1. < Depression & Anxiety

Hurricane overwhelm

Posted by BeBold @bebold, Nov 2 7:36pm

Hi. I'm in WNC. I have electric and flushing water but no potable water unless I carry it in. I'm 70, live with CRPS my whole life but also awaiting surgery a hip replacement for a torn labrum it took months to diagnosis. I'm so overwhelmed. Its been a month and laundry is becoming a real thing. Its getting cold for public showers and its only this week they have been accessable.

I'm a "lucky" one as I didn't lise my home or a loved one. But with PTSD already, I think I'm starting to get depressed, definitely overwhelmed and not sure if I need medication or what I should do. The admin assistant at my PCP lost her home. My therapist was "missing" (at least to me) for 2 weeks. I didn't even know where she lived or how hurt etc she was.

I think I'm writing today because I'm finally understanding that it's okay for me to affected. To feel overwhelmed. Like after a month I just want to cry.

I have no family close so feeling very all alone. And in so much pain. And so afraid of all the infections now occuring. I want to come to Mayo or go someplace else to have my hip replaced and I'm not even sure how to do that. The doctor here says if I have surgery elsewhere they aren't willing to do post-op care here and I vant kerp flying nack and forth to Jax, pay for hotels, etc.

Sorry, just overwhelmed today. I feel so much like I need to just shut up and be grateful. But I'm scared, like its just catching up to me. And afraid of depression. I'm also bipolar and need to be aware of symptoms.

Ok sorry to blah. Thanks for listening.

Oddly, tho volunteers have checked on me when my family panicked for days and reported me missing, I'm STILL listed on FB as missing and can't get it changed. Oh, yikes, does assumed dead affect SSA benefits? Surely not.

Yeah, I'm overwhelmed. Thanks.

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pml | @pml | Nov 2 9:21pm

Hi BeBold,
I'm so sorry that you are in such an awful situation! I don't blame you for being upset! I'd be upset too and terrified! Have you tried contacting any agencies such as the Salvation Army in your area? Since you are on the Internet you can just search for them on Google. Contact any and all local ones that you find even if they don't completely fit your initial needs. At least that would get your story out there where maybe someone could actually help you. I would also suggest that you forget laundry if you can or cut down on it so as to save the water. Just brush the clothes real good and fluff them in the dryer. You might just turn on the washing machine and catch the water in some kind of container so you have extra water for whatever; maybe even drinking if you boil it.
Call Social Security about your status so you don't lose your check. Plan to be on hold for an hour. But it's worth it. I know, I had to call them recently and it took an hour to get someone. I don't think they will stop your check without confirmation of your death from an official agency. My husband died recently and Social Security only stopped his check when the funeral director sent official notification to them. But it's better to be sure. So do call them. Just do a Google search for Social Security and you will be able to find the number.

Can you contact any of your family members and let them know how you are?

Most important of all is to pray and pray often! Tell God all your problems and ask for his help. He will help you. God always does. It states in the Bible, "Ask and it shall be given to you." So keep asking a lot! After all God made you and he can fix you and get rid of that pain. I'm so sorry you have that with all the other things you are going through. God also made the hurricane; (He's in charge of the weather you know.) So, he knows the damage it caused and that you need help. Just remind him of that because sometimes he gets busy. I'm sure he'll answer your prayers and everything will be just fine and soon! I will keep praying for you and I'm sure there are others on this forum that will also. Keep us informed of your situation.
God Bless You!
PML

REPLY
2 replies
BeBold | @bebold | Nov 2 11:10pm
In reply to @pml "Hi BeBold, I'm so sorry that you are in such an awful situation! I don't blame..." + (show)
@pml

Hi BeBold,
I'm so sorry that you are in such an awful situation! I don't blame you for being upset! I'd be upset too and terrified! Have you tried contacting any agencies such as the Salvation Army in your area? Since you are on the Internet you can just search for them on Google. Contact any and all local ones that you find even if they don't completely fit your initial needs. At least that would get your story out there where maybe someone could actually help you. I would also suggest that you forget laundry if you can or cut down on it so as to save the water. Just brush the clothes real good and fluff them in the dryer. You might just turn on the washing machine and catch the water in some kind of container so you have extra water for whatever; maybe even drinking if you boil it.
Call Social Security about your status so you don't lose your check. Plan to be on hold for an hour. But it's worth it. I know, I had to call them recently and it took an hour to get someone. I don't think they will stop your check without confirmation of your death from an official agency. My husband died recently and Social Security only stopped his check when the funeral director sent official notification to them. But it's better to be sure. So do call them. Just do a Google search for Social Security and you will be able to find the number.

Can you contact any of your family members and let them know how you are?

