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Posted 9/20/2005 8:45 PM (GMT 0)
Okay, maybe it's just me but since I restarted the meds I am the clumsiest (sp?) person alive.  I have broken things.  Stepped on my dog.  Almost fell down the stairs multiple times, Fell over in the hall and bruised the heck out of myself on the bathroom door frame and leaned over the table and gave myself a black eye on the chair.  I look like someone beat the devil out of me.  Almost backed into my husbands car ( but that may have been subconciously intentional.  I'm sorta miffed)

Now I've never been the most graceful person alive but this is crazy.  I need to go to the store but I'll probably trip over the curb and break my neck.  I know this sounds funny and I guess it sort of is, but I'm getting a little worried.  Anyone else having this problem?

Posted 9/20/2005 9:38 PM (GMT 0)

I'm right there with you sister! And I don't mean to make light of your situation, but it makes it a little easier to think that there are at least two BP people on the planet struggling to keep the clumsies at bay and minimize the calamities.

Same things happen everytime I make any medicine adjustment or inadvertantly take cold medication and not remember to be extra careful. Its worse when I'm handling hot liquids - like soup - I spilled it ever-y-where yesterday at work on my lunch break and then the other day I was trying to dish up supper and ended up upsetting one dish trying to save another I had knocked askew.

I've just decided that its par for the course and figured there isn't much can be done about it - but maybe someone's got some more useful suggestions ;)

Good luck :-)

Posted 9/20/2005 9:41 PM (GMT 0)
lol, I dropped the entire broccoli curry casserole upside down in the oven the other day. We had subway.
Posted 9/20/2005 10:06 PM (GMT 0)

OMG Ellie, that part about Subway made me laugh-I could picture your casserole in the oven, and see myself thinkin that yeah, it is eat out night tonight, lol! My meds make me clumsy and actually quite weak-I'm not sure which ones you are on. I find when I slow down and do things with more intention (like concentrate on it harder or something),or more purposeful I have less accidents-who knows!! How are you today otherwise?

Shannon2 

Posted 9/20/2005 10:11 PM (GMT 0)
Pretty darn good. I just went back on my meds a week ago. Side effects are easing up and all feels better than it has it awhile. Even got my house clean today. A major accomplishment with a two year old and nine month old trashing it behind me.
I'm on abilify and klonopin for the time being. Waiting to see how I do before deciding to add anything else.
My nine month old granddaughter has roseola and couldn't go to daycare this week so its been a little stressful but it gives my two year old someone to play/fight with. lol Distracted me from the side effects as well and I think it actually may have eased my anxiety more than adding to it. How about you? Doing okay?
Ellie
Posted 9/20/2005 10:54 PM (GMT 0)

Oh, Ellie.  I run around with so many bruises on my legs I look like I'm abused.  Got a new big black and purple one on the front of my thihg yesterday.  I have NO idea where any of them came from! 

If I close my eyes, I will fall down, it's simple.  I constantly drop things, that's what really pisses me off! 

I've never been a charm schoold student, either but this is ridiculous! 

Shannon2 I am glad to see you on today!  Are you doing OK?  When you disappear does that mean you're doing bad?  I know you've been having a rough time.   I had my first mixed episode a couple of weeks ago, it was awful!   and I thought about you - didn't you say you suffer from them?  Or was that Dana?  I try to keep everybody's  "profile" in my head, but sometimes I get confused!

I do hope you're doing ok, sweetie! :-)

Posted 9/21/2005 12:20 AM (GMT 0)
Ellie, I swear I thought it was just me!!! I was walking in to walls, bumping my head, dropping stuff!!! But hey, guess what, the good news is.....yep, you guessed it. That passes too!!!! Sandra
Posted 9/21/2005 1:21 AM (GMT 0)

2 little ones Ellie-YIKES! However I have heard that being a grandparent is more fun!!! Yup, always takes some time to get adjusted to those meds, but boy, is it worth it!!! I am doing well, thanks for asking. You keep on going girl!!!

Shannon2

Posted 9/21/2005 1:32 AM (GMT 0)

Hey Shannon1!!

I have been well, just busy with school and sometimes at a loss for words! I felt like there was an "attack" coming on, but I seem to have avoided it. The akasthisia got bad again, but the clonazapem was making it hard to get up in the am so he switched me to ativan (shorter acting right) and that has worked well. However, I have been craving cigarettes and booze sooooooo bad! He thinks it might be the mirapex (I don't smoke, never had but lately I can TASTE it!) Yes, I am BP1, rapid cycler -my first diagnosis was BP NOS-I think he needed to study me to get to a solid label. The change of season worries me...plus daylight savings, errgh. I guess we all need to be super vigilant. I know I am getting better at identifying triggers and seeing warning signs...

Anyhow, gotta get back to those books-only 7 more months to go-yee haw!

