Bipolar Disorder Support Group
Bipolar disorder is not just a single disorder, but a category of mood disorders marked by periods of abnormally high energy and euphoria, often accompanied by bouts of clinical depression. This is the place to talk about your experience with bipolar disorder, learn from others' experiences, and find support.
I just went to a new doctor today and he gave me a genetic test. I'm curious how likely this is to help my treatment.
I have treatment resistant Bipolar I disorder. The only medication that seems to help me is Seroquel, it makes my psychotic symptoms less, and shortens the duration of manic episodes. Unfortunately it seems to make my depressive episodes longer, a lot longer, and just as severe. It also has no effect on the severity of my depression, anxiety, and other symptoms (which are legion).
Over the years, I have been given a lot of different meds that do nothing. Doctors all seem to want to put me on Lamictal, which has no effect on me, good or bad. Lithium seemed to help some 30 years ago, but hasn't during the last 15 years. Anti-anxiety drugs have little or no effect on me, including the ones that people take to get high (eg Klonopin, Ativan). They neither make me high, nor help my anxiety, even when taken in larger than prescribed dosages.
I have treatment resistant Bipolar I disorder. The only medication that seems to help me is Seroquel, it makes my psychotic symptoms less, and shortens the duration of manic episodes. Unfortunately it seems to make my depressive episodes longer, a lot longer, and just as severe. It also has no effect on the severity of my depression, anxiety, and other symptoms (which are legion).
Over the years, I have been given a lot of different meds that do nothing. Doctors all seem to want to put me on Lamictal, which has no effect on me, good or bad. Lithium seemed to help some 30 years ago, but hasn't during the last 15 years. Anti-anxiety drugs have little or no effect on me, including the ones that people take to get high (eg Klonopin, Ativan). They neither make me high, nor help my anxiety, even when taken in larger than prescribed dosages.
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I find myself going places in the car and not wanting to get out of the car. I come back home and I don't want to get out of the car. I think it's the only time I spend reflecting. Chronic tiredness from Long Covid plus the immunosupressing meds for my Crohn's is slowing me down but everything just seems a massive effort. I am dealing with the paperwork following my father's death but it's not...
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Wow, it's the middle of the week already!Today is our 11 year anniversary, so we're going out to a nice dinner. I'm losing a lot of sleep these days, hence a wonky schedule and uncomfortable feelings. But I know it will pass, eventually.I hope all of you have a peaceful day, and may good things come your way!
There seemed to be some test that doctors were using to "test" if people are bipolar - those tests are bunk.
However as they know you are already bipolar there is a second type of test that doesn't attempt to look at the "bipolar" genes - it looks (loosely) more at genes that have to do with drug receptor sites - these can then be used to work out what drug or family of drugs might be used.
hugs
there is the publically available "test for bipolar" which is a waste of money
there is then a test which helps figure what meds will work for an individual which could be useful. As the OP said he is already diagnosed with Bipolar 1 and it is med resistant it's likely to be the med testing.
But this was posted in April with no follow up so I guess we will never know.