waftam
09-14-2007, 11:18 AM
Why should people with BP be looked at as weird? Why should we have to take mood stabilisers if our manic episodes cause no harm?
I stopped taking the Epilum 7 days ago because I finally worked out that the never ending flu I had was from that. I feel great. My friends and Hubby all say I look and sound so much better the last 4 days. Depression is under control with the Zoloft. I can however feel the mania twitching. Takes focus to keep it under control, but why should I? I enjoy the highs, the work that gets done, the brilliant ideas, the speed to learn new things. I don't hurt any one or myself when up. Don't like the shakes much but can't have everthing. I didn't like the way Epilum slowed me down to a crawl and dulled my thinking back to a 2 year old stage.
The Doc was not happy. Can understand though. Have just been prescibed Zyprexa 10 mg. I really don't want to be taking these.
I reckon norms should be given pills so they can at least try to keep up.
I stopped taking the Epilum 7 days ago because I finally worked out that the never ending flu I had was from that. I feel great. My friends and Hubby all say I look and sound so much better the last 4 days. Depression is under control with the Zoloft. I can however feel the mania twitching. Takes focus to keep it under control, but why should I? I enjoy the highs, the work that gets done, the brilliant ideas, the speed to learn new things. I don't hurt any one or myself when up. Don't like the shakes much but can't have everthing. I didn't like the way Epilum slowed me down to a crawl and dulled my thinking back to a 2 year old stage.
The Doc was not happy. Can understand though. Have just been prescibed Zyprexa 10 mg. I really don't want to be taking these.
I reckon norms should be given pills so they can at least try to keep up.
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Paige1989
09-14-2007, 12:17 PM
Uhhh....the only problem with not taking mood stabilisers is that the mania generally becomes worse and it won't just the hypomania you just described - it can get violent or seriously impend your judgement if full-blown mania hits. Especially if you're on antidepressants - that usually increases the odds of mania. I'd advise taking mood stabilisers. Just because Epilium didn't work doesn't mean that no med would work. It's trial and error...My advice is to give it a shot. Just speaking from experience and from what I've read...
~~Paige
~~Paige
JasonFMX
09-14-2007, 01:19 PM
your post is the exact stereotype that is written about when describing people with mania. while in a manic phase you cant convince the patient they need treatment. like she just said, the mania gets worse, espeically when on an antidepressant. I cant believe your doc gives you that without a a stabilizer, he/she should of just said if your not going to take proper treatment then I can't treat you at all, because thats medically unethical
waftam
09-15-2007, 08:36 AM
The first Doc i went to threatened me several times with Commitment when I told him what the Epilum was doing and I wanted to stop. He never really listened. The last time he made the threat was the last time I saw him. Had to find a new Doc for scripts as I was nearly out. This one actually listened an more importantly heard what I was saying. She understood why I stopped but should of talked about it before I did. The epilum did not control the moods, if anything made them worse. Turned me into a rapid cycler with no brain or feelings. The ups and downs were very short, maybe an hour long with the majority of time spent vacant. The paranoia was ever present and getting real bad.That is no way to live and I can't earn a living that way. The only way to be sure it was the drug was to stop it.
Started the Zyprexa last night. Feel a definate "slowness"? today. I feel calm, not drugged to the gills as before. My heatbeat is not pounding in my ears or trying to leap out my chest as before. My mind is quiet. This I can handle. But, if I end up as before then these I will stop taking these to.
Started the Zyprexa last night. Feel a definate "slowness"? today. I feel calm, not drugged to the gills as before. My heatbeat is not pounding in my ears or trying to leap out my chest as before. My mind is quiet. This I can handle. But, if I end up as before then these I will stop taking these to.
waftam
09-19-2007, 11:26 AM
It has been almost a week since starting the Zyprexa. I realized today that the noise of my heart pounding in my ears constantly for the past 3 odd years may not be normal. I still get the ocasional "Hyper" a few times a day. Last no more than an hour and always comes with the shakes. It is controlable.
