HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

What is recovery?

Support Forums
>
Bipolar Disorder
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 9/20/2010 11:05 PM (GMT 0)
Is it the goal of medication? My pdoc took me off my mood stabilizer, Lamictal, because I was having a lot of itching. Am on Cymbalta 120 mg. and Welbutrin XR 300 mg. Diagnosed as Bipolar II or mixed.

Have hardly been out of the house this whole year, except pdoc. On Disability for about 5 yrs. Spend my time in bed, dozing or thinking. Not depressed, just have stopped the struggle to act like nothing is wrong. The relief of stress has been great. At night I think about the next day and what I will do, such as the store. Its been almost a month and haven't done it. Its a lack of motivation. My husband takes care of everythying, cooking, shopping, laundry, He is wonderful. I've never been taken care of before, always been a caretaker. Do you think I am spoiled rotten and lazy? Could be.
Thinking about getting off the ad's, tapered that big dose of Cymbalta in half, not much of a taper. No withdrawal at all. Meds cost so darn much, and question their necessity for me. Have read many posts about Don't go off your meds..of course think I am a special case. My pdoc was at a loss about what to prescribe for me. Suggested starting over. So after I have tapered down on the Welbutrin, then will go to another pdoc in the same group, have to according to Medicare, not alot of choices.

Could it be that I am recovering? Would appreciate your input.
Posted 9/21/2010 1:39 AM (GMT 0)
It's hard to say. You said you look forward to the next day but you still haven't done what you were planning on doing. Have you had any mood swings lately? There is no telling the way the brain works. It would be great if you were though.
Posted 9/21/2010 2:33 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks for your answer. Appreciate it.
No, haven't started going anywhere etc. Slow to action. Absolutely no hypomania, just this flatness for the past 9 mos. No sadness or crying.
That would be great if this were recovery.
Posted 9/21/2010 3:18 AM (GMT 0)
I might use the words a little differently?

To me, coming into balance (with or without medication) is "remission."

"Recovery" is the physical and emotional healing after a mood episode.  I mood might last 2 days for me, and it might take 3 days to recover from it.  I am an ultraradian cycler and those swings are physically exhausting.

Posted 9/21/2010 4:53 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you for your kind replies.

I didn't know there was a diet? I did stop smoking, coffee, diet gingerale, no pop, and milk because I have a horrible disgusting taste in my mouth all the time. MW or TP only lasts 5 min, then the yucky mouth. Don't touch alcohol.

But anyway, is there more to the diet treatment, or what to avoid?
Posted 9/21/2010 12:38 PM (GMT 0)
 

  You know, 2 years in on treating this illness and i get the same things. I think about things i wanted to do, like work on my model railroad, get even a bit excited, but the next day no motivation at all to do it. Not depressed,  just not motivated. Most of my motivation came from the manias, and with them gone i have had to accept that my monster creative side is gone as well. I have recently started back on models, and have to work a bit to get interested. But once i do i am happy plugging away at them for a hour or two.

   But if thats the price i pay to have some control over this beastie then it is a fair price to pay. Thank god interest in other things that i love (cycling, hiking, reading.) has not disappeared.

   Bill 

Posted 9/21/2010 1:44 PM (GMT 0)
TTU - the diet is STRICTLY no sugar, no artificial sweetener, no grain (including potato and corn) and very little natural sugar (like in fruits). If medications allow (ask your pdoc!) high fat. High in vegetable fiber.

It's *almost* a ketogenic diet that can be effective for seizure disorders.

That's about the fastest description I can type. :)
Posted 9/21/2010 7:59 PM (GMT 0)
I have heard of bipolar people on med combos where they are "knocked out" and without energy like that. Are you saying you are on two medications right now? Maybe it is too much now. I at one time functioned GREAT without any meds at all: I worked all the time, exercised everyday, didn't smoke or drink, and didn't even eat meat! Too bad, one Christmas, I made the bonehead mistake of having some drinks and before I knew it, I was having frequent, out of control manic states and I deteriorated like a champ.

I'm hoping to get back on my feet in the next month because it's been rough the last few years to say the least. I think if I can get stabilized, I could possibly live that great life I had before. I guess the point I'm making is... Some people will tell you that you can't get better or that you will always need the meds. A lot of people *will* always need the meds, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. You have to receive input from your doctor but just as importantly, you have to receive input from what your body is telling you. I know for a fact that I triggered my own condition, so who's to say we can't also counteract our conditions? :-)
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply