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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 25 of 25. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by pretty_paints on December 12, 2004, at 13:17:22
This post is just to see if I can gather together people suffering from Schizophrenia. There arn't many posts aimed at this illness particularly. Maybe because the majority of people on this site suffer from depression and anxiety? Or maybe people suffering with schizophrenia just don't post so frequently.
Anyway the point of this is, I'm looking for people who have been diagnosed with schizophrenia.
1) What was the onset of your illness?
2) How did things progress, was it gradual or sudden? Did you end up in hospital?
3) What type of symptoms did you have? Can you give any examples of the delusions or paranoia you suffered from?
4) Do you hear voices or hallucinate?
5) How long did it take to be diagnosed?
Thanks so much for all your replies. xxxxx
Posted by bimini on December 15, 2004, at 14:54:17
In reply to SCHIZOPHRENIA - with or without voices, posted by pretty_paints on December 12, 2004, at 13:17:22
1)brain injury
2)sudden, starting in 2002
3)I lose awareness of reality
4)Visual halluzinations, lack of sound
5)1 1/2 years for the brain injury diagnosisI have been posting on different boards about my symptoms, told all my friends, family and even my employer.
I have been diagnosed with a mix of problems, schizophrenia dx has been mentioned as well. I don't seem to fit in perfectly with any of the dx's, I am exploring each and try the recommended meds. I think I am a science project, was denied a PET scan to find what is really going on in my noodle.It started when I reported to my primary care physician that I wasn't able to see right and I was fading out. I was sent to a neurologist who ordered a MRI scan of the brain. The scan showed a lesion at the occipital horn and several foci, mainly in the parietal lobe. I was prescribed Effexor and betablockers and sent to an ophthalmologist. He gave me glasses for my halluzinations, LOL! so I can see them better. Noone really was listening to me to what I had to say.
My vision went from perfect, no glasses to multiples, glare and streaks, color toggling, overall pattern, no depth perception, not understanding movement, not recognizing objects, misconstruing the mess of information trying to make sense. I could not read as words move or are written with an alphabet I don't recognize. Objects get translated wrong while I am aware of improbables. Well, this did cause me some confusion as to how am I supposed to know when something isn't obvious enough? For example I saw a train travelling to my right as I was driving in a car in my home town, but knowing that there were no tracks I dismissed the image. Will I always know fake from real? When I saw a horse in the parking lot I was amused by the entertainment my mind is providing. When I saw a frog in the snow I stopped to see if it was real. It didn't jump away and as I picked it up I found it was a pinecone.
I reported to my virtual friends in cyberspace I was glad I mistook a pinecone as a frog and didn't see pinecones jumping instead. At times objects I see previously superimpose onto something else. There is some color toggling or all colors go vivid.
I am practicing behavioral vision therapy under guidance of an optometrist since 10 months which improved alignment (multiples), teaming (wobble, wavelike effect) and focus. Depth perception now provides better understanding of where things are in relation to me, movement does throw it off to some delayed response.
Vision therapy has provided me with direct feedback to when visual processing suspends and for how long. I suspect the processing gap explains not understanding all sound or other input. I am mostly not aware as it happens, I am just missing.In the morning when I wake up I perceive shapes in peripheral vision, they are there with eyes closed too, move and disappear. I am not distressed by my halluzinations, I am distressed by my psychiatrist who thinks I'm seeing creepy monsters when I get startled by movement. I tried Abilify to calm down dopamine, that gave me vicegrip headaches.
bimini
Posted by anxiety_free on December 15, 2004, at 17:57:48
In reply to Re: SCHIZOPHRENIA - with or without voices, posted by bimini on December 15, 2004, at 14:54:17
I have schizophrenia. I was dx'd about a month ago...I'm 20. My symptoms came on gradually in my teens; hearing voices that were faint. I dismissed it. The voices got louder and there were more of them...finally, I had an episode when I thought there were cameras in my room observing my every moment. I almost killed myself; I literally had a butcher knife at my wrist. Anyway, I was afraid to tell any shrink the whole story, so I was dx'd bp II. Then I opened up, and I'm officially schizophrenic. I also am adhd so I take adderall, which is rare for schizophrenics, since most docs like keeping them off stimulants. I'm negative symptom heavy though, so the adderall helps A LOT. I also take a TCA, cymbalta, buspar, and abilify.
Posted by pretty_paints on December 15, 2004, at 18:43:41
In reply to schizophrenia, posted by anxiety_free on December 15, 2004, at 17:57:48
Hiya, thanks both of you for your posts.
