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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 Cecilia on October 5, 2007, at 7:42:12
Anyone see the program on bipolar on Oprah today? There was an Irish singer who'd shaved her head and seems like she might have some kind of weird side effect from her drugs, she kept scratching and picking, (maybe she was just nervous) but who claimed that her meds made her feel better within the first half hour of taking them!!! Didn't really understand why they'd even diagnosed her as bipolar since all her symptoms were depression. The other guest was a man with an overbearing mother who'd been trying different meds for 8 years without success. The bipolar expert assured him they would find the right one. After 8 years? This is Oprah's 2nd program in 2 weeks on bipolar, wonder why it's so popular all of a sudden. Personally, I'm expecting the drug companies are planning a big surge in advertising for bipolar drugs.... Cecilia
Posted by stargazer2 on October 5, 2007, at 8:29:21
In reply to Bipolar on Oprah, posted by Cecilia on October 5, 2007, at 7:42:12
Cecelia, That Irish singer is Sinead O'Connor, very popular about 10 years ago song "Nothing compares to You". I just saw Dorothy Hamill (skater) on Larry King and she also just wrote a book on depression. So we are in good company but it's always been known that some of the most famous personalities suffer as well. The difference being that they usually have more resources than the average person, but I'm not convinced even with the best treatment that you can adequately treat these illnesses all the time. There's so much we still don't know about them.
Dorothy Hamill said that she was in a depression about a year ago and with bipolar and depression it can be a repetitive process to get the medication right.
I guess the moral of this story is while you feel good try and achieve what you can because for the most part, many of these illnesses will resurface many times throughout your life. I guess that just like with diabetes or heart disease, you have to constantly be aware of the illness returning.
Stargazer
Posted by Cecilia on October 5, 2007, at 9:37:53
In reply to Re: Bipolar on Oprah/Sinead O'Connor..., posted by stargazer2 on October 5, 2007, at 8:29:21
It's not a question of the illness or personality trait or whatever it is returning-it's never gone away-had it my whole life. Just the endless, excruciating depression, no bipolar, though of course the drug companies now are trying to say everyone has bipolar if they've ever gotten angry or irritable in their life. I don't think the celebrities necessarily get that much better treatment than us little people, there are only so many meds, the famous doctors don't have a secret stash. Cecilia
Posted by polarbear206 on October 5, 2007, at 10:01:56
In reply to Bipolar on Oprah, posted by Cecilia on October 5, 2007, at 7:42:12
> Anyone see the program on bipolar on Oprah today? There was an Irish singer who'd shaved her head and seems like she might have some kind of weird side effect from her drugs, she kept scratching and picking, (maybe she was just nervous) but who claimed that her meds made her feel better within the first half hour of taking them!!! Didn't really understand why they'd even diagnosed her as bipolar since all her symptoms were depression. The other guest was a man with an overbearing mother who'd been trying different meds for 8 years without success. The bipolar expert assured him they would find the right one. After 8 years? This is Oprah's 2nd program in 2 weeks on bipolar, wonder why it's so popular all of a sudden. Personally, I'm expecting the drug companies are planning a big surge in advertising for bipolar drugs.... Cecilia
What lead you to think she was an overbearing mother? I applaud her for reaching out for help for her son! I would of done the same thing! God bless her!! Are you a mother? This family has suffered way too long!!
Oprah had so many overwhelming responses from viewers from the first show on bipolar, that she felt the need from the public outcry to air another on the same topic. I don't think the drug companies would have any influence over Oprah of all people!!
God bless Oprah too!!
PB
Posted by karen dee on October 5, 2007, at 10:02:32
In reply to Re: Bipolar on Oprah/Sinead O'Connor... » stargazer2, posted by Cecilia on October 5, 2007, at 9:37:53
but who claimed that her meds made her feel better within the first half hour of taking them!!! <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
Am I the only one who thinks that is totally a strange false sounding statement. What bp drug works like that?
Not any I have heard of...well maybe if she had an antipyschotic and was really manic prior but. I don't know.
Posted by polarbear206 on October 5, 2007, at 10:18:32
In reply to Re: Bipolar on Oprah/Sinead O'Connor..., posted by karen dee on October 5, 2007, at 10:02:32
> but who claimed that her meds made her feel better within the first half hour of taking them!!! <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
>
>
> Am I the only one who thinks that is totally a strange false sounding statement. What bp drug works like that?
