![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by nucase on March 10, 2004, at 13:58:00
I am thirty two years old. I have been depressive and suicidal since I was eleven, although I generally led a fairly normal social and professional life. Two years ago my PCP prescribed me paxil to control my anxiety. Generally, I tolerated paxil quite well (except for some weight gain) but in order for paxil to remain effective the dosage had to be increased every few months (my last dose was 50mg). I also felt at times quite "flat" and "not myself" while on medication. My therapist also encouraged me to see a psychiatrist and to change my medication, as she found I still had too much suicide ideation. Three weeks ago, I met with the psychiatrist who had me discontinue paxil and put me on Effexor XR (150mg) and Amitryptiline (100mg). For the first few days, I experienced severe mood swings a few hours apart from one another (e.g. I felt fine one hour, then had a strong impulse to jump off a cliff, then I felt fine again). My mood seemed to be more stable thereafter but around three week after I started this medication, I felt wonderful, "high" and very optimistic. Less than 24 hours later, I sarted sobbing uncontrollably for several hours and felt utterly helpless. In each of these mood state, I had a feeling of understanding with certainty things about my life that had eluded me before. I have never experience such sharp mood swings before, nor did I ever had these sobs. I have since talked to the psychiatrist, who asked me to continue the medication for the time being and suggested using lithium if the mood swings do not go away. He asked asked me to keep track of my mood changes. Meanwhile, I have come accross some literature on the bipolar disorder. I had previously thought that I suffered from chronic depression but after reading about it, I find that the description of the bipolar II disorder bears a stricking resemblance to what I have. I am puzzled by the diagnostic though and I am not sure how to make sense of it. I am wondering if I am getting worse over time or not and how much meds can really help.
Posted by snapper on March 10, 2004, at 14:51:59
In reply to Just diagnosed bipolar 2, posted by nucase on March 10, 2004, at 13:58:00
Hi nucase , I know it's very tough!
wish I could be there to give you some hope and insight ! BP2 is a very tough diagnosis but I believe it can be controlled. I go from half way normal mood to severe suicidal ideation several times per day -- I truly believe based on my own experience that in Bi-polar that the most significant part of getting the right treatment is educating yourself on the disorder and the PROPER MOOD STABILIZER !! I don't know all your symptoms but would like to give you a link that I found and it has helped give some very good info and insight into what I go through. heres the link-- http://www.psycheducation.org.-- check it out and feel free to let me know what you think!
Regards
Snapper
Posted by nucase on March 11, 2004, at 9:02:21
In reply to Re: Just diagnosed bipolar 2, posted by snapper on March 10, 2004, at 14:51:59
Thanks Snapper,
I have been reading about BP and came accross that site. One of my main question is: does it get worse over time? I changed a lot in the last twenty years but I have a hard time saying how it evolved.
Posted by jack9999 on March 11, 2004, at 18:57:26
In reply to Just diagnosed bipolar 2, posted by nucase on March 10, 2004, at 13:58:00
Hello,
My wife was recently diagnosed as BP as well. We went through a horrific mania phase that lasted for months - hospitalization and truck loads of drugs didn't touch it. Finally, we weaned her off of a lot of the not needed drugs and started her on lithium - it help tremendously. Every person reacts to drugs differently.
Also, we have approached "Orthomolecualr Psy" - please look into it. The approach is to find what is CAUSING the problem rather than trying to find what drungs will COVER-UP the symptoms. Most BP's, deppressed, anxious people have simple vitamin, mineral, etc problems.
My wife was found to be very low in a number of essential nutrients and vitamins. We have her on a vitamin supplement program coupled with high doses of Fish Oil (research Fish Oil - it absolutely amazing stuff) The more medicine she comes off, and the better we get her vitamins/minerals straightened out, the better things are getting.
Don't go the heavy medicine route, look into Lithium for BP (antidepreasants can make BP's worse), and research "orthomolecular psy"
Good luck -
Posted by Tony P on March 11, 2004, at 23:51:58
In reply to Re: Just diagnosed bipolar 2, posted by nucase on March 11, 2004, at 9:02:21
> Thanks Snapper,
>
> I have been reading about BP and came accross that site. One of my main question is: does it get worse over time? I changed a lot in the last twenty years but I have a hard time saying how it evolved.Mine seems to have evolved toward more hypomanic times. My pdoc says that is typical, and the more manic episodes, the poorer the prognosis long-term.
Note there is also a proposed new diagnosis of BP 3 - only experienced (hypo)mania in response to A/D drugs. That certainly fits my experience - I was mildly cylothymic with a leaning toward depression until my first major depressive episode hit, was well controlled on Serzone/Buspar for quite a few years, then started wilder mood swings as I tried various other meds. & A/D-s - particularly Wellbutrin.
Tony P
Posted by prodgirl on March 13, 2004, at 0:27:07
In reply to Just diagnosed bipolar 2, posted by nucase on March 10, 2004, at 13:58:00
I understand exactly where you are. I was diagnosed as BP II in October at the age of 27, after having problems with ADs for the past year. I am now just switching to a mood stabilizer, and try to remain positive that the outcome will be beneficial to my condition. If you haven't yet, look into Kaye Jamison's books - she is BPI Psychiatrist who is a brave women, coming out with her illness in her field. Reading her books helped me to first understand what it is to be bipolar, as well as give me some form of "vocabulary" in order to speak with my pdoc. I am no where close to understanding my illness, but am trying everyday. I think knowledge is the best ammunition we can arm ourselves with...in order to live a functioning life. The biggest challenge for me, thus far, is realising how I have unconsciously created an environment for myself which helps me to cope with my cycling.
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.