Bipolar disorder sucks, so I empathize with you. Mine has deep depressions and hypomanic episodes, which fortunately I have learned to take advantage of in positive ways. When I was having one and...
I have Bipolar Disorder. After many years, through meds and therapy, it is under control as much as BD can ever be under control. My BD has strained my marriage at times, but I'm doing well in that...
Hi kellyinCali, Glad my posts were useful. Sorry about the lamictal rash thing. GeneSight is worth looking into. I talked with a rep before sending in a saliva sample - and they told me (this was...
Wow. That's kind of eerie for you then if it is a recap of your marriage. Yes, children. But now that they are grown, she no longer has them at home, and she is doing everything she can to make sure...
Thanks for responding. One of the problems is she constantly nags about things that I feel are inconsequential. My therapist says I need to have weekends that are relaxing - not weekends that cause...
I have been struggling with significant bipolar symptoms since 2007, though I have had it for most of my life. As well, I have anxiety and OCD as well - which ties into bipolar hypo-manic events. I...
Hi KellyinCali, I am sorry you are experiencing this. I am quite familiar with the "unbearable." Had too much of it myself over the years. They say the rash from lamotrigine will happen pretty...
Hi KellyinCali, I don't remember what dose I eventually had on Latuda, but like you, I began to get Akathesia symptoms. I ended up stopping Latuda, went through a couple other "recent" meds, then...
Thanks, Karen. I did put myself on the cancellation list of the doctor I have for the April appointment. Unfortunately, what I think is she is taking on a lot of patients because she is a partner of...
UA, "Remember to use you coping skills as well. Whatever skills you learned in therapy, put them into practice. Mindfulness can be helpful and well as positive distractions. And you can post here...
Thanks for your thoughts, Tim Tam. I certainly see your point of not having a psychologist possibly turning into a big problem, and the lesser issue of having to make a decision at some point of...
I just learned recently that my psychologist has been diagnosed with cancer and will be undergoing treatments. She has put her practice on hold for at least 3-6 months, which I completely understand....
Tim Tam, Sorry about that. I end up researching every med I'm prescribed, and more. My OCD really plays into my scientific interest and "obsession" at times, and it makes it into my writing, so I...
I have been on lamotrigine for about 3 months now. Went from 25 mg/day to now 100 mg/day. Have a couple of questions about it, and hopefully those with experience with this med can shed some light on...
Thanks for your support. My pdoc went over the report with me, and she was a bit shocked that almost all the ADs were problematic. I have OCD too, and all the ADs that are used for OCD were in the...
Haven't been on healingwell in quite awhile, and have run through a series of different drugs since I last posted. Almost all had negative results. Been on lamictal for several months now, with...
Hi Imlogan, I had the opposite effect with lithium. It caused such gastrointestinal problems, I was constantly on the toilet, and it caused me to lose my appetite. Lithium side effects were rough...
Hi Linda, I am now on Latuda. Depakote did not work, in fact it made my depression much worse, worse than it has been in six months. Latuda, so far, has worked well. My depression is broken, at least...
Hi Bekah, I am glad your doctor looked deeper into your condition and made that diagnosis. I hope the lamictal will help you. Keep the faith. We are rooting for you here at Healing Well. - Taygeta...
And as for the past, I have the same problem. I feel guilt over how much time I have wasted while in depression. I'm still working on that, but I have to forget about the past and the depression. I...
That's what the forum is for. If you need to vent, you can do it here. I know I have had similar thoughts to yours so I completely understand. But that's not you. It's a physical issue just like any...
Sorry to hear about your recent issues. I had several kidney stones, one of which the urologist had to go in to get, so I can relate to how much pain you probably experienced with that. Hope you are...
LOL. I like!...
The appointment is July 20th. They told me to expect to be there at least for an hour 1/2 to 2 hours, so I am expecting some allergy testing to be happening. Was kind of funny when I called for the...
Also, I made an appointment with an allergist, so I am going to see what this NSAID allergy is all about, hopefully. I know I have allergies to cats, dogs, various tree pollens, ragweed, and a...
