BiPolar~ Because we need our own thread~

[Houston Heather]

Don't feel bad about the Lamictal. I forgot to take my second lithium tablet today. I take 2 at noon, but I took one, and a vitamin, and forgot until I got home. I caught it, though.

My ride was late picking me up from Walmart today so I had time to put in refills of my Lithium and my Risperdal. It cost about $110 for the both of them.

I have been very good recently, working out and all, my period started, so I should have lost that extra bloat weight? No. I went up another pound!

VERY FRUSTRATING. I'm drinking lots of water today and hoping that is the answer.

I've been sleeping OK and work went well, so it isn't all bad. Good to see you all back.

[CurveControl]

I am wondering about trying to wean off the seroquel again now that things are back to closer to normal.

I have been a little mixed and moody the last 5 days. (I broke 2 of our 3 house phones in frustration today Do NOT expect a phone to work if it is slammed violently on a table) so I might wait and see how the next few go.

[wifezilla]

I am wondering about trying to wean off the seroquel again now that things are back to closer to normal.

Is that your only med?

[CurveControl]

Originally Posted by wifezilla

Is that your only med?

Oh GOD no!! I will never be without meds again. Hell, I break phones ON meds, Guess what I am like when my moods are swinging without meds!!!

I also Take Lamectal. And xanax, but I also have Klonopin.

Pdoc said that at the low dose of seroqel I take is mostly for sleep, not moods, BUT when I tried to wean off seroquel to Klonopin for sleep my brain kept going. I don't know if that was because I didn't give it long enough, and had to be up early the following days (I don't usually have to get up early) and I was anxious about the change, or if the dose of seroquel really quiets my obsessive night thoughts.
I won't know unless I try, I guess.

Maybe Monday. DS is out of school, and I don't have so much going on.

ETA~ I feel good today. Not as frustrated or upset.
I think the whole Death/trip/funeral did a number on me. I really did not expect losing my Grandma to be so emotional. She was 87 years old, not in good health and ready to go. She said as much. And I am a Christian and I KNOW next time I see her she will be whole and healed and
happy.

[wifezilla]

Ahhhhh...got it.

If you are able to get by without it, great...especially since you have a good mood stabilizer. I just get nervous when someone with BP says "I feel better so I am thinking of going off of medx" and then you find out that is their ONLY med.

[CurveControl]

Originally Posted by wifezilla

Ahhhhh...got it.

If you are able to get by without it, great...especially since you have a good mood stabilizer. I just get nervous when someone with BP says "I feel better so I am thinking of going off of medx" and then you find out that is their ONLY med.

ITA! *shudder*

[Houston Heather]

GOD NO.

I'll take the fatigue and grogginess. On meds, I am happily married. ON meds.

I'm running and lifting weights too so I'm not doing too bad, but I'm glad I work part-time.

[magickal1]

honestly till my doc put me on klonapin its personally my saving grace and the lamictal works if i dont forget to take it for 3 days str8 , but all is back to normal went thru a very down period after it tho , hope all is well with u all

[Houston Heather]

Yup, just tired.

GLAD I work part-time. DH is making mini-vacation noises next week but his back just went out. We'll have to see.

[Houston Heather]

I've been noticing that my hair is thinning.

I did some research. Lithium can cause hair loss! [screaming, tantrum, throwing things]

GREAT. As my husband says, "Thanks, God!"

I did add some insitol to my diet recently which is good for hair loss. Hopefully that will turn the tide, because I'm not going off lithium.

[screaming, tantrum]

I'm glad I worked out today. I'm glad I'm running tomorrow morning. I need it.

[Heather curls up in a bar and cries over lost hair] It's not obvious, but I know.

[CurveControl]

Have you tried Biotin? It is supposed to help hair.

I feel your pain, Sometimes I think my parents fished in the shallow end of the gene pool!

[Houston Heather]

That's next up too.

All things considered I came off pretty well, I don't have the immune deficiency that killed my brother or disables my sister. I don't have kidney stones like my sister. I don't have her allergies or the rupturing eardrum...

I just never expected to deal with THIS. The grey, yeah, but not bald!

It isn't bald, but when it's wet and I slick it back with gel it looks thin and I can see my scalp. It's only obvious to me but AAAGH!

I'm glad I don't have any vices! I'd be indulging all of them right now instead of doing laundry and helping DH balance the books.

[magickal1]

i noticed alot of hair loss thats why i wouldnt do the lithuim, but im still losin hair i recently got biotin not sure if it will work im sure it will take 90 days to notice i do nails so i do no that it takes about 90 days to see results but we will see i reallly hope it works , been in mani for a week up and down this roller coaster is horrible but im gettin back to where i need to be i got one them weekly pill boxes cuz my meory sux anymore.

