![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
[email protected]Shown: posts 21 to 45 of 74. Go back in thread:
Posted by Mr Cushing on November 27, 2002, at 14:02:35
In reply to Re: Is there ever a normal after a BP diagnosis?, posted by fluffy on November 27, 2002, at 11:34:10
Hey Fluffy, just keep reading that book and you'll see why you should stick with your medication even if you start to feel better. Also, it gives you a more in-depth understanding of what medications you could try, should try, and what to watch for when you're on it (Chapter #5 I think...).I think that with the proper education that you really shouldn't have to worry about dealing with a doctor that doesn't fully understand the Bi-Polar condition. In the book, in bold letters, it explains why you should not try ADs without a mood stabilizer in place. Basically, as long as you know what you're doing for your condition, and you can explain to this doctor what you think you should do, then you'll be better off.
So just keep reading that book and keep on your mood stabilizer.
Posted by Krysti on November 27, 2002, at 14:35:58
In reply to Re: Is there ever a normal after a BP diagnosis?, posted by Mr Cushing on November 27, 2002, at 14:02:35
Hi fluffy,
NOOOOO, don't go off your meds when you're feeling good : )
Remember the meds are helping to make you feel that way and to keep you from being a yoyo - up and down, up and down. Another reason not to do it is I've read SO many posts where people went off their meds because they were feeling good and then when they crashed, those meds didn't work for them anymore. So then they had to start back at the beginning again and hope to find another med or combo that works. Plus, when untreated, bipolar can get worse. I have an example:
Not too long ago, my friend was telling me about a girl she met that was bipolar. The girl went off her meds and for a while she felt fine. Then, she ended up getting paranoid and thought her boyfriend and his friends wanted to kill her. She ran out of the house into the middle of the street and flagged down a car. The guy stopped and let her in and took her to the police station. When she got to the police station, she was still freaked out and just wanted to get away, so she jumped in a car that was running outside (which happened to be one of the cop's - not his police car, but his regular one). She ended up driving off the road going really fast and slammed into a tree (still thinking there were people chasing her trying to kill her). Luckily, she walked away without getting hurt, but is now sitting in jail charged with Grand Theft Auto (which is a felony) among other things.
Point being, be very careful about playing around with your meds and if you find ones that work and feel good, keep taking them so you continue to feel good : )
I'm happy to hear you are doing so much better : )
Krysti
Posted by fluffy on November 29, 2002, at 11:02:44
In reply to Re: Is there ever a normal after BP - fluffy, posted by Krysti on November 23, 2002, at 15:08:19
Hello all...
I hope your Thanksgiving went well. Mine was, well...a depressed crying blur. Sure enough, my buzzing, chipper personality crawled back into the cocoon of depression on Wednesday. I took a nap after lunch because I was feeling soooo sleepy. Within a few hours, my brain was totally numb again.
I barely made it to my parents' house for turkey day. Just wanted to SLEEP and cry.
I told my little brother who suffers from seizures that I was also on anti-convulsants. (he just turned 21) He thought that was funny... Then he proceeded to tell me that sometimes seizure drugs are "FUN" because sometimes he has these waking dreams where people have to "wake him up". He said that sometimes he hears a grunting noise when he's awake..or sometimes the voice of a radio DJ playing over and over in his head. (I didn't even ASK him!) He just started telling me this as though it was "cool". But he said he would never tell my mom and dad, though.
Does this strike anyone else as strange? I don't want to play armchair psychiatrist, but maybe this is an early sign of scitzophrenia? I told him that he could tell me anytime if it starts to happen and he's scared.
My mom and dad are totally in denial about our mental problems in the family...like, hey--it's fine...no problems here...just go to church and everything will be fine.
I'm so glad that spanksgiving is over.
Back at work today and in a decent mood.
At this point, this thread is acting as my mood log and journal. Hope no-one minds.
