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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 14 of 14. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by fiftylager on February 10, 2006, at 13:51:44
Okay, some of you have read my posts and know I have been feeling a little crazy lately. My moods have been wacked. I have been feeling anxiety, irritable, angry, and very depressed all in one day. This has been going on for 2 weeks. I have been praying to snap out of it. Well today, it seems I have. I'm not complaining except now I wonder what the hell is wrong. I still have anxiety but I have anxiety every day.
I seriously thought I was going crazy. I haven't had one of those funky spells for a very long time. I was so desperate I sent a letter to my doc. It all started with one of these crazy agitated anxiety spells I get. It just seemed to spiral. I've been so bad, I've had to take a lorazepam an hour before my kids get home from school, just to deal with them and not chew their heads off. God, I was even thinking suicidal thoughts but not near acting them out.
How in the hell do I deal with my dr. now that I am feeling more balanced? What the hell was that? It was hell. I would have taken any drug the dr. threw at me now I'm scared because all I can think is she is going to push effexor on me. I did soooo bad on celexa (basically put me in the state I was just in but worse terror wise), I can't imagine doing well on one of those drugs. I dunno.
I feel moderately depressed normally with terrible anxiety (sleep too much, eat too much, blah). It is nothing compared to what I just went through. I am really praying that I have snapped out of it and I don't return. I'm so grateful it happened now because my sons birthday is next week and I didn't know how I was going to deal with it. Does this sound familiar to anyone? Could it have been some kind of hypomania? I mean I did sleep though it was broken and had bad dreams. Any input would be great here. Thank-you!
Crissi
Posted by detroitpistons on February 10, 2006, at 14:06:55
In reply to I know this is a med board but need input......, posted by fiftylager on February 10, 2006, at 13:51:44
Crissi,
"I have been feeling anxiety, irritable, angry, and very depressed all in one day."
Have you been off meds during this whole episode? It sounds like you did go through a hypomanic episode, but an irritable one and not a euphoric one. In fact, it sounds like a mixed episode, possibly with rapid cycling (ultra-radian cycling). If you were not on any meds at the time, this is a strong sign of a possible bipolar disorder.
"I feel moderately depressed normally with terrible anxiety (sleep too much, eat too much, blah)."
Moderate depression or dysthymia and anxiety can be part of the bipolar cycle. About 40% of people with bipolar disorder have anxiety disorder, so there's a lot of overlap.
> Okay, some of you have read my posts and know I have been feeling a little crazy lately. My moods have been wacked. I have been feeling anxiety, irritable, angry, and very depressed all in one day. This has been going on for 2 weeks. I have been praying to snap out of it. Well today, it seems I have. I'm not complaining except now I wonder what the hell is wrong. I still have anxiety but I have anxiety every day.
>
> I seriously thought I was going crazy. I haven't had one of those funky spells for a very long time. I was so desperate I sent a letter to my doc. It all started with one of these crazy agitated anxiety spells I get. It just seemed to spiral. I've been so bad, I've had to take a lorazepam an hour before my kids get home from school, just to deal with them and not chew their heads off. God, I was even thinking suicidal thoughts but not near acting them out.
>
> How in the hell do I deal with my dr. now that I am feeling more balanced? What the hell was that? It was hell. I would have taken any drug the dr. threw at me now I'm scared because all I can think is she is going to push effexor on me. I did soooo bad on celexa (basically put me in the state I was just in but worse terror wise), I can't imagine doing well on one of those drugs. I dunno.
>
> I feel moderately depressed normally with terrible anxiety (sleep too much, eat too much, blah). It is nothing compared to what I just went through. I am really praying that I have snapped out of it and I don't return. I'm so grateful it happened now because my sons birthday is next week and I didn't know how I was going to deal with it. Does this sound familiar to anyone? Could it have been some kind of hypomania? I mean I did sleep though it was broken and had bad dreams. Any input would be great here. Thank-you!