[Houston Heather]

God (or whoever, Magickal ) bless the weekly pill box.

I carry a little "turtle" box in my fanny pack with my noon meds.

I didn't take any pills today! I had a migraine! The worst part of it - it's my own damned fault. I ate half an onion ring yesterday. Everything else was legal and things I'd eaten at least several times before.

No run!
No fun!

Just me and a cat in the bed... then the "neighbor" decided to do yard work (power equipment), in the middle of the day, right next to my bedroom. Not fun. DH, on the other hand, was awesome. His back is acting up so it probably needed the day off, too.

God bless the Phenergan! I can take that and it doesn't get me manic like the Imitrex or other migraine drugs. It puts me down enough that I can sleep through the worst of the pain and stay in one place (moving kills me ), and it keeps me from getting queasy and vomiting.

I used 2 today, which is about standard.

I am so sick I actually got up, stripped down, and weighed after the worst of it. 199.5! If only it would stay! It sure was nice to see 100's on the scale.

When I was a little girl I was so excited and proud when I went up to 100 pounds. Then society's stick thin thought police got me.

Anyway, I hope you gals had a MUCH better day than I did today.

No run... (whimper).

[magickal1]

wow i been cycling like crazy for a week its been bad 3 day hyp manic, then 3 days of crash i aint been this bad in so long and i think it comes from the 3 days i couldnt remember if i was taking my meds , i really am worried about this i fel a lil better today but id rather be manic then this deep depression.....hopefully i can get in controll, almost went the hospital the other nite it was so bad.....im scared of going to the hospital tho ....

[CurveControl]

Kali~ I know! If you realy need to go to the ER for a psych issue then there is fear of a 72 hold.

BUT if you are taking someone who NEEDS a 72 hold it is so very hard to get one! No matter how manic/psychotic they are.

Emergency mental healthcare is a dice toss!

What does your Pdoc say?
ITA that If I am Hypo I am much less likely to call the Pdoc than when depressed, But I do not cycle as rapidly as you do usually.
There have been times when I have, but mostly I am a few days in each spot, tied with mixed episodes.

[Houston Heather]

When I had just been diagnosed I was begging for medication. I went everywhere trying to get help and they all told me "Go away, you're on a waiting list, if you're going to kill yourself call 911". It was ghastly.

If I think repeatedly that I should call my doctor, I will. I did last year and he reduced my lexapro, upped my lithium. I saw results fast.

Well, tomorrow we leave on a mini vacation. 2 days on the beach... it should be really nice. I don't want to bring monster pill bottles so I'm going to go put all my meds in a little divider thing I bought today.

My biggest challenge will be eating on plan. DH wants to eat at a restaurant he loves, a Mexican Seafood Restaurant. The last time I ate shrimp I got a migraine so that won't be happening. I have no idea what they've got on the menu that I could eat, but there's a grocery store with a deli not far from the motel. I can always buy some cheese and cold cuts. The room does have a little fridge.

Anyway, off I go to pack. I'm bringing my workout gear so I can go to the gym and run along the beach...ahhh. So relaxing.

[CurveControl]

Have a Great time Heather~

[sweet&sugarfree]

Heather a mini vacation sounds like so much fun!

I had a really rough weekend. I layed on my couch and cried all weekend instead of going to work. One of my friends took me to her house in the country so I got to clear my head and and today I am feeling a bit better. I am not feeling so depressed today. I had taken my lithium for a week because I didn't get it filled, I didn't have time to get to the pharmacy so I didn't think it was a huge deal. Well it didn't help my situation. So today I have my lithium and vitamins, and I went to the store and stoked up on low carb foods and water. I think taking care of myself is the first step. Hoping to feel better soon. Everyone take care. Love, Molly

[CurveControl]

Cool! We have 2 Mollys!!!


Oh, Sweet! Ya GOTTA make time for the Pharm!!! Meds are too darn important!No 15 min trip to get your meds cosy you a whole weekend!!

We have to take care of ourselves!

[cenicienta]

Hi Everyone!

The last few days have been really bad for me. I think that I was in most likely in a hypomanic state for a while (was getting a lot done outside and in the house) and now it feels like the bottom has finally dropped out. It's not PMS either since my period ended last week. I have been in a depressive state for about four days now. It is not debilitating, but I feel like crying all of the time and all I want to do is be left alone and sleep.

I have been trying to keep myself busy with little things here and there, so I don't have time to think about myself. I have gone for walks, mowed the lawn, done laundry (not all on the same day, mind you) but end up crying anyway.