Hi M.L.B, I am glad to hear you are having positive results from your med. The anxiety/depression circle has been brutal on me, so I sympathize with your situation. I was having anxiety so bad some...
Another four days on Latuda, and another four reasonably good days. I am clearly seeing the difference pre-Latuda and post-Latuda. I do notice I am having a few mild hypomanic events too, which I...
Hi Bekah, Stopping an AD cold turkey can definitely be an issue. I stopped Cymbalta cold turkey, without letting my Dr. know, and I spent a month going through all kinds of withdrawal symptoms,...
Hi hwcb13, I have bipolar, OCD, and GAD. I was on lithium a couple months ago, and I could not take the side effects - mainly gastrointestinal issues, and for three days it had me down as if I had a...
I saw my therapist today, and he immediately noticed a huge difference in my mood from the last time I saw him. He was quite pleased with the results of the Latuda so far. With my depression eased,...
Hi achievinggrace, Thanks for the reply. I was not aware turmeric was useful for reducing inflammation. I will look into that. I use Tylenol now for all pain issues, but I try to refrain from using...
So far, so good. Latuda must be helping because I have been in a pretty good mood all week, with only minor depression now and then. Since I've been down mostly for several months - the only...
I had an anaphylactic reaction to an NSAID, Zipsor, a number of months ago. I had been taking Zipsor as an alternative to motrin and other over-the-counter NSAIDs for neck pain I have suffered from -...
Thanks, Laurenne! I will google it. Much appreciated. - Taygeta...
Thanks, HT! I believe positive thinking helps in the medication process, as you say. Experience teaches much. Every new med I try, I try to be very hopeful it is going to be a good match for me, and...
Hi Cilly, Yes. Expensive - just about any med with TV ads is through the roof, but fortunately right now I am on samples from my pdoc to ensure we see some positive results before she writes a...
Had my appointment today. I will be starting Latuda tonight at a low dose, 20 mg. Because of my medicine sensitivity, my doctor wants me to take the Latuda on an empty stomach, not with food, to...
I too agree with the advice you have been given. Seeing a psychiatrist is very important. Medical doctors, from my experience, just don't know enough about bipolar to make a determination. My regular...
HT, Have you ever tried magnesium? I got whiplash in an auto accident, which didn't help my cervical fusion and replacement disc. I went through over a year of therapy with not great results. Then...
Hi Tom, Sorry to hear that about your weekend. I can relate completely. Have been that depressed more times than I care to think about. I will end up sleeping a lot too when that happens - hoping the...
That is good to hear. The less SE, the better. Thanks for your encouragement. Will post what the next step is when I learn . . . - Taygeta...
I have yet to get to the therapeutic dose of any AD or equivalent. The Dr. says I need to push you to 60 mg, and Im shaking my head - no way. I seem to be especially sensitive to meds that have...
I have tried abilify. Initially, it caused a lot of muscle aches, which I was able to tolerate, and finally they dissipated. Unfortunately, when I increased the dosage from 1 mg per day to 2 mg per...
Bad days Friday and Saturday. Cause - Depakote. Off it now and back on lithium in the interim, which has made a difference already. Friday and Saturday, I had to force myself to get out of bed, and...
now that i have stopped the depakote, things are coming back into a more realistic perspective. ugh. That was frightening! Really frightening! I didn't think that was going to happen on that stuff,...
Many teenagers are very difficult to deal with. I have had three now to go through those trying days. Each was different, so lessons learned from one didn't necessarily apply to another. I know this...
Well, it works to the point I am not having major physical side effects. That made me hopeful. But unfortunately, it was doing things to my thoughts that were not very hopeful - and it pushed me into...
Hi MapleLeafBear, I will have to take a look at the book you mention and do some google searches. Thanks. - Taygeta...
I just started Divalproex Sodium a week ago. 250 mg timed release, every other day to start since my pdoc knows of my sensitivity to meds. So far, the main two side effects are very vivid dreams...
Thanks, HT! Trying my best to keep strong. - Taygeta...