Posted by Chris A. on April 4, 2000, at 20:52:05
In reply to Re: Bipolar Family, posted by Cynthia on April 4, 2000, at 13:28:57
Cynthia,
You are thinking clearly. Bipolar kids need mood stabilizers early. It's the overuse of antidepressants and stimulants in kids that may be a problem, since they can potentially make those with bipolar sicker (perpetuate cycling), especially kids. Do you have access to a child psychiatry department at a medical school? If you like the doc the eight year old is seeing can you get the others in for evaluations with him or her?
Please take care of yourself - that's the best thing you can do for your family. I have been trying to keep the lid on escalating mixed rapid-cycling, so empathize with you. One doc suggested a rule that helps - to always be in bed by midnight (which is very hard to do). Last night when the Ambien wore off I got up and took another dose. It's not a time to skimp on sleep meds. It took me a long time to realize that there are just sometimes that I have to make sleep a number one priority or my family and I will all suffer more.
You're going to get all sorts of conflicting and sometimes harmful advice on the net. If you're not sure about something and are thinking of implementing it, run it by a professional that you trust. Look up the latest medical abstracts on the subject on medline. Many of us here are ill. I am transitioning into maintenance ECT, so if I don't sound all here, I'm not.
Just a thought - a pediatrician friend's son just had a vagal nerve stimulator implanted last week to treat his treat refractory epilepsy. They've been treating his seizures ever since the first one. There are striking similarities here. Most of the anticonvulsants he's taken, I've tried. They wouldn't have considered not treating him. Bipolar is just as serious. Why should it be any differrent?Blessings,
Chris A.
poster:Chris A.
thread:28640
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20000401/msgs/28885.html