Posted by medlib on February 24, 2000, at 4:36:30
In reply to Update , posted by Noa on February 23, 2000, at 20:37:56
Noa-
So glad to hear that your blood tests showed that you have some "maneuvering room" in your meds--hope the adjustments make things better for you. Re lithium dosing:
A colleague in Dr. Bob's Tips section said he preferred giving lithium at bedtime because that lessened its polyuria and tremor side effects. Others said that once-a-day dosing was easier on the kidneys?! Might be worth a call back to your hard-to-reach pdoc?Re multitasking and attitude adjustments: Sometimes I wonder if people aren't unconsciously competing with computers--trying to do more and more faster and faster. Hopefully, the tide will turn when at least some realize the absurdity of such imitation. Most things are cyclical, because objects caught in positive feedback loops self-destruct. Maybe movements such as the "simplify your life" and the "healing power of community" represent baby steps in a more human direction.
Being competitive at multitasking isn't an option for me--I have always shifted gears with the greatest of difficulty and at snail speed. I find change exciting, but the ever-increasing RATE of change somewhat intimidating. I try to cope by thinking of it as a clothing store; I try on several likely-looking selections, choose what fits, and leave the rest for others. (This analogy doesn't always work well--I hate shopping.)
BTW, whose expectations define your "shoulds"? Whoever they are, they have neither your troubles nor your talents. They would be no more successful at living your life than you feel trying to live theirs. Remember, Einstein said THE most important question is, "Is the universe a kind place?" Yours is!
medlib
> I finally spoke to my pdoc this evening. It turns out my thyroid tests were normal, but he sees room in the numbers to tweak a bit, and has recommended I increase the synthroid from one 25 microgram tablet to 1 1/2 tablets, and then later, possibly up to 2 tablets (50 micrograms). He also told me my lithium level had gone down from .8 in January to .6 this time, so he wants me to add another 300 mg, for a total of 1500/day.
>
> I forgot to ask him if it makes a difference whether the extra 300 mg capsule is taken in the am or pm. Anyone here know?
>
> So, let's see if this helps.
>
> My mood has been a tad better than last week, possibly because I came to another level of acceptance of my depression: this recent slump made me realize I need to pull in and narrow my focus, that I can't multi-task very well right now. I get overwhelmed so easily trying to do the mental juggling of different responsibilities. There is enough multi-tasking in life as it is, these days. this means giving up some professional endeavors, which I wasn't developing adequately anyway, just feeling badly that I wasn't able to. So now, I am trying to focus on just the basics, and leave the other stuff for somewhere down the road, if I am up for it then. It makes me really sad, it is a loss, but I feel relieved to have come to this decision. This is one of the ways this wretched illness has dampened my quality of life, and it makes me mad, too. But it is right for me right now to recognize that I have to stick to only the most basic stuff.
poster:medlib
thread:23436
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20000220/msgs/23490.html