Diagnosed with bipolar II and scared

[PuppyDogEyes]

Are they only treating the depression? If so then something is possibly out of whack. Treatment for bipolar 2 usually requires both an antidepressant AND a mood stabilizer (usually the off-label use of an anti-seizure drug like Depakote or Seroquel).

 

I'm going back to the prescribing doctor this Wednesday for another workup, actually. I was taking Topamax to stabilize, and it worked for a while, but the second they raised the dosage, I was literally a zombie. They told me to decrease the dosage back to where I had started, but it never did work correctly after that, and they've finally given up on it.

 

In truth, while my therapy has worked rather well, I'm starting to question the pdoc's actions at this point. I've been on three different drugs since December, none of them have worked very well, and while the Prozac so far seems to be all right, I'm still having freakouts to a degree. I'm not sure of why they're doing what they're doing, and I'm hesitant to ask - if only because I feel rushed and uncomfortable. My pdoc is only in his office 3 days a week - and only in the mornings - his caseload seems to be such that he only has time to see me for maybe 15 minutes before I'm ushered out the door with a cheery, "Come see me in 5 weeks."

 

I'm pretty sure they know what they're doing.... I think I'm sure. Actually.. I don't know. I still don't understand half of what's happening, or why I feel like this, it's confusing and scary. I don't have a lot of support, so I feel utterly alone a lot of the time.

 

I'm sorry. I'm having kind of a down day and I'm probably not expressing myself very well.

 

I go back to the pdoc on Wednesday, and I'll make sure to bring this issue up with him - thanks for pointing it out, Curmudgeon, because you're right - something isn't right with me, I'm taking the Prozac but I'm still not feeling well. I'm not even convinced that they know what they're doing anymore.

 

Meh. As stated, maybe it's just a bad day here. I don't know.

 

-pde.

[pink_butter2003]

Hey, Puppy Dog Eyes, i'm sorry you're not feeling very well:( i will keep you in my prayers. anyways, don't know if you still remember me by my screen name: pink_butter2003. we exchanged views a couple of times last year when i was asking people's advice on my boyfriend, whom i was hoping would quit smoking. well, anyhow, just thought i'd give you a quick update ... he has quit for three days now!! sorry, i know i should be commenting more on your situation, but i tried and tried to track you down and finally came across your name. you gave me so many useful suggestions last year, which helped a lot. you are right- he quit when he finally decided it was his time. no amount of my nagging made him do it. it was his own decision. he is on chantix, which helps him some. but he is still struggling. he didn't even make it to work today- felt so sleepy, low energy. called in and is still home snoozing, feeling grouchy, hehehe. but at least he has made it through almost 72 hours now and i keep cheering him on and hopinng he will hang inn there! well, just thought i'd share this with you coz you seemed so concerned last year and your comments were very helpful. i will read your post when i get home after i go to walmart and comment on your situation. again, sorry you're not feeling well. be careful there PDE and wish roger luck (that's his name). thanks. bye for now!- pink_butter2003

[DyingHeart]

A long time ago, I was diagnosed with bipolar 2. I was on Luvox (ssri) and Depakote.

Depakote turned out to be a life saver. It stablized my moods almost to the point where I hardly ever had mood swings at all.

 

Now 12 years later, I am completely free of bipolar disorder. That was mainly my own doing. I did a lot of meditation and personal healing therapy.

 

I no longer have to take a mood stablizer and I am doing great. I do however have to take SSRIs for my severe panic/anxiety disorder.

 

Now, my story of overcoming bipolar, won't work for everyone. It was my own will which made it happen.

 

When you do talk to your doctor, ask him/her about Depakote, that is, if you haven't already. It's just another option. And I agree, that taking an SSRI for Bipolar will only treat the depressive phase (I believe) and not the manic.

 

I wish you all the luck in getting better. It will be a long hard road, trying different meds, until you find the right cocktail. In the long run it's worth it, and you'll feel so much better.

 

Keep strong, and know that you aren't alone with this disorder.

 

 

Hugs,

DH

[PuppyDogEyes]

Are they only treating the depression? If so then something is possibly out of whack.

 

Oh, Curmudgeon, you were absolutely right. Were you ever!!!

 

I was put into a mental ward this past Christmas because I literally started freaking out. I was having panic attacks non-stop, I couldn't breathe, I ended up first in a regular ER and then was asked to sign into a psychiatric hospital for a 72 hour hold. It was probably one of the most frightening experiences of my life.

 

But it was also the best thing I could have ever done for myself.

 

They gave me all kinds of IQ tests, inkblot tests, square-peg-in-round-hole tests - I was starting to feel like a mental lab rat for a while, heh. But it turns out that the original pdoc (whom I shortly dropped thereafter) had completely misdiagnosed me. I don't have bipolar at all, but a particularly severe form of MDD (major depressive disorder), coupled with severe social anxiety disorder! Talk about a misstep!!!

 

They increased my Paxil from 20 to 30 milligrams, and added a second one (Seroquel) for the anxiety/panic attacks, and I've felt nearly 100% better ever since. I still have down days on occasion - but they come about every 2 weeks or so, as opposed to every 2 hours. I've also learned a lot of coping skills and techniques from the psychiatric hospital - luckily I was sent to one of the best in the country (Sheppard Pratt), so I definitely tend to trust their judgement as to my condition and how to handle it. I'm attending intensive therapy sessions now, and I'm learning new ways of dealing with life. It's amazing, how much I've grown in just a short time - and how I'm continuing to grow.

 

Being in the psychiatric ward, I've also dealt with a few of my demons - telling my family about how I really feel... the abuse that I've suffered in the past, the anger that I still hold against some people. A lot of this, they apparently didn't know. It's amazing how being in a mental ward will strip you down to your barest elements, where you no longer feel afraid to be yourself and to tell the truth.

 

It was the worst, and yet the best, experience of my life.

 

Anyway, I thought I'd give a small update. Now, back to my life, already in progress on most of these stations.

 

More to come.

[carhill]

I used Seroquel with my mom for psychosis for a number of years. Major side effect for her was increased appetite. Food would just fly out of the refer and she'd swear someone was stealing it or that she was feeding "her friends" So, watch out for the appetite/weight gain thing. Also, keep an eye on blood sugar.

 

Glad the med cocktail is working well. Really augments the talk therapy. It must be such a gift to get some peace. I wish you well

[whichwayisup]

Wow, what an experience you've gone through! I'm glad you're doing better.

 

I'm attending intensive therapy sessions now, and I'm learning new ways of dealing with life. It's amazing, how much I've grown in just a short time - and how I'm continuing to grow.

 

That's great! And, you'll continue to grow. My view on therapy is, what you put into it is what you get out of it.