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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Janice on May 3, 2000, at 17:58:45
Hi,
Just to refresh anyone who doesn't know me, I suffer from rapid cycling bipolar. I have 3 cycles, which together determine my mood. They are all like clockwork.
•SAD cycle (pretty classic)•Weekly cycle (one high & one low)
•Circadian cycle/24 hour cycle.This is the cycle that concerns me now. My mood is the worst first thing in the morning, and then gradually improves throughout the day. In the evening I generally seem to get a few hours of relief of depression (depending on my other cycles too, of course).
So my questions:
•Should lithium (or another mood stabilizer) be able to stabilize my circadian rhythm's moods?
•How long should I stay on lithium for before deciding whether or not it is helping.
As always, thanks for your help, Janice
Posted by Mark H. on May 3, 2000, at 19:04:17
In reply to Lithium/mood stabilizers and Circadian rhythms, posted by Janice on May 3, 2000, at 17:58:45
Hi Janice,
I adore you. I'm still quoting you to my friends. You have a way with words that is so perfect and enjoyable. My two favorites, and please forgive me if I'm remembering them wrong, are:
"I thought my highs were real and my lows were the flu." Nothing for me has ever summed up my entire life experience better than that one sentence. It's brilliant!
"Day dreaming probably deserves more attention." What can I say? Another perfect gem, like a haiku, completely self contained. You give me great joy.
Now, although I too am bipolar, I've got to tell you that bad morning depression easing into OK by evening is a classic symptom of plain old unipolar depression, and MAY not be part of your manic-depressive condition at all. Some days I can't make it into the office before noon, but I don't mind staying as late as needed to get the job done. In fact, staying up all night sometimes significantly helps my depression for several days.
Keep on keepin' on, Janice. I'm so glad you're here.
Mark H.
Posted by Janice on May 3, 2000, at 20:57:58
In reply to Re: Lithium/mood stabilizers and Circadian rhythms, posted by Mark H. on May 3, 2000, at 19:04:17
Thank you Mark H.
I am so flattered.
a had a very brief, but successful career as a poet. 5 poems published, 2 pretty decent awards. Writing poetry was the most satisfying, fulfilling, rewarding (not financially, of course) activity I have ever done in my life.
+ then I started lithium.
I love to read what others write, how they say it, which words they choose.
So maybe lithium isn't suppose to touch circadian rhytm problem. Or maybe in an ideal world it would, but that world's not mine.
Take care Mark and thanks again for the lovely compliment,
Janice
Posted by SLS on May 7, 2000, at 11:20:10
In reply to Lithium/mood stabilizers and Circadian rhythms, posted by Janice on May 3, 2000, at 17:58:45
Hi Janice.
What happened? I thought things were going pretty good for you once you changed your weekend sleeping habits. Sorry to hear that things didn't stick.
At this point, I agree with Mark H. that this fluctuation of mood during the day, as you have described it, seems more like a typical feature of depression than it does ultra-dian rapid cyclicity. If so, it should resolve once you find a treatment that does a good job with the depression itself.
Which mood stabilizers have you been on and in what combinations? How did they affect you?
Have you ever been on a tricyclic or MAO inhibitor?
Which drugs have produced mania?
- Scott
Posted by Noa on May 7, 2000, at 12:29:15
In reply to Re: Lithium/mood stabilizers and Circadian rhythms, posted by SLS on May 7, 2000, at 11:20:10
> Hi Janice.
I am wondering if the diurnal variation in mood may be due to thyroid problems, too. Especially since you recently increased your lithium dose, which can cause you to become hypothyroid.
Posted by Janice on May 7, 2000, at 21:29:52
In reply to Re: Lithium/mood stabilizers and Circadian rhythms, posted by SLS on May 7, 2000, at 11:20:10
Hello Scott,
>
> What happened? I thought things were going pretty good for you once you changed your weekend sleeping habits. Sorry to hear that things didn't stick.Things have gone so good Scott with the weekend sleeping habits and extra 600 mg of lithium that my rapid cycling cycle has changed--for the first time since I remember it (15 years). Now I am a completely normal person for 6 days (brand new positive change), then I am a miserable, evil woman who wants her own head off for the following 6 days.
I am hopeful.
>
I am wondering how long it will take for the rapid cycling to settle down into a new set routine? It has been six weeks now, and it still seems to be changing some.> Which mood stabilizers have you been on and in what combinations? How did they affect you?
I've been on Depoke????. I was unable to tolerate it, although it helped.
Now lithium. It's still seems to be settling in my system.
>
> Have you ever been on a tricyclic or MAO inhibitor?
>
yes, I've tried Anafranil, Desipramine and manerix-- they all make me manic and increase cycling.> Which drugs have produced mania?
All ADs, especially the TCAs, produce mania.>
>
Thanks Scott, Janice
Posted by Janice on May 7, 2000, at 21:34:35
In reply to Re: Lithium/mood stabilizers and Circadian rhythms, posted by Noa on May 7, 2000, at 12:29:15
> > Hi Noa,
Thanks. It's pretty common for me to have this rhythm, it just seems more pronounced lately, and I thought the lithium would take care of it. I am still planning to get my thyroid checked. I find getting the medical community to do what I want to be a very frustrating experience. They don't seem to realize they are dealing with my entire life. Last time I asked my family doctor for a thyroid testing, she said 6 months. I may try again with her, and if she says no, I may just switch doctors.
So frustrating, Janice.
Posted by Janice on May 7, 2000, at 21:36:40
In reply to Re: Lithium/mood stabilizers and Circadian rhythms, posted by SLS on May 7, 2000, at 11:20:10
How are you Scott?
Do you disappear from the board when you are depressed?
Janice
This is the end of the thread.
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