Posted by KaraS on July 13, 2004, at 16:29:56
In reply to Re: tachycardia vs. bradycardia » KaraS, posted by SLS on July 12, 2004, at 6:49:24
>
> > Scott, unfortunately I don't know much about treating bipolar disorder.
>
> That's quite alright. Apparently, neither do doctors, or I wouldn't be writing this.
>
> > Was that your first episode or have you been battling that for a while now?
>
> I became severely depressed at age 17. I was first diagnosed and treated at age 22. With few exceptions, I have been severely depressed for every hour of every day ever since. I am 44 now (ouch - that hurt). It is an anergic and anhedonic depression with profound cognitive impairments that limit my abilities to read, learn, and remember. My writing style is deceptive.
>I can relate. I had some signs in my teenage years but really started battling depression in college. I got seriously ill around age 24. I am also now in my 40's (can't hardly believe it myself) and have been dealing at various times with disthymia, major depression and/or atypical depression. Throw in some anxiety/panic disorder in the past and you have the full picture. Well, not really - I may have some ADD that has not been diagnosed as of yet. Currently the anergia and inability to concentrate are my biggest problems and they are preventing me from earning a living (while my money is running out). So I do understand where you're coming from.
Your writing is, as you said, deceptive because you do come across as extremely bright. Your knowledge of the science of brain functioning and psychotropic medications is profound. I suppose I too have some areas where I am very sharp yet still have plenty of cognitive impairment.
> > I've been straight unipolar depression so I don't have the fear of feeling too high.
>
> I was originally diagnosed as unipolar. It wasn't until I was 26 that a manic phenomenon occurred, and that was the result of a reaction to medication. I have never had a spontaneous manic episode.
>I wonder if that really makes you bipolar. Of course that's just semantics isn't it, because if meds can lead you there, then you need to treat it as such.
> > You said that you haven't had the same response to Parnate since your episode. Did you also add in the desipramine again?
>
> Yes. :-(
>
> > I would think that if that combo worked, you could add something else to keep the mania in check. I am probably showing my naive perspective with that remark but I felt I had to ask.
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> Actually, that is exactly what the doctor should have done. He should have continued me on the antidepressants and treated the mania with lithium and Klonopin. Given my previous history of treatment resistance, he should have at least returned to the same combination of antidepressants once I relapsed. Unfortunately, Prozac had just come out, and it was a new toy for him to play with.
>Yes they do love new toys - but to be fair to your doctor, there was such hype about Prozac back then they he/she probably thought it could really help you a lot.
> I have tried returning to Parnate + TCA several times, and have added other things to the combo - Parnate 120mg + desipramine 300mg + Dexedrine + T4 for example.
>
> > Also, do you have a lot of confidence in your doctor?
>
> I have been working with my present doctor for over a year. I have quite a bit of confidence in him. Of all the doctors I have seen, he has been the most willing to extend himself beyond traditional treatments.
>
> > Have you ever considered trying any herbal, nutritional or nutraceutical remedies in addition to the meds?
>
> Not as many as some of the people on the PB Alternative Board. I don't have much confidence in them, and I don't want to foster adverse interactions with the drugs I am taking.
>
I can tell that you don't have a lot of confidence in althernative treatments but there have been some amazing stories - people who claim never to have responded to anything and then they take SAM-e or Rhodiola or something else and finally the lights go on for the first time. Larry Hoover saw some amazing results in some friends who took Rhodiola which is what led him to seek alternative solutions. In terms of the interaction of alternatives with meds, that is a risk but one that is made minimal by doing your research.If I had the money I would go to someone wholistic and get a full set of tests done. Sometimes they can find things that a shrink can't (or I should say, doesn't) - like you're low in magnesium or l-glutamine or you're missing a key enzyme. Unfortunately science isn't at the point where they can find everything that's missing or malfunctioning, but I would like to see if there is something along these lines that I could try to fix. My feeling is why eliminate anything that could possibly help even a little.
Anyway, I promise I won't hound you about this. In fact, I won't mention it again. I just felt that I had to put it out there.
> > Anyway, wish I could give you a hug but since I can't, I'll just say hang in there. It may take longer than you'd like but there are still plenty of options.
>
> Hmm. Not so many I don't think. You should see my list of the things I've tried. (Actually, that's how my drug chart got started). I guess there are enough things left untried that I haven't given up just yet. However, I don't know how I will react emotionally if Cymbalta doesn't work. That the FDA pissed on gepirone doesn't help. That would have been one more thing to keep me going. I don't know how much rope I have left.
>
> - ScottScott,
My heart broke when I read about the depth of your sadness and the despair in your answers. I wish there were something more that I could do for you other than to tell you to hang in there. I know that it must sound trite after hearing it many times before but it is nonetheless the only way to go. Even if Cymbalta doesn't work for you (you didn't mention anything about the selegiline patch or electromagnetic stimulation?), there are other things on the horizon. The science is expanding exponentially these days relative to the last 40 years and you just don't know what will be discovered next.
Kara
poster:KaraS
thread:13117
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040712/msgs/365736.html