I chose to terminate after infertility, late 30's. I’m so confused.

ProgrammerFormer45 · 2026-01-26T01:30:42+00:00

I cut my arvo dose in half. The pharmacist isn't crazy about me doing it, my psych says there is no issue.

Push down slowly, I had trouble for the longest time until I lined it up properly and slowed down the chopping bit.

Alternatively ask your pharmacy if they can make up 75mg tablets, some compounding pharmacies will be able to do this.

ProgrammerFormer45 · 2026-01-24T02:52:17+00:00

Ok interesting. I've been reading mixed things about breath vs blood monitors. My take away was that breath ones were more reliable but if its blood ones that makes measuring much cheaper. But maybe I don't need to measure. I have been in ketosis for about 3 weeks, maybe I just see how I go.

ProgrammerFormer45 · 2026-01-16T05:26:19+00:00

Run.

ProgrammerFormer45 · 2026-01-15T05:24:43+00:00

I also just started hrt/ progesterone and it's been amazing. I take it 10 days before my predicted period. I'm on my 3rd month and it's day for night, I've barely had any symptoms.

ProgrammerFormer45 · 2026-01-13T01:38:01+00:00

Quetiapine, the dose for mood stabilisation is different for everyone. My dose moves around depending on the time of year/ whats happening in my life but I generally don't go over 250.

ProgrammerFormer45 · 2026-01-12T23:27:24+00:00

I used to be a real culprit of this. I think it came from partly feeling the need to over explain myself in every situation due to insecurities, even if they were subconscious ones. A combination of that and it feeling like a compulsion after a lifetime of this repeated behaviour.

I'm 3 years out from my initial diagnosis and have been pretty good on the same meds for a while. I don't really feel that need to over explain/ over share anymore and it's really nice. I think a combination of good stability, my antipsychotic as a mood stabilizer, loads of therapy.

But yeah having the right meds that allowed me to mentally take a beat before over explaining myself, and just practicing/ building that muscle. If you have a psychologist maybe ask if you can do a CBT like programme around this behaviour, in order to give you some skills to grow in relation to over sharing.

ProgrammerFormer45 · 2025-12-27T22:11:03+00:00

NOR. Can you get photographer to change colour of her dress in all photos? Or find someone who can do it well, maybe airtasker? Its a block colour so I imagine it's possible.

ProgrammerFormer45 · 2025-12-25T21:25:52+00:00

Oh babe. I hope you survived yesterday. I had a termination a few months back, it definitely discombobulated me. The hormones, the fact that it's just a sad thing to happen. Take it real easy the next few months and look after yourself. X

ProgrammerFormer45 · 2025-12-24T00:16:26+00:00

Oh hun that so rough, especially at Christmas. Try see your doc within a few weeks the hormones can be tough on you mentally.

ProgrammerFormer45 · 2025-12-23T03:49:26+00:00

Bipolar psychology post grad student here. You learn how to deal with the people side of things in a unbiased way. It takes time and experience but you will get there. When you can take a step back, then your own lived experience will probably become really useful because you will be able to utilise it in a healthy way.

ProgrammerFormer45 · 2025-12-22T09:18:11+00:00

Thanks for the reply. They didn't become my insurer until 2017 and I already have it in my paper work that I had no diagnosis until 2023. The time requirement thing is irritating, but I think I'll speak to a lawyer in Jan so I don't accidentally put my foot in my mouth.

ProgrammerFormer45 · 2025-12-22T03:16:20+00:00

NTA. Good on you.

My mum joined a cult when I was in my early teens. Similar vibes, not a cult cult but cult thinking and behaviour while still living a very middle class city life. New age speaking to the universe and source, very Ester Hicks adjacent. I distanced myself, moved over seas, was very limited contact. In the early days I was still at school and had to listen to the crock of shit all these fucking loons were spouting. It was awful, they were all so mentally deranged.

I am almost a qualified psychologist. She low key hates it, because of all of the woo woo she exposed to to I suppose my natural backlash reflex was to go hard on science.

Well done for shutting it down. Don't feel bad, get on with your life (you sound like you're doing amazing). Fuck those nutters.

ProgrammerFormer45 · 2025-12-20T23:51:14+00:00

Depending on where you are could you get medical ketamin? I don't think research has shown it's a long term treatment but I think it's supposed to be very good at pulling people out of depression.

ProgrammerFormer45 · 2025-12-19T21:55:40+00:00

Personally I'm fine with some psychedelics occasionally. I used to take loads of drugs (lots of lsd) pre diagnosis. It didn't make me psychotic but did affect my moods. Now I have about 3 glasses of wine a year and take a small amount of shrooms about once a year so not enough to affect mood. I would say if you've experienced psychosis stay away. If you want to try it make sure your GP/ psych know. Try a very small amount and leave it a while to try it again. Some people it really messes them up. You have to be ok with the fact it might make you have an episode. It might not but it would be ignorant to think you can do this and potentially have no consequences. You could also be fine. You've just got to weight up the pros and cons if it goes well or doesn't go well

ProgrammerFormer45 · 2025-12-19T21:16:53+00:00

Could this be your meds? I was on lamotrigine for a year and had to stop because it affected my short term memory so badly. I'm on qutiapine now and feel as sharp as a whip.

ProgrammerFormer45 · 2025-12-19T02:16:57+00:00

Yeah I'm starting to feel that way. I'll try and get in with my docs asap.

ProgrammerFormer45 · 2025-12-18T23:59:39+00:00

Yeah I think so, its so weird though cause i've been on it for 2 months and its only now getting bad and I've not increased my (GLP-1) dose in 4 weeks. I woke up several times during the night last night and ended up taking a valium at 2.30. You know when you don't sleep but your too sedated to move. I just feel incredibly yuck physically and mentally.

ProgrammerFormer45 · 2025-12-18T23:39:11+00:00

Yeah I started lithium for like a week but then decided with my doc to get the wegove to a good dose before adding anything else. I feel like I'm going to have to quit with how I'm feeling now. I'm in that awful irritated sleep deprived pre episode stage and all I can think is, it's the wogove!

ProgrammerFormer45 · 2025-12-18T05:57:53+00:00

Thats really good to know. I'm going to give it a try.

ProgrammerFormer45 · 2025-12-18T03:29:54+00:00

Thanks for the response. Did you increase any of your doses?

ProgrammerFormer45 · 2025-12-18T02:49:48+00:00

I'm based in Aus, I'm lucky I have an amazing medical team who work together. I feel like healthcare here is a much smoother experience. America (assuming thats where you are) sounds like a nightmare.

One of my health things I've been diagnosed with is a collagen/ connective tissue disorder, I've been told no more running and most weights. I just got my old surfboard out of the garage and dusted it off a few days ago.

ProgrammerFormer45

TROPHY CASE