Later,
fluffy
Posted by Mr Cushing on November 29, 2002, at 13:08:47
In reply to Re: Is there ever a normal after BP - fluffy, posted by fluffy on November 29, 2002, at 11:02:44
Hey Fluffy, no Thanksgiving over here since we Canadians celebrated it last month. Anyways, when you quit any AD it can play really nasty tricks with your head. I'm still going through withdrawal from Effexor and honestly, I felt that I was going psychotic for a little bit. The dreams I would have at night would literally wake me up either screaming or in tears. I was also bouncing around with my moods all over the place. So, that crying spell that you had could be from the Zoloft withdrawal. Plus, you did it cold turkey, right? So that would give you even worse withdrawal effects.No anticonvulsant (sp?) ever gave me voices in my head. God, that would scare me if it did. Whether that's an early sign of Skitzo, I don't know. I know this though... one of my friends suffers from a form of psychosis. He's been taking Risperdol (I think I'm having a bad spelling day lol...) every night now for 4 years. We had a talk about mood disorders just a few weeks ago, and he told me that when he noticed there was something wrong was when things started to get really scary for him. He would hear voices coming out of the TV set. He said that they weren't saying anything violent, or do this or do that or anything, he would just hear people talking directly to him coming from the TV. So he would sit there and talk back to them. His Dad would ask him who he was talking to, and he kept thinking, sh!t.. this isn't good. Then when he would try to fall asleep for the night, he would have horrible insomnia because the voices would just keep bugging him and he would have to keep telling them to leave him alone that he was trying to sleep.
Anyways, he says that the Risperdal really helps him and that he doesn't hear the voices as often anymore.
Anyways, got some things to do today, got to start moving
Mike
Posted by Krysti on November 29, 2002, at 19:14:50
In reply to Re: Is there ever a normal after BP - fluffy, posted by fluffy on November 29, 2002, at 11:02:44
Hi Katy,
It's good to hear from you : )
It sounds to me like you are still cycling. I just read some info about Neurontin and it seems like you are on a pretty small dose. I also read a lot of comments that it is a pretty weak stabilizer and because of that, is usually used in conjunction with other stabilizers. You might want to bring this up to your pdoc and see what he/she has to say. I'm glad you went off the Zoloft, being on an AD went you're not stabilized just makes it worse. When is your next pdoc appointment? If I were you, I'd call him and tell him what is going on with you. I know how hard and confusing it is to have your moods cycling so much. It's like one day - hey, I'm fine, I'll feel better now, great. Then the next day it's like, what happened??? I felt fine just yesterday! Sound familiar? I went through it for years before I even realized there must be something wrong! I started asking people at work if they went through this. They would tell me no and I thought they were lying to me!!! lol - now!
About your brother, I have never heard of that being a side effect of an anti-convulsant. It does sound like a form of schizophrenia to me (that of course is my unprofessional opinion). That's sad that your family is so in denial. All that will do is prolong the problem. There are so many medications out there to help, but if they won't even admit there is a problem, there is no chance of that. I would also tell your pdoc about your brother and ask his advice on what to do. If it is schizophrenia, that could get really scary if left untreated. Do you know how long he has been hearing things? Does he realize there may be something more serious going on?
Krysti
Posted by Mr Cushing on November 29, 2002, at 22:25:36
In reply to Re: Is there ever a normal after BP - fluffy, posted by Krysti on November 29, 2002, at 19:14:50
Krysti, do people cycle that quickly though with Bi-Polar II? I'm curious about that, been trying to figure out the difference between BP 1 and BP 2. lol... what I get up to when I don't have something to feed my mind. But I would think that drastic mood swings like that would remain with BP1s, like I go through.However, coming off of any SSRI like that, cold turkey, really screws things up. Think about the emails that I sent you the first 2 days that I was going through Effexor withdrawals. Not fun, that Sh!t plays tricks with your head... They're good for certain things, but man... Coming off of them, especially when done fast, makes you feel like you're going crazy. I still don't feel too much better yet and it's a week tomorrow.
And from what my friend told me last week, there's a lot of different forms of Psychosis, not just Schizophrenia. Like I said in my message to Katy, he hears voices. He'll sit there and have a conversation with his TV or suffer from insomnia because the voices won't let him sleep. He's not DX'd as being schizophrenic, but what he does have is long-term and he has to take Risperdal every day. So just keep a watch over him, if he's talking to people that aren't there, if he's starting to see things, etc. It's not always violent or bad, or even scary, but it does need to be treated. From what I can tell with my friend, being Bi-Polar is actually harder than being psychotic. I mean, he's taking 1 medication and it's the only one he's tried and it's always worked. I'm still trying to find the right mix!!!
