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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by WorryGirl on June 13, 2003, at 9:42:58
I have been going to therapy for a couple weeks and recently saw a psychiatrist. Between the two of them they have determined that I do have rapid cycling bipolar, along with general and social anxiety and my bulimia. I saw a nutritionist and am working on keeping my appetite under control. I have been running as much as I can, but with so much rainy weather lately that hasn't been very often.
I have just started taking depakote. It is a pretty small dosage to start with and I'm not noticing much of a difference yet. The bad part is that I can't take an anti-anxiety or depressant because it would make my rapid cycling much worse. I was hoping that my anxiety would be relieved, and was told that this medication won't really affect that, but by controlling my mania, maybe I won't have as much anxiety after all.
Last night my toddler woke me up about 6 times, continuously crawling into our bed, screaming for me to help her at the toilet, and being afraid of monsters, etc. I was exhausted and very irritable to say the least and about lost it the 6th time. I hope I can do better than this soon!
Posted by Dinah on June 13, 2003, at 9:57:44
In reply to Recent diagnosis, posted by WorryGirl on June 13, 2003, at 9:42:58
Hi Worrygirl. It's tough to be a mom sometimes isn't it? I used to get soooo overstimulated when my son was younger. I think for the first several months of his life I thought my life would be an interminable misery. It gets a whole lot better as they get older. I've enjoyed him so much since he learned to talk and express himself instead of acting out.
I never took it out on him, except that maybe I was a bit withdrawn. I did my best not to even withdraw from him. But it made my self injury skyrocket. I wonder if your therapist and pdoc understand the intense stimulation a young child causes? Are they men?
I can understand the reluctance to give you an AD, but I don't get the reluctance to give you an antianxiety agent. I've been taking low dose Depakote for years, and it has only a minimal impact on my anxiety and agitation. I need my therapy and my klonopin for the anxiety. If your plan is to go to higher doses, maybe it will have more effect.
Posted by WorryGirl on June 13, 2003, at 10:14:29
In reply to Re: Recent diagnosis » WorryGirl, posted by Dinah on June 13, 2003, at 9:57:44
Hi Dinah,
Last night I was worrying about what if I can never truly relieve my anxiety because the meds will only make me worse? I am going to ask the p-doc about Klonipin or something like it if I don't notice much improvement. I mean, which is worse, the mood swings or the high anxiety?The therapist is a woman, who has 4 grown children. The p-doc is a man, and I know nothing of his family life, if he even has one. I suspect he could possibly be gay but one never knows.
I do feel that having 2 very young children has contributed a lot to my anxiety. I have raised my voice to my older one sometimes, but always try to show her love and attention whenever possible. Although I have had tendencies to withdraw, even when I'm in the depths of worry and/or despair I always hug her (my oldest) and tell her I love her and that mommy isn't feeling very well. I feel awful when I'm like this and honestly didn't anticipate just how constant childrearing is. To hear my mother talk, my sisters and I sat in chairs with our hands folder wearing lace dresses; even when we were toddlers - lol!
But we have so many good times, too, and they more than make up for my black moods. My children know they are loved, and I am noticing that my youngest daughter doesn't seem to test me as often as my older. So far she seems oblivious to everything but I'm sure some of my moods have been absorbed by her, hopefully not for the worse.
My older daughter is quite smart and extremely strong willed. She is also very expressive and loving. Wouldn't trade her for the world :)
I agree that as they get older and can communicate better things will get better.
My therapist understands what it is like, and initially she felt that I mainly had anxiety. But it appears that the BP is taking predominance right now.
I JUST WANT TO FEEL BETTER AND SOON!
If my anxiety isn't relieved soon I don't know what I'm going to do :(
Posted by wendy b. on June 13, 2003, at 15:32:11
In reply to Recent diagnosis, posted by WorryGirl on June 13, 2003, at 9:42:58
Dear WG,
Please, these pdocs are idiots sometimes! Wellbutrin is prescribed a lot for bipolar people... It does not have the same effects as the SSRIs (paxil, prozac, zoloft, etc.) as far as inducing mania, but it is a great anti-depressant. I don't know why they haven't had you try it... Do you? Have they said anything to you about it? Sure, it can make the irritability come out in some people (it didn't in me), but that is a temporary side-effect, and usually tolerable for a short while, and then it usually goes away.
Ugh, there ARE meds out there, it's just a matter of the right combination, and yes, it takes a while sometimes. I hope you mention the wellbutrin to both the therapist and the pdoc right away. If they say no, you need to know WHY, with specifics.
