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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 13 of 13. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Taylor123 on June 10, 2003, at 17:09:35
Hey all!
Hope everyone is doing well...Anyone else hate the way lithium makes u feel?
I'm so sick of being level. Neither up nor down, neither high nor low...I stopped taking it two days ago and vowed NEVER to take it again.
Was afraid of going down, so decided to up the effexor aswell. 375mg.
FEEL FANTASTIC. ON TOP OF THE WORLD.
Creativity is flowing thru me once more.Just had to share my new found happiness with people who would understand!
Thanx for listening.
Happy vibes to all
Tay
Posted by maxime on June 10, 2003, at 19:17:09
In reply to GOODBYE LITHIUM!, posted by Taylor123 on June 10, 2003, at 17:09:35
I can understand how you feel but you are setting yourself up for mania. Please see your doctor and find a mood stabiliser that you can tolerate better than lithium.
I am worried about you.
Max
Posted by Ron Hill on June 10, 2003, at 20:00:23
In reply to GOODBYE LITHIUM!, posted by Taylor123 on June 10, 2003, at 17:09:35
Hi Taylor,
> Hey all!
> Hope everyone is doing well...Doing real well, thanks.
> Anyone else hate the way lithium makes u feel?No, not at all. It keeps me from going ninety directions at once yet finishing nothing. But I only need 600 mg/day, so your situation may be different.
> I'm so sick of being level. Neither up nor down, neither high nor low...
> I stopped taking it two days ago and vowed NEVER to take it again.
What does your pdoc say about your decision?
> Was afraid of going down, so decided to up the effexor aswell. 375mg.
This is one of the best recipes available to push you into a full blown mania.
> FEEL FANTASTIC. ON TOP OF THE WORLD.
> Creativity is flowing thru me once more.
Mania (hypomania) started already, huh?> Just had to share my new found happiness with people who would understand!
Yeah, I understand what you are saying, but I have the same concern for you as Max expressed. Please call your pdoc and discuss possible alternatives to lithium as a moodstabilizer. Mania is fun for a season, but sooner or later the bills come due. Been there, done that.
> Thanx for listening.
Sure. I care about what happens to you. If I didn’t care, I wouldn’t take the time to post. Please call your pdoc.
> Happy vibes to all
Thanks.
-- Ron
Posted by Taylor123 on June 11, 2003, at 16:30:34
In reply to Re: GOODBYE LITHIUM, Hello Mania! » Taylor123, posted by Ron Hill on June 10, 2003, at 20:00:23
Hey guys,
Thanx for your post, It's awesome to know that people out in the vast world actually care!
Thanx for your heart-felt concern, but don't worry about me; all is well!In response to your question: I haven't told my p.doc that I stopped the Lithium. He would be very unimpressed. I have a blood test tommorow for Li+ levels and it's going to be a tell-tale sign. OOoops!
I still feel brilliant, but do not think that I am hypomanic. I am very busy and very social over the last day or two which is nice, and has caused me no probs. Being able to write and paint again feels great.
You're probably right, no, I know you're right that I should find another mood stabalizer, but I'm havin too much fun at the moment to care... haven't felt this good in years. Haven't even contemplated cutting myself which is a positive thing surely?!
Will let you know how things go.
Tay (Big smiles!)
Posted by fluffy on June 12, 2003, at 12:21:16
In reply to Re: GOODBYE LITHIUM --Maxime » Ron Hill, posted by Taylor123 on June 11, 2003, at 16:30:34
Taylor--
I know you feel good now, but understand that if you ARE getting hypomanic, you can escalate into full-blown mania and LOTS of trouble. THEN the depression will hit. I'm sure you know this, but pleEEAASE be careful with going off meds without your doctor. You may do something you'll regret later.
Please take care,
Katy
Posted by Sabina on June 12, 2003, at 14:46:09
In reply to Re: GOODBYE LITHIUM --Maxime, posted by fluffy on June 12, 2003, at 12:21:16
I agree wholeheartedly with everyone else's earnest sentiments. I realize that I don't know you, Taylor, but I've definitely heard this song before, as it were. The tricky part is how the switch/crash can creep up so quickly. I just had to chime in because I keep wondering how you are doing today. Please post with an update when you can. Take care, Bina
Posted by lawrence S. on June 12, 2003, at 17:11:00
In reply to Re: GOODBYE LITHIUM!, posted by maxime on June 10, 2003, at 19:17:09
Being on that s**t was the worst experience of my life! Pdocs should be more carefull presribing it. It exacerbated my SP greatly. It erased all my creativity. It put in a deppresion that took me years to recover from. I hate the crap! I'd rather have a frontal lobotomy!
