Question:
Hi Lynda, >1. Effective >2. Ineffective (breakthrough manias, hypomanias, depressions) >3. Inconvenient (adverse side effects) which resulted in termination of >a specific medication
All of the above in varying degrees unfortunately. >Have any of you changed pdocs because of the above occurrances?
Add #2 and #3 to the fact that my first pdoc was an asshole who only cared about his insurance payment and refused to listen to anyone, including my wife…….yep, I did, after a few visits. Pdoc since then has been fine. I use him mostly for meds, and my therp handles my day to day dementedness<g>. >Finally, wht is the length of time you have been officially diagnosed as >having BP illness?
Just over a year, "Officially", though it was suspected for over a years time before that as well. And I’ve ALWAYS known I was cuckoo!!<G> P/H/L BPBoy "He’s slightly schizophrenic/Me and me and me agree/And you are gonna pay/For what you did to me" -D.Mustaine
Response:
I was diagnosed with BP in Feb 93 although another pdoc gave me tri-cyclics in 88 for depression. Took those for about a year or so. After 93, lithium and SSRIs mostly. The treatment has been somewhat effective for the the last two or so years; I’m not dead yet, and have actually held a job for two years straight, though starting a new one soon. Chloimiprimine (is that it?) gave me tremors and lithium gut trouble and the SSRIs not much of anything. The only pdoc change was from the first one ten years ago to the one after a hospital visit in 93. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> I am asking this question, and appreciate your answers, because it > appears several members have had less than ideal interactions with their > search for the "right" medication combo and the appropriate pdoc/therp > with whom a trusting relationship could be established. > Since your diagnosis, has your treatment and mangement of BP illness > been: > 1. Effective > 2. Ineffective (breakthrough manias, hypomanias, depressions) > 3. Inconvenient (adverse side effects) which resulted in termination of > a specific medication > Have any of you changed pdocs because of the above occurrances? > Finally, wht is the length of time you have been officially diagnosed as > having BP illness? > For me I have been fortunate. My pdoc is trustworthy, caring, and > accessible. > I have had to change meds frequently since i have been plgued with > severed depressions. I also have URC which proves to be a challenge to > treat <sigh>. > I have been officially DX or nearly 2 years but have had > BP illness since my teens (my pdoc agrees with my assessment per the > historical information I have given him). > Peace,
Response:
>1. Effective
Variable, but at worst negligent. >2. Ineffective (breakthrough manias, hypomanias, depressions)
breathrough mania, hypomanias, mostly depressions. >3. Inconvenient (adverse side effects) which resulted in termination of a
specific medication. >Stopped for side effects: Paxil, Serzone, Neurontin, Depakote,
Tegretol, Haldol, Mellaril, Thorazine, Trilafon. Wellbutrin, Buspirone, Desipermine, caffeine, alcohol (but cheat a little) That is it? I loves klonopin the wonder drug. >Have any of you changed pdocs because of the above occurrances?
I have had more Pdocs than a dog has fleas, most government employees, where there is not a lot of choices >Finally, wht is the length of time you have been officially diagnosed as
having BP illness? Officially since late 1976, however the symptoms and treatment began in late 1968. Because of the delay in correct diagnosis, 8 years was spent on that "ship of fools" Vernon (kates secret lover) – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->Peace,
Response:
>I am asking this question, and appreciate your answers, because it >appears several members have had less than ideal interactions with their >search for the "right" medication combo and the appropriate pdoc/therp >with whom a trusting relationship could be established. >Since your diagnosis, has your treatment and mangement of BP illness >been: >1. Effective >2. Ineffective (breakthrough manias, hypomanias, depressions) >3. Inconvenient (adverse side effects) which resulted in termination of >a specific medication
Well, I can answer 1, 2, and 3! Right now, the treatment is apparently effective, although just in the last week or so I have been having some very mild twinges of hypomania, but certainly nothing approaching a full-blown episode. For six months following my diagnosis, I was on a medication combo that harnessed my mania but did nothing at all for depression. One of the medications (Depakote) had very adverse side effects, and I stopped taking it. >Have any of you changed pdocs because of the above occurrances?