Most important of all is to pray and pray often! Tell God all your problems and ask for his help. He will help you. God always does. It states in the Bible, "Ask and it shall be given to you." So keep asking a lot! After all God made you and he can fix you and get rid of that pain. I'm so sorry you have that with all the other things you are going through. God also made the hurricane; (He's in charge of the weather you know.) So, he knows the damage it caused and that you need help. Just remind him of that because sometimes he gets busy. I'm sure he'll answer your prayers and everything will be just fine and soon! I will keep praying for you and I'm sure there are others on this forum that will also. Keep us informed of your situation.
God Bless You!
PML

Jump to this post

You are right about benefits of course. I had a panic moment. I have been texting with my sisters who both live 1000 miles away. They are asking how I can live here anymore or for a while as there is no end date on usable water. But this is where I am and for financial reasons with my condo, I need to stay. I can't explain but its a...well confusing.

I've been a webpage designer since 1999 and still run my own graphic design business tho work has dried up at the moment - which is goid and bad. The distraction would be good but pain doesn't make work realistic.

I'm just overwhelmed today, the last few days. I was wondering if others here with disabilities, pain, age, and aloneness with these kinds of challenges right now were here. And for sure there's lots and lots of type of challenges that many many people have been through especially friends in the Pacific Northwest with fires. And those kind of tragic circumstances is kind of what makes it hard to feel like i need to stop complaining. Grief is hard when, like the beginning of the pandemic, it was all new, scary, unknown etc. This is feeling a lot like that. Overwhelming grieving everywhere. Its tangible.

Tomorrow I will either go do something to take care of something like shower or laundry or something or I'll just sit here beading and veg on NCIS on roku! Lol.

I also need to figure out how to get some money coming in again or surgical realities?

Im not so much a god person because of historical christian trauma/abuse but I appreciate what that means for you and the good thoughts embedded. Thanks for your response.
B

REPLY
charlotte12 | @charlotte12 | Nov 3 8:32am

Should you go to Mayo Clinic for a hip replacement, they may help you to connect with a local doctor for post-op. I have not been to Mayo Clinic. Get this all cleared first. Don't give up. Check the Mayo Clinic website how to get an appointment. Plan your post-op care, you may need help at home, can one of your sisters help? Or state social services. If you worry about SSA benefits, write a letter if you get tired waiting on the phone. Make a daily list with priorities. You worry about your SSA benefits, put the phone
call on top of the list, next your water issue, decide if Mayo treatment is
a good option, extra expenses, travel, possible hotel stay,.... Maybe someone from WNC has been in a similar situation and will respond. Do you take meds for your pain?

REPLY
kdalda75 | @kndaustin71 | Nov 3 9:55am

I would prioritize your needs in writing. First and foremost, I think you need to know that your SSN is uninterrupted - this can be done via phone, internet or mail! As far as your need of hip surgery, if you are in the WNC area are Duke, UNC and/or Chapel Hill options and are they not closer to you than Mayo in Jacksonville. You probably need to find a new Orthopod than the one that told you he wouldn't care for you post-op, then report him! After a comment like that, I wouldn't want him taking care of me either! Wherever you go for surgery make sure and talk with the Hospital Discharge planner so that they can make referrals for Home care, therapy at the house.....this should be covered under Part B Medicare. Once your financials are assured and pain is taken care of, it may be easier to manage the other issues. One step at a time and keep the faith that you can Power Through this...... that is what I tell myself when I'm down and out due to a terminal illness....Power On!

REPLY
bajjerfan | @bajjerfan | Nov 5 9:51pm
In reply to @pml "Hi BeBold, I'm so sorry that you are in such an awful situation! I don't blame..." + (show)
@pml

Hi BeBold,
I'm so sorry that you are in such an awful situation! I don't blame you for being upset! I'd be upset too and terrified! Have you tried contacting any agencies such as the Salvation Army in your area? Since you are on the Internet you can just search for them on Google. Contact any and all local ones that you find even if they don't completely fit your initial needs. At least that would get your story out there where maybe someone could actually help you. I would also suggest that you forget laundry if you can or cut down on it so as to save the water. Just brush the clothes real good and fluff them in the dryer. You might just turn on the washing machine and catch the water in some kind of container so you have extra water for whatever; maybe even drinking if you boil it.
Call Social Security about your status so you don't lose your check. Plan to be on hold for an hour. But it's worth it. I know, I had to call them recently and it took an hour to get someone. I don't think they will stop your check without confirmation of your death from an official agency. My husband died recently and Social Security only stopped his check when the funeral director sent official notification to them. But it's better to be sure. So do call them. Just do a Google search for Social Security and you will be able to find the number.

Can you contact any of your family members and let them know how you are?

Most important of all is to pray and pray often! Tell God all your problems and ask for his help. He will help you. God always does. It states in the Bible, "Ask and it shall be given to you." So keep asking a lot! After all God made you and he can fix you and get rid of that pain. I'm so sorry you have that with all the other things you are going through. God also made the hurricane; (He's in charge of the weather you know.) So, he knows the damage it caused and that you need help. Just remind him of that because sometimes he gets busy. I'm sure he'll answer your prayers and everything will be just fine and soon! I will keep praying for you and I'm sure there are others on this forum that will also. Keep us informed of your situation.
God Bless You!
PML

Jump to this post

If you have a Soc Sec account you can log in and probably let them know that you are still with us.

In the lower right corner is a get help icon.

Start there.

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