I'm also 20 anxiety_free. I haven't been diagnosed with schiz but it has been mentioned. I like you was diagnosed with something different first. I was profoundly depressed, so depressed that I wouldn't mention any of the thoughts until I'd been seeing my doc for about 6 months. As soon as I got on APs, lots more of my thoughts started coming out. I don't hear voices, but I have the camera thing. They follow me everywhere. Plus on top of that I feel like I'm always being followed by my ex-boyfriend from about 5 years ago. I always dress/act/talk to impress HIM and it tires me out. Sometimes I feel like I'm on Big Brother and spend hours talking to the wall like the contestants do when they're in the diary room, thinking that everyone's listening to me and fascinated by me.
Anyway I'm able to talk about this at the mo as I'm a high dose of quetiapine and it is helping a lot. I can see things quite clearly at the moment.
Anxiety_free, are you on an AP?
Bimini, thanks for your post too. It was quite interesting! Your hallucinations seem quite linked with the problems with your eyes. Do you think this is schizophrenia or a problem relating to your brain injury? Do you have the delusions and thought disorder to accompany the hallucinations?
Thanks again for your posts :) xxxxxx
Posted by xjs7 on December 16, 2004, at 1:43:25
In reply to SCHIZOPHRENIA - with or without voices, posted by pretty_paints on December 12, 2004, at 13:17:22
Hi, I don't have schizophrenia but I suffer many symptoms similar to it. I have been diagnosed with schizophrenia. I have a brain tumor with organic psychosis. The DSM specifically excludes people with organic problems from the schizophrenia label.
> This post is just to see if I can gather together people suffering from Schizophrenia. There arn't many posts aimed at this illness particularly. Maybe because the majority of people on this site suffer from depression and anxiety? Or maybe people suffering with schizophrenia just don't post so frequently.
>
> Anyway the point of this is, I'm looking for people who have been diagnosed with schizophrenia.
>
> 1) What was the onset of your illness?Age 15.
>
> 2) How did things progress, was it gradual or sudden? Did you end up in hospital?Gradual. I have been in hospitals for my illness, both psychiatric and medical. I had brain surgery a year ago.
>
> 3) What type of symptoms did you have? Can you give any examples of the delusions or paranoia you suffered from?No delusions or paranoia.
>
> 4) Do you hear voices or hallucinate?Constantly, all day, hundreds of auditory hallucinations and some visual hallucinations.
>
> 5) How long did it take to be diagnosed?4 years for schizophrenia diagnosis, 7 years for brain tumor diagnosis (it is benign).
>
> Thanks so much for all your replies. xxxxxOne extra thing: don't assume you have schizophrenia if you have symptoms of it. It could have a medical cause: other than brain tumors, metabolic and endocrinological causes are possible, as are seizures or strokes or MS.
Posted by ed_uk on December 16, 2004, at 6:18:24
In reply to Re: SCHIZOPHRENIA - with or without voices, posted by xjs7 on December 16, 2004, at 1:43:25
Hi Pretty,
xjs7 made a really important point about ruling out medical conditions. What tests have you had? eg. brain scans etc.
Ed.
Posted by pretty_paints on December 16, 2004, at 10:57:57
In reply to Re: Ruling out general medical conditions, posted by ed_uk on December 16, 2004, at 6:18:24
Hiya, I've had no tests as far as I remember. They took some blood in hospital. Any idea what this might have been for? At the time I thought it might be to see if I had any illegal drugs in my system. Anyway they all came back fine (I presume, nobody actually followed it up).
No I haven't had anything like a brain scan. From the posts here I've read, brain tumors or organic causes seem to cause more of the hallucinations/hearing voices symptoms don't they? And I don't have any of those. It is simply delusions I think, if even anything.
Posted by ed_uk on December 16, 2004, at 11:03:57
In reply to Re: Ruling out general medical conditions, posted by pretty_paints on December 16, 2004, at 10:57:57
Hi Pretty,
It would be a good idea to ask for an MRI scan. Organic conditions can cause delusions and paranoia. It's necessary to rule out organic conditions before diagnosing schizophrenia.
The blood test may have been a Full Blood Count, Urea and Electrolytes etc. They might also have done a drug screen.
Ed.
Posted by pretty_paints on December 16, 2004, at 11:07:40
In reply to Re: Ruling out general medical conditions » pretty_paints, posted by ed_uk on December 16, 2004, at 11:03:57
Yes, well I suppose if they suspect I have anything they will do all the necessary stuff, scanning and etc.
