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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 prodgirl on September 22, 2003, at 23:37:25
I have shown symptoms of depression since I was 10 or 11 years old. Seven months ago, I finally decided I was not living my life, and my depression had taken over me.
I started on Lexapro, having to up the doseage twice because it "pooped out" on me. We then changed to Effexor XR, which I am at 150mg a day. My mood is tolerable, but certainly not "myself". Although I take Tradazone, I still have problems sleeping. In fact, I take it every night, as I don't sleep well without it.
I have been told that the reason the meds are not working is because I could be BiPolar. In my research, I definately do not fit the textbook description. It's only been seven months and two different meds. I know it will take time, but I'm just wondering if I am telling my shrink the right things, maybe I am BiPolar with long cycles and just don't see it.
Comments from the peanut gallery?
prodgirl
Posted by katia on September 23, 2003, at 14:46:48
In reply to Depression or Bi-Polar: How do I know?, posted by prodgirl on September 22, 2003, at 23:37:25
Hi,
How old are you now?
it's tough to figure out. I'm bipolar after a year of being on ADs to no relief, I finally figured it out. What helped me was this board, reading up on it from websites like www.psycheducation.com? I think that's the address. Read the parts on bipolar and see if it sounds familiar. And also by finding the right doctor.
good luck trying to figure it out.
Katia
> I have shown symptoms of depression since I was 10 or 11 years old. Seven months ago, I finally decided I was not living my life, and my depression had taken over me.
>
> I started on Lexapro, having to up the doseage twice because it "pooped out" on me. We then changed to Effexor XR, which I am at 150mg a day. My mood is tolerable, but certainly not "myself". Although I take Tradazone, I still have problems sleeping. In fact, I take it every night, as I don't sleep well without it.
>
> I have been told that the reason the meds are not working is because I could be BiPolar. In my research, I definately do not fit the textbook description. It's only been seven months and two different meds. I know it will take time, but I'm just wondering if I am telling my shrink the right things, maybe I am BiPolar with long cycles and just don't see it.
>
> Comments from the peanut gallery?
> prodgirl
Posted by shoebox on September 23, 2003, at 20:25:08
In reply to Re: Depression or Bi-Polar: How do I know? » prodgirl, posted by katia on September 23, 2003, at 14:46:48
It can take a long time for bipolar disorder to fully manifest; I was treated with antidepressants for ten years or more, and finally had a manic episode in 2000 (after a severe depression and subsequent massive doses of SSRIs), at which point my psychiatrist diagnosed me as Bipolar II. Insomnia is a hallmark of bipolar disorder. I know this is true for depression also, but the insomnia I suffered during the years I was "only" depressed would ebb and flow. My insomnia as a BP is constant. If I do not take some sort of sleep medication, I cannot sleep. Whether or not it's psychological is a moot point, really, because it doesn't take much for a "physical" insomnia to become a psychologically-based insomnia. The same could probably be said for most mood disorders.
Your insomnia could very well be a symptom, Bipolar disorder is VERY complex--there really is no "official list" of symptoms. There are different types and subtypes, with variations in severity, cyclical nature, overlap with personality disorders--the only way to really "know" you are bipolar is to try a mood stabilizer and see if it helps. In all the years I was on ADs, I felt "better" to a greater or lesser extent, but I can't say i ever felt "good" for long. For one thing, ADs tend to cause anxiety. After being so depressed you can't get out of bed, having that AD "jazzed up" feeling can seem like a good thing, but over time it wears you thin. I never felt truly serene until I was put on a mood stabilizer. I am still tweaking my ADs, but the mood stabilizer (I am on Lamictal now) has taken the "AD edge" off.
I wouldn't worry so much if I were you about the "name" of what you have--treating the symptoms and getting better are what matter.
> Hi,
> How old are you now?
> it's tough to figure out. I'm bipolar after a year of being on ADs to no relief, I finally figured it out. What helped me was this board, reading up on it from websites like www.psycheducation.com? I think that's the address. Read the parts on bipolar and see if it sounds familiar. And also by finding the right doctor.
> good luck trying to figure it out.
> Katia
> > I have shown symptoms of depression since I was 10 or 11 years old. Seven months ago, I finally decided I was not living my life, and my depression had taken over me.
> >
> > I started on Lexapro, having to up the doseage twice because it "pooped out" on me. We then changed to Effexor XR, which I am at 150mg a day. My mood is tolerable, but certainly not "myself". Although I take Tradazone, I still have problems sleeping. In fact, I take it every night, as I don't sleep well without it.
> >
> > I have been told that the reason the meds are not working is because I could be BiPolar. In my research, I definately do not fit the textbook description. It's only been seven months and two different meds. I know it will take time, but I'm just wondering if I am telling my shrink the right things, maybe I am BiPolar with long cycles and just don't see it.
> >
> > Comments from the peanut gallery?
