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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 Dinah on May 27, 2013, at 10:10:46
It seems like tempting fate. However, I'm comfortable enough saying "doing much better" story.
Medications play a large role in that. Lamictal on a daily basis doubles as migraine prophylaxis and mood stabilizer.
Keeping my blood sugars stable, as much as possible, also helps with excess daytime sleepiness. But Provigil is another tool that helps with that, and can also help with my "forgetting sleep" response to stress.
I have Klonopin on hand, and I like having it on hand because I have the security of knowing it's there if I need it. But I can't recall the last time I used it.
For periods of agitation, and working equally well with obsessive thinking, I take low dose Risperdal (.5 mg) as needed. I am down to using it a few times a month, although in periods of stress that will likely increase.
I give a lot of credit to therapy. Therapy works well for getting out of my head, with my strong tendency to obsessiveness. It keeps it in check, although it will probably always be an issue. And I'm stable enough now to not let the ups and downs of therapy throw me as much. I'm even doing phobia work now, which I was never able to do before. Therapy also helps me with acceptance. I am able to know myself and acknowledge my ups and downs (and treat them) without overreacting or believing they will last forever.
I also have to give a lot of credit to menopause. If you'd have asked, I'd have said that my moods were at all hormonally related, other than major hormonal shifts like puberty and childbirth. And that would have been true in that my mood swings were not in any way predicted by my cycle. But overall the hormones must have destabilized my mood. A year or two into true menopause, and my mood is definitely less reactive. Go figure.
Posted by vbs on May 27, 2013, at 10:53:07
In reply to Reluctant to say 'success' story, posted by Dinah on May 27, 2013, at 10:10:46
Congratulations! It sounds like you're doing really well right now. That's great news. I wish you continued "success." :-)
Posted by SLS on May 27, 2013, at 11:31:05
In reply to Reluctant to say 'success' story, posted by Dinah on May 27, 2013, at 10:10:46
Hi Dinah.
I am delighted to known that you are doing much better. I apologize for not keeping better track of your progress. I didn't know that you were taking Lamictal. For me, Lamictal has not lost its effectiveness for over a decade. I imagine that your using Risperdal now as a PRN instead of daily is a demonstration of psychobiological healing. I hope your healing continues. Has your responding to Lamictal changed your rate of progress in psychotherapy?
You deserve to feel better. You sure worked hard enough to get there.
- Scott
Posted by Phillipa on May 27, 2013, at 11:38:21
In reply to Reluctant to say 'success' story, posted by Dinah on May 27, 2013, at 10:10:46
Dinah first congrats as for the hormones. Two years my guess is your system has stabilized to the new levels that should not change. You made the passage. Phillipa
Posted by gadchik on May 27, 2013, at 14:08:30
In reply to Reluctant to say 'success' story, posted by Dinah on May 27, 2013, at 10:10:46
Im glad to hear this! And it's great to hear that menopause has helped ur moods. I am headed toward it, and my pdoc said she thought I'd feel better when I got into menopause.
Posted by Tomatheus on May 27, 2013, at 18:13:01
In reply to Reluctant to say 'success' story, posted by Dinah on May 27, 2013, at 10:10:46
Dinah,
I think it's really good that you're doing much better than you had once been doing. Thank you for sharing your story with us and for letting us know what factors you feel have played a role in your improvement. It certainly is my hope that the improvements that you've noticed will continue for you.
T.
Posted by Emme_V2 on May 27, 2013, at 18:28:49
In reply to Reluctant to say 'success' story, posted by Dinah on May 27, 2013, at 10:10:46
Hi Dinah,
Thanks for posting about your experiences and what has worked for you. Sounds pretty successful to me! :)
emme
Posted by Dinah on May 31, 2013, at 7:07:07
In reply to Reluctant to say 'success' story, posted by Dinah on May 27, 2013, at 10:10:46
This is the end of the thread.
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