Re: Anyone Misdiagnosed BP & Instead Had Major Depressive Disorder For Years?
I will.... the worst part is waiting. Since I just came back to work about 3 months ago (luckily paid through a program we have here that didn't impact my actual annual leave) I don't want to be out 3 weeks again so I'm having to contend with this until the first part of December.... it's definitely a struggle coming to work and functioning, luckily my boss is aware of my condition and very supportive (at least to my face - but I do think she is sincere)....
Will let you know how the next round of electricity goes
Re: Anyone Misdiagnosed BP & Instead Had Major Depressive Disorder For Years?
tigger, i hope she is sincere and i don't know if you believe in prayer, but i'll pray that you do okay until you have to go and that it will be very successful.
Please keep us all posted. I'm very interested in it.
Re: Anyone Misdiagnosed BP & Instead Had Major Depressive Disorder For Years?
thanks Salty... me too as I do like my job and of course the money I make.... I think they are supportive mostly because they are women (my supervisor and manager both) and it would be worse to have to retrain someone.... you just don't find that everywhere as many companies would just as soon replace you if you miss a lot of work.
Re: Anyone Misdiagnosed BP & Instead Had Major Depressive Disorder For Years?
tigger, i can't imagine how that must feel to like your job and get paid well...that's my second dream come true (you know the first is that someone finds a cure for depression)!
i'm really glad you have that. tigger, how long does the effect of the ECT last? I mean do you go for months feeling better? Maybe it's different each time.
Once again, it's something i've always thought about trying, but have been scared to. I know it works for many people.
Right now I am so tired of going to drs. I just saw my surgeon today, then i have all this dental work to get done and every time i see my dr. for depression, we try a new med and it doesn't work.
Then I think about things like ECT. Do you go to a hospital to have that done? Sorry for the ignorance, i haven't researched it.
Re: Anyone Misdiagnosed BP & Instead Had Major Depressive Disorder For Years?
Don't be sorry for asking as it was all very new to me.... I was always afraid that someday I would have to have it and all I could think of was the movie One Flew Over the Cookoo's Nest! I had never had to be hospitalized before so it was a lot to take in all at one time when I did finally say "nothing's working" HELP.
I was given 3 choiices by my pdoc, (1)meds which hadn't been a good suggestion so far; (2) ECT or (3) a new treatment called TMS which has to do with exposing the brain to magnetic something or other, sounded alittle far out there at the time so I chose ECT.
For the first round of treatment I was in hospital just over a month but that was because I had a bout of losing my marbles after we tried a dual side ECT. They put you to sleep, so you don't remembe anything and then basically create a minor seizure. The amount of treatment you have depends on your depression and pdoc. I had 10 ...... I didn't notice the difference right away, but after about 4 weeks from the start I started noticing how different I was behaving, more social, less grumpy.... our one dog even started paying attention to me (which you have to understand was quite funny as she would avoid me like the plague before) - so I would say I had pretty good success. I'm just hopeing the next round works as well.
Some people are lucky enough from what i've been told to just have one set of treatment and then medication works well. I haven't been that lucky yet. I plan on having another 9 treatments the first 3 weeks of Dec. and then we will do monthly maintenance (1 treatment a month) which I will just go into the hospital in the morning, have the treatment and then go home.
After going through just about all the old time antidepressants/mood stabilisers, etc.... ECT just seemed like it was worth a try.
Re: Anyone Misdiagnosed BP & Instead Had Major Depressive Disorder For Years?
Thanks for writing all that tigger. I appreciate it. I understand much better now and I'm sure others are interested too.
I give you so much credit for doing that. Instead of being brave like you, I'm just sitting by not doing anything right now having been so fed up with meds not working and really tired of going to the dr. so much.
I've got to do something though and I really think it's great that you are doing this and I wish you so much luck.
I was close to doing the vagus nerve stimulator and I chickened out at the last minute.
It's still unbelievable to me with the technology that we have today that someone hasn't come up with something easy to really help depression and bipolar.
Let us know how it goes. I will be thinking about you during that time.
Re: Anyone Misdiagnosed BP & Instead Had Major Depressive Disorder For Years?
Tigger,
You mentioned that you will be having 9 ECT treatments during the first 3 weeks of December. Does that mean you'll be having ECT treatments every day or will your pdoc spread out the treatments every other day?
Will your pdoc keep you on meds once your monthly maintenance treatment is finished?
I sincerely wish you all the best and hope you'll continue to keep us updated on how you are doing!
Re: Anyone Misdiagnosed BP & Instead Had Major Depressive Disorder For Years?
