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sick of hypomania and mixed states

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Posted 10/19/2006 3:34 PM (GMT 0)
For the past several days I have had mixed states and periods of hypomania.  I see my pdoc today and he will probably increase the trileptal again.  He has me taking 25 mg. of seroquel at nite with 1 mg. klonopin and 10 mg. ambien to sleep.  It works.  But now I am having these mixed episides again in the daytime.  It pushes my partner away--I get obsessive, worried, jealous, ruminate about being unattractive, etc.  I try hard to keep my mouth shut because I know it is "my stuff" but I know I am hurting him and us.  Any ideas on how to contain this stuff?  I talk to my ther. and she says "contain" but when I am mixed and hypo this is hard to do.  Everything feels urgent.  After he left for work this am I called him and we had words.  I feel awful now which doesn't help with the mood.  I was "up" when I woke up.  Took half a seroquel and .25 mg klonopin  and went back to sleep for two hours.  But I already owe him an amends.  We went through this yesterday.  I am just now getting back to work after a summer off due to the bp and we have had to cut me to 6 hrs. because it is too stimulating and activating.  I am sick of feeling this way and sick of being mixed and sick of being bipolar!

Sue

Posted 10/20/2006 7:34 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Sue,

This up and down stuff is really debilitating, I know -- so sorry it's happening. (((Sue)))

Have you tried other meds before arriving at the Seroquel-Klonopin mix? Klonies are really a short-term fix and I would have thought something for your anxiety long-term might be beneficial (an anti-depressant with anti-anxiety properties). Does your pdoc discuss all the various options with you? Does he feel that the current meds are working in general? Do you?

Could you try keeping a journal for getting out all those things you want to call your partner about? That may help you to "contain" this stuff. That way, too, you can revisit what your feelings are and try to work out if there are any issues to work out in therapy. -- And it would help you to be able to talk through this process in therapy anyway.

Let us know how that appointment goes, eh?

Rosie x
Posted 10/21/2006 9:34 PM (GMT 0)
Sue,

I am sorry about what you are going through. I had a hypomanic, then a mixed-state episode for almost a month a few weeks ago. I was a mess, and still don't feel any closer to normal. I was on Lithium and Trazadone before the episodes. I then continued on Lithium and Seroquel for a while. I felt calmer with the Seroquel, but I couldn't sleep on it at all. That is the exact opposite of what it helps some people do, sleep. I was on Trileptal for about 3-4 months in the past, but it was never been enough to stabalize me. Right now my pdoc had me back on Lamictal, Lithium and Zyprexa. So far so good, but I feel like I am dazed all the time. I sleep too much on the Zyprexa, but it is better than the (2-3hrs a night). I hope you getter better soon, and you and your pdoc find the right solution.
Posted 10/21/2006 11:42 PM (GMT 0)
sue,

i want to give you a cotra-opinion.  DON'T EVER TEMAP THINGS DOWN.  i tampted things down when i was a child anddd when i was a teen-ager and when i was a young man.  then i exploded al over the place.

those thoughts and concerns, no matter their sourse, are real to you and have to have some place to go.  if your b/f really loves you he will learn about your illenss and help you hrough your difficult times.  when i'm off and say something to mywife she stops and asks where that came from.  usually it's my illness.

conside letting it out  no secrets.  totally open.  scary huh?  great love and great relationship in return.  remember dr.  phil says you can't fix what you don't acknowledge.  :-)

warren

Posted 10/22/2006 12:00 AM (GMT 0)
I feel your pain, Sue. I get sick of it too and I'm really sick of it today.  Must be something in the planets or something because a lot of people I know are going through hard times right now emotionally.  The only thing that helps me is to stay busy.  If I can keep my mind busy I do much better.  Right now, I am reading a  good mystery novel and that helps a little.  I wish I could get busy and clean my house but I can find absolutely no motivation to do that of course, and the dirty house makes me more depressed and on and on it goes. Anyway, I hope you work through this funk. I like the idea of keeping a journal.  Staying "contained" is easier said than done, because it is so important to get it out of your system.  Anyway, I hope you feel better soon.
Posted 10/22/2006 1:23 AM (GMT 0)
Hi everyone,

 sue, I was also on trileptal and it didn't stabilize me either. I was swtched to lamictal, and now my pdoc has added lithium. I also take an antideperssant, lexapro and kolonipin.  Have ou been on different combinations of medicatons in the past that have worked better? I keep the k . at the lowest dose possible. I know I am dependent on it and would like to go off it. My doctor said when I am ready that he will switch me over to something with a shorter halflife (zanax, or something like that), and I will have to wean slowly and then off the zanax, or whatever he uses, slowly. If you can stay on as low a dose as possible, it will be best.  It is very hard to get off of it, but it works excellent for anxiety. 

