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Posted 10/22/2007 11:33 PM (GMT 0)
my name is karisa

im new to this

bipolar disorder majorly effects my life

ive been on numerous numerous different meds

and am now going off of them so i will stop gaining weight

so just saying hi,

and letting you all know im new.

bye now

Posted 10/23/2007 12:02 AM (GMT 0)
Karisa,

I wanted to welcome you to th HW family and the Bipolar Forum.  I'm glad you found us, I hope you find the support you are looking for here.

Posted 10/23/2007 1:39 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Karisa:

Let me say hello too and welcome to the forum. It's good to have you. Medications are a super-personal decision, of course, but have you talked to your doc about meds which won't cause weight gain?
Posted 10/23/2007 3:28 PM (GMT 0)
 

Hi Karisa,

How are you feeling today? I know some of the medications had me gaining weight. But there are a lot of medications out there and you should really talk with your psychiatrist and let him/her know that this is really bothering you and you would like to try some without/minimal weight gain.

This is very important! You absolutely shouldn't go off of your meds by yourself and I hope you aren't doing this alone. There can be some serious side effects with going off all of your medications. You need to first talk with your doctor.

Please continue to let us know how you are doing. I'm glad that you found us.

 

Posted 10/23/2007 4:14 PM (GMT 0)
i do not talk to my doctor until friday.

there are the two main reasons i cant continue my meds

1-i cant afford it

2-weight gain

it also makes it hard because i do not have any support

from anyone over myself.

my family has shut me out because of it,

and my friends just do not understand.
it makes it a bit harder,

but most of the time im manic over being low

and when i do go low, it is really rough, but only last a few days,

and then im back to fast paced mania.

i guess you just learn to live with it.

but i have been trying to find somewhat of a support thing.

to maybe see if it would be something else that could help me out.

thanks for listening
Posted 10/23/2007 4:26 PM (GMT 0)

Hi Karisa,

Glad that you got back to us. I'm sorry about the insurance not being able to cover your meds. You really need to let your doctor know this so he can adjust your meds properly to fit your budget or offer you some direction in this area to get help.

I'm sorry you have no support from family and friends. Joining a support group is a very good idea! So glad to hear that you are up to that because support groups are so very beneficial. Ask your doctor again. He/she should be able to direct you to one in your area.

And don't forget us here. You are always welcomed and we will be here to also support you, so keep posting.

May I ask how old you are and if you work or go to school or have children? We have people on here of all ages and it would help us if we knew a little bit more about you so that we can give you the most support as possible.

Posted 10/23/2007 4:40 PM (GMT 0)
Finding the right meds that won't make you gain weight is tough. Most of the meds out there make you gain weight. Except for the newer ones that are very expensive. I went almost 2 years paying out of my own pocket and it was outrageous. I am sorry you have to go through that.

I know what you mean about the mania depression. When I am manic it seems like an endless time, but when I am depressed the most time is less than two weeks. But it is very intense time and I get very impulsive, more than when I am manic.

I am sorry that your family is not supporting you, I am in a similar situation. Hang in there and know you are not alone.
Posted 10/24/2007 2:32 AM (GMT 0)
Absolutely you are always welcome here. We're a warm fuzzy group and will tap into our collective wisdom and try to help whenever possible, or just pass out electronic hugs if needed.

There are programs available to help patients pay for drugs, and many prescriptions are available pretty cheaply if you talk about your money needs frankly with your doc. For example, Target offers $4 generic prescriptions. Several psychiatric drugs (but certainly not all) are available generically. Also, the drug companies supply doctors with lots of free samples, so if you're in need, tell you're doc. He or she probably has a stash locked away. I've gone (literally) for months this way.

Weight gain: a little story...

A good friend of my FINALLY went to see a psychiatrist after years of me hounding her to. She'd been seeing her regular doctor for years and he'd been giving her Paxil for depression. It wasn't working on the depression. She was getting more and more depressed. He'd give her more paxil. She was gaining weight because she was depressed. He'd give her more paxil and lecture her about her weight.

Finally she went to a psychiatrist who told her Paxil causes weight gain, especially with long term use. She put her on Wellbutrin instead. Ta Da! The difference between a family doc and a psychiatrist: how well they know their drugs. Talk to your doc about your weight gain worries. He or she knows what the effects are and can help you there.

Many BP people do try to go without drugs but it's not an easy route. You need to be very vigilant about your diet and exercise plan, and frankly, it requires a great support system. It sounds like you have a crummy support system.

