Posted by alexa on May 7, 2001, at 13:07:58
In reply to Re: Topomax, Just out of the Hospital, and Bipolar, posted by KarenK on May 5, 2001, at 14:11:36
Dear Karen,
I wonder how your son is handling this as a teenager. I am 29 and handling a career in Mechanical Engineering and he has more on his plate as a teenager growing up and I feel for him and his emotions as well as for you and your concerns. My roommate - who is 10yrs older than I - serves as my best friend and also as my "older sister" - watching over me and my mental health. I love her to death, but sometime, more often than not, the resentment of this chemical imbalance causes me to feel a great deal of resentment toward her that is not her fault - it isn't warranted. But, it is because she loves me that she makes me stick to the rules of the meds, the sleep times, the alchol, etc.
I thought that the Topomax served as the Mood Stabilizer. I just recently suggested to the pdoc to up my dosage to 200mg/day because I was feeling the edginess and moodiness at work and was feeling like I was unable to focus. I also have and have had eating disorder issues currently and in the past and the topomax is working to make me lose weight. I've lost 16lbs so far in 1 month. A year ago I was anorexic and for the past 3yrs have been battling bulimia. So, the Depakote/Zyprexa combo of gaining 40lbs was REALLY depressing for me. It was really awful.Now, I find that the Effexor (450mg), Topomax (200mg), Seroquel (100mg), and Klonopin (.5 4X/day) is working out pretty smoothly so far.
I wish the best for you and especially for your son. I have been hospitalized now 4 times in a one year period and hope that he does not have to experience that at all! I've been learning more with each hospital visit and do not claim to be "perfect" yet. I know that inside of me that there is the side that wants to be healthy and follow the rules. And yet, there is the other side that wants to throw in the towel and say, foget it, it's not worth it, I'm stuck with this awful illness that no one will love me for.
At that point, it is so important for me to remember that I have such a loving family that each and every one in it accepts me no matter what and is not afraid of me and will not treat me any different no matter what I've done - suicide attempts (4 times) (hospitalizations) (impulsive desisions)- that my family will stand by me and hug me and hug me even more and will try to understand my illness. That is all that I ask of them. And slowly, my family is understanding me. It is a slow process, but it makes me happy to know that they are trying their best to understand the highs and the lows and the dark periods and the darker periods.
I wish you and your son the best and I send the both of you a great big cyber hug and kiss.
Love,Alexa
poster:alexa
thread:61343
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010507/msgs/61894.html