It is quiet in my head. I have always had "Voices?" and constant noise in my mind. It's very strange not to have any sound there. It feels almost peacefull. It's very strange.
The Epilum had given me the most annoying twitching which has gone now.
My energy levels are back to where they were before. I can think again. I feel more like my old self. Even want to get back into the hobbies and sports I was doing before. But, is it the drugs or have I just leveled as part of some cycle? This happened straight after I started the Epilum, lasted a week or so (even the flu never really slowed me down) then got dumped again. Didn't even know it till after I had cleaned the mess up.
It is quiet in my head. I have always had "Voices?" and constant noise in my mind. It's very strange not to have any sound there. It feels almost peacefull. It's very strange.
The Epilum had given me the most annoying twitching which has gone now.
My energy levels are back to where they were before. I can think again. I feel more like my old self. Even want to get back into the hobbies and sports I was doing before. But, is it the drugs or have I just leveled as part of some cycle? This happened straight after I started the Epilum, lasted a week or so (even the flu never really slowed me down) then got dumped again. Didn't even know it till after I had cleaned the mess up.
goody2shuz
09-19-2007, 03:20 PM
I am glad that the Zyprexa is helping you out and that you are giving it a fair chance. Like you have noticed, there is reason for you to be on a med to control the manic side of the disorder.
The Zyprexa is an anitpsychotic and will help with the mania but if you still feel the cycling despite being on the Zyprexa and Zoloft a mood stabilizer will really help. It is standard treatment for somebody with BP to be on at least one mood stabilizer. I have heard through the grapevine that Zyprexa does have mood stabilizing effects so you might just do fine with that and the Zoloft. But, as I said, if you seem to have that cycling going on adding in a mood stabilizer may be just what you need to level things out.
To answer your question....I really think that the Zyprexa is kicking in...it usually takes a week or two to start feeling a difference after starting a new med and hopefully this will be a better med for you. It already sounds like you are doing better with it than without it....what do you think???
Keep on posting and remember that the more you work with your doctor the quicker you will come to finding the right meds that work for you with minimal side effects.
Good luck and thanks for the update.
~ Goody:angel: :wave:
The Zyprexa is an anitpsychotic and will help with the mania but if you still feel the cycling despite being on the Zyprexa and Zoloft a mood stabilizer will really help. It is standard treatment for somebody with BP to be on at least one mood stabilizer. I have heard through the grapevine that Zyprexa does have mood stabilizing effects so you might just do fine with that and the Zoloft. But, as I said, if you seem to have that cycling going on adding in a mood stabilizer may be just what you need to level things out.
To answer your question....I really think that the Zyprexa is kicking in...it usually takes a week or two to start feeling a difference after starting a new med and hopefully this will be a better med for you. It already sounds like you are doing better with it than without it....what do you think???
Keep on posting and remember that the more you work with your doctor the quicker you will come to finding the right meds that work for you with minimal side effects.
Good luck and thanks for the update.
~ Goody:angel: :wave:
LoudWhispers
09-19-2007, 03:27 PM
It is quiet in my head. I have always had "Voices?" and constant noise in my mind. It's very strange not to have any sound there. It feels almost peacefull. It's very strange.
Wow. I went on Zyprexa four months ago during an episode and had the exact same experience. I now take Geodon, a different drug in the same family of meds. It was initially so strange to have a "quiet" mind.
It sounds like you're on the right track.
LW
Wow. I went on Zyprexa four months ago during an episode and had the exact same experience. I now take Geodon, a different drug in the same family of meds. It was initially so strange to have a "quiet" mind.
It sounds like you're on the right track.