Posted by vagen on November 30, 2002, at 1:45:48
In reply to Re: Is there ever a normal after BP - fluffy » Krysti, posted by Mr Cushing on November 29, 2002, at 22:25:36
Scary thought: what if we are the norm?
Ick.
I was dx'd bp when I was 16, after being admitted to a drug rehab. Now, here I am 32 and looking back I can see that I did have some time here and there where i was happy and at peace. I also did not have any big stressors in my life.
I think I have to accept that this is the norm for me and not base anything on how anyone else 'appears to be'.
I think that the 'normal' ppl don't have a 1/2 of the passion that we can experience, that they don't always know how to deal with themselves, and sometimes, do not have compassion.
One thing I have learned the past week or so is don't compare their outsides with your insides.
I think we have so much more insight into life.
ANd, I have written/drawn some amazing stuff while cycling.
ONe last thing, and I never thought I would say this: my mom said take advantage of what this disease can offer you and try to use it to help others.
Just felt like babbling. thx!
Posted by fluffy on November 30, 2002, at 11:21:39
In reply to Re: Is there ever a normal after BP - fluffy, posted by vagen on November 30, 2002, at 1:45:48
Hi guys--
Yeah--I would definitely characterize what's been happening over the past week or so as "cycling". I can almost feel the gears turning one way or the other now. Like when my teeth feel clenched, I'm going up...I start to have ideas and plans...and I want to eat--really, really fast...then when I feel sleepy and numb, I'm going down. I don't really know if I'm BP1 or 2. I have never been acutely manic...just hypo (as my journal entries evidence). But I have DEFINITELY been clinically depressed for months at a time. It was only recently that the AD's backfired...and I felt so scared and paranoid on them, that I don't know if I would have become fully manic.(or maybe i WAS fully manic) Wanting to thrash things and yell and clinging to people crying doesn't seem right. Maybe I was mixed??
So who the hell knows. I don't really care anymore about the label...I just don't want to feel like sh!t warmed over one day and happy-chappy the next. It's confusing the hell out of my friends and family...not to mention myself.
I've got plenty to discuss with my doctor on monday. (i wrote my queries down so this time I won't forget.)
BTW, if you all lived in Texas, I'd take you to lunch. (isn't the internet great, though?)
Keep in touch!
fluffy
Posted by fluffy on November 30, 2002, at 11:28:08
In reply to Re: Is there ever a normal after BP - fluffy, posted by vagen on November 30, 2002, at 1:45:48
Oh yeah--
Vagen-- I really like how you put it...."Don't compare peoples' outsides with your insides"
That is some good advice for ANYONE--BP or not.
Thanks!
fluffy
Posted by Mr Cushing on November 30, 2002, at 11:55:57
In reply to Re: Is there ever a normal after BP - fluffy, posted by fluffy on November 30, 2002, at 11:21:39
Great to hear that you're doing better today Katy. I've been kind of cycling like crazy over the past week myself. Today I feel really depressed, like no energy, don't want to do anything but lie around and watch TV, slept like 11 hours straight last night, etc. Personally, I think my body is telling me that I shouldn't be smoking so much Mary Jane anymore. That's depressing in itself, but we'll see how I do with a break from that. If I feel immensely better tomorrow then today is most likely from that.I know I'm mixed when it comes to labels. I remember my PDoc reading out this big list of symptoms and asking me if I had ever experienced anything similar to that. For just about every one I'm like, yep, and then would give her about 3-4 examples. Her response... well... you are definitely Bi-Polar, no question about that lol...
The hardest part I think about getting used to living with this is all the adjustments that I have to make in my life to ummmmm, support my mental health (?). My last 12 years or so anyways have been like a big long scary rollercoaster ride. I find that a lot of my old memories are starting to come back to me now though. I still have trouble remembering quite a bit from the point that I was like 14 till I was 20, but more and more memories are coming back now. If I ever get them all straightened out, I should definitely write a book about them though lol...
Where in Texas are you anyways? I'm in Ottawa, Ontario... and it's FREEZING up here right now so you're lucky to be where it's warm all year
Anyways, just rambling on today, so I guess I should stop now.....
Posted by Krysti on November 30, 2002, at 13:45:05
In reply to Re: Is there ever a normal after BP - fluffy » Krysti, posted by Mr Cushing on November 29, 2002, at 22:25:36
Hey Mike,
The difference between Bipolar I and Bipolar II is people with Bipolar I have had at least one manic episode. People with Bipolar II have only had hypomania. Rapid cycling can be a part of either. (From what I've read.)
