So obviously I'd got up, drove to the KwikCheck, bought three tall boys and made it home without killing someone or going to jail. I ain't popped an Ambien since.


I prefer Sonata.  Same chemical family as Ambien, but not as potentially sketchy.  I have lots of trouble with insomnia.  It occurs frequently and has for years.

Title: Re: oh, that fabulous insomnia
Post by: Miss Philicia on March 18, 2012, 11:23:05 am
Well, first of all I slept really well last night. I think I slept a couple hours on the sofa, then moved into my proper bed for the rest of the night and didn't get up until 9 AM, so I must have had 10 hours of sleep. But generally lately I've been only getting 5 hours of sleep on average, which isn't ideal. Of course, since my sleep apnea issue isn't resolved yet it's hard for me to gauge what's going on in terms of quality. I've really been hesitant to dive into the sleep pill scene -- I'm not working so if I have to cat nap during the days I just do so for a couple of hours, but then that naturally effects day time things that I have to get done (like filling out endless forms so that I can have HIV pills and a driver's license!)

But should this keep up I will have a proper discussion with my HIV doctor, though I don't see him again until mid-May. But if things get dicey he's good with email and would sort something out for me before that time. He gives me VIP treatment.
Title: Re: oh, that fabulous insomnia
Post by: BT65 on March 18, 2012, 04:56:23 pm
I've had insomnia for the last two years.  Every night I'm up at least 4 times, for about 1/2 hour - 45 minutes at a time.  I can't take Trazadone-developed tolerance to that.  My doctor prescribed Rozerem but I won't take that due to the reason Dachs talked about. 

I hate all those fricking forms.  Here in Hoosierville, we have a high risk insurance we get clients on that can't get Medicaid, nor have insurance through work.  The trick is to get our African clients on, (also to accomplish re-certs once a year).  A person has to prove residency, and income.  And there are only few forms that are acceptable.  Last Friday I had to have a girl come in and fill out tax forms that won't get sent in, where she could claim her mother as a dependent (to prove residency and income).  Her mother is African and has no ID (and no SS number), and no way can prove income.  Now that's tricky.
Title: Re: oh, that fabulous insomnia
Post by: Miss Philicia on March 18, 2012, 07:26:12 pm
To get what I have, which is called Medical Assistance for Worker's with Disabilities (MAWD -- do they have this in other states?) I have to have my parent's say that they "hire" me for menial work at a certain payment. Basically my case worker had them make up a form on letterhead saying that they pay me $25 each month to work on their computer problems. So every six months I attach that as proof that I work, then I also have to prove residency with a utility bill, copy my SSD benefit letter, and copy my Medicare card, driver's license and/or passport, bank statement, medical expense bills, and child support if I had any. Then there's also a five page form where they ask you routine questions.

But the worst is that not only is this done every six months, but you get the forms at the beginning of the second week of the month and then have to have them turned in 10 days later. And I don't mean postmarked 10 days later -- they must be AT THEIR OFFICES by then. So basically if you plan on mailing it you have to fill this out immediately. If I had a copier at home I could do it, but I don't. I have to make .pdf files of all the documentation, then burn it on a CD disk, and then take it to a print shop and have copies made. And now tomorrow morning I have to walk the damn form to their office.

I'm not complaining too much this time because I need to go get my Pennsylvania driver's license tomorrow too and that's two blocks from the other office where I take my forms, but seriously it would make so much more sense to just do this recertification once a year, not every six months. I can't imagine it's cost effective to do it this often.

I remember back in the day when I first went on ADAP in New York they NEVER sent you forms to recertify. I know that they do so now, but in the 90's they never did.

I guess they'll insist on drug testing me next. That's the new trend you know, thanks to Repiglicans.
Title: Re: oh, that fabulous insomnia
Post by: denb45 on March 18, 2012, 07:43:00 pm
To get what I have, which is called Medical Assistance for Worker's with Disabilities (MAWD -- do they have this in other states?