Tell us a little bit more about that, and maybe we can help give you some ideas for how to find free help in the community.
Posted 11/14/2007 2:04 AM (GMT 0)
i am 18 years old, and i do not have any kids

at the time i work at shopko.

i get to see my doctor tomorrow morning at 9.

a little while back i had decided to go back on seroquel.

which i do really enjoy, but when i run out for a couple days,

it is so hard on me. when i dont have my pills, i dont sleep

and seroquel is so rough to come down off of.

so im doing my best to keep on it.

becuz i cant afford paying for a prescription of it, my doctor

gives me samples to take, which works out just fine for me.

i also joined a support group in my town for bipolar.

ive gone 2 times so far, and it is ok.

we meet every 1st, 3rd, and 5th monday of the month.

and my grandma on my moms side of the family goes with me,

and will continue to go with me each time. she right now is my sole

supporter, and im very greatful for that. ive been going thru some rough times

with feeling not worth anything. when im driving home some nights,

i think about crashing and dying alot. with the holidays being so close, that

is hard also. im not invited to my family thanksgiving on my moms side becuz

at the moment she doesnt want anything to do with me. so when that comes

it will be kinda hard, im not sure how christmas will work out either, but if

it turns out how thanksgiving will, i know i wll be admitting myself into

the hospital for a visit. which doesnt bother me thinking about it

i like the hospital, i like the break from reality and the time i get

not having to worry about anything. i really dont know what to say

at this point anymore. it has been a long day, and im tired.

so im most likely off to bed.
Posted 11/16/2007 2:48 AM (GMT 0)
Karisa,

How did the doc appointment go, good I hope.  I am glad you are able to get the meds you need for free.  Meds can get very expensive.  I am also glad that you are going to a support group and you have a family member to go there with you.  That is great!

Holidays are tough, hang in there, and talk to your grandma about it.

Please continue to post and let us know how things are going.  We are here to support you.

Posted 11/16/2007 3:09 AM (GMT 0)
my doctor appt went ok,but i was told that i can not see him anymore until

the bill starts getting paid. which my mom and dad are responsible for, but wont pay.

my dad wont pay his half until my mom pays hers, and my mom doesnt and wont

talk to me, so it is so hard, i cried all the liquid out of my self tonight from being

so torn up about all the bills i keep getting in the mail. it makes me think about

how cheap it would be to just be dead. and the scary thing about it, it im not scared

to die. ive been close many times before. im so sad. and i cant bring myself out of it. i keep feeling ok, and i think my downside is over, but then it creeps back, and reminds me how horrible everything is.  i guess im going to start taking seroquel plus lithium. which i have been on both of them, and i hope it works, but in my so far experience with it, you cant get better just alone on medication, it takes the support around you. and my family is so screwed up, they take it all as a big joke, where i sit and suffer alone. i dont want to bother my grandma everyday because then it feels like i am constantly leaning on her. i dont think ill ever be able

to make it on my own,im just not capable, i mean, i take care of myself, support myself,

but i cant be alone all the time, i cant have no one to talk to. it eventually drives

me to the psycho place. and then there is another bill i have to worry about. i cant

even keep my mind on one single subject, it is constantly going and going. i found the perfect

saying to go,

 

"it may be hard for you to believe...but living with this sickness is far more difficult than the pain it brings to you from my hurtful words...for you--you can escape, you can walk away from me at any moment...im left here, in my mind, in the pain and confusion that is my life."

 

and that is so true. im very upset tonight, and worn out from crying so much, that i

should go off to bed.its about time to take my pills and pass out anyway. thanks for replying

and goodnight.


I edited your post because of Forum Rule #1

1. No discussion of any illegal activity or threats of violence. (ie. illicit drug use, including medical marijuana use, threats of suicide or self-injury, or threatened or intended physical harm).  Discussions of suicide or self-harm that are deemed negative and therefore potentially injurious to others are also not permitted.

Post Edited By Moderator (olivia of course) : 11/15/2007 8:19:14 PM (GMT-7)

Posted 11/17/2007 3:39 AM (GMT 0)
karisa:

I'm so sorry your parents use you as a weapon against each other. Its cruel and stupid and leaves you blunt and exhausted in the center. Your doctor needs to see that you have no control over this. Ask him if he can offer you a sliding scale and explain the situation. There are organizations which will offer sliding scale services so that you won't have to rely on your unreliable parents.

The last people who deserve your life are those who don't respect it. Hold on to it. It's precious.

serafena
Posted 11/17/2007 11:25 AM (GMT 0)
karisa,
I am sorry you are hurting. I am glad, though, that you have a supportive grandmother. It sounds like she loves you and cares for you very much. I know what its like to have parents fight over paying your bills, but Serafena is right...doctor's offices will definitely work with you when you talk to them and explain your situations.

Your local bipolar support group sounds great. I think that can be very helpful, especially around the holidays....so keep going if you can!

As always, everyone here is very supportive...so keep us posted on your progress!
Posted 11/19/2007 4:49 PM (GMT 0)
Im a new member diagnosed just a montha go- I have some of the same feelings--I have a great supporting family so maybe the support group outside your family will be beneficial if they are not-there is help out there :-)
We are all here for one another
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