Posted by andromeda on June 22, 2007, at 16:56:12
HiI
My dx--ulta rapid cycling bipolar II mixed states. My Pdoc just has me as bipolar II. She has seen me for 3 years. She usually writes on my form after seeing me Major Depression though. Med sensitive. More depression thanhypomania. Hositalized once 15 years ago was dx bipolar NOS
Medicated into my first mania. Prozad dose doubled.
I currently take 200 mg of Lamictal in AM
150 mg of Lithobid PM
12.5 Seroquel PM SleepFinally figured out what I need instead of what the pharmaceutical industry wants me to take.
Extremely low dosing when it comes to anti-depressants anti-psychotics and ADD meds.
I need higher dosing on anti-convulsants? Have to check records, usually gave up on them because weren't working. Not a lot of side effects either.
Lower dosing with Lithium after a major mania than taper off.
Very Low doses of anti-anxieties? 2.5 mg of Ritalin in AM eventually caused my last round of mania extreme.
My Pdoc's which have been many could not see this pattern over the last 15 years. I just figured it out today and I am going to obtain all my mental health records to get a better idea of exactly what I have taken, for how long, and the dosage. I couldn't keep my own records because of the freaking bipolar. I printed a form off of Depression/Support Alliance called a Trouble Tracker from their website. I recorded my meds and symptoms for the last 6 weeks on a weekly to daily basis as needed. Recording med changes and relief or non-relief of symptoms. Its a really easy system to keep track. I bugged my Pdoc if no improvement or worsening symptoms instead of waiting around for my next appt which could be 3 to 8 weeka. I added the seroquel without her approval however but I do see her after the weekend. I had a sample 100 mg Seroqul. I could never take it at that dose. Found on the boards how to use it for sleep.I also moved the Lamictal to AM instead of PM. I am doing good so far. Adding the low dose of Seroquel helped tremendously. Without these boards/crazy meds boards/mcman/ivan goldberg/internet etc. I would have never been able to figure out any of it. I never gave up.
Don't give up. Become an advocate for yourself or find someone to be your advocate if you are to ill to do so. It took a long time because I could not concentrate or my memory sucked most of the time. I would get overwhelmed with all the combinations. Get your records. Find the pattern if you have been doing this a long time. If your med sensitive or require normal or high dosing be aware of that. Listen to your symptoms and side effects. Do something different. I know that the dryer my mouth gets the worse the med is for me and I need to get off of it immediately. Do something different. I know my Pdoc is overwhelmed and working within limited time constraints. Help the Pdoc help you.
I still have some isolating going on and will be starting psychotherapy once again next week. Mainly to keep me on track and see what I can do to help myself and hold me accountable. Just having someone help me look at my mood charting would help. May see something I don't. I haven't been to therapy for 4 years. I couldn't do what was asked of me because of the freaking bipolar not being treated. I don't know if this med combo will last but at least this time it cleared up my head enough to find a direction to go. Find your magical beans.
poster:andromeda
thread:765050
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/alter/20070601/msgs/765050.html