Posted by JohnX2 on January 27, 2002, at 15:02:35
In reply to Last post of it's Kind.., posted by Mr. Scott on January 25, 2002, at 22:34:26
About the sleep thing, I'm quite certain after
alot of uncertainty, that I am bipolar and I
never have had a lack of sleep. I have had difficulty
falling asleep and hypersomnia.There is a tricky line between diagnosing
someone with a mild bipolar 2 vs. ADD + depression.
The hyperactivity may be ADD or hypomania and
the diagnosis may be difficult. A lot of times
you just need to go by the medicine responses.
My medicine responses made it quite clear that
I was more of a bipolar II than a ADD + depression.One thing you might try is a med that can
treat either unipolar depression or bipolar
which is Lamictal. This was the first thing
that really worked for me, with no side effects
after hitting a steady dose.
Its tricky to dose when you start it,
and you must be extremely patient. Default
Disclaimer: Individual results may vary.regards,
John
> This sums up where I'm at and asks one final time for ideas on how to proceed. Henceforth I shall restrict my posting from being so desperate like and complaint oriented and accept that life is not ever going to exist on my terms. It seems the wisdom I seek is not to be found where I seek it. And so I will bandage up my wounds and proceed onward as I always have.
>
> Here goes..
>
> This happened a while ago, but I feel compelled to tell the story.
>
>
> I saw 4 shrinks in 6 weeks...
>
> One was known to diagnose BP II a lot (or see it where others miss it as my referring shrink put it), and he said he was diagnosing me with BP II but seemed disturbed that I never ever ever had a time in my life where I needed less sleep than usual. He said to take Depakote or Lithium, because not enough research has been done on the others for first line use. And that I can't take AD's. I tried the Depakote up to 750mg and was constipated and tired all the time...To the point where I could barely communicate. It helped a little but not much considering the side effects. I took it up to 1500mg, where I heard for the first time in my life absolutely no noise in my mind at all, yet I was conscious. I also began eating like a bear.
>
> Another shrink said "Take Prozac if it worked for you before" So I did and all it did was make me tired this time. Slept non-stop. He Adderall which made me overall worse. He then got as frustrated at me and started to punish me I believe with Depakote repeatedly saying my mood was unstable.
>
> Another shrink Said I have a neurological condition requiring anticonvulsants and his first choice was Dilantin which he said would "wake me up". I din't notice anything significant at all from the Dilantin.
>
> Another shrink said I had ADD as a child and am now depressed and anxious because of it. He gave me Serzone and Provigil. Serzone made my face swell.
>
> They all ignored the fact that I had broken up with a girlfriend of 5 + years not long before that. Or even consider that I could be in Zoloft Withdrawal which I recently discontinued due to muscle pain.
>
> So in the absence of any clear consensus I decided to seek out a physician who would give me both what worked in the past or the alternative I wanted to try.
> Klonopin-Effexor-Provigil/Adrafanil-Omega 3
> But I worry a great deal one of them was right and I've missed the boat entirely, or that I've made a bad choice about the meds, and think about the withdrawal syndromes, and side effects.
>
> Any thoughts?
poster:JohnX2
thread:91632
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020124/msgs/91765.html