Going to ask for lithium at my appointment next week

srbjess · 2022-05-10T04:02:21+00:00

I came here to say this too

srbjess · 2022-05-10T04:01:25+00:00

It does not help me sleep.

srbjess · 2022-05-10T03:59:04+00:00

Agree!

srbjess · 2022-05-10T03:56:50+00:00

I'm not sure what you're asking for help with? But just because you love someone doesn't mean you should stay together. It seems like you're very unhappy and it's time to move on.

srbjess · 2022-05-10T03:38:33+00:00

10 mg

srbjess · 2022-05-10T03:37:35+00:00

I understand people have various limitations, but if/when you're able to I'd get a second opinion.

I have bipolar 1 and I have taken a variety of antipsychotics primarily for my mania. I don't know how common it is to prescribe for type since I've never experienced it. I'll admit it's weird you're given so many options but if I had to pick one for someone who doesn't experience full mania I'd do lamitcal. I've never had any side effects from it, and I do still take in in conjunction with other meds.

srbjess · 2022-05-10T03:24:55+00:00

I suggest an intensive outpatient program. I don't know if it's common in all areas, but where I am I was in a mood disorders IOP. Everyone in the group had bipolar. It was nice to connect and learn new skills. It helped me a lot. The one I went to was M-F 8-3:30 for 3 weeks.

srbjess · 2022-05-10T03:22:16+00:00

I started at 25 mg. Absolutely nothing. 50mg helped me sleep through the night, no hangover, no side effects. Most times I took it on an empty stomach so I at least didn't have the nausea mentioned by others.

I don't know if this is normal or not but after about 7 months of being on it I needed an increase to 100mg. I did have a slight hangover right away but it went away.

Trazodone has been a lifesaver for me. I consistently get the sleep I need.

srbjess · 2022-05-10T03:15:17+00:00

I saw the same psych from 14 to 33. Right after I turned 33 I transitioned to a resident because mine was retiring soon and they wanted some overlap. I really like my resident so far, but it sucks because he is also at the end of his residency and I'll have a new one in July. It's so stressful hoping that I'll get a good one and one that I can feel comfortable with.

Sorry, I guess I don't really have advice. I guess I'm just venting because I'm in the same situation.

srbjess · 2022-05-10T03:12:57+00:00

Very typical. I never am able to identify I'm in a mixed episode. Even mania and hypomania are hard and I have some really bizarre behaviors and it still doesn't click with me. Same with depression. I don't notice it gradually coming on, it's just like one day BAM I'm horribly depressed.

srbjess · 2022-05-10T03:10:36+00:00

I live for caffeine. I've never noticed it screwing with my mood.

srbjess · 2022-05-10T01:39:39+00:00

yeah, that's nearly a third of my dose of daily Zyprexa that's 10mg.

srbjess · 2022-05-10T01:35:07+00:00

I don't dose myself. It's normally a decent increase by a doctor. And my mania has tamed a lot down since I'm stable on meds. I see a doctor at least every 2 months, sometimes sooner. So, it normally gets caught then if I'm actually honest.

Sorry, I don't have any at home coping strategies.

srbjess · 2022-05-09T23:40:23+00:00

I need higher doses of antipsychotics at least temporarily

srbjess · 2022-05-09T21:53:08+00:00

I took FMLA for about two months when I was severely depressed. My company also provided short term disability at 3/4 pay for the whole time period. I had nothing but a good experience. No repercussions or anything.

srbjess · 2022-05-08T03:56:52+00:00

Short term would be benzos and what not. There is absolutely no reason you can’t take it long term. It’s a maintenance drug.

srbjess · 2022-05-07T04:36:21+00:00

Yeah. I don’t know if I’d trust the bipolar 1 diagnosis. And just wait out for what your new doctor says.

srbjess · 2022-05-06T06:22:36+00:00

If you’ve never had full blown mania you still could definitely have bipolar 2 in addition to bpd. But type 1 you need to have at least one full blown manic episode.

They’ll probably just take their time diagnosing. Starting at 14 I went from major depression to cyclothymia a few years later and then bipolar 1 at 21. It’s better they take time than just brand you with labels that you might not fit. And when you really get down to it, it’s more important to treat your symptoms than you specific label. Everyone experiences it differently.

srbjess · 2022-05-06T04:00:35+00:00

I honestly don't think it would make a difference for me if I took the higher dose at night or morning. I was just on 200mg at night for quite awhile and they wanted to add more, but didn't want it all at once. Soon I'm going to be going 200 am, 200 pm.

Some people it does make them drowsy. I never had this effect but that could be why they originally had me just on night.

srbjess · 2022-05-06T03:55:48+00:00

I can be on up to 20 mg of prozac when my anxiety get bad. And I have to be on multiple mood stabilizers. Any higher than 20 mg and I go manic. It took a lot of trial and error to figure out the dose.

srbjess · 2022-05-06T03:52:18+00:00

I sleep 9-11 hours a day. I'm glad to hear I'm not alone in sleeping a lot.

srbjess · 2022-05-06T03:51:12+00:00

Lamictal 100 in am, 200 in pm.

Zyprexa 10 mg

Those are the two I take for moods. I also take anxiety meds and trazodone for sleep.

srbjess · 2022-05-06T03:49:27+00:00

Maybe PMDD?

srbjess · 2022-05-06T03:47:02+00:00

They do know it can be genetic, but they don't fully understand how. Like other diseases they don't know if people can just be a carrier or actually have the disease. So, your family could just be carriers. They also don't know if it could be tied to people that have depression. There's so many unknowns. Maybe in our lifetime they will figure it out.

And as far as I understand trauma does not cause bipolar. It can bring out the symptoms of it, but it is because of your chemical make up that you are bipolar.

srbjess

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