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No help in a state that has gutted mental health!

I have been fighting now for five years on getting disability, in those five years i have been diagnosed with bipolar to go along with my migraines. I Have been trying to seek help for my depression and bipolar but unfortunately I get told that the doctors are over booked and cannot take new patients! The only Doctor i did see wasn't helping at all and made me feel
Iike it was my fault for getting migraine and that I should be able to take a advel and be better. I am at my wits end. I have gone completely broke waiting for disability and just last week lost my insurance so it's been a hard week! Sorry for the rant but I'm lost in Iowa and don't know what to do

  1. Hi Iowapain.

    Thank you for sharing your story with us. Please don't worry about the rant, we all need to do that from time to time.

    I know how frustrating it can be applying for SSDI. I was denied the first time, then retained a lawyer and was successful. This may be something to think about. There is also a website, Allsup.com https://www.allsup.com/, that can help with this process.

    Having more than one chronic illness can make things more difficult, I'm sorry you are going through this. It seems people with bipolar disorder are at an increased risk for having migraine disease as well. You can read more about that here; https://migraine.com/migraine-and-mental-health/bipolar-disorder/.

    Migraine disease is NOT your fault, and not all in your head! It sounds like its time to see an doctor who is better educated in migraine disease and headache disorders. I understand it will be difficult seeing another doctor without insurance, but finding one who will work with you and really HELP will be well worth it. I was able to find a few true migraine/headache experts (doctors who are board certified in headache medicine, which is different than being certified in neurology) in Iowa, Dr. Ana Recober‐Montilla in Iowa City, IA; Dr. Anil K. Dhuna, Burlington, IA; Dr. Marc E. Hines Ottumwa, IA; Dr. Lynn M. Rankin, Des Moines, IA; Dr. Andrzej Szczepanek, Des Moines, IA; Dr. Alireza Yarahmadi, Mason CIty, IA.

    I hope this helps, keep me posted on how you are doing,
    Nancy

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