finally got a new pdoc - Bipolar Disorder Message Board

leomia · 04-24-2007, 08:01 AM

hey guys

haven't been on here for a while - this may be long, sorry!!!! I guess I was too busy being manic and stressed out and all that not-so-fun stuff.

anyways anyone who read my last posts about how they kept having me see different docs well I finally have one who is staying with my case so that is good!

right now I am on the lowest dose of everything I guess, .5 mg Clonazapam and 500 of Depakote. she wanted to have me go back up higher on Depakote but I wont because I hate what it does to me so I am just gonna wait it out till they really give me a good proper evaluation.

Its hard though, I am not easy to live with right now and I know this, and I get very upset easily and all the other normal symptoms of BP I guess you can say.

But the dizziness I had from being on too much meds is gone (I was feeling like I could not cross the street because I felt drunk - the fact the meds made me that dizzy. I don't know why they just started maybe because a few days I was on Prozac, not sure if that triggered it.

anyway so I am a bit unstable now but trying to be patient till they evaluate me, she said it doesn't seem like classic BP and that is true I do not get manic often, but I did get that way a few times lately because of not having high enough meds. It hasn't gotten to bad. But cant say it is great either! It makes me push people away even though I don't intend to do that.

My next appt is the 17th so hopefully they can try to get my some sort of therapy along with decent meds not the stuff I am on! I need to switch and hope it will work.

I also have been somewhat of an insomniac and sleep at 4 am or so.

Thanks for letting me just sort of vent....

Leomia

tsohl · 04-24-2007, 08:35 AM

Hi Leomia,

Nice to hear from you. As you can see, some of us are still here!
I'm glad you are coming back for some input and support...that you'll be seeing the same doc for your appointments.

Depakote can make you feel dizzy, like you're very drunk until you get used to it...and every time the dosage is increased, you may feel the symptoms again for a shorter time.

You may not have "classic" mania, but newer research is taking into account the "soft" symptoms of anger, agitation, irritability, lack of sleep, anxiety, etc. These symptoms are more typical of BP2 or Bipolar NOS or what they are now calling "soft" bipolar disorder. These catagories ae being successfully treated with the newer classifications of meds like the atypical antipsychotics that work very well with fewer side effects.

Please keep trying to find the correct meds. It is frustrating while you're searching for the right meds, but when you finally find them, the results will be worth it, and you'll have your life back.

Nice to hear from you. Has Spring arrived in your part of the world?? It is taking its time getting here where I live -- near Chicago.

Tsohl

leomia · 04-24-2007, 09:31 AM

Hey Tsohl!

Sorry I was not on, just busy having issues is what you can call it, and I honestly cant remember the past few weeks. such a blur of.. nothing!

That new research sounds interesting, any way you can let me know where I can research that online or is it just a book you have?

I think that does sound more like me the BP-NOS - in which case what sort of meds do they use? I am still trying to make them put me on somthing like tegetrol or lamictal (anything that wont make me crave munchies! I am trying to go on weight watchers! as that is the only diet I can handle because of points.

I found that out about depakote as well, about a month ago and have been on it for 2 1/2 yrs. sad huh? so I think even more so was the clonazapam but this dose I am on is the lowest it can be I think. Its hard to hold on to get the right meds and we have no money for them - usually over here I get the prescription card and even that is hard. What a bill month! oh well.

Yes spring has arrived and my allergies are crying. I got the short end of the stick, bp, asthma, allergies, you name it! I have been sniffleing all night and cant sleep because of that as well as many other things! when will life be easy!!!

Ok well take care

Leomia