Another Newcomer

Avatar for tracilbell
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-20-2003
Another Newcomer
8
Tue, 11-09-2004 - 4:28pm
Hi all (and yes, I've already read the newcomer post)

I'm in my late 30's, from western Canada. I have had clinical depression since about the onset of puberty.

My biological father is bipolar. I was adopted as a baby, and had no idea about his condition until about 10 years ago.

I have yet to be diagnosed as BP, but am seeing my GP on Friday to talk about things.

I did a quiz online at one of the university sites and it told me to seek treatment for BP right away, so I made an appt. with my dr.

I live in Alberta and, unless you are pretty much confided to psychiatric facility you don't get to see a pdoc, period. I'm originally from Ontario where I saw a pdoc regularly for my depression. Now, all you get here are psychologists at $125 an hour :(

I've been on every antidepressant known to man/woman kind, I suspect. I'm not on 60 mg of Celexa a day. I take .25 mg of Chlonazepam at bedtime for my panic attacks

I will post after i've seen my gp on Friday.

If any of you have favourite websites regarding BP, that you would like to share, I'd appreciate it.

I also wanted to add that for 20 years I was morbidly obese and I have PCOS. I had weight loss surgery 2 years ago and only lost 60 pounds. I have about 40 more to go. I am a constant binge eater. I wonder sometimes if BP has something do to with this?

Traci


iVillage Member
Registered: 07-24-2003
Tue, 11-09-2004 - 5:02pm
Welcome Traci

Sorry to hear that your access to pdocs is so limited in Alberta. However, I know sometimes a GP can be just as good!

This is the only website I frequent regarding BP, but I know some people have found a great deal of useful information on the NAMI (I think that's right) website. Marci will have the correct info if I have it wrong :)

Also, there is (or use to be) a weight loss section to our little group for supporting each other in our efforts, so feel free to post there also. I know I am really bad about visiting that section, but I think some of the others frequent it. That is awesome that you have made such progress!!!

Good luck at your appt and keep posting!

Tracey

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Wed, 11-10-2004 - 8:57am
Hi Traci! Welcome! Really good to have you here. I'm 34 years old and have been bp for quite some time now. I just finally found an antidepressant that works for me, Cymbalta. All the others made me crazier!!! LOL. I'm really sorry you have such a hard time getting to a pdoc. Hopefully you'll have some luck with your GP.

I gained a lot of weight on some of the AD's, so I can relate to that. I'm starting to try to lose some now. Its such a struggle.

Hope to get to know you better!!!

Hugs,

Keli

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-02-2003
Wed, 11-10-2004 - 7:15pm
Hi Traci and welcome to the board!

That is a shame you don't have pdocs where you live other then in inpatient hospitals. I really hope you are treated appropriately by the doctor you do see. Please let us know how your appointment goes on friday.

Bipolar is not a fun illness at all so getting treated for it is important. Do you have counselors there that you can see and talk to? That would help you too...if they are available and don't cost too much.

Feel free to come here to this board anytime to post about what is going on with you. How you are feeling, questions or just to vent. We are here for you. Hang in there.

Tina~

 
Avatar for tracilbell
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-20-2003
Fri, 11-12-2004 - 11:14am
Tracey, Keli and Tina,

Thanks so much for the warm welcome.

My appt. with my GP is in about 5 hours. I don't even know how to approach her about it. But I'll figure it out in the next couple of hours.

There are counsellors, but they are about $150.00 an hour and I just can't afford that.

I'd prefer to read a book that costs $10.00 :)

And as you know psychologist can't prescribe or regulate meds and that is what I need.

Keli, I think it was you who mentioned the weight loss support group. I'm joining that right away. There is definately a connection with antidepressants and my weight gain.

Before I started on my plethora of antidepressants, I could at least manage the extra 10 pounds. It quickly grew to 100 extra pounds on Prozac.

Thanks ladies, so much. I'll let you know what happens this afternoon

Love and health,

Traci

Avatar for tracilbell
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-20-2003
Fri, 11-12-2004 - 5:47pm
Well, I had my appt. with her and she's not 100% sure.

She did say "it's time you met with a pdoc"

However....the waiting list to see one...

is MONTHS long.

As much as people say how wonderful the Canadian health care system is...ppl need to see the side Canadians see. This is typical

So I'll just carry on in the meantime.

Thanks ladies for your support

Traci

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-24-2003
Fri, 11-12-2004 - 8:23pm
Traci

Hang in there sweety, until you can get in to see a pdoc. In the meantime, use us as much as you need to!!!!

Tracey

Avatar for tracilbell
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-20-2003
Fri, 11-12-2004 - 10:10pm
Thanks Tracey, so much.

I'm just going to hang here and eventually I'll get my appointment. I'm just going to make sure I'm adequately prepared when I see the pdoc.

My doctor thinks that because my manic times aren't 'days long' that I'm likely not bipolar.

I know that without my antidepressants, I'm almost completely suicidal. I certainly get my sex drive back, but I want to jump off a building so it's not worth it. I've stopped taking my meds, trying an 'herbal' route several times.

So I'll just hang with you folks here until my appt. comes.

Thanks again

Hugs

Traci

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Mon, 11-15-2004 - 1:21pm
Hey Traci! I just wanted to let you know that I am DEFINITELY bipolar and my manic times aren't days long either...sometimes...they have been before...but I can "ultra-rapid" cycle--sometimes going from manic to depressed in hours, and even minutes...talk about frustrating. Without an antidepressant, I too get suicidal...and I have had to fight for my antidepressant, because I cycle UP with one usually. My pdoc just decreased mine, cut it in half last week because of this very thing and I'm cycling down a little now. My sex drive is completely gone. But, like you, I'd rather have no sex drive...Bipolar isn't fun...but we manage because we have to.

Please hang in there with us until you can get some help. We're here for you.

HUGS!

Keli