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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Tom G on March 31, 2004, at 20:54:15
This is a little unusual I know, but I think it is signifigant enough to write to the board.
I recently went about one month with no sex and no masturbation to see what effect it would have on my mood. After about a week and a half my agitation increased, irritability increased, but my mood lability went away (easy to tears). Today, lets just say my experiment ended and my mood lability has come back fiercly. I cry so easily at things. I'm a 26 year old male and I've taken many medications. Too many to list. I've been diagnosed bipolar II by my former doctor but the doctor that I've been seeing for a year doesn't agree and can't give me a diagnosis. I've had nearly every symptom at some time excluding visual hallucinations. Right now I'm on 900mg lithium with 600mg Neurontin. The drugs give me side effects that my doctor, who is old, has never seen. Neurontin has caused an almost agitated, aggressive, wired feeling in me. I haven't read anywhere on any message board where someone has reacted this way. Drugs don't do anything for me, positive at least.
Does anybody have any ideas of what this could be mimicking? I thought possibly about a hormonal imbalance, because of the masturbation thing.
I've had a CBC and thyroid screen about three years ago and all seemed to be OK. My father had severe para-thyroid problems that caused psychotic episodes, but I've never been psychotic.
I've also had Lymes disease when I was 17, but I was supposedly treated sucessfully. My symptoms were I think obvious before this. I'm about to go all out and get blood-glucose test,MRI,an endocrinologist, a neurologist, allergy tests, and anything else I can think of.What should I do next and has anyone else experienced this?
Posted by snapper on March 31, 2004, at 21:27:52
In reply to Masturbation and Depression, posted by Tom G on March 31, 2004, at 20:54:15
Tom I do not know what the exact corelation would be between Depression and masterbation or lack of sex and self stimulation would be other than the obvious-such as sex feels great and releases tons of opiate like hormones and endogenous "feel good" chemicals.
The ending of your post struck me in a special regard-
1. do you have a serious history of BP disorder/depression etc?
2. You said your father had some issues that resolved with treatment of his para-thyroid condition.
3.You also said you had a history of Lyme disease
that was hopefully and most expectedly dealt with, however I do know this - I am not a Dr. but this raises a few questions in my mind> did you have symptoms of any mood disorders during your bout with lyme disease-then the symptoms possibly resolve-- There are definitely diseases, viruses, parasites, funguses, parasites, infections etc that can and do MIMIC the very symptoms you speak of!
What I would stronly reccomend is this: If at all possible> #1 Insurance and funds permitting, I would seek out a more competent P-doc-because if he is saying he is seeing symptoms from med side effects he has never seen before; that to me would raise some red flags.#2 I might reccomend that you do seek further physical evaluation from different fields of medicine-ie:
like you said- low blood sugar problems, possible deficiencies,or potential toxic overloads on your endocrine system etc.
Finally you have come to the right place to help you find answers- we do not all claim to have all the answers to all that ails us-but we do seem to have a pretty cool little online community in which we can share, and compair w/ea other the possible things that might or might not be wrong with us! Bottom line is this
get the proper professional help that you need , require and deserve because: BP I or BP II or just plain old fasion melancholic depression are nothing to be taken lightly or messed around with-the best treatment is the "right treatment"!
Good Luck to You
Clint
Posted by Fallen4myT on March 31, 2004, at 23:48:36
In reply to Masturbation and Depression, posted by Tom G on March 31, 2004, at 20:54:15
I would see an endocrinologist they test so many glands and your dad had issues with the parathyroid and these are not often tested by regular doctors.. You may have testosterone issues...so many...I would see him/her first THEN go for the other docs...and ummm nothing wrong with masterbation ya know :)
Posted by shadows721 on April 1, 2004, at 1:23:10
In reply to Masturbation and Depression, posted by Tom G on March 31, 2004, at 20:54:15
I think it is a good idea to get a routine physical to rule out physical causes of the tearfulness.
If no physical cause can be found, it sounds like you aren't on the right medications suited for you. By the way, I have heard of people having rages on Neurontin. That may not be the med for you.
As far as the the self enjoyment issue, it seems like that's your outlet to help express physically some pent up feelings. So, go back on your normal routine. In fact, I think the sexual gratification issue is good for your depression.
Posted by thinkfast on April 1, 2004, at 7:22:40
In reply to Masturbation and Depression, posted by Tom G on March 31, 2004, at 20:54:15
just thought i would comment on the anger issue with neurontin...i experienced the same effect, but with a much smaller dose...absolutely everything was irritating and i was even more pesemistic than usual...it's strange...it is used as a 'mood stabilizer'.....depends on the person i guess
Posted by joebob on April 1, 2004, at 10:05:03
In reply to Masturbation and Depression, posted by Tom G on March 31, 2004, at 20:54:15
see post by edflaherty on the alternatives board
good luck
Posted by Tom G on April 1, 2004, at 12:02:34
In reply to Re: Masturbation and Depression, posted by snapper on March 31, 2004, at 21:27:52
Thanks for all of your responses.
Yes, I have a long history of alchoholism and suicide (5 or 6 suicides) on my dad's side of the family. Although I don't think anybody has ever had their problems resolved or given an answer to what is wrong, so I don't know if one can assume there is BP in my family. There is definately a problem though.
More on the thyroid. In 1970, my Dad felt a swollen area on his throat while shaving. Tumors were discovered on his thyroid and medicine was given, that didn't work, to shrink the tumors. He started having psychotic episodes on a monthly cycle during this time possibly caused by the medicine. After the right side of his thyroid was removed with the tumors the psychosis continued. I don't think doctors ever really connected the thyroid problem with his psychotic episodes because he was given a host of all different kinds of AP's, antidepressants, lithium, etc. etc. for 5 years. Nothing worked. He tried to commit suicide twice (shotgun, overdose) and failed. Finally at the Menninger Psychiatric Hospital in Topeka Kansas they found abnormalities in his potassium and calcium in his para thyroid. Blood tests on the thyroid were apparently extremely rare back then and had to be sent to California for results. After removal of some of his parathyroid and starting the right medications he was OK and quit drinking . Then in 1997 I revealed to my parents about my drug addiction. The cycle started all over with him having a psychotic episode. I don't know if him breaking down was a reaction to the stress of my news or just by chance. He was stabilized in less time this go around with only 750mg of Depakote. No problems to this day. He takes Synthroid and Depakote. But I'm still suspicious of what his problem is because I didn't think a abnormality with the para thyroid could be controlled with Depakote. I think doctors really don't know for sure what was wrong. He still has benign tumors on his remaining thyroid but his mood is completely normal whereas my mood has been abnormal I feel since junior high and no psychosis. So I guess I need to see a good endocrinologist.:) I did get a tight feeling in my throat when I went up to 600mgs Neurontin. Its not a sore throat, but its like the feeling you get when you're about to cry, but I'm not about to cry. It's worse when I take a multi vitamin and no the vitamin isn't stuck in my throat. I've tried Depakote at 1000mg for only about 3 and half weeks. It did nothing. The rest of the people back through my family that have either committed suicde or had some illness have just exhibited strange behavior (disappearing for no reason then reappearing), depressive symptoms, and again alchoholism but never any diagnosis given.
Whoa I'm rambling
This is the end of the thread.
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