Lawrence S.
Posted by ace on June 13, 2003, at 2:28:52
In reply to I Agree, Lithium Sux BIG TIME!, posted by lawrence S. on June 12, 2003, at 17:11:00
> Being on that s**t was the worst experience of my life! Pdocs should be more carefull presribing it. It exacerbated my SP greatly. It erased all my creativity. It put in a deppresion that took me years to recover from. I hate the crap! I'd rather have a frontal lobotomy!
> Lawrence S.It actually made my anxiety/derealization and maybe OCD worse after it reached therapeutic levels...
Ace.
Posted by Taylor123 on June 13, 2003, at 9:13:15
In reply to Re: GOODBYE LITHIUM , posted by Sabina on June 12, 2003, at 14:46:09
> I agree wholeheartedly with everyone else's earnest sentiments.
I just had to chime in because I keep wondering how you are doing today. Please post with an update when you can. Take care, Bina
HEY SABINA AND ALL!
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SENTIMENTS...
I KNOW THAT MY P.DOC THINKS THAT I AM SICK, BUT I HAVE NEVER FELT THIS DAMN GOOD BEFORE! EVEN MY BOYFRIEND SAYS I'M THE BEST HE'S SEEN ME FOR YEARS!
I KNOW YOU GUYS THINK THERE IS AN ELEMENT OF MANIA/HYPOMANIA CREEPING IN, (AND HENCE THE INEVITABLE CRASH AFTERWARDS) BUT I AM LOVING BEING ON FORM TOO MUCH TO CARE!FLOWERS DON'T JUST SMELL GOOD; THE FRAGRANCE BRINGS ALL MY SENSES ALIVE.
I HAVE WRITTEN A SHORT NOVEL (NOT FINISHED YET) AND RE-PAINTED ALL THE ROOMS IN THE HOUSE!
(I HOPE THE LANDLORD DOESN'T MIND!?!)WILL KEEP U POSTED, BUT THERE IS NO WAY I'M GOING BACK ON LI+, OR ANY OTHER MOOD STABILIZER.
LIFE'S JUST TOO SHORT.SENDING HAPPY AND CREATIVE VIBES TO ALL, AND HOPE THAT EVERYBODY IS HAVING A GOOD DAY.
YOUR HAPPY FRIEND
TAY
Posted by fluffy on June 13, 2003, at 11:01:38
In reply to Re: GOODBYE LITHIUM » Sabina, posted by Taylor123 on June 13, 2003, at 9:13:15
Oh Jesus, Taylor--
You could be a poster child for mania right now...
Things smell great--repainting the entire house, planning a novel...
Have you ever seen that commercial for BP disorder treatment that was put out by LIlly? The woman was painting her house and having a grand time. Then in the next scene, she's crying and going over the receipts of the wonderful purchases she made days before. I laughed at it because it was so generalized..but in some ways so accurate.You probably won't listen in the state you're in. I'VE BEEN THERE, Taylor. Things ARE great when you're manic...and people think, 'Wow--she's doing great!! Just look at the things she's accomplishing. The 'normal' people in the world don't see you when you're planning your own death and crying and immoble in your bed. Just be careful, Taylor. NObody can force you to take your meds...only you can decide that.
There are other medications that don't hamper your creativity so much--and you can tinker with your Lithium levels to give you more of an emotional range...you don't have to feel like a zombie on meds. I'm telling you this as an artist with BP disorder...not as an insensitive doctor who doesn't know.
Posted by Maxime on June 13, 2003, at 15:49:39
In reply to Re: GOODBYE LITHIUM » Sabina, posted by Taylor123 on June 13, 2003, at 9:13:15
OMG Taylor - you typed your post in all caps! I can hear manic in your post and I can see it.
I wish I could help you, but I don't think you will listen to anyone right now. I just hate to watch you or anyone, go down the manic road. (LOL - just had images of Dorothy in her red shoes and I am picturing Taylor skipping down the same road with the munchkins in the background singing "follow the mania road, follow the mania road!". I am not trying to make light of the situation but it made me giggle.
OK, snap back to reality Max!
Taylor, you painted all the rooms in your house! You are no longer hypomanic you are full blown manic.
I hope your BF will know when to take you to the hospital (now would be good).
Until then, be careful please.
> > I agree wholeheartedly with everyone else's earnest sentiments.
>
> I just had to chime in because I keep wondering how you are doing today. Please post with an update when you can. Take care, Bina
>
> HEY SABINA AND ALL!
> THANK YOU FOR YOUR SENTIMENTS...
