a med change *again*
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a med change *again*
| Wed, 07-26-2006 - 12:18pm |
Wellll saw the pdoc. Told him lithium made me so depressed I was writing a suicide letter in my head. And all that was going through my head was "I want to die" over and over. Then I said what about tegretol? It doesn't cause weight gain!? To which he replied, "we don't use tegretol anymore because it causes liver toxicity. besides, it's not as strong as lithium and depakote. I know I told you you're bipolar II but I've decided you're bipolar I because of the increased mania and the fact that you did not respond to lamictal." Sooo now I'm on depakote. GREAT. Ohhh the weight gain. I cried and cried and he looked sympathetic but... still said depakote was looking like the best option right now, and not everyone gains weight on it. I always gain weight on drugs. I'm the queen of weight! So anyway, I got the depakote. They're freakin horse pills. And he said if they don't work, he's going to have another doctor see me for a second opinion, just to see if he's missing something. Fanfreakingtastic.

well...there's a couple possitives here....
let's hope it doesn't cause you to gain weight...but I'm right there with you !!!
the doc actually said he would consider letting you see another doc to get a 2nd opinion...in my mind, most docs won't think it, let alone admit it and say it out loud !!!
maybe next time ask him if there's something you can take to counter-act the weight gain....
God could not be everywhere, so
Take care, Kelli
Meg - Donna touched on something that I completely overlooked. Ask your pdoc about maybe adding topamax onboard. I'm on zyprexa which put weight on me like nobody's business, but when pdoc saw the distress it was causing me she added the topamax to combat the weight gain. I've actually lost 15 of the 20 pounds I gained. And it's good that your pdoc admitted openly and honestly that he would consider a second opinion. Like others have said, not many will do that. I know my first one didn't and he had my meds so messed up nobody knew what was working and what wasn't. So when I finally found this pdoc she had a big mess to sort out, and 5 months later, we're still sorting. And if your pdoc does refer you, ask him to send your file so you don't have to tell the whole story all over again. I know how frustrating that can be.
As for the depakote and the weight gain, I have been on it for 2 years now I think and I never had a weight gain problem with that. So maybe you won't either. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you.
Traci
Kelli- my pdoc said there's no doubt in his mind I'm BP he's just having trouble with the medication, which is good he's being honest about it. I hope you get a diagnosis soon though!
Traci- Topomax sounds like a good idea. I don't even know if there will be weight gain yet, I'm just worrying. Maybe I'll be like you and not gain any!!
Meg,
I just wanted to weight in with my $0.02 on Depakote. I did gain weight (I also changed my eating habits badly because of moving in with dh). It also very likely saved my marriage and my life. I felt so much better. If you feel better then it will be easier to eat healthy meals and exercise to counteract any weight gain. You're right, the pills are huge! I'm actually considering going *back* on it. The Lamictal doesn't seem to be working as well and I'm not just dropping of the weight (unless I change my eating habits).
Hugs,
Morgaine
Morgaine,
How much did you gain? Yea, Lamictal didn't do a thing for me. I'm beginning to wonder if I even need medication. I feel like I was better off before all this started. I guess depakote just makes some people hungry and others it doesn't? I hate this all so much.
I gained about 40 lbs but I *did* level off. I was a little anorexic to begin with. Its not the end of the world for me. I'm still a size 10/12 or so. Ideally I think I should be a size 8 for my height. At least my breasts are much larger! heehee. I hate the meds also but I have to think about people who have other health disorders such as diabetes, ms, high blood pressure, etc. They all have to take medication every day. For some of them the best they can hope for is to control the symptoms to some degree. BP sucks but we have it. Usually it means taking medication. I love the yoda quote from star wars - do or do not - there is no "try".
Hugs,
Morgaine