Niisa

Hi everyone! I'm new here, and just stumbled upon these boards (fortunately) as I was trying to do some online research for side effects of the meds I'm on- Wellbutrin and Trileptal. I'm fairly newly diagnosed (about 6 months ago- after a hugely stressful and fairly traumatic year or two - the diagnosis was more of a relief than anything) and I can really relate to what I've read here! I've only poked around here a bit so far, but it seems like a great community and I'm really excited to find you!

So here is my first question: I can deal with the dizziness, sleepiness (and lack of sleepiness!) etc., along with all of the opther lovely side effects that you get to enjoy on these meds - only to finally level out and then get your meds increased again, of course- but it seems like I've gotten one cold after the other this entire fall/winter. Like at LEAST one a month. More annoying than anything. Now granted I've been working in a restaurant 6 shifts a week (talk about germs) , started a business about 9 months ago and have been totally flat out, many times into the wee hours of the AM only to get up and go to the restaurant, AND started a medical class that runs 8 hours a week (with disgusting amounts of studying required taht I just didn't anticipate in my frenzied rush into random activities) Add to it the usual need to overacheive issue (love to find a happy medium someday between totally overwhelmed and recklessly driven) that will not allow me to stop or decrease anything I'm doing- except the restaurant, and that I HAVE to do for consistent $$$- or get less than a high A in my class. All of this I started AFTER I was diagnosed and finally got over the initial major gutwrenching part of the depression that finally got me out of my house and to the doc in the first place. I still feel generally lousy, most of the time, but this ridiculous amount of activity probably just takes my mind off of it except when I get overwhelmed. This also feels something like the most I've ever actually had a plan to do something versus just bumping along as life led me. So I feel like no matter what, I can't stop....although sometimes that really REALLY ****es me off.

So back to the question (I swear) ....does anyone else feel like they've had a chronic cold for like 4 months? Off and on, varying degrees of lousiness, sometimes with a cough, sometimes without, sometimes after someone you know has been sick, sometimes all alone in your circle? I've come down with another today, but never really lost the runny nose from the last, maybe three weeks ago. Could it be a byproduct of the meds? Does something I'm taking affect the immune system? Stress? Being tired and rundown? I asked my doc but she sort of brushed me off. I'm otherwise totally healthy, and even the colds that come and go are more annoying than severe or anything. I can't find anyone else talking about this, other than a brief mention in the post to newbies, which made me feel slightly better but as somebody who obsesses completely, still in need of slightly more reassurance! Is this something pretty common? I've been healthy as a horse my whole life, with the exception of migraines that usually don't even stop me. I am so tired!

In rereading this I'm not even sure my post makes sense ( sorry for the rambling) I've never had anyone to ask before today!! So thank you for any reassurance or insight you can provide!