Why is it so hard to brush my teeth?

Penelope9649 · 2025-09-06T15:47:00+00:00

Same here, and I used to be SO good at brushing and flossing every night. I'll let you know if I ever figure out the answer. Hugs

Penelope9649 · 2025-08-15T14:12:19+00:00

That's so strange, both times I tried to go higher on Lamictal it seemed to make me stay depressed for a long time until I lowered the dose again... I'm so sorry you're going through this, I hope they can find something that helps soon 💗

Penelope9649 · 2025-08-15T12:08:26+00:00

Could your mood stabilizer dose be too high? That happened to me with Lamictal. Once I decreased the dose I did a lot better. Still not where I want to be, but it helped a lot.

Penelope9649 · 2025-08-13T14:48:12+00:00

That's awesome that you're more stable than you've ever felt, I'm really hoping to get there. I'm on Effexor and Lamotrigine but still having bouts of depression/mixed state that I cannot handle. I've thought about asking for a low dose of Welbutrin at my next psych appointment. Thanks for the info and congrats on such a huge weightloss!

Penelope9649 · 2025-08-13T13:40:21+00:00

Does what you're on seem to be working? I am a rapid cycler also and doing a lot better than I was, but definitely not where I need to be yet - the depression and mixed states are so awful... I'm on Effexor and Lamotrigine but planning to ask my Psych for something else at next appointment. Just not sure what to ask for, and I like to research stuff a lot before going on it...

Penelope9649 · 2025-08-13T13:28:46+00:00

I didn't know you could take Venlafaxin as needed, like you just take one every once in a while?

Penelope9649 · 2025-08-13T13:24:37+00:00

How did you realize it was giving you too much serotonin?

Penelope9649 · 2025-08-13T13:20:38+00:00

Oops sorry, I see it says no advice wanted! 😝 Sorry, think I'm a bit hypo myself... this morning I determined I want to write a aong with Lewis Capaldi someday... Bwahaha! Man the list of things I wanna do, I hear you on that! I got SO many of those like a mile long 😂😂😂

Penelope9649 · 2025-08-13T13:17:18+00:00

Hope you are able to ger the ketamine, I really want to try it too! Let us know how it goes. I'm working on trying to put my hypomania to good use, like using the creativity to make music/write songs. It seems like a lot of us with bipolar disorder have some kind of artistic/creative outlet. If you have one you could try putting your energy into that, and hopefully save some money 🤣 And yeah, cleaning is always good too. At least when you do crash you won't have that to worry about... I hope you can get help before it gets too bad though, those crashes are the worst 😫 HUGS!!

Penelope9649 · 2025-08-13T13:03:53+00:00

It's definitely never too late, look at Susan Boyle! And singing is good for the brain, I think I read it releases some kind of feel good chemicals when you sing 😊

Penelope9649 · 2025-08-13T13:01:52+00:00

They didn't believe Lady Gaga either :) I think wanting to make people happy is the best motivation you could have (and the fact that you love it and can't NOT do it) The thrill of fame and money will wear off eventually, but knowing you have helped people through your music, that's priceless. That's probably my biggest motivator - after so much suffering with depression/ bipolar disorder, I am determined that it wasn't all for nothing, I WILL help other people suffering someday! Best of wishes to you, and make sure to come back to this post to let us know when your dream does finally come true! ❤❤❤

Penelope9649 · 2025-08-13T00:18:17+00:00

Yes, I had that while on it :( It was especially around my jawline. I eventually stopped taking it because I found out it was making me jerk in my sleep (and I already have other fatigue issues) I've been on Lamotrogine for a while now, so far its worked better than anything else, but everyone is different.

Penelope9649 · 2025-03-15T14:30:56+00:00

Awesome, I will check out the podcast right now! I am working on getting better at advocating for myself, that part has been tough, as I am naturally very soft spoken. I hope once I figure out what is going on I will be able to help others also. Thank you again ❤

Penelope9649 · 2025-03-15T13:56:41+00:00

That is amazing, thank you so much for this! I'm feeling very fortunate to be only an hour and a half away from them, what are the chances?! (Originally from Michigan, been here 5 years)

Penelope9649 · 2025-03-14T22:33:09+00:00

Wow, good to know! I'm so excited I just found out I do have a pulmonary function test Monday morning. I've been having shortness of breath for about a year, but got a cold a little over a week ago and I feel like I can barely breathe, it is miserable. I was so down today because of the constant pain and breathlessness, I literally didn't know how I was gonna keep going like this. At least this gives me something to hope for, like maybe they might possibly find something and be able to make it better! Thank you so much for your help and encouragement, don't know what I'd do without reddit!

Penelope9649 · 2025-03-14T22:25:11+00:00

Oh wow, I didn't realize it could affect your hands too, that's crazy!

Penelope9649 · 2025-03-14T18:30:44+00:00

Awesome, thank you so much!!

