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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 ricker on May 16, 2009, at 12:04:00
Hi all,
Just wondering if anyone knows, or, has heard of some sort of tests that can be run during a depressive episode, and then again when stable?
I guess those that cycle at a more rapid pace.... depressed for 6 hrs, 12 hrs or 2 days and then feel stable...not manic for a brief duration?
There must be some physical changes in our body that are detectable, whether in the brain, blood, skin tissue etc???
Cat/Pet scans may show an increase or decrease in chemical activity in certain areas of the brain, maybe that's a reaction to something going amiss with an undetected disease/abnormality elsewhere?
I realize there are theories such as Lymes, CFS, Mercury etc... that's really not what I'm asking.
A test that analyses 2 markers during the depressive / stable phase?? Maybe someone has read of some ongoing research?
Sorry for rambling, just curious!
Thanks, Rick
Posted by Phillipa on May 16, 2009, at 17:33:10
In reply to Clinical testing for mood swings?, posted by ricker on May 16, 2009, at 12:04:00
Ricker just got my bioidentical hormones picked the owner of the pharmacies brain you can get urine testing of neurotransmitters as I asked what would help get off benzos. Oh he also said he would never take an SSRI as they just deplete the nueurotransmitters they stop working hence poop out. I will later start thread. Love Phillipa
Posted by ricker on May 16, 2009, at 18:16:54
In reply to Re: Clinical testing for mood swings? » ricker, posted by Phillipa on May 16, 2009, at 17:33:10
Very interesting, thanks Jan. I'll keep my eyes open for the ssri thread.... Rick
Posted by desolationrower on May 16, 2009, at 22:13:53
In reply to Clinical testing for mood swings?, posted by ricker on May 16, 2009, at 12:04:00
young mania scale? beck depression inventory?
-d/r
Posted by bleauberry on May 17, 2009, at 19:11:40
In reply to Clinical testing for mood swings?, posted by ricker on May 16, 2009, at 12:04:00
I only know of one test that partially does what you are looking for.
When my cortisol was low from 7am to 5pm everyday, none of my meds worked. None. But, all of them worked like magic from 6pm to bedtime, and I hated to go to bed because I knew when I woke up it would start all over. Depressed all day, fairly decent in the evening. What the heck? These mood swings were not altered by mood stabilizers or antidepressants, and actually worsened by antipsychotics.
Sometimes the mood swings came at different times and were lighter or heavier. But generally there was kind of a pattern to it. It wasn't completely random.
When I saw my 24 hour cortisol curve, it all of a sudden made clear sense. I could see my moods on a graph.
Adrenal Stress Index test by Diagnos-Techs. You will measure saliva cortisol 4 times in a day. It will also measure your DHEA, progesterone, gluten intolerance, DHEA-to-cortisol balance, and some immune system markers. But the primary purpose is to see what your cortisol is doing throughout the day and see how it coorelates with mood swings. Then you will know what meds to take to either squash it down or raise it up, whichever is needed.
Hormones lead to mood swings, no doubt about it. I found out that my psych meds worked perfectly fine when my cortisol was in the normal range, a little bit manic if slightly above normal, and did not work at all when it was low.
Other than that I don't know of any mood swing tests. People don't know much about the cortisol stuff, but I can say from personal experience, and others from other specialty forums, that it is actually a huge issue.
Food intolerances can cause mood swings up or down. You could try elimination diets or special testing to see if what you are eating has anything to do with mood swings. Keep a diary of everything you put in your mouth, what time, and look for patterns.
Posted by ricker on May 17, 2009, at 20:21:07
In reply to Re: Clinical testing for mood swings?, posted by bleauberry on May 17, 2009, at 19:11:40
Thanks BB, lots of good info there! My GP ran some tests 3 weeks ago and said everything was fine although testosterone was in bottom of normal? Maybe the lamictal causing it? You described me to a Tee with the daily mood swings early morning and throughout the day with an uplift in the evening! I had my cortisol checked but it was a one time test so I'm not sure it told the whole story.
Then my GP looked in my eyes with his light, then scratched the side of my abdomen with his pen and said, " you have adrenal fatigue"???
All these side-bar symptoms-abnormalities have me quite confused? It sounds like a healthy, personalized diet plays a vital role. Again, thanks for the info.
Thanks D/R for the links as well, there was some good reading there. :-)
Regards, Rick
Posted by bleauberry on May 19, 2009, at 20:15:27
In reply to Re: Clinical testing for mood swings? » bleauberry, posted by ricker on May 17, 2009, at 20:21:07
Yeah, I got the 4 salive samples in a day test which shows the whole story. A single sample doesn't say much except where your cortisol was at that very moment.
I had that eye test too. Interesting. In adrenal fatigue, the pupil quickly responds to the light, but then weakens and begins to pulsate or go back to where it was, even though it shouldn't do either of those with the continuing bright light. There isn't enough hormone/adrenaline to keep the pupil doing what it is supposed to do.
Another test is the blood pressure test. Lie flat, rest, and have blood pressure checked. Immediately upon standing, have it checked again. There is a certain amount of fluctuation in blood pressure in a normal healthy person, but an abnormal fluctuation in adrenal fatigue. Just not enough hormone/adrenaline to keep up with the sudden move.
All I know is how dramatically my cortisol determine whether meds would work or not and at what times of the day they would work or not.
Diet is real important but honestly takes 6 months to a year to make a solid difference. And when switches to the healthy adrenal-specific diet, it is not unusual to actually feel worse for a few weeks during the adjustment phase. But the goodness on the other side is worth it. Basically, heavy on veggies and fruits, light on carbs, generous proteins, very limited sugars and limited caffeine. Lots of water, and believe it or not, lots of salt.
I tried all the alternative treatments for adrenal fatigue. They work for some people. Adrenal extracts, licorice, isocort, stuff like that. For me, the only thing that agreed with me was Hydrocortisone itself. And all I needed was a stupid little tiny 2.5mg, starting with just crumbs and working up to that over 2 weeks. I know someone else who took 2.5mg for a year and was cured. People often talk about 20mg doses and such, man, I don't think we need that much. It is amazing how far a little crumb of the real stuff can go.
This is the end of the thread.
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