I hope you can get past this hypomanic state and get stabllized. It is awful to be in mixed stated like that. I have been having troulbe too because I am weaning off a medicaton called prednisone which messes with my emotions,as well as physical body. I stay fatigues all the time, and even on all the meds. I am depressed.

.

As far as being *****y, tell your hubby, or b/f (can/t remember which), that you are having a hard time and that you need support right now. I know all about flying off the hendle when you're in a state like that, but try to think before you say anything. I have to do thal all the time. I have a tendency to really want to control.

I hope you are doing better by the time you read this

Judy

 

Posted 10/23/2006 2:57 PM (GMT 0)
I am still cycling-my pdoc increased trileptal from 600-750 on thurs. but I had a headache for three days that hurt so badly I could barely see.  I dropped it back to 600 yesterday and feel a little better.  I am not sleeping too well either despite klonopin, ambien, and seroquel.  I sleep maybe 6 hrs. and then wake up on and off for another one.  I am retaining a lot of fluid also.  I am not to take a diuretic anymore because it icreases the riak of a side effect from the trileptal.  I took one anyway, day before last and lost 4 lbs. that day.  Sometimes when I am very puffy I wake up short of breath.  I have emailed both docs today about this but no answers for awhile I guess.  Meanwhile, I feel panicky, tired and racy.  Yuck!

Posted 10/23/2006 5:14 PM (GMT 0)
Sue,

I"m really concerned about the headache. Your doctor should be looking at these symptoms very closely. Is there a reason why he has not prescribed lamictal or Lithium. I am surprised that the klonipin isn't helping you sleep. I'm stumped. You must really be super hypomanic to not sleep taking klonipin, ambien,and seroquel. It could be that the trileptal is working against you. 

I would be on the phone to my doctor if I were you.

Keep in touch,

Blessings and Wellness,

Judy

Posted 10/23/2006 6:03 PM (GMT 0)
Judy,
I used to take lamictal and it worked well. Then this summer something happened with my metabolism--I lost 38 lbs. in 2 months and was so depressed I couldn't leave the sofa. I was on abilify with the lamictal and topomax. He took me off the abilify because it was causing side effects and since then I have been having a hard time with any meds. I only had a brief trial of lithium years ago and I got very ill. I question now whether it was the med or the flu. I was sick for two weeks. I am afraid of lithium since I have struggled with weight and am also diabetic type 2. I have been wondering lately if it may not be worth a try again. I am really feeling pretty hopeless and wondering if I will ever feel any joy again.

Sue
Posted 10/23/2006 6:32 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Sue,

Are you still on Lamictal? (I know I've probably asked before...sorry!). If not, your doc may not be putting you on lithium or Lamictal at present because he's still trying to stabilise you through short-term "crisis" type meds (whereas lith and Lam are long-term maintenance meds). In any case I'd really want you to get him to go through what his thoughts on your meds are and what the plan is. I know it's much harder to find the right meds for controlling acute mania than for maintaining a more "normal" state, but it would really help you to know the plan. And, like Judy, I'm a bit concerned at that headache. Chances are, when your doc hits on the right mix to get you back to a more stable state (and, sadly, the meds game can be a bit trial and error -- takes some persistence!), medicating you will become much simpler.

Have you had any checks to see what's going wrong with your metabolism? That sounds like it's really worth investigating, because it's possible your body's not processing food (and therefore meds) right as a result, and lack of nutrients could be keeping oyu off-kilter as much as anything else (probably more!). Do push for some more investigation into this!!

Rosie x
Posted 10/23/2006 7:52 PM (GMT 0)
Sue,
Do you have a good PCP? Is he/she keeping in touch with your pdoc? That is a lot of weight to lose. I wonder if the Lamictal caused it?????. Have you been tested for any liver problems? Some of the psych drugs cause an increase in the liver enzymes, and they can damage your liver. I think that is what caused my autoimmune liver disease.

When you said you coudn't get off the couch, was that fatigue?

You know 20 years ago if this was happening you would be in the hospital with your medicaton being monitered until they got it right, and you were stablized. Now they just hit and miss with the meds. I know going into the hospital seems drastic but sometimes it's the best thing to do.

I think lithium is worth another try too. If the same thing happens, you will know. sometimes the side effects last a few weeks. IF if works, it really is worth it!!

Judy
Posted 10/24/2006 10:03 PM (GMT 0)
Sue,

From what I understand, it is not normal to go above 450mg of Trileptal as a mood stabilizer or otherwise. That is probably the reason for your headaches. It is not right for your pdoc to keep increasong your dose, especially when you bring your side effects to him. I am not sure what the long term your of higher doses will do, it could be a bad thing. Fortunetly, my pdoc listens to my questions and concerns. He also told me that sometimes increasing a drug doesn't increase its effectiveness, but the side effects, so please get it checked out. I hope you are going to feel well soon.

xoxox
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