>
> Crissi
Posted by fiftylager on February 10, 2006, at 14:43:08
In reply to Re: I know this is a med board but need input......, posted by detroitpistons on February 10, 2006, at 14:06:55
The only meds I am on is buspar. I've been on it for about 2 1/2 months at 20mg a day. Besides that I've been using lorazepam to ride out this storm. I've thought maybe bipolar but I don't get that euphoria (I did as a teen). I do have an increase in energy but not productive energy. I surf the internet like crazy and do a mad dash to clean the house in the morn but that's it. I was too agitated and funky to do anything. Thanks for the post.
Crissi
Posted by detroitpistons on February 10, 2006, at 15:11:44
In reply to Re: I know this is a med board but need input......, posted by fiftylager on February 10, 2006, at 14:43:08
Crissi,
"I've thought maybe bipolar but I don't get that euphoria (I did as a teen)...I do have an increase in energy but not productive energy. I surf the internet like crazy and do a mad dash to clean the house in the morn but that's it. I was too agitated and funky to do anything. "
That's exactly what I've been going through, especially the surfing the internet part. It's sort of a way to dissipate all the excess energy I have. For example, I can't sit still long enough to watch TV.
You have the same misconception that I had, and it's a very common one. You can experience hypomania without euphoria and grandiose thoughts. Under the DSM IV, if you are irritable rather than euphoric, you need to meet 4 of the criteria for bipolar disorder rather than 3 if you're euphoric....That's the only difference. I read somewhere that a pretty significant percentage of bipolar patients only get into mixed states.
"The only meds I am on is buspar."
From what I understand, buspar is not very likely to induce mania or hypomania. Therefore, your hypomanic symptoms are probably organic, and this is very important. It's not just a bad reaction to drugs. I've been diagnosed bipolar II (also without euphoria and symptoms very similar to yours), but I have been taking Effexor. It's very possible that I'm not even bipolar, and that I just had a bad reaction to Effexor. But in your case, it's more clearcut...Assuming your episode was truly a hypomanic one (and in my humble opinion it sounds like that) and that it occurred in the absence of an antidepressent, you should schedule an appointment with your psychiatrist right away. Hypomanic episodes are often followed by depressive episodes.
Take care
> The only meds I am on is buspar. I've been on it for about 2 1/2 months at 20mg a day. Besides that I've been using lorazepam to ride out this storm. I've thought maybe bipolar but I don't get that euphoria (I did as a teen). I do have an increase in energy but not productive energy. I surf the internet like crazy and do a mad dash to clean the house in the morn but that's it. I was too agitated and funky to do anything. Thanks for the post.
> Crissi
Posted by TylerJ on February 10, 2006, at 18:10:25
In reply to Re: I know this is a med board but need input...... » fiftylager, posted by detroitpistons on February 10, 2006, at 15:11:44
Crissi, this is exactly why you need to see a Psychiatrist. A general family doc doesn't know enough about mental illness-I would be willing to bet that most people that come to this site know more than a gen doc. You might be Bipolar, you might be going thru rapid cycleing, it could be a number of different illnesses-there are so many different mental illnesses. One thing for sure just because you're feeling better now, doesn't mean you are well. Please do whatever it takes to get in to a Psychiatrist. I will continue to pray for you. I am very glad you are feeling better!
God bless, Tyler
Posted by fiftylager on February 10, 2006, at 18:38:44
In reply to Re: I know this is a med board but need input......, posted by TylerJ on February 10, 2006, at 18:10:25
Thank-you. It's so nice to feel cared about and sympathized with. I really do find you guys so informative and smart. Thank-you!
Crissi
Posted by TylerJ on February 10, 2006, at 20:02:25
In reply to Re: I know this is a med board but need input......, posted by fiftylager on February 10, 2006, at 18:38:44
Crissi, please,please let me know if you're going to see a Psychiatrist. I have strong feelings about this as I also saw my reg. Doc when I first became ill-what a miserable waste of time- 2 years. He said I was suffering from nervous exhaustion...he didn't have a clue and he was a very smart man. Feel free to e-mail me at:montami@netzero.net Take care and may God bless you.