Daymm miss P, I have to do the 6 month thingy with my State Risk-Pool-Ins, to get my AVRs that are formulary but that's about it for me.....

my case worker & I have this joke we do with each other when he always ask me...
"Is there anything else I can do for you"  he laughs and tells me, well you know I have to ask you this dumb question, so just play along Dennis  ;)

 Damm I wish all my client's were as easy as you, you never need a dam thing, then he laughs, and I'm out-the-door till next time, my ASO does all the paper work, all i do is just add my 2 cents and a few comments in a few blocks, easy peasy stuff  :D
Title: Re: oh, that fabulous insomnia
Post by: emeraldize on March 18, 2012, 10:07:50 pm
Miss P,

I remembered my sister who because of her work schedule had to wind down every night and get sleep was told to use Benadryl by her doc.

I called her tonight to confirm this and she said ONE tablet only -- two could make her hyper. Take it 1/2 hour before you intend/want to be asleep and then set that in motion---get ready for bed, pull away from the computer, bookreading, TV, etc.

She's been doing this successfully for years to get to sleep.

Em
Title: Re: oh, that fabulous insomnia
Post by: BT65 on March 19, 2012, 04:48:14 am
To get what I have, which is called Medical Assistance for Worker's with Disabilities (MAWD -- do they have this in other states?)

Yes.  I get Med Works here in Indiana, which is Medicaid for working disabled.  However, I do have to pay a premium every month, which is based on a person's pay.  But it's always active so I don't have to worry about meeting a spend-down.

The difference is, I only have to re-certify once a year instead of every six months.
Title: Re: oh, that fabulous insomnia
Post by: Miss Philicia on March 19, 2012, 11:39:45 am
Yes.  I get Med Works here in Indiana, which is Medicaid for working disabled.  However, I do have to pay a premium every month, which is based on a person's pay.  But it's always active so I don't have to worry about meeting a spend-down.

The difference is, I only have to re-certify once a year instead of every six months.

Oh yes, I have to pay a premium of $93/month. And I wish I'd known about it years ago. My case manager never informed me of this option until I began having my acute foot issues a year ago. Not having that coverage, or rather not knowing of the option, prevented me from seeing specialists for years. And yes, I met with my case manager to know my options way before all of that and this never came up. Not to mention my case manager is the "head supervisory" person of the 5-person case management staff of my HIV clinic, and said clinic is the largest one in Philadelphia.

Otherwise she's great...

MAWD has been covering everything for the most part, though I did recently receive a couple of lab invoices which is strange because I haven't ever for anything else. I think they neglected to recognize my secondary insurance coverage so I sent the forms back in. Hopefully I won't get hit up again.
Title: Re: oh, that fabulous insomnia
Post by: emeraldize on March 19, 2012, 08:47:27 pm
Do we get to know how things went today?
Title: Re: oh, that fabulous insomnia
Post by: Miss Philicia on March 19, 2012, 08:56:01 pm
Hmmm... yesterday I had a nap of a couple hours in the evening, then didn't sleep until 3 AM and woke up around 8 AM.

Otherwise I got my MAWD recertification turned in, and the lady looked at me quizzically and said I could have just mailed it. Of course, that's not what the instructions say but good to know in the future. I got the feeling that they don't immediately yank you out of the program unless you're exceptionally negligent, both with the monthly payment and these forms.

Then I went to do my driver's license and the toothless woman at the front desk scoffed at me and said "We don't do out-of-state license transfers on Mondays, come back tomorrow!" Well gee, thanks!

I can't wait for this week to be over -- license tomorrow, dentist the next day, anal doctor the following day, then my therapist on Friday. Next week I only have one medical appointment -- hooray!
Title: Re: oh, that fabulous insomnia
Post by: Buckmark on March 19, 2012, 10:36:58 pm
...
Then I went to do my driver's license and the toothless woman at the front desk scoffed at me and said "We don't do out-of-state license transfers on Mondays, come back tomorrow!" Well gee, thanks!
...

