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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 11 of 11. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Squiggles on July 2, 2007, at 20:28:22
My x, who is going through some
intimate problems right now, has suddenly
reassessed her relationship with me after
30 yrs. and decided that my problem is
that i was diagnosed bipolar. And that is
why all other problems have arisen-- like
having side effects and not running the
triathlon, though I as able to work and
support for 20 yrs.She thinks i never was bipolar, despite all doctors who have treated me as such and the fact that lithium works. She says this is why things are breaking up between us-- because i was
misdiagnosed bipolar 25 yrs. ago.So, should i drop my medications, so as to
repair the damage? Gee, that therapist
of hers must be very influential. She's
dropping her medications too, gradually,
provisionally.Squiggles
Posted by Phillipa on July 2, 2007, at 22:53:03
In reply to Should I stop taking my medication?, posted by Squiggles on July 2, 2007, at 20:28:22
Sqiggles no why just because she has should you and after 25 years of a med or meds working should mean to you that your diagnosis is correct. Sounds like my first husband finding any excuse to end relationship. Sorry if this sounds harsh and I don't want to hurt you. And know how hard you've been trying to help her and salvage the relationship. A joint theraphy session? Love Phillipa
Posted by Squiggles on July 2, 2007, at 22:59:55
In reply to Re: Should I stop taking my medication? » Squiggles, posted by Phillipa on July 2, 2007, at 22:53:03
Thanks Phillipa. I would rather obey my
doctors' advice of so many yrs. an their care,
than this sudden idea. I have to wait a couple
of months or so, for some secret to be revealed
(don't ask me why) but it's supposed to be a nice
surprise i guess. In the meantime it's a more
or less amicable distance.I will have to get external assistance if the
nice surprise turns out to be not a nice one.
And I guess, i have to watch these words, because
the law may actually not protect a spouse who
is defined as mentally ill and dumped by spouse
for no good reason. So, if i were to be rediagnosed as never having had a mental illness, it would not be to my advantage, paradoxically.Thanks for your support.
This is very upleasant for everyone in my circle,
including my friend.Squiggles
Posted by Squiggles on July 2, 2007, at 23:06:21
In reply to Re: Should I stop taking my medication? » Phillipa, posted by Squiggles on July 2, 2007, at 22:59:55
ERRATUM: should read:
> the law may actually not protect a spouse who
> is "N O T" defined as mentally ill (materially that is)
--------------I made a typo - that should read NOT mentally ill.
Sorry, it's late.
take care
Posted by med_empowered on July 3, 2007, at 7:50:32
In reply to Re: Should I stop taking my medication? erratum » Squiggles, posted by Squiggles on July 2, 2007, at 23:06:21
That's really up to you...I mean, people can and do come off of meds, even after years of being on them, and find they're OK...it doesn't mean the lithium didn't help, it might just mean that now you can do without it.
Its your call, though: do you want to try a med free period? Or do you like your life on lithium better?Good luck.
Posted by Squiggles on July 3, 2007, at 8:01:22
In reply to Re: Should I stop taking my medication? erratum, posted by med_empowered on July 3, 2007, at 7:50:32
> That's really up to you...I mean, people can and do come off of meds, even after years of being on them, and find they're OK...it doesn't mean the lithium didn't help, it might just mean that now you can do without it.
>
> Its your call, though: do you want to try a med free period? Or do you like your life on lithium better?
>
> Good luck.
It's not up to me at all, if i wish to stay stabilized and mentally able. The times I came off the lithium (one was a counterfeit or botched batch, i became psychotic, suicidal, and had motor agitation). It took some skill and scary time, and the cooperation of my doctor to get me back to stability. Without medications, I am bipolar.So, if I wish to be bipolar, yes I can come off the meds to please my x. But, being bipolar is dangerous, painful, and no way to live, and definitely against my doctor's advice.
I do not wish to be bipolar, therefore I follow my doctor's treatment.
Squiggles
Posted by Klavot on July 3, 2007, at 9:55:57
In reply to Re: Should I stop taking my medication? erratum » Squiggles, posted by Squiggles on July 2, 2007, at 23:06:21
> ERRATUM: should read:
> > the law may actually not protect a spouse who
> > is "N O T" defined as mentally ill (materially that is)
> --------------
>
> I made a typo - that should read NOT mentally ill.I'm not sure I understand. You are saying that the law might not protect a mentally healthy spouse during divorce the same way it would protect a mentally ill spouse. In what way?