Treatments are Mon - Wed - Fri.... tues and thursday are left to recoup as I say. I will stay on meds thoughout, but I am hoping that we can reduce my zyprexa back to 5mg or 10mg as we have had to take it up to 20mg right now just to keep me somewhat balanced. My ECT is in addition to my meds at least as this point as neither ECT alone or meds alone seems to have the impact I need. I'm just hoping for the same success with ECT I had back in May.........
Re: Anyone Misdiagnosed BP & Instead Had Major Depressive Disorder For Years?
tigger, i'm just back to the boards after being sick (and then unfortunately will probably leave for awhile after an operation next week), but how did it go?
Re: Anyone Misdiagnosed BP & Instead Had Major Depressive Disorder For Years?
Quote:
Originally Posted by salty
Hello. If so, what have you tried, what has worked for you?
I'm so desperate right now, the depression is so bad.
Lexapro is the only med. that has worked for me but it's not enough right now.
Anyone been in a similar situation and has added another med. to the Lexapro?
I would really appreciate ANY feedback.
Thank you.
Salty
hi salty. i was misdiagnosd with depression because pdocs only ever saw me when i was depressed. am actually bp with dysphoric mania which means i get manic while also depressed. my sister was misdiagnosed with clinical depression and finally last year dxd with major depression and she takes welbutrin, ritalin and cipramil which she finds works for her. don't know if this is of any help.
Last edited by irishwriter; 02-22-2009 at 04:16 AM.
Re: Anyone Misdiagnosed BP & Instead Had Major Depressive Disorder For Years?
Thank you irishwriter.
Lexapro isn't working like it used to so I've been trying the new add-ons for ADs. Abilify worked for the depression and i was really hopeful but i had a severe allergic reaction to it so i can't take it.
It always helps me to hear what others are taking for depression.
I'm having hair loss now and I hope it's not from the lexapro.
I don't want to go off the lexapro because it was the only AD that ever worked. I really wish I could have stayed with the abilify...i can feel i'm sinking again.
WB made me so jittery and anxious (i also have anxiety).
Thank you for posting. I hope you and your sister stay well.
Re: Anyone Misdiagnosed BP & Instead Had Major Depressive Disorder For Years?
salty,
yes lexapro can cause hairloss. i have read on other boards that centrum silver helps with this, it could also just be seasonal, at different times of year we naturally lose some of our hair. having said that i used to have chronic idiopathic urticaria (for three years) and insisted that my hair was falling out due to meds, docs didn't believe me and told me i would have to live with condition for possibly ten years. went to a homeopath and he sorted me out immediately and was able to go off all meds for that. they had me on about eight different anti histamines and steroids regularly. delighted that's ended as itch all the time was night mare never ming all the lesions all over my body! btw am currently on lexapro 10, abilify 10, lamictal 275 increasing slowly, klonopin xanax and thyroxine (thyroid is fine but supposed to help with depression). hope you feel better soon. am two days off sh and am hoping contract with pdoc will help with this.
Last edited by irishwriter; 02-23-2009 at 03:01 AM.
Re: Anyone Misdiagnosed BP & Instead Had Major Depressive Disorder For Years?
irishwriter, this hair thing has got me so down. As i wrote before i hope so hard it isn't my meds...i'm on clon. and think i will have to try lamictal again because i can feel the depression coming back.
Ab. was so great for that...i try to remain positive, but i can't believe i was allergic to it...wondering if the depression will ever get under control.
I really hope my gyn. can sort this out after my operation. Thank you for hoping i'll be okay. I find myself crying all the time again--not good. I end up with such a headache afterwards lol!
I'm on centrum, but the silver does not have iron in it...i don't know why it doesn't but don't want to go without iron.
A member posted that selenium and zinc helped, but i think i should wait until i have all the tests done (ferretin, thyroid and hormones).
I don't know if i'm just scared or what but i'm having a hard time controlling my emotions.
Been taking low doses of clon. to help with the anxiety, but it's just helping a little.
irishwriter, i've been on lexapro for so long...do you think hair loss would happen from that after all this time?
Re: Anyone Misdiagnosed BP & Instead Had Major Depressive Disorder For Years?
salty. lamictal might be boosted by lexapro so it really might be worth a try. good luck with pdoc appointment and gyn one. it is such an awful disease to deal with. kat posted on another thread about something else for hairloss but i cannot remember what it was! maybe it was even on this thread! sorry brain fog kicks in sometimes! almost into day three without sh but heading toward dangerous point when they start to heal and then it is more difficult to resist. thinking of you.
