Posted by Tomatheus on February 14, 2015, at 12:01:08
In reply to Re: Depression vs. 'negative' psychotic symptoms » Tomatheus, posted by ed_uk2010 on February 14, 2015, at 10:52:50
Ed,
Thank you again for writing and for asking more questions. My responses are below...
> Do you know if your blood level of vitamin D is normal now? Have you been checked for thyroid dysfunction lately? Or any other 'routine blood tests'? eg. Complete blood count, glucose etc.
I haven't had my vitamin D level checked since it came back low as part of the tests that were ordered when I went to an orthomolecular treatment center in February 2012. Certainly, getting it checked again would be a good idea.
I had thyroid tests, as well as Comp. Metabolic Panel and CBC tests done, when I was seen at the orthomolecular treatment center that I mentioned. Again, that I was in Feburary 2012. I haven't had such tests done since then. The only abnormal lab values that came back from those tests (other than the low vitamin D) were blood sugar being one point above the reference interval and white blood cells being elevated.
> So, do you still feel able to enjoy things when you are able to concentrate? ...Or would you say your enjoyment of activities is reduced?I would say that my enjoyment of activities is probably always reduced to a degree, but I'd say it's adequate when my energy and concentration aren't too bad.
> Does your mood/enjoyment correlate with the impaired concentration and fatigue, or do they seem disconnected?
Yes, I would say that my enjoyment of activities does correlate with my energy and concentration.
> Do you mean you sometimes hear your thoughts spoken aloud?
No, at least not most of the time. They tend to respond to my thoughts and sometimes seem to try to predict things to come. They don't usually repeat my own thoughts. But I don't *hear* them with my ears. They're sort of like whispers, but even more subtle. I guess I can't think of a better way to describe them other than to say that they're thought like.
> What have you tried in terms of antidepressants? It sounds like you've had very little luck. Do you sleep and eat well?
I've tried most of the SSRIs, Cymbalta, Anafranil, Wellbutrin, Remeron, tianeptine, and all of the MAOIs. I might be leaving some out. I'm avoiding taking more SNRIs and TCAs because Cymbalta and Anafranil left me feeling quite agitated and irritable. I also don't think that agomelatine, which I haven't tried, would be a good choice for me, given the difficulties that I have with waking up and the fact that taking melatonin seems to worsen my energy quite a bit.
I would say that my diet is ok, but not great. What I eat is pretty balanced, and I stay away from pure "junk" food more often than not, although I would guess that I probably consume more refined carbohydrates than most health experts would recommend.
My sleep seems ok when I'm responding to treatment. When I'm not, I sleep a bit too much -- usually 10 hours, sometimes more.
> >I even believed that I was the second coming of Jesus Christ at one point
>
> So, was that part of a schizoaffective, manic episode? I'm guessing your diagnosis is schizoaffective disorder, bipolar type? - in partial remission.Well, my current psychiatrist has never discussed his diagnosis with me. The doctors who I would say spent the most time observing me and questioning me during my fourth hospitalization diagnosed me with schizophrenia. Without much doubt, a case can be made that I went through a manic episode during the first few months of my psychosis, as there was clearly some grandiosity. And that would undoubtedly leave me with either a schizoaffective-bipolar or bipolar diagnosis. So, different doctors have told me different things (or in the case of my current psychiatrist, nothing) as far as diagnosis is concerned. I think that I clearly have some depressive symptoms and some psychotic symptoms to contend with at present and that my psychosis quite possibly involved some mania initially. What it all amounts to diagnosis-wise, I'm not 100-percent sure.
Tomatheus
Has long-standing difficulties with energy and concentration, as well as psychotic and cognitive symptoms
Taking Abilify & supplements including vitamins B3 & D3
poster:Tomatheus
thread:1076218
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20150129/msgs/1076620.html