WTF?  What does the day of the week have to do with it?  I think she was just trying to get rid of you.  You'd be hard-pressed to convince me that there is any logical reason for this kind of scheduling.
Title: Re: oh, that fabulous insomnia
Post by: emeraldize on March 19, 2012, 11:51:46 pm
WTF?  What does the day of the week have to do with it?  I think she was just trying to get rid of you.  You'd be hard-pressed to convince me that there is any logical reason for this kind of scheduling.

Agreed. Was it posted anywhere?  I went online earlier this evening to see if the Philly area listed their hours and any special notations. Could find jack.
Title: Re: oh, that fabulous insomnia
Post by: Miss Philicia on March 20, 2012, 12:43:56 pm
When I looked closer on line it does say it's closed on Monday, at least for that particular service. The actual office space was open and people were doing something but what I don't know.

So anyway, I'm now off to try it again. I'm going to go to the PennDOT office over on the Delaware River instead of the one downtown, so I get to take the fabulous #23 crosstown bus instead of the subway. But on the upside I'll also be right across the street from Walmart, Target, Home Depot and Ikea! And there's a Burger King across from the PennDOT office as well. There's a Chick-Fil-A too but that's strictly verboten for cocksuckers, at least those of us with a strict moral compass (that precludes Wumpy).

ps: I slept really well last night, at least 9 hours. I didn't even wake up to pee.
Title: Re: oh, that fabulous insomnia
Post by: Jeff G on March 20, 2012, 01:09:41 pm
ps: I slept really well last night, at least 9 hours. I didn't even wake up to pee.

Thank god for those depends !
Title: Re: oh, that fabulous insomnia
Post by: denb45 on March 20, 2012, 03:09:30 pm
Thank god for those depends !

"giggles"
Title: Re: oh, that fabulous insomnia
Post by: Miss Philicia on March 20, 2012, 05:38:21 pm
I don't usually wake up to urinate like the rest of you dementia-rattled elderly AIDS patients.

I have a friend who gets up 3-4 times every night, and has to do all of that with taking off and putting back on a CPAP mask.
Title: Re: oh, that fabulous insomnia
Post by: Miss Philicia on March 20, 2012, 05:54:49 pm
Also, PennDOT update -- the experience could not have been more horrendous, and I provided live updates via facebook along with pictars.

First, it seems the cross town bus wasn't running on its normal route so I had to bag that option after waiting a half hour. Plus I'd put on these lovely high top sneakers and it was the first time wearing them with my new orthotics and it caused nasty skin to come off the back of my ankles within 10 minutes, so once I realized I was doomed on multiple levels I decided to go back home, change shoes, put on some Band-aids, and take the subway to the main downtown PennDOT location. Of course that meant I'd be dealing with the worst location of them all.

(http://i1007.photobucket.com/albums/af197/bedstuy65/412080_10150892099978266_699058265_13101511_1385801962_o.jpg)

So I get there and it was, of course, packed full of the gutter dregs of humanity -- I mean just the most motley sorts, ever so offensive to my elitist sensibilities and elevated taste levels. I obtained my call number #C651 and found a chair next to the only cute homosexual (or possibly just metrosexual) boy there, though I fail to understand why someone would insist on wearing a knit beenie when the weather was above 75℉... and you know it was perched on his head just so. He was also working some odd frosted tips hair color effect -- nothing I'd ever select but he seemed to work it OK surprisingly. You can tell by the way he's standing that he's a Kinsey +14 amirite?

(http://i1007.photobucket.com/albums/af197/bedstuy65/2012-03-20154745.jpg)

Once he left his chair it was taken by a woman too young to have children, and of course the two kids were constantly screaming. LOUD. Just horrible. I would have moved but it was so overcrowded people were standing for lack of available chairs.

(http://i1007.photobucket.com/albums/af197/bedstuy65/528601_10150892301118266_699058265_13101983_1073175606_n.jpg)

And see the guy over by the white column -- think "Persian Mafia" type from Clueless.