The difference between hypomania and mania is you are still able to function when you are hypomanic. Looking back on it, I have been hypomanic at work a lot of times. When I became manic though, there is no way I would have been able to function at work. My thoughts were going so fast, I couldn't stay focused on any one thing. I was all over the place, I was just running around doing whatever came to my mind. I would start doing one thing, then stop in the middle of it and do something else. I had ALL the signs of mania and also became delusional, which is definitely a sure sign.
I just read somewhere though that hearing voices can be a part of bipolar so I shouldn't have said it sounded like schizophrenia. I always think of hearing voices as schizophrenia. There can be a lot of similarities between a lot of disorders and even the doctors have a hard time diagnosing people. I am sure that hearing voices though is not normal. I hope he is able to get help.
As far as quitting SSRI's and what that can do to you, you definitely know better than I. To my knowledge, I haven't had any reaction from it. When I went on the Depakote, I quit taking the Paxil cold turkey. The Paxil was what had made me so manic, so I had to quit taking it. Who knows though if it had any effect on me or not. I don't think so though.
I guess I base my opinions on what I've gone through, but everyone's experiences are different. Whether it's a withdrawal from the Zoloft or not though, it sounds like rapid cycling, which can happen from SSRI's and probably withdrawal from.
I hope no one takes what I say as verbatim. I am not a doctor and have no training and don't mean to imply I know for sure what's going on. I just try to share what I've read about it.
As far as your friend being lucky to have found the right med for him on the first time, yes he is : ) You'll get there though. I think we're the lucky ones for having this rather than psychotic episodes (which I guess I had when I became delusional - but, at least it was a good delusion ) : ) But, we've gotten to experience the highs that come along with being bipolar. I think it's ironic that I have to take drugs in order to not feel like I'm on drugs! Being hypomanic is a great feeling, isn't it??? Too bad that everything has to be balanced and along with the periods of hypomania have to come the periods of depression. I think I'd rather have this though than thinking the TV was talking to me and talking back to it. That would scare the heck out of me! Actually, I still think the worse thing out of all this was the anxiety. Oh, and the crying spells! How embarrassing, to be a so-called professional and sitting at work and crying! I still would rather have people see me doing that though than talking to a TV : )
Krysti
Posted by fluffy on November 30, 2002, at 14:07:35
In reply to Re: Is there ever a normal after BP - fluffy, posted by Mr Cushing on November 30, 2002, at 11:55:57
Hey-ya Mr. Cush--
I'm in Houston, actually. And you're right--I am very lucky to be here now. I have the door wide open right now, letting in the fresh air. (probably not FRESH--it is Houston, after all)
But it is about 70 degrees outside...
It's funny, though, because we dream about snow-covered rooves and drinking hot cocoa by the fire. I have about 20 sweaters that get worn once or twice per winter season. But the HEAT!! Oh my...it is truly HELL from late spring to early fall. No-one goes outside, and there is WAAAY too much skin showing..it's kinda disgusting on most people.
Are we gonna get banned from this board for socializing? Maybe I should start typing about Zoloft really quick.
Ta!
Katy
Posted by Mr Cushing on November 30, 2002, at 14:16:49
In reply to Re: Is there ever a normal after BP - fluffy » Mr Cushing, posted by Krysti on November 30, 2002, at 13:45:05
Talking to a TV and having a TV talk back to you would definitely be interesting though, wouldn't it? If it was just for the short term? *shrugs* He's got to be VERY careful though, along with his meds. If he has anything to drink, smokes a joint, or does anything similar, he's completely off his rocker. I made that mistake with him a few weeks back. Never again, and I questioned him about it later why he didn't say something first about what it could do to him.Today, I feel really horrible, not too sure what's going on. I've got the shakes pretty badly. I'm really giddy, it's like I have a ton of energy except I can't seem to concentrate on anything for a prolonged period of time, I'm jumping from reading a book, to the Net, to watching TV, to just walking around the house looking for something to do. But on the other end of that, I'm absolutely exhausted at the same time. I slept 11 hours straight last night and I'm STILL tired. My eyes hurt :-(
I don't think I've done anything too bad over the past few days. I've still maintained my normal sleeping pattern, fall asleep at midnight, but I've been waking up later and later these past few days. At first it was no problem to be back up at 8:30 or so the next day. Then it was 9:30... last night I slept straight from about 12:15 to 10:45 this morning. This obviously is screwing up my medication schedule since I'm trying to take my meds every day at 9AM and 9PM. If I'm still out like a light at 9AM then I obviously can't subconsciously take them then.
