Posted by JohnX2 on March 14, 2002, at 17:29:02
In reply to To JOHNX2 - answers, more: » JohnX2, posted by Janelle on March 14, 2002, at 14:52:27
> John - VERY impressive that you are an electrical engineer specializing in microchip design. Wow.
Everybody has there own skills ;) I stink at writing.
>
> How long have you had BiPolar disorder - meaning how long has it been since you were diagnosed with it? And how long was it before then that you were suffering but were misdiagnosed?I don't know for sure. My 1st major depression was around the age of 14. I was diagnosed with depression back then. 3 yrs ago I relapsed into major depression and got antoher major depression rediagnosis. This time I took antidepressants but they never worked (always gave bizarre results). I had pretty clear cut hypomanic symptoms. I suffered for 1.5 yrs with doctors before I just went ahead and started Lamictal since it treats both unipolar and bipolar depression. This got be back on my feet with no major crashes (except 1 or 2 for only a few days).
>
> And WHAT IS YOUR CURRENT FORMULA? You've mentioned it in bits and pieces but I'd like to read it in its entirety, so to speak!I have something called facial neuralgia (chronic facial pain, so I take some medicines to help that).
But Lamictal is my main mood stabilizer/anti-depressant. I may add in a very small dose of lithium to help with some agitation (small enough to not have side effects bug me I hope).Lamictal 150 mg
Topamax 400 mg
Serzone 300 mg
Klonopin 2 mgI have taken Serzone twice. The 1st time without a mood stabilizers, it made me quite drowsy. This time I have no side effects and sleep better. Who knows why?
>
> To answer your question - actually, I posted here months ago but went into such a bad spell that I was unable to continue. When I returned recently I had to confirm my previous registration! Actually, I've taken enough meds in enough categories over enough time that I'm no longer worried about potential side effects, but I suppose that this has been an issue for me in the past. At this point I'm growing increasigly desparate so I'm willing to try just about anything to feel better. I can't stand this. I want to get off the roller coaster.
>
> I'm not sure I understand your other question - you wrote: "I also sensed that something was wrong with the medicine strategy, so I kinda beat around the bush on my answers and focused on the doctor change situation instead, did you find this an odd thing to happen? Can you comment on this?"
>
> I'd be glad to answer that and comment on it, but what do you mean by "did you find this an odd thing to happen" -- what are you referring to with "this" -- are you asking if I found your beating around the bush to be an odd thing to happen?
>
> Actually I did NOT feel that you were beating around the bush! What came across to me in your earlier responses was that you were concerned about my pdoc switch and were wanting to know why I was switching if the meds the original pdoc has had me on were providing some (partial) relief.
>
> Thanks again so much for your continuing interest.
> -JanelleHey no problem. I hope you can get set up with some maintanance medicines and shop around for another pdoc in the mean time. Sorry, but this is what you need to do. I found my best pdoc by going to a crisis center at a hospital. The man who saw me there was really good and decided to take me along as a patient.
Best regards,
John
poster:JohnX2
thread:97829
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020313/msgs/98015.html