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 was raised with a mother who treats illness with as natural a remedy as possible (herbs, vitamin supplements etc), she is 67 and only recently and reluctantly started a hypertension med. She talks to me about how lack of proper vitamins/minerals are linked to mental illness. Vit. B's, C's, folic acid, omegas, etc. I'm sure many of you have read something about them and mental illness. And I do feel that there is something to it. She also brings up the side effects that alot of the meds that treat bipolar disorder have.
Then I have the pdoc, of course, wanting me to continue taking my meds until we find the right "cocktail", which we have been working on for just over 2 freaking years now. We had a major setback for about 6months with meds because of my gallbladder. I was getting horribly sick around the time I would try a new med and come to find out, I needed my gallbladder removed.
Then my counselor gives me these books on women's physical and emotional health. And tells me how when a woman suffers from such severe pms as I do, it's one of the bodies ways of telling us there are unresolved issues that need to be worked on and they can follow into menopause if the aren't resolved. I just turned 41!
Now I'm going back and forth telling myself, I just need to go on birth control pills and that will fix me, the bipolar meds are just going to make me sick and kill me, I can take vitamins and be just fine. I have a pdoc appt 2moro and think he's probably going to fire me and am considering canceling it. HELP! WTH???
Then I have the pdoc, of course, wanting me to continue taking my meds until we find the right "cocktail", which we have been working on for just over 2 freaking years now. We had a major setback for about 6months with meds because of my gallbladder. I was getting horribly sick around the time I would try a new med and come to find out, I needed my gallbladder removed.
Then my counselor gives me these books on women's physical and emotional health. And tells me how when a woman suffers from such severe pms as I do, it's one of the bodies ways of telling us there are unresolved issues that need to be worked on and they can follow into menopause if the aren't resolved. I just turned 41!
Now I'm going back and forth telling myself, I just need to go on birth control pills and that will fix me, the bipolar meds are just going to make me sick and kill me, I can take vitamins and be just fine. I have a pdoc appt 2moro and think he's probably going to fire me and am considering canceling it. HELP! WTH???
By the way ,just for info..it takes an average of 10 yrs to find the right cocktail of BP meds to get to stabilization
dancingd - thanks for the information. It's been 6 years for me, and we're still working on it. My latest med regiment seems to be keeping me somewhat stable - if you call out of work and unable to handle the smallest bit of stress stable.
Well, I agree with dd about the bp meds, too....so many people go through this "stage" of bp (and many other chronic illnesses that require life-long medication.) In our case, though, it's even tougher, because our medications do not fully resolve the symptoms we have. (if they did, we would be zombies!!)
Some herbal and vitamin supplements seem to be helpful, and sometimes reduce the dosage needed for our meds, but sooner or later, if you go off them, you'll figure out why it's best to stay on them. It's not fun finding out that way, but many bp's do.
I really don't want to be one of the people that have to find out the hard way. Seems like I have been though.....will have to try hard to change that.
Reading and learning as much as you can about your different problems, as well as treatments and meds, is a Good thing, and I encourage you to do so. And make sure your doctor (gee, I hope he is Knowlegeable and Understanding!!) knows about other issues besides just the bipolar aspect....
But I agree with the others, that going off meds can have long-term consequences that we are not prepared to have happen.
*hugs*
This is all so tiring and it is wearing me down, bigtime. I'll keep the appt. but I'm getting upset and don't even no where to start when I get there.
I am not trying to scare you, I am only telling you from experience what happens when you stop taking your meds. It is not fun at all. I have been to hell and back and am fighting every day now just to stay stable. Please I beg you, do not come off of your meds and please keep your appointment tomorrow. I don't want to see you end up like me!
YES,BRAIN damage occurs when you relapes into a bad episode after stopping meds..just a reminder to all
STAY ON YOUR MEDS
Good luck to all
Hugs dd
Am sorry to hear that you had to go thru all that.
I am just so tired of trying to figure out what decisions are the best.....
(((((hugs)))))
Andrea
Good luck to you.
What I have been doing now is I have a pdoc that I am very clear with in saying I want to be on as few meds as possible and the side affects I dont want. If you are clear and stick to your guns they should listen, and if they dont you need a better doctor. Your health should take precedence over their ideas.
On to the other side, most of what is making me able to manage my illness is managing the rest of myself more. Eating healthy, getting out and seeing sunlight more often, keeping me and my environment clean, things like that have made a world of difference. Also have reduced side affects of the meds I am on.
Peace and love to you,
TS
Not saying natural remedies have no place, though
(dogma is ott though)