New here. Dx w/BP in 2004

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-29-2005
New here. Dx w/BP in 2004
5
Fri, 06-30-2006 - 11:42pm

I'm April, 27, living in MT. I was dx with bipolar when my son was 2. I had a hard time getting used tot he meds but feel like i'm at a good place 2 years later. I stlil suffer from some depression and I miss my highs. They weren't all that high. I guess I have a mild form. I'm never too high or too low, but mostly low. I loved to clean when i was on a high. Now that i'm on all my meds I don't want to clean at all. I used to LOVE it. oh well. My new APRN is taking down off some meds so I can start to ttc our 2nd child. Anyway...I just wanted to introduce myself.
What meds have worked for you? (I know that they work diff for diff ppl)
What meds did you hate?
Where were you Dx?
Why did you get Dx?
Do you feel like you have always been PB?

April

Avatar for peg_t
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-24-2003
Sat, 07-01-2006 - 8:18am

Hi April!

I'm relatively new to this board, too (I've been here a little more than a month I think). I have found it to be a great support and the women here are great.

Here are my answers to your questions:
I am only on an antidepressant right now. Paxil CR did NOT work for me- I had a pretty negative reaction to it. I've taken Prozac in the past and that was ok. I'm now on bupropion (Wellbutrin) and it is working pretty well.

I hated Paxil CR- it made me feel very disconnected with reality. That is the best way I can explain it.

I was dx'd by my tdoc (therapist) after over a year of working with her. I have not seen a pdoc (psychiatrist) yet so I'll be interested to see if he agrees with tdoc when I go this month. It has taken my tdoc about 17 months to convince me to see a pdoc...I'm pretty stubborn!! I've only been "officially dx'd" for about a month although I'm not even sure if tdoc bills under bp.

Hmm, why did I get dx'd? It was a "fall out" of being in therapy. I'm in therapy for sexual abuse issues from the past and this just "came out" during the time I've been with her.

Yes, I definitely feel that I have always been BP. I just never sought out any treatment or meds for it. I tend to be more hypomanic than anything. I get depressed, but they are not major depression (I have had that happen once in my life though). I am usually able to function in both my highs and lows. I can't say that is a good thing, because it's just a coping skill- I'm very good at stuffing my emotions and putting on an act.

I wish you well with your ttc!

Peg

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-12-2005
Tue, 07-04-2006 - 10:03am

Welcome to our board! This is a great place to be. The people here are wonderful, warm ,understanding, truthful, funny and just plane great. I was DX 7 yrs ago. That's about when I found this site to get info from ppl who have BP. I was originally being treat by a pdoc for sever depression and over the course of a a yrs worth of treatment they cam to see that I was also BP. I have some highs but mostly lows and sever ones. I have been on just about everything. I hated lithium for the side effects. I gained about 45 lbs and it gave me the worst case of adult acne. The type that you would see in a dermatologists office. I hated to leave my house cause of it. Effexor and seroquel is what I am on now. Effexor for the depression and seroquel is a mood stablizer. I take them at night and the seroqule has a side effect of basically putting you to sleep, so that helps me get a few hrs of sleep at night. My husband is great he has been to therapy with me and stands by me 100%. A good support system is the best thing. When I found out I was BP I got just about everybook I could find and read all about it so that way I could ask informed question with my pdoc. And it helped me recognize the changes. Then When I told my family I gave them the books to read so they could have a better understanding as well. And the proved to a wise move on my side. But most of all Its this board that gets me thru just about every day. If I didn't have them a the back bone to my support system I don't know what I would do.


I wish you luck with all that will come. And please stick around you will find this to be the best place to be.


Huggs to you,


jo

Johanna


(and her fur-babies)


(Peanut & Buster)


IT'S NOT HAVING WHAT YOU WANT, IT'S WANTING WHAT YOU HAVE.


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iVillage Member
Registered: 07-14-2005
Tue, 07-04-2006 - 12:45pm
Hey April! Welcome. I'm pretty new, I was just diagnosed... hmm 3 or 4 weeks ago? I hated zoloft, lexapro, seroquel and risperdal. I'm not so good with drugs. Right now I'm working on finding drugs that work. I'm titrating up on lamictal, slowly but surely it seems to be working a little, but I'm losing a ton of hair. I'm also on abilify which I cut into fourths and then it's ok. I was diagnosed by a pdoc after about 3 weeks after being set off into severe rapid cycling and agitation by lexapro. Now that I think back on my life I can definitely see the signs there. Anyway, I'm glad you're on the board! Look forward to having you around.
Meg
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-02-2006
Tue, 07-04-2006 - 3:56pm

Hi April and Welcome:) I'm glad you have found our site. I've been on so many meds I honestly think I can remember them all. The most recent looked promising until I developed a major side effect. So now pdoc and I will see what, if anything is left. She's pretty good I have faith in her:)


Anway, just wanted give you a shout out and with you a Happy Fourth of July:)


Hugs,
Traci

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-29-2005
Thu, 07-06-2006 - 2:17am

Thanks for welcoming me!

April