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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 16 of 16. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by sarita0001 on October 4, 2003, at 0:40:44
HI,
I've been advised by doctors to go off meds when there is the least amount of stress. However, I think that there will always be something going on so it shouldn't matter. Right now I am in school and am really wanting to wean off lithium. I'll see what the doc says on Monday. I have the tendency to be impatient but I think I can do it. So should I wait until I am done with school(next summer) or try it now?
Thanks.
Posted by stjames on October 4, 2003, at 0:56:28
In reply to when is best time to go off meds?, posted by sarita0001 on October 4, 2003, at 0:40:44
If you are bi-polar stopping meds is not an option.
Posted by sarita0001 on October 4, 2003, at 8:19:09
In reply to Re: when is best time to go off meds?, posted by stjames on October 4, 2003, at 0:56:28
hi,
I do agree with you but it is a long story as to whether I am really bipolar or not. I had a "manic" episode but through therapy we have come to the conclusion that it really had to do with my upbringing, problems with my folks, etc. It appears that it could have been a substance induced(or not) episode. But all of the things I did during that time were all related to family things I was rebelling against. That's the short story.
I have also seen and do believe that there are so bipolars who can have one episode and be ok for many years and might have another one. That is my two cents about it. Going off is the only way I am really gonna know.
Posted by Susan J on October 4, 2003, at 13:31:05
In reply to when is best time to go off meds?, posted by sarita0001 on October 4, 2003, at 0:40:44
>>I have the tendency to be impatient but I think I can do it. So should I wait until I am done with school(next summer) or try it now?<<Hi! I'm no doctor and have no experience with lithium, but I say, if you've got the motivation to do it now, then by all means, do it now. Motivation gives you strength gives you success, ya know? That brain power means a *lot.* I can diet every day of the week if I want, but if I am not motivated to lose weight, I know I won't.
And if you are sensitive to your moods and willing to go on meds again if they are necessary, then I think you'll do just fine.
Good luck!
Susan
Posted by stjames on October 4, 2003, at 13:55:13
In reply to Re: when is best time to go off meds? » sarita0001, posted by Susan J on October 4, 2003, at 13:31:05
Motivation gives you strength gives you success, ya know? That brain power means a *lot.*
But you cannot will yourself out of BP. And the more
manic cycles one goes through case the condition to become worse. The cycles then come quicker and quicker.
Posted by Susan J on October 4, 2003, at 13:59:08
In reply to Re: when is best time to go off meds?, posted by stjames on October 4, 2003, at 13:55:13
> Motivation gives you strength gives you success, ya know? That brain power means a *lot.*
>
> But you cannot will yourself out of BP. And the more
> manic cycles one goes through case the condition to become worse. The cycles then come quicker and quicker.<<St James, I don't know anything about bipolar disorder, but I guess I was under the impression that Sarita's docs are OK with stopping the meds. I wouldn't advise anything contrary to true medical advice. I thought the doc were cool with Sarita stopping meds at any time, but for Sarita to choose the least stressful time.
And in *that* context, I still think that motivation is key to success and a very powerful tool. That's all.
Posted by stjames on October 4, 2003, at 14:04:16
In reply to Re: when is best time to go off meds?, posted by Susan J on October 4, 2003, at 13:59:08
> <<St James, I don't know anything about bipolar disorder, but I guess I was under the impression that Sarita's docs are OK with stopping the meds. I wouldn't advise anything contrary to true medical advice.This board is awash with examples of bad medical advice from docs.
Posted by sarita0001 on October 4, 2003, at 14:12:46
In reply to Re: when is best time to go off meds?, posted by stjames on October 4, 2003, at 14:04:16
hi,
This is a unique situation because I only had bipolar "symptoms" once in my life. I agree that is it is BP then it will come back on its own, but I need to go off meds to see if this is the case. I am willing to do that to find out and of course am gonna have a lot of help. And since I have never been med free as an adult, that has a lot to do with it.
Motivation definitely has the potential to get me through this.
Thanks.
Posted by Susan J on October 4, 2003, at 14:17:15
In reply to Re: when is best time to go off meds?, posted by sarita0001 on October 4, 2003, at 14:12:46
>>This is a unique situation because I only had bipolar "symptoms" once in my life. I agree that is it is BP then it will come back on its own, but I need to go off meds to see if this is the case.
<<Hi again. This leads me to another question. Probably not the board for it, but here goes.
Depression can range from a one-time bout, to very infrequent, to intractable without the use of drugs. It can be treatable with or without drugs.
I know BP is very tricky because of its cycles, but isn't it possible that BP can be a one-time bout, too? Or have a range of severity of cycling? Does it *always* get worse and worse? Depression is very fluid, I guess I thought BP would be the same.