Love to all,

Shannon2

Posted 9/21/2005 12:56 PM (GMT 0)
Does fall affect everyone badly? I love winter and fall. It seems like the only times I can relax at all. Sometimes I close all the blinds in the house and keep it as dark as possible just to help me stay calm. Needless to say, I"m a night person. I'd stay up nights and sleep all day if I could. My two year old daughter would have something to say about that I'm sure. But the teenagers would fall right in for it. Now that there are grandkids involved as well I'm forced to keep the kids schedules more than mine. Except in summer when theres no school then we all are night people.
How's the Abilify coming along this morning Shannon 1
Shannon 2, clonazapam leave you groggy? It used to do that to me at first but lately it just leaves me kinda foggy but not tired at all. I think Ativan works better though.
Posted 9/21/2005 1:10 PM (GMT 0)

Hi, Shannon2!  I'm glad the ativan is helping.  I used to take Klonopin when I wasn't on any stabilizers, and found it actually didn't touch me, haha, many days I remember taking as amny as 8 in a 4 hour period, I was just telling my pdoc it was just "anxiety", how much denial is that lol.  I'm sure she was pullng out her hair on the other end of the phone line!

But now, ooohhhhhhh, it's jsut too heavy, I hate the way it makes me feel.  I hate any tranquilizers, thankfully I really don't need them anymore.

I bet you're really happy about finishing school!  It's such a great feeling of accomplishment, I think maybe even moreso for us, because of the struggle to get through despite being really sick.   An early congrats from me! yeah I dont' understand, you never smoked but you crave cigs?   I have never heard of that?! 

I dread daylight saving, also, it's bad.   But, this will be the first year with Lamictal, so we'll see if it can do the job of keeping me from the bed/couch.   Last year was awful, but when I started it, it didn't take long to work.  Are you still on that huge dose of Seroquel?

Posted 9/21/2005 1:23 PM (GMT 0)

oops, Ellie we must have posted at the same time - didn't want you to thnk I was ignoring you!

Funny, fall and winter are my favorite season, too.  Always have been esp down here, the only time the weather is nice!  It does feel peaceful, calm and quiet.  I eps love when it snows, which it does usually once here.  I miss the midwest, big snows often.  Anyhoo, it does seem to affect more BPs than not, due to the lack of light.   Even tho we can tend to like it dark because of the calming, it's not good for us.  My pdoc has been hounding me to get a lightbox for light therapy in the fall/winter, but darn, they're like $400!!!!!!!  That's a lot to me!!!  Well, now that I no longer have any credit cards it is, lol.

I loaded up on Seroquel last night (and NO abilify, lol) and slept like a log. I do feel rested today, but a little groggy from it.   I'm sure that will pass later, tho.   Thanks for asking!!!!  How about you?

Posted 9/21/2005 1:38 PM (GMT 0)
I'm getting ready to have to switch the abilify to days as well. Not sleeping well of course part of that is that the hubby and I are at war. We have silent wars. He won't discuss anything. Won't fight. Once a few years back I asked him why he was here if he didn't want to work things out, and he said that statement was "kicking him out" and left. Sounds like he was looking to go. I'm just letting it alone for now.
I don't think I've ever taken Seroquel. I might have though. I was on ALOT of meds when I was first DX. That was more than 15 years ago though. Is Seroquel a new drug?
I think the Abilify is making me at the very least a little hypo. Oddly enough when I take the Klonopin with it I get even more so. Not physically so but more in my head. My doctor says all kinds of stuff is normal for the first two weeks and to just wait it out. I'm really not unhappy about it anyway. My house is getting clean and the mountain of laundry is getting done. Except for the stuff under the beds.
I told everyone that if they left dirty clothes on the floor I would kick it under the bed and not wash it. They thought I was bluffing. My husband and stepson think its some kind of joke. Wait till they run out of clothes and lets see who's laughing!
Posted 9/21/2005 1:48 PM (GMT 0)
Good call Ellie, I think I'll try that!!!
Posted 9/21/2005 2:04 PM (GMT 0)
Not any useful suggestions out of me Putter, I'm another victim of the BP med Clumsies!! With my meds it passes, but you are right about the cold meds and for me allergy meds and even my asthma meds!!! Oh Geez, I guess we're stuck with looking like we tie one on at lunch!!! Of course that would be a feed bag, so is that the right euphymisium? Hmmmm, I'll have to look that up!!! LOL Anyway, you know what I mean! I too run around with briuses here and there. Fortunately not my face though. And I'm always always knocking things over! And I had to laugh out loud Putter when you said you knocked one to save the other, that's me in a nutshell!!! Love you guys, Sandra
Posted 9/21/2005 2:24 PM (GMT 0)
I'm looking forward to the hypo part, lol.

Putter, that's hilarious, I must have missed that ysterday, I think i missed everythng, a little dull to say the least!  I do it too, god i hate that!

Ellie, Seroquel is fairly new in the atypical antipsychotic class.   It's highly effective for sleep, I can't imagine ANYBODY who doesn;t sleep, you can take from 25mg to like 900mg, it's pretty dose friendly to say the least!    I take 100-200 depending on the way I'm sleeping at the time.  I love it.

Posted 9/21/2005 3:15 PM (GMT 0)

Oh Girls - you all crack me up - I was just having a 'moment' here at my desk and then I read all the posts and it totally took the edge off. It means so much that I have this place I can go and realize that I'm not as nutty as I feel and there are people who understand even the silly things that can really get to you sometimes. And I think that its important to have a little laugh about it all.

