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Dissociative Identity Disorder, ECT, and BP

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Bipolar Disorder
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Posted 8/28/2007 12:42 PM (GMT 0)
What a mouth full. Hello! I have been riding the BP roller coaster for a while now. Had Electro Convulsive Therapy done a little over a month ago now. My first ECT went completely out of hand. My seizure lasted three minutes and change. Not the usual 15-30 seconds. Ended up in emergency, etc etc. However, had another ECT done two days later...voltage lowered, seizure two minutes this time. Horrific headache. And the story stays the same for four weeks.

While staying at the hospital, I was under close observation to make sure I didn't seize up on my own after the ECT events. While observed, my hospital shrink figured I was showing signs of Dissociative Identity Disorder. She compared notes with my long term shrink, and out of no where this new dx came out.

What a month! Long story short...I have tried almost every SSRI and have tried a few benzos and a few anti-psychotics. Now nothing but Tegretol aka Carbamazepine. Just started that after my last ECT, currently at 900 mg and climbing.

Just looking for a few similar stories. Not a whole lot of personal accounts regarding Dissociative Disorder with Bipolar out there. I did a lot of research on BP and the like, but totally blind to DID. And I will just leave it at this for now.

Thank you!
Posted 8/28/2007 11:54 PM (GMT 0)
Hyde,

I wanted to welcome you to the HW family, I am glad you found us. I hope you find the support you are looking for here.
Posted 9/1/2007 5:42 PM (GMT 0)
Hyde,

Out of curiosity how did you get your diagnosis for Dissociative Identity Disorder?  Sorry but it is not a topic we have on HW probably because it is not that common.  I'm with you on SSRIs, they give me bad side-effects and nothing else.  I am glad that the tegretol is working for you, it is hard to find the right combos these days.

Posted 10/9/2007 7:56 AM (GMT 0)
Hi, I'm a new member, Blessing Waters. I was attracted by a message by Hyde concerning ECT and Dissociative Identity Disorder while surfing and looking for info on exactly that topic. What a way to receive anew diagnosis! Sorry for that. We seem to have a lot in common. I am also Bi-polar, with ultra-rapid cycling (can be several times a day) and mixed states. I am currently experiencing a major depression, have had an increase in Nardil (an MAOI) and it has made some aspects of my problems worse, but won't getr into that right now. A doctor has speculated about ECT, as i also, have had a terrible time finding a medication to help my depression and if this one isn't working I am fearful of ECT, most because i don't know how my memory for the pasat will be affected, as it pertains to both memories i have recovered and those i am still trying to draw forward. Perhaps Hyde would share his thoughts on the memory issue. It would help me. As far as the bipolar goes, I'm having a lot of trouble feeling sleepy and wanting to go to bed at night. I'm not sure why, or even if it is related to tghe bi-polar. It began months before my med increase. I didn't go to bed at all two nights ago and 4:00 AM the following night. I slept about 5-6 hours and now it's almost 2 AM and i fee, perhaps, another all-nightger coming on. I do not have a psychiatrist right now, long story, so my family doctor will re-write prescriptions,  but that's all. I have a referral in to see a psychiatristr who actually belpeives in DID. I just pray he'll take me on. I'm so complicated, i also have two eating disorders and Post traumatic stress disorder. However, I'm lucky, as I am still able to do a lot of useful things, like writing books, in spit of all the chaos. I'd love to hear from anyone at all who resonates in any way with what I've said. Enough said for now,

Blessing Waters.(PS I was diagnosed with DID in 2000; I know a lot about it)

Posted 10/9/2007 12:47 PM (GMT 0)
Hello Blessing Waters,

Welcome to the forum. I hope you find the support you need here. I'm going to move your post to the main page in a thread of your own so more people see it. It's good to have you.
Posted 10/9/2007 5:12 PM (GMT 0)

I am most grateful. Thank you.

Posted 10/22/2007 2:22 AM (GMT 0)
Dear Hyde, As far as I know, dissociative disorders are caused from trauma.  I experienced trauma as a child and by the time I was a teenager I had a dissociative disorder.  I felt a disconnect between "me" and my skin.  It felt completely unnatural to be in a human body, like I was rejecting my body.  It got better with therapy, but I still feel disconnected from other people or like there is something surreal about my environment at times.  I also have bipolar disorder and the only thing I've found in common with the two is that stress will trigger both.  I wish you well in your journey to wellness.  Make sure to demand good, attentive doctors.
Posted 10/22/2007 4:21 AM (GMT 0)
Dear Hyde and insaneinsuburbia,
I hear you both feeling dejected by the sruggles, serious struggles that wear you down and make coping even harder. I'll just let the two of you know that i give seminars on childhood sexual ab use and dissociative identity disorder. I've read extensivley, the professional literature and will gladly answewr your questions in an approriate way. I am not a therapist, so I cannot diagnose or treat, but I can make suggestions to help cope and explanations to help you understand your experiences. If a I cross a boundary, someone will let me know and I will be grateful for their observance. Truths can help you deal with reality and give you some bit of power over the crap that wantrs to over-take your life. If I can help, I will. However, I see my doctor in the morning and he's going to gtry to get me into the hospital to deal with my meds. They might not keep me, but if they do, I don't know how long i might be there. Take care everyone and I will send healing thoughts.
Posted 6/9/2013 6:01 AM (GMT 0)
I too am new here. I was diagnosed w/DID and I hate the reality that comes with it. I am looking for support and find that the mental health community where I live is too closed to the realities I experience. I work fulltime in the field but find it harder and harder to maintain normalcy in the hospital system I am currently employed with. I hope to be an asset here and to also receive the support that I need.

Fin
Posted 6/9/2013 6:20 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Fin,

I am going to copy your post and start a new thread for you so your introduction doesn't get lost in this old thread. I'm also going to lock this thread to make sure you get all your welcomes and replies on your new thread. Welcome to HW! I'm glad you've joined! :)

Fin, your introduction thread is located here: https://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=13&m=2757980

Post Edited (Chloe43) : 6/9/2013 12:24:17 AM (GMT-6)

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