Posted by Noa on December 31, 2000, at 9:11:05
In reply to Re: Bipolar type that cycles betw norm. and depressed? » S.D., posted by judy1 on December 31, 2000, at 0:27:06
SD, I think that for me, the jury is definitely still out on whether using response to mood stabilizers to direct the diagnosis is really valid or not, but it may not matter so much what the diagnosis is, if you focus on treating symptoms and decide that perhaps diagnosis is still not fully determined.
When my depression was not responding well to ADs (lots of poop out, lingering depression, worsening course, etc.), my pdoc tried lithium, and started to talk about the Bipolar Spectrum as likely for me. He started asking again about any relatives with manic-depression, etc. I have some quirky relatives, some with depression, some with alcoholism to self-medicate for depression, plenty of compulsive issues, like eating disorders and quasi-and-not-so-quasi substance abuse issues, compulsive dieting, some compulsive personalities, etc., and one eccentric uncle with probably all of the above who *might* have had mania, or hypomania, too, but it is all speculation. So, it seemed somewhat plausible to go with this line of thinking about diagnosis. It still seems plausible.
And, the lithium did help. For about 6 weeks, at which point I started to get even worse. It turns out the lithium worsened my hypothyroidism, which is perhaps a blessing because that made me decide to "get to the bottom" of the thyroid issues, which I did, and discovered that with proper treatment for hypothyroid, I am responsive to the ADs and finally feeling better. I stopped the lithium, althought the endocrinologist had said I could have continued it if needed, and just adjusted the thyroid meds accordingly. But I wanted to try to isolate and determine which strategy worked. It was the thyroid, so I did not have a need to go back on the lithium, or any other mood stabilizer.
I still think, that in addition to having a hypothyroid-based depression, I have a depression that is likely not unrelated to something in the bipolar family. But, I think there still needs to be a lot more research before it can definitively be called something like "Bipolar III". Maybe yes, maybe no.
My main point is that it doesn't matter that much. You look at the symptoms, you choose meds that might help, you try them. Trial and error is still the name of the game, at this point.
So, if you think your double depression has a cyclical flavor to it, it is definitely worth talking to the pdoc about trying a mood stabilizer.
(But also check out your thyroid).
BTW, I am doing pretty well. I still like this board a lot and get a lot from it. I still struggle with some mood issues, and a lot from the challenge of cleaning up the mess my life is in from several years of depression, hypothyroid immobility, etc. etc.
poster:Noa
thread:50592
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20001231/msgs/50634.html