I haven't really heard of many people with schiz who don't hallucinate in one form or another, maybe its even necessary for a diagnosis. Maybe I have something like psychotic depression or just general paranoia!
Posted by ed_uk on December 16, 2004, at 11:14:55
In reply to Re: Ruling out general medical conditions, posted by pretty_paints on December 16, 2004, at 11:07:40
Hi Pretty,
You might never be diagnosed with schizophrenia. You don't have to hallucinate in order to be diagnosed with schizophrenia though.
Ed.
PS. Why did you decide to call yourself pretty_paints?
Posted by bimini on December 16, 2004, at 11:52:19
In reply to Re: schizophrenia, posted by pretty_paints on December 15, 2004, at 18:43:41
I do not know the extend of my demetia. I sometimes can't think at all, I go blank and don't know where I am, this may progress to stop motorcontrol, I can't move or if I am walking at the moment I'll keep walking in that direction until something stops me. I am aware of my surrounding but can't understand language and respond. I can sense when it progresses, find a place to wait it out. I have fallen over so many times because I lose sense of direction that I hold onto something for reference and support.
I would have liked to blame dysfunctional vision for all of it. Each eye was looking at a different target, and alternating duty at that. After learning how to see other problems remained. I think my processing gaps are caused by partial and complex partial seizures.
Yes, many of the symptoms do fit in various categories. I have a swiss cheese thought process, then everything connects at once.
It must be a dilemma for a doc to decide between conflicting dxs's.
Brain injury caused organic affective syndrome.
bimini
Posted by xbunny on December 16, 2004, at 13:54:16
In reply to SCHIZOPHRENIA - with or without voices, posted by pretty_paints on December 12, 2004, at 13:17:22
This post is kinda old but I thought I would reply anyways just to add my voice (so to speak).
> Anyway the point of this is, I'm looking for people who have been diagnosed with schizophrenia.
>
please to meetcha> 1) What was the onset of your illness?
> 2) How did things progress, was it gradual or sudden? Did you end up in hospital?
>18 years old, though I've always been 'weird' it became a problem at 18 (from the stress of my A levels)
The acute onset was quite sudden, its hard to put a date on it, but over a period of about 3 months I became convinced people where either controlled by a some kind of 'remote' evil fog or were trying to poison me or talking about me and that reality wasnt real etc etc I had a lot of visuals and thought insertion and messages too. I didnt know anything mental illness at the time and assumed what was happening was real but I was too paranoid to talk about it so I just tried to get on and recovered from it without meds over a period of about 4 months. I then had another acute episode about a year later which I went to the dr about. Since then I have never been right, about 3 years ago I had an episode so acute I had to go into hospital, I kept getting messages and seeing things which were telling me reality was a sham. I beleived (firmly) I was in a coma and I could hear the people by my bed side talking about me and wishing me to wake up, at the same time angel/demons wanted me to give up and there were aliens controlling the wind or something. It was terrifying.
> 3) What type of symptoms did you have? Can you give any examples of the delusions or paranoia you suffered from?
>
> 4) Do you hear voices or hallucinate?
>I know I hallucinate visually. I find visual hallucinations easy to identify. Im told I have good insight but often I fail to notice when I am being irrationally paranoid. I hear voices only when Im really ill. I also get smell hallucinations too which I find disturbing as they make me panic despite myself.
> 5) How long did it take to be diagnosed?
Hard to say, the doctors here in the UK are very reluctant to give me a label. However after I was in hospital and discussing things with the dr, it was obvious I had that dx for awhile. So probably it took about 2 years to get a firm dx of schizophrenia. I used to beleive I had psychotic depression but my cpn is pretty definate about my dx.>
> Thanks so much for all your replies. xxxxxHope this is of some interest,
Bunny
Posted by pretty_paints on December 16, 2004, at 14:23:24
In reply to Re: Ruling out general medical conditions, posted by ed_uk on December 16, 2004, at 11:14:55
Hi Ed,
I just wondered what you meant, "You might never be diagnosed with schizophrenia". Is this your opinion, that I don't have schizophrenia? Or do you just mean I might never get a solid diagnosis? Or...I dunno!
Posted by ed_uk on December 16, 2004, at 15:24:56
In reply to Re: Ruling out general medical conditions, posted by pretty_paints on December 16, 2004, at 14:23:24
> Hi Ed,
>
> I just wondered what you meant, "You might never be diagnosed with schizophrenia". Is this your opinion, that I don't have schizophrenia? Or do you just mean I might never get a solid diagnosis? Or...I dunno!Hi,
I just meant that you might get diagnosed with something else rather than schizophrenia. It's probably too early for your psychiatrist to tell whether or not you've got schizophrenia. I didn't mean you'll never get a solid diagnosis.
