Posted by Chris A. on April 17, 2000, at 2:01:22
In reply to Any happy, stable rapid cyclers out there? , posted by Janice on April 16, 2000, at 22:25:15
Dear Janice,
I empathize with your dilemna, because it is mine. If it weren't for my relationship with God and a loving family that I don't want to hurt irreparably, suicide would be the logical answer to the pain that never goes away. It continues to be a constant temptation. It seems logical to give a depressed person antidepressants, but they seemed to complicate my depression. I wonder if the mixed/rapid cycling symptoms would have started if I had never taken them - especially our friend Prozac. In six hours is my fifteenth ECT treatment since the latter part of January. It would be nice not to have to go that route and they're not a magic fix, but they do help keep me out of the morgue. In trying to spread the treatments out I ended up inpatient for safety reasons a week ago. Omega three essential fatty acids (specifically 6.2 grams of DHA and 3.4 grams of EPA) are one treatment I am trying and I'm not sure how long it takes to kick in if it's going to. Life-style-hygiene is easier to believe in than to
acomplish - sleep, exercise, relationships, faith, light, healthy diet, etc. Just when I have a handle on one area, something happens. My sixteen year old and I had a great time walking together until I sprained my ankle recently. One of my treatment team has mentioned the vagal nerve stimulator a couple of times. Since we have waited this long, I would like to see what the results of more clinical trials are. There always seems to be a honey moon phase with new treatments. Frankly, I wish Lithium would have worked. Life would have been so much simpler. We've tried everything out there, and I am very weary of it all. Yes, that includes buprenorphine and nimodipine. Are you also hypothyroid? I take Cytomel and Synthroid. We're always having to mess with the doses. Currently I can tell that my TSH is higher than our target of 1-2. At times we have overly supressed my thyroid, and that doesn't work either. I had Hashimoto's thyroiditis some 14+ years ago. Sorry that I don't have any great encouragement. We can make it one minute at a time with a lot of help. Have you gone to see a consultant that works with refractory illnesses? If my consultant comes up with something that works, I'm nominating him/her for the Nobel prize. If some great answer comes my way I'll let you know.Blessings,
Chris A.
poster:Chris A.
thread:30276
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20000411/msgs/30287.html