Posted by Iago Camboa on August 11, 2002, at 3:54:49
In reply to Re: Best of luck! » Iago Camboa, posted by BarbaraCat on August 5, 2002, at 11:36:47
Barbara,
I'm just having a tenderness attack (guess toward whom?) and I've got to write to you without delay. It felt very nice to me to learn you're doing well. Of course you should enjoy and feel happy with your 'spells of very high energy and creative output'! Even mild hypomania is not any crime and may be a lot of fun... If I were you, I would 'occasionally forget' to take just one dose of lithium now and then just to see what happened...
I also know about your weight problems with the Remeron and I understand your resolve to try to get off it; only I'm not sure whether it will be the right thing not to have in your system any AD: after all if you are BP2, as it seems reasonable to assume, it would be easier for you to control your depressive phases if you had some little available. I know you felt 'tense and irritable' with the adrafinil and I recall you didn't enjoy the Effexor as well but that for me is perhaps less due to those two than to a lack of a powerful enough 'anxiolytic' even if this had to be a mild and carefully titrated anti-psychotic (but that only if you remained fog-free, clear-minded and non-oversleeping). These are only a few ideas I happened upon while I was thinking about you; of course all the decisions are and should always be yours. There are things I don't even dare to suggest (e.g. the possibility of Xanax) because they may be too risky...
I also have a very little story about weight problems. I once (some 23-24 years ago) had a little ECT in a clinic and I recall I was on an AD and on an anti-psychotic (the sole one in my whole life and I think today it was not needed) amidst several other meds. At the time it was the fashion for pdocs to prescribe 10 or 12 medicines or even more... I was ultra-euphoric (but also ultra-amnesic!), I slept a lot and... I put on not less than 22 lbs in 3 weeks... I could not put on any of my former clothes and it took me more than a whole year to get rid of that weight...
You were very close as far as my homeland is concerned. I was born and live in Portugal, in a medium-sized city on the Atlantic, in the north of the country. I also know Spain, France & Britain (many times in each), Switzerland (twice, 2 weeks), Italy (twice, 2 months), Greece (once, a week), Turkey (once, 2 weeks), Sweden (once, a week) & Denmark (once, 2 weeks). If I had to choose a very nice place to spend in a week this Aug. or Sep., I'd choose perhaps the Basque Country (NE Spain, SW France, both sides of the border, but based on a very nice hotel on the French side...)Yours, Iago
> I'm doing well, thank you Iago. The little town I live in had a festival going all weekend, kind of like a country fair. I've been having a very good time, being with old friends and meeting new ones. But it's been hectic anyway and I'm looking forward to some quiet time. As far the as the BP2, I haven't had any uncomfortable symptoms of it for a while. The only relapse was back in April when I ran out of lithium for almost 2 weeks and started getting hyper. But it was more funny than disruptive. I started buying whole palletts of flowers and plants and was digging dirt like mad well into the night. The lithium arrived before it descended into anything other than high energy and swirling ideas. Just recently I had an enjoyable spell of very high energy and creative output. It's difficult to get to sleep during these times because my brain is so brightly firing. It never crossed over into mania. Getting enough sleep is the key, and I'm careful to do so. But I hope to have more episodes like that. They're very productive and I remain relatively sane.
>
> I'm reducing Remeron these days and hope to be off it completely in a few months. I've been feeling it but it hasn't been that bad. Gabapentin and benzos are important for me. I've never considered using benzos before. Tranquilizers have a bad reputation for causing unclarity and dependence, especially with people who practice yoga & meditation, as I do. Well, anxiety and stress are worse, so benzos will remain in my medicine cabinet from now on.
>
> I was in Europe about 15 years ago, no farther south than nortwestern Italy along the Mediterranean. I enjoyed Switzerland alot because I love to hike in the mountains. Europe was wonderful. I loved the ancient historical feeling of it, so unlike this country. Would you feel OK sharing what country you live in? My guess would be Spain, or perhaps Italy.
>
> It sounds like the meds you're taking are helping very much. My wish is that you continue to feel good. I've considered taking Adrafinal, and tried it for 2 weeks. Unfortunately, it made me feel tense and irritable, somewhat like I felt on Topamax. Everyone's chemistry is so unique. It must be very difficult for a doctor who sincerely wants to help.
> Your caring friend,
> Barbara
>
poster:Iago Camboa
thread:113976
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020807/msgs/116015.html