I'm sure we'll get chased over to the meds board, so maybe you can post something over there, too, as a follow-up, and I'll look over there too. Chiming in with Dinah, I know about the worries with children when you're feeling awful, but you sound like you have lots of love and communication going on with them, so try to let it go. Just take it easy on yourself; the suggestion from Gracie to get a benzo is also a good one.
best, and take care,
Wendy
Posted by bookgurl99 on June 15, 2003, at 8:04:15
In reply to Recent diagnosis, posted by WorryGirl on June 13, 2003, at 9:42:58
worrygirl,
are you _sure_ about this dx? one of my friends this week was just saying that she's meeting more and more young people who are being dx'd as 'rapid cycling bipolar.' by definition, this should be a rare occurence, not common.
part of me thinks that certain diagnoses come into vogue, and then _everyone_ has to have a patient with this one thing. part of me wonders if you just have severe anxiety with associated depression.
i mean, are you experiencing true mania? maybe i'm just remembering wrong, but i don't recall you ever posting about having mania.
what do you think?
books
Posted by WorryGirl on June 15, 2003, at 18:12:46
In reply to Re: Recent diagnosis, posted by bookgurl99 on June 15, 2003, at 8:04:15
> part of me thinks that certain diagnoses come into vogue, and then _everyone_ has to have a patient with this one thing. part of me wonders if you just have severe anxiety with associated depression.
>
> i mean, are you experiencing true mania? maybe i'm just remembering wrong, but i don't recall you ever posting about having mania.
>
> what do you think?
>
> booksThanks books,
I know what you mean...
I am so frustrated and sad right now. I've been taking this med for a few days and I think I'm feeling worse, not better.Today I feel the most depressed I've ever felt in my life, plus I'm extremely anxious. Can you feel totally depressed and anxious at the same time? Would this be considered bipolar?
The med (depakote) isn't relieving my depression or anxiety at all. I don't feel zoned out or really feel anything at all from it. Maybe I need more time on it? The only positive thing is that this med helps me fall to sleep easier.
When talking to this pdoc he said it sounded like I had some "manic" symptoms. I don't even remember everything I said things are so blurry to me right now in the midst of my discouragement. I think I was hoping for something that would make me feel somewhat normal and not so d*** anxious (or depressed).
How would you define mania anyway? The only things I can think of that might qualify a manic about me are my tendencies to get so absorbed in something that I can't concentrate on anything else. I hate distractions and lately I am much, much more tense, irritable and frustrated (when I'm not feeling depressed). I have gone on shopping binges occasionally but compared to others I have known my spending is small potatoes.
I think your diagnoses is much more on target. When I talk to my therapist in 2 weeks I'm going to tell her (along with the pdoc) that I would like to try some kind of antidepressant or anti-anxiety med.
I am leaving to visit my friend in TN for the next week, so I probably won't be posting much from there.
WG
Posted by WorryGirl on June 15, 2003, at 18:16:38
In reply to Re: Recent diagnosis » WorryGirl, posted by wendy b. on June 13, 2003, at 15:32:11
> Dear WG,
>
> Please, these pdocs are idiots sometimes! Wellbutrin is prescribed a lot for bipolar people... It does not have the same effects as the SSRIs (paxil, prozac, zoloft, etc.) as far as inducing mania, but it is a great anti-depressant. I don't know why they haven't had you try it... Do you? Have they said anything to you about it? Sure, it can make the irritability come out in some people (it didn't in me), but that is a temporary side-effect, and usually tolerable for a short while, and then it usually goes away.
>
> Ugh, there ARE meds out there, it's just a matter of the right combination, and yes, it takes a while sometimes. I hope you mention the wellbutrin to both the therapist and the pdoc right away. If they say no, you need to know WHY, with specifics.
>
> I'm sure we'll get chased over to the meds board, so maybe you can post something over there, too, as a follow-up, and I'll look over there too. Chiming in with Dinah, I know about the worries with children when you're feeling awful, but you sound like you have lots of love and communication going on with them, so try to let it go. Just take it easy on yourself; the suggestion from Gracie to get a benzo is also a good one.
>
> best, and take care,
>
> Wendythanks WEndy,
I am going to bring up Wellbutrin and also the fact that I have possibly been misdiagnosed. The depakote isn't helping at all. Maybe I'm not giving it enough time, but I feel lousier than ever, and have been in the worse depressed funk that I've ever been in today.
I want to feel better and I was afraid this would happen. I will bring up your points and thanks for the advice.WG
Posted by bookgurl99 on June 15, 2003, at 22:14:28
In reply to Re: Recent diagnosis » bookgurl99, posted by WorryGirl on June 15, 2003, at 18:12:46
hey worrygirl,
good luck. it's possible that the depakote will help if you give it more time. if you haven't, maybe you should post on regular babble and ask about the side effects.
but, just talk to your dr. sometimes i think anxiety/short attention span can be misconstrued as mania. i'm not sure how a 'true' mania feels as opposed to a hypomania, but i'm sure there are others here who can describe one.
have a nice vacation,
books
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