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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 4 of 4. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Mandy on July 12, 2002, at 16:44:45
I am sorry if it seems like all I ask is for support from these sites and not give back, but these have been some tough months. And now after years of thinking I had depression, I am told that I am bipolar. And probably the times when I felt normal and could get things done were my mania periods. So this is Bipolar II, I think. I am so confused. My meds are Prozac 80mg ( I have been on this forever), Neurontin 800mg tid (these seems to help osteo pain) and Trileptal 300mg bid. And I am in an intensive outpt program. BUt what is normal??? And how will I know if meds are working? I wake up so depressed each day and go in and out of feeling suicidal (just for a few seconds), happy days are rare.
What should I expect? Will I ever be just a functioning person without all these mood swings? Thanks
Posted by Geezer on July 12, 2002, at 18:52:02
In reply to Just dx bipolar--some questions, posted by Mandy on July 12, 2002, at 16:44:45
> I am sorry if it seems like all I ask is for support from these sites and not give back, but these have been some tough months. And now after years of thinking I had depression, I am told that I am bipolar. And probably the times when I felt normal and could get things done were my mania periods. So this is Bipolar II, I think. I am so confused. My meds are Prozac 80mg ( I have been on this forever), Neurontin 800mg tid (these seems to help osteo pain) and Trileptal 300mg bid. And I am in an intensive outpt program. BUt what is normal??? And how will I know if meds are working? I wake up so depressed each day and go in and out of feeling suicidal (just for a few seconds), happy days are rare.
> What should I expect? Will I ever be just a functioning person without all these mood swings? ThanksHi Mandy,
No need to apologize about asking for help, you will have plenty of time to give back later.
My experience was identical to yours, treated for Major Depression for many years, now Bipolar II pops into the picture. In fact I have been treated by 4 different pdocs in the past year, 2 say major depression recurrent and 2 say bipolar II. I think the important thing is to bring the symptoms under controll. I also agree if I ever had hypomania, these were the periods when I felt "normal". I have never taken Neurontin or Trileptal and don't know the dosage range. I currently take Depakote and Lamictal with low dose Ambien and Klonopin for sleep. I will be adding Prozac (restart of the only AD that ever gave me relief from depression) next week.
After dealing with this illness for many years I can't claim to know a lot but do believe in one thing. If you truly have mood swings the first thing that needs to be done is stabilize the mood. If your major symptom is depression Lamictal has shown promise as a good mood stabilizer with AD effect (Careful titration to avoid serious rash). I would suggest a search on this board under Lamictal. I know I need ADs along with my current meds.
"Will I ever be just a functioning person without all these mood swings"? YES! It can be a difficult struggle but you can get there. Can you tell me what your "intensive output program" is?
Hang in there,
Geezer
Posted by rainbowlight on July 12, 2002, at 20:08:13
In reply to Just dx bipolar--some questions, posted by Mandy on July 12, 2002, at 16:44:45
It's good that you finally got a proper diagnosis, this will really help you get the proper treatment and meds. Yes, you can have the moods level out and not have the rough ups and downs, on the proper medications. I also like Lamictal as a mood stabilizer. Keep trying, sometimes it takes quite a few med trials to get the right ones. Once properly medicated you won't have to wake up depressed everyday. I hope you are feeling better soon. Take care.
Posted by crepuscular on July 14, 2002, at 11:05:47
In reply to Just dx bipolar--some questions, posted by Mandy on July 12, 2002, at 16:44:45
the answer, Mandy, is an unqualified "yes." the terrible part is that it's going to take some time, and when you're in severe emotional pain, time seems to pass s-l-o-w-l-y. i missed a year of my life to a mental state that i am at pains to even describe. but after months of feeling suicidal, i finally got the medication thing worked out, started exercising, and begain to repair my self-esteem, understand what happened & why.
most major depressive episodes fade after about a year - even if left untreated. bipolar is a different animal, but early onset "unipolar" depression seems to be similar and may have a genetic overlap. i personally believe bipolar II is both overdiagnosed and underdiagnosed, so you may want to really iron the Dx out with your doc/therapist. i have found some of the mood stabilizers to be depression-inducing if i'm in a low part of the bipolar cycle. but if you're depressed, this would make it harder to recover from a unipolar state.
anyway, i ramble. what seems to really help me is to do things *beyond* the prescribed meds to help myself. i'm a fan of fish oil (omegabrite) and exercise. somehow - and there a complex physiological reasons for this - these two extra things go great with whatever medications i'm on. they synergize, make me feel like a participant in my own recovery. if can afford or withstand either of these, i think the research is solid in terms of an antidepressant effect.
i wish you luck. you sound like you're hurting and almost everyone on this board has been there. you will make it. your brain wants to return to a place of healthy, invigorated calmness.
crepuscular.
This is the end of the thread.
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