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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 12 of 12. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Krazy Kat on August 27, 2001, at 12:20:30
if you want some feedback.
Posted by sar on August 27, 2001, at 12:59:36
In reply to Sar-Been on Depakote for a week...., posted by Krazy Kat on August 27, 2001, at 12:20:30
> if you want some feedback.
yes, definitely! i see my psych this thurs.
do tell!
(also, what are you taking it for?)
thanks,
sar
Posted by Krazy Kat on August 27, 2001, at 17:18:45
In reply to Re: Sar-Been on Depakote for a week.... » Krazy Kat , posted by sar on August 27, 2001, at 12:59:36
>Sar:
I'm taking it to even out my rapid cycling manias (?). Note the question mark. I don't know. I have been going up and down, up and down. Had a horrible depressive episodes last two weeks or so. A day or two after taking Dep., I could think straight again. Someone in babble suggested I had been in a mixed state (agitated depression).
But just for this week's trial (I'm on 60 mg Prozac, which was raised 20 mg last week - probably shouldn't have been, and 250 mg Topamax):
Not too bad at 500 mg at night and 250 mg in the morning. When raised to 750 mg at night and 250 in the morning, very tired - slept all day.
Having some trouble eating. Minor stomach upset.
I've been trying to take my vitamin with selenium and zinc because I have heard of some hair loss, and I have not been drinking.
It's as if my thought patterns are back in line. I'm not thinking As Much, if that makes sense. The logic is back. I had similar feelings at first on Topamax, but this is stronger. Of course, Topamax stopped pretty quickly, so I don't know...
So, I don't really know what's goin' on up there. I'm diagnosed as BP II, but I also have psychotic features, yadda, yadda, yadda. I understand now why folks who find something that helps say the diagnosis isn't that important. But it is in finding something to help, isn't it?
Thus far, I'm looking at this as a "thought drug" for me, the same way Topamax was at first. Little men aren't running around in my brain poking it with hot irons, running away, and laughing sadistically the whole while.
Let us know how your appt goes!
- KK (formerly Kingfish. He is retired, sleeping on his blankey)
Posted by susan C on August 27, 2001, at 17:37:15
In reply to Re: Sar-Been on Depakote for a week...., posted by Krazy Kat on August 27, 2001, at 17:18:45
Posted by Krazy Kat on August 27, 2001, at 17:51:41
In reply to Krazy Kat, arent Alteregos Fun ?mm (nm), posted by susan C on August 27, 2001, at 17:37:15
Posted by Krazy Kat on August 27, 2001, at 18:00:09
In reply to Sar-Been on Depakote for a week...., posted by Krazy Kat on August 27, 2001, at 12:20:30
From my perspective, it is a strong drug. I could "feel" it taking over the other two - Prozac and Topamax. It's like when you take an aspirin, and that doesn't help the headache, so you take some Exedrin and that Really does? (Or whatever helps you, you know.)
And there are interactions - for instance, you're not supposed to take aspirin.
So, if I hadn't taken other AC's before, I might have been shocked. But haven't taken Klonopin, so maybe that's similar.
I'm rambling now.
"Ah, how kute is the 'sun' when it is all of a set..."
(Can you tell I got my Krazy Kat book out and am going to drive everyone crazy with it for awhile?)
Posted by dreamer on August 28, 2001, at 10:42:15
In reply to Yessss. Does anyone know who Krazy Kat is though? (nm), posted by Krazy Kat on August 27, 2001, at 17:51:41
Are we all changing into fluffy animals?
The fluffy farm.
Playing by the Willow tree.Kingfish goes feline . not cat fights allowed!
MMMMMMmmmmm
EEEEEeeeeee
OOOOOOoooooooooo
WWWWWWWWWWwwwwwwwwww
Posted by Krazy Kat on August 28, 2001, at 12:36:04
In reply to now who is Krazy Kat ? (((((((meow))))))), posted by dreamer on August 28, 2001, at 10:42:15
Poor Krazy Kat was pretty homely. Not fluffy or cuddly. My favorite aspect of KK, was we never knew his/her sexual origin. He/she was just in love with Ignatz and waited patiently for Ignatz to knck him/her on the head with a brick. AND, Ignatz had a wife. So it was scandalous as well.
Ah, Krazy... and Officer Pup always looked out for Krazy.
I love my kitty, Schmeckle. Pit Bull mix decided she shouldn't be so close to his treat this morning, and snapped. Bad pit bull! She just stared at him, and kept on licking her fat belly.