Right now the only med that I am on is Zoloft, which usually keeps the depression at bay. For the last few weeks, however, I have felt breakthrough depression rearing its ugly head. The depressed feeling would come for a minute, I might cry, then it left.That isn't even happening now. It's constant. Now I think I know what a mixed state feels like. I feel depressed, but have this adrenaline running through me that makes me feel panicky (sp?) and on the verge of yelling at someone (I'm feeling irritable) I got a great night's sleep last night, so can't blame being tired for all of this.

Is this how you feel during a mixed episode? Either way I look at it, I am calling my doctor for an appointment. I hope she doesn't attribute this yet again to anxiety alone and up my Zoloft and give me more Ativan. I need something to stabilize these moods. My kids don't need to live with a mother that is constantly crying or irritable. Been there, done that. I lived with my own mother like that for years. I don't want my children exposed to this nor should they have to be.

I am so sorry for rambling, but I just needed to talk to someone who would understand.

Thanks,
Jen

[CurveControl]

Jen is it a GP or a Psych??

I hope you get the meds you need. I have been on lots of 'nerve' and 'anxiety' 'depression' meds, But MY BiPo need mood stabilizers.

[sweet&sugarfree]

Jen, Hugs I know how that feels to not be able to stop crying..no advice for you because that is how I spent my weekend. Hugs!

Hi Molly I think it is way cool to have 2 Molly's! Sometimes I dont think I need my lithium but Its like everything else I have to eat good take my meds sleep enough and generally take care of myself if I dont want to walk around a mess!

Hope everyone is having a great night!

[wifezilla]

"I don't need meds. I feel so much BETTER!"

LOLOLOL

I have heard that so many times....usually right before I had to have hubby committed

[cenicienta]

Originally Posted by CurveControl

Jen is it a GP or a Psych??

I hope you get the meds you need. I have been on lots of 'nerve' and 'anxiety' 'depression' meds, But MY BiPo need mood stabilizers.

I have a psychiatrist that I have been seeing for about two years now. Everytime that I see her, I always seem to be in a "normal" or elevated mood. I called her about a year ago and told her that I had a crying fit that lasted at least an hour (I was on Zoloft during the time) I know that the crying fit that time was out of pure frustration with my son (he has autism and that time he did some "artistry" on my walls with his #2). I told her that I was so upset that to relieve tension I almost wanted to make myself vomit. I HATE to puke and have never been bulimic. So this was a really odd thing that I was thinking about doing. She just said that I was suffering from more anxiety and to take another Ativan.

It seems to me that when I switch from a normal or even a hypomanic mood to all out depression, that there is always some trigger that sets me off. This particular time, it was not getting a job that I had interviewed for and wanted. That alone didn't set me off. What did set me off about this situation is that I never received any notice that I was not getting the job. They kept me hanging on, which I find to be highly unprofessional.

Anyhow, back to my doctor. I didn't get a chance to call her today. I will tomorrow morning. My husband says that he hasn't seen what I know that I have been feeling. He is clueless most of the time anyway. I really think that he is bipolar as well. He cannot sit still and is moody a good share of the time. I spoke to my mom (who is bipolar) and she thought that maybe I need more Zoloft and a little of a mood stabilizer. We will see what my doctor says.

[CurveControl]

I seem to be in a *good* mood, a little UP even every time I see my Pdoc. I dunno, Maybe its just the 'I'm going to talk to some one who listens' thing. Plus I always want to get every darn thing in during that 20 min visit so i talk fast! I have learned to take a list, and be concise. If it isn't on the list I don't elaborate on it.

I have seen the Counselor at the same office while sick, or down or mixed so they have seen a nice idea of most of my spectrum I think. I have not had a *very bad hurt myself depression* in a very long time so they have not seen that.

BiPo is so much more than anxiety!Just an antianxiety med would never be enough for me. I have obsessive thoughts (I will review a scenario over and over, real or imagined, Like 'I should have said....' OR 'Yanno if that pissy neighbor came over I would let him have it, I would say....He would say.....' Like that.) and my brain will jump from subject to subject~The reason for my terrible memory. I have to focus on making my brain settle and focus on whatever I need to remember, But sometimes the thoughts come so fast I don't do it. That also makes for some interesting conversations with DH or my Family. Sometimes DH will say "Where did That come from" if I jump in the middle of a convo, and I will walk him through why talking about, say the Cat Box had me say I want to order pizza. (Litter needs changed, need to buy some litter to do it, Kroger has steak on sale, I don't feel like cooking, we will order pizza.// Cat Poop To Pizza in 2.5 seconds. I love my brain!)

A mixed state is even worse because Pissy mean angry thoughts are prevalant, sarcasm is biting and I can either cry or scream at the drop of a hat. (Or drop of a sock if I am sick of picking up socks)

My last flip was triggered by my Grandmas death, But It is passed, and I don't think extra meds would have helped at all.

I do get triggers too. I can alomost predict the changes, But on Meds they are closer to what a "normal" person would feel.