New here...Thanks kewldoodler
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| Mon, 07-16-2007 - 11:26am |
Well my name is Sheila and I am 33 years old. I am the mother to three wonderfully trying children. Kaylan 15 (normal teenage, throw in bipolar), Sarah 9 (ADHD throw in some anxiety issues, still trying to work on dx), and Devon 7 (ADHD throw in some bipolar). I have been married almost 13 years.
I have known for a long time something wasn't right. When my ds was born I suffered from "severe post-partum depression" for 2 years. Dr kept giving me different anti-depressants. They all worked backwards. You would have thought in hindsight that the dr would have figured out something was wrong. NOPE!
Last year I started looking at bipolar for my oldest. She was so classic it should have her pic beside the word in the DSM IV. The more I read the more I saw myself. So first we worked on getting dd dx. Then I worked on getting me dx. I have been on meds for one year. Had a rough go at finding something that worked. What I am on now worked great to begin with but now doesn't seem to work as well. I am on 1200mg of Trileptal and 2mg of Risperdal. I hate the Trileptal as if I miss one dose my whole face goes numb. Am trying to lowe dose slowly on my own. I go to a new pdoc on the 23rd. I hope he can help. My old pdoc just prescribed whatever meds were new without finding out what I wanted. The pdoc I am going to start is the one my kids see and I like him a LOT.
I tried Lamictal and had a bad rash from it. Tried Abilify and it made me so sleepy. Are there any others out there that you have had expirence with?
I have a problem with depression and hypomania with some mixed. For those that were talking about school remember you can do whatever you want as long as you put your mind to it. Undiagnosed and unmedicated I went from an associates degree to graduated with Master's in 2 years flat while working 40 hours a week and a family. When people ask me how did I do it I say crazy. If it is someone I know then I tell them undiagnosed bipolar and one hell of a manic state.
Glad to meet you. I look forward to the support here. I didn't know this board existed.


Welcome Sheila !!!!
I am glad you found your way here with the help of Kewldoodler.
Finding the right meds is such a challenge for all of us here. What will work on one person won't agree with another person. Hopefully your new pdoc will help you find a good combo of meds that work for your needs and system.
See for me Lamictal worked great, but like you, some people get that darn rash and can't take it. I too have problems with depression, mania and mixed episodes. Since I have found meds that work better for me and I have learned some coping skills it has been a little better with stability but right now my biggest problem is depression episodes. The mixed episodes have been gone for awhile now with my meds help. I still get hypomanic at time though.
You really did achieve a lot in a short time in college. At least bipolar was good for something, huh...lol
~ Tina ~
Hi,
My whole bp thing came out after my first baby. I thought my first dx was ppd but I asked pnurse the last time I went and it was MDD - recurrent as I relayed depression even before DD was born. I'm really thankful that once the first AD went horribly wrong they didn't just give me another kind. That first AD sent me so far gone. I think I might be
A day without learning something is a day wasted. I have taught community college for two years. I am currently waiting ot hear if I got a job teaching high school. So I understand. My dh says I am a lifetime student. I think I am an education junkie.
Glad to meet you. What does MMD and AD stand for?
Oops, I'm sorry. It's Major Depressive Disorder MDD not MMD. AD is for antidepressant. AP is used for antipsychotic sometimes.
We all loved the math teacher who came from our city's community college. DH and I would run into him around town so he told us which math teachers to avoid. lol. It was really good learning high school math from someone who had taught levels above it.
:)
Hi there!
I can really relate. My ds is almost 17...normal teenager, thrown in BP and ADHD. Then, mom is also BP and it gets rough...and you have THREE!
I am starting back to school next month, at 37 years old...I work full time doing budget management for the State. Its busy and I love it.
I have been on every BP med and a/d there is...even been on all the anti psychotics and anti-anxiety meds at one time or another. Now, I take only Lamictal and Lithium. The less meds the better for me. Learned that the hard way.
Anyway, I'm sorry Lamictal gave you the rash. Its been my lifesaver.
Hugs,
Keli