Ed.
Posted by bimini on December 16, 2004, at 17:00:23
In reply to Re: SCHIZOPHRENIA - with or without voices, posted by xjs7 on December 16, 2004, at 1:43:25
>I have a brain tumor with organic psychosis. The DSM specifically excludes people with organic problems from the schizophrenia label.<
XJS7, I didn't know that. Interesting. I don't have paranoia either, maybe something which can progress? Have symptoms changed in any way for you?
bimini
Posted by xjs7 on December 17, 2004, at 0:00:23
In reply to Re: SCHIZOPHRENIA, posted by bimini on December 16, 2004, at 17:00:23
Bimini, I read your post and I think it is pretty clear that you do not have a severe mental illness like schizophrenia. What you have is a brain injury. You have psychotic symptoms, but these are due to the lesion in your brain. I do not think your illness will progress to include paranoia.
My symptoms developed slowly but there hasn't been much change in the last year. I can function at a minimal level with my two antipsychotic medications.
xjs7
> >I have a brain tumor with organic psychosis. The DSM specifically excludes people with organic problems from the schizophrenia label.<
>
> XJS7, I didn't know that. Interesting. I don't have paranoia either, maybe something which can progress? Have symptoms changed in any way for you?
> bimini
Posted by DanielJ on December 17, 2004, at 8:06:54
In reply to Re: SCHIZOPHRENIA, posted by xjs7 on December 17, 2004, at 0:00:23
My son has what is classified as undifferentiated schizophrenia, he is 17 years old. We are going on 2 years with Zyprexa and Zoloft with a high success quotient. He spent at least 2 years in denial, once my wife took him to a therapist and he sat down facing the other way and would not speak a word to them. Over a year later when he had a bad breakdown and went to the hospital he finally agreed to treatment. His symptoms started with him noticing every sound outside the house, sometimes convinced that other kids in the neighborhood were making pranks in our yard. These were only occasional so we thought maybe he did hear something. Later a lot of unexplainable anger appeared. This was present more often than not. After being on Zyprexa and Zoloft for about 4-5 months nearly all of his symptoms disappeared or at least were not controlling his life any more. Now he seems normal and happy (flat affect is terrible to family members but his sense of humor came back too). For the others with Schiz., the right med. combination works after time. It can take 6 months or more to recover from a Major episode. The best thing is not to "cheat" on Medications, if they are not working, get to a pdoc and let him know. Oh yeah He had an EEG about 6 months ago to rule out brain problems if you have been diagnosed and haven't had one of these, you need to get it done. God Bless and Happy Holiday to All!
Posted by ed_uk on December 17, 2004, at 8:22:28
In reply to Re: SCHIZOPHRENIA - with or without voices, posted by xbunny on December 16, 2004, at 13:54:16
Hi,
How do you find flupenthixol?
Ed.
Posted by xbunny on December 17, 2004, at 12:16:03
In reply to Re: SCHIZOPHRENIA - To the xbunny, posted by ed_uk on December 17, 2004, at 8:22:28
> Hi,
>
> How do you find flupenthixol?
>Best drug for me so far. I have taken olanzapine which bought out too much OCD in me, to the point where I had to stand on things to releive the obsessions. Risperdal which made me just way spaced out (though I was taking 6mg which I beleive is high dose these days). Mellaril which didnt do much for psychosis. Stelazine ditto, chlorpromazine I have already mentioned. Flupethixol is just a good drug for me it releives my psychosis, makes me more interested and upbeat. I take 6mg, I try to go upto 9 but it means I cant sleep. My CPN thinks its bizarre Im her only patient who takes flupenthixol tablets but since I started it about 2 years as an extra with the olanzapine I have been so much better and even better when I stopped the olanzapine and took just it. Been working and thinking well not getting bogged down is delusions and paranoia. I am pretty hard to stick down to drugs (I often get paranoid and stop taking them) and again flupenthixol has been one I have been able to stick to and avoid that problem.
Regards, Bunny
ps: my reboxetine finally came through but thanks for the clue of nortripyline its been filed.
Posted by ed_uk on December 17, 2004, at 12:36:20
In reply to Re: SCHIZOPHRENIA - To the xbunny » ed_uk, posted by xbunny on December 17, 2004, at 12:16:03
Hi Bunny,
It's great that you're doing well on Depixol. Do you have any side effects?