My call ticket said "Estimated wait time: 1:36 minutes" -- which meant 1 hour and 36 minutes, not 1 minute and 36 seconds. Actual time ended up being THREE FUCKING HOURS. Seriously, even the DMV offices in Manhattan and Brooklyn were better than this. Incredible.

And worse, this state makes you renew your license every four years. I've never lived anywhere that did it that often. That's $29.50 each time -- highway robbery made worse because I don't own a car and drive a total of about six hours each year.

I could really use some klonopin right now :-\ like a lot.
Title: Re: oh, that fabulous insomnia
Post by: WillyWump on March 20, 2012, 06:26:06 pm
(http://i1007.photobucket.com/albums/af197/bedstuy65/412080_10150892099978266_699058265_13101511_1385801962_o.jpg)


You just HAD to work in a pic of your spotless shoes a mere 24 hours after I posted a pic of my dirty ones  ::)

and the pic of the boy screaming is LOL ;D

Title: Re: oh, that fabulous insomnia
Post by: Miss Philicia on March 20, 2012, 06:35:05 pm
You just HAD to work in a pic of your spotless shoes a mere 24 hours after I posted a pic of my dirty ones  ::)

Guess what -- not everything is about you.
Title: Re: oh, that fabulous insomnia
Post by: Miss Philicia on March 21, 2012, 03:38:18 am
3:34 AM...  not sleepy ::)
Title: Re: oh, that fabulous insomnia
Post by: Rev. Moon on March 21, 2012, 04:02:23 am
4:01 a.m. Wide awake  >:(
Title: Re: oh, that fabulous insomnia
Post by: Dachshund on March 21, 2012, 07:19:28 am
Even backasswards TN makes you renew every five years. You can renew by mail or online for $19.50. I just renewed this year from the comfort of my home. Of course God did get even when I dropped Comcast and had to return the cable boxes. Two fuckin' hours waiting in line. You liberal subway riding elite.
Title: Re: oh, that fabulous insomnia
Post by: J.R.E. on March 21, 2012, 07:38:11 am
 Florida drivers licenses are for 6 years.  Somehow though, I managed to get mine longer.

It was issued 08/27/10 and is good through December of 2019. I think I may have paid an additional fee for the extra time, because Ed's license, is only good for 6 years.

I've never had too much of a problem down here with the DMV, as far as wait times.  The seniors would go postal.  ::) The last time I renewed, I did it online.


Ray



Title: Re: oh, that fabulous insomnia
Post by: Buckmark on March 21, 2012, 11:20:00 am
...
Once he left his chair it was taken by a woman too young to have children, and of course the two kids were constantly screaming. LOUD. Just horrible. I would have moved but it was so overcrowded people were standing for lack of available chairs.
...

I'm surprised the woman didn't accuse you of being a pedophile for taking photos of her kids, knowing how parents react these days.  Then again, she'd actually have to be paying attention to both you and her children to actually notice what you were doing. 
Title: Re: oh, that fabulous insomnia
Post by: Miss Philicia on March 21, 2012, 11:24:06 am
Oh, and btw -- my new eyeglasses/prescription from last September is already out of whack according to the vision test I had yesterday at PennDOT, at least in my right eye. They didn't fail me though, but I guess it means I'll have to cough up more money to re-do the lenses this fall.
Title: Re: oh, that fabulous insomnia
Post by: klassykitty on March 21, 2012, 02:29:32 pm
Miss P,

Once you get that PA. drivers license,  I'm told the renewal can be done over the computer.  Transferring the license plate from one state to PA. is a nightmare, especially if you have a loan on the car.  Although I am glad I live in a small town, and my wait time for the drivers license wasn't much more then half an hour.

