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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 AMD on April 30, 2004, at 13:58:23
Folks,
I'm slowly going mad ...
I've been experiencing cyclothymia for the past few months, with alternating episodes of hypomania and depression, typically with week-long cycles.
My depressions, in particular, have been brought on often by an unhealthy obsession with some part of my body: my pupils being unequal, my eyes hurting, bumping of my head leading me to thinking I have brain damage. I will obsess to the point of depression, become severely depressed and sleepy for a few days, and slowly come out of it into a "feel good" hypomanic state.
On Tuesday night I drank a canned protein shake, and realized it tasted rather funky -- like it'd gone "bad" (although it's water, not milk, based). My stomach turned a bit, and of course, some obsessive thoughts entered my head.
The next day I started to feel a numbness in the left side of my face, strong enough that I went to a doctor who suggested I might have Bell's palsy. No one else I know noticed a thing. Today I am still feeling a numb, tingling feeling. I'm really wondering: is this all mental? Does this sound like a symptom of mania? To top it off I feel sick (flu-ish), and I am having a really hard time concentrating, both from feeling sick and from obsessive thoughts.
I'm taking 50 mg Lamictal, 40 mg Celexa daily, and I've just upped the Lamictal from 25 mg to 50 mg yesterday. I also took a 2.5 mg Zyprexa Wednesday night, and at the urging of my pdoc I will probably take one nightly until my follow-up next Friday.
Has anyone else experienced these symptoms? Is there a chance this is related to a more serious, physical disorder? I guess I'm just afraid I'm losing my ability to think clearly with each passing week -- and I wonder, any stories out there of Zyprexa and/or Lamictal being calming in this effect, and helping one think more clearly? Or of people with similar, physical-like symptoms who are now OK?
My face still feels 'fuzzy' and it's getting irritating. It's like I am coming off a novocaine shot to the left side of my face.
Posted by crazychickuk on April 30, 2004, at 14:42:47
In reply to Is this psychological?, posted by AMD on April 30, 2004, at 13:58:23
Aww i so feel for you, i am exactly like this, its anxiety and the symptoms of the numb feeling is anxiety, for your doc to say blls palsy come on, he should know better.
The past few weeks have been bad for me to, if you look up at my messages, i had chest pain. thumping heart i freaked that i had chest and heart probs, i started obsessing, obsessing badly, then i felt depressed for the week, as if i had the flu badly, i was tired, ahcing all over, i felt as if i had the flu badly and or been kicked by a horse, then suddenly woohoo i was manic again which i call anxious, then the obsession started again now i am pretty depressed again, i am only taking 30mg remern a night and the odd vluim to calm my anxious obsessive thoughts down..
I do hope i have helped somewhat, i am sure everyone with anxniety gets like this.. there is hope and there is a light at the other end of the tunnell...
Posted by AMD on April 30, 2004, at 14:55:04
In reply to Re: Is this psychological?, posted by crazychickuk on April 30, 2004, at 14:42:47
It's always good (though it sounds sadistic) to hear others are in the same boat. It helps you realize you're not alone in your struggles.
The worst thing about depression is it's so hard to escape it -- because it affects your mind it pervades your every thought.
I would be interested in hearing about your on-going experiences.
Posted by Impermanence on May 1, 2004, at 1:44:04
In reply to Is this psychological?, posted by AMD on April 30, 2004, at 13:58:23
You seem very neurotic. Maybe a different antidepressant might help. I was taking 5mg of Zyprexa for a few weeks and it had horrible side effects, it's far from a wonder drug. I'm also taking Lexapro. Escitalopram (Lexapro)is the active enantiomer of citalopram (Celexa). It might be the higher doseage of Lamictal, I don't know enough about that drug but I do know that Zyprexa is not for everybody and can make you feel terrible.
Posted by man_oh_man1977 on May 1, 2004, at 21:21:53
In reply to Re: Is this psychological?, posted by Impermanence on May 1, 2004, at 1:44:04
Just my two cents, and a little personal experience: When I initially saw my pdoc (manic delusionalal (sp?) state), he immediately reduced my celexa from 20 mgs, to 10 (and wow!, 40 mgs sounds like a lot!). Celexa can *definitely* cause hypomania, and when you go up (manic), invebitably you go down. :( I found a high dosage of Zyprexa to be both good and bad - it leveled out my mood, yet made me feel like a zombie. Still, 2.5 mgs is a pretty low dose. I like that you are on lamictal... the more the better, unless it is causing you similar symptoms as the ones that are posted below (or above). Also, I don't think you are neurotic... just hurtin' pretty bad. Again, tho, i am no dr. - just a fellow sufferer who has been on both sides of the stick. Hang in there,
Man-oh-man
Posted by AMD on May 2, 2004, at 14:01:31
In reply to Re: Is this psychological?, posted by Impermanence on May 1, 2004, at 1:44:04
Neurotic indeed! ;)
This has been a horrible week, and the only two things I did were up my Lamictal to 50 mg, and take a Zyprexa 2.5 m.g. on Wednesday night. Thursday I slept most of the day, depressed but more anxious. Friday I felt horrid: my head felt fuzzy -- like tingly, and I had this uncontrollable urge to rub between my eyebrows. I couldn't focus. My mouth was D-R-Y. Could this have all been from the Zyprexa Wednesday night? Anyhow, yesterday I felt horrible, slept all day, and today I am still feeling a bit buzzed -- depressed, but with that buzzy, tingly feeling on the forehead. I'm freaking out...
Posted by AMD on May 2, 2004, at 14:03:27
In reply to Re: Is this psychological?, posted by man_oh_man1977 on May 1, 2004, at 21:21:53
Thanks.
I want to know if the feeligns I've been having -- these tic-like symptoms, and tingling in the forehead, etc. -- are related to the medicine or to the mania.
One thing I don't have is a flight-of-ideas. I'm distracted, but only because I'm obsessing -- mostly because these feelings are so annoying!
This is the end of the thread.
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