Posted by sarita0001 on October 4, 2003, at 14:30:11
In reply to Re: when is best time to go off meds?, posted by Susan J on October 4, 2003, at 14:17:15
Hi,
Yeah I think it can be one time thing. I know someone who had a manic episode in their 20's, was ok for 30 years, and then had another in their 50's. This is a very long story but here's the short version. My situation is unique because I had a lot of issues as a kid and they all built up and it manifested itself as some type of strange episode when I was 17. Now, the things I did were classic mania, but a lot of the things I did were to also get attention that I never felt I had growing up.
For the last 6 years, I have believed that the lithium has prevented mania and depression. That's also what my dr. told. me. the last dr. I had thinks i could have a substance induced mood disorder which means stay away from substances because they'll mess with your head.
Me and my dr. now have lowered the lithium since january and i have been fine. So it's sad to think that maybe I have wasted 7 years putting my body through lithium that I may have never needed. Or, as I will find out soon hopefully, maybe I do need it all along.
There are so many theories, studies on BP but I think that it depends a lot on the person.
Thanks for reading this.Sara
Posted by Susan J on October 4, 2003, at 14:35:28
In reply to Re: when is best time to go off meds?, posted by sarita0001 on October 4, 2003, at 14:30:11
Well I wish you all the luck in the world. Yeah, it would suck if you've never needed lithium but better to find that out now than 20 years down the road.
And it sounds very reasonable to me that emotional issues that haven't properly been dealt with could look like a manic episode. I've got a friend going through something like that now. Don't know if it *is* BP or just that everything is blowing up *now*.
Good luck, it's great that you are being proactive about your treatment. It makes so much difference. I'll be thinking about you.
Susan
Posted by sarita0001 on October 4, 2003, at 14:45:08
In reply to Re: when is best time to go off meds? » sarita0001, posted by Susan J on October 4, 2003, at 14:35:28
Hi,
Thanks for the encouragement. You could suggest that your friend go to therapy if they are ready to confront the issues. That could be all they need or may need meds. For me, all meds did was put off dealing with the things in my life because I was so convinced it was a "chemical" thing. It all depends on the person. Therapy has helped me tremendously.
Take care,
Sara
Posted by Susan J on October 4, 2003, at 14:51:48
In reply to Re: when is best time to go off meds?, posted by sarita0001 on October 4, 2003, at 14:45:08
Hi,
> You could suggest that your friend go to therapy if they are ready to confront the issues.
<<Oh, God, I've tried. She denies anything is wrong, but she's spazzing out, getting in fights (verbal) at work, when she used to always be professional, hating her husband even though he hasn't done anything overtly wrong, ignoring her baby, screaming at and losing friends, and has become a *huge* compulsive shopper/spender when she used to be so good with her money. She had a bad, bad childhood, and I guess I thought she had dealt with it and put it behind her. But I think now she had only ignored it, and because of certain things happening in her life, it's all come to roost, and is exploding now.>> I was so convinced it was a "chemical" thing. It all depends on the person. Therapy has helped me tremendously.
<<Therapy has helped *me* tremendously too with giving me much better life strategy skills, as I call them. I can face crises much better equipped. But with me, I truly believe it's a chemical imbalance. Don't like that answer, but I'm coming to terms with it.
If you go off Lithium, let us know how you're doing. :-) And good luck with school...
Susan
Posted by stjames on October 4, 2003, at 17:04:43
In reply to Re: when is best time to go off meds?, posted by sarita0001 on October 4, 2003, at 14:12:46
This is a unique situation because I only had bipolar "symptoms" once in my life.
Then if the Dx of BP in not a sure one and you are now better, weaning off meds is reasonable. Finding a time this is stress free is hard for most. Maybe you could first work on reducing the stressors in your life and developing better ways of dealing with stress, then wean off the meds.
Posted by stjames on October 4, 2003, at 18:13:19
In reply to Re: when is best time to go off meds?, posted by Susan J on October 4, 2003, at 14:17:15
BP is the best studied as it was the first illness to have a treatment. It does not get better, it gets worse without treatment. It tends to progress, without treatment, into a rapid cycling condition
which is very difficult to treat. One cycle does not BP make & and a manic episode, by itself, does not
mean one has BP. I think it is important to understand these things before we urge others to stop their meds. BP is simply an organic disorder,
where depression can have psychological orgins, so
they are not alike in their orgins, progression, and treatments.
Posted by Susan J on October 9, 2003, at 9:03:01
In reply to Re: when is best time to go off meds?, posted by stjames on October 4, 2003, at 18:13:19
St James,
>>I think it is important to understand these things before we urge others to stop their meds. BP is simply an organic disorder,
where depression can have psychological orgins, so they are not alike in their orgins, progression, and treatments.
<<That's interesting....so is BP affected by environmental stress and stuff? I mean, if you are depressed because you lost your dad to cancer or something, would that sadness have an effect on the cycling of BP?Just wondering. I really know nothing about it, other than I have a cousin who is BP and life has been very hard for her and her husband...
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