LW
waftam
09-20-2007, 08:36 AM
Well, wasn't today funnseys. The sun was shining, my mood was excellent, all was good un the world. Went to the Doc for the 1 week check up and blood results. All was good there too. This was at 11 am. At 3.30 pm got a good does of the shakes. Thought, oh well, going up for a bit. Got a bit hyper for around 15 minutes. By 4 pm had, fell into the dark pit at warp speed. The first sign was my eyes started leaking. By 4.30 was bawling my eyes out. absolutely no control. I called the Doc and she could not believe that it happened so fast. Her only advice was to go home, take a couple of days off. I have tried this before and it doesn't help. By 6 pm my ankle was bleeding. Damn, there went the last 2 weeks with no urges(nearly 3 weeks since the last time). At the moment it is foremost in my mind. Have managed to climb some of the way out of the pit. There is some light. But my eyes still continue to leak.
There was no trigger. Nothing bad happened. Nothing even minor. I can't understand it.
The same happened with the Epilum except I was foggy. This time I am more clear headed. One week after starting the drug, some nasty person digs a pit when I am not lookin and I fall in. I am so not enjoying this.
Oh yeah, now I find that I keep hitting the wrong keys. Spend more time backspacing than typing.
There was no trigger. Nothing bad happened. Nothing even minor. I can't understand it.
The same happened with the Epilum except I was foggy. This time I am more clear headed. One week after starting the drug, some nasty person digs a pit when I am not lookin and I fall in. I am so not enjoying this.
Oh yeah, now I find that I keep hitting the wrong keys. Spend more time backspacing than typing.
goody2shuz
09-20-2007, 10:15 AM
Geeeeeez......I am so sorry to hear about the terrible day you had yesterday. Like the pdoc, I am equally as shocked by your drastic changes without even a trigger. I wonder if it truly is the med and what may have occurred if it weren't. I would advise you to be in very close contact with your pdoc while still adjusting to the med. If things worsen you may have to try something else. PLEASE don't give up....there are some cases that show you get worse before you get better. But certainly if you continue staying in this deep pit you must find your way out even if it means stopping the med and trying something else.
Unfortunately some of these meds do have that black label of warning you that the med may lead to suicidal thoughts and depression (don't know if Zyprexa is one of them but I will check into it)so please ask for help if that is the case so that you can be properly monitored.
Keep on posting and letting us know how you are doing.
(((((HUGS))))) ~ Goody:angel: :wave:
Unfortunately some of these meds do have that black label of warning you that the med may lead to suicidal thoughts and depression (don't know if Zyprexa is one of them but I will check into it)so please ask for help if that is the case so that you can be properly monitored.
Keep on posting and letting us know how you are doing.
(((((HUGS))))) ~ Goody:angel: :wave:
waftam
09-20-2007, 11:39 PM
Today sucks big lemons. Woke up feeling down. Eyes are red and swollen. Am trying the positive out look thing but the eyes keep wanting to leak. At work now trying to keep busy. I do hope this wears off and I go up soon.
waftam
09-21-2007, 11:07 AM
Just reread these posts as when I go down I really don't remember things that clearly. Goody2shuz, I gather a pdoc is a psychiatrist? Have not been to one. Went to a psychologist (sorry if my spelling is wrong), with Her and the Doc at the time, they were going to have me committed. They both believed that I was suicidal. I was not. Their belief came from the fact that I " Disassociate" from any and all pain( I do it has its advantages). While I was talking to her I was showing no real emotion. The reality was I was extremely stressed while talking to her. A quivering mess inside. Could not really hear what I was saying because my heartbeat was so loud in my ears. I go back to the Doc and get a very serious threat of being committed. I have a very real fear of this. So no, I have not been to a psychiatrist. To scared to.
Oh, yeah, one second my eyes are all swollen from the sook session yesterday and trying to hold back the tears today. The next some one flicks a switch and I feel perfectly fine. Swelling goes down immediately, red eye balls are gone and I look normal again. Now I have heard about rapid cycling but this is rediculous. Is this normal or am I even more screwed up than others?
Oh, yeah, one second my eyes are all swollen from the sook session yesterday and trying to hold back the tears today. The next some one flicks a switch and I feel perfectly fine. Swelling goes down immediately, red eye balls are gone and I look normal again. Now I have heard about rapid cycling but this is rediculous. Is this normal or am I even more screwed up than others?