I'm also having really weird cold sweats today. I mean, it IS snowing outside pretty heavily and all of that, but the Thermostat says that it's 70 degrees Celsius in here so I should be fairly warm. And I'm cold, but I'm sweating heavily at the same time.
I can't think of anything that I've been doing to really affect me negatively other than smoking a bit of weed over the past week and quitting my Effexor. But today is a week since my last dose of Effexor. Shouldn't things be kind of back to normal by now?
*shrugs* I'm supposed to see my PDoc this Thursday anyways, but if things get worse, at all, I'm going to call her and see if I can push up that appointment a little bit.
Starting to feel a little cooked out again :-(
Posted by Mr Cushing on November 30, 2002, at 14:52:24
In reply to Re: Is there ever a normal after BP - fluffy, posted by fluffy on November 30, 2002, at 14:07:35
You know, that's really weird you being in Houston and all. I was thinking, Texas, no way, not another Houston girl... I met a girl in a chat session back a number of years ago who I was talking to for like 2-3 years just about every day. She was from ummmmm Spring? Is that like a Suburbia in Houston?From what I understand, anyways, we're allowed talking about whatever on this board as long as we keep mediction or 'illness' in it somewhere. *shrugs* So take a look at my last post, see if you have any ideas. God, I feel truly horrible today. Trying to finish out my daily workout and I'm absolutely freezing, but I'm sweating like hardcore. Weird, starting to get me worried...
Posted by fluffy on November 30, 2002, at 15:15:36
In reply to Re: Is there ever a normal after BP - fluffy, posted by Mr Cushing on November 30, 2002, at 14:52:24
I dunno, Mr Cushy--
The chills thing is weird--but sometimes I get them when I'm anxious. What you are describing sounds like either anxiety or maybe coming down with something (you know, like a cold). And the jumpy-ness sounds like anxiety (or hypo-mania).Just do what you need to do--even if it is jumping from thing to thing--so long as it isn't dangerous. And maybe you should call your doc when you can. In the mean-time, hang in there...(i hate when people say that.....) Internet hugs...
To answer your question...Yeah--Spring is totally suburbia. I live in Houston, proper *snobbery*.
later,
fluffy
Posted by Mr Cushing on November 30, 2002, at 15:22:14
In reply to Re: Is there ever a normal after BP - fluffy, posted by fluffy on November 30, 2002, at 15:15:36
The chills thing is weird--but sometimes I get them when I'm anxious. What you are describing sounds like either anxiety or maybe coming down with something (you know, like a cold). And the jumpy-ness sounds like anxiety (or hypo-mania).I agree with that 100%, but at the same time, I can't seem to sleep enough. Whenever I got like that in the past, I knew it was coming because my sleep would start to seriously deteriorate. I don't think I'm getting sick, which could be possible, though because I'm not coughing, sneezing, etc. No build-up, nothing...
*shrugs* I took .25 mg of Clonazepam (Klonopin) which usually gets me straight no matter what's going on. If I'm getting depressed, taking a small dose of that will put me back to close to the normal level. Same thing with when I'm starting to get manic.
Lucky you though... got the screen door open, letting in the air and everything, while I'm looking out the window right now and there must be at least 5 feet of snow on the ground. There is snow EVERYWHERE... I think I'm going to take the dogs out to play in it though lol...
Posted by pork chop on December 2, 2002, at 14:14:54
In reply to Re: Is there ever a normal after BP - fluffy » fluffy, posted by Mr Cushing on November 30, 2002, at 15:22:14
First, all of your posts have been so helpful!
I was recently diagnosed BPII. After years of thinking I was really depressed, but sometimes really happy, I think I've finally got it figured out.
My pdoc prescribed Lamictal as a mood stabilizer. Has anyone ever taken that?
I recently quit Lexapro (20 mg.) and I am having really wierd withdrawal syptoms. Maybe more annoying than wierd. I have random jolts, shock-like feelings that travel through my body. It's getting old fast. I quit over a week ago and yet the syptoms persist.
