Posted by Leighwit on May 14, 2002, at 10:49:55
Someone here wrote recently about irritable and dysphoric moods as part of the bi-polar spectrum even without any episodes of mania whatsoever. They also linked a site titled "Dr. Ivan's Depression Central" and I cannot find the post using the site search engine. (I must be doing something wrong).
In any case, if you're recognizing this as the author I'm referring to, please respond, so I can thank you again.
I saw my Pdoc yesterday, and she agreed that I should try Lamictal, and that it's possible I am not unipolar. !!! She didn't actually give me a new diagnosis yet, but talked about why I might meet the criteria for a cyclothymic (I'm not sure that was the word she used -- sounded like it) type. She also said that since nothing across the board had worked in terms of AD meds, perhaps a mood-stabilizer had been needed all along.
I guess she's waiting to see if the Lamictal works, and if it does then she'd "backwards-engineer" the diagnosis. At this point, given the dismal performance of everything else that's been tried, it sounds like that's as good a diagnostic tool as anything else (process of drug elimination?)
I'll start tomorrow. I can't believe the many ADs I've taken for over a decade might have been excaserbating my condition instead of treating it. On the other hand, I'll be greatful if this works.
Speaking of gratitude, thanks to everyone who responded to my posts about Wellbutrin and irritability and questions about the Bi-Polar Spectrum. I had no idea that someone without any mania should think/look outside of the box in terms of their unipolar depression diagnosis. I had been using a number of erroneous assumptions in deciding to just "grin and bear it" year in, and year out.
Lamictal might not be the answer. But at least I'm asking new questions and have been told by a Pdoc that they are valid questions. If it weren't for this site, I wouldn't be asking any of them.
Thanks again,
Laurie
poster:Leighwit
thread:106330
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020510/msgs/106330.html