Michelle 8)
Title: Re: oh, that fabulous insomnia
Post by: Dachshund on March 21, 2012, 06:06:13 pm
Oh, and btw -- my new eyeglasses/prescription from last September is already out of whack according to the vision test I had yesterday at PennDOT, at least in my right eye. They didn't fail me though, but I guess it means I'll have to cough up more money to re-do the lenses this fall.
You're blind and have a club foot. Maybe it's better if you don't get behind the wheel.
Title: Re: oh, that fabulous insomnia
Post by: WillyWump on March 21, 2012, 06:20:23 pm
You're blind and have a club foot. Maybe it's better if you don't get behind the wheel.

:clicks "like" repeatedly:
Title: Re: oh, that fabulous insomnia
Post by: Miss Philicia on March 21, 2012, 06:32:28 pm
Rest easy. I am only behind the wheel of a car for less than ten hours each year. I only drive when I go home to visit my parents.
Title: Re: oh, that fabulous insomnia
Post by: BT65 on March 22, 2012, 04:33:38 am
In Indiana, you have to take in multiple documents every time you renew your license.  A birth certificate, SS card, and at least one piece of mail to confirm your address.

I'm dreading renewing my license last year, since the last name on my birth certificate is maiden.  I'm probably going to have to go to the City/County building downtown South Bend to get a copy of either the marriage license or divorce doc.  At least the wait time here is pretty good.  Last time I had to get a title, registration, the wait was like 10 minutes.  It used to be a few hours, but they've changed the system here. 

What's really a nightmare is going to the local Social Security office.  You're waiting at least an hour, then it depends on who you see for what you're told.  No one is ever on the same page.
Title: Re: oh, that fabulous insomnia
Post by: littleprince on March 22, 2012, 06:29:26 am
My last attempt at renewing my licence went something like this:

Me: I'd like to renew my licence

transport office (TO): It's not due to expire for a few months, you can't renew it until you receive the letter telling you to renew it.

Me: But I'll be out of state then so I need to renew it now.

TO: You have to provide proof that you will be out of state and then we can renew it early.

Me: I can't prove it, I'm going on holidays. If I don't renew early it will expire when I'm on a trip and I won't be able to drive.

TO: we can't renew it now.

Me: What if I lost it, can I get a new one?

TO: Yes, if it's lost you can get a new one.

Me: So you're telling me that if I'm irresponsible and lose it I can get a new one but if I'm being responsible and try to renew early that can't be done.

... I had to leave at that point because I couldn't deal with the woman any more. I happened to 'lose' my licence that afternoon.
Title: Re: oh, that fabulous insomnia
Post by: Miss Philicia on March 22, 2012, 11:29:26 am

What's really a nightmare is going to the local Social Security office.  You're waiting at least an hour, then it depends on who you see for what you're told.  No one is ever on the same page.

I've only been to an actual SS office once -- the time I initially applied. And yes, it was bad plus it was the downtown Brooklyn office so imagine the crowds. I don't know if they do this elsewhere, but my application was coded to be expedited due to HIV so I actually didn't wait as long as I would have otherwise, plus when I applied I looked like a walking corpse so they basically just wanted me out of there.
Title: Re: oh, that fabulous insomnia
Post by: Jeff G on March 22, 2012, 11:39:03 am
I've only been to an actual SS office once -- the time I initially applied. And yes, it was bad plus it was the downtown Brooklyn office so imagine the crowds. I don't know if they do this elsewhere, but my application was coded to be expedited due to HIV so I actually didn't wait as long as I would have otherwise, plus when I applied I looked like a walking corpse so they basically just wanted me out of there.

Ive never been to the SS office . I offered to come in when I applied but they were quick to tell me it wasn't necessary LOL . Here in Alabama a little hacking and coughing on the phone with an aids diagnosis goes a long way to cut the red tape . 
Title: Re: oh, that fabulous insomnia
Post by: denb45 on March 22, 2012, 12:36:13 pm
I've never been in a SSA office, and didn't have to go in and apply, the county health care services case worker did all of that for me, it took about 3 months before I got my award letter from SSDI but, I had to have that (SSA ICD-9 AIDS diagnosis code) before mine went thur a month prior....