Nope. I trust my pdoc; he was willing to keep trying different combos until we finally hit on the right one. Plus, I can get into see him quickly in an emergency, he returns phone calls, and most importantly, he listens to me. I also see an excellent clinical psychologist for therapy. She pegged me as bipolar before she knew of my diagnosis. Without the support of both of these people, I don’t believe I would have survived my last suicidal depression. >Finally, wht is the length of time you have been officially diagnosed as >having BP illness?
I could have written the paragraph below. >I have been officially DX or nearly 2 years but have had >BP illness since my teens (my pdoc agrees with my assessment per the >historical information I have given him).
Linda
Response:
> I am asking this question, and appreciate your answers, because it > appears several members have had less than ideal interactions with their > search for the "right" medication combo and the appropriate pdoc/therp > with whom a trusting relationship could be established. > Since your diagnosis, has your treatment and mangement of BP illness > been: > 1. Effective > 2. Ineffective (breakthrough manias, hypomanias, depressions) > 3. Inconvenient (adverse side effects) which resulted in termination of > a specific medication
My treatment (IMHO) has been fairly effective. While there have been a few hypos and a few depressions, I have not gone REALLY high or stayed low for more than a few days straight. My pdocs treatment OTOH was both #2 and #3, which is why I quit it. > Have any of you changed pdocs because of the above occurrances?
Just quit using the one I had – Unfortunately, he’s my only choice in this area 
My therp was good, but can’t prescribe. > Finally, wht is the length of time you have been officially diagnosed as > having BP illness?
A little less than a year – avoided pdocs like the plague and therefore avoided the diagnosis <g>. > For me I have been fortunate. My pdoc is trustworthy, caring, and > accessible. > I have had to change meds frequently since i have been plgued with > severed depressions. I also have URC which proves to be a challenge to > treat <sigh>. > I have been officially DX or nearly 2 years but have had > BP illness since my teens (my pdoc agrees with my assessment per the > historical information I have given him). > Peace,
Tigger
Response:
I’m hoping you feel better today then your last post about the bipolar site we all had such – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > Oh Lynda… I could write a book…. I’ll really try to make it short. > Since your diagnosis, has your treatment and mangement of BP illness > been: > 1. Effective – As far as a bandaid effect, yes my treatment has been effective. When > I first started this roller coaster ride, the goal was to bring me > down, reel > me in. That’s happened. Drug Merry-Go Round, Therapy, all the "by the > book" > Things. My life still is not my own. > 2. Ineffective (breakthrough manias, hypomanias, depressions) – I’ve had them all. > Breakthrough Linda. Uh huh. > 3. Inconvenient (adverse side effects) which resulted in termination of a specific > medication – Oh yeah. Even had one wonderful pdoc that damn near killed me with an > overdose of Li. One of them had me committed because I simply > "cried." Note > To myself: NEVER cry in front of a pdoc again. > Have any of you changed pdocs because of the above occurrances? > Absolutely. Five within as many years. One died, one took his place > temporarily, one took her place, one gave up, committed me, and made me > leave > and thank God for the new one. > Finally, wht is the length of time you have been officially diagnosed as > having BP illness? > Five years > I hop this is what you were looking for. I tried to keep it short. > Hugs, > Linda > (Briteyes)
Response:
> Since your diagnosis, has your treatment and mangement of BP illness > been: > 1. Effective
I have been seeing my current Pdoc, Therapist, and NP for too short of a time to pass judgment. Looks like treatment will be effective, sooner or later. > 2. Ineffective (breakthrough manias, hypomanias, depressions)
Currently ineffective by my own choice. Was on meds when I started with current treatment group and realized I had to take a chance and go off meds for them to properly diagnose me. Turns out I was right. > 3. Inconvenient (adverse side effects) which resulted in termination of > a specific medication.