Posted by sar on August 28, 2001, at 23:26:48
In reply to One more thing about Depakote-Sar, posted by Krazy Kat on August 27, 2001, at 18:00:09
> (Can you tell I got my Krazy Kat book out and am going to drive everyone crazy with it for awhile?)
dear kat (i miss you as kingfish! what happened?),i see my pdoc thurs, and i'm supposed to get depakote for my "impulsivity." this pdoc (high-profile in my city) has dx'd me as borderline, histrionic, and bipolar II. i'm a big researcher and feel as if i only fully meet--well, the criteria for none--but if i were to choose one, it would be BPII. i've social phobia, so i don't see how i could have full-blown borderline *or* histrionic personality disorder. i feel pretty balanced (except that i am depressed and extremely impulsive).
i've been hesitant to take de[akot because it treats mania, which i've never experienced. i've experienced mixex states and quite possibly hypomania, but without being BP I< would dpeakote drag me down, do you think?
hope you are well,
sar
Posted by Krazy Kat on August 29, 2001, at 10:59:01
In reply to Re: One more thing about Depakote-Sar » Krazy Kat , posted by sar on August 28, 2001, at 23:26:48
Welll, one good thing is, it seems to work quickly so you would know soon how it feels. The worst thing, I think, about all this trial nonsense is the time factor. Which is why the book folks were discussing on Babble looked very interesting (sorry, don't recall the name at the moment).
I would *think* it would help with the impulsivity. That sort of seems like what is defined as hypomania to me.
I feel calmer. I'm actually having trouble sleeping now, and am tired, but I wouldn't let something like sedation be a deterent.
Have I mentioned this in this thread? That I realize now why folks who have been around the block longer place little faith in a diagnoses? I really fought for one, and it helps me explain things to others, but really, it's just that my brain is ill. More than anything, I think it's that my thoughts get jumbled, and I just can't think clearly, sometimes on the physically depressed spectrum, sometimes on the physically manic.
It's approved for mania, which is more than the newer drugs, but remember, these meds are used at the Dr.'s discretion.
If you decide to try it, let us know. :)
(Kingfish is sorry. He needed a rest. And he's really stinky from the summer.)
Posted by sar on August 31, 2001, at 0:26:05
In reply to Re: One more thing about Depakote-Sar, posted by Krazy Kat on August 29, 2001, at 10:59:01
my dear Krazy Kat,
i understand what you mean about the diagnosis business. i've got about 7 lables pinned on me, but the only one i truly agree with is depression--but i'm also drawn to impulsive spending, drinking, drug use, sex--then i think, maybe i'm just not *displined* enough. i mean, everyone likes those things, right? i just need to control myself, but i never can.
i do have little faith in diagnoses now. i'll tell you mine: depression, generalized anxiety, social anxiety, histrionic, borderline, bipolar II. does that even sound *possible*? je ne sais pas. i know it's more about treating the symptoms--my impulsivity has been fun but dangerous, i've scarred myself up from running drunk, lost my wallet, caused a car accident, woken up saying "what happened last night?"--ahhh, perhaps this is good material for a soap opera or trashy young-adult novels. but it's all taking a toll on me--i'm broke and in alot of legal trouble.
my fucking psych (excusex-moi) is the highest-paid big-cheese in the city, and he cancelled our appt today--i've been rescheduled for 2 weeks from now. this doesn't seem fair to me. cuz it was raining hard he couldn't make it to the office?! anyway--my latest claim to my parents is that depakote will be my salvation, 'cos yr not supposed to drink on it (and added to prozac and klonopin, i think i'd be knocked the fuggout after a few drinks).
i'm concerned about the cognitive effects of depakote. prozac and klonopin have made me much warmer and jollier, but my cognition (memory, spelling, reading ability) have been sliding down a slippery slope. i misspell the simplest of words often, my typing is slowed by at least 25%--but hey chick, i'm still alive--what a fuckin trade-off.
i hope you are doin well, ya krazy kat.
love,
sar
Posted by Krazy Kat on August 31, 2001, at 13:31:45
In reply to Re: One more thing about Depakote-Sar » Krazy Kat , posted by sar on August 31, 2001, at 0:26:05
I don't take Klonopin. I take Topamax, which at first had horrible cognitive side effects but those went away. However, I have similar affects to what you describe from the Prozac (for instance, that's a very poorly formed sentence).
I, too, have two BIG scars from running from a skinny-dipping party in high school while quite hammered. My drug use stopped after college, but I also left an area where that was available.
I haven't felt like drinking nearly as much on the Depakote. I had a beer the other night and I just didn't feel very good after it. I was using the drinking mostly for mood control, so if this can really help with that... but it's still difficult. I can empathize with quite a bit of what you're saying.
I still can't believe your f***ing Dr. Especially since you've been in hospital before. He knows this is serious. It's just unbelievable.
- K.
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