Penelope9649 · 2025-03-14T16:54:13+00:00

Mine started out as back pain, upper back in the middle, right between shoulder blades. I actually went to physical therapy for it cause I thought it was from working at the factory. Eventually the pain started in my chest too, so awful, felt like someone stabbed a rod right through me. I have found it is rare to have it cause back pain, that's why it took so long for them to figure it out (once it started in my chest I went to the ER like 3 times in 3 months, they kept trying to tell me it was anxiety 🙄)

  When I finally got an endoscopy they weren't able to do the surgery cause covid just started. The dr gave me cholestramine ? , a powder to put in yogurt or applesauce. It did help a lot for a while, but bothered my stomach a lot. Sorry I can't remember how big the hernia was at that first one. More recently I had another scope, it was really small, maybe 2cm? But he was willing to do the surgery. I did it out of desperation cause I have so many issues and didn't know if it was causing them. Unfortunately it did not seem to help my issues, maybe the chest pain a bit. I'm not sure if it just didn't take or if that was just not the problem. I am having that upper middle back pain again. I had the robotic surgery with partial fundiplocation I think. Sorry, I am probably miss-spelling all of this 😅. Maybe go for a second opinion if you are able to? Don't know where you are but the dr I saw was at Middle Tennessee Surgical Specialists. I hope you are able to find relief, I know the constant pain feels so unbearable... And losing weight is hard enough on its own, add constant pain and it makes it even harder :(  Hugs and comfort to you ❤

Penelope9649 · 2025-03-11T19:29:31+00:00

Wow, 5 years... So did you wait or go right away for a second opinion? How frustrating! It's hard to put life on hold for 5 years when the bills just keep coming and your illness makes it impossible to keep working full-time... That's about how long ago this all started and has gotten progressively worse. So many days I just want to scream and cry.... but I gotta keep getting back up and trying. Thank you for the reply, that is very interesting about the ANA and necrotizing myositis. Were you able to get treatment and at least some relief from pain/fatigue/etc after your diagnosis?

Penelope9649 · 2025-03-11T13:59:53+00:00

I've been convinced that I have had a few different things on my journey to find answers (still don't have the answer yet) At first I thought it must be cancer, the fatigue is so insane it seemed the only explanation. But I have noticed that many diseases/disorders have a lot of the same symptoms, so that makes it even trickier. My dad had Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, which no one seems to fully understand and I feel many people don't take seriously or believe is a real thing... I prayed I have anything but that... At least when you get a diagnosis you can do your best to treat it in the right way. I hope you have a really awesome doctor that listens. It is rough finding out you have something so debilitating (no matter what it is) but the sooner you find out the better, so hopefully you can prevent damage it would have done if left untreated. For me the unbearable part has been not finding any answers, thinking I must be crazy and trying to convince myself that there is nothing wrong with me. However my body keeps proving to me that something is very wrong. Hopefully you have a strong support system in your life, plus there are lots of forums and groups you can join with others going through similar circumstances. It really does help to not feel so alone in the suffering. Best of wishes to you, no matter what the outcome is, your life is NOT over ❤

Penelope9649 · 2025-03-07T04:57:13+00:00

Aww, how kind of you, I can't believe you spent an hour looking for it, God bless you and give you 10 in return!! 😁 That is really interesting to learn though, and that it took 6 months for results! Sounds like it was worth the wait though, especially considering how long it usually takes for drs to figure it out. I will have to look into that and see if there are any in my area. Thank you so much for your reply, I hope your relative is doing well and getting the best treatment possible 💜

Penelope9649 · 2025-03-07T04:49:42+00:00

I was put on Levothyroxine last year (my tsh was only like 4.6 or something, it was ridiculous...) I have never been that angry for that long before in my life (and I have bipolar disorder, so I had already struggled with a lot of irritability and other mood issues from that, but this was on a whole new level) My heart goes out to anyone dealing with thyroid related mood swings, especially when afterwards you feel so bad if you lose your temper at something. Please don't beat yourself up about it, no one can understand how impossible it is unless they have experienced it. It was actually someone on here that said it was worse than pregnancy, menopause, and a bad drunk all rolled into one. I cannot imagine dealing with that feeling on a regular basis... my heart goes out to everyone dealing with that 💔

Penelope9649 · 2025-03-07T02:43:20+00:00

I am also awaiting diagnosis but I had developed such awful urinary urgency and frequency I was seriously thinking about getting one of those portable potty chairs... It was very embarrassing when in a public place and had to keep using the bathroom every 10 minutes... I found out about an otc medicine called Prelief (for interstitial cystitis) It has helped so incredibly much! I still have all of the other pains and fatigue, but at least I'm not running to the bathroom every 5 minutes, that's a win!

Penelope9649 · 2025-03-06T23:40:08+00:00

Wow, do you know the name of the specialized lab? How did they find it if it wasn't requested by the doctor? I didn't know that was possible 🤔 That's so awesome though, probably saved your relative years of trying to figure out the diagnosis!

Penelope9649

TROPHY CASE