So far I have terminated 3 meds due to reallllly bad side effects (reallllly bad is worse than adverse <G>). > Have any of you changed pdocs because of the above occurrances?
My first therapist was, how shall I say, a quack? > Finally, wht is the length of time you have been officially diagnosed as > having BP illness?
Over 3 years. The first 2-1/2 years were a waste of time and have resulted in a lot of problems with my applications for SSD and SSI. My current therapist and I have concluded that my first signs of BP were in childhood. Mike
Response:
lol… Thank you Lisa. I did get a bit weirded out over it. I was disgusted too. I’m much better now. lol Linda (Briteyes) – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > I’m hoping you feel better today then your last post about the bipolar site we all had such > Oh Lynda… I could write a book…. I’ll really try to make it short. > > Since your diagnosis, has your treatment and mangement of BP illness > > been: > > 1. Effective – As far as a bandaid effect, yes my treatment has been effective. When > I first started this roller coaster ride, the goal was to bring me > down, reel > me in. That’s happened. Drug Merry-Go Round, Therapy, all the "by the > book" > Things. My life still is not my own. > > 2. Ineffective (breakthrough manias, hypomanias, depressions) – I’ve had them all. > Breakthrough Linda. Uh huh. > > 3. Inconvenient (adverse side effects) which resulted in termination of a specific > > medication – Oh yeah. Even had one wonderful pdoc that damn near killed me with an > overdose of Li. One of them had me committed because I simply > "cried." Note > To myself: NEVER cry in front of a pdoc again. > > Have any of you changed pdocs because of the above occurrances? > Absolutely. Five within as many years. One died, one took his place > temporarily, one took her place, one gave up, committed me, and made me > leave > and thank God for the new one. > > Finally, wht is the length of time you have been officially diagnosed as > > having BP illness? > Five years > I hop this is what you were looking for. I tried to keep it short. > Hugs, > Linda > (Briteyes)
Response:
Hi , I was Diagnosed with Bipolar II 5 months ago . I have changed PDocs twice . First I was put on Wellbutrin which had the opposite effect and put me in a depression so deep I was having Psychotic symptoms and they had to put me on Risperadol . They figured this out and put me on Zoloft which had no effect on me so they kept increasing it. For weeks I had no relief . Finally they opted for Lithium with Prozac . Prozac made me hyper and gave me insomnia . They switched me to the newest drug on the market , Which I had an allergic reaction to . So they opted for just Lithium . The only effect that was adverse with Lithium was that they did not tell me drinking coffee with it would give me Tremors . So now I drink decaf. So far I have broken through the Lithium twice with Depressive episodes so they keep increasing my Lithium . My current Pdoc is Okay but my Therapist ditched me and stopped returning my phone calls without explaination . I was taking Atavan but they cut me off for fear of my becoming addicted to it . I have OCD and severe anxiety attacks . I have been hospitalised once which is where I was diagnosed Bipolar II . While in the Hospital my insurance company decided not to pay for me to stay simply because I needed to be stablised , They deemed me not suicidal enough . So they put me in Partial which they would only pay for 4 days . They said sorry , Thats the breaks. I had checked myself into the hospital to start with because I had been planning on Killing myself .I had even written my letters to my loved ones , I ended up going for help because I knew I would do it if I didnt get help . My overall experience with the medical proffession has not been good concerning my Bipolar I still want to die on a regular basis and my experience has been that they care about the damn money more than whether I get well or not . Sorry if that sounds negative its simply the closest to the truth of how I feel about my treatment . I feel like Im being kept in Limbo . Not enough to off myself and not enough to feel well either. Thats basically been my experience in a nutshell . I have been lucky at least I had Insurance the first time . I am currently going through a depressive episode so please forgive my bitter , down attitude . Tab
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