Posted by Lorraine on August 2, 2001, at 11:10:25
In reply to Re: Give me back my hand- (just kidding) » Lorraine, posted by shelliR on August 1, 2001, at 10:26:45
[re: temporal lobe epilepsy]
> >as my pdoc says it's a matter of where you fall on the continuum. I'm not taking the diagnosis very seriously because of this.
>
> Well, if you did, would there be a different treatment plan?I suppose the only difference would be that I would actually believe that I need to take anti-convulsants. He has me on them anyway, but I've always thought that that was just his med preference as opposed to understanding the need for taking them.
> > >I thought, and still think for now I'd rather keep it on the board.
Well, I'm glad that I met Neal and if the opportunity came up I would encourage you to meet the psychobabbler. There is no commitment to meeting someone one time and there is always the possibility that you will meet someone with this illness that can be a real life friend. I have good friends and some of them are depressed, but none of them have the type of treatment resistant depression or the degree of life impairment that I have so it is nice to meet someone who "gets" it without a lot of explanation.
> >
> > > I'm sorry that your first day on parnate was so awful.It was a first day. My second day was better, but not great (I'm still on a low dose--5 mg 2x day and Neurontin 300 mg 3x day). I need to take it up slowly because I don't want hyperventilation to be a major problem. It sort of went away during the wash-out period, when I dropped the selegiline--even though I was still taking Adderal (and Neurontin). I'm kind of draggy. My pdoc says I can add Adderal to the mix, but I have a hunch I won't need to once I get to a therapeutic dose. I was able to REALLY sleep soundly last night and the night before, a luxury that the Adderal had impaired significantly. I also learned that I can make it through a wash out period fairly functional by taking Adderal and Neurontin during it. This is actually good news.
> > >I've been working all evening, then answered two posts from Elizabeth and I am really tired. It's 1am est. But I'll check in with you tomorrow to see how you're doing and respond to the other posts.
The problem is that I was out of town for a few days and then responded to each posting (I should have combined them like I am doing now). You shouldn't feel compelled to respond to my compulsion < vbg >. But the thought is kind.
>
> > > I'm glad that you've met people with alters before; it probably doesn't strike you as completely bizarre then. Again, I do not have the diagnosis of DID; I have been spared a lot of the internal struggling that others go through, and the competition for power, although I have done some difficult work around the fears of the younger ones.Although what is striking to me about DID as well as your situation is how it all becomes in large part a "management" issue--e.g. only letting the little ones talk in the restroom and so forth. There actually is a lesson there for people who do not have alters--namely compartmentalizing when it is appropriate to have certain reactions. For instance, I used to have shame spirals (fortunately therapy irradicated this one). It would have been great to have said ok I can have shame spirals but only at certain times. Maybe not doable, but the effort would have been grand and I'm sure I would have learned a lot in the process. The cognitive therapy piece of the equation for me was to recognize the trigger and the beginning of the thought thread and pull it back in before the spiral got full steam.
> > > I don't know why they still hang out in me, but it's fine with me, and I will be sad if they decide to integrate.
This is such a sweet way of looking at it. Did you ever resist or resent their presence?
Lorraine
poster:Lorraine
thread:67742
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010731/msgs/73100.html