Re: Anyone Misdiagnosed BP & Instead Had Major Depressive Disorder For Years?
Quote:
Originally Posted by irishwriter
hi salty. i was misdiagnosd with depression because pdocs only ever saw me when i was depressed. am actually bp with dysphoric mania which means i get manic while also depressed. my sister was misdiagnosed with clinical depression and finally last year dxd with major depression and she takes welbutrin, ritalin and cipramil which she finds works for her. don't know if this is of any help.
Hey, I'm new on this board. Kinda nice. Doctors said I was Bipolar for almost a year now. Switched Doctors because of my Insurance, seeing a new one now who said that major depression and bipolar is the same thing. I am taking Trilepital 600mg. once in the morning and two at night, along with Buspar 40mg. once daily. It's been a few months that I haven't been switching my medication. This adjusting my medication has been questionable. I feel alittle bit better. But I am still depressed and still I am not motivated. Still don't look for a job. Seems to overwheming. So I don't know what to do. My therapist thinks I am doing better. But I don't.
Re: Anyone Misdiagnosed BP & Instead Had Major Depressive Disorder For Years?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Not Right Yet
Hey, I'm new on this board. Kinda nice. Doctors said I was Bipolar for almost a year now. Switched Doctors because of my Insurance, seeing a new one now who said that major depression and bipolar is the same thing. I am taking Trilepital 600mg. once in the morning and two at night, along with Buspar 40mg. once daily. It's been a few months that I haven't been switching my medication. This adjusting my medication has been questionable. I feel alittle bit better. But I am still depressed and still I am not motivated. Still don't look for a job. Seems to overwheming. So I don't know what to do. My therapist thinks I am doing better. But I don't.
hi and welcome! major depression and bp are so not the same thing!! do you have a psychiatrist/pdoc? if not see if you can get to see one? i don't know anything about the two drugs you are on. i am bp with dysphoric mania, which means mostly manic lows with no or only mild highs! it is awful to be living such a difficult life. i haven't really been able to work for over a year now but am still getting paid because they are afraid i'll take a bullying action! was bullied severely at work. it is not a lot but it keeps me going. i used to have four other jobs but had to give them up!
talk to your therapist about still feeling so low and she/he might refer you to a pdoc. take care and welcome again.
Re: Anyone Misdiagnosed BP & Instead Had Major Depressive Disorder For Years?
That letter was perfect brit5467! It IS ME! I was diagnosed and started medication for depression about 12 years ago. When I was first diagnosed, I was employed and had health insurance. Needless to say, medications and therapy did not help in time for me to keep my job and health insurance.
So I struggled along, living on Zoloft for 10 years. I too began to show signs of mania, without knowing what it was. I went from days in bed to being up for 48 hours without sleep. I engaged in risky behavior and used alcohol to calm myself down when I started going too fast. Soon the 'up' time became much less and I spent more and more time in bed.
I ended up spending a year in bed, until I could no longer stand it. One afternoon I started drinking and popped about 85 pills and washed them down with a glass of vodka. That got me to an emergency room and a four day stay in the local behavioral center, where my meds were finally changed and I was diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder.
After taking the new meds for a few weeks, I was a new person... for a while. In 2 months I had went back to school full time, landed a job managing a local produce market full time, joined a gym and started working out several times a week.
I kept this pace up for about three months...which led to having a few drinks after work to relax...which led to a couple of casual flings... Life was fun! Exciting! I was on the ball!
Then, one morning I was going to get up for work and realized I couldn't move. I hadn't the energy to lift my hands off of the bed. I stayed in bed for four days, went back to work for four days, then retired to my bed for good, for the last 6 months. Even getting up to go to the bathroom was an overwhelming task.
I lost my job and had to withdraw from school. I have exhausted my savings and am close to being evicted.
I recently started therapy again where Bipolar Disorder was finally mentioned. I still have no health insurance, so local Comprehensive Care is my only option.
I enrolled in school again for the next semester and have applied for SSI disability. Hopefully I can keep up the school schedule so I can at least get access to some more financial aid. I also hired an attorney to help with the SSI.
I have worked a full time AND part time job for most of my life since I was 17 years old. The last few years have been pure HELL with very few "good times" here and there. I was told I can get help quicker if I go to a crisis unit for a few days. I still might do that before school starts.
So many things in your letter are familiar to me. If you got help...perhaps there's hope for me.
Thanks a lot,
thunderwinds
Last edited by thunderwinds; 03-28-2009 at 04:28 PM.
I had never had to be hospitalized before so it was a lot to take in all at one time when I did finally say "nothing's working" HELP.
