Posted by T_R_D on April 29, 2004, at 10:35:34
In reply to Re: Toronto_Canada, posted by EERRIICC on April 29, 2004, at 0:11:17
> You were hospitalized and they still didn't give you a psychiatrist to work with on an outpatient basis?!
Yeah, I was really ticked off. I pushed and pushed--I think I even begged at some point but they said that they only offered help to those in crisis. I think I went back to my GP after that and he referred me to this quack on the Danforth. Prior to my first hospitalization I was seeing someone at a Scarborough hospital--not Grace...the other one. He was okay but I didn't feel comfortable with him.
> Is it that there is a shortage?
I have no idea. They wouldn't give me an answer.
> What has worked for you in the past? For me it has only been Prozac, Mannerix, and high dose Parnate. All have stopped working after awhile however.
Hmmm. Classic poop out.
Well, I was misdiagnosed for years as having unipolar depression. As it turns out I'm actually bipolar. It really explained at lot as most ADs either didn't help or drove me into manias/mixed states. Just recently I've gotten into anticonvulsant territory and I'm finding that I am an excellent responder to these drugs. They stop my mania dead in its tracks! It just further confirms to me that this is finally a correct diagnosis.
I starged off with Tegretol--also taking 150mg of Wellbutrin and 75mg of Effexor. I'm not big on Effexor but it seems to provide minor relief. The Tegretol wasn't really helping my depression, however. That's always been a sticky spot--a real nagging depression that just won't go away!
I did some research and found that the AC Lamictal and the mood stabilizer Lithium were the only drugs for bipolar that have been tested and shown some promise in this area. I didn't want to suffer the side effects of Lithium, have to get serum levels checked etc... so of course I opted for the Lamictal. It's been about a month now and it has made SO much difference. It's unbelieveable. I haven't felt like this in years.
I've still got a long way to go though. There is still some persistent depression lurking...I can feel it. I probably need to get stabilized and find the right dosage for me (after all, it's only been a month, right?) I'd like to kick the Effexor. It gives me problems with sex (anorgasmia) and I don't want to be like that for the rest of my life--being bipolar I suspect I will need to be on meds for life.
So that's a quickie version of my story. I could give you the name of my GP if you want to check him out. We have a good working relationship--we tackle my medication together and I really appreciate that. He's open to suggestions too. I've done and continue to do a lot of research on meds and he has never gotten threatened or pulled an "I'm the physician here" sort of attitude. Let me know...
Karen
poster:T_R_D
thread:340893
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040429/msgs/341285.html