Posted by fiftylager on May 6, 2007, at 19:51:10
Hi everyone. I haven't posted in awhile. I have been diagnosed with bipolar for a year now but have had it since I was a kid (30 now).
I started lamictal a year ago. At first it made my hypomanic but I enjoyed that. Then at 150mg I crashed into a deep depression. I went up to 200mg which helped until February when I had a mixed episode. The mixed episode only lasted a week, thankfully, since last year I had one that lasted months (before treatment). I doubled my dose of clonazepam so I don't know if that's what brought me out of it, or if the lamictal shortened it. I have risperdal but it gives me bad side effects, so I can't take it.
After that episode my family doctor increased my dosage to 300 mg. I was doing good again but about 4 weeks ago I had a hypomania, lasting 2 weeks then crashed into a nasty depression which lasted about a week and a half. Today, I'm feeling a little hypomanic whereas, yesterday I was very depressed. I am a rapid cycler (obviously).
The one thing that has been very difficult is I only saw a pdoc once. I live in Canada and you don't get to choose your dr. I live in a very remote area and this pdoc actually had to fly in. If I were to have any problems, my gp was to contact him and then he would give her directions for treatment. When I had my mixed episode I called for a dr appt and found out my pdoc had retired! I freaked because my dr told me it could take a year to get into a new one and she can do nothing for me but increase my lamictal and even that scares her. My family dr. must have pulled some strings seeing as I freaking out and I have an appt. with a new dr next week.
I'm nervous about the appt. because I have to drive an hour (serious driving anxiety) and doctors, especially pdocs make me nervous.
I also want to know what you think my med options will be. I have serious anxiety issues although the lamictal has helped that a bit. Oh yeah, and the lamictal is very expensive so going up in dose is out of the question. I'm using my credit card as it is to pay for it.
The lamictal has helped somewhat but I am still getting cycles and I'm always scared when i'll get another. Many of you have done the med go round so I'm just wondering what the pdoc may do and prepare myself. Sorry for the novel but I would appreciate any input. Thanks,
Crissi
poster:fiftylager
thread:756392
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20070502/msgs/756392.html