Sincerely, Tyler
Posted by Phillipa on February 10, 2006, at 20:40:29
In reply to Re: I know this is a med board but need input......, posted by TylerJ on February 10, 2006, at 20:02:25
Please rule out medical conditions as well. Your thryroid could be the culprit. It created incredicble tiredness and anxiety. Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by Emily Elizabeth on February 11, 2006, at 0:27:03
In reply to Re: I know this is a med board but need input......, posted by TylerJ on February 10, 2006, at 20:02:25
Tyler, I absolutely agree w/ you about the pdoc. I have known a number of people who have worked w/ a GP for years w/o relief. And staying sick for a longer period of time can really derail your life. Because of this I went to a pdoc after an initial appt w/ a GP (needed for a referal). The GP didn't even ask me about any history of mania before rx'ing an SSRI (a big no-no!) Fortunately, it wasn't actually an issue in my case, but it struck me that he didn't even ask the most impt questions!
A (good) pdoc is key. Crissi, here's hoping that you can hook up with one!
Best,
EE> Crissi, please,please let me know if you're going to see a Psychiatrist. I have strong feelings about this as I also saw my reg. Doc when I first became ill-what a miserable waste of time- 2 years. He said I was suffering from nervous exhaustion...he didn't have a clue and he was a very smart man. Feel free to e-mail me at:montami@netzero.net Take care and may God bless you.
>
> Sincerely, Tyler
Posted by James K on February 11, 2006, at 1:36:35
In reply to I know this is a med board but need input......, posted by fiftylager on February 10, 2006, at 13:51:44
Well today, it seems I have. I'm not complaining except now I wonder what the hell is wrong. I still have anxiety but I have anxiety every day.
>
> God, I was even thinking suicidal thoughts but not near acting them out.
>
> How in the hell do I deal with my dr. now that I am feeling more balanced? What the hell was that? It was hell.===I wanted to share a little about this aspect of your post. It was hell for a while, now it is better, what do I do? - I'm just condensing down one of what I see as the underlying concern right now.
Anyone who has been following me for the last several weeks, couple months, Has read me describing horrible sadness, physical self injury, violent thoughts, crying and acting out right here on the site. But tonight as I type, I'm considering not completing the steps I started last week to get hopitalized. That is a ludicrous idea process for me to even get in. But I feel pretty okay at the moment.
I think your personal hell may or may not have been as extreme as mine just was, but it happened. My long experience shows me I have to deal with this before it springs back out bites me. I've added new traumas to a lifetime of traumas if anything, I may be worse off than before not less.
But that's all about me. You have the letter. Everything in the letter is true, and it shows the intensity of what you were feeling. Use that as the proof to yourself and whatever kind of psych care you can get access to. If you've weathered the storm, maybe you saved yourself a trip in-patient, and can handle this while life goes on.
keep trying,
james k
Posted by fiftylager on February 11, 2006, at 9:25:51
In reply to Re: I know this is a med board but need input...... » fiftylager, posted by James K on February 11, 2006, at 1:36:35
Thank-you so much. I am hoping the dr. will refer me to a p-doc based on the letter. Considering I have a history of suicide even if it was in my teenage years may convince her of that. Also I was in the psyce ward once as a teenager too. I do want to see a pdoc because I'm losing the ability to function and I don't want this to affect my kids and marriage and really when I go through my episodes it's quite unbearable. I also can't stomach the thought of going on another med that will make me feel so horrible. I've done so much reading and am so confused. Was it an agitated depression. Dysphoric hypomania, I don't know. The one thing that baffles me is I don't really have insomnia so to speak and that is a big part of bipolar. I sleep too much but when going through my episodes I will sleep but I will wake up lots through the night and have very vivid dreams that seem real. Also when I'm going through my episodes I'm too agitated to be creative. I just get obsessed with the internet. However, I go through periods when I'm at my most normal where I will start projects but I will only be into it for a week or so and then I let it go. Although, I will be almost obsessed with it. I feel like I fit some of the criteria of bipolar but not others. I know I need a pdoc to sort it out but when I'm feeling just plain anxiety with depression I can't even describe myself. I am just so grateful I'm feeling better now, but now stressed about doc. Thank-you so much for responding, I really appreciate it. In the past two weeks, I could have diagnosed myself with bipolar, agitated depression, and atypical depression. It will be fun for a pdoc to figure me out, lol. Oh well, wish me the best, please!!!
