Posted by allye on February 15, 2004, at 12:13:29
In reply to I don't even know who I am anymore, posted by linkadge on February 12, 2004, at 18:33:26
Sending another "hug" your way. Is your psychiatrist receptive to discussing all your legimate and emotional fears about meds? If not, can you find someone who is, or at least a sympathetic counselor in adjunct to your psychiatrist? I ask this because I'm concerned that your stopping meds on your own is doing you more harm than the actual meds. Also, compassion and interest in a doctor is, itself, the most powerful med, IMO.
In reading some of your other posts, you seem to have wonderful artistic and intellectual gifts- speaking from my experience, any treatment option is going to lessen them to some extent. Keep trying to find the formula you can live with, because your life and gifts, even subdued, are better than death or uncontrolled bipolar.
For what it's worth to you in your decision making, I've decided not to worry about liver, kidney damage. I'm an American renal dietitan and have learned from my patients that a great life is possible on dialysis, and the US is lightyears behind Europe with dialysis outcomes. Also, liver transplants with concomitant doner bone marrow require almost no anti-rejection meds.
Even if the above advances weren't available, I beleive "good brain chemistry" years are worth a shortened lifespan.
"hugs" again- Allye
poster:allye
thread:312564
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040215/msgs/313590.html