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Posted 9/13/2011 2:33 PM (GMT 0)
Hi
I have been diagnosed bipolar most of my adult life and never wanted to take
medication. I never stuck to them.

I found out in 2009 that I have chronic lyme disease along with the bartonella and other coinfections.

My question is anyone else here on lithium with lyme disease

and other question is if you have very low lithium levels in your blood is that common and was anyone's lithium blood levels low before treatment with lithium.

Is this the level the doctor is checking for on blood work?

thankyou
Posted 9/14/2011 9:45 PM (GMT 0)
is ANYONE on this bipolaar forum on lithium? tried it???
Posted 9/15/2011 6:13 AM (GMT 0)
on lithium. levels have always been good. find lithium as an excellent long term base-line medication. with much healing compassion, jamie
Posted 9/15/2011 6:42 AM (GMT 0)
Jamie, thank you so much for answering my post.
The other post on lithium was really brought back from 2007.

I have lyme and hepc and fibro from probably the lyme but
Could very well be from untreated depression.

I tried lithium 16 yrs ago and remember thinking. "my God, is this what it really feels like to be in the world and not the days coming at you.
I loved it. Didnt care about drinking and still had greatest fun at parties.

I finallyvwas in my own skin. I wasnt high. I was me .

But then i started getting these back pains like my kidneys were swelling up.

Did that happen to you. Were your lithoumnblood levels super low before starting?
Posted 9/16/2011 5:18 AM (GMT 0)
no they were mid-range if my memory serves me well. kidneys are fine and were fine.

hoping you feel better soon. jamie.
Posted 9/17/2011 2:38 PM (GMT 0)
bartonella is wicked. Sorry to hear you are struggling with that. I'm on lithium but I don't have any physical health problems.
Posted 9/17/2011 5:57 PM (GMT 0)
Hey tortiose. Have u had bartonella?

How much weight gain on those meds?
Are you awake and alert.
Posted 9/18/2011 12:40 AM (GMT 0)
Haven't had bartonella, I work at a vet clinic so well aware of the risks and awfulness of it.

I gain weight at or over 400 mg Seroquel. Other than that my weight has been steady. I haven't quite lost all of the 15# I gained in 2 weeks on the high dose of Seroquel. Oh, and by steady, I mean within 5 pounds. I weigh myself every morning on a digital scale. Not very accurate. I can weigh myself, come back and hour later without eating or drinking and weigh 3 pounds more. :/ I try not to worry about it and hope I can start better habits for my weight and health.

I am awake and alert. :) Seroquel was horrible for a long time, but now is not a problem.
Posted 9/18/2011 1:02 AM (GMT 0)
Tort,why do you take al 3 of those drugs?
Arent they all same category? Do you get blood work all the time for lithium?

Thats interesting you work at vet? You do mean for animals not Veterans ?

Have coworkers gotten bart from cats?

Has anyone ever had an answer other than meds dor post traumatic stress.
I can see my Dad suffer with it after my Mom died and he not a
Pill taker

Post Edited (bucci) : 9/17/2011 7:06:40 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 9/18/2011 1:05 AM (GMT 0)
Yeah, for animals, lol. I'm a pet groomer. No one at our clinic has gotten it, but the symptoms are enough to remind us to be excruciatingly cautious about any "just a scratch."
Posted 9/18/2011 1:13 AM (GMT 0)
I took only 100 mg last night but 300 tonight of the lithium.
(pretty pink)
I wonder how long before i snap out of this depression.

On my blood work i had way below normal of lithium.

So let"s see. Last time i tried about 10 yrs ago i loved how i felt but my back felt like it was inflamed. I think it was kidney reaction.
And people really noticed my hands shaking way more than i did.

I got scaired and jumped off it.

You never got rash from lamictal?
Posted 9/18/2011 1:45 AM (GMT 0)
Never got rash from Lamictal.

I did have hand tremors starting Lithium. They were worst at 1,100 mg. They're almost nothing now. I rarely notice them, unless I get upset and then it's really bad.

I had therapuetic levels at 600mg. My pdoc had told me that I wouldn't - he intended to say that I shouldn't expect quick results. He was surprised, lol. I am happy with that too. I can't tell a difference in my mood between the low and high dose of lithium.
Posted 9/18/2011 1:49 AM (GMT 0)
Tort, so which is for panic?
Posted 9/18/2011 2:55 AM (GMT 0)
oops - not on there!

Clonazepam 0.5mg. Prescribed 1.5mg/day. I take as needed. Can go for weeks without, but if I work more hours or some conflict I do take it to take the edge off the anxiety. The only panic attacks were with stuff my ex-husband played. UGh. Anyhow, one was recent. I just kept taking them, lol. I had no need to drive or function so I didn't care about taking too much. Just tried to get an edge on it.

I have a service dog that alerts me to oncoming anxiety so I can get the meds down asap and fight off the bad stuff.
Posted 9/18/2011 2:58 AM (GMT 0)
OMG bucci!  I didn't read your signature carefully before?

HOW did you get all those parasitic / zoonotic diseases? 

Posted 9/18/2011 5:36 AM (GMT 0)
Ticks.
Have u ever been testet? What do u think is cause of your anxiety?

Are you strong and healthy? my problem was i never knew untill 2 yr ago.

How u know about zoonotic? Which one is zoonotic? Parvo?
Posted 9/18/2011 2:27 PM (GMT 0)
I missed your question about why I'm on the 3. They're not in the same classes.

Lamictal is an anti-convulsant that acts as a mood stabilizer by controlling depression.
Seroquel is an anti-psychotic that acts as a mood stabilizer by contolling mania.
Lithium is a mood stabilizer that (for me) controls rapid-cycling. I have few problems with mania and am hoping my Seroquel can be reduced maybe if lithium is increased. I have a pdoc appt this week to check in and ask about it.

Zoonotic refers to diseas caught from animals like dogs, cats. parvo, hookworm.

I'm good and healthy other than the mental illnesses. I don't have particularly good habits, but my dr's are always inpressed with my vitals and bloodwork. I'm thankful for that.
Posted 9/19/2011 2:52 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks for explaining that, Tortiose.

So what kind insurance pays for these meds?
Im on disability and never got it together to
Get the part D prescription plan.
October it opens up for apply.

Have u been on meds u whole adult life?
Posted 9/19/2011 12:44 PM (GMT 0)
I have insurance through the state.  I started on it by low-income.  I don't think I'll be eligible for it the next time they review it because I get SSDI now.  But I should be able to get the exact same insurance with SSDI, I'm not sure how that works.

I pay $1/month for prescriptions, except Seroquel XR because it isn't available generic is $3/month.  I don't have a copay for psychiatrist, therapy, or even hospitalization.  (woot!)  I think one reason why I am doing so well is because I have unrestricted access to the health care that I need.

I've been on meds since 2008.

 

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