Crissi
Posted by TylerJ on February 11, 2006, at 10:34:10
In reply to Re: I know this is a med board but need input......, posted by fiftylager on February 11, 2006, at 9:25:51
I'm only guessing here but it might be atypical depression with panic disorder and gen.anxiety disorder. People with atypical dep. sleep A LOT,when my depression is really bad I sleep a lot also. People with this type of dep. are able to "get up" for special occasions, be cheered up occasionally. Also when a person is "Bogged down" by something that is bothering them-(in your case it would be severe anxiety) that alone can induce depression. One last thing,please don't wait for your doc to refer you to a pdoc, take the initiative and YOU need to ask him/her for a referal. I really want you to get well-and I believe your illness can and will be treated effectively by a pdoc. also I'm definitly not a doc, so my "guess" as to what your illness could be may be totally wrong. I'll continue to pray for you, and your husband and children as well. May God bless you-and remember He never gives us anything that we can't bear ( all though it sure doesn't feel that way sometimes ). :)
Wishing you well,
Tyler
Posted by 4WD on February 14, 2006, at 12:29:25
In reply to Re: I know this is a med board but need input......, posted by fiftylager on February 11, 2006, at 9:25:51
> Thank-you so much. I am hoping the dr. will refer me to a p-doc based on the letter. Considering I have a history of suicide even if it was in my teenage years may convince her of that. Also I was in the psyce ward once as a teenager too. I do want to see a pdoc because I'm losing the ability to function and I don't want this to affect my kids and marriage and really when I go through my episodes it's quite unbearable. I also can't stomach the thought of going on another med that will make me feel so horrible. I've done so much reading and am so confused. Was it an agitated depression. Dysphoric hypomania, I don't know. The one thing that baffles me is I don't really have insomnia so to speak and that is a big part of bipolar. I sleep too much but when going through my episodes I will sleep but I will wake up lots through the night and have very vivid dreams that seem real. Also when I'm going through my episodes I'm too agitated to be creative. I just get obsessed with the internet. However, I go through periods when I'm at my most normal where I will start projects but I will only be into it for a week or so and then I let it go. Although, I will be almost obsessed with it. I feel like I fit some of the criteria of bipolar but not others. I know I need a pdoc to sort it out but when I'm feeling just plain anxiety with depression I can't even describe myself. I am just so grateful I'm feeling better now, but now stressed about doc. Thank-you so much for responding, I really appreciate it. In the past two weeks, I could have diagnosed myself with bipolar, agitated depression, and atypical depression. It will be fun for a pdoc to figure me out, lol. Oh well, wish me the best, please!!!
>
> Crissi
Hi Crissi,The episode you described sounds just like me for the last few months. It started when I switched from Effexor to Paxil. It continued through trials of Cymbalta and Celexa.
It has finally about ended. What made the difference was the addition of Depakote to my medications. In less than a week, the mixed episodes were much, much less. If I could take 500mg of Depakote, I think I would feel pretty normal. It made a great difference for me. I am pretty sure my episodes were med induced or at least exacerbated by meds. I am now taking a tiny dose of Effexor (about 15mg a day) plus Depakote 250mg and .5 Klonopin and I feel so much calmer than when I was on Celexa, or Cymbalta, or imipramine or Paxil.
You might want to add a mood stabilizer. The atypicals did not help me or had terrible side effects.
Marsha
Posted by ed_uk on February 14, 2006, at 16:12:51
In reply to Re: I know this is a med board but need input...... » fiftylager, posted by 4WD on February 14, 2006, at 12:29:25
Hi Marsha
Did you decide not to try imipramine again?
Ed
This is the end of the thread.
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