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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by waterfall on June 12, 2003, at 20:38:36
I was diagnosed bi-polar at age 22 and spent the next two years in and out of a psych hospital, not working, gaining weight. Seven years ago I began the slow process of putting a life together. First, a steady part-time job, then full-time work, then a shared apartment, a car, and finally, four years ago, the payload: a state job with bennies Karl Marx could applaud, my own apartment, in 2001 I fell in love and we got married last August and then the whipped cream: Provigil, whose stimulant effects have given me back my energy. I now feel better than I remember feeling since before I got depressed.
How can I tell when it's a good time to try going off the medication? I've had the same doc all this time (since those first two milligrams of Ativan in the hospital, in fact) and she is very medication-oriented. I've been super-compliant and always deferred to her. Now, I want to start making treatment decisions for myself, at the least be a full partner in the whole process. She doesn't operate this way (me, doctor who makes decision, you, patient who complies. She's a good doctor but not a "partner in the healing process") and so I am looking for someone new.
BP was really over-diagnosed 9 years ago, in fact she managed to label me after a ten minute interview and I never had any manic episodes past that first one and the only truly manic symptom was spending too much. I accepted it because I was really depressed and I didn't particularly care about the label.
Now, I am feeling really good, have not been depressed without cause in a couple of years, and I feel like I owe it to myself to see if I can manage without a lifetime of medication. And here's where the label is catching up to me. Trying to find a new doc and explain my situation I get a lot of, "Well, you are BP after all..." And how exactly do you say, "Well, I don't really think so, I've just been letting it slide for 9 years because it didn't seem all that important as long as I was getting treatment for the depression?"
I would really appreciate any thoughts or suggestions -both on how to know when you're ready to try to go off the meds, and how to approach new docs.
Posted by Jack Smith on June 12, 2003, at 20:52:23
In reply to after 9 yrs w/ meds, how can i tell if i can stop?, posted by waterfall on June 12, 2003, at 20:38:36
> I feel like I owe it to myself to see if I can manage without a lifetime of medication.
I think the first thing you need to do in making this very personal decision is ask yourself why you feel that the above is true?
I do not know whether you should go off or stay on meds but the above statement sets off some warning signs. Why do you "owe" this to yourself? To see if you can "do" it? Does Magic Johnson "owe" it to himself to see if he can still be healthy without meds, to see if he can "do" it?
Let me be blunt, you cannot "do" it. Mental illness is something very much beyond our control. If you go off meds, you may never ever have another depressive episode but it will not be because you are somehow stronger than you were nine years ago.
I do not know if you should get off your meds or not. Again, that is a very personal decision but before making that decision, I think you should ask yourself why you think you would benefit by going off.
Just my two cents,
JACK
Posted by bookgurl99 on June 13, 2003, at 8:19:19
In reply to after 9 yrs w/ meds, how can i tell if i can stop?, posted by waterfall on June 12, 2003, at 20:38:36
waterfall,
I agree that BP is overdiagnosed these days. Everyone I work with left and right is getting dx'd BP. I kind of think it's a 'trend.'
It sounds like things have been going really well for you. This might make some folks not want to make a change. But I understand; I recently quit meds after 3 years. I just sort of want to 'feel' myself, see where I am before moving on.
If things have been really stable and there are no major changes coming up, this might be a safe time to try it out. I think summertime is the best time to quit because of the natural sunlight, etc.
So you could start tapering off meds. Probably start with taking the last one off first (yes, the beloved Provigil). But keep in mind that at first med withdrawal can cause symptoms that mimic mood disorders, but are not really mood disorders.
If you can ride through the first month, then maybe you'll know if you're ok med-free or not.
Just remember not to judge yourself through this. It _is_ ok to use meds appropriately.
Posted by falconman on June 13, 2003, at 16:38:14
In reply to after 9 yrs w/ meds, how can i tell if i can stop?, posted by waterfall on June 12, 2003, at 20:38:36
Hi,
Maybe print out your post and give it to the next doc you go and see?
peace
Posted by Caleb462 on June 13, 2003, at 19:05:17
In reply to Re: after 9 yrs w/ meds, how can i tell if i can stop?, posted by falconman on June 13, 2003, at 16:38:14
Hmm...
If it isn't broke, don't fix it.
This is the end of the thread.
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