Anyway, I really appreciate reading your posts. Thanks!
Posted by Krysti on December 2, 2002, at 15:52:45
In reply to Re: Is there ever a normal after BP - fluffy, posted by pork chop on December 2, 2002, at 14:14:54
Hi pork chop,
Glad we could be of help : ) I have never taken Lamictal, but have read some good things about it. I asked my pdoc about it last time I changed mood stabilizers, but she didn't want to try that one right now with me as I have anxiety also and it's not as good for that as some of the other ones (according to her).
Did your pdoc tell you to quit the Lexapro cold turkey? If not, you might want to see if you can wean off a little more slowly. I guess I am pretty lucky that I haven't had any withdrawal symptoms from quitting SSRI's, but I've heard from a lot of people it can be pretty bad.
Good luck and keep in touch to let us know how you're doing : )
Krysti
Posted by Mr Cushing on December 2, 2002, at 16:18:46
In reply to Re: Is there ever a normal after BP - fluffy, posted by pork chop on December 2, 2002, at 14:14:54
Hey Pork Chop, can you keep me updated on what to expect from the Lamictal that you're taking? My Doctor is thinking about switching me from Depakote to Lamictal because I'm still cycling and I'm gaining quite a bit of weight.Anyways, feel free to contribute to our discussion since every little bit of knowledge helps. We're all still trying to figure out what's the best way to control our symptoms...
Posted by pork chop on December 2, 2002, at 18:24:45
In reply to Re: Is there ever a normal after BP - fluffy » pork chop, posted by Mr Cushing on December 2, 2002, at 16:18:46
This is only my 6th day on Lamictal, but so far so good. I'll let you know how it goes. The only thing I was worried about with the Lamictal is skin rashes. I found some scary information about increasing dosage too quickly with Lamictal on the Internet! Right now I'm at 25 mg and will increase by 25 mg each week until I'm at 75 mg. My system seems to be really sensitive to medication, so my dosage really never gets very high.
I just took a 10 mg Lexapro because the jolts were really intense today. It was hard to sit through meetings and talk to co-workers with this wierd shock running through me every few seconds. Hopefully a week on 10 mg, then down to 5 mg will do the trick. I don't know if I mentioned this before, but I was only on Lexapro for 3 months. I really didn't expect this kind of withdrawal. My pdoc called me today and told me to supplement the Lamictal with Lexapro until the side effects subside, which will hopefully be soon!
Mr Cushing: The whole reason my pdoc didn't prescribe Depakote was specifically because of the reported weight gain. I gained around 30 lbs. on Prozac last year and I can't get it off! She told me that although Depakote and Lithium have a solid track record with mood stabilization, she would be really concerned with the weight gain. I'll definitely keep you posted on the weight issue because it's also a big concern of mine!
Did you guys all think your BP was depression at first? Just curious.
Posted by Mr Cushing on December 2, 2002, at 19:38:06
In reply to Re: Is there ever a normal after BP - fluffy, posted by pork chop on December 2, 2002, at 18:24:45
Yep, I read about those skin rashes too, which is what's got me a little bit worried. I'm also really sensitive to medication, especially the side effects (which I tend to get from everything) so I'm not really looking forward to a whole new set of side effects to go through. Yet, I'm not really comfortable with becoming the Human Blimp neither... I mean, no matter how stable my mood is, how are you supposed to be happy when you look in the mirror and see a blimp staring back at you? The scary part is that I've only been on Depakote 5 weeks, 2 at 125mg, 3 at 375mg (I increased from 125 to 375 in a three day period with zero side effects).As for your Lexapro problem, all I can say is that I was only on Effexor for 3 months at 75mg per day and it was a freaking nightmare to get off of that stuff. And now that I'm off, I seem to be rapid cycling. I wasn't rapid cycling on Effexor, but I wasn't too stable neither. Now that I'm off, I'm depressed again and rapid cycling. Go figure... It only took me about 10 days off of Effexor before the withdrawal started to pass me by, but for about 5 days there, I couldn't get out of bed.
I'm concerned with the weight issue simply because I was already "slightly" overweight to begin with, and now I'm 10 pounds heavier in a little over a month. I also just went for like my first MD check up in like 10 years and he said that my cholestrol was through the roof and that I needed to try and lose weight. I need to make an appt with him really soon and let him know that now i'm 10lbs heavier even though I've been exercising every day and being very careful about what I eat. Hell, I'm practically starving myself.