> Not any I have heard of...well maybe if she had an antipyschotic and was really manic prior but. I don't know.
>
>
It depends on the state she was in at the time the drug was given. Perhaps it was a strong antipsychotic. It happens.PB
Posted by Phillipa on October 5, 2007, at 12:35:43
In reply to Re: Bipolar on Oprah/Sinead O'Connor... » karen dee, posted by polarbear206 on October 5, 2007, at 10:18:32
If really manic or if depression only never saw a med work within an hour or so unless Im haldol or ativan. I have the shows taped will watch them. Phillipa
Posted by seldomseen on October 5, 2007, at 15:23:52
In reply to Bipolar on Oprah, posted by Cecilia on October 5, 2007, at 7:42:12
My mom has bipolar disorder and saw the show. She claims that when you are really really wired up then some drugs do start to work in a very short time. She said it feels like an "unwinding".
She was very grateful for both shows on bipolar disorder because I could tell it helped her to feel less alone.
It's so odd, but I can tell her things, her psychiatrists can tell her things, but when OPRAH says it - then it sinks in.
Also seeing Patty Duke helped her a lot I think.
For whatever the reason, I'm glad that Oprah did these shows.
Posted by Toph on October 5, 2007, at 21:15:35
In reply to Bipolar on Oprah, posted by Cecilia on October 5, 2007, at 7:42:12
I taped the show because I'm BiPolar - hell, I'm old enough to be Manic Depressive. I'm also experienced enough on PB to know not to react to the original poster's comments. Let me just say that it took a lot of courage for Sinead to go in front of the world and expose her chronic mental illness. Much easier for us to open up incognito here. No matter how popular Bipolar gets, I wish I didn't have it.
Posted by Phillipa on October 5, 2007, at 22:11:07
In reply to Re: Bipolar on Oprah » Cecilia, posted by seldomseen on October 5, 2007, at 15:23:52
I just had the second show taped and watched. I agree the Mother didn't appear overbearing just concerned her Son's illness had impacted his family and no relief in sight. I think and hope he gets tx now. And I am wondering if all the anxiety from my 20's that was controlled could have triggered bipolar when my thyroid went. Phillipa
Posted by Cecilia on October 5, 2007, at 23:50:28
In reply to Bipolar on Oprah, posted by Cecilia on October 5, 2007, at 7:42:12
I certainly wasn't trying to say that bipolar doesn't exist. Of course it does. But I have a hard time believing that any med would work instantly like that and tend to wonder if bipolar hasn't gotten so much more publicity recently because most antidepressants have gone generic and the expensive AP's that are so endlessly advertised are still on patent. You never see a TV show about people like me who have plain old incurable treatment resistant depression, that would be boring and depressing. And personally, whenever a celebrity, singer, actor, writer whatever goes on TV I think it's to sell something such as their newest album. I don't know why the other guy went on TV but his mother sure seemed overbearing to me, he was a grown man with a wife, why was his mother even there at all, saying stupid stuff like how all the meds he'd tried had made him fat and why hadn't they put him on lithium. (When of course lithium makes people fat also and it turned out he WAS on lithium, and why was it her business anyway.) Just my opinion, no I'm not a mother, but I had a mother and I sure never discussed what meds I took with her, even in privacy, let alone on national TV! Cecilia
Posted by Phillipa on October 5, 2007, at 23:54:19
In reply to Re: Bipolar on Oprah, posted by Phillipa on October 5, 2007, at 22:11:07
Cecelia hope you are right as I don't need a new diagnosis. I'm a Mom I think her concern was for the grandchildren. Just my opinion and no I didn't see the how a med could act in half an hour which one was it they didn't say did they???Phillipa
Posted by Cecilia on October 6, 2007, at 0:06:50
In reply to Re: Bipolar on Oprah » Phillipa, posted by Phillipa on October 5, 2007, at 23:54:19
No, they didn't say what this magic drug was. A benzo could act within half an hour, probably they started her on one before her other drugs took effect. Yes, I understand that the mom was concerned for her grandchildren, and at least going on TV with Oprah probably got the son access to better doctors than he'd had for the previous 8 years. It's sad, though, that people need to do something like that to get good medical care. Cecilia
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