Good luck with the reboxetine!
Ed.
Posted by xbunny on December 20, 2004, at 16:17:12
In reply to Re: SCHIZOPHRENIA - To the xbunny, posted by ed_uk on December 17, 2004, at 12:36:20
hi Ed,
>
> It's great that you're doing well on Depixol. Do you have any side effects?Not really, just the not sleeping well if I take it too late or increase the dose. I may have had side effects when I started but if I did I have forgetten about them now. If I recal I did feel quite achey when I went up my current dose but it either went away or I got used to it pretty quickly. I did ask my nurse if maybe the difference was taking two of the 3mg depixol tablets as a dose rather than 6 of the 1mg fluanxol ones but she reckons it makes no difference. I might try taking 6 of the fluanxol tablets to see if the acheyness returns just cos Im curious.
>
> Good luck with the reboxetine!Things arent going so great with the reboxetine. Since taking it I have been continually waking during sleep but feeling tired during the day, anxiety is up too. Its early days yet but Im wondering whether it is worth persuing this drug. Dissapointing, I had high hopes for this drug Im running out of things to try but I desperately need to get more functional.
Regards, Bunny
Posted by ed_uk on December 20, 2004, at 17:07:59
In reply to Re: SCHIZOPHRENIA - To the xbunny » ed_uk, posted by xbunny on December 20, 2004, at 16:17:12
Hi bunny,
Maybe the nortriptyline would be better, it's less likely to interfere with sleep than reboxetine.
Ed.
Posted by scribble'ntweak on December 21, 2004, at 19:13:37
In reply to SCHIZOPHRENIA - with or without voices, posted by pretty_paints on December 12, 2004, at 13:17:22
> This post is just to see if I can gather together people suffering from Schizophrenia. There arn't many posts aimed at this illness particularly. Maybe because the majority of people on this site suffer from depression and anxiety? Or maybe people suffering with schizophrenia just don't post so frequently.
>
> Anyway the point of this is, I'm looking for people who have been diagnosed with schizophrenia.
>
> 1) What was the onset of your illness?
>
> 2) How did things progress, was it gradual or sudden? Did you end up in hospital?
>
> 3) What type of symptoms did you have? Can you give any examples of the delusions or paranoia you suffered from?
>
> 4) Do you hear voices or hallucinate?
>
> 5) How long did it take to be diagnosed?
>
> Thanks so much for all your replies. xxxxxThe onset of my illness was 17. It progressed gradual. First I started hearing my name wispered in my ears. I thought my brother was always following me and saying my name. Then I would talk to people in my house who at the time I thought were spirits. I would make them food and leave it upstairs for them to eat. I believed that "they" were always with me and watching everything I did. I would wonder what they thought when I did certain things, or went certain places. Then I became paranoid that aliens were abducting me, and even thought that they took out my unborn baby and replaced him with one of their own kind. For the first several weeks I was convinced that my son was an alien baby. I thought that owls were trying to send me messages, and have smelled hyacinth in the dead of winter, assuming it to be spirits trying to communicate with me. I have had numerous occasions where I believed I was being followed. I have found myself in places having no recolection of how I got there. Now I take abilify and klonopin and have no hallucinations/delusions. I have managed to stay out of hospitals largely because I am introverted, I have tended to keep my delusions to myself. and also because I live in a very rural area where we have no hospitals. Even thought the medication helps remarkably, I am still skeptical of its safety and feel we are all human guinea pigs. Oh well, life in short.
Posted by ed_uk on December 22, 2004, at 5:23:19
In reply to Re: SCHIZOPHRENIA - with or without voices, posted by scribble'ntweak on December 21, 2004, at 19:13:37
Hello!
What other antipsychotics have you tried apart from Abilify? What were they like?
Ed.
Posted by scribble'ntweak on December 22, 2004, at 18:58:32
In reply to Re: SCHIZOPHRENIA - with or without voices » scribble'ntweak, posted by ed_uk on December 22, 2004, at 5:23:19
> Hello!
>
> What other antipsychotics have you tried apart from Abilify? What were they like?
>
> Ed.
I haven't tried any of the others becauses I am too paranoid about other side effects...like weight gain, elevated prolactin levels, prolonged qt interval...I am an average person who has done alot of reading about medical stuff, much of which I do not understand, but don't want to mess with. The side effect profile of abilify seemed safest to me, and luckily I have had success with it.
This is the end of the thread.
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