> I KNOW THAT MY P.DOC THINKS THAT I AM SICK, BUT I HAVE NEVER FELT THIS DAMN GOOD BEFORE! EVEN MY BOYFRIEND SAYS I'M THE BEST HE'S SEEN ME FOR YEARS!
> I KNOW YOU GUYS THINK THERE IS AN ELEMENT OF MANIA/HYPOMANIA CREEPING IN, (AND HENCE THE INEVITABLE CRASH AFTERWARDS) BUT I AM LOVING BEING ON FORM TOO MUCH TO CARE!
>
> FLOWERS DON'T JUST SMELL GOOD; THE FRAGRANCE BRINGS ALL MY SENSES ALIVE.
> I HAVE WRITTEN A SHORT NOVEL (NOT FINISHED YET) AND RE-PAINTED ALL THE ROOMS IN THE HOUSE!
> (I HOPE THE LANDLORD DOESN'T MIND!?!)
>
> WILL KEEP U POSTED, BUT THERE IS NO WAY I'M GOING BACK ON LI+, OR ANY OTHER MOOD STABILIZER.
> LIFE'S JUST TOO SHORT.
>
> SENDING HAPPY AND CREATIVE VIBES TO ALL, AND HOPE THAT EVERYBODY IS HAVING A GOOD DAY.
>
> YOUR HAPPY FRIEND
> TAY
Posted by kotsunega on June 13, 2003, at 21:29:59
In reply to Re: GOODBYE LITHIUM » Sabina, posted by Taylor123 on June 13, 2003, at 9:13:15
Taylor,
I used to take lithium for bipolar mania. I felt drugged and disassociative -- and it didn't even work that well on my mania. I still had delusional thinking.
I am taking Abilify now. There's no drugged feeling to it - in fact I can't even tell that I am taking it, except for the absence of the mania and delusional thinking. It's great. I wouldn't take lithium or another mood stabilizer either - give me the atypical antipsychotics, please.
Hoping you don't have a crash landing,
kotsunega
Posted by Ron Hill on June 14, 2003, at 0:06:11
In reply to Re: GOODBYE LITHIUM » Sabina, posted by Taylor123 on June 13, 2003, at 9:13:15
Tay,
I'm going to break slightly with the general consensus of the previous replies to your attention (including mine) and say that, based on your writing, you sound pretty good. You sound a little manic or hypomanic, but your do not sound delusional. At least that's my read on it.
However, left untreated, the mania might get worse and it may get you into trouble because of your impulsivity. Are you currently spending a little more than usual? Does it seem a little impulsive to paint before getting approval from your landlord?
The bigger issue, however, is that the mania will not last forever and, without effective medication, the dark grey clouds of depression will roll back in sooner or later (probably sooner). You know it will happen. It's a said but true fact. A bipolar truism. And no, taking a bunch of Effexor without a moodstabilizer will not keep the depression demons away. Instead it will likely cause mood instability and, perhaps, rapid cycling.
Okay, so you don't like lithium. Fine. Lots of other mood stabilizing medication options are available.
We care Tay. You sound like a neat young woman; spunky, energetic, creative and more. I'd say stop the roller coaster before it climbs any higher. What goes up, typically come down.
-- Ron
------------------------------------
> HEY SABINA AND ALL!
> THANK YOU FOR YOUR SENTIMENTS...
> I KNOW THAT MY P.DOC THINKS THAT I AM SICK, BUT I HAVE NEVER FELT THIS DAMN GOOD BEFORE! EVEN MY BOYFRIEND SAYS I'M THE BEST HE'S SEEN ME FOR YEARS!
> I KNOW YOU GUYS THINK THERE IS AN ELEMENT OF MANIA/HYPOMANIA CREEPING IN, (AND HENCE THE INEVITABLE CRASH AFTERWARDS) BUT I AM LOVING BEING ON FORM TOO MUCH TO CARE!
>
> FLOWERS DON'T JUST SMELL GOOD; THE FRAGRANCE BRINGS ALL MY SENSES ALIVE.
> I HAVE WRITTEN A SHORT NOVEL (NOT FINISHED YET) AND RE-PAINTED ALL THE ROOMS IN THE HOUSE!
> (I HOPE THE LANDLORD DOESN'T MIND!?!)
>
> WILL KEEP U POSTED, BUT THERE IS NO WAY I'M GOING BACK ON LI+, OR ANY OTHER MOOD STABILIZER.
> LIFE'S JUST TOO SHORT.
>
> SENDING HAPPY AND CREATIVE VIBES TO ALL, AND HOPE THAT EVERYBODY IS HAVING A GOOD DAY.
>
> YOUR HAPPY FRIEND
> TAY
This is the end of the thread.
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