> > prodgirl
>
>
Posted by prodgirl on September 23, 2003, at 20:31:28
In reply to Re: Depression or Bi-Polar: How do I know?, posted by shoebox on September 23, 2003, at 20:25:08
I'm not worried about labeling what is wrong, just treating it. After the suggestion, I've been reading about BPII today, and it sounds a bit like me. I just don't know when I should have the conversation with my dr..I would like to try another AD before reverting to mood stabilizers. Why - I'm not sure.
Thanks for the suggestions.
Posted by DayByDay on September 25, 2003, at 12:49:15
In reply to Re: Depression or Bi-Polar: How do I know?, posted by prodgirl on September 23, 2003, at 20:31:28
Hi Prodgirl!
My guess from what you wrote would be that you are a so called "Bi-polar III" same as me - I tell you what I know about BP and maybe it may be of some help.
There are diffrent forms of bipolarity and varoius numbers of varieties - one researcher has even 6 forms - calling them BP I,II...VI.
Bi-polar I: Mania/Depression and Bi-Polar II
Hypomania/depression are commonly accepted definitions. The rest is numbered diffrent by diffrent scientist.You have the mixed states which can occur in between mania/hypomania and depression or as a indepentent syndrom. These have features of mania
and depression together and can look very diffrent, a very simplyfied explantion i got (at least how I think remember it - im not complertely sure) would be that there are scales of important major characteristics: Mood, Speed of thinking and energy. If all are to high you have mania/hypomania. If all are to low you have
depression. If they go in diffrent directions you have some sort of mixed states but each case is unique just as it is with BPI or BPII. Then there are rapid and ultra-rapid cycling states. Then there is some thing called "BP-and some letters and/or numbers" don´t remember which (some kind of "preliminary generic" name or something. Some researchers are calling it BP III meaning a person
who develops one or more of the above mentioned
types only when taking certain AD´s but otherwhise
for instance only have uni-polar-depression (or some other disorder aswell i think) BPIII often have BP in their family so doctors should be carefull with AD-medication if they know that about a patients family. The solution is most often to persribe it with a mood stabliser or try lamictal with or without a mood stabiliser. One researcher considered depressed people with bi-polarity in the family that does´t react with as yet another milder version of BP (because of the risk i think) Then there is unipolar mania which
is alos considered bi-polar since they sooner or later use to end up having a depression.
As far as the various possible diffrent symptoms of mania/hypomania and depression goes you probably already know them. There are some common
stuff as well as individual variations, naturally.
What diffrent from person to person is also how much a person realises that he´s in a manic states, many don´t consider them self manic if they are, on the contrary they feel healthier than ever, in some cases the family/doctor/friends
can make them aware of that while in other cases
that does´t help and can make a manic person become ignorant or even hostile towards his most loved one´s because he feel they are coming with false accusations -"the symptoms does´t exist or have other reasons -i´m superhealthy, very smart, have total clarity about things and chosen by higher force for a important purpouse so shut the f*** up, you are just trying to sabotage my life". Meanwhile he or she is running around creating all kinds chaos which they eventually while regret deeply. Whoever experienced this in them selves or others (or both)knows exactly what I´m talking about.I really hope that you are not BP and if you are that you have a mild acceptable version of it.
I feel a great sympathy for people with BP (and all other psychologial problems aswell). I´m brought up in a family with a hardcore bipolar parent and I have had depression/OCD since I was 14 years old as with mixed BPIII when on AD´s. The depressions gets nastier and nastier, since i´m treatment refractory so far I feel very uncertain about my future phychoevolution. I hoping for the best just as I hope for U.Love and understanding
DayByDay
Posted by prodgirl on September 25, 2003, at 12:54:55
In reply to Re to Prodgirl you might be an BP III, posted by DayByDay on September 25, 2003, at 12:49:15
Thanks, Daybyday. There is just so much to put into consideration, I just don't think that my shrink knows me well enough. Believe me, I do not want to be BP, I just want to find a way to make me feel better, closer to my "normal".
I wish you the best of luck with your psycho-evolution, as I wish the best for mine.
prodgirl
Posted by Kacy on September 25, 2003, at 17:31:16
In reply to Re: Re to Prodgirl you might be an BP III, posted by prodgirl on September 25, 2003, at 12:54:55
If you want another site to read and want to try their mood questionaire, here's a site completely for bipolar and depression issues:
http://www.DBSAlliance.org/index.html
The qestionaire:
http://www.DBSAlliance.org/questionnaire/screening_intro.asp
"This questionnaire was developed to help you recognize the signs of bipolar disorder. Bipolar disorder is a complicated illness and no single questionnaire or test can be used to accurately diagnose this illness. …This questionnaire is a good first step in discovering if you might have this illness but it is not meant to take the place of an evaluation by a physician or a mental health professional."
This is the end of the thread.
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