The only bad part about the SSRIs is that, well, with me anyways, once you get off of them, they'll probably want to put you on a small dose of another one. I'm starting back on celexa tonight...
God... I just want to be NORMAL... lol... but I'm not even sure where that is anymore, or if I ever was to begin with
Posted by pork chop on December 3, 2002, at 9:39:47
In reply to Re: Is there ever a normal after BP - fluffy, posted by Mr Cushing on December 2, 2002, at 19:38:06
The discontinuation symptoms I had are gone today-- completely. I definitely came off the Lexapro too quickly.
I was also having rapid cycling, and I'm still not totally stable yet, but being off the Lexapro (almost) has helped alot already. I'm still new to my BP diagnosis, but I'm getting better at recognizing my behavior patterns. I tend to get extremely impulsive, reckless, and irritated by everyone. I can't stand being touched. Then I'll be flying and love everyone. My moods go from changing several times a day, to several times a month.
My pdoc gave me Xanax to help with the transition from Lexapro to Lamictal, but that makes me fall asleep, so I've only taken that once. Does anyone know when I'll start to feel the effects of Lamictal? When did you all notice the benefits of Depakote?
I've been struggling with weight for a few years and I totally agree that it's hard to be happy when your 40 lbs overweight, as in my case. But recently took up pilates and cut way back on drinking (that's gonna be a bummer with the holidays and my birthday coming up), so hopefully I'll see some improvement soon.
Posted by Mr Cushing on December 3, 2002, at 9:49:54
In reply to Re: Is there ever a normal after BP - fluffy, posted by pork chop on December 3, 2002, at 9:39:47
At least you've only cut back, I've just decided, hell, if I'm going to drink and feel horrible afterwards (I've already tried drinking on Depakote) then why drink at all? Been bone dry for going on 6 weeks now and I honestly don't miss it all that much.For the transition to Lamictal, you should have got your Doctor to prescribe Clonazepam (Klonopin). Same family as Xanax I believe, but it's not as strong and it lasts longer. Whenever I start to feel like I'm really starting to drift off course, I just take half a tablet and I'm fine and can operate normally. But then again, since my insomnia is so bad, I'm also taking a full tablet every night to get my sleep.
I'm having rapid cycling on Depakote just because I decided to come off of Effexor, that's why my Doctor suggested I try Lamictal in the first place. I'm still rapid cycling at the moment. So I just quit Effexor, now I'm back on Celexa, going to get some tests done with my MD tommorrow, and then probably starting up Lamictal sometime early next week.
I'm not sure if I ever noticed the benefits of Depakote... I'm not manic anymore, I think it just decided, well, since we can't go up anymore, let's just go down really fast... I definitely don't feel balanced now and I've been on the drug for 5 weeks.
God, I've been on so many different medications during the last few months... Yesterday I decided to give whatever I won't be using anymore back to my PDoc, you should have seen the bottles that I came out with... Full bottles of Paxil, Effexor, Trazadone, etc. I hope something starts to work soon...
Posted by justyourlaugh on December 3, 2002, at 14:35:37
In reply to Re: Is there ever a normal after BP - fluffy, posted by Mr Cushing on December 3, 2002, at 9:49:54
happy to here about the dry six weeks.
its been 4 for me.
was abusing alcohol for years to mellow me out on bad days-was drinking everyday!
many jar of paxil effexor and trazodone too.
on welbutrin now-4weeks-i am still all over the place-im up ,im down,im crying,im yelling at strangers for being so slow-
i'll sleep for 13hours
up for days!
and "i dont remember the kitchen being so foggy"
(marge simpson)
peace
jyl
Posted by Peter S. on December 3, 2002, at 16:29:01
In reply to Re: Is there ever a normal after BP - fluffy » Mr Cushing, posted by justyourlaugh on December 3, 2002, at 14:35:37
Pork chop
Gosh I know exactly how you feel! I've gone of Prozac numerous times and I feel that same electric shock feeling. I may be bipolare 3 or 4 I don't know. I've been taking Lamictal (was up to 600mg, now down to 400mg. At first it was a miracle drug and now the effects seem to be fading. Will be trying Trileptal as a last resort.
All the best
Pete
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