Klavot
Posted by Squiggles on July 3, 2007, at 10:12:13
In reply to Re: Should I stop taking my medication? erratum, posted by Klavot on July 3, 2007, at 9:55:57
I'm not a lawyer, and as i said there is no evidential reason to believe that it should come to that. I just read (and the locale is important) as law varies, that a mentally ill spouse is under protection of the law in family law, whose needs cannot be disgarded or degraded in the case of separation or divorce, just for being mentally ill.As I said, in conversations, i have been promised that this will not happen, but the topic of being or not being mentally ill came up as a 'new' significant complaint. So, i just did a cursory search on it.
Squiggles
Posted by ronaldo on July 5, 2007, at 14:45:03
In reply to Should I stop taking my medication?, posted by Squiggles on July 2, 2007, at 20:28:22
I've been on Lithium for 30 years. At average dose of 850 mg that is just over 9 kg of the stuff. My dx is also bipolar but only tentatively so. I don't think I could come off the Lithium now. How long have you been on it?
Actually that is less than 9 kg of actual Lithium because most of it is carbonate, LiCO3. So when it comes to pure lithium I have probably only taken about say 1/2 a kg max. I used to know the molecular weights of Carbon and Lithium and Oxygen but have forgotten them all now and can't be bothered to look them up.
Good luck whatever you decide to do.
ronaldo
Posted by Squiggles on July 5, 2007, at 15:08:29
In reply to Re: Should I stop taking my medication?, posted by ronaldo on July 5, 2007, at 14:45:03
> I've been on Lithium for 30 years. At average dose of 850 mg that is just over 9 kg of the stuff. My dx is also bipolar but only tentatively so. I don't think I could come off the Lithium now. How long have you been on it?
I've been on it since 1985 approx. at 900mg--
lithium carbonate.In earlier stages i experimented with coming off it, without my dr.'s knowledge; i quickly went back on it on one occasion, because i noticed the gradual descent into an attraction for morbid reading material. I guessed at depression coming, and I think i was right.
Other times, I have skipped or taken it erratically and noticed anxiety, insomnia, depression, and hypomania, but also the wonderful release from the physical symptoms.
I don't do that anymore because re-entry gives me a very bad chest and head effect, which i call "slammerino" -- probably a blood surge.
The last time was an epiphany. I mentioned before the old or botched or smaller amount from a different pharmacy, (at the same time Health Canada issued a warning for depleted lithium). I gradually (4-6 mo.) fell into a state of mania, depression (suicidal), rage, and physical non-stop agitation.
These symptoms were similar to pre-lithium days -- many yrs. ago, so I think it is right to conclude that bipolar disorder was resurfacing.
Add to that, the switch to my old brand, with the help of my dr. which stabilized me, and I think there is little doubt left that lithium treats my bipolar condition (the only variable i do not know about is whether the Synthroid itself could bring these symptoms on without the lithium).
But then again, i had those symptoms before Synthroid, so the alternative would by that I was hyperthyroidic. But i discussed that with my dr. and he said that i was tested for that before being put on lithium. So, i think, contrary to my friend's layman's opinion, i *am* bipolar.
>
>....
> Good luck whatever you decide to do.I decide to continue, unless my dr. says i really
can't take it anymore, due to side effects.
Do you like it? Have you ever tried anything else?
>Squiggles
Posted by Sentience on July 6, 2007, at 10:52:39
In reply to Re: Should I stop taking my medication? » ronaldo, posted by Squiggles on July 5, 2007, at 15:08:29
My diagnosis has included bipolar in the past but settled down to unipolar eventually after many years. I had been taking Nardil which is a powerful MAOI for 17 years until Feb 2007. It was my decision to discontinue the medication, due to the fact that the drug corporation, Pfizer, had changed the formulation back in 2003, causing to it being less effective & it also gave me more side-effects. All the time I was dependent upon the Nardil, I had never given it any thought that I could possibly manage without the drug. 5 months down the track I'm feeling the best that I've felt in my entire life. I'm so happy that I stopped taking the medication.
I'm wondering if you have ever had a drug holiday from the lithium in the past and if so how did you react to doing that? If not then maybe it is worth a try as an experiment, to see how you would cope? Tough call, and I'm not suggesting that you do it one way or the other, as only you know your self better than any of the doctors and even your friend.
Good luck.
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