Posted by Cindylou on April 12, 2002, at 17:57:43
In reply to Re: SAM-e and BP II » Cindylou, posted by Ron Hill on April 9, 2002, at 23:10:39
Hi Ron,
Thanks for your help with that online screening tool. I just took several tests, and it did not diagnose me as bipolar! Obsessive compulsive and chronic depression (dysthymia?), but not bipolar.That is actually what I suspected. After treating me for a year, my pdoc said she thought I was bipolar II because I had such large bouts of fatigue and agitation. But I never had any type of actual "mania" that I can think of, except on a rare occasion where I felt excessively happy ("too" happy, kind of zoomy.)This would only last a day, and usually happened: when I first started a med; when I was infatuated with someone; or after a long night of drinking (I think I may still have been drunk!)
So, the online test was interesting ... and I think I will definitely get a second opinion.
Thanks so much!
cindy
> >I am interested in taking that online screening, but was a bit confused when I checked out the link. I couldn't find the actual screening test. Do I need to pay the $10 first, in order to "subscribe" to their services, and then I'll have access to the test?
>
> Yes. You can access the demo tests without paying the ten bucks for ten days. Just click on the desired demo where it says:
>
> FREE SAMPLES
> Anorexia Nervosa (self-imposed starvation)
> Internet Mental Health Quality of Life Scale (Paper format)
>
> Then, if you want to pay the ten for ten, click the continue button in the box that says:
>
> Diagnosis Programs
> Online diagnosis of the disorders are available at MyTherapy.com , Dr. Phillip Long's other website.
>
> From there you can sign up. I've never paid the ten bucks because it was free when I used it a few years back. I thought it was pretty good for what it is; a screening tool.
>
> > As far as my pdoc prescribing the tricyclic -- she is also the one who believes that I am bipolar II. We were both in a quandry over what to do ... since no mood stabilizer that we know of is safe during pregnancy.
>
> Not an easy situation, huh? A year or two ago judy1 was faced with this situation. Her dx is BP and if my memory serves me right (which it rarely does!), she tapered off of Lamictal to have a child. Also, Beardy (beardedlady) has expressed interest in this issue of pregnancy and psychotropic medications. These two ladies (and more?) may be able to give you some good ideas.
>
> > Since depression is my predominant issue, she thought the nortriptyline would be worth a try -- and she did mention the Omega 3 fatty acids being a possiblity for stabilizing moods (although she didn't know much about it -- said I would need to take 5 grams, but that's about it.)
>
> One of my soap box issues is that a BP patient should NOT be put on an AD or a stimulant without first having a MS fully in place. The reason for my bias on this issue is that, although I'm BP II, I was initially mis-dx'ed as ADHD and put on Ritalin. Paxil was added a couple months later to try to control the irritable mood swings brought on by the Ritalin. This med combo pushed me into full blown mania and then eventually dumped me into a depression pit too deep to climb out of. As an aside, it was SAM-e that gave me back my life after six years of failed AD trials (with Lithobid as my MS). At any rate, this is the origin of my bias in this issue.
>
> > I wonder if SAM-e and Omega 3 could work together without a med?
>
> Maybe it could, but if you truly are BP II, you will probably need more mood stabilization fire power than what Omega-3 PUFA's can provide. There is a warning on the side of the SAM-e box against BP's taking it unless their pdoc approves it. SAM-e can induce mania (or hypomania) in BP patients.
>
> >I'm not sure if SAM-e is safe during pregnancy, though.
>
> I've never read anything that would lead me to believe that SAM-e is unsafe during pregnancy, but I'm not a doctor. SAM-e is a naturally occurring compound and is synthesized by the human body.
>
> -- Ron
poster:Cindylou
thread:99337
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020408/msgs/102902.html