And the whole daylight thing is a big one for me. I have BP II and my pdoc said that SAD is frequently common with BP II. I live waaaaaaay faaarr North and the daylight is to the extreme here (none in winter and not much dark in summer) so I actually have a dawn simulator (part of the light therapy group of devices) - helps to reset your internal clock in the winter when there isn't any daylight to help. I've done quite a bit of reading and it sounds like most people with BP have phase-delayed clocks, meaning that on average they tend to function better in the later part of the day and into the night and therefore have trouble fitting into a more "average" schedule where you need to be alert early in the morning. I try not to think about it too much, but I'm getting in gear to fight the winter blahs.

Thanks for the giggles!

Putter

Posted 9/21/2005 3:22 PM (GMT 0)
I don't really get the winter blahs. I live in the midwest so I'm dying to go and play in the snow. I just can't wait. Theres nothing like watchin those huge silent snowflakes fall. See I'm excited already. It would be even better if it could do it at seventy degrees. I hate cold. lol
Posted 9/21/2005 3:23 PM (GMT 0)

Yeah, like you we get tons of sun here, but not much in fall/winter, so it's drastic as well, and really throws off my usually accurate time schedule.  I notice when I'm depressed I do feel less so at night, when dawn comes, too. 

Where did you find your simulator?

Posted 9/21/2005 4:57 PM (GMT 0)
Ahhhhhhh, Putter I am a morning person, up early early and tend to fade early too, but hate when there is no light so I'm with Shannon, where did you get your simulator?????? I knew they had them and the lights that simulate daylight too. I WANT ONE NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted 9/21/2005 5:31 PM (GMT 0)
http://www.sunshinesales.ca/productssunriseclock.htm

I think that this was the place that I got my dawn simulator from. I love mine. I haven't used it much in the summer, but its a lifesaver in the winter. It even has a "white noise" function for when you can't sleep - it works like magic for me. It might all just be the placebo effect, but when I couldn't make it to work on time ever, it was worth the effort.

I've heard too that sometimes you're able to find places to borrow, or rent the dawn simulators and daylights as a trial - some of the sales people will let you do that. And a lot of insurance will cover them too since they have proven useful in many cases and can often help people to reduce the amount of antidepressants they use for SAD. They actually have a SAD daylight at the library in my town so people can use it in the winter while they're reading.

I used to be an early riser too Sandra, but I just can't do it anymore. I can take a nap anytime of the day though - give me 15 minutes and I can pack in a power snooze like nobody's business. During the week I fade really early too though. I'm still not good about keeping a solid sleep routine through the weekend. I'm too indulgent and let myself sleep in and then stay up late and mess things up for the rest of the week.

Hope you're all having a good rest of your day,

Putter

Posted 9/21/2005 5:35 PM (GMT 0)
I've never slept much. IT just seems like such a waste of time. And a nap will put me in an evil mood for the rest of the day. I know we do better with a healthy sleep schedule,but I'm just like a little kid. I never lie in bed and try to sleep. I'll fight it to the end. It must come and take me by force.
Posted 9/22/2005 8:19 PM (GMT 0)
Hope you're feeling better soon. I personally had no withdrawl from prozac but while I was on a high dosage I was only on it for two months. Plus it did nothing for me. I might as well have taken asprin. Just ate up alot of my money.
Hang in there, it will pass in just a little while I bet. And theres never any reason to be anyone other than who you are here. We don't judge here. Most if not all of us have been where you are and can feel your pain. You'll be in my prayers.
Ellie
Posted 9/22/2005 8:28 PM (GMT 0)

Hey Shannon 1

I am a little late with my reply, oops! I had taken ativan before I was on all of the drugs and it barely touched me. However, especially with 700 mg of Seroquel on board (it still shocks me) half a mg knocks me out!

As for the cigarettes, I have smoked like 5 in my whole life. I don't smoke but the craving still persists-i gave in to the booze the last couple of days-an ounce of Baileys and half a corona. Now there is none left in the house and I won't buy it sooo....bad me.

Fall is pretty, and so far I am still stable and well, I could have been assuming the worst thinking it would mean more changes. But then again I am all hopped up on lith, seroquel and mirapex-oh and ativan sooo...I should hope I am stable-plus it is costing me a small fortune!!!!

Hope ya'll are well...

Shannon2

Posted 9/22/2005 9:06 PM (GMT 0)
Hey, no problem, I know you're very busy, unlike me, lol.

I still can't get over 700 mg seroquel.!!!!!!! confused

I have noticed that's the case!  When I was manic NOTHING touched me, not even 8 mg klonopin a day, nothing!  but now, oh, everything works a  little too well!  Amazing.

Um, how can you be "hopped up" on lith and Seroquel???  That's just wrong, lol.

I am glad youre feeling better, tho, it's about time!

Im obviously not going to be posting as much over the next few days, will when i can, tho. (sis and family evacuated Houston to here in Dallas)  I will